Chapter 31 The Dark Days Begin

Minata's POV

"We will continue with the drills bright and early tomorrow morning. That's enough for today everyone. I will see you all at 6:30," I say with a smile as I address the 20 shinigami in front of me, all of them looking very tired after being put through the rigor that is the dreaded afternoon drills. "I hope you all have a good and restful night."

"Thank you Third Seat Fukudome!" they all say in unison, bowing their heads in a show of respect. I return it with one of my own before they leave the room, all of them now talking amongst themselves about various plans and gossip that was being heard around the divisions these days.

"Are you sure Captain Kuchiki is trying to court Third Seat Fukudome? Like, really start a relationship with her?" I overhear one shinigami ask another as the two were walking toward the exit. "Isn't that just a rumor? I thought the two were just very good friends."

"I don't think it's a rumor. . . I overheard Lieutenant Matsumoto talking about it with Captain Kuchiki's sister Rukia yesterday when they were strolling by our barracks," said the other shinigami as I turned to face them. The both of them had their backs turned to me, so they had no idea that I was even watching them talk about Byakuya and I's relationship. "Whenever Matsumoto asked Rukia about her brother and Lady Fukudome, she avoided every question that was asked, as if she was hiding something . . . And besides, it was printed in the Sereitei Communication after all. You can't put an article into the Communication if it's not true."

"Huh, you do make a good point there," says the first shinigami, a recent transfer to the First from the Seventh. "You can't print a lie in the papers. I think you can get sued for that."

"I guess the talk really is growing by the day," I mumble as I walk out of the room via the side entrance. "Once the Elders are certain that Byakuya is courting me, well, we'll never hear the end of it. If only Mizukiri were here. This would be a nice topic for me to discuss with her, but she's still off sparring with the other spirits. I hope she's having fun."

"Third Seat Fukudome! Third Seat Fukudome!"

"Hmm . . ?" I look up to see the 18th Seat running up to me with a grave look on her face, sweat dotting her forehead as she came to a stop nearly out of breath. "What's the matter Nagano-san?"

"The Sereitei is on high alert. Some of the divisions have been coming under attack," she tells me as she catches her breath. "According to the reports, the attackers are the zanpakuto spirits themselves."

"What?" I ask as I feel my eyes widen in shock. "The spirits are the attackers? How could this be?"

"From what we have quickly gathered from various sources, it appears the zanpakuto spirits of the division captains and lieutenants have been released from their bonds by another spirit named Muramasa, who confronted the captains and lieutenants on Sogyoku Hill," says Nagano, barely keeping her voice even. The fact that she mentions Muramasa as the culprit is actually no surprise to me, considering the fact that Byakuya and I discussed this possibility mere hours ago. "A few zanpakuto spirits come from Shinigami that don't fit into the category of captain or lieutenant, most notably Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame of the 11th Division, Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayesegawa of the 11th Division, and Thirteenth Division member Rukia Kuchiki."

"I see . . . Anything else you want to tell me?"

"Yes, and unfortunately, it's just as troubling as the zanpakuto spirits rampaging throughout the Sereitei," she tells me with her head bowed. "Captain Commander Yamamoto is missing in action, and Lieutenant Sasakibe is currently being tended to at the 4th Division barracks."

"Does this Muramasa fellow have anything to do with this?" I ask with an eyebrow raised.

"Most sources have come to a consensus that he is the one responsible for the Captain Commander's disappearance," she tells me with a solid stare. "The captains and lieutenants are currently trying all that they can to subdue the zanpakuto, but that may prove tricky considering that they're basically fighting their own swords."

"You got that right Ino . . ." I say with a shake of my head. "A zanpakuto is a part of a shinigami's own spirit. Obviously they would know their master's moves inside and out, and that's not good for us if they've actually become our enemies . . . Nagano, send a message through the entire division. I want everyone to prepare themselves and heighten the defenses. We must be ready if any of the other divisions call to us for assistance, or if any of the zanpakuto spirits show up right at our doorstep."

"Understood!" she tells me before leaving my sight.

"This has officially become a dark day if the zanpakuto spirits have really turned against their own masters," I say with a shake of my head. I sneak a look at my blade, still secured tightly to my waist. It was only a few hours ago that it was pulsating with Mizukiri's spiritual pressure, but now; it's just empty, like a hollow shell. The very idea of my own Mizukiri turning against me, it's still an unfathomable idea that I don't want to longer on anymore. "Mizukiri . . . Hmm, I hope everyone's alright. Something tells me it's only going to get worse before it even gets better."

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