Chapter 13 - The Ryoka Returns
Byakuya's POV
Sōkyoku Hill was a unique structure all on its own.
A towering mesa, it was a natural landmark that stood in contrast to the feudal buildings that stand around it. Connected to the Senzaikyū by bridge, over time, it became the place where criminals were taken to die. To serve as examples for the Soul Society at large.
To show that the disregard for our laws and ways would not be tolerated.
Today, Rukia was to serve as the latest example.
"We're finally here."
It was a simple comment, but Minata's words were poignant as we emerged at the top of the staircase. The execution site was already prepped for what was to come; the giant halberd - a staple of sanctioned executions for hundreds of years now - made for an imposing sight as it awaited its latest use.
"It seems we are still early. . ." I say, looking at the weapon with an impassive glare as I hid the torrent of emotions that swelled within me. A small part of me wished that my battle with Abarai had taken longer in the hopes of evading the sight of my sister's demise, but that would have been selfish on my part.
I helped put my sister into this predicament. The least I could do is - in frank terms - suck it up and watch it all play out.
Executions were an occurrence that required the attendance of every able captain and lieutenant in office, but several my fellow high-ranking officers were still not present. Some were for obvious reasons - Aizen's death and Zaraki's famous sense of direction making some of the speculation easy - while others were more surprising, including Captains Hitsugaya and Tosen.
Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake's absence were the ones that immediately caught my interest when I realized they were not present. Along with Captain Unohana, they happened to be the most consistent when it came to punctuality, though the former is only so thanks to his innate respect and fear for the Captain Commander's temper.
On the other hand, it appeared that Minata was not going to be the only third seat in attendance for the proceedings. Ukitake's Third Seats were silent as they stood in for their captain, neither looking argumentative with the other for once as they looked at the executioner's platform, where my sister was already standing, waiting for her sentence to pass.
Rukia was staring a hole right through me as she stood in between two members of the Kido Corps, almost willing me to look at her with her eyes.
I do not meet them as I walk to my position.
I'm too ashamed as a brother and too conflicted as a captain to bring myself to do so.
The Captain Commander himself stood at the head of the small column, looking at the rows with apathetic eyes as Minata moved to stand at his left, Sasakibe already standing dutifully on his right. I can feel his gaze on me as I moved to stand next to Captain Unohana, and it feels like I'm being watched by a hundred suns.
When I looked up, the Captain Commander's gaze was no longer on me. Instead, he was staring up at my sister, who, despite her situation, looked completely accepting of her fate.
She was willing to face her death with dignity.
The rational, stoic side of me that formed after years of training and teaching was content, even appreciative, of such a display.
The emotional, childish side of me that I've repressed thanks to such training wanted to lash out and end this farce before it could even begin.
Unfortunately, the rational side of me won out a long time ago.
"Despite the numerous absences . . ." Somehow, someway, the old commander doesn't sound annoyed when he says this, despite his noted dislike for lateness and absences for events that require our presence. ". . . We will continue as scheduled."
HIs words were simply another dagger in the many that have pierced me since this whole ordeal began.
"It is time to commence the execution . . ." He announces, his tone brokering no room for argument as he stared up. "Do you have any last words Rukia Kuchiki?"
After a small bit of hesitation, she answers.
"All I ask, Captain Commander Yamamoto, is that you please allow the ryokas to leave Soul Society unharmed."
"I can't believe she just said that. . ."
"It's a considerate request, but a futile one all the same." I think back, slightly amazed that Rukia had enough conviction to ask for such a thing, despite her situation. The Captain Commander nods in approval, but the move was simply for show.
Unless he was given irrefutable proof that their actions were justified, the ryokas would never escape unpunished from this world as long as he was in command.
The content look on her face was unmistakable, and I could not tell if she really was falling for the Captain Commander's ruse or deluding herself into believing it. It was another addition to the list of unnatural reactions and actions she has done since coming back to the Soul Society.
Even the hardest of convicts would be scared out of their minds as they faced the Sokyoku, an executioner's blade capable of incinerating beings out of existence, but Rukia continues to appear surprisingly calm.
Is it because she genuinely thinks the humans she befriended will be safe? Or does she think that all the recent problems that have occurred will cease once she is gone?
Both are questions that I neglect to linger long on.
The ceremony begins without fail as Rukia is lifted into the air. The Kido Corps members assigned to the execution do not take long to release the seal that kept Kikoo, the spirit of the Sokyoku, contained within the blade. The giant bird stretches out its flaming wings as it leaves its home, looking around until it finally spotted the reason for its release, calm violet eyes staring into curious orange ones.
"She's truly facing her death head on, as if she truly has no regrets." I think to myself, forcing myself to watch as the bird finally moves towards my sister for the kill.
