Chapter Seven: Betrayal by Whom?

They're dead. All of them. The people I trained, the people I taught and inspired. The Soul Society sent black-clad figures in the night. They massacred my… friends, my students. I barely escaped with my life, I don't think they saw me.

It seems that the Soul Society will brook no rival, even if they have to doom the innocent to accomplish it. I… I will admit defeat. I cannot bear to try again, to watch people I taught and cared for be slaughtered.

I am going to the Soul Society. Perhaps if I publish my findings it might inspire them to do something. I… I am tired. So tired.

I just don't care anymore.

-On the Rukongai, by Sosuke Aizen

Byakuya Kuchiki had nearly killed Lieutenant Hiyori. In dodging her attack, he had lashed out with a counter that severed one of her arteries. On the Third Seat's orders, she had been taken to Squad Four where she was healed by a very narrow margin. Whatever reprisals had been planned, they simply didn't happen in time. Byakuya had departed on a mission.

'Did you hear?' asked Uwasaki. 'Lieutenant Hiyori attacked a noble and nearly got cut in half for her trouble.' Uwasaki had been punched in the left eye by Hiyori for getting in her way. He hadn't been able to see out of it for years as a result.

'Bout damn time the bitch got what was coming to her.' muttered Shusaki, who had had his arm broken by her once for snapping at her. 'It's too bad she didn't die.'

It was a cheery mood indeed.

Not everyone was celebrating, however. Within the office of Ginrei Kuchiki, Kisuke Urahara made his case. Ginrei listened without changing his decision, while Yoruichi listened in irritation.

'You can't do this!' said Urahara. 'Byakuya should be thrown out of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads! Or at least demoted!'

'Byakuya's reckless,' said Yoruichi, 'and he's been trained by me. The stealth force teaches its disciples to use lethal force. Especially in response to sudden attacks. He did it on reflex.'

'I can't believe you are defending him, Yoruichi.' said Kisuke. 'She could have died.'

'My grandson's actions don't require any defense.' said Ginrei Kuchiki.

There was dead silence. Yoruichi looked to Ginrei. 'You sure you want to go with that line, Ginrei?'

'Kisuke Urahara, your lieutenant is a disgrace to the Seretei.' said Ginrei. 'She assaults superior officers. She assaults her subordinates on quasi-imagined slights. She assaults everyone and everything that gets in her path. You, Captain Hirako, and now a member of my family.

'Byakuya defended himself against an unwarranted attack. That is all.'

'We should stop and consider what would have happened if Hiyori hadn't been a lieutenant.' said Yoruichi. 'Attacking a member of a noble family is a very serious crime. People have been executed for it. And it doesn't stop being a crime because they were both soul reapers.'

'So we're letting him go because he's a noble?' asked Urahara.

'Why not?' asked Yoruichi. 'Hiyori has been let off the hook for attacking people for years because she's a Lieutenant. It's all well and good for the Captains to find her constant beating up of anyone who annoys her cute. But there are people who were 'retired' because she injured them beyond recovery.

'I think we both know what happened to them.'

Urahara fell silent at this, opened his mouth then closed it again. '…He almost killed my Lieutenant Yoruichi.' he said. 'She's got IV's pouring liquid into her body because she nearly bled out. And… and now he's going to get off without even a stern warning?'

'Welcome to the soul society, Kisuke.' said Yoruichi with a smile. 'Hey, didn't you recently release Mayuri Kuroschutchi from prison? Remember all the wonderful things he did to get put there?'

Urahara did not have an answer to that.

Night hung over the Kuchiki manor. Byakuya made his way through the halls and into his room. He was about to begin pulling off his clothes when he noticed Yoruichi leaning against the wall. Her face was serious. 'Yes?' he asked.

'Byakuya, there is something wrong in the Rukongai.' she said. 'I thought you should be the first to know since you've taken such an interest in the subject.'

'What is it, Yoruichi?' asked Byakuya.

'People have been… vanishing. They disappear completely, leaving only their clothes behind.' said Yoruichi. 'No trace can be seen of their souls. I've been working overtime for weeks to try and find those responsible. And I have to keep the situation under wraps. But it looks like the word is going to leak out.'

'I see.' said Byakuya. 'Thank you for bringing this to me Yoruichi. I will deal with it personally.'

Yoruichi was gone in a flash.

Byakuya picked up Senbonzakura and donned his Lieutenants badge. Making his way through the streets he reached the walls. The gates of the Soul Society loomed above Byakuya as his passage came to an abrupt halt before the guards. They crossed their spears.

'I'm sorry sir, I can't let you pass.' said the guard.

