...So...Hello again, sorry for disappearing, but more on that in the Author's notes below, for now...I hope you enjoy and thanks for sticking around my dear followers. :)

Chapter 7:

Dark realizations: Part II

...

A few days ago…

Royal Spirit King Palace…

…

The white haori cloak that wrapped his mirth billowed in the wind as the ancient Shinigami watched downward through the clouds from the royal canopy, accompanied by his fellow royal guard.

Something had strung his nerve only for an instant, causing a minor twitch in his watchful eye as he lowly hummed to himself in curiosity–

"Hmm…"

His companion's ears had perked up to the sound–

"Eh? Something up Ichibe?"

Slurred out Tenjiro, who stopped chewing on the wheat stem that stuck out of his mouth.

"…No. Just, an oddity of fate…"

He replied, scratching his black beard idly.

It was during one of the royal guard gatherings of the soul king that he had been watching several events unfold with his sagely power, what others would see as mere clouds, the same would act as a monitor for the thousands of events that unfolded, of which none he or the royal guard interfered in whatsoever…

"That don' sound like you Ichibe bro~."

Sung out Oetsu, who adjusted his flashy shades.

"…Indeed, it involves the very same individual whose Zanpakuto had done…'That'…"

"WHA'? Tha' same dude that got one of mah' fine creations corrupted? No need to get all' 'tight lip' on me~, you should know that I always know what happens to each and one of mah' babies~, I can feel it~…So what about em'?"

…

"It is not for me to say…That is all I can mention. What I can say however…Is that the string of events has been tugged once more…Perhaps it is the soul king's will, for that is what binds me to him in both duty and power given, thus, what I see is but a pitifully tiny part of his vision."

"What else do you see Ichibe?"

Asked Senjumaru as she weaved dozens of fabric carpets with her multiple golden mechanical limbs, experimenting with different threads infused with differing amounts and types of spiritual essence.

"…I fear that there is a chance we may have a new government downstairs*, overthrowing the previous…"

"What? That's…So out of place, how could something like that possibly happen?"

Breathed out Kirio who munched on her thirtieth cereal bar.

"As I said…The strings of fate have been tugged, and; forgive me if this may come out as pessimistic, but if it turns out that the results are bad enough…It may actually give reason for us to consider the land beneath the royal palace to be…An actual threat to the Soul King and his will…Which means…"

"We'll have to get involved…"

Finished Tenjiro.

Ichibe breathed out in contemplation–

"Perhaps…Perhaps not."

"Wha' dat' mean yo?"

Ichibe was going to respond but Senjumaru interjected–

"It means what it means Oetsu, the fact that it's far too soon to tell…"

Responded Senjumaru as she already finished several different fabric samples and had folded them on one of her arms, layer by layer.

"All I know…Is that it may be a sad day, when the founding clans fight amongst one another, with the people in between fighting amongst themselves for banal and trivial reasons…Or perhaps for a justice they long to see…Then again, change is inevitable."

"Sounds crass man~."

"Call me cynical, but ain't that because things weren't done right on the 'get go' by the founding clans?"

"Tenjiro! You mustn't speak like that."

Reprimanded Kirio but–

"…Maybe."

At Ichibe's response, they all turned to look at the soul king's closed chamber in the distance, its tall pearlescent doors shut, guarding the center of everything itself…They watched momentarily, all silent in their own thoughts…

Ichibe knew of course that Tenjiro meant no disrespect, but more likely spoke truth…Of which it was a matter of time before it would be spilt into the ears of all, willingly or not…

So strange…Is it your will? Your Highness?

…

...

…

Meanwhile…

Seireitei...

1st Division sector...

Captain's meeting hall…

…

Kosei held the crown high above for all to see, and gave a ghost of a grin for the infinitesimal change in demeanor of the three suspects in the room in recognition of the object, then he lowered it, satisfied with the results–

"What is that?"

Asked the head captain behind him.

"…An ancient artifact of unknown origin, but it perhaps looks like a Neolithic period copper based crown from the human world as its spiritual make up seems to suggest…But Captain Kurotsuchi will be able to analyze it and give more definite resul–"

"–The meeting was called for 'This?!' You dare risk my sister's life and come back virtually empty handed!?"

Hollered out Byakuya Kuchiki suddenly angrily though without losing his noble posture.

"Calm yourself Captain Kuchiki~, it's very unlike you to get so riled up~."

Said Sosuke Aizen while curling his lip derisively in the form of a calm smile, though it did not go unnoticed, which furthered Byakuya's unsettled demeanor. Kosei looked at Aizen with a slight narrowing of his eyes.

Masterful manipulator and opportunistic…

Byakuya glared at the captain with cold animosity–

"No. If Lt. Zayuuri hasn't come to any conclusions about his 'rash' suspicions of the court, then I believe this meeting is as good as futile. I have more important 'clan' business to attend to."

And with a whirl of his own captain rank haori, he began walking out without another word but with a sudden 'whoosh', Saijin Komamura was looming over the captain-noble with a furious aura and glowing eyes behind his straw helmet, blocking his path–

"You dare dismiss yourself from a captain's meeting without the Captain Commander's approval!?"

It was then that Byakuya's calm stance broke, ever so slightly reaching for his sword as he glared at the larger man–

"You dare impede a founding clan noble's path forcibly?"

Saijin, upon noticing Byakuya's hand movement, also began reaching for his blade.

"Your arrogance as a 'noble' seems to know no bounds Byakuya Kuchiki, perhaps I should humble you for disrespecting the head commander so openly."

He threatened as suddenly the room looked as though it was beginning to shake with two massive, angry spiritual pressures beginning to rise; causing the very air to waver in such power…

Kosei watched as he felt their reiatsu climbing and clashing, wondering if he should say something, but despite the Head captain's words the other day, he still felt he was not in a sufficient rank position to interfere, especially publicly in front of the other higher ranked shinigami...

The two captains stared at each other in that same position as everyone else simply watched, then suddenly, an ocean of another spiritual pressure almost seemingly washed away their own, dominating theirs, making the room very literally tremble as everyone's gaze, including Kosei's, snapped right back to the head captain, whose eyes were mostly hooded as he inclined his head, staring at them in a show of mass irritation–

"Stop this foolishness immediately, Saijin Komamura, you may march right back to your post…As for you Byakuya Kuchiki, I agree that being a noble grants you such privileges, so you may leave at your behest…If you can~."

Both Byakuya and Saijin's backs were literally hunched over at the overwhelmingly reprimanding spiritual pressure that visibly wavered in the air, Saijin struggled and slouched his way back to his post slowly, almost as though he suddenly weighed literal tons, while Byakuya with a final glare at Kosei, began leaving for the door, struggling just as much as Saijin did under the weight of Yamamoto's spiritual pressure that seemed to drown and press on everyone…It was like the gravity of this world were increased a hundred-fold while the air turned thick and hot, seemingly almost unbreathable…

It reminded Kosei of a gaseous planet that was described as a place that churned in on itself with its own blistering sulfuric winds; with its paper-thin atmosphere that was crushed in under its enormous gravity…That was how he decided Genryusai Yamamoto's reiatsu felt like.

Finally, Byakuya managed to open the door and leave…With that, the mighty reiatsu vanished…And everyone let out a minor gasp, some more apparent than others, though Kosei, having been one of the people standing closest to the Captain Commander, felt insignificant all of a sudden as he had produced sweat from the simple act of standing under such magnitude.

And that's why he's head captain…To think that's just a part of his power…

"Komamura."

Rung out Yamamoto.

"Y-Yes sir?"

"I appreciate your loyalty…But as much as it may pain me to say, he is right. He holds every right to leave as he chooses. Since he is the head of one of the five…Excuse me…Four, major founding clans, he holds the rather paradoxical position of being a protector of the nobles, while also needing to be protected, being one himself…Such is the situation of the aristocratic rule and policies that claim to be the soul king's will. And so, you must never threaten a person that you, at the current moment with high priority, must actually guard…Do you understand?"

Saijin for a moment faltered but then lift his head.

"As you wish, Captain Commander."

…

Then Aizen spoke up–

"Captain Commander, you said 'At the current moment'…What, if I may ask, might you mean by that?"

The brunette high ranked Shinigami captain asked with a look so calm that both suggested he was a serious man and held an almost childlike curiosity…And it unnerved Kosei as he knew exactly why he was curious and understood Aizen's previous comment from the other meeting beforehand.

'Therefore, all those that commit actions that would hinder and harm the progression of Soul Society, are threats to Soul Society itself…Correct?'

…

He knows damned well what he meant by that…He's just putting the captain commander on the spot…Very opportunistic indeed.

…

Yamamoto simply looked at Aizen.

"Nothing…A slip of the tongue."

Aizen only closed his eyes in acceptance with no argument, a seemingly humble gesture.

"While it is unfortunate that Lt. Zayuuri came back without a hint to the threat of the court and the perpetrators behind the incident that almost had him killed, I must appreciate his valiant effort in having attempted to find such, as well as making sure he did not come back entirely empty handed, for it is indeed unusual for such an artifact to have landed in the void that is Hueco Mundo…Perhaps it is a clue, as I'm sure Captain Kurotsuchi will find out yes? On top of the results of the other specimens he brought."

The old Shinigami lift his chin quizzically at the scientist-captain of the 12th division, who simply nodded.

"Very well, good work Lieutenant, I also commend you, for having made sure of the survival of the lieutenant of the 2nd division, as well as third seat and noble, Rukia Kuchiki, risking yourself in the process."

Kosei stiffened his back strictly and bowed to the head captain.

"Your praise is accepted sir, but I feel it is too much, for I only wish I found better results…However, to show compensation, I will find another path that may lead to the truth of my investigation…If it is allowed."

Of course I 'did' find what I want…But now the challenge is–

"Very well, I recognize your determination, and it is crucial indeed that we get to the bottom of the issue with Central 46…That will be all, this meeting is adjourned."

With a 'tap' of his cane on the wooden floor, the captains began leaving one by one, some looking at Kosei in renewed curiosity, others only giving a glance before leaving as he also began to leave…

While Soifon gave him a look and slightly motioned with her chin in the direction of her division, Kosei was about to follow…

Except suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder, the very touch almost sickening him and close to giving him a strange sense of nausea, as he knew exactly who it was even before turning to look at him…

"I must also commend you…Lieutenant…I'd say you did a fine job in coming back here alive in the first place, and for your looking after of your subordinate and Lt. Omaeda, having stayed behind alone in Hueco mundo and surviving to tell about it… I find it…Admirable."

Said the captain with a gleaming leer, piercing through the sheen of his square spectacles sharply…

…

And so it begins…

…

Kosei turned around and began their little 'façade' with a smile that matched the calmness of Sosuke Aizen's, captain of the 5th division…Then gave a very subtle bow in respect to his superior in rank.

"Thank you captain, I only do my best…But I got lucky…Very, lucky…"

He emphasized without giving himself away…But staring into the hazel eyes of the betrayer…

Kosei knew…That Aizen was onto his awareness of the situation…

Now…

It was a game…That he started.

A game where, he would win, if he could find proof of Aizen's and Co's betrayal…Or…He would lose…If Aizen found another way to trap him and permanently silence him before he could find the evidence, without the Gotei 13 being the wiser…

But for some reason, Kosei had to know…

Why? Why do this?

He had a feeling that the 'game' wasn't going to simply end in one of those scenarios either…At least not so cleanly anyway.

Aizen gave a subtle laugh.

"Luck?"

Then he leaned closer to whisper.

"I think you're selling yourself short Lieutenant…'Luck' is a meager non-existent concept that those without merit and live in mediocrity can only hope to rely on for their own progression…Or an excuse for their failures…But for men like you and I…It is 'ability' and true 'insight' that paves the way to our dreams…Don't you think it is a better way of existing, rather than relying on a false, pretentious and unwilling god, such as 'luck', for example? To be in control of one's own destiny?"

…

"…With all due respect captain…You make it sound as though we can play 'fate' to our hands…For instance…I was sure that I was fated to die, at my execution…Yet I didn't…No amount of insight or ability could have told me otherwise…"

Kosei countered with a disingenuous leer at the captain.

Once more, Aizen widened his grin…

"Perhaps you're right, we cannot play fate with just insight and ability…At least, not without the right tools…"

What? Tools? What's he talking about?

But the 5th division captain continued speaking–

"Still, as Captain Hitsugaya mentioned, it is indeed impressive nevertheless that you were able to survive…I do wonder what your next move will be?"

"Yes…Admittedly, I wonder that myself, though it might just depend on the perpetrator's next move~."

Aizen hummed at that, with a hint of amusement…Then he looked over Kosei's shoulder, and inclined his chin slightly, grinning as though he fully anticipated what was coming.

"Ah. It seems 'fate' has brought you a messenger~."

Kosei turned around and saw...

"Oh, excuse me captain Aizen, I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all Lieutenant Abarai, I was just on my way."

He then placed his hands within his long white haori sleeves and gave a curt nod to Kosei.

"I bid you a good afternoon, Lieutenant Kosei…Should you find yourself available and well enough, perhaps you could join me in a game of chess one of these days, I struggle to find a decent opponent…"

Kosei smirked.

…Challenge accepted.

"It's an honor that you think me worthy enough to invite me to such a game…I'll be sure to let you know Captain."

"Indeed."

After a brief glance and gleam of Aizen's brown hazel eye on his own, the captain left and he addressed his 'messenger of fate' who had come in as soon as the meeting had ended.

"Greetings, how can I help you Lieutenant Abarai?"

Renji Abarai…Lt. of division 6, and Byakuya's subordinate…What does he want with me?

"Let's talk outside, Lieutenant."

…

So they walked out of the meeting hall after Kosei handed over the crown to an eager captain-scientist and found a private spot near a koi pond in one of the division 1 gardens, the water rippling as it flowed.

"So what did you want to speak of so privately?"

Then Renji became serious and glared at him.

"I need to know…Zayuuri…What's your relationship with Rukia?"

…

Huh?

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why was she so willing to potentially march to her own death for your sake?"

"…I'm not sure I follow, relationship wise, she's my subordinate, and she decided of her own volition to accompany me…That is all."

"That's not what I mean and you know it…"

"Care to perhaps specify?"

Renji clenched a fist and tightened his jaw.

"…She really despised you. For…For what happened in the past…And now she just jumps at the chance to accompany you to YOUR suicide mission!? That change is inexplicable! What did you promise her? What did you offer her!?"

"Lt. Abarai I think you're pushing a bit too–"

"She's MY friend, Zayuuri…We go way back, I don't expect you to understand...I can appreciate a normal mission that we're paid for adequately…But going on something that is clearly suicidal!? Nothing is worth doing that! I won't stand for it!"

Kosei breathed slightly heavily in exasperation, remembering how close Rukia was to being struck by the adjuchas that he arrived just in time to kill…The memory wasn't pleasant, and he felt guilty, for had he been a second too late…

"Lt. Abarai…You're turning this into an unnecessary personal dispute and are sub-consequently probing into my own affairs…I already told you enough, my relationship with Rukia is strictly professional…She insisted, and I relented on her participation…If it interests you to know, I had actually planned on going alone…But circumstances and fate decided otherwise~."

