Chapter 11: Ruri'iro Kujaku
The sun gleamed gloriously into his world, bouncing off the golden pillars and making them shine. Their radiant glow would have blinded anyone else, but he was used to it. Besides, it did bathe his world in a lovely light. Without which, he would be stumbling around in complete darkness, and nobody wanted that, now would they? His world was large, or at least, large enough for his liking. A golden floor, multiple beams stretching up to the heavens, and one large gold plate to catch the sunlight and reflect it down. In other words, he lived in a giant golden birdcage. And he liked it.
Ruri'iro Kujaku lifted his head and blinked a few times, the bright sunlight momentarily surprising him, before he stood up and shook it off. He raised his arms, and glanced at his ruffled feathers. Oh well, he'd have to preen them later. He had things to do this morning. He crouched down, getting ready, and then leapt into the air and began his morning flight. It was an excellent way to get some exercise in the morning, and also the only way in his big cage. He preferred not to think of it as a cage, though. A cage was an equivalent to a prison, and to think of his world as nothing more than a prison was just… wrong.
Once he was done flying, he landed with graceful ease and began preparing himself for the day. Quick and efficient, he braided his hair, and then wrapped his bandages around his head. He lightly touched the tuft of orange feathers on his head, and then declared himself beautiful for the day, before wincing and scolding himself for sounding so much like his wielder.
It disgusted Ruri'iro Kujaku to know how alike he was to that 'too-pretty-to-care' Shinigami. He cared about his looks almost as much as Yumichika did, however hard he tried not to. He got annoyed if someone ignored him, he saw the world in beautiful or ugly, he was almost exactly like his wielder, however much he despised it. After all, at least he didn't address Yumichika by a nickname. Ruri'iro Kujaku hated that stupid color wisteria. Wisteria purple had to be the worst color in the world, and Yumichika taunted him by calling him the wisteria peacock. Azure was much better. Much better!
Yumichika Ayasegawa had to be the worst wielder in the history of worst wielders. That stupid Shinigami could at least treat his own zanpakuto with respect and not hide his true form, but no. He was too scared of how his division would handle him if he revealed Ruri'iro Kujaku was actually a Kido zanpakuto.
Ruri'iro Kujaku found himself sitting down, knees hugged to his chest, and sighed. Why was Yumichika ashamed of his zanpakuto? As much as he hated the Shinigami, the zanpakuto did a least feel a slight sliver of respect for him. It surprised him that he actually felt a little hurt that Yumichika hated him. He sighed again, but then found himself wondering… why was he even thinking about that guy? He became a fifth seat just because he didn't like how the kanji for the number four looked. It was ridiculous- who would turn down a higher rank just because the way it looked was ugly? At least Ruri'iro Kujaku didn't think that the way numbers were drawn was stupid.
Ruri'iro Kujaku tilted back his head, staring at the large golden plate that was the highest place in his world. He watched it for a few moments, and then murmured softly, "Sure, you mistreat me, taunt me, insult me, and all that stuff. But that's okay, Yumichika," Here, a slight smile began to creep onto his face, "'Cause I hate you, too."
Well, he wasn't about to compliment the idiot.
And then, he decided that he was being a pretty big loser to actually be sitting down thinking about his moron of a wielder. Laughing quietly at himself, he stood up, stretched his wings, and took to the air. Today he would beat his gliding record of ten minutes without flapping. Still bearing a small grin, he beat his wings a few times and finally took to the air, soaring along the small winds that drifted into his world. While he glided, he hummed to himself. He liked songs, and singing in general. He was half bird, after all.
He had been in the air for a total of one-and-a-half hours, and he was in the middle of humming a particularly good song, when he heard a voice call out.
"Excuse me, Ruri'iro Kujaku," The voice said. "I understand that you are having much fun up there, but could you, perhaps, spare a few moments to allow me to talk to you?"
Ruri'iro Kujaku came to a halt, and glanced down irritably. First of all, who was this man and how had he gotten into his world? Second of all, why was he interrupting his gliding? He had just been on the verge of breaking his ten-minute record! And third of all… that man was a complete mess. Ruri'iro Kujaku couldn't help but think something that his wielder would definitely have thought of as well.
He's so ugly.
Then he immediately cursed himself for thinking something so similar to Yumichika. He continued to stare down at the man, wondering what in the world he wanted, when he remembered that the man had already said what he wanted. Sighing, he flew down and landed without so much as a stumble.
"What?" Ruri'iro Kujaku demanded.
The man looked amused. "Well, I heard you speaking earlier, saying that you hated your wielder, and well… I was just thinking about how splendidly easy this was going to be. You see, usually, with all the other zanpakuto, it takes at least twenty minutes, maybe even thirty. But with you, I can see this will take no more than ten."
