Review Time:
Pau - I wanted to do that, since I feel she gets left out, but I'm gonna need more time to do it. So the one-shot will be something *else*, and the Rangiku thing will be something I'm gonna finish on the side.
Guest - If you've noticed, I'm not exactly keen on name-dropping political figures, so I try to keep things ambigious...it would only date the fic and make things a little too involved, i feel.
And yeah, I do have a habit of putting Kensei and Mashiro in the same (bad) situation! :P
Error99 - Another Soi fan, I'm pleased. I am not exaggerating when I say she's in the top 5 of characters I love to write for.
silveruzu44 - This seems to be the prevailing suggestion, so I'mma go with that.
Chapter 51 - Back to Black
Kariya arrived back at his hotel some 30 minutes later, where his wife had already packed all of their belongings.
"That was certainly an action to take."
"Bah, it'll come back against me, but….I'm sorry. I could not let our kind condemn the Shinigami so easily. Of course, this only means more people will be looking for them…"
Yoshino nodded. "Our work has only just begun. What's that in your pocket?" The newspaper clipping was passed over to her. "Goodness, did that Yachiru child write this?"
"We can discuss the details on the plane, but for now….what do you know about an Orihime Inoue? That heading references her."
"Huh? Let's see…" Yoshino typed the name into a search engine. "It says that she was the top student at Karakura High School a few years ago. She made a speech dedicated to her decreased friend."
"And now she's a Shinigami….."
"What? None of the news heading talked about her death."
Kariya rubbed his chin. "Which means….the rest of the world, and subsequently, Karakura, must think she's still alive. Agh, if I only asked Yachiru for more information…"
"You didn't grill them on the missing girls."
When Yukio had topped off German officials that he was the creator of the video, they couldn't accept the full truth….until the meeting with Yachiru and Momo, of course.
"No, it didn't come up," replied the official that attended. "But I can always pass the information on by the time the accords are made."
"Tch…..they have Liltotto Lamperd, and her friends. Search as hard as you want, sir, but you won't find anything saying the girls died. So what does THAT tell you?"
"I wouldn't take such a firm attitude if I were you, Voralberna. Now that you've disclosed what you know, you won't be conducting any more secret operations. You and your company will cooperate with the government in any and all Shinigami related matters."
Yukio scoffed. "I suppose it's out of my hands now? Except….one of Lamperd's new friends was here, calling my bluff."
"What? Why didn't you try to detain them?"
"Oh relax, she's hardly my concern. In the meantime, I suppose you can interrogate that orphanage director."
"I don't take orders from you. We'll do what we wish."
"As you were, then." Yukio closed the video call. "Roman…I know you've been listening. Don't you know how rude that is?"
The butler bowed in apology. "Forgive me, Master Yukio. I can't help but wonder this Shinigami situation has spiraled a bit out of control. How can you capitalize on the panic of the world when society as a whole never cooperates?"
"Hm. We'll wait and see. If the Shinigami are too selfish to share their power, then I can turn the world against them, if I have enough time. I've already sucked the public in the web of their lies."
"Master….might I ask you something?"
Yukio turned in his chair. "Yes?"
"Are you worried…..that woman will return and expose your secrets?"
"Hahaha, what? Roman, Jackie was sent to Soul Society. There's not a chance either of us will be seeing her again."
"Ah, you're right. Forgive my mistake."
Indeed Jackie Tristan was in Soul Society. Mere days ago she had been silenced by a bullet, and konso'd by Renji Abarai.
Now? She was a student.
"Hm…"
"Ah, what's wrong?" asked Sakumo, sitting next to her. "Can't follow the lessons?"
"No, it..it's just…..weird that this is what souls have to do." Jackie frowned. "I can't remember anything from the past, but I don't think it was this."
"It's the mandate, unfortunately. But look it like this! We can defend ourselves." Sakumo was already thinking about Yachiru and just scribbling in the face of the asauchi's boring lesson. "If only I could move faster…."
Suddenly, the door to the class opened, and the asauchi froze. "S-Shutara-sama. I didn't know you were scheduled today. Weren't you running an investigation?"
"Yes, I'll just be a moment." Shutara scanned the stands, and her lips formed a devilish smile when she spotted Sakumo's pink hair. "Send that woman for…treatment."
