"Walking me home from school," Karin sighed. "Wow, this takes me back."
"Only now, nobody's trying to suck out your soul."
Kon got the door and made space for her to slip inside. By now, Yuzu would already be free from club and helping their Dad in the clinic. A quick shower to clean off the funk of soccer practice, a change into her uniform, and she'd be ready to face whatever Karakura Town had to offer in terms of illnesses and injuries.
"Would it be crazy to admit that I sort of miss those days?" Karin asked as she trudged upstairs with her designated guardian close behind hoisting backpack and gym bag.
"Only a little," the Olympic track star grunted. "But I don't look down on you for it, little sister." And he reached out to ruffle her hair in an affectionate manner.
"Cut it out!" She swatted his hand away with a little more force than intended. To cover for it, she quickly added, "You know, some of my teammates thought you were my boyfriend when you first started showing up."
"Oh, yeah? That's flattering. Guess I've kept my looks over the years."
He sounded so cheerfully clueless it was impossible to be cross with him. Instead Karin opened the door that once belonged to her brother and stalked inside. There was distinctly more by way of decorations and personal touches than there had been since Ichigo called this room his castle. Yuzu got their old shared space for herself, and wasted no time making it hers. Nice to have some privacy for a change. Even nicer to know a friendly ear was just a hallway away whenever she needed it.
Karin opened the closet and took down her moe nurse's uniform. After getting into Karakura High, she had informed her father that she would no longer be wearing this ridiculous fetish getup when helping at the family clinic. He retorted their patients expected it from them by now. Especially the men. It was practically a tradition. Only when he agreed to finally start paying both her and Yuzu a healthy wage for their services did she consent to don the demeaning attire.
As Kon set the bags down and moved to leave, she called out, "Hey, don't go yet. I still want to talk to you."
He paused by the doorway. "I was just heading to the kitchen. We can chat once your shift is over."
"That's too long. Just stay in the hallway." Karin didn't look at him as she opened a dresser drawer and selected some fresh undergarments. Snagging a towel, the teen marched past him to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and began stripping off her sweaty club clothes. "I've been meaning to ask… what's been going on in Soul Society? Is your other family doing okay?"
"Nothing major," his voice came muffled through the wood. He had apparently decided to heed her request. Nice to have the upper hand in this relationship. "I've spoken to Kukaku-neesan. She called me and Ganju in to give us the lowdown on Katsurou. He's still courting her, even though it's been three years and most people would get the message by now."
The sound came of a door sliding open followed by a shower turning on from inside the bathroom. "I thought you liked the guy."
"I respect him." Leaning up against the hallway, Kon crossed his arms and gazed up at the ceiling. "He's pretty scary, even knowing what I do. Nearly killing one another can bring you closer, I guess."
"Like Ichi-nii and Rukia's brother."
"Actually, they might be the exception." The faint scent of lavender told him that she had opened up the shampoo bottle. To prevent his imagination from getting out of hand, he tried to keep the conversation going. "It's like… I know for a fact the guy cares about his family. To an almost unhealthy degree. Only Kukaku… she's like my big sister now. Or, well, actually, she is my Nee-san, as far as Soul Society is concerned."
"Is it so weird for someone you know to be dating your sister?" Karin called out.
"I guess not… maybe? I have to look out for her, is all I'm saying."
"You are such a big brother, Kon."
"Says the living embodiment of 'handful little sister'! I'm surprised Ichigo hasn't busted the jaw of every guy who's looked at you yet!"
"How would you feel about me dating, then?"
Splashing water, rising temperature, the sound of soap against bare skin… for once Kon deeply regretted having a body that was so perceptive to outside stimulus. Should have asked the R&D boys to tone it down a little. "I dunno… Hey, I'm gonna go wait downstairs, okay?"
"Don't you dare. I've still got a lot of questions."
Cursing silently, Kon squirmed and tried to ignore what his enhanced senses were telling him. "Shoot."
"Have Rukia and her brother made up yet?"
"They're not really fighting," he hastily strove to correct her. "Byakuya's just obsessed about making it appear to everyone that Soul Society isn't an autocracy anymore. Which is kind of hard to do with the Arashi flaunting the rules right in his face."
"I saw some of them flying around the other day. So that means they're still healing sick folks?"
"Every chance they get." A thought occurred to him. "Hey, did your brother mention anything about Jaku and Hiruko getting a checkup lately? From somebody in Soul Society?"
"Yeah, Rukia's old boss. She didn't find anything wrong. Why?"
"Just wondering." Kon reflected on what that might mean. His ears vaguely registered the shower being shut off. Should I keep this secret? If he finds out I knew and didn't tell…
"Shoot. Hey, Kon, I forgot a towel. Can you go get me one from the hall closet?"
"Yeah, just a sec." Dutifully he skipped over and selected a pink fluffy bundle from its place on a shelf. Probably belongs to Yuzu… or maybe Ichigo? Ammunition for later. He heard the door open a little. Walking backwards, Kon held out the towel, making sure not to look behind him. "Here ya go, kid."
For a moment there was silence. Then he felt her take hold. Kon waited to make sure she had a good grip before letting go.
There came a small gasp, the sound of wet feet sliding over tiles as the cloth jerked out of his hand. She slipped!
Instinctively Kon whipped around, only to freeze. Before him Karin was leaning halfway out past the door, steam rising off her skin, one arm pressed against her breasts while the other held the towel. She didn't seem in danger of falling. Their eyes met. Neither of them moved.
She regarded him standing there stock-still for a while longer. Without any expression at all, the naked teen finally said, "Don't be such a big brother, Kon."
Karin then slid back and closed the door between them.
Dummy. He didn't even remember I brought a towel in with me.
Upon getting dressed and exiting the bathroom, she was not surprised to find Kon no longer waiting. Heading downstairs, Karin saw that he also wasn't in the kitchen, or the den. So he took off.
Blowing out her breath exasperatedly, the young woman muttered, "Boys," and went to help her family.
"Kiyone, can you hear me?"
Wake up.
"I can't…" Speaking made her throat hurt, and when she tried to open her eyes it caused such dizziness that Kiyone Kotetsu feared passing out again… wait, was I passed out?
Yes. Don't do it again. We're in trouble, and that's not a theory. It's a fact.
With an effort the lieutenant of the Kidō Corps did as her soul cutter commanded. The first thing she noticed upon looking around was Noboru Shihoin crouched beside her. The kid wore a look of calm determination on his normally gregarious features. Is this his war face? Mixing Shihoin blood with Kuchiki is pretty scary.
A peak around their environment failed to clear anything up. It looked like they were crouched atop a small ledge overlooking a darkened cavern. No light of any kind existed here. Are we underground?
Wait, that's right! We're on assignment in the mortal realm, investigating what might be one of Unohana's old haunts! Noboru knew about the place from his time living in this dimension, so I brought him along, Sentaro and I shared the command, we led our team into the caves and then… uhhh…
"What… happened?" Her voice sounded weak and thready.
"They attacked as soon as we got in," the shinobi-in-training informed her. He was shifting restlessly, perhaps feeling oppressed by their locale. "A group of wicked Hollows, and I mean nasty. Nothing like I ever saw around these parts before. Most had their masks off, so that means arrancar. Quick and strong. Knew what they were doing, too."
Kiyone could barely register what he was saying. How could we be attacked and I not remember? She felt utterly wretched. Sick, even. Was it from the attack?
Or something… else…?
She heard Noboru speaking again. "You were under for just a few minutes. I could only get you clear, I'm not sure if they saw me. I was booking it. But I couldn't get back outside. There's some kind of barrier that blocked me from leaving the way we came, or any other route I know of." When Kiyone made no response his face took on a shade of anxiety, and he crouched beside her. "Yo, you with me?"
The Lieutenant stared at him blankly. "What? I'm not…" She glanced around in a daze. What am I sensing? I think it's…
Hold on, just hold on, I'm looking into it, give me a minute and I'll have some results!
The kid watched her for a while longer, then took a deep breath as though coming to a conclusion. "Just take it easy for a bit, okay? Leave everything to me. I wanted to make sure you were alright before sending a hell butterfly." With a flick of his hand one of the magic insects materialized on his fingers. "I'll call Feng. She and Viper Company already know about the mission details, so they're ready to mobilize. We should expect a rescue in just a few–"
KIYONE! STOP HIM!
