X
"The library?" I asked, looking up at the grandly white-baked building.
"Yes. I need to file my recent findings," Kisuke answered, holding a stack of paper. His was noticeably shorter than the one Hiyori was grumbling behind but also noticeably bigger than Mayuri's completely absent pile.
I twirled my parasol as Mayuri interjected. "You mean my findings! You haven't produced a single publishable result since you began locking yourself away in your lab," he all but hissed.
Locking himself away? I questioned mentally as my head swiveled between them.
"Now, now, I just wanted to give you space to grow!" he encouraged, pushing open the large doors.
"Room to grow? You've left the morning meetings all up to me for the last month!" Hiyori grumbled, face beginning to go red from agitation.
Looking at Kisuke with concern, he avoided my eyes and instead wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I let him draw me in close, his usual gunpowder smell teasing my brain away from the issue.
"Why don't you go see if there's anything interesting, and I'll catch up with you?" He directed me away as Hiyori all but threw her stack of papers on the counter.
"All right. See you soon?" I asked, eyeing the blanching receptionist who looked like she wanted to say some strong words to Hiyori.
"Right." He smiled down at me and I returned it. Mindful of my parasol, I closed it before making my way to the nearest aisle. With the intention of making my way to the back of the wing to make my way up, I trailed my hands over the spines as I walked.
Relaxing, I let my senses get swept away by the library.
This library was old. It seemed that the oldest books rested near the ground, all but forgotten. Some had bent spines, cracked covers, and occasionally I could see a page that had fallen away hastily shoved back onto the shelf between the books. The faded kanji, while precise, had a watery runniness that was only present with older ink.
Letting my eyes trail up, I admired the newest books on the top shelf. Their spines were yet unpressed, the kanji decorating the sides and covers big and glossy, as of yet untouched by lurid readers. They also stood in uniform order, unlike their older counterparts. It was clear they had much love going into them.
The smell of books changed the farther into the library I strolled. The smell went from the untouched finesse of fresh prints to the dustier, cloudy smell of older books. I noticed that the farther in I traveled, the larger the books became as well.
Stopping in the M's, I took a moment to pull out one of the heavier tomes and flipped it open to a random page. This is all handwritten! I realized with a shock. The delicate ink-dwelling kanji rested on the page, neither too close nor too far apart.
Shaking my head out of pity for the writer's hand, I gently closed the book and replaced it.
Redirecting myself, I followed the deep aisle as I tried to understand their organization scheme. It seemed alphabetical from what I had observed, but with a slight curiosity I pressed deeper to the heart of this wing of the library.
My eyes skittered over the books I passed. I found myself looking in between the books and on top of them, searching for more displaced papers or the smaller books that sometimes seemed to be crammed in without an afterthought. My lips quietly curled around the letters as I whispered them. "M..MG…MH…MI…"
A small white book caught my eye. The kanji on this book was faded, and the pages seemed almost yellow. It was almost invisible in between the monstrous, dilapidated coffins it separated.
Missing captains? Without hesitance, eager to learn more, I pried the small book from the overstuffed shelf. Looking at the back out of habit, I saw that it was blank. The title on the spine gave this small…pamphlet away.
What is this, only 20 pages? I wondered, automatically flipping to the last page.
NAME: SHIBA, ISSHIN
SQUAD: 10
MISSING: YES
DOD: UNKNOWN
LAST SEEN: LEAVING FOR AN EMERGENCY WORLD OF THE LIVING MISSION (CLASSIFIED)
NEXT OF KIN: SHIBA, KUKAKU (SISTER)
I stared at the black and white photo, my heart sinking. My hands began to tremble. He hasn't aged a day, I realized grimly. I swallowed reflexively as bile worked its way up my throat. My eyes tricked down to a small scrawl at the bottom of the page. This ink was fresh, unbleeding and undripping.
Note: clan head. Clan head will now be Shiba, Kukaku.
Dropping the book, I covered my mouth.
And screamed.
It echoed around the library, banging off the wooden shelves and echoing around the large reading tables. Almost instantly, I felt Kisuke disappear from where he was lingering at the reception desk to flash step to my side.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" His gentle hand rested on my shoulder as he looked me over. The double toned sound of Hiyori's hurried running and Mayuri's leisurely stroll moved towards us.
Sniffling from my position on the floor, I looked up at him. "I'm sorry," I started, bringing my power in from where it had fluctuated. "I—The picture scared me." I tried to lie, picking it up.
"I see," he answered, rubbing my back comfortingly. "That's a new portrait. They're taken with a camera. I think they came out with those a decade ago." He touched the image, then the text as he read. Not saying anything of its contents, he closed it and replaced it.
"Getting scared by a picture. Stupid girl!" Mayuri stated to no one in particular.
"Why don't we go to lunch now?" Kisuke asked, taking my hand and coaxing me onto my feet.
I nodded, eager to take my mind off of that. "That would be nice," I agreed, intertwining our arms. I let myself lean into him a bit heavier than I usually did.
As always, Kisuke was happy to be leaned on.