"Her? Why?"
But Shutara gave no answer, electing to leave instead.
Yachiru and Momo had parted ways a while ago, leaving the former to hop around from place to place, keeping a lookout for any dangerous Hollows.
"Look Mommy! It's the pink girl!"
Yachiru waved back at the onlooker, but her scared mother pulled her daughter away. In fact, the further Yachiru traveled, the more she saw it: the looks of uncertainty. Fear. Hatred. Anxiety.
A mere child had nearly caused a nuclear war.
"Ohhh….they don't like me…"
But her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a majestic looking zanpakutou spirit, in the distance. The spirit was dressed like the regalest of princesses, with diamond earrings and a flowing golden dress. Her skin was fair, and milky white.
Huh? What spirit is she?
"Oh, it's you," scoffed the spirit. "Yachiru Kusajishi. Can't you see I'm busy?" she pointed to the dissolving Hollow. "Speak quickly, so I may ascertain your reason for dropping by."
"That's a big word…."
"At ease."
Yoruichi appeared behind her, which only made her sigh in exasperation. "As you wish. Just don't waste too much time slacking off…."
Yachiru watched the spirit leave. "She yours?"
"Heh, yeah. Not too many people even know what my zanpakutou does, but I have to start using it more seriously. If we're going to be fighting copies of ourselves, then nothing can be a secret. Say….Yachiru."
"What is it, Boobies?"
"What was up with that newspaper? Did you tell Mashiro to print that story?"
"The….ohhhh, Project Moonlight? Yeah I-"
"Yachiru, I know you're smarter than that," was the firm reply. Yoruichi narrowed her eyes. "Tell me."
But that wasn't a safe idea for the president. If Ichibe was lurking around before at the UN meeting, what was stopping him from stalking her right now?
"I….dunno whatcha mean."
"Yachiru."
The president had to think of a plan. "Oooh….I got a tummyache…." She hunched over. "It hurts…." Yoruichi was confused, but then it clicked.
"Here, why don't you rest…."
XXXXXX
So now the Shihouin princess was sitting on a ledge, with the small girl face down in her lap. She "pretended" to rub her back. "So…feel better?"
"A l-little."
Yoruichi whispered in her ear. "This is as good of a cover you'll get."
Yachiru was silent for a few moments, but then she spoke, voice muffled by her older friend's hakama. "I wanted her to print that. Hime-chan doesn't deserve to be bullied."
"By Reio? Orihime didn't tell you to make that call."
"…."
"I get why you gave the signal, Yachiru, but as a leader, you can't do something so reckless. You realize that once we get back, the entire club is going to be grilled over this. And you've thrown Mashiro to the wolves."
"No!" Yachiru raised her head, but Yoruichi gently put it back down. "Grasshopper wouldn't have done it if she didn't want to."
"Because she has faith in your judgement. That's why we all follow you, but this…..this might make some members…..anxious of your decisions."
"…."
"Why did you come up with this? By yourself, no less?"
Yachiru felt so guilty. "I…didn't want the rest of you to-"
"Get hurt? Oh Yachiru, you're supposed to be listening to Iemura. You SHOULD'VE found out how many of us are willing to take an open stance against Reio," Yoruichi whispered. But there was a distinct tone of disappointment and anger in her voice.
"Boobies….do you think they'll kill me if they find out?"
"No. You're still a skilled Shinigami that Reio would want to use against the Reigais. Besides, you weren't posting any lies. The onus is on him and his associates to react correctly."
"…."
"Yachiru, this wasn't only your plan, was it? Who was involved? Nemu?"
"…"
"Nanao?"
"…"
Yoruichi sighed. "Kisuke?"
"Please don't get mad at him!" Yachiru whimpered. "He loves you, and he'd never do anything to-"
"Sssh. Just listen to me for a second." Yoruichi continued to rub her back, only this time it was genuine. "I HATE when people try to fix problems without consulting the people they care about."
She felt Yachiru's face flinch into her hakama.
"And to be honest, I'm mad at the both of you for being idiots."
"B-Boobies…."
Yoruichi kept her voice low. "Four years ago, I lost one of my dearest friends. Because he did the same thing you're doing….self-sacrifice. You want to fight, you bring in all of us."
"….."