"I'm sorry, what are you talking about?" Ruri'iro Kujaku asked. "I don't speak idiot, although come to think of it, I might want to learn it; then, my wielder might be able to actually understand me."
The man nodded. "Yes, that's what I mean. You already hate your wielder, so I won't have to waste time trying to convince you to. Excuse me, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Muramasa, and you must be Ruri'iro Kujaku."
"Yeah, I am. And?"
"Well, I'm building an army of zanpakuto. To go against all of the Shinigami. Once I've finished my offering to all the zanpakuto belonging to the Shinigami, we will all attack them, and take over. That's the whole thing, in short." Muramasa replied, looking very pleased that the conversation would probably be one of the shortest ones he'd had yet.
The entire summary might have been blunt, but it certainly caught Ruri'iro Kujaku's attention. "Attack the Shinigami, eh? Including Yumichika?" Muramasa's nod absolutely made his day. "Wow! Really? That sounds so great, and I'm actually not being sarcastic."
"I'm glad the idea pleases you," Muramasa replied.
And then, an idea struck the zanpakuto. He paused, contemplating it, and then narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Hey, wait a minute. How do I know this isn't just some stupid joke? For all I know, you could be someone Yumichika hired to come in and get my hopes up and all, and then my stupid ass of a wielder will just laugh at me again."
Muramasa watched him for a moment, and then an expression that seemed almost sympathetic flashed across his face before disappearing into a blank expression. "I can see that your wielder has hurt you terribly, and I'm sorry for that. It must have been terrible to be so horribly neglected. But I can assure you, this is no trick. I would never be so cruel as to do that to a fellow zanpakuto. Come with me, Ruri'iro Kujaku, and we can take revenge on the Shinigami that has done you so much wrong."
"Oh, so you expect me to just join you even though I barely know you and then go over and attack Yumichika just for the heck of it? Well, not really just for the heck of it, but still!" Ruri'iro Kujaku glared at him, and then blinked. "Well, actually, I do kinda want to."
Muramasa looked somewhat amused. "Fascinating. You are certainly an interesting zanpakuto. By far, the most amusing I have met yet."
"Is that an insult? 'Cause if it is, then I've got my own comeback." Ruri'iro Kujaku straightened, smiling triumphantly. "You're ugly! Oh, shoot, I sounded like Yumichika."
"More proof that you hate your wielder," Muramasa nodded. "Excellent. Now then, after you I must speak with Hozukimaru, so if you could kindly take my hand I will transport you to the zanpakuto hideaway I made and then be on my way. I won't be going with you, so you'll just have to deal with them yourselves."
Ruri'iro Kujaku arched an eyebrow questioningly. "Well, technically, I never said I would go with you."
"You might as well have said it." Muramasa replied, offering his hand to the zanpakuto.
"True enough." He acknowledged before taking the hand. The world around him became blurry, but he was used to flying, so it didn't have the same dizzying effect that might have occurred to any others. However, he did find it quite unexpected and annoying.
That guy never said anything about flying there at quick-speeds! I could have prepared myself.
When the whole flying thing was over, he stumbled- yes, actually stumbled- to a stop, and was frankly appalled that he had made such an ugly landing, and then even more so that he had thought the word 'ugly' again. But he'd never stumbled before! Not even when he was young. It must not have been flying, he decided. If it was flying, he wouldn't have stumbled, thus the journey had not been taken by flight. It was as simple as that.
Trying to forget about his horrible landing, Ruri'iro Kujaku glanced around, wondering if this pathetically small room was the zanpakuto hideaway. Then, he caught sight of the staircase, and laughed at himself for actually thinking that such a room was the hideaway. He then coughed, stopping the laughter, and looked solemn. Here he was, joining an army, about to meet other zanpakuto, and best of all… getting revenge on Yumichika. It had to be a dream come true. Finally, he would be able to get that Shinigami back, and the pathetic fifth seat would regret the day he had every decided to call his zanpakuto 'Fuji Kujaku'. Fuji Kujaku! The mere thought of it made Ruri'iro Kujaku want to scorn and sneer. Yes, all he had to do was go down the stairs, hopefully make friends, and then murder that Eleventh Division coward.
"So go for it," He told himself.
With those words in mind, he boldly took a step forward, so that he was right in front of the staircase. He glanced down, hearing faint voices coming from the floor below. It sounded as though… a bunch of little kids were wreaking havoc and the grown-ups were trying to calm them down. What a sound. With a deep sigh, he quickly made his way down the stairs, hoping that he looked straight and proud. You only had one chance to make a first impression.
The first impression he received from the others wasn't exactly one he treasured. As soon as he had reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to face them, two little bombs had barraged into him and slammed him into the wall before he even knew what had happened.
