A/N: Greetings all. Sorry for the long delay. I took a little hiatus from writing to sort some things out in my life. Updates should be pretty steady from now on, so for the time being, I hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter 30
The Ripple Effect
Battered and bloodied, Aaron shouted with vigor and cut down three Seigetsus at once. The remainder closed in on him, permeating Kagami's home with the clamor of weapons.
Yawning, the man himself trudged into the room like a zombie and sleepily noted, "L-Looks like that kiddo is still at it. Man, between his and the princess' training, I haven't been able to get a wink of shut eye."
He rubbed his heavy eyelids and saw the number of Seigetsus were less than twenty.
"Well, well, well. Looks like the kid is almost there. Too bad he's clearly about to pass out."
It was true. Aaron, lying on the ground, struggled to breathe as thick droplets of sweat doused every inch of his brown skin. Using his Zanpakutou like a cane, he made an effort to stand but immediately toppled over again. He was so exhausted that the only thing he could think to do was to chuckle feebly.
"T-That's it! I'm...at my limit!"
The Seigetsus surrounded and stared down at his broken form.
"So, is that all you can muster, Aaron? Do you admit defeat?"
Aaron somehow managed to lift his head, believing it the hardest thing in the world at the moment. "S-Sorry. I-I really wanna keep fighting but...I-I can't move an arm or a leg right now. I'm...pretty sure all my ribs have been smashed to pieces too. This...is where I have to give up, Seigetsu."
He felt sick to his stomach admitting his weakness. Even if he couldn't fight on any longer, it seemed like nothing more than excuse. His friends would never accept it. It would do nothing to save Kana either. It took everything in his power not to burst into tears from frustration. Somehow, he held them back, aided by all the distracting pain he was in.
"Congratulations, Aaron. You have passed the first stage of your Bankai training."
All the Seigetsus said this in unison and in a concise voice, yet Aaron was still positive he was hallucinating. After allowing their statement to marinate in his mind, he hopped to his feet like he weren't injured at all with his jaw hanging wide open.
"C-COME AGAIN?!"
All except one of the Seigetsu's vanished, leaving the original.
"While I stated the goal would be to defeat us all, I knew such a thing would be impossible. I must admit that you held up far longer than I ever imagined, however. The real test was you learning to quit while you are ahead," she said. "You're far too stubborn for your own good, Aaron. Hopefully, beating that point into you has done you some good."
Aaron wanted to yell. He craved to curse out his Zanpakutou spirit for putting him through so much hardship just to prove a point. Unfortunately, something in his right leg snapped when he went to run toward Seigetsu and strangle her to death, putting a damper in his plans and causing him to fall over a third time. Moaning, he almost wished he were dead.
"Rest well, Aaron, for tomorrow's training will be even worse."
The closest thing Aaron gave her as a reply was a squeal.
"Goodbye for now."
She burst into a cloud of smoke, leaving a Tenshintai behind. Aaron prodded it with his foot, half expecting it to spring back to life and put him through another round of hell.
"Huh? What...happened?"
"Ah. Looks like it finally ran out of energy." Kagami strode over to him and hoisted the Tenshintai over his shoulder. "I was wondering when it would."
"'Ran out of energy?'"
"Oh, right. Guess I never explained about that. The one I made here is different from the norm. Usually, someone has to keep the thing powered or else it will revert back to its original form. Mine, however, have a special battery in place that lasts for a whole day. Pretty handy, right?"
"I-It just sounds to me like you were just lazy and didn't want to power it yourself..."
"...Fair enough." Kagami shrugged and then helped Aaron up. "Man, she sure did a number on you, kiddo. Well, at least you're still alive, right?"
"...Please, stop talking. You're giving me a headache!"
"Heh. No need to get so testy. You did good today."
Aaron shook his head. "...I gave up though. Even if it was apart of Seigetsu's test, I just...lost the will to go on. How could someone like me ever hope to learn Bankai if I can't even hang in there when the going gets tough?"
"...You're wrong." The bluntness in Kagami's words made Aaron's eyes widen. "You're Zanpakutou spirit was right, kiddo. Being courageous is one thing, but running out and getting yourself killed because you blindly believe yourself to be invincible is another. Knowing your limits and when to throw in the towel is just as important as getting stronger. I'm sure you've heard the expression 'live to fight another day.' You can't do anything to help anyone if you're dead. Even if you had kept fighting right now, what good would it have done you? You're barely conscious as it is."
Aaron supposed he had a point, but a small part of him still felt like nothing more than a quitter. He hoped that one day he could truly take Seigetsu's lesson to heart.
He and Kagami shifted their heads toward Rukia coming out of a door in the back. They grimaced at the amount of cuts and bruises on her fair skin.
She held out a Tenshintai and says, "I-It just changed back into…!"
"Relax there, princess," said Kagami. "It's supposed to do that."
"Oh, thank goodness! I thought I had broken it!" said Rukia, sighing in relief. With her guilt no longer propping her up, she sunk to her knees and looked ready to pass out.
"Looks like you're training was rough too, Kuchiki," said Aaron.
"Agreed. I think you two deserve a little rest and relaxation," said Kagami.
