The order came at early dawn. Rukia had returned an hour before, slipping almost guiltily into the pre-dawn light of Seireitei. She had grabbed a bread roll from the palace kitchens, absently gnawing on it. Returning to her quarters, she fussed with the Fukutaichou badge, adjusting it high on her upper arm. The cloth remained bunched up. She had started wearing the white tekko gloves Byakuya had given her. Looking at them now, she wasn't sure how she felt. Was it right to feel cheated? She maintained her outward appearance of civility, kept her ears perked for clan movements, but perhaps out of the acknowledgement of her adoption, Rukia felt a keen sense of being left out. Either that or Byakuya was finding good reason not to trust her.
Watching the Jigokucho flutter toward her, she held her hand out, almost flinching from the gossamer touch of the insect's feathered limbs against her sensitive fingertips. The message relayed, the order had consisted of few words.
Ah, yes. . . The stranger gave a name. They wanted her to pull his record out.
She had to smile. Dull drudgery for a Fukutaichou. The Jigokuchou took flight from her after receiving her acquiescence. In the past, the order would have gone to the fourth seat, averting the larger headache that would come from having Kiyone and Sentaro fight over the honor.
Still, she had on good intel that a certain Fukutaichou liked to have the sunrise training grounds to herself. In spite of everything, she hadn't forgotten Aizen's words. Treading carefully around Ashido, planning an invasion, ye gods…how was she ever going to nourish a friendship with Hinamori?
No matter.
It could be done. She watched the Jigokucho flutter off into the sky, determination strengthening her resolve. Hinamori had potential in her that few saw; she was small, almost unnoticeable. She wondered if they were alike in some way, maybe she could use that to her advantage. Rukia would see it through before staining her hands with the blood of an innocent.
Stark had seen the commotion engendered by the arrival of the Squad Thirteen member, Kuru-something or other, who had discovered the Shinigami in the living world. Kano. Stark had bared his teeth in a hiss, recognizing through his pesquisa, the same tell-tale spirit pressure belonging to the Shinigami who had rescued Rukia in Menos Forest. Thinking back to that time, that had been the only logical answer to her survival in the nest of Hollows.
In a way, he owed Kano for keeping her safe.
But, he had to wonder at Aizen's silence.
Did Aizen mean to observe this Shinigami? Was he aware of Kano being the anomaly in Menos Forest? Chryse had likely said nothing during his visit to Las Noches which meant either the Hollow didn't care or was using Kano somehow. Stark bet on the latter. Chryse was too perceptive to be unaware of Kano and not apathetic enough toward the Shinigami - case in point, Rukia, to leave Kano alive for no good reason.
There had to be some kind of ulterior motive. He would never believe anything less of him.
The red blast thundered forth. Rukia felt the residual energies prickle against her skin. A slight breeze whipped up the long grasses on the hillside. Hinamori relaxed her stance, grinning. "Thanks, it's been a while since I've let loose."
She offered the other girl a can of cold tea. Hinamori popped the top, sinking to the ground.
"Are you always in the office, Hinamori-san?"
"Yes, there's always so much to do in running the Squad. Is there really a need for formalities? You can call me, Momo, I'd prefer it. Hinamori-san sounds stuffy." The girl said, almost laughing.
Rukia decided to test the waters as it were. Carefully, a general ounce of curiosity added to her tone. "Have you ever wondered if the rules we live by are the only way?"
Is Soul Society….right?
Momo blinked, "ah…no…have I thought some things are unfair…maybe?" She was reluctant opening up. "I guess. I used to remember there were souls behind the Hollow mask. Then, it was easier to pretend. I don't like seeing others hurt. Maybe I should've been in Unohana-Taichou's Division." The look on her face was self-deprecating like she expected Rukia to laugh at her weakness.
You know….in a way….
"Those are normal feelings. I would like to believe everyone has them," she listened to the tremor in the ground. Far off bellowing. Both girls winced. "Except for Shinigami like Zaraki-Taichou."
I do feel as though we are similar.
"You have a point there," Momo conceded, smiling again. Rukia gauged her facial expressions. The twitch of a smile, the gentleness of her voice. She decided she liked Hinamori. "What of your past…ah, if you don't mind me prying. Where did you grow up?"