What the freaking hell was that?!
Ruri'iro Kujaku slumped against the wall dazedly. His head was hurting, and his back was sore. His vision was blurry, and so was his memory. What had happened? He felt two heavy objects on his lap, but he couldn't make out what.
"Sogyo! Kotowari! Get off the poor guy, and apologize." A stern lady's voice cut through the air.
"Aw, we only wanted to play." One voice protested. It seemed to be coming from one of the heavy objects on his lap.
"Yeah, why do we have to apologize?"
"Because," Another girl's voice came in, although this one was softer and more polite. "It would be rude not to. If someone had barreled into you, wouldn't you want them to say they were sorry?"
"Well…"
"… okay."
The two objects disappeared, and Ruri'iro Kujaku was beginning to see more clearly now. He saw two young boys with silver hair and green eyes standing in front of him, grinning. A little ways behind them was a tall purple-haired lady, probably the one who had ordered them to apologize, and next to them was a girl who seemed to be about their age.
"Sorry!" The boys chirped, offering their hands to help him up.
He eyed them warily, and then refused their hands and stood up by himself. Honestly! Getting tackled by two identical boys as soon as he arrived was not the right way to please a guy. He dusted himself off, and then glared at them some more.
"Wow! Look at his arm's, Koto-chan."
"I know. He's got wings! Isn't that cool, Sogy-chan?"
"Sure is!"
"Wouldn't it be cool if we had wings?"
"Oh, yeah, definitely! I wish we had wings."
"Me too."
"Who are you two?" Ruri'iro Kujaku cut in. He was beginning to get confused by their quick, short sentences. Plus, they were talking about him as though he weren't even there. He hated being ignored, and even more so by two annoying little brats.
"Please excuse them," The little girl must have noticed his discomfort around them. "They are the famous dual zanpakuto, Sogyo no Kotowari, although they prefer to be known as 'Sogy-chan' and 'Koto-chan'. I am Tobiume, their friend, and over there is Katen Kyokotsu. She acts more as a mother figure to them."
"I do not!" The purple-haired lady protested. "The only reason I stick with them is because they absolutely insist."
Ruri'iro Kujaku greeted each of them with a curt nod. Already he was feeling out of place. Just remember why you joined, he told himself.
"Good morning!" A cat-human hybrid bounded up to him, a friendly look in her eye. "I'm Haineko. And you are…?"
"Ruri'iro Kujaku."
"Azure peacock?" A demon appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, sneering at him. "What a ridiculous name."
"Can't be any worse than 'wind death'." Ruri'iro Kujaku retorted. Of course he knew about the black demon that roamed the dark mountains. But how dare this devil mock his name? It was way better than Fuji Kujaku, at least!
"Oh, so you're Ruri'iro Kujaku," A fairy suddenly zoomed up in front of him, looking eager. "You're the only other zanpakuto, besides me, who can fly in their spirit form. But you have actual bird wings, with feathers and all… that's so cool!"
"Er… thank you."
"That is Suzumebachi," A scary looking man approached. He was thin, bony, had long hair that practically covered his face, and carried a metal ball on his shoulder and a stone tablet on his back. "She is excited to meet another zanpakuto capable of flight, apparently. I am Wabisuke."
"Ever tried eating?" Ruri'iro Kujaku said bluntly. He couldn't help himself! The man was so skinny!
"You're one to talk," Suzumebachi said, her tone suddenly changing to something harsh.
"Enough, Suzumebachi. We shouldn't get into a fight with the newcomer." A lady walked up beside Wabisuke, and Ruri'iro Kujaku had to admit… she was gorgeous.
"You must be Sode no Shirayuki," He said, trying to keep his tone polite and formal. The rumors of the prettiest zanpakuto in all of Soul Society were true!
"That is correct," She smiled kindly at him, before turning and pointing to all the other zanpakuto that had not yet introduced themselves. "That samurai over there is Senbonzakura, and that man is Hyorinmaru. They don't talk much, but they are both extremely powerful, so I suggest you treat them with respect."
Ruri'iro Kujaku nodded, although he barely heard her words. Man, she was so beautiful. Silky, white hair. A kind, loving smile. Twinkling blue eyes. There was no doubt that she was exactly the reason why he joined in the first place.
Sode no Shirayuki must have noticed him staring, because she smiled again. Another warm smile, but her words completely ruined it. "I would appreciate if you do not develop a crush on me."
Well, that was cold.
His jaw dropped, while all the other zanpakuto laughed, as though it was a joke that he was falling in love with her. She had rejected him! Him, of all zanpakuto! He couldn't even close his mouth- he was too deep in shock.
You only had one chance to make a first impression, and his first impression definitely wasn't one to be proud of.