White Flower

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns all of Bleach. I only own Lily.

"Hello" – thinking in flashbacks

"Hello" – normal talking

"Hello" – flashback talking

"Hello"-Zanpakuto release/kido spells

Author's note: Hi guys! This is my first fanfiction and I'm hoping to make it very good! Please review this story for any constructive criticism or just reviews. That would make me very happy and grateful! Thank you! By the way, there's a lot of explaining going on in this chapter and SPOILER ALERT for all who haven't gotten this far!

Flashback continued

Lily had so many questions running through her head.

What was Sousuke doing here?

What's going on?

Why was Shinji calling her brother a traitor?

There were so many other questions running through her head right now. So many that she didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to think. She felt like running out there to fight, but her instincts told her to stay put. She had a feeling that getting involved will bring more harm than good.

"Why Sousuke?" Shinji screamed in desperation.

Sousuke chuckled. "It's not something I think you would understand, Captain Hirako."

"I knew it was you… you were behind this the whole time. The vanishing souls from the Rukon district and the Soul Reapers that disappeared without a trace…"

Sousuke chuckled. "What great insight you have, captain."

Shinji growled. "Don't mock me!" However, he then sneered at him. "You know, I've always suspected you. That's why I made you my lieutenant. I always knew there was something off about you… "

"And I thank you for that."

Shinji was startled. "What?"

"Let me explain some things to you. The reason I say this that because you were suspicious, that you failed to notice that it was never me that was following you this whole time."

Shinji gasped. "What does he mean? I clearly felt his spiritual pressure when he was following me! How could have it not have been him! I know no kido strong enough to copy a person's spiritual pressure completely!"

"I know what you must be thinking, captain. You're thinking that I must be bluffing. That there's no kido strong enough to copy a person's spiritual pressure completely. Well you are absolutely right. There is no kido strong enough to do that."

"Then who?! Who was the person following me? I was absolutely certain without a doubt that it was you!"

That was when Sousuke's hand slowly reached toward his hip, which was where his zanpakuto laid in its sheath. He pulled it out so far that only an inch or so showed. The moon shined off of it ominously.

"It's the power of my zanpakuto… Kyoka Suigetsu."

Shinji didn't know what to think. "But… your zanpakuto is a water type! There's no way it can go as far as to copy one's own spiritual pressure! That's a totally different element in itself!"

"The thing is, captain, is that it truly isn't a water zanpakuto, as you can clearly see. My true power, is the power of illusion. Anyone who lays their eyes on my zanpakuto, I can cause anyone to misconstrue what they see. For example, when you thought it was me that what was watching you this whole month, when in truth, it was just the face of another Soul Reaper."

Shinji was so shocked, it seems he didn't have the words to speak, and that was halfway because of the injuries he's sustained.

"The sad thing is that, you could have prevented this. If you would have engaged with me as any other captain would have with their lieutenant, then you might have seen through me, instead of keeping me distanced, and refrained from giving me any information. Because of this, you did not notice when I switched places with another person."

Shinji seemed to be hyperventilating. He didn't know what to think.

"How could I have been so blind? Why didn't I pay better attention to his moves?"

"Don't you know captain, that a Soul Reaper has the right to refuse promotion? I could have easily refused your request to be in your lieutenant anytime I wanted to. The reason I didn't because you distrust of me ideally suited my goals."

Shinji growled deeply within his throat. "So tell me Sousuke, what are your goals?!"

Sousuke once again, chuckled in amusement. "I'm afraid captain, that I can't disclose my ultimate goals at this moment."

"And why not? Are you afraid? You're a coward!"

"Call me what you want. It doesn't change the fact that it was because of you that those innocents over there behind you were pulled into this…"

Shinji froze. Looking out of the corner of his eyes he saw everyone laying immobile on the ground. Kensei and Mashiro, with their still hollow transformation in place, were still. At first, Shinji was worried that they might be more than just unconscious. Then he could still see the rise and fall of their chests, and he calmed down. Though he was soon filled with worry again as he saw all of the rest of his comrades unconscious. Though that's not what worried him though. White fluid was seemingly coming out their mouths, noses, and eyes. As it flew out it instantly fell and clung to their faces. On each of their faces, the white fluid seemed to slowly solidify. Then on each individual it was starting to form a unique looking…

Mask…

"Hollowfication." Shinji whispered. So that was it. That was what was happening to the disappearances. They had to undergo the hollowfication process. The people who failed the at the hollowfication process evaporated into the air without a trace…

Shinji's breathing became harsher. He was filling up with rage. So this was how it ended? Dying and losing themselves to the hollows inside of them? No...No...

UNACCEPTABLE!

With newfound strength, Shinji stood up, grasping his sword. He prepared himself to attack Sousuke.

"I will kill him… he will pay for what he has done to us." Shinji thought viscously.

He barely took one step before he felt overwhelming pain all throughout his body. Then he felt something slowly coming up his throat. At first, he thought it was bile and tried to force it back down. But it ended up becoming too much for him, and he what he spit out wasn't what he thought it was. Instead of bile, it was pure white fluid. Still thinking it was just his inner fluids trying to get out, he stopped resisting and just let it come out. That was until he felt the same pain from his left eye. Then everything on the left side of his face started to feel slimy, like liquid. What was happening to him? Then when he slowly started to feel the fluid started to stick and solidify on his face, he started to panic. No… it was happening to him too. He was undergoing the hollowfication process, and he didn't know how to stop it.

"I thank you for falling for my taunt. It has confirmed my suspicions. It seems that the hollowfication process speeds up when one is in an agitated state." Sousuke stated nonchalantly.

It was no use… Shinji was starting to lose consciousness. He had no strength left in him. He was left defenseless as he saw Sousuke fully unsheathe his blade to deal him the final blow.

"Oh, don't worry Captain Hirako," he lifted his sword high into the air. "Your death won't be in vain. You and your friends made wonderful research material." That was when Sousuke swung his sword down.

And a shower of blood filled the night.