She grabbed his wrist. Noboru turned a disbelieving look on her, only to freeze when he saw the expression on the young woman's face.
"Don't!" she spoke in a strangled whisper. "Don't bring anybody else in here!" She looked around, eyes huge with fright. "We're surrounded by death magic!"
When he only watched her in confusion she took a moment to collect herself before continuing. "I can feel it all around us. This mountain is some kind of… giant poison imp jar! They called it Gu poison in China, Kudoku in Japan. You put a bunch of venomous creatures in a pot, seal them up for a while to fight to the death, and the last one alive has gained the collective potency of the whole lot. So it's death in a bottle." Her distracted gaze trailed around the lightless confines in appraisal. "Only in this case, I don't think it's poison they're concentrating. It's spiritual power!"
Noboru frowned. "A poison locus mountain? Think I read that in a manga one time. Some kind of feudal fairy tale. Maybe Unohana's a fan."
Kiyone looked around, getting a better sense for the omnipresent force practically crawling over her flesh. "The spell seals anyone who enters inside so they won't escape," She continued grimly. "Until there's only one left standing. We can't allow more shinigami to fall into this trap until I've figured out a way to neutralize it. That means no reinforcements. We do this alone."
"Can you?" he asked dubiously. "Neutralize it, I mean."
It's a risk. This is HER magic, remember? We're not talking amateur hour. More like top-secret hush-hush black-ops if-I-tell-you-I'd-have-to-kill…
I'm still working on that. Give me time and I'll have it cracked.
"Yes."
Noboru pondered while scratching his scalp. "Come to think of it, those Hollows didn't seem to be aiming for a kill-count. They were just knocking us out. Maybe they're keeping the others alive because they've got a use for them besides food."
Kiyone nodded and stood up, snagging her zanpakutō as she did. "This whole expedition was based on the theory the mountain was tied to Unohana. That means magic. Shinigami magic. So if those Hollows weren't out to kill…"
"…then maybe they need a shinigami to break a spell. Like the one that keeps us all trapped inside!" Grinning, Noboru hopped to his feet beside her. "That makes sense. They haven't got the chops themselves magic-wise." He peered around speculatively. "Wonder what they're all doing here? There were never any Hollows in the catacombs when I came around before."
"There also wasn't a death spell keeping you trapped inside," Kiyone pointed out.
"Yeah, that's new too." There was absolutely no tension to be found in Noboru now. He lounged in the air with arms crossed and a distinctly unimpressed look on his face. "So, you ready to get going?"
Is this kid all there? Or is he just that confident in himself.
He's a Kuchiki too, remember? Comes with the territory.
"If we locate the spell's source, I can undo the defenses and make it possible for a rescue party to get in." She glanced over at Noboru. "Now you said you explored this place in the past. Any ideas on where we should start?"
The Shihoin prince frowned. "What about the others? We just going to leave them?"
"No. We're going to find out what we can, and then decide on a plan of action. If you're right and the Hollows aren't looking to kill yet, then lifting the spell is the strongest card we can hold in our hand."
The kid considered, chewing moodily on a candy stick as he did. "I only came here when I had to hide, because as easy as it was to throw people off your scent in this place, it never seemed… welcoming. The spirits in these parts weren't very big on social interaction, and the deeper I went, the less safe I felt. Like I was trespassing, and somebody didn't like it."
"There are deeper depths than this?"
He nodded.
Kiyone came to a decision. "Show me."
"The big one's coming around."
Sentaro Kotsubaki was yanked roughly to his feet. The stunned shinigami could feel someone holding either arm as he was hauled along between them. They passed through the walls of several tunnels, eventually coming out at a high-vaulted natural cavern. Stalagmites hung from the ceiling. There was no moonlight here. No light of any kind existed, but spirits need not be troubled by such terrestrial concerns.
What did give Sentaro pause was the mass of deadly Hollows at the cavern's center. They floated or squatted on their haunches, of all make and type. Most were arrancar, their half-human faces watching him with no less hungry malevolence than their masked brethren.
"Sir Diega. One of them has awoken."
"Put him down."
They did so roughly. As if telling Sentaro that they couldn't care less about his wellbeing. Right back at you, uglies! Dusting off where they had touched him with a disdainful grimace, the lieutenant took this chance to confirm what he had initially suspected; his zanpakutō was nowhere to be found.
You nearby?
NOT FAR. AND READY FOR ACTION.
Sentaro's skin itched abominably from some kind of all-prevailing magic in the air that set his teeth on edge, but there was no time to concentrate on it. He had other more immediate concerns. Having satisfied himself of this, he turned his attention to the speaker from before, who proved to be a rotund arrancar with hair that stuck straight up from his head.
FAT-ASS. LARDO. THE BLIMP. TAKE YOUR PICK!
Thanks, O-Daiko.
"We will not waste time threatening you with death," Fatty rumbled in an effort to sound intimidating. "That has already been decided. How long you have left to live is based entirely on how useful you prove to be."
Sentaro sat back on his heels and scowled forcefully at the fat slob without saying a word. Apparently I'm 'useful', so it's gotta be for some reason other than food. This might be what passes for a Hollow negotiation. Back when they attacked us the Shihoin kid managed to get Kiyone clear from what I remember. By now they must have contacted Soul Society and called for reinforcements. I have to draw this out, get these jokers to tell me more and waste as much time as possible until help can arrive.
"You're one of Grimmjow's crew, aren't you, Tubby?" he barked abruptly while wearing a frown worthy of a Shinto thunder god. "So this is where your asses got blown to when we took out your boss."
There was angry rustling in the crowd of Hollows around them. Fatso's narrow piggy eyes flicked about. None of them made a move towards Sentaro.
THIS ONE MUST BE STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM FROM CHALLENGING HIM. BLUBBER-BELLY'S HIDING MORE THAN FAT UNDER THAT WANNABE-ESPADA OUTFIT.
Oh yeah? Good thing we know a little something about that.
"So what are you Aizen-lovers doing down here, huh? You having a tea party? He always did like those."
Wide-Load's face split in a snarl. "Since you are obviously not particularly clever, perhaps we shall illustrate what will happen should you not cooperate, shinigami scum."
He gestured behind him, and Sentaro turned to look. A member of his party was brought forward, a mage. The Hollows yanked off the Kidō Corps mask to reveal a pale young man's face Kotsubaki didn't recognize. One of the lost souls withdrew a zanpakutō from their belt and was just moving to cut the captive's throat…
DO IT AND YOU'RE DEAD! YOU'RE TOAST! SMOKED MEAT, NOTHING MORE!
"You shouldn't do that."
Kotsubaki pitched his voice low, a growl of warning. He said nothing more, merely let his challenge hang in the air. Something in his demeanor must have given the Hollows pause, for they did not continue with the execution. Makes sense; they live every moment of their lives in fear of something. Might as well be me for now.
But the Beach Ball wasn't about to let any chance to assert his authority pass by. "Oh?" he sneered. "Is that a threat, shinigami?" The leader of this sorry crew gave his men a look that clearly told them to get on with it, but Sentaro was already talking again.
"Whatever you need us for, it has to do with death god magic. Don't bother to deny it, Puffball," he bulled ahead before anyone could speak. "We already knew there was something magic-related in these parts. I'm guessing you can't get the voodoo to work, whatever it is, so you want me to take a crack at it since I'm a lieutenant."
Sentaro crossed hirsute arms over equally hairy chest and scowled even blacker than before. "But what if the magic doohickey you've got is outside my area of expertise? You might want some of the other mages we brought to take a look. Only WHOOPS! You already killed the real expert trying to prove how scary you are! Which leaves you right back where you started, and looking like an idiot to boot. So cut the crap and show me what you're hiding down here. Then I'll let you know what's what."
NOT BAD! THINK THEY'LL FALL FOR IT?
I hope so, because I can't think of a single solitary way to stop them otherwise.
Hissing and muttering filled the cavern. "Just kill him, Albion!" one of the Hollows offered. There was a score of shouted agreements, only to be met by an equal number of outraged denials. "What if he's right?!" "We took them alive for a reason, Diega!"
