Chapter 28
Back in Soul Society, everything looked normal. Even though most of the captains and vice captains were gone, the place was not filled with hollows and heartless. Despite that, there was a stench of foul air. Violence broke out between shinigami, only to be broken by their friends.
In the squad eleven headquarters, Toshiro was sipping tea when Rangiku and Hisagi showed up.
"Captain, is there anything that we can do?" Rangiku looked serious, which surprised Toshiro.
"No...you guys should just focus on sharpening your skills. How is your squad doing, Hisagi?"
"Well enough. Half my squad are eating food right now and the other half are playing games."
"Nice. Is your captain up yet?"
"Yes." Hisagi looked uncomfortable. "He just looks down in shame. Lately, he just whispers about hollows and the like."
"Maybe he's still sore about being hypnotized or whatnot," said Rangiku.
"He'll be fine soon." Toshiro optimistically said.
"Good afternoon, Captain Hitsuguya." Byakuya appeared at the front of the office.
"Why are you here?" asked Toshiro.
"Something has been bothering me about all of this. It was how the Soul Society captains fell under the control of those beings. Where were you when you were ambushed?"
Toshiro looked down at his tea, silently contemplating the question. Rangiku and Hisagi looked alarmed at this. Finally, he spoke.
"I was in the library. I decided to research something peculiar about Soul Society, about the gates of hell. At this time, I learned of the other universes, and I was shocked when I heard reports of alternate universes. There is a book, one that has detailed research about how these alternate universes can affect the "original" universe."
"Wait...you mean, as in the multi-verse?" asked Hisagi.
"Yes. You see, as far as I know, we belong to an alternate universe. Possibly. It is impossible to understand this phenomenon fully, but it explains why universes can share the same planets, or settings. The neithermen are formed just like these universes-"
"Captain, you're starting to not make sense!" interrupted Rangiku.
"What he is saying," said Byakuya, "is that neithermen, a product of the shell left behind after the heart and body return, have a similar concept to paradox universes. They represent the universes created by an action that you do."
"I'll figure that part out later...but what happened as you were researching, Captain?"
"I was getting to that. I was reading old books, and a figure appeared. I say appeared because he was just there...I jumped back, pointing my sword at him."
"Any characteristics that we can go by?" asked Hisagi.
"He was covered in red. He had a golden eye, but that was all I saw of him. I think that he had dark skin. Anyways, he warned me of an attack on Soul Society, and that I should run to another universe. I just said that I would go warn the Court Guards, and he..."
Toshiro froze up, eyes widening as he remembered.
"He opened a portal...of darkness. It nearly swallowed me whole, but I slashed at it, only to fall into that world..."
"As I suspected." Byakuya stared at the small Captain. "That person, believe it or not, is on our side."
"What?!" cried Rangiku. "That person pushed a boy-"
"Rangiku...!"
"Captain-"
"Have you wondered why you were with us?" interrupted Hisagi.
"Well, as it so happens, that portal is like the tunnel between the human world and Soul Society," said Toshiro. "The enemy underestimated Sora and Ichigo, so they decided to keep me imprisoned."
Everyone was silent until they heard a phone ring. "What was that?!" cried Toshiro.
"It is just a phone, sir," sighed Hisagi, holding it up. "It's Ichigo."
He held the phone as if he was about to take a picture. Suddenly, a hologram of Ichigo was produced.
"Hey, guys! We are arriving at Soul Society for a bit. I'll explain the situation as I get there."
"I know it already," said Byakuya. "I'll debrief you later." The phone call ended.
"How come he called me?" wondered Hisagi.
"I told Rukia and Renji to pass the call to your phone. I predicted that the call would come as I arrived in your office."
"You are so complicated." Toshiro sighed and Hisagi and Rangiku lowered their heads in frustration.
"Regardless, I think there is more to this situation. That person that you spoke of...was in the records."
Toshiro stared at Byakuya. "Where?"
"He was documented to be in multiple universes, especially throughout other universes that are related to Sora's adventures. His name is-"
Suddenly, a explosion was heard. The four soul reapers teleported outside the building, only to see multiple warriors nearby.
"It's our nobodies!" cried Rangiku.
"Engage!" Toshiro attacked his nobody, Xirotosh.
"Well, we finally meet." Xirotosh raised his blade, charging up aura.
"Freeze to death!" Toshiro slashed at him, covering the nobody with ice. Seconds later, the ice was broken by red aura.
"Don't throw me away just yet, boy!" Xirotosh charged at Toshiro.
Byakuya looked at the other nobodies, seeing that his nobody is not there. He spotted Hisagi's and Rangiku's nobodies there and noticed that they were poised to be on the defensive.
"Why are you standing around?" he asked of the nobodies.
"We are waiting for our allies to appear," said Hisagi's nobody.
"Well, then, I hate to disappoint you, but you won't be around to see them," said Hisagi. Byakuya pointed at the nobody, smiling as the petals took him out. The other nobodies other than Xirotosh attacked Byakuya, but Hisagi unleashed his shikai and destroyed most of them.
"Nooo..." Rangiku's nobody was vaporized, while Kira's nobody and Hinamori's nobody was destroyed a few moments later.
"You fools are not a match for me!" Hisagi looked around, noticing that there are no reinforcements.
"Good job, Hisagi!" Rangiku clapped. "We-"
"Their allies are almost here," interrupted Byakuya. "They are on a different level from these cakewalks. Prepare yourselves!"
Meanwhile, in space, Ichigo noticed a distress signal coming from Soul Society. "What's going on?"
"Terrible things?" guessed Demyx.
"We better hurry." Ichigo's ship accelerated towards Soul Society.