trial of deep sea
"Hey, where are you going?" Ichigo asked as Mizumi left his side, hurrying back towards the palace that was a ways away from the beach, as briskly as her legs could carry her. When he got no response, he started after her. He took a final glance at the horned creature swimming about menacingly under the sunlit water above. It cast quite a foreboding shadow, he noted.
Grimmjow, not knowing what else to do, followed after Ichigo, rolling his eyes as he did, without a word. Something was going on in this place, he could tell. Heck, he could practically smell it. No one's king—the highest authority and strongest person—is careless enough to be eaten so easily by something so obviously threatening…
Some foul play may have occurred…
"H-hey!" Watching as the princess went from fast-walking to running, Ichigo did the same, "Mizumi!"
"The temple is in town, hidden away under a secret grove by the giant waterfalls! I don't have time to talk anymore!" the Oceanian girl cried over her shoulder as she hurried up the long path of steps leading up the hill that went into the palace's back entrance.
"But what about you?!"
"I need to tell them!"
Ichigo let Mizumi go, stopping halfway on the steps. Left alone in this undersea world, chances were he would be spotted if he wasn't careful. Even if he was wearing his cloak, he and Grimmjow needed to tread carefully so as not to be spotted and captured. This situation wasn't one of the best he could've wound up in—trapped underwater without any real means to defend himself, as he wasn't adept with Kido, where he could be put out to sea to drown… The swim back to the surface was impossible. At the very least, Grimmjow spelled some means of defense in this desperate situation with his Ceros. "Hey Grimm." He called.
"What?" Grimmjow asked as he caught up to Ichigo on the steps.
"You have Reiatsu? Can you use your Ceros?"
"Of course. I'm not helpless like you, Court Guard." The Arrancar mocked, "Shouldn't you know some other techniques besides using that Zanpakutō of yours?"
"Well… I should…"
"Usele-"
"Don't even!" Ichigo snipped and squinted. Looking around to make sure they weren't being watched, he pulled his hood up and instructed Grimmjow to do the same. This area seemed clear, and even the palace was clear of guards and anyone beyond simple maids and messengers. The more he went on, the more he saw that people here all bore similarities to Mizumi, varying individual to individual, of course. One thing most of the Oceanians were in agreeance about, it seemed, was foregoing clothes.
"What are you planning, Kurosaki?" Grimmjow asked as they walked down a hallway.
"…I don't know. We can't just go walking around through town like this, can we?" Ichigo commented, referring to their getups. Their cloaks made them look all the more conspicuous.
"I saw some guy doing face paintings on our way through the palace for some peasant children."
"You wha-
"Yep." The Arrancar interrupted without looking at Ichigo, wearing a disinterested look as if this information was not important in the least.
"You couldn't have said that before?!"
"I like watching you squirm."
"Uuuugh!"
"So where is he?" Ichigo said, peeking around a corner with Grimmjow standing beside him, uninterested in playing spy.
"Somewhere near the fountain we went by."
Expectedly, there was a fountain in this courtyard they were in, but no face painter in sight… Ichigo scurried over to one of the pillars leading to the hallway ahead and, with his new view, spotted a man sitting on a large seashell, drawing on a flat slab of rock. There were no children around, so maybe he was taking a break.
After making sure no one was around, he motioned for Grimmjow to come with him and started walking over to the guy.
"I'm not really working at the moment, and I only draw for children. Parents are urged to watch only." The Oceanian quickly dismissed, looking the two cloaked figures over as they came over to him.
"We need your help." Ichigo said, kneeling down and getting close, "We think you'll want to help us out…"
Knowing exactly what to do from that tone Ichigo threw out, Grimmjow lifted his hand out from under his cloak and charged a small Cero, aiming it at their prey.
Bright red energy that was ready to run him through made the guy much more cooperative. "O-okay! Whatever it is, I'll do it! Just don't kill me!"
"Good." Ichigo smiled innocently, making a shooing motion with his hand to Grimmjow.
