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Chapter 27

Mother

"You two will be able to reach a level you've never imagined," Kagami Meigi told his astonished guests as he held up two human-shaped dolls known as Tenshintai. "So, you interested?"

Aaron would have been lying if he said he wasn't. "Y-You say those things can help us get stronger. What do you mean by that? They don't look anything special to me."

"Indeed. What exactly are they?" asked Rukia.

"Heh. I can hardly remember myself to be perfectly honest. It's been too long since I last used the things," said Kagami with a chuckle. Aaron and Rukia frowned at his casual response. Everything the man before them did seemed nonchalant, like he was just going through the motions. Not noticing their looks of disapproval, he added, "The Tenshintai was originally a creation of my former mentor. What you see before you is my best efforts at replicating it. I've tested them out before, so I know they work more or less the same."

"Uh...I don't mean to be rude, but are you ever going to get around to telling us how exactly they work?" asked Aaron.

Kagami shook his head and sighed. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that patience is a virtue, kiddo? I was just getting to that part. Before that though, I need to explain something about how Zanpakutou work. Miss Kuchiki here probably knows already, but you look a little green to me, kiddo."

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? The guy who trained me already told me all about Zanpakutou."

"Did he now? Fair enough, but did he ever tell you they have two releases?" Kagami could tell from Aaron's bewildered expression that this was news to him. "That's right. Someone as strong as you should have already mastered Shikai, or the Initial Release. What separates your average, run-of-the-mill Shinigami from the Captains of the Gotei 13 is the fact the latter have obtain their Zanpakutou's Final Release, or Bankai. For the most part, it increases your strength about five to ten times its normal level. It is incredibly hard to learn, even for fancy pants Shinigami like Miss Kuchiki over here."

Rukia grumbled some at the remark but otherwise let it slide.

"B-Bankai?" repeated Aaron.

"Indeed. In order to become a Captain, there are a number of qualifications one must meet when applying. One of them just so happens to be knowing Bankai," explained Rukia. "Only Kenpachi Zaraki is an exception to this rule since he simply killed the last Captain of the Eleventh Division to obtain the position."

Kagami clapped. "Very good, Miss Kuchiki! Of course, I guess it's not surprising someone of your lofty standing would be so well informed."

Rukia blushed slightly. "You're right. However, that doesn't explain how someone like you could know so much about Zanpakutou."

"Ah. You've got a point there." Kagami retrieved the katana he had been wielding earlier and held it out for his guests to see. "This is my Zanpakutou. At one time or another, I was a Shinigami just like you two. Of course, that was so long ago that I doubt anyone up on the surface even remembers me."

"I knew it!" said Rukia matter-of-factually.

"Yep. I had a feeling too," added Aaron. "No way he was just some random guy living in the sewers."

"Hey, you two could at least pretend you're shocked to hear this," said Kagami dryly. "Anyway, the reason I'm bringing up all this stuff about Bankai, and the reason I have these Tenshintai here, is because you kids will you 'em to get nice and strong. You see, the Tenshintai has the ability to manifest the spirit of one's Zanpakutou into the real world. Why is this important? In order to learn Bankai, one must be able to summon their sword's spirit at will. It isn't the same as you going to their domain."

Aaron was just about to say he had been to Seigetsu's world more times than he could count but put his hand down.

"And how will these dolls help us accomplish that?" asked Rukia.

"You've just got to stab 'em with your swords. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Sounds easy enough," remarked Aaron. "Then again, you make everything sound easy."

"Something about this still doesn't add up," said Rukia. "Normally, it takes a extremely powerful Shinigami ten years or more to learn their Bankai. Are you actually suggesting we could obtain ours in time to help Ichigo and the others?"

"That's right, princess," replied Kagami. He reached for a cigarette in his pocket, but Aaron quickly snatched it away, making him curl his lips. "However, with these Tenshintai, you two will only need three days to learn Bankai."

Aaron's and Rukia's eyes enlarged. Surely, he was kidding, they both thought. His claim sounded too good to be true.

"Wait, why only three days?" inquired Aaron skeptically.

"Well, the effect of the Tenshintai only lasts that long. Eh, I think my Boss said something about the user dying or whatever if they went on any longer. Honestly, I can't remember all the details. It's been too long. Uh...just to be on the safe side, I would advise you kids to learn Bankai in that time span."

"...I'm suddenly thinking this isn't such a good idea," muttered Rukia.

"What do we do once we summon our Zanpakutou's spirit here?" said Aaron.

Kagami replied, "You need to subjugate them. Get them to tell you how to perform Bankai. Since it's different for every Shinigami, you kids are on your own when that happens."

Aaron didn't know it, but he was sweating some. "T-This whole thing sounds like it's gonna be a pain in the ass. I don't know if three days will be enough time."

The images of his friends ran through his mind just then. While he was sitting there and complaining, they could have been suffering at the hands of the enemy. He hadn't come all the way to Soul Society to give up now.

"...Then again, if I survived the Shattered Shaft and Urahara, I can do something like this!" he voiced with confidence. "Alright, Kagami! I can't speak for Kuchiki here, but I'll do it! I'll learn Bankai in three days and go back to help my friends!"

"Heh. Weren't you just moping a few seconds ago? Where'd that come from?" Kagami faintly smiled. "Fair enough. Guess I can't say no to a kid like you when you've got that much energy." At that moment, picked up on something Aaron said. "Wait, did you just say...Urahara, as in Kisuke Urahara?"

"Yeah. Wait, do you know him?"

"...You could say that. So, that old dog is still alive and kicking, eh?"

"Would you mind being less cryptic?" requested Rukia.

"Hey, even old timers like me have my secrets. Besides, you should be focusing on those friends this kid over here was just talking about. The longer you two waste trying to interrogate me, the more time it's gonna take for you to learn Bankai."

"Right. Kana's still waiting for us too," remarked Aaron somberly. He wondered what she was doing at the moment and if she was alright. There was no telling how Soul Society would react to he and Ichigo nearly breaking her out of the Repentance Tower and getting away with Rukia. He knew Kana would try to keep a bright and sunny disposition no matter how much hardship she faced, but everyone had their limits, even her.

His concern drifted from Kana and onto Rukia. The petite woman was biting her bottom lip, evidently lost in deep thought.

