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Chapter 68 - A Soul's Society
"First you weren't trusted to rule on your own, and now it is clear you can't be trusted to think for yourselves.
Choose wisely."
These imposing words had transformed the domain of the Shinigami. Their home had been reduced to rubble, with a handful of its most premiere allies vanished, implicated in a massive conspiracy. One could even say it was worse than the time Sosuke Aizen escaped to Hueco Mundo.
Nemu Kusamiya thought about these painful words every second she sat in the hot spring. Reio had damaged her, and this was the fastest way make her recover, but she hated every moment of it.
"You gonna get out now?"
Nemu glanced over to Kirinji, standing by the edge with a rather tired expression. But she was not willing to be so forgiving to any of them, those that had drove Yachiru away.
"Should be time that your wounds healed. We still need you to do some work, you know."
"You all made a mistake," she replied bitterly. She just stared at the wall. "You might have fooled the people around me but I know what really happened."
Kirinji groaned. "Humor me, then. Did she not cause a big mess or you know…..strangle her goddamn mother to death?"
"You made her do all this. You framed her. You casted enough doubt on her morality that you made people believe she's a monster."
"Kurotsuchi-"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Nemu screamed. She was not Mayuri's doll anymore. Hearing the syllables thrown her way burned the very core of her soul. If they couldn't call her what her name actually was, then they just saw her as that same doll.
"Alright, alright. Listen." Kirinji stepped into her sight. "I'm trying to be reasonable with you. If you go out and start spouting what you're saying now, it's just not gonna work out for you."
"Or what? He'll destroy me? Why should I even live and bow down to this tyrant in the first place?"
"Martyrdom is not what you want," he countered. "Because deep down, you want to live for your friend's sake. Maybe one day she'll try to find you. Do you really want to be dead in that reality?"
How did everything go so wrong? There was a time Yachiru's infectious smile could counter any danger the club had come across. Now she was gone, and the soul of the NSWA had been taken with her. At one point their show was supposed to be a fun treat, not something out of obligation. People resented Yachiru Kusajishi now. Could she even clear her name? Who was truly the guilty one in all this?
Nemu couldn't help it. She started to cry. The one person that had given her value, self-worth, and the closest friendship she ever had was now public enemy #1.
"Nemu…..work with me here. It's not too late to earn back Reio-sama's favor."
"Favor?! Don't you see how wrong this is?! I know….and you know…." Nemu never looked so miserable before. "….that he's not telling the truth? And you still follow him?"
"Your friend was guilty of the same thing. And you still follow her? Look at Sakumo's corpse again and think…..what's the right option here?"
Nemu couldn't bear to think of what her friends thought of Yachiru now. She knew she was the most loyal of her. They wouldn't be so forgiving. Some would probably never trust her ever again.
And that only made her cry harder.
The first priority of the new society was an attempt to restore some semblance of the five person balance of the Royal Guard. But the choices were so limited, it only left two individuals.
"Come this way."
Both were former Captains of the Gotei 13, the only two that seemed "pure" enough in the eyes of Reio to hold more administrative power. Jushiro Ukitake was a failed Captain-Commander. Toshiro Hitsugaya and Renji Abarai had inefficient experience. Shinji Hirako and Kensei Murguruma were deemed as "tainted" by the mere association with Kisuke Urahara. Naturally that excluded Yoruichi Shihouin as well, but no NSWA member was to even get close to the flow of power. So this excluded Retsu Unohana and Soi Fon too.
Leaving only-
"Byakuya Kuchiki. Shunsui Kyoraku. Do you understand what is going to happen?"
The former stared with his usual neutral expression. The latter's lips curved upward ever so slightly.
"You want us to take on some extra duties. You think we're Royal Guard material?"
Hyosube wagged his finger. "Trust is a fragility right now. To be a Royal Guard member means devotion to Reio-sama after all else. In his eyes, the two of you can at least have order over the other Shinigami. As a means to bridge the remaining three of us to the chaff. You shall be…..A+ rank!"
"Fancy rank means nothing to me," Byakuya said curtly. "But I am not ungrateful to be considered to this distinction. Seireitei needs to rebuild before our enemies attack."
"Good. Our numbers increase by the day, but they cannot be ready unless they are trained with maximum efficiency. Kyoraku, I know how crafty you can be."
"Well, I'm no Urahara."
Trying to read the room, Kyoraku? Byakuya thought as both men sensed the shift in Hyosube's demeanor.
"Kisuke Urahara is the enemy of the Shinigami now. He was once your ally but he must pay for his actions in the same vein Yachiru Kusajishi must. Mercy towards either will not be tolerated now."
"Understood."
"Very well."
Hyosube nodded at them. "We will discuss assignment details very soon. Go on."
XXXX
When both men stepped outside the tower, they shared a glance. They knew they didn't have a choice in the matter. But both Byakuya and Shunsui were going to take the same approach.
"…..it is best, Kyoraku…..if we operate indepentally. I don't think you need reminding on how alliances got Seireitei in this current state."
"I get ya. Best if we keep to ourselves." His voice was solemn. "Boy. Yama-jii would definitely not like the state of affairs right now. Must be harder on Jushiro. He probably feels this is his fault. If we stopped the SSS sooner…."
"It is what it is." Byakuya said, turning away. "Focusing on the past will not save us. We must place survival above all else."
"Everything okay with Ginrei?"
Byakuya stopped.
"I take it that's a no?"
"Like I said…..survival above all else. Not cooperating will only cause our demise. We will bide our time and simply survive."
The second priority was having Seireitei undergo a quick reconstruction. Considering the Shinigami also had to patrol the Living World, their time to help was limited. They weren't even allowed to have breakfast. For however long all of them would work, then the A and B rank Shinigami would depart as usual. The lower ranks would have to stay and finish. Even with the help from Reio's asauchi the task was grueling and miserable.
Yoruichi pitied all of them, but she knew she had bigger problems to worry about.
"So…..Yoruichi Shihouin, I'm sure we don't want to waste either of our time…."
She had been brought in for questioning, in the same lifeless room Mashiro had been brought to. She glared at Shutara.
"You think I knew what Kisuke was up to, don't you?"
"Well, in addition to being his close ally for over 100 years, you're also his wife. Forgive me if you as the first suspect is so odd."
Yoruichi leaned back. "Why would I convince him to go without me? Y'know, why don't you walk me through what Kisuke's master plan even is?"
"Is it not obvious? He conspired with Kirio Hikifune and Oetsu Nimaiya to overthrow Reio-sama. Yachiru Kusajishi had something innate they took advantage of to cause all this destruction. I know for a fact-" Shutara crossed her arms. "-you at least knew Yachiru and Urahara had some kind of alliance."
"I can barely remember what happened last night! Isn't THAT the sketchier element?" Yoruichi banged the table. "Nemu was right. None of you are telling the truth."
"Please, provide what you think happened, then."
"Let's see…." Yoruichi closed her eyes. Usually her memory was sharp as a tack. Why was everything a haze now? She ran through the events in her head. They performed the show, and then everyone else got married formally.
"You're not answering."
"You wiped our memories," she concluded bitterly.
"Ha! What makes that more likely than the conspiracy between Urahara and Hikifune? One is a super genius and the other worked with your food! Do you deny the destruction Yachiru caused?"
Did whatever power she had knock all of us out? She wasn't there when the ceremonies happened. Hyosube said Hikifune was preparing our dessert, but…. "Hikifune would leave and not take Hiyori? I find that hard to believe."
"Urahara didn't take you. Surely you can see the bigger picture."
It hit Yoruichi. She logically couldn't be a suspect, but this was a way for more suspicion to be passed onto Kisuke. She honestly didn't know where he went or what he truly was after. And that was a chink in her armor that Shutara was counting on.
"You look upset, Yoruichi Shihouin. Is it truly such a surprise that you're not as in the loop as you thought with him? He didn't inform you when he hatched the Hogyoku plot. And well…..Tessai Tsukabishi didn't tell you of his own plan either."
Now the next part: getting Yoruichi emotional. The fire in her eyes only made Shutara's own eyes twinkle with delight. The cat had become the mouse.
"Shut up. Shut UP! Don't talk about him. Tessai is not part of this! If you mention his name one more time I'm going to reach over this table with my bare hand-"
"I can understand your pain. You spend over a century with people, only for them to cut you out of whatever they're plotting. Do they not trust your own input?"
