The courtyard where the 0 Division would descend was rather quiet with only the Captains waiting around. Typically, there would be a regular guard posted due to the area's proximity to the Central 46's facilities, but those were all dismissed. This was to be a private meeting. Judging by the grumbling coming from the other Captains, though, it didn't deserve that consideration.
For the most part, Kurotsuchi Mayuri agreed with that sentiment. There was much to be done and increasingly little time. There was no telling when the Quincy forces would mobilize again. There were preparations to be made, information to be processed, theories to be tested. The whole thing was putting so much tension in his neck and shoulders it was a wonder he could even turn his head.
Fortunately, he had no need to worry about the pain of stiff muscles. A quick jerk snapped everything back into place with a loud, satisfying pop. Feeling refreshed, he looked to each of the Captains. If he was going to be forced to wait here, then he may as well try and get some work done.
The new Captain-Commander hadn't yet arrived. Unsurprising. That man's lackadaisical demeanor wouldn't change just because he received a promotion. He'd likely only arrive just as the 0 Division did. There wasn't much that could be done with him either way, so that was fine.
Of those already present, Soi Fon and Ōtoribashi were lost causes. The absolutely molten looks in their eyes alone indicated a determination to improve themselves, and unfortunately, they already knew how they were going to accomplish that. No point in even approaching them.
Muguruma and Hirako were also out. Those fools were too suspicious to even hear him out. One might think they considered him a threat by the way they eyed him. Very unprofessional. Not to mention they were Urahara Kisuke's work. There would be no merit in modifying that man's experiments.
He wasn't going to go anywhere near Unohana or Zaraki. That much would not change no matter who happened to be threatening the Soul Society. That left just three candidates. Ukitake looked resigned, and regardless of the reason, that made him a promising mark. That was a fruit that could be picked at any time. The other two were on the cusp of becoming overripe, though. No time to waste.
Frustration and self-loathing painted Hitsugaya and Komamura's faces. They stood next to each other, and yet they were as distant as they could be. They were isolated by their failure. Kurotsuchi's fingers twitched. That vulnerability was tantalizing. They didn't even seem to notice when he approached. "Gentlemen," some people said he had a voice like a venomous snake, so he tried being a little sweeter, "it feels like it has been ages since we last spoke. Unavoidable given the circumstances, yes?"
The heat from their gazes would have made him sweat if he could. How scary. But no matter the intensity in their eyes, the self-doubt still shone through.
"I come to you with a generous offer. A chance to make up for your earlier failures, if you will. All it would take is a little modification here and there, and I could grant you the power to fix your mistakes with ease. What do you say?" He opened his arms in the most peaceful, innocent gesture he knew, and smiled just a smidge wider than usual to put them at ease.
Komamura growled, a deep guttural noise befitting his animalistic appearance, "You are as conniving as ever, even now. I would admonish you for your disgraceful behavior, however this isn't the time for such petty squabbles."
"I couldn't agree more! All the more reason to accept my offer. We need to work together in times such as these!" Kurotsuchi wrung his hands greedily. If he didn't know any better, he'd worry he might be drooling. A few well placed pushes is all it would take to convince the dog-man to see reason, he was sure!
"We see eye-to-eye on that point, at least. Still, I must decline your generous offer," the towering beast spoke politely, but he couldn't keep the snarl from his face. "I must avenge the late Captain-Commander in my own way." So he belonged to the first group after all. What a waste.
Kurotsuchi turned away from Komamura and promptly forgot he existed. No point wasting valuable processing power on a lost cause. Directing his attention to Hitsugaya, he extracted as much of the venom from his voice as was possible without modifying his vocal chords, "Well, my boy? What do you say? I have much experience in dulling pain, in case you were concerned."
"You make me sick." And people said he had a venomous tongue. "I'd suffer a thousand defeats before I let you anywhere near me with your disgusting experiments." The heat contained in the glare Hitsugaya shot Kurotsuchi's way could make one forget he possessed the strongest ice and snow type Zanpakuto.
"That's all well and good, but consider this: when the Seireitei itself is at stake and your comrades' survival hinges on your success, will you still be so adamant?" Hitsugaya clenched his jaw, biting back a poorly thought through rebuttal. Simple reason was all it took to douse fiery types like him. Alas, it could do nothing for the smoldering heat coming through his large, naive eyes. "The next time your weakness allows the enemy to gain the upper hand, will your pride save you? Of course it won't. And don't think that the enemy will be so arrogant as to leave you alive a second time."
