"You know... I don't know whether to laugh or be completely and utterly freaked out," Keiko muttered, staring at another Menos Grande swarm as she stood between Shuuhei and Kenpachi.
"Neither do I, and it's probably too dangerous to let them sit there while we try to gather information," Shuuhei replied.
"Yeah, so, I'm standing here -not- kicking ass why?" Kenpachi stared at Keiko.
"Because we're still waiting for Kuchiki-san and Ichigo," Keiko replied, not taking her eyes off the Hollow. "The moment we attack one, I'm betting they'll all go crazy. Again."
Only moments ago had the three Shinigami felt the appearance of Hollow, and yet again, in the same exact park, another 40 to 50 Menos Grande stood in one spot, just swaying back and forth. Not long after, Sado-san, Inoue-san, Abarai-san and the Quincy had arrived, and now they only waited for the two missing Shinigami.
"And if they do go crazy again, I want them dead as quickly as possible."
Muttering something under his breath, Kenpachi rolled his eye and let his zanpakuto rest against his shoulder.
"They're here," Keiko spoke up after a moment, feeling both Ichigo's and Kuchiki-san's reiatsu patterns, and once Shuuhei and Kenpachi had moved away from her, she called for her bankai and impaled herself upon her zanpakuto. "Same as last night!" she called out to everyone, her voice raspy beneath the mask. "Kill quick and clean, no heroics! Inoue-san, do your best, but remain cautious!"
'I get to kill now?'
Yes. Not slow and painful as you like, but quick.
'Hmph. Why should I be quick? It is not nearly as fun.'
I could always force you back so you don't get to kill anything.
'You are cruel, but I wish to kill. So be it. I shall be quick.'
It always surprised Keiko how calm and collected Chiakki was when it spoke to her while released. It was nothing like the actual chaos of negative emotions she could always feel running rampage through her whenever Chiakki was still inside her. But then again, the demon did enjoy its freedom from Keiko's soul, however rare that occurred, even if it did mean being under Keiko's control.
As Chiakki was a part of Keiko, it always knew what Keiko was thinking, so when it was released, it would keep a lock on Keiko's mind and mirror everything she did. So when Keiko leapt for the nearest Gillian and sliced her blade from right to left across its masked face, Chiakki did the same, leaping towards the nearest Gillian to slice its blade from left to right. Should Keiko wish for Chiakki to attack something different or do something different, Keiko only needed to think it and Chiakki would do it.
With a combination of knowing what would happen with the Gillian because of the previous night, and because Kenpachi, Shuuhei and Inoue-san were actually helping this time, the group was quickly downing the Gillian, one after the other. Despite the fact the group was a combination of so many different powers and personalities, they all worked together fairly well, either helping out a comrade when it was needed, or moving in such a way that he or she didn't get in someone else's way. Within minutes, the entire swarm was gone, and when Keiko returned to the ground, Chiakki reforming with her, she wasn't even remotely tired because of the short amount of time she had to keep her bankai going.
Before she could say a few good words to everyone, someone yelling her name caught her attention. Quickly whirling around towards the voice, Keiko raised an eyebrow. "Soifon?"
"Keiko!" the Second Squad Captain yelled again, running towards the group. Once reaching them, she stopped and panted, bent over at the waist, her hands grasping her knees.
"What are you doing here? Did Yamamoto-Genryusai-soutaichou recall the mission?" Keiko asked, brow furrowed.
"No," Soifon shook her head, still panting for air. "You have to return to Soul Society."
"What? Why?"
"Don't ask. You need to go, and you need to go now, the three of you," she replied, quickly glancing towards Shuuhei and Kenpachi.
Keiko did not like the fear she felt emanating from her mentor, not just because it was so rare that Soifon-oneesan was ever scared, but because she was being told to return to Soul Society without any reason. Something was not right. Without a word, Keiko glanced towards Shuuhei and Kenpachi before nodding and following Soifon back through the Senkai Gate to return to Soul Society. At first glance, everything seemed normal - it was a quiet and slow day with few people about.
"What's going on?" Keiko asked, hurrying up a bit to catch up to and walk beside Soifon. The older woman only shook her head and lead the small group further into Seireitei until they were at the meeting room. Yamamoto-Genryusai-soutaichou sat in his chair with Sasakibe-fukutaichou standing behind him. Immediately, Keiko walked up to him and knelt before him. "Why was I called back from the world of the living, Soutaichou?"
