chapter 25
long awaited meetings
Uryu cast his gaze over the woman before him, what stood out the most to him was how she greeted him with a warm smile and familiarity in her eyes, and the long mane of dark orange tresses that flowed down her back; even if he hadn't seen her picture plastered on the Kurosaki living room wall that alone would give him a solid idea of who he was looking at.
"while I have a fair idea of who you are considering the effort I went through to find you, it would be polite to introduce yourself."
she smiled "you really are so like your father, my name is Kurosaki Masaki and I believe you know my son well."
Ishida Uryu wanted to deny it so very badly, he really did and he knew she could see it. "ah what the hell, I suppose I do"
her smile widened "so like your father."
...
Byakuya gazed out over rukongai taking in it strange mix dilapidated and new buildings from all the worlds cultures and time periods, many a mishmash of it all. once one got away from seireitei and its eastern influences there was no attempt at uniformity, structures were built from what could be used in the styles chosen by those who built them, and then bits and pieces were changed and added by whoever moved in or took over its care. these towns had no central planing for the most part, some were lucky enough to have architects, civil planners or other such skilled individuals arrive, and in places where they were both willing and able to ply their trade it was clear to the eye, but souls lived for centuries even without the power of the shinigami and rukongai was as vast as a world in itself. Byakuya knew he would have to start at the beginning with a steady supply of construction material, water and even food, then move on to education, land management and administration. Kurosaki had his heart in the right place but people didn't always see that. what they likely currently saw was a conquering army from a force that had for the large part ignored their very existence beyond recruitment and resource collection to focus on a mission so big and all encompassing that it took centuries of service to comprehend. in time the stability and order Kurosaki sought would benefit them, but in the here and now it didn't, in the here and now it was a power shift that destabilized what they knew to expect. even a life brought as low as a dog that was regularly beaten knew what to expect, it knew ways to lessen the pain, to make that life better and this sudden change was frightening to them. it was a fear compounded by the general stagnation of soul society as a whole and the fearful reputation of the shinigami, and the reputation of Kurosaki himself though the young man he was sure had yet to hear the stories. the lord of the Kuchiki had spent as much time as he could spare teaching his young friend the mannerisms and hidden rules of nobility but with the clarity of hindsight he realized he should have been teaching his friend the morality and styles of thought of decades and centuries past. even with the population of modern times trickling in the era differences was huge for all involved, Kurosaki lived in a time of swift unending change and he was expecting people to cope with the chaos he brought in his wake and it just wasn't going to work the way he hoped. these people weren't shinigami, they weren't regularly deployed to the realm of the living to see the changes. even for the shinigami themselves who saw the living on a constant basis Kurosaki had been a whirlwind and it had taken some getting used to, time to understand that he meant well by them. Byakuya took in the wild mix of scents and sounds that made up rukongai once again, it had been a bit over a hundred years since he had last wandered its streets with any form of leisure, not since the times he had crept away from meetings and duty to help his dear Hisana try to right what she felt was a wrong that consumed her. he had supported her to the best of his ability even when he had known it was killing her, even when he had understood better then she ever had that her actions had been born of desperate pragmatism and not the empty cruelty she had seen in her abandonment of her sister. he may not have ever lived the harsh life of the outer districts but he had read the reports, seen the conditions and heard her stories, and most importantly, he had known her so very well and seen her with a light she couldn't view. Hisana hadn't been a woman who would turn her back on those in need unless pushed beyond the limit, he wouldn't have fallen in love with her if it was any other way. he had loved her, even when she hadn't been able to return his feelings he had married her against custom and law, and part of his was disappointed to this day that his love hadn't been the only reason he had taken her as his wife. the clan demanded more from their leaders bride then 'can have children', they demanded she be able to support him emotionally, have a mind for politics and general learning, a good reputation and a high station. Hisana had filled all categories bar her standing, rukongai had loved her and that had been enough reputation for him, many in the clan hadn't been able to see it that way so he had smacked down their arguments and done what both his heart and head told him to do and damn the consequences, and there had been consequences. they had fallen on him and rukia both though he shielded his sister as best he could, Rukia shouldn't have to pay for his actions. part of the hundred year long lie he had told her had been kept for her own sake, he wouldn't have been able to keep the charade of apathy up so long if it hadn't kept the wholly unprepared and emotionally compromised young woman out of the mire of clan politics. that plan had collapsed when the call for execution had come from the central government. that time had been a waking nightmare of frozen indecision full of conflicting vows and loyalties, and he was eternally grateful to his young, abrasive, always scowling...friend...for stepping in and doing what he had so desperately wanted, but hadn't been able, to do. he still stood by his statements in that battle, the those on high didn't follow the law what reason did everyone else have to follow them? but he had started to take a less literal word for word view of the law and looked now towards the spirit of law that could be drawn from its words. it was making heads spin in the upper levels of society and government and he loved doing it, part of him had never stopped being that brash young man that just did what he thought was right or would help, who looked at each battle as a puzzle to prepared for and solved. it honestly made him wonder how few people who called him family and friend could fail to understand his...comradery...with Kurosaki and Zaraki. he had liked Gin as well for all the man had been a snake, the mind games had been fun. Byakuya stifled a sigh, Ichimaru Gin was a whole big mess he hadn't the time to keep sorting through now, but he was sure had the man survived he would have approved of his new friends...that word was starting to come too easily, he had to change his line of thought fast.