X
"Gah! I can't take this anymore! Sosuke, do something about this wind!" Shinji complained, making me giggle quietly. It's easy to forget he's here when Shinji makes a scene. His blond hair had completely flown up in his face and over the tea menu. He had been struggling to throw it over his shoulder only for it to come right back several times.
"I'm sorry, Captain. I can't help you with that," he said politely, though I could sense he was a little more nippy than usual.
"Huh? What kind of a response is that?" Shinji looked at him exasperatedly.
"Sorry, Captain," he quipped back.
I placed my order first quietly, then I had to clear my throat and reorder above the sound of the wind.
"Maybe we should have gone inside." I was a bit jealous of the patrons laughing within, safe from the weather.
"Maybe," Aizen agreed with me, making my skin prickle. Truth be told, I had been avoiding him for…ever. I had never made a move to talk with him or be near him, although sometimes he did approach me with small talk.
I didn't feel I was ready to make my final move yet.
"What have you been up to today?" he seemed to ask just me as the others ordered.
Sighing audibly, I debated whether I should completely ignore him. This is a man, I remembered. He'll get upset if I'm anything but welcoming. And I can't defeat him. My reiatsu twisted unpleasantly inside me.
"We are coming from the library. Today we had a slow start," I admitted. While Kisuke and I had gotten together later in the morning, it had taken us a while to wrap up the squad's findings for filing.
"The library?" he asked, pausing while the waitress took his order. "Green tea." He copied me. I frowned internally. There's no way he's not doing this on purpose.
"That reminds me"—Shinji came in, mixing something that looked suspiciously like alcohol into his drink as he spoke—"we need to go there and see what's been dug out before we figure out what we need to do."
"We already know what we need to do, Captain," Aizen corrected him, making him frown dramatically.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it, Sosuke!" he fired back. His personality was starting to match his crazy, flying-about blond hair.
"Ah, that's right. You were assigned to check out those disappearances, weren't you?" Kisuke asked.
"Disappearances?" I asked.
Either not hearing me or ignoring, Shinji began to talk over me about the mission to Kisuke. "Yeah, but it's almost impossible to figure out what's going on. I might ask Kensei for help…"
"People from Rukongai have been disappearing," Hiyori filled me in from where she sat between Kisuke and I. "But they're leaving clothes behind," she tacked on when she saw me open my mouth to disagree.
"Leaving their clothes behind…Exposure?" I guessed. She shrugged before looking over at Mayuri, who had a whole table to himself on our left.
Reaching for my tea, my hand somehow brushed against Aizen's. I jolted slightly, doing my best to contain myself as I turned in my seat to frown at him, clearly upset.
"Sorry, sorry…" he apologized politely.
I debated if it'd be rude to pick up everything and go sit with Mayuri.
X
Kisuke, Shinji, and I had retreated to Shinji's personal quarters for the remainder of the night. I knew that I was going to stay the night, but I wasn't sure if Kisuke was interested in that as well.
I was braiding Shinji's beautiful hair as they talked about their experiences as squad captains. His strong yet thin strands were good at keeping my restless hands occupied.
"You can't be too nice to them. Take Sosuke, for example. He needs to get better," he complained vaguely, throwing his hand up for effect.
"Oh, I see," Kisuke echoed thoughtfully. "I usually let my squad leave early as long as they've finished everything," he explained.
I smiled as Shinji scoffed. "How are they going to respect you if you let them leave early? Idiot!" he admonished. "For example…" Feeling his iron grip on my wrist, I yelped in surprise as I was drug around into his lap.
Shinji's single hand gripped my wrists together easily, his other pressing down on my windpipe as he continued, "…this one loves to be forced down." He smiled at me devilishly, his teeth looking sharpened in the weak candlelight.
The blood rushed in my ears, blocking out anything Kisuke might have said while Shinji stared me down like a predator. After a few moments, his hand slackened.
"What do you say?" He looked at Kisuke while I got my air back. "Interested?" His hand went to pull at my kimono as I looked towards Kisuke.
The shy man's face was blushing heavily at the idea, his eyes wide from what he was witnessing. "I-I…"
Shinji's hand squeezed at my breast firmly, making me gasp out.
Kisuke's eyes darkened at this, and he swallowed loudly. "If she…" he trailed off, trying to read my true emotions from the lust blossoming in me.
"If she wants, you mean?" Shinji asked teasingly, lifting me up so that I was sitting in his lap. He grasped my face from underneath, enjoying the way I slackened submissively. "Just take her, Kisuke," Shinji spoke quietly, a challenging note to his voice. "That's what she's there for, right?" I could feel him shrug behind me.
Kisuke's face darkened. "Well, I suppose…" he slowly agreed, watching as I flourished in the steel-like grasp.
"Atta boy," Shinji decided, hands dropping to let me go. I swayed somewhat, freeing my breasts as I wavered. Shinji's hand went to play with them almost thoughtlessly. "What side do you want?" Shinji asked, watching Kisuke going to his knees and then hesitating.
My eyes slid closed as the two reiatsu of the men dipped around me, shifting slowly, dangerously, as their tensions rose.
A hand on my head made me look forward with half-lidded eyes.
