Chapter Twenty
You're going at it too much this morning... Hyōrinmaru said as his wielder lit a third cigarette that morning. The zanpakutō knew that his wielder did it to take the edge off some mornings when something big was about to happen. But today seemed pretty excessive.
Today was the day when the fourth would make rounds by themselves on patrol: the day he predicted Karin would attack. The problem was that Hitsugaya was getting very little sleep. It seemed as if Karin kept invading his dreams the more the day approached. It started out as harmless little, feel-good memories then progressed to memories he regretted and wished he could have gone back to change before transcending into total nightmares about her disappearance and her withholding at the 12th.
He barely had sleep at all last night in fact.
He didn't even finish the third one and stubbed it in his ashtray before standing up. You're ignoring me. Hyōrinmaru said
I'm not. You can see what's going on in my head. Hitsugaya stated as he put on his haori
True but acknowledging it yourself would be more helpful. Hyōrinmaru said and Hitsugaya huffed
"I'm going to be late for work." He sighed loudly before heading out the door and was about to leave but bumped into someone waiting.
"Ouch! Shirō-chan!" The voice complained
Hitsugaya looked down and rolled his eyes. "What is it, Hinamori?"
"You don't have to be so mean! I'm worried about you!" His sister pouted. "I even made you onigiri to see if you're okay."
Hitsugaya frowned before reaching forward to hug her, shocking the older shinigami. "Sh... Shirō-chan?"
Hitsugaya pulled away. "Thank you... and I'm sorry." He said. "I have been too far gone these days."
"What's wrong?" Hinamori asked. "Is it about the girl?"
" ... Mostly, I guess." Hitsugaya rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. Momo frowned before pulling the door closed behind him
"Come, let's walk to work." She said. "We can talk about it on the way there." Hitsugaya nodded before following her down the path leading back to Seireitei.
You see that? Lover boy has moved on.
Angetsu pestered her as they watched froma distance as Hitsugaya and some short black haired girl with a powder blue bun cover. Well, at least we can see that black haired girls are his type. Karin was quiet. She had been quiet these past few days. What? You won't talk to me? Silence.
Answer me! The voice growled in anger and Karin simply looked up at the clouded figure and flipped them the bird. There was nothing else she could do. She was as good as dead.
You should comply or else this body will shut down. In her eyes, there was no difference if she was dead or not. It didn't matter anymore. She was tired. We have an interesting night ahead. Angetsu said with a chuckle while Karin sat helplessly to the side.
"So... that's the story." Hinamori said as they approached the 5th division and Hitsugaya nodded. "... I was in the dark about everything." You still are... Hitsugaya thought to himself because he chose not to tell her everything. In fact, he doubt he barely scrapped the surface. But Hinamori was one of the people he would keep safe no matter what. This involved Aizen and it would be bound to end in disaster if she knew everything. "It's not like the goteijūsantai is willing to disseminate important information." Hitsugaya said
"You look tired." She mentioned and Hitsugaya frowned. "Are you getting enough sleep?"
"Yes, Hinamori." He said in a monotone sigh. Momo frowned at him and the captain was starting to get annoyed.
"I have to go to work." He claimed
"Shirō-chan..." Hitsugaya turned around to face her. She held his hand in hers. "If there's anything you want me to do, just tell me. You can trust me."
"I know." Hitsugaya nodded.
Momo reached up and ruffled his hair before walking into the division, bumping past Hirako-taichō and Muguruma-taichō on the way out.
"Ah! Momo-tan!" Hirako greeted.
"Good morning, taichō." She bowed before rushing inside
The two captains turned to look at the younger one. "Walking Momo today?"
"She was checking in." Tōshirō said.
"I thought the crazy one was your girl." Hirako tried to tease and the 10th division Captain raised an eyebrow at him. "No shame in being a womaniser."
"That's my sister you're talking about, Hirako-taichō." Hitsugaya deadpanned. "Your deputy that is."
"Oh... is that so..." Hirako mused in confusion. "You don't even look alike..."
"I have work. Good day." Hitsugaya tried excusing himself and turned around.
"Not so fast, shortput." Hitsugaya stopped at the sound of Muguruma-taicho's voice.
Hitsugaya raised his eyes to the heavens before turning around. "Do you need something?"
