Another week, another chapter! I feel like I can't stop writing and leave you all hanging!
Many thanks to Alysaldria for being my editor and keeping these chapters mistake-free.
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Chapter 31: And nothing but the truth
"I see. Thank you for being honest," Shigekuni hesitantly says in response to the mind-boggling story he's just been told by the two people he regards as sons. He sits down heavily and blindly accepts the cup of tea Chojiro shoves in front of his face.
This… this is not something he'd expected to hear today, or ever really. A time traveller, a future war, possibly more than one, a Shiba family unit living on its own forced away from Seireitei and its Clan, Aizen Sousuke marrying a child, although that child's entrance into the Academy recognises him as a legal adult. That same child running off after a rescue party with four other Academy students and becoming the rescue party. Shinigami being infected with Hollows thanks to a crazy, escaped convict.
It does explain a lot of things, but Shigekuni would rather not have known. The sheer implications…
He presses on his eyes and tries to rearrange his thoughts into a semblance of a strategy. He can work with this, he's shaped a whole society out of a load of nothing and criminals, this is manageable. If a war is coming, at least now they are aware of the possibility and can and will prepare accordingly. Hadn't he been complaining about the dangers of getting used to peace only yesterday?
Nonetheless, he needs more information, straight from the source this time. "Please send for Shiba Ichigo. I would like a private chat with the young man," he commands. Chojiro nods and strides away to send off a Hell Butterfly with a message.
"He's at the 4th right now, I believe," Shunsui ventures helpfully. "Getting checked over after the Kurotsuchi incident."
Shigekuni raises an eyebrow, "How come? Was he hurt by one of the… the victims? I thought you said the Academy students were sensible during the whole endeavour and stayed away from the main action."
Jushiro and Shunsui exchange a look. "Well yes, but…" Jushiro begins but trails off midway.
"We sort of didn't include Ichigo in that group?" Shunsui rushes to say as Shigekuni impatiently motions for them to continue.
"And why is that?" Shigekuni asks, although he's pretty sure he already knows the answer. Knows what he himself would have done had he been in Ichigo's place.
"Ichigo did what Ichigo apparently does best: he rushed in to save Aizen-fukutaichou and Sarugaki-fukutaichou from the… Hollow that took over the late Kuchiki-taichou. And was subsequently captured by Kurotsuchi to be experimented on as well," Jushiro explains with a grimace.
Right, he'd forgotten about the tragic circumstances of Kuchiki's death. At least he's gotten a warrior's death thanks to Ichigo's blade. The mere thought of a Hollow wearing a Shinigami's skin sends chills running down his spine.
"Please explain why you left out the rather important part of an Academy student falling prey to and surviving Kurotsuchi's experiments!" Shigekuni barks, his ire barely contained.
"We didn't realise we hadn't mentioned that part, Sensei! Sorry for the oversight!" Shunsui apologises sheepishly.
"It's fine, I'll get the full story from Ichigo," Shigekuni waves away their apologies. He loves them, he really does, but they are a handful sometimes.
He raises his cup to his lips to take a calming sip of tea. Ah, jasmine. Chojiro knows him so well. He closes his eyes and basks in the warmth the tea brings to his chest and stomach and the soothing aroma filling his nose. It helps to centre himself, sort out the relevant facts from the irrelevant, and work on the beginnings of his strategy to deal with this mess.
Shunsui and Jushiro are left sitting in front of him, stewing nervously. He lets the moment stretch for longer than perhaps necessary as he slowly sips from his tea and inevitably they start shifting in discomfort. At last, he deems their punishment enough and sets down his empty cup with a decisive click.
"Why didn't you two come to me sooner? The way you tell it, you both have known about this for some time. Has this old man become so untrustworthy you feel like you can't come to me anymore?" he asks with sadness hanging over him.
They rush to reassure him, talking over one another and generating a cacophony of noise. "Of course not!" "How could you think so?" "We were only trying to respect Ichigo's wishes."
Shigekuni shushes them with a single hand motion and smiles. "I know you meant well. It simply hurt a bit that my students didn't trust me with such a grave secret until they had no other choice. But I am glad to have raised two respectful young men, who don't go blabbing secrets others have entrusted them with to all and sundry."
"I'm coming with you," Sousuke insists, his hand clasping Ichigo's elbow with a sense of desperation.
Ichigo tries to jerk his arm back, but Sousuke doesn't let him. He simply moves with the motion and in turn catches Ichigo around the waist with his other arm, drawing his husband against himself. He gently caresses Ichigo's cheek. "My love, don't ask me to stay behind. I can't be separated from you. Not right now."
His beloved stares intently into his eyes for a moment that seems to stretch on forever. Sousuke wishes he could make it last until the end of time. There isn't a place in the world where he'd rather be. Well, maybe one or two places… This is rather public after all. However, in the end Ichigo seems to find what he's looking for and he nods.
