Chapter 17: An Oath Sworn

AN- Well, this took awhile. In my defence, baaaad writers block, plus large beta time. Either way, a more thoughtful chapter after the last one. Also, not sure if I mentioned this before, but I have FANART. Yeah, got shown it a chapter or two back, but can't remember if I shared the good news. Just search Abalisk on Deviantart, or google search this stories title and 'ultimate abolishing flames'.

And for ANOTHER thing. I have no clue how it happened, but I've somehow gotten involved with a collaboration crossover story with my beta… sorry ;)
Basically, check Darth Vulturnus' profile for a crossover story between UWB and his Memento Mori story, titled Intersection. It features a Bad End Marcus in a point far ahead in this timeline getting dumped into the canon universe with Omega and another Self Insert.

Disclaimer: Do I look like I own Bleach? Heck, I'm not even up to date with the manga, though I heard that its on the final stretch if not over by the time I post this.

Beta: Darth Vulturnus

All things considered, my cell was pretty much what you'd expect it to be. A small square space with bars, a single window and a bed- which might as well have been a table- for me to sit on. I should probably have been more worried about the fact that I had woken up in a prison cell after falling unconscious due to trauma, but I wasn't.

In truth, I was more angry if anything, though even that emotion was fading, to be replaced with a tired sort of loss. I was far less worried about being in a cell than I was about all the other problems I currently had to worry about.

It was strangely quiet in my cell, giving me plenty of time to think, since Javan hadn't awoken yet. It had definitely been over twelve hours, yet still he slumbered.

Thinking of him though drew my mind to other thoughts. Rather- memories. Because I couldn't forget.

Mika was dead.

Three very simple words, yet ones I had been trying to cope with for the last six or so hours here.

When I first saw her... her corpse, I had panicked and lashed out, letting rage fill me against the one that had clearly murdered her. Now without a target for my anger, all I had was sadness. Because fucking hell, my best friend/potential love interest was dead.

It was just like losing my dad all over again, only worse, since I was older now and had a proper target to blame.

"Omega," I hissed his name, thinking back to the masked man. He didn't make sense. He couldn't. When he had shown up I had focused on the fact that he was an OP bastard who killed Mika, but now I was more interested in the fact that he shouldn't exist.

I had never seen anyone like him in canon, and no matter how much I strained my mind I couldn't find any evidence that he had ever appeared as he was in the anime. Hell, I've never even seen him before! So that brings to mind a simple question- who the HELL is he!?

"Was he always in Bleach, just out of camera-shot? Did he murder in the show but was just never shown? Or did he only become active due to me, through some strange and stupid Butterfly Effect? Or is there another explanation for him being here? And more important, who is he underneath that mask, and just what prompted him to decide that he hated me and so needed to kill an innocent woman?" My thought went unanswered, leaving only more questions.

I sighed. Truly, I was no Sherlock, and had absolutely nothing to go to even try and hazard a guess as to just what the hell Omega's deal was. Not a single clue to point me in the right direction. But then again, even if I did know, did it matter? He was so terrifyingly strong compared to me that it was unreal, and there's nothing I can do about that.

"He could kill my friends one by one, like he said, and I could do nothing about it." My understanding of this was what was really horrifying. I could maybe deal with the loss of friend, as being a Shinigami is a dangerous job, but this sort of way was unforgivable. I wanted to do nothing more than protect my friends, but I was too weak for that. If nothing changed I knew that Mika wouldn't be the only body I would end up burying.

'I'm going to kill them. They're going to die. One by one. And there's nothing you can do to stop me.'- those had been his exact words, and I took them for truths. Omega would try to kill them, and unless I wanted this terrible feeling of loss to quintuple I'd just have to do something about that. I'd have to get horribly strong horribly quickly if I was ever to stop Omega.

But...that was for another day. For today I was mourning Mika, thinking murderous thoughts about Omega, and wondering if the next time I left this cell would be for my own execution.

As if responding to my musing, the sound of footsteps quickly grew louder. I sat up further, anxiously waiting to see who was coming.

