Chapter Eight
Kuchiki-taichō was in his office at the Sixth division, filling in paperwork like any other regular day but he had a feeling that this calm and quiet would not last very long. Any time the Kurosaki family – well, Ichigo to be exact – was around, there was always a storm brewing near. He hated to be the type that judged people from their families but the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.
Rukia had informed him what to expect from the two girls albeit he has not met the other one. Rukia said that that one is strong and abrasive but reasonable and a heck more quiet. But the one he had interacted with – Yuzu was her name... he thinks – was nothing of what he expected.
First of all... she bowed when she spoke. Second of all, she addressed him correctly. Thirdly, she was polite the whole time. He did get a glimpse of her other side that night. She seemed so passive at first but proved that she was able to stand her ground. Either way, a Kurosaki in any form, shape or size was bound to be trouble.
"Taichō!" Renji shunpo-ed in, looking rushed and distressed.
"What is it, Abarai-fukutaichō?" Kuchiki asked without looking up from the page.
"Yamamoto-sōtaichō has called an emergency captains' meeting." Renji said.
Why am I not surprised? Kuchiki-taichō thought in his head before standing up. "Then I best be on my way. I'm leaving the sixth in your capable hands."
"Yes, taichō!" He bowed before leaving the office with shunpō.
Ichibantai was the place where all the captains gathered whenever the sōtaichō, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had something of utmost importance to say to the captains. The first captain there standing in his spot was Hitsugaya, awaiting for the others to arrive. He was, in fact, the reason why the meeting was called in the first place.
He had arrived with all the information he had gathered from Yuzu and immediately came to report to the sōtaichō. Hitsugaya was partly relieved that he did not ask too many questions but rather saw the issue as too serious to ignore.
First to arrive was Kuchiki-taichō who had a penchant for punctuality, next was Ōtoribashi-taichō together with Muguruma-taichō and Hirako-taichō. Then coming in next was Suí-Fēng-taichō, then Ukitake-taichō who looked a little worse for wear, then Kurotsuchi-taichō followed by Zaraki-taichō then finally, the lazy Kyōraku-taicho who was slightly loopy from afternoon sake drinking. Left empty were the spots for the yonbantai and nanabantai captains.
"Now that everyone is here, the meeting can finally begin." Yamamoto-sōtaichō began. "Captains of the Goteijūsantai, I have received intel that one of our external links to Soul Society in the human world had been acting strangely after she had gone missing for two weeks. Some of you have probably heard already that she caused havoc in yonbantai due to the fact that she was possessed by her zanpakutō which she recently attained shikai for. Jūbantai captain, Hitsugaya-taichō took it upon himself to investigate and discovered that she has a corrupt zanpakutō spirit but she is coherent to many of the known signs and symptoms which made it difficult to pinpoint the cause.
"He decided to dig into her disappearance and has an assumption that she was taken by Sosuke-Aizen." All Captains (except the calm Kuchiki and the already informed Hitsugaya) looked around, some shocked and others sceptical.
"Forgive me if I am rude but Hitsugaya-taichō, we locked up Aizen years ago." Kurotsuchi-taichō said. "How on earth did you reach that implausible conclusion?"
The young taichō looked slightly annoyed before taking the pictures out of his haori. "The link in question is an artist but after being rescued, she has been drawing pictures of people and places she has never seen before in her life." He passed them to the captain nearest to him. "One was Aizen and three of them were of Hueco-Mundo. She has no recollection of what happened during the time she was taken but these drawings act as fragments of her memory that give an idea of what happened in those two weeks. There was the idea that she was kidnapped by a human but the idea of her being taken by a human considering how powerful she is is not plausible all together. Her and Aizen both possess zanpakutōs that are illusion based... something I believe is not just a mere coincidence if he was the one who corrupted her zanpakutō spirit to begin with."
"I have to agree with Hitsugaya-taichō..." Ukitake said as he looked at the pictures before passing them around. "The resemblance between these drawings and the real people and places are truly uncanny."
"But he is still imprisoned." Kurotsuchi shook his head, resilient to agree with these allegations.
"He has escaped once before." Zaraki smirked. "The little bastard is a slippery one."
"How sure are we that this person is not lying?" Sūi-Feng asked. "What if she has met Aizen before?"
"She was eleven years old when Aizen was last on earth, wholly human and virtually powerless." Hitsugaya provided. "What use could she possibly have been to Aizen at the time?"
"I take it you know this person personally, Hitsugaya-taichō?" Hirako asked with that grin on his face. The one that implied a ton of things that Tōshirō was sure to punch him in the teeth for in the near future.
