Welcome to the next chapter.
Benny Farr; Yeah, maybe they are working together~
Drake san; That would be cool.
yanis77zitouni; Thanks for the harem suggestion!
Chronosign; That is true for the manga. Yeah, it would be disastrous for Quincy to go there.
Silver crow; No problem, hope you had a good one. Yeah, Hisagi really does. Maybe that family will become important if that arc goes ahead. Ginjio could do. Thanks for the harem suggestions. Bambietta is still going through some stuff. Lisa will have a fun reaction. Soi Fon would be yeah. She was embarrassed to show it during the war so it makes sense she did that. Unohana is very good at that skill. Sakuto has ways and means of gathering information. I could see Mayuri doing that in the wake of Nemu leaving. They will at their own pace. Yachiru will have a good few nicknames to think of.
Guest 1; Thanks for the harem suggestions.
ShadowUzumaki55; Yeah, they will have to come to some sort of understanding. Bambi is yeah. Glad you liked their conversation. Nemu is yeah~
Guest 2; They could be soon!
Orihime fan; Yeah, its going to be cool. Yeah, they are going to have some stuff they need to talk about. Nemu has made her intentions known. Giselle has some plans for sure.
Skull Flame; Yeah she definitely wont give up once she has set her mind to something. Rukia surely does yeah~ Right now, she is doing her own thing. Yep, they did.
AshuraNoKami; She would be good.
Guest 3; Thanks for the harem suggestions!
Djinn; Thanks!
Guest 4; Yeah, it would be a fun story to make.
Guest 5; Thank you very much!
Guest 6; Thanks for the harem suggestion!
With those reviews finished, its time to start the chapter!
Chapter 11
After the event with Bambietta, Sakuto began making his way towards Orihime's apartment again so he could get some rest for the next day. He knew that meeting with Shinji's group was going to be quite the experience, and did wonder what was going to be asked, among other things that could happen, so he was preparing himself for any eventuality.
However, just before he was able to return home fully, he felt like something was following him from behind.
He knew who it was, as they had done it for pretty much the entire day.
So now that he was relatively alone, he decided to speak up towards the follower.
"Giselle-san, you don't have to follow me if you wanna speak with me."
Giselle giggled awkwardly as she stepped out of the shadows.
"Sorry. I got curious, especially when Bambi-chan and you were together."
"Yeah, it seems that your friend is going through a lot."
Giselle stuck out her tongue in a cute manner.
"That is our Bambi-chan for you. She's really involved with lots of things going on inside of her. Hahaha, she's really a bad girl sometimes. Though, so where those that you met before. What was their deal huh?"
"Erm...you mean the blonde haired guy, and girl?"
"Yup. Seemed to be tense to me."
Sakuto folded his arms in bewilderment.
"If I answer, will you answer something I have been wanting to know?"
"Yes, you may cuddle me if you like~"
Sakuto raised a bemused brow.
"That is good to know. But I was thinking of something else. So, you will answer me?" Giselle nods, showing an earnest face. "Well, to cut it rather short as it could be a long tale. Basically, they were wronged by someone close to me, and well, they wish to get their feelings out, to understand."
He didn't give it all away, but from what he said, it seemed that Giselle didn't look happy about it.
"Wait, do they blame you?"
"It really is hard to say without meeting them. They're trying to sort out their feelings, and I am right here, that other person is not. Hopefully, they'll be able to come around eventually."
"You aren't like going to apologize to them, are you? Seems to me that it wasn't your fault or anything like that."
Sakuto shakes his head.
"It would be meaningless for me to offer such things when I didn't have any participation in their pain. I can only explain and express what I believe to be true. I can only be sorry for their predicament, but I can't apologize for something I had no involvement in."
Giselle thought that made sense, though she did have more thoughts about it.
After saying his part, Sakuto began with his own question.
"Let me ask, there's something about you that I feel as if..."
Giselle stuck out her tongue in a cute manner.
"No need to be shy, you are intrigued by me, right? Wondering more about my power."
"I am someone that does like to study and discover many things in this world, and that includes unique abilities. And I believe you have such a thing, right?"
"I would say so. We haven't had our abilities super long so we still are working out the kinks to them, and what makes them go, and how to use them the best way."
"Want help with that?"
Sakuto offered, Giselle tilts her head.
"But, you don't know what it does, so how can you help?"
He could see her logic, so he counteracted it with his own.
"By researching, studying, and understanding what your powers do in a safe environment. I mean, seeing some of your friends abilities already, it is rather intriguing to someone like me. Creating bombs, having super strength, manipulating and generating lightning, and being able to eat pretty much any substance without harming herself. Also, do you know about your other Quincy abilities. Like Ransotengai? Or Blut? Or any Quincy spells?"
"Hmmm, Quincy spells huh? Well, I personally haven't ever delved into that. As for the other powers, I have thought about it before, know a bit about it, not a super deal about it really."
Sakuto raised a brow.
"Then I think you should consider it, since they would be rather useful for you."
"Well, maybe I will take you up on that offer if you are the one who will guide me through any kind of process." Giselle skipped backwards, and winked. "Gotta go and check on Bambi-chan, she gets rather wild when she's left alone for too long. Best make sure she isn't plotting her schemes~"
"I see...then good night."