Again, it spoke of my desperation that I was happy to see Aizen outside, "Hello Marcus,"

"Hi, Aiz- Captain Aizen," I corrected, "What's the news?"

"Quite good considering the circumstances. You've avoided the chopping block anyway."

"Due to your intervention, no doubt," I mused dryly.

"Indeed," Aizen nodded his head, "Why wouldn't I protect you?"

"The real question is what you have to gain from helping me, really."

My thoughts must have been pretty visible, because Aizen elaborated, "You are my responsibility. Plus, after all the work I've put in recruiting you into my Division, I wasn't going to allow you to be executed."

"Thanks. Seriously."

The sentiment was real, at least. I liked my head attached to my neck, and it was only due to the bastard's efforts that I wasn't dead. When one thinks of the Central 46, the words 'merciful' or 'forgiving' are not the ones you typically associate with them. Due to my status as a Ryoka I was on thin ice from my very first day in the Academy, and knew I would always be under a microscope to be checked for bad behaviour. The fact that Omega, a clearly Captain class enemy, was targeting me and would likely continue to pursue me would only strain any good will. I was already responsible for the death of one promising student, and so how many more would need to die before they decided I wasn't worth the losses?

Aizen gave me a smile, "I'm glad to look out for a subordinate. Still, it did take some political favours on my part to placate them, so please forgive me if I expect only the best efforts in the workplace from you once you are released from here."

In other words, 'You owe me. Someday I'll cash it in.'

"Joy."

"When am I getting out of here?"

"Tomorrow. Captain Soi Fon wanted to interrogate you personally, but I was able to call her off by pointing out that your testimony isn't necessary as I have already interrogated you earlier and was also present for much of the encounter."

"And what are we going to do about... you know... him?" I asked.

"Nothing."

"NOTHING!?" I snapped.

"Unfortunately," Aizen gave me a serious look, "Central 46 has deemed Omega a threat, but also cares too little to allow a serious manhunt. Unless Omega embarrasses the Gotei 13 again, and consequently them, they won't lift a finger. While we can look, it will be a token effort, as Omega isn't deemed a true threat by them as his only motivation seems to be ruining your life."

"Brilliant," I spat, "So since Omega embarrassed the Gotei 13 by sneaking into the Seiretei and murdering a student due to his stupid hate on for me, I'm in the doghouse. But since he's not presently causing big problems they'll just let him go free because it's too much trouble for them?"

"Hit the nail on the head. If a lead is found we may be able to pursue him further, but until then we must be patient."

"Alas, I don't exactly have the patience to wait for justice to be brought to Mika's murderer. So in short, the Gotei 13 can do nothing against Omega at the moment?"

"Yes."

"Damn," I cursed. It had been only a tiny hope, but I wouldn't have complained if half a dozen Captains had tracked Omega down and killed him. I wanted him dead, but it's not like I was insistent that I be the one to do it. Yet, it looks like that wasn't going to happen.

Because obviously it'd be up to me to actually deal with my overpowered nemesis, wouldn't it?

"Marcus... I know that you are in a bad place right now. Your friend has just been killed, and you feel responsible. I won't dissuade you of that notion, as that is no doubt a job for your many friends. Instead I will say that as long as it is within my power I won't allow the Central 46 to kill you due to his actions. And if you should require my aid..."

The suggestion was unfinished- it didn't need to be. I understood him well enough. He'd passively protect me if Omega showed up again and if I was... well, unsuccessful (Except I wouldn't let him hurt another friend, I couldn't), but if I wanted his personal assistance in dealing with Omega he would oblige. However, it would no doubt come with a further cost.

Sure, Aizen's resources would no doubt be a boon in tracking down Aizen, and his combat ability backing up any attempts to fight him would be a blessing, but was it worth making a deal with the devil to do so? At this point was I desperate enough to request Aizen's help even though I knew that I would come to regret it?

The answer was simple- no. Aizen was the closest thing to the Devil in this world, and a Devil's Deal always turns out sour. I had no clue what his plan is, why he's so interested in me, or how he intends to use me (Because obviously he wants something from me), but I couldn't take the chance. If I relied on him I'd be falling into his trap.