"She is one of Kurosaki Ichigo's little sisters." Hitsugaya said with a straight face. "I recall meeting her once or twice when I was stationed there. She had reiatsu high enough to see Hollows and shinigami."
"Very well..." Kyōraku-taicho said, sold on the story. "Is there a big problem with all of this or just a crazy girl with a sword?"
"There's more." Hitsugaya pulled out another set of drawings. "They found her a week ago in an empty warehouse that she drew a picture of, her sister confirmed it but here is a picture that Kurosaki drew." He lifted it up for people to see. "There are several people in the warehouse. Had it been shinigami, we would have known so but there's a lingering suspicion that they were humans. If this theory of Aizen taking Kurosaki sticks, then from this, we can say that he has also been taking humans."
"Any idea why?" Rose asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"None." Hitsugaya admitted. "Kurosaki's sister is looking into it but we would need people from here to confirm."
"I have already contacted Central 46 and they are checking whether Aizen is where we left him." Yamamoto-sōtaichō spoke. "Should they find something wrong, we will launch into work. This will be an issue for captain and lieutenant class shinigami but under the jurisdiction of the Thirteenth who are in charge of the human world. Jūsanbantai is heavily understaffed for Kuchiki-fukutaichō to go for reconnaisance in the world of the living. That is why I am appointing Kuchiki-taichō and Hirako-taichō to be on standby."
Tōshirō's eyes visibly widened in shock but he quickly composed himself. He was the one who found out about this in the first. Should this be a potential danger, he should be the one involved. "Why not Hitsugaya-taichō?" Ukitake asked, being the only one to notice Tōshirō's discomfort. "This is more of an investigation which is his jurisdiction."
"I need him and all the other captains here. Should this be a potential danger, Soul Society will put on lockdown." Yamamoto-sōtaichō said. "As for direct measures to be taken, Kurosaki Karin will be transferred to the twelfth for research into her condition." Now it felt like Yamamoto was poking at him with his katana. "Any objections to that motion?"
"Good gosh I hope not." Kurotsuchi-taichō happily sighed. Out of this entire boring meeting filled with heresay and assumptions, this was the best news yet! A new toy to play with.
Hitsugaya literally said screw it and opened his mouth to protest but someone beat him to it. "Like hell you're leaving my student with... that." A cat waltzed into the room almost cockily, sitting on its hind.
"Yo... Yoruichi-sama..." Sūi-Feng said as she noticed the cat from anywhere.
"Sending her to the twelfth will not help her memory or her control in the least. Those who saw saw the way she tried to escape the Fourth. As long as the zanpakutō is not tamed, she could be a danger to Soul Society especially after it is locked down." Yoruichi said before strutting to the door of the assembly hall and scratched at it. "I know someone who can help..."
"Who?" The sōtaichō demanded.
"The only living noble who has tamed her zanpakutō." Yoruichi said. The door creeked open and a head of green peaked in.
"Do I come in now, Yoruichi?" Mashiro asked and all the captains stood there, dumbfounded... even the sōtaichō.
Yuzu took the first train to Tokyo that afternoon. She told her dad that she would crash at Ichigo's apartment without explaining why she was going there in the first place. She would have but her dad's eccentricities were not needed at the moment. She loved her father wholeheartedly but she could see why he annoyed Ichigo and Karin.
An hour train ride after, the train stopped in Tokyo and Yuzu made her way to Ichigo's apartment which was thankfully a fifteen minute walk away from the train station. Karakura Town was right outside of Shizuoka and Ichigo had said that he didn't want to stay there for the rest of his life but would always try to call every time or pop by unexpectedly to see them. He was surely not going to like this visit. What was worse than a smothering father... a smothering older brother. "Where the hell have you been?" Ichigo yelled as he held the girl by both shoulders. "Are you running away from home... what did that old fart do to you... where is Karin?"
"It's nice to see you too, onii-chan." Yuzu sighed. "I was in Soul Society, I am not running from home, otō-san didn't do anything out of the ordinary and Karin-chan is in Soul Society. I'll explain everything later. Right now, I need to talk to Tatsuki."
Ichigo looked like he was hit by a ton of bricks. "Me... your big brother, has been worried about you and Karin for days and you want that little she demon?" He snapped
"You're starting to sound like dad." Yuzu deadpanned and Ichigo felt even more insulted.
"Fine! Wait for that she-demon if that's what you want." He said
"Say that a little louder for the people at the back, Strwaberry-kun." Ichigo froze in fear while Yuzu turned her head to see Tatsuki out in the corridor, wearing an athletic get up. Tatsuki grinned, wagging her fingers at the two. "Hi guys." She said sweetly.
