Despite everyone raring to take action and free their king, their most important piece still needed time to recover. The Royal Guards took Kadin and Miyuki to the Soul King's realm to help speed up his recovery with his family. Karin was allowed to follow as Ichigo's sister and both Rukia and Rangiku followed as well, the former as Ichigo's fiancée and the latter as Kadin's Lieutenant wanting to be updated on his condition even though she was also under treatment for her leg injuries. Yuzu stayed behind to help the healers with Shimmer, and Karin saw Momo doing her best to help, one hand clutching the pendant Toshiro had given her so long ago to let her know he was okay. Based on how tightly she clutched it, there wasn't any good news within it.
Once back in the Soul King's realm, the other Royal Guards left to do damage control within the kingdom, settling things in Tenjiro's kingdom now that he was taken and making sure the commanders were doing their jobs and checking in with their jurisdictions to prepare for leaks between realms. The armies that had come to aid the Soul King waited for their men to be healed before saying their farewells and leaving to bury their dead. That particular fair was fairly somber and quiet as far as interactions went, but the leaders of each society expressed their gratitude at getting to fight alongside the Soul King and their faith that they could still win. Several wished Ichigo and Karin good luck in their rescue mission when they heard rumors about it.
Meanwhile, Ichigo and his companions stayed in the Kingdom of Magika while the Greenleaf family did their best to take care of their only male family member. Ӕlfwyn asked countless questions about what happened to her son that Karin did her best to answer, and while she was relieved he had his memories back, she was worried about his injuries. She was definitely concerned when Karin mentioned the plan to have Kadin accompany them back to Kamai's palace to rescue Toshiro, as his shadows were the only thing that could get there.
"I'll go with you and give that lying bastard a piece of my mind." Ralӕn said with a growl.
"Absolutely not." Sylfie snapped, her flute coming to an abrupt halt to scold her daughter. The intricate emerald flute was crafted with her magic specifically for healing, a green light gently swirling through the air. This light quickly vanished as she stopped playing.
"I told you I'd be in this fight, and now is the perfect time." The older twin argued back. "He's not just the Soul King, he's family, and look what's happened to my nephew. That scum needs to pay."
"I will NOT be losing any more family to him." They had never seen Sylfie look so furious.
"Mother, I am not a child anymore, and I will defend my family." Ralӕn turned away and left the home in a hurry, clearly frustrated.
"Sister, please, this isn't the time for this." Ӕlfwyn pleaded. "And besides, they're not going for a fight."
"As much as I want to fight him, she's right." Karin spoke up. "This is just to get him out of there. The fewer our group is the better. Miyuki said-"
"Miyuki?" The Greenleaf women all froze up, surprised by the name. Karin forget that they had yet to meet the stolen princess, the Royal Guards confining her to the palace where they could keep an eye on her. "Where did you hear that name?"
Rukia explained briefly with easy professionalism the events that had occurred during the raid on Kamai's realm.
"She's really alive…" Sylfie looked completely shocked. "To think he would betray my sister like that again…"
"Miss Hikifune told us about how he got cursed and all that, it sounded awful." Karin prodded carefully.
"Oh it was awful." The matron sighed. "I never could forgive him even when she did, and knowing he stole her daughter from her only to let her die protecting her son… he truly is awful."
"Well we'll have both of them back soon enough." Ichigo promised. "Miyuki knows she's been lied to by the Demon Lords and that her 'Master' allowed her to believe them so I doubt she trusts him anymore, and if this mission goes smoothly then Toshiro will be back home safe along with her."
"If only my sister could see them both now." A deep sadness in her gaze the Soul Reapers weren't used to seeing, Sylfie looked to the ground. "She never got the chance to actually raise her children, to be with them… one man stole away her life and her chance to be a mother."
"What makes it worse is it seems like he did it because she rejected him." Karin growled.
"Oh I'm sure he was always scheming to take the throne so he can make his purified world, but having her in the way only fueled his anger further to act sooner." Sylfie countered with a heavy sigh. "My poor Anya… Hopefully this war ends soon and she can rest peacefully in the stars watching over her children."
As Sylfie fell into her memories, Ralӕn ceased any further argument about joining the war and took the flute from her mother, playing the song of healing in her place as her gentler twin did her best to sooth their mother. The Reapers let them be and stepped outside, sitting with their dragons in the fading sunset, the light hard to see amidst the angry clouds covering the sky. Dyrilӕn fidgeted quite a bit as she worried for her mate, the Ice dragon still standing guard in the World of the Living and refusing to move no matter who tried to convince him otherwise.
"I hope Hitsugaya will be okay." Rangiku showed a similar worry on her face that Ӕlfwyn had for Kadin.
"He'll hold out." Ichigo reassured her. "All of us here know how stubborn he can be."
"You're right, but he's also impulsive sometimes." Rangiku replied quietly. "He's always so determined to lead the fight he gets himself into something he can't win. He's gotten such heavy injuries so many times… and he almost died for sure in the Winter War."