"SILENCE!" the one called Albion Diega barked. He glowered at Sentaro crouched helpless before him. Probably not the way he foresaw this going. Kind of nice to think I might be the smartest person in the room.
Suddenly the fat Hollow spun around and stalked off. The Heron co-lieutenant felt his arms seized once again as he was picked up to be dragged along once more. Take your time, fellas!
Their journey was brief, however. In no time they had passed through several more shafts and solid stone walls to come out in a chamber hewed from the rock. It might have been an ancient records room judging by the holes and hieroglyphs hewn into the walls. But there was no time to examine ancient Incan décor, for at the center of the room, sprouting seamlessly from the floor and stretching all the way up to touch the ceiling, was a great archway composed of knotted white roots wound together.
Albion took up position beside the arch. He dismissed the two other Hollows and stood motionless. After being deposited unceremoniously on the floor Sentaro tried to puzzle out the meaning behind this.
Doughboy was getting restless. Striving to appear calm, the captive shinigami did his best to get his brain working. Okay, what do we know? This is some kind of magic device, and they expect me to operate it. Only I don't have a clue what it might be!
"Hrrmm," he rumbled, stroking his bearded chin as though in deep thought. "Interesting."
Sentaro was feeling anything but confident right now. Unfortunately Albion wasn't in the mood to wait around. He plunged his meaty fist into the front of his robe and came out with a hefty soul cutter, almost seeming to withdraw it from within his body by the look of things. The sharp tip of this weapon swept out to hover before Sentaro's throat. "Well?" he demanded.
Sweating furiously now, the co-Second Seat sought to arrive at an answer. No help from this company, obviously. Alright, then, focus on what we know! This is Grimmjow's old crew, and I'm willing to bet they've been hiding out here ever since we beat him. Maybe even before that, actually, this could be their old hideout. And from what they told me about that mission, the Hollows escaped our attack by…
"It's a portal," he spoke up assuredly. "One that connects to Hueco Mundo. Shinigami make, by the look of it."
That last part was just a wild guess. But the gateway (if that's really what it is) appeared ancient to his eyes. And if this was one of Captain Unohana's labs, then she might have used this portal to get in and out.
"Can you open it?" Albion snarled.
IT'S LOCKED?
Guess so. But why would these Hollows care? They can pop in and out of the mortal realm whenever they want via Garganta. Maybe there's something behind this, something specific they want to get their hands on.
"You trying to get to Aizen in Nirvana or something? Because I can tell you now, that's a lost cause. What's behind this thing that's so important, huh?"
Albion bent over and thrust his meaty jowls in Sentaro's face. "We must escape this place before it is too late. Before that servile madman kills us all."
Guess that answers my question.
Rangiku Matsumoto scrunched her eyes, lips pouted in a frown. "You'll blink first," she promised.
Before her, a Japanese nodachi sword was thrust point-first into the floor.
"I mean it," the honey-haired goddess scooted a little closer. The sword did nothing. "Try as you like, there's no way to resist me when I set my mind to something."
No response.
Rangiku crossed her arms determinedly. She absolutely refused to surrender. No matter what, this time the outcast shinigami was resolved to win, come hell or high water, rain or shine, she–
Slender fingers slid down her back, and she jumped with a yelp even as amused laughter trailed off into the depths of her soul.
Scowling, the lovely maiden turned blue eyes sparking with accusation on her accomplice. "I almost had it!"
"Not from where I was standing." Gin Ichimaru grinned, extending a hand to help his lover upright which she grudgingly accepted. "Anyway, there's no time for meditation now." He waved a sheet of paper at her. "We've got trouble."
Rangiku accepted the document and studied it. Hmmm… Private log of Kiyone Kotetsu, Second Seat of the Kidō Corps: Rumor has it…
Her brows lifted in alarm as she read, then contracted in a charming pout. "When did they leave?"
"Yesterday." Gin beckoned for her to follow as he headed out of the meditation chamber. The pair of fugitives walked along passageways carved through the mountain hundreds of years before the current Kioshimura Temple had been constructed. Since Gin claimed this region for himself, he had spruced up the long-abandoned subterranean complex so that it would be more comfortable. Like, say, if a couple of fugitives needed a place to lay low for a few decades.
Matsumoto placed both hands behind her head and glowered. "Have you told Aizen?"
"Yup."
"Did he act surprised?"
"He never does," Gin laughed. "It's fun to keep him guessing, though."
'Only because you're not afraid of him,' Rangiku thought to herself. Aloud she said, "So what does His Lofty Highness think of the matter?"
Gin clucked his tongue. "He is of the opinion, and of course I agreed wholeheartedly, that this particular stage of the campaign has run its course, and we should act to salvage what we can while preventing Soul Society from garnering any information which might serve to stymy His future pursuits."
Rangiku sighed. "In other words, he wants us to torch the place after cleaning it out."
"Pretty much." Gin flashed her a smile that was unnervingly close to the one he wore for other people. Then before she could voice any objections he added, "I don't want them getting too desperate. No telling what she might do if their options on this side become limited. So before an all-out war starts, we'll pull the pan from the fire, scoop out the unburned bits, and leave the rest to crisp."
They entered a room largely devoid of decoration save for an alcove normally reserved for household deities. Within it rested a small silver gong. Gin picked up a mallet and rang it lightly. As the sweet tingling sound faded, the lovers waited patiently.
"Yeah?"
Rangiku tried not to flinch as behind them arose a short figure whose body looked to be covered by a huge cloak made of black feathers. A sharp-beaked mask like a bird's skull hid the face. Empty eye sockets regarded them in silence.
"We got a call about Machu Pichu," Gin spoke up smoothly, betraying no unease at this specter's presence. "Buncha shinigami came sniffing around, so's now we need the place fumigated. Bring back the goods, alive or otherwise."
"And the death gods?"
Rangiku felt a bit unnerved that they even had to ask.
"Yer call." Gin shrugged with a good-natured smile.
The masked Tengu seemed to ponder this for a moment. "In that case, I'll bring the others. Should be cleaner that way."
"Knew I could count on you!" Ichimaru exclaimed. "Have a blast!"
Quick as it had appeared, the Tengu vanished in a swirl of ebon plumage. Matsumoto released her breath with a slight huff. "All three of them? That's almost half our forces. I'd hate to lose out on our little 'Masked Army' if things go south. I like having servants again, Gin!"
"You mean followers," he corrected idly. "And we can make do either way. Shall we get something to eat? Our shift starts in a few hours."
"What's down here?" Kiyone peered mistrustfully at the tall carved archway before them, riddled as it was with unfamiliar hieroglyphs and images that were simply… disturbing.
"Toldja, I never knew." On her shoulder Noboru had reverted to his disguise as a small black and white capuchin monkey, a form he could shed at a moment's notice if necessary. "This part of the catacombs always gave me the creeps. Figured it used to be a site for ritual sacrifices. Look," he pointed to several reliefs carved in the posts. "Those refer to monthly offerings of children made during lunar rituals to appease Tlaloc the Aztec rain god. Mom taught me how to read them."
"Aztec?" Kiyone glanced about in trepidation as she passed beneath the arch. Which was silly, really. What did a god of death have to fear from depictions of death? "I thought this place was made by the Incan people."
"Some gods were shared between religions," he informed her. "Mayan, Aztec, Olmec, they all got a piece of the pie. Different names, same faces."
"Well, that's been known to happen with deities." Kiyone kept her soul cutter unsheathed as she passed through the empty corridors. For several minutes nothing more was said. In this time, an almost perceptible pall had fallen over her spirit. The rumormonger found herself starting at shadows, nervously peeking around corners. Noboru gave her odd looks, but the only reason he wasn't acting the same was probably due to being too young and inexperienced to know better. No doubt he couldn't sense the same level of danger as her.
There's danger around EVERY TURN! Nice to see us finally on the same frequency.
She steadfastly ignored her paranoid partner's assertions. There was no sense of Hollow energy yet, so that was a plus. Then again, she hadn't sensed any when they first came in here.
More twists and turns to this place than a mole's den. Hey, do you smell something?
Could you please try and relax? Bad enough we're walking into what could be a trap. I need to concentrate.