"Good choice." I could hear Shinji's smile behind me as he snuck a hand under what was left of my kimono to massage my behind. "If ya change your mind, we can trade too," he offered, obviously looking to abuse my mouth again tonight.
The corners of Kisuke's mouth twitched as his reiatsu sparked up at the idea. He hummed in acknowledgment as his hand slid down my face to my chin, brushing Shinji's hold. I leaned forward as he delicately held me, eyes searching mine for my approval.
I blinked twice lightly, trying to clear my eyes of the sexual haze the reiatsus were thickening into the air, while my lips curled upwards in pleasure as Shinji palmed me from behind.
Understanding, Kisuke met me in the middle as he took control. I let my powers leak out, fluttering lightly in response. Shinji made a pleased sound from behind me as he brushed my hair to the side.
I shivered when Shinji's thin lips paused a hairsbreadth away and traced the back. Kisuke's hand cradled my face as he shifted closer, demanding more from me slowly but surely.
Head awkwardly bent between the two, I could only press into Shinji's hand deeper as I started to heat up.
Kisuke…Shinji…I couldn't deny my heart from them.
Kisuke's hand brushed the delicate part of my breast, making me jump slightly and break the kiss. Kisuke openly chuckled at me, expression light, while Shinji made an annoyed noise.
After taking in our amusement, Shinji bit down to gain my attention back. Falling into the list easily, their dual energies pressing down into me in demand, my eyes half-lidded as Kisuke bent down to play with my chest.
I groaned as Kisuke latched on, my hips unconsciously moving faster against Shinji's hand as I rubbed myself on him.
"Hmm? Like that?" Shinji whispered in my ear, looking over my shoulder and down at the other captain.
I made a desperate noise as a strong shot of pleasure speared into me, Kisuke nibbling down. Letting go of my throat, Shinji reached around to my now abused nipple as Kisuke switched sides. I groaned as he started to massage me wantonly in tandem with his other hand, the motions and terseness making my breast ache deliciously.
His breathing groaned into me as my spiritual pressure started to leak out, mixing with the sand and gunpowder dust.
Taking his hand away, I made a complaining noise despite not moving back to beg and search for more, not wanting to dislodge the paler blond man.
I felt Kisuke smirk against me as Shinji gripped my hips, adjusting us both so that he could grind into me. I shook slightly, my excitement building up much too early.
Releasing me with a pop, Kisuke straightened up to get a better view of our debauched state. He swallowed, eyes approving, while I breathed wantonly as Shinji pressed into me aggressively despite the clothing barriers.
Reaching forward, I swayed from Shinji's thrusts as I started to massage Kisuke. He took my hands instead, using them to rut against as he stared at us.
"Just gonna stare?" Shinji asked breathlessly, grunting quietly behind me, a small laugh in his voice.
Kisuke flushed, eyes fluttering from embarrassment.
"Shinji," I warned playfully, giving a sultry look over my shoulder at him.
"Peh!" he complained, eyes closing as he started to grind in circles. His head tipped back as he lost himself. "All right, all right," he agreed.
"He's right." Kisuke tried to draw away the disagreement as he freed himself from his pants. I licked my lips with anticipation, making him smirk. The man was already hard and reddened, twitching excitedly. I reached out and appreciated how soft he was.
Kisuke groaned, watching me raptly while I explored him. Slowly drawing my hand back and forth, I gripped him firmly as I pumped. His hips bucked into me as Shinji groaned from behind, likely watching us as his thumbs made circles in my hips.
Kisuke gripped my hand, making my fingers tighten around him while he forced me to go faster. I snuck a look up at him, admiring how entrapped he was as he stared down in almost awe.
Holding my tongue out, he paused to watch me delicately lick the head. Looking up at him, I gave a second, firmer lick as Shinji moaned loudly behind me.
Apparently tired of waiting, I heard his clothes and felt my clothes as they shifted out of the way. Taking himself in hand, I felt Shinji begin to press into my sopping wet mess as he hissed. "So tight…!"
Kisuke guided my head forward urgently as he watched Shinji slowly sink in deeper, wanting me to mirror the action. I complied, letting my jaw loosen as I hollowed my cheeks. Kisuke slowly slid into my mouth, my tongue already swirling, as Shinji held my hips almost painfully.
Shinji moaned as he bottomed out, holding me still against him as he claimed me. Kisuke's breath hitched against me as my nose nestled against his lower stomach, his trembling going straight to my core.
Hearing something wet above me, I felt my wet begin to spill over around Shinji as I realized they were kissing loudly.
Spinning my tongue around Kisuke, I reveled in the way he broke the kiss to make a desperate sound, his weakness causing him to come undone.
Shinji chuckled darkly, slowly withdrawing from me slightly before giving a quick thrust in. I grunted, unused to the little thrusts from him in particular, as I sucked desperately. My tongue wound around the head as he thrusted in and out of my mouth, matching his pace to Shinji despite the desperate hand gripping my hair tightly.
Holding my head back, Kisuke made me release him with a loud pop as he took a breather. Hand on the floor, Kisuke admired us while he tried to hold his orgasm back desperately.