'I'm a noble of the Soul Society.' said Byakuya. 'I bear the badge of a Lieutenant. What reason could there be to bar my path?'

'Head Captain Yamamoto himself ordered that all the gates be sealed.' said the guard. 'If you want to get into the Rukongai, you'll have to get permission from him first.'

Irritated, Byakuya turned and made his way towards Squad 1.

'Your request is denied.' Captain Commander Yamamoto rumbled over his desk.

'With respect head Captain, I have a duty to the Rukongai. If something has been killing its citizens, I must see to it that they are hunted down.' said Byakuya.

'Your fervor is noted, Lieutenant.' said Yamamoto. 'However the matter has passed far beyond what you are qualified to deal with. I have already decided to send a team of Captains and their Lieutenants to deal with the matter.' He paused. 'One of those we might have sent is still in squad 4 thanks to you.'

Byakuya flinched at his tone. 'The Lieutenant took me by surprise, I acted on reflex.'

'It is only because of my friendship with your grandfather that I am letting the matter pass.' said Yamamoto. 'In the future, I do not want any further repeats of this nonsense. I do not mind telling you that were you anyone else, this might have been the end of your career.'

'Understood, Head Captain.' said Byakuya, feeling a cold wet feeling inside.

'You have been saved only by your noble blood.' said Senbonzakura. 'You should move to redeem yourself.'

'Sir, I would request permission to take Hiyori's place in the away team.' said Byakuya.

'That request is also denied.' said Yamamoto. 'I am well aware of your sense of responsibility, and it is to your credit. However, this matter no longer concerns you. I expect it will be resolved soon enough, and when it is I will arrange that a report on the subject be sent to you. Now if there is nothing else, this meeting is over.'

Byakuya understood a resolute 'no' when he heard one. 'Understood Head Captain, I apologize for bothering you.'

Days passed, and during this time Byakuya began to look over the mission reports. The disappearances continued whole villages up and vanishing into thin air. No word was received from the away group, and still, there was waiting. Byakuya paced the halls, throwing himself into his duties.

Yet there did not seem to be anything for him to do that had any meaning.

Byakuya was not sure why he was spending so much time waiting at the gate, yet something nagged at his mind. Something was very wrong, he felt, and he could not be sure why. Then he saw him.

Kisuke Urahara was a blonde haired man, clad in a Captain's hiyori. He was clad in a reishi hiding cloak and speaking with the Head of the Kido Corps. Then they both disappeared over the gate without a word.

Byakuya had no idea what exactly was going on, but he knew he should report it to someone.

Yoruichi was sorting through paperwork, trying to distract herself. She felt as if something terrible was about to happen, and that she had no way to stop it. Shaking the thought from her mind, she drank a draft of saki. Then the door opened and she looked up from her desk to see Byakuya. He looked extremely shaken. 'Byakuya, what is it?'

'Yoruichi, I have some information for you.' said Byakuya. 'It's important.'

'Go on.' said Yoruichi.

'I just saw Kisuke Urahara and the Head of the Kido Corps leaving the Seretei in Reishi hiding cloaks.' said Byakuya. 'The Head Captain specifically ordered that no one should leave-'

'I know.' said Yoruichi with a yawn. 'I'm sure Kisuke has a perfectly rational explanation for his disappearance.' He was looking at her incredulously. 'What?'

'You are the head of the stealth force.' said Byakuya. 'It is your job to be suspicious of people.'

'And what is that supposed to mean?' asked Yoruichi, not liking his tone.

'The kind of disappearances we have been seeing could not have been done by someone without power.' said Byakuya. 'They would also require an experimental technique no one has ever seen before. Kisuke Urahara released Mayuri Kuroschutchi. A man who was put away for unethical experiments.

'He also poured a huge amount of funds into creating a bureau of research and development. What if he-'

'No!' snapped Yoruichi. 'Kisuke is not responsible for what is happening! Now get out of my office!'

'Yoruichi, people are dying!' said Byakuya. 'Kisuke Urahara is one of the few people in the Seretei with the power to do what is happening out there! The stealth force has put people in an early grave for less! And his ethics are under question! And now I just saw him breaking the rules to go out into the Rukongai! You should at least consider him as a suspect!'

'Don't talk to me about intelligence you little brat!' snarled Yoruichi. 'You don't know anything about what I do or how I do it! So stop pretending to understand what is going on, you don't!'

'Do you?' asked Byakuya. 'Because unless I can hear another explanation, I feel obligated to take what I have seen to my Captain. Before another thirty innocent people disappear overnight.'

Silence came over them as Yoruichi tried to think of a rebuttal. She was drawing a blank. The doors opened and Soi fon entered. 'Is there a problem, Lady Yoruichi?'

