Everlasting Reflections: The Moon Underwater

Arc I: Genesis

Chapter 35: The Extinguished Fire

None of them could have said anything because they knew that Genryusai Yamamoto was right while the next moment, Ennetsu Jigoku reached its final phase and started to destroy everything in the area which those seven pillars of fire were surrounding. "I am going to stay here and watch this demon getting incinerated by the flames of my Ryujin Jakka. However, it is up to your choice, whether you all wish to back off or join this demon in the afterlife," Genryusai Yamamoto spoke to all of them in a strict tone.

"Looks like Yamaji is not going to make things easier for us," Kyoraku said to Ukitake. "Everyone, let's take care of Ennetsu Jigoku first," Ukitake spoke while addressing everyone. "Bakudo 81, Danku!" Byakuya, Urahara, and Ukitake spoke simultaneously and three transparent barriers of energy appeared between them and the three pillars of fire. Now Byakuya commanded his Senbonzakura petals to swirl around one of the remaining four pillars of fire in order to constraint its increasing power while Yoruichi began to use her Shunko power to weaken the other one. The remaining two were being pressurized by Kyoraku and Ukitake while Urahara was still standing in front of Sesshomaru with his Blood Mist Shield active as a precaution against Genryusai Yamamoto.

The Head Captain didn't say anything upon watching the Captains trying to help Sesshomaru but he simply raised his spiritual pressure and ordered Ryujin Jakka to intensify the attack. As a result, several other pillars of fire appeared out of the ground, leaving absolutely no chance of survival for any one of them. The situation made everyone quite worried, Byakuya and Urahara decided to unleash their Bankai while Kyoraku and Ukitake were about to release their respective Shikai but before they could have done anything suddenly everyone got shocked to notice that Sesshomaru began to head towards Genryusai while raising his spiritual pressure. "What are you going to do?" Urahara asked anxiously. "No, Sesshomaru don't…" Yoruichi shouted at him worryingly. However, he didn't stop and the next moment he grabbed the burning blade of Ryujin Jakka with his bare hand which shocked even Genryusai himself.

Now the Daiyokai began to raise his spiritual pressure with as much intensity as possible while Genryusai was still unable to conclude the meaning behind his actions. Everyone present around him was clearly feeling his rising spiritual pressure moreover they were getting affected by it while Genryusai mumbled upon realizing Sesshomaru's intentions, "don't try to do the impossible."

"What is he trying to do, Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked with concern. "Oh… if I am not wrong then perhaps, he is trying to…" Urahara spoke but stopped. "Perhaps what, Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked in an insisted manner. "He is trying to..takeover Ryujin Jakka," Urahara answered with slight hesitation which shocked everyone else and they immediately turned towards Sesshomaru.

In the tough struggle of spiritual power, Sesshomaru succeeded eventually, though he gained control of the sword only for a few seconds yet it was enough to fulfill his intentions. "Dragon Strike!" Sesshomaru spoke loudly and the next moment, immense thunderbolts generated in the blade and as well as in the surroundings which eventually hit the pillars of fire and destroyed them one after another. However, the overuse of demonic energy while suffering the injury on the heart, proved to be troublesome for Sesshomaru as the next moment he fell unconscious while his spiritual pressure fell down to the critical level.

"Central 46 will be taking the final decision about him," the Head Captain said in a serious tone while leaving from there. "Looks like he saved us from the doom once again," Kyoraku said while looking at Sesshomaru. "Yes, Kyoraku, I am sure Central 46 won't overlook his good actions," Ukitake responded to him. "He doesn't seem very good, Yoruichi-san," Urahara said while sitting beside unconscious Sesshomaru in order to examine him. "Let's take him to Squad 4 barracks immediately," she replied with concern. "Take him to the Kuchiki Manor, I will order Squad 4 officials to send a relief team over there," Byakuya told them while leaving which slightly shocked everyone since it was oddly generous of him.