"W-Who are you kidding?! If this is what the first day of training is going to be like, there's no way I'll survive the next two days!"
"Not to mention our injuries will never heal in time," said Rukia.
"I wouldn't be too sure if I were you about that, princess," said Kagami. Aaron and Rukia peered at him for an explanation.
#
Even though neither one of them really had the strength to walk, Aaron and Rukia trailed Kagami as he led them down yet another corridor in his home.
"Just how many of these are here?" asked Rukia.
"Tell me about it. To make things even more confusing, they all look the same," said Aaron. "You sure we aren't going back the way we came, old man? Where are we going anyway?"
Kagami replied, "I'm sure. As for where we're headed, that's a secret!"
His guests weren't as thrilled as he presumed they would be.
"...You're far too mysterious for your own good," said Rukia.
"...Why do I get the feeling this guy would stab us in the back while we're not looking?" said Aaron grimly.
"Sheesh! You kids are no fun at all!" said Kagami. "Just for that, you're just going to have to wait patiently!"
Aaron and Rukia groaned. All they wanted to do was shut their eyes and go to sleep for a couple of weeks.
"Say...is it...getting hot to you guys?" Aaron wiped some growing perspiration off his forehead. "Man! What is that?"
Rukia, fanning herself, retorted, "T-That's a good question. Kagami..."
"Heh. You kids are gonna get a kick out of this," said Kagami as they arrived in front of a plain, wooden doorway. "Here's the rest and relaxation you two have been pining for."
He opened the door, and Aaron and Rukia were amazed to discover a hot spring inside of a small room. The scalding water stood in a square-shaped crevice surrounded by four pillars. It was just big enough for two people to hop inside.
"T-This really is a hot spring!" said Aaron, circling around the pool.
"Why would such a thing be down here?" questioned Rukia.
"I dunno, but you won't hear me complaining!"
"Heh. I see you two like my surprise after all," said a beaming Kagami. "This place might look like a dump, but as you can see, it's rather lavish. The hot spring there is also more than meets the eye. Believe it or not, it has healing properties."
"'Healing properties?'" repeated Aaron.
"That's right, kiddo. Just bathe in that stuff and anything that ails you will be taken care of."
Rukia dipped her hand in the water and gasped at a gash on it closing up in seconds.
"I-Incredible! I've never heard of anything like this!" she exclaimed. "Even the Kuchiki clan doesn't have something like this!"
"Ha! I think a warm bath is exactly what we need right now!" said Aaron happily. "It feels like all my bones are creaking!"
Yawning, Kagami waved and began walking away. "Enjoy, you two. This actually works for all of us. You kids can heal up, while I can finally get some rest."
With him gone, Aaron and Rukia realized they had a dilemma.
"Hmm. I guess we can use the hot springs at the same time," said Aaron.
"No. Of course not," replied Rukia.
"Alright then. You can go first, Kuchiki."
"While I appreciate the offer, you're far more injured than I am, Higuchi. You should use it first."
"You're too kind. Seriously. Go ahead. I don't mind. Really."
"Don't be ridiculous. Look, we don't have much time as it is to debate over this."
"I agree. That's why you should just go ahead and take a bath first!"
"Quit it with this pointless babbling, Higuchi, and just get in already!"
The two hadn't even noticed, but they were now pressing their noses against each other and growling. Even they weren't sure why they had grown so upset over a simple disagreement.
"Y-You're a lot more stubborn than I thought!" cried Aaron.
Rukia struggled to maintain her composure as she said, "A-And you're almost as bad as Ichigo in the way you refuse to listen to anything I say!"
The two left it at that for a number of moments. Then, they both sighed.
"...This isn't getting us anywhere," admitted Aaron.
"Yes. What should we do though? It's clear neither one of us is willing to back down."
"At this rate, we're just gonna end up having to take a bath together!"
Aaron meant his remark as a joke. Judging from how dismayed Rukia looked, he gathered she hadn't caught that.
She narrowed her eyelids and said, "...That was your plan all along, wasn't it?"
"O-Of course not!" said Aaron, blushing. "I-I really wasn't thinking anything like that!"
Things between the two became hushed once more. This upset Rukia even more.
"Y-You're free to do as you please, Higuchi," she stated, pulling her robes off of her left shoulder. "You said I could go first, so I believe I will accept your offer and do just that."
Aaron wasn't sure what was going on anymore, but Rukia was suddenly undressing right there in front of him. Quickly turning away, he felt his face grow even hotter.
"W-What the hell are you doing?! Are you crazy?!"
"Of course not. All I care about is learning Bankai in time to help Ichigo. I won't be able to do so, however, if my injuries aren't taken care of," she said nonchalantly.
"T-That's got nothing to do with it and you know it!"
"Believe whatever you'd like, Higuchi. All I'm doing is what you asked."
He couldn't believe she would go so far as to disrobe with him there just to best him. Anger replaced his embarrassment, and he opted to fight fire with fire.
"F-Fine! I've gotta train too to help Kana, so I'm gonna bathe here whether you like it or not, Kuchiki!"
"...Fine."