The young Captain took a step back, feeling the pressure of the truth. He was talented, to be sure, but that natural affinity for strength bred a dangerous ignorance in him. Rising through the ranks as quickly as he had, he lost sight of his weak points. Those weak points that were buried beneath his strengths were now exposed and ripe for exploitation! One more push and he'd become the perfect test subject; malleable and prepared to sacrifice everything for the good of the Seireitei.
"Surely you can see the merits of my offer. Never again will you need to fear failure." A little more. An outstretched hand, a soft smile, a comforting tone. Just a little more. The look in Hitsugaya's eyes was that of a cornered animal that could neither run nor fight. Perfect.
Before the boy could surrender himself, though, a sharp clapping drew everyone's attention. The new Captain-Commander had arrived at last, and with Kurosaki Ichigo in tow, it seemed. What awful timing.
No matter. Hitsugaya was on the brink. If he just gave him one last push . . .
Hitsugaya's expression was significantly more firm when Kurotsuchi looked back. The air of the frightened animal was gone, enveloped in the fiery heat of his pride and determination. This one was a failure too. What rotten luck.
The young Captain slapped Kurotsuchi's hand away, "You've always been a real slime ball, but you're crossing a line here. I'll give you a pass for now, but if you keep pushing me, I will push back." And with that, he stormed off to be alone with the other Captains. So childish. These fools could at least submit themselves for research. Their entire way of life was at stake for goodness sakes!
Kurotsuchi didn't get much time to sulk over his comrades' selfish pridefulness, though. The Captain-Commander was making an announcement. Was it worth listening to?
". . . hopefully. I've been informed that they'll be here shortly, but who can say. This is the 0 Division we're talking about." Apparently not. Kyōraku stood at the head of the spaced out collection of Shinigami fielding questions and concerns. None of the Captains looked placated at all. "On that note, keep in mind that we're dealing with the royal guard. It isn't too much to ask for a little propriety now is it?
"That depends on them," Captain Hirako chimed in with that flat, toothy expression of his. Did the muscles in his face even work? Perhaps he was worth studying after all.
"Yes, well, please try anyway. I haven't even been properly assigned as Captain-Commander yet, so I'd rather not start off with an infighting incident. I'll be counting on all of you." Hirako's weren't the only eyes rolling. False meekness was unbecoming and in poor taste, even as a joke. No one was in the mood for that.
Seminars on proper behavior were all well and good, but Kurotsuchi was much more interested in something else. "Care to explain why you've brought Kurosaki Ichigo along to this meeting?" The other Captains turned to him, then back to Kyōraku. There were now two vacant Captain seats, and Kurosaki Ichigo possessed strength on par with the Captains. Did the acting Captain-Commander intend to use this boy to fill one of those seats?
The consensus was clear on everyone's faces. Even as an emergency war-time measure, that would be going too far.
"Now, now, I know what you all are thinking, and I assure you that isn't the case. We need candidates with proper experience as well as power, something that Kurosaki lacks. No, those vacant positions will have to wait until this is over I'm afraid." He smiled in a way that most might find reassuring, but his eye held a bone-chilling light. Kyōraku would do anything to protect the Soul Society, even if that meant using up Kurosaki Ichigo and everybody else in attendance. That was the sort of look he swept over the Captains in response to their concerns.
Perhaps he would make a fine Captain-Commander after all.
Kyōraku waved his hand as if to dismiss the Captains, "If we're all out of questions and concerns, then I'd like you all to wait patiently for the 0 Division's arrival. It shouldn't be long now."
Indeed it was not long before everyone's eyes were drawn up into what appeared to be an empty blue sky. A tremendous spiritual energy was descending rapidly from on high, and with it, the air of animosity around the Captains grew. Nobody moved or spoke in anticipation of the arrival of the dreaded 0 Division. At least, nobody who knew what was coming.
"What the heck is that?!" Kurosaki Ichigo stared wide-eyed. His mouth hung open in a mix of astonishment and unease judging by the set of his jaw and shoulders. The boy had a way of diffusing tense situations, but that was unlikely to occur here. Oh, he'd most certainly get along with the members of the 0 Division, but there were grudges in place here that had been festering for centuries.