"Oh, I came from Junrinan District 1 of the Rukongai. An elderly woman we called Granny took us in." Hinamori smiled softly in reminiscence. "Toshiro and I were quite a handful for her. What about you?"
Rukia filed away this information for later. She had been right. Hinamori had grown up with Hitsugaya, but just how close were they?
"I grew up in one of the poorest districts." She admitted casually causing the girl's eyes to widen.
"But, I thought you were a member of the Kuchiki clan…, sorry, that sounded rude." Momo muttered, embarrassed.
"It's okay, the adoption came later when I was already a student in the academy." Rukia remembered Byakuya's confession, his reasons for bringing her into his family. The pain was still there, lessened, but still alive. How far could she trust her. . . "Renji and I were close, similar to how you and Hitsugaya-Taichou are. Something happened when we were in the academy, after I was adopted, Renji didn't seem to want anything to do with me. I guess he thought I would change." She let a small bitter smile grace her features. Hinamori reached over and patted her hand. "Toshiro and I aren't so close anymore. I still love him like a brother, but for Renji to turn his back on you, oh, Kuchiki-san, I'm sorry. You must've been hurt terribly."
She accepted the girl's sympathy, surprised at the same time how much better she felt inside. It had felt nice to talk to someone close to her age. Someone who would listen to her and who she would listen to. Stark and Ulquiorra were different. They couldn't understand the concept of a friend. She frowned, heading back to the barracks. Well, maybe Stark could.
Sometime later, Rukia knelt amid piles of old scrolls written in an old hand. They had asked for Ashido's combat record. Problem was, no one was sure least of all him, how long he had been missing. Rukia sighed, pausing to rub her nose discreetly. All that dust was getting to her as was the annoying feeling she was barking up the wrong tree.
She wished she had asked Hinamori if there was any way to use kido to locate things or names…. She sighed and continued looking through old mission reports. If she could find the Squad he was attached to, then she might be able to look up contemporaneous sources.
Sometime later when her eyes were lowering in boredom, she came across a mention of a scientific experiment from a more recent age. What's this doing here? She frowned at the names. Sarugaki-Fukutaichou, Urahara-Taichou, the dates were from well over a hundred years ago. Rukia set the scroll aside and dug around finding others seemingly tucked away into the shelf of Squad Member Promotions. What on earth…someone…
She stared down at the writing spilling across the yellowed pages, awareness dawning. Someone had hidden them away where no one would think to look. Checking once more to make sure she was really and truly alone, Rukia unfolded them in sequential order and began reading their contents, her suspicions growing about the true magnitude of her find.
Here ….here was the lost papers pertaining to Urahara Kisuke's research into creating the Hogyoku. Rukia's heart roared an ocean in her ears. She closed her eyes several times, trying to control her excitement. The Taichou of Twelfth Division had been exiled on charges of illegal experimentation. He had disappeared years ago under a cloud of scandal.
She bit her lip, thinking hard. Urahara had created the Hogyoku for his own reasons. He hadn't been able to destroy it likely hiding it in a place where no would think to look like his research. Returning to the notes written in a masculine hand, she poured over the words, her mind churning.
The Hogyoku would need a host…maybe…someone with an enormous spirit pressure to disguise the artifact. Somewhere where its application wouldn't be ordinarily noticed. Then, it hit her. A small backwater place like Karakura Town…why else would it become an epicenter of Hollow activity. How else would Ichigo suddenly develop the powers of a Shinigami…and from Ulquiorra's sight, the humans around Ichigo were gaining their own powers.
Disturbed by her potential revelations, Rukia replaced the research papers where she had found them, resuming her search for Ashido eventually her patience won out and she found him under the Sixth Division.
She returned directly to the Thirteenth Division, slightly annoyed she had missed dinner. She had gotten used to the punctuality of the Arrancar servants in Las Noches, reflecting this was usually the time she and Ulquiorra would share a meal together.
"Is something wrong, Kuchiki-Fukutaichou?" A passing Squad member asked. Rukia glanced into the face of a pretty dark-haired woman. "No, nothing, Nuriko-san." She recalled the name in time from when she had been introduced to the individual Squad members. "Is Ukitake-Taichou in?"