"I was just talking to Shinji here about some missing documents." Muguruma-taichō mentioned. "You know, the ones you were asking about a couple of nights back."
"... okay?" Hitsugaya shrugged
"Well... I find it hilarious how they go missing after you mention it." Muguruma chuckled
"Funny how I mentioned it in passing in a public space when there are enemies roaming around." Tōshirō countered
"You think this supposed enemy would want some old documents?" Kensei asked.
"Well, they wouldn't be missing now, would they?" Kensei looked pissed off now. "Alright, I'll throw you a bone. The documents are missing and you think I took them because I asked about it, correct?" Silence. "Very well. You are free to send anyone from the ninth to raid the tenth if that will help. Or I can help you look. Maybe you misplaced it... that wouldn't be surprising considering the ninth's reputation for being... simple-minded."
Shinji watched the exchange two white haired captains. "Oop..." He mused, wondering why he didn't have any popcorn with him.
"Are you patronising my division?" Kensei asked rather angrily.
"Of course not. I feel sincere sympathy... brains and bronze don't always co-exist." Hitsugaya said and Kensei pulled his katana and swung but Hitsugaya made no effort to move. His katana stopped just as the tip of the blade touched his neck and the younger Captain barely flinched. "I'm the child yet here I am using my words to communicate effectively. Would you like pointers?"
Careful with the teasing. Hyōrinmaru tried to sound like he was condoning it but he was just as amused.
"Okay, Kensei." Shinji lowered the blade away from him, silently reminding him that they were still on probation and a misdemeanour, like attacking another captain, was illegal. "Relax. Hitsugaya-taichō has a point. Who knows how long the box has been in your office without anyone touching it? Maybe you forgot where you placed it."
"Unless you think Tōsen never did some spring cleaning." Now Hitsugaya looked a little smug. "A hundred years is a long time."
"This little brat is playing me for a fool." Muguruma growled.
"Taichō!" Shūhei shunpoed over. "We found it in the cupboard, sir."
Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow at the fūkūtaichō and his leader. Muguruma hissed before sheathing his zanpakutō. "So I'm free to go?"
"Hisagi! Let's go." Kensei yelled before trekking off with his lieutenant in tow
"Have a nice day." Hitsugaya told Shinji before marching off in the opposite direction. Shinji looked confused.
"Isn't the 10th..." He mused out loud but shrugged. It was a long morning.
When Hitsugaya was a small ways out, he passed an alley before throwing a scroll into it and shunpoing away.
"Everyone has been so bouncy today..." Yuzu said to Yoruichi as the cat lied on her belly, rolling around. "I haven't seen Kuna-san since this morning. Is something happening tonight?"
"Yuzu!" Kūkaku grumbled at her and the young girl fell silent. "Let us not draw attention to ourselves."
"Ourselves?"
"Shut up!" Kūkaku threw hot ash from her pipe at the cat who scurried away in fear. She turned back to Yuzu. "Listen, you brought important information. That is good. But people can't know that you are here. Okay?"
"Why not?" Haruki asked in annoyance. She was tired of all this waiting.
"Because, if nothing actually happens and you get caught, you will be in serious trouble. You broke into a shinigami society under lock down during a time of turmoil. That's a war crime."
"Ichigo has done that several times..." Yuzu pouted
"Well, you are not your suicidal, dumbass brother, the circumstances are different and you are not in a position to fight hundreds ranked shinigami in case things don't go as planned." Their aunt explained
"So do we just sit around?" Haruki asked
"No... no, you don't." Kūkaku looked at Yoruichi who silently nodded. "Mashiro is out investigating with Hitsugaya and Kuchiki. Hitsugaya suspects that there will be a large scale attack tonight."
"... Why?" Yuzu asked.
"The dangai is closed and so far, Mashiro and Yoruichi have been monitoring it to see if people have been entering. So far, you are the only ones." She started to explain. "Next off, Karin has been missing for several days now. If she was rabid and attacking without a plan then she would have done so by now so she is waiting for a specific opening... and he spotted that opening tonight."
"What opening?" Yuzu asked.
"The fourth division is patrolling alone tonight." She said. "They are not the most excellent swordsman and on top of that, they are the medics so if they are taken down then soul society will be cut off from proper medical resources for a while."