With a deafening crash, a building-sized pillar of smooth white stone slammed into the ground, sending a tremendous amount of dirt and dust into the air. Kurosaki's surprised shout was mostly drowned out by the shockwave. Hopefully he wouldn't be so easy to startle for the rest of this meeting. The last thing the Gotei 13 needed right now was to have one of their representatives-even a substitute-act like a panicky simpleton.
The dust cleared before anything moved. Typical of the so-called Royal Guard to make them wait as long as possible. Kyōraku cleared his throat but didn't bother beating the dust from his clothes. Nobody did. If the 0 Division wanted to make their entrance in such a fashion, then they could deal with their audience being a little disheveled. Just imagining Shutara's disgust put a smile on Kurotsuchi's face.
A fine line appeared on the surface of the pillar, forming into the shape of a door. The rectangular segment receded into the structure, revealing an obscuring darkness. The sound of approaching footsteps was distant. After what felt like several agonizingly slow minutes, the 0 Division emerged, and . . .
A large, obnoxious banner unfurled alongside a blaring fanfare of horns, drums, and strings. The once silent courtyard now echoed with that irritating noise. They hadn't changed one bit. The five members of the 0 Division looked down their noses at the Captains of the Gotei13.
The air itself around the Captains bristled. Even Kurotsuchi, with his flair for the flamboyant, thought this tacky display was in poor taste.
"I see you've all come to greet us! That's good, that's good." The Head Priest, Hyōsube Ichibē, stepped forward, "It warms our hearts to see the representatives of the 13 Divisions gathered here for our arrival. Even after so long, camaraderie between us is alive and well!" His rolling laughter fit perfectly with his billowing beard and wide, toothy smile. Jolly was a term that fit the leader of the 0 Division quite well. That amiable demeanor did nothing to ease the tension, though.
The other members of the Royal Guard fanned out on their own. The thuggish Kirinji Tenjirō stopped in front of Captain Unohana and fixed her with a critical glare. If memory served, they had something of a master-student relationship. A member Kurotsuchi did not recognize approached Captain Hirako. The bulbous woman must have joined during his stay in the Maggot's Nest. They, too, appeared to be acquainted, though Hirako's incredulity was noteworthy. The smith, Nimaiya Ōetsu, stayed back, hovering just behind Hyōsube and grinning like a fool. The last member unfortunately made a bee-line for Kurotsuchi. The person he least wanted to see right now-save for Urahara Kisuke, of course-glided towards him, instruments held in golden mechanical arms still blaring, and that obnoxious banner still rippling despite a lack of wind. Shutara Senjumaru usually appeared quite elegant, serene and impeccably neat, but that illusion was shattered by her penchant for gaudy demonstrations. Her lack of taste was just one of the points that Kurotsuchi found odious.
"That's quite the frightening look on your face, Mayuri. I'm absolutely trembling." An overlong sleeve did nothing to conceal her mock chuckling. "I would have thought your time in the Nest would have mellowed you out, but clearly I was expecting too much."
"You've changed very little yourself. You still lack any sort of tact." It was an effort not to spit those words. This woman may well raise his hackles more than Urahara Kisuke. If only by a small margin.
"A poor attempt at a petty insult? I thought you could do better than that." Infuriating. At least she was tucking her instruments and banner away. The six skeletal arms holding them disappeared beneath her robes.
Kurotsuchi grimaced as his fingers twitched. He wanted to smack that insufferably smug face of hers, but that would be short-sighted, and there was very little room for mistakes right now. So he set his jaw and prepared the most vicious tongue-lashing he could put together on short notice. Surely it would be alright for him to take her down a few pegs as long as it didn't come to physical violence. Before he could open his mouth, though, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
"It certainly has been a long time since our two groups have had a chance to catch up," Hyōsube used his meaty hand to give Kurotsuchi an uncomfortably friendly shake while he addressed the crowd. "Some of you may have some things you'd like to say to each other, but please do it later. There is important business to discuss first!" He gathered the rest of the 0 Division behind him and Kyōraku did the same with the Captains and Kurosaki Ichigo.
"You say there is business to discuss," Kyōraku said, taking the initiative, "but I'm not entirely sure what it is you intend to do here."
"I see . . . that makes things slightly more difficult. It is too bad that young Shigekuni had to get himself killed." Murderous auras sprang up around the Captains, but they held their tongues. Komamura failed to suppress a growl deep in his throat, however. "You are new in the position of Captain-Commander, so I suppose that is understandable. In the interest of wrapping this up quickly, I suppose you could say that we have come to assist you in cleaning up your mess." The air around the Captains grew frighteningly still. "Before you are attacked again we will help you rebuild, equip you with more durable equipment, and see that your forces are healthy. Of course, we plan on extending an offer to train some of your more powerful soldiers, all of you here included if you wish, as well."