"Whaa?" Shinji complained. "Just a little of me and you're already tired?" He spoke playfully, trying to distract from the pleasure between us in an effort to last longer himself. I squeezed around him evilly, and he gave my ass a firm spank.
Kisuke smiled, eyes tight as he watched us. Slowly, his hand trailed back to himself, unable to resist the steady pounding I was being treated to.
"There's still room for one more." I tried to entice him, moans punctuating between the words.
Kisuke swallowed at the thought, and Shinji slowed down to a halt.
"Get over here," Shinji ordered him, making me smirk devilishly.
Practically scrambling to comply as he twitched from excitement, I found myself kneeling on top of Shinji while Kisuke made a show of holding me apart from the bottom to watch the small thrusts up into me. Shinji's hands circled my shoulders, tightening to bring me down to relax against him while his other hand traced my back.
A curious finger brushing my lips made me tighten, and Shinji hissed in response.
"Hurry up," he gritted out, feeling me pulsate in excitement.
Kisuke laughed lightly behind us as Shinji tried to rush him. Feeling the same finger from before slowly nudge in next to Shinji, I forced myself to take a deep breath as it sank into me unforgivingly.
I groaned with Shinji at the intrusion.
"Fuck," Shinji decided under me, a clear supporter of my idea.
Kisuke's blushing head pressed in where his finger had created the smallest of gaps. Shinji's hands gripped at my back painfully, his nails digging in as I forced myself to stay relaxed and calm despite the burgeoning pleasure deep inside me.
Kisuke groaned pitifully as my inner lips swallowed him tightly, the three of us taking a moment to get used to the impossible tightness. Shinji panted under me, his head riding up to rest his forehead in my shoulder.
Gaining some control back, Kisuke's hands returned to hold me open so that he could watch as he slowly pressed in deeper.
He's so unyielding. I felt a bonfire within me as he claimed me with Shinji.
I couldn't help but tighten down when I felt him butt up against Shinji's head, the tightness dangerously sublime as I tried to control my spontaneous orgasm.
"Relax!" Shinji stressed under me, face looking pained.
I made a desperate noise as Kisuke's hands rubbed up and down my back soothingly, slowly working me back down. As I slowly relaxed, he pushed in more. I made a keening noise as I felt his base press against Shinji and I.
Shinji sighed from the bottom, sounding blissed out as Kisuke's hands shook on my back.
"It's so tight…!" Kisuke barely made out from behind my back, leaning over me as he tried to keep balance.
"Yeah," Shinji swallowed before giving an experimental thrust, making both Kisuke and I gasp. Shinji laughed, voice tight.
"Shinji…!" I bit out, ready to complain, before Kisuke gave a sharp thrust.
"Something wrong?" Kisuke teased, shell falling away as the three of us sweated together. I growled like an animal as he thrusted again, falling into a rhythm.
Shinji smiled into my shoulder at our antics before his head fell back. Not matching Kisuke's sharp pace, he instead thrust into me languidly to share in the sensation.
Kisuke's hands tightened in me tellingly as the two brushed against each other, their own heats building up.
Slowing to a halt, Shinji relaxed under me, a hot, firm weight inside. I squeezed around him in complaint only to have him nip at my neck. "Just take it," he whispered into my ear. "Just take it in." He held me too tight, pulsating inside for each determined thrust that Kisuke gave.
Feeling Shinji's head twitch deep inside of me, my ties started to curl as I pulsated around the two. Shinji hissed, nails digging in like claws as he tried to stave off my orgasm.
"Let her come, Shinji," Kisuke punctuated with a particularly strong thrust, jostling us.
"Hm?" Shinji asked cheekily, eyes closed as he warmed himself inside me.
"Let her," Kisuke tried again, the thrusts becoming stronger as he tried to force it out of me. The loud sounds of their balls slapping together was slowly driving me insane.
Slowly releasing his painful grip, Shinji obliged Kisuke with a small frown. Shinji's head, pressed so close to the end of me, shifted by Kisuke's every thrust, made me clamp down.
Kisuke rubbed my back as I made a series of desperate moans, losing myself. "Good girl…" he assured me animalistically as I felt myself release, clamping down to the point that they could barely move.
Shinji growled underneath me, his hands going out to scratch up the floor, as he resisted his own measure and twitched inside me deeply.
Slowly relaxing, I jolted when Kisuke began to hammer into me, his arms circling my waist. I panted, feeling strung out and oversensitive.
"K-Kisuke!" I begged, trying to lift myself up onto my hands and look back.
Shinji's arms circled around me again, holding me down once more.
"We didn't say we were done, did we?" His humorous voice held a dangerous edge as his reiatsu built up viciously.
Kisuke hummed in agreement behind me as the two started to thrust in a dual rhythm. Gasping desperately, my nails dug into the floorboards as they claimed me.
Hands tightening against me, Kisuke stuttered as he came, painting my insides white. Shinji, being pushed over the edge, flooded me as well while their seeds mixed and dripped out.
X
A single lantern lit the cramped library aisle. A lone figure stared at a small, white book.
Sosuke's fingers stroked the spine almost reverently.
