Chapter 66: 1,000 Yr. Blood War Arc: Thinking Out Loud

Byakuya's POV

"They look ready . . ."

It was the first thing Senbonzakura bothered to say in a while, favoring silence as he stood at my side. We were standing at the edge of the main courtyard, watching Abarai lead a large contingent of the division through a series of training drills. The drills were new, meant to handle attacks from bows and arrows rather than simple blades. The changes were necessary to help prepare for the incoming threat, but a part of me still wondered if this was even remotely enough.

The Quincies were a familiar threat to the Soul Society, but not familiar enough that we knew what their skill sets were today. Black Ridge proved that these were not the standard Quincies of old. This threat is bigger than what the past shinigami could even imagine, and the worst part about this entire situation was that it was obvious that our enemies had the immediate advantage.

Captain Hitsugaya was right. The Quincies possessed the ability to appear in and out of the Seireitei as they see fit, their presence practically non-existent until they decide to reveal themselves. It will be difficult to track them if they choose to keep themselves hidden, and for us, that's probably the worst possible route they could take. If they choose it, stealth could be their greatest asset, and not even the Fukudome's renowned tracking ability could help us on that front.

"Master, I know your thoughts, and they are troubled."

"Considering the circumstances, can you blame me for thinking this way?" I ask, shaking my head as I continue to observe. "And yes, Senbonzakura, the shinigami before me do look ready, but are they ready? That has yet to be decided."

"Fair point. We will be facing an enemy that we know of, but it is an enemy that we do not fully understand."

"The history books cannot help us here," I add, folding my arms across my chest. "It can be considered outdated at best. The Quincies have had years, centuries even, to improve and develop new techniques, skills that could prove to be far worse than what was experienced in the past."

"That is true but remember. They may have improved in their skills, but they work with a basic formula to their style of fighting. It all boils down to the bow and arrow for them."

"Just as it boils down to the sword for us," I added, shaking my head. "That may be the case, but it still doesn't change the fact that the Quincies have been strengthening themselves while hidden in the shadows while we have had to deal with threat after threat, especially in recent months."

"Hmm, things would be easier if we just knew where the Quincies' main base was located . . . If we knew where they were, it would make things easier in launching a counterattack."

"I'm sure that you're not the only one thinking along those lines Senbonzakura. I'm sure some of the more battle-minded captains wished we knew that info, the Captain Commander especially . . . I'm sure if things were going our way, we would all be mobilizing to attack right about now."

"It's probably a plan that could happen if we had that information, but would it have been the best course of action?"

It was a sound question, one that stopped me from speaking immediately. I'm sure a frontal assault would have been the preferred method for many within the ranks, especially with emotions still running high after what happened at Black Ridge, but it likely wouldn't be the best option, for various reasons.

"I am not one for questioning the Captain Commander's actions, but if a frontal assault was possible, I would find myself questioning it," I finally admit, and it was the truth. "A frontal attack against an opponent we barely know anything about is very problematic. We would be going in practically blind, putting our shinigami at risk in a setting that gives our opponent the tactical and strategic advantage from the onset. . . It would be a situation of heavy casualties, and I fear we would be the ones that would suffer from such an act the most."

"A fair point master, but hypothetically speaking, if the Captain Commander did decide to issue such a command, would you go through with it?"

"You seem to have a penchant for asking me difficult questions Senbonzakura, and I don't know if I truly appreciate them right now."

"I can feel your internal struggle, but it doesn't seem like the kind you could put into words so easily, so I figured questioning you would help things."

"Is this your roundabout way of saying that I needed to talk to someone so you decided to volunteer?"

"Something like that," he concedes, keeping his eyes on the training. "It's not like you could speak to anyone else at the moment. You have Abarai running drills right now, Ukitake probably has Rukia doing the same thing over at the 13th, Minata is trying to get used to her new position as lieutenant, and your grandfather is still trying to quiet down a situation between two of your great uncles that's starting to drag the rest of the family council into the mess . . . What exactly is going on at that end anyway?"