Grimmjow smacked his lips and hid his hand under his cloak again, his Cero and the Reiatsu he used for it gone to waste.
"What do you want from me?"
Removing his hood and revealing his head of bright orange hair and handsome human face, Ichigo smiled a bit deviously, "Face paintings. Make us look like one of you."
"Grimmjow, take off that skeletal mask."
"What?!" the Arrancar snapped.
"He can't hide that thing, and he's obviously having trouble blending it in with your face paint." Ichigo teased, hand on his hip. His own "face painting" had his face covered in pale paint with false, glittering scales low on his cheeks, his hair slicked back and painted a teal hue, and his neck sporting artificial gills.
Grimmjow needed quite a few changes. His tan skin was blended with white paint, somewhat preserving the sun-kissed skin he proudly sported towards the center of his face, his hair was left alone as it was already a "lively and beautiful" sea-inspired shade. His skeletal mask was the only thing proving troublesome in this undercover tactic. "I can't take it off, dipshit!"
"I know you can."
"Hey. What are you humans doing wandering around down here?" the artist asked curiously, his question lacking in the spite Ichigo expected it to have.
"We're just here by a stroke of fate. We won't be staying for long, though. The quicker we get to the surface, the better." The orange-head-turned-teal replied.
"The kingdom has enough problems right now... Please, since I helped you avoid being caught, don't cause any trouble. If I hear about intruders breaking rules and making a mess of the life we've been preserving down here, I'll rat you out in an instant."
"Oh really?" Grimmjow dared.
"Leave him, Grimm." Ichigo said, "Trust me, we're on a short visit here. And we have no intention of causing trouble."
"Hm… By the way, there's nothing I can do about that mask. Just call it a deficiency or something."
Ichigo could see the displeasure in Grimmjow's expression, reading him like an open book, "It's what makes him who he is. It's no deficiency."
Standing quickly, Grimmjow left the Oceanian be.
"Thanks for helping us." Ichigo said, then followed his partner in crime.
"Kurosaki, let's go to the temple."
"No, not yet."
"Huh? Why the hell not? We don't have to sneak around anymore! This is the perfect chance! Didn't you say we were going there?"
"I did, but… We're gonna spy on that meeting instead. If we can prove ourselves by helping retrieve the king and solving whatever problems this place is facing before even going to the temple, we could get the crystal and go that much quicker."
That was a decent argument, "Tch… Fine." The Arrancar said.
With their hoods down and new Oceanian looks on display for the kingdom to see, Ichigo and Grimmjow made their way around the palace until they found some clues as to where the civil meeting was being held. Luckily, it seemed many of the workers running about were talking about it, many hoping they'd discuss how to find and recover the king... even if it turned out to be just his corpse...
"Here, huh?" Ichigo said, looking around a corner. He'd surely fit in with Soi-Fon's squad with all this sneaking he'd been doing on this journey… But since they changed their appearances, he figured they should be able to roam about this place without taking such roundabout measures like avoiding being spotted. And it was a civil meeting, so why not pose as normal civilians? "Alright, let's go in." He told Grimmjow, and then walked over to the large doors.
Grimmjow followed, not exactly interested in listening to peasants whine, but did so quietly as he always did. If this could get him out of this hell on earthia, he was all for it. Kurosaki seemed to be doing most of the work so far, so he'd let him continue doing so until he showed signs of needing help.
As Ichigo slipped into the meeting hall, which was much prettier than he thought it'd be with its hanging oceanic chandeliers, large mosaic windows, and sparkling waters pouring out of the walls, he took one of the empty seats in the back. He made sure to scoot a little closer to Grimmjow when the Arrancar sat down beside him. There were many types of Oceanians attending this meeting. Some looked like nobles from their jewelry and fancy robes. Mizumi said Oceanians didn't wear clothes, but did some wear them as signs of wealth? Even the people lining the panel up front were wearing attractive, velvety robes. It must have been a sign of wealth because the people closer to the center and back of the meeting hall were wearing nothing at all.