"Then what are we doing sitting here?" Haruki asked
"He could be wrong. That is the issue." Kūkaku explained. "Hitsugaya and Kuchiki have their jobs and lives on the line for this and they are taking the first risk."
"What do you mean by that?" Yuzu felt like an idiot now, constantly asking questions while everyone else had everything figured out.
"They also suspect there are people inside preparing for something bigger." She admitted. "Hitsugaya speculates that Karin is just a pawn and a distraction and I agree. It seems like to me, the plan was always to have her cause chaos and distract from something else. If he is correct, then that would mean there are people inside Soul Society executing the real plan."
"You are crucial to the plan, Yuzu. Especially now that you have your shikai. Just wait for Mashiro to come back for you." Yoruichi said and Yuzu nodded.
"Taichō!" The guards at the gate nodded as they let Hitsugaya in. The young captain nodded before walking into the courtyard. They did not normally start with training on the third day of the week but Hitsugaya was running a bit late.
"Oh! Morning captain." One of the newer recruits walking by with a big box said
"Ah! Tanaka." Hitsugaya nodded. "I need you to pass on a message to the entire division."
Tanaka perked up curiously. "What is it?"
"If you have plans tonight, cancel them." He ordered.
Central 46 has seen some rough times; good, bad, blood and pure slaughter. But it was slowly building itself back up to it's former glory as the judicial central of the entirety of Seireitei. One of the guards sighed... some peace and quiet despite all the turmoil around. That was until Kuchiki-taichō and a few of his men showed up. "Ah! Kuchiki-taichō... what brings you-"
"I am officiating a lockdown of this premises." Byakuya announced as his officers started to surrounded the doors and bring everyone out from their offices and commons, shocking all the men present.
"What? What is going on?" One of the men mused in shock as they were all gathered in the meeting room.
"Oi!" Renji called out, grabbing everyone's attention. "Under the official name of the Kuchiki clan - the nobilities of judiciary - headed by 28th clan head, Kuchiki Byakuya-sama, we hereby place Central 46 on official lockdown for the purpose of investigation." Everyone looked shocked at the announcement. "The consensus was reached that the investigation looking into the escape of Sōsuke Aizen was insufficient and we therefore suspect negligence and foul play. No one shall leave this commons until a decision is reached or unless Byakuya states otherwise. All guards must reliquish their weapons and place them in front."
"But-"
"We expect the orders not to be questioned." Renji cut him off immediately
"This is preposterous." One man claimed. "The sōtaichō surely did not allow this."
"The sōtaichō has jurisdiction solely on the goteijusantai... the Kuchiki clan was officiated constitutional control over Central 46 by the Soul King." Kuchiki-taichō spoke up. "Do you have an issue with how things are run?"
The man recoiled. "No... no sir."
"Then this should be no problem." Kuchiki frowned. "Should you want to return to your day to day duties, I suggest we get down to business."
Night fell and Angetsu waited outside the gates for four figures to arrive. "There are supposed to be five of you." They complained in Karin's body. "Where is the fifth one?"
"Central 46 is under lockdown." One of them mentioned.
"They know." Angetsu sighed.
"So do we stand down?" Another asked
"No. It has to be done today." Angetsu muttered. "We'll improvise. Everyone should take their positions... this will be an interesting night."
"Next guard please." The 3rd seat of Rōkubantai announced and Kuchiki-taichō watched all of them carefully. Four hours have passed since they announced the lockdown, a rather hostile takeover even for Byakuya's tastes but otherwise, very necessary. He had excused Renji around the two hour mark. Kuchiki-taichō knew he wasn't going to get any information... he just wanted to buy time.
"Excuse me, may I go to the bathroom?" The guard who was supposed to go after him asked.
His 3rd seat looked at him. Kuchiki nodded. "You may go." His 3rd seat said and the man walked swiftly into the secluded hall.
"So, you were in charge designating food and water for the prisoners, correct?" The 3rd seat asked and he nodded. "Were you not aware that one of the prisoners was not eating not drinking?"
"It happens quite often that prisoners reject food, I didn't think much of it." The warden shrugged.
"But this has been going on quite some time." The 3rd seat claimed
"But we as shinigami can survive off food and water for days, weeks even." The warden claimed.
"... Aren't the prison walls made to drain reiatsu?" Kuchiki-taichō asked, catching the warden off guard. "The prisoners are weakened because just enough reiatsu can enable their powers, correct?"
