Chapter 31
(Shizuko)
Ichigo was on his way. My mother had gone too but she and Yoruichi had been scarce on the details.
Now, Yoruichi and I were heading towards the fields. The battle had already begun—I could feel several spiritual pressures coursing through the air, blazing hot and ready to fight. Byakuya's was unleashed too, along with several of the other captains.
As we approached, Yoruichi looked at me, "Find Ichigo's friends. They'll need help getting to Sogyoku Hill…and they may need someone to back them up if they encounter resistance."
"What about you?"
She looked ahead where several Shinigami were scrambling, "Just focus on protecting the others. This is far from over."
"Where's my mother?"
"Squad Twelve. If she succeeds then we may get the upper hand in all this."
Before I could ask another thing, she was gone. I carried on my path along the stairwell, focusing on finding the humans. They were down in Squad One's grounds, close to where Renji and Ichigo had fought.
As I sprinted towards them, I felt Ichigo's spiritual pressure rupture through the air. He had unleashed his Bankai.
I glanced up at the hill, wondering briefly if Byakuya would be okay. I had witnessed how powerful Ichigo was—several times now—and I wasn't sure there were many people who could counter it. Still, the last time I had seen Byakuya train was when we had been significantly younger. His strength would have drastically increased…he would be fine.
The humans stiffened as soon as I rounded the corner and stopped in front of them.
"It's okay—I know her," Ganju stepped forward, "Where's your mother?"
"Not your concern," I looked around. There wasn't any Shinigami near us, but I doubted that that would stay that way for long. The execution already had drawn all eyes on Sogyoku Hill, and the commotion proceeding would have dozens of Soul Reapers gathering to help their Captains. "Come with me."
They were all hesitant but followed Ganju as he stepped towards me. I clasped my hands together and gathered my energy.
"No one move," I murmured, "I need to hide us."
After disguising their spiritual pressures with a barrier, I led them up an overgrown path up to the top of the hill. The closer we got to the top, the harder it became to breathe. So many battles were going on—I had never felt so many spiritual pressures exploding at once.
The sounds of footsteps had me freeze. The Ryoka froze behind me as I drew my sword. The person drew closer, rounding the corner and—
"Shizuko?" Renji asked with wide eyes. Rukia was in his arms.
I sheathed my sword and I rushed towards them, "How is she?"
"I'm fine," Rukia stared at me with uncertain eyes, "What—Are you helping Ichigo and Renji?"
"Yes," I smiled softly, checking her over for any injuries. She seemed unscathed. Looking up at Renji, I added, "Where are you—"
"Training grounds," He glanced at the Ryoka, "Are you going back to the top?"
I nodded, "Are you alright? Your wounds aren't fully healed—"
"I'm good," He smirked, "But we have to go. Careful—there were Shinigami hot on our tail."
"You too," I cleared my throat as he winked at me. Sparing a glance over my shoulder as he ran on with Rukia, I carried on up the stairs, "Let's go."
We finally made it to the top, and I took them into the thick cover of the trees. They all were scratched up and exhausted, and I looked over each one over. They all stared on where I couldn't, eyes glued on the battle going on between my cousin and Ichigo.
I could feel Yoruichi's presence off to the side battling against Captain Sui-Feng. The Head-Captain was playing with Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyoraku, which was the most distracting despite the distance from the battle.
Renji and Rukia's presence was moving away, and several Captains were headed our way. Captain Ichimaru and Captain Aizen seemed the closest, though it was hard to say with all the commotion.
"Where's your mother?" Ganju asked me again, noticing the shaky breath I released.
And like a sick joke or a twisted coincidence of Fate, my mother's presence ceased.
(Kumiko)
I stared at the chamber with wide eyes, not believing what I saw. I had come to Central Forty-Six because Yoruichi and I needed to find more answers about the specific people that were targeted in the aftermath of Aizen's Hollowfication experiment. But what I hadn't expected…was for them all to be dead.
Evidence of mass carnage lay before me. I moved about the rows of blood, stumbling along the chamber in shock. They had been gone for days…which meant that someone else had been running this show for quite some time now.
He stepped behind me and I wanted to vomit. Fear crawled up my throat.
"I'm surprised you're not on Sogyoku Hill," Aizen grabbed my shoulders. I stiffened in his touch and he chuckled, "Though I shouldn't be too surprised. You've always been just as inquisitive as he was. To your detriment."
"Fuck you," I hissed, shutting my eyes. I couldn't stare at the blood anymore. The sight and the stench of it made me ill. It filled me with dread and too much familiarity.
His fingers grasped my face and he squeezed my cheekbones tightly, "Look, Kumiko. You should be happy to see them dead."
I stared at him for the longest time and then back at the bloody seat. He was right—I was glad that they were dead. They were the pieces of shit that had let Kisuke and too many others suffer. But I wouldn't let him see it. I wouldn't let him think he was some kind of saviour—that he had done me a favour by committing mass murder.
"Where are Kisuke's research files?"
His question surprised me, "You have them…"
He chuckled, "You have the ones that I want. Where are they?"
I was confused. There was nothing incredibly poignant in them—nothing about Hollowification that he didn't already know about.
"His research on Kido, Kumiko. Where. Is. It?"
"I already said it once—" I spat, "Fuck you."
He only smiled. It made me recoil away from him.
"Mom."
I froze, staring at Aizen in terror, "No."
"Tell me," He smiled softly and gestured behind me, "Or Gin will have no problem doing what he did to the Chamber…to sweet, little Shizuko."
I spun around. Gin had his sword pointed at Shizuko's throat. She stared at me through blurry, frightened eyes, sobbing quietly as he held her to the sharp blade. My entire body went cold.
"Please, Sosuke," My hand went up to my mouth, "Let her go…I'll tell you."
"Tell me."
I stared at my daughter as I whispered quietly, "They're in Byakuya Kuchiki's office…"
He smirked, "Thank you...Gin?"
Gin's grin widened and he began to draw his hand back. My lungs expanded with a sigh of relief but it all came rushing out as his blade quickly moved back. I screamed as the blade slid into her neck and out again, instantly tearing the life from her eyes.
"Shizuko!" I shrieked. Her eyes were foggy as I caught her slumped body, her blood soaking her hair. She was gone. She was dead. She…I sat there in disbelief.
"Oops," Gin chuckled.
I bowed over her and screamed until my grasps on sanity slipped from me.
Aizen was beside me, lifting his hand and placing his palm in front of my face. He only tilted his head as he released the Kido spell.
Everything went black.
And y'all thought this was a story with happy endings (hehe)
Next Update: Aizen's betrayal. Kumiko deals with the aftermath of the next wave of devastation in her life. And also...Arrancar Arc, here we come.
Happy Memorial Day! I hope you all are staying healthy! Thank you to any current or former service members!