Renji gawked at him…

"So it's true…You're insane."

…

Kosei scoffed at that to himself, wondering who might've been talking behind his back to Renji about his potential, not so arguable~, insanity…At this stage, he doubted it was Rukia…

"…Are you suggesting that Central 46 were correct in assessing my report as 'mad ramblings' then~?"

"No, not that…Just…Either you're hiding something, or you're insane for wanting to go alone to a place like 'that'…Or…"

…

"I just didn't want anyone to go on a quote 'suicidal mission' with me…I work better alone anyway~."

…

Renji's gaze turned serious again.

…

"I don't believe you."

…

Kosei rolled his eyes.

"Believe what you will~…I have a feeling that you have something more 'urgent' to report…I don't think you'd waste my time without a proper reason following your 'personal' interest…Am I right?"

…

"Tch. Obviously~…My captain wanted me to deliver 'this' to you, he specifically called me with the hell butterfly, rather hurriedly about it…"

Renji handed over a folded paper with a curious frown forming on his face.

…

Oh no…

Kosei sighed in annoyance before taking the folded parchment, but before opening it, noticed that Renji didn't budge…

"Was there something else? Lt. Abarai?"

The red head shinigami Lieutenant seemed unsure…

"Nothing…That's all."

He suddenly turned around and before marching off–

"Don't get my friend into anymore peril…I'm warning you–"

"No you're not. Do remember Renji Abarai, there are many ears and walls, I'd watch your words…For I believe, that dangerous times are ahead…I heavily suggest you sort your feelings out with Rukia personally, she's free to act as she wishes so long it doesn't threaten my division, though I wonder if Captain Byakuya would consent to it~."

For a few seconds Renji didn't compute that…Before his cheeks went crimson and he whirled right back around–

"Wha…Feelings!? Consent!? WHA!? I don't–"

"Good day Lieutenant."

Bidded Kosei before he shunpoed and in his speedy movement, his vision changed to the rooftops of the division 1 sector, where he could read the note alone, leaving Renji to his emotional turmoil several hundred meters behind…

He gazed at the folded note and sighed…Before opening it and reading its rather short content…But still disturbing nevertheless…

…

Why? Surely he wouldn't…

…

Kosei thought against heeding it…But since he did take Byakuya's sister on a dangerous near suicidal mission, he owed it to the 6th division captain. But he had a feeling it was not going to be pleasant…

…

…

...

Meanwhile…

5th Division captain quarters…

…

Sosuke slammed his hands on his office desk in a rare display of irritation, never seen by any...

Damn it…

He couldn't believe it...How...

How did Barragan fail so miserably...So utterly...And to a Lieutenant of all things, sure he could understand if two captains were to gang up on him...But a single lieutenant?

That...Was proof enough that Zayuuri was most certainly a dangerous unknown variable...

Now, he had lost one of his precious 'Vasto lorde', a rarity that was hard enough to find as it was… And he didn't even have a chance to complete 'it' yet so he could 'enhance' the ancient, now most likely, dead hollow king...

What was worse, he couldn't venture to Hueco mundo to double check because most likely Zayuuri would now keep a watchful eye on him, in order to begin finding evidence against him...

"Tch."

...

"You seem stressed captain, to not have noticed our approach~"

Came the voice of his associate...Of course he was partially right about that...Usually he noticed his familiar presence within two hundred meters or so...

"Don't flatter yourself...I noticed you both a hundred meters closer than usual~, that's all."

"So modest~, it seems our esteemed powerful vasto lorde has perished, I must say I'm surprised…If you ask me, this situation has gotten a little scary~."

Nosed out his associate, apparently more amused than 'scared'…

"Indeed sir, what do you make of this? If I may ask..."

Came the voice of perhaps his most loyal servant of all...

"I'm not sure Tosen...I'm thinking...It's more irritating than 'scary', I dislike having to tip-toe around everyone else in the first place...Now, the 'hound' has his sight on us...Of course, I'll deal with it somehow..."

~Then the silvery lavender haired individual gave a crooked smirk and opened his sky blue eyes slightly more to gaze at him in scrutiny, while the dark skinned captain of the 9th division seemed to have noticed the slight change in his comrade's demeanor before it changed back just as quickly.~

...

"I'm curious sir...But, is there perhaps more to this Kosei Zayuuri than being simply an unknown variable? How did you label him as such in the first place? Why have him executed in the first place?"

Aizen simply breathed out...He remembered...That night when he got rid of his 'experiments'...

...

"Because that same night, somehow, he 'saw' me..."

...

'Oh captain Aizen, what brings you over to these sectors? Pardon me for asking, but shouldn't you be with your squad searching for the traitors?'

For the first time in what seemed like ages, he had let out a slight gasp of surprise for a split second, a whisper of air, before settling into his usual demeanor and talking himself out of it, with a single question in his mind...

'How...?'

...

Most likely, the lieutenant had been suspicious of him since that night over a hundred years ago...

"I was sure he was there when I revealed my Zanpakuto's ability to the lieutenants, division members and other captains in the 'captain's proficiency test', specifically the 'Shikai' part of the test...But, perhaps he turned around in that moment, because I saw how he looked 'straight at me' afterwards, unlike everyone else...That was when I had him on my sights and since then, when I discovered Kugo Ginjo near Karakura town in the world of the living, I had very carefully come up with a way to manipulate the situation by using him as the center of it...And trapping Zayuuri there and then...But now...It seems I'll have to heavily adjust my plans..."

"You seem certain that he knows...Perhaps Barragan said nothing to him and he attempted a 'lure' with the crown? There's a chance he's bluffing it."

Ventured Tosen opening his palm in offering of his optimism, but Aizen shook his head.

"The way he looked at me during our short conversation recently and his words alone suggested he very well knows who we are...The fact that Barragan 'squeaked', apart from the humiliation he must've felt~, shows that I was correct in my assessment of Zayuuri's unknown variable, considering his documents are very well sealed away…I know virtually every Shinigami's abilities in the Seireitei, having hacked into the great archive…But there's barely any information on 'him' for some strange reason..."

"What? Not even in the old libraries? With the scrolls? Shino academy?"

"Obviously, I did look there too… But no, not even there, at least nothing relevant, anyway~…That is why I tried to have him terminated, my dear Kaname..."

"I see…It seems the worst-case scenario has occurred my lord…"

Yes, and he was absolutely livid. This was most truly inconvenient and unexpected.

It seems I've truly underestimated you…

…

"I believe we'll have to take a different course of action, for now…But…Let's see what happens next…Tosen, I need you to scout Zayuuri carefully, at this moment, I estimate he should be heading either toward the 6th squad barracks, or for what I felt…Toward Sokyoku hill…Yes, that actually makes more sense…Can I count on you to report back when it's over?"

Tosen Kaname bowed with his braids falling over his sides.

"Of course, I'll go immediately…"

With that, Tosen disappeared in flash step, and Aizen could feel his spirit pressure fade quickly into the distance…Then he looked at his associate…

"As for you…Inform Tokinada to lay low for a while…I don't want him tripping up, Zayuuri is an excellent investigator and I don't want him to slip anything to our esteemed 'hound'…"

"Of course sir…I trust that by now you've thought of a solution for our little problem~?"

…

Aizen grinned as during the entire conversation, he had already made several dozen scenarios play out in his head, adjusting and connecting the links to each plot and possible outcome…

"You know me too well…As usual, I'll adjust…Though admittedly the loss of one of my vasto lorde really is felt…And the most powerful one too…Gone just like that…Although it was a simple matter for me to subdue him, he was still fairly valuable for the future phase of my plan…'Sigh', oh well, it can't be helped…For now, my next move seems to have already begun without me moving a finger…I'm eager to hear Tosen's observations of, ironically and to his obliviousness, Tokinada's little scheme playing out~."

"Oh my, you're mean captain~."

"What an odd way to describe me, I'm just trying to keep the 'peace'~."

Smirked Aizen.

His seemingly snake eyed associate chuckled at that.

...

…

...

Sokyoku hill study chamber…

…

He walked through the mysterious rocky cave area, having descended from the height of its entry, it was right below the very same hill where he was to be executed, oddly enough…Perhaps this was Byakuya's idea of a 'joke'…

What is this place? I've never found it before during any of my patrols…

He looked around, taking in the sights of the rocky plateaus in the underground, yet well-lit cave, almost as though there were an actual bright sky under it, it was strange yet cleverly designed, who ever did so–

"I'm sure you're wondering what this place is."

Suddenly came out Byakuya's deep voice as he stepped out from behind a tall column of brown rocks, in his captain's haori as usual.

"Captain Kuchiki…Yes, I've never found it before…"

He gave a curt bow in respect to his superior in rank.

"I see. So there are things that 'do' escape the 'great' single-man onmitsukido unit~. It was discovered by a personal team I hired in order to find Yoruichi Shihouin, during the night of hers and Kisuke Urahara's betrayals…I very much wanted to confront her one last time…There was spiritual residue found here that a kido analyst had discovered to be a forbidden kido technique…It was from here that they must've somehow made a personal senkaimon and bypassed the spiritual barrier of Seireitei…At least that was what was concluded…"

…

Kosei shuffled his feet at Byakuya's keen observation of his secret role, while he did not confirm it to him, he still wondered how the noble found out…

"Why are you telling me this? Captain? And why here of all places?"

…

Byakuya's silver gray eyes gleamed in anger…

"…Because above this cave, lies the place where those who tread on the pride of Seireitei and in the case of Yoruichi, the founding nobility of her own clan…Where the traitors that escaped, and 'you'…Were supposed to be executed by law in public…I thought it apt to meet here…For you see…"

That was when Byakuya drew his blade, very slowly, the metal singing out of its sheath, causing Kosei's brow to rise quizzically before Byakuya pointed his blade at him.

"It's been a while since I've had a half decent battle…And it so happens that I've had quite enough of your treading on 'my' pride."

…

"Captain…By chance do you mean you wish to 'spar'?"

"…Yes. I wish to spar with you~…Seriously."

Though Kosei knew from the look in Byakuya's eyes, that this was far from the truth…

Well, he's watching his words in front of me at least, not that I'd dob him in really~…But clearly, there's bloodlust in his reiryoku…

…

Then Kosei just shrugged with a jovial smile.

"…But I'm just a mere Lieutenant~, surely I could pose no real challenge to a Cap–"

And with a resounding 'clang' that echoed in the cave, suddenly he found his blade matching and rattling against, a momentarily very surprised, Byakuya's blade, holding him back.

"Really? A lieutenant pushing back a 'Captain's' sword~? I think you'll do just fine…For a few more seconds~."

With that, Kosei found himself fighting and clashing blades with the captain of the 6th division and Rukia's brother…The colliding metal echoed loudly and zipped back and forth with shunpo, leaping from rock to rock, matching each other's strikes and parries.

"I assume we can dispense with the formalities at this point? Your strikes are very vicious for this to be a simple spar."

He said as he flicked Byakuya's blade aside before it suddenly whirled and came arching back down for his neck–

"–Or perhaps you're not so great after all, Zayuuri, for you've yet seen nothing."

The jet-black haired captain remarked as he suddenly sped up the descent of his blade and the air began to stir in his powerful rising spiritual pressure. But with a resounding 'clang', Byakuya found himself staggering back slightly, shocked momentarily at the sudden strength of Kosei's parry.

Kosei couldn't help but marvel at Byakuya's development…

He's become very powerful, and so young too…

"I see…Then this is personal…Is there no way to avoid this, little Byakuya-sama?"

He asked genuinely in reverence to the younger captain-noble, with a hint of a tease.

…

Byakuya's eye twitched at the name…Then he held his blade close to him and closed his eyes…

…

Kosei frowned, knowing full well what that meant, from what he was told by Hisana that day years ago, when he visited secretly to congratulate her for now being the wife of a 'captain' of the Gotei 13, when she witnessed the captain's demonstration from when Byakuya, her husband, had ascended to captain-hood in such a short period…Just before she had become ill…She gazed at him with excited midnight eyes, so, so very alike Rukia's…

'–And he was unbelievable and beautiful Kosei! You should have seen him! He held his blade like 'this'–

She mimicked the stance and said–

"Scatter, Senbonzakura…"

…

The lieutenant of 13th division sighed sadly at the memory, as the cherry blossoms came…

…

...

~Renji watched from high above, at the entry of the study chamber that he had previously never known about, until he decided out of curiosity to follow Kosei, to gleam a guess from what the note his captain sent might have been about…

Never did he expect it to come to 'this'…

Why captain?

He watched as his captain had eerily called it a 'serious spar', a reluctant Kosei shrugging his arms, and then…

Almost faster than what Renji's eyes could track, they were so suddenly clashing blades and he gasped at the sheer level of speed…

WHAT!? How did Kosei parry that in time!? He had his arms in the air so nonchalantly half a second ago, the captain already had his blade out, so how the hell did he block that on time!?

Then he watched as Kosei, seemingly effortlessly matched the speed and swordsmanship with his captain, and gaped at the sight in absolute shock.

No way…

But the odd thing was…His captain's reiatsu was steadily climbing, and it was stained in sheer bloodlust…Meanwhile…

'Clang!'

Kosei had parried the down strike and even caused Byakuya to stagger back…

Zayuuri's spirit pressure hasn't risen at all…Why? Unless…

Then to his surprise, his captain's blade began glowing its signature brilliant magenta glow at the release command, and suddenly Renji felt sick, horrified at the fact that his captain even considered using his shikai against someone else who was of a lower station.

CAPTAIN! Surely you don't mean to kill him!?

The blade itself, save the lavender hilt, turned into what seemed like a cloud of a thousand floating, glowing and soaring cherry blossoms.

Renji for once, felt sorry for Zayuuri…If more than a few of those glowing thousand tiny blades of blossoms, all much sharper than a regular katana, even so much as touched him, then he was a goner, and he'd bleed to death if the entire thing managed to get him…

Oh shit…OH SHIT! Captain you're going too far, are you planning on murdering him!?…

Renji sweat buckets at the sheer bloodlust he felt from Byakuya…And Zayuuri…Just simply held his blade and stood there, while the cloud formed and Byakuya only held the hilt now!

The clouds of the petals suddenly shot forward–

What…Is Zayuuri insane!? He's just standing there! DODGE DAMN IT!

Zayuuri only watched as the beam of deadly thousand blades just zoomed toward him, and Renji almost cried out literally–

DOOOOODGE!

But it was too late, the cloud of the thousand blades were on top of Kosei and with a sudden 'whoosh', they were blown away to a different direction, with Kosei having lifted a single arm, and it was only then, finally, Kosei began to very slightly elevate his spiritual pressure…

Renji blinked a few times at what he just witnessed, rather confused…

What…What just happened…Was that…Kido? But I didn't even hear Kosei utter a word.

It was then that the redhead heard the 13th division lieutenant speak–

"You actually tried to kill me just then Byakuya-sama…Seems like this is more than just a simple spar~."

"…A silent kido…Foolish, yet impressive. But mere luck won't get you far."

Rukia wasn't kidding when she said that Zayuuri was a kido master…The level of power needed to deflect something like Senbonzakura was heavy…And yet Zayuuri did it without even wasting a single breath apart from the movement of his arm…

Then his Captain began waving his blade hilt, and the cloud of the petals responded to every single movement, acting like an extension of his will and blade, shimmering and buzzing in vibration, looking like an angry swarm of destructive bees.