Eventually the path they walked ended at a solid stone slab blocking the entry. There was no need to reach for a lever or other opening mechanism. Instead, passing through the rock without effort, Kiyone gave a startled yelp as she found herself standing on empty air.
A bottomless chasm opened beneath her feet whose limit stretched past even the bounds of occult sight. It extended over twenty yards to the opposite wall ahead, where the rotted remains of a rope bridge dangled from another opening in the rock. For a moment vertigo seized Kiyone, and she pitched forward so hard it nearly dislodged Noboru, who clung to her with a desperate curse. "Maldición!"
The girl wasted no time and frantically tore across the gaping chasm until she had reached the far side. There was no peril in such a trap (if that was its intent), but all the same, the experience left her unnerved. There was also so much spiritual energy lingering down here it made it hard to focus.
That's exactly what I mean! Don't you think there's something FAMILIAR ABOUT THIS PLACE?
No. Now could you please just…
Kiyone halted.
"Trouble?" Noboru breathed in her ear, but she did not respond right away. Tentatively the older fighter reached out to trail spectral fingertips over an intricately carved wall, her pug nose wrinkling as she did.
"There's something…," she murmured absently. "Do you smell that?"
"Smell what?" Here his simian nostrils flared, and he gave a quick snort. "Everything reeks."
She turned in a slow circle, registering the maddening sense of déjà vu. Nothing about the physical environment served to incite this sensation. Carved stone with flaking paint stirred no response in her. Rather, it was like a half-formed rumor, not solid enough to get your teeth into, no real heft. But if I just try and filter out all of the death sorcery, Hollow taint, and other shinigami in the area, then what's left?
A smell like cinnamon tickled her nostrils, and Kiyone jerked back with a gasp. "AIZEN!" she hissed.
In a flash Noboru had resumed human form to float before her with Hanuman released and ready for action. He looked back at her incredulously. "HE'S here?! WHERE!"
"Everywhere!" Kiyone looked about, marveling. She was too stunned at what she had uncovered to even reassure him that there was nothing to fear. "His reiatsu is all around us. Can't you feel it? Wait, sorry, I forgot…" she shook her head in irritation. "You never met Aizen, did you? The weight of his power… captain-level shinigami, and even some lieutenants, you hang around them enough you get used to their presence. Like becoming acclimated to a smell. It's the same here. I didn't notice at first. But I can register it now, lingering over everything. It's as if his soul energy just soaked into the stones. Like a layer of skin he left behind."
"What does that mean? He used to be here but now he's not?"
"Maybe…"
Inspiration hit so hard she jumped, and Kiyone rounded on her ally with an excited grin. "I think this is where Aizen grew up!"
"Eh?" His eyes darted around, still clearly not convinced that a megalomaniacal would-be god wasn't about to spring upon them out of nowhere.
"YES!" Kiyone couldn't help but feel exultant. Did I just stumble upon a secret that has perplexed our greatest minds for years?! "Nobody ever knew where he came from! And after we found out Unohana rescued him from the Takuiyoku purge, it stood to reason she had to have raised him in a secret location. But none of us knew where! It could have been any place in Soul Society… only it wasn't! She must have brought him here, to the living world, a region that she knew and could rely upon to keep hidden!"
Kiyone, this is it! Our vindication! This is what we wanted to do! Figure out something NO ONE ELSE HAD! Root out mysteries that NO ONE ELSE could be bothered with! THIS is what obsessively rifling through other people's privacy yields! INFORMATION!
Kiyone stood up, took a deep breath to steady herself, and promptly collapsed.
She felt Noboru hovering anxiously nearby calling out her name, and wanted to tell the kid everything was fine. Except it wasn't. Mercy, she could SMELL him! Here, there, everywhere; his scent was all over the place, its strength thick and choking as ash in her lungs.
"I'm okay." The lieutenant stood to demonstrate show she needed no support. Noboru drew back uncertainly, watching her like he suspected she might keel over at any moment. Kiyone took a slow, careful breath and patted her cheeks to steady herself. She envied the kid his resolve. But then, he probably didn't know what they were dealing with. Solid proof if ever they needed it. "It's okay," she repeated. "It just came as a shock to smell him."
Noboru stole a glanced around, clearly debating. "I knew there was something off here. That's why I never tried to explore the catacombs fully. Figured it was just some leftover Incan mojo. Human sacrifices and all that."
He's right. There's death beyond here, Kiyone. It's in the air. Murder. You sense it, yes?
Yeah. But all that means is…
"We have to go deeper."
Noboru chewed his cheek pensively. "I was going to recommend you find a place to hide until I can clear the way. This is much more dangerous than anything we anticipated. But I guess you know what you're doing after all. Glad you're on my side, Pipsqueak."
"WHAT?!"
As she fumed in outrage Noboru swung his shoulders to loosen them up. "Alright. Let's go see what La Bruja left in her cauldron." He skipped along ahead, and Kiyone was forced to follow, angrily reasserting herself without regard to who might hear.
Behind them, the chasm remained silent, catching not even an echo of their diminishing argument.
After a few moments passed, however, a light blossomed within those vast depths. It was soon followed by another, and then another. Ghostly forms rose up, gleaming white as bone. At their head hovered a tall bald wraith in a white robe clutching a priest's staff. Oversized buck teeth protruded over his lower lip, heavy-lidded eyes lending him the appearance of a somnambulist.
With a dreamy sweep of his hand, Ein Vogel led his followers in leisurely pursuit, as though they had all the time in the world.
Elsewhere, a swirl of feathers split the darkness of the underground mountain fastness. This mass of spiraling pinions contained a medley of different faces; bird, imp, and human woman. As it expanded, the feathered cloak drew in upon itself, revealing three shadows.
The hulking Kappa peered around uncertainly. "I can't see."
"We're underground." Slender long-haired Noh Mask patted his muscular arm blindly for reassurance. She spoke to their compatriot. "Got anything in the bag that might help?"
"Hold on a sec." Ebony-winged Tengu extended an arm. A flick of the wrist, and a small spark of blue flame appeared in its palm. This pale flame bobbed out, blossomed, and became a tiny Hollow that resembled an insect, its bulbous abdomen burning like a will-o-the-wisp. It gave a start as if unsure how it came to be here, then noticed the Tengu. The bug cringed.
"Go with them," the winged warrior ordered. "Make sure they can see."
The fallen soul nodded and went to alight on Noh Mask's shoulder. Its abdomen flared, lighting their surroundings sufficiently for mortal senses. A corridor hewn from the rock stretched to all sides. The trio studied their environment, considering. "Where to?" Kappa wondered.
"It feels like two groups." Tengu concentrated, rubbing bare feathered arms idly. "The shinigami still alive are with … that one. They must have been captured. I don't sense any fighting."
"How did they miss all this Hollow energy in the first place?" Noh Mask mused.
"Probably those Sombra things," her feathered compatriot replied. "Hides them from shinigami, but mortals like us or Quincy can still pick up on their presence."
"Have those shinigami not figured a way around that by now?"
"Dunno." The empty-eyed bird mask turned to its compatriots and indicated down the hallway. "Let's go."
"Hold on." Noh Mask held up a hand speculatively. Her partners waited for confirmation as she continued to concentrate. "The Kuchiki prince isn't with them. He's definitely closer to the other clump of Hollows. Him and another fairly strong shinigami." She pointed in the opposite direction. "That way."
There was a moment's hesitation. Then Kappa lifted his shaggy head. "We should split up. Take them on at once."
"Will you be alright?" Tengu gestured at their surroundings. "They'll be able to spot that light too."
"Don't worry," Noh Mask spoke assuredly. "The moment they look, they'll either ignore us or start groveling. We've done a lot of tests with this, so I'm confident it'll work."
"Not once you start fighting, it won't. And these guys aren't your average Hollows. Grimmjow didn't suffer weaklings, from what I hear. I could bring out a few fighters to accompany you, just to be safe."
"I'll protect her," Kappa insisted. "Noboru will help. He's strong."
Tengu regarded them both for a time, then gave a sharp nod. "Let's wrap this up quick before anyone else comes sniffing around. We can leave at any time since we're alive, but the shinigami won't be able to get out while the spell's active. So either we break it or activate Unohana's escape route somehow. Your light source will let me know if anything goes wrong." A taut sinewy fist thrust out before them. "Stay safe."
