PART 7: REUNION
Notes:
.
Shinketsu – Pure blood
Daikousyou – Shinigami permit
Hou Gyoku – Mechanism that could instantly transform a hollow into a shinigami and vv.
Bou Heki - Shield/barrier around the Hou Gyoku
Konpaku – 'Container' for the Hou Gyoku (i.e. Rukia)
Arankaru – fractured mask (in Bleach, a type of Hollow)
Vaizards – masked army
Thanks to everyone who reviewed again! Hands out Bleach character-shaped cookies
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bleach, Kubo Tite and co. does.
PART SEVEN
.
"…Renji!" exclaimed Ichigo, literally jumping into the air from shock. Renji looked at him, genuinely amused. After a moment, he collected himself and spoke.
"What the hell are you doing here…in my room!" Renji scratched his head, hesitant to tell him that Rukia had just been kidnapped by Aizen and that they had no idea what he wants with her. After all the effort Ichigo had put in to rescue her… Truthfully, considering the situation, he wouldn't be surprised to see Ichigo transforming into a volcano and erupting mounds of burning lava. Hell, he did when Kuchiki-taichou told him what happened. He had spit fire on everything and anything that he could remotely blame…except Kuchiki-taichou of course. One, he still valued his life very much. Two, he wasn't someone who would kick someone while they were down, and Kuchiki taichou was definitely reprimanding his inner self for allowing his sister to be kidnapped right in front of his very eyes. Literally. Renji let out a loud sigh, then took a deep breath and…
"Oi, are you having an asthma attack or what? Stop breathing like that! It's annoying." After giving Ichigo a death glare, Renji prepared himself to say those haunted words. He took a deep, deep breath then said:
"Aizen-used-Hinamori-fukutaichou-to-cause-a-diversion-so-that-he-could-kidnap-Rukia-for-some-unknown-reason-and-the-diversion-worked-and-now-Aizen-has-got-her." He said, staring at the floor while he spoke without a single break in the sentence, then he slowly looked back at him. Ichigo seemed a bit confused and started repeating his words.
"Aizen used a vice captain to cause a diversion so that he could kidnap Rukia…unknown reason…diversion…worked…now…Aizen has got her." The meaning of the words slowly dawned on him as his face slowly changed from contemplative and confused to shocked and downright furious. He walked vehemently up to Renji and pulled him towards him forcefully by the collar.
"WHAT! WHAT DID YOU SAY! RUKIA GOT KIDNAPPED BY AIZEN! RIGHT IN SEIREITAI WHERE THE GOTEI 13 LIVE, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING? WHAT THE HELL WERE ANY OF YOU DOING?" He screeched at Renji, who was becoming increasingly deaf seeing as he was only about fifteen centimetres short from Ichigo's face.
"Aizen is a master of illusions, Kurosaki-kun. No one knew what had happened until it was too late." Said a small voice behind Ichigo. Renji took this moment of distraction to grab Ichigo's wrist and wrenched it away from him, successfully managing to cause Ichigo to release his death-like grip. Ichigo spun around to see who had spoken. Apparently while he was yelling, two shinigamis had entered through his window. One of them was a captain and another was a vice-captain.
"Who the hell are you two?" He asked harshly, still angry from the news.
"Hitsugaya-taichou, Hinamori-san, what are you doing here?" answered Renji for Ichigo as he greeted them.
"A captain huh, what the hell were you doing when Rukia was kidnapped?" snapped Ichigo. Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes. Renji noticed this and said carefully, as to not fuel either of the two's anger or annoyance:
"Hitsugaya-taichou rushed to help Hinamori-san, as did most of the other captains. I told you already, Aizen was using Hinamori as a diversion. Everyone was fooled."
"What makes her so important that the entire Gotei-13 had to rush to her aid." Ichigo retorted. At the look on Hitsugaya's face, everyone became silent. Even Ichigo had winced when he looked at him.
"Just because you weren't there to save your girlfriend, lay off mine." He said coldly, the last bit coming off as a threat rather then a warning.