Activate your damned shikai Zayuuri! What are you doing?! This ain't Rukia, a third seat! This is Byakuya, a captain! You can't just fight his shikai without even releasing your own! What're you thinking?!

Unless…Zayuuri was seeking to–

But several rocky thuds resounded, interrupting Renji's thought as Kosei blitzed from one place to another, weaving himself around the rock columns and plateaus, but the petals sliced the rocks in their path as though they were mere sticks of butter.

Then Kosei began running a curve toward Byakuya with the swarm of tiny blades behind him.

What…Surely he knows the captain wouldn't fall for something like tha–

The lieutenant then suddenly disappeared in flash step right behind Byakuya, but the latter countered by flash stepping as well and placed himself right behind Kosei again, however he was met with Kosei standing right within the 'safe zone' as the swarm was just meters away but the captain pointed a finger and–

"Byakurai."

–Shot out a sizzling electric beam in point blank range, with Kosei dodging lithely, causing the beam to strike the swarm of blades instead just on the nick of time while his opponent cast a reddish spell from his own fingertip, pointing at Byakuya from the side and launching an array of red slashing beams–

"Seki."

Byakuya cast the #8 Bakudo shield that stopped and repelled the attack that looked to Renji like the #3 Aka kiru fuki, cast silently, sending the energy arcs into the ground, cutting into and lifting a bit of dust harmlessly.

"Don't assume you're safe just because you're within my safe zone, Zayuuri."

Snarked out Byakuya.

"Oh I would never assume such a thing, it's just part of the fun~."

Smiled out Kosei.

…He 'must' be insane to provoke the captain like that.

"'Fun'? I see…You're not taking this seriously…"

"Oh I am. After all, you're playing a bit rough for a spar~, I can never take you lightly, clan head. I just prefer to think of it as a game to keep a level head~."

Let out Kosei with apparent amusement, which Byakuya had picked up judging from the look of his annoyed expression, as though he remembered something that sparked his ire even more.

"A game?…Your childishness is beginning to remind me of Yoruichi Shihouin…Clearly, you need to be taught a lesson."

"Then teach me~, you are, after all, my superior in both rank and aristocratic standing, are you not? Though I must say, your bloodlust is far beneath such a position, you're reminding me a bit of Captain Kenpachi, just with less smile and more frown~."

Shrugged Kosei in response with a smirk…

…

Renji winced at that…

Oh dear…He compared him to 'that man' of all people…

…

"~Sprinkled on the bones of the beast–"

Began Byakuya as he once more sent Senbonzakura whooshing toward a dodging Kosei…

Renji gulped at the incantation, recognizing the high level hado spell…

Yep, he's dead…The captain's going serious now…Shit.

Byakuya pincered Kosei between the oncoming wave of petals and engaged in Hakuda, attempting a strike to his neck with a speared hand, but Kosei avoided the strike and shunpoed around–

"–Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring–"

Continued Byakuya as he chased him yet again, simultaneously chanting the high level Hado spell, while attacking him using the physical combat of Hakudo and his shikai, all at the same time, with Kosei narrowly dodging every strike and seemingly unable to retaliate with the constant pursuit from all angles…

Wow, the captain really is going ham, combining both Hakudo, kido and the attack of his shikai, it's almost as though it were a three vs one…Though Kosei isn't responding, why…

"–Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm–"

Zayuuri kicked himself from Byakuya's chest straight backward into the air, causing the latter to stagger back but not lose an ounce of concentration as his grey eyes shot open, seeing his chance as he raised both hands in an open maw toward the mid-air lieutenant, with Renji feeling the sudden massive spike of his captain's reiatsu, but instead–

"Rikujokoro!"

And Kosei was assaulted by six beams of light that surrounded him, a quick #61 Bakudo being cast, its intended victim looking rather surprised at the unexpected spell which didn't match the incantation Byakuya had started; and right in the instance that Kosei looked at the beams and seemed trapped–

"–The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Hado #63! Raikoho!"

And with the original incantation complete, ensuring maximum power infused with reiryoku, a massively wide thunderous blast of electrified spiritual power stormed from Byakuya's hands toward his opponent, while at the same time he had suddenly divided Senbonzakura into two separate clouds that were converging on Kosei from the top and bottom…

Oh shit, Zayuuri has nowhere to go! He's trapped!

But in that moment, Kosei splayed his arms open–

"Tozansho!"

And suddenly he was encased in a crystal inverted pyramid, with Renji looking just as surprised as his captain who watched, as in that moment, all of the attacks bounced off the incredibly dense and hard blue crystal bakudo barrier, causing massive cracks but still leaving it intact–

WHAT! A level seventies Bakudo with just the name!? But he's still just a lieutenant like me…

While Kosei then suddenly and inversely crossed his forearms in a jerk movement–

"Gohutekkan!"

And with a 'crumble' right from the bottom of five of the previously destroyed rock bases that he had weaved through earlier to avoid Senbonzakura, came five massive stone pillars, all flying extremely fast, from five distinct directions, perpendicular to the ground, all linked by a rope of chains, toward a shocked Byakuya in order to pin him down, the clan head realizing that it was a trap all along in order to leave him exposed. But alas the Captain calmly and simply leapt from the ground upward to avoid the incoming threats that simply collided against each other with a powerful impact…But something seemed odd to Renji.

But wait, #75 Gohutekkan at that speed without an incantation and cast horizontally instead of verticall–

It was then that suddenly, Renji, only by the sudden spike of reiatsu, barely registered that Kosei was suddenly above Byakuya, somehow having left the crystal encasing without anyone realizing, spinning his body mid-air–

The captain only let out a breath of surprise before he was suddenly struck in the face by a vicious round house kick and went absolutely 'crashing' into the ground with a massive 'boom', lifting enormous amounts of dust that concealed the impact area, before Zayuuri came landing lithely on another rock formation, awaiting his opponent…

…

Renji almost felt his jaw snap at his gaping…

Did he…Just…But…What…

This had to be a dream…How the fu–

But his thoughts were interrupted as the air became incredibly dense at a sudden rising of reiatsu that he knew was his captain's as the dust cloud was swatted aside abruptly, revealing Byakuya to be walking forth, rubbing his face and cleaning up a bit of blood at the edge of his mouth before glaring at Kosei above…

…

"Lucky shot...It'll be your last."

He spat out.

"Hardly~, it's your own fault for focusing so much on an aggressive strategy~."

Smirked out Kosei.

"Don't try to lecture me, I'm a captain for a reason…I was simply caught off guard by how you left the crystal without so much as a sound, I guess it makes sense, since you are Onmitsukido, according to my intelligence gathering anyway~…My mistake, that won't happen again…"

"Oh? I thought your previous assertion was a mere guess, you really did your homework Byakuya-sama, might I enquire as to how you got that private information?"

"Perks of being a clan head noble~."

Kosei rolled his eyes at that as Byakuya continued–

"While you got a lucky hit from my erroneous judgement, I can at least acknowledge that you've managed to skillfully avoid all of my attacks so far while counterattacking…But now…This is the part where your luck runs out, Zayuuri…I heavily suggest you activate your shikai, nor skill nor luck won't be enough to dodge and defend against what's coming next…"

…

Wait…He doesn't mean…

"Noooo…"

Breathed out Renji in shock, silently putting his hands to his mouth…

He wouldn't…Would he? But once more, Zayuuri began to speak and he listened–

"Oh? Why must I use my shikai? Are you suggesting what I'm thinking?"

"I'd prefer if you at least show me your shikai and spare me the embarrassment of using my next technique on someone who would be comparatively unarmed…"

…

Kosei grinned nervously.

"…Surely you're not suggesting what I think you are Byakuya-sama…"

Byakuya became serious as his spiritual pressure rose even higher.

"…I am."

"My, so you really do want me dead~."

"I thought this was your idea of 'fun', Zayuuri, you look nervous now~."

"By the way, with the amount of reiatsu you're exuding, I'd wager that you're confident no one can feel it from the outside…I guess this is how Yoruichi managed to escape with the two traitors then, all those years ago."

That's true, by now you'd think half the seireitei would be on alert from all this reiatsu being emitted, but since I'm inside, even just barely in the entry, I can feel their pressure…This place must really be well designed and built…Perhaps for the purpose of intense training…

Thought Renji as he gazed back to the outside, only to notice a shadow leap past his peripheral and into the study chamber which caused him to jump in fright as he looked straight back into the cave entrance, but saw nothing besides the scene occurring below…

Shit, I think my eyes are playing tricks on me…

"Enough idle chat…Release your Zanpakuto Zayuuri…Or regret it later."

"Guess it depends on what you're about to do, I'm not exactly a psychic~."

"...A reactionary tactic? Foolish…Fine, have it your way then, you'll quickly see yourself reconsider…"

…

The air wavered heavily, as the captain reversed the hold on his lavender hilted blade, pointing it to the ground…

Renji looked on in horror, even fearing for Zayuuri, as he had a distinct feeling of what was about to happen, though he had never personally seen it, much less even faced it…

Please let it be just another shikai technique…Please let it be–

…

"...Bankai…Senbonzakura, Kageyoshi."

…

No…Captain NO!

Upon calling the true full name of his Zanpakuto, Byakuya let the blade drop into the ground as one would drop a pebble into water, leaving ripples as though the rocky ground were suddenly liquid, while literally darkening the area around the captain-noble; and what looked like an endless corridor of giant blades, each roughly the size of a three-story building, began to rise from the ground behind Byakuya…Literally a thousand blossom blades as the name suggested.

"Scatter."

Then, each and every one of the countless giant blades began to dissipate and turn into countless clouds of the same pink blossoms that unified into a single, gargantuan mega-swarm, looking like a plague of buzzing shimmering pink insects, the very vibration ringing in Renji's ears all the way from where he was watching…It was basically Byakuya's shikai, but multiplied a thousand-fold…

…

To think I vowed to surpass you…Byakuya…It seems I have a long way to go…

He thought, with a bead of sweat running down his face at the sheer power he could feel from his captain…Then Renji observed Kosei's expression, which turned into a deeper frown…Almost of…Disappointment? Curiosity? Renji could not tell…But what he certainly did know…

Was that his captain, was acting strangely out of character for someone so usually composed…

Byakuya…Had gone too far…

No…He had to do something…Or this could turn out to be a disaster, for both his captain, Kosei and potentially…Rukia…What would she think of her brother then!?

…

Sorry captain…

…

…

~Byakuya stood there, watching the expression of the fool before him, with his giant swarm of tiny blades at the ready…

"You seem disturbed Zayuuri~."

…

"You'd go so far? Byakuya-sama?"

"Don't act so surprised, you evaded my zanjutsu, shikai, hakuda and my kido…Naturally, if these order of techniques, especially combined, clearly don't work on the enemy, then it would be a pointless waste of energy to persist in the same tactic, one must resort to the next measure and not allow the opponent to steal the momentum of battle…In my case, the perfect offense and defense."

Zayuuri just frowned even more, wrinkling his brow in thought.

"…That's not what I mean…I ask your reasoning of seriously going this far just to see me dead."

Byakuya narrowed his eyes in disdain.

"Like that matters at this point~…Release your shikai, Zayuuri, or die helplessly, this is your last chance."

…

Then Zayuuri grew serious…

"Fine, I guess it would be pointless to fight without knowing what your opponent is thinking after all…"

What?

Zayuuri rose his white hilted nodachi straight into the air…

Finally…One of several parts of information that was strictly hidden, even my agents could not find…It's time…

"Bring to light the truth…San no kami Jinmonkan."

…

Sun God's Inquisitor…

With a golden flash, Zayuuri now held in place of his nodachi, a long staffed, massive headed golden Warhammer that could easily be longer than he even was, and slung it over his shoulder casually as though its weight didn't match its form…

Byakuya had to admit he was surprised…

"A rather arrogant release name, and an unexpected type of weapon for someone of your line of work, I assume you don't use it very often…"

Zayuuri just chortled at the comment.

"I guess it's not very ideal for stealth is it? But then again, we are openly fighting…"

"You're dreaming if you think you can evade my attacks and even come close to touching me with that massive brutish weapon~."

"Heh…Someone very recently commented similarly…Let's give it a try shall we?"

Hmm? Someone commented the same? Does he mean in Hueco Mundo?

…

They silently watched one another…And Byakuya waited for the first hint of movement Zayuuri was going to make…

…

With a zip of shunpo, Zayuuri was behind him, raising the weapon for a strike, but with just a simple mental command, Senbonzakura was already there to defend his back and the pink cloud began chasing Zayuuri ferociously, while Byakuya sent another part of the massive pink cloud of tiny blades, to pincer him, though the Lieutenant dodged swiftly but was slowly being cornered and driven to the wall of the cave by multiple blossom blade clouds, where his options would be limited, there, it would impossible for Zayuuri to evade, much less even attack…

After a while of the same evasive maneuvering, it happened, as expected…Byakuya watched as at the end of the wall several dozen meters away, Zayuuri found himself trapped against it, with the cloud of blades surrounding him from all angles…That was the end.

Checkmate.

"Goodbye, Zayuuri…I'll comment, you've done well for someone of your station against me, but your luck had to come to an end…There's nothing you can do now…Any last words?"

The clouds buzzed as they shifted and floated all around the trapped blue-grey haired Lieutenant who smirked at him.

"Yeah…Whether I die or not, your arrogance will be the death of you one day…"

Byakuya frowned at that…

"Such bold words. Too bad you won't be there to see such a thing…If it ever occurs."

Having had enough, he mentally commanded Senbonzakura to crush him…

The pink blade cloud then imploded in on itself and like a massive tidal wave, 'crashed' against the chamber wall so powerfully that it cracked most of the area and caused a minor tremor along with the screeching of the millions of tiny razor sharp blades scraping against the wall…

Then, having no doubt that his opponent was dead after that, he ventured a peek and opened the swarm to reveal…

A hole in the wall with a few blood stains on its entrance…

Reduced to nothing…Naturally, but…I'd have imagined there'd be more bloo–

He widened his eyes at the sudden rising of reiatsu, seeing red glowing eyes in his peripheral for only an instant, before realizing Zayuuri was right behind him, raising his arms for a strike with the weapon, and with a surprised grunt, Byakuya desperately waved his arm, doubling the speed of a slim piece of Senbonzakura upon using his limbs to direct it instead of his mind, and right on the nick of time blocked the strike that was mere inches away, concealing Zayuuri within the pink swarm and pushing him away, but once more, Zayuuri, with blood running down on one side of his face, was on him from the side, this time, without his warhammer and aiming a punch right for his face.

I have no idea how you survived, but it's futile, you've lost your one and only opening–

While Byakuya directed the swarm toward Kosei, once more stopping his attack, it was only in that instance he noticed the weapon was missing, before with a 'whoosh' he saw a golden gleam back in the direction Zayuuri had previously been at–

"GAH!"

Before being heavily struck by something large on his side, gasping in pain at his cracked rib, where he had turned his attention away from and found himself being flung through the air but quickly and instinctively regaining his posture and recalling all of Senbonzakura around him defensively, leaving a minor opening for sight, to see…Zayuuri standing on the air in reiryoku footing with the Warhammer once more at his side…

"…How."