Yoruichi formed a fist. She was practically shaking. For Shutara, it didn't matter if Yoruichi had some knowledge of a partnership between her husband and her club leader. She didn't know of their intentions now. Casting doubt was the key.
"If you need a moment to collect yourself, feel free. My questions are over."
"Scruffles…"
"Hm?"
Yoruichi felt like such a fool. Yachiru told the club in code that she was really working with him. Soi needed extra reassurance that Kisuke Urahara wasn't up to something. What was the truth? What was the answer to it all?
Kisuke…..you couldn't have forgotten me. But you left me…..quite the mess to clean up….
Shutara sat patiently; Yoruichi was escorted out, and of course that left the more reactive, emotional candidate to come in - Hiyori Sarugaki.
"….."
"Compose yourself first. You do not need to speak at the moment."
"…You…..!"
She could sense the raw anger pulsating through the younger girl. Those who got Hiyori truly angry were often ones to regret it, but there was no fear when the Vizard donned the Hollow mask.
"…what you did to her….!"
Shutara scoffed. "I see you're still the child she always saw you as, Sarugaki." She allowed the frenzied girl to approach, sword drawn….but with two quick strikes the mask was shattered and the sword knocked away. "Let us discuss this situation."
"Discuss what, you mantis…..cunt!" Hiyori hissed. She quickly got up. "That you expect for one second, ONE SECOND for me to believe any lies you tell about her?!"
"So you doubt this conspiracy? Let me ask you then. Do you think Kusajishi and Urahara are just as guilty?"
Hiyori was seeing red. She had warned Yachiru about being so haphazard before. And she would never trust him over Kirio-san, in any capacity. "This plan you're talking about…..it didn't happen!"
"Very well." Shutara picked up the table that was knocked over in the scuffle. "Can you supply your version of what happened?"
"You all kept Kirio-san out of the spotlight. I was working with her for a reason!"
"She doesn't cook with you."
"Why would she exclude me, period?!" Hiyori got centimeters away from Shutara's face. "Unlike you, she's not some backstabbing bitch that throws the ones she loves under the bus!"
"Right. That's why she didn't tell you she was promoted all those years ago."
"…."
Shutara calmly pushed Hiyori back. "You're an extremely insecure person, Hiyori Sarugaki. You got to tinkering with your inventions to try to win her love, her devotion back. But her priorities shifted. She plotted with Urahara to overthrow the current system. Perhaps she saw you as a liability."
"BULLSHIT!" Hiyori banged the floor. "I'M NOT BUYING ANY MORE OF YOUR LIES!"
"You saw the same things I did, correct? It was no illusion. Seireitei in ruins? The three of us damaged by Yachiru's rampage? I am missing arms! You really think this was some of kind of mass self-injury? A bit reaching, wouldn't you say?"
"She was, she…..was in that goddamn show! Why would Yachiru betray all of us when this club is all she cares about?!"
"Her hatred for Reio was simply greater. And that raw hatred bled into other aspects of her life. Her mother…." Shutara trailed off. "Do you think we killed her too? Along with that cat and Bawabawa?"
On one hand, Hiyori had a century of dealing with Aizen framing her. It wasn't so unbelievable that someone would pull off all the stops just to make someone else look like the worst person imaginable. And yet…somethings she couldn't deny. Yachiru had initially only trusted Mashiro with her newspaper idea, and that spiraled things out of control fast for the NSWA.
It bothered Hiyori.
It bothered Hiyori that she just could not predict their president.
"Perhaps Urahara was the glue for Kusajishi and Hikifune to take action."
"But….." All of those years without her. Abandoned. Shutara knew it was Hiyori's crippling weakness. "….she would've gotten me involved….."
"Maybe she didn't want to risk you. I cannot say. But I understand if you need to think on such a horrible event."
"No." Hiyori shook her head. "I'm not letting you get in my head, you bitch. I know for a FACT that you're all responsible for this, not her!"
"How telling, Hiyori. That it's she you defend first above all others. Are you sure you're not just in painful denial?"
Her scowl would've frightened a lesser soul. But Shutara was anything but.
"Hiyori, our priorities have shifted. You can insist on your version of what happened, but the simple fact is, there's no time to be pointing blame. It is more productive to work with us to solve all of this."
"I am not being your puppet. So why don't you-" her suggestion was rather crude and vulgar, but Shutara merely clicked her tongue.
"Perhaps you need extra convincing."
It all happened so fast. Hiyori's sword was taken away and she was beaten, hard. The guards materialized to patrol the tower dragged her across the hard flooring of wherever she was.
"You…bastards…..!"
"It'll be fast," Shutara said at the front of the pack. "And you're not the first one. No, the remains of the 11th Division refused to accept the loss of their strongest. Open that one, show her."
A bleeding Ikkaku was dragged out of his pitch-black cell and thrown to the ground. Hiyori's eyes widened at the shape he was in, but the bald man cocked a grin at the familiar face.
"Glad you can join us…..Sarugaki-!" he shouted when another tooth was knocked out of his face. "Cowards, all of you….the Captain…..ain't the bad guy here….!"
"Throw him in the ice bath for now," Shutara instructed. Ikkaku was dragged away so Hiyori could be thrown into his dark cell next. "Some sensory depravation is always a good start." One snap of her fingers and Hiyori was bound and cut off from all light. "We'll check back up on you, Hiyori."
"Torturing us?" came the voice. "And you're calling Kirio-san the bad one?"
"Trust is out of the question. So the extreme methods are what remain. You either obey to avoid such an fate, or we'll make you."
Soon Hiyori was all alone.
"Move faster, Shinigami! You all want a place to sleep right?!"
One cocky asauchi was shouting out orders to the lower ranks. Rurichiyo, unfortunately, wasn't new to this manual labor. If one would feel her hands, they had gotten calloused compared to the pre-academy days where she was pampered every second.
"Give me that!" she shouted at a whimpering comrade. "You're not holding the hammer right. Here, take these nails."
"T-Thank you, Lady Ka-"
"Rurichiyo is fine!" she snapped. To be called Lady here. The thought alone made her stomach churn. This was no place she wanted to be a Lady of. She was just like everyone else. No Kenryu and Enryu to do the work for her.
She helped some others finish the roof. But it was only the beginning of a long, painful day. Each and every second Rurichiyo's mind drifted to the events following the festival.
Yachiru….
Maybe it was true. This was the same girl that killed Juha Bach after all! Yachiru simply got more dangerous the more she was pushed into a corner, like a savage dog. Rurichiyo had been appalled with Reio's accusations. But then she saw Sakumo's dead body and well, she had to try hard not to break down.
Can you at least come back and maybe….no. I don't think you'd be able to explain.
Rurichiyo set the hammer down. She looked over at the two other girls she knew, and double checked to make sure she wasn't being watched by the guards.
"Um…..hello! Kurosaki sisters?"
Yuzu and Karin were comparatively not doing much better. Karin's eyes were near hollow, and Yuzu just kept breaking down in tears.
"What, Rurichiyo-chan? We can't talk too long."
"It's just….do you think she…..um…."
She couldn't even finish the thought. Both sisters had a rough spot whenever "mother" was mentioned. But they seemed to get the rest of the idea.
"Who knows? It's a sign either way. Don't push our bounds anymore."
"Sakumo…." Rurichiyo grit her teeth. "It's not fair! She was trying to turn her life around! From some depressed streetwalker to a caring and loyal mother! And they can't even give her a funeral?!"
"Why would they?" Karin shot back. "She wasn't ranked. She hardly had any power. To this society, she's about as equal as some garbage. And you'd think they'd glorify someone who was associated with Yachiru?"
"WELL THEY SHOULD!" Rurichiyo screamed. This got the guard attention on them. "How guilty Yachiru really is irrelevant! Sakumo was an innocent bystander in all this!"
"Rurichiyo, calm down!"
"No! I…." she was glad Kenryu and Enryu weren't here to see her face. "I…..I never got to know my mother! Dead, because she couldn't handle my birth! Everyone forgot about her to focus on ME, the new head! But why?! I have nothing to offer!"
Eventually Rurichiyo was smacked in the face with a heavy stick. Her key to get back to work. The twins quietly did the same.
"Karin-chan, I-"
"Yuzu, you need to be quiet. We're only working together because of who we are. To them we're more loyal as each other's sister than to any club member. We mess it up and we'll never see each other."
"But I wanna to go home!" Yuzu cried into her sister's sleeve. "Back to Karakura! This…..this is horrible! I feel even weaker than I did when we were just gradeschoolers!"