The other two bumped their fists together in silent agreement, then turned and hastened down the way, letting Hollow spoor and shinigami aura guide them through the subterranean complex.
Feeling as reassured as was possible in this situation, the Tengu moved in swift pursuit of their own quarry. Bare feet slapped against cold stone, echoing down the long-deserted halls.
'You are ignoring the obvious.'
"Oh, yeah?" she spoke lightly as they moved unerringly towards their goal.
'Killing every soul within the mountain will satisfy the spell's requirements, allowing us to retrieve our true objective while maximizing its potency. Any attempt to rescue the shinigami is a waste of time. They are nothing but resources at this point.'
"You're all heart, you know that?"
'Moreover, attempting to break the spell could damage the contents. We stand to lose everything due to your heedless sentimentality.'
"I'll take that chance."
'I do not approve of this.'
"You should know by now I don't care." The winged enforcer leapt aloft as they entered a larger room, taking flight as she did. "Just get ready to rumble."
A sense of dire disapproval lingered over the Tengu's shoulder-blades, yet still she couldn't help but grin. Finally, a little action! Let's hope there's no need to regret once this business is over.
"We've reached the source."
"You look bad." Still in his monkey form, Noboru hopped anxiously down to land beside her.
"I'm fine," Kiyone responded doggedly. She examined the high-ceilinged chamber in which they found themselves. There wasn't much to see in terms of mortal affairs. More pictoglyphs on the walls detailed ceremonies or perhaps instructions on how to perform them. A stone block in the center of the floor was the most prominent item of interest. It had a deep groove carved into one side and was stained with what could only be blood from ages past.
More importantly, the feel of magic here proved overpowering. It felt thick enough to breathe. Mixed in with that was the subversive, lingering remnant of Aizen overlaying everything like a shroud. Sweet poison. The monster and his mistress together. Hope I never have to see them in person again.
"I was expecting some kind of boobytraps. Or a guardian," Noboru hazarded, still prowling around in search of danger. He sat and curled his tail around him while peering from one side to the other. "Should we be worried?"
Definitely.
"Don't be so apprehensive," Kiyone spoke with more confidence than she felt. "We're halfway home. Let me bring out the spell structure and in no time…" She took a deep breath and clapped both gloved hands together in anticipation. "I'll have this whole thing figured out."
The look he gave her was dubious. She strove to ignore his misgivings, along with a steadily building panic over the state of her fellows (who at this very moment might be getting murdered by Hollows) along with the debilitating certainty that this was far more than she could handle in terms of sorcery (it should be Nee-san trying this, she knows more about Unohana's magic than me!).
No. We're not talking about familiarity. Whatever she meant to us, the thing Unohana crafted here was done with malign intent. It's got nothing to do with healing. And when it comes to exposing and nullifying ill sorcery, there's nobody who can beat the old Division Thirteen! Ukitake-taichou… I mean, Nii-sama instructed us himself! He helped us survive with this, so that it became a part of our daily lives! And I will not let his legacy be subsumed by that… witch!
Kiyone drew a circle in her mind as she began the chant. "Fell light from a bewitching moon/ Twining tendrils that strangle the dozing shepherd/ Bare thy throat before me/ Impaled on the tree inscribed with seven seals/ And buried in a rock lain at the monk's feet! Bakudo# 48: Dorobō no Kagebōshi!"
Halfway through the recitation a reaction took place, stoking Kiyone's confidence. I can do this! Pale red forms took shape, assuming the lines and edges she was familiar with. Yet as she proceeded on, and more began to appear, the sheer scale of what she was dealing with almost took her breath away.
The revealed spell filled the great hall they found themselves in, lighting the gloom with a throbbing carmine menace. Kiyone shuddered at the sight. No doubt about it; this spell is still active. And there's so much here, it's practically… alive!
Upon the final incantation, her Hangman's Silhouette illuminated Unohana's witchcraft in all its glory. It towered high overhead, a staggering complexity crafted of sharp red lines. The roots of this massive spell-titan dove into the stone and out of sight. At its apex all the supporting elements wound together into a burning scarlet mass, a lighthouse to rival the ancient wonder of Egypt. Kiyone felt her skin crawl as she studied the spell closer. It would take decades for one person to fashion all this. Maybe even centuries! Just how long had Unohana spent fashioning this monstrosity?! The lieutenant had never seen anything this fabulous. For a few moments she could only stare in awe at it.
Kiyone, remember what we learned! The old 11th Squad and its captain? What if THIS IS WHAT KILLED THEM?!
How? They were hundreds of miles from here, in Mesoamerica.
A spell like this could span continents… even cross the border between the mortal realm and Soul Society, if I'm reading it right! It could reach halfway across the globe!
Yes… that might work. Back then, the people of those regions… war, sickness, human sacrifice… they ran rampant. And this spell was harvesting lost souls, bringing them here to concentrate their spiritual power together, forming…
VASTO LORDE! Remember the name Noboru gave this place? TAMOANCHAN?! I did the research, you know. According to legend, souls traveled through the underworld to reach the fabled mountain Tamoanchan! It was ruled by Itzpapalotl, a goddess-demon who protected mothers and devoured the souls of the living during eclipses! And do you remember when the two shinigami companies were lost? On the day of an ECLIPSE!
But even taking all that into account, the vast percentage of mortals don't have much spiritual power. It would have taken ages to build up a concentration of them rivaling even a shinigami captain, much less vasto lorde. Yamamoto might have died of old age in that time.
Yes… YES! And that's why it necessitated… the HOAX!
Sorry?
Don't you see?! It's so simple! Unohana must have realized the same thing you did! So she set some bait… and Soul Society SNAPPED IT UP! The mysterious weather patterns… the indication of vasto lorde… she must have MANUFACTURED IT ALL so that we would send a division in to investigate. Maybe even encouraged more than one, which was why the Kidō Corps were roped in as well. And then… SHE KILLED THEM!
How?
… Sorry?
How did she kill them? This spell itself doesn't kill people. Two captain-level shinigami, one the Kenpachi of her day and another head of the Kidō Corps, plus half of Squad Eleven and a strong force of mages. They were wiped out in an instant, gone without a trace, along with every living human for miles. Even Unohana Retsu would have needed to put in some effort.
Oh… well… that part I'm not so sure about. Maybe a bomb? NUCLEAR SOUL BOMB? You know, Mayuri Kurotsuchi proposed something like that right before they threw him in the Maggot's Nest.
I suppose it doesn't really matter now.
"So are we gonna do this?"
Kiyone blinked out of her inner debate to focus on Noboru again. "Sorry," she mumbled absently. "It just… blew me away."
"Magnificent, is it not?" a new voice spoke.
WE'VE BEEN FOUND!
Noboru whirled about, producing his soul cutter in an instant. "GROW, HANUMAN!" A small menagerie of Hollows rose from the floor around them even as he launched his weapon out in an ever-increasing arc. Smashing through the masked forces, the power pole sent them soaring.
That is, until it collided with the ringed shakujō staff held by a tall bald arrancar. He grinned at them, exposing prodigious incisors that made him resemble a horse. The zanpakutō strained against his weapon without success. Reaching up, the shaman casually grasped Hanuman and flicked it away without effort. The magic pole snapped back to its master, who regarded their enemies balefully.
Behind him, Kiyone glanced around as she drew her own blade. There weren't many of them, only about half a dozen. Noboru's attack had cleared a large stretch of the room. If we made a break for it, we could easily escape through a wall. There was no need to fight.
Before she could finish that thought, the arrancar priest spread his arms wide, tilting his chin to the ceiling.
"Oh Lord," he crooned in a voice dripping with rapture. "Show them the way!"
Around them, the spell illusion rippled. And for some reason Kiyone found herself looking up, at the crown of Unohana's eldritch monstrosity. Higher than that, though, wasn't there something moving? Up on the ceiling? I can almost make it out.
As she stared, a huge red eye opened to gaze right back.
'Slay…' it whispered.
So there was a guardian after all…
Noh Mask and Kappa continued down the path until they came to a stone slab blocking their way. The girl studied the walls for sign of egress. "I suppose there must be some kind of switch or lever around here. Should we start looking or wait for her to carry us across?"