"Night~!"
Giselle beamed, as she leapt into the air, and propelled herself through the sky.
While she did that, Sakuto felt his lips curling upwards ever so slightly, glad to see that they were able to begin communicating with one another.
Having gone back to the others after his meeting with Sakuto, Shinji was proposing his thoughts to the others on what Sakuto had actually said. Between going to meet them, and what Shinji's general thoughts were about their meeting as well.
"...So that's how it went."
When Shinji finished off, Kensei stepped forward.
"No ulterior motives?"
Shinji shakes his head.
"He said that we'd be able to pick where we meet, and that he'd listen to what we have to say. But we also have to do the same, right? It can't be a one way street. So whatever he has to say, you've got to listen. Got it? Don't start dismissing something if you don't like what you're hearing, okay? This is his truth, and we've got ours. Lets both listen to each other, and come to an understanding. Alright?"
Kensei grumbled, while some of the others looked on with curious faces.
Hiyori used her sandal, whacking Kensei on the back of the head while he was distracted.
"He asked you a question, didn't he?! You listening baldy?!"
"Ow you little idiot! What the hell is wrong with you and your stupid sandal?!" Hiyori growled when she heard that, and readied her sandal once more. "Alright, calm down! I get it!"
Hiyori huffed at Kensei.
"Its serious you know? If you act like an idiot, then you're only going to prove that you're the idiot! He said he'd meet us, allow us to choose the meeting place, so really he's giving a lot of trust towards us. Do you see his big bro doing the same thing?"
Shinji thought Hiyori was rather right when she said that.
Even Kensei couldn't deny it.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Still, I've got questions for him."
"He said he'd answer them if they're something that he can answer. But as I said, you can't just hear what you want to hear. You actually have to listen to what he says."
"Yeah, I get it."
Kensei muttered, Love tipped his head forward.
"So, where are we meeting?"
"Urahara's shop tomorrow around three, I've already contacted them both, and it seems Urahara, and Sakuto-kun are fine with it."
Lisa, a member of the group who was wearing a girls school uniform, stepped forward, adjusting her glasses ever so slightly.
"So what's he like now?"
"Taller, stronger, and-"
"She meant what he looks like, she's being a perv again."
Hiyori called out over Shinji's voice, Lisa huffed and folded her arms underneath her bust.
"There is nothing wrong with inquiring about someone that we've known in the past. Especially since of the time it has been, I merely wished to understand how he could have changed, that's all."
Hiyori remained unconvinced.
"If you say so. By the way, what's that book you're reading?"
Lisa looked on, not showing anything on her face, as she clenched her book tightly to her body so it couldn't be seen what it was by the others.
Though inside, she felt slightly annoyed, and embarrassed at the same time.
"...Its a women's magazine."
Lisa answered while Hiyori scoffed.
"So its an adult women's magazine, right? Pictures of...erotic men, right?"
Lisa turned her head, doing her best to hide the embarrassment working its way onto her face.
"I do not have to answer such things. Can we move on from the topic?"
Hiyori smirked in victory, while Shinji gave amused eyes.
But then shakes his head, and looks to the others.
"Right, then we'll be able to meet with Sakuto-kun very soon. Best behaviours everyone."
Kensei and the others nod with Hacchi being rather pleased that it went down rather well with everyone that seemed to hold animosity or some negative feelings towards Sakuto.
The next day, it was a weekend day so they were able to relax together within the apartment during what would usually be school hours.
Nemu and Sakuto were continuing their Quincy cross research, and getting rather nice results. Rukia was reading a magazine that was aimed at girls about love, Sakuto was slightly surprised she'd go for such things, but also happy that she was showing more interests as well.
Orihime was watching a man on TV, to do with spiritual medium stuff, Sakuto gave it an intrigued stare.
"Is that the guy who you were speaking about Orihime-chan? That Don Kanonji?"
"Yes, isn't he...eccentric? Tatsuki-chan says that he's a fake, and he's trying to cash in on peoples belief. But I don't know, maybe he does see them~ Is it possible? I mean, I can see spirits, so he could maybe be telling the truth, right?"
Sakuto placed a finger to his chin and thought about it.
"If he has a high enough spiritual power it'd be possible for sure. But its hard to say without meeting him. Tatsuki-san could be right, and that he's faking it to get ratings for his TV show. But, again he could be telling the truth and he does see spirits, though for those that watch his show and have no spiritual power, it must be weird seeing him fighting essentially thin air to their eyes. By the way, have you ever met him Orihime-chan?"
"Ooh no, but we're seeing him at the end of the month, right?"
"Yes, you're right about that~ One way or the other, we'll be able to tell what's going on with this guy. He seems pretty goofy to me, but harmless."
Orihime showed a cute smile, as Rukia secretly looked towards one of her stuffed animals that she had won during the day at the amusement park, smiling at it, before going back to her magazine.
As they talked, suddenly Nemu turned to the door, and gave serious eyes.
"Sakuto-sama, everyone. Quincy detected, four approaching."
Rukia and Orihime became alert, while Sakuto waved his hand.
"Its alright. I invited them to come here. I didn't think they'd respond so quickly though, I only did it this morning. Didn't even have time to really bring it up." Sakuto walked to the door, and opened it, revealing Liltotto, Giselle, Candice, and Meninas to be stood there. "Hello ladies, I'm glad that you could make it."