"I know…."
But it was something to keep their minds occupied, for now. Next task had them divide up the rubble piles - usable materials, and those were not. Karin winced at every splinter she got, yet she soldiered on.
"Hey did you hear?"
"What?"
"That Omaeda girl went nuts."
This made Karin lose her focus. Mareyo? What happened….?
The remnants of the 4th still had to do their jobs. Some eager low-ranked Shinigami were able to join the ward, but things had shifted greatly from the usual dynamic.
Under Retsu Unohana, everything was warm and friendly. But under Tenjiro Kirinji, everything was painfully unfamiliar. Shinigami got bossed around by the asauchi. Hot spring water was often a cure for any ills.
Iemura learned a while back this new healing squad did not intend for patients to stay long. If they could work, they'd be discharged. But, people were more than mere physical tools. Healing their injuries alone sometimes wasn't the cure.
"Mareyo Omaeda….." He looked over the chart. "Oh. Oh, no."
Disturbingly he was only given so much time to "fix" her. He quickly made his way to her room, where she was sitting in her hospital gown, looking out the window.
"Mareyo….how do you feel?"
"The same," she whispered, not bothering to look at him. Everything in the room was soft; her arms heavily bandaged. She couldn't be allowed to hurt herself anymore. "When can I leave?"
To hell with the note stapled to the chart! "When I find that you're no longer a danger to yourself. You were brought her because your brother found all those marks on your arms."
"Hmm."
"Self-harm is not the cure to whatever ails you, and I'm here to figure that out."
"Are you? Iemura-san…..you don't need to prevent that this is the 4th anymore. It's not. Why can't I just be left alone?"
"Because…." Iemura sighed. "…Mareyo, I know things have been hard for you."
"Are you just gonna talk about my missing brother and sister? It's OK. That's not why…." She looked down at her arms. "….no, it was something else."
"What?"
Mareyo's stoic face turned…..bitter. "I was rejected. I thought she doesn't refuse any member, but she just slammed the door on me. Then she abandons the Seireitei anyways."
Rejected…? I see. She must've asked Yachiru to join the club at the wrong time. So she must've wanted to fit in.
"I know of Yachiru's psychological profile," said Iemura. He sat down in a chair; it felt a little stiff to him. "And you're right. Normally she was happy to let anyone in, including five asauchi girls that felt like outcasts. For her to refuse would only mean she had her own….problems to sort."
"Don't make excuses. I get it, okay? Mareyo Omaeda! The….the baby of the Omaeda family! Not as pretty as my older sister or as smart as my big brother Marechiyo!" She screamed into her pillow. She was shaking, and that put Iemura on edge. "Nobody wants me around!"
"Mareyo, that simply isn't true."
"I did it for attention!" The girl got off her bed, right into the older male's space. "Maybe if I was on the verge of death itself, I wouldn't be so ignored all the time!"
Iemura calmly put a hand on her shoulder. She smacked it away. "Do you feel ignored by your own family, Mareyo?"
"No! Yes! I mean…..Daddy has to fight again, and my brother has to fight even harder. And Mother too! We were so used to a certain lifestyle…."
"We're all busy these days," Iemura explained. "The creature comforts of the society we once knew….do not exist any longer. But Mareyo, you must understand. This is not something you face alone. All of us…." Could he even say something reassuring? The younger girl wasn't convinced.
"It's better if I just disappeared. It's the easiest way out."
"It's not the right way out," he countered. He wasn't prepared for the next question.
"Then what is?"
"…."
"If anything….." Mareyo looked out the window, towards the tower. "….in this society we're even less important. Just followers of Reio-sama's will. Isn't it better to die on our own terms, then live on anything but?"
Iemura took off his glasses. Turned them in his hands. He thought about the days where the divisions were the guiding forces of the Soul Society. How every day he woke up determined to help patients, no matter their aliments. He faced many broken individuals, and Yachiru Kusajishi was one of the most broken. But, he was unable to finish helping her.
"If they came through that door….and wanted your notepad thingy….what would you tell them? Yes….or no?"
And now, could he help Mareyo in the same way? There was more pressure on everyone to say the right thing. Avoid causing more trouble. He was expecting it happen anyday now. Someone to bring him in for questioning. Perhaps, accuse him of being a co-conspirator.
What made her comfortable was that she knew it was between him and her, aside from select guests. That was how therapy worked. He glanced at his chart. They would probably want everything Mareyo had uttered, if not to expedite it and get her back on the field to work.
"I-Iemura-san? You've been quiet for some time."
Do I die on my own terms, or live on theirs? Perhaps every Shinigami was grappling with this question. If nothing else, he didn't want to destroy the Omaeda family further. He could at least take comfort in that.
"Mareyo….no matter what, your family will never reject you. And neither will I. I am a proud member of what was once the 4th. We never turn down a cry for help." He steeled himself to seal the door, determined to assist as long as he needed. "For now, let us talk about your life…."
Shin'o was where the grim reality of the society was realized.
After all, there was a point to having the pre-existing Shinigami so preoccupied with their duties; the weaker, more malleable fresh minds to Seireitei were easy pray to conditioning. Baked into every lesson plan was reverence to Reio-sama. Importance of Reio-sama. It made one of the new teachers sick to their stomach.
"You can feel it, right? What watches us?"
"The…..asauchi?"
Akon scoffed. He had no delusions over the fact that he had been shuffled around to this position for better monitoring. Whom he was assisting was locked to the same fate.
"Not just them, Inoue. Those guards that tend to materialize across the Seireitei. They have no sense of self or identity. They're just beings that serve. Materion."
"Ma….huh?"
"Just what I decided to call them," he drawled.
Orihime never thought she'd been working with the former Third Seat of the 12th. She knew he was one of the smartest minds of the Soul Society, barring only Urahara or Aizen. But he was kept on a tight leash, just like her. With a heavy heart she shuffled out to address her class, Akon following.
"Umm…h-hello. My name is Orihime Inoue. I-" She looked down at the card she was supposed to read off. "-was a being that got too powerful for her own good. But the only power is Reio-sama, and now every day I repent for my sins." She wanted to cry, but that would've ruined the ruse. She and Akon wore heavy collars, like they were dogs, just to signify that they were on such low status now.
Akon still lacked a zanpakutou but he wasn't going to press the issue.
"And I'm Akon. Some mind that's not nearly as smart as Reio-sama, of course." He said it so neutrally that it masked how much it repulsed him too. But gambling with his power after getting it back wasn't something he wanted to risk. "Alright, enough introductions. We've got a lot to cover."
Luckily he had practically memorized the lesson plan. A more rigorous, less forgiving version of what Isshin or Gin used to teach. For any incorrect answer Akon had to zap a student with Byakurai, low grade. He took no pleasure in it, and Orihime was thankful someone could do it. Was this going to be her life for the foreseeable future?
"It's like….we learned in school," she whispered when the students were reading a passage. "These….kinds of regimes."
"I can assure you that you're not going to be in much contact with your former club members," Akon said mildly. "Probably just Ichigo Kurosaki."
Of course, the new lesson plan would "educate" every student about their society's enemies. It started with past ones like Sosuke Aizen ("The Mastermind"), Mayuri Kurotsuchi ("The Twisted Clown") and Juha Bach ("The False God"), etc. and finally…..the newest enemies. Kisuke Urahara ("The Calculating"), Oetsu Nimaiya ("The Sword Heretic"), and Kirio Hikifune ("The Gourmet Heretic").
Orihime struggled to keep her voice steady on "The Eldrich"….Yachiru herself.
"S-She…was a former member of the 11th Division. Over the years she assembled a crew of female Shinigami to socialize with, called the NSWA. But she lost her sense of position. She asserted herself as equals to every commander. She had a deep grudge against the society for not giving her enough control to do all she wished. She near brought Soul Society to ruin. Do not…..do not let appearance fool you."
For a second Orihime stared at the picture of Yachiru supplied. She was smiling brightly, like she did so long ago.
"She…..she is a reckless monster. Left uncontrolled for so long made the darkest part of her personality arise from the depths and seek all chaos. To her, it is either her way or no way."
The emotions were surging through Orihime; sadness for painting one of her once dearest friends in such a way. Anger that it had gotten to this point. Resentment that Yachiru did have a part in all of this happening. Hatred that this would be her life now. Brainwashing people.
"She…." Orihime ripped the picture off the board. "Is the enemy! LOOK AT HER! She must be..must be….d…d-d-d….."