Sitting at the center of the panel was a peculiar Oceanian with dark hair that he wore proudly. His eyes, too, were dark. And around his neck dangled something that was reminiscent of the crystals Ichigo sought.
Currently, there were discussions going back and forth between civilians and some of the leaders about random affairs: irrigation issues, uncontrolled foliage, polluted waters, and things of that sort. It was just like any other meeting Ichigo had ever scarcely attended back home. They were boring, but his father always insisted he go to learn how the kingdom worked. "…!" his brown eyes located Mizumi, who was being held on the second floor of the hall by a slightly plump, female Oceanian. It was probably to keep her in line during the meeting, as she seemed quite shaken to hear what happened to her father. This wasn't the place to bring something like that up in front of so many civilians, but still, the higher-ups should hear it soon. Maybe they could even save him if they acted in time, assuming it wasn't too late.
"Maelstro-sama, please! You're acting as the king in his disappearance! Do something about the lack of food in the kingdom! Fishermen won't work for nothing, and wages are too low to make up for what you've been doing here in the castle!" a citizen pleaded.
"There is nothing I can do personally. You all must handle what you have yourselves. Rest assured, fortifying the palace and keeping the staff here satisfied is no easy task. That monster could return and attack us at any time. Moreover, King Oki didn't personally handle those issues, did he?" the dark-haired Oceanian, now identified as Maelstro, replied.
"He did! He at least came into town to check on his people! Heck, he even gave to the children when they asked him to! You've yet to even come out of this castle since you took over a few months ago!"
"Enough. I won't discuss that matter anymore. On to the next topic, please."
Ichigo felt himself growing a bit irritated, if not enraged. This townswoman was begging for assistance, and the king, the person everyone was supposed to rely on, was ignoring her? That wasn't okay. This Maelstro fellow needed to be removed from his throne, and someone more worthy needed to take over.
"If you won't, let the princess take the throne! It's her birth right, anyway!"
A lot of gasps and conversing about the idea began spreading throughout the room. Mizumi looked shocked to hear something like that come from a civilian.
"Guards! Get that woman out of here!" Maelstro roared, shaking the meeting hall into absolute silence.
Two brawny Oceanians came from either hallway beside the panel and took the woman by her arms. Neither looked as though they enjoyed the act, however, every man and Oceanian had their price. They were surely being rewarded for their continued loyalty and service.
Political corruption at its finest.
"That's not okay…" Ichigo commented to himself, earning the glowing eyes of his Arrancar comrade. "The people should be regarded with the utmost respect…"
Grimmjow continued looking on as more and more complaints began flying at Maelstro. What he did was simply make empty promises to resolve the problems he apparently never knew existed.
"This is not right!" Mizumi's voice rang throughout the hall, silencing all in its wake. All eyes on her, Mizumi tore free from the person holding her and disappeared from the second floor, only to reappear on the first through one of the hallways. A determined walk was what she gave as she made her way up to the panel of advisors and Maelstro. Walking right past the first three, she stopped right in front of Maelstro, who looked at her calmly.
"What's not right?" he asked.
"You can't just say something without meaning it! The common folk are our livelihood, they run this kingdom! We're just here to hear what they have to say and make sure something gets done about it! Not just do what we want and fatten ourselves up while they live in misery!"
Grimmjow eyed her for a moment, his interest in another's view of kingship perked the tiniest bit.
"Your tongue is out of line, princess." Maelstro replied.
"I'm the princess! I can say whatever I want! This will be my kingdom someday! You're just standing in for my father!"
"I said watch your tongue."
Mizumi squinted, "If you were anywhere on my daddy's level-"
A smack rang through the room, loud and strong. Everyone in the vicinity who was looking on wore looks of pure shock as the princess fell off the podium onto the floor. Her eyes were wide, her cheek red, and tears threatened to run over desperate for escape.
With gritted teeth, Ichigo made to stand, but a strong hand on his right shoulder stopped him.
