Chapter Seventeen
A few days had passed since Yoruichi, Sui-Feng and the others left to pursue Shigeko. In their absence, the Seireitei continued to lose many Shinigami to the mysterious beings, and many of those who managed to survive their encounters with these beasts were severely injured.
Among the injured was Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, who managed to slay a large number of the strange foes. When he was cut by the poisonous blade of one enemy just before he killed it, Byakuya collapsed to the ground. Luckily, reinforcements arrived soon after to assist him.
Even though he was experiencing excruciating pain, he remained stoic. When Isane came to check on him during his recovery, he only greeted her with a glance before he turned his gaze to a window. He could hear Shinigami yelling and running back and forth outside of the medical unit and saw that black ash was covering the sky. It seemed as though some of the enemies had retreated, but he knew they would come back and that they would bring more of their allies.
"Good Morning, Captain," Isane said, "Are you feeling any better?"
Byakuya nodded and then closed his eyes momentarily. He didn't know when the waves of evil passing through the Seireitei would end, but he would not even entertain the idea that he could die before those enemies were destroyed for good.
"I just want to check on your arms," she said. Gently, she lifted his right arm up to examine it. Dark red and purple spots covered Byakuya's arm and Isane placed a hand over the spots to heal them.
"It seems all divisions that have deployed units to fight these creatures are suffering from this plague. We have been trying to heal them quickly, but the process has been slower than expected. Even so, I was told we could release you today so that you may receive care at your residence."
"Understood," Byakuya responded, flashing another glance at her. Isane studied his face for a moment. He then decided to stare straight ahead as though she wasn't standing next to him. It was the combination of the past days' intensity and her own desire to connect with him that made her forget her meek nature for that short time.
She grabbed his hand, which made him turn to look at her. When his eyes met hers she gave him a stern look.
"Captain, you of all people know how dire our situation is," Isane said, "I'm sensing there's something you know that you are not willing to share. That is fine. But there is something I would like to share with you."
She reached in her pocket and pulled out a cloth which she then unwrapped to reveal a clump of ice.
"Exactly what are you planning to do with that?" he said.
She took it and applied it to his wounds. He felt a sharp pain and then a numbing coldness. The dark red and purple marks started to fade before their eyes. Even the captain couldn't hide the fact that he was stunned, although he only let it show on his face for a split second.
"This is a piece of ice from Captain Hitsugaya's Zanpakuto," she explained, "During an earlier battle a Shinigami who picked it up said that it helped heal his wounds. I just tried treating someone with regular ice, but it didn't have the same effect. It seems it has to be ice from a Zanpakuto."
A connection was suddenly made in Byakuya's mind.
"How are Captain Hitsugaya's troops?" he asked.
"They are among the least injured of those who fought. For some reason, Lieutenant Matsumoto was unavailable to fight, but that didn't slow the captain down at all. I wouldn't say he was victorious, but he didn't seem to struggle too much against the enemy."
Byakuya forced himself to stand up, and Isane moved to act as a crutch for him.
"Captain..."
"I need to return to my residence immediately."
Unfortunately, he realized the situation was even worse than the damage around them demonstrated, and he put aside his pain to consider how he could prevent his greatest pride from being destroyed.
—
Although it had been days since they left, Yoruichi and the others had only been wandering Shigeko's domain for what seemed to be a few hours. Time functioned differently there, but the overwhelming sense of dread of that realm was affecting each of them on a deep level.
Further into the domain than the others, Anko and Ikkaku raced toward Shigeko. Anko led the way as she was best able to sense the sadist kunoichi. They stopped only when they reached a lake filled with what they assumed was blood. There was no bridge or obvious way across and Anko was unable to walk on the surface of it.
"Damn, what do we do now?" Ikkaku said. In the middle of the lake they spotted a dilapidated castle. Anko could feel Shigeko's malicious energy and knew immediately she was there.
"You cowardly bitch!" Anko yelled, "If you weren't so spineless, you'd make a way for us to get over there so I can kick your ass!"
"We," Ikkaku said in a growling tone as he prepared to release his Zanpakuto.
"So we can kick your ass!"
Soon, they heard bubbling. When Anko looked at the lake again she noticed some figures had floated to the surface. When she took a closer look she realized that those things were several bodies, some of which were dismembered.
Anko's eyes widened and she barely managed to suppress a flashback.
"She really is sick, huh?" Ikkaku said, "I'm not sure what this is supposed to do other than gross us out."
"She wants us to step on them," Anko said, "This is our way across."
"What?"
"We have to step on them to get across. Look at how they're positioned. Like…stepping stones."
"But if we do, won't they—"
"They'll still float, let's go," Anko started off by hopping on the body of a man she once saw selling flowers in a village Shigeko and her minions had destroyed.
"Be careful not to step on their faces," Anko said, "You may not know them, but I do know a few of them. They were whole beings once."