Next morning

There was a huge rush in the entire Seireitei and almost everyone seemed to be extremely busy with their immediate tasks even though the environment was somewhat melancholic due to the deaths of hundreds of Soul Reapers. The corpses of dead Shinigamis were well placed in the caskets at a spacious floor in Squad 13th for the purpose of their mass burial but everyone was waiting for their friends and relatives to pay the final tribute to them.

Genryusai and some other Captains were busy as the hearing of the recent issue was going in the Central 46 while the remaining ones were trying to reestablishing their respective Squads. Isshin was undergoing a spiritual pressure recovery treatment in the barracks of Squad 4 and he hadn't regained his consciousness yet.

Sesshomaru was sleeping in a room of the Kuchiki Family Manor while Lieutenant Isane Koketsu was herself attending him for the recovery treatment as per her Captain Unohana's order, thanks to Byakuya's request to her. Yoruichi was also there in the same room along with Sesshomaru and Byakuya while Urahara was having a word with Kyoraku and Ukitake while having a walk along with them in the area of Squad 8. After some time, Central 46 declared their decision and soon enough Urahara arrived in the Kuchiki Family Manor along with Kyoraku and Ukitake to share the decision of Central 46 with Byakuya and Yoruichi.

"Yoruichi-san, Central 46 has announced their decision and you won't believe what happened today," Urahara said to Yoruichi with a significant excitement and joy in his voice. "Oh! What did they say, Kisuke?" She asked him while it drew Byakuya's attention as well. "They commended Sesshomaru's contribution to the war last night and promised to make Soul Society accessible to him in the future. The Central 46 chief said that Soul King himself instructed him to take such a decision," Urahara told both of them. "Wow! That's great," Yoruichi responded joyfully. "I see, it's good but quite unexpected," Byakuya responded as well.

"However, they have also put up a few conditions," Kyoraku spoke to both Yoruichi and Byakuya as he also entered the room. "As expected from the Central 46," Byakuya muttered while waiting to know those conditions. "Sesshomaru will have to revive as many dead Shinigamis as possible, only then he will be allowed in the Soul Society in the future. The other condition states that once he is cured, he will have to leave the Soul Society immediately because Central 46 requires some time to create rules before he is allowed here," Kyoraku stated the rules to everyone. "This is still quite generous of them," Ukitake said to everyone as he entered. "Amm… forgive me everyone but it would be kind if you continue the conversation outside of the room," Isane politely spoke to everyone after which everyone left the room except Byakuya.

"And what did they say about us?" Yoruichi asked Urahara once they stepped out of the room. "Luckily, all of us are exempted this time but we are advised not to enter the Soul Society again unless it is really necessary but from now on Soul Society will officially start buying stuff from our shop," he answered her with a wide smile. "And Isshin?" she asked further. "For some reason, his Shinigami powers are blocked and thus Central 46 is sending him on vacations in the World of the Living for an unknown period of time," Ukitake answered her. "I see…!" Yoruichi responded in a serious manner. "It's good in a way, since from now on Isshin will be able to join us for a long time," Urahara said in his usual funny manner after which everyone laughed.

Later that day, in the evening

Sesshomaru recovered to a significant level by the noontime and then he spent a few hours in discussion with Urahara, Yoruichi, Byakuya, Kyoraku and Ukitake. It was hard but somehow Yoruichi managed to convince him to revive the dead Shinigamis, thanks to the honest efforts from Byakuya and Urahara. Afterward, he was seen taking a walk with Byakuya and visiting several chambers in the premises of Kuchiki Manor which was a bizarre scenario for many since both of them were sort of reserved and cold personalities but were getting along with each other quite well.

It was late night and finally, the time had come for the revival of the dead Shinigamis. All the Captains and Lieutenants were present at the spacious site to witness his miraculous capabilities of Sesshomaru. There were hundreds of corpses and thus it took four to five fully powerful slashes to revive all of them since Tensaiga was the sword that possessed the power to save 100 lives in one strike.

To be continued…