"Ah - I believe he is. He seems to be feeling better," Nuriko commented. "And I must say, that Shinigami that was found, he's pretty high in the looks department!" Nuriko chuckled to herself. Rukia shook her head slightly, unable to keep from smiling. The woman had the reputation for being a flirt. Briefly, she wondered what it would be like to gauge someone, a man by their looks.
"Is that Kano-san's combat record?"
"Yeah."
"Did it say anything 'bout a wife?" Nuriko smirked. "Just curious."
"No, it didn't."
"Oh, good that means I still have a chance - well, before he leaves."
"What do you mean?" Rukia hadn't heard anything to the contrary, but then she was going on Tosen's intel and the message she received early morning. She had been away from the office for a while. Stark should've kept his lazy ass around to hear the latest gossip.
"I'm surprised you don't know," Nuriko said thoughtfully, "after you suggested it yourself or at least that's what Kiyone-san told me." She frowned thinking her intelligence might've been wrong. "The higher-ups are thinking of sending Kano to the living world. I believe Kyoto was considered, but because of the large number of souls moved out of there, someone suggested Karakura Town especially since Afro-san -" she giggled to Rukia's raised brow. "I mean Kurumadani-san, wants to return to regular duty."
Rukia felt herself pale considering everything she had just read in the reports. For one, Ashido being moved to the living world eliminated her need for secrecy and she could continue cultivating - she winced at her own assessment. Befriending Hinamori. But, that also left the distinct possibility of the Hogyoku hidden in the living world. Aizen likely considered it already…was that why he'd sent Ulquiorra to watch over Ichigo? The findings had been inconclusive, she thought otherwise he would've moved on it.
"Get back to work," she ordered without any real heat, patting Nuriko on the back to show she meant it as a joke. Nuriko gamely saluted with a grin. "Aye, aye, Fukutaichou ma'am. I'm off to get my man!" She said it with such a straight face that Rukia found herself laughing as she walked away.
She passed a few other Squad members who greeted her with smiles. Rukia thought the difference was the badge on her arm, but corrected her thoughts with Kiyone and Sentaro's enthusiastic greeting. They were still fighting over who would make Ukitake-Taichou tea when she left them, going the long way through the grounds to reach his office.
The Taichou was alone when she announced herself. He waved her to a seat opposite him. Ukitake glanced over Ashido's file, nodding over some things, frowning at others. "You pulled his personal record as well, I see. Good. He went for a psychological assessment earlier. Other than malnutrition, Unohana-san pronounced him fit to return to duty."
"So, I've heard. Sir, are you going to give him the posting in the living world?" She hid her anxiousness behind a bland look of mild interest.
"I was thinking of it. I didn't want to give Kano-san the impression that Soul Society didn't want him by so hurriedly moving him into another world." He admitted, chagrined. "Do you think he'll feel that way?"
Rukia felt herself softening from the earnestness of the plea. He had been a Taichou for longer than she had existed and he still wanted her approval on decisions. She felt almost cruel acknowledging her own deception. "No, I don't think so. I don't think I've met him before so I can't say for sure. But, if Kano-san knows you have his best interests at heart, then he can't really fault you." Plus, she added internally, Ashido had seemed a loner. He probably needed time to adjust to being around other Shinigami, though from everything she had heard, Ichigo seemed to resent Soul Society interference in the living world.
She wondered if it could become a problem if the two became close. As she grew quiet lost in her reverie, Ukitake spoke almost to himself.
"Because of Urahara-san's mentoring, Ichigo-kun's turning into a fine Shinigami. I'm sure Kano-san ….," he trailed off, catching the frozen look on her face. Rukia felt her lips part, almost a wordless expression of astonishment.
In the silence that followed, Rukia's mind churned, stunned to realize she had been in the dark the entire time. "Sir, with all due respect how did Kurosaki become a Shinigami?" I certainly didn't give him any of my powers…
Ukitake looked at her hard, gone was the open friendly expression of the Squad Thirteen Taichou. Something in her look when he had mentioned Urahara's name had sent warning bells off in his mind. Rukia relaxed visibly, silently thanking the Kuchiki clan for instilling her with blank indifference. Ukitake heard the crash of the tea tray outside, signing that he likely wouldn't be getting any tea before bedtime thanks to his Third seats.