"She's being nice." Ichigo whispered to his little sister.
"You are so dead." Yuzu giggled behind her hand.
Tatsuki slowly walked over and faced him, standing next to Yuzu. "Now Deathberry, what were you saying about me? Our friendly neighbourhood she-demon?"
"Uh... did you forget your keys?" Ichigo asked. Tatsuki narrowed her eyes at him in confusion.
"Not this time, they're right—" Ichigo snatched them out of her hands and slammed the door shut on both their faces. "What the... Kurosaki!"
"Not opening the door until you promise not to hurt me." Ichigo said. "You don't play fair."
"Play fair... what the fuck?" She hissed. "And you're locking your sister out too?"
"Because she came to see you." Tatsuki looked at the door in disbelief then at Yuzu who shrugged at Tatsuki. She let out an exasperated breath and reached under the mat for a key and opened the door.
"If you hid a key this whole time then why..." Ichigo paused when he noticed her crossing her arms over her chest. "This is why people call you a she-demon."
"Which people and why are all their names Ichigo?" She asked and Yuzu watched the exchange before shaking her head.
"... I just came here for help." Yuzu meekly said
Everyone looked incredibly dumbfounded when Kuna Mashiro – the only shinigami capable of giving Kusajishi-fukitaichō a run for her money in terms of craziness – came into the room with a big, goofy grin on her face and a gray mouse nudging its nose into her neck. The fact that Yoruichi was even suggesting that seemed like a joke but other shinigami knew better.
"Wait... she's a noble?" Suí-Fēng coughed out.
"So... you mastered your family's art." Yamamoto Sōtaichō said.
"Aye sir!" The green haired woman saluted. "And it is really awesome! You should see–"
"Okay..." Yoruichi used her cat head to nudge her in the ankle and stop her from talking. "The Tachibana clan is the only clan from the current set up of the Great House Noble families that has a corrupt zanpakutō historically and her zanpakutō is the only one in this generation. She is the only one alive who knows the art."
"Wait... if she is part of the Tachibana clan then why is her surname 'Kuna'?" Kyōraku-taichō asked. "I know all the nobles."
"The head of the Tachibana clan is Mashiro's mother, Tachibana Minami who was the Captain of the third before Ōtoribashi-taichō took over." Yoruichi explained. "But Mashiro isn't the first born so she took her father's surname instead of the noble surname. Like Mashiro, Minami also had the curse but learned the art from her grandfather and taught it to Mashiro."
"Tch! And you want us to trust her?" Suí-Fēng-taichō motioned to the girl now currently cuddling with a mouse. Mashiro heard the comment but simply ignored her. Suí-Fēng had always had a disdain for both her and Kisuke when they were in Nibantai; she did not feel that both deserved their promotions to fukutaichō and taichō respectively.
"It does not matter what you think. No one understands the millennial curse the way she does." Yoruichi said. "Muguruma-taichō has seen up close what happens to a shinigami with the curse and does not undergo incomplete training. Imagine no training at all." The taichō in question however kept quiet as Yoruichi was expecting a testament. Seriously? She thought in annoyance. It was at that moment when she realized that she deeply missed Unohana-taichō, the only rational, sound mind on this court. Mashiro on the other hand was expecting it. She was disappointed though... but not surprised in the least however she decided to keep quiet.
"I am aware of the consequences indeed, Shihōin-san but leaving a delicate case like that in her hands is detrimental." The sōtaichō said.
"Detri– a person who had this her entire life is not good enough to handle it but some brute in a mask who likes to poke things with a scalpel–"
"Enough!" The sōtaichō's reiatsu flared for a second, as if to show them that he was still in charge. "It is already disrespectful enough that you barged in uninvited but you will not question my orders. Kurosaki Karin will be taken to the Twelfth tomorrow morning for in detail analysis and that is final."
Yoruichi was about to argue but Mashiro shook her head. "Just drop it."
"Mashiro..." The cat looked up at her.
"No one can learn except through the hard way." Mashiro shocked everyone with her slightly dark tone and how calm she was. She could throw a tantrum about useless things so this side was unexpected. "Take her to the Twelfth Yama-ji... let's see you keep her there."
"Is that a threat, Kuna-san?" The old man narrowed his eyes at her.
"Not a threat... just a friendly warning. Make sure you keep her awake." Mashiro shrugged. With that, she walked out the assembly hall with Yoruichi close behind.
"I take it that we are leaving then?" Yoruichi asked.