"But you can't pin it all on just Orihime being bullied," she said. "This was a good start, but Shinigami need more reasons to distrust their esteemed leader. What's the plan in full?"
"Sandal…..Sandal Hat wants to test him."
There's more in play than just the dogeza. This weird Hollow hunting schedule, the barrier….and there could be more….
"Hey….Yachiru."
"Hmm?"
"You remember the day I joined the club, right?"
"Yeah." Yoruichi let her sit up, now that they weren't discussing anymore secrets. "We wanted to make money, and you came up with the calendar idea."
"To be honest, I only tagged along at first to bug Soi and get some intel about the Seireitei. But….it helped me reconnect with a lot of people, my own brother included."
"…"
"Never got the chance to thank you, I guess. Plus that wedding song….it was amazing."
Yachiru smiled. "You're a good friend, Boobies. When I thought I lost Red-kun and Isa-chan forever….you tried to make me feel better."
"….."
"You're thinking about Mustachio, right? He was a good friend too. He helped Hime-chan, and protected everyone in the Living World."
"I guess…all these years, I took him for granted. I always figured me or Kisuke would kick the bucket before him. But he didn't want anyone else to suffer…..so he was willing to go out with a bang."
"Don't cry, Boobies." Yachiru wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "He wanted you and Sandal Hat to be happy. If he knows you're married, he'd be happy too."
"…yeah."
Reio was still staring at the wall across from his throne. His thoughts kept pingponging between the genuine fear, something his Shinigami had no knowledge of, and Orihime, the girl that kept haunting his mind.
"Esteemed father, may I enter?"
"Yes."
The Soul Princess stepped in the room with a formal bow. "I understand that Orihime Inoue's little…obedience lesson is going well."
He didn't respond.
"You're going to use that against the heathens that printed that story?"
"Is there a particular reason why you wanted to come here, Reiojo?"
She nodded. "We both know Hikifune is bounded by emotions. She was the last to join the Royal Guard. I volunteer to make sure her orders are carried out….with a twist."
"…."
"Take a look at this," Reiojo held up a device. "This is what Hiyori Sarugaki, the mastermind behind the Zan Sword, made. Apparently it creates conception for those…..two of the same, if you catch my meaning."
Reio blinked. "Why would she create such a silly thing?"
"It matters not, esteemed father, because now everyone can be a part of the goal," Reiojo smiled ominously. "Those with different preferences think they can be exempt? And in this way, creation will still be maintained by you."
"…."
"I wish to test this. Two A-rank Shinigami in particular."
Only the Royal Family knew the extent of their "holy" abilities. If Reio could erase someone from reality, his wife could hypnotize and control the mind, then his daughter could….
Meanwhile, the Shinigami working under Kirio were monitoring the Living World. Everything seemed fine, with no *unplanned* Hollow attacks.
"Ma'am?"
"Yes….Takashi, is it?"
The bespectacled lab tech pushed up her glasses. "T-There's a reason why A-rank Shinigami return home each day, isn't there?"
"Ah ha…..never you mind about that," she said dismissively, not because she didn't want to explain, but because she was fixated on two things.
Concern #1 - Akon's fate. Right now he was unconscious in a chamber, regaining power. But if someone else interfered…
Concern #2 - Karakura Town. It was both a spiritual hotbed, and someone had begged her for a favor…..
In said town, Isshin was the one monitoring it today, and he looked around before jumping to a familiar rooftop. He looked around again, and when he felt the coast was clear….he pulled out a small token.
"Free from the prison, out in the open…." Some incantations, and soon….his two daughters emerged from the seal.
"That was scary…." Yuzu exhaled. "But we're home…."
"Now girls, just remember, Daddy had to bend the rules for this. But Kirio agreed that you should be allowed to see your hometown, if just once."
Karin stretched. "Hasn't changed a bit, eh?" However, her father was in no joking mood.
"If I sense anything too dangerous, you two will come back to me, understand?"
"We understand," said Yuzu. "But where exactly are we?"
Isshin jumped down to the ground. "Take a guess."
The twins followed suit, and they gasped. It was their old home, the place where they had so many great memories for over a decade.
"The c-clinic…"
"What happened? It looks a little run down." Karin eyed the windows. "Where's Kanonji? Wasn't he living here?"