"Kurosaki, sit down." Grimmjow said, using his arm to hold him in place. The fact that he went to the effort to turn so he could said something in and of itself.
"But-"
"This isn't something we can get caught up in so foolishly. Sit down. We can deal with whatever's going on once things have calmed down. Plus, you can't fight even if you wanted to."
Ichigo bit back his anger, realizing that he'd let his emotions get the better of him. Still, seeing Mizumi pick herself up off the floor and stand alone against the man who struck her was something he couldn't easily watch.
"I am the king now! Your father is gone to only heaven knows where, and left me, first in command of his board of advisors, to pick up where he left off!" Maelstro told Mizumi as he stood over her, raising his fist in a dutiful manner, "Get her out of my sight right now! Lock her in her quarters and don't let her out until I say so!"
"Sir!" the same two large Oceanians from before said in unison.
"Daddy'll make this right! Just you wait! I'll find him and he'll knock you off your pedestal! Everyone!" Mizumi cried out, "I'm going to find him and make this alright! I promise that on my right to the throne!" she told the people as the two guards escorted her out of the meeting hall.
Then there was silence. No one dared oppose the standing-in king now.
Regaining his calm and collected composure, Maelstro took his seat and turned to his left advisor. "What's next on the agenda?" he asked like he hadn't just struck a royal.
"O-oh! Um… We needed to address the issue of the unruly teenagers acting like truants." The advisor fidgeted, still recovering from what she just saw.
"Right then. I invite any comments and information from the audience, particularly any teachers out there."
So angry that he felt his Reiatsu spiking, Ichigo stood up and left the meeting room. He was going to find Mizumi. She needed someone to be there for her now. She was alone, vulnerable, yet still trying so hard to preserve what reputation her father had among the people.
It was nothing less than admirable for a child to do such a thing.
Parents have greater influences on their children than they realize.
For some reason, as he walked down one of the decorative halls, notably with paintings of Maelstro hung diligently, he felt a tugging in his lower stomach that made him double over in slight pain. "Augh!" he cried, holding on to his abdomen.
"Heh, Kurosaki, what the hell are you doing?" Grimmjow asked from behind, almost curious enough to laugh. He'd been following Ichigo for a bit, noting how upset he was. Seeing him seemingly attacked and suddenly falling over was so unexpected and counteractive to that anger of Kurosaki's that it was comical.
"Rgh! Nothing…!" said man grunted, then stood up and continued on through the dissolving pain in his stomach. "You don't have to come if you don't want to!"
"You're right, of course. But… I do what I want." Grimmjow said as he walked a few paces behind Ichigo.
Sniffing and lying face down on her bed in her dark room, Mizumi held on to the necklace she'd been given as a child and told to keep safe by her mother. The cerulean rock glowing brightly with its serene, sublime carvings in it had always given her comfort when she needed it, and she needed it now more than ever. It reminded her of the woman she yearned to see just once more... "Mommy…"
Her room was quiet. Quiet, dark, but so beautiful thanks to the glowing jellies floating about in the waters above the glass dome ceiling she had. It was as if they meant to console her and bring back her gorgeous young smile. Essentially, her room was very much like the one she locked Ichigo and Grimmjow in. The entire ocean above could be seen from her room, as that is what she wanted, being the princess of it.
A sudden, familiar presence in her room made her sit up and look over her shoulder. "Minazuki-san." She said, wiping her eyes as the Zanpakutō spirit stood beside her bed.
"I know I'm being childish, but the people need someone who cares about them! Not someone who just wants to be king!"
"…"
"I was going to tell them about what Ichigo said, but… I can't just make a claim like that with the only proof I have being that I saw it. I have to do something! I have to make this right! It's my duty as his daughter…"
"…"
"Maybe Ichigo can help me." The princess said half-heartedly, looking into the corner where the ebony and ivory swords were standing, the darker leaning against the white one. "And…" taking a glance over at the three glowing crystals floating on the water's surface of the tiny pond she had in her room, she sighed, "Maybe I can use those to-"
"Mizumi!"