Far behind them were Rangiku and Renji who had been bickering about directions. When Rangiku had had enough, she snapped at Renji and he saw that her eyes glowed red.
"How are you so sure this is the right direction?" Renji said, with a look making it clear that he was growing suspicious of her.
"I just do, okay!" Rangiku said, "We tried your way and it didn't work so just try listening to me for once!"
Renji shook his head.
"All you ever talk about is frivolous crap and how you don't like to do work," Renji said, "But here you are, involved in something you easily could have avoided. Why is that?"
Rangiku thought of Anko. She began to run faster, but Renji kept up with her.
"I'm not as heartless and empty-headed as you seem to think I am," Rangiku said, "I'm here to look out for a friend."
"Oh? I know that you haven't always been this charitable. What exactly changed?"
Silence floated around them for a few seconds.
"She reminds me of someone," Rangiku blurted out, "They aren't exactly alike but…I can't imagine refusing to accompany her here. Also, we're not just doing this for personal reasons. We're also stopping a threat to the Soul Society. Isn't that why you're here?"
"Well…yeah."
The truth was, he had a friend of his own to look out for. She had fallen behind with Sui-Feng and Yoruichi, but he was sure that she was in good hands.
While those two bickered, Yoruichi, Sui-Feng and Rukia were traveling a different path than the rest. Sui-Feng was able to tap into the realm in a way that she hadn't expected, which was partially due to the influence of the Hachi. In addition to being a powerful weapon and accessory the Hachi was known as "The Holder of Great Knowledge". It had been wielded by some of the wisest of the guards of the Shihoin and Sui-Feng could feel it guiding her as they moved forward.
As they moved, Sui-Feng sensed she was in danger. She had already begun her fusion with the Hachi, which made the following events very difficult for her to process. Stopping a second too late, the ground caved beneath her. Rukia caught her before she could fall down into a pit.
"Thank you, Kuchiki," Sui-Feng said, as Rukia pulled her up.
"You're welcome, Captain. Are you all right?"
Yoruichi, whose usual lightning fast reflexes didn't kick in, held Sui-Feng for a moment in order to comfort her. She immediately noticed that the Hachi, which Sui-Feng had on her back before she fell, was gone.
"Oh no…" Yoruichi said, "Sui-Feng, they Hachi must have fallen when you dropped through the ground."
Sui-Feng put her hand on her own back and then panicked.
"W-what?" she said, "How? H-how could it? It didn't fall, it couldn't have!"
"It must have," Yoruichi said.
"No, impossible! It wasn't loose!"
"Captain Sui-Feng, please," Rukia said, "We can explore this pit once we defeat the enemy here. We have to let it go for now, come back later."
"You have no idea what you're saying!" To Yoruichi's surprise, Sui-Feng was beginning to show signs of becoming hysterical. The Sui-Feng could feel her vision blurring and her heart rate increasing. She was suddenly hit with grief and rage at once. Her mind flashed to when she lost Kakashi and then to her parents' funerals. This was followed by the memories of the last times she saw each of her five brothers alive.
The extreme emotions caused her to suddenly sweat profusely. Sui-Feng gripped the sides of her head and clenched her teeth. She began to hyperventilate and did not even notice Yoruichi trying to comfort her. Even though the fusing process had been interrupted, the Hachi's message still reached her.
"It is the truth, child. You must see it before you."
That voice calmed her down, but didn't end her fit of rage.
Once she steadied herself, Sui-Feng looked at Rukia who's face displayed concern. Sui-Feng removed Yoruichi's hand from her arm. Slowly, she approached Rukia who instinctively began backing up.
"Captain, I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?" Rukia said.
"Sui-Feng, what are you doing?" Yoruichi said. She was even more surprised to discover that she was stuck and couldn't move to stop her former protégée.
"I realized that I've upset you, but we need to keep going," Rukia said, "If the enemy finds the others before we catch up, it will be a disaster."
"What did you do with it?" Sui-Feng said. She had backed Rukia to the point in which she was standing near the edge of a cliff.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about, captain," Rukia said shakily, "The thing on your back…was it special to you? I don't know why you are upset, but as I said we can come back and search—"
"Sting all enemies to death" Sui-Feng raised her hand…
"Sui-Feng! Stop this right now!" Yoruichi yelled, "Have you lost your mind!?"
Sui-Feng grabbed Rukia by her neck. As Rukia struggled to breathe, Sui-Feng looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"C-Captain…please…I meant no...harm!" Rukia said, "P-please...have…some…mercy."
"If you won't tell me what you did, at least tell me who you are," Sui-Feng said as she tipped Rukia back, "I've never known Kuchiki Rukia to be so dismissive. I can only come to the conclusion that you—"
"Sui-Feng!" Yoruichi yelled as loudly as she could, "STOP IT, NOW!"