"Y... yes but—"
"So how would Aizen survive for multiple days without food or water if there was no reiatsu present to heal his cells?" The warden had no idea how to answer that. "Very well. Who was the prison guard responsible for meal preparations?"
"I am." One piped up
"Step forward please." The 3rd seat invited him over.
"How often are full plates of food sent back to you?" Kuchiki-taichō asked
"Not very." He said
"Do you monitor which ones are sent back?" Byakuya questioned
"Yes. The goal is to keep the prisoners alive." He said. "And from the unit where Aizen was held, there are only few prisoners since it is total isolation. Never have I had a plate of food return to me."
Byakuya turned back to the warden. "So, we can see a disparity here."
"What? Sometimes I eat the extras. I'm not letting good food go to waste." The warden claimed
"But it goes against the rules of this prison ground." Byakuya claimed
"Look, if I'm going to get punished for eating extras, do it then. How was I supposed to know that someone let that little girl in to—"
"Little girl?" Byakuya asked. "... Who said anything about a little girl?"
The warden turned white. "Isn't that why we're under lockdown?"
"Yes but no one has linked the young girl to Aizen's disappearance." Byakuya said. "In fact, she was being withheld in the 4th and 12th divisions around the time it happened."
Everyone turned to look at the warden who was now sweating buckets. "Look, I didn't mean it like that. I just assumed—"
"Assuming puts you in difficult positions." Kuchiki-taichō claimed
"Okay! I know nothing about Aizen! I was just told not to give him his meals for the day!" The warden claimed
"By who?" Kuchiki paused as he realised something. "That patrol guard has been in the bathroom too long. Shirogane."
"Taichō!" His 6th seat called back
"Go check on him." The underling nodded before leaving the hall. "Now, would you like to tell me who instructed you to do that?"
"Taichō!" Shirogane came running back. "The patrol guard, he's dead."
Kidō corps was also experiencing a peaceful evening. The kidō experts went about their business as they worked through the night only to feel a strange drop in reiatsu in the air as the front door burst open from the hinges. "Ara! Ara!" The unknown intruder laughed as he strutted inside. He was a much older man who wore a malicious smile on his face and no one recognised him. "Look what I just walked into."
"Who... who are you?" One of the kidō experts asked and the intruder chuckled.
"Does it matter? All of you will die tonight." He said
"Stop right there!" Another piped up before launching a kidō attack on him but it failed mid air.
"It's such a shame that all you know is kidō." He said before slicing through the person who attempted it, shocking everyone. "If all you know is kidō then you are in a of trouble against my princess." He unsheathed his katana. "Furueru, Aohime." The katana changed into a blue, metallic glove that he wore. He was ready to swing but someone flashstepped by and cut through his sleeve before landing on the other side of the room. "Eh?"
"You..." He looked up to see a young man with white hair wearing a haori. He knew exactly who this was. "Stand down before I force you to."
The man laughed. "So it is you... Hitsugaya Tōshirō. I wasn't expecting you here at the very least. I thought you would have other... entanglements to attend to." The young man simply narrowed his eyes at him. "This is going to be a long fight... I understand if you would like to leave and save your little friend."
"... Leave this hall now." He told the kidō experts.
"There is a barrier surrounding this building." He smirked. "You can get in... but you can't get out."
"Get to safety then." Hitsugaya still insisted to them and the men rushed out of the meeting hall.
"You really are stubborn, aren't you?" He asked.
"Your name is?" He asked
"No one would know because... of course no one would remember." He claimed.
"That zanpakutō, Aohime... it's supposed to be extinct." Hitsugaya claimed.
"Indeed." He sneered.
"So... what happened?" Tōshirō asked.
"What else but the cruel, inhumane justice that is Soul Society?" He said. The young man frowned and the bandit was annoyed... Was that pity on his face? "Oi! Oi! Oi! Don't give me that look of sympathy."
"... your name." Hitsugaya insisted.
"... Nakamura Benjiro." He caved in
"Nakamura Benjiro, I apologize but I have to take you down." Tōshirō claimed before charging forward.