Liltotto could smell food almost instantly.
Her stomach rumbled, as her eyes scanned inside of the apartment, despite still standing outside.
Reeling in her desires for the time being, she let out a small breath.
"Had to come, free food. Do you cook amazing food? I can smell something good is being made. I don't mind what it is, I'm famished. Oh, right. Thank you for inviting us over."
Liltotto said as she came inside, Giselle giggled happily at how Liltotto was being.
"Don't mind her, she's always famished~ If she could, she'd eat all day everyday~"
"Make me out to sound like a pig why don't you."
Giselle heard Liltotto say it in a scornful way, though not in a malicious kind of way, showing that Liltotto was still apart of the joke.
Rukia watched, but couldn't see Bambietta.
"Where is your leader?"
Candice waved her hand, showing a less than excited face.
"She said that she couldn't find the time to come, and stormed out. We left a letter for her if she wants to come. To be honest though, I think she really just didn't want to come near Shinigami. Sorry about that."
Sakuto shook his head.
"I expected her not too."
As they came in, Meninas sat down near Orihime, who exchanged pleasantries with her.
"Nice to meet you, I like your hair pins."
"Really? Thank you~ I like your heart belt buckle."
"Its really fashionable right now to wear hearts, don't you think?"
"Ooh I do!"
Sakuto was pleased they were getting along so well.
Giselle placed with her hair, as she sat down close to Sakuto, her eyes beaming like a thousand suns, and her face showcasing a rather wide grin while ignoring the annoyed look of Candice.
"So, this is where the magic happens huh~?"
Sakuto did quite like the enthusiasm that was being shown by Giselle.
Still though, he was trying to get a good read on her, and though not voicing his thoughts for the time being, he was pleasantly happy to see how the Quincy, and the Shinigami, at least those present, seemed to be able to get along with one another.
"It certainly does. I'm glad you're able to come, I think we've got something interesting for you. Its to do with the Quincy cross, I believe together with Nemu-san, we've managed to find the right balance between keeping your Reishi gathering abilities to the norm, and to also infuse those arrows with the purification abilities of the Zanpakuto. All we need now is someone who can test it out. Any volunteers?"
Giselle went to shoot her hand up, when Candice slammed her hips to the side, brushing off Giselle, and got rather close with Sakuto. If it wasn't evident before she was flirting, it was right now, as her finger began to trace up and down his chest, tugging at his shirt each and every time.
"Here I am, your volunteer. So, how shall we become closer with one another?"
Sakuto gave amused eyes, Nemu looked on and though she didn't show it on her face, she didn't feel the most pleased from the look in her eyes.
"Well, just do as you usually do when using your Quincy items here. Tell us if you feel any different sensations. Hopefully, we've tweaked them enough that you should feel the same as you usually do, so if you wouldn't mind?"
Candice shot a flirty wink towards Sakuto, to the irritation of Orihime, and even Rukia.
"Anything for you handsome." Candice took the cross, and the chain it came attached with, draping it on her wrist, dangling down, and she began running her powers through it. "Well, here we go. Lets see what happens..."
As she used her power, Sakuto and Nemu looked on with intrigue, and saw that her bow was forming. It didn't look any different to them, but there was a notable change in the spiritual energy. Nothing that would cause it to break down or have serious problems, but her power mixing with the cross, it seemed to give a reaction that Sakuto was hoping for.
"Well, well, well. It seems that it is working Nemu-san."
Nemu concurred, and leaned forward.
"No visual change, yet I can sense that there is a notable change within the energy as a whole. I believe that we might have found the right balance Sakuto-sama. How shall we proceed?"
"Lets get some data on it fully, so we can analyse if there is any notable change, and if there's a drawing on her power more than normal. After having got the readings from our previous fight, this should be able to tell us if we've fully hit the mark, or if there's any adjustments that we still need to make."
Sakuto brought out an item that looked to be similar to a target at a firing range. He placed it at the end of the apartment, away from Candice, who looked at it with momentary confusion.
"You want me to hit that?"
"Yes, it will help us gather all of the necessary intel on the cross at work. It will tell us if you're actually purifying when you hit a Hollow. So if you would, thank you."
Candice smirked, and pulled back her bow string, forming an arrow that looked similar to a lightning bolt.
She then took a stance, and fired off the arrow, hitting the target head on, with the target suffering no notable damage which did surprise her. Even though she held back as she didn't want to blast a hole in the side of the apartment, the fact that it was able to disperse her arrow as it hit astonished Candice, and the others as a whole.
After that, Sakuto and Nemu together analysed the data, while Rukia conversed with an Orihime food eating Liltotto.
"Your friend, if you don't mind me asking..."
"Why does she hate Shinigami so much?"
Rukia nods her head.
"I thought that if I gained a better understanding of everything that she was feeling, and how I could appeal to her so she would stop her destructive ways...I appreciate coming from me, she probably wouldn't want to listen..."
Meninas ran a finger through her hair.
"To be honest, she's never really informed us of her true reasons. Only saying that Shinigami have hurt her personally."
Liltotto nods in agreement, and murmurs "This food is out of this world." in a very positive way to Orihime, who thanked her for enjoying her food, and then she continued her train of thought to the others.