"Is everything alright, Kuchiki?"

"Y-Yes," she wavered in saying. "I was just wondering if what I'm doing is the right thing. If I go along with you, Higuchi, I'll not only have to fight my comrades in the Gotei 13, but my own brother as well. Mentally, I'm not sure that I can do it. It would be much easier on all of you if I just turned myself in and let the execution go on as planned."

"K-Kuchiki..."

"However," she was quick to add. "You and that idiotic Ichigo have already show me that no matter what I say or do, you will not leave until myself and Mitarashi are safe. I gave Ichigo my powers, and I'm the reason Ichigo risked his life to come here and save me. Therefore, it is my responsibility to ensure he makes it out of this alive. I owe him that much. I also owe you, Higuchi, for saving me back there on that bridge. Of course, then there's Mitarashi. ...All she's been talking about since we were captured was escaping. Maybe it was the only thing keeping her going in that tower."

She remained silent for an unnerving amount of time in which the only sound in Kagami's home was the man himself coughing awkwardly.

"You...don't have to help me if you don't want to, Kuchiki," said Aaron earnestly. "I'm sorry. No one even asked for your opinion on all of this. I just...sort of assumed you would help me since you got your powers back. It's fine though. I can save Kana on my own. I can learn Bankai on my own. I can help Kurosaki and the others on my own. You don't have to do a thing. I...can't ask you to fight your own brother. I'm not that heartless."

He winced when Rukia stared at him piercingly. He couldn't recall ever seeing her this upset, and he backed away just to be on the safe side.

"I thought I made it clear, Higuchi, that I would help you and Ichigo. I'll help Mitarashi as well. I...likely owe her most of all."

Aaron dared himself to ask, "W-Why's that?"

"I...had given up all hope in that tower. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would die, and no one, not even my own brother, would be coming to help me. I felt it was the dignified thing to do as a member of the Kuchiki clan." Tears welled in Rukia's eyes, yet she quickly brushed them away. "Did you know my brother and I aren't related by blood? I was nothing more than a commoner living in Rukongai when he arrived one day and said he wanted to adopt me. Needless to say, I was stunned. Why did he pick me out of thousands of others? To this day, I still don't understand. Nevertheless, he welcomed me into his family despite many in the Kuchiki clan protesting my arrival. My brother raised and instructed me in the ways of our clan as if we really were born from the same parents. I owe everything to him."

As he listened to hear tale, Aaron couldn't help but get misty eyed as well. He had to stop himself from asking why someone like Byakuya, who had apparently sacrificed much and broken many rules to adopt Rukia, wasn't so much as batting an eyelash when it came to her being killed by Soul Society.

"Those in the Kuchiki clan are supposed to uphold Soul Society's law to the fullest, over their own lives even. Perhaps that's why I thought it was alright to die. I had already shamed my family enough. I couldn't even think about escape. However, Mitarashi has taught me that some things are more important than following the rules to the letter. I never understood why she insisted on fighting our fate until she began talking about you. She...was always talking about you, Higuchi."

Aaron blushed and cleared his throat.

"She sincerely valued her time in the Human World with you and your friends. She always was the sort who hated being tied down. She's a troublemaker. I hear she drives her Captain insane. She doesn't think much either and just does the first thing that comes to mind so long as she gets her way."

That sounded exactly like Kana to Aaron, who couldn't help but crack a smile.

"But...she truly cares about the people she loves. I can't count how many times she said she wished she could break out and help you all fight. I suppose that's what made me come around. There I was, sitting in that tower and merely praying Ichigo and you would somehow survive. Mitarashi though kept her spirits high and promised she would escape even if it killed her. Her...enthusiasm is rather infectious."

"Yeah. It...really is."

"...I will try to be courageous like her and fight for my friends. I can no longer run from this. Not from the rules of my clan or Byakuya. So, I'll help you, Higuchi. As you and Ichigo tried to save me, I will do the same for Mitarashi. We'll learn Bankai and then get her out of that tower." Rukia thinly smiled. "I...don't mean to sound like her, but I suppose we'll just have to figure out what to do with the rest of our lives after everything is said and done. I highly doubt my brother or the Kuchiki clan would want someone back who's committed not one, but two heinous crimes."

She extended her hand and gazed at Aaron's intently. Completely taken aback, he could do nothing more than smirk and swallow her small hand in his own. They shook, and at long last, Aaron understood why Ichigo had gone so far out of his way for this woman. He felt compelled to do the same now.

"Sheesh. Knock it off already. You kids are gonna make an old man burst into tears here." Kagami dabbed a handkerchief around his eyelids and sniffled. "You know, kiddo, you're lucky to have a friend like her to help you out."

"Yeah. I really do," said Aaron. "Alright then! Let's get this training started, shall we?"

"Sure thing. Both of you just remember what I told you, alright? Three days. No more, no less. Don't try to pull a fast one one me either. I might be old, but I'm still as sharp as a tack."

Aaron and Rukia nodded, drew their Zanpakutou, and each faced a Tenshintai.

"Higuchi...don't die," said Rukia sternly. "Mitarashi's still waiting for you."

"You neither, Kuchiki. Kurosaki would rip me a new one if you did."

Casting their fears aside, the two plunged their swords into the dolls.

#

So far, Sasune, Uryuu, and Orihime were managing to avoid detection. Being dressed like Shinigami certainly helped, and it was no doubt the reason they were able to travel freely around the Seireitei without anyone asking too many questions. They estimated they would be able to reach the Repentance Tower by the end of the day. Something big was going on there. Shinigami all over were chattering about a huge explosion and even one of the prisoners escaping.

"C-Can take a quick breather?!" cried Sasune, who was running well behind Uryuu and Orihime. "M-My thighs are on fire! I think I've lost at least thirty pounds since we got here!"

His mood went further downhill; neither his brother or Orihime were listening.

"So, is Tsubaki still injured, Inoue?" asked Uryuu.

A melancholy Orihime nodded. "I spent all night trying to heal him, but it's a lot harder than I thought..."

"Tsubaki?! Who the hell is that?! Is it a guy?!" exclaimed Sasune angrily. Uryuu rolled his eyes and found it suspicious his sibling suddenly had enough vigor to catch up. "Is he the reason you're crying, Miss Inoue?! Lemme at 'em! I'll break his freakin' nose in!"