"Ptt…Rukia isn't Ichigo's girlfriend." Renji said defensively, then the rest of the words dawned on him. He looked at Hitsugaya and Hinamori then said,
"You two are finally courting now hey, about damn time as well. Congrats!" Hinamori gave a small smile and blushed, however, neither Hitsugaya nor Ichigo seemed to share Renji's enthusiasm. They both just stared at him. Hitsugaya's glare was from embarrassment – that he could understand, but why Ichigo stared at him eluded him. After all, he was just merely stating the truth…wasn't he?
Ichigo sighed inwardly and turned around to Hinamori again to apologise. He was never angry at anyone in the first place, he just had to take it out on something or else he would have gone crazy. He walked over to his bed and sat down.
"So, can you three tell me how this all happened in detail?"
About an hour later, Ichigo was filled in with all the necessary details.
"So, Aizen's skill is illusions. He's a power hungry freak who's being looking for the Hyougoku ever since he learned of it. But since Urahara stored it inside Rukia, he panicked when he couldn't locate her during the time she was here in that undetectable gigai. So he sent Byakuya and Renji to secure her capture. As soon as she was found, he exterminated the council and by impersonating them, he had ordered Rukia's execution. During this time, he faked his own death so it would be easier to impersonate the council. Since we had already broken in, the Gotei-13 postponed the investigation into Aizen's death. However, the execution failed and method one of extracting the Hyougoku failed with it. On to method two, direct extraction from the Konpaku itself. Now you're telling me that a few days ago, Aizen used Hinamori-san as a diversion to kidnap Rukia. Since the diversion occurred during a captains meeting, naturally all the captains present went after Aizen except Byakuya, who felt, may I add intelligently, that something was wrong with the plan. By the time he reached them, Aizen had already reached Rukia. He then used another illusion to trick Byakuya and hence successfully kidnapped Rukia. Now the captains have decided that they will bring back Urahara Kisuke to interrogate him about the Hyougoku. Is that it?"
The three shinigamis responded by nodding. Suddenly Hitsugaya's head jerked up. He immediately left for the window.
"Some of the shinigamis in my group are in trouble. I have to go." He said. Hinamori stopped him.
"I'll come with you. It's my group too." Hitsugaya was about to nod in consent when Hinamori suddenly broke into a small coughing fit. The nod of consent suddenly became a shake of strong disagreement.
"No way, not when you still haven't fully recovered. Stay here until I come back." With that he leapt out the window and was gone. Hinamori watched him until he ran out of her line of vision, then she turned to face the others.
"It's going to be a big day tomorrow. We should get some rest. Hinamori-san, you can rest in there." He said, pointing her towards the closet. She politely thanked him and climbed in, closing the door behind her.
"Where should I rest?" asked Renji.
"Shouldn't you go back to Seireitai?" Ichigo asked.
"I can't yet, I haven't completed everything I have to do yet. I have to get a thorough understanding of what has been happening in the living world."
"Well" Ichigo grinned, looking at the floor, "you can sleep on the floor. I don't have extra blankets though since Hinamori is using the closet."
Renji glared at him. It was freezing. "Ano yaro." He muttered as he made himself comfortable on the floor.
.
Morning dawned. Hinamori yawned and jumped out of the closet.
"Mmph…what the!" came a voice underneath her. She saw who she had landed on and quickly got up, bowed and apologised. Ichigo had woken up from Renji's squeal and was now laughing at the squished form of the 6th division vice-captain.
"Hinamori-san, you should really look at where you're going to land before you jump." Scolded Renji sleepily, who had sat up lousily to speak, then, forgetting that there was neither pillow nor blanket, he had let himself fall back forcefully onto the hard, wooden floors.
"Damn it!" He cursed, rubbing his head. He glared at Ichigo, who was still laughing at him. Hinamori giggled despite herself then suddenly gave a loud shriek. This obviously startled the other two in the room as they looked curiously at her.
"Shiro-chan, where is he, he didn't come back yesterday!" She said, panic rising up within her.
"He's probably in the house somewhere." Replied Ichigo.
"But he's not! I can't sense him. Besides, he would have come to see me by now!" She turned to Renji, "what if something happened to him?"
"Don't worry Hinamori" He assured her quickly when he saw that tears were forming yet again in her eyes.