"I'm not in a position to inquire. Ichigo-kun is very secretive about that part of his life. He has helped Soul Society in the past and I felt it best not to question him too closely, sometimes it's better not to know."
She felt the topic had been dropped and decided to leave it there. Ukitake would resort to open suspicion about her if she kept questioning him. They talked about other things after that. The potential offer of a seat for Kobayashi Nuriko since Sato Yuzuki was retiring from active duty.
Rukia noticed the hour was late and bid the Taichou a goodnight. He caught her at the door with his last words. "I'll talk to Kano-san tomorrow about taking up the mission in the living world."
She forced herself to nod slightly, it was expected after all. She walked the empty avenues, her mind uneasy. If she went to the Kuchiki manor, she would be expected to sleep under the same roof as Byakuya. She would see him in the morning, she would exchange polite greetings. Rukia wasn't sure if she could face him right now, not with everything before her. Aizen's words came to her ghost-like from memory.
"He tried to block your appointment."
Why…to keep me safe…because he thought I wasn't worthy?
At last, giving into her weariness, Rukia trudged to the barracks where she lost herself in fitful sleep.
A messenger came in the early morning summoning him from the separate quarters he had been given in the Thirteenth Division. Ashido rose and prepared himself for the decision that had been made. The message was deliberately vague in its contents, he was surprised to find he had almost missed regular duty and the sight of the black butterfly. The general outline of Soul Society hadn't changed; some of the barbaric customs had been discontinued. One of the young women from the Division had gotten him up to speed on certain details. He was surprised when they didn't mention the increased number of Hollows entering the living world. Breakfasting lightly on the protein bar Unohana had prescribed, he couldn't help but contrast in his mind the place where he had slept for years beneath tree roots and the small clean room he had stayed in. He hadn't slept as well as he would've liked, supposing old habits died hard. In a resting state, part of him was always alert for the approach of Hollows, even though now it was ridiculous to expect them.
Being safe - or safer was something he would have trouble adjusting to.
Sighing over his bagshot eyes, he ran a hand through his hair. Where was Rukia now? That strange Shinigami who had an affinity with Hollows. Protecting him and then protecting one. He almost could've hated her for that betrayal. But, even that was difficult. Chryse had said he was helping him because of someone else. He had immediately thought Rukia, but wasn't so sure now. Leaving the quarters he had been assigned, Ashido paused on the doorstep, frowning at the dark clouds. A light sprinkle had begun to fall across the city. As he shunpo'd to the office of the Thirteenth Division, he passed someone so quickly his mind hadn't quite caught up to his thoughts. The man was familiar, walking slowly under the eaves of the mess hall. Tall to the point of being considered lanky, he had wavy dark brown hair and light colored eyes set beneath thin brows. He had looked at Ashido when he went past, watching him with a frown.
Slowing, he came to a stop, feeling the rain streak his skin.
He was positive, he knew that face from somewhere; but the black color, the shihakusho had seemed entirely wrong on the man's frame. Why? Where had he seen him?
When he looked back, the man was gone.
Rukia let loose her fists in a barrage. She had awoken to the sound of rain, a sound that she hadn't missed from her time in Hueco Mundo. Stark let her punch him a few times, brow tilting in bemusement. They stood closely together beneath the trees at the furthest edge of the Thirteenth Division. She had shunpo'd out of nowhere, grabbing him by the arm. This was the one time he thought she was getting better at mimicking Sonido. "What's wrong?" He grumbled, catching her by the wrists. Rukia harrumphed, settling for kicking him in the shin. "You idiot! He saw you!"
"Who did?" Of course he knew. He couldn't help it that the Shinigami went by. He had sensed him coming and been watching to make sure his senses hadn't been wrong. It was really a different thing to connect his pesquisa with the meat suit he was forced to wear to hide his Arrancar appearance. Stark watched Rukia's mouth fall open and then shut fast. She was furious, but it wasn't like Kano knew what to do with what he saw. He might've recognized him, or might not have. It didn't make much difference.
