Sins of the Exiled

Chapter 9: Power

"To believe Kaito would resurface. Nanao, find his file, it's time to open it up." Head Captain Kyoraku rubs at his right temple, tracing the scar back and then forward. He sighs as he sits further back into his chair, his second lieutenant Genshiro Okikiba steps forward. Nanao hurries out of the room to do as her Captain asked.

"We will need to contact Central 46 immediately, are we sure they are even the right person?" Genshiro moves closer to the Captain and seems to analyze the man.

"It makes sense does it not? Kiseichu's thrust for power, Juno's dreams. Juno's lineage, why stake so much on powering a sword as destructive as that." Kyoraku leans forward and reaches for the latest report from the battle.

"We will need to destroy it. Head Captain Yamamoto sanctioned her death at birth. He understood the pain she'd cause." Kyoraku glares up at the older man and sheepishly Genshiro backs away.

"Since when has it been in our job description to kill babies?"

"To protect, to keep the world in balance. We are Soul Reapers with rules. No matter what guilt we feel." Genshiro's words are cold but all of it rings true. He steps back to stand behind his Captain as Nanao comes back in.

"This flourished from my Squad and I tossed them all aside to play at ignorance. I won't let Juno fall like her parents. We have more at stake this time around, if we lose her we will lose a Captain and Lieutenant." Nanao frowns as she places a large bound book on his desk with a file folder as well.

"Do you think Squad 10 will lash out?"

"The fact that they've been quiet worries me. Captain Hitsugaya is crafty when he wants to be, it's why he's in his position. His world has been shaken to its foundation and we've essentially put a leash on him." Kyoraku opens up the books and flips through the pages quickly. Nanao moves to stand on his left watching as the Captain comes to a picture of Kaito and documented information.

Everything is basic, status within Squad 8, his zanpakuto, his marital status and the skirmishes under his belt. It goes on for four pages and he reads everything quickly before coming to the last one. The book doesn't give any details, but at the bottom his death is listed.

"The lies we write to make the world go round." He runs his finger over the deceased on the page and closes his one good eye before sitting back.

"Kaito Ryuzaki, will be apprehended and brought before Central 46. Juno will be brought home and the sword will be destroyed. Breaking her from the hold will be excruciating, but with any luck Captain Hitsugaya will be there to catch the pieces."

Juno, age 7, plays along the snow covered grounds of Squad 4. Captain Unohana watches from the landing as Juno squeals in delight while falling into a pile of snow. She giggles as she pops up, snow atop her head. She looks at Unohana who has a sweet smile on her face and tea in hand. Pulling her head back down, she carves out a little hole and stays hidden within.

She giggles more as along her feet she begins to make little snowmen all around her. From one behind her, gray fog begins to smolder up and fill the little area. Juno jumps at the fog and plasters her back to the wall. It rises higher and higher causing Juno to try and crawl out of the hole.

"Come back my child." The voice is sweet and playful and Juno looks down at the fog. No one is with her, just the little snowmen peaking out. Slowly she lowers herself down and kneels.

"Hello?"

"Come back my child, sit with me." A smile breaks out on Juno's face as she giggles at the voice. She doesn't hear the voice again but the fog stays as she builds her little army and continues to play. Reaching for a handful of snow, she pauses as her hand touches it. Pulling it up to her face, red shines the tips and fear spikes.

"It's time we play Juno!"

Juno screams, she's older now, knees sunk into the snow as she watches the snow below her cover in red. It seeps all around and she starts to get up only to fall back on her back side. Tears stream down her cheeks as she looks around.

Squad 4 is destroyed. People lay in the snow face down, swords littered everywhere. Kiseichu stands in the middle of it all, sword in hand and blood covering his face. She turns to face him better and Kiseichu raises his blade up. In the blink of an eye he's gone, but she stands in his place with sword in hand beginning the process of sucking up reishi.

Juno's hair is cut short, pixy style. Her gray eyes are red and narrowed. Her pale skin looks kissed tan. She's dressed in a black kimono with wide sleeves, her arms are wrapped in white and red bandages. Her upper chest is bare with red and black braided ropes along her shoulders. The shorts come down to mid thigh and she wears a half skirt along her back. It's facined with a red corset with a black and white cord over it. The cords are tied off in the back with a large bow. The boots she wears come up to just above her knee. The Tengu mask she wears is black and the horn from her forehead is wrapped at the base with white tape.

Juno shunpo's up, watches as Soul Society burns all around her. She takes in a deep breath as the reishi of the world fills her lungs. Cold wind blows in from behind her and she turns slowly. Toshiro stands wounded. She watches as the blood rolls down his cheeks and guilt hits her.

"Juno, love please come back." His words are gentle but his movements are sharp. He pulls up his sword and stands proud. The wings along his back are crumbling, the last petal shines like a beacon. She laughs from the belly, a deep one that causes her to fall forward a bit.

"No going back Captain Hitsugaya." Her voice is cruel as she runs her hand along the blade. Visions flash behind her closed eyes but they slow as they come to Toshiro, she watches as the sword plunges into his chest and his lips bubble with blood.

"Yume No Kiseichu, it's time we finish this."

Juno shivers as the world comes back into focus. She can taste blood in her mouth and finds she'd bitten her cheek. Her body screams from any movement but she works to sit up. She's laying on the ground in the hall, Lord Kaito in human form standing over her.

"My daughter, it's time we strike." He holds a hand out to her and slowly she reaches out for it. He pulls her to her feet with great effort and they stand facing one another. In his hand is Kiseichu unsheathed.

"Strike me Juno, transfer the reishi to me. After that, when I've become complete, we will strike the Soul Society. I will take revenge for not only you but your mother as well." Juno looks at him, her eyes wide as he reaches out to cup her face.

"I've done this all for us, they took you from me. They took your mother from us, I was so close to fixing it all and then... They left me to die in Hueco Mundo. We will show them all what pain truly is." He turns the blade and hands the hilt to her. Kiseichu hums and she can feel him in their inner world. He curls close and waits.

"Strike me my dear, let us finish this." She takes the blade and looks at it. Inside he growls happily, the thought of being let loose upon the Soul Society. She grips it in both hands, Kaito steps back and holds his arms out.

"You know the commands, those that fear you will understand you are stronger then they will ever know." Kiseichu cackles in the back of her mind, for once everything feels normal. She's not drained from limiters, not proper for those around. Something dark inside coils with Kiseichu and everything feels right.

"Iko." She whispers as she feels the energy build, she plunges the sword into Kaito and watches as the energy from her sword travels into the man.