"No need." A moment later there was a mighty roar, and the door exploded in one hit. They both peered through the dust, registering the bottomless pit beyond and the broken rope bridge. Her partner crouched down so she could climb on his back. Noh Mask considered his offer for a moment, then shrugged and proceeded to do so.
She laced her arms around his neck and gave a light tap on his mask to signify her readiness. Assured his charge was secure, the Kappa then took another step back to get a running start, braced himself, and sprang forward to fling them both over the abyss.
As his feet left the ground one arm swept back. A cone of blue fire exploded out with enough force to send the two of them soaring across the chasm. Noh Mask held on with all her strength, determined not to look down at the emptiness below. The force propelling them proved more than equal to the task. In fact, they overshot the mark and rose above the level of the door. Kappa grunted and swung both hands forward, ploughing into the bedrock with his fingers.
At the moment of impact, Noh Mask felt the breath knocked from her body. She rebounded backwards, drawing in a huge gulp of air at the same time.
As she did, her arms came loose. And she fell.
For a moment all she could think was to try and grab onto the dangling suspension bridge below as she passed. Noh Mask prayed not to miss her chance. But even as this plan formed a strong grip seized her by the wrist. Her descent halted. Noh Mask found herself dangling above the gorge. She looked down into those black depths, then up to where Kappa lay flat on the edge of the tunnel holding onto her.
"I've got you," he breathed.
"I know," she responded clearly back, surprised at not hearing any tremor in her voice. Probably for the best. Don't want him getting antsy.
In just a moment he had drawn her up to settle securely on the ground. They both stood up slowly, never letting go of one another. Their eyes met from behind the concealing attire.
"Have I mentioned you're a pretty reliable guy?" she murmured, reaching up to give a playful ruffle of his curly hair.
He just shrugged. "Can you go on?"
"Of course." With that she slipped her arm securely into his, and without another word they continued their journey, lit by the glow of their captive Hollow.
Noh Mask considered the situation. For a few seconds, their bodies had ceased to touch back there. That plus the blast he let off meant it was likely the Hollows up ahead sensed their presence in that brief time. If so, we might have company soon. I had hoped to get the shinigami away without any trouble. It doesn't feel like a battle has started yet. Still, I can't discount that we might soon have a fight on our hands.
The Kappa dutifully patrolled the corridor down which they walked, and she prepared for what must come next.
Ein Vogel's head whipped around to behind him. For just a moment he had detected another presence close by. Not shinigami… nor Hollow. Another intruder? He could sense nothing now. Still, that brief impression lingered, taunting him.
Eventually he reached a decision. Clasping hand over fist, he bowed in utmost reverence to his master. "Pardon, Lord," Vogel gushed. "I must attend to a trifling matter."
So saying, he drifted back the way he came.
Hungry eyes lingered over to the captive group of shinigami. More were coming around, and even divested of their weapons, they could still pose a threat. "We should eat some of them," one of the Hollow guards sporting an anteater's scalp muttered to his cohorts.
A chorus of agreement met this statement. "Albion will never know," one who resembled a tortoise insisted. "There's so many, after all."
An arrancar with the eyes of water moccassion added, "And we'll need our strength if we're to overcome Vogel and take the treasure."
"So it's decided?" They all nodded in the affirmative. Satisfied, the anteater licked his tubular lips in anticipation. "I get the one with the big…"
Something burst through the hole in his chest. Startled, the Hollow had just enough time to look down and spy a feathered hand with black talons before it retracted. Moments later he was little more than dust on the wind.
Those few shinigami awake to observe this were at first uncertain as to what had taken place. Mere moments past they had been surrounded and outnumbered by a mob of cannibal spirits ready to murder them. Bereft of soul cutters, their only weapons the spells at their command, they had each silently prepared to make a stand in the hopes that they might buy time for the ones who had not recovered from the ambush to awaken and hopefully join the fight. Otherwise their deaths seemed all but certain.
Then between what seemed like one breath and the next, the Hollows simply… vanished. Not a trace of them remained. Only a new figure, who might have passed for a Hollow by their dress, were it not for the fact that it had clearly just saved them.
The Tengu observed the shinigami stretched out or gawking on their knees at her. That should be the last of them. The Hollows had split the captives into two groups but kept them in close proximity, with a third party in charge of all the pilfered weapons. Easy to get word to their fellows if the prisoners started acting up. From the looks of it the shinigami had outnumbered these guys by at least two to one. Funny, I thought there were supposed to be more of them.
"What are–?" a mage started to ask, but stopped when a sheathed sword was lobbed at his head. He caught it, recognizing a zanpakutō immediately. The Tengu unerringly did the same for those others who had regained consciousness, then dropped the rest on the floor.
"We're here to help," she told them. "Don't try to get out and don't call Soul Society, at least not yet. This place was built to trap your kind. Just watch out for your people and we'll handle the rest."
Without waiting for a response, the Tengu whipped around and flew off.
'That was a waste. I told you, the dead of this mountain increase its potency. You should have killed all the Hollows along with the shinigami.'
"I wanted some more firepower," the aerial combatant replied. "And these guys were a shade above the average Hollow. You were the one who said I should take this more seriously."
'I will concede that much. Do you have a plan for dealing with the real peril?'
"Yeah. Rip it out by the roots and go home."
'A fool's approach to everything. You and he are so similar it sickens me.'
"He'd be glad to hear you say that. Now let's go see about the main concentration around here."
'The leaders of both parties remain. What will you do should neither listen to reason?'
"Then I'll let you have a word with them."
'Finally, you exhibit sense.'
Kiyone came awake ankle-deep in a field of the slain.
She considered this development peacefully. Water lapped about her feet before she could reach any conclusions. The strange world in which she found herself seemed to flash from one scene to another; red, and it was a frightful battlefield strewn with the corpses of a slaughtered army, black crows already hard at work feasting upon their remains; blue, and it became peaceful clouds floating over an endless churning sea; green, revealing a sunlit meadow bedecked in a carpet of flowers under golden twilight.
But no matter how the environment changed, the people in it did not. There was Noboru not far from her, along with several unfamiliar beings who were most assuredly Hollows. None of them made a move. They stood as immobile as her, intent upon the one who ruled here.
'We are…'
It was the only other thing that remained the same. Above them floated something incomprehensible. It resembled a mechanism of sorts, but flat like a painting. Or a shadow on a cave wall. For all its insubstantiality, it loomed heavy and dark as a thundercloud to her mind.
'… the Triumph Irate…'
Was that its name? She could get a better look at it now. The construct possessed a geometric quality. Twin long triangles formed mirror images floating with their long points speared towards the ground. Above this was a small oval, or perhaps an eye. And at the summit came the largest component; a gigantic gear with rectangular teeth all around its outer edge, clicking in slow, methodical revolution. This mechanism was hollow, and as it turned round and around, three gigantic eyes flashed open and shut within its empty center, disappearing as they closed only to reemerge again in the same spot moments later. Blinking red, green and blue, they changed the landscape with every turn of the gear.
'Slay your enemies and we shall grant your fondest wish. It is within our power to accomplish. No dream is unattainable to us.'
Could that be true? Yes, of course it is. I can have everything. My sister, safe. My home, secure. My lost loved ones, returned to me. I need only do as Triumph Irate bids me.
Kiyone reached down and drew Umasaya from its sheathe. As soon as her fingers touched the hilt, a faint voice-kiyone, can you hear me?! wake up!-rang in her ears. But she paid it no mind. With casual assurance the dreamy-eyed lieutenant surveyed her selection.
Whom to choose? The Hollows would be the most obvious. But Noboru is standing right there, so close to me-stop, don't do this, you're under a spe-and he clearly wants me dead by the way he's looking at me. There, see? He's drawn his weapon as well. That settles it. He has to die.
Smiling, dreamy-eyed, she moved in for the kill.
Vogel drifted along the corridor, alert to any indication of approaching danger. Now that he was concentrating there did seem to be something up ahead. A small power, nothing like the strength of those two shinigami back there. Still, why was he sweating, as though in fear for his life?
Light came into view around the bend. The Hollow sage braced himself, planting his staff on the floor and adopting a relaxed pose. Whoever this might be, he would soon serve them up to his master for their pleasure. A satisfied smile played about his lips at the thought.