"No." Mashiro shook her head. "You said she lost control twice already. The third is going to be the worst. They're going to mess up. They always do."
Yoruichi laughed. "How I don't miss this ridiculous place."
Hitsugaya was now not in the mood to see the sōtaichō one on one like he had asked before he adjourned the meeting. Karin was going to be transferred to the Twelfth to that sadistic moron... the Twelfth! Tōshirō knows that he does not know the Vizards at all... even the ones who came back and he worked alongside with but honestly, anything was better than Mayuri by a mile.
And don't even get him started on the investigation...
"Hitsugaya-taichō... I take it you are not happy with my decisions." The sōtaichō began. Hitsugaya did not respond to that... of course he was not happy with the decisions made but he did not have a say in anything so why bother expressing any grievance towards it. "May I ask why you decided to look into this ordeal in the first place?"
"I ran into Kurosaki's sister at the Fourth and found things off so I looked into it." Hitsugaya said. It was not false but it was not exactly true.
"This has nothing to do with your relationship with Kurosaki Karin, does it?" The old man asked.
"No." Hitsugaya said.
"I hope not because—"
"Aren't you the one who forbade me from going to the human world unless it was of utmost importance? You said it yourself... maybe you killed the wrong one." Hitsugaya mentioned.
The sōtaichō frowned at the mention of that. "I didn't mean it like that and you know it." He said. "... I can smell nicotine." Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes at him
"It helps with anxiety." Hitsugaya said
"What anxiety?" The sōtaichō asked
"The one caused from you monitoring me 24/7." Hitsugaya scoffed. "I do not even know why you are concerned."
"I have lost a respected captain once before because of a human girl... and he was your captain and is the father of this girl whom you seem quite attached to." Yamamoto said. "I'd like you to stay away from this assignment and even further away from Kurosaki Karin."
Hitsugaya did not respond and simply walked out. Whether he was stripped of his captainship for misconduct or whatever, he did not care. Yes he will stay away from the investigation but he will not stay away from her. He already abandoned her once when she needed him most... he would not make the same mistake again.
Inside the office, Sasakibe, who was watching the whole exchange from his desk sighed. "Taichō, is that necessary?"
"Sasakibe, you know from experience that this will not end well." Yamamoto said. "We have a duty to Soul Society and we cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked."
"But—"
"Sasakibe, I also expect zero attachments from you regarding this issue." He said and his vice captain blinked at him in confusion. "You have no ties and no obligations other than your obligations to Soul Society. Do you understand?" Sasakibe frowned but nodded regardless before focusing back on his paperwork.
"So you want me to check if there were any other people in the warehouse where Karin was found..." Tatsuki said in a question form as Yuzu retold her and her brother of everything that had happened to the older Kurosaki twin. Yuzu nodded in response.
"All I want to know is why I am only told this now!" Ichigo exclaimed. "If that cheeky motherfucker thinks he can take my sister and get away with it I swear to God I am going to fu–"
"Ichigo!" Tatsuki reprimanded him. "You heard her yourself, it is just a working theory. She could be wrong so calm down."
Ichigo glared at his best friend before huffing. "Fine! But if it was him I break his bones first."
"Good strawberry." Tatsuki smiled, ruffling his hair.
"I'm so sorry, onii-chan." Yuzu sighed. "For... keeping you in the dark."
"Just... don't do that again." Ichigo sighed. "I couldn't forgive myself if something happened to you girls."
"Yuzu... are you holding up okay?" Tatsuki asked the younger girl.
"I'll... I'll be fine when Ka-chan is fine." Yuzu sighed. "This must be harder for her."
"So the move forward is for me to check the warehouse and prove that Karin was not the only other person taken." Tatsuki said.
"And figure out where they are now if that is true." Yuzu added. "You can help with that right?"
"Of course I can." Tatsuki smiled. "But not today. It's late and my shift advisor at the police station will not be okay with it."
"Have you ever even done an investigation before?" Ichigo questioned.
"Well not a real one with the police unit since I'm just a tech intern but I did pass my criminalistics practical exam on a missing person's case so I think I can do an okay job at figuring out whether more than two people were present." Tatsuki said before standing up. "I'm too tired to make something. How about I get us something to eat... American styled hamburgers maybe?"
"You don't have to..." Yuzu shook her head.
"Yes, I do." Tatsuki insisted, grabbing her coat. "Besides, the convenience shop is right next door."
"You have enough cash?" Ichigo asked.
"Food's on me, don't sweat. I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on." With that, she left the apartment and Yuzu noticed the long, lingering look Ichigo gave her before she left.
"So... you and Tatsuki, huh?" The little girl laughed nervously.