But then, it stops, just feet from where she remained floating.
"What the hell is going on here?!" It wasn't hard to figure out who asked the question. The annoyed yell could only come from Captain Soi Fon. "Why did it stop!?"
"I don't know, but there must be a good reason for it," Captain Unohana is quick to point out, her eyes showing concern as she stared at the bird. "Kikoo is not one for stopping mid-strike. Something must be blocking it."
"Um, I think there's someone by the beam," calls Suzemubachi, escaping from her Inner World to buzz around her master's head.
"Someone by the beam?" I think, moving my gaze until I finally spotted what the bird was looking at.
"Master, is that who I think it is?" I hear my zanpakuto ask as I finally spot the figure that stopped Kikoo in its tracks.
. . . Looks like Yoruichi has kept her promise after all.
"So that Kurosaki boy has chosen to reveal himself once again. . ." I say, scowling as the boy dispatches the bird as if it was nothing before freeing my sister from her bindings.
If the sight of Kurosaki wasn't enough to shock my fellow officers, the sight of him stopping Kikoo in its tracks certainly did.
It was enough to shock Soi Fon, at the very least.
"That's impossible! No one should be able to stop Kikoo!" She exclaims, her voice tinged with anger as we watch Kurosaki stand on top of the executioner's beam with Rukia tucked under his arm. The boy pays no attention to any of us, preferring to say a few words to the girl before smirking.
It only takes a few seconds to pass before we realize why.
"HEY RENJI! CATCH!"
"Abarai's here!?" I think, my eyes widening as the ryoka has the gall to throw Rukia toward the ground.
Following her trajectory, I turn to see my lieutenant, healed, but still looking quite beaten up, watching in shock as Rukia barrels right toward him. Luckily for him and Kurosaki, he catches her, but her momentum sends them straight to the ground, with him taking the brunt of the damage.
"WHAT THE HELL ICHIGO! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US BOTH!" The redhead screams as he sits up, disbelief and anger marking his tattooed face.
"I'M NOT A RAG DOLL YOU DAMN ORANGE HAIRED BASTARD!" My sister adds, her language harkening back to her days in the Rukongai as Abarai helps her up.
"Renji! Get Rukia out of here!"
"What the-Don't make me repeat myself you guys! Renji, get Rukia somewhere safe. I'll handle things here!"
"Is that boy serious!?" Soi-Fon growls as we watch him drop down to the ground, the look he shares with the redhead brokering no room for argument.
I do not know what happened between the two men to warrant such a change in Abarai's demeanor toward the ryoka, but it must be enough for him to trust the boy to his promise. Before she could even react, Rukia is taken into Abarai's arms before he takes off in the opposite direction.
It was obvious that he wasn't strong enough to handle shunpo, but he was strong enough to run away like a bat out of hell, as Mina tends to put it whenever she sees something similar.
No longer hesitant, Kikoo moves to attack Kurosaki, but before it could strike, it's destroyed. Turning my head, I see that the culprits are Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake, the latter holding a peculiar object with the Shihoin crest on it.
I'm sure the Captain Commander will be making his disapproval of them known in a matter of minutes, maybe seconds.
"What do you think you fools are doing? Stop him!" Soi Fon exclaims as she points at the ryoka, her ire directed at the lieutenants that were present. They hesitate at first, but then they move, first Lieutenant Omaeda, then Lieutenant Sasakibe, and then surprisingly, Lieutenant Kotetsu, all of them unleashing their weapons, ready to fight.
"You better give up now intruder, cause we're going to stop ya!" Lieutenant Omaeda exclaims as he holds his Gegetsuburi as if it were too heavy for him to hold.
Not impressed, the ryoka only gives him one look before smashing Gegetsuburi to pieces with his fist and knocking Omaeda out cold, all in one strike. Sasakibe and Kotetsu were similarly dispatched.
"It seems he has greatly improved over these past few days. . ." Senbonzakura quietly mumbles as Soi Fon is mysteriously taken away by a blur of orange - most likely Yoruichi - before disappearing off the face of the cliff.
"We shall see about that."
I moved, targeting the boy's back as he continued to look down at the unconscious Fourth Division lieutenant, but his reflexes allowed him to block my attack, striking his blade against my own.
"Long time no see Byakuya?" he asks, daring to be cocky as he faces me with a grin.
"This will be your last fight." I say. glaring at him coldly.
The boy scowls before pushing me back with a force I didn't fully expect, pointing his blade at me with a determination in his eyes that promised to be hard to put down.
"It's time we finished what we started, Byakuya Kuchiki!"
A/N: Leave a comment if you like!