Minazuki seamlessly floated back to where there was no light.
The door flew open and Ichigo burst into the room, looking all around for the princess.
"Ugh!" Mizumi said, wiping her eyes and hiding her necklace under her pillow, "Have you never heard of knocking before entering! And what makes it okay to burst into a lady's room like this?!"
"Mizumi, I want to help you. If your father is alive, we can work together and get him out of Sir… Torban…?"
"Sir Troban!" She corrected, "And why should I rely on you?!"
"…I saw what happened just now." Ichigo's words shocked the girl, "You're brave, strong-willed. I admire that. But me, I'm physically strong. I can help you solve this problem, and save your father. You can finally stop living under that guy's reign."
Mizumi's eyes teared up, "I—I don't know…"
"You know we can't just take the crystal from the temple. Let us earn it by helping you."
"…"
"Tch, forget her!" Grimmjow said as he came into the room. The first thing he saw was the crystals floating on the water, then his eyes moved about the room in search of his weapon.
"Hey!" Mizumi shouted as Grimmjow walked over to the corner and snatched his sword up possessively. She watched silently as he tossed Ichigo's to him.
Ichigo headed over to the pond and collected the three crystals floating about aimlessly, "Sorry, Mizumi. But even if you deny us, we're helping. I feel like that's-" The dark, hooded figure standing in the corner shocked him. "Who are you?!" he said, taking Zangetsu into his hand defensively.
"Don't! Minazuki-san won't hurt you!" Mizumi shouted.
"Minazuki?" Ichigo recalled, "That's… You're Unohana-san's Zanpakutō Spirit!"
Mizumi blinked in confusion, "Huh?"
"Never mind! This is perfect! Now we can talk about getting the crystal!"
"Minazuki-san doesn't talk…"
"What? Well… Figures…" Ichigo said, wondering how he could discuss his plans with the spirit, "Mizumi, can we talk Maelstro out of his kingship? Or do we have to persuade him."
"You can't do either. He won't listen to reason, that's why I'm not giving orders… He said I'm too young to be depended on. And…"
"And?"
"He's unrivaled with the Seasword. Well… now that my father is gone, that is. So you can't beat him…"
"Seasword?"
"Yes, a sword he formed with his own energy composed of pure water that cuts through even the earth itself. He used to practice with it down in the abyss… I guess when I heard that I should have known he was no good. But even so, my father's Seasword is stronger!"
"Hm… You said abyss. Like, where you can't explore because it's so dark and pressure-packed?"
"Yes. Well, maybe for humans… We just don't go there because there are so many unknowns there… It cuts through a good bit of Earthia, so I suppose it's no surprise you know something about it."
"…"
"Chickening out, Kurosaki?"
"No. I'm actually kinda excited! I get a once in a lifetime chance to take on an incredibly powerful guy under the sea!"
"…" As Ichigo and Grimmjow commenced banter about how Ichigo would wind up needing to be saved, Mizumi dried her remaining tears and gave quick glances to both humans. If she wanted things to be righted, she had to take the extraordinary chance given to her by the universe. "Okay, I'll help! We'll do this together!"
Ichigo pushed Grimmjow out of his face and smiled at her, "Glad to hear that!" he said.
"…" Grimmjow rolled his eyes. What could one little girl do to help them?
"Also… Since you brought this up, Ichigo…"
"Huh?"
Mizumi looked down to her sheets and clenched them between her webbed fingers, "I don't know why but… I can't help but feel like maybe… maybe Sir Maelstro… was the reason my father got eaten…"
A/N: I must admit that I am quite excited for upcoming chapters for various reasons that you'll all see soon! Do submit comments, grievances, complaints, or (by chance) praise in the form of reviews lol. We're almost at 300, which is great! I can get it up there with future events, but yeah, do it if you have anything to say now heehee.
Also, I've devised a way to shorten the Collection Arc, even if only a little! (・/ε/・;)