"Oi, you okay?" a concerned Akon asked. Orihime couldn't finish her sentence because her head was spinning. She was falling into another haze. "Inoue!"
"HIME-CHAN! TELL ME WHAT HE DID TO YOU RIGHT NOW!"
Yachiru's raw anger directed at her. She could see her face clearly.
"You're first, but soon, it'll be all of us. Do you want that? Do you want a world where we're just puppets with no free will at all?"
She numbly felt Akon sit her down in a chair while he rushed to conclude the lesson. But in the haze she saw something else…..herself, trapped while she was manlipulated by the Soul Queen. All the punishments she had mentally repressed.
"TELL ME!"
The spell was breaking. All the scenes she saw, heard, felt Yachiru besides her. What was going on? She raised her hand to look at it. But in the place of the Soul King insignia…was another symbol. The hearts Yachiru wielded when she fought Juha Bach.
"Inoue, snap out of it!"
"Akon-san….?"
Everything snapped back to normal. She was lying on a bench just outside the classroom. She looked at her hand, and it was the same as it once, with the Soul King insignia. But she knew she had seen it switch to the heart.
"What the hell was that? You're not supposed to draw anymore attention!"
"Oh, silly me! I just need some ice." Orihime laughed and sat up. "I'm sorry Akon-san, I…..just had an episode I guess."
"Clearly," he replied, not bothering to guess what she was hiding. "I'll treat you so you don't have to go to the infirmary. Hurry."
"Wait! What about the lesson?"
"Done for now, now it's time for drills."
But there one final thing that was bothering Orihime, if the new lessons and the warped memories she was reliving were any indication. "Why. Why all of this effort if it's as simple as flipping a switch?"
"I can't say for sure. There's multiple theories."
"Theories?"
If it was truly so simple, why WOULDN'T they just brainwash all of us? A part of it has to be the level of strength and mind. Those weaker, or those experiencing doubt and uncertainty….are easier pray. We're the old guard now. We've screwed up so many times but it was the fear of seeing what could be…..that made us submit of our own will. Perhaps that's more gratifying in the long run.
Akon pulled Orihime along.
Or maybe it's just less taxing. Do they really have to hide anything anymore, when Orihime isn't a God and Yachiru vanished from our sights? I gotta figure all of this out.
In a way, the middle-ranked Shinigami painfully envied their stronger counterparts.
They were in charge of the Living World itself - fighting stronger Hollows but at least they could see a bright world deeming with fragile life. For the C-ranked Shingami, their domain was still the wasteland of the former Rukongai. Despite no souls no longer having residency there, it was still horrible and depressing.
"We've rounded up another pack! Expedite this batch, hurry!"
Per usual they would fight the Hollows that flocked to the wasteland. But the Hollows were getting stronger. Faster. More aggressive. Each newly konso'd soul was at risk of being consumed on the spot.
"W-Where am I?! What is this?!" cried out one such arrival. "Grandpa? Grandma? Are you here?"
Chad hated this job but other Shinigami coveted his ability to stay calm and soothe anyone in distress. The towering man crouched down and stared into the girl's eyes.
"This is the Soul Society, the place where people go beyond death. Shinigami like us protect you and guide you to the next phase of the cycle."
"W-What will I do?" The girl looked at his blade. "N-No, I don't want to fight!"
"It's for survival," Chad explained. "You will be trained to protect others."
"But but….this is not heaven! All I learned under the Lord's teachings…."
This was another frustrating part of it all. There was no way to predict who would remember what from their past life, and if they did, those who were religious couldn't handle the truth. Briefly Chad wondered if his own grandfather was of the faith.
"It's….it's just a LIE!" The girl screamed. She quickly turned and ran. Another part Chad hated. But he couldn't let anyone become part of a Hollow's diet, either. He caught up to her with ease and gently grabbed her shoulder. "LET ME GO! PLEASE!"
"No." he insisted. "I won't let you throw it away. It's a lot to take in, I understand that." He pulled her back and looked down at her. "But you do not want the alternative."
"A-Alternative….?"
He quickly moved the both of them out of the way, right as one Adjuchas crashed into the ground. It screeched in agony before it was bombarded with slashes. Then the Shinigami in question jumped up and shot lightning right into its mask, splitting it. Finally, it vaporized in a mixture of wails and screams. The whole time the frightened girl clutched Chad's robes.
"There goes another one." Candice Catnipp flexed her claw blades and licked the blood around her lips. "You gonna wet yourself, newbie? This is your choice - being one of us or one of these monsters' lunch."
"I-I-…" she looked so scared. "The first one…"
"Good." Candice threw a talisman at her, which bound to her forehead and quickly teleported her to the land above. "C'mon Sado, before the rest of the squad bitches at us."
"Catnipp, that was a poor way of going about it."
"You're sugarcoating it," Candice fired back. "There's no joy in this. This is a shitty hellhole that they better learn how to fight, or else they die! Even if….they're…..defenseless…."
Chad calmly approached but dared not to touch her. "You're still thinking about your cat," he whispered. "I'm sorry what happened to him."
"…"
"Kaiser II was a good cat. I know a lot of people didn't know about him but…..I did."
"Shut up." Candice grabbed Chad's collar and pulled him down. "I don't need your pity, or anyone else's. Do you hear me? Because I'm not gonna repeat it."
"Do you blame her?" It was clear on who he meant. This got him released. Chad watched carefully at the shift in Candice's expression.
"…..no," she mumbled. "But it's not like she'll come back just to give me a new cat. I don't want one. Better if Kaiser was dead then be a part of all this. We had some good times but the party's over now. Good for us, right? Because I definitely wanted a repeat of fucking Silbern."
"….."
Candice turned and walked on. "Move your ass, Sado. We're the special ones. We draw attention we're gonna pay for it more than we already have."
"Right. Sorry."
But the thundergirl looked back at him. Rather somberly. "Thank you…..for watching him."
A greater loss for another Shinigami was harder to get over. She had lost two of her dear brothers years ago and assumed the third was gone forever. Neliel reunited with Bawabawa but only for so long, and seeing his dead body had made her inconsolable.
The society's patience would only run so far. This worried the Shinigami assigned with "curing" her.
"N-Neliel-san….are you ready to talk?"
She stared, blankly at Hanataro from the chair in the middle of the room. While an A ranked Shinigami and thus one of the most prized assets, she was also a part of Yachiru's former entourage. There was only so much mercy the society would give to an uncooperative Shinigami.
"Talk….? Why. What's the point?"
"Well…you can't live like this." Hanataro pitifully looked at her numb eyes, red from endless tears. "I want to help you deal with your grief."
"…you saw him."
"H-Huh?"
"When you all first met me in Hueco Mundo. Don't you remember….we all rode on his back? How he fled once the guardian showed up?"
"I do." Hanataro didn't like where this was going.
"How I didn't even think of him in the midst of it all…..once the war was over, I assumed he was lost like P….P-P…." she sniffled. "Pesche and Dondachakka. I was ready to move on, but…..we met again in Hueco Mundo."
"What….did he say?" the healer wondered. He also tried to imagine him saying words and not growling like a worm would. Neliel's honey eyes filled with more tears as she recalled his words faithfully:
"Nel….you didn't abandon me. I left you in your time of need. I vowed….I would change. I would evolve. And I would fight for you, Nel." She sobbed into her hands. "Bawabawa!"
"Neliel-san….."
"I d-di…..n-never…SAID GOODBYE!" she wailed. "AGAIN! WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?! I HAVE TO LOSE EVERYTHING I EVER LOVED?!" Hanataro tried to approach, but she suddenly seized his hands and glared at him. "He was locked up! They treated him like an ANIMAL!"
There was the elephant in the room that had to be addressed. Would it make any difference to Neliel Tu Oderschvank how her brother died? Where would the blame fall? Hanataro had to try and seek it out.
"How he…..?" Neliel released him, stunned by the question. "….them."
"Them?"
"Bawabawa would still be alive if he wasn't treated so horribly. He would still be….." She started to shake with raw anger. "They tortured him for information because he was the enemy. Just think…a long time ago…..that was me. And Grimmjow. And Stark. And Harribel!"
Hanataro said nothing to interrupt.
"We were the Hollows. We were the Arrancar. But we never chose our fates. All of you….." Neliel remembered one Shinigami in particular. "A-A-All…..of you….!"
"We worked with you. You were Arrancar yes, but…..you were still people. Souls." Hanataro tapped his pen. "Is there someone you're thinking of, Neliel-san?"