Neither of their claims ended up being a bluff. Somehow, they both ended up in the hot spring completely naked. Embarrassed beyond belief, they didn't dare face one another and didn't even want to move.
"T-This is so stupid," grumbled Aaron. "How did things end up like this?"
Trying to put the nude woman behind him out of his mind, he washed his face, healing a number of gashes.
"Man, Soul Society sure is amazing. Looks like I'll be good no matter what Seigetsu throws at me tomorrow!"
Cringing, he hoped his Zanpakutou spirit hadn't heard that. Knowing her, she was liable to throw a thousand copies of herself at him next time. He shook the terrifying thought out of his head and plunged himself underwater. He then shut his eyes. He wondered how everyone else was doing, feeling somewhat guilty for being able to relax like this when they could have been in mortal danger.
The image of Seigetsu intruded on his thoughts once more. If she were there, she would no doubt tell him not to worry about others so much and simply concentrate on his training. Coming back to the surface, he caught his breath and frowned. No matter how she spun it, he felt as if he was abandoning his friends.
"...You've been awfully quiet over there."
Aaron's head shot over to Rukia, who was staring at him leeringly following her remark.
"...You trying to imply something?" he asked testily.
"N-Nothing. Just...keep your distance. Mitarashi has told me stories about you."
"W-What?! Me?! She's the one who…!" Aaron caught himself. He wasn't in the mood for another debate. "W-Whatever! It was your idea to share the hot spring in the first place, so if anyone is up to something funny..."
He zipped his lips since Rukia looked like she was about to find a knife and stab him.
"S-So, how did your training with Sode no Shirayuki go?" he was quick to ask.
Rukia grew visibly pale. "...Let's just say Sode no Shirayuki's appearance belies her...intensity when it comes to training. I...lost count of the times I was nearly frozen to death. This hot spring naturally feels heavenly in comparison."
"I bet. Looks like both of us have had a tough time with this Bankai training."
"It shouldn't be too surprising. Only the best of the best Shinigami are even supposed to be able to learn it. Still, if anyone can do it, it is you and Ichigo."
Aaron's eyes widened. "Eh? I-I could see Kurosaki, but..."
"The growth both of you have shown has been nothing short of incredible. You two have gone from being meager Shinigami to ones with spiritual pressure that rivals that of a Captain. I've...never seen anything like it."
"I-I guess you've got a point, but...it's not like I've personally done anything special to get this strong. I just...trained as hard as I could so I could save Kana. It was the same with Kurosaki for you."
"To think that was all it was with you two. You would make most Shinigami jealous."
"Jeez. You're...making me blush over here." Aaron cleared his throat and tried not to smile so hard. "Er...speaking of Shinigami, what do you think the deal is with Kagami?"
"That's a good question. I don't think he was lying when he stated he used to be a Shinigami. His knowledge on Soul Society is extensive. Still, I've never heard of him."
"Eh? It's not like you'd know about every Shinigami that's ever lived though, right? Maybe he was one before you were born or something."
Rukia shook her head. "Soul Society keeps a record on each and every Shinigami that has ever been in the Gotei 13's service. That Kagami's name wasn't in it."
"Y-You've actually memorized that whole record thing to know? T-There would have to be thousands and thousands of names in it!" said Aaron, genuinely impressed. "Hold on though. Mister Hat and Clogs is a Shinigami too, right? Is his name in there?"
"Urahara?" Rukia took a moment to think. "N-No. It...wasn't."
"I thought not. Looks like they're names got erased for some reason. Man, we sure know some shady characters."
"True. We owe them a lot, however."
"Yeah. We'll...have to find a way to pay them back some day. It won't matter though if we can't finish up our training and save Kana. She's still counting on us."
Rukia became sullen as she muttered, "...Mitarashi. I wonder. Am I...worthy enough to save the life of another after what I've done?"
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Come again?"
"I-It's nothing..."
"My ass it's nothing! Look, I wasn't going to say anything at first, but it's clear something's been eating at you. It's probably none of my business, but don't you think it would be better to get whatever it is off your chest? I'm willing to listen."
Rukia paused, unsure on how to take this. Someone wanting to hear her out wasn't really the issue, she thought. It was actually having the gall to speak. She bit her bottom lip as she deliberated on what to do. Aaron was staring at her so piercingly, giving her the hint he wasn't going to allow this matter to remain in the dark. It reminded her of another person that was often too pushy.
"...Fool," she said as her eyes welled with tears. "I...only saved myself that night, didn't I? I...only killed him because I couldn't stand to see him in pain any longer. That's right. I...only saved my ugly self. When you think about it, I...don't deserve to stand here and pretend as if I can help another. I really am disgusting..."
Without warning, Aaron stood, splashing spring water all over. "I-I'm not really sure what you're going on about, but you shouldn't talk about yourself like that, Kuchiki!"
"Higuchi..."
"I'm serious! I don't care what it is you've done! You're not disgusting or anything like that!"
Rukia covered her face and mumbled, "Y-You really need to calm down!"
"Not until you stop talking yourself down like this! How do you expect to help anyone with that kind of mindset?!"
"I-I understand! Please, Higuchi! Y-You're not wearing anything!"