"Something about a misappropriate use of the some of the family funds. It's a relatively small amount, last time I heard, but it has caused such a row within the family that my grandfather has decided to take charge in quelling it," I explain, shaking my head. "He believes it's an issue that doesn't need my attention unless absolutely necessary."

"Well, you do have a lot on your plate these days . . . Not only is there the Quincy threat to deal with, you still haven't come to terms with a certain situation."

"And what kind of situation is that?" I ask, but I already knew what he was thinking.

It wasn't hard to imagine the smirk under the mask.

"I figured it was obvious," he teases as the training drill comes to an end. "When will you ask the question?"

"I told you this before Senbonzakura. I will ask her when I know she will not expect it," I tell him, but I knew he was still unsure of it. "I am being serious."

"And so am I," he says in return. "I think you should ask her sooner rather than later. The longer you delay things, the more questions will arise. The fact that the courtship has lasted so long without any forward progress - and don't give me that look master because you know exactly what kind of forward progress I'm talking about here!"

Senbonzakura's sudden outburst stopped me from releasing a retort. He took that as his chance to continue.

"Anyway, as I was saying, the fact that your courtship has lasted so long without any forward progress must be quite the topic of debate among numerous social circles within the Seireitei, from the common shinigami to the high lords in the nobility. Word travels, people ask questions, and rumors abound. The only reason you and Minata aren't questioned about this as much, or as directly, is in large part to your respective families and your ranks within the Gotei 13 . . . That's not going to last forever, unfortunately."

"A union between two of the Four Great Noble Houses is not something to be taken lightly. One of the main reasons why my elders haven't been hounding me about it is because they want this relationship to be successful . . ."

". . . And to make sure it is successful, they don't interfere, well, not as much compared to the elders of other noble families."

"That's true, but I know my actions have been wearing thin the patience of some of my more impatient family members," I muse, shaking my head. "They've fared well, but it won't be long before they start beating down my door for answers."

"Which is why I say save yourself the trouble and ask Lady Minata sooner rather than later," he advises. "Look, no one should influence you when it comes to this decision, but as a part of your soul, I'm just here to push you in the right direction."

"By trying to influence my decision?" I ask.

"It may seem like it, but like I said, I'm part of your soul. I'm another part of you, so I consider myself the lone exception." Senbonzakura is probably grinning from ear to ear after that one. "I'm just giving you advice that could make things easier for you in the long run, well, if you take my word for it."

"And I appreciate it. You do not have to worry about me so much on this Senbonzakura," I advise in return. "I will ask Mina in time, and I will not have anyone influencing my decision in the matter. I can promise you that."

"That's all I wanted to hear . . ." he trails off, disappearing with a shunpo before I could say anything else. Shaking my head, I turn my head . . . only to come face to face with my lieutenant and his zanpakuto.

Judging from the amused looks on their faces, they must have heard most of the conversation, and they didn't look the least bit apologetic about it either.

They have no shame.

"Do not lie to me!" I order in my harshest voice, figuring it was the best way to stop whatever was going through their skulls before it came to fruition.

For once, they don't react to it, and that's when I know I likely won't hear the end of this for quite a while.

"Ok captain, we won't lie to you!" Abarai promises, but his face was already telling me otherwise. "However, we may not have heard everything you talked about with Senbonzakura, but what we did manage to hear was quite interesting. Chimpette, Snakey, did you have a favorite part?"

"Well since you're asking, the whole mystery around that certain question you plan to ask Lady Minata sounds quite interesting," Chimpette answers as the snake boy next to her continued to bounce around her with a smile on his face. "It sounds like quite the dilemma."

"What exactly do you plan to ask her Captain Kuchiki?" Snakey is bold to ask as he looks up at me like a cat that just ate the canary. "Is it something personal?"

"You do know I can punish you for such insubordination correct?"