"Better we don't turn as many heads traveling together. You girls keep low, I'll scout the town. Any problems…"
"We know, Dad, head back to you."
And thus, the three split up.
XXXXX
Isshin's first visit was the Karakura hospital, where Ryuken Ishida was once the director. It was high enough that he could see a good portion of the town.
"Tch….some stragglers that way, huh?"
He released his spirit from the Zan Sword. "Do you think it was wise, sneaking your daughters into your town?" Engetsu was a gruff, old man with a thick mustache and beard.
"Oh I'll definitely catch hell for it, but c'mon! Are Karin and Yuzu supposed to be pried from their home forever?"
Engetsu shook his head. "You're breaking the rules. They could get hurt."
"I'm the one that's being sneaky? This barrier is obviously conditioning us to treat this like a 9-5 job, where we only fight the Arrancar when Reio wants us to."
"…..that's what I've been guessing, too."
The two zoomed into the air to fight any Hollows their way.
XXXXX
"Karin-chan, look! The Urahara shop is still boarded up….feels so long ago that we had to leave."
"Yeah….hey, let's see our old school."
The twins ran across the lining of a fence; something neither was able to do while human. However, they were only E rank, and didn't have the best flash-step either.
"L-Look! Isn't that two of them…?"
Karin noticed some people were looking *at* them, and not the houses beyond. The twins crossed an intersection, where even more people were staring at them.
"Uhhh….Yuzu? I think we're being watched."
"R-Really? Oh Karin, you worry too much sometimes."
Karin grabbed her to make her stop. "I'm serious! It's like we have three heads or something….maybe this was a bad idea….they could still be reeling from the attack the other day."
"PSSSST!" A car pulled up, and Keigo stuck his frantic head out of it. "H-Hurry!"
"Asano-san! You can see us, too?"
"Get in the car, please!"
XXXXXX
"This is getting too real now," Karin said. "What Shinigami take a damn car?!"
Mizuho, who was driving, turned her head back. "Kurosaki's sisters are Shinigami too? You didn't tell me that part!"
"I didn't know!" her brother squeaked. "What I DO know is that Karakura Town knows what you guys are, and they're gonna start asking too many questions if they see dead people walking!"
"What do you mean?" Yuzu asked.
Keigo facepalmed. "That pink-haired girl, Yachiru-san…spoke to the United Nations on live TV! They told the WORLD about Aizen's genocide attempt!"
"What?! ….well, what does that have to do with us?" Karin asked.
"….oh boy, um….I-Ichigo's not with you guys, right?"
The twins looked at each other, now confused. "No? But our dad is."
"T-THAT'S JUST AS BAD."
"Can you tell them what happened?!" Mizuho snapped, stopping at the light. She quickly put on sunglasses and a hat to conceal her identity.
"Right, so uh….shit, let me just call Mizuiro." Keigo quickly dialed his number, and put it on speaker. "Yo, Mizuiro!"
"I told you I was busy, Keigo."
"Yeah, screw your secret plans, Ichigo's sisters are right next to me!"
There was a distinct rushing sound, and Mizuiro's normally calm voice shifted to something….anxious. "Karin, Yuzu, how goes it?"
"What the heck are you guys hiding…."
"Well, where to begin. I'll propose a hypothetical. What if…..the girl that was your reincarnated mother was taken out of our direct monitoring because of an arrest?"
"What….?!"
"Not to worry, I've got it figured out, so don't tell Ichigo, please."
Keigo snarled and picked up the phone. "You listen to me, Mizuiro, you are NOT committing something illegal or immoral just to get Kyoko back! You admit to our friends that we ALL screwed up!"
"You don't understand…."
XXXXX
"Don't understand?! Screw you! It's not like she'd dead!"
"Don't say such things," Mizuiro chided. He was already hard at work hacking the police mainframe from his computer. "I'll have this fixed."
"Are you nuts?! Girls, I'll tell you what happened. Don Kanonji was getting too much heat from the media, so he went into hiding. Then we came up with the plan to have him watch over her."
"Be quiet, Keigo…."
"But she was also some girl that tried to run away from home, and her aunt and uncle got murdered! Now the police found Kanonji, and-"
"I said be quiet!" Mizuiro uncharacteristically yelled. "I have this under control!"