X
Sore despite my new healing abilities, I retreated to the Eighth the following day.
"Well, hello," Shunsui greeted with a small song in his voice. Jushiro smiled at me warmly.
"O-Oh, I didn't realize. I can come back later…" I trailed off, backtracking as I looked between them. Jushiro and I had somewhat been avoiding each other since our discussion. We had agreed that some distance would be good.
"Oh, it's fine," he assured more Shunsui than myself, seeing his friend eyeing him.
I nodded before approaching. Making myself comfortable on one of the sitting pillows, I sat at the table.
"So how are you? It's been a while," Jushiro asked me to break the ice.
I tipped my head back and forth as I thought it over. "I'm good. I've been able to see a lot more of the Seireitei now," I admitted.
"Oh? What's your favorite part?" Shunsui asked, smiling dopily. He might already be drunk.
I pretended to think about it, but I already knew the answer. "I was very impressed with how the inside of Squad 2 looked. It looks different than anything else here," I elaborated.
"Oh, I'm surprised they allowed you in. Were you with Captain Shihoin?" Jushiro asked good-naturedly.
"Something like that. I was with Captain Urahara, one of her numbered seats at the time, but we were going to see her," I explained.
"I see, I see," Shunsui started. "I'm glad to hear you're doing well. It's been a few months since we've been able to talk."
"Your squad said that you had a tight schedule. I didn't want to make things worse." I winced slightly as I remembered.
"Things have been busy lately…" Jushiro lamented.
A large gust of wind beat against the roof, making me look up in worry. "I'm assuming that's why it's gotten so busy," I gathered from their silence.
"Yeah. The storm is coming any day now," Shunsui answered. "We, Lisa and I, were sent to the human world to see what we could learn about minimizing the damage," he explained, tipping his hat.
"Oh, I was going to ask you about that." Jushiro seemed to remember. "What did you learn?"
Shunsui frowned, and my stomach had an unpleasant pulse.
X
"There is one more book for academy students, but I don't think that you need it," Kisuke told me from where he stood over last night's messy futon.
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.
"It deals with more of the nature of reiatsu and spiritual powers. You seem to have a good grasp of that already," he explained.
I waved him off, embarrassed by the praise. Smiling at me, he took my hand and spun me, pulling me into him. Our newfound closeness had me giggling as he wrapped his arms around me, bending me over somewhat as he leaned on me playfully. "Keisei is just too good at kido!" He warmed into my neck, and I playfully pulled away.
X
The wind had been picking up today. It lifted hair, dresses, shihakusho, bent around table legs, rattled windows, beat against the bushes.
There's a storm coming. I was gently rocking on the old swing from before. New, stronger rope rested in my lap from where I was winding it. The green light of a protective kido wrapped around me, protecting me from its almost thorns.
I frowned up at the sky. Above my head the green mass swirled like a witch's brew. The sky looked sick.
This storm…is going to be very bad.
Shivering, I stood.
X
Stepping into the Eighth's main gateway, I was surprised to see men and women working on wooden contraptions. Some were carried away while others were being hastily nailed over windows.
"Quick and efficient!" Lisa Yadomaru yelled over the gaining winds.
"Right!" a few yelled back in agreement. Their less sure peers merely worked silently and kept a cautious lookout.
"Yadomaru?" I asked, voice raised, stepping closer to her than usual as the wind buffeted my braid. I hadn't been able to wear it down and relaxed in quite some time because of the weather.
"We're getting ready for the storm. The captain is at the Twelfth Squad!" she told me, holding up her hand to her mouth in an attempt to block some of the wind.
I nodded. "Thank you!" But she was already walking away and directing her squad members to redo one of the windows. She ripped the shoddy work off with ease, throwing it to the ground.
Frowning up at the sky as it darkened further, I made haste and flash stepped. Making my way to the Twelfth over the rooftops, I was able to observe the general state of the Seireitei. People were running this way and that way, some holding wood and boarding up any windows or doorways in sight. Others were throwing tarps—what little they'll do—over sheds and outdoor supplies.
Frowning even deeper, I increased my pace until I reached the Twelfth. Alighting on their doorstep, I rushed into the main courtyard only to almost run into Captain Shihoin.
"Whoa! What's the rush? There's still a little time," she admonished me, grabbing my shoulders to steady me before putting her hands on her hips.
"I-I'm sorry." I remembered my manners. "I am looking for Shunsui," I told her, trying to put the worry in my voice. She looked me up and down at this, and I gulped almost guiltily.
It was raining when I came here. This storm is my fault.
"You and him are close, aren't you?" she asked, a teasing smile growing on her face.
I blushed. "I-I guess so?" I tripped out.
"Hmm." She hummed as she walked around me, her guards following suit. "What a lucky woman you are! We should find some time to talk soon." She laughed before flash stepping away, leaving her guards to race away after her.
Shaking my head from the odd interaction, I headed inside as my braid was thrown every which way. Snaring it with my hands just as I reached the door, I tucked it inside my kimono before opening the door. The wind all but shoved me in, making me stumble. Pushing on the back of the door, I forced it closed as the wind hissed with vehemence. Sighing, I leaned on it and looked up.