"I ordered Soifon-taichou to find you and bring you back to Seireitei because sometime after you left for your mission, The Scroll of Binding was stolen," the older man replied solemnly, quickly getting straight to the point rather than beat around the bush. And Keiko felt as though she had been backhanded in the face. "We do not know who has taken it, or when exactly it was taken."
Immediately, Keiko's heart was in her mouth. She found it hard to breathe. Heart pounding, perspiration forming on her brow, she stared at the floor, breathing heavily.
"What's this Scroll a' Binding shit?" she heard Kenpachi ask.
"It's a scroll which contains the incantations to redo Keiko's seals," Soifon spoke quietly from the back. "Without it, we can't redo them."
"So.. what's tha problem? I was always under the impression that they were only redone as often as they were as a precaution. If she keeps calm n doesn't do anything outta tha ordinary, it shouldn' be a problem, should it?" he asked.
"The problem is not that the seals cannot be redone," Keiko finally opened her mouth, though continued to gasp for air as though she were drowning. "The problem is that the scroll also contains two other incantations. One to get rid of the seals entirely, another to trigger the riot."
"Oh," was all Kenpachi could say.
Keiko could slowly feel her world collapse around her. Muscles weakening, she let her body relax so that her forearms and her knees were the only things keeping her from falling face first into the ground. That scroll had been the only thing that ever kept her from being afraid. With it gone, she was terrified. It was hard to breathe.. hard to think.. hard to do anything except curl up and be afraid. And then it hit her: she needed to be contained. Raising her head, she sat up on her knees and stared at Yamamoto-soutaichou. "Send me to the Shishinro."
"What?" she could hear both Shuuhei and Soifon question at the same time.
"The scroll is in the wrong hands, no matter who has it... Even if the seals are released by mistake, I am a threat to everyone. I need to be contained for all of Soul Society's sake. I need to be sent to the Shishinro."
"So be it," Yamamoto-soutaichou acquiesced. "I agree with the precaution, and had even hoped you would suggest it before I did. Gather what things you can, then Soifon-taichou will accompany you there."
The moment Keiko left the building, Shuuhei spoke up: "Are you sure you want to do this?" He followed her, with Soifon, towards Squad 9. "You heard what he said, he was only going to suggest it, not like he's forcing you."
"I know," Keiko replied quietly, staring at the ground. "But you have to realize it is for everyone's safety. If I don't, and something happens..."
"I know," Shuuhei sighed with a shrug. He was not going to be the knight in shining armor, he was not going to take her in his arms to kiss and hold her, he wasn't going to promise her that he'd figure something out because, honestly, none of it would make anyone feel better because it was reality - there was nothing else any one could do.
When the group reached Squad 9, Soifon waited outside while Keiko and Shuuhei walked into the main house. Keiko, unable to look at anyone, stared at the floor while Shuuhei shook his head at every member of the Squad that tried to welcome them back. He followed her into her office as well as her sleeping chambers, standing near the door like a body guard as he watched her get some things together. It was odd to watch her because she moved around as though she were in a daze, as though she were half dead. He had never seen her act this way before, and it seemed so unlike her. He was actually startled when she spoke up.
"I want you to stay here and explain things to everyone. Sorry to say, but you're going to have to play Captain for a while, until everything is sorted out," she smiled weakly.
Where had Keiko gone? This woman standing before him was so small and weak. Part of him wanted to cradle her in his arms, but another part of him knew he had to be strong for her. With all the strength he could muster, he grinned at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze. "Just leave everything to me, Kei. Think of this as a vacation!" He heard her chuckle softly.
Turning to him, she leaned up and kissed his cheek, a smile (which he was pretty certain was forced) on her lips as she squeezed his shoulder before leaving. Shuuhei let a sigh pass his lips before he turned to the Third through Fifth Seats of the Squad. "Get everyone here. There's a lot to explain..."
"I'll try and visit you as much as I can," Soifon spoke up, standing outside the Shishinro, Keiko standing within. "But right now, I need to return to Yamamoro-Genryusai-soutaichou. He's planning on sending the Onmitsukido out to find out where the scroll went. And you know them, they won't cut any corners in the investigation because it's connected to you."
"I know, and thank you," Keiko smiled weakly. "I should be fine in a day or two, I just need some time for realization to sink in. Go, I'll be alright," she strengthened the smile.