"Oh, look at mister MacGyver over here! He has ALLLLL the answers! Face it, Mizuiro, this has become bigger than us!"
"What part of 'I promised Ichigo' do you not understand? I take my obligations seriously."
"Uh huh, and how many laws are you breaking to do it?"
Karin had heard enough. "Kojima, whatever you're doing, stop."
"…"
"You're taking this too far. If our reincarnated mother has no guardian, then the government has to step in, that's how society works. We can't be watching her all the time."
"….but…."
"Ichigo won't be mad at you, I promise. All we want is her to be happy, and safe. Hiding from the law is not going to make that happen."
Mizuiro took in her words, before ending the call without a second word. He stared at the wall for a few moments….and dropped his head to his desk.
"Ichigo was counting on me…."
Try as hard as he could, Isshin couldn't shake the feeling that people were watching him fight. He clashed and slashed against the monsters, hearing his zan do the same.
Once he dispelled yet another, he quickly dropped down - in the cemetery - and headed over to the graves. True to Ichigo's word, the one for Masaki had been shattered, but it seemed as if someone….put a temporary replacement.
"Kurosaki-san! Is that really you?" came a voice.
Mahana and Michiru emerged from the trees and quickly ran up the former doctor. "You two, you're….Orihime's friends!"
"Yeah! We know you're in the middle of Hollow fighting mode, but we have something really important to talk about!" Michiru panted.
"Before you do…..I heard my wife's stone was smashed. Who put this here?"
"Huh? Well, we all pooled our money together…..we couldn't leave the grave unmarked."
Isshin blinked. "You girls didn't have to do that."
"It was Kojima's idea. Now, about the important thing-"
"Michiru let me." Mahana bowed. "Kurosaki-san, I know you guys are under harsher rules, but…..we would all appreciate it we could….see Orihime and Tatsuki."
"Well, uh…..that's not impossible but…"
"There's a but?" Michiru frowned.
"Orihime has been under intense scrutiny recently. Her disappearing from the Seireitei without approval wouldn't be good."
"Then let us visit Soul Society for a little bit!"
"No!" Isshin shouted. "You girls do not want to fall under Reio's radar."
"R-Reio…..?"
"Simply put, he's the guy we all have to obey now. His power is easily higher than Aizen's or Bach's, and there's no telling what he'll command next. For your safety….you can't be in touch."
"That's….." Mahana made a face.
"That's…..that's not fair!" Michiru shouted back. "Can't we just catch up? It's been since we've seen them, and we…we met someone that's related to Orihime."
"Eh? How so?"
Both girls quickly explained who Riruka Dokugamine was.
"I see…."
"Why's Orihime under the radar, anyway?" Mahana cocked her head. "After saving all of us, you'd think they'd be throwing her a parade!"
"That's the problem."
Sensing another Hollow, Isshin jumped into the air yet again, leaving the girls unable to ask a follow-up question.
XXXX
In a flash he had cut the mask open of an adjuachas.
"Damn you! Who are you?!"
"Isshin Shiba! Not that you'd be around to tell your friends." He landed on another rooftop. "Sheesh, they're just as annoying as I remember them."
"E-Excuse me!"
Now Ichigo's father was aware of the crowd of people that had gathered below, including one figure on the look out for news - the reporter, Makoto Towagaza.
"Uh…..oh, crap…."
"You're one of the Shinigami. Sir, may I conduct a quick interview?"
Isshin coughed awkwardly. "Well, you know….I have a job to do….w-what's with the crowd?"
"Shiba-san, is it?" Makoto adjusted his tie. "The first name sounds remarkably similar to the doctor of a nearby clinic that used to live here….any relation?"
"Uhhh…nah!"
"HE'S LYING!" One woman shouted, stepping forward. "That's definitely Kurosaki's father!" It was Ichigo's old teacher, Misato Ochi.
"Uhhh…okay okay, fine, so I am! Why does that matter?"
"Well sir, you did watch the UN report today on television, correct? Your colleagues say a Sosuke Aizen tried to destroy our town, is that correct?"
"U-UN report?" Isshin paled. Oh NO, what did Yachiru and Hinamori say? I picked a bad day to come here… "Look, I didn't come here for an interview! I'm just doing my job."
"You died, Shiba-san?"