This is going to be horrible, isn't it? Shiro worried.
Where in the world have you been recently? I answered with some irritation.
She didn't respond, but rather slipped back into my unconscious in a way that made it hard to feel her. Shaking my head again with agitation, I pressed on.
There were quite a few Soul Reapers running about. The Reapers here seemed less focused on boarding things up than saving their research equipment. Throwing a thin piece of my reiatsu out like a fishing line, I was able to detect the frantic feelings of the junior and senior officers alike.
Avoiding them and trying to stay out of the way, I found myself jogging towards the main lab in an effort to keep up with the flow and not hinder anyone.
Rounding the bend, Akon's little face was the first one I saw. "Lady Keisei?" he asked, a set of vials held securely in his small hands.
"Hello," I greeted him, my eyes skimming over the writhing mass of black shihakushos. "Captain Urahara is in his office with the lieutenant and the captain of Squad 8," he answered my unasked question.
"Thank you," I told him earnestly, bending down to squeeze his shoulder. Stepping around him and cautiously through the many busy hands continuing to secure their research equipment, I heard Mayuri's pained cry.
"You can't store those together! It'll explode!" Mayuri stressed.
Falling in the door to Kisuke's main office, I threw caution to the wind and all but tossed myself inside.
Taking a deep breath from where I was leaned over, I slowly brought myself up and saw that Shunsui and Kisuke were looking me up and down. Hiyori and a lower seat, the young girl from Shunsui's squad, glanced at me before looking at the large scroll on Kisuke's desk.
Seeing that I was okay, Kisuke spoke from where I had interrupted. "I was able to find it in the library. I had to get special permission from the Head Captain to even see it, though."
"Sounds like him," Shunsui agreed.
"Based on what this scroll says and our last decade of spiritual samplings, we can conclude that the storm has a reiatsu signature that mirrors something here in the Seireitei." He pointed at the scroll as I felt my heart sink.
Mirrors…?
"How can it mirror something? Isn't all reiatsu unique?" Shunsui echoed my question.
"Generally," Kisuke answered. "At its core, reishi is all the same substance. But it changes and varies person to person," he answered. "I don't understand how it mirrors it, though…" he trailed off, looking over his shoulder and at the wall. I followed his gaze, feeling perturbed when I saw nothing.
"So if I understand what you're saying, we need to find whatever its mirroring and combine them." Shunsui sighed tiredly. "Well, how do we—"
BANG!
The world was quiet.
Saccharinely silent.
It was something I could appreciate after a long day.
Wait…a long day?
Opening my eyes in alarm, the screaming of the wind in my ears made me jump up. Blearily looking around, I saw other people—unconscious people—lying face down in the rubble.
The roof of the two rooms had been knocked off and most of the walls were gone. Where I had stood was blackened.
The smell came to me next. Burnt flesh and…gunpowder.
"Kisuke!" I realized, frantically looking around.
"Here!" Shunsui's voice called over to me. Spotting them, I scrambled over on all fours, ignoring my ruined kimono. "He needs to be taken to the Fourth. He took the brunt of the blast for Hiyori. Some sekkiseki hit him in the head," he told me.
I nodded. "Right," I answered. Looking him over, I saw that Shunsui had been able to staunch the blood flow from the head wound. Burns laced up his arms, and by way of the explosion and his position, I knew his back was going to be bad.
"Why does the Twelfth have sekkiseki?" A small voice made me freeze from where I was pulling Kisuke's arm over my head. Looking into Shunsui's clothes, I saw one of his arms tightly wound protectively around the small child he had brought with him.
"Have the Fourth send some people here. I'll start directing this squad. Lisa will be able to handle the Eighth," he ordered me. I nodded.
Wrapping my arms awkwardly around Kisuke, I stood up and tried to find my footing. Glancing back at the terrified Hiyori, I flash stepped away.
Fighting against the wind that clawed at us both, I huffed from the mental stress as we raced the shortest way to the Fourth. Luckily, the squads were right next to each other.
Landing on their doorstep in record speed, I caught them about to barricade the main doors. "We need medical care!" I yelled over the high winds.
Looking at each other, the lieutenant and his associate paused before a familiar voice rang out.
"Let them in!" Unohana ordered. They quickly ushered us in, and Kisuke was taken out of my hands and placed onto a rolling bed, chest down. I was quick to follow them down the complex hallways as the final boom of the main door being sealed echoed.
"Captain Unohana, there was an explosion in the Twelfth squad. They need help," I told her as soon as I saw her hands leaving Kisuke's vitals. I didn't want to distract her.
"How many injured?" the lieutenant asked from my other side as they brought us into a patient room.
I flubbed, unsure. "20 or 30?" I guessed, flustered.
"Go attend to them," Unohana ordered him. With one final 'yes, Captain!' he ran off and started preparing to leave.
"Heal him with me. It'll be faster with two," she explained.
"Right." Taking a deep breath, I centered myself before placing my hands over him.
I felt Shiro shiver inside me as our reiatsu touched his. Tentatively, I allowed my powers to flow into him as I gently started to probe his shoulder blade. Our powers began to intermingle. He was fire, the slow burn of dripping magma, the deceitful blacktop of lava, the gentle heat of the sun.
