Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo/Shonen Jump. I do own OC and plot.
Author's Note: Here's the new chapter as promised. I apologize for the late dely. I changed the ending last minute to help complete more of this mysterious backstory. I hope y'all like the chapter :D
The Soul King Pt. II
(Kaien Pov):
"Hisana!" I screamed on the top of my lungs.
Sprinting across the courtyard with Kohana behind me, I pushed myself to the limit, hoping I could reach her in time before Grimmjow's cero.
By the time she heard me, the cero was coming near her face.
Save her. I told Ayahiko. PLEASE SAVE HER!
The droplet of sweat dripping from my forehead began to slow its descent. The hair on the back of my neck rose as a powerful energy filled the air. A golden light shone from Ayahiko's hand, immobilizing everything within a fraction of a moment. A clash louder than thunder and cloister erupted in the area.
Kohana cried and quickly placed a hand over her ears. She collapsed to her knees, whereas I kept running. In a halfway step, my bones began to stiffen. They creaked and strained under the Kurnonosu's power, forcing me to summit to its command as if a little voice in my head ordered the very essence of my soul to be still.
If you saw me from a distance, jaw open in mid scream, an arm stretched out in a reaching motion, and leg in mid air, I would appear to be mimicing a dramatic stone statue pose. In reality, I was screaming on the inside. My chest ached, beating one last time before it ceased. My blood within its blood vessels froze as if I froze myself with my zanpakuto's ice abilities.
What felt like an eternity, a minute passed, and we were free. The red cero shot into the ground as I gasped for air and placed a hand at my chest.
"Hisana." I said in a croaked tone, forcing myself to keep moving forward.
The dust settled and in Ayahiko's arms like a ragdoll was Hisana. I flash stepped towards him, crouched down, and took her in my arms.
"Is she okay?" I asked, hovering my hands over her injured body. Some cuts on her torso, arms, and legs were deep. The blood stains on her soul reaper uniform were growing larger by the second, indicating a nasty stab wound that needed to be healed first.
I balled a fist and swore I would discover who inflicted this much damage to my little sister. Then, I realized I was also responsible for her state too. If anyone is to blame, it's me.
I shouldn't have agreed to the duel.
"A bit shocked but fine." Ayahiko said, assuring me. "I used kido to knock her out, but I don't think the spell will last very long." He gazed down at her. "Her will is strong. She'll wake up soon. It's now or never, Kaien."
I closed my eyes, pulling Hisana closer to me. "I-I know." I took a moment before standing up with her in my arms. "Let's do this."
Aizen was the true objective for us to intrude in this time period. If anyone could figure out how to undo a complex creation, it was him and the power of the Hōgyoku. After all, the jewel had the capability to go beyond boundaries and grant wishes. I deeply desired to grant my little sister the ordinary life she's always wanted. Whereas Ayahiko has always wanted Hisana's powers for himself. It is a win-win for every party.
The only issue present was how far could we trust Aizen?
For the Aizen I know, he's an immortal being- a god who doesn't not talk or associate himself with lower beings such as ourselves. In the moment Ayahiko named himself as ruler over the three worlds, Aizen did not bother to attack us or attempt to overthrow us.
We expected him to make an appearance because having complete dominion over the known universe has always been his true goal. In our future, he's missing from Muken. No one knows where he is. No one has seen him in the last ten years. One day, he escaped prison under squad 1 barracks and vanished like a phantom in the wind.
The Aizen that stood before me? He's exactly as people described him to be. The way he walked to his dripped appearance had arrogance written all over him. His intelligence level is said to be on par with Urahara and Captain Miyuri. If not, greater. His soul reaper powers surpass the head captain and the 13th court guard squad combined. When my father told Hisana and I the story of how he saved mom and met Aizen for the first time, I will never forget how father admitted his deep fear of him in his youth. Despite future Aizen aiding soul society to take down Yhwach, father always remained cautious around him. Even if this present Aizen isn't all powerful now, I will never drop my guard around him.
In all honesty, I felt weird than constantly being in fear when I'm in his presence. I felt like I already knew him, because Ayahiko shared some similarities with him. They share the same personalities and skills in practically everything. Yet, Ayahiko has emotions and relationships with others. He trusts in me and seems to confide greatly in Hisana more than the twins. Whereas, Aizen trusts no one but himself. And, a person who trusts only themsevles? They're dangerous.
I will never trust Aizen, but if he can reverse Hisana back into a human? I have no choice but to trust him.
That is…if he could do it. No one else has been able to. Why is Ayahiko so sure he can?
As Ayahiko, Kohana, and I followed Aizen into the palace, a few of the Espada and their fracciones stared at us. Some bowed quickly towards Aizen and walked away, hoping they weren't disturbing him. Some looked at us with curiosity and a deep yearn to ask Aizen about our presence. The lesser arrancars (the ones who were just servants in the palace) quickly glanced to the floor and walked away from us once Aizen turned to look at them. The fear in their eyes wasn't hidden. They were truly afraid of him, and he knew it.