"…..Him." her voice cracked. "He's gone too. He's….who…I loved…."
"Loved? Did you ever tell…..?"
The anguish on her face said otherwise. "I knew it in my heart. He was the person I wanted to be with, forever. But I guess I'm not meant to be happy like that. No brothers, and no true love."
"Neliel-san…."
"They want you to fix me, right?" Neliel crossed her arms. "I'm not fighting. I'm not supporting a regime that took away what I loved."
"But…..if you don't…."
"What? They can punish me all they want," she said bitterly. "If they can't give me Bawabawa back, then I'm not interested in whatever they say. If they can't admit their mistakes, then I don't care what they say. Thanks for helping me Hanataro, but…please. Just leave me alone."
Unforunately, he was caught between two rough places. He wanted to help Neliel, not just genuinely but to avoid the both of them getting punished by the society. He needed more time. But his blood would soon turn cold:
"Yamada, the boss wants to see you!"
"Oh no…"
XXXX
He covered his face with his bare hands out of pure fear.
"The hell are you doing?" Kirinji grunted.
"Sir, if you're doing to punish me, just….just make it quick!"
"Shut up!" He smacked the boy's hands away. "Listen kid, I know you're trying to do things the way you're used to, but…..this is not the 4th. Oderschvank didn't budge, did she?"
"I….w-well…." Hanataro sighed. "No. She's too heartbroken over the loss of Bawabawa and Kenpachi Zaraki. She's not gonna fight. And….to be honest…..I support her decision! No matter how strong we get…we….we're not machines that can always lift our sword."
"Tch…" Kirinji spat out his toothpick. "You're really tying my hand-"
"Doesn't her grief MEAN anything to you?!" Hanataro blurted out. "It wouldn't be like this if the Captain was still in charge!"
"Well she's not! Listen Yamada, I was the person that taught Unohana all she knew about healing!"
"You think being a healer is the same thing as sprinkling hot spring water on everything?!" Hanataro had enough of this. He would never compromise his own principles. "A healer makes sure their patient is okay, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally! You're just….some tough guy that's not listening to those in need!" Well at least if he hurts me, I made it clear….
But his superior glared down at him. "Can you really claim that you guys are the victims? When-"
"I don't care!" Hanataro snapped. "I don't care whatever Yachiru was responsible for, if you think this disallows Neliel-san or anyone else from dealing with their grief, then you're not a healer!"
"…"
"You can't have it both ways. You…." He took a breath, struggling to control himself. "…you can't be a healer for those in need but restrict it based on what someone tells you to. And if you think my brother being a criminal means I can't do my job faithfully…..then go ahead." Hanataro held out his arms. "Just arrest me."
"Goddamn it. Goddamn it!" Kirinji turned away in anger. "Why do you bleeding heart types have to do this?! You don't think I want to be a little more through? But now I can't just do whatever the people want. I have a duty. Every day it just gets more and more hard to figure out."
"Well….do you know why your teammates left the Seireitei?"
Because they finally had some guts to say enough was enough.
"Yo boss, we have a problem!" In came some asauchi. "That Iemura guy sealed the door! He's taking too long to fix that Omaeda girl!"
"Iemura-san? Oh no…."
"Are all of you 4th Division types gonna pull this?" he glared back at Hanataro. "Because you know what happens when too many people keep skirting their orders in a time like this?"
"W-What?"
"One of you is gonna be the example."
But how were conditions in the Living World, the domain the Shinigami still had to protect?
Short answer: Not good.
Skepictisim and hatred towards the Shinigami had only grown since Yachiru and Momo addressed the U.N, and with Reio's explicit threat the world was getting more frightened and rasher. The looming presence of this once unknown God had given the enemy a face. A Shinigami on patrol wouldn't have to look far to see posters of Reio or any of his "police force" that didn't sign the accords. They were treated as invaders, and as such…..attacked. But that was precisely what horrified Toshiro Hitsugaya so much.
He was hurt. Hurt by a bullet.
"I don't understand, Hyorinmaru….they can see us but their tools aren't supposed to work…." He ripped off his sleeve to tie it around the wound on the shoulder. "How is this happening?"
His zan was keeping watch. This was a bustling city, and within seconds of being spotted the entire police force chased after Toshiro.
"I don't know. Those Hollows with the pulsating masks….perhaps their presence has destabilized this realm. Or maybe the strange barrier Reio inacts has caused it?"
Thankfully, a Shinigami was still stronger and able to withstand much more punishment and pain than a powerless human, but it WAS definitely concerning. If enough of them banded together, what's to say a Shinigami couldn't be killed by enough firepower?
"Scout the parameter and get back to me."
"Understood."
With his spirit gone, Toshiro retreated deeper into the alley, careful to stay hidden. He spotted a newspaper on the ground and quickly glanced through it.
This isn't good….every country has declared war on our kind. But we can't fight back. We'll just hurt them and solidify their hatred. Damn it! All this because of that stupid video!
"ATTENTION SHINIGAMI. YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR TRESPASSING. SURRENDER NOW OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES."
A searchlight and helicopter. Perfect.
He immediately jumped up the wall to dodge gunfire, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. The sirens and lights assaulted his senses but he pressed on. Any Hollows he saw he made sure to deteour and dispatch of them quickly. He knew Hyorinmaru would come back to him.
"STOP! YOU ARE AN ENEMY OF THE STATE!"
"I'm not your enemy, the Hollows are!" Thinking quickly he used his sword's power to freeze the guns aimed at him. But too many had cornered him, all armed at that. "Damn it, I don't have to time to entertain this!"
He flash-stepped away to avoid more gunfire.
XXXX
"Ha….ha….."
Now under a highway pass he was able to catch his breath. But Toshiro had seen so many hate-filled faces, condemning him for just existing how he was. Frustrated he drew his sword at the ground.
"Captain….."
"M….Matsumoto? What are you doing here-this isn't your sector."
"Oh Captain!" She ran over to hug him, and it was apparent she was also scuffed by artillery fire. "I had to get away, I can't do this! One of them hit me with a taser!"
"What the hell is that?"
Rangiku sniffled. "It electrocutes you….it didn't hurt that much but I was trying to reason with them! Everyone either tries to kill you or runs screaming from you!" She set her own sword down. "Let's just hide for a bit."
"We can't hide for so long, Matsumoto."
"Well what's the alternative, Captain?"
"Don't….." he shook his head. "…don't keep calling me that. We're not part of the 10th anymore. The Gotei we know is dead."
"….You're still my Captain," Rangiku whispered. "…..mind if I….tell you something?"
Toshiro didn't look so interested but he didn't stop her either.
"This morning…woke up with some cramping, some…..bleeding…..my head was pounding….something felt wrong."
"…..?"
Rangiku was quiet for a few moments. "I was too scared to go to the medics but…..I think….I t-think…..I…"
"Matsumoto….don't. Don't stress yourself out like that. Why don't we try to finish our work today, and….we can talk about it later. Not when the police are shooting at us."
"How am I going to tell Gin?" she asked. It pained Toshiro to see his subordinate-no, his dear friend in a state of agony. She needed to sort it out, but not in a world where every second equated to another gun being shoved in their face.
"I'd help you," he promised. "But nothing is wrong with you, Matsumoto. You….you can't get yourself worked up right now. Both of us need to do our jobs."
"For how long?!" she exclaimed, frustrated. "Sooner or later one of us is going to have to defend ourselves, and once we cut down someone…things will just get worse."
"Don't you think I know that?!" Toshiro snapped back. "….we need to find that Yukio kid. He started all of this. He put us on the defensive. Then, of course, Yachiru had to make it worse." Both sensed discussing the pink-haired girl would only cause more stress so they left it at that. Rangiku hugged her former Captain one last time before heading off.
Matsumoto…..I wish I knew how to help you…
XXXX
Eventually when she was back on the job (now patrolling a stretch of Australia), Rangiku was stopped by one face she couldn't escape no matter how hard she tried - Haineko.
"Listen and listen good, Thundertits. With all this crap going on, and nothing making sense, I figure we focus on the one thing we CAN get a lead on…..surviving. If you die, I die, remember?"
"Tch. We're supposed to be working, not having a chat. I'm leaving."
"You want Bankai or not?!"
That made Rangiku freeze immediately. She turned to the cat with wide eyes.
"Let's get it done before it's too late," Haineko spat. "Then we'll both be sorry."