The cold vacantness of my reiatsu positively steamed where we touched. Shiro let her hollow powers pulse in response as if to say, notice me too! Let me help!
Indigo, hunting eyes discreetly flicked up across from me at this.
With watchful resolve, I dutifully healed him in small sections. I made my way across his shoulder blade, down his back, and then lower still.
It wasn't until we healed the last of his injuries together that Unohana spoke to me.
"I sense that power within you," she spoke quietly. My hands froze, hovering above Kisuke's hip.
My forehead began to perspire, this on top of the stress of the day started to get to me. A small quake in my hands. My arms felt like lead weights. My tucked-away short blade burned like ice through my dress. My heart was both simultaneously trying to escape from my chest and slowing to a point where I couldn't breathe.
Jolting this way and that, my wide eyes met hers in terror.
"W-What?" I stuttered out. Wait, I thought desperately, slow down. This is too much, too fast.
"That power within you…it's so dark. I've never seen anything like it." Her eyes, while not glaring at me, made me shrivel up. Despite her posture remaining open and friendly, I felt as if I was a pea with a giant looming overhead.
I stayed silent. What can I say? I was petrified.
A sudden banging made me jump, and her eyes turned upward. A loudspeaker outside the barracks was barely able to be heard through the wind storm.
"ATTENTION. ATTENTION. THE REIATSU OF CAPTAINS OF SQUAD THREE, FIVE…"
Oh my god…My control of my power cracked as the rain broke overhead, pounding on the roof like the hammering of a thousand nails all at once. It's happening.
"Take your zanpakutou," she ordered me suddenly. My mind went to the asauchi in my room. "And save them. But don't come back." I sucked in a breath. "I can tell that you are a kind child…but the Seireitei will hunt you down and kill you for possessing such...hollow-like powers." I wavered in my spot, the air itself weighing me down like an anchor in the deep sea.
I looked down at Kisuke for help, my old reflexes kicking in. Kisuke would always help me. He was still unconscious.
"Do not look to him for help," she told me, voice dropping. "I have to stay here and await casualties. You are the only one who can save Captain Hirako and the others." She jabbed at my weak spot.
My face crumpled as she spoke, and I felt a burning begin both behind and at the corners of my eyes as the realization started to set in. Looking down, I took in Kisuke's now smooth back, absent of the marks and injuries that had been there before.
Resting my hand on his back, I allowed an intimate intermingling of our souls despite his unconsciousness. My throat swallowed on its own as I fought back my feelings. My heart started to burn in pain. "I'm sorry…"
I flash stepped away.
X
The rain was freezing. It buffeted my face, striking me like little bullets of lightning on my now reddened face. The wind embraced me fully, almost taking me away in places as it froze me to the point that I could no longer feel my nose or fingers. Making my way through the Seireitei, I hung desperately on to the small light that I knew distinctly as Shinji, wrapping the spirit ribbon around my hand securely.
Anything that had been left outside was now up in the air. I had to avoid various outdoorsy tools as they flew at me sporadically. Ducking over a rake, I made it to the boundary between the Seireitei and Rukongai.
Swiveling my head to check if anyone was around, I saw that no one was. I began to release more of my power as I took off in a large leap. Flash stepping as close to the ground as I could to avoid being carried away, I avoided signs and tables that had been left outside.
I gave The Chipped Apple a mournful glance as I recalled Shunsui and I enjoying our time there. As if to mock me, the overhanging sign cracked loudly before it was carried away as well.
Frowning, I felt the messy mass of my emotions start to build.
"Aizen…!" we growled, deciding on our outlet.
The farther that we got from the Seireitei, the worse the storm became. We must be heading into it, Shiro thought. I silently agreed with her. As we delved into the foliage, we found ourselves being pressed to a run instead of a flash step.
The air had become heavy, and I began to genuinely fear that I might be hit by a lightning strike should I move beyond the tree line. The air crackled, cackling in agreement. What little of my hair that had escaped from my braid was standing on end. The grass sparked as I ran through it, as if enjoying itself.
I gasped as I came into a clearing. The rain bullied down onto the various bodies that were strewn in the open grass. I could see that they were reddened from the onslaught from the sky, whether it be rain or wind rash.
Feeling a familiar presence, one that had haunted me for many years, I felt a sudden panic inside of me. Why am I panicking? I've been expecting this for so many years now. I don't even know how long I've been preparing for this…Uncaringly, my pulse raised even faster. The rain washed away my already watering face as I stared at the umbrella that blocked us. I ignored the small foxlike child to his left and the man to his right.
In the end, I really only ever did have eyes for him.
"Oh? What's this?" His deep, euphonious voice somehow pierced through the hurricane overhead. Knowing that I was not at all discreet, I still put my hand behind my robes and retrieved my short blade. I allowed my asauchi to remain on my hip. I knew that it was not yet strong enough to take him on, and I didn't want to risk it.
Swallowing the politeness and the quietness that I had ingrained in myself to survive in this new world, I spoke in a way that reminded me of my previous self, of when I had been in the World of the Living permanently. "I've come to stop you. I'm sorry, but we really can't talk about this anymore."