A tension Sousuke hadn't realised existed around his heart unclenches and he sags minutely. Drawing Ichigo even closer, he buries his nose in the soft orange hair and allows himself to bask in his presence for a few moments. Then he takes a step back and releases Ichigo from the hug. Ichigo gives him a soft look and threads their hands together. Looking at their joined hands, warmth spreads through his chest and across his cheeks. Months ago, he'd have hated letting the world know about his deepest feelings. Now he can't bring himself to care. Instead, he brings their hands up to his mouth and presses the softest of kisses to the back of Ichigo's hand, causing the younger man to flush.
The condemning stares of his peers burn on his back, but Sousuke doesn't care. Why should they try and make him feel guilty, when he has nothing to be guilty about? Their own laws make Ichigo an adult despite his actual age and the vows they took prove consent above all else. An hour ago, they would have cheered on this development, cashing in debts and placing new ones. To criticise him now, when Ichigo has released his reiatsu and shared his power and age alike to all those present, and act like shocked old maids is rather hypocritical.
'I can do this. I can do this. I've done it once already, what's a second time? It's the Captain-Commander. Nothing to be scared about. I just need to keep my mouth shut about Urahara, the Visored, Aizen, me being human… God, I can't do it!' Ichigo is panicking in the privacy of his own mind, while somehow maintaining a stoic expression as he and Sousuke shunpo across Seireitei, the 1st Division's building looming ever closer.
The moment the Hell Butterfly disturbed his private moment with Sousuke, panic set in. There was only one reason the Captain-Commander would request a meeting. Namely, Ichigo's stupid decision to take on 6 seated officers and fuck the consequences. Sure, he'd fooled Urahara, but Kyoraku and Ukitake had gone off to report to the Captain-Commander the moment their party had re-entered Seireitei. They would have had to tell the Captain-Commander at least something to explain everything that has happened. He trusts the two men with his life, but he's also known them long enough that they don't value loyalty about secrets the same way Ichigo does. It would have made sense to them to include someone as powerful into the fold, regardless of Ichigo's wishes. They are more the type to ask for forgiveness than permission anyways.
Old Man Zangetsu sends out waves of calm and support and Ichigo clings to this sense of security like he's clinging to Sousuke's hand to keep him grounded. It works mostly and, with a sense of security and serenity, they enter the double doors together.
They are led to a room with four people present already: The Captain-Commander, Kyoraku and Ukitake, and an old guy Ichigo doesn't recognise, but assumes is the Captain-Commander's Lieutenant going by his uniform. Neither Kyoraku nor Ukitake look particularly surprised that Sousuke is accompanying him, contrary to the old guys. Yet no one remarks on his presence and they are invited to take a seat at the long table. The Captain-Commander offers them tea, but only Sousuke accepts. Ichigo doesn't think he can stomach even something as light as tea right now.
Faintly, he wonders why this is even more nerve-racking than the first time he had to explain his past. He's done it once and done it decently well. The second time should be easier by all rights!
The Captain-Commander doesn't wait long before launching into a series of questions Ichigo does his best to answer as honestly as possible without giving away too much.
"Why did you follow the rescue squad, going against the rules laid down for an emergency time period, dragging along several Academy students?" Is the first question.
Ichigo breathes a little easier. This one he has an answer for. "I had a bad feeling about it. I couldn't stay here while Sousuke was in possible danger. My friends refused to let me leave alone and I felt like I couldn't lose time arguing."
Brows furrow across the room, like Ichigo has said something outlandish. "And you felt you couldn't approach an… a senior officer?" The Captain-Commander asks sceptically.
Ichigo shrugs. It had never crossed his mind to ask for help. Besides, "How would I have justified a sense of doom? I had no proof anything bad was going to happen. And even if someone believed me, I would have been ordered to stay here in Seireitei while others were sent out to help."
"Which you couldn't risk because they wouldn't have known what they would be dealing with, correct?" Ichigo's head jerks up towards the Captain-Commander and he stares at the old man in shock.
The Captain-Commander gestures towards the two Captains sitting on the other end of the table. "Shunsui and Jushiro kindly informed me about your situation. I must say, it clarified a great deal. I do not blame you for keeping your secrets, it must be quite the tightrope you are balancing. But we cannot prepare for a war we don't know about, so I am grateful they chose to come forward when they did."
Kyoraku and Ukitake look apologetic and somewhat guilty when Ichigo spares them a glance. He decides to let them stew in it for a while longer and refocuses on the Captain-Commander, who continues, "So, be honest with me, Shiba-san, did you know what would happen to the rescue group? Were you aware of the gruesome experiment Kurotsuchi had planned?"
Ichigo bites his lip, mulling over the question for a bit before answering, "Not exactly? I mean, in my time a group of Captains and Lieutenants had gone through Hollowfication around this time period, but the lead up and culprit were so different I couldn't be sure until I woke up in Kurotsuchi's lair."