The meaning of her statement sunk in, and Aaron slowly leered down at his exposed crotch. With haste, he ducked back underwater, being embarrassed enough to die.
"S-Sorry, Kuchiki! I-I wasn't…! I-I mean, I-I wasn't trying to…!"
"I-It's alright," Rukia weakly told him, struggling to get the image of his 'business' out of her mind. "...Anyway, perhaps you had a point when you stated I needed to get this off of my chest. I'm not as kindhearted as you seem to believe me to be, Higuchi. I...killed someone in the past, someone very near and dear to me. I killed him with these hands of mind."
Her claim made Aaron's eyes widen like saucers. She had to be joking around. It was the sole thing that made sense to him. However, the sadness adorning her face told him this was anything but the case.
"Y-You...killed someone?" he said breathlessly.
#
No matter how much Kana gazed up at the Repentance Tower's ceiling, nothing about it ever changed. She could say the same about the world around her. Time felt like it was standing still.
"...I'm all alone," she said, lying on the ground in the darkness. "T-This place was bad enough when I at least had Rukia here with me! Ugh! I seriously can't take much more of this..."
Her worries shifted to Rukia. Being confined like this meant the most she could do was pray her friend somehow survived the harrowing experience from before. She felt the same about Aaron. Her amber eyes became misty, though she quickly wiped them clean. Now wasn't the time for crying. Even if it was bleak, she had to hold out hope the two were in one piece.
"I-If she was with CT, then maybe..."
A sudden ruckus at the gate leading into the tower prompted her to sit up.
"Eh? A-Are the guards coming to check up on me this late? Tsk! I know I'm irresistible, but they could at least let me get some sleep once in awhile!"
Whatever was going outside became louder by the second. Before she could even ponder what was happening, the entrance was blown to pieces by a red fireball, scattering scarlet smoke throughout the room. Coughing, Kana fanned it away and noted a silhouette approaching.
"Huh?! W-What in the world was that all about?!"
"Having fun in here, Kana?" answered the person in the haze. "Then again, I guess this ain't exactly summer camp."
Kana, recognizing the voice, gasped. "I-It can't be!"
It was. Akira Akiyama came into plain view with a wicked smile on her mouth.
"Heh. You ain't looking too good, Kana. You're even smaller than usual. I guess they haven't been feeding you well. If it weren't up to me though, you wouldn't be eating at all."
The ferocity in which Akira was glowering at her almost made Kana too afraid to speak.
"H-How did you get in here?!" she asked.
"Ain't that the million dollar question? I should still be rotting in a cell. Although I never expected the Captain to spring me out like that out of the blue, I won't complain. He even said I could go wherever I pleased, so I headed straight here. The tower wasn't all that far from where I was, and knocking out the guards with Kidou was a piece of cake. There weren't that many of them around anyway since it's so late. Oh, about that hole I made. I didn't feel like tracking down the key to that gate, so I just made my own opening. It seems this tower blocks off spiritual pressure from the inside, but not outside. That's lucky for me, right? I'm sure I'll get into a lot of trouble for all this somewhere down the line, but that's neither here nor now. Aren't you happy, Kana? I came all this way just to see you."
A drop of sweat rolled down the side of Kana's head. She already knew why Akira was there, so the smart thing to do would be flee. However, her legs were frozen by fear. In her current state, she knew she had no chance of outrunning the likes of Akira.
"...What's the matter, Kana? I don't think I've ever heard you this quiet. Hmm? You're wondering why I'm here, aren't you? I needed to confirm something. I heard Rukia Kuchiki went missing. Looks like it's true. When I heard those Ryoka got this far, I got worried they might've saved you too, but what a relief! You're still here! I don't give a damn about Kuchiki; you're my real prize, Kana."
"A-Akira..."
"Ah. Speaking of which, I learned something else you might find interesting."
"W-What are you talking about?"
Akira smirked even harder. "A Hell Butterfly told me on the way over here. Looks like your execution was moved up yet again!"
Kana became pale. "'Moved up?!' But...but that's…!"
"It's going to be tomorrow at noon. I guess they wanna chop you up bright and early and get it out of the way!"
The news sapped what little strength lingered in Kana's legs. She dropped to her knees and latched onto Akira's black robes as if they were the sole support left she had in the world.
"W-Why?! What are you talking about?! W-Why...why would they…!"
"Don't touch me!" Akira slapped Kana across the mouth and knocked the brunette down. She then brushed herself off, adding, "Don't ask me stupid shit like that. All I know is that the decree came from Central 46. Even you should know how serious this is. There's no point in you getting so upset though."
She drew her Zanpakutou, and a shaking Kana watched moonlight glint off it.
"You won't be making it to that execution, Kana. I'll be killing you right here and now!"
"Y-You can't be serious! Soul Society, they'll…!"
"Save it. I already know I'm as good as dead once Soul Society discovers what I've done. They'll probably execute me in your place. I don't care! I've been waiting a long time for this moment! Finally, I can avenge Heishiro!"
"Stop this, Akira! Please! Do you really think Heishiro would've wanted you to do this?! He would never ask you to throw away your life for him!"
