i don't own Bleach; enjoy!
Ichigo felt something cold inside his gut curl up and harden, freezing up like an icy stone, mentally replaying what the old man had said to his fellow captain.
Two captive Arrancar… Two! Since when?
He had heard that a squad had been dispatched to ransack Las Noches five years after the war had ended, but aside from what had been uncovered and the amount of casualties on the hollows' side, he was left in the dark.
Taking a brief glance at his fellow captains, he noticed hardly any of them perked up like he did.
Maybe it was because he was still wet behind the ears, or the fact that he had nearly-single-handedly taken down two of the former enemies twenty-some-odd years ago was the cause of it, but he was shocked.
"…With minimal thanks to the dispatched squadron of Shinigami sixteen years ago, I managed to uncover what I believe to be information that would be valuable to the occupants of this room… namely those who have partaken in combat against Espada in Hueco Mundo." Kurotsuchi was saying, pulling him from his thoughts.
Even Zaraki perked up at the mention of the Hueco Mundo case; Unohana glanced at the scientist standing in the middle of the room.
But strange enough it was not Kurosaki Ichigo who spoke up.
"I do not believe it was the Cero Espada you dragged with you from that wasteland, given it took the combined efforts of my then-third seat, Captain Zaraki, and myself to topple that behemoth. If you're done with the theatrics, Captain Kurotsuchi, just which Arrancar did you confiscate from the hollow world?" Kuchiki Byakuya said, momentarily surprising the redhead that had opened his mouth to ask the same question, gray eyes locking on his colleague's gold stare.
Kita helped take down the Cero Espada? Yasakawa glanced at the stoic noble, one brow quirked.
Either she must've been out of it when they returned from the Fake Karakura long ago, or she hadn't been paying attention at the time.
"You're surprisingly impatient, Captain Kuchiki." At receiving the mild glare from said noble, Kurotsuchi continued, "very well, since you asked so kindly… The two Arrancar in custody are the former Sexta Grimmjow Jeagerjacques, and supposedly the ex-Tercera Neliel Tu Oderschvank."
Byakuya quieted, recalling the day after his wife had gone up against the former Sexta; she hadn't been injured too badly, just scrapes and a few cuts, namely one on her right temple that had now faded to a barely-visible scar.
Ichigo was the one who perked up alertly at the names of both Arrancar; Nel too? Since when did she revert to her adult phase…? He wondered, lowering his gaze.
"Grimmjow Jeagerjacques survived?" Renji spoke up, brown eyes holding surprise and slight annoyance at hearing said Espada had survived the war.
Kurotsuchi seemed slightly irritated at having been interrupted twice now. "As surprising as it may seem to some of you, yes. Most of his wounds that have already been examined and cauterized were inflicted by one hybrid Shinigami." He shot a mild look over at the redhead Vizard to surprisingly meet his stoic brown stare; tittering quietly, he continued, "in the main, both Espada have been tested with everything I have put them through. All that is needed is to solve the conundrum of what to do with the two of them. Namely, now that they are no longer loyal to Aizen Sōsuke, the only thing left is for them to be… dealt with."
"I would imagine the… "tests" you've put them through were hellish enough that death would be a sweet reprieve from being cowed and then put through the proverbial ringer, Captain Kurotsuchi." Yasakawa commented blandly, garnet eyes beholding the mad-scientist with slight repulse.
Something inside her felt pity on those two Arrancar… She'd read the files on Ichigo's battle prowess in Hueco Mundo a few months before she had gone off to observe him at a closer range, namely the recent battle he'd come victorious from with one Grimmjow Jeagerjacques.
Was it her inner hollow that caused such feelings, or was it the fact that half of her was of his same species?
"Tch, since when did you go soft on the enemy, Mori? It's not because you feel you can relate with them… The smart thing is to put them outta their misery." Zaraki Kenpachi's voice cut across her thoughts, earning a look from the blonde.
Yasakawa scowled patiently, jaw setting. "I'm not sympathizing. I'm trying to be realistic… There's a difference. Their lives are in our hands now, as they've been for the last decade or so. Granting death so soon without their say in the matter is merciless!" She countered, her voice rising a smidge; memories of that night her world had been ripped from under her feet flashed in her mind.
Her two fellow Vizards glanced at her in surprise, the younger feeling a mixed jumble of pride and apprehension swirl in his head; pride at having her speak her mind so firmly, apprehension because of who she was debating with… His brown eyes tightened.
"Captain Mori has a point. Just because their lives are in our hands doesn't mean we should send them to the guillotine so soon." Unohana agreed with her fellow female, earning a surprised look from the woman; she spared her a minimal nod, continuing, "Mercy should be extended, should they wish for it." She finished.