Chad continued moving through his designated route, the previously hospitalized group of Tatsuki, Mizuiro, Keigo and the newcomer Alice at his back. their mission was to go along as many known former patrol routes and gather up any still willing to help. they weren't expecting much to remain, the system had been in place for too short a time and the shock of their defeat had travelled too quickly for much to be left. it saddened him to think that his brothers hard work and good will had been reduced to this. chad swept his gaze over the wide street they were moving down, watching as people hid from his gaze, he knew his size intimidated people but this was more than that, they no longer wanted to get involved, they were sure the powers that had ruled rukongai for so long would win and the shinigami would be sent scurrying back to seireitei as they had each time they tried this before. chad wasn't going to let those powers win, he wasn't going to let Ichigo, Uryu and the shinigami fail, not this time. he spread he senses out looking for what brought him to the districts so far from his friend and caught wafts and traces of it as he searched, Mizuiro stood out like a bright light behind him. he knew both Ichigo and Ishida had plans of their own, but so did he. this time it wouldn't be the shinigami alone who took the burden, it was time for the living to stand, he just had to figure out how to do it.
...
"if I may ask Uryu-kun, would you know where my son is?" Masaki asked as she glanced as her fellow quincy over the tea they were sharing.
Uryu's reply was short and somewhat terse "yes".
"could you please tell me? I want to see my son, its been so long since I saw him and the way we parted want in the best of ways. I'm worried he may blame himself" Maksai almost begs the young man across from her.
Uryu sighed "no I wont, that would be a monumentally stupid thing to do" Uryu regretted it but there was more at play here than a mothers love.
"what on earth could be more important than family? my son is likely hurting, i am hurting, and you wont let me help him? that's a rather cruel thing to do Uryu-kun"
Uryu could almost see the desperate panic rolling off Masaki, he could hear it in her voice and see it in her body language. he wasn't close to a great deal of his family, he didnt even consider his father part of it at all so empathy wasn't something he could provide, all he could give was the cold hard truth.
"I have orders from my superior to keep that information from you, there is more going on here"
Maskai's face twisted into an expression of rage and despair "why would the other quincy do that, or is it the shinigami?" her voice broke in panic "I know what happened to Soken-kun, why would you follow orders from such..."
Uryu cut her off with words that physically staggered her "my commanding officer is Kurosaki Ichigo of the rukongai reclamation army. let me know when you feel have processed your sons request and i shall continue" he really wished he was better at this sort of thing, could make it easier for her, but Ichigo had been adamant and when given the choice between helping a man who was comrade, friend and, as time passed, brother or a panicked woman he had just met the choice was clear. part of him wondered if her was becoming to attached to Ichigo for his own good but they were so similar in emotion and had been through so many key events that mirrored each other he chose not to look to closely at what was becoming a family with emotional ties Uryu wasn't sure he knew how to deal with. he gazed on coolly as Masaki seemed to have some kind of minor emotional breakdown and tears began to flow down her face. this was proving harder than he had expected, it was becoming clear that Kurosaki Masaki had less control over her emotions than her son, Uryu hadn't though that was possible but he would freely admit he wasn't a people person and lacked experience, he had heard there were many like that. what really mattered is if she still held that strength of will and intellect he had glimpsed in her notes, if she would be able to pull herself together and look past the hurt to ask for the reasoning in Ichigos request, he didn't trust himself to say something and not make her fall apart so she would have to do it herself, he really hoped he didn't ruin the future relationship between mother and son with his ineptitude. the young quincy sat there drinking his tea for a few minutes as the older woman cried before deciding he had to do something.
it appears Ichigos ability to listen has been inherited from you, I had though it was that idiot he called a father, as I said, there is more to this. both Ichigo and myself require your aid"
Masaki blinked for a bit before going through a mood shift so swift it gave him whiplash, it cleared up any ambiguity to where the lunacy of the Kurosaki family had come from to Uryus mind.
