Chapter 33: Akira Speaks

Byakuya's POV

"The Sereitei Records building . . ." I whisper as I look at the large structure. A few guards were standing in the doorway standing watch, most likely from 2nd Division. With my spiritual pressure already masked, I shunpo behind them, knocking them out before any of them could react. With that done, nothing could stop me from looking inside for the answers I seek.

"Hopefully I can find some answers here . . ." I mumble as I walk down the long hallway toward the main room at the end. "If not, then Senbonzakura's plan is the next best idea to try."

The main records room was dark and silent, but it wasn't completely empty. The presence of another being was apparent, the spiritual pressure feeling vaguely familiar. I follow it till I was at a row of computer monitors. All of them were off except for the one at the very end, right in the back, and that's when I saw her.

Sitting at the monitor was Minata's cousin, Akira. A stack of papers were positioned on her right as she looked at the screen, her eyes looking tired, yet focused as she continued her work, seemingly oblivious to the latest developments that are plaguing the Soul Society.

"How long are you going to stand there to watch me work Captain Kuchiki?"

Her voice almost startles me to the point of making a sound, but I manage to stay composed enough to not visibly react. I almost believe that she's bluffing with her question, due to the fact that I never saw her move. However, that belief goes away once she turns and stares directly at me, onyx eyes finding me no problem.

"Well . . ?" she asks with an eyebrow raised. "Are you not going to answer my question Captain?"

"How did you know I was here?" I ask calmly as I step out of the shadows.

"Simple, the shadows told me," she tells me cryptically as she slowly gets out of her seat. "I'm sure my cousin has explained to you what my powers entail. Hasn't she?"

"Yes, Minata has made me quite aware of your ability to bend the shadows to your will," I say as I look back at the faint memory. It was during one of my Elders' birthday parties that Mina had mentioned this about her cousin, mainly out of boredom.

Some of my Elders were not well known for throwing lively parties. They were too strict and stoic for their own good, and this is coming from me.

"Yes; as you must well know, one of the most notable things about my clan is the special abilities, or 'gifts', that the members of my family possess. . . You just said that I have the ability to manipulate shadows, and that is true. However, how well I can 'bend' the shadows? That is the true question."

"What do you mean?"

"For me, manipulating shadows isn't just a small ability that can be easily countered," Akira tells me with a shake of her head. "It means a wide range of things, from actually physically controlling them to do my bidding to using them to sense a person out, including yourself."

"I see. You sensed me out through my shadow and not through my spiritual pressure," I say in my usual tone. "Is that what you were going to say?"

"Close . . . My ability to manipulate shadows allows me to connect to any shadow I want within my vicinity. I'm currently connected to all the shadows in and around this building. I knew you were here as soon as you took your first step onto the shadow that was made by this very building we're standing in. So, let me ask you this . . . Why would you knock out the guards outside?"

I instantly pounce, pinning her to the wall with my blade right at her throat. I thought doing this would scare her a little, but as soon as I look at her eyes, I see her gaze was unwavering, as if she saw what I was planning to do, but didn't bother to react. To be honest, her gaze reminded me of Minata's a little, stoic and unmoving all in one.

"Let me guess, the shadows told you that?" I ask as I move my blade a little closer to her throat.

"Like I said before: I'm connected to all the shadows in this vicinity, including the ones connected to other people," she tells me with a stern gaze. "Masking your spiritual pressure was a wise move, but I could still sense you out regardless . . . I'll ask my question again. Care to explain why you have knocked out the guards outside the complex?"

"That is none of your concern," I tell her as I narrowed my eyes. "And I suggest you don't pursue the subject even further. This does not concern you."

"No, it doesn't concern me," she tells me in agreement. "But it must be very important to you if you're willing to go this far to come into the records building after assaulting a few guards. . . You're a captain of the Gotei 13. You don't need to sneak into a place like this; it's easily open to a person of such high rank like yourself. . . A noble captain of the Gotei 13 sneaking into a public building instead of just simply walking in. Wouldn't you find it suspicious yourself if you were in my position?"

I knew she was right . . . The fact that I snuck into the Records Hall instead of just simply walking in would easily raise the suspicions of anyone who had a high level of intellect. In my attempt of being careful, I ended up being reckless instead.

"You are a very observant shinigami Akira Fukudome. So observant it's almost scary," I say as I finally let her go. "My business here is none of your concern. Do not try to investigate my actions any further, or else I'll have to take drastic action against you."

"Captain Kuchiki, are you issuing a threat?" she asks before breaking into a small chuckle. I could easily hear a slight tone of disbelief in her laughter, as if she didn't believe that I would follow through it. . . I question her sanity at the moment. "You don't have to worry about me Captain. Minata has already mentioned to me the whole Muramasa issue and how it relates to your clan."

"She has?" I ask, shocked at her admission. For someone who was taught the ninja way, Minata has a penchant at being loose-lipped at times.

"Of course, she told me an overview, not the whole story to be precise," she tells me as she walks back over to her paperwork and gathers it in her hands. "But I do get the gist of it. For you, this is more than just a rampaging zanpakuto spirit turning other spirits against their masters. As a member of a fellow Great Noble House, I understand. . . I'll keep this conversation between you and I a secret, and I will not interfere, well, as long as I can help it."

"Thank you for understanding . . ." I say rather curtly. Despite the fact that she was saying she would keep our talk a secret, I couldn't help but still feel wary of her. She was proving to be just as perplexing as her cousin.

"Before I leave, I would just like to say one more thing . . ." she tells me as she clutches her paperwork to her chest. "I'm heading to the 1st Division to meet with Mina. Would you like me to relay a message to her for you?"

"Now why would you ask me that question?" I ask, slightly taken aback by her sudden proclamation.

"I know my cousin. Trust me, I think she'll appreciate hearing from you at least once while this division-wide panic is going on," she tells me with a small smirk, one that was meant to mean no harm. "As one of her oldest friends, and the one that's courting her, if I might add, don't you think you owe her that much at least?"

I could see it in her eyes that she cared about her cousin's wellbeing. She was offering me the chance to send Minata a message, the contents, hopefully, being only known by Mina and I. Considering this would be my last way to communicate with her before I really delved into my plans, I take up a pen and a blank piece of paper that was lying on the table right next to me and quickly wrote down my note. Once I was done, I folded it before handing it to Akira. She quickly puts it in her pocket and gives me a silent nod before shunpoing away, leaving me alone with my thoughts, and a room full of books.

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