Simply asked Byakuya.

Although previously Zayuuri had the demeanor of a demon, he now sported a minor grin on his face as he wagged his finger.

"Tsk. Tsk. Uh-uh, a magician never reveals his secrets Byakuya-sama~."

But after noticing some cuts on Zayuuri's face and around his body with a lot of his clothing having been ripped up…Byakuya realized it with a fast pace of thought and a furrowed brow before realizing with a shock…

…

Madness…

He purposely made me use all of my swarm's efforts to push him to the wall, separating me from it and 'allowed' himself to get hit by the full force of Senbonzakura…Waiting for the moment I opened a gap to make sure he was dead…

It was then that he escaped, although surprisingly mostly unhurt…

Then he caught me off guard with his speed and somehow managed to slip past me…It must be the reiatsu concealment technique that the onmitsukido use…But…For a lieutenant, Still, that's fast…And how did he survive the impact?

Then taking advantage of my complete exposure with all of my swarm back at the wall, he utilized the blind spot of my sudden desperate defense, must have shunpoed back, launched his weapon while feinting an attack to my side with shunpo once more, knowing that I was going to shift Senbonzakura to defend and attempt an attack on him…

To think he'd actually throw that thing…

That's when I got struck by the Warhammer on my rib–

Byakuya looked down at the injury at that thought and noticed…A black stain?

…No, it was, a symbol stamped on his side…A sun?

"Wondering what that is I imagine?"

Remarked Zayuuri, interrupting his quick thought process.

"What have you done?"

"Heh…Let the inquisition begin…Indictment: Level 1 – Confession…"

The Warhammer glowed brilliantly at the command…Byakuya narrowed his eyes and prepared himself for any movement, once more…Clearly he had underestimated Zayuuri's speed and cunning…

"Byakuya Kuchiki…Why are you so adamant on ending my life?"

…

What is this…

…

"I thought I told you, at this point explaining such a thing is meaningle–Uh!"

He gasped as he felt a flash of pain on the marked area, as though a blade had slashed him there, and in his painful distraction having slightly doubled over, he noticed Zayuuri was gone and just as he was about to send Senbonzakura to reinforce his right side, he felt another powerful strike of the Warhammer head on his right shoulder, but he instinctively rolled with the impact to minimize the damage and summersaulted through the air with his blade cloud following him defensively, to once more gaze at Zayuuri, who stood there mid-air in the same fashion.

Byakuya immediately surveyed the damage and…There was yet another mark on his shoulder…

"What is this?"

…

"Figure it out, you are a captain are you not? I thought you refused a lecture of any sort~…I'll ask again, why are you so willing to–"

Inquisition…

–But before Zayuuri could finish the repeated question, Byakuya waved his arms forward and Senbonzakura was on his opponent, flailing at him in waves as he avoided them…Then–

'Slash'

"Hnn…Ugh!"

Now from his left rib and right shoulder, a more painful cut shocked his nerves as he began bleeding harder.

What!? But I didn't allow him to…

"Nice try, and very astute of you I might add. Seems like you figured it out…But since the question of mine remains the same, even if you interrupt me and prevent me from asking it again…You're already willingly refusing to answer that same question, so it still counts as 'withholding information'…"

…

It was then Byakuya realized the nature of this power…

"I see…So in essence I'm obligated to answer truthfully…Otherwise I'll take damage from the marked areas…Interesting…I'll admit, 'that' actually suits your line of work more than the brutish form of your weapon…So you're interrogating a captain of the Gotei 13, how bold of you~."

"Oh? I thought we dispensed of formalities, you're my opponent and I'm yours…Or perhaps you've reconsidered this fight?"

"No. I haven't."

Tested Byakuya by answering that question, to see if he would be cut either way in case he was being tricked…But nothing happened, no cut…

So it's true…If I speak the truth, I will not be cut…But…

"So, Byakuya-sama, why are you so willing to have me gone?"

Asked Kosei once more…

As Byakuya assaulted Kosei with Senbonzakura, with the latter dodging, he answered while thinking of a solution to see a way out of this trickery–

"Because it is for the sake of my pride…"

"Oh? Have I done something to your pride?"

Asked Zayuuri in a half grunt as he appeared next to him, lifting the hammer, but Senbonzakura defended, while Byakuya refused to answer the question…And once more he felt severe cuts on the same areas, and he was bleeding out now, staining his haori in red.

Three seconds of not answering…

"Ok, how about this…Since I don't want to suddenly become a murderer out of your pride, why don't you instead simply tell me?"

Byakuya bit his lips and heaved his chest.

"…I have no need to answer to someone so lowly–Hnn!"

Once more he was cut heavily, but he had endured worse.

"Come now, surely you know you'll eventually bleed out."

Goaded Zayuuri as he kept shunpoing with incredible speed, dodging the clouds of blades.

"Like this is enough to take me down, fool."

"Very well…So why the hate?"

Again, no answer, and Byakuya, ignoring the pain of the now more sharper slashes, focused on taking down Zayuuri with the full speed of his bankai, at one point cutting the Lieutenant's arm slightly…If he kept this up, surely he would–

"Aka kiru fuki."

And red slashes of energy came flying toward him, but–

"Seki."

As soon as he cast the counter spell, Zayuuri was behind him once more, but so was Senbonzakura again ready to counter but suddenly light grey energy bars came assaulting him from above, one slamming hard on his back, feeling the impact send him careening downward, though he landed on his feet in a crouch and noticed all the energy bars still intact around him on the ground…

What…Impossible, I didn't even hear him cast that…A silent high level kido spell? #62 Hyapporankan? Is he truly mad to attempt such a thing?

"Are you ready to answer me yet?"

Asked Zayuuri who stood in the air above him watchfully, analyzing him with those foreign maroon eyes of his…

"…No. I'm done playing games."

Byakuya shunpoed to stand across from Zayuuri, now openly with his mass of tiny blossom blades encircling them both so suddenly, with the lieutenant instinctively flash stepping and standing within the 'safe zone'…Not that it mattered, in fact it was better.

The only reason he's been able to fight me this well…Is because of his resourcefulness and maneuverability despite the size of that hammer…That, is most likely his greatest virtue as a fighter…

Now I'll strip that away from you…

"The only reason you're still breathing is because I've underestimated you…And as we fight, more things start to become clear to me…Why the secretiveness of your role…As well as your true abilities…I've decided to take away your only strength that has served you thus far."

"Is that so?"

Byakuya immediately responded, hating the fact that he had to be quick with his tongue or else he be cut from the annoying punitive 'truth' ability.

"Yes…Though it pains me to reveal it, the occasion is quite apt for it…Behold, for this technique has been passed down to me by my grandfather…And you're about to be the first to witness it, as I've yet to use it…"

"Oh? I'm honored. But why haven't you ever used it?"

Byakuya glared at Kosei…

"Because I promised him…That I would only use this technique against those who I have sworn to cut down with my own hands…You should be honored, for this sacred technique will be the last thing your unworthy eyes ever see…"

"…"

"'Slaughter-scape'."

Commanded Byakuya as the bladed blossom cloud surrounding them, seemingly solidified into a bright dome, that then began to turn into four rows of numerous glowing blades, floating and encircling them in constant movement, suspended in a now dark void that made up the dome around them…

Now, the technique was complete, and Zayuuri was finally trapped, his maneuverability limited…Byakuya watched as the now wide-eyed Lieutenant surveyed the dark dome that entrapped them both…Good, he knew…

"Now you truly are trapped, with me in this dome, you have nowhere else to scurry off to…Your only choice is to face me head on."

Zayuuri looked at him quizzically, almost questioningly, so the captain decided to enlighten him.

"Ah, I see my previous attacks have caused a misconception, do not worry, those floating blades will not attack you simultaneously…No, this will be a proper duel…To the death, and each of these floating swords can be my weapon to wield."

He said as he summoned a single glowing katana from the dome wall, and as he touched its hilt, it became the regular form of his Zanpakuto…Or judging by Zayuuri's look so he thought.

"Don't be fooled, this is a mere representation of my sealed Zanpakuto, this blade is actually far more powerful and deadly…You'll soon see…Prepare yourself Zayuuri, for only one of us will leave this dome alive…"

…

"Byakuya…Why do you want–"

With a growl escaping his lips as he felt his side and right shoulder numb from all the cuts he endured from refusing to answer the question, he attempted a strike on the repetitive Lieutenant who barely blocked the blow, however…What Zayuuri did not know–

"Hnn."

Let out the similarly long-haired Lieutenant as Byakuya managed to nip his bicep with the edge of his now faster blade, ripping and bloodying part of his black kimono.

–Was that while inside the 'Senkei', his own attack power was much higher, and steadily grew, meanwhile the opponent's maneuverability was more limited and would naturally grow weary over time…That was the power of the 'slaughter scape', the longer the battle lasted, the more enhanced his abilities were within the dome, all the while the opponent had no hopes of distancing themselves, nor of escape…

Their blades clashed and rung out within the dome and Byakuya grew more aggressive as well as constantly putting more pressure on the Lieutenant who seemed to be very much at a loss…Until he smiled…Which irked Byakuya…

"What are you laughing about 'now'?"

"…To think that you have gotten this strong and in such a short amount of years…You truly are deserving of clan head, Byakuya-sama…You have my respect."

He said as he parried a blow, though still receiving a cut as Byakuya weaved his blade along the shaft of the Warhammer.

"Don't patronize me, all you've ever done is tread on my pride."

He grunted out as he hacked at the maroon eyed Shinigami who dodged lithely out of the way, though caught himself from almost touching the dome wall, unaware but cautious of its effects now noticing just how limited is movement was.

"Is that why you've gone through all the trouble of showing me all your attacks? To impress little old me~?"

Smirked out Zayuuri with a bit of blood trickling down the side of his face, though jovial as ever, which annoyed Byakuya immensely.

"You could say that."

"…Is this about your sister?"

"Enough questions, Hnn!"

Suddenly upon receiving a deep cut from refusing to answer from the two marks, Byakuya found that his left side began to fail responding to his movements and his right shoulder was becoming weary, he had to finish this soon, or no matter how high attack power he may have, fighting with one arm against a clearly agile opponent would prove disadvantageous…

Byakuya then in a desperate act, launched his katana with his mind at a surprised Zayuuri who prepared to block it, then grabbed another blade from the dome wall and feinted an attack to his side, but then shunpoed behind his opponent and–

"Byakurai."

Fired the powerful electric hado blast, seeing how close range it was, expecting it to sear right through his enemy's back–

It's over–

But he was shocked as suddenly the jittering beam bounced right back off the lieutenant's body, noticing a cracked shimmering kido barrier of sorts that floated there, which then began dissipating–

What–

Instinctively he weaved his body to the side but still received the sudden colossal blow from the hammerhead on his right pectoral muscle and was sent careening against the dome's barrier just as he saw the strange slitted eye on the other side of the golden hammerhead, though luckily the barrier did nothing to him as he was the owner of the attack, rather it softened his impact…But…

"Agh…Nnn…"

He let out silently as he now saw he sported a third symbol on his chest…

"Tricky bastard."

"A truly insightful fighter will never keep his blind spot unguarded, and you should've known better Byakuya…I noticed that you suffered that mistake earlier when I came up right behind you…So I gathered you'd attempt the same thing eventually within this confined space, thinking I would never expect you to fight in such a style…I guess even you'd change your style if it was necessary…Wise and innovative, but risky as you step out of your comfort zone…"

"If these 'truth' symbols and your hammer are all you have, then you will lose eventually Zayuuri, for to have taken such precaution, even 'you' must've realized by now that your movements are slowing down while mine are getting stronger…So before I kill you…I need to now ask a question…Perhaps it might answer yours…"

…

"Yes?"

Byakuya's silver eyes gleamed as he phrased it out just as he had rehearsed over and over in his mind…

He held his blade at the ready while speaking–

"…Hisana held a secret of yours, from when you began visiting her at our manor's garden…Before I end your miserable life, I need to know, what that secret was…It's only fair that you tell me, since you almost had her sister…My adoptive sister, killed on a suicidal venture~…"

Zayuuri grew the most serious Byakuya had seen him, and the lieutenant just narrowed his eyes…

"I don't think you'd want to know that."

"Oh? And why is that?"

…

"Nothing. I cannot tell you."

Clearly it was something that disconcerted the 13th division Lieutenant.

"Oh? So you're admitting defeat then? You see no point in telling me as you've genuinely accepted that you're going to die?"

"That's a lot of questions."

"Like you can talk."

"I've only asked the same one over and over again."

Byakuya's temper had finally reached its limit and his impatience on top of his injuries was being severely tested as he furrowed his brows in anguish, so he decided to finally let it out, pointing at him with his blade–

"Don't you get it!? You had her heart first! You stole what was effectively meant to be mine by right! Then you proceed to take away what credibility I would have had in granting 'my' then wife's wish by finding her sister! Only for you to then take Rukia on a death mission!? Insulting Hisana's very memory and the favor you did that was rightfully mine to accomplish!? And you even dare come back with NO RESULTS!?"

He hollered out, maddened at how casually Zayuuri seemed to play innocent in his presence…

…And on top of that, the blue-grey haired bastard remained silent…

"Can't answer me? Has your shame for defiling a 'founding noble's right' gotten to you!?"

That was when Zayuuri's eyes shifted into a new emotion Byakuya had not seen on the usually calm Lieutenant…

Anger.

"When you say 'noble's right'…Do you mean Hisana?"

"Do not spout out her name without an honorific! And yes, I mean everything that revolves around her!"

Suddenly Byakuya's markings began to sting…And the dome began to waver as he felt the huge spiritual pressure suddenly explode out of nowhere, shocking him…

What is this…Could he really be…But…This reiatsu, it feels odd…It's not normal…

Before he could even finish blinking in that moment, he found Zayuuri standing right in front of him instantly, with his eyes hooded as he gazed down in anguish, a vein beginning to bulge on his forehead…

"How dare you, Byakuya Kuchiki, for objectifying my deceased friend and your wife in the name of mere birthright and nobility? She was a free person, and she chose to be with you…Don't ever forget that…"

"What…What are you–"

"I ask the questions here, Boy…Indictment: Level 2…Trial."

Pain.

In the three marked areas, it was like his very spirit essence was being incinerated from the inside out around the sun symbols that now glowed brilliant white.

He couldn't resist yelping at the immense pain that had him virtually paralyzed, in his time, he had felt punches, kicks, nicks, cuts and slashes of varying degrees…But this?

Was truly excruciating…

"AAAGH!"

Grimaced the captain-noble in pain, clenching his teeth in agony.

"Tell me something, Byakuya…Do you treat Rukia the same way? Am I to regret ever informing you of having found her? Do you treat her as your 'birth right' by extension due to your previous marriage to 'MY' friend? And her sister? Is that what 'all' you nobles do? Take something or someone and change it out of a whim!? You'd best answer me…"

Growled Zayuuri.