"You've got to be kidding!" Unsurprisingly, the first to crack was Captain Soi Fon. Kurotsuchi had no urge to criticize her for stepping forward, though. "You sat on your hands up there while the Seireitei was invaded, while our comrades died, and you have the gall to appear now and offer your assistance? Who do you think you are?!"
In what could only be described as a flash, Kirinji Tenjirō stood before Soi Fon. He leaned over looking particularly thuggish and hanging his ridiculous pompadour over her head, "We're the Royal Guard, in case you forgot. Our job is guarding the Soul King and maintaining his palace. And you guys are the Gotei 13. Your job is guarding the Seireitei. Ain't that right? We're only here because you couldn't keep a handle on your mess, so don't go acting like you're hot stuff!"
It was a testament to how shaken Soi Fon was that she didn't immediately bite the brute's head off. She actually might have, given a few more seconds, but the Head Priest stepped in before that could happen. "That's quite enough, Tenjirō. Please step back into line." With an aggressive pat on the shoulder, Hyōsube put Kirinji with the rest of his comrades. "My compatriot may be fairly hotheaded, for that you have my apologies," he started, pacing back and forth so as to include all of the Captains in his lecture, "but he is correct. Unlike the Gotei 13, the 0 Division is an administrative body. Our job is to protect the Soul King by maintaining the system of balance that supports the universe. When it comes to threats to His safety, we rely on you all to hold the line. You have failed, so we have come to prop you up that you might face the enemy again."
"Well said, Head Priest. I understand the depths of our failure now, I think." Kyōraku stepped forward groveling in front of the leader of the 0 Division. Or so it seemed at first. "Thank you for the assistance, and for the offer of training as well. I must decline, unfortunately. Pesky responsibilities will be keeping me quite busy, but I would be happy to extend your offer to the other Captains. Well? Anybody interested?" He turned back to the Captains, their frustration and indignation reflected in his lone eye. No one stepped forward to accept.
They were the Captains of the Gotei 13. If they were going to get stronger, they'd do it their own way. Kurotsuchi hoped that some of them might come his way, but he wasn't holding his breath.
Turning back to the members of the 0 Division, Kyōraku smiled, "As you can see, we are in agreement. Your services in that regard will not be needed." The members of the 0 Division showed no signs of irritation, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
"That is unfortunate," Hyōsube shook his head. He sounded somewhat disappointed, but his amiable expression never faltered.
"I do have a counter offer for you, if you'll hear it." Kyōraku sauntered over to Kurosaki and presented him like prized livestock. "This is Kurosaki Ichigo, a substitute Shinigami of considerable strength. If possible, I would like you to make the same offer to him." So that was his game . . . very interesting.
The Head Priest scratched his chin through his prodigious beard and scrutinized the young man with bulbous, wide eyes. "Kurosaki Ichigo, you say? You would be the one who defeated that upstart Aizen Sōsuke, if I am not mistaken. You have quite the interesting soul."
Kurosaki stiffened at the mention of his soul, but otherwise he held his ground admirably. "What do you mean interesting? You have a problem with me?" It was the 0 Division's turn to bristle. Wonderful. While his companions drew themselves up at the boy's attitude, Hyōsube laughed.
"Far from it, actually! Your soul is of an exceptionally rare composition. That's all. But enough about that," placing his hands on Kurosaki's shoulders, Hyōsube's face split in a frighteningly warm smile, "As the Captain-Commander requested, I would like to offer you the opportunity to train with the 0 Division in preparation for the upcoming battles."
"No offense, but I don't even know who you people are. How am I supposed to know if your training will be better than what I could get elsewhere?" Good man! Surely he would benefit much more from a visit to the 12th Division's labs. Or so Kurotsuchi would like to think. As much as he desired the opportunity to apply his research to an anomaly like Kurosaki Ichigo, Kyōraku had a reason for pushing the boy into this.