"She talks about being betrayed, that Shinigami are going to betray us Quincy in the end. It seems that more than most of us, something happened with a Shinigami, and its caused this deep routed hatred inside of her. Couldn't say exactly what it was, but I'd say she could've been betrayed by a Shinigami."
Giselle pulled her hair left and right, showing a goofy face.
"She once told me that she couldn't trust anyone other than us again~ So, maybe she trusted, and then got betrayed~? That's the only thing I can think of. Though, it still makes me wonder about why she hates you all. You've been nothing but nice to us, when we've been the aggressive ones~"
While she said that, she noticed that Candice was hugging Sakuto from his right hand side, while he continued his data gathering, adopting a small frown at the sight of it.
"I see...so, she trusted, and was betrayed...yes, that would fit in line with how she's been acting. Betrayal, it can be truly devastating. Pouring your heart to someone you love, or have a strong bond with, then they upend that, and cause you to feel as if your investment into that relationship, your feelings for that person...were for nothing, and were turned against you, that must be truly difficult to deal with."
Rukia surmised, while Orihime bowed her head.
"That really does seem sad. I...can kind of understand why she's angry. But, I don't think she should direct her anger towards anyone like Kuchiki-san, or Sakuto-kun, or Kurotsuchi-san either."
Liltotto exhaled.
"It is, what it is really. You shouldn't feel obligated to take care of her feelings because she and you fought one another."
Rukia appreciated her words.
"It isn't an obligation, more like I wish to see this through to the end. I'm not going to say we're suddenly going to become best friends, I am not that naive. But, if I could help her, even a little, then I think it would be worth it at least. I don't want a repeat of the history between Quincy, and Shinigami."
Sakuto could see how Rukia truly was adapting to her current role, and how she wished to understand.
"You know Rukia-chan, that was rather sweet, and also very kind of you to extend your hand towards her. In this world, sometimes you can get through to people, sometimes you can't. Maybe this time, you'll be able to get through to Bambi-chan one way or another. Do your best, and remember to lean on those that support you if you feel you need to do that, everyone should be able to do that after all."
Giselle gasped, and excitedly said "You call her Bambi-chan too?! Its a cute nickname, isn't it?!" with Sakuto nodding strong.
Rukia gave a determined look.
"Thank you, I shall try my best. But for now, how goes the analyse?"
Sakuto looked at his findings with Nemu, who confirmed it with a nod of her head, so he expressed his words joyfully towards them.
"Seems like we've got it working."
The Quincy girls looked rather astonished.
Liltotto in particular was rather curious.
"Amazing, so you actually did it. To be honest, I think its been a good goal to have. I always wondered what could have been, if we had access to something like this. Now that we do, Quincy don't have to worry about upsetting the balance between the worlds. How fast can they be reproduced?"
"Well, I wanna do some final minor adjustments, it seems to take a little more spiritual energy that I think is necessary, but that problem can be solved with a little tweaking."
"Twerking?" Rukia spoke up, gaining the looks of wonder from the others. "No, sorry. I was thinking of something else..."
"Our battle plans, maybe we should keep that for Bambi-chan, Rukia-chan~"
Sakuto began to playfully laugh, which was soon joined in with Orihime.
Rukia furrowed her brows, as Candice tilts her head.
"Twerking? Shinigami do that?"
Sakuto chuckled "If we wanna win battles, right Rukia-chan~?" which made Rukia feel her lips curl upwards.
"Well, it is a sound battle tactic, after all."
Rukia couldn't hold her laughter, and soon let it out in small cute bursts.
Candice found it oddly funny, Giselle giggled away, Meninas even began to giggle together with Orihime.
Liltotto didn't openly show it, but she did find it rather intriguing, and was glad that even after everything that happened, they were able to come together, and have a good time. She only wished that Bambietta would have come with them...
As that was going on, Bambietta walked into the home she shared with the other Quincy, and felt slightly perplexed on what was going on. Usually, at least one of them would be there, but it seemed that no one was.
"What the...seriously, if they try and jump out at me, I will hit them so damn hard..."
Bambietta convinced herself that was the case.
So she didn't have any cause for panic or alarm.
So she went into the kitchen and grabbed herself a drink, but that's when she saw on the table, there was a note.
"Huh...a note?"
Bambietta found it odd that they'd leave a note for her, and wished to explore what was truly going on around there.
She walked towards it, noticing the handwriting to be that of Liltotto's own.
"Seriously...this is..."
Bambietta quietly read the note.
As she did, she became increasingly angry at first.
Seeing the frustration in her eyes as each word felt like knives piercing through her being.
"They actually...went to the Shinigami...tch, inviting me, what would I want to go and see those Shinigami? That one Shinigami guy kinda spoke sense...but, is it a trick? A lie? Is he speaking sense? Ugh...this really pisses me off, I don't know what to think...how to feel...ugggh!"
Bambietta felt like scrunching the note up, and throwing it away.
No, she wanted to detonate it, and simply believe that it didn't exist, that it was forged, and that her fellow Quincy hadn't gone to go and join the Shinigami.
But the more reality had hit her, the more of it began weighing on her emotions.
Feeling her emotions bubbling up, she went towards the couch in the living room, ending up collapsing onto it.