"Nnn…No, I don't objectify Rukia, if that's what you're asking…But she's all I have left–"

"DO NOT TREAT HER AS THOUGH SHE WERE A PET! SHE'S NOT YOURS! NOR THE KUCHIKI CLAN'S! SHE'S FREE! LIKE HER SISTER WAS!...Don't forget, it was 'I' who pushed you from that bush in encouragement to confess to Hisana! It was 'I' that had been looking for Rukia during those years first…Hisana was just too ashamed to ask it of you before you two ever even got together! And even 'then' she never did!"

Again, the now furious spiritual pressure rose even higher as Byakuya continued to feel the agony of his very spirit burning on his side, right shoulder and pectoral…Still absolutely baffled by this turn of events…

"How, are you doing this to me…You're just a lieutenant, not even from a noble bloodline…AGH! What…Are you?"

Kosei glowered at him from the shadow of his brow, with seemingly fiery maroon eyes that almost matched the color of the blood along the side of his face…

…

"For your information Byakuya…I've been a full-fledged soul reaper since you were still flicking around a wooden sword~, practicing your Zanjutsu…And…By the time you became your grandfather's lieutenant…I had already received personal recommendation for 'captaincy'…Twice…For two different divisions…In order to fill out one of the, back then, empty positions that Yoruichi Shihouin, Urahara Kisuke and others had left void, during 'that night', over a hundred years ago."

…

That last part absolutely shocked the Kuchiki clan head to the core…

What…

"Of course, specifically, Central 46 played a hand at having the head captain offer me the '2nd division captaincy', since I am onmitsukido by default…"

"…"

"But the decision to accept was ultimately mine…And I refused…Much to Central 46's annoyance at having lost the chance to have one of their own become a captain of the Gotei 13 for influence's sake~…So they later on appointed Sui-Feng of course, the next best thing…"

No…It can't be…

"Do you know what that means?"

No…Not this, please anything but this…I'd have nothing left–

"No, you're lying…You'd need Bankai first–"

But Zayuuri ignored him and gave a deathly furious stare…

…

"It means…I've been playing you from the start of this 'fight' to get you to confess what your damn problem was…It means…"

"…?"

"It is a hundred years too early for you to become worthy of dying to 'my' blade, brat."

…

Byakuya gasped at all the information…He couldn't believe it…This wasn't fair…It was–

"You wanted to know my secret? All this time? The one that Hisana kindly and faithfully kept?"

"…I…I…"

"Fine. I'll tell you, Byakuya Kuchiki…One of my secrets, is…"

Zayuuri closed his eyes…

Then opened them once more, as the air literally began to tremble…

That was when Byakuya saw what he could never unsee…For Zayuuri lift his gaze, and he found himself no longer gazing into maroon eyes…

But now red sclera, with vertically slit pupils and orange-yellow burning irises…Along with an even more bizarre feeling to this odd distinct type of spiritual pressure that absolutely skyrocketed and began shattering his slaughter-scape as though it were mere porcelain…

What is he…

For the first time in a long time…Byakuya felt…Regret, for angering the wrong person…The kind of regret that he would feel from upsetting a more experienced elder like his grandfather, and being chastised for it like a mere child…

"That I…Am a monster…"

…

Byakuya suddenly felt horror at the sight…It was like looking into a demon's face that stuck out from the pits of hell itself…What was this? And this reiatsu…Felt more like–

Then his slaugher-scape suddenly 'shattered' into pieces and the massive spiritual pressure just vanished as Zayuuri seemingly struggled with something, grunting and hissing as he closed his eyes, almost seemingly possessed…Then opened them to reveal his normal maroon eyes again, now clearly calmer, but still serious…

Byakuya couldn't help but buckle onto a knee from the sudden release of the pressure and pain…

…

"That's another reason, why I refused the position…Monsters should not be in leadership…I'm sure Captain Zaraki of the 11th serves as a good example enough…"

He spat angrily, almost self-hatefully…Byakuya noticed that the burning stopped and saw that the symbols disappeared…It was over…

"You need to know something, Byakuya…"

He lift his gaze spitefully to the man he despised…And now utterly lost to…

…

...

...

He lay there in the rain puddle, his black kimono soaked in mud, water and sweat as he writhed in agony on the floor, feeling like this 'thing' was going to be the end of him.

'ARGH! Stop you monster!'

But in response, he heard a single word echo within his mind.

~'No.'

'RRR! RAGH!'

He let out his spiritual pressure uncontrollably and cracked the very ground along with the walls…He felt as though he was going mad as he could feel his sharpening teeth cut the inside of lips, but with all his will, he controlled it.

'NNN AH!'

And right then…He saw a girl, maybe a couple dozen years younger or so, with midnight blue eyes and dark hair along with fair skin, holding an umbrella and a bag in her other hand…It seemed like she had gone grocery shopping or something. She came over and sheltered him from the rain with the umbrella.

'Are…Are you ok? Sir?'

He was surprised at her kindness, could she not see what he had been becoming? Though clearly she was nervous…

'…I…Yes, thank you…I, Ugh…'

He felt faint as finally his struggle subsided, for now…And the girl quickly went to help him.

'Sir! Oh no you're bleeding.'

'Heh…I just bit my lip is all~…'

'And you're freezing…Let me help you in, I'm sure I can arrange something.'

'Please…Don't go through all that trouble for a monster…'

He said, not doubting that she had indeed seen a part of his unwilling morphing right before he had controlled and luckily subdued it…

Her eyes gleamed at that in understanding as they headed to some kind of manor–Wait…Wasn't this the great Kuchiki manor?

'With all due respect, sir, you're clearly struggling with a burden…I can see that…Although much different, I…Hold a burden of my own…A guilt so painful…'

'Really?'

'Yes…I'll tell you about 'her' once we're inside, I'm sure my masters won't notice…Then we'll see who the monster really is…'

…

'Here.'

She held out a loaf a bread as they sat near the fireplace of her, rather pristine, private servant quarters, with no one else the wiser of him being there…

'You're so kind…Hisana…'

'I wish I could say so…For what kindness did I have for my sister…'

She said with a sad gleam in her eyes…

…

'Have you tried looking for her?'

'…Yes…But I hardly can get away from the manor back to the Rukongai District…And, I used to live far inward…One of the worst parts…78th District…'

Shit, that was pretty bad…Poor girl…

The Rukongai district was where the rest of the citizens outside of Seireitei lived, and was the most populated…It was divided into four quadrants of 80 districts in the four directions, with the lowest number being the more pristine and richer, the closer to Seireitei it was…And the highest, being the furthest away from Seireitei…Meaning she was only two districts away from the absolute worst slums in Eastern Soul Society Branch…

…

That was when he decided to repay her kindness…

'I'll tell you what…You keep my secret, I'll keep yours, and, since I happen to be an onmitsukido inspection unit of central 46, and naturally an investigator…I can help you find your sister, though it'll take some time.'

He smiled as her dark midnight sapphire eyes widened in surprise.

'You'd do that…For me?'

'Well, I cannot remain indebted to a kind person like yourself…Let's be friends, and I'll come update you frequently on my results…I promise, one day I'll find her in order to repay your kindness, Hisana…'

She shed tears of joy at that…

'Thank you…Kosei…'

…

He sighed at the memory as he looked at the 6th division captain with pity after revealing part of 'that' same secret…

"You lost, simply out of a difference in tactful skill…And a bit of bad luck~, since I recently fought an opponent with a similar styled ability…Now 'he', was quite scary~…."

"…"

Byakuya just gave a quizzical look at that last part but Kosei continued–

"Also…Hisana cared for Ginrei and loved 'you' more than anything…That kiss she gave me, was out of the blue and meant nothing…Only that she cherished our friendship and that perhaps she felt lonely…But it's your fault that you took too long to confess to her, that's why I shoved you from that bush…"

Byakuya's eyes widened at that, clearly affected by what he was saying.

Kosei then gave a light smile at a memory…

"And once you two were married? She would never stop bragging about your every achievement…I hadn't ever seen her more happy…And so was I, for her…Especially since her past burden was heavy to bear…My regret is that I found Rukia only after Hisana's passing…Perhaps she might've rested easier…She loved you so much, Byakuya, that she didn't want to trouble you with her greatest burden, until her very death bed, since I was already looking for Rukia…I guess we both failed to help her rest easier…But I have no doubt that in spirit, she knows that her sister is well cared for…"

Byakuya's eyes finally showed an emotion that they lacked for so long as they gleamed at those words…

"But I'll best remind you…She chose to be with you…And Rukia chose to accompany me on that mission, though I don't know why she was so petulant about it~…I honestly tried to talk her out of it, even made her earn the right and prove herself…But she was free to choose…"

Byakuya looked downward…

"The life of a noble from one of the four great founding clans isn't that easy, Zayuuri…One cannot simply act without considering the repercussions of the noble hierarchy…And we soul reapers, must follow our own laws…Much like I must follow the laws of my clan…So too, must Rukia…"

…

Zayuuri just gave an annoyed sigh as he shook his head…

"Stubborn until the end~, like Rukia, perhaps in that you both are similar although not-related by blood…Well, let her decide that for herself at least…We signed up, despite the risks involved, for the job after all…However, I warn you Byakuya Kuchiki…"

He glared at him seriously as the clan head listened.

"Do not ever 'objectify' Hisana or Rukia like you did earlier, nor treat especially Rukia as though she were your property…Ever…Or I swear I will personally tear asunder your entire clan house…This aristocracy is corrupt as it is…And one day I will see an end to it…You'd be wise not to piss off this monster, for like yourself, 'I' too can struggle to control my 'temper' when it reaches a limit…"

…

Byakuya became serious as he got up shakily, still holding his sword.

"I believe that is a serious threat you just made against my clan…And every other it seems."

"And you had murderous intentions against me just now…Call us even."

"Does your threat include Rukia then? She is my adopted sister after all."

"Obviously not, like Hisana, she isn't of aristocratic raising…Do not force my hand and make me have to utterly destroy your clan in order to free Rukia of this aristocracy…I don't think Hisana would appreciate that, Byakuya…But if it's for her sister, I might just do it, should you piss me off again if I come to hear that you objectify them once more, nobility or not."

…

They glared at each other heavily for a few moments…

…

Suddenly a clap could be heard resounding in the cave, causing both to jump in surprise and snap their gaze at the entrance.

"Alright kids~, that's enough playtime, time to go home and clean up~."

Came the jovial tone of…

Kyoraku Shunsui, clapping his hands for attention like a teacher would to a bunch of grade schoolers.

Oh shit!

"Captain Shunsui!...And…"

Immediately greeted Kosei as he also noticed behind him rushing forth…

"Abarai?"

But Renji ignored him and helped his captain, shocked at his condition.

"Shunsui…Renji, what have you done?"

Asked Byakuya seriously but–

"The right thing Kuchiki, he told me you were getting a bit carried away with your…'Spar', against Zayuuri. He was worried for the consequences should anything 'extreme' happen."

Said Kyoraku with a serious gleam in his dark eyes as he surveyed the destruction of the area…

"And seems like I got here just on time too, you guys sure did make a mess of this place…Whatever it is…Lt. Renji, help your captain to the 4th division, but do it subtly and arrange for a 'private' session, we don't want people panicking at his condition–"

"Why did you not finish me Zayuuri?…You've taken every bit of pride I had left from me…Now I have nothing…"

Spat out Byakuya suddenly, holding his chest wound with one arm while anchoring his other over Renji's neck, the comment causing everyone to be silent…

…

Then Kosei shrugged and smiled non-chalantly–

"What are you talking about captain Kuchiki? All we did was spar~, remember?"

All three pairs of eyes were on Byakuya now…Who sighed in annoyance…

…

"Right…"

…

"Oh and you have Rukia, don't you~?"

Renji perked up at her name before gazing at Kosei first then at his captain in curiosity.

"…Yes…You're right…But this isn't over Zayuuri, I still have matters to settle with you…"

And Renji began to quickly and nervously pull his captain away toward the exit before anything else could happen.

Kosei rolled his eyes at that but–

"Yes of course captain, I wish you a swift recovery."

That was when Renji shunpoed out of the chamber with the injured captain…Leaving Kosei alone with Shunsui…Who suddenly clasped his shoulder with a hand and held a grin on his unkempt face, gazing at him from under the straw hat…

"So…It seems Jushiro didn't exaggerate after all…You do realize that if 199 more of Kuchiki's division witnessed this 'spar~'–"

"I have no intention of becoming a captain sir…Please no, it's so much work…"

Quickly intervened Kosei with a groan, apart from his earlier private statement to Byakuya, he also feared the enormous work load that would come with it apart from his other role…

"Hahaha! What do you mean? It's a breeze~."

"When you have a lieutenant as dependable as Nanao you mean~."

"Ha! Guess you caught me there~, my Nanao's such a little angel~, though to think you refused such an offer in the past…I wonder about the real reason…I'm curious…"

Then Kyoraku's eyes gave a flash of curiosity that unnerved Kosei, it reminded him of a cat that was about to pounce on a mouse…

"Could you possibly have already attained 'Bankai'?"

…

"…Much like the 'Trial by combat', and unlike the 'captain proficiency test', a 'personal recommendation' by multiple captains, actually does not require the ability to perform Bankai, captain…"

"…Hmm, I see…Interesting…Well, I don't want to keep you, I'm sure you're keen for a rest, and to heal those cuts, let's get out of here…"

"Yes sir."

They walked toward the entry of the place in silence…

"Oh and Captain?"

"Hmm?"

"Aside from captain Ukitake, I'd really prefer it if no one knew about this…"

"Darn, so close! Heh~, fine, I'll only tell Jushiro."

"Promise?"

"What, you doubt my word~?"

Shunsui mocked offense with his wrist and a wry smile.

"Eh…"

Kosei remembered seeing his captain sometimes helping a drunken Kyoraku to his division, who spewed out all sorts of random information in between the gibberish…

…

"Of course not, sir, I'm just a little paranoid~, hehe~…"

Laughed Kosei nervously…Preferring prudence over security, this one time…

…

Ah shit…Well, maybe they'll take it as drunken nonsense…

Kosei really hoped that would be the case…

Then a thought occurred to him…

"Captain…"

"Yes?"

…

"I'm curious, since we opened the subject, as you are one of the more experienced of the Seireitei…How did Captain Aizen attain his captaincy? I found it to be rather…Sudden, following the events of 'that night'…"

"Oh? Curious about the 5th division captain are we? I noticed you had a conversation with him earlier today."

"Yes, it was a friendly chat~. It was only then that I began actually thinking about it…Though because of my other duties, I hadn't had the chance to properly hear about how it actually went about…"

Shunsui scratched his chin in thought as they were now exiting the compound, and Kosei could feel the night air…Though the strangest feeling of being…Watched…

"Hmm…Well, now that I think about it…I believe it was a rare case of 'urgent' summoning for leadership…At first, it was simply to temporarily fill the void as well as suppress the mass panic that would ensue during and after that night…But then later he proved to actually be rather fit for the job…It was then, that it was decided he would do a captain proficiency test, to give him a chance...And well, he passed, obviously."

"I see…"

So nothing too abnormal ther–

"Though…I was there during the day of the test…And, honestly…I didn't expect someone of his personality to produce such an eerie bankai…It almost felt…Like it was there…But it wasn't at the same time…"

"What do you mean?"