"Your hesitation is understandable. I'll give you an explanation, then." Hyōsube returned to the other 0 Division members and started moving down the line, "Receiving training in our palaces is akin to having your home furnished by the most skilled artisans around. Kirinji will ensure that your body is in the best possible condition. Hikifune here will boost your constitution beyond what you may have thought was your limit. Shutara will provide you with clothing that will protect you better than any armor, and Nimaiya will re-forge your Zanpakuto, greatly increasing its power. As for myself," Hyōsube planted himself in front of the others with his arms crossed and his chin raised, "I will grant you oneness; a sense of completion that will leave your spirit strengthened beyond what you've ever experienced." The banner and instruments reemerged from Shutara's robes and blared a fanfare, adding an obnoxious punctuation to the Head Priest's lecture. "How does that sound?"
Aside from the ridiculous noise, that all sounded rather beneficial. Kurosaki Ichigo was one of their greatest assets, substitute or not, and putting him through a regiment like that would yield very interesting results indeed. To witness the process of that boy being elevated by something very close to divine will would be an invaluable experience. But what did the boy himself think?
His head of spiky orange hair swiveled to Kyōraku, clearly searching for guidance, but the Captain-Commander's face was entirely unreadable. A wise move, all things considered. He couldn't appear to be pushing Kurosaki into this decision. Make him look too much like a pawn, and Hyōsube would wrench him from their hands and use him for his own purposes. The Head Priest could be shockingly inhuman when it suited him. Fitting for one so ancient.
Turning back to face the 0 Division once more, Kurosaki Ichigo hesitated. He was unsure of the path he should take, without a doubt. But still, he clenched his fists, held that unease down, and spoke directly to the leader of the 0 Division like an impertinent brat, "How long would this training take?"
"A few days, perhaps. A week, at most," the Head Priest took the boy's rudeness in stride, "It all depends on your own aptitude."
"And what if that's too long? What if the enemy attacks again while I'm stuck training with you?" A good question, but Kurosaki was pushing his luck. Hesitate too long, and the door forward might just slam shut in his face.
"That is a very real possibility. Should that occur, though, you would still be expected to finish your training." Kurosaki tried to object, but Hyōsube raised a hand to silence him, "Let us say that the Quincies resume their invasion mid-training. At best, you'd be exhausted. So much so that any growth you achieve would be rendered useless. At worst, your soul would be in a state that would leave you unable to fight at all."
Kurosaki glared at the members of the 0 Division. His young blood was apparently clouding his judgment. "If that's the case, then why should I even bother going with you at all? We can't afford to take risks like that in this situation!"
"Not true at all," Hyōsube laughed, "This is exactly the time to take such risks! You've heard my explanation already, so why don't we ask the Captains what they think? If you can't take my word, surely theirs would be worth a considerable amount." The jolly monk gestured to the Captains gathered behind Kurosaki, "Well? You've all rejected our generous offer, but can you say that you did so because you didn't think it would help? Was it not pride that made your decision?"
No one said a word. When Kurosaki's eyes passed over them, they looked away or returned his questioning gaze with one of apology and shame. Kurotsuchi didn't bother. He met the boy's eyes without so much as a hint of shame. Pride was nothing to be ashamed of. That would be silly.
"Silence, then. Is that not as good as open acknowledgment? The Captains of the Gotei 13 recognize the value of our training. What do you say now, Kurosaki Ichigo?" Hyōsube's voice boomed with a sense of finality. If he didn't accept now . . .
"Alright, fine." The orange haired young man scratched his head. He had the look of a man whose arm was being viciously twisted. "I'll accept your offer, but only if you allow me to leave if and when I choose to. I won't allow myself to be held back if my friends are in danger. Not anymore." The intensity of his voice matched his fiery hair quite nicely.
"A foolish request, but we accept." Shocking everyone, Hyōsube gave his approval. Given that Kurosaki wanted permission to throw away the fruits of the 0 Division's labor, it would have been more believable if the poor boy had been excommunicated for making demands like that.
Taking advantage of everyone else's disbelief, Kurotsuchi stepped forward, clapping his hands in congratulations. He could not allow this opportunity to pass. "Wonderful, wonderful! I'm so happy that you were able to come to an agreement. I'm sure our young substitute here will benefit beyond expectation in the hands of the mighty 0 Division!" He laid it on thick to satisfy their larger-than-life egos. "I suppose you will be taking Kurosaki Ichigo to the realm of the Soul King to begin his training? In that case, I will accompany him. It would do the boy good to have a familiar face there to cheer him on, I think." And it would do Kurotsuchi good to observe the methods of the Royal Guard. Think of the wonders he might be able to appropriate just by seeing them! It almost made him drool.