Finally Nemu had recovered, but she dimly wondered what she would even do. Her zanpakutou was still in custody. No doubt being the one to defend Yachiru and accuse Reio had earned her some negative points; she was fitted with a very uncomfortable collar.
Like the one he gave me….
The Materion led her across the compound. She hated looking at the weaker Shinigami forced as building muscle. And she dared not look at back at the Holy Tower. It took no effort to rebuild that, but Reio had been seen since his announcement. The less she could see her foe, the more anxious she was.
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded.
She winced. The remains of what was once the 12th. Like the tower it had been reconstructed very quickly.
XXXX
Some of the familiar faces she used to command looked at her in either pity or sorrow. Nemu knew she wasn't going to be offered any kind of leadership position. Once guided to an empty room with a table and chairs, she was directed to sit in one of them. The guards vanished.
"Hello….?"
"Hello, Nemu-san."
Was she dreaming? Of all people, of ALL Shinigami, it was Nanao Ise who entered the room to sit down across from her. Nemu didn't understand what was happening.
"I'm glad to see that you're well. It's been….a lot to process."
"Nanao, what is this? Why are you here and not on the field?"
The reminder of her lower rank wounded Nanao for a moment, but she composed herself. "I'm part of a bigger change. The Seireitei will be putting in new measures to maintain order. After all, we still have our enemies in Hueco Mundo, the SSS, and the Reigai to defeat. Effective today a police force will be working with the A+ Shinigami as an interim between the Royal Guard and regular individuals."
"Excuse me? Have you missed everything that happened with Yachiru and Urahara-san?"
"Have you? You've been recovering for a whole day," Nanao replied. "Whatever unity we have left….must be used to survive and defeat our foes."
"So you're siding with them," Nemu concluded. "Nanao, why?"
"Why?" The former vice-president placed a box on the table. Inside were stacks and stacks of logs, reports, and other information Nanao had written over the years. "I chose to obey, not die. I avoid punishment in exchange in cooperating with this new society."
"S-Some of this is the club log!"
"You really didn't think I don't make copies of my work, right?"
Nemu's eyes flashed with anger. It certainly didn't faze Nanao. "You're….selling all of us out?"
"No, I am not. Open your eyes, Nemu, and be reasonable. You're highly intelligent, you always were. What our president did…." Nanao couldn't mention the name. "…accelerated things to this point. There was the chance Reio-sama would be more lenient if she didn't make those decisions on a whim. You saw the poll. It was a near 50-50 split of disapproval towards her."
"Disapproval, not treachery! You're spitting on the entire club just to save your hide!"
"She did the same thing just to exert her own anger!" Nanao snapped back. "She didn't consult you or me when it came to the newspaper situation. What does that tell you, Nemu?! There is no more NSWA!"
Nemu flinched. It was true. Even if Yachiru wasn't gone, there was no way the club would ever form again.
"We had enough fun…and now, we're paying the price."
"Why did they let you work with them, anyway?" Nemu scowled. "You're as much of an accessory to Yachiru's actions as I am. They'd suspect you of foul play from the start."
"…..would they?" Nanao whispered. "Do you know what made me so different from our former president?"
"…?"
"Doing my Captain's work. Organizing events. Calling meetings. I was the one that took care of things behind the scenes. Unlike her there's only so much I can be affront about. In many regards…..I was good at being invisible."
"That's insane!"
Nanao decided to challenge her. "There's one thing I've only told a few individuals. A story. Would you like to hear it?"
"Do I have a choice? You're moving to a point."
"Once upon a time….there was a street orphan in the ruins of Rukongai. He hated begging just to eat, but he knew the only way to survive was to fall into line. He tried to catch a Shinigami's attention, to hopefully impress them and live in their citadel. One took an interest, and every day he would thank her for it. He was young. He learned fast. He breezed through the academy, and had an awakening the day he unlocked the powers of his zan."
"…"
Nanao smiled. "Desires and dreams she pondered about became a reality. But the only way to avoid having too many eyes was to learn how to fall into line, once again. I suppose in the process this individual did get lonely, and allowed herself to have fun."
"Nanao….."
"Anyways, I will never forget our happy memories in the club. But the problem was…..we allowed herself to be swept in the whims of our president. To be something other than what we were used to. While it brought us closer…..do you want all of us to die pointless deaths?"
"Reio wouldn't off all of us," Nemu countered. "Why drain valuable strong zanpakutou wielders?"
"Right. But here I am, at C rank. I have less to offer physically, so my brainpower shall have to do. All to survive. Do you want the same fate?"
Nemu looked at the door. "This new security force is looking for signs for Yachiru right now, isn't it?"
"To do otherwise would compromise myself and give our superiors a reason to punish me. And what reason do I have to not do it?"
"BECAUSE SHE IS YOUR FRIEND!" Nemu exploded. She was only willing to subside her disappointment in Nanao so much. She expected members to doubt and even condemn what Yachiru did, but she had to make them see who the real villain was. "She'd…..she'd never forgive you!"
"…..am I expected to forgive her for what she did?"
"Nanao!"
"We all have consequences to deal with!" Nanao shouted. "I am sorry, Nemu. But it will be the most painful lesson for Yachiru to face. …..she'll have to live with what she did to Sakumo…..whenever she knows it happened. You are still my friend. I have no wish for you to suffer needlessly."
"…I'm sorry, too. But someone still needs to believe in her. The one who brought us all together. Would we be friends if she wasn't around?"
Nanao seemed saddened by the question. "No. You've forced my hand, sadly."
"Do what you will." Nemu let the tears fall. "I won't hold it against you."
Soon Ichibe Hyosube had entered it. The space within the tower that currently housed Reio and the remains of his broken family. He waited, calmly, until the voice of his master spoke to him.
"How fares it….Hyosube?"
"My liege," he bowed. "The Soul Society has to transition quickly into the new way of doing things. I can tell there's some friction but….I suspect many won't keep resisting. Losing those two really cut down on our productivity."
"I cannot even locate them," said Reio's voice. "This only complicates matters. But with the rising tension across the worlds, they will be forced to show themselves soon enough. As for myself…."
Ichibe frowned. "Yachiru's power. If she had defeated all of us, would she have…." He let the thought go unanswered. On both sides of the void he saw the crystals housing the Soul Queen and Soul Princess, respectivefully.
"She has put things in a tight spot." Ichibe heard Reio panting. "I must regain the power I lost. Every second and every atom in this world riddled with her essence causes me pain. But she is gone, and now I have no reason to tiptoe these matters! It's not too late!"
The Division 0 leader was flummoxed by how giddy his master sounded. When he had first met the winners of the war, he was calm and firm. All the developments in the Seireitei had gradually caused the shell to crack more and more. Reio was vulnerable. A poison for any God.
"Not too late…everything is wrong, Hyosube! Two mortals have gotten the power to topple a God, with the second one coming so close!"
"I agree, it is quite concerning. We're trying to locate Yachiru as fast as we can, but it seems Hikifune hid her well."
Suddenly Reio's face emerged, eyes bloodshot with a mix of panic and rage.
"Keep trying. I do not have total autonomy. You all must destroy whoever's remaining faith in that girl. Doubt breeds resentment, and it applies both ways. Even before claiming her unnatural power her words and demeanor have swayed the hearts of too many souls. She was a cancer that spread too far for the sancity of my domain!"
"Y-Yes, sire. What does the dead Soul Prince mean for….um, your domain?"
The look on his lord's face was not one he had seen before. "One missing, three remaining. It's not balanced. IT'S NOT BALANCED! I CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT THE BALANCE! You know what to do, don't you?!"
"Yes, I do!" He quickly bowed again and left the void.
XXX
Soon he met with the two remaining Royal Guard members and filled them in on the current situation. Kirinji seemed quite unsure on how to proceed but Shutara was more prepared. She laid out some files she had.
"Simply put, enough time has been wasted. We must galvanize our forces to solidify Reio's dwindling might. Yachiru Kusajishi and our former comrades are one issue, but we mustn't forget the Hollow army led by Arturo Plateado. Another society has emerged in Aizen's absence."
"But where do we strike first?"
"If we split up too soon before the society has become concrete, all will fail," Shutara replied. "The Shinigami have had enough leisure. Training and Hollow patrol will be the only things they shall do. Think of how more effective this force would've been if they didn't have their stupid clubs!"
Kirinji considered their….compromised original plan. "So, a no on that?"
"There's not enough time to make this work now. Yachiru has meddled enough. Solidfying the resentment towards her will motivate them all."