"I wouldn't even bother." Ichigo scoffed. "It's pointless."
"No, it isn't." Yuzu shook her head. "I know you like her. It must be hard living with her and not being able to tell her how you feel."
"We're friends." Ichigo said. "I'm fine with the way things are with us being friends. We may fight most of the time but it is just for kicks."
Yuzu sighed. "Is this about your break up with Orihime?" Ichigo tsked at her.
"That was two years ago." He said. "And trust me, she's much happier with Ishida than she was with me."
"Are you not over her breaking up with you?" Yuzu asked
"Clearly, I am." He insisted. "Trust me, I'm just fine. I have other things to be focused on."
Yuzu groaned. "That could mean just about anything! I'll never be an aunt at this rate!"
"I'm not having kids." Ichigo announced vehemently
"Huh?" Yuzu looked sad. Her brother just laughed at her frustrated pout before he stood up, offering to make her tea.
Karin was seated on her bed, staring out into space trying her best to stay awake but she has not slept for a day now and was dead tired. The last she slept peacefully was when Tōshirō was around but when she got a rude awakening... she decided not to take any chances like before.
"Kurosaki-san..." Karin looked up at a shinigami she had never seen before at the door. "Could you please come with us?"
"Us?" Karin looked past the shinigami standing in the door way, noting that there was another. "Why are there two of you?" She asked, slightly paranoid.
"Come with us, please." He repeated.
"Where are you taking me?" Karin asked.
"You are to be taken to the Twelfth but it is standard procedure to be take you to a different part of this division while you wait." He spoke.
"What's wrong with this room?" Karin asked. The man failed to answer. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Kurosaki-san–"
"Tell me why I need to be taken a different place before being taken to the Twelfth." Karin said. "What is wrong with me... why do I need to be transferred to another room? Why do I need to be transferred to the twelfth?"
"We cannot disclose..."
"Then close the damn door behind you as you leave." Karin hissed.
"We will have to take you by force if you do not comply." The man said.
You see how they are mistreating you, Karin? The voice in her head laughed. These people don't care about you!
"Shut the fuck up!" She yelled at herself before looking at the baffled men. "And you! Get out!" The man started to walk closer to her.
Act... now! The voice commanded.
"Hadō #11!" Karin exclaimed before placing both her hands on the floor with a thud. "Tsuzuri Raiden!" A large electric current passed through the floor and electrocuted the man standing before and he fell to the ground. The one standing behind him sprung to action, skipping over his mate and leaping towards the futon without touching the ground. He was ready to unsheathe his sword but Karin shunpoed off the bed quickly and into mid air where she kicked the man in the back of his head then his back.
The man groaned as he landed on the futon in a daze and Karin ran without looking back. She shoved aside anyone who stood in her way with complex hakuda techniques that Yoruichi taught her which caused the opponents to become dazed and confused and lower their recovery time. She kept her stance close to the ground and her centre of gravity low in case someone tried to take her down. Karin dashed through the halls, frantic, tired and barefoot trying to find Kotetsu-fukutaichō.
Those guys probably weren't shinigami... they would not just whisk me away to another division against my will...
What pathetic, juvenile thinking. You, such an insignificant being taken by random outlaws? I don't blame you. You are yet to see the extremities in cruelty yourself.
"Liar!" Karin hissed before dashing into the vice captain's office. "Kotetsu-fuku...!" She stopped at the sight of her and two figures she had never seen. A man with creepy face make up wearing a white haori and the woman beside him wearing a short shihakushō with a lieutenant's badge similar to Isane.
But it said the Twelfth.
Karin wasted no time in rushing for the door but reiatsu flared and in a matter of seconds, she was pinned to the wall by the throat and raised in the air with her feet dangling. She flailed, kicking, punching and screaming but she was punched in the gut with devastating force that caused her to cough out blood.
"This one's feisty!" The man laughed. "I am going to enjoy having you as a test subject."
"Bastard!" Karin hissed.
"Nemu..."
"Taichō?" The woman with the extremely short uniform asked.
"The tranquilizer serum." He said. Jūnibantai's fukutaicho stepped forward and pulled out a syringe and needle from the bag she was holding. Karin tried to flail some more but she was not strong enough. The needle pierced her skin with force and she screamed as the liquid was injected into her bloodstream.
"... Help me..." Karin began to pant, running out of consciousness while looking at Isane who only looked pained and guilty expression on her face. The light slowly began to fade as she started unconsciously whispering out the names of the beings that flashed by in the depths of her mind. "Ichi-nii... Otō-san... Yu... zu..." And it all went black.