Gauging the feigned-emotionless stares from the rest of the captains in the room that had remained quiet, Yamamoto banged his cane onto the wooden floor once. "Both parties bring up valid statements. So it's decided, the fate of the Arrancars will come down to a vote! The vote will take place tomorrow morning, so the rest of you can think it over. This meeting is hereby dismissed!" He stated.
Tension attempted to get a foothold inside the meeting room as the captains dispersed to exit, being abolished only to resume its place in the room the following day.
Shoulders slumping, she exhaled shakily and rubbed her temples with a hand. What the hell did I just do…?
"Well that was scary. I almost thought Captain Zaraki was gonna cut you in half." Renji mused aloud as he came to walk alongside the blonde, perking her ears.
Ichigo backhanded him patiently, deadpanning. "The hell he would; not if I got anything to say about it." He said, momentarily smirking at the death glare from his fellow redhead, sidling to his lover's right side and keeping pace with her.
Yasakawa shook her head and smiled at both captains, ribbing her lover's side affectionately. "Aren't you cute?" She teased, snickering when his ears turned red, fingers weaving with his own. "You do forget, though, that I'm not one to be killed off easy." She sang.
Renji rolled his eyes. "Seeing a fight like that would be interesting to see… Oi, don't give me that look! Your girl's strong, Kurosaki." He barked annoyedly when receiving another death glare from the orange-haired man, scowling.
"Ya don't think I know that? Holdin' your own in a fight to the death with Zaraki and provoking him are two different things!" Ichigo snapped, ignoring the heat rising up his neck and soon to take place in his cheeks, swearing he felt her garnet eyes looking at him.
"Won't deny that… It was pretty risky doing what you did, Mori-san. Took guts, but at least you got your point across." At sensing the imminent vibe that the blonde's lover wanted to say something, he smiled slightly and paused to leave them be. "Pretty admirable for a Vizard." He turned to retreat to the third division, leaving the two alone.
She smiled after the redhead, continuing to walk. "I think hell froze over." She mused.
He kept to her side, exhaling. "Don't think too much on it; though I'm pretty sure Renji agrees with you about earlier." He pointed out, recalling the memo his lieutenant gave him earlier in the morning about his needing to see to a new batch of recruits; he groaned. "Geez, I forgot, Rukia mentioned there was a new batch of recruits coming in today and she wanted us to see to them… Sounds boring." He muttered.
"You kidding? They're probably itching to meet you, y'know; the wonder boy who saved the universe twenty years ago." She rolled her eyes, smirking up at him.
Ichigo clicked his tongue and smirked back, fingers woven with hers squeezing. "That was pretty nuts of you to say what you said at the meeting, but I know you meant well… Surprised you sympathized with them, really. You're usually a stickler with standing by Ojii-san's orders." He mused.
A somber light entered her garnet eyes and she dropped her gaze, shrugging. "I know what it's like to be so near death, and then to be snatched right from under its fingers to be given a new life… I know it well." Yasakawa murmured.
His brown eyes tightened and he squeezed on her hand, pulling her to a halt yards away from her division's gates. "Regardless, I'm gonna make sure that never happens again. I won't let anyone hurt you like that, Kawa… Not if I can do something about it!" He promised, perking her ears.
She blushed slightly and recognized the fire in his usually calm and warm eyes, brow softening as she soaked in what he said and nodded; she smiled slowly, gratefully. "Thank you, Ichigo." She leaned up and tugged on his collar to kiss him.
He smiled against her soft lips and reciprocated, keeping the promise even as his lips moved against hers and his hands found her hips. "Dummy, just because we're together doesn't mean you have to thank me for everything." He chided softly.
Yasakawa pouted and planted her hands on his chest palm-flat, garnet eyes knowing. "Don't ruin it, greenhorn." She warned quietly, smirking despite her scolding.
Ichigo chuckled and reluctantly let her go, a cocky grin on his lips. "Don't you have work to do?" He asked coolly.
She felt her cheeks turn pink before she sniffed and puffed her cheeks out. "Don't you have recruits to give 'Shinigami-Work for Dummies' manuals to?" She returned.
He smirked pleasedly at making her blush, nodding his head slightly in the direction of his barracks. "Y'could always help hand them out, stick around for the day." He mused.
She blinked once before smiling, shrugging. "Sounds tempting; if I don't have anything to do, I'll pop in." It was apparent he wanted her to spend the night.
With his easy smiles and kisses, who was she to say no?
He deadpanned when she spat out her tea, handing her a handkerchief. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it…"
"Why didn't…? Does Ichigo know?" She asked once cleaning herself up, looking at him in surprise.