So for now I'll try and manage Omega alone...for now. When he comes knocking I'll try and stop him, or get aid from another Shinigami. While Aizen was tough, he wasn't the only badass here, and there were others I could turn to who wouldn't cost me an arm, a leg and my soul. I'm sure Momo, Unohana or any of the other higher ups would be just as good an ally to have.

"Well, if I ever need you, I'll let you know." I said honestly. While now I was sure I didn't want to be in his debt, I wasn't dumb. Someday things might get so bad that I would have no choice but to go to him.

"Very well then." Aizen nodded. "I'll be leaving now. Momo will collect you tomorrow and bring you to the Barracks. I will see you when you begin working. Goodbye."

With his offer made, the genius turned and left, leaving me alone.

The night in the cell was sure to be a cold and lonely one.

XXXXXXXXXX

"We need to talk," The single phrase nobody wants to hear. But they were the words that had to be said.

"I think so too," Agreed Javan softly as he sat on the shore of his island. Above us a cloudy overcast hung over us, and a cold wind was blowing across the lake of my soul. While only slightly chilling now, I could tell that it heralded a change in climate. In the distance darker clouds gathered, and promised rain in the future.

"I went to bed one night, then the next time I wake up everything has gone to hell. Apparently I was out of it for two days, and in that time you somehow ended up in prison. Meanwhile your soul is in such turbulence that your very Inner World is literally changing. You get me, fam? Inner Worlds only change when the person does, so something has happened to you which was significant enough to make it so. So why don't you tell me what the fuck is going on?"

So I told him. In plain and simple English. I told him of his silence in my mind, of my bad feeling, of Mika's death, Omega's appearance and my stay in jail. I told him everything.

"Shit." Javan paced to and fro across the surface of the water, cursing softly under his breath. He was just as worried by all of this as I was. "What the fuck, man? What the hell!? Who is... what the... no. This is bad."

"Tell me about it." I laughed bitterly. "The worst bit is that there was no foreshadowing- no warning. He came out of nowhere. Literally. He wasn't in the story, and doesn't seem to fit the source material. And he knew me. From somewhere. He knew me. But I don't know him!"

"Of course not." Agreed Javan, looking out to the horizon. "He's an unknown."

"I mean, if a canon character had shown up, fair enough. Or if I'd actually done something big enough to cause a Butterfly Effect, maybe. But instead he's just some random guy."

"Yeah. Just a random person."

"Who the hell is he anyway? Where did he come from? Why was he after me?"

"No clue." Said Javan quickly, crossing his arms and glaring at the sky like it held the answers.

"No idea who could know-" I stopped my ranting, suddenly noticing something. I'd been quite focused on my own problems and my own rant, but my listener... there was something off his with responses. He's answered a bit too quickly, and agreed a bit too agreeably. I just stared at him for a moment, taking in his whole body language. He was my partner and my friend, and I trusted him without reservation, yet somehow...

I just had a... had a feeling. That something about him...

For some reason, I felt that there was something off about him.

Yeah- it was his body language. He wasn't looking at me, and was in fact deliberately not meeting my eyes. And he was fidgety. Unable to stay still, marching back and forth, and doing anything but trying to comfort me. The way he acted... his posture... it didn't show fear, or sadness, or anger. It was something else.

There was just a teensy bit of of guilt in the way he was acting.

I slapped a hand to my forehead. "What am I thinking? Guilt? Nah- Javan's a friend. He's been with me since the beginning. And how could he know anything? He hadn't known anything about Mika dying when he first woke up. He might just be guilty that he wasn't around to help me when I fought him. Yeah- something like that."

"Marc, something wrong? You've just been staring at me for a minute now."

I blinked, then laughed him off. Yeah, I'd been staring at him like he was a bloody steak and me a starving wolf. "No. It was nothing."

I must have been seeing things. After all, why would I even conceive the stupid idea that Javan was hiding something?

'One among your friends is lying to you, and holds a secret that can and will change everything'

I shook my head, clearing Omega's words from my mind.