His fantasies were shattered with a booming laugh, however. "The realm of the Soul King? That's preposterous! Do you think a mere substitute stands anywhere near high enough to gain my permission to enter the Reiōkyū?" The other members of the 0 Division laughed and snickered as well. Fine. They could make him the butt of their jokes all they liked, just as long as he got to observe Kurosaki's training. "In all seriousness," Hyōsube continued, "we don't plan on returning to the Soul King's palace until this whole ordeal is at an end. As for how we will provide support . . ." The Head Priest clapped his hands above his head, the sharp noise lingering in the air. Seconds passed with no apparent change, but then a tremendous spiritual pressure crashed down all around. Kurotsuchi's wide eyes were drawn to the sky.
Emerging from the clouds above, five massive structures descended, drifting gently despite their size towards the Seireitei. Coming to a stop in the air, they formed a wide ring that would just fit inside the walls were they to land.
"Be grateful, Captains of the Gotei 13, for we have descended from on high to assist you!" Hyōsube's voice boomed, drowning out Shutara's obnoxious fanfare. It was impossible to ignore the weight of those words, seeing this.
Right before their very eyes the sky changed. The Shakonmaku barrier that surrounded the Seireitei was summarily stripped away and replaced by a shield too strong to properly assess without specialized equipment. Traveling to the Soul King's palace was not going to happen, unfortunately, but this was almost as good!
"A marvelous display! You've done us a great service, haven't you, 0 Division?" Kurotsuchi rubbed his hands together. He wasn't nervous, never that, but he was walking a fine line now. His goal of observing the methods of the Royal Guard was well within reach, but depending on their moods, he could still be denied. The tension made him shake. He might even explode if he waited any longer. "I suppose we should stop wasting time, then? No more need for formalities, yes? Then we should begin right away. Come along, Kurosaki Ichigo."
The most effective course of action now was to keep everyone off balance by keeping his own pace. Don't give them time to think and they won't be able to turn him away. He shuffled past the Head Priest, placing himself among the members of the 0 Division, but a pair of beefy digits wrapped around his shoulders, stopping him in his tracks.
"You are quite right, Division 12 Captain, there is no time to waste. However, you will not be coming along." Hyōsube turned him around to look down into his eyes. The lack of any depth in those bulging orbs stoked a cold, primal fear in Kurotsuchi's chest. "Even had the Captains accepted our offer, you alone would not have been permitted to participate. And before you ask, you know full well why that is." Even captivated as he was by the blankness of Hyōsube's expression, Kurotsuchi could hear Shutara snickering softly to herself, and that cold fear boiled into searing indignation.
The Head Priest added to the humiliation by lifting him up and moving him aside like . . . like some sort of lowly piece of furniture! "We will be retiring to our palaces now. For now, please return to each of your Divisions and make whatever preparations you like. Our support will begin shortly. You are coming, Kurosaki Ichigo?" Hyōsube beckoned the boy, and after taking a moment to steel his resolve, he followed.
The other Captains turned their own way and stalked off in various states of distress. Most left quietly, while a select few kicked at the ground and mumbled angrily to themselves. Not Kurotsuchi, though he felt something akin to their frustration. If he ever got his hands on any one of those haughty Royal Guards when Soul Society was not in peril, he would make them pay dearly for humiliating him.
He watched them leave with a cool head, eyes fixed on Kurosaki's back until he and the 0 Division vanished from view.
+ Break +
"Welcome back, Mayuri-sama." Nemu's greeting and deep bow did nothing to quell Kurotsuchi's fury. In fact, it only made it worse. She had a way of doing that, as of late. Perhaps a recalibration was in order. That way, he could . . .
No. That was a minor irritant now. There were far more important things to concern himself with. Namely, how would he beat those snobbish Royal Guards? Oh, he could undoubtedly outdo Kirinji and Hikifune; the modifications he could supply the Seireitei's forces would be significantly more potent than any healing or strengthening those two could accomplish, and he'd already proven his ability to modify Zanpakuto to match Nimaiya's supposed "unique gift". The Head Priest posed an issue, though Kurotsuchi's research into the nature of souls couldn't be far off from enabling him to replicate whatever support the old monk could offer.
The real problem, then, was that devil, Shutara Senjumaru. Loath as he was to admit it, that woman got under his skin like no one else could. No matter the depth of his machinations or the cleverness of his schemes, she always seemed to see through him and untangle whatever mess he made for her like it was nothing. If he couldn't make her kneel, then his triumph over the other members of the 0 Division would be meaningless.