"You didn't cook as well as Hikifune," he said. Unforunately this clearly got under Senjumaru Shutara's skin.
"I followed the instructions to the LETTER, how dare you! We don't need Hikifune. And besides, what does it matter now? It feeds into our narrative of conspirary."
But Kirinji was thinking of the one Shinigami he had personal affinity for. After being silent for a while, Ichibe took his lack of a reply to proceed.
"Nimaiya and Hikifune will be the hardest to stop. But no matter. I will make them show themselves with the simple order Reio-sama has entrusted me with. There's another way to correct the balance of the worlds. To restore Reio-sama's full power!"
N-No…..he's not thinking of…..
"Do not proceed too fast, Hyosube. Our timing is critical. The hysteria in the Living World is drawing more and more people to the realm of the death, all to unlock the mysteries of the Shinigami they envy." Shutara smiled, and it scared Kirinji. "Just more soldiers to carry out Reio-sama's will."
"Indeed! I suppose this meeting is dismissed for now. Have a good night!"
But nightfall came and went, with exhausted Shinigami heading home to whatever remained of their former domicles. Many were just glad to sleep on something, no matter how uncomfortable it was. Kirinji waited and waited.
Finally, when he knew that Jushiro Ukitake was asleep…..he appeared at the hut that housed Retsu Unohana. The former healer Captain was still awake, looking at the stars.
"They're quite beautiful, aren't they?"
"Yeah…just felt like showing up, doing patrol."
"That's fine," Retsu said. "If you're trying to investigate me of wrongdoing, I only ask that you wait until morning. I'm quite tired and wish to get a good sleep."
She's a far cry from the woman I saved in the fire. She doesn't wear that braid during the daytime anymore. That warmth all the patients felt from her…..gone with everything else, I guess.
"Nah, you're fine. We have guards for that. Your uh….better half doing all right?" Just as he asked he heard coughing from inside. Retsu looked to the door solemnly.
"I wonder if it's coming back."
But…..the hotspring was supposed to heal him….
"Oh! I am sorry, Kirinji-san, may I offer you some tea? After cashing in all the credits my work has achieved, I do have a fair amount saved up."
"No….that's okay. This morning, when you woke up…..you feel something….wasn't right?"
"….."
"No?"
"Why do you think I'm still the amateur you trained?" Retsu asked, her face hidden by the shadow of her hair. "Of course I felt it. I've been healing many aliments for centuries."
"And you're not just gonna react to it happening?"
"Should I? Hardly any time has passed since the initial news."
Kirinji's toothpick snapped in half. Enraged, he forced the woman to standing level so he could give her a mouthful, like he often did during her apprentice days: "But it's what you wanted! It should bother you plenty, Unohana! Don't you dare start being apathetic to me, it's not how I trained you!"
He saw it, but for only a second - the sorrow she was masking underneath. She could fool every other Shinigami with a mask of polite dignity, but not him. "I don't want any child if it means growing up in a world like this."
"You…YOU DON'T MEAN THAT! STOP LYING TO YOURSELF!"
"Please do not wake up my husband," she whispered. "I haven't told him, after all."
"Do…..do something more than THIS! CRY! SCREAM! YELL! YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO!" He shook her, but Retsu refused to let the mask snap. "CALL ME GARBAGE IF YOU HAVE TO!"
"Please leave me alone, Master. I would rather save my energy for….well, being a Shinigami. And being a Shinigami in this world means serving commands without trouble."
"You…..you have to fight your old Vice-Captain…your THIRD SEAT is going to be in trouble for skirting orders! DO SOMETHING!"
Retsu opted to head inside and close the door, leaving Kirinji to stand alone in the moonlight.
"Today I'm going to teach you empathy and the value of a life! No more cutting things down! I'm going to make you the best healer this world has ever seen!"
"Why? I have more fun living my life like this, fufu."
"Because what fun can you have when everything you care about is dead?! Any braindead moron can kill, but it takes someone of TRUE strength to save a life. Retsu's your name, right? You'll need a good surname….
….Unohana! Part of it means flower, or something. Might soothe folks. And quite smiling so creepily! Here, like this…."
Across the Seireitei stood another cheap abode. Orihime was grateful she was allowed to be with Ichigo, but it came with a very steep price - interacting with the rest of the Kurosaki family (former NSWA members at that) was not to be allowed. She only had so many credits but she couldn't just leave Ryunnosuke and Shino out in the cold either.
"O-Orihime-sama, thank you so much…."
"Shino-chan." Orihime's order was firm. "Do not ever call me that. You'll get in trouble." And she wondered if Loly and Menoly would be alright for the same reason. In their cramped home she set out to prepare the best dinner she knew how. After all, wasn't she still a housewife? She waited as patiently as she could, and finally-
"I'm home."
"I-Ichigo-san! You look…."
Ichigo collapsed into a chair, breathing heavily. He carefully set down his sword before collecting himself and looking over at the others. But without his father, his sisters, his cousins and more, he only looked upset. He knew he couldn't live with them now but there was always the hope.
"I-Ichigo….." Orihime stepped over to hug him. "I prepared dinner for you."
"Thanks, Hime. Ryu, Shino….mind if you two give us some privacy for a second?"
"U-Understood, Ichigo-dono!" they both exclaimed before cramming themselves into a closet. Orihime sighed but chose to sit down across from him. Her food was still something to eat, and Ichigo found himself eating all he could. Bean paste spaghetti with sprinkles.
"Ichigo….you've been working hard the whole day, fighting Hollow after Hollow…." Hot spring or not she could always tell where his wounds were, how heavy he carried himself. "I'm…..just glad to see you alive….!"
Ichigo finished his plate, lamenting he didn't have his father to tell a bad joke or sisters to scold him for bad table manners. "I can't die, Hime. Even if all the Hollows in the world come after me, I…..can't do it. There's too much at stake." His eyes locked onto her symbol of oppression. "I can't give up fighting. For all of our sakes."
"I h-haven't seen Tatsuki-chan….or Uryu-san….or Sado-kun…."
"Don't worry. They're watching over us like we're watching over them." Ichigo leaned back. "So tell me what's really on your mind."
"I…"
Ichigo stopped her, knowing full well anything she said could only get them into more trouble. "Eh, we can discuss it later."
"Tell me what you think about Yachiru!" she blurted out.
"What….?"
"Tell me what's the right answer! I…..I can't stop thinking about her. Seireitei is probably divided over her. W-What does Tatsuki think?"
"Orihime, stop!" Ichigo got up. "It doesn't matter. Yachiru's gone. So is Kenpachi, Kon, Urahara, those girls, that sword guy, and that food woman. They're not coming back. We can hate all of them or we can forgive them, but it's not going to fix the mess we're in now. So I won't waste energy thinking about them. You gotta do the same."
"I can't!" Orihime cried. "I…after all we've been through, together…..!"
"Your happy memories can't keep us alive," Ichigo said grimly. "Most were our friends but if we hold onto them, we won't see the end of the month. We still have each other. I'd rather not gamble on them only to lose Karin or Yuzu or…." His eyes became pained.
"I…..I understand," she said quietly. Ichigo let their houseguests out and dragged both of them into the washroom to get ready for bed. She took Ichigo's dish over to the sink and washed it…..then stared outside the window. A Materion was looking back, if only to confirm her curview. Once it was gone she looked over to Zangetsu. Shinigami could only release their spirit to fight, not in off time. They were just as much as the oppressed as the Shinigami.
Then she decided to take it out, and chop off her long locks to make her hair shoulder-length.
"My name is Orihime Kurosaki," she said to herself. "Member of….Reio-sama's domain."
Things were grimmer at the domicle housing Byakuya and Rukia Kuchiki. Their adopted brood, Shizuku and Homura, had fallen in line to be polite, obedient academy students. Both knew full well the academy had conditioned them to put Reio above all else.
But what could they even do?
"We'll wash the dishes, Rukia-sama, Byakuya-sama." They said in perfect unison, leaving both Kuchikis alone in their now smaller dining room. They shared a glance of equal meaning.
"Do you intend to cooperate in that trial?"
"Do you intend to be this….A+ interim between our comrades and the Royal Guard?"
"Yes," Byakuya answered calmly.
"Then you have my answer," Rukia answered back. "I see no problem unless one contradicts the other. I will still fight Hollows." She clasped her hands in the same manner Byakuya did. It normally would marvel him how much she had come to mirror his own noble, polite mannerisms…..but losing her was something he feared. Just like Rukia feared Don Kanonji being executed because of her own actions.