Rukia's eyes slowly began to close and her body went limp. Seeing that Rukia was close to passing out, Sui-Feng pulled Rukia back. She slapped Rukia with her other hand before letting Rukia's body slump to the ground.
Sui-Feng turned back to Yoruichi who was shouting, but Sui-Feng couldn't hear Yoruichi's words. She did become concerned when she saw Yoruichi's eyes widen.
The atmosphere had changed. There was something deeper than dread then. Sui-Feng glanced at her own Zanpakuto and turned back around.
Rukia's body was standing there, but Rukia was gone.
"It really doesn't concern you," the imposter said. The imposter rushed toward Sui-Feng who didn't even flinch.
"Are you so unaware?"
Sui-Feng moved to dodge the imposter's strike, and then Sui-Feng stuck her Zanpakuto's stinger where she had stuck Rukia's face right before.
"…Suzumebachi"
The imposter stubbled forward before Rukia's borrowed body crumbled. In no time, it had completely disintegrated. The force that had restricted Yoruichi had vanished and Yoruichi ran to Sui-Feng.
"What have you done, Sui-Feng?" Yoruichi said. Her voice was neither judgmental nor compassionate. It just begged for an answer.
"I did what I had to protect you," Sui-Feng responded.
"Protect me…why wou—"
"My duty is to serve you," Sui-Feng said. It was as though the voice of her stern older brother was speaking through her.
"I could have defended myself," Yoruichi said, "But, how did you know that Rukia was…corrupted?"
"The answer recently came to me. I had thought Matsumoto was the imposter, but I now see that she is just a vessel of power. A battery for the enemy. Rukia housed the evil consciousness, and it recently switched on."
"And did the Hachi bring your awareness to this? So quickly?"
Sui-Feng nodded.
Heightened instinct and separation anxiety… Yoruichi thought, In such a short time, the Hachi has influenced you, Sui-Feng. Hmm. I should've thought more about that. Those who have wielded it in the past have guarded the Shihoin well. But their lives were—Never mind. Yoruichi then spoke, "As for Rukia, can you tell what happened to her soul?"
Sui-Feng pointed to Rukia's Zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki. The fact that it was still intact relieved Yoruichi, but that relief didn't put her completely at ease. The negative energy in the atmosphere was more palpable than before and some of that negativity was radiating from Sui-Feng.
"Should we—are you going to pick it up?" Yoruichi asked as she watched Sui-Feng study Sode no Shirayuki.
"No, I am going after the Hachi," Sui-Feng responded.
"Really? You'll just jump down there and get it?"
"No, I've had my fill of jumping into the void. I will find another way down. Please excuse me, Lady Yoruichi."
Yoruchi watched as Sui-Feng headed off in a different direction.
"I guess I've created a monster," Yoruichi signed, "But maybe that's exactly what we need right now…A monster in our corner…"
—
"The Castle of Demise" Anko whispered.
Although it did not initially appear far away, it took hours for Anko and Ikkaku to cross the lake full of dead bodies. When they reached the shore, Anko noticed one body slumped against the outer wall of the castle. It was the near naked body of a girl whose face had been robbed of its flesh. The name of the castle was carved into the girl's abdomen. It was a sight Anko wouldn't soon forget.
"It just keeps getting worse," Ikkaku said. He looked up at the castle and then back at Anko.
"There's a key," Anko reached into the small girl's slightly opened mouth and pulled out the key to the front gate. Inside the castle was much like the initial corridor they had found themselves in when they first arrived. In addition to the blood on the wall, there were many bones on the floor and they heard the screams of some poor victims being tortured in the distance.
"Are you sure we aren't in hell?" Ikkaku said.
"No," Anko replied, "I imagine hell is a lot nicer."
Their competitive spirit had died down as they had crossed the lake, but Shigeko's voice renewed their intense feelings.
"Come here, my darling," they heard Shigeko say between the tortured screams. Anko was particularly incensed.
Immediately, Anko followed the sound of Shigeko's voice which eventually led her around a few corners of the castle and through another opening. When she and Ikkaku sped through the opening, they found themselves on ice in a completely different environment. They looked back but the castle was no longer behind them. All signs of the previous hell had vanished.
Walking toward them was Shigeko whose face, though beautiful, disgusted Anko.
"What's wrong, dear?" Shigeko said, slipping into character, "Do you not remember me?"
Anko noticed Shigeko's outfit and shook her head. Shigeko was wearing Rangiku's Shihakusho and scarf, which indicated that Rangiku and Renji had already fallen into one of Shigeko's traps. Far behind Shigeko, Anko caught a glimpse of a person imprisoned in ice. It was Lieutenant Ise.
Ikkaku and Anko drew their weapons, but Shigeko just smiled.