"Would you relax already?! Tsubaki is one of the faeries in Inoue's hairclips!" growled Uryuu.

"O-Oh. I knew that! I just didn't realize they all had different names is all! Say, how do those hairclips work anyway? Magic? Special effects? Can you just buy them off the Internet?"

Orihime wasn't really in the mood to explain. Sasune picked up on this and (much to Uryuu's relief) zipped his lips.

"S-Sorry. I'm...sorta useless at the moment, aren't I?" she said.

"Of course not!" Uryuu speedily replied. "You can still heal and make barriers, right?"

"Yeah! That's way better than chopping some hapless saps up!" said Sasune. "You're the White Mage! You're too smart and valuable to be exposing yourself to danger! Let stupid brutes like my brother and I here handle all the dirty work!"

Through clench teeth, Uryuu added, "T-That's right..."

Orihime raised an eyebrow and wasn't sure what they were going on about. Nonetheless, she smiled and was grateful for her friends' kind words.

On the other hand, Uryuu and Sasune were also appreciative. They glanced at each other and silently noted someone like Orihime simply wasn't cut out for battle. She hesitated to hurt anyone, even someone ready to kill her at a moment's notice. The most she would do in a fight was get in their way.

"Ugh. I can't believe I'm thinking of my sweet Inoue like this!" mumbled Sasune to his brother, sniffling.

"Just bare with it for the time being. You know as well as I do that this is for the best," whispered Uryuu.

"R-Right."

A voice in the distance cried, "Hey, you three over there!" Against their better judgment, the three stopped and turned to a Shinigami with black hair and a mustache come from around a corridor. Sasune cringed, thinking the man might have taken too many rocks to the face. Staring at them with narrowed eyelids, the Shinigami didn't say anything at first.

"What are you guys doing all the way out here? What squad are you from?" he then asked.

Orihime stammered, "T-The Eleventh Division."

"Oh?" The Shinigami's eyebrow heightened. "Strange. I'm from the Eleventh too. I didn't think there would be idiots from our combat-oriented squad running around without their Zanpakutou."

His remark alarmed Uryuu and Sasune.

"Shit! Who is this jackass?" said Sasune under his breath. "You think he's onto us?"

"Maybe. Dammit! I never imagined the individual squads had specialized roles!" said Uryuu.

"What are you guys whispering about?" The rough-looking Shinigami came over and appeared like he would pounce on the three. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Orihime's robes, pulling her in close. Though wanting to snap him in half like a twig, the Ishida brothers settled on gritting their teeth. They didn't want to blow their cover. "You three are pretty damn suspicious!"

Wanting to confirm something, he peered at something inside Orihime's robes.

"...Don't you think you're getting a little too friendly there?" snarled Sasune.

"Quiet!" Uryuu hastily snapped.

"G-God dammit…!"

The Shinigami surveyed the two but didn't say anything. He was too busy showing the others a flower-shaped emblem on a patch sewn to Orihime's uniform.

"...It's the symbol of the Twelfth Division," he announced. Uryuu, Sasune, and Orihime began to sweat. "You're not from the Eleventh Division at all. Who the hell are you three?"

At once, Uryuu and Sasune readied to activate their Sanrei Gloves. Both had been hoping to avoid causing a scene so not to get held up, but it was clear this nosy Shinigami wouldn't be going anytime soon.

However, they ended up not having to lift a finger. Another Shinigami dispatched their meddlesome problem by knocking them unconscious with a swift chop to the neck. Uryuu, Sasune, and Orihime all blinked as he hit the dirt, under the impression they were just seeing things.

"Man, that was pretty dangerous!" said the Shinigami who saved their skins. He was in the company of a large group. Whether this was a good thing or not, Uryuu and the others weren't sure. "Are you hurt?"

"How dare he treat a comrade like that!" said another in the crowd, glowering down at the Eleventh Division member.

"Hey, he's drunk!" said another, pinching his nose from the smell of hard liquor.

"T-Thank you all very much!" said Orihime.

"Yeah! You guys sure showed up right on time!" added Sasune. "We owe you one!"

"Heh. Don't mention it!" the first Shinigami replied with a warm smile. "We're all from the Twelfth Division here, so we should try to help each other out whenever possible."

"Tsk! These jerks from the Eleventh Division always bullying us!" said a young Shinigami with black hair. He curled his lips and looked ready to kick the unconscious man. "What's so weird about forgetting your Zanpakutou anyway?"

"Y-Yeah! I guess I left mine in the shower before this! I...um...got changed a bit too fast I guess!" said Sasune, forcing some nervous chuckles out. His act seemed to work; the others joined him in a round of laughter.

"Looks like we really lucked out this time!" Orihime whispered to Uryuu. "Let's get outta here while we have the chance!"

Uryuu didn't respond. He felt something wasn't quite right. Perhaps he and his friends really were just lucky to be bailed out of that mess in the nick of time, yet he thought the other's arrival was a bit too convenient. The Eleventh Division Shinigami might have been drunk indeed, yet Uryuu felt it was right for him to suspect something amiss.

"Man, you guys sure are nice!" said Sasune just then. "I mean, we even told this guy we were from the Eleventh Division and you still helped us out without batting an eyelash!" His cheery disposition vanished, and everyone else flinched at the way he was now glaring at them. "...You'd have to be a real idiot not to notice something was wrong here."

Without warning, he ripped Orihime away from the Shinigami and into the safety of his arms. He then jumped a good distance away. Uryuu did the same.

"Huh? What's gotten into you three?" asked the Shinigami who had saved them. That was before he suddenly exploded into a ball of fire. Smoke, rubble, and blood splattered on everyone, though they were too stupified to pay this any mind.

"W-What happened…?" asked the black-haired Shinigami numbly. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, he and his fellow Twelfth Division brethren stormed back the way they came. "W-What's the meaning of this, Captain Kurotsuchi?! This isn't what you said would happen! C-Captain!"

Like their comrade before, he and the others detonated as well. It was a surreal sight, and Uryuu, Sasune, and Orihime found themselves unable to utter a sound. Their trembling eyes moved themselves over to the remaining figure standing in the settling smoke. Between his gnarled and pasty fingers was a detonator.