Though Kosei could venture a guess, as he had been at Aizen's demonstration of his 'shikai', before then everyone else aside from the captains had to leave, since 'bankai' was not something that should be seen by all…Not even all the captains were allowed to see it…

In fact, only three randomly chosen captains plus the captain commander were allowed to see the bankai of another at a proficiency test, due to its sacred and private nature, with the captains sworn to secrecy about it, fated to severe punishment should they be caught divulging it…The reason only three random captains at a time could know of one other captain's Bankai, was because, in the unlikely event that said captain taking the proficiency test would act in mutiny against the Seireitei and/or Soul society for any reason…At least three other captains could venture a proper estimation of its weakness and the oath of secrecy be automatically revoked to detain the individual…And the randomness factor of the choice for potential witnesses of the proficiency test, was simply so that not a single captain could know 'all' of the captain's bankai's forms, in case that same one were to also, though unlikely, act in mutiny, having a monopoly of knowledge of everyone else's bankai…

The only exception to this was the Head Captain Commander of course, who would and must know of all his subordinates abilities, as there is no real reason for him to act in mutiny against his own organization as a whole, since he is the supreme military authority, after all…And for good reason…

"Err, I guess I shouldn't really talk about some else's bankai, it's not proper and not for me to say…Though sometimes I do wonder…His appointment was rather…Hasty, I should say…"

"Hasty?"

Shunsui looked a bit uncomfortable with his own wording–

"Well…I don't mean to belittle his efforts with the squad, it's just that…As I said, it was 'urgent'…But it's not like we haven't had a void captain position for longer…It was only a few days later that he was appointed as substitute-captain, but then only a week after 'that', he was given the chance to fill it permanently…After seeing the test, Jushiro commented that it seemed the search for a candidate of that division, to replace someone of Shinji Hirako's standing, seemed…'Quite superficial'."

"You mean to say they didn't give others much consideration?"

"Yes…Oddly enough, now that you mention it…Well, who am I to question the ways of our captain commander…"

…

I see…

Wait a minute, my captain saw it too!?

"Sir, may I at least enquire as to who actually witnessed Captain Aizen's test? Apart from the head commander?"

Shunsui raised an eyebrow at the question but answered…

…

Kosei was shocked at this revelation…

…

It so happened, that for Aizen's proficiency test…Apart from the captain commander…

Kyoraku Shunsui, 8th division captain, Kenpachi Zaraki of the 11th, who apparently at that time, had recently become a captain through 'trial by combat'…And his very own captain, Jushiro Ukitake of the 13th…Were selected 'randomly' to witness Aizen's proficiency test…

…

Three of the most likely strongest current captains of the Gotei 13…

…

Oh shit…That has to mean something…That's no coincidence.

…

Then Kyoraku gave that same curious cat-like leer.

"Why so curious? Perhaps you're reconsidering on the offer~? Hmm~?"

"Huh?...EH!? Uh! No no, Haha, no~, I was just curious, as I barely even heard of his recommendation, and we opened up the subject…"

Oops, delved in too far–

"Ah I see…You're trying to understand what had him recommended so suddenly, so you can avoid being recommended yourself eh~?"

…

Roll with it–

"…Eh…Perhaps~?"

Kyoraku guffawed at that.

"Hahaha! So tricky, yet modest~, just remember Zayuuri…"

That was when they stopped walking through the tiled pathways of division one and the 8th division captain gave him a look from a gleaming eye under the settling afternoon twilight.

"You can't avoid fate…Nor responsibility…Jushiro's counting on you, my boy…"

…

"I know sir…I just…I need to focus on my current role…I have to get to the bottom of the 'Central 46 issue'…It's been my life's mission to reveal the darkness here…Captaincy would just complicate it further…I trust you understand?"

…Kyoraku just gave a soft smile.

"...I understand, but–"

"CAPTAAAAIN! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!? THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF WEEK OLD DOCUMENTATION THAT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED BY YOU!"

Came out an angry feminine screech from a distance and Kyoraku quite literally shrunk his shoulders and looked sheepish all of a sudden at Nanao Ise, his lieutenant's voice ringing out…

…

"Eh heh~, speaking of captaincy~, I really ought to get going…See you around Zayuuri."

And with a nervous smile, Kyoraku quickly vanished into shunpo, though Kosei could feel based on the reiatsu reading that Kyoraku wasn't heading for the direction of his barracks~…

…

Kosei sighed in relief at the interruption…Remembering Kyoraku's recalling of the events from the past…

So…It seems you had a hand in many things, Aizen…

…

This was going to be a most difficult 'game' indeed…

…

...

...

Later…

4th Division Infirmary...

…

Oh my God…

Renji couldn't believe it…His captain…Lost…And Kosei…Truly was a prodigy…If 199 more of his division witnessed that…

He was sitting outside a private healing chamber at the 4th division barracks, on a wooden bench, with Kyone's sister, Lt. Isane and her captain of the 4th division, personally attending his own captain's injuries, inside…He stared at the closed double door with the 'in session' banner pinned on it…Thinking…

…

I swore to surpass you Byakuya…

…

He remembered how Rukia was so adamant on accompanying Kosei on a death mission, so determined to be with him for some reason…

But it seems I'll have to surpass yet another too…

…

That was when he decided, that he would train the hardest he ever could from this day forth…There was no more room for mediocracy…He had to become much better at kido and or…At the very least, attain Bankai…

Renji remembered his captain's injuries…And shivered at the thought of Zayuuri possibly knowing Bankai himself…For how could he have won without such power? Although it was for good reason, a part of him regretted not staying to witness Zayuuri's 'Shikai' at the very least, that would have at least proved to be important…And it wasn't like his captain was going to openly talk about it either, 'that' was definitely going to be a subject to avoid with him–

"Lt. Abarai."

He jumped in surprise as the deceivingly youthful looking, Retsu Unohana, Captain of the 4th division, seemingly appeared in front of him, with her long black intertwined braided hair swerved in front of her as she walked forth to look at him seriously, the dim illumination from the glowing lights of the corridor giving a warm radiance to her silky pale skin …

"Ah! Sorry, I was deep in thought!"

He immediately excused as he got up and gave her a quick bow.

"At ease Lieutenant."

"Captain Unohana, how is he?"

"He'll be fine, he's fairly strong as a captain himself, and has stabilized…But in order for his treatment to be more precise, it is pivotal for me to know…What happened to him? This seems awfully serious for something that's the result of a simple spar~."

She asked with a perturbed gaze.

…

Shit.

How 'was' he going to explain 'this'? He knew how much his captain's pride mattered to him…What could he possibly say? Should he lie? Should he tell the truth? What–

"Abarai…"

She insisted a bit more seriously this time, being a dedicated medic, though not without battle prowess of her own.

He snapped his gaze back at her and noticed her change in demeanor, her dark eyes growing grave and seemingly demanding but paradoxically without betraying her kind smile…It was a bit off putting…And certainly scary…

"I…I…"

"If this is about something as trivial as pride…I suggest you put it aside…I don't need to know unimportant details of who lost or won…I need to know…What his injuries were a result of?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Then she seemed thoughtful.

"They are fairly, uncommon…His left side, right shoulder and pectoral were not only superficially injured…But there are signs of his very Reiryoku in those areas, having been literally set ablaze and incinerated from the inside, like fire would oil…It's an extremely rare type of injury that cannot be reproduced so easily, and takes more time to heal…His skin and tissue may recover faster, but his spirit essence will take longer to replenish…And the only times I've ever seen such an injury…Were a usually a result…From…"

Her gaze grew even more concerned as she trailed off in thought…And the hairs on Renji's neck rose as he eagerly anticipated her answer…But she shook her head, seemingly dismissing the thought…

"No…It couldn't be…Surely it's just the ability of his opponent's Zanpakuto…I'm assuming it's the result of his opponent's Shikai? Perhaps Bankai? More likely?"

She enquired.

"I…I'm not sure, Zayuu–Eh…I mean his opponent, hadn't activated his ability before I had gone off to seek out captain Kyoraku…Since, well…He's a bit more easy going than most other captains and wouldn't really make a big issue out of it…"

…

She put a hand on her chin, raising a brow and looking rather surprised…

"The name you were about to mention but cut off…Am I to assume this was Lieutenant Zayuuri's handiwork?"

Renji gasped and cursed himself for his nervous loose tongue…

Damn it!

He 'clapped' his hands together and placed them on his forehead while looking down…

"I urge you Captain Unohana to please, keep this under the wraps, if possible…"

Pleaded Renji…He saw Byakuya as a rival and couldn't deny that he did feel a bit 'elated' to see the highranking noble put in his place for once~…But he was still Rukia's, his friend's, brother, and naturally he did genuinely care for his well-being apart from being his lieutenant…

He waited nervously for her answer before–

"Very well…But the injury will have to be documented in my private patient's log, as it is rare indeed, for future references…Still…To think a lieutenant was able to do this much damage to captain Byakuya of all people…I wonder what made the 'fight' get so out of hand?"

"I…It's not for me to say…I'm sorry…"

"I see…It would seem that Zayuuri came out victorious then…By quite a margin too."

It was more of a statement rather than a question.

"Huh? How could you make such a conclusion!?"

Panicked Renji but she closed her dark eyes and gave a small smile in amusement, before opening them slightly…

"Well, the lieutenant of the 13th isn't here for treatment, is he~? This is Captain Byakuya we're talking about, naturally an average Lieutenant grade Shinigami would lose badly, or if anything, maybe win by the skin of their teeth and have used up decades worth of dumb luck~…Such a result would certainly leave them extremely wounded too, like their opponent…Yet Lt. Zayuuri hasn't shown up…And I doubt he's 'that' skilled at Kaido if practices it at all…"

Renji felt a bit sheepish at the obviousness of it.

"Oh…I guess that's true…"

He sighed, feeling worried now…But she gave a small chuckle.

"Don't worry, I know how proud nobility can be~…It won't escape my mouth, and patient confidentiality is very important to a doctor anyway…"

"…I see…"

"You may leave him to us, Lieutenant Abarai, it's best you think of an 'excuse' for Captain Byakuya's temporary absence, while taking command of the division's responsibilities yourself in the meanwhile, though since we're at peacetime, I don't think it will cause much issue, as he is a naturally busy man…He'll be up and about soon enough."

"Yes…Of course Captain…Thank you so much…"

He was about to turn around after a curt bow, glad that she was a medic-shinigami, but then she spoke up–

"However, if confidentiality concerns you that much…I'm afraid to say, although understandable due to his nature, that you may have chosen the wrong captain to seek help from…Since Captain Kyoraku, well…He's known at the local bar to get quite…Tipsy~, for lack of a more subtle term~…And he's good friends with Ukitake…"

…

Renji's heart sank…

Oh God…What have I done…

And now came the harder part…Should he tell Rukia or not of Byakuya's condition and of what occurred?

On one hand, he wouldn't hear the end of it from his captain if Rukia were to find out about her brother's defeat, his pride wouldn't swallow it up…But on the other…Zayuuri did hurt Byakuya, not to the point of near killing him, no…But still leaving him fairly wounded…If Rukia were to learn of this, might she feel emotionally torn?

…

Then he thought of Byakuya's words…

'Duty is of upmost importance, Renji…Never forsake it, for to live without upholding it, is to live in shambles, without dignity and pride…Without pride, we are mere animals…And who else would uphold the law, if we as Shinigami and law keepers, cannot follow it ourselves?'

…

Renji sighed in frustration…

No, it was only right as Byakuya's sister, that she know of her brother's condition, at least he was going to recover soon enough though…But he couldn't say the same about Byakuya's pride…

And as a soul reaper, as well as being her long-time friend, it was his duty to inform her…

Oh boy…

...

...

...

Meanwhile…

"So…That's part of his ability…And that last one you claimed was…Interesting…"

"Yes sir…I was actually quite surprised, at the results of the fight."

"Should you be? He did after all somehow manage to slay Barragan…Who was a top level spiritual being, even two high class captains would have had a difficult time against that particular vasto lorde…And yet somehow he managed to defeat him alone…It doesn't surprise me that Zayuuri was able to handle Kuchiki without too much difficulty…"

"Yes, you're right my lord…But, I'm not sure what to think of that reiatsu reading of his, it was unique…"

Informed Tosen.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

They were alone in his office, his curiosity piqued at Tosen's words…

"Well…It…Wasn't that of a normal Shinigami…"

"I think you'll need to be specific…I also don't consider myself to be a 'normal shinigami'…Let's try this~, what did it feel like?"

"That's just it sir…It was a makeup of something else…I don't know what to compare it to…Except, maybe…"

What?

"Tosen, are you suggesting his essence is derived from something 'other' than a normal Shinigami soul?"

The captain of the 9th division looked unsure as he furrowed his purple brows in thought.

"Perhaps…It felt like a mix of sorts…"

Mix…?

…

Then he thought of Ichigo Kurosaki for one moment, the human cub's splendid orange hair flashing in his memory…

!

"Wait…Surely you're not suggesting 'that'?"

Aizen asked with a sudden flare of curiosity…

But Tosen shook his head slowly after a pause in thought.

"No…I don't think so, although it certainly felt similar…It's not the same case as Subject B..."

…

Hmm…

"I see…I will have to do a bit of digging then and revisit the archives…Excellent scouting Tosen, this is most surprising indeed…And his abilities are interesting, he's smart to not have just gone all out with all his techniques, I'm certain he may have realized that he was being watched…"

"What? Impossible, I was extremely well hidden, and Renji Abarai couldn't even detect me even though I was right there for a moment."

Aizen smirked at that.

"Well, naturally any ordinary Shinigami would probably have been oblivious…But I've learnt now to never put anything past Zayuuri…Though I don't worry too much about him, it is still important to silence him eventually…No doubt by now he must be enquiring about me to Shunsui Kyoraku, I'd imagine he'd start there to gather intelligence on me."

"That quickly?"

"Yes, he is an investigator onmitsukido after all, and it seems curiosity is his soul trait~…Though soon I'll find more information about him…Based on your scout observations, I'm beginning to suspect something…This could become very interesting indeed…"

Mused Aizen mostly to himself, putting a finger to his chin in thought…

"Sir?"

…

"I'll need to hack into Retsu Unohana's patience records, perhaps there will be a clue and analysis to the type of injuries Captain Byakuya sustained…Though should that fail, I'll need someone to retrieve them for me…"

"I could do so sir, perhaps arrange for someone to take it stealthily?"

"No, that would be too risky, Unohana guards her patience information with her life, and so does her lieutenant…It would be far too obvious…I know of a far easier way…"

He thought for a moment…Before continuing…

"Yes, I think I know who'll do it for me, I have no doubt that Retsu Unohana will seem curious about it as well and try to find answers on her own…It would be very important to know as a medic…Yes…'That' might work."

He grinned, now thinking to himself, very glad that Tokinada's ploy from having sent the recording of Rukia Kuchiki's description of Zayuuri's mission to her brother, Byakuya, happened…It brought about interesting results…

…

You just made your first mistake, Kosei Zayuuri…

But it was only natural, for I may lack information on you…But that'll soon change, while you may know my name, you still don't have an inkling of who you're 'truly' dealing with…

…

…

…

Later…

...