"It's…complicated!"
"Your son died too, didn't he?" Ochi demanded. "Your family just disappeared one day, and you left that bastard Kanonji running around!"
"Huh? What did Kanonji do?"
Currently, said medium was sitting alone in a confession room at the police station, trying his best not to panic.
Okay, so they found us at a hotel….it was only a temporary solution! I'm finished…unless that Kojima kid can think of something…
Then Goro opened the door with a slam.
"So…..you thought you could shave yourself just to hide yourself? You really are piece of a work."
"Detective, please, this is a GIANT misunderstanding!"
"Try me." He sat down across from Kanonji. "In fact, why don't you make it an entertaining lie so I'll have something to tell the boys upstairs."
"I'll explain! But um….h-how much are you familiar with the spiritual world?"
"Enough to know that it's not gonna excuse kidnapping of a child!"
Kanonji winced. "Every soul reincarnates into something else. That child, she….she's connected to Ichigo Kurosaki. The hero of this town!"
Goro's look said he didn't buy a single word.
"L-Look I know it looks terrible, but….this is an unjust investigation! I demand to seek representation from someone that won't just scoff this off!"
"You're getting into hotter water, Kanonji…."
"I'm serious!" he glared back at the detective. "We know such things aren't fantasy anymore. Just because you yourself isn't a pronounced Hollow expert, doesn't mean it doesn't apply!"
"Good grief…." Goro took out the business card Yoshino gave him. "I need a vacation from this crap…." He dialed. "Soma. I got Don Kanonji."
XXXXX
"Ma'am you need to turn your cell phone off…."
Yoshino ignored the flight attendant. "Keep him there. Whatever he was charged with, my husband will act as his lawyer. I need to see him."
"What?! Now listen you, you can't just pull rank on a police detective!"
"With all due respect, I can only assume you've been call after call about our….ethereal friends. If you want us to help you, you'll comply."
"Tch…!"
XXXXXX
Goro pocked his phone. "Well good news for you, you got a helping hand. But this doesn't mean you're not going to court."
"W-Who was that?"
"None of your damn business."
"And where did Kyo-"
"I said it was none of your business. You open your mouth again, you're going to be in even more trouble than you are now!"
Kanonji gulped and shut his mouth.
Time had no strict measure in the void of the SSS, but their routine remained the same - train. And yet, as Okikiba watched this routine play out…..he could not relish it.
"Something on your mind?" asked Ganryu. "Don't tell me you're still concerned over our army against that of the Gotei."
"We know that they have divine province on their side, Ganryu. That puts them at an advantage we would NEVER calculate."
"Hmm. Are you saying we should give up the fight?" Not that he didn't know the answer.
"Of course not," Okikiba said. "We must see this to the bitter end, or else the Gotei gains a moral victory as well. All we've planned….no, surely it will be enough."
"..."
"…."
"I know you don't trust that Kageroza fellow either."
"Tch. Putting all the chips on him is both a blessing and a curse. He's easily as capable as Mayuri Kurotsuchi, which rots my stomach to the core. And now, a section of the Reigais can't even be made!"
Ganryu was silent. He was focused on watching his children.
"No…..even if we face all the setbacks possible, none of the people will ever give up. They're all committed to seeing this through.
"They're not."
"Huh? Who?"
XXXXX
Both Omaeda siblings nearly jumped out of their skin when Ganryu appeared in front of them. "I see you two are….slacking a bit?"
"Ah ha, well…." Marejirosabu adjusted his glasses with a shaking hand. "C-Can't overwork ourselves, milord."
"I agree. However, there's little time for merriment. After all, our goal is to defeat the Gotei and establish a new order of Shinigami! ….which we cannot do if you don't comply."
"New order….." Maremi thought for a bit. "Well, wouldn't that involve-"
"Killing all of the Gotei 13? But of course. They stood their ground. They're prepared to die for their beliefs, and so must we."
That got both to pale considerably.
"Hahaha…..you fools. How did you think this was going to end?"
"I'm a-all for purging those Quincies and Arrancar, but c'mon….the whitebloods should reign supreme!" Marejirosabu declared. "A-At least, Father, Mother, Marechiyo, and Mareyo?"
"Hahahaha…."
"Brother why is he chuckling?"
"I don't know!"