Leaning her head on the armrest, so her hair fell off the end of it, and hung down which nearly reached the floor due to how low the couch was, Bambietta stared at the ceiling, feeling more and more pain beginning to erupt inside of her.
"They really...did go...and they...the Shinigami, my friends, went towards them, the Shinigami..." Unable to face the simple truth, ignoring the fact that they tried to have Bambietta go with them, the young woman felt rather lonely all of a sudden. "Shinigami...I hate them all..."
Murmuring that out, she infused her Reishi into the paper, and tossed it into the air, where it caused a small explosion, erasing it out of existence.
Though she'd not admit it out loud, she felt saddened by her friends being with the Shinigami, and her own feelings holding her back from joining them as well, it truly was a difficult situation for Bambietta, who didn't know where to turn.
Steeling herself, Bambietta sharply opened her eyes, and stared up at the ceiling once more, determination filling her being.
"So, that's how it is, everyone. I will show you exactly how the Shinigami are...in the end, they'll only betray you, that is all they know how to do...they backstab you, and cause you pain..."
Believing that from deep within her soul, Bambietta stood tall, as her eyes fixated around the room.
She then turned to the exit, and began swiftly moving towards it.
"I was given this power for a reason, and I'll show everyone...my true power. Shinigami...everyone, I'll make sure you understand why you can't trust the Shinigami. All it will do in the end is cause you pain..."
Bambietta, with determination in her eyes, stormed ahead towards the area she needed to go. Places where she'd be able to increase her powers, and where she'd not lose to any Shinigami. That's what she was certain of, and in her own mind, she was doing it, to protect her friends from dangers she thought they'd be in.
However, as she was thinking about it, Bambietta was torn on a few things, and wasn't sure on which way she should turn. In fact, she wondered as she remembered Sakuto's words, if she was doing the right thing.
She was torn between her past, and her potential futures.
She wanted to make the right decision for her, and her friends.
No matter the outcome, she wanted to make it right for her, and those that she cared for.
All she had to do now was begin taking the correct path for her, and the others.
Before it was time for Sakuto to meet them, the young man was getting in some last minute training with Rukia, who had Sode no Shirayuki already activated. For reasons Sakuto weren't sure of, it seemed that Giselle wished to go with them, which neither minded, so they began training as the young Quincy watched on.
"San no Mai, Shirafune!"
Sticking out the blade towards Sakuto, she began using her power of freezing, which caused the length of the blade to grow.
And because of how it was made, it almost looked like it was growing to skewer the enemy, this case being Sakuto, though he used his own sword to block the blades advancements, while noting the ability that Rukia was using, seeing that the ground surrounding her was beginning to freeze.
"Good, that's excellent Rukia-chan! And not only that, the speed has increased as well."
Sakuto exclaimed while Rukia looked rather pleased, as she caused the extra ice gathered upon her sword to break away, revealing its normal length.
"Thank you...yes, I can see the progress. Its astounding Sakuto, my swords ability seems to be increasing."
"Yes, that's true. But also more than that, you're connecting with your sword more and more. Your Zanpakuto has these abilities, its simply you being able to connect, and draw those powers out of yourself."
Giselle, listening to this, gained a gleaming expression.
"Wow, you're like a regular Sensei~"
Rukia looked towards Giselle, and inclined her neck.
"He has taught at the academy for Shinigami, so in a sense he is."
"Wow, no way~ That's amazing~!"
Sakuto gave a gentle smile, as he shook his head.
"That is rather kind of you."
"So, you know about Quincy abilities and such? You seem too before anyway."
Sakuto raised a brow.
"Interested in learning more about your Blut and such?"
"Yup, I wanna learn even more about my powers~ Besides my power I received~"
"Speaking of, that power you've got..."
Giselle gives a blank look.
"Huh? What about it?"
"I was only curious about what it was. Since you didn't show it during the time when we fought one another. I had a theory that it was some kind of healing ability. Do you mind if I ask about it?"
"Well, it is a healing ability I guess~"
Sakuto raised an eyebrow.
"Only that?"
"Yup, pretty much~"
Sakuto didn't know why yet, but it felt like something was off.
He studied Giselle for a few moments, while the cute girl simply gave a dazzling smile in return.
"I see, well the power to heal is really amazing after all."
"Yeah, I'm like the team medic or something~ That's what Bambi-chan told me anyway. Though, I have to admit that it is something that I do kinda like, I also like being able to fight too~ So, what's this about Blut you mentioned before? Like how do you know about it?"
Sakuto showed a gentle smile.
"I have studied Quincy for a good while."
"So, did you know that we existed? Because we've been basically put on a list that's endangered, you know? There aren't that many of us left. Yet you still chose to devote time towards reaching such things?"
Rukia also did wonder about it, though she also assumed that Sakuto had reasons why he would have studied about Quincy, and the likes.
"I am someone that likes to study in general, learning about all sorts of things in this world. I like learning and adapting, creating and searching for new and looking at those gone by as well. If there's something that has fascinated me, then I tend to research about it."
When giving his earnest answer, Sakuto watched Giselle, and could see the cogs spinning within her mind, showing that she was having more thought going on than her goofy expression was letting on, Sakuto wondered if it was Giselle's way of trying to throw people off around her, so they'd be rather surprised when she showed her intelligence.