Javan was my friend, and Omega my hated enemy. His warnings had sunk into my mind, but there was no reason to actually listen to him. I wasn't going to let his poisoned words taint my friendship, or my trust in my partner. Omega's very nature was to ruin things, but I wouldn't let him. Why should I trust his words over that of Javan's? The former had only murder to his name, while Javan had always been by my side and done everything the help me. The masked man could have just said what he did to try and make things even worse for me- one last spiteful kick to the balls.

"Javan can't know anything, being unconscious at the time." I reiterated in my mind. "He can't know anything of relevance, so why am I still suspicious?"

'A second person you call comrade holds the key to unravelling every mystery'

"Javan, I can trust you, right?" I suddenly asked, not even thinking the words through before they popped out.

Javan looked shocked for a second, before he offered a friendly smile. "Of course you can. I'm your friend and I'm gonna help you through all this, okay?"

"So you can't think of any ideas as to who Omega is?"

"Sorry. I don't know anything about who he is." Javan looked me dead in the eyes, as if daring me to try and find deceit. He looked sincere enough, anyway.

'That person will never reveal the truth.'

"I'm your partner, you can trust me." Javan stretched out a hand, bridging the gap between us.

'You can't trust anybody'

Omega was lying. He had to be.

'What I say now is the truth.'

"I trust you." I said simply, ignoring that sinking feeling of doubt in my stomach. Because we were partners to the end, and partners don't doubt one another. And Javan was my partner, and a good one at that. He deserves my unreserved confidence.

'Those people you put your faith in are nothing but liars'

"I'll trust you to the very end."

XXXXXXXXXX

I'd been out of 'prison' for four days now, and I'd known this was coming for all of them. Even so, I was no more ready to say goodbye than I had been when I first saw her bloody corpse.

I didn't want this to be the way I thought of her. I wanted to remember the good times- her rare, true smile, her manner, the many hours spent toiling by her side in the dirt. Yet instead, I just knew that it would be her still body and this stone tombstone which would be what would remain in my mind decades later.

The tombstone itself was more of a memorial in reality, and had an Eastern style as opposed to western ones. Then again, the Soul Society is a Japanese afterlife and so obviously followed eastern cultures in the way the deader dead were handled. Likewise, Mika was about as Japanese as you could get. When me and my friends had sat down to handle her funeral arrangements, we had eventually decided that the standard process would be the way she would have preferred.

I had never actually gone to a Japanese funeral, but the process seemed both familiar and strange when compared to the only other funeral I attended. Apparently the Seireitei had its own history and customs which had been added to the mix, which was why the dead were buried and not incinerated (Like how they did it in actual Japan, or so Kasumi told me). The burial location was all our idea though. Rather than in the standard burial ground all Shinigami were allowed to rest, we'd requested she be buried outside of the Seireitei.

Mika Ikeda loved her garden, so we would bury her somewhere beautiful. Hayato had selected the location- a beautiful hillside in West Rukon District 47. A maple tree grew at the top, and if one sat beneath it you could see the fields stretch around you in all directions, the grass blowing in the breeze. Hayato and Daichi had lived in the town nearby, and often came back here to visit, and had obviously found this beautiful spot at some point or another.

I was glad they had- this was a perfect spot for Mika to rest.

Still, I'm sure she would have been fine with what we had decided for her funeral. Just having us attend would have been enough for her. Then again, she didn't have anyone else close enough to her to attend, so we were basically the only ones to see her off.

And no. Momo doesn't count. She was only with us as my escort/guard outside the walls of the Seireitei.

"Does anybody else have anything to say?" queried a tired Daichi, whose enthusiasm and energy had yet to recover.

"I just wish I'd known her more." Admitted Kasumi quietly. "I only really k-know Marc, but I think we could have been good friends."

"Alas, that can't happen now, can it?" Said Javan softly.

"Taken before her time." Admitted Hayato.

"So what do we do now?" Daichi sighed. "I'm tired. Damn it, I feel like I've been crying over Mika forever, but damn it, I still miss her."

"So you should. I think I'll always miss her." Akimi gave a small, strained smile. "We never always got along, but I did consider her a friend. And it's not... it's not the same without her. Our group has been together for years now, and I had hopes we would continue together for our entire careers. But now she's gone, and a void will always exist."