I had to stop him from talking now. Last time, he had used the excess time that he had taken up talking and had taken advantage of some kido that had devastated me and the others. I would not be so stupid as to fall for that again.
"Stop me?" he asked. Slowly raising his umbrella, he held it over his head as he met my eyes. He had the eyes of a common cuckoo, as well as the spirit. That had been obvious from the start, though.
"Yes," I answered, fixing my grip on my knife. Bringing it out in front of me, I found my body frozen as he started to speak, nerves battling me.
"I know that you have a connection with the previous captain of the Tenth Squad." My eyes widened at this. "Did you hope that you would be able to capture his heart as well? Just as you did to my captain." He gestured to the body closest to him. I resolutely kept my eyes on him and away from the bloodied, muddied blond hair that was strewn almost beneath his feet. Steeling my gaze as I felt something in me break further, I sensed Shinji's wide and terrified eyes lodged on me. He opened his mouth to speak only to cough up blood.
I could feel my resolve shaking. I was starting to tremble again.
"Then it will grieve you to know that he has been captured by a Quincy princess." His voice was confident, and I found it entrenching inside my ears as I processed what he told me of.
"What?" I asked, much too quiet to be heard in this horrendous tempest.
"It's true," he confirmed again. My mouth twisted down as I started to visibly shake. My nameless emotion was rising within me, a whale swimming towards the surface and getting ready to breach.
"No," I told him resolutely. "It's not true."
"Come with me instead," he suddenly started, surprising me. Looking up from where my eyes had trailed down to my feet, I felt a sudden rage.
"No. You're lying. You're always lying. I can't-I can't do this anymore!" I shattered. Allowing the box of my powers to open, the world around us shifted. Black shadows curled around trees like the fingers of Hades. From the grass, the maws of darkness began to open towards my enemies. From the sky, the shadows stretched down like waterfalls around us.
Letting them loose, I channeled them as fast as I could into my Zanpakutou. Aizen remained serene as I unleashed my bankai.
"Burakkuhoru." My bankai was released with a whisper. I did not need to yell its name like some Soul Reapers had to. For my power was unusual, and it grew stronger in the absence rather than the presence.
A cold draft started to emanate from behind me. It started to suck in small twigs, loose grass, and leaves. The blackness grew, an intolerable darkness upon the landscape that swallowed everything.
The raindrops started to slow. The wind started to lose its speed and velocity. Looking to the side curiously, Aizen observed this. I liked to think that I knew him well enough to know that he was at least ruffled by this.
He hummed, the two flanking him stepping out in front automatically to protect him. "No." He stopped them. They looked back in surprise. "I'll take care of her," he told them, walking forward.
Dropping his parasol, I watched as he reached for his own blade.
I had a lot of memories surrounding that blade.
He slowly started to draw it out of its sheath as his feet slicked through the wet grass. I held my breath, not sure what was coming. Distantly, I thought I could feel something red hurdling towards the battlefield. Refocusing on it, I found that it had disappeared. Must have been my imagination.
"Kyoka Suigetsu." Hearing the release of his blade, I automatically closed my eyes. I felt him jump towards me, a flash step, and I allowed him to. I felt the trail of his shadows fall upon the darkness that I had laid upon the grass. I felt the shadows of his fingers as they curled around his blade, as they curled around my fate. But I knew, I knew that this time he would not get me.
This time, I had a chance. I was not afraid. Not anymore. I had spent so many years afraid of this man that it had finally come to a head in a way that showed me that I was fearful of an idea, not of one lonely man who had gotten too strong and too smart too fast and was too alone.
Keeping my eyes closed, I brought up my knife to block, conscious of the length difference between this blade and my asauchi.
"Keisei!" A desperate scream from the left threw me off. Keeping my eyes closed, I scanned this new intruder. Distantly, as if looking through a deep fog, I could feel Kisuke's reiatsu. Reaching out with my power, I recognized his blond hair, his tall stature, his sweet lips.
It was him jumping in front of me, taking Aizen's blade, that shocked me. I felt the blade spill through his black cloak, slicing his skin as a fine butcher knife might. I felt the red that started to blossom from his open, fresh wound.
I wavered once again, my eyes opened to see now that Aizen's technique couldn't reach me.
Seeing Aizen raise his blade once more to attack, Kisuke pushed me back reflexively. No!
I gasped as I was consumed by a glacial coldness, my body slowing down as I was thrown into my own bankai. Grief hit me like a wall prematurely as I watched the two figures in front of me begin to fade in a familiar fashion. I felt red hot iron tears force their way out of my eyes.
"No! Not again!" I reached out desperately, my voice hoarse as I screamed with all of my might.
"Kisuke!" He turned to look at me, eyes wide with shock as he watched me disappear into my own black hole.
As my body was once again compressed tightly and wound into a string as I fell through the cosmos, I could only cry in grief.
I couldn't do it…I could not save them again.
Shiro howled.
Notes:hello! my apologies for my tardiness! I am excited to move into arc two next week! see you all then! 3