"He was at the meeting, of course he knows. A decision hasn't been reached as of today; the Head-Captain stated it would be announced tomorrow morning." He answered patiently.
She stood with her zanpakutō in her hand, making him blink. "Still, Ichigo's the one who fought Grimmjow… He's the one who defeated him twenty years ago." She said, securing the sword over her right shoulder.
"What he decides is up to him, Kita… Where're you going…? Kita!" He declared as she hurried out of the dining room and out to the back courtyard, preferably headed to the thirteenth division. He groaned and slapped his forehead, muttering a curse under his breath.
"Otō-san, umm… where did Mom go?" His son poked his head into the room, blinking when noticing his mother had left.
"She'll be back soon; she just needed time to think." He answered patiently, rubbing his temples.
But then again, she also was one to fight Grimmjow. It's only right she speaks with Kurosaki about this… The memory of seeing her smiling at him in a younger time with her head bandaged flashed in his mind.
His gray eyes tightened.
Kita…
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Rukia sweatdropped. "I had a feeling this would happen…"
"Now what?" A voice wondered, and she looked to the side as Captain Mori appeared out of shun-po at her side, a hand on her hip. "I thought I sensed a heightening of reiatsu from Ichigo…" She looked at where she had been staring and she deadpanned. "Oi."
Locked in a vice-grip by her surprisingly-strong legs wrapped around his middle, Ichigo glared annoyedly at the catty scowl from the Kuchiki woman, the grimace on his handsome face distorted due to her slender fingers having pulled out his right cheek. "Let. go…" He growled.
Kita scoffed, tightening her grip on his waist with her ankles, digging her right heel into what she assumed was his liver, earning a noise caught between a growl and a yelp from the Vizard. "Not until you say. it. first, strawberry!" She huffed, smiling smugly.
"Do I want to know…?" Yasakawa asked quietly of the shorter Kuchiki woman.
Rukia sighed, "Kita heard from Onii-sama about the two Arrancars and she came over shortly after… I imagine she came to try and sway Ichigo's reasoning. Either way, this is the result of her "negotiation attempt"." She explained, gesturing to the scuffle both captain-class friends had somehow or another gotten into.
Things never did seem to change, no matter how many years passed them by.
Yasakawa flexed her knuckles of her right hand, doing the same for her left, mentally elated that she had modified her shihakushō to be sleeveless. "Well, wish me luck." She said, striding forward after hopping from the porch to go break up the squabble.
"Say it!"
"Piss. off!"
Left heel digging into his kidney, making him yelp. "Close, but not the answer I'm lookin' for~!"
As if by some miracle, Ichigo felt the sharp throbs of pain from where her heels had been digging into disappear and soon he was on the grass back-first. "Ow!" He grimaced, blinking when recognizing that it wasn't his 'assailant' that had lessened the pressure on his body, but a third party. He looked up and to the side to sweatdrop at the sight.
Holding down the Kuchiki lieutenant in a half-nelson, Yasakawa scowled patiently at her. "If this's how you resort to negotiating, I feel sorry for the subordinates of your squad." She said.
"D-damn it, get off!" Kita barked, squirming only to yelp when the captain tightened her grip. "Okay, okay, uncle!" She squeaked.
The blonde let her go, momentarily winded as the black-haired woman panted to regain her breath; she dusted her hands off, turning to the orange-haired captain. "Oi, if you were in such trouble earlier, you should've called sooner. I imagine it was pretty embarrassing to be pinned by Kita… y'know, since she's a woman." She deadpanned.
His ears turned pink and he scoffed, looking away. "Che, I coulda handled it! Besides, I thought you were comin' over earlier." He remarked, scowling at her.
Yasakawa smirked wryly, folding her arms. "I had papers to work on; can't leave Momo-chan to fend for herself all the time… Especially when a certain greenhorn gets an owie." She reasoned, affording a giggle at hearing him growl, gauging his flustered scowl pleasedly.
Rukia pretended her captain didn't shoot her a glare when she snickered from the porch; Kita rubbed her neck gingerly and only grinned cheekily when meeting his brown eyes. "Come on, Kita, I'm sure you left Onii-sama worried back home." She urged, knowing where this was going, taking off in a whisper of shun-po.
Kita saluted both captains lazily before following at her sister-in-law's heels, disappearing from sight.
"I swear, put those two together and they're scary…" Ichigo groused.
Yasakawa tugged on his collar to kiss him lightly, smiling at the mild blush on his face. "Don't be sore." She chided.
not much to put here except that the decision will be decided next chapter~ also, shoutout to crazykenz and hunter2424 for the two favs/follows on this story! thanks guys~ = 3=