'No,' said Yoruichi, 'Lieutenant Kuchiki was leaving.'

'Captain.' said Byakuya, bowing his head, before turning and walking out.

Moonlight shot through the windows of Hiyori's room as she lay in her bed, feeling very weak and pained. Captain Unohana had told her that she would make a full recovery but wasn't able to do anything for a few days. Word came to her that Shinji and the others were all going off on a mission without her. She was missing the whole thing.

She had nearly died. She couldn't quite get over the fact.

Hiyori had been trash talking, doing what she always did, and then she almost died. Kuchiki had dodged her and sliced open an artery. It had been so quick, she'd hardly realized that it had happened. Kuchiki's expression hadn't even changed as he wiped off his sword.

Worse still nothing had happened to him.

She wished Shinji were here. But Shinji was off without her looking into the Vanishing Souls Incident. So she lay there and waited until eventually, sleep took her.

A few days later she received the news.

It was impossible for the world to change so quickly overnight. Or so it seemed to Byakuya as he mulled over what had happened, shocked beyond belief. Roughly half the top officers of the Soul Society had been killed. Transformed into hollows, and then dispatched by Kisuke Urahara. That at least was the official story. Byakuya suspected there was more to it than that. He would have gone to Yoruichi for confirmation. However, Yoruichi had broken Kisuke Urahara out of jail. Both were now wanted fugitives.

So much had happened so quickly, and Byakuya hadn't been there for any of it. All he'd done was testify to what he had seen to Central Forty-Six when asked. Then things went beyond his control. A force of Captains and Lieutenants it had seemed like overkill.

Instead, it flat out wasn't enough.

It had never dawned on Byakuya until that moment how vulnerable the Soul Society was. With his recent promotion to Lieutenant, he had slowed in his training. He had been satisfied to advance slowly. Now he redoubled his efforts, throwing himself into his practice. He tried to ignore the fact that Yoruichi Shihoin was now a traitor. Had she known of Urahara's unholy experiments? Or was it an impulsive desire to save a friend? Either option was possible.

If he met her again, it would be as an enemy. He kept trying to keep that thought out of his mind as he threw himself into becoming more powerful. On some level he was aware that the culprit had been apprehended. That justice had been done and the threat had passed. Yet it didn't matter. He needed to become more powerful. He needed to become powerful enough that he could prevent anything like this from again.

It was what he told himself when he felt lonely.

That resolution had been years ago. Years had passed, and Byakuya grew his power ever greater. At the same time, his Grandfather became frailer. He was now full grown in appearance, clad in black garb and dignified to behold. More and more of the division's affairs

His blades coursed around him, back and forth, ever faster in a whirlwind of death. He flash stepped here and there, bringing around the blades with massive speed. Any normal soul reaper to stand within range would surely be torn apart. Reforming the blades into a sword once more, he sheathed the katana. He addressed the one he sensed nearby.

'Hisana, you should not be nearby when I am training.' He said as he turned to face her.

'Byakuya, you've been working nonstop on this for hours already.' she stated. 'Don't you think you should take a break? You might injure yourself.'

'Strange,' he noted as he approached her. Another man might have smiled, but he never let his emotions show. 'I have often requested you slow your endless searches of the Rukongai in order to keep up your strength. And now you tell me that I am endangering myself?'

'That's different and you know it,' said Hisana, 'Rukia was my responsibility. If anything happens to her it will be my fault. I have to continue looking for her until I find her or I die. You don't have any such pressing need to gain power.'

'We both have our duties.' said Byakuya. 'We should spend the afternoon together at least.'

'I… I suppose I could.' she said. 'I have some paperwork I need to fill out if you'll give me a minute.' She kissed him, then departed. Byakuya sighed, allowing his mask to slip. Hisana had joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads at his request, and since they had become close.

He felt a presence behind him and turned to face his Grandfather. 'Do you require my assistance Grandfather?'

'You must leave her, grandson.' stated Ginrei Kuchiki.

'No.' was Byakuya's simple answer.

'Byakuya,' said Ginrei, 'you will only end up breaking her heart in the end if you continue like this. I am fond of Hisana, however, she is not a suitable match for you. If you break off the relationship now, you could resume it in a more appropriate fashion. Mistresses are far from unheard of amongst the nobility.'

'This conversation will not gain you the results you desire.' stated Byakuya.

Ginrei sighed. 'I should have known you would not listen to reason. No matter, there are other things we must attend to. Phantoms of the past which we must see to, lest they return to haunt us.'

Byakuya turned to him in full, guessing his meaning. 'This concerns the one who has been stricken from our families name, does it not?'