"Ashido...,"
"Kano is going to be gone soon." Stark murmured; Rukia struggled a little, water spiraled down the tips of her hair. "Calm down."
"I know." She sounded defeated, likely knowing she had worked herself up over nothing. "Release me."
No, he thought, but halfway smiled. "Just don't punch me, okay?" It didn't really hurt, but still the meat suit wasn't like his hierro.
Rukia rolled her eyes, "no promises."
"That's good enough." He released her wrists, watching her flick her wet bangs back from her face. The stubborn longer bang fell back to her eyes. She looked cross and soaked to the skin. "I'm glad Ashido isn't in Hueco Mundo anymore." She muttered, leaning back against the wet bark of the tree. Stark regarded her curiously. "I know, I was wondering about that. How did he get to the living world?"
"Isn't it obvious? Someone opened a Garganta and let him through." Rukia straightened, cold suddenly. She had been on her way to report to Aizen when she had spotted the idiot standing there beneath the roof tiles. He had been loitering too close to where Ashido was staying. It was only a matter of time before they saw one another. If Stark was recognized, she supposed something would have to be done. But, before that happened, she wasn't about to harm the person who saved her once.
Ashido cautiously slid the door open on its track, embarrassed with his wet state of clothing.
"Kano Ashido." He announced himself, voice cracking. He had been given the use of the barracks showers, fitted for a fresh shihakusho. Kotetsu-san reassured him that his record was located by Kuchiki-Fukutaichou and was delivered to Ukitake-Taichou for review.
The Kuchiki name summoned up an ancient plethora of dislike. One of the four great clans…guess he shouldn't have held out hope for their demise.
"Ah, come in, Kano-san." The voice was male, warmth radiated from the man's soft brown eyes. Ukitake had scarcely changed from the centuries in which he has known him.
"I understand you were previously a member of Sixth Division?" They were seated across from one another. The door to the veranda was open to a view of a graceful Zen garden. Distantly, he could hear birdsong.
"Yes." A cough. "I was."
"Ordinarily, you would return to active duty." Ukitake looked troubled for a moment. "However, Kuchiki-Taichou has demurred the placing of your status into my hands. You were found by Kurumadani-san, therefore in my custody. So, I would ask you now, Kano-kun, where would you like me to place you?"
Kuchiki-Taichou….so there was more than one of them in the ranks. He refrained from impolite humor. Kuchiki didn't want the problem of a missing thought dead Shinigami in his Division. Things were too perfect for him to trouble himself about a wayward Squad member.
Ashido spread his big hands open, palms up. Surrender. He had little idea of the political climate within Seireitei and no inclination to side with anyone. Deep down, he had always felt he was on his own. A trait no doubt he shared with Chryse. Chryse was simply too human-like for his own good. Something about that Hollow got under his skin. He still couldn't wrap his head around it. What kind of Hollow said thank you?
"I have no home, no family, no associations with Kuchiki-Taichou so my path is clear."
The man was watching him intently. He seemed to like what he saw. "Kurumadani-san has been complaining about working with our Deputy Shinigami in the living world. I was thinking it was time he returned. I'd need someone else, competent, able to give Kurosaki-kun space." The Taichou finally got around to what was on his mind. Ashido was glad. His legs were falling asleep.
"I was going to nominate you, Kano Ashido."
He had an instant's remembrance of bright sunshine, wind and trees. Karakura Town? It seemed almost a dream too impossible to be real.
"Some here are confused by your presence. I believe time spent as guardian might acclimate you to the way things are done here. You will also prove yourself to the naysayers." A slight grimace decorated the frailer man's mouth.
Silence fell as he slowly absorbed the gift that had unexpectedly fallen into his hands.
"I hope you are content with our decision." Ukitake smiled and the vague remembrance of someone from the past smiling the same way reassured him.
"I…thank you." He bowed formally and stood to go. It was more than he had hoped or looked for.
It felt a new start, one he could almost thank a Hollow for.