"No, no, no. Bombs are not supposed to come back after they've been released."

The man (the others weren't even certain if it was appropriate to refer to him as such) had a rather strange appearance. The entirety of his face and nose were white save for the inner portion, which was coated with black paint. Where his ears and chin should have been were stubbed, golden cones. What they presumed was a pointed hat sat on his head, but the man strangely chose to wear it sideways. Finally, a purple scarf hung around his neck. Overall, his visage resembled a skeleton somewhat, mostly because of the wide grin his huge teeth displayed.

For a few moments, the three didn't realize he was even a Shinigami, only coming to the conclusion because of his black robes and white white coat he wore over them.

"T-Thanks for putting up that barrier, Miss Inoue," muttered Sasune.

"T-Thanks for pulling me out of the way in time, Ishida," she replied, her arms and voice shaking. An orange, triangular shield stood before she and the others, but the force from all the explosions had caused it to crack and crumble.

"Yeah. That was...quick thinking, Sasune," said Uryuu. He wiped cold sweat from his brow and readjusted his glasses.

"H-Heh. Did Hell freeze over or something? First, people start blowing up out of nowhere, then my younger brother actually compliments me," joked Sasune. "...As flattered as I am, I suppose now isn't the time for small talk."

"W-What about those other Shinigami?" asked Orihime.

Uryuu shook his head. "T-They're dead. Don't worry yourself over them."

Orihime's Santen Kesshun shattered like glass, giving her, Uryuu, and Sasune an unobstructed view of Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

"The one who should be sorry is you!" declared Uryuu, pointing a finger at the man.

"Man, and here I thought clowns were scary." Sasune put his hands on his hips and probed Mayuri. "He's got more makeup on than most girls at my high school!"

Though the Quincies were the ones who had spoken, Mayuri's golden eyes scrambled themselves over to Orihime.

"Impressive! What was that technique that young woman used just now?"

"...We have no intention of answering your questions," said Uryuu stiffly.

Disregarding this, Mayuri became even more enthralled. "Yes, that shield was interesting indeed! I've never seen anything like it! So, how about it, woman? Would you like to become my research subject?"

Orihime's bottom lip shook at the offer.

"Hey, are you hard of hearing or something, freak?! I believe my brother here just said we aren't answering any of your stupid questions!" roared Sasune.

Mayuri paid this statement no mind as well. "If you work for me, I'll treat you well! In case you're worried, I'm rather gentle with female subjects! Speaking of which, allow me to show you one of them now! You'll see that she doesn't have a scratch on her!"

He snapped his fingers. From the shadows came a meek-looking woman with black hair braided into a long ponytail. Her dark robes were unique from other Shinigami in that they cut off well above her knees, making them resemble a miniskirt.

"How do you do?" she said quietly, leering at everyone with her emerald-colored eyes. "My name is Nemu Kurotsuchi."

"Did I give you permission to speak, Nemu?" growled Mayuri.

"...No, Master Mayuri. My apologies."

Quickly forgetting Nemu was even there, Mayuri set his sights back on Orihime. "You see? You have nothing to fear, woman! Nemu here is my prized creation! She is the spitting image of health, isn't she? This is a special offer I've never before offered to a potential research subject, so I suggest you take it while I'm still feeling so generous!"

As unsettling as his proposition was, Orihime wasn't paying him any attention anymore. Neither was Uryuu. No, the two of them were completely glued to Sasune, who had become as pale as a ghost the moment Nemu arrived on the scene. He couldn't take his eyes away from her, and his mouth twitched in a vain effort to speak.

"Sasune, what's wrong?! Sasune!" cried Uryuu.

"T-That woman…!" Sasune grew redder and redder the longer he beheld Nemu. "I-Is this some kind of sick joke?! What the hell is this?!"

"I assure you that my Nemu is no jest!" replied Mayuri, shifting his head in confusion. "In fact, she is the culmination of years of research and genius!"

"Y-You're saying you made her?! Bullshit! Why the hell then does she look exactly like my mother?!"

"Y-Your mother?!" echoed Uryuu in complete astonishment. "What the hell are you talking about, Sasune?!"

"Huh?! Ishida's...mother?!" uttered Orihime breathlessly.

"...Your mother? Are you actually saying Nemu here resembles your mother?" asked Mayuri. His voiced teemed more with sick wonderment than surprise. "...Interesting!"

"'Interesting?!' Oh, I'll show you interesting!"

In a blind fury, Sasune formed his bow, used Hirenkyaku to get behind Mayuri, and then geared to blow the Captain's head right off with a crimson arrow.

The only reason he held off was because Mayuri said, "Oh? You're pretty fast, aren't you? You're a Quincy then? Yes, a rare breed indeed. It's been many years since I last saw one alive. Nevertheless, I've already finished studying your kind. I have absolutely no interest in the likes of you. Please, move aside."

Sasune's eyelid jerked abnormally. "You might not give a shit out about me, but I certainly would like have to have a chat with you, bastard!"

He loosed his arrow, but Mayuri avoided it with Shunpo and said, "That's a Sanrei Glove on your arm there, isn't it? How curious!"

"You think so? How about I give you a better look at one then." This time, Uryuu was the one creeping up on Mayuri. Armed with his own bow, he added, "Start talking. You seem to know what a Quincy is. Just who in the hell are you?"

"...Are you telling me you Ryoka invaded an enemy stronghold without first doing your research? How reckless! At the very least, you should know the Captains of the Gotei 13! I am Captain of the Twelfth Division and the second President of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

He backed up his claim by exerting his spiritual pressure. Sasune, Uryuu, and Orihime felt as if crushing weights were attaching themselves to their bodies.

"It's fine if you lot don't remember a thing I say. Soon, you won't be able to feel a thing."

Without delay, Uryuu shouted, "I-Inoue, run! Hurry!"

"N-No! I won't! I want to fight!" she declared.

"Tsk! Sasune, take Inoue and get out of here! You can feel this guy's energy too, right?! She won't stand a chance if she stays here!"

For once, Sasune didn't open his mouth and say something smart. It was almost like he hadn't even heard his sibling.

"Quit screwing around, Sasune! Hurry up and go! I can handle this guy!"

Sasune remained as rigid as a statue. The sole thing he seemed to be processing was Nemu, who hadn't moved an inch since Mayuri summoned her.