"Wow, is that really it? That makes sense to me~ Though, I have to wonder. Your Zanpakuto, what does that do?"
"Haha, she's a rather wild one. She doesn't like me spilling secrets. She gets kinda mad."
As he said it, for a moment, Rukia thought she saw his blade actually beginning to light up ever so slightly.
But it was only for a moment, before it vanished out of sight and out of mind.
Shaking her head, she looked back towards Sakuto once more, as Giselle giggled wildly.
"So, she's a naughty girl, is she?"
"You could say that~"
Giselle looked at the blade with curiousness, while Rukia examined the situation between the two of them.
Sakuto gave a light hearted smile, and though he did, he still had some questions about Giselle, wondering what was going on inside of her mind...
The time had come, and Sakuto went towards Urahara's shop. He could feel the others had already arrived. He had to admit that it was a strange feeling, to see them after all of this time. Though he couldn't say that he wasn't happy for sure. Even if some members held some negative thoughts about him for the time being.
He walked into the shop casually, his eyes glancing towards the area where all those cast out of Soul Society sat. He could tell that they mostly hadn't changed over the years, apart from what they wore, or their hair styles, things of that nature.
He even saw Hacchi wave towards him, so he waved back.
Sakuto always did like Hacchi rather well, finding him joyful, and if he thought about it, he was similar to Orihime in a few ways in how they were jolly, and caring, kind, and sweet natured.
But he also saw some others like Love, and Kensei giving him rather darkened eyes as a result, and to a lesser extent, Rose was doing the same thing as well.
"Hello everyone. Its been quite a long time."
When Sakuto greeted them in a cheery voice, some of those exiled Shinigami turned their heads, Hiyori was disappointed, Hacchi waved towards him once more, and greeted "Good day Sakuto-kun." which made him gently smile.
On the other hand, there was one reaction that did surprise Sakuto a good deal.
"Holy crap, you've..." Lisa began, looking a little flustered as she gazed over Sakuto's appearance to the annoyance of Hiyori. "...you are...Bishounen..."
Lisa turned her head away from the young man, who in turn tilted his head towards the glasses wearing woman.
"Eh...thanks~"
Sakuto laughed, while Love, and especially Kensei tapped his foot on the ground.
Feeling the animosity between them, Sakuto walked towards the right hand side, sitting down on his own, though soon joined by cat Yoruichi who snuggled against his lap, Urahara also sat close by as well.
"Well, now everyone's here. How shall we start this? Hmm, maybe it would be best if-"
Befofe Urahara could finish, Kensei began speaking up.
"Let me get to it immediately. Are you involved in your brothers activities?"
"You certainly do get to the point." Sakuto gave a refreshing smile towards Kensei, then he answered him directly. "No, I'm not."
"B...But how can we be sure?"
Love spoke up, Kensei agreeing.
"We can't be sure of anything, its been a long time. You've been fed his words over that time, you could be trying to find us to drag us back to Aizen. So, tell us why we can be sure that you're not working with him."
Hiyori face palmed, Shinji chuckled nervously, while Sakuto could see that tempers were beginning to be fired up, so he did his best to quell them very quickly.
"Well, you really can't be sure. You'd have to take my word for it. But, I presume that's not going to be enough for some of you, so let us talk about anything you have on your minds. I agreed to answer any questions you've got for me. Anything you wanna get off your chests, so feel free to ask me anything, and I'll try to answer. Obviously there's things that I simply couldn't know, but I'd give my best guesses on those kind of answers. So, I'm ready when you're ready."
Shinji nodded strongly at what Sakuto said, seeing how at the face of animosity, that the young man conducted himself very well, he was able to keep on a calm disposition.
"Fine. Then let me ask...why out of every Shinigami, did he choose to Hollowfy us?" Love opened up, while Sakuto thought about how to answer it. "He could have chosen anyone, right? So, why us specifically? Was it opportunity based? Was it because he held some kind of grievances about us?"
Sakuto bowed his head as he answered.
"To be honest, he chose you, simply because you were away from areas that could be observed so easily, you came as a group and he inflicted you with his Hollowfication, he seized the opportunity to do so. He...how to put this...those with weaker spiritual powers, like those of normal Rukongai citizens, or lower levelled Shinigami, they found the results of Hollowfication to be not encouraging. So, those of higher levels of power, he wished to see how they'd respond, and gathered that data. There was no real special reason it was any of you really, maybe Shinji-san since he was his Captain, but that is for Sosuke to know more than I do, though that is what I can speculate based on what I know between you both."
The answer hit some rather hard, but for Shinji he recalled what Sosuke had said to him all those years before, and it lined up similar to what Sakuto was saying as well.
"...So, he chose us for convenience, and what would have happened if Urahara hadn't of come?"
Kensei demanded, Sakuto raised a brow.
"He would have killed you or you would have died to the process of Hollowfication, more than likely."
"Did you know at the time this was happening?"
Kensei spat out, Sakuto shakes his head.
"I wasn't aware of the full circumstances back then, I had found out about the disappearances of course, along with Yoruichi-san was investigating it, and I had heard of someone else, possessing something that could do what happened to you."
"What do you mean? Who else could've done it?"