"What the hell do you mean Renji!? You'd best explain yourself!"

They were in her private quarters once again at the 13th division, where she had been reading a book, eagerly awaiting Kosei's return from the captain's meeting, wondering on his tardiness…Only to receive Renji and this most grievous news that had her nerves on end.

"Calm down Rukia…I'm not sure why it happened, but clearly your brother had some real beef against Zayuuri for some reason, and I swear to you I have no idea what it is."

"Why would my brother even think to do such a thing!? It doesn't make any sense! Was he simply defending me? Deciding for me that Kosei deserve be punished because of a decision I TOOK!?"

"I…I gather that might be heavily related, yes…But I don't know any details…All I know is that he's recovering well, yeah…"

Quickly added Renji looking nervous with a hand behind his head and uncertain himself…No doubt it must have been a shocker to witness his own captain starting a fight of all things…

"Where's Kosei now?"

"I don't know, I left him with Captain Kyoraku since I prioritized taking my captain to the 4th…I'd have assumed he'd have gone to the 4th after me, but he never showed, then my next guess was that he'd be here in the 13th division barracks instead, but I see he went elsewhere, perhaps on a patrol, though I doubt it since, although less, he still sported some minor injuries…"

"Foolish, why wouldn't he go to the 4th for recovery as well, I'm sure he'd be seriously…Wounded…"

Rukia gazed down feeling a storm of emotions, bewildered at all of these events…

Why brother…

…

Then based on Renji's wording, she suddenly felt shock and glared at him in surprise…

Wounded…4th…Wait a minute…

"Wait…You said he sported less injuries…What are you saying?"

"What? I…Crap…"

The red-head lieutenant slapped a hand on his own face self-beratingly…

"Renji…Who won that fight?"

…

"I can't tell you that Rukia…"

"Why not? Surely it'd be easy to say that my brother won, since he's a captain…How difficult could that be to admit? Yet you said Kosei wasn't hurt badly."

"…I…Um…"

…

Then she remembered how she was handedly defeated in their own spar before their trip to Hueco Mundo…

…

No…

No way…

"Renji…You're not saying…"

"I never said anything! Don't assume things Rukia…"

Her heart pounded in disbelief…

"…Are you telling me…That Kosei…My lieutenant…Defeated my big brother, captain of the 6th division?"

"I never said that."

"Yet you suggested it based on your wording."

He sighed relentingly…

"…Perhaps you could ask either of them yourself…I don't want to be the one to say it, I came here, as you are his sister, and you being my friend, to tell you that Captain Byakuya is recovering well at the 4th…That is all…"

…

"…I see…Thanks for informing me…Renji…"

She let out in deep thought…

Then Renji became serious, with his brown eyes leering at her with a dark undertone…

"Though…I'll tell you 'this'…There's a lot about Zayuuri that you nor I don't know, a lot more beneath the surface…I have a distinct feeling that you need to be more wary of him, Rukia…He's not normal…"

She gazed at him at those words…Before he simply turned away and left without waiting for her …

…

I can't believe it…There's no way…If he did defeat Nii-sama…Then everything I know about him is either only on the surface…

Or all a lie…

How could he be so powerful, and yet be…Only a Lieutenant? Does this mean he could've taken the captaincy of our division sooner? But…Why hasn't he…Or am I assuming too much here?

Shit…Kosei…

…

In that moment she gazed at the moonlight peeking through the sliding door of her quarters…

…

Who are you, really?…

…

…

...

Later...

Rukongai District, West wing, #3…

A certain local bar…

…

She had a sip of her drink, listening to the bumbling drunken men within the tavern, seated with her brother Ganju slurping his own alcoholic beverage from a large glass, contrastingly to her own sake in the smaller cup, contemplating the events of the day…They were both relaxing at the local tavern after a day's worth of hard work…

It was a good haul that arrived in the cart today, special firework material orders all the way from the West Soul Society branch, taking weeks if not a month to arrive…It was what made her fireworks industry successful in the first place as no one else in the Rukongai District had access to such fine material…She guessed it was the last remaining perk of having been once part of one of the five founding clans…Now being reduced to four due to her own having fallen in aristocratic status and losing all form of political power, reduced to a simple small family clan now since the death of its head, her elder brother…

At least Kaien left a good impression with most of the business partners…Thanks to that, she had been able to successfully hold enterprise relations with them, their reputation as fire-works experts even spreading out to the Western Soul Society branch, though snobbish up-tarts they were rumored to be, they certainly knew how to make quality materials…

…

As she pondered this, the people on the table next to them got up and left, revealing the occupants of the table across who she hadn't been able to take notice of, until now…It was then she noticed someone familiar…She had at first seen his face from the weekly 'seiretei communication' article she would keep tabs on…He was sitting there surrounded by what looked to be his associates…Yes, he was also a noble of a lesser house from within Seireitei, if she wasn't mistaken…And a captain of the Gotei 13…The same man came here every so often to have a drink, and it seemed her brother had noticed too, if his furious drunken expression was anything to go by~.

"So you noticed them too, seems like you haven't quite hit your sweet spot yet~ little brother."

"'Hick', I'd hafta' to be too drunk' tah' not notice a table fullah' stinkin' soul reapers~, 'hick'."

"Well you're not too far from that~, though you probably usually are if you've never noticed Kyoraku Shunsui himself come around here sometimes for a drink with his buddies, including his co-captain Ukitake Jushiro…"

"Yeah…That white haired captain of the division where our big brother's murderer is stationed…Pfft, bastards…"

She glared at her own younger brother seriously and 'bonked' him on the head with a knuckle–

"OW!"

"Hey, none of that here moron…At least his friend from the same division was spared of the execution, as I hear anyway…"

She berated him as she looked at both the dark-brown haired and the white haired captain-nobles of their respective lesser houses, talking to their Shinigami inferiors…Though in a tavern in the Rukongai district, with drink, there didn't really exist hierarchy, everyone was of equal status inside here, as no one was immune to the relaxing effects of alcohol…

The news about Zayuuri was not included in the Seiretei Communications article, no…That piece of info had gotten to them from a business insider she had within Seireitei that was in charge of the 'Immigration and outer regional transferal of goods' department, which only the nobles handled…Without this person, their business wouldn't legally be able to import from outside the eastern Soul Society branch…

"Hmm? Oh yeah! That Zayuuri guy, he wasn't too bad…But still, to almost have had him executed, that was stupid on their part…Shows how murderous those Soul reapers are, even to their own kind…"

She rolled her eyes and just harumphed at that as she took a swig of her sake, remembering Zayuuri, and Kaien, her big brother who trusted the man that had once in a while come around the Rukongai district with him to this same bar…Then her ears perked up at a certain sentence–

"–And didya' know that our fine boy Zayuuri beat Kuchiki in a full fledged fight?"

"Huh? You mean that Rukia girl from Captain Ukitake's division? 3rd seat Rukia? Not surprising, but a full fledged fight? Isn't that more like 11th division's style? Why would they fight?"

Rukia…

"Actually we're not supposed to talk about–"

"Ah, don't sweat it Ukitake, I'm sure these boys can keep a secret~, we're talkin' about Captain Byakuya, her elder bro–"

"Shunsui!"

Berated Ukitake–

"PFFF!"

That was when Kukkaku spewed all of the alcoholic content from her mouth all over Ganju's surprised face as he stared at her in shock.

WHAT!?

Though the abrupt action caught the soul reaper's attention…She quickly snapped out of it, then pretended–

"Ganju! I told you we cant' talk about that here! Moron!"

"Huh? Wha?"

Stupidly replied her ignorant big brute of a little brother, completely confused at the situation. Kukkaku ventured a look with her peripheral to the table full of Shinigami and they continued with their conversation, convinced she hadn't heard anything…

What…The…Fuck!? Did I just hear that correctly?

"Oi sis, you ok? Sah' matter?"

He asked wiping his face of the spewed liquid.

"…Nothing, go home, you're too drunk, we still need sort out the import."

"Huh? But…"

"Now…"

She growled with authority, and with a yelp, Ganju set off immediately back to their abode…Then she waited, and the shinigami's all got up, ready to leave, as she thought of a way to have one of them confirm the information…It was then she noticed that Kyoraku left his flamboyant women's kimono on the stool, and she took her chance…Right before they left the door–

"Oi you."

She pointed at Kyoraku who pointed to himself having heard her.

"Yeah, ya' forgot' somethin'."

She jerked the thumb of her 'good' hand at the stool where he had previously been sitting.

"Ah, thanks for that young lady~! I'll be right behind you guys! lemme' get my kimono…"

He tipped his straw hat in reverence to her while his associates left the building and he went over to get his kimono…That was when she struck–

She blew right over to him in a flash, swiftly passing the tables, grabbed him by the scruff of his black kimono underneath and shoved him against the wall at the end of the bar, smelling the alcohol in his breath as his eyes rolled around in confusion…Clearly he was drunk~ if a captain of the 13 court guards allowed himself to get caught.

"Whoa there, can I help you~ miss uh…"

"You wouldn't recognize me Kyoraku~, I am after all from a fallen founding house…"

"Huh? Err…Oh, might you perchance be a Shiba?"

"Doesn't matter, can you confirm what you said earlier? About Zayuuri defeating the Kuchiki captain?"

"Huh? Oh that…Umm, what's it to you, if I may ask–Yah!"

That was when she pressed a knee to his crotch.

"Ow OUU! Yes! Yes it's true! Ow, so rough~ for a beauty like yourself~."

He slurred out with an awkward sheepish smile.

"Yeah yeah~, I've heard what I wanted to hear, now piss off and take your damned woman's kimono, perv!"

She hollered out as Kyoraku bumbled about with a 'hick' to his breath, once more tipping his hat to her as his drink-reddened visage disappeared through the exit…

…

Well blow me the fuck over, it's true then…Zayuuri, Kaien's friend, actually beat the elder brother of my own elder brother's murderer in an actual fight…A captain no less…

If that wasn't a form of vengeance or karma~ for Kaien, then Kukkaku didn't know what was…She grinned at that, while she held her 'wooden' arm with her other fine one, thinking of her deceased elder brother…

Holy shit that's news…Heh…Perhaps I'll invite Zayuuri over one day and give him my thanks…

She chuckled at that thought, fixing and adjusting the white cloth that wrapped her short black hair, as she left the tavern, feeling absolute elation at that piece of news, still humming to herself with laughter on her way home…

…

…

…

Later that night...

10th Division Captain quarters…

…

The flittering sound of paper was the only thing that resounded in the office as one pile of paperwork was shrinking, gradually adding to and causing the other to grow as each was revised and signed with a signature…

'Sigh'

Toshiro Hitsugaya, was glad that most of the paperwork was done…Though it would have been nice if Matsumoto were here to help~.

He growled in annoyance at that last thought, wondering where could she be bumbling about now…But he knew that was a pointless thought, as this was her usual habit…So instead, he decided to entertain another more important thought as he began actively multi-tasking, remembering today's captain's meeting…

'Well call it luck I guess~.'

'I don't find that particularly amusing.'

'But it's the truth, captain.'

…

'But how did you open that garganta then?'

…

'I followed a hollow through it, but then killed it right before exiting, it seems it had no idea where it was heading most likely~…'

…

That was the moment that Shunsui demonstrated a particularly annoying habit of unnecessarily cutting the meetings short with his horribly acted out 'yawn'…Though Toshiro supposed most of the captains, including himself, were a busy bunch…

Still…

He couldn't help but remain fixated on that 'one' detail that wasn't explained thoroughly…Toshiro could understand the eventual whimsical blessing of good fortune for a soul in desperation…But luck of that caliber? To have found a hollow that just happened to have been heading right toward certain death in the face of the spirit barrier of Seireitei?

Toshiro didn't buy it…And he guessed any captain within that room with half a modicum of care or intellect, shared the same opinion…But of course, anything could have realistically happened in 'that' realm…Still, the apparent size and strength of that garganta which was felt all over Seireitei, was nothing to scoff at…It almost seemed as though a menos was going to pop out…Yet it was Zayuuri…

Once more, Toshiro shuffled that thought into another corner for consideration later…There was something else that was even more concerning…

Something he had observed in the line of captains in front of him during the meeting…

…

Tosen Kaname…

The captain of 9th Division…A peaceful individual that had a very strong sense of justice, if his 'Seireitei communications' article were anything to go by~, as well as his personality whenever it was showcased in a meeting or very rare joint operation…

This man…Showed a peculiar reaction when he was told by Saijin, in consideration of his blindness, what the object Zayuuri held in his hand was…

Toshiro was originally of the Rukongai District, as far as he could remember anyway~…And he had street experience as a younger child, having grown accustomed to the habitual tendencies of most people whenever they spoke and did things, it was almost second nature to him to be observing each and every one person's expression in order to get a solid read on them…

And…

If Toshiro didn't know any better…At the captain's meeting, Kaname showed a surprised expression, rather than one of confusion or curiosity, toward the ancient 'crown' Zayuuri held and showcased…

…

This raised numerous questions…

First…Back to Zayuuri…Most likely a question on everyone's mind during that gathering…Why on earth would he have arranged with the captain commander to call a meeting, just to tell everyone that he literally found no conclusive results from his rather risky endeavor? But only to show the object? Was it so that he could save himself the embarrassment of coming back literally empty handed? Was it because Mayuri Kurotsuchi wanted a specimen? But if that were the case, why call the meeting for it and not just hand it over to the painted oddball captain-scientist?

…

Then that expression on Zayuuri's face soon after he revealed the object…

It was almost like…

…

He purposely revealed the item to observe something...Perhaps any change in one of the captain's demeanor…But…Surely then, that would mean…

!

Toshiro was surprised at the direction of his own thoughts went…

...

Does Zayuuri suspect someone from amongst…The captains? Surely not…

…

Then the next question…

Why would Kaname recognize the object in the first place? This seemed odd…And of course Zayuuri's subtle reaction to such a change in posture…

…

This was all so strange…Not to mention Byakuya Kuchiki's behavior toward the lieutenant, which wasn't very like the usually composed high noble…That was also strange, just like the spectacle that developed between the noble and the mysterious guise of Captain of the 7th division, Saijin Komamura, who's true face under that straw helmet had never been seen by any, except the captain commander himself…And Saijin, was known to be Kaname's close aide if not close friend, as the two were seen often conversing…

…

Such strange times we live in…

…

~'Indeed, my young master.'

Came the inner voice of his Zanpakuto spirit…

Hyorinmaru…What brings you to the surface?

~'Your thoughts are my thoughts, my dear young master…But like you, I too think, preserve, and feel freely, through the vessel that is your body, to an extent, for what use would I be if I cannot be of help?'

What do you mean?

~'I merely wish to add to your collection of thoughts based on the subject you were thinking of…Perhaps it might help you in time understand things better…'

You mean what occurred at the captain's meeting?

~'To an extent…'

Well?

~'It was extremely brief…But for a moment, when that garganta had opened and its aura emanated throughout the seireitei, and when the young man, known as Kosei Zayuuri had exited the portal…I felt a most…Oddly enough, familiar presence from within him…A presence I had not felt for millennia, as a previously unbound spirit, before being 'sealed' and becoming one with the Soul Cutter, and in turn, you…'

What? What do you mean by that?