"D-Dammit!" Uryuu moved on to the Shinigami from earlier, who had just woken up. "Hey, Eleventh Division guy!"

The Shinigami, scared out of his mind, had been in the process of fleeing, though froze up when Uryuu aimed his bow at him.

"Take Inoue and run!" ordered the Quincy.

"W-Why me?!"

"Because you'll die if you stay here! Do you really want to get caught up in what's about to happen?! Take Inoue with you! Take her by force if you have to! I don't care! Just get her the hell out of here! If you don't, I'll shoot you right between the eyes!"

The Shinigami didn't really feel he had a choice in the matter. Smacking his lips, he scooped Orihime up and began sprinting away. "D-Damn it all! Come on, little girl!"

"W-What are you doing?! Put me down! I have to help them!"

"Y-You heard that maniac! I'm not sticking around here and dying if I can help it!"

Orihime continued to fidget around, but the Shinigami managed to keep his grip tight.

Mayuri's eyelids narrowed. "...Who gave you permission to run away?"

Holding out a pale arm, his hand shot out of his wrist like a rocket and extended its way via a cord toward Orihime and the Eleventh Division member. Before it could do them any harm though, two arrows, red and blue, impacted it and forced it into the side of a wall. A wide eyed Mayuri shifted his head to locate the culprits: Uryuu and Sasune.

"...Who gave you permission to go after them?" remarked Uryuu.

"Say, I've noticed you like asking questions!" said Sasune, a bit crazed at this point. "Good! Maybe you can explain something to me, Frankenstein!"

"...Is that so?" said Mayuri testily. "How unfortunate. As I've said before, I have no interest in you two. I must admit though that I never imagined there would be one, let alone two, Quincy still running around."

Blood dripped from his now useless, outstretched arm. Still, both Uryuu and Sasune considered it a threat, hence why they jumped back when Mayuri placed fingers on it. Rather than attacking them though, he proceeded to lop the limp right off, causing it to explode.

"How embarrassing! I haven't had that happen since I first installed it! No matter," he said. He reached onto his person and retrieved a small syringe filled with a purple substance. "...This is going to sting quite a bit."

He stabbed the needle into the stump where his arm used to be and grimaced. Seconds later, the spot bubbled before expanding. Horrified, Uryuu and Sasune stood by and observed the mass form into a new limb. Mayuri stretched it out to ensure it was working properly.

"...You two must think you've lost your minds," he hissed at the Quincies. Words failed them. "That woman...it appears she got away in the end. How lamentable. Oh, how I hope I can capture her quickly so I can get right down to studying her! It's so sad that I have to waste time here instead of doing that!"

"Y-You filthy, son of a…!"

"Calm down, Sasune!" snapped Uryuu. "Don't let him get to you! That's likely his plan! Listen! While this guy's spiritual pressure is insane, I don't think he can keep it at its highest point for very long at all! All we have to do is stall him long enough for Orihime and that Shinigami to get as far away from here as possible. Then, we can join them!"

"No deal!"

Uryuu's glasses fell a little from shock. "W-What?! What do you mean 'no deal?!'"

"You heard me before! I've got a lot of questions for this bastard, and I'm not leaving until he answers them! If you want to run, go right on ahead! I can take him by myself!"

"D-Don't be ridiculous! There's no way you can…!"

"You, freak show! I want to know who that woman is over there! No riddles!"

"...Again?" replied Mayuri wearily. "My, you certainly have a one track mind. She did it without consulting me first, but I believe Nemu already introduced herself to you."

"That's not what I mean!" Sasune fashioned a huge arrow to show he wasn't kidding around. Mayuri didn't so much as flinch. "There's no way it's a coincidence she looks exactly like my mother!"

"W-What exactly are you trying to insinuate?! Quit wasting time on this, Sasune!" said Uryuu.

Mayuri tapped a finger impatiently on his chin. Then, his features illuminated in understanding. Even stranger, he began to cackle like someone had told the world's most humorous joke.

"What the hell is so funny?!" cried Sasune.

"Sawada, right? Your mother's name was Meiko Sawada?"

Mayuri knew he hit the nail on the coffin from the way the color drained from both Sasune's and Uryuu's faces.

"H-How the hell could he know that?!" said Uryuu.

"Oh, so I was right, was I? This is a riot! To think someone like Sawada could have a Quincy for a son!"

"Start talking! How does a scumbag like you know my mother?!" said Sasune.

"Oh? She didn't tell you? Your mother was a former member of my squad. No, she was more than that! She was one of the brightest minds in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute!"

"T-That's impossible! There's no way Sasune's mother could have been a Shinigami!" said Uryuu. He figured Sasune would deny the claim just as fast, but instead, his brother chewed his bottom lip and leered away from him. "H-How could that be possible?!"

"Oh, I can assure you that she was! If you want proof, those living Shinigami bombs from before should suffice! They were her creations after all!"

"Liar! My mother would never make something so despicable!" argued Sasune.

Somehow, Mayuri smirked even harder. "Well then, perhaps you didn't know your mother as well as you thought, boy."

"S-Sasune, don't…!"

But Uryuu's warning came too late. Screaming at the top of his lungs, Sasune launched a barrage of red arrows at the object of his ire.

"Oh. Now I know where I recognize that Sanrei Glove," said Mayuri casually, darting around the projectiles with Flash Step. "It's the same one my team once had in our possession. I was wondering where it got off to. I suppose Sawada must have taken it when she vanished fifty years ago. I must compliment you on your technique, boy! Despite being so young, it appears you've mastered that glove. I heard that is supposed to be incredibly difficult for your kind."

"SHUT...UP!"

Though his fingers were bleeding from the strain of pulling back on his quiver over and over, Sasune ignored the pain and fired even more. A number of arrows clipped Mayuri on various parts of his body, prompting him to move to the top of a building for safety.

"F-Finally...got that bastard!" wheezed Sasune.

"N-Not quite," replied Uryuu. He watched as a grimacing Mayuri ripped out each and every arrow like they were mere splinters. Besides blood cascading out here and there, the Captain was no worse for the wear. "J-Just what is this guy made of?!"