And wasn't that the truth? We were all mourning not only her, but the loss of something irreparable. It might have been harsh to say, but I've always seen my friends as a collective thing. I value all of them, but we're better together. Hell, I already thought of them as True Companions, but I'd felt justified in this view after the Team Marcus thing. The way we all agreed to stick together and support each other as a pseudo Team (Even including the new Kasumi) had just solidified my view that we'd be great together.

At the time it seemed impossible for any of us to die- we were invincible, high off our success over the Menos. I'd foolishly seen Team Marcus as an odd parallel of Team Karakura- my true friends supporting me, while Ichigo's companions assisted him. I saw a future where the six of us went off and kicked ass, killed Hollows and showed Aizen who was boss. I saw us growing into a cohesive unit, and becoming renowned across the Gotei 13. I saw a future where we all got our happy endings, and were friends to the very end.

Such childish delusions had been shattered when Mika had been killed not one week after our declaration had been made.

We were in a shonen universe, but not the main characters. We didn't have plot armour, and we definitely were not destined to survive.

Admittedly we were still a 'team', the way we would help each other would never change. But the dream was gone. The idea of us becoming something Big, having all those PG13 adventures and getting a happy ending was no more. We were just five people mourning the loss of a friend suddenly wrenched away from us.

"So what do we do?" Repeated Daichi helplessly.

"We get ready." Akimi announced, resolutely. "Team Marcus, a unit made up of six promising young Shinigami, is no more. One amongst us is dead. And the killer still lives. And... well, we all heard him."

"Yeah... he'll be back for us." my friend in the yellow scarf looked around nervously, as if terrified that he'd jump out of nowhere. "That's what he said, right? That he was going to kill all of us, one by one. How the hell are we supposed to deal with that, knowing he could be back at any moment to finish us off?"

"We get stronger, that's what. Omega's target is me, as he obviously has some sort of grudge against me. He killed Mika because of me, and he wants to kill you too. I... I refuse to let him kill anyone else. I'm going to become strong, so strong that he'll never touch any of you again! I know that you'd be safer if you weren't my friend, and that without me there wouldn't be a threat, but damn it! I don't want to let you go..."

Kasumi offered a wry smile. "I think that you know we're w-with you for the long haul."

"Hmmph! You should know better, Marc. What sort of friends would we be if we abandoned you? Even with the threat of Omega, I refuse to let our bonds be broken." Akimi nodded solemnly. "Surprisingly, you peasants are actually the only friends I have."

My smile was tired, but genuine. "Too be honest, I already knew that even if I asked you to sever ties with me, you wouldn't."

"Thus we get ready." Akimi echoed her earlier words, slamming a fist onto her other palm in emphasis. "Team Marcus as we knew it is dead... but it lives on, because we do. The Team is still here, but we have bigger problems than just supporting each other as Shinigami. Now we're going to have to unite and grow stronger out of necessity."

The bookworm's opinion was clear, "Either get strong enough to kill Omega, or remain weak enough to die."

"So it's agreed then. We get stronger, then we track down and kill that son of a bitch who dared to target one of us and kill another of ours." Akimi smirked cruelly, and in that moment I saw a facet of the girl we never normally glimpse. She always declares that she is the 'Nishisaka heir and prodigy' yet I've never really ever seen that heir in action, have I?

"Politics is a bloody business, and she was raised from birth to take over her family. She's gotta have a bit of cruelty in her."

"Track him down? Aren't we being a bit hasty?" Hissed Daichi. "It's bad enough that he's coming for us without us walking towards him!"

Hayato shook his head and put a reassuring hand on Daichi's shoulder. "Can you forgive him? Omega?"

"Huh- forgive? No! Of course not!"

"Th-then you stop him, right?" Kasumi interjected timidly. "N-normally I prefer peaceful action, but sometimes...sometimes things are unforgivable. If we leave him be...t-think of who else could be hurt."

"You said that the Gotei 13 wouldn't be of much help, Marc, so it is up to us Daichi. Either way, Omega needs to die. Whether it be to stop him coming back again, or to get justice for what he's already done. So all in favour?"