The glow rounded a corner, and the dutiful seneschal found himself face to face with Gin Ichimaru. Beside him stood none other than Aizen Sosuke.
With a gasp Ein collapsed to his knees, shrinking and cowering in worshipful terror. "Aizen-sama!" He prostrated himself before the divine presence. "My master! It is you! How came you to be in this place?"
That majestic god lifted his noble chin to gaze down upon the shivering underling. "Must I explain myself to you?"
"Oh, forgive me, Lord!" The sniveling supplicant sobbed wretchedly. "I meant no offense! I serve only you! And Master Gin, it is good to see you well!"
Gin said nothing, only turned a questioning smile on Sosuke. The King of Hueco Mundo moved forward, never taking his hand off the other man's arm. "That is enough. Remain here until we return. I do not wish to be interrupted."
"Of course, my Lord," Vogel simpered, glad to have avoided punishment at either of their hands. "I shall guard you from any oncoming threats! You have my word!"
The two shinigami disappeared into the gloom. To Ein's surprise, he noticed they both left footprints in the dusty floor. What an odd thing for spirits. Was that cause for concern…? No, of course not, Aizen-sama could not be second-guessed! So resolved, he took up his weapon and made ready to challenge any intruders who might disrupt his god's business.
"That's the same guy we met a few years ago," Kappa murmured to Noh Mask once they were a safe distance away. "Grimmjow's flunky."
"Lucky for us he's still as cowardly as ever," she remarked back. "Now come, it feels like something's happening up ahead." And they quickened their pace.
The door to the nursery opened a crack as Rukia peered in. Her infant daughter Hiruko lay at rest, her breathing reassuringly audible to an anxious mother's ears. Having satisfied herself of this she slid the panel closed and crept down the hall for the next inspection.
Kujaku was also abed, sleeping care-free and content for once. He exhibited no sign of bad dreams tonight. The nightmares he sometimes described were so vivid they left her chilled, yet he often had a hard time recounting more pleasant dreams. There was a recurring one about playing with the Rabbit in the Moon, though. Could that be a key to his condition?
The small shinigami stood with fist to chin, pondering. Captain Kotetsu's description of her experience while treating Noboru yesterday had been infuriatingly vague. It was Isane's belief that they had indeed shared a dream together, but how or what dangers this might present remained elusive. There was so much here they didn't understand. For what felt like the thousandth time, Rukia wished dearly to contact her Nii-san and hear his views on this.
He's a hell butterfly away. And we both know Byakuya would come running.
We can't even be sure anything is wrong. I would only worry him. There's so much he has to deal with right now.
Rukia, your son's spirit is communicating with people through dreams. That's potentially dangerous. Remember what Ichigo revealed right after the boy was born? How he and Kujaku were pulled into what turned out to be a nightmare of Rōjurō Ōtoribashi, one where he confessed to his treachery?
What of it?
Secrets lie in dreams. And some people are willing to kill to keep theirs hidden.
She wanted to refute her zanpakutō's disturbing words somehow, but Rukia found she did not have the heart right now. So instead she headed back to the bedroom where Ichigo slept fitfully. The slight death god crept under the covers, watching as the youth stirred and blew out his breath, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. The knee still pained him. Even after surgery there had been concern of blood poisoning, a fever raging through his body. She placed a cool hand on his forehead and mouthed a healing charm.
Her balm did some good. Ichigo lapsed into peaceful slumber. Rukia took the chance to examine his spirit at the same time. No problems there. Luckily the wound he received during the tournament did not transmit over to his soul. There he remained as undaunted as ever.
Cold comfort, Rukia thought. Sadly the shinigami stroked her lover's hair. I wonder what you dream about at night, Ichigo? Does Kujaku know? Or is it your own secret you wouldn't want shared, just as Sode no Shirayuki said.
Troubled at heart, she settled down to sleep. We all have things about ourselves better off left hidden. I am no exception.
Rukia's thoughts turned to Soul Society, specifically her fellows in the old Thirteenth Division; my predecessor and mentor Lieutenant Shiba; Captain Ukitake; the eternally bickering duo of Sentaro and Kiyone. Soon enough she fell asleep and saw them again in dreams.
How close are you, O-Daiko?
THAT'S THE STRANGE THING. I'M JUST AS NEAR TO YOU AS I WAS BEFORE.
Really? But we traveled a fair distance to get here. Can you get a lay of the land? Maybe figure out where they've hidden you?
NOT SURE HOW TO EXPLAIN IT. I FEEL… MOIST.
Moist?
YEAH.
See if you can do any better, huh?
I'LL TRY. KEEP STALLING.
"Tell me about this gate," Sentaro demanded aloud. "I need as much information as possible to make it work."
The Hollow Albion stared at him. "You are stalling."
DAMN.
Kotsubaki assumed a furious scowl. "If you don't know the answer, just say so," he snapped irritably. "I can talk and work at the same time." Before the Blowfish could frame a retort he turned and made a show of examining the twisted warp construct, moving around it in speculative fashion. "Was it operational recently?"
"We used it several times prior to being trapped here." Albion watched him for signs of treachery, licking his pudgy lips as if unwilling to admit even this much. "Grimmjow permitted myself and a few others to accompany him here on occasion. Only he could activate the gate, a reward he received for completing a task set to him by Lord Aizen. Otherwise there was no way to leave this loathsome haunt." His narrow eyes flickered around the room. "Alive, at any rate."
So they're trapped? That explains why nobody's heard from this buncha mutts for the last few years. They must have been here since Grimmjow's death! Honest curiosity made him ask the next question. "If you can't get out, what have you been doing all this time?"
"Dying," Albion declared flatly.
Sentaro said nothing more. Despite the life-or-death aspect of the situation, he was becoming more engrossed in the actual project set before him. This gate thing really was something else. The spell structure behind it goes way beyond anything I could have devised myself! Of course, that esoteric type of magic was never my strong suit. I'm more of a build-it-up/knock-it-down-again kind of guy. Which is a pretty apt analogy, since anything I did in the past looks like a child's sand castle next to this. Shoot! If only Kiyone were here! Or somebody from the Kidō Corps who might have a better understanding of dimensional travel.
BETTER WATCH OUT OR MOON-BELLY OVER THERE MIGHT GET TO THINKING YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR STUFF.
To his surprise, however, Albion continued talking without further questions from him. Perhaps he was more anxious than he let on, and the opportunity to get some things off his chest was too tempting to pass up. "Grimmjow never let us accompany him to the lower levels. He usually brought the stronger packmates separately, with no explanation why. He might have been testing us, or it could have been a test for the ones he left behind." Diega scratched his stomach reflexively. "To see if they would mutiny."
OW.
What?
THAT HURT.
What did?
HOW SHOULD I KNOW? CAN'T MAKE OUT A THING AROUND ME.
"Yeah?" Sentaro tried a low-grade gimmick for accessing the underlying spell pattern. In response a small arc of electricity flashed out to connect with his hand. He jerked back, sucking his throbbing digits while regarding the hulk in speculative fashion. Well, it's still got juice in it, that's for sure.
"When the Sexta was lost to us, Vogel and I sought to explore the mountain. Nothing we attempted could breach the barrier around it. Even his resurrección failed, though he sought to explain it away as simply not wishing to leave. Pompous ass!"
"I'll bet." Sounds like that Ein Vogel he mentioned is another rough customer. But if it's just the two of them calling the shots, that might work to our advantage.
"It did not take us long to locate the mountain's heart," Albion went on, pacing the floor as he did with long arms crossed over his rotund stomach. "There we discovered the prize Grimmjow kept from us for so long. This domain held an ancient magical artifact, a focal point capable of drawing those lost souls who perished in the immediate vicinity into its depths and binding them together. Vogel surmised it had lain dormant here for centuries until Grimmjow reactivated it. This was where he kept the stolen essence of vasto lorde recovered after the fall of Barragan's underground cult in Hueco Mundo. The Sexta must have meant to combine the two together, empowering the essence in hopes that the result, upon consumption, would enable him to transform into a vasto lorde himself!"
GOOD GRIEF! THE LITTLE MOUSE WAS RIGHT! THIS PLACE IS A MONSTER FACTORY MADE BY UNOHANA!