Kurotsuchi's jaw rocked side to side grinding his teeth. He stepped up to a console with a large, multi-faceted monitor, and his fingers stormed across the keyboard, calling up old records from ancient archives to supplement the countless experiments he was to review and act on. It was painfully redundant to mull over the little details like this, but he needed a distraction. By occupying his conscious mind, he would free his brilliant intellect to digest the problem at hand.
Yes, of course . . . if losing to just one of them meant losing to all of them, then all he needed to do was beat them all at once. Genius! How fortunate, then, that all five members of the 0 Division were working on a single project. If he could just find a way to wrestle Kurosaki from their clutches. No, no, that wouldn't qualify as a proper victory. The boy needed to finish his training first, then Kurotsuchi could swoop in and improve on their designs! There would be no doubt about anyone's place after that. That left him with a lot of free time, though.
"Nemu, come here." The girl obeyed, readily accepting the monitoring device he handed her. "I'll be running a diagnostic. Hold still." The monitor flashed with a torrent of information. Data about Nemu's bodily functions and senses slid across the screen faster than most could interpret.
There weren't any significant changes from the last time he scanned her. A few new experiences here, an aberrant thought there, nothing worthy of note. This little ritual was almost relaxing in that way. Settling one's mind by reviewing what you know well was a nice way to kill time after all.
But when was the last time he saw significant growth or change in Nemu? It would have been when Aizen Sōsuke plotted against the Soul Society some years ago, certainly. Kurotsuchi's own encounters with the Arrancar at the time yielded a plethora of new discoveries that he quickly applied to the Nemuri Project.
Kurotsuchi's fingers froze mid-stroke. It had been a while since he last actively worked on Nemu, but he couldn't even remember the last time he consciously thought about the project that produced her. The data was all there, information from the experiments before Nemu's creation, locked away in his brain, but it seemed pointless to waste his attention on those failures.
Stretching his hands, he resumed typing, reorganizing data in a way that seemed most intuitive in the moment. This was the information he should focus on now. He'd already applied the lessons learned from the first six attempts. He could forget about them. He had the crystallization of all of his efforts right beside him. She was his magnum opus. There was no more room to improve. She was . . .
"That's enough, Nemu." Kurotsuchi stared into the now blank monitor. He didn't like the look of his reflection. It almost looked contented, and that made him feel ill. He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed at his temples in a vain attempt at soothing a developing headache. A wasted effort. It would be faster to just release the pressure in his skull. Before he could reach a syringe to alleviate the pain in his head, however, he was interrupted.
"Mayuri-sama. We have a visitor," Nemu reported as if he hadn't already noticed. Sure enough, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Those were boots, not the sandals worn by Shinigami. Coupled with the lack of Reiatsu, that made their guest a Quincy. Still an odd thought, being visited by a member of a group he once thought he was responsible for exterminating. When Ishida Uryu walked through the door, though, Kurotsuchi couldn't help but feel disappointed.
He made very little effort to hide his irritation as he welcomed his guest, "You're back, I see. I assume you have a good reason to enter uninvited, boy?"
"I suppose you could say that," the Quincy sighed, adjusting his glasses. "I would like to strike a deal with you, Captain. A trade. I want you to help me get stronger."
"A trade, you say? A laughable notion. You have nothing to offer me." With a wave of his hand, Kurotsuchi dismissed the misguided young man. He didn't have the time nor the patience to deal with a test subject that had no idea what they were getting into.
But the fool didn't leave. "I offer myself up as collateral. You wouldn't let an opportunity to study a Quincy like me so easily, would you?"
"Do you fancy yourself some sort of rare beast? If you haven't noticed, Ishida Uryu, Quincies are quite plentiful these days. Had I need of one I could reach out my hand and pluck one from almost anywhere in the Seireitei. And that is beside the point that I've long since exhausted all avenues of study regarding the Quincy." That wasn't entirely true-reports indicated that the so-called Sternritter possessed abilities that were unobtainable by the general Quincy ranks-but he didn't need to know that.
"You're lying!" The impudent child raised his voice, "When I called Haschwalth 'Lord' you realized there was more to the brainwashing than you first thought. Don't try to deny it!"