"Well, that was unpleasant," remarked Mayuri, pulling the last projectile out of his right knee. Crushing it in his grasp, he added, "I must admit that my interest in you, son of Meiko Sawada, has gone up! Tell me, where is Sawada now? Why did she abruptly abandon her duties? Did she actually flee to the Human World?"

The only answer he got from Sasune was the Quincy looking daggers at him.

"Sasune, calm down!" advised Uryuu. "It's not like you to let someone grate on your nerves like this! Besides, you don't have any reason to believe what this guy is telling you! Even if your mother did work for him, it doesn't mean she did anything he's saying! He's likely just trying to get you riled up! Listen, all we have to do is hold him off for a little while! Do you see his subordinate over there?"

Sasune eyed Nemu staring absentmindedly at the ground.

"...What about her?" he asked.

"Haven't you noticed? She hasn't done anything since she got here. She didn't even flinch when you fired at her superior. It's likely she doesn't have any fighting skills. This is good. We can focus on that Mayuri guy for the time being."

"As always, dear brother, you're logic is sound. Too bad I don't have any interest in that sort of plan."

Uryuu's jaw fell wide open. "W-What the hell do you mean?!"

"Sorry, Uryuu, but until I force that bastard to tell me why that woman over there looks like my mother, I have no interest in running away!"

"Didn't I tell you to forget about that?!"

Overhearing them, Mayuri said, "Oh? The answer to that is quite simple, boy."

Sasune gave the Captain his full and undivided attention. Uryuu, meanwhile, palmed his hand over his face.

"As previously stated, Nemu was artificially created by me many years ago. I used a combination of Gigai and Mod Soul technologies to do so."

"So?! I don't care if you used sugar, spice, and everything nice to make her! What does this have to do with my mother?!" said Sasune.

"Tsk! Please, stop being so impatient, boy. I was just about to get to the matter at hand. My, you and your mother are quite similar by the looks of it. I could never get her to sit and listen either. She, at least, had a vast intelligence."

Sasune growled like a rabid dog and was about to go on the attack again, but Uryuu put a firm hand on his shoulder.

Mayuri went on with, "The Nemuri Project! That is what I named the program aimed to create new life from Mod Soul cells! Besides myself, Meiko Sawada, your mother, was one of the heads of the project."

Sasune grew pale upon hearing this. Somehow, someway, he knew Mayuri's claim was true.

"Yes, she was truly a brilliant mind, boy! We made great strides thanks to her research and expertise. It was nothing compared to my own efforts, of course, but I suppose even I can give credit where credit is due. Sawada was so passionate about the Nemuri Project in fact that she volunteered to donate her own DNA to the seventh and only successful byproduct of the experiment."

Nemu momentarily glanced up at her 'father' before returning her gaze to her feet.

"S-So that's why..." Uryuu's sentence trailed off as he absorbed the weight of Mayuri's words.

Sasune couldn't speak. He couldn't think properly. Stammering like an idiot, he stood there with a vacant expression as if they woman they were speaking of were some stranger instead of his beloved mother.

"Y-You're lying!" he blurted out. "M-My Ma…my mother would never…!"

"Do you really believe that?" said Mayuri coldly. Sasune became even whiter. "Think about it, boy. It sounds to me you at least knew Sawada was a Shinigami. Did you never find it strange why she would up and leave Soul Society? Did she never give you a reason? It isn't everyday our kind up and abandon our positions to go procreate in the Human World, after all."

Sasune opened his mouth, yet nothing came out. Of course, that was because he truthfully didn't have an answer. Besides telling him she had once been a Shinigami, his mother had kept many secrets of her past from him. He hadn't thought much of it until now.

With a twisted grin, Mayuri said, "When you think about it, boy, you could consider Nemu as something akin to a sister!"

"Y-You…!" Sasune shook uncontrollably. "E-Even if what you're saying is true…! Even if my mother did all the things you're saying she did, I'll never consider that thing over there any relation of mine! I already have a sibling, and he's annoying as hell! I don't need another one, and I don't need to hear anymore from the likes of you!"

"H-He actually took the time to take a shot at me!" As upset as Uryuu was, Sasune recklessly charging at Mayuri was more concerning. "H-Hold on, you idiot! Just what do you think you can do against that guy by yourself?!"

Drowning out his brother's warning, Sasune kept on moving, clenching his teeth hard enough that he drew blood.

"Why, Ma?! Why would you ever work for a jerk like him?!" he said, focusing all his unbridled hatred on Mayuri Kurotsuchi. "Tell me why, Ma!"

#

"Sasune? Sasune!"

A much younger Sasune suddenly opened his eyes and sat up at the cry of his own name. From the glare of the sun, he could make out a woman charging at him. The mere sight of her caused him to gulp and search around for a hiding spot. However, the only thing around was the tree he was using as a resting spot.

"Don't you move, mister!" said the woman when he made a move to dart around the huge oak. He froze in place, allowing her to get right behind him. "There you are, Sasune! So, this is where you've been, huh? Didn't I tell you not to run off on your own? Well, at least you're in one piece, but don't do that again, you hear? You had me worried half to death!"

"S-Sorry, Ma..."

Feeling guilty, Sasune faced the woman and prepared himself for a world of hurt. Despite this, the pretty woman beamed at him and patted him on the head. Her resemblance to Nemu Kurotsuchi was undeniable, though her black hair flowed freely instead of being tied into braids.

"So, why did you run off, Sasune?" asked Meiko Sawada playfully.

"I-I didn't wanna bother you, Ma."

Meiko took a seat beside him. "Hmm? What do you mean? You certainly have your moments where you come close, but you could never be a bother to me, Sasune."

Her son merely nodded at this. Meiko took the opportunity to indulge herself on the clean air and the blue, cloudless sky. Still, she couldn't help but note something was amiss. This had been without a doubt the longest she had ever heard Sasune go without yammering on about something.

"What's the matter, Sasune? Are you not feeling well?"

Avoiding her attentive stare, Sasune sheepishly replied, "I-It's...nothing."

"Really now? Well, whatever the case, shouldn't you be getting ready to go? Your grandfather and brother will be here any minute to pick you up for training."

The mention of this soured Sasune even more. "T-That's just the thing..."

"Hmm? You don't seem all that excited this time around. Just the other day, you were bragging about how you've been able to create arrows with your bow regularly, unlike your brother."