Soifon smiled in return, nodded once before closing and locking the door.
Finally alone for the first time in days, Keiko sighed and just laid down on the floor where she was. Her mind was nothing but a cauldron of chaos - unsure what to do, what to say, what to think, anything. All she knew was that she was tired and weary, and she wanted to sleep. It was hard, but she eventually calmed her body and forced it to sleep.
When she finally woke, it was late at night, or so the thin slight of a window told her. Groaning softly, her body not used to sleeping on a metal floor, she slowly sat up, curling her legs beneath her as she rubbed her neck. For a few moments, her mind was blank, only registering the aches and pains in her body, but it didn't take her mind long to recall the fear and terror it felt hours ago. Closing her eyes, she shifted to bring her knees to her chest, arms wrapping around them. She lost track of time as her mind argued with itself - every thing will be fine, there's no need to panic - no, not true, you should be scared; what if the worst happens?
Keiko would have spent hours more arguing with herself, but when the door to her prison was opened, she abruptly opened her eyes and looked up. Shuuhei walked towards her with a tray of food. "Hey," she smiled at him as he sat down before her, placing the tray between them.
He countered her smile with a grin of his own. "How are you doing?"
"Better than earlier," she nodded, taking a piece of bread from the tray to munch on. "What did you tell the Squad?"
"The truth," he replied, leaning back on his palms. "Every single bit of the truth."
Keiko cringed: "How did they take it?"
"Fine, actually. They were surprised, obviously, but you've proven yourself to them. If Yamamoto-soutaichou would let them, they'd join in on the investigation."
Keiko chuckled softly. "I shouldn't be surprised, should I?" Shuuhei shook his head. With a soft sigh, Keiko finished off the bread before looking back up to him. "I wonder if the Gillian have anything to do with the scroll missing..."
"I think someone would notice a Hollow showing up and trying to steal something from Soul Society."
"That's not what I meant," she scowled as he laughed at her. "What I mean is, I wonder if they're connected."
"Could be, but at the same time, it could be some newbie taking a dare and stealing something from the Soutaichou."
"If -that's- the truth, I will literally tear that Shinigami a new one," she muttered, bringing her knees to her chest again and resting her chin on top. "But.. I don't know.. I'm seriously beginning to think the Gillian and the scroll are connected. What are the chances of two separate events, so rare and strange in their own right, to happen at the -same- time?"
"You might be right," Shuuhei shrugged. "And you'll have plenty of time to think about it, all cooped up in this huge.. empty.. place." For effect, he tilted his head back and stared towards the ceiling. Aside from Keiko and himself, the huge room was empty. "Then again, I'm sure you'll have some company. Yamamoto-soutaichou wouldn't let anyone from Squad 9 take over guard duty because he probably figures one of us will let you out, but Kenpachi volunteered his Squad to take shifts."
Keiko raised an eyebrow. Apparently, the short nap she had taken, coupled with Shuuhei's presence, had drastically calmed her, because she actually laughed. "Really? I don't know whether to just laugh or feel privileged. The great Squad 11 reduced to babysitting."
He smirked. "That may be true, but that Squad respects you almost as much as our own Squad. A lot of them are, of course, still peeved Kenpachi -didn't- beat you, but, because of you, they got to see their Captain blow his load, so to speak. Besides, Kenpachi himself respects you, that kinda' forces his Squad to do the same."
Her nose scrunched up at Shuuhei's analogy, but she smiled none-the-less. For a few hours, the Captain and her lieutenant spoke quietly about anything and, well, everything. Keiko had been pretty certain that he only did it to keep her mind off other unpleasant thoughts, and eventually she realized he did all that because he genuinely cared. When it was getting late, he finally left her, promising he and other members of the Squad would come visit her throughout the next day.
Alone for the second time, Keiko sighed, reaching for the blanket she had brought with her. After curling it into a tight pillow, she placed it down on the floor and rested her head against it, closing her eyes to sleep, hopefully, dreamlessly.
Shishinro
The prison where Rukia was held during the Soul Society arc. Edited with ObliviousWarrior8's help.
Another fairly short chapter. But, as things go, the story is coming close to an end!
As always, while I may not respond to every single review, I'm always thankful for them, especially if they point out mistakes I can fix.
Actual BLEACH-verse and characters (c) to all the respective people.
Akuuno Keiko (c) me.