We stopped in front of two large blue doors which opened immediately upon Aizen's arrival.
"Lord Aizen," said a pink haired guy with golden eyes behind squared shaped glasses. He quickly straightened his arched back and stood away from his experiment. "How may I be of assistance?"
"Szayelaporro," Aizen nonchalantly said as he strolled inside. "I'm in need of your laboratory."
The pink haired Espada was surprised and extremely honored to have Lord Aizen in his lab. Without hesitation, the arrancar openly declared that this lab wasn't his but Aizen's to use anytime. After all, Las Noches-the entire hollow dimension and all inhabitants belonged to him. When I heard the arrancar say that if he had known Aizen was coming, he would have cleaned up the place. I nearly laughed.
This laboratory was freakishly cleaned and organized. The tile floors and metallic tables were so pristine that it glistened to the point that if you stared at the table for too long it blinded you . Dozens of bookshelves were embedded in the stone wall, displaying jars of all shapes and sizes and were filled with potion-like substances to floating body parts. Each labeled accordingly like the testing tubes in the rack on the nearest table. On the far right, a small door was closed. The scent of blood lingered there. When I smelled it, I instantly remembered what Szayelaporro was known for...what he represented.
Pure madness.
It's official. Out of everyone in this room, Szayelaporro scared me the most. The very thought of him experimenting on Hisana made my blood turn cold. I held her tighter to my chest to assure myself that I was not dreaming. This was real. She won't be burdened by this destiny any longer. She'll finally live a normal life. A life I never had as Kaien or in my previous life.
Is making Hisana fully human truly the right choice? My consciousness echoed in my mind. You and I both know the truth. The bonds of fate never be undone.
Shut up. I told myself. This time is different. It will be different.
Is it though?
"Kaien-sama." I hear a muffled voice say but ignore it.
Kaien. My conscience laughs. It's funny how they call you by that name. I wonder what the real Kaien-Hisana's real brother would do in your stead. Would he allow the world to continue to descend into chaos and allow innocents to die?
I SAID SHUT UP.
"Kaien!"
"What?" I said as I anchored myself back to reality. I glanced at everyone, searching for the owner of the voice.
Kohana let out a deep, irritable sigh. "Lord Aizen said to put Hisana on the table." She said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Oh, r-right." I walked over to the middle of the room where a table was cleared. Gently, I laid Hisana on the cool slab and took a step back.
Aizen took a step towards her. His calculated gaze shifted from the top of her bloody limbs, her tattered robes, to her broken sandals. He raised his right hand and held it above the side of her torso that bled a little. Without saying an incantation, his hand glowed a sea green. Hisana's wound slowly closed, and her breathing got stronger.
"Before I start my assessment, the internal bleeding had to be dealt wi-" Aizen's eyes widened as another serious wound reappeared on Hisana's leg.
"Hisana!" I rushed to her side as my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Without hesitation, I placed my hands over her leg and used a healing kido.
The spiritual pressure of Kentaro and Hisana's Hollow fluctuated throughout the palace.
"Well, now, that's interesting." Szayelaporro purred as he glanced up at the ceiling. "It seems the hollow and the girl are connected in more ways than simple hollowfication."
Ignoring his comment, I kept my focus on healing her leg. However, when I was done, another injury took its place as if someone with an invisible blade was cutting her directly. Why isn't her instant regeneration kicking in? I wondered. Is it because she took off her mask? Is it because her and her hollow aren't unified? Is this due to her knowing the secret?
No, that's not it. Dammit.
"I-I don't understand." I heard Kohana whisper as Kentaro's and Shiro's spiritual pressure continued to fluctuate and send violent vibrations in the air. "I thought shiro was a hollow that only Ichigo possessed. How can she have it? How could it materialize and have a corporal body outside a soul?"
"The hollow known as Shiro is a parasite hollow with the purest instinct." Ayahiko explained to her. "It lives inside its host, hoping to someday control the host's soul and body. Thanks to him, it infected their Quincy grandmother and was passed down to their father at birth. How does it move voluntarily in reality and outside of its host? I do not know."
"If the hollow could be passed down genetically, shouldn't Kaien-sama have it? Being the first born and all."
"Why, indeed." Szayelaporro said with fascination. The mad-eye craze flickered within his golden eyes like Captain Kurotsuchi's when he got excited over a newfound mystery.
I glanced away and focused on healing Hisana's wound, hoping he didn't catch me staring at him.
"A valid question, Kohana, but alas only Kaien can answer that." Ayahiko said behind me in that stupid silvertongue tone of his. His pressing stare at the back of my head, caused anger to swell up inside me. I knew what he was doing. He was hoping I would tell my deepest secret. A secret no one but my zanpakuto knows. To make matters worse, his bemused answer invited everyone to pressure me.