"…I wish you good luck, Rukia."
"Stop being so formal!" Rukia suddenly snapped. "Things won't be the same and you know it. Upstairs he…..he's…..he's not going to make it, is he?!"
"….."
"His health has only gotten worse and worse, ever since he was put back into the field! He's my family as much as he is yours! How long does he have?!" Rukia got louder. "Don't let him die without closure!"
Wordlessly Byakuya went to see his weak grandfather. Taking the new role thrust upon him was the price he paid to get Ginrei to stop fighting. He knew he didn't have much time left. He wanted to his final moments to be in the Soul Society at home, not dying to Hollows in some random sector of the Living World.
And there he stood near his grandfather's bed. Byakuya took note to how frail and weak Ginrei really was….his breathing was ragged, his skin pale, face covered in sweat.
"Bya…..kuya…"
"Grandfather." Byakuya took the seat adjacent to the bed. "I am sorry. Sorry you had to see our noble clan reduced the shell it is now. And I'm sorry…..you were thrust out of retirement. It proved to be too much…for your health…."
"Sorry…? Byakuya….." With all his dwindling strength he grabbed his grandson's hand. "Don't….apologize. You…..became a fine Shinigami…and made all of us…proud…."
"Grandfather….."
"It is I who must…..apologize….." Ginrei Kuchiki had served the Gotei faithfully for centuries, long before Byakuya's rise in the 6th. He had seen many good men come and go, including his dear son. "….for being…..such a burden…..on you…..but…this is not how…an old man…..like me…..can live….."
"Don't force your words, please."
Ginrei was a strong man that taught Byakuya disclipine and how to be a leader. But now, he was an elderly man on the last leg of his journey, filled with sadness and pain. "…..I…..won't be a help to…..you anymore….."
"Grandfather, I….."
"Listen! Listen…." Ginrei coughed quite heavily before finding his voice again. "Byakuya…..I leave all things Kuchiki in your hands. Even if the clan is not the same, it…..it will always be a part of you. You've made me very happy, and I want you to tell Rukia-chan the same thing. Those kids, Shizuku and Homura…give them my regards as well."
"I…..I took this position because-"
"Hush, boy! Let an old man finish his words! The Soul Society…..can you hear it? It cries out, begging for mercy. The pain felt by the Shinigami will not be erased….by smoke and mirrors!"
He suddenly ripped his robe open to show Byakuya his fragile crest, how it struggled with every breath he took. His time was almost up.
"They can hide the pain. They can mask the pain. But the truth of the matter is…..it was people that made the Gotei 13 so powerful! If they want to crush our will…then they have to crush everyone's. That is not a society!"
"….."
"Byakuya….there…there is one thing…..I must tell you…something…..I trust…you won't be careless with. Something…..my mind is remembering….."
"What…..what is it?"
Ginrei's hold on his grandson tightened as hard as it could be. He had to tell him, before the memory would be lost forever. It was a dark memory that only became clear in his mind with each step he got closer to the grave. And from the sheer audaciousness of it all…..it was something everyone was not privy to.
"Do not…..dismiss it as….rambling…trust these next words….with your life!"
Byakuya listened to the memory. And in that moment, he was eternally glad he has given this chance to see his grandfather die on his own terms, undisturbed. A just reward for the both of them not causing trouble for the regime.
"Can Shinigami live like beasts, Byakuya? Do we not have the right….to live our lives how we wish?!" Ginrei cried openly, unashamed. "Work hard towards that bright day, Byakuya…..when everyone can be free! I…..am counting on you…"
"Grandfather!"
Ginrei closed his eyes, and what made Byakuya finally break down, lose his coveted composure….
"Sojun…..I can finally see you again…."
Despite the time, nearly every Shinigami made their way to attend the service for Ginrei Kuchiki. No one spoke; the Kuchiki's body was placed in a casket and lowered into the ground, with a stone adorning his name and clan symbol.
The Royal Guard glanced over at the silent Byakuya. He looked back, acknowledging he would have to work hard in his new position to make up for them even bothering to allow the ceremony. But Ginrei's service was not one that would be forgotten by the older generation. Shunsui, Isshin, Jushiro, Marenoshin, Shinji, Yabao, Yoruichi, and Retsu all placed flowers on the gravesite.
Finally Byakuya removed his signature scarf and kenseikan. Both were placed neatly on the stone, along with Ginrei's zanpakutou.
"Rest well…Grandfather."
XXXXX
From a respectable distance Ichigo and Orihime watched the whole thing. They noticed how saddened Rukia looked.
"I'm going over there."
"No, Orihime. It's best if Rukia has some space to deal with this."
"But….between this and what happened with Abarai-kun…."
"Rukia's strong, remember?" Ichigo looked over at his dear friend. "She can get through this. Byakuya rubbed off on her."
"ICHIGO!" Suddenly it was Tatsuki and Chad that had ran up to them, clear panic in their eyes.
"What the hell, you guys? What's the problem?"
"Ishida, he….he decided to….!" Tatsuki turned the strawberry's face towards the Holy Tower.
Ichibe was certainly surprised by the former Quincy's request. But the boy was firm, and he accepted the ramifications of it all. He was led through cold, unforgiving halls.
"You know, you don't need to do this…."
"Shut up," Uryu said harshly. "Don't tell me what I need to do. This is my choice."
But he had willingly turned over his zanpakutou and uniform when he heard the news that Nemu would be imprisoned for refusing to bend to Reio's will or denounce Yachiru. He had no desire to support the society after all they did, to him, his friends, and most of all, his father and Quincykind being a casuality.
Putting Nemu in the mix was the step too far.
"U…..ryu…..!"
This was the room where the other dissidents would to be hung instead of getting a good night sleep. Uryu recognized plenty of 11th Division members, and perhaps it was the most significant that he saw not only Hiyori Sarugaki, but Mashiro Kuna and Kensei Muguruma. One was easy to guess, and he figured Kensei's reasons for being there were exactly his own: to not let their loved one suffer alone.
Within seconds he was subject to the same torture - body bent in a very unnatural and grueling way, with needles piercing sensitive spots - eyelids, fingernails, and so on.
"Why….?!" Nemu asked when he was floating with the rest of them. "You…..you were…."
"To do nothing…is the same as allowing them to hurt you…..!"
But across the room, two Shinigami let out a loud laugh, as loud and as much of a laugh as one could afford when one was part of a torture-filled day. Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa knew from the start that this would be their fate, and that was fine with them.
"Look at all…..these idiots, Yumi. Proud, brave idiots like me and you…..!" Ikkaku didn't care about the searing pain his body was facing or the fact that Senna would be without him, because something was giving him hope.
"How….beautiful…..I could cry, but…..well, I need something to drink." Likewise, Yumichika was unbothered by the pain he had or the fact that he couldn't see Mila Rose. He had hope for the same reason. All the members did. Division or not, they would always be part of the 11th. It just wasn't something you beat out of someone.
"The Captain…and the Vice-Captain….they're gonna save us, Yumichika. They're gonna turn the world upside down…..!"
"What if we die by then?" Yumichika wondered. Ikkaku cracked as much of a grin as he could.
"WHO CARES?! Division 0 made enemies…..with the wrong Shinigami…..! We've seen them. We've seen….what happens…..when you get them pissed off…..!"
As much as it pained the two of them physicially, they managed to turn their heads and look at each other, with the same vow - they were trusting the fates of their lives and of the whole Soul Society….to Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi. A single tear came down from each of their eyes.
But it wasn't pain.
No, it was happiness.
Happiness that even if every soul gave up on their Captain and Vice-Captain, they wouldn't. And if they could trust those two, why even worry about a broken body?
To be continued...
This is my longest chapter to date and the reason why it took so long is obvious. I had a lot of things I wanted to cover. There's one or two things I could've thrown in but it felt right to end it with such a punch.
This year...woof, it was quite a sorrow year for the NSWA saga. From Yachiru being tortured to now in exile, with everyone else going about it in different ways. I suppose this saga has always been a great magnet for those really raw emotional moments for me to channel. (I got teary writing Ginrei's final scene) But don't be sad, dear reader. Be like Ikkaku or Yumichika. Someone has to believe in Yachiru, right? 2020 will REALLY shake things up (god willing) so I hope everyone's ready. Thank you all for being so patient and sticking with this hack of a writer, even through my darker days. I'm rooting for Yachiru as much as you are.
Next time - more London time, with the trial approaching...