A/N – Hey guys! Long time no see! First off – Thank you to my reviewer who pointed out the formatting issues with my latest chapter. Otherwise, nothing new other than what I've said before – Adulting sucks, and I never find the time to update this story and feel so badly about. But I finally got my ish together today and posted because I love writing this story. And sometimes I feel like I write and edit it exactly when I'm supposed to (even if it's months/years later). I will not stop until it's all out there! Anyways, I've decided to end my hiatus with a bit of a time skip – doesn't mean that we won't go back to the past, it just wasn't ready to come out yet
Present day:
Is it just me, or is the Sun bright as hell today?
The sake might have something to do with it, Master.
Gin arose with a feeling he hadn't had in a very long time – a hangover.
Sure, he didn't drink as much as he used to. Especially now that Aizen's plans had almost come to fruition, he had to be very mindful of his erratic and thoughtless tendencies.
But witnessing Rangiku with that entitled piece of shit – it was nothing short of a miracle there hadn't been a brawl in the streets. It was one thing to suspect it with every fiber in your being. But to see it was another thing entirely.
He drank that night until everything faded to black.
When he woke up that morning, he was in his barracks. He remembered that, at least – not to make a fool of himself publicly and come to his quarters to drink. But the feeling of sickness had less to do with the sake and more to do with his dreams.
His memories.
Of her. Of them, as a family. Of being a father.
Asuna.
He had not known what it was like to be someone's father, namely because he hadn't had parents himself. But the moment she had come into their world, with her clear blue eyes and shock of silver hair…
He knew he did not need a father to tell him what he felt in that moment was unconditional.
So, he let those first few years of happiness flood into his subconscious to keep his rage at bay, all the while fighting of the darker memories that pulled at the edges, threatening to remind him why it was exactly that Kuchiki – no - anyone but Gin himself, was in his wife's bed.
I'm a selfish bastard.
Before Shinso had a chance to reply, Gin sensed the gentle fluttering of a hell butterfly behind him.
"A training exercise?"
"Yes," Sasakibe stood in place of the Head Captain at the monthly captain's meeting, prepared for any disagreements that might arise.
"Finally! I'm tired of being the only Captain specialized in combat."
"Quiet, young Sui Feng. It is best to hold your tongue when men of intellect speak," Korotsuchi snickered
"Why, you!"
"Captains, there's no need to fight. At least not until the training begins." Captain Kyoraku tilted the brim of his hat upward to expose the smirk on his face.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, I would have expected better from you." Ukitake chimed in.
"Ever the saint, Captain Ukitake." Gin faked a bow in the elder captain's direction. He felt compelled to join the conversation. As awful as he still felt, it was uncharacteristic of him not to be sardonic with his peers.
Lieutenant Sasakibe cleared his throat.
"The goal of this exercise is to implement a specific protocol for the new high-level spiritual pressure hollow that keeps popping up in the world of the living. And, also, to identify and exterminate other threats with capabilities much like our own."
At this, Captain Kuchiki made a barely audible sound: one of disgust and disappointment. He knew what the lieutnenant meant. That filthy Shinigami boy that had stolen Rukia's powers, the one that had caused her to be a traitor. The boy that would send her to her death.
Ichigo Kurosaki.
Scum.
Despite Captain Yamamoto allowing Byakuya to miss this month's meeting, his pride would not let him admit to defeat. Rukia had shamed herself, had disgraced the family name, even, but Byakuya was too proud of a man to be exempt from duty, to display any emotions or opinions on the matter of Rukia's execution.
At least, so he thought.
"Is there something the matter, Kuchiki?" Byakuya shifted his gaze toward Captain Ichimaru, with his slit-eyed grin, twiddling his thumbs between his sleeves.
Fuck off, Ichimaru.
"No, Captain. In fact, I was excusing myself to ask 1st Lieutenant Sasakibe if we would be needing to do one-on-one combat, and, if so, offer myself as a volunteer for this exercise."
"I was just getting to that," the first lieutenant clapped his hands together. He looked pleased everyone was on board with the training. "Anyone else want to volunteer?"
"I will fight Captain Kuchiki." Captain Hitsugaya took a step forward from the line, facing the 1st Lieutenant. "I believe we are well-matched in this type of combat."
"Too well matched, I would say," Tousen's voice startled Byakuya, who was not used to him speaking at these meetings. "Your energies are too similar, and seeing as how Squad 6 Captain Kuchiki is already versed in snow-and-ice type zanpakutos…"
Tousen's voice trailed off and the air in the room grew dense. Rukia's was a snow-and-ice type. He knew the basic law and principles of how she could use it without hesitation. It would be an unfair fight between him and the young captain.