I know, right? But the funny thing is, unless I knew what to look for, I never would have figured it out. She didn't leave a trace of her spiritual signature behind in the creation of this gate! Talk about careful. Man, I could use a drink right about now.
ARE YOU HEARING ME? WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GIANT SLAUGHTERHOUSE! AND FROM THE SOUND OF IT, EVERYONE INSIDE, SHINIGAMI OR HOLLOW, IS THE MEAT!
Then I'll just have to get us out of here before that happens.
CAPTAIN ODELSCHVANK DESTROYED THE OTHER END OF THIS PORTAL WAY BACK! WHO'S TO SAY IT EVEN WORKS ANYMORE?
It might not. But if I can get it up and running again, I may be able to jury-rig something along the lines of a Senkaimon on top of it.
WINDBAG SAID ONLY GRIMMJOW HAD THE KEY TO MAKE IT WORK.
A key he got courtesy of Aizen and Unohana. That means shinigami magic was involved. Not that you could tell by looking at it. In fact, the only thing I can definitely make out is…
"Wait a damn minute," he muttered under his breath. Sentaro crouched low to peer at what his magical diagnostic had revealed.
"… gleeful fool fell under its spell, I only barely esca…" Albion drew out of his reverie suddenly. "What? Did you find something?!"
The captive mage did not answer right away. Just as his overseer drew breath to bellow out a command, Sentaro thumbed his nose with a sniff. "I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you came through this escape hatch before that Vogel character, am I right?"
The Hollow's push-broom head tilted to one side. "Indeed. What of it?"
"Thought so. Otherwise he would have gotten you too." He stood up and dusted off his uniform officiously, concentrating on adjusting the gloves that dangled from his sleeves. "There's a curse on this door," Sentaro stated matter-of-factly. "A Hollow curse."
"How do you mean?" the brute demanded, rising up to loom threateningly over him.
"See for yourself." Kotsubaki drew a hand across the empty interior of the gate, murmuring a truncated incantation as he did. "… Hangman's Silhouette." Though limited as a result, the defining magic was still sufficient to draw out evidence of Hollow sorcery, revealing it as a spiderweb of glowing green lines stretching from one end of the doorway to another. There was a cabalistic aspect to them, almost as if the thread was composed of words from some exotic prayer or sutra.
"If I recall correctly, when we came after you Grimmjow held the line while the rest of his pack fled to safety." The lieutenant scratched his scruffy beard with quick, angry strokes. "Only he never made it. And now we know why. This Vogel must have taken advantage of all the chaos to lay a sealing spell on the door after he came through. That way no one else could make it over the threshold."
"The swine!" Diega stared at the luminescent evidence of magic, breath coming faster and faster, making his massive body shimmy and shake. "He claimed not to know how to activate it! No doubt he sought an opportunity to further explore the grounds in search of Grimmjow's treasure! Had Triumph Irate not ensorcelled him, he most likely intended to slay me once we found it!" He grew still, then rounded on Sentaro. "Can you break it?"
WHAT'D HE SAY? TRY-AND-FIRE-RATE?
"Sure," the lieutenant lied glibly. "With the help of my partner." He held out a hand. "Give me back my zanpakutō."
Albion snorted. "You expect me to arm you?"
"Unless you don't think you can take me. Or you could just bring Vogel here to do the job himself. Which sounds easier?"
Fatso stared at him, clearly debating.
I THINK HE'S FALLING FOR IT.
Maybe. But even with you, it's a toss-up. We just need to…
WHO THE HELL IS THAT?!
Kotsubaki perked up, and the Hollow turned as well, just as a newcomer stepped into the room.
At first Sentaro took it for another Hollow. The bird-skull mask certainly gave that impression. But it was too small, for one. And it had no trace of a malign spirit signature. Just a slight form with black baggy pants and sleeveless tunic. The feet were bare, and black feathers ran all up and down the tops of their arms. A single large raven's wing flexed from the creature's back, its tips sliding over the floor with a soft swishing sound.
Before either Hollow or shinigami could react, the intruder shot across the room and drove its foot into Albion's stomach.
OW!
He doubled over with a gasp, eyes starting out of his head. Right then the bird demon grabbed hold of his jacket and rammed a knee into his chin.
YEOUCH!
Blood and teeth flew. The feathered figure twisted around, still holding onto the stunned Albion, flipping him over its shoulder to go crashing into the floor. Stone cracked along with the Hollow's bones. Diega gave a bloody cough, and something familiar went spinning through the air to land at Sentaro's feet.
O-Daiko?!
THE FAT BASTARD ATE ME. HE ATE ME!
As the winged stranger rose to stand upright once more, Sentaro cautiously bent down and retrieved his sword, never taking his eyes off that haunting figure. This thing just flattened a Hollow that he, a lieutenant of the Gotei 7, hadn't been confident of defeating.
While still digesting this sobering fact, the victor of that brief battle hesitated. Its masked head swung to one side. "Something's up," he heard it murmur in an echoing yet clearly feminine voice. "The flashlight we sent with them just freaked out." Another pause. "Go investigate. You can get there quicker than me. And play nice, you hear?"
It stretched out its wing. There was a loud rustling, and every feather suddenly burst loose, peeling away from its body. This mess of swirling pinions formed into a solid ebon ball that rocketed through the stone wall, disappearing without a trace.
The Tengu turned to confront Sentaro. Unnerved, he stood convulsively flexing his fingers around his soul cutter's scabbard, not certain what to do next or what this turn of events might mean for him and his compatriots. The creature looked like a normal person now, save for the mask which still completely covered its face.
THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY WE'RE ON THE SAME SIDE. DEFINITELY A GIRL, BY THE WAY.
"I take it that's the way out of here," his new partner indicated towards the gate behind him.
"Uhh… y-yeah."
"Can you open it?"
"Well… no."
"Huh." Bird-mask placed a fist to her chin in thought, just as a meaty fist wrapped around her ankle.
The Tengu was jerked into the air with a curse. Still flat on his back, Albion held his attacker with one hand, while the other tore open his shirt. The bloated form beneath displayed more than just a Hollow hole, as the fallen spirit's whole midsection split to reveal a writhing bed of red and purple tentacles anchored to something resembling a giant Venus flytrap. His captive kicked and tore at the hand holding her, to no avail. That inhuman maw opened in preparation to devour its victim.
With a shout Sentaro sprang to the rescue, whipping his zanpakutō free as he did. "Resound…!"
"Expand…" Albion breathed.
"… O-DAIKO!"
"… ESTŌMAG-URGH!"
Fey energy glowed about the massive Hollow, but before the ghastly transformation could complete, a sandaled foot smashed into his mouth. Moments later the teeth of his secondary stomach were forced apart by what appeared to be a circular shield of greenish-black metal.
Standing athwart the Hollow's body, Sentaro Kotsubaki gave a furious yell as he swung up a round-headed bronze mallet and brought it smashing down.
The moment he struck the gong, an awesome wave of sound and force exploded out the other side in an ear-shattering detonation. This divine thunderclap was swallowed up entirely by the Hollow's slobbering gut-mouth. Diega's body expanded like an overinflated balloon. His jaws clapped shut, cheeks puffed out as though trying to hold in a sneeze. The Hollow's whole face turned red, then purple, and his piggy eyes bulged with panic. He looked about to burst.
The Tengu took this opportunity to slip from Diega's suddenly lax grip. She dropped down to land right on his chest. Without a word, the creature then speared her hand into his Hollow hole, only to emerge a moment later with something that shone in her fist like a small blue star.
At once Albion's whole body collapsed into ash and vanished without a trace.
Caught off balance, Sentaro grabbed hold of O-Daiko's gong component even as he sought to right himself. The astonished shinigami managed to slip his left forearm through the leather straps attached to the inside of the massive war implement. With resonant shield on one hand and crushing mallet in the other, he peered frantically about. There was no sign of the Hollow whatsoever.
"What just happened?!" he gasped.
"Sorry. I wanted him to be able to answer questions, but that'll have to wait." The Tengu crouched down with her back to him. He saw her place a hand to her chest, stiffen, and relax with a sigh. Then the human rose upright, turning to regard the shinigami. "Let's just concentrate on getting you and your men out of here, okay?"
To be continued...