Kensei angrily asked, so Sakuto turned his head towards Urahara.
"The man with another Hogyoku. Someone who has extensive knowledge on Hollowfication. The reason why he created the orb in the first place. If you're asking for another suspect, then it would be Urahara-san. At least, that's how the history is written in Soul Society. But as they say, history sometimes isn't accurate, and its written by those who weren't necessarily truthful, or had all of the available information. Right now, that is how history has painted that scenario, Urahara-san betrayed his fellow Shinigami, and experimented on them."
The others were stunned to silence.
The group weren't sure on what to say.
However, Kensei found a question that he had been dying to ask.
"Your brother, Aizen. Can you kill him?"
"Are you asking if I have the skill to kill him? Or can I kill him with my emotion attachment I have to him?"
"Both."
Sakuto hummed, and thought about what was going on.
"Tricky to say in skill. Sosuke, with his sword is very tricky to fight, and even without it, he is a very skilled Shinigami that has basically mastered all forms of Shinigami fighting styles." Sakuto then looked down and patted Yoruichi's head. "Though Yoruichi-san, depending on how the battle went, and if you used Shunko, I do wonder how a fight between you would go...especially if he didn't have his Zanpakuto for whatever reason."
"Take his Zanpakuto, and I'll show you how a fight would go between us."
Yoruichi said with a daring smile on her face.
Sakuto offered a playful one right back.
"Ooh, how exciting Yoruichi-san. Would I see your famous lightning speed~?"
"If you play your cards right, you might see how I like to take it very slow with something I adore~"
Yoruichi playfully bantered with Sakuto as Urahara found it amusing how they could play off one another so well, while Shinji closed his eyes.
"Sakuto-kun, does Sosuke know about my Zanpakuto power?"
When Shinji asked that, Sakuto thought about it for a few moments.
"Unless there's someone that knew it close to him, I'd wager he'd probably not. You were always secretive about what it could do. Even I don't have full intel, and only know its an illusion type of some kind. Beyond that, I couldn't find much else out, and I presume Sosuke is similar."
"I see. Then, if I told you my swords power, could you give me an honest answer to if I could take down your brother?"
"Of course." Shinji thanked him, and gave a brief explanation. Sakuto hummed for a few moments, then bowed his head. "Though that could be a frightening ability first time being displayed, could he adapt to it…? Sorry to say...probably yes. Still, I'd not like to say in certain defined terms, anything could happen on a battlefield. But that's my best estimations with all of the available knowledge that I have."
Shinji respected his honesty, and it gave him a clear head on the situation at hand.
"Thank you for being honest with me. Now...there is one question that you haven't answered that Kensei asked. If you don't mind, even I am intrigued. About your brother...do you have the will to kill him?"
"...Could I kill Sosuke? To be honest, I love my brother-"
When Sakuto said it, and before he could continue, Kensei tightened his hand and spoke up.
"I knew it." Kensei spat out while Hiyori growled at the young man. "You would be on his side, he'll probably feed this information to him-"
"You are stupid!" Hiyori snapped. "And again, remember what idiot Shinji said about listening until the end?! Besides, why would he tell us something like that, if he was going to sell us out to Aizen anyway?! He'd lie, wouldn't he?! Use your head a bit numbskull!"
Kensei winced, as did Love and Rose, knowing that to a lesser extent, Hiyori was yelling at them as well.
Hacchi on the other hand gave a joyful smile.
"You love your brother, Sakuto-kun? That isn't something to be ashamed of, I can understand why you would do. I'm sure at some point, he was a kind older brother to you, correct?"
Sakuto always found Hacchi to be a very kind person to get along with, always seeing sense and he did enjoy speaking with the jolly man.
"Thank you, and yes you're right about that, he is in a good few ways, an ideal older brother, and I don't believe it is all an act. I'm sure that some of it probably is an act, the parts where he tries to keep secrets from me and such, but its undeniable to me that he does care about me."
"How can you be so sure of that? After everything he has done."
Lisa wondered, genuinely fascinated.
"I know he does. He protected me while I was young and taught me how to fight, and...its really hard to describe in so many words, but with the experiences I have had with Sosuke, how he has been there for me in the past, I do know deep down that on some level, he does care about me. And thats why, I have to make a choice now...one that tears me up inside."
When he said it, there were varying reactions.
Sakuto, going off the shocked expressions of the others faces, continued.
"So to answer your question. Its true, I do love Sosuke. But, I also understand that if it came down to it, I'd have to stop him. If I can win in a fight, truly its hard to say. But, I would give it my all. I understand what my brother has done, and how he needs to be punished for his crimes, if it means his death...then while it would be very hard, I'd do what's necessary to protect good and innocent people. I don't say this easily...even the very idea of taking his life...its truly difficult to think about doing...but, I may not have a choice, depending on what happens next..."
While he spoke, Sakuto's true emotions came through his words.
Even causing Hacchi to become slightly teary eyed, as each word, it looked truly difficult to say.
"At the end of the day, he's still my only family, who raised me when I had no one else to rely on in this world, so I do love him, immensely. So, it truly breaks my heart, having to potentially be the person to stop him, to kill him. That, is my answer. If you believe me or not, that is your choice. I can only say what I feel, and what I know. I have trained hard, learned everything I possibly could do...so I could do, what might be needed from me one day, and that day, is getting nearer and nearer, based on what information I have, so in the very near future, I will have to face my brother...and fight to the death potentially."