"I think I would like to try my hand at this exercise, whaddya say, Kuchiki?"
The lord let out a sigh, as if he could not be bothered to fight him. In truth, he had been hoping to train with Aizen or even Unohana, as their capabilities were as enigmatic as themselves.
Gin wanted to cut his throat right then.
The stealth force training grounds were chosen for the exercise, despite Sui Feng not being picked to fight. No captain had any objection to Kuchiki and Ichimaru. In fact, for those that didn't already know of their dislike for each other, it was pretty obvious to those that didn't.
The stealth force training facility was underground and comprised of many tunnels, all leading to a main cavernous dome, where the other captains were seated in wait for Sasakibe's instructions.
"As I said before, the purpose of this exercise is to implement a specific protocol for these types of threats. Of course, we can't all be in the world of the living and leave Soul Society unguarded. But more than that – having too many captain-level Soul Reapers in the world of the living would surely be noticeable and disrupt the very balance of things.
"That being said, these hollows, and even humans with immense spiritual pressure do not care. At the moment, we must determine on a case-by-case basis whether to capture these individuals for questioning and study, or to exterminate them on the spot."
Humans with immense spiritual pressure. He means that damned boy!
"Captain Kuchiki, Captain Ichimaru. Please proceed to the arena."
At Sasakibe's behest, both captains arose from their seats and flash-stepped to the centre of the dome, each on either side of Sasakibe.
"We anticipate these enemies to have captain level strength. Therefore, the Head Captain thought it would be a good start to observe one-on-one combat between Captains. If this initial exercise goes well, we will proceed to another pair and possibly invite the lieutenants in for training as well."
Sui Feng was visibly appeased her opportunity to fight was not lost. "Head Lieutenant, does that mean we will have the opportunity to choose our opponents just as we did today?"
"Coincidentally, Captain Sui Feng, we did have pairing in mind in this first phase of training, assuming we continue this project. Or should I say, we did have pairs we would not allow to fight against each other for various reasons – you and Captain Kumamoto for instance, or Captain Kuchiki and Captain Hitsugaya.
"We ranked pairings in order of most ideal to least. In our current exercise, Captains Kuchiki and Ichimaru are very ideally suited to combat one-on-one, second only to Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake and Captains Aizen and Unohana."
Up to this point it all made sense to Byakuya. Very rarely, if ever, had the captains had to train against one another, leaving each with the knowledge of what the other could do without the actual experience of how to handle it, should one of the captains defect or betray the Gotei 13.
However, he could not for the life of him see how he and Ichimaru were an ideal match. He never liked the man – never liked how they'd been compared and forced to be in each other's presence his whole career as a Soul Reaper. They'd shared accomplishments and promotions in a way no other pair of captains had to, save for Kyoraku and Ukitake.
But that was different – they were best friends. And Gin was too far beneath Byakuya to even be considered an acquaintance.
Aizen, who was being uncharacteristically quiet, spoke for the first time.
"Head Lieutenant Sasakibe," he sighed, "While I do understand the theory behind this training and applaud you and the Head Captain for taking our threat in the world of the living into your own hands, are we really to assume that these creatures have captain-level ability? What I truly mean to say is, if we're to be fighting one-on-one at full strength, how do we not kill each other?"
Gin knew what Aizen was truly after – if this initial training ended up being a success, he would eventually have to participate. Depending on his opponent, fighting at full strength could mean revealing the true nature of his zanpakuto and he couldn't have that.
"Oh yes, that's right! I forgot to mention that, while we do need you to fight seriously for this exercise to be effective, we will not ask that you release bankai. You will each be enveloped in a kidou skin and the match will end when an opponents skin can no longer sustain itself and disappear.
"Remember, this exercise has no winner or loser. Our aim is to observe and come up with ideas to effectively control this issue, if there are any. Worst case scenario, most of us get a chance to sharpen our skills."
That answer seemed to please Aizen. Gin could detect the tiniest upturn of the corner of his master's mouth.
"Shall we begin then?" Kuchiki had already placed his captain's haori away. Gin noticed a barely perceptible bite mark near the other captain's collar and wanted to scream.
"Ready when you are, Byakuya."
The better part of an hour has passed with each captain racing through and striking each other, mostly in the tunnels, but the other squad captains did catch a glimpse when they would flash step into the arena.
Sasakibe was right, they were very well-matched opponents, which infuriated Byakuya. It infuriated Gin for different reasons.
Gin's kidou skin was the more damaged of the two. He couldn't even use his hangover as an excuse, his rage more than made up for that. In truth, while Shinso was the faster of the two swords to attack, Byakuya was a faster Soul Reaper. The speed of the wielder in this environment of caves and tunnels, triumphed over the speed of the sword.