"Ha! You should've seen the look on Uryuu's stupid face too when Gramps congratulated me on that! He kept saying over and over again that I must've been cheating!"

"There's the Sasune I know! So, something has been bothering you then?"

Sasune's cheeks flushed with blood. "Y-Yeah. Ma, are you...mad with me trying to become a Quincy?"

"Eh? 'Mad?' Why ever would I be mad with you over that?"

"Well..." Sasune's tone became more dejected. "It's just, you were telling me just the other day about how you used to be a Shinigami. Then, Gramps and Uryuu told me what the Shinigami ended up doing to the Quincy for not agreeing to stop killing Hollows. I guess all that just...got me thinking that you might hate me for training to be a Quincy."

"Stop it, Sasune! I could never hate you for something like that!" To prove her statement, Meiko embraced Sasune like he would fly away in the wind. "...I knew it might've been a bad idea to tell you so much about my past. Listen to me though, Sasune. I realize what the Shinigami did to the Quincy wasn't exactly fair, but that matter has nothing to do with the fact you're my son and I love you."

Her words did the trick, easing his fears on the matter and getting a smile out of him.

"Er...y-you didn't tell your brother about me being a Shinigami, did you? I get the feeling he isn't too fond of them," said Meiko. Sasune shook his head. "Good. Good. Let's just...keep that our little secret, alright? And while we're at it, I don't want you worrying about what happened in the past. Focus on your training with your brother. You don't want him beating you, right?"

"There's no way I'm gonna lose to that jerk! He'll be begging me to train him myself before long!"

"Heh. Yes, now you're sounding like you're usual self."

Meiko wondered if she had spoken too soon when Sasune began to sulk again.

"What is it this time?" she inquired.

"Um...y-you really aren't mad I don't wanna become a Shinigami like you instead?"

Meiko deliberated the matter before shaking her head. "Being a Shinigami, Sasune, isn't...as glamorous as I may have led you to believe with all of my stories. I've...done things, things I wholeheartedly regret. Allowing the Quincy race to be exterminated was just one of them. Your father and grandfather were able to look past that when they learned the truth about me, but...I suppose I've never completely forgiven myself for my sins."

Sasune, clearly confused, turned his head.

"Er...I-I suppose that isn't anything you have to worry about though, Sasune. Perhaps you'll understand my words better once you become a handsome adult." Meiko laughed. "Just forget about it and finish your training with your grandfather. You were born here in the Human World, so it's only right you live and fight like a human. Now then, no more talk of Shinigami, alright?"

"But..."

Meiko's expression became morbid. "Alright?"

Sasune hastily nodded, fearing for his life.

"Good!" Meiko smiled as if nothing happened. "Now then, you want to grow up to be a responsible adult, don't you? Real men don't go around broodingsulking like this, so before you grandfather and brother get here, I want you to cheer up!"

She needn't say it twice. Sasune grinned from ear to ear and replied, "You got it, Ma! I'll be the strongest Quincy that ever lived so you don't have to feel bad at what happened to the rest of them anymore! I'll be strong enough to protect everyone in their stead!"

Meiko was taken aback. That was the absolute last thing she ever thought she would hear from her son.

"M-Ma? Are you alright? You're...crying! Was it something I said?!"

"Eh?" Meiko felt a tear roll down her face, one she quickly brushed away. "O-Of course not! You're a good boy, Sasune. Never forget that."

A pair of figures approached the two. One was an elderly man wearing white robes covered by a brown tunic. Glasses adorned his face, whereas his hair, beard, and mustache were a dull gray.

The other was a boy around Sasune's age. He too wore glasses, and his hair was the same shade of black as Sasune's. Unlike the old man, he was frowning, clearly upset at being dragged along to meet Meiko and Sasune.

"I hope we're not interrupting anything here!" said the old man cheerily.

"Gramps!" exclaimed Sasune, who jumped up and ran over to hug the man.

"Heh! Looks like you're doing as well as always, Sasune!"

"You bet, Gramps! You aren't looking so bad yourself for a million year old fossil!"

The two shared in some laughter, something that made the boy with the elderly man cross his arms and curl his lips even harder.

"I wonder if he'll still have that much energy during training. Of course, that's assuming he can actually hit something for once," he scathingly said.

"S-Shut up, Uryuu!" snapped Sasune, reddening like a beet. "S-Something was just in my eyes the other day!"

"Really? Something must be in your eyes every time we train then."

Sasune rolled up his sleeves. "Alright, buster! You wanna repeat that?!"

"Now, now." Meiko pulled her son back. "Can't you two play nice with one another for once? You're brothers, after all."

"But he started it!" Uryuu and Sasune were quick to shout.

"Besides, we're only half brothers! It barely even counts!" argued Sasune.

"For once, I actually agree with you on something," said Uryuu.

Meiko sighed. "You both are pretty guilty if you ask me. Er...s-sorry about this, Souken. I didn't think they would start fighting the moment they saw each other. They usually wait until I can't see them at least. Anyway, how are you feeling today?"

Souken Ishida heartily chuckled. "Well, my back hurts more and more everyday, but I'm hanging in there! Of course, these two here are certainly running me ragged."

Meiko groaned at the sight of her son and Uryuu bickering once again. As much as they hated to admit it, their stubbornness was a trait they had a common and practically proved they were related.

"Thanks for looking after Sasune, Souken. I'm in your debt."

"It's not a problem, Meiko. I'm honored to have the opportunity to train my grandchildren in the ways of the Quincy."

"Speaking of which, how is their training going?"

"Better than expected! They're both naturals! I'm sure they'll make fine Quincy someday." Souken edged closer to Meiko and added, "Erm...Sasune won't like me telling you this, but I believe he needs glasses. Per Uryuu's words, his aim as of late has been rather poor. Sasune says it's nothing, but I believe he's just too embarrassed to say what his problem is out loud."

Meiko nodded.

"Alright, you two! It's time to go!" Souken told his grandchildren.

Uryuu bowed at Meiko and politely said, "Goodbye."

"Later, Ma! Don't wait up!" said Sasune.

"T-That's no way to speak to your mother, idiot!"

"Aw, put a sock in it already! She's my Ma! I can talk to her however I want!"

"It's precisely because she's your mother that you should show her some respect!"

