Notice: I don't own the Bleach franchise. That belongs to Shueisha, Studio Pierrot and the original mangaka Tite Kubo.
Masaki awoke, groggy and curious as to why she was lying face down. 'W-where am I, where's Ichigo?' - the thought of her son sparked the horrible memories of her battle with the hollow – the one that fatally wounded her.
Rising to her feet, with her head still ringing from her ordeal, she looks around and sees old feudal styled buildings in the distance, and she's...out in a field? She looks around to see a forest to her left, the feudal-like constructions in front of her, and behind her she sees...
'Uhmm...?' Looking on puzzled, Masaki spots a strange building with large muscular arms (and hands) equally spaced to the left and right of a middle structure – holding up a very large banner!
'That certainly makes an impact on the scenery, is that why it's located away from all the other buildings?' For a moment she pondered this, before thinking about her next move. Looking at her surroundings, she decided to walk towards the 'peculiar' structure behind her – drawn to the curious architecture.
After walking for a minute or two, Masaki realises that her spirit energy is back, and likely her Quincy powers are back too. "Better late than never right?" Masaki was never one to focus on negatives, but even so, her powers would've guaranteed her little boy's safety...and her life. She let out an audible sigh, 'I do wonder why I lost my powers at that time.' Masaki put her hand on her chest, 'it was like I was suddenly stripped of everything I had within me...'
'I'll have to look into it later,' now resolute Masaki uses her hirenkyaku to close the distance between her and the entrance of the strange but, quirky building.
'I thought it was large from a distance, but up close it's...far bigger than I imagined.' Masaki was even more surprised by the sheer 'size' of the building – especially those muscle-bound holders. 'Something as extravagant as this must come from a family of prestige.' Masaki looked at the building up and down – marvelling at the unique craftsmanship. After a short time, she decided to walk towards the entrance, before she sensed a couple of spiritual presences crash in front of her. A dust heap obscures Masaki's vision and she coughs a little. The dust clears and she sees the figures guarding the entrance to the building.
In front of her stood two physically imposing men who looked exactly alike. 'Must be twins or related at least' Masaki knew these were likely the guards to the estate.
"I am Shiroganehiko!" the man on the left bellowed. "And I am Koganehiko!" the man on the right proclaimed with equal tremor. "We are the guardians of this estate!" The men posed a little, letting their size hopefully intimidate the unwarranted visitor. The duo glared at the would be interloper – a young woman, with brunette hair, wearing an unfamiliar style of clothing (a human world dress and skirt). "And who are you? What are you doing here intruder?" the men reverberated, bouncing their declarations between eachother – like sound going from the left and the right. Masaki to her credit stared down the guards – more like stared up at them, since she was a good two feet shorter. After a few intense moments she decided to answer. "I've just arrived here, to what I assume is Soul Society, but I don't know where anything is, so I'm wondering if you or the occupants of this estate can help me?" The brows of the guards furrowed, which meant they didnt' quite believe what she was saying.
Masaki sighed.
"I just recently passed on, and saw this unique building out in the middle of nowhere and thought someone there might be able to help?" The guards looked like they were processing the words in their heads. 'Wouldn't be surprised if they shared their minds too,' Masaki inwardly snickered. The guards decided on an action. "Then we will take you to our most humble and generous master!" Masaki was taken aback. She thought her honest words wouldn't be sufficient to get a positive reaction, but apparently it worked in this situation. 'Better than I hoped...at least for now...'
The guards Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko graciously lead Masaki down the stairs into the compund hidden inside the elaborate structures on the surface. 'One entry point, seems to be pretty defensible for any attack-' then her mind wandered to darker thoughts '-and also guarantees that no one can escape!' With her nerves getting strained as she trailed the guards, she nervously followed until they entered a waiting room of sorts. The duo both signalled for Masaki to wait where she was. The men disappeared behind a sliding door. Masaki sat in seiza (sitting down on her knees, upright) waiting for the master of the estate to greet her (or at least an associate). About five or so minutes passed, before she heard unfamiliar footsteps approach the sliding door in front of her. The doors slid open to reveal a young woman, with a rugged air about her. Dressed scantily, with bandages adorning her arms, legs and even head. Taking a closer look, Masaki could've sworn she saw her husband, but quickly shook the thought out of her. The woman had a walking stick in one hand, a cape, and...'oh that's a prosthetic arm...perhaps an injury in battle?' Masaki waited patiently for the master of the estate to say something first.