Four "aye's" followed Akimi's question: mine, Daichi, Kasumi's and Javan's (Though none could hear him). Only Daichi looked torn, but eventually he caved and gave a squeaky agreement.

"I think this needs to be official then." Akimi reached for her Zanpakuto, unsheathing it effortlessly, before swiping it lightly across her palm so that blood was free to bleed from it. "A blood oath. An agreement to protect each other, and make sure that bastard dies."

Wordlessly, we each followed suit and cut our own hands (With Daichi following our lead, but still hesitant). Resolutely, we stood in a circle, and placed our dripping hands in the centre.

I took the lead, making the oath, "Team Marcus lives on, and Mika won't be forgotten. We protect each other, and make sure the bastard dies. This I swear."

"TEAM MARCUS LIVES ON, AND MIKA WON'T BE FORGOTTEN. WE PROTECT EACH OTHER, AND MAKE SURE THE BASTARD DIES. THIS WE SWEAR!"

Crimson liquid mixed, and fell to the dry grass drop by drop. A vow had been made, and sworn through a blood oath. This was a proper Blood Brothers style oath, not a vague 'oh, I promise to do such and such'. I had every intention to fulfil it to my dying breath. Because I refused to let another Mika happen, and I refused to let Omega escape.

Then, after what could have been minutes, we separated. I looked back to see that Momo had been watching us all along, and had been sporting a sad look upon hearing our oath.

"And now... now I think it's time to finish off this funeral. It's time to hold the wake, I think." Daichi gave us the most enthusiastic smile I had seen in the last few days. "It's time to go to the bar, get plastered, talk about old times and regret it in the morning. For Mika."

"For Mika."

XXXXXXXXXX

The pub was as expected for the Seireitei- it had lots of sake, and not a lot of cider or beer. My British sensibility was offended, but there was still enough for our purposes. As the night progressed the collection of empty glasses on our shared table grew larger and larger.

We talked about our time at the Academy, and what Mika meant to us. We told old stories, and shared messy tears.

For the entire night, we left one space at our table empty, refusing to relinquish the chair to any other patron. Atop the wooden surface of the table, sat in the empty spot reserved for someone that would never arrive, a glass was filled to the brim with high quality sake and left untouched.

Sayonara Mika Ikeda. The First is dead.

XXXXXXXXXX

The Agents arrived, and were given their task. Fate made sure she was clear in the instructions given to the two of them.

"Prioritize the New Error. It is the origin of the problem. The Old Error is secondary but should be dealt with should the opportunity arise, while even the Original must also die."

Fate really needed to re-categorise the Errors active in her world, but that could wait. She still needed to further analyse the Divergence, check the Wrongness, and calculate how the Errors have broken her system. There was something about this problem which was different to normal...

She was stubborn though- such was her nature.

It would take years but she would get to the root of what this New Error had wrought, and just how and why it had Broken everything. Meanwhile her Agents would act directly on her behalf, track down the New Error and purge him from her system before it was too late. Then with the death of the other Errors things would (Hopefully) return to normal.

And when that happened, all would be right with the world.

AN- Well, that was something. As I said, a bit of a reflective chapter for Marcus to start dealing with what happened last chapter. I just killed off one of the most developed OC's in this story- she at least deserves to have some mourning rather than having Marcus just skip over it.

Other things to note: the government proves to be useless when dealing with Omega (Because it would be no fun if a couple of Captains hunted down Marcus' Nemesis, now, would it?), Aizen is still scheming something strong and has a favour from Marcus that he might potentially cash in someday, Team Marcus swears a blood oath, Fate has started to put her 'agents' into action and Omega's words come back to haunt Marc. Really, I'm surprised nobody pointed anything out sooner. For being a main character with speaking lines every chapter and being Marcus' spirit guide, I haven't really revealed much about Javan, have I? Then again, am I just trolling and giving Marcus unjustifiable paranoia?

Who knows. Either way, this kicks off the next arc. It should last the years up until canon kicks off anyway. Until next time, Undying Soul out.