"So did this idiot." Karin elbowed her brother who scowled back. "But I see why you're worried. When he was still a prince and first gave me this," she held up her arm where the silver bracelet carved with a dragon rested around her wrist, "he made it so any Fear those Demon Lords used on me went to him instead, and he kept jumping in to save me before I finally got my Shikai and could protect myself. It's like he would rather sacrifice himself then let any of us fight with him."
"I'm sure that's why Lady Senjumaru gets so upset with him." Rukia stated with a sigh. "He fights like a Captain, not a king, and forgets how important his life is."
"Well if I know anything about being like that then I know he won't give up so easily." Ichigo cut in firmly. "Yeah he can be a stubborn brat about dealing with things by himself but the good thing about that for us now is he's going to resist Kamai to his last breath, and that bastard wouldn't risk pushing him that far."
The sky above them rumbled dangerously once again and they flinched.
"We'll get him out of there."
Though reassured by Ichigo's determination, they stayed in a tense silence until the sky went dark with night, forcing them to return inside. Senjumaru arrived at one point and pulled Ichigo aside to discuss some things with him, mainly parts of his new job he hadn't had time to learn yet. With two of their fellow guards KIA, they needed Ichigo to pick up some of the slack for them, so he spent the next few days shadowing each of them to learn how to interact with the commanders and their families.
During those few days, Kadin finally came to and started getting his energy back, aided by Kirio's special cuisine that she shared with the Soul Reapers as well so that they would be at their best before their mission. Miyuki was allowed out of the palace as long as she stuck close to Kirio and so got to meet her extended family for the first time. It was a lot more awkward then when Toshiro had first gone there due to the circumstances behind it, and most still didn't trust her. That mistrust wasn't helped when she still addressed Kamai as "Lord" when he was spoken of. Sylfie told Miyuki all about her parents, the fond memories helping perk her up a bit as it had when she told Toshiro about his mother. The more Miyuki learned, the more she couldn't understand why Kamai would betray them as he did, why he would let her believe her real parents were horrible people.
Karin chose to spend her time by heading back to the World of the Living with Dyrilӕn so they could make sure Myndrӕl didn't starve himself. He barely acknowledged them there, but Dyrilӕn assured her partner that he was grateful for their company. The two dragons used their wings to shelter Karin during the more violent storms as they kept vigil over the last place they saw their king, the Fire dragoness keeping her partner warm through the night. Every time the storms raged through the sky, she would watch it carefully for any sign that they were going to rip the sky open. Once that happened, she knew it would be too late. Some days she nearly panicked as the world around her shook dangerously, the two dragons with her guarding her carefully, but then it would begin to calm back down to simple rolling clouds. She wasn't sure what was happening to her beloved, but she didn't like it.
Her sister found out where she was and sat with her for a day, Shimmer carrying food for them both as the twins discussed things going on. The entire world was in an absolute panic over all these freak weather incidents with absolutely no idea about the cause, even scientists studying into climate change couldn't accurately claim that these anomalies were a sign of it. Hollows were everywhere, most in a panic of their own but still dangerous to the living since their Spirit Energy caused problems for those around them. There were already two places consumed by Hell's miasma as well, and even with Satan stepping out of his realm to help stop it, there was little to be done if the Soul King was not saved. The King of Hell could control his creations and keep them inside his realm, but it was the Soul King that had the burden of keeping the realms separated.
"This is all some kind of bizarre nightmare." Karin said with a scowl, but her gaze was full of worry. "It has to be. Toshiro tried so hard to keep everyone safe, to protect the realms from Dethmaiyn, even trapping himself in that awful place so no one else would get hurt… and the world is basically ending anyway."
"It'll be okay, Karin." Yuzu assured her, but she looked doubtful. "He's holding out for us… so we have to hold onto our hope."
"How badly do you think he's hurt? What do you think that bastard has done to him?" Karin's hands curled tightly into fists.
"He's alive, that's the important part." Yuzu embraced her twin. "He's very strong, Karin…"
"But not invincible." Karin turned to look at the hill, the rock full of claw marks as Myndrӕl would still occasionally tear at it during the harsher storms. His behavior in those moments suggested something terrible was happening to his partner, but he would let neither dragoness nor Soul Reaper know what that was.
"That's why he has all of us. He wouldn't fight so hard if he didn't." She shifted over to Shimmer and opened the bag the dragon carried to show a collection of jars full of flowers and herbs, some of which Karin had never seen before, created by the Flora dragons to avoid traveling to countries far away to find them. "As soon as you guys rescue him I'll be ready to help."
Moved by her sister's convictions, Karin hugged Yuzu tightly, the embrace full of gratitude.
Eventually the gentler twin headed back home, promising Karin to tell everyone things were fine so she could continue her vigil.
After a full week had passed since the conclusion of the battle with the Demon Lords, Karin still sat by herself with the two dragons in silence, head perking up when she noticed several figures approaching. She recognized her brother first at the head of the group. Right behind him was Kadin, a confident look on the Captain's face but no Captain's robe over his shoulders, dressed more like the Stealth Squad than a Captain. Rukia, Miyuki atop her familiar and Rangiku weren't far behind.
"Are all of us going in?" Karin asked once they were within speaking distance, getting to her feet.