~'It means as I said…'

Are you talking about…His Zanpakuto?

~'I know not whether it was specifically of his soul cutter…But one cannot be blamed to assume so…'

And what do you mean when you were once a previously unbound spirit? This is the first I'm hearing this of you, Hyorinmaru.

It was then that Toshiro, for a split second, felt a slight disturbance and unusual tinge of nervousness from his Zanpakuto spirit, before the feeling vanished…

…

~'Please forgive me…But…That is a truth…That I believe you are not yet ready for, my young master…'

Huh? I beg your pardon?

~'You may have subdued and brought me to the surface as your bankai…But that is not the pinnacle of our power…Spiritually, you are still a child, and are still growing…And although a prodigy child you may be, intellect is not synonymous with 'maturity'…Hence, this truth that I have…You are not yet ready for…'

What? But why?

~'…Because it could harm you in many ways…And my first priority is to protect 'you'…That is why, you are not yet ready to receive this truth from me…The truth about myself, amongst other things…But all I can say is…Be wary of Kosei Zayuuri, for if my senses were clear enough and my suspicion correct…I then fear, that within him, he may be carrying, a most devastating burden…'

…

That was when Hyorinmaru began fading back into the deeper subconscious, to the inner world–

But wait! I still don't understand–

"Hi Captain~!"

"GAH!"

He let out in shock as suddenly Rangiku seemingly materialized out of nowhere, a look of surprise on her face at his reaction.

"Eh, sorry I didn't mean to scare you–"

Having composed himself and regained his normal heart rate, Toshiro grunted at that.

"You didn't scare me…You just surprised me, I was deep in thought…And where the hell have you been!? I could've had some help with all this blasted paperwork!"

He hollered out, irritated now at his own Zanpakuto spirit and the fact that his lieutenant had come in unannounced, as usual~.

"Right, sorry about that~, I was out and about…'Hick'…"

Upon hearing the familiar sound of the hiccup, he observed the taller woman's rather reddish expression with her long wavy ginger hair somewhat more frazzled than usual, as well as the familiar intoxicated gleam of her light blue eyes...And her ample bosom almost busting out of her–

"YAH! Rangiku, how many times do I have to tell you!? Pull up your damned kimono neck! Have some dignity woman! And have you gone out drinking again during a working day!?"

He exclaimed putting a hand to his face to hide the sight before he heard the ruffling of clothes as he assumed she had fixed her uniform, once more looking at her again and glad she had not done the reverse in her intoxicated state~.

She put on a rather unconvincing innocent gaze, looking elsewhere like a child that got caught doing something they shouldn't.

"Umm…No~…'Hick'."

"Real convincing~…Go sober up will you? What did you even come in here for?"

"Umm lemme' remember…OH I REMEMBER WHY I CAME BACK!"

That was when she laughed rather mischievously…In that typical manner she would whenever she had some kind of juicy trivial gossip to spew out that he was never really interested in…

Great~, more useless information…

He rolled his eyes at her sudden giddiness, trying to ignore her now bubbly bounciness as she waited for him to ask…

Oh brother…

"What is it~?"

He drawled out dismissively…

She grinned, now seemingly a bit more sober…

"I was at a local bar in the West Rukongai District just a little while ago…And I heard a most interesting rumor from a rather credible and most unexpected source~, you'll never believe it~…"

…

…

...

...

I did say he was strong...

...

***IMPORTANT NEWS/UPDATE!***

SO Sorry this took a while, but I've been very busy in the last couple of months, some situations arose, decisions made, I had to move, yada-yada...And I am incredibly busy with some new responsibilities...

TLDR...IRL stuff.

So...The news?

First off...For those that also follow my other and first MHA fanfic, Cosmic Resonance...I'm afraid to say that I've decided to stop that particular fanfic for two reasons...

1: To allow the actual canon manga to progress and Finish, so that I can proceed to make a very significant RE-write of the fanfic (Since i kind of didn't take it as seriously as I initially thought~)...

And MOST IMPORTANTLY for those that read THIS STORY...

2: I've decided to swap, and squarely focus on THIS story fanfic, because I have room to work with it, since it is a (for now) story-wise, finished canon franchise and also because I've felt a bit more inspired to continue with this one...

3: Also because I now only have time to focus on ONE story at a time...So I've decided to go with this one, Justified Nemesis.

4:...At this point, any time/schedule/date release mentioned, would really be inconsistent since I've failed to meet them time and time again, soooo...I do not have a specific schedule nor time alloted for a chapter...

That said, for every chapter I do release, I plan on releasing something well thought out, planned, decent sized, and properly written (to my ability anyway since i am by no means an expert writer nor story teller) so at least there's that.

...

That about does it for the update...Now onto the actual Author's notes...

AN:

Alrighty then so, firstly, addressing potential questions/issues...

First:

...

Okay...SO he beat Byakuya...He certainly is actually quite strong...AND there's something else too!?

I smell a Gary Su–

–No...Don't...

I warned you from the title...That OC was strong (A mistake I made with my other fic, for not warning people at the start of the story until it was too late...) and I said "Hopefully not OP"...

By OP, I mean subjectively, as every reader scales power differently and sees it differently, for instance...Might Ulquiorra have actually been stronger than Stark or Barragan for example? Due to segunda etapa?

Because most likely he'd be stronger than Halibel, strong enough to skip an espada placement at the very least with segunda etapa...But 'I' as a Halibel fan, might not accept that idea and may not necessarily come to terms with it...Or I Might...

A writer might explore that same idea with an OC of their own and I may or may not agree with it, depending on where they go with it, am I cool with it? I probably would be, since it is just a fanfic...I may disagree with it, or may not...

Subjective.

The idea of OPness is extremely subjective (to a degree and depending on the circumstances obviously~)...

For instance, Ulquiorra claimed that he was the only one to ever achieve segunda etapa, and also believed that Aizen had no idea about it...

One could argue that Ulquiorra is assuming quite a lot of things here...

For instance...Maybe Aizen 'did' know, and still placed him in 4th espada...Meaning that the others above might have something of equivalency that they never used...

Maybe Aizen didn't know and assumed that Ulquiorra was for that spot, based on his first resurreccion...

Perhaps a few better and shorter examples?

Aizen himself...

Kenpachi...Which supposedly is a title given to only 'The strongest Shinigami'...Meanwhile for most of the show, Genryusai was top shit~, apparently, and heavily suggested in the story, being the strongest still, for over a thousand years...Soooo Not really gonna' address that one too much~...

Oh wait, but Aizen was super duper strong too! Facing off against Yamamoto himself (to an extent with wonderweiss heavily contributing), but SURVIVING a DIRECT hit and exposure from the forbidden technique YAMAMOTO used...Talk about OPness...

Meanwhile 'Kenpachi' was double teaming the 0 espada, yammy, along with Byakuya~...Both shinigami having lost to Ichigo once...Said 'teen' Who had become stronger since then, yet ichigo got smacked by Yammy despite having lost control of his power for those few seconds...But Yammy had become the zero espada, apparently the strongest, and who apparently Byakuya and Kenpachi defeated...which means...

Huh? What? Oh sorry I kind of got swept away by the OPness and power level discussion, nevermind~...

Anyway...

I like Byakuya in general...He's fucking cool. But...Arrogant as fuck (yeah even I felt like he was acting like a dick to Zommari...I mean sure, the difference in 'skill' certainly was there...But he didn't have to be a dick about it...'"The fact that you consider yourself as an equal to me, is being arrogant in itself." Hell, there was no way he could've known that for a fact until he actually fought seriously?)[Still a bad ass quote though ;)]

and there is no in between explanation of the attitude change from his teen-self (the one that chases Yoruichi for the head band~) and the change to his (pre-soul society/soul society ARC) self...To the current one...

I feel like there needs to be a bit more development there, and some humbling...Because we all know he's the (sort of) Vegeta of Bleach (arguably that's Renji but we all know Ichigo would piss on Renji if he canonically defeated Byakuya, his captain...Sorry truth hurts.) Though Grimmjow or, ironically, Kenpachi could arguably be more apt for that role, since they truly acknowledge (What could they possibly, Pfft...Be more...Humble!?) Ichigo, as a rival and desire to test themselves against him constantly?...

So maybe Byakuya is more like the 'Piccolo' of the series...Accepts (later on more humbly) that he did get beat...But is kind of curious to test himself out against a strong rival (not so fanatically), and still seeks betterment (though more privately)...

I dunno' couldn't think of a better example off the top of my head, might edit that later, don't judge me...:-(

...

Second, related to first:

Byakuya seems out of character? Well, like I said, there is no indication or show of the process of his character progression specifically from his teen self (past) to soul society arc self...

And we are currently at a point in time were Ichigo was just born...

Also, kind of related and unrelated...He had to have shown his 'Slaughter Scape' to someone, he did cannoically mention to Ichigo that he was the second to ever see it...So who's first? Also, it was never stated nor indicated, whether Byakuya was actually 'successful' in 'killing' said person...

Well, here you go...

...

Third:

Why make so many mentions of the results of that fight? And make it such a big deal then?

Well...

...

Fourth:

Why Toshiro? And what's this–

Hush...Hoho...You'll see...

...

Fifth:

So what the heck happened in Hueco Mundo!?

Patience, patience, that will not be explained anytime too soon, show and tell remember?

Sixth:

When will ichigo appear?

When the time skip happens...Oops shouldn't have spoiled that. (?)

...

...

Kido Spells used in this chapter...

Name: Byakurai
Number: 4
Type: Hado
Range: Long
Incantation: N/A
Description: Shoots a powerful, concentrated beam of electricity at the target.

Name: Seki
Number: 8
Type: Bakudo
Range: Short
Incantation: N/A
Description: Creates a round shield that seems to temporarily paralyze and repel whatever strikes it.

(Invented) Name: Aka kiru fuki.

Number: 3

Type: Hado.

Range: Long.

Incantation: N/A

Description: Creates three or more energy archs that fly through the air, slashing objects in their path.

Name: Rikujokoro
Number: 61
Type: Bakudo
Range: Medium
Incantation: Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!"
Description: Six beams of yellow light will surround the target and slam into their midsection. The target will be unable to move any part of their body unless they overcome the Kido.

Name: Raikoho
Number: 63
Type: Hado
Range: Long
Incantation: Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle!
Description: Fires a massive wave of yellow, electricity-like energy at the target.

Name: Hyapporankan
Number: 62
Type: Bakudo
Range: Long
Incantation: N/A
Description: A single beam of light-grey energy will be thrown at the target. It will seperate into many smaller beams in mid-flight, pinning the target to his/her surroundings.

Name: Tozansho
Number: 73
Type: Bakudo
Range: Short
Incantation: N/A
Description: Creates an inverted pyramid around the caster. It appears to be made out of crystal, and is very difficult to destroy.

Name: Gohutekkan
Number: 75
Type: Bakudo
Range: Medium
Incantation: Walls of ironsand, a priestly pagoda, glowing ironclad fireflies. Standing upright, silent to the end.
Description: Summons five huge pillars, connected to eachother by chains, to pin the target to the ground.

...

...So, hope you enjoyed that!

What did you think? Let me know...What are your thoughts

And please let me know if I've missed anything. Thanks!

...

As usual, all comments are appreciated, questions shall be answered as long as there's no review glitch.

...

*Also, in some rare cases, announced chapter titles 'may be subject to change'...

*Also, in some rare cases, announced chapter previews may be tentative but overall will remain the same...

*Some elements of chapter/ARC Previews may occur in a subsequent chapter, in essence splitting them in between two chapters/two parts...

Again, Thank you for the support, with that...

Next chapter:

"Contact"

Raw Previews* (Not necessarily in chronological order and not necessarily finalized, hence 'Raw'...):

…I Lost...I can't believe it...

"I warned you, Byakuya-sama...I warned you, and you didn't catch on..."

He gazed at the Central 46 representative, staring into his purple eyes...

"What is he?"

...

Ame Nomeijin frowned at the question...

...

…"Oi you, What's this damned rumor goin' around the Seireitei?"

"Huh Oh! Captain! I...Umm, i-it's nothing really, just a silly bar tale, hehe..."

He growled.

"Don't you fuckin' think you can lie to me boy."

"AAAH! EHRM, I-I-I mean I-I'll tell you right away sir!"

"Get talkin'."

…"So, what are you gleaming from this crown artifact sir?"

The Scientist captain largely ignored his aide since the answer depended on the liquid solution from the shaker, that he was currently in the process of removing from the machine. It had contained a bit of the copper-dust he scratched off from the metal, plus another special chemical that changed color, depending whether it sensed a particular type of spiritron that made up the reiatsu of its surroundings...Having been transparent, naturally, it should have turned black, since it was from Hueco Mundo...

However...The color that it turned into was...

Kurotsuchi widened his orange eyes...Feeling a spike of curiosity and confusion...

What...What is this? It matches the color from the other sample of...

...

Then he realized the implications...

It couldn't be...

…"Zayuuri! I've been waiting this entire time! where have you be–...Wait What the hell happened to you!?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"The side of your head, it's bleeding."

"Wha...Ah shit, guess I didn't patch that one up properly~."

"...What have you done?"

"Eh heh...Sparring?"

That was when he suddenly collapsed onto a knee, holding his his forehead in pain.

"Argh...Probably shouldn't have done 'that'..."

"Done what?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing...Spoke out loud, just a minor headache."

...

"Tell me everything."

"Huh?"

…"So, did you hear~?"

"About what?"

He asked the black cat, that was now purring as she crisscrossed his legs.

"About Isshin officially being a parent~."

...

"...Well aren't 'you' adorable in that form~"

He cooed out playfully.

"Shut up Kisuke, don't change the subject."

Then he gazed at her yellow eyes a bit more maturely, as she sat down now on her hind legs, looking up at him.

"...Yes...I heard, I believe a congratulations are in order...I'm quite...Curious at the boy's growth, the results of that seem quite promising."

"He's not a walking petri dish Kisuke."

"But aren't we all?~"

"Not funny, you gonna' go see him or what?"

"...Perhaps I'll pay him a visit, to congratulate him on his first son."

...

"Stop fooling around Kisuke, you know what his birth truly means, right...?"

...

..."So...How come we're playing English Chess and not Shogi? Captain?"

He asked as he moved his pawn forward away from its king, in response to his opponent's pawn that moved away from its knight.

"Let's dispense of the formalities, Zayuuri...I did invite you to a private area after all~...The reason I prefer English Chess over Shogi, is because realistically speaking, an army would not take prisoners unless it was to their benefit and worth the risk of becoming responsible for said pieces...You won't always have the piece you captured to be able to use them, unfortunately...Of course, in the case of 'this' game, the piece that one should always prefer when swapping over for a pawn at the end of the board, is of course, 'the queen'."

He replied, now moving his own king's pawn.

"I see...So you don't believe in mercy for your enemies, not even to attempt to use them, or perhaps suade them to your side?"

He countered, by now moving his queen's pawn two spaces forward, leaving it right beside the first pawn.

"Oh, what ever gave you that impression~? I merely speak of the 'game' we're playing..."

He grinned.

"So am I~."

...

...

THANKS FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY/NIGHT!