"It's complicated to explain the specifics." I breathed in annoyance to no one in particular. "We should be discussing methods on how to control the hollow and get it back inside her soul. Kentaro-san won't be able to keep it occupied for long. When he fails, it will go on a rampage, destroying this palace, the espadas, and then the fracciones. It will keep defeating every opponent till it reaches us."
"You speak as if this has happened before." Kohana murmured, opening the interrogation.
"I only know what I've been told by my father." I snapped, hoping that would keep them from prying into the past. " Why bother me with such questions, when the man responsible for creating the damn monster is right here."
"You're a terrible liar like your sister." Kohana continued, following the clink of metal. A hand on her hilt, ready to draw it. "I suggest you tell the truth, Kurosaki Kaien."
"It's none of your damn business." I gritted my teeth and kept my focus on keeping Hisana's wound from bleeding.
"If you want Hisana to become human, Kaien," Ayahiko snapped. "It's best to tell him-tell us everything. Spare no detail."
Whipping my head back, I took a step forward and grabbed Ayahiko by the collar with my bloodied hand.
"Get your hands off of him!" Kohana drew her sword, but Ayahiko raised a hand, stopping her from moving towards us.
We're doing this now? I hissed telepathically towards him, still maintaining a grip on him. Seriously?
"I had my suspicions for a while now." Ayahiko said softly. "You know more than you've let on about…" He paused and looked towards Hisana. "everything."
I'm keeping my word, but why aren't you? Ayahiko's voice said in disappointment. His hazel eyes, determined not to let this slide. Why do you insist on keeping secrets from me? What happened to our code of honesty to each other?
A part of me was perplexed and marveled by the questions asked. I've known Ayahiko since he was a child. I can remember the day I found him, wandering the streets of the rukon district. I took him back to my uncle's mansion where I was staying at the time. I enrolled him in the academy, mentored him, was there when he first awakened his zanpakuto, and watched him grow until he chose his own path and chose to be a shinigami apprentice for Squad 12.
Ayahiko has always been like a little brother to me. Five years ago, he saved me from death. The code of honor bound me to serve him for the rest of my life for that. However, there are some things I've sworn to keep to myself. Dark secrets I must take to the grave. If I tell the truth now, reveal my true plans and who I really am, this life would be for nought. I have to alter the conversation and end it now. After all, my little sister's life depends on it.
I'm not being honest with you? I let go of his collar. That's rich, considering you've dated my sister without telling me. We both know you've never cared for her. All you have ever cared about is power.
"I-'' Ayahiko blinked and shifted his eyes towards Hisana. A massive force of spiritual pressure mixed in the force of a senkaimon shook the lab, causing glass items to fall and shatter on the floor.
"What the hell?" Kohana said frantically, following the sound of an audible gasp coming from the table.
The doors of the laboratory bursted open, following the appearances of Gin and a fraccion of Szayelaporro.
"Szayelaporro-sama! Szayelaporro-sama! Las Noches is under attack!" A fraccion of Szayelaporro screamed.
"Is that right, Gin?" Aizen said, speaking for the first time. I forgot he was here.
"Unfortunately, Captain." Gin replied. "Tosen and a few Espada are dealing with the intruder right now."
"It's probably Urahara Hansuke." Kohana growled. "I'll go deal with him."
"N-no," Hisana's voice croaked. "It's not him."
"Hisana!" I rushed to her side.
Pressing a hand to her head, she blinked and took a gander at her surroundings. She laid her eyes on Aizen and Szayelaporro.
"Order the Espada and Tosen to fall back right now." She demanded Aizen as she slowly rose from the table.
"Hisana! Where are your manners!" I scolded. I reached for her right ear and pinched it hard. "That's no way to speak to your elders!"
"Ow!" She darted her head to my direction and shoved my arm away from her ear. "T-this isn't time for etiquette rules. Everyone's in serious danger here. Kentaro especially."
"Who did you see?" Kohana asked in a worried tone. Her face turned pale at Hisana's warning. "This spiritual pressure..I don't recognize it-"
Another wave of spiritual energy shook the laboratory. I could pick out some Espada, fracciones, and Tosen.
"You wouldn't know..neither of you would know...you weren't there." Hisana whispered as I felt a murderous, cold intent seeping out of her spiritual pressure. "It belongs to the man who killed my parents, and I'm going to kill him."
Questions to Ponder & comment on:
What is Kaien hiding? What is this other life he's talking about, and what do you think are his true intentions?
Do you think Ayahiko still loves Hisana or does he care more about his newfound powers' aka: the Kuronosu?
How the hell is Hisana connected to the Soul King? Theories, anyone?
Can Kaien trust Aizen to help him and Ayahiko cleave Hisana from her Soul Reaper+ powers? Do you think Aizen will succeed when others like Urahara and Captain Mayuri couldn't?
Someone extremely powerful killed Ichigo and Rukia? Umm, what? Who do you think it is and how the f**** did he appear in Las Noches without warning?
What do you think will happen next?