"S-Shut the hell up! You've no right to even talk about him after what you did!"
Kana, speaking softly, replied, "It's...not what you think. I-I didn't…!"
Akira roared, "So, you're going to pretend you had nothing to do with it even now?! You bitch, I saw your sword plunged through Heishiro's heart with my own eyes! Don't you get it?! Everything that's happened is your fault! I'm just about tired of hearing you make excuses, you murderer!"
Her arms began quivering, and she clutched her sword so hard, blood began to seep out of her hand. Words couldn't do how much she despised Kana Mitarashi justice. Only action could. She rose her sword and steeled her resolve.
"...Goodbye, Kana."
Before she could finish the deed, a third individual said, "Hold on there, Akira. I really don't think you want to do that."
Both Kana's and Akira's heads moved over toward the entrance. There stood Arashi Mitarashi.
"W-What the…?! Arashi?!" exclaimed Kana.
"You, huh? Tsk. Just what the hell are you doing here, Arashi?" said Akira rudely.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," replied Arashi, crossing his arms. "I guess I wasn't imagining it when I felt your spiritual pressure close-by. ...Gin sent you here, didn't he? No, there wouldn't be any point in him ordering you to do that. Chances are he told you you were free to go wherever you pleased and predicted you'd head straight here. Clever bastard. He must've realized I would head this way as well."
"What in the world are you going on about?" wondered Akira. "And since when have you been on such good terms with my Captain to refer to him as 'Gin?'"
Sidestepping the question, Arashi said, "Step away from my sister, Akira. Her execution isn't until tomorrow, remember?"
"Tsk! Back off! You and I both know this is something I have to do!"
"Revenge, right?" Arashi took a step forward.
Akira aimed her sword at him. "I thought I told you to back off! I'm only here for this bitch here, so don't make me kill you too!"
"Sorry, Akira, but I'm not going anywhere. Tell me, do you have any idea what really happened the day Heishiro died?"
"Quit screwing around! Of course I do! Both of us walked in on this bitch here killing him!"
"...You seriously think that's the full story? All we did was see the ending. There's only one person here who knows the beginning, middle, and end."
All eyes rested on Kana, who stood and stared at Akira with conviction.
"I-I guess I was just too scared to say anything about it all these years," she said, frowning a bit. "I was...too guilty over what happened. Still, I know Heishiro wouldn't want any of us to be acting like this, so I'm just going to tell the truth! Something wasn't right with Heishiro that day! H-He suddenly attacked me and..."
"Wait, what the hell are you talking about?! You're saying he attacked you?!" said Akira, both astounded and skeptical. "Impossible! He would never…!"
"Yes, he would never attack us of his own free well," said Arashi, sighing. "I think the three of us can agree on that. However, what if I were to say the thing Kana killed that night wasn't exactly Heishiro?"
"...And just what in the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Rather than me talking about it, Kana here should just tell you what happened. Maybe things will make sense to you then."
Kana shuddered at the prospect of relieving the past, but nodded at her brother.
#
There was no way she could forget that fateful day. Even now, she recalled it like it were only yesterday.
Kana, dashing through the Mitarashi district, couldn't wait to bring the good news home. At last, she was a seated officer, an individual of standing in the Gotei 13. Many of her peers told her she would never amount to anything, but she had finally proven them wrong with all her hard work. After spending most of the day rubbing it in their faces, she opted to head on home and fill Heishiro in too.
"There's that Kana girl again," said an elderly man sitting in front of a store and smoking on a pipe as Kana raced past him. "Looks like she's got herself worked up about something or another again."
An old woman sweeping the sidewalk replied, "I thought she'd settle down some after becoming a Shinigami. I guess some things don't change."
"Heh. I guess Heishiro still has his hands full."
Being spoken of without her knowing caused Kana to sneeze. She shrugged it off as allergies as she finally arrived in front of her childhood home. The dilapidated structure didn't really stand out from the other buildings in the Mitarashi district, yet for her, it had been the only place in all of Soul Society she could come to and feel truly safe.
Time had taken its toll on it over the years. The hole in the roof had gotten bigger, three times as large in fact. Heishiro always said he would get around to fixing it at some point, though she laughed at this obviously being a lie. The front door was falling off its hinges too. It nearly broke off as she gingerly slid it open and stepped inside.
"Heishiro, I'm home!"
Looking around, the interior hardly fared any better. A musty scent pervaded the air, and the paint on the walls was chipped beyond belief. Above her, she could see the sun shining above Rukongai from the aforementioned crevice in the ceiling. A number of buckets stood under it to catch rainwater, a precious resource in the Mitarashi district.
"Huh. Maybe that's why Heishiro never bothered to patch that hole up. ...Nah! He's just lazy! That's gotta be it! Speaking of which, where is he?"
She went on her way, passing the cramped bedroom she, Arashi, and Akira used to share. Nowadays, Heishiro used it as a storeroom, but back then, she and the others would fight and claw for enough space to sleep soundly.
"Boy. I didn't know how good I had it! At least we had somewhere to sleep. A lot of people in Rukongai had to make due with the streets. We were...truly blessed now that I think about it. Out of all the people who made it out of here..."