A sudden jolt of pain brought Kurotsuchi's fingers back to his temple. This conversation was doing nothing for his health. He could toss this little whelp out with a gesture to Nemu, but a sudden urge to be spiteful stayed his hand. "You know what? You're right. I did wonder if there was something I had missed. And then I realized how ridiculous that is! In the heat of the moment I read far too much into a gullible child misspeaking. Now, since I obviously wasn't clear enough before, let me reiterate; I have nothing more to learn from the Quincies. Furthermore, I have nothing left to learn from you!"
The boy opened his mouth to talk back, but Kurotsuchi wasn't about to give him enough time to even breath.
"I had a discussion with your friend Kurosaki before reviving you. He was concerned for your safety, so I decided to put his mind at ease. It was simple, really. All I had to do was be honest. Do you want to know what I told him? I told him that you, Ishida Uryu, are worthless to me. You're spent! A husk with nothing more to contribute!" He had to stop and catch his breath. Really, he should stop altogether. Taking all of his stress out on this child might be satisfying to a certain extent, but it was just as bad for his health as letting the boy pester him.
The way Ishida's face contorted in frustration was indeed pleasing, but the young fool still didn't budge. He didn't expect the Quincy to whine and cry, but he at least wanted him to storm off in a huff. He just stood there, clenching his fists and glaring at his shoes. Kurotsuchi was about to give him another tongue lashing when he finally moved.
Raising his head and redirecting those angry eyes at Kurotsuchi, Ishida spoke with a quivering voice, "You told Kurosaki that I was worthless?" Was he . . . smiling? "If that's the case, then you wasted your breath! That idiot has a way of getting under people's skin, you know, and once he gets there he pushes people to see things his way. It's more than a little annoying, most of the time, but in this instance I'm happy to say that he got to me. I won't give up so easily. Not while my friends believe in me."
What a bad joke. It was so bad it made the painful thumping in Kurotsuchi's head faster and harder. His friends believed in him? What did that matter? It was infuriating, so infuriating in fact, that he was sorely tempted to simply kill this little fool and put him out of his misery!
He stayed his hand once more. The last thing he wanted right now was to give Kurosaki Ichigo a reason to hold a grudge. If he had any hope of outdoing the 0 Division, then he needed to keep his relationship with the substitute Shinigami amicable. So he stood up, slowly, so as not to threaten the unhinged Quincy. He held his hands behind his back and took a deep breath. Calm. Reasonable.
"Listen to me, Ishida Uryu," if the little shit still didn't listen to him, then he would simply have to sedate him and toss him out. "You are a mere Quincy. You possess a respectable level of strength, but your potential is extremely limited. Unlike Kurosaki Ichigo, you have a simple human Quincy's soul. Without his unique disposition, you would have to train for decades-perhaps even centuries-to catch up. Possessing traits from Shinigami, Human, Hollow, and the Quincy is what makes him strong, so unless you . . ." Kurotsuchi trailed off, his jaw hanging open. His mind raced as if to solve the puzzle that had been burdening him.
Why hadn't he considered this before?!
Kurosaki Ichigo was in the clutches of the 0 Division. In all likelihood, he would remain there until the fighting started up again, giving Kurotsuchi no time to convince him to consent to experimentation. Choosing to improve the 0 Division's work was an impossibility from the start.
But what if he had his own Kurosaki Ichigo?
Nemu would be the closest to Kurosaki in terms of disposition, but he couldn't sacrifice her at this stage, not when she was so closed to perfection.
Ishida Uryu, on the other hand, was expendable. More importantly, he was willing to undergo modification! Using the data he had already gathered from their previous encounters, Kurotsuchi could make quick work of him. The way things were falling into place almost made him drool.
Closing his mouth, he shuffled over to the young Quincy and placed his hands on his shoulders before the lad could make a move. "I must apologize. I wasn't considering the bigger picture. If you do this, you will surely experience pain like you've never imagined. Do you truly wish for me to help you get stronger?" Ishida's curt nod sent shivers up Kurotsuchi's spine. "Good, good. With your consent, I think we should get started right away."
Calmly, ever so calmly, Kurotsuchi led Ishida deeper into his research facility. The boy couldn't know the horrors that awaited him, nor was he likely to understand the depth of potential that would be awakened within, but he already made his willingness plain.
No matter how torturous it was. No matter how twisted his body became. No matter how unrecognizable the soul of Ishida Uryu would be at the end, Kurotsuchi Mayuri would not stop. Pride was a factor, to be sure. There was no denying it. He would beat the 0 Division by creating an anomaly that surpassed Kurosaki Ichigo. And in doing so, he would save the Seireitei from further devastation!