Ganryu's smile was chilling. "You have the audacity to speak for your brother, when he was the one that brought of one of them into your house?"
"Y-Yes but Marechiyo is still our brother!" Maremi exclaimed. "And if we kill him, Mareyo will never forgive us!"
"It's FAR too late to consider forgiveness from the Gotei. They will never do such a thing. I thought….you knew that?"
"A-Ah…."
Ganryu pretended to think. "You could always replace them with the Reigai versions….?"
"…."
"Think about it. You'd get to keep your family, they won't betray you, and of course, they'd be prepared to die for you." Amused with his suggestion, he walked off.
"…sister."
"Yes?"
"We've made a horrible mistake."
As for the youngest Omaeda-
"M-Me?!" Mareyo's jaw was hanging. "N-Nimaiya-san, are you sure I'm good enough to leave the academy?"
No, you're not, but the difference is so small it won't really matter. "Yeah! Just continue the training, okay?"
"Yes sir! Yay! I get to hang out with Yuzu-san and Karin-san again…..I haven't seen them all day."
"Huh? You haven't? Didn't they have academy tutoring today….?"
Keigo had taken the extremely exhausting task of explaining everything to the sisters, from animated movements to drawings on a large notepad.
Then, Mizuho showed them the recording of the UN meeting.
"N-No….our mother got taken away…and now, the world thinks Yachiru is a terrorist?!"
"This day just keeps getting better and better…" Karin facepalmed. "We really don't need this crap. There's Arrancar and an army of clones coming our way to attack."
"At least you two can fight!" Keigo whimpered. "I'm NOT looking forward to the day when tanks come rolling in through Karakura! Too many people are in on this now!"
"W-We have to do something!" Yuzu's expression faltered. "But what….we can't even protect our town without Dad watching us…"
"Sis? You gonna weigh in on this?"
Mizuho sighed. "So what happened? Once your brother's time was up, you all left town….and died?"
"Technically. But we only went through with it because….we couldn't go on without him. We're all family, and we're all Shinigami now. Sorry….we only made things harder for you guys."
"Don't be. It must be harder on you two, risking your lives fighting….Arisawa, Sado, Ishida….they all had the same fate, right?"
"Candice-san, Meninas-san, and Liltotto-san too," Yuzu pointed out. Then, in a whisper: "that last one is Karin's girlfriend now."
"Yuzu!"
"Uhhh…..who the heck are they?"
"Have a little imagination, sis!" Keigo rubbed his temples. "So if the UN wants a list of all you guys, then the whole world will be able to put two and two together. That….you didn't leave town."
"I guess so. We didn't want to make everyone freak out." Karin leaned back on the couch. "Can you imagine the headline? Local doctor and his children found dead?"
"They're dead?! Are you sure?"
"Heimirich, the same person that made that video is certain he saw her. Plus a conversation with two of their allies, according to this transcript….yes, we have to launch an investigation."
"But…." The official took off his glasses and peered over the documents. "These three girls were in the same hellhole I was in. Angela said nothing of the sort."
"Who is that?"
"Ah, she was another girl. She's the director of the orphanage now….." the phone rang. "Hello? Ah, Chancellor! H-How nice of you to call….what? Yes, but I….hmm. Are you sure? Well….if you insist."
"What did she want?" asked his associate.
Political firestorms were underway across a handful of countries.
From Germany:
"The Shinigami known as Yachiru Kusajishi is extremely dangerous! Until the accords are ratified, do NOT approach her!"
to Spain:
"She looks innocent, but such a child has a position over our lives. Treat her you would a hostile neighbor!"
to South Korea:
"She is not allowed to set foot into our country! Any and all sightings must be reported to the newly formed Shinigami Surveillance Committee!"
to the United States:
"The Senate floor has voted, 86-14, to form a division specifically tasked to watching these spiritual monsters. Now gentlemen, I know the two of them look like innocent girls, but these warmongers have to be taught a lesson…"
Shinigami. Shinigami. The word had been repeated 510,202 times in just the last 5 hours, as an astonishing 78% of the world's population were capable of seeing both them and the Hollows scurrying about.
People were scared. They were scared of a threat that was always in their midst, lurking, watching….and know, they had to face the cold reality that *no* nuclear or military force could stop them.