She grew sad thinking about all the violence and death the higher numbered districts of Rukongai were known for. The Mitarashi district was no exception. Many she had come to befriend over the years were now gone, victims of others like them just trying to survive. Putting an end to all the despair was what prompted her to become a Shinigami in the first place.
"Man, it sure is quiet around here," she muttered. "Heishiro? I know you can hear me!"
Her voice bounced off the walls but garnered no answer. Pouting, she next entered the kitchen and found a half eaten bowl of rice and beans on the table.
She raised an eyebrow and said, "Huh? Weird! Heishiro never leaves a meal unfinished! That guy is like a vacuum cleaner when it comes to food!"
He always ate more than she, her brother, and Akira combined. In fact, they trained themselves to keep an eye on the plates in the chance Heishiro would scarf down their food while they weren't looking. He would laugh away their complaints when they called him out on this, claiming he was growing older and thus needed more energy to keep on his toes.
"I'm gonna eat your food if you don't come out here already, Heishiro!"
Kana was positive that would do the trick, yet everything remained as hushed as before. Though she didn't want to admit it, she was growing a tad bit worried.
"I swear I'm gonna kill him if he's just playing some stupid joke..."
Her father figure was known for his pranks. Making her way toward his bedroom, she recalled a time where he tricked her into not eating cookies until she was a teenager by convincing her she would sprout chocolate chips all over her body. Another time, he told her and they others that soba noodles grew from trees. They spent many months afterward fruitlessly planting the food in hopes of selling it in on the streets for a quick buck.
"T-That jerk! He nearly laughed himself to death after he told us we were wasting our time!" she said, red faced. "I almost wish he did!"
Her anger subsided as she remembered he had his good points as well. She had lost count of the times he had nearly gotten himself killed driving away would-be robbers and vagrants on the street who dared threaten his family. To this day, Kana wondered why he had taken in herself and the others. He certainly didn't have to. Surviving in Rukongai was hard enough without having to take care of a trio of kids. Even so, he always did so with a smile and constantly said he required nothing back in return.
"...I owe him a lot, don't I? Sheesh! I can't even stay mad at that guy now..."
Nodding, she decided she would give him a big hug the second she laid eyes on him. It wouldn't come close to being repayment for all the sacrifices he made on her behalf, but she knew he would appreciate it nonetheless.
"Knock knock!" she said, tapping on Heishiro's bedroom door. No one said anything back. "Eh? Uh…i-if you're doing something 'private' in there, I-I can come back!"
The door was slightly ajar, enabling her to peek in through the crack. If Heishiro was there, she couldn't spot him. She couldn't hear a thing either. While she thought it possible Heishiro simply wasn't home, her intuition was going haywire. Something wasn't right.
"S-Sorry, Heishiro, but this is an emergency!"
She drove her shoulder into the door and burst onto the scene. Gasping, she saw things really weren't on the up and up. Someone had torn Heishiro's bedroom into shreds. Cuts and scratch marks littered the walls, while all the furniture had been torn to pieces. As she inspected the area, she soon came to the conclusion some kind of struggle had taken place.
"B-Blood..." she mouthed as she dabbed her finger in a small pool of it on the floor. She became as white as a sheet as she added, "I-It can't be! Did Heishiro…?"
Something landed on her shoulder just then, something that began to smolder. Her trembling eyes leered at the clear liquid before moving up to where it came from. There crawling on the ceiling was a vaguely humanoid figure wearing a white mask.
"A-A Hollow?!" said Kana. "N-No! It looks more like a person!"
Whatever it was, it lunged off of the ceiling and toward her the second it laid eyes on her. Though caught off guard, she rolled out of harm's way. The would-be Hollow responded by hissing at her.
"S-Stay back, you!" Kana voiced, unsheathing her Zanpakutou and holding it out in front of her to show she meant business. Still, a tangent of fear painted her speech. "I-I'm warning you!"
The figure before her either didn't hear her or couldn't understand her since it went back on the attack by trying to pounce on her again. She drove it back with the help of her sword, but the force of it ramming into her sent her flying backward into a wall. She had the wind knocked out of her yet was able to make it to her feet and sight her enemy bounding her way.
"Ugh! You're really starting to get on my nerves!" Kana held out her palm. "Way of Destruction Number 31: Red Flame Cannon!"
The scarlet fireball erupted off her fingertips and impacted the Hollow. Kana braced herself from blast's smoke and carefully surveyed her surroundings.
"T-That was a close one! I really shouldn't be using Kidou like that in such a cramped space. I nearly blew myself to bits too. Just what in the world was that thing? It sure did look like a Hollow, but..."
Without warning, the being in question burst out from the smokescreen and slammed headfirst into Kana, knocking them both over. It then wrapped its fingers around her neck, hissing all the while. Kana, gagging, could feel the creature's fingers slowly but surely digging into her skin. They were literally squeezing the life out of her. Strength was quickly fleeing her limbs, and her head began to spin. The world around her was becoming nothing more than a blur. Despite this, her eyes were working well enough for her to get a better look at this Hollow now that they were face-to-face. Its white mask began to crack and crumble around the left eye, and her pupils dilated once she realized she recognized its face.