'Yes,' said Ginrei Kuchiki, 'I will tell you all tonight in the Kuchiki Manor.'

Byakuya wasn't able to focus or enjoy the time he spent with Hisana that day. The matter of the phantom Ginrei spoke of weighed on his heart. For as long as he could remember the phantom had been there, at the edge of conversation. It was a matter which held great personal shame for Ginrei Kuchiki. Whoever it was had been of serious import a long time ago. Yet no matter how Byakuya had searched, he had been unable to find any record of this person. Not even in the Sixth Division files.

When at last he came before his Grandfather, he was looking forward to learning the truth. Though he tried not to show it.

However, he did not show it, for his Grandfathers expression was graver than he had ever seen him. 'Sit down, Byakuya.' said Ginrei. 'This will take a while.'

Byakuya kneeled down before him and waited. Ginrei seemed unsure as to when to begin. 'Your Father and I were never close, Byakuya. We never enjoyed each others company. I found him slothful, and guilty of conduct unbefitting a noble. He held me in equal distaste. When he chose to not become a soul reaper, I lost what little faith remained in him. I sought someone to replace him, to supplant him as heir to the Kuchiki Clan.'

Byakuya was stunned. He had known that there had been conflicts between Ginrei and his Father, but never so bad as this. He hoped he had proven a better heir.

'If you hadn't you wouldn't be here.' noted Senbonzakura.

'I found such a replacement in Kouga Kuchiki.' continued Ginrei. 'Kouga Kuchiki was a commoner by blood, but he had a massive supply of spiritual pressure. And he was skilled, far more skilled than anyone I had ever seen. He knew countless varieties of Kido and had the power to create Kido spells for himself on the fly.

'In battle he was magnificent. He seemed to me in all ways more deserving to lead the Kuchiki Clan than your Father. And perhaps he was, though even then I was aware that his recklessness needed to be curbed. Yet I thought my instruction might change his flaws.

'Things went well right away, almost too well actually. Another noble clan offered its daughters hand to Kouga in Marriage. It was clear he would become a Captain one day. Though there were other reasons. She was a young and beautiful woman, like Hisana in many ways. She had spent much time in the Rukongai and had befriended a particular man.

'Naturally, they wanted her safely married. Kouga seemed an excellent choice so things progressed well. Though it was not a marriage for love, these things rarely are.

'Then the civil war broke out.'

Byakuya opened his mouth before closing it again. What?

'I wouldn't expect you to have heard of it.' said Ginrei. 'The matter was kept under wraps, even as it was being fought. You see, at the time, the Soul Society had begun giving out positions as Captain. Often to unqualified individuals. People who had paid their way in, and used connections, rather than earning it. And with this came a rumor that the Soul Society was waiting to fall.

'A number of powerful Nobles arranged to try and stage a coup against Central Forty-Six. They mustered almost half the Seretei to its cause. It was a terrible battle, made worse by the knowledge that we were weakening ourselves to the hollows. Kouga and I fought on the loyalist's side, and I was one of the only Captains to do so. Most of those who would have fought on our side who were a threat had been poisoned. We still don't know how they managed it, but they were in comas for almost the entire war. Yamamoto himself was taken out of action.'

Byakuya stared. 'Then how did you escape?'

'I spent many years developing immunity to all sorts of unpleasant toxins.' said Ginrei. 'Even so it kept me from fighting. Kouga and I were the only thing standing between the Seretei and oblivion.'

'Why wouldn't they target Kouga?' asked Byakuya.

'They expected him to come over to their side.' said Ginrei. 'He had been given offers to join them, and to his credit he refused. The result was that Kouga and I were the only commanders in a war which has long since been stricken from the record.

Which wasn't difficult to accomplish, given how Kouga conducted himself. Kouga had power that allowed him to get inside another soul reapers zanpakto. He would enhance frustrations the spirit within had with its master. Even if the spirit hadn't been discovered. And then he would gain control of them.

'Kouga killed everyone on the other side of the war. I tried to counsel him to be merciful, not wanting our forces decimated. My warnings weren't understood. He didn't have a very good head for philosophy, which served him poorly, as you will see.

'Aside from devastating our standing forces, Kouga also attracted jealous enemies. Men who were nowhere near qualified for the post of the third seat, let alone Captain.

'They decided to have him removed. They framed him by having their own soldiers attack him. Then when he killed them, they accused him of treason. Central Forty-Six was annoyed at having half their standing forces decimated. And also afraid of what Kouga might accomplish. Some of them also had friends amongst the Captains who were framing Kouga. An investigation which should have been summarily dismissed ended in Kouga arrested. He was thrown in prison and awaited the removal of his Zanpakto Spirit.

