Thanks for all the reviews xD They are the reason why I'm continuing this story. Special Thanks to xxFluffy for proof-reading this chapter xD
This chapter will be a bit short (again) but at least longer than the prologue. I kinda needed this chapter for the next few chapters to come. Hopefully I can write as much as possible in between studying for finals . And that you won't find it too far-fetched or too ooc.
Warning: Spoilers for Ch397
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or you can see how messed up it can be
Chapter 1 - The Beginning
"Every beginning comes from some other beginning's end" – Seneca
From the very beginning…
21 years ago
It was raining in Karakura Town. Black, ominous clouds hovered above the small town, as though threatening the very existence of it. The people of the town walked across the streets hurriedly to avoid getting soaked from the rain. Despite the depressing weather, the residences of Karakura Town still have to make their living, and so they continued on with their life, oblivious anything else other than that of their own world. It was just another ordinary day for Karakura Town.
Though no one would see it, a Senkaimon slowly opened somewhere above the town's river in the sky through the haze and mist.
Aizen strolled leisurely down the corridor, smiling to his subordinates as he greeted them. They all hastily bowed and said, "Good morning, Aizen-taichou!" No one, however, saw through his façade, his troubled thoughts that he carried with him.
Aizen had been researching Squad Zero all these years, to his annoyance, he might add. Albeit he must work in secret, this is no excuse for him gathering so little information ever since Kyoraku Shunsui and Shinji Hirako mentioned about it. Anything concerning the King was highly classified to the point which Aizen doubted even the Captain-Commander Yamamoto knew very much about it.
However, he had not been idle for all these years. He continued his research in Hollows, Arrancars, and Hollowfication incessantly. So far all of his creation had been failures, unable to produce any hollows that were even remotely close to being a shinigami-hollow hybrid. Hollows that can hide their reiastu, hollows that can dissolve zanpakuto…none of them were even close to perfect. Of course, he now knew where Urahara Kisuke had hid the Hogyoku, and it took all of Aizen's pride and collectiveness not to lay his hands on it. As a researcher, Aizen was determined to discover the knowledge of hollows himself, at least for now. Until the time comes, he would rely on his own power.
Needless to say, it had been some long and frustrating years after he silenced his subjects 80 years ago.
Aizen finally reached his office, closing the door softly. He gradually walked towards his desk, pulled out a file he kept hidden in between his desk, and stared at the one and only fruitful research he had made on Squad Zero.
"Kurosaki Isshin…"
Unnoticed by the humans, two dark figures emerged from the Senkaimon in the sky. The first person was definitely a man, with short jet-black hair, a hook nose, and un-kept facial hair. The second figure was slim and was a female, but her face was covered by pieces of embroidered cloth hanging from the edge of her hat.
"Masaki-hime-sama, please make sure you keep the hat on at all times while we stay at the real world, you cannot be found travelling here." The male figure stated seriously.
Masaki lifted her cloth slightly in order to see the male figure more clearly, revealing kind and warm brown eyes as she said, "Isshin, how many times do I have to tell you? When there are no other people around, you can just call me Masaki."
"Addressing royalty without their appropriate honorific is unacceptable, Masaki-sama," Isshin said, and quickly added before Masaki could protest, "Even if we have known each other for a very long time."
"Isshin, you can be so inflexible sometimes. You don't hear me using the 'royal speech' when I'm talking to you. Besides, we're not really allowed here anyways. Since we're outside of law, such things are meaningless," said Masaki softly, "Don't forget, the reason for me to come here was to escape from all of that, however briefly."
Masaki descended onto the grass beside the river, and Isshin followed. Masaki had to hold onto the embroidered cloth to see the rain pouring down, forming puddles as the little water droplets gather together. Some puddles, overflowing with water, drained and flowed towards the river, and became a part of the river that gushed towards the ocean.
"You know, Masaki-sam-" Isshin stopped himself, "Masaki, the real world is much better when the sun is shining."
"No, I think the rain is nice too. It feels as though…it's cleansing one's soul from its worries."
They stood there for a while, taking in the scenery. It was not long before Masaki smiled and said, "Do I really have to wear this hat while we travel? It's going to be such a pain when I go sight-seeing."
Masaki definitely did not want to be confined, thought Isshin. Isshin knew Masaki, once she made up her mind, was impossible to dissuade. He reminded himself that they are acting outside of the 'laws' as he said slowly, "Well, I have heard that there is this shop somewhere in this town…"
It's short I know :( But I can promise that future chapters will be longer (with much more action I suppose).
Some notes:
- 'Senkaimon' - the "portal" through which Shinigami enters the real world. The one Isshin and Masaki used was a normal one (even though Masaki was supposed to enter from King's Realm) was because they're trying to visit the real world secretly. I'm pretty sure someone would notice if the king's gate was opened.
-'hime' = princess
-Yes, Masaki's wearing a hat similar to Rurichiyo Kasumioji's hat
-Isshin's being stiff 'cause he's not a father yet
-'royal speech' refers to the expected way for a royalty to talk, such as replacing "I" with "We". Clearly Masaki's trying to be lax here