"what's going on? is he safe? how can I help? what about Yuzu and Karin? is Isshin ok?" she was halted as Uryu held up a hand for silence. though he didn't know it he used the same identical gesture his father and grandfather had to halt her rambling and Masaki almost glared at him in the same friendly way she had to them.
"don't sit there thinking your son doesn't love you and he's in no more danger than normal, but with the situation as it stands you going to join him would be a wasted opportunity we cant afford to miss. as i said before, Ichigo is trying to bring some form of law and stability to rukongai but its proving harder than we had hoped and we both know its only going to escalate from here on out. second, Ichigo knows having you around would destroy his focus and emotionally compromise him, and that cant be dealt with right now. we are also having trouble finding people we can trust that aren't going to be watched, this is where you come in, unless you have real reason Ichigo shouldn't be trusting you." Ishida finished with a small smile
Masaki took a breath to calm herself "what does he need me to do"
"you personally? very little. he lost you once and would rather not do so again, but tell me, with all the quincy to die over the past few centuries, where are they?"
having regained her composure Masaki levelled a look at him "why do you want to know?"
"partly because I want to know what has happened to our people, mostly because I have a message and an offer for them."
...
Orihime shot another glance at Rukia beside her, only to watch as the shorter woman's gaze slid away from hers again. it had been going on like this from both Rukia and Hinamori since they had met up to travel north together, to join Ichigo. Orihime knew something was off, that something was eating at her two companions.
"Kuchiki-chan? Hinamori-san?" her voice seemed to startle the pair "are you ok?"
"oh, fine Inoue-chan, just have something on my mind" Rukia replied smiling. Orihime could see the lie so easily, it had to be serious for Rukia of all people to forget her ability to see the emotions of other people. blunt wasn't typically her way but she couldn't see another option at this rate, but she could do it without prying
"was it worth it Kuchiki-chan? what ever has you both feeling so guilty?"
Rukia's shoulders sagged and her head hung low, Orihime's grey eyes widened at the usually strong woman's display of crushing emotion.
"i truly hope so Inoue-chan, neither of us could see another way around our shortcomings. its going to hurt in the short term, probably a lot and we understand if you don't forgive us, but we cant see a better way to help"
Orihime gave a bright smile "well if you are trying to help i will trust you"
AN. so this was supposed to be out two weeks ago, the goal this year is four chapters as life is settling down after the mess of last year and the issues of years prior.
I hope no one seems to out of character. I tried to think of how like ichigo masaki showed herself to be in the bits we got of her and how she may be when she grew up. I decided she would still be a rather emotional given that I have isshins crazy being for her entertainment and is shown enjoying it in one scene in series, that coupled with the sudden idea that her son wanted nothing to do with her would cause a major emotional response. the familial bond between ichigo, chad and uryu is because, well...in my own experience family can be from more than blood and given what the three have bee through together I can see it happening after what is at this point years of growth, conflict and time together, and uyru and ichigo are actually related. the reason I didn't include orihime is because they sort of see her as the one to be protected and looked after from their view and orihime looks at ichigo as anything but a brother. to any women reading this, don't worry she will have her time to shine and make them all do a double take, it just hasn't arrived yet. I have three sisters and a mother who could stare down a raging bull and make it cower, I don't think of women as useless or weak even though this story has been male focused so far.
I enjoyed exploring byakuya and his internal thoughts as hes so stoic we don't really see any of it beyond a very limited view in series. I also realised how ichigo is failing to see that soul society as a whole doesn't follow 21st century morality and ideas. I'm not going to take the rather arrogant path of saying one is better than the other ala 'a connecticut yankee in king arthur's court', just that they are different and its going to take work on both ends if anything is going to work out.