Hanatarō was fearful. He got a heads up from Rangiku that something would happen tonight from her Captain. Hanatarō trusted Hitsugaya greatly. He was a stellar Captain and a great guy all around. Plus, he was the only one who seemed not to lose his head despite having every single reason not to be calm and sound... it almost scared him how calm he was about everything.
"Don't worry..." Isane told the young shinigami. "Everything will be just fine."
The two stopped at the sound of a scream. "Everyone on guard!" Isane called out to her division members who stood ready with their hands on the hilt of their swords.
A body dropped from a roof and fell before them. It was one of their own. Next was a figure who jumped down and landed before them. In the dim light, they recognised her as Karin. "So nice to meet you again... but I do apologise for circumstances. That guard from the 4th put up quite a fight. Strange."
She swung her sword but the division members were quick to react and charged for her. One already had their shinigami ready and used it to manipulate moonlight and shine over her and her shadow before two members sliced through the shadow monster after its location was revealed.
"So I was right... these aren't your division members are they?" Karin asked.
"So your plan was to finish off the first responders and leave Soul Society without medical assistance." An officer said and Karin scoffed before charging again but behind her were two melee users using chains and they held her down.
"Detain her!" Isane ordered.
The others moved for her and Karin smirked. "I'm not the only one here." There were screams they heard in the distance, distracting them momentarily.
"She's lying!" Hanatarō mentioned. "She's trying to manipulate us."
"Too late," Karin announced, unleashing her zanpakutō again but Isane was quick.
"Hashire, Itegumo!" She activated her shikai and a wall of ice covered them from all directions.
Hanatarō took a leap of faith as he unsheathed his katana. "Mitase, Hisagomaru!" His katana changed to a tiny finger sword and he jumped up and slashed the air. Karin jumped out of the way but the light revealed the position of the shadow monster. "There it is!"
"Ho!" Isane let the walls melt before charging and planting her shikai in the ground and spikes of ice popped out and charged for the shadow monster but Karin retracted the shadow back to her shikai as it built to the hilt.
"Everyone, scour the area to make sure. Hanatarō and I have got this." Isane insisted.
"But...Isane-fūkūtaichō." One of her seated underlings piped up
"Rangiku will send in more reinforcements." Isane said
"So it was Tōshirō who planned this bait and switch." Karin tried to attack again. "Good thing I sent my people to the right place."
"Huh?" Isane looked shocked, realising her troops were being held at the 10th.
"So you're all in trouble regardless." Karin said
"Hoero, Zabimaru!" Karin gasped as she turned to quickly protect herself. She held up both of the swords block the attack and she was pushed several feet back by the snake like sword before it recoiled back to the owner.
Angetsu hissed before looking up at the shinigami that now stood before them: Renji, Matsumoto, Rukia and a blonde man she could not recognise holding man prisoner who they dumped to the side. The whole squad is here... Karin gleefuly thought and Angetsu hissed at her. "You're wrong." Renji said. "The 10th is well fortified. They even caught one of your little friends." Now she looked angry.
"Where is he?" Angetsu called out to the six shinigami that stayed to face them. "Where is he!"
"We have no idea who you're talking about." Matsumoto shrugged.
"Karin, we're not going to hurt you." Rukia tried to call out to her
"Good. Because I'm here to hurt you." Their blade disappeared again but Hanatarō jumped to action.
He swung the tiny blade around them to create a ball of light that shined through the night, revealing Angetsu's shadow. "Hadō 33: Sokatsui." The blonde man burned through the shadow and Angetsu noticed Renji and Rukia charging at them. Angetsu side stepped and let the other blade dissolve into the air and attack them. Hanatarō was far so he couldn't do his little party trick.
"Unare, Haineko." Matsumoto released her shikai and Angetsu was shocked that it turned to ash just like theirs and blocked the Angetsu by cutting through it.
Angetsu was distracted and narrowly dodged Renji's attack. "Mae, Sode no Shirayuki." She released her shikai and the blade of her sword cut through the sleeve. It cut through Karin's skin just enough to graze her but the cold was tingling in her arm. It was clear they didn't want to hurt her... but that gave Angetsu an edge.
Angetsu leaped back. How are they detecting my moves so easily?
You underestimated them. Karin said
That stupid friend of yours must be behind this. Angetsu declared before sighing
"I must admit, I underestimated you." They dropped their hilts to the ground and a shadow formed around them, hiding Karin's body, leaving the others confused. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"