They were back in the arena now. Gin could see the other observers out of the corner of his eye. Sui Feng was ecstatic, while Ukitake and Unohana were taking notes. Captain Hitsugaya had the unfortunate task of quieting Zaraki's taunting. And Aizen – watching with a quiet disapproval, as if he knew that Gin would not win.
Just then, Gin felt a slash and a flurry of razor like Sakura petals collide into his skin barrier, then a rush of cool air. This was by far the worst blow of the match, leaving his back wide open to attack. If an attack hit either one of them directly, Sasakibe assured, the kidou skin would vanish.
"Oy, an attack from behind, Kuchiki? You really are pathetic."
All muttering going on in the stands suddenly stopped. Zaraki even stopped mid-sentence to pay attention.
"Is that what you plan to do with that boy that has your sister?" Gin mocked. And here he was trying to keep his cool.
He was furious for a whole host of reasons. He did not like this man – this entitled brat that stood before him. He had everything handed to him on a silver platter. He did not earn his captaincy as the rest had. He had suffered loss, yes. First his parents, then his wife and his grandfather. He even lost Yoruichi, who despite what others may have believed, Gin knew was his first love.
But he had no weaknesses.
So where does that bastard get off sleeping with mine?
Even with everything other reason that Gin had to hate this man – only one drove him to his current wrath. He did not care how he won this battle anymore.
"You're speaking out of turn, Captain Ichimaru" Kuchiki was always on his high pedestal.
I was wrong. He does have one weakness.
"Don't you think there's no honour in that type a' kill, Byakuya? Or are you not concerned there's any more honour to protect? I mean, Rukia is a Rukongai stray like me, we do anything to survive. Or in her case, anyone – "
The momentary break in Byakuya's defense was all that Gin needed to attack. He unleashed Shinso, with Byakuya having only moments to spare before blocking his attack. But Gin was ruthless, slashing and jabbing so that all Byakuya could do was defend.
"What has gotten into you, Gin?" Byakuya said angrily, but also a little confused. He tried to keep his voice hushed, not that anyone would be able to hear over the sounds of their swords anyways.
"What's gotten into me, you bastard? Maybe ya' should ask yourself what you've gotten into."
"I don't understand"
"You think you can have whatever you want because you're fucking royalty. Well, it doesn't work on all of us, Lord Kuchiki. I won't sit back and let you take what's mine."
Byakuya, still confused but angry, started to regain some of his composure. His skin was as badly damaged as Gin's now, and with no way out of his attacks using Senbonsakura, he resorted to another under-handed method. The training exercise had been over for them both for a while now.
A close range kidou shot should do it.
"Hadou number 34 –"
" - Ban-kai."
Tousen was the first to jump into the arena and held Gin back from releasing Shinso's form. The others waited in the stands, guarded but armed in case Gin were to make any sudden movements.
Gin was only slightly taller than Byakuya, yet he seemed to tower over him as he straddled the noble, pinning both arms at his sides. Only Gin's torso and right arm was restrained. He suspected something like this would happen if he released his bankai and bettered his chances of success by wielding Shinso with his left. He knew he would hear about this from Aizen later, but in this moment, he couldn't contain his rage – no, his jealousy, any further. He was well aware all the captains sensed their mutual animosity. And given Gin's past erratic behaviour, he was sure that's all that Aizen needed.
The last of Byakuya's kidou skin evaporated as he felt the blood trickle back to the nape of his neck. Shinso was lain against his throat as he lay motionless between Gin and the floor, unable to understand the older man's bloodlust for him. The wound was superficial. Startling, nonetheless.
The room was dead silent and Tousen had Gin restrained using kidou, but he was not close enough to them to hear whispers.
"I won't sit back and let you take what's mine"
Those words kept echoing in Byakuya's head as he realized in this game with no winner, he had certainly lost.
The younger captain looked up from the sword and into the face of his aggressor. Gin's eyes were manic.
"It can't be you." Byakuya whispered.
"Do what you want with my wife, but if you hurt Asuna, I'll kill you in plain sight."
That was enough confirmation. At that, Byakuya pushed Gin off him and disappeared, so he wouldn't endure any more humiliation in front of his peers.
Flash-stepping back to his estate, Byakuya tried to unfold all that had happened in the last few minutes. How could he not have guessed it was him? He never would have thought it could be another Soul Reaper. Though, it wasn't a secret they had lived in the same village. It was presumable. And God! Asuna's silver hair….
And all that Gin had said – about Byakuya's status and honour. And all that he had left unsaid…
He suddenly stopped.
And laughed.