"Now, now, no need for hostility. That's no way to greet an old friend, is it?" Shigeko said, "I just wanted to talk before I, well, before I eliminate you."
"I should've made sure you were dead, you bitch!" Anko said. She and Ikkaku quickly moved to attack, but Shigeko dodge them easily at first. They continued to try to strike her relentlessly, and that method of attack even caused the ice they stood on to break in half. This didn't prevent them from jumping back toward Shigeko to continue the battle. When they actually landed several hits on her, Shigeko pulled out a Zanpakuto. The shock of seeing it caused Anko to stumble back, but Ikkaku grabbed her before she fell into the frigid water.
"Oh, do you like it?" Shigeko said, "I hear it's called Haineko!"
There was an edge under the pleasant tone of Shigeko's voice as she swung the Zanpakuto at Anko, which left her open to one of Ikkaku's attacks. Before he could slash through her, Shigeko instantly summoned the worn down, unconscious body of Renji to appear between she and Ikkaku. Instead of hitting Shikego, Ikkaku sliced through his comrade's chest. While Ikkaku was still in a state of shock, Shigeko made a hand sign. This time, an ice prison formed around Ikkaku and the body of Renji. The sinister kunoichi had made it so that the ice wall was difficult to see through so that Anko would be forced to pay attention to her alone.
"I can't believe you aren't at least a little grateful," Shigeko said, "I went out of my way to dress like that girl I heard you've taken to lately, and this is how you respond?"
"You're so warped. Lemme guess, no one's ever really like you, so you do weird shit like this to try to force a connection, huh?"
"That's hurtful," Shigeko said with a pout.
Anko growled. Shigeko had just managed to make her voice sound just like Rangiku's.
"So is this some new technique of yours? I've known you to steal flesh, but I didn't think you could replicate a blade like that."
"Months of observation and experimentation, my dear," Shigeko said, still in Rangiku's voice, "I've had my little spies all over the Seireitei, learning all sorts of things."
Anko went to strike her again, but Shigeko blocked.
"Why didn't you come and see us yourself? Too much of a coward, I guess. I'm surprised you let all of your minions do the exploring. Can't imagine why you wouldn't."
Shigeko said nothing.
"Or maybe you couldn't," Anko said. Shigeko just stared at her, but Anko knew she had discovered something very important, "You can't...can you? For some reason, you can't actually get into the Seireitei!"
"Oh silly Anko," Shigeko said, "With my new ability I can do whatever I want. I am not limited in the way that someone as untalented as you may think."
"Bullshit!"
"Speaking of thinking, have you given any thought to what you want your funeral to be like? Would you perhaps like to be buried next to your beloved Kakashi?"
Anko's attacks became more aggressive then.
"Keep his name out of your mouth!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Shigeko said, "Have you forgotten so soon how he has treated you? I've heard that he has taken on another lover. It's not very healthy to get caught up on a man who will never love you again."
With that, Shigeko struck Anko with a powerful blow. Instead of causing Anko's body to smash down through the ice, Anko suddenly collapsed and began to convulse. The memories of Kakashi she had kept confined in the deepest part of her mind were emerging.
Nanao observed the horrific scene from far away, unable to do or say anything that would stop Anko's torture. Nanao watched as Shigeko stabbed through Anko's arms and legs. Shigeko smiled slightly as Anko's body went still and her eyes slowly shut. It was as though Anko's apparent death was the very thing that sustained Shigeko. Shigeko had waited a long time for that moment and was savoring it.
Nanao couldn't look away from the scene, until something else forced her to shift her attention. She sensed him before he appeared.
"You ladies aren't having a party without me, are you?"
His voice echoed and Shigeko's own aura changed. Without stating it, he was challenging the kunoichi's hold on her own world.
"You," Shigeko said as she sliced Anko's leg open. Initially, she didn't let his presence cause her to take her eyes off of her victim, "Why are you here?"
"You should really be concerned about "how" I got here," the man chuckled, "But since you asked, I'll tell you why I'm here. You see, after many years out of the business, I decided to temporarily resume my role as a Shinigami. And you, well, you are the one I've been tasked to reap."
Anko could hear the man, but he wasn't anyone she recognized. Nanao knew of the man, but was unfamiliar with whatever had amplified the power of his spirit.
"Very well," Shigeko turned and prepared her bloody blade, "Try your best to reap my soul, but know that any pain you inflict on me, I will instantly return to you tenfold. I have no weaknesses to exploit. No possessions that you could make use of. You are risking your soul for a battle that you cannot win. Simply put, you are a fool."
"Oh, I know," he said, "Trust me, I've done my research on you. I know exactly what I'm up against."
He then adjusted his hat.
The emotion completely drained from Shigeko's face once again as she sped toward him. As she moved quickly, he seemed to barely be interested in moving at all.
"Awaken…Benihime!"