When he said that, they had varying reactions.
Shinji gave a bitter expression, hearing Sakuto like them also suffered emotionally at everything that had happened.
Hiyori was rather angry about how he was placed in such an impossible decision, to kill someone that he loved for all of his life.
Hacchi the ever so gentle and kind man that he was, showed a sad expression on his face, feeling rather sorrowful.
Even Lisa seemed to be rather disheartened by it.
Yoruichi said nothing, but she crawled up his body, and nuzzled his face with her own.
The likes of Kensei and Love were surprised beyond belief, not expecting that from Sakuto at all. Rose included in that, all three of them beginning to be swayed emotionally by Sakuto's heartfelt words.
Mashiro wasn't sure how to take it either, and simply kept silent for the time being, but she did have a sad expression on her face.
Sakuto then continued his final thoughts.
"I am sure everyone, or at least some, came here to place their anger onto me because Sosuke isn't here, and have me take responsibility for actions I had no part in. I can't apologize for something I haven't done, but I am genuinely sorry that this happened to you, and the suffering you went through with your Hollow sides. Whether you like me or not after this, is up to you, but we have a common goal, lets work to achieve that goal together. You don't have to like me, but I am working hard to put a stop to all of this, so no one else suffers like you have in this room."
As they heard his words, some like Rose were swayed by his words, and thought that Sakuto as well as they, was also a victim, but in a different way to they were.
Shinji closed his eyes tightly, and thought about how devastating it truly would be for Sakuto to have to deal with the elder brother that he did love very much. He could have to potentially kill him, and to do that rather soon.
To even plot to take down someone he loved dearly, Shinji noticed even Kensei looked regretful now having heard his heartfelt words.
Urahara let out a small breath.
"Sakuto-kun, that was...that was very genuine, I can't imagine how difficult it would be for you. All of us, are emotionally detached from him, but you're not, and there's no one in this world that could understand the way you feel regarding your elder brother Aizen-san. Even now, as I listened to your words, I never gave it much thought until now about how horrid this is for you, if this was someone I was extremely close to as well...well, I can say, you are a very brave, and strong kind man, Sakuto-kun."
Sakuto was surprised to hear Urahara say that, and his words echoed with how the others in the room began nodding their heads, even those originally wishing to place blame with Sakuto, could now see the inner struggles the young man would have gone through, and having had to do such a difficult task for anyone given their circumstances.
Kensei rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, and looked on with some remorse.
"Look...I don't know if I can truly trust you...I mean, it could be an act, you could be the best actor in the world to display these emotions..." Hiyori growled, and readied her sandal. "But...if what you're saying is genuine, and seeing how people like Urahara are dealing with you, then I don't envy your position either. I wont say anything else for now, and hope you're actually being on the level with us. Your decision to fight against Aizen, your elder brother...I admire your strength."
Sakuto could understand why Kensei felt like that, but it seemed for now, a resolution had come between them. Plus, he was glad that even if they got a little bit of closure from this, he knew he'd not be able to answer all of their questions, but at least a few, it was better than nothing.
"I understand, thank you all for listening to me. Any other questions, feel free to ask them now, or at a later date, and I'll do my best to answer them."
Shinji couldn't help but mentally applaud how Sakuto handled that. It was very wonderful in his eyes, seeing that in the face of all of the animosity, he never once yelled, or defied anything, he simply gave his truth, his unapologetic words that showed the kind of person he truly was inside, someone that Shinji himself thought was a very adjusted together young man ready to do what was necessary to protect innocent lives.
After the meeting was done, the Visoreds left the area, and began making their way back home.
They didn't discuss openly what had happened, but it seemed that Sakuto's words swayed their hearts.
Even Kensei seemed to be swayed a little by what was said by Sakuto, though he still seemed to hold reservations about a few things.
Giselle had been outside of the meeting area, and hadn't heard anything that had been said.
But, she could see that those that left, particularly the one called Kensei, she kept her eyes upon him.
"Those people...are the ones...who would say such bad things about Sakuto-kun...it can't be allowed...and that blonde haired one...she made Bambi-chan upset..."
Though she didn't voice her thoughts, Giselle silently began following the Visoreds from the shadows, displaying very expert hiding ability to keep off the radar of them.
What she was truly thinking, only time would tell...
End chapter!
So this chapter delved into more of the Quincy Shinigami bonding, with Nemu and Sakuto managing to begin putting the finishing touches on their inventions to help Quincy purify Hollows. Bambietta is going through a good deal, remembering what Sakuto said to her, while also grappling with her own feelings regarding a few things in her past. While that was going on, the meeting with Sakuto happened with the Visored, and we learned a bit more on a few things regarding Sakuto, a hint about some stuff in his past, along with some feelings regarding his elder brother, as he did his best to answer any questions sent his way. And Giselle seems to be up to something, so we shall see where that goes.
Well, until next time, thanks for reading!
Sakuto; Rukia, Orihime, Nemu, Momo, Tier, Nanao, Rangiku, Soi Fon, Nel, Yoruichi, Hiyori,