"Hey, if you want her so much, you can have her! She won't even let me go down to the arcade and hit on girls anymore!"

"You're supposed to be focusing on your training, not girls! You're unbelievable!"

"S-Some say being unpredictable is an endearing trait!"

"No, it's not! You're just an idiot!"

"Have a good time training, you two! And be good, Sasune!" said Meiko.

"O-Of course, Ma! You don't have to worry about me!" Sasune assured her.

"...You never give me a chance not to worry," she said out of earshot. "What a troublesome kid. He must get it from his father."

Even after Souken, Sasune, and Uryuu were long out of Meiko's field of view, she could hear her son and his brother hollering at one another like they were trying to wake the dead.

"Shinigami and Quincy, huh? Perhaps...there will be a time when the two sides can put aside their differences and work together. I wonder if Sasune will be there to see it happen. ...I hope so. I really do."

She gawked at the setting sun and suddenly felt somber.

"...I may not be around much longer, Sasune. Here's hoping you can grow up into a responsible, young man your mother can be proud of."

#

Sasune took the skies and tightened his fist. A faint pattern traced itself around the veins there, and he shouted with vigor before punching the spot where Mayuri Kurotsuchi was standing. As if hit by a train, the encompassing area ruptured from the force of the blow.

"S-Sasune! Tsk! That reckless idiot!" cried Uryuu, bracing himself.

Curiously, Nemu Kurotsuchi had no reaction to her Captain possibly being flattened like a pancake. Her passiveness left Uryuu wary. Either she didn't care about her creator, or she knew something he didn't.

Sasune back-flipped into view and snarled like he were on the receiving end of that last attack. "Y-You've gotta be kidding me!"

Uryuu had no clue why his brother was so worked up until the smoke shrouding everything was abruptly blown away by a burst of spiritual pressure.

"My, my! You nearly gave me a fright there, boy!" said an unscathed Mayuri, tapping his Zanpakutou on his shoulder. "I never expected you to be able to use Blut as well! Remarkable! Such a feat is even more impressive than mastering Hirenkyaku or a Sanrei Glove for you Quincy! I must admit that my interest in you has gone up even more!"

"Yeah, forgive me if I don't feel too flattered, freak!" said Sasune.

"H-How could he know so much about Quincy techniques?! It doesn't make sense!" said Uryuu, striving to work something out in his head.

"We don't have an encyclopedia floating around on the Internet about our race, right? This is getting ridiculous!"

"I'm tempted to capture your two for dissection after all, but I'm much more interested in that woman I let get away earlier," said Mayuri. "While I'll be somewhat saddened to have to kill the child of Meiko Sawada, I'm in a hurry, so I'll just have to use the fastest and most efficient manner to end things."

Neither Sasune nor Uryuu liked the sound of that. Tempted to prevent Mayuri from doing whatever he had in mind, the two found themselves paralyzed by the weight of his steadily increasing energy.

Mayuri, holding his Zanpakutou upside down, hissed, "Rip, Ashisogi Jizou."

His sword became a distorted, yellow trident attached to a golden hilt. The three, serpentine blades ascended from a guard, one shaped like a deformed baby's head. Said slit-eyed infant had its hands clasped in prayer. Every now and then, it would emit a purple gas from its mouth.

"D-Dammit! I sorta forgot he could probably do that!" said Sasune.

"T-This is bad! His Shikai looks nothing like that Jirobou Ikkanzana's! I can't tell what it does just by looking at it!" said Uryuu. A bead of icy sweat rolled down his face. "Sasune, just...stay on guard for the time being! I know you're upset with this guy, but neither one of us can afford to take anymore chances!"

"Yeah, yeah! I get it already! B-Believe it or not, but I don't wanna be anywhere near that guy either!"

"We need to split up! He might be strong, but he can't fight both of us at the same time! I'll strike from the rear! You take the front!"

Uryuu vanished before Sasune could give him his two cents.

"Well, I guess we're just going with that then!" Smacking his lips, Sasune formed his bow and darted in front of Mayuri, hoping to keep the Captain's attention long enough for Uryuu to make his move. "Alright, freak! We're settling things right here and now!"

One well placed arrow would do the trick, he thought. He wrenched back on his quiver, yet his eyes widened. He was no longer targeting Mayuri, but Nemu, who took up a position in front of her Captain. She held her arms out and silently noted she had no intention of moving anytime soon.

Nevertheless, Sasune yelled, "Now you wanna help this guy?! Unless you want your brains splattered all over the place, get the hell out of the way!"

Of course, his words proved useless. He wasn't even sure Nemu had heard him. Growing increasingly upset, Sasune had to stop himself from letting his arrow fly right then and there. He then questioned why he was showing restraint. Nemu was the enemy, just like Mayuri. Whether she or the Captain died first was none of his concern. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to do anything but tremble in indecision.

"M-Move already, stupid! Y-You think I'm kidding around?!"

Nemu's green eyes bore down on him. They were precisely like his mother's.

"D-Damn! Just...s-stop it already, you...you…!"

"You can't do it, can you, boy?" said Mayuri, enjoying every moment of the ongoing proceedings. "You can't shoot your own mother!"

"T-This...thing is not my MOTHER!"

At last, he shot, yet his arrow didn't come anywhere close to Nemu. He lunged his arm upward at the last second. The action caused Mayuri to descend into mad laughter. Sasune, meanwhile, stuttered in a futile attempt to explain his bizarre actions.

"W-What the hell is he doing?!" said Uryuu, hovering behind Mayuri. "What are you waiting for?! Shoot already!"

His brother's voice brought Sasune back into reality, but it was too late. Nemu, overhearing Uryuu, lunged for him out of nowhere. She grabbed his arrow and wrapped her arms around him before he could blow her head off, and the two tumbled off the building everyone was on.

"L-Let go! Let me go already, you…!" Uryuu paused, and his pupils dilated. As Mayuri jumped down and hurdled toward him, he saw he had a much bigger problem on his hands than Nemu. "H-He's going to…!"

Bloodlust permeated Mayuri's golden eyes. He not only cut down Uryuu with his Ashisogi Jizou, but Nemu as well. Blood gushed from their wounds like a water fountain, and Sasune was powerless to anything but watch on.

"U-URYU-UUUUUUUU-U!"

END