Chapter 23 (Kisuke)

Today was the day Ichigo would go to the Soul Society.

Tessai and I had spent the week setting up the Senkaimon and everything else required for their journey. Ichigo was as ready as he could be, which wasn't very far but it would do. He didn't have the skill as half the shinigami but he had good instincts. Truth be told, the killer instincts he had scared me but that was good. He had the morality to keep it check.

I had looked into the eyes of killers and Ichigo didn't have them.

"Kisuke," Yoruichi's hand rested on my shoulder. Like me, she was lying on her stomach but her face was squashed into the pillow. Still half-asleep, she mumbled, "What time is it?"

"A bit past nine," I ran a hand over my face. She groaned loudly and I laughed, "Those kids tired you out, huh?"

"Mhm," She propped herself up, stretching her spine like a cat. Reaching over, she dug her nails into my chest as I turned on my back, "You did too."

I smirked and reached to the ground for her shirt. She was already standing beside the bed in her panties when I threw them at her. She padded over to the bathroom and shouted from there as she showered.

"So everything's set? Ichigo good to go?"

"Yeah," I made the bed and joined her in the shower, "He's got to achieve Bankai in the Soul Society. We didn't quite make it."

"If we're lucky he won't need to," She murmured.

"He will if Aizen shows up."

"Is it worth it? Sparing Rukia if it means Aizen gets the Hogyoku?" This hadn't been the first time she had asked me this question since she had arrived. In many ways, I was on the same page as her.

"I can't become the monster they all like to think I am," I stepped into the stream of water as Yoruichi stepped out.

"You're worried what she'll think—you're doing this to prove to Kumiko that you're not a monster." When I said nothing, she shook her head with a sigh, "Kisuke…you have to realize that she may not care anymore. You love her but what if she doesn't love you?"

"It's not just about her. What kind of example would I be showing Shizuko?" I had already made up my mind to help Rukia long before I found out about my daughter, and Yoruichi knew that.

We left it at that and carried on the day with making the final preparations. Finally, the time had come that Ichigo and his friends had arrived and we had moved down to the underground training grounds.

"Be careful," I murmured to Yoruichi, "We may not be enemies with the Seireitei anymore but we are by no means friends."

"We're breaking in," She smirked, "I think that classifies us as enemies."

I chuckled, "Are you ready?"

She nodded. For a moment, she was very quiet. Her tail whipped back and forth in contemplation. I knew what question was on the tip of her tongue, so I saved her the trouble of asking it.

"Don't look for her," I murmured, "She'll be angry—furious. She doesn't deal with surprises well, and she—"

"Will gouge my eyes out the moment she sees me?" She laughed, "Sounds fair. I'm not her biggest fan either."

I smiled, "Be safe."

She nodded and set towards the group of teenagers. I hopped up on my post and explained to them all what would happen. And just like clockwork, I opened the Senkaimon and they were off. There was no going back now.

Tessai walked up to the portal. I joined him, staring quietly into the Precipice World. My heart thudded loudly, a mixture of longing and dread pumping through my veins. I so badly wanted to go back to my home.

Like Pandora's Box, feelings that I had long pushed down came flooding out. What would they do if I went there? Surely the Seireitei wasn't so cruel that I would still be punished for something we all knew I wasn't guilty of.

I wanted to see my parents' graves. I wanted to see how my old squad grounds were looking—to breathe the rich, fresh air, and to visit the Rukon. I wanted to see the apartment Shizuko told me she lived in, and the garden she was so enthusiastic about. I wanted to see Kumiko and hold her even if she screamed and hit me—to say sorry.

"I can't live in a world without you, Kisuke." Her whispers were soft against my ear. Even now, I could feel the cool touch of her hair as she buried her face in the crook of my neck. "I don't want to."

"Kisuke…" Tessai warned me quietly as I reached out to the Senkaimon.

Just maybe…I could go back. Kumiko had managed to pick up the pieces of her life and put it back together—why couldn't I?

My fingers touched the portal. Energy zapped up my arm and I snatched my hand back. All those dreams and wishes were fried, impossible realities. I regarded the Senkaimon carefully and buried all those feelings back down.

Her smile as I reached for her hand. She glanced over at me, eyes flitting back to the Captains and officers around us. They didn't notice, all too busy fidgeting for the camera. With a gentle squeeze, she turned back to the camera. I did too and the camera clicked. A bright light flashed.

And she was gone.


Boy, oh, boy were these chapters short! I'm sorry about that! The next update should be picking up some momentum again!

Next on CoS: Shizuko tells Renji a secret; Kumiko makes her move to see Kisuke; The Seireitei is intruded by our favorite mango/strawberry boy.

Be safe and please remember to social distance! I know how frustrating it is but hang in there!