Everlasting Reflections: The Moon Underwater

Arc I: Genesis

Chapter 32: Victims of Orthodox Schemes

"Wait Byakuya," Sesshomaru uttered abruptly. The moment he turned around upon listening to the call, the Daiyokai unsheathed his Tensaiga. "Bastard!" Renji hissed at him while pulling out his Zanpakuto. "Leave it Sesshomaru, it's not the time," Byakuya said in a serious tone. Soon enough everyone's eyes got widened with the shock when Sesshomaru swung his Tensaiga on Rukia.

For a few moments, silence prevailed in the surroundings neither Byakuya nor Renji was able to figure out what just happened while Sesshomaru on the other hand simply put his Tensaiga back into its sheath. The next moment, the silence was broken by a low and weak but a familiar feminine voice, "Nii-Sama…"

Absolutely none including both Byakuya and Renji could have believed in their eyes for some time but soon both of them snapped out of the shock when they heard Rukia's voice the second time as she asked about what happened to her. On the other hand soldiers of Squad 13 who were over there began to gossip about Sesshomaru and what they just saw. "Who is he, some kind of God? / How can he bring dead persons back to life? / Is it some kind of sorcery or black magic? / But according to the reports, he is a demon. / How can he save someone's life being a demon? / perhaps, he got several other powers." After a few moments of gossips, all those Shinigamis started to applaud Sesshomaru. They were shouting out loudly and were referring him as Lord Sesshomaru while thanking and praising him for reviving Rukia Kuchiki. Byakuya and Renji also looked towards him but before they could have said anything, he flew away from there.

"He left but anyways, I will thank him properly the next time I would see him," Byakuya spoke in a comparatively soft tone as he noticed him flying away. On the other hand, Renji couldn't speak openly but in his heart, he decided to apologize to him in person. "Renji, take Rukia in the Squad 4 barracks for the checkup, I am going to see the situation in the area of our squad," Byakuya said to Renji after Rukia stood back on her feet. "I am fine Nii-Sama, don't worry about me, Squad 4 must be busy in taking care of the injured men from the entire Seireitei," Rukia responded to him. "Hmm but don't skip it, have a checkup later on," Byakuya replied and then he began to retreat to his Squad's region. On the other hand, Renji began to follow him while Rukia preferred to stay there and wait for the arrival of her Captain.

The white desert, Hueco Mundo…

Halibel, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun had arrived quite far away from their hideout but they were still within a known safe zone. Like always, Halibel simply sat down in order to keep an eye on both of her comrades while they were trying to hone their fighting skills and gather some food for themselves. Mila Rose had found her prey and she started to pursue it while Sung-Sun on the other hand, was still trying to find a prey that fits her taste. Unfortunately, the Hollow whom Mila Rose was trying to hunt proved to be faster than she anticipated as he ran away from there while she decided to give him a chase. Within no time, she was out of the range of Halibel's sight while Sung-Sun got busy with her prey as she had finally found one that was matching her demands.

When Mila Rose didn't return for some time, Halibel began to doubt and immediately asked Sung-Sun to go and check on her. "She sure troubles Halibel-Sama a lot," Sung-Sun mumbled as she had to let her prey go and leave in order to check on her. However, even she didn't return for some time after which Halibel's doubt about some kind of danger gotten stronger and she immediately rushed in the same direction in which her comrades went.

Upon arriving at that spot she witnessed that both of them were lying unconscious on the ground. "Sung-Sun… Mila Rose…" she spoke loudly and began to approach them quickly. Suddenly her path got blocked by an explosion caused by a ball of fire and electric energy. When she walked out of the dust and smoke in which she got engulfed due to the blast, she noticed that it was the doing of none other but Yin and Yang. "Did you hurt them?" Halibel asked them about her comrades in a furious tone but they didn't reply to her.

"It's good to see you again, little sister," a familiar masculine voice came from behind and just as Halibel turned around she noticed that Orkos was standing there. He purposely suppressed his spiritual pressure perhaps because he didn't want to scare her but his very presence was more than alarming for her. "What do you want now? Why are you here?" She asked in a somewhat strict manner. "Forgive me little sister but I totally forgot about the gift I meant to give you and both of your comrades before bidding you goodbye from my place," Orkos replied to her in his usual polite tone. "What are you talking about?" Halibel asked him with slight frustration.

Now Orkos plucked out one of the golden gemstones inscribed on his body and hold it between his index finger and thumb, right in front of his eye as if he was trying to look Halibel through it. The next moment, she began to feel as if her strength was being sucked out of her body and within no time she fell down on her knees. "I believe that Demon is no longer needed in your life and hence I am simply making sure that you understand this fact nicely my little sister, after all, it is for your own good," Orkos uttered in a cunning manner and continued the process until Halibel fell unconscious just like both of her comrades. "Yang, Yin, take them to their hideout," Orkos ordered both of them before getting disappeared into the thin air.

Back in the Soul Society…

Sesshomaru was swiftly moving towards Jaken in order to confirm that he had gathered all the Yokais for their departure from the Soul Society. On his way, he noticed that some Shinigami soldiers were keeping an eye on him. However, he didn't care about them and continued to fly straight to the location from where he was sensing Jaken's spiritual pressure.

"There he is!" A Shinigami soldier who was leading a troop shouted the moment he saw Sesshomaru. Suddenly a burning net of metallic wires was thrown upon him but he easily ripped it apart and then he landed on the ground in order to know who dared to do that to him. The next moment, that Shinigami rushed towards Sesshomaru with the entire troop. The Daiyokai kicked him on the chest, shoving him back along with a few others who were behind him. "Who ordered you to attack me?" Sesshomaru asked them with a cold stare from his golden eyes. "So, here you are vile demon." Chojiro Sasakibe spoke while coming from behind. "What business have you got with me?" Sesshomaru asked in a slightly strict tone. "My Captain has issued your death warrant, this is more than enough of a reason for anyone to attack you," the lieutenant answered confidently while slowly drawing his Zanpakuto. Sesshomaru didn't say anything but fiercely rushed towards him.

Shinigami soldiers immediately stood in front of the Lieutenant in order to protect him but were scattered in the blink of an eye by the powerful and lightning-fast strikes from the energy whip. After injuring and pushing aside all the Shinigami soldiers, Sesshomaru reached close to Chojiro and began to choke his throat with the tight grip of his hand. "I would like to talk about this warrant directly with your Captain, so tell me where he is?" Sesshomaru asked him in a serious manner. "I..I won't tell you besides… I am not your true opponent demon, so you better leave me alone and run for your life," he replied while struggling to free himself from Sesshomaru's grip. Now before the Daiyokai could have done anything to him an extremely strict and masculine voice had his attention, "I am here, Demon," Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto spoke as he appeared behind at some distance away from him.

Sesshomaru left Chojiro's throat and turned around in order to face the Head Captain. As soon as Chojiro got freed from his grasp, he released his Shikai and hit a nearby building with his Zanpakuto, causing to crumble down on Sesshomaru, burying him utterly in the rubble. "Chojiro, you may leave, I will take over from here," Yamamoto spoke to his Lieutenant. "Very well, Captain," he replied and left silently after putting his Zanpakuto back in its sheath.

To be continued…