The lady of the estate took a puff out of her pipe, and exhaled the smoke. Then she refocused her attention on the woman sitting patiently. 'She's very formal for an intruder. At least she knows proper etiquette.' "Koganehiko, Shiroganehiko, come!" The sudden declaration jolted the already frayed nerves of Masaki. From two separate sliding doors (on the left and right), the two guardsmen dutifully swooped into the room – with gusto. The lady was not pleased. "Why didn't you idiots, grab some cushions for her to sit on!? That's no way to treat a lady!" Masaki could feel the guardsmen's panic, and she couldn't blame them, 'for her to command such intimidating guards...' The guards quickly bolted out their respective doors, and arrived with cushions for both Masaki and the Lady to sit on. The guards attended to their Lady first, but she shook her head angrily and pointed at Masaki "cushions for her first, she's been sitting uncomfortably long enough" her voice was low, but commanding. They obliged and promptly laid some cushions down for Masaki to sit on. Masaki just stared. "You just going to sit there? Stand up and take a more comfortable seat!" Masaki sparked into action but then the sudden rush gave her uncomfortable pins and needles. Not one to show her discomfort, she laid the cushions out and sat back down. In seiza formation. The duo then attended to their Lady, and arranged her cushions in a comfortable formation. The Lady of the Estate, laid down on the arrangement in a more relaxed position (cross-legged).
She took another puff from her pipe. "Okay so who are you, what's your situation and how can I help?" Masaki gulped, mentally preparing herself for her answers. "My name's Masaki Kurosaki, and I was recently killed by a hollow." This perked the interest of the Lady it seemed. So Masaki continued. "I'm not sure how I arrived where I did, but when I awoke, I was out in a field and then spotted the structure up top here. I thought it was a unique design and having no direction of where I could go, I decided to walk here. Then I encountered your retainers I assume, and that's where I find myself now." The Lady took another puff of her pipe. 'Not sure if that worked out fine, but hopefully' Masaki hoped that was a good enough explanation, because she really didn't want to talk about anything else at the moment.
The Lady spoke "Hmm I understand. Must've been rough getting killed by a hollow." She saw that the Lady was contemplating her next words. "Well my name's Kūkaku Shiba, and I am the lord of this estate. Pleasure to make your acquaintance!" Kūkaku held out a hand with a grin waiting for Masaki to reciprocate. Masaki didn't oblige, and she would've thought that disrespectful, until she saw Masaki's face in complete shock. "Sh-Shshshsh-Shiba?" Now it was Kūkaku's turn to look surprised. "Yes, I did just say that, are your ears working?" Masaki's expression went from shocked to...'wait are those tears?' And tears they were.
'I-I can't believe it! Here I am in the estate of my husband's family!' Masaki was now laughing, at the sheer luck that she arrived in the best place for her in Soul Society. Knowing her husband and what stories he told her about his family, she knows, she'd be safe here.
Kūkaku was now a little worried "H-Hey, you okay lady?" She was about to reach out, but then Masaki quickly composed herself, and wiped away her tears. "N-no, I'm fine, it's just...I'm so happy to be here with the Shiba family." Masaki knew Kūkaku wanted an answer, so she calmed herself to deliver, probably the most important few words of her afterlife, thus far.
"I'll introduce myself again. My name's Masaki Kurosaki. I am the late wife of Isshin Kurosaki, or you might know him better as...Isshin Shiba."
Odeclock's End of Chapter Notes:
Thanks for the follows! Wasn't expecting this story to get any real attention, but...it did. This is of course is the second chapter. This whole story is a long one, and a lot of chapters will fill in where I want to go. I'm still a little unsure on my direction through the Soul Society, but stay tuned, as you read through this. I'm happy to get your thoughts too.