"Not me, I'm just here to see you off." Rukia stated. "I'll be heading back to the Soul Society in a moment, the Head Captain said there are some matters he's been holding off on and wants to get them wrapped up now. Mainly to do with the empty Captain positions."
"Oh right, I suppose Squad Thirteen has been without a Captain for the last two years." Karin realized. "I guess it makes sense for you to take over once you got Bankai."
"Apparently the old man waited this long because he was hoping the war would be over." Ichigo spoke up. "He didn't want to be promoting anyone until the fight was done and we knew who was still around."
"A bit of a morbid reason, but it makes sense." Rukia nodded solemnly. "If it wasn't for this I would gladly help you. But, the fewer the better." She stepped forward to give the younger Kurosaki a tight hug. "Be careful, and good luck."
With a quick wave to the others, who had already spoken with her previously, Rukia returned through a gate back to the Soul Society.
"Alright then." Karin turned to the white-haired woman in their midst. "How do we go about getting in?"
Miyuki didn't answer immediately, looking a bit tired. Being in the Soul King's realm and around such powerful souls while her own Spirit Energy was sealed had been more taxing than refreshing, leaving her a bit disoriented. She had to take a moment to even her breathing before she answered, the others looking a bit concerned for her and lowering their Spirit Energy the best they could.
"It will be difficult for us to pass through, especially those of you with Spirit Energy that equals the Demon Lords." She motioned in Ichigo's direction. "And there's every chance you could get stuck in there. That's why the three eldest sisters remained inside all this time. They didn't want to risk being trapped in these tunnels. Remember the thorns in the labyrinth?"
"Oh, great, don't tell me this secret entrance is full of those." Rangiku frowned.
"Afraid so." Miyuki nodded ever so slightly. "For the lesser demons and elites that were ordered to swarm the Soul Society, the thorns ignored them, so the more you can mask your energy the less likely we'll be attacked. The other problem is that because you are not demons, your souls are more enticing to the thorns regardless of how well you mask yourself. I could use a spell to erase my presence, but since my magic is still sealed I can't use it for us now. We'll have to be quick and quiet."
"I hope you've gotten better at controlling your Spiritual Pressure, Ichi." Karin looked pointedly at her brother.
"I can control it just fine." He grumbled, but then looked away and muttered something else under his breath. "For the most part…"
"It might actually be better if you waited for us out here, Ichigo." Rangiku spoke up.
"What, but what happens if those demon sisters show up?" Ichigo argued. "You and Karin are both just barely recovered."
"You could say the same for me, but I kind of have to go." Kadin said with a shrug. "Unfortunately, you're sort of in the same position as the king right now. You're too important to risk in a fight we may not win. If worst case scenario comes around, there should be someone out here that can stop them."
"It would give us a better chance at stealth." Miyuki kept a neutral tone as she spoke. "With this seal, the sisters won't even recognize that I'm there, so I won't get us caught. My wolf is also of a demon line so she won't be noticed either."
Ichigo had a fierce scowl on his face. He could see their point, as he never was good for stealth, but he hated the idea of his sister heading into enemy territory without him.
"You better be careful, all of you." He pointed at each of his fellow Soul Reapers.
"I can use Seraphina to come get you if we're in trouble." Karin promised, though she was fairly certain she would have the familiar help in the fight before that if it came to it.
Satisfied with that, Ichigo nodded and stepped aside.
The dragons watched as Miyuki followed her spiritual senses towards one of the shriveled and broken trees in the field around the hill. It was one of the bigger ones, twisted and knotted, bark turned black from all the abuse it took in the recent fights, likely to never grow again yet standing stubbornly when others had fallen. The witch reached a hand up, letting it hover over the bark as she looked for something in particular, frowning when it took a moment too long to find it. She definitely didn't like having her magic muted.
"Could I ask one of you to place your hand here and pretend you are about to use a Kido spell?" she called back to the others, keeping her hand just over one of the knots in the tree. "I can't use any power to open it properly, but this should be the spot."
"I've got it." Rangiku stepped up next to the smaller woman and put her hand just under Miyuki's but not yet touching the tree. Feeling the other person's hand, Miyuki gently placed the Lieutenant's hand in the proper position before stepping to the side.
A small flare of Spiritual Pressure washed over them and the tree suddenly began to writhe and shift, the bark splitting open until a hole began to open up, revealing a tunnel that otherwise should not exist, same as the large tunnel hidden within the hillside. It was barely big enough for them to step into in single file, and the walls were indeed covered in wicked thorns, but they had to get through.
"Please be careful." Dyrilӕn called out in a worried tone.
"And come back safe, all of you." Myndrӕl finally spoke after a week of silently guarding his spot.
"We will." Karin promised the dragon pair. "And we'll bring Toshiro back for sure."
The Ice dragon nodded, putting his absolute trust in the small group of souls to save his partner.
"May Swift guide you well." The two dragons bowed their heads to the rescue team.
"And may he praise your kindness." The team responded together with practiced ease and short bows of their head, used to the dragons' prayer. Miyuki just blinked in confusion, not used to the customs of the drake, but ignored it and continued on. The Soul Reapers followed right behind her and her wolf.
It was time to save the king.