By four o'clock in the afternoon, the Kurosaki living room was once packed again. Everyone who was there yesterday was there today, except for Ryuuken and Ishida who went off training. Of course, there were additional people – Renji, Ukitake, Shunsui and Hinamori. Hitsugaya still had not come back yet and Hinamori was loosing her nerves. She had taken a scroll around the area in the afternoon in an attempt to find him but it was all in vain. So in the end she reluctantly returned to the clinic to wait for him there. She was sitting on the couch next to Renji who was getting increasingly annoyed at her fidgeting and constant glancing at the door. But he remained silent though, he understood why she was so worried, with everything that happened to her, he definitely couldn't blame her.
The group spent the next hour updating each other on what was happening on their respective sides. Urahara also explained why Aizen needed Rukia, the reason infuriated Ichigo and Renji even more but it also gave them some source of comfort. They also had to address some problems.
Since Urahara had to go with Ukitake and Shunsui to Soul Society, he could no longer train Ichigo. This was solved when Ichigo stood up and said, with no space for argument, that he was going to accompany them to Soul Society and that was that. The captains eventually agreed. The other training programs were, however, unaltered. Ishida will train with Ryuuken (as he was already doing), Isshin will train Yuzu, Karin, Ururu and Jinta, and Yoruichi will train Tatsuki and further train Chad and Inoue while Hirako will 'do whatever you Vaizards do' (as Urahara puts it). Each training group will be specified a specific location for Hollow elimination. Isshin and Yoruichi, as former shinigami captains, were once again allowed to perform soul burials when necessary. Apart from this, soul society will be sending over groups each week instead of single shinigamis for each location. When Ichigo heard this, he remembered the so called elite shinigami he met the other day. What was his name? Ichigo racked his head, Kurumaya or something.
Just as he thought this, the door flung open to reveal Captain Hitsugaya and his group of shinigamis, along with Kurumaya Zennosuke. Hinamori leapt up immediately and flung herself onto an astonished Hitsugaya, who turned a bright shade of red from being embraced so intimately in front of his subordinates, two captains, three former captains, Renji and some strangers. His audience seemed somewhat amused, Renji seemed grateful. Nonetheless, he embraced her back.
Meanwhile, Zennosuke caught sight of Ichigo and was pointing at him comically. Stuttering as he spoke:
"You're th…that fake shinigami! Everybody, this man is a fraud!" he cried genuinely. Everyone in the room looked amused. Kurumaya looked around desperately for support but found none, he looked at Hitsugaya taichou but he was in a world of his own with Hinamori-fukutaichou.
"My, my." Said Ukitake. "Ichigo is a shinketsu shinigami. He was licensed to continue his work as a substitute shinigami when he returned to the living world. Though he is coming back with us to help rescue Rukia." Kurumaya looked as though he was just struck by lightning. Poor man was so confused.
"Rukia, as in Kuchiki Rukia, the death row prisoner? Why would you want to rescue her? That's against the rules!" Ichigo scoffed at that.
"What kind of elite shinigami are you? You don't even know what's been happening in soul society! Everything is a big conspiracy, we already established that. Let's go to soul society now." He said exasperatedly, getting up from his chair. Shunsui moved to inform Kurumaya of the events passed.
On the other side of the room, Yuzu quietly asked Karin,
"What is all this training and stuff for? What's happening, Karin-chan?" Ukitake heard this and informed Isshin, advising him to explain the situation to his children for their safety. At this, Isshin bent down to be face-to-face with his daughters.
"Once upon a time, there was an evil glasses dude called Aizen. He was very greedy, even though he was already a captain in the Gotei-13 of a faraway place named Seireitai in Soul Society, he still wanted more power. One day, he learnt of a magical object made by a foolish old man, Urahara Kisuke, known as the Hyougoku. This magical device had the power to change death gods into hollows and vice versa. Urahara, knowing he had made such an evil object, erected a magical shield around it and placed the device in a konpaku known as Kuchiki Rukia, a princess in the Kuchiki clan. Now, Aizen, with his two evil accomplices, a fox named Ichimaru Gin and a sunglasses dude name Tousen decided that…"
KA BANG! Small but powerful fist connected with Isshin's cheek, causing him to double over. Once he recollected himself, he looked at his daughter who hit him. Karin's veins were popping out of her face, her fist held in front of her in a tight ball, knuckles facing him.