And unfortunately, this would only be the beginning.
Yachiru was exhausted. Fighting the Hollows was one thing, but having a bunch of people shout angry things at her was another. She wanted to see Re-chan, or maybe Peaches again, just to be a little more bright.
"Geez….where did they go? Where am I?"
She was on an empty island, somewhere in the Pacific.
"I'm hungry…."
"Here you go! Some cookies?"
"YUM!" Yachiru snatched the bag and devoured it in a flash, but mid chew she had registered the sound of the voice. When she saw Ichibe's face, she spit it all out.
"Hey, that wasn't very nice, Kusajishi-san!"
Yachiru stepped back. "You've been following me. Why?"
"Hmm….I didn't think someone like you could pick up on that," Ichibe said. "I come in peace, don't worry."
"I'm NOT letting you trick me. He told you to follow me, didn't he?"
"Who?"
"Your boss!"
Ichibe chuckled. "Still can't say his name? I bet you wanted to say something nasty about him in front of all those humans."
The air had gotten tense. Ichibe looked as jovial as ever, while Yachiru realized she had to be firm - but not say too much. Her spirits couldn't bail her out of this one. No…..she couldn't even smell a Hollow.
"They blamed me for nu…..nuc…uh…."
"Nuclear! It means, with radioactive, nasty things that can blow up an entire country. I guess that's when happens when naughty children play around."
"Mister, you think I'm dumb, huh?"
Ichibe's smile faded. "Quite the opposite, Yachiru. You and that Kisuke Urahara are pretty sharp, I'd say."
"Sandal Hat IS pretty smart. But I want you to know something."
"Oh?"
Yachiru glared at him. "I'm not afraid of you. I'm not afraid of phonies like you that try to bribe everyone. You're Reio's number 2, right?"
"You flatter me, Yachiru. I would be humbled to be called such a thing…..you realize, there's quite the meeting awaiting you and your club when we get back."
"…."
"I wonder what Orihime Inoue will think, when she learns of the story you print-"
WHAM
Yachiru had flash-stepped over and punched his face. But Ichibe didn't even flinch. He simply stared back at her, confused.
"Darn. I guess you're really tough."
"Ah ha! That was a test?" He flicked his finger, sending her back about half a meter. "But there's no time for roughhousing. Shall we resume our usual duties?"
"…."
"I know you don't like Reio-sama, Yachiru."
"…"
"And I know you're behind that story. Y'know, I won't be mad if you admit it. Promise!"
But Yachiru didn't respond. She only continued to glare at him.
"Yachiru…..maybe I need to help you understand. Reio-sama, he doesn't hate Orihime. Oh no! It's just that people had the wrong idea of where the authority lies. It's not with her, and it's not with any other Shinigami. Not even me!"
"….."
"It's him and him alone. Would you disobey Head-Captain Yamamoto, if he was still around?"
"…"
"If you remember, he considered her to be a traitor when she left to Hueco Mundo…."
"And Ukki and Ishi defended her," Yachiru interrupted, not bothering to wonder how he even knew. "Don't ever compare Gramps to him."
"Yachiru, let's be adults here. Yamamoto carried out some pretty wild stuff. Your friend Rukia would be dead if Aizen never intervened."
"….."
"None of us are innocent, not even you. I suppose we're a lot like humans in that regard, that we run and hide from our darker moments. But sometimes….we need to face who we are."
"Yeah…. I guess that makes sense."
"Good!" Although that was probably the only thing they'd agree on. "See you later, with some cookies?"
"I don't want your cookies. Peaches and Yuzu-chan make the best cookies, yours taste yucky."
Ichibe gave a mock look of sadness. "Well, I've been practicing my recipe…." He shook his head, and soon disappeared.
He's gonna be the hardest to beat. Yachiru thought. I need Ken-chan's help more than ever now. She tightened her fist. And I have to come clean….
FIN
Ending notes: Sorry this was a little light. It's been a hectic month! Between finishing the semester, working on other projects...it's been a crazy year of developments, huh? But we'll see where it all leads...I've started the one-shot, should be done by the 26, the latest.
Again, as I always say, thank you to everyone's that been following the story. May 2018 really throw you all for a loop 8)
Next Time: In which a Hueco Mundo team is chosen...to the shock of the NSWA.