"Please explain," the Captain-Commander demands, leaning forward over the table in his hunger to learn more.
Ichigo slowly responds, "I…I learned all of this second-handed, so the story is a bit muddled. But, according to the person recounting it to me, the first signs were similar: Rukongai citizens disappearing. But then a patrol disappeared as well. Of the group sent after them to investigate, two were hollowfied. The group that was send after them as a rescue mission was hollowfied as well."
"And the culprit was not Kurotsuchi," Kyoraku affirms, to which Ichigo nods emphatically.
"How are you so sure?" Sousuke asks.
Ichigo looks at him, lost for words. How can he say that he is so sure about this because the original culprit is sitting right next to him, their hands still entwined? He opens his mouth, unsure of what will come out. "I know for sure because this person started the war a century later. He boasted about his experiments. How he outwitted Seireitei. I fought the final battle against him and looked him in the eye as I defeated him. And now that Kurotsuchi has taken over this role and got captured, I don't know how the future will evolve," he finishes with desperation in his voice.
It's true, he hasn't had the time yet to think about it properly, but it's true. Ichigo is sure Sousuke won't start the war and Kurotsuchi got captured. Will there even be a war? Or will they have a chance at peace before Yhwach inevitably will make his appearance?
For a while the room is sunken in quiet contemplation as the others digest this. Sousuke rhythmically strokes with his thumb over Ichigo's hand while his brow furrows.
"So, there might not be a war," the Lieutenant remarks, clearly trying to lift up the mood.
Ichigo shakes his head. "Not the first one, no. But there is a war coming regardless of Kurotsuchi and the Visored. One that has been brewing for a long time." He holds the Captain-Commander's gaze. "One that has been brewing for nearly a century and will brew for a century more. After 900 years the Sealed King will regain his pulse. After 90 more he will regain his intellect. And after 9 years more he will regain his power. 9 days later he will regain the world and end it"
He can see the breath leaving the Captain-Commander's lungs as the shock sets in. Can see the conclusion he reaches, correctly so, and the fear setting in as he and his Lieutenant exchange a look. But only for a fraction of a second before the old man schools his face into a neutral expression. A choked sound to his left reveals Kyoraku and Ukitake's less sanguine reaction. Their eyes are bulging slightly, and both are as white as a sheet.
"You're kidding," the Lieutenant states, no begs him.
Ichigo shakes his head, eyes closed as painful memories are barely kept at bay. He's found peace with the past, but that doesn't mean the memories are any less inflaming. Those Quincy were really the worst of the worst.
"We'll need another hunt then. This time in the human realm," the Captain-Commander decides, voice as cold as ice.
"No!" Ichigo interjects. He cannot let them hurt innocent people. "That's the fucking reason we were in that mess in the first place! You cannot hurt anymore people who have nothing to do with a future war! They'll probably won't even be alive to participate by the time it will break out! Don't go blaming civilians for the actions of one man!" He's standing up at this point, hands in front him on the table.
"If we can prevent the war…" Kyoraku starts in an effort to defend the Captain-Commander's gruesome decision.
"You won't," Ichigo cuts him off decisively. "Killing them won't prevent Yhwach from regaining his powers. If anything, it will incense him! There is nothing you can do to prevent that war. You can only prepare, so they won't surprise Soul Society in the wake of another war and minimise the damage that way. But I refuse to let you hunt people. And if you try anyways, I'll stop you. Without a second thought."
The Captain-Commander looks at him with a curious expression. "You'd lay down your life for people you have never met?"
"I wouldn't be the person losing my life over it," Ichigo coolly returns.
The meeting hall is in chaos after the missive is read aloud. Multiple people are up in arms about the demons let into Seireitei. There are calls for their heads as well as Kurotsuchi's, for daring to carry out such a reprehensible and taboo experiment. Others are demanding they are locked up and follow-up experiments are carried out to investigate the damage done. No one in the room seems to remember they are talking about living souls with intelligence, a promising career, and bodily autonomy.
Finally, one woman manages to bring the room to order. "I have listened to all opinions and value them equally, but we must understand the full weight of what we are dealing with. I therefore propose we take the specimens into our custody immediately and perform our own experiments until we know exactly what we are dealing with. After which the subjects can be disposed of in a suitable way. All in favour?"
Only a few voices are against the idea and even then, only because it means the specimens are a possible danger to Seireitei as long as they are alive. But so, the Central 46 decides and so it will be.
A laughing figure leaves the building, unseen and unnoticed by all. 'How easy is it to manipulate the old farts! One would expect retired members of the Gotei 13 to offer more resistance to my illusions and mind control, but they hadn't. At all. All the better for me', they suppose.
'Now off to the Central Great Underground Prison. Kurotsuchi better thanks me on his knees for breaking him out twice. If only the oaf wasn't so useful. I'd let him rot forever.'