The door rattled back on the track on the floor. Rukia appeared, looking winded. Her hair was flyaway, her breath came hard. Aizen tilted a questioning look, noticing she had left on her sandals, tracking in a goodly quantity of water. So impolite. She had waited until Hinamori was breakfasting in the mess hall before coming to visit.
"Is there a problem, Kuchiki-san?"
"I was able to access the records." Instead of a bow like any good subservient minion, she stomped in. He tried not to wince imagining the loose bits of soil coming off her sandal bottoms.
"And?"
He had known this day was coming. Kuchiki-san wasn't remiss in her duties nor was she inclined to blindly tread where Gin had looked upon everything with a smile. No. She was…different. She was an enigma. She kept him …entertained.
"I discovered information pertaining to the object you've been searching for."
"What is the Hogyoku?"
He watched her narrowly. "You've read the research." It wasn't a question. Rukia felt obliged to force a cold yes from her lips.
"It is an artifact created through illegal research carried on by Kisuke Urahara. The orb is capable of breaking down the barrier between Shinigami and Hollow. I require it for the army. I seek to perfect the Arrancar, Rukia. Can you not see how wonderful and necessary the object is to possess?"
Her blood ran cold. Rukia couldn't bring herself to speak. Breach the barrier….create something more …human? Powerful? It didn't seem possible. She knew she was incapable of understanding the enormity of the Primera's power. To imagine someone or something stronger than him was beyond her. But, that wasn't all the orb was capable of. She was sure of it. Urahara had been deliberately vague about the other aspect of the orb's power, leading her to suspect he knew at the time or was aware of there being some other capability.
"You think it's in the living world?"
"I'm positive of it." He said calmly, shifting some papers on his desk. When he found the one he was looking for, he held it out to her. Rukia glanced at them, hesitantly taking the papers. "What is this?" She saw nothing of much interest. They were reports likely pilfered from Research and Development showing anomalous activities between the worlds. She assumed the spikes were Hollows traversing the veil between Hueco Mundo and the living world. "Hollows?"
"No, I'm sure they aren't. The activity is so small, one wouldn't ordinarily pay it no mind." Aizen explained, "I've been keeping an eye on them for a while. Recently, they've been growing in number, a constant filtering of back and forth in a specific place in Kyoto. I would've thought it didn't concern us -"
"But, now you do. Why?" Rukia finished his sentence, she flipped through the pages.
"One of them seems to be attracted to Karakura Town, their ultimate purpose we have yet to know. Whatever they are," she looked up sharply, alarmed. Aizen didn't think they were Hollows for good reason. They would've noticed a constant migration stream to the living world if its source was traced from Hueco Mundo."I don't believe they're on our side. Eventually, Soul Society is going to take notice. I want you to be scarce for the time being."
"Oh, so now you're worried about me." Rukia managed a tiny smirk, he frowned at her flippancy. She had never seen the man concerned. He had always acted as if everything was falling into his hands, now, she glimpsed some concern and annoyance. It struck her then, that he was worried about whatever was coming. He had played his game with that illusion technique, whatever it was, maybe it had to be seen first in order to work. If so, whoever was making those incursions hadn't seen it therefore couldn't be controlled. Rukia looked down at the reports, some sort of pattern emerging. Had she ever seen his zanpakuto? No...but, a flicker of Soujun's face went through her mind. "It's nice to see how much trust there is between you two."
She grabbed the hilt of his zanpakuto to keep him from drawing it. At the time, she had thought it better to restrain hostility and Aizen had been surprised. Almost shocked that she touched his sword. Rukia's eyes flickered to him. He was looking at her in apparent consternation. She didn't think she was under any kind of spell. Everything she had done thus far was her own will.
"But, what about Momo?"
"You can come back and forth, but I would like for you to stay out of it, until I ascertain what this new threat is. In the meantime, when you have sufficiently prepared your own reports, you may call a meeting and address the Espada."
She lifted her brows; preside over a meeting? Wow.
"So now you trust me."
"Kuchiki-san, I don't trust anyone." She thought a truer statement had never been said by him.
-TBC
AN: Thanks for reading!
No flames!
Please let me know what you think, if you just pass by without leaving a review it makes me think you didn't like it ._.