"Don't talk to us like were idiots, you idiot!" Isshin hung his head in shame.
"Yare, yare" said Shunsui as he took over and explained to them, properly one might add, about the situation at hand.
.
Half an hour later, everyone was up to date and the death gods prepared to return to soul society.
"It's such a shame" said Isshin, looking at Hinamori, "that such a beauty has to leave. Are you sure you have to go? Hinamori blushed and looked down. Ichigo's eyes twitched a few times. "You can always stay here and accompany me. I get so lonely sometimes..."
WHACK! Ichigo had once again found it necessary to give his father yet another jump kick. "Pervert." He snapped at his now fallen father. On top of that, the room dropped about fifty degrees in temperature. Don't say bankai, don't say bankai, don't say bankai Thought Hitsugaya desperately, his head now a forest of veins from the restraint.
.
Back at Seireitai, a meeting with all the captains and their respective vice-captains was called. Ichigo and Urahara also attended.
"Aizen must have realised that a ritual is required to remove the bou heki I erected around the Hyougoku. The ritual is four months long and is comprised of two stages, the first is called the purification period, and the second is the removal of the shield. The purification period takes four months. During this time, the konpaku must be placed inside a purification containment. The containment is similar to a rectangular box made of glass. During the four months, the container can not be opened. However, the konpaku itself must be kept alive. Alive but asleep. For this to work, a barrier must be created around it. This is an enrichment barrier that tends to all the necessary needs to keep those within its barriers alive. This barrier also ensures that nothing gets in and nothing gets out. The second stage is the removal of the barrier. To do this, the konpaku must be sacrificed in a methodological way in order to dissolve the bou heki."
"So he will not harm Rukia for another four months? Is there no way to speed the process?" asked Byakuya, narrowing his eyes at Urahara. He really hated him, hated him with a passion.
"No, there is no possible way to accelerate the purification process. Your sister should be safe for another four months." Urahara replied, a tinge of guilt rising within him.
"Her safety would have never become a issue if it wasn't for you." Byakuya retorted, albeit, calmly and emotionlessly.
"Enough, gentlemen. What is done can not be undone, but what is to come can be prevented. We shall bring the contest for the captain seats forward. Now, in one and a half months time, the contest will be held. This would provide an incentive for more shinigamis to train harder. There is a slight change in the procedure of the contest. Instead of fighting against captains first then amongst the winners, it shall be reversed instead. Therefore, in one and a half months time, a tournament will be held amongst all shinigamis. One week after, another tournament will be held against the winners of the previous tournament. Then, two months and one week from now, the tournament between captains and the winners will take place. However, the rules still apply - captains are restricted from using their bankai. The aim is not elimination, nor is it critical injury. Remember, their aim is not to beat you. The remaining three winners will learn their bankai and become captain. They will then take command of the squads they have been allocated to. During this time, training times will continue as per usual but it shall be harder and more strenuous. Is that understood?"
"Hai, Master Yamamotogenryusai."
"For now, Ichigo and Urahara will become substitute captains for the fifth and third division respectively. That will leave us one captain short but one is better then three. Byakuya, teach Ichigo the basics of being in the role of a captain." Ichigo stared at the first commander incredulously. Is he serious!
"Yes Sir" replied Byakuya, throwing the orange-haired a side glance. Renji snickered the quickly collected himself when Byakuya's gaze adverted to him instead.
"Okay then, you are all dismissed."
.
It was six O'clock at night and Hinamori had just finished the tiny amount of paperwork she had to do. Hitsugaya had insisted on doing most of her paper work for her. Actually, he had insisted on doing it all but she complained about boredom so he had left her with a minimal amount of work. Minimal being pretty much next to none. Oh well, it suits me today. She said as she reached into a drawer and pulled out a recipe book she had retrieved from the living world and moved towards the kitchen.
END OF PART SEVEN
Next: Chapter Eight – Birthday
Summary: It's Hitsugaya's birthday.
It's going to be mostly fluff just to make up on the lack of HitsuHina (and plus I'm in that mood so…)
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it.
Please read and review & thanks again for those who have. )