'Then something happened, something which to this day I cannot explain. Kouga's zanpakto manifested itself directly. It was called Maramusa and appeared outside his cell in human form. It broke his bonds, and he escaped into the night.

'I went looking for him, trying to get him to submit himself to the authorities, but I was too late. By the time I found him he had murdered every single Captain who was involved in the conspiracy against him. At least seven, which is a testament to the magnitude of our folly in those days.

'He admitted to what he had done, tried to justify his actions before me. I told him the truth that he would probably be executed for it. He grew angry, accused me of fearing his power, and then left. I did not dare pursue him, for if I may be honest, I was terrified of Kouga. I did not want to fight him.

'I would soon be forced to. With those responsible for his miserable lot destroyed, Koga began to simply murder. Among the first of those to die was his wife, she went out to try and talk sense into him and he slew her. I have seen hollows in action, Byakuya, and what they do pales in comparison to him. Entire villages were put to the sword. The Seretei stood helpless, unwilling to challenge him no matter what. For the only Captain, we had who surpassed him now conscious was Yamamoto. If Kouga were to gain control of Ryujin Jakka, it could mean the end of everything. And I do mean everything. I have seen Yamamoto's Bankai, Byakuya. A long time ago.'

Byakuya felt a sense of horror from his words. He could only imagine what it might have been like to be facing Kouga as a citizen of the Rukongai. 'How did you stop him?'

'Captain-Commander Yamamoto and I developed a method to counter Kouga's power. We would become… apathetic, completely apathetic to him. Closing our hearts off utterly to everything he was, and everything he represented. The problem with this technique is that resolve is very important.

'We might counteract his most deadly technique. But we would not be able to use our zanpakto against him, nor fight with anywhere near our full power. Kouga had massive amounts of power at his disposal. Had he been a better man he might have one day become like Yamamoto. As it was, the crippling disadvantage Yamamoto would be under allowed Kouga to defeat him.

'We decided not to take the chance. So we caught him in a binding kiso, and sealed him away. And he has remained sealed for endless years. After that, we focused on rebuilding the Soul Society. We have never recovered from our losses that in that war. Though I dare say the quality of our Captains has improved. For a time the balance of souls verged on collapse thanks to his bloody story.

'A message from the Spirit King absolved us of any responsibility for Kouga's actions. But the shame of it has lain upon me, upon our house, to this very day.'

Byakuya remained silent for a long time, shaken by the weight of history. 'Why did you wait so long to tell me this? Why not earlier?'

'Because I have always viewed it as my responsibility to put Kouga down, should he ever arise again.' said Ginrei. 'However I am old, even by soul reaper standards. I do not believe that I am capable of slaying him as I am now. Thus I must entrust this task to you, that should Koga ever escape, you will slay him or seal him away again if you are able.

'Do you accept this task?'

'I do.' said Byakuya. 'I swear to you Grandfather, Kouga Kuchiki will die by my hand.'

'I believe you.' said Ginrei Kuchiki, looking older than ever. 'Now it is late; we are both tired. We had best go to bed and start fresh in the morning.'

Byakuya knew at that moment that his vow would someday be tested.

Author's Note:

Okay, and we are officially out of backlog. This means that the next update might be a while in coming. And would you look at that, Hiyori doesn't join the Vizards because she was out sick. This was unintentional. I just realized that the timelines caused this to happen and ran with it.

And the stage has been set for a confrontation with Kouga. Not sure if anyone saw that coming, but I figured I might as well give him a shot. He makes an effective arch nemesis for Byakuya despite limited screen time. He's basically an evil counterpart to Ichigo Kurosaki. That made his fight with Byakuya have a ton of symbolism.

Anyway, this really marks the end of the first arc so to speak and has set up for the future quite well.

As for Byakuya getting off the hook, he has all kinds of connections, and Hiyori does not. Combined with the fact that Hiyori attacked him only makes it less likely he'd be punished. Is it the right verdict? Probably not. But if the Soul Society was doing its job Hiyori would have been reigned in years ago. Yamamoto chided him, and that's pretty much it.

Some of you might have noticed by now that I am not showing events in the show which went down as they did in canon. There are two reasons for this. First the Turn Back the Pendulum arc is one of my least favorite arcs since. It breaks up the action and revolves around characters I never cared for. Worse still, the protagonist have almost no relevance to the plot. Second, because Bleach is huge and I have a host of other fanfics I'm working on right now. If I covered every episode, I'd never finish this story.

Next time, the Evil Zanpakto Arc. It is integrated into canon, of course. Not sure if I should make this a separate fanfic, though. What do you think?