"H-Heishiro…?!"
The hollowfied Heishiro merely snarled at her like a rabid animal. She could hardly process what was happening anymore. The sole thing she knew was that she didn't want to die. With the last of her strength, she took hold of her Zanpakutou and plunged it through her attacker's chest. This hissing instantly stopped. Kana also felt the hands around her neck grow limp. Heishiro slumped against her person, and his warm blood trailing down her arms was what made her comprehend what she had done.
"H-Heishiro…?" she cautiously mumbled, expecting the man's head to rise and tell her all this was nothing more than another of his stupid pranks. However, she heard nothing more than his final death rattle. Her breathing quickened, her mind started to race, and her skin became a sickly pale. "C-Come on already! Stop kidding around! This isn't funny, Heishiro!"
She violently shook his lifeless form to no avail before burying her sobbing face into his chest. Some warmth remained there but would so be extinguished like his life.
"I-I'm so sorry, Heishiro! I-I didn't mean to…! I-I mean, I-I didn't want to…!"
Approaching footsteps made her leer up toward the bedroom's entrance. Just when she was certain things couldn't get any worse, there stood Akira, her face frozen in a state of mystified shock. Kana mouth's stood ajar, but no words left her lips. She realized how the situation must have looked and was eager to explain she wasn't guilty. Yet, with her blade still piercing their adoptive father's chest, she couldn't help but feel Akira would be in the right when it came to any accusations.
#
"T-That's a lie! You know it's a lie!"
Akira lifted Kana up by her collar and grit her teeth hard enough to draw blood. Kana didn't bother to resist.
"Put her down, Akira," said Arashi sternly.
Akira leered at him and replied, "Why should I?! Why shouldn't I just snap that pretty little neck of hers right here and now?! She's a coward for what she did, a fucking coward!"
"I-I'm a coward alright..." Kana meekly replied. The retort made Akira loosen her grip a little. "I...really did kill Heishiro. I was scared and couldn't think of anything else to do. I...can admit that. But, just let me say this, Akira! That thing that attacked me that day wasn't the man we loved! I...don't know what happened to him or why he looked the way he did, but he was like that long before I got there!"
Akira might have been as stubborn as an ox, yet even she had to admit there was some truth to the brunette's claim. Even now, she could picture that white mask Heishiro wore as clear as day.
"Do you get it now, Akira? My dear sister was just defending herself. You can hardly blame her for doing what she did given the situation," said Arashi.
Holding her head down in deep thought for a number of seconds, Akira shot it up and voiced, "The hell I can't! The fact of the matter is she was still the one that killed him! I don't care about the circumstances! How in the hell could you ever expect me to forgive her for something like that?!"
"Knock it off already. Haven't you said and done enough? I believe it's time for you to quit acting like a selfish brat, Akira."
"You wanna repeat that?!"
Arashi, unshaken by her harsh tone, answered, "What else would you have liked her to do? Just simply roll over and die? Akira, you talk as if she actually enjoyed killing Heishiro. Take a look at my sister's face. Just look at it. She's been carrying the burden of our father's death all on her lonesome all these years. I can guarantee that every time she closes her eyes, she can still see herself doing the deed. Besides, at that point, Kana had no other choice but to kill him. The Hollowfication had already spread too far. It was like she stated: the man known as Heishiro had long been gone by the time she arrived."
Things in the Repentance Tower grew eerily quiet just then.
"W-What the hell are you going on about?! 'Hollowfication?!' Just what in the hell is that even supposed to mean?!" hollered Akira.
"You...know what was going on with Heishiro at that time?" asked Kana, who was almost afraid to hear what her brother had to say next. Though she was looking him dead in the face, she got the strange sensation an entirely different person was before her.
"...Let's just I might be the most guilty for what happened that day," he replied. Silence overtook the scene again as the others waited for him to clarify. They were desperate for him to do so in fact. However, he shook his head as if replying to their unsaid questions and instead stated, "None of that matters anymore though, I suppose. The important thing here is for you to scram before the guards get here, Akira. Go while you still have a chance."
Suddenly, Akira began to laugh like a joke had been told. While Kana regarded her with apprehension, Arashi smacked his lips and had a look of irritation plastered on his face.
"Sorry, Arashi, but I'm not leaving until I finally finish this! ...It's too late for me to turn back. Regardless of what happened, this is just something I have to do. I'll...never be at peace otherwise."
"And here I was hoping you would be reasonable for once." Arashi drew his Zanpakutou, causing Akira and Kana to raise an eyebrow. "I guess some things never change."
"You can't be serious. Haven't we already gone through this whole routine? No matter what you do, you can't beat me, Arashi."
The younger Mitarashi simpered in a manner that sent a chill down his older sister's spine. 'Sadistic' was the first term that came when describing it. Shaking her head, she pondered if she was just imagining things.
"Maybe, but you're just the type of person that doesn't get anything at least it's hammered into that thick skull of yours. Sorry, but I need my dear sister alive. I'm not letting anyone put a finger on her, whether it be you or Soul Society." Arashi twirled his Zanpakutou like a baton as he spoke. "It's your move, Akira. I don't plan on leaving of my own free will.