"Why? To commit insubordination, we would have to refuse or disobey orders. Your only order so far is that we shouldn't lie to you, and last time I checked, none of us have lied to you so far . . . So, sorry captain, your insubordination claim doesn't have a leg to stand on."

He has the truth on his side and is still blatant with his cheekiness . . . Abarai really doesn't have no shame these days.

Maybe a spar will change all that.


Minata's POV

Stepping into the sparring room, I was relieved to see that it was empty. Considering I wanted to be alone for a few minutes before I was supposed to lead the next training drill and how busy everyone has been getting in preparing for the oncoming Quincy threat, I considered this plain good luck.

"Ooh, not a person in sight." Mizukiri coos as she steps into the room behind me.

"It won't be for long. I lead a training drill that's supposed to start in about fifteen minutes, and I want to have some time to myself to stretch out for a bit before we start." I say, stretching my hand out to her. "Care to share this dance with me partner?"

"It would be my pleasure master. You just have to say the words." she reminds me, taking my hand.

"If you insist. Inundate, Mizukiri."

Her body becomes bathed in a bright blue light, shrinking down until she was finally in her shikai form. Her shikai form took the form of a 10 ft long jūmonji yari. The center lance was a foot long, with its' two other blades curved slightly enough on either side to give the impression of a flattened trident. Along with the lance was its metallic, nine-foot long shaft, engraved with curved lines that looked like waves.

She wasn't what I had originally had in mind when I finally discovered the name of my zanpakuto, but I don't regret having her as my partner.

"It has been a while since you've taken me out for a spin like this."

"I know that Mizukiri. For a long while, I've only had to use you in your default mode in most of my battles. . . I guess I've just been lucky enough to find myself in situations that didn't require the use of you in shikai, or bankai for that matter," I say as I start swinging her around, dancing around my invisible opponent. "I thought you would be happy about that though . . . You're not really a fan of battles."

"True, but even I know that sometimes you'll have to put aside what you want for the sake of helping the greater good." she advises. I could already see her shaking her head in my mind. "Besides, just because you did not need to use my shikai much doesn't mean you should slack off in actually using it. Remember, using me in my shikai form is a lot different than using me as a katana."

"Tell me about it," I mumble as I hear footsteps coming down the hall. "I had to learn a whole new martial arts style because of you once I found out what your shikai would entail."

"HEY! In my defense, you took to bōjutsu very well. I was very proud of you when you managed to not drop your training bo after the ninth time you twirled it around."

"Oh, shut up . . ." I grumble, her laughter echoing through my head as shinigami started coming into the room. Most of them were the younger members of the division, and some openly stared at my weapon. Granted, it was probably their first time they've seen Mizukiri in her shikai form since it was rare for me to bring her out like this, but considering the circumstances, no time like the present right?

"Ok everyone, get into formation and hold your zanpakutos at the ready! I don't want to see any slackers during this drill." I order as I do a couple more stabs before allowing Mizukiri to revert back to her katana form. "Alright, we'll be doing the Kumo formation. Get into the starting position."

They all do it immediately, getting into the proper stance, their blades ready to strike.

"Alright, follow me," I say as I mirror their stance, but before I move into the next position, the sounds of explosions reach my ears, the alarms suddenly blaring for all to hear.

"A surprise attack?!" Mizukiri exclaims in my head as I sheathe my blade, yelling orders at the shinigami before me to get ready for battle before I head to the door. "You don't think. . ?"

"That's exactly what I'm thinking Mizukiri," I say as I move toward the Captain Commander's office. "Looks like our enemy didn't want to wait. The Quincies are here, and they're out for blood!"


A/N: Please review!

P.S. Yes, it took me 66 chapters to finally reveal what Mizukiri's shikai is. Yep, that's a procrastinating fail on my part. Don't worry, I'm editing the chapters again, so I'll try to introduce her shikai form much sooner than this. Once that's done, I'll edit this note out.