Akira's countenance became quite severe. "Cute. I'm not gonna bother to hold back even if it's you."
"Good. ...I wouldn't recommend you doing so if you don't want this to be over in a flash."
Kana's head swung toward her brother and then to Akira. Panicked, she exclaimed, "Y-You two don't have to do this! You don't have any reason to be fighting! Aren't the three of us supposed to be family?!"
"Even family has their squabbles every once in awhile, sister. Just sit tight. I'm not going to hurt Akira too badly. I just need to make it so she can't come after you any longer."
Akira laughed again. "Oh, this is rich! When did you suddenly grow a pair?"
Kana was more or less wondering the same thing. To say Arashi was acting out of character would have been an extreme understatement. She was honestly beginning to grow concerned. That wasn't even counting that two of the most important people to her in the world were about to duke it out.
"Ugh. I don't know how much more of this I can take..."
Arashi got things off by flinging his Zanpakutou at Akira. The unconventional tactic caught her off guard, though she was still able to catch the sword before it could do her any harm.
"Okay? What the hell was that all about?"
"I win, Akira." Arashi remark brimmed with confidence. "Flood everything in sight, Ekitai Ouji."
His Zanpakutou transformed into water, water which encased Akira in a liquid prison. At once, she freaked out, believing she was about to drown. However, as she clutched her throat, she discovered she could still take in air just fine.
"Don't worry. You won't drown," said Arashi. "That should hold you for a little while until you cool your head."
"Whoa! I-I didn't know your Zanpakutou could do something like that!" muttered Kana in astonishment.
Arashi turned to her and held out his hand. "Get up. We're leaving, sister."
Too mesmerized to argue, Kana simply nodded as he helped her up. They made their way toward the exit but didn't get far when an intense gust of air swept past them.
"Maybe you're hard of hearing or something," growled a dripping wet Akira. Both Arashi and Kana looked back to see her holding her released Tatsumaki. "It's like I said: your Zanpakutou can't put a scratch on me, Arashi."
Arashi sighed. "Nothing is ever easy when dealing with you, is it? Kana, stand back. I'm not interested in accidentally drowning you."
His tone was razor sharp. It rattled Kana enough to make her do as requested and without complaint. Droplets of water circled around his hand ahead of his Ekitai Ouji reforming in his grasp.
"That's a new trick," said Akira.
"You're mistaken if you think I can only form flimsy prisons," he replied. "Actually, my Zanpakutou isn't that different from Captain Hitsugaya's. Of course, rather than ice, it grants me total control over water. Yes, every droplet hovering around us is under my command."
"Tsk. Like I'd believe something like that. I've seen you use that thing before. I'm still waiting to see something impressive."
"Are you now? Well, I'd better not disappoint you then."
Akira froze on the spot. For whatever reason, that last statement had come from a person standing behind her. Slowly, she whirled around to see who it was. There stood a grinning Arashi, yet that made absolutely no sense since the one she had been conversing with was still in front of her.
"T-Two Arashis?!" cried Kana. "T-This is like that thing that kid in one of those mangas CT let me borrow could do!"
"W-What the hell is going on?!" snarled Akira.
"By using my Zanpakutou's dominance over water, I can employ it to create water clones like the one you see here. See? You haven't seen all my tricks after all," said Arashi's double. It took a swipe at Akira and missed by a hair as she jumped back.
"Tsk! Why you!"
She brought her scythe down upon it, dissolving it into a puddle. She then set her sights on the real Arashi and half near decapitated him. He skid back just in time prior to countering with a sword swing. Growling, Akira ducked back enough to avoid it. What she didn't dodge was the water droplets that flew off his his weapon and onto her skin. Though there weren't that many, they were enough to form into another water clone. It pinned Akira to the floor and managed to restrain one of her arms. The other went right through its chest as she attempted to free herself.
"Nice try," it told her. It took the liberty of grabbing hold of her limb and holding on tightly. "I know how much you like using your fists, and I know how much they hurt, so I'd rather avoid the real me getting hit."
"L-Lemme go already!" she exclaimed while flailing about.
The real Arashi crouched down to her and said, "Maybe you're finally ready to talk things out. Answer me this. Where did Gin get off to? What is he doing at this moment?"
"What does it even matter?! Why do you care so much about that guy?!"
"...Let's just say I know a lot more about what he's planning than you think. It's exactly why I need to get Kana out of here as soon as possible."
"Holy moly! I'm completely lost here!" said Kana.
"There's no need for you to worry about it right now, sister. I can explain everything once we're out of here. All you need to know at the moment is that things are more complicated than any of you could ever imagine."
"Is that so? Interesting. Tell me what you know, Mitarashi. Everything."
Standing at the entrance was none other than Captain Toushirou Hitsugaya. Beside him was his Vice-Captain, Rangiku Matsumoto. Moonlight from outside the tower bathed the two as they stood there waiting for answers.
"...Oh, we are so dead," groaned Kana, hiding her head in her hands. She knew it wouldn't do her any good, but she figured it was the thought that counted most.
END
