Despite the severity of his arms (bent unnaturally, like two extra elbows), the pain only hit after Harry was pushed back by the old man. One minute his arms were creaking under the strength of the man, the next his arms just collapsed.
His scream just spilled out of his lips, at first due to the utter shock of how disfigured his arms are. But when the pain neurons finally reached his brain, his yelp mutated into guttural cries.
Master!
It was so long since he went through such pain, the last time before he was sent to this god forsaken place.
Kill the filthy soul, that pile of rotting flesh!
Cradling his broken arms close to his chest, he looked through his fringe to watch the old man. Oh, he knew he was at a huge disadvantage from the start, considering that all the experience he had with swords was just the incident with the basilisk. The katas didn't count; they were just a dance routine, a choreographed movement.
That mongrel, he sheathed his sword! He's underestimating you. YOU!
I can't just shunpo out of here anymore, I'm too weak. A quick glance to the side showed that the other two men would be of no use; they were just standing there like gaping fishes. Fuck, just call it a loss.
You can win, master! Wield me, use me!
Raising his hands in surrender was impossible at the moment, so calling it out was the only way…
The old man raised his palm towards him.
"Bakudo…"
Kill him, my lord.
Suddenly, Kuroshibyō's suggestion sounded more reasonable.
He ignored the pain rushing through his left arm as he jabbed his middle and forefinger towards the man.
"Byakurai: Hebi no kousou."
The serpent, so much like the beheaded Nagini, shot out in a spray of bright light, static electricity dancing through its body. He couldn't help but smirk as the spell hit its mark, grin as the man had to bite his own lips to keep himself from yelling.
Finish him, finish him!
"Shō"
It was the last thing he heard before he was forcefully slammed on one of the courtyard walls and lost consciousness.
Yamamoto knew he didn't imagine it. He knew he saw it, the insane smile stretched across the child's face after the variated Byakurai spell bit him.
It looked a bit too much like one of Ichimaru-taichou's smiles.
But, it was only that one second that it slipped through. One second over the course of months.
Shunpo-ing through Sereitei, the Captain Commander held Kago in a fireman's carry, Unohana-taichou leading the way to the 4th Division's medical building. The woman noticed the injured boy the minute she finished tending to his wounds. After an exchange of stares and silent glares, Unohana eventually followed his lead and turned a blind eye. Yamamoto knew he was going to get an earful though once the two were alone though.
They finally stopped at the back entrance of the building, Unohana leaving the door open to allow Kyōraku and Ukitake to come in; the two were only a few flash steps away. "I have a private room next to my office. The boy can stay there until he heals, and you can explain why on earth you released your shikai near students of all places."
Yamamoto shifted his hold on the boy, his right hand still carrying his sheathed zanpakutou. "It was necessary," he grunted. "This boy, Chigusa Kago, possesses a massive amount of reiryoku that will one day exceed mine. He had to be tested."
The 4th Captain's steps stuttered for just a second, but she eventually gained her composure. She didn't reply at his absurd statement, just brought them to the room. A second after they entered Kyōraku and Ukitake arrived. Ukitake stayed closest to the door, placing a simple barrier to warn him of any eavesdroppers. Kyōraku settled next to the only window opposite from the door, bringing the blinds down.
"Place him down gently," Unohana emphasized, casually ripping away the Kyokkō. "Your Sho held enough power to break at least two of his ribs." Yamamoto knew she was right. He felt the boy's blood dripping down his arms while they traveled.
Kyōraku let out a long whistle. " You sure didn't hold back on him."
"Which was completely unnecessary," Ukitake hissed. "What gave you the impression that he could handle Ryūjin Jakka?"
Yamamoto chose to sit on the only chair in the room, positioning it beside the bed. He gave a piercing glare at his 13th Captain. "Did you not check on his reiryoku?" Said man narrowed his eyes.
"Just because he could seemingly erase himself from existence doesn't mean he can take you head on! And you,"
Green eyes now bore down on Kyōraku. "How dare you place a bakudo spell on me! You were the last person I expected to blindly follow orders on a half-baked assumption."
"It wasn't half-baked Jūshirō."
"Oh really? Care to enlighten me on how you believed this boy, which we just met today, can take on the soutaichou!"
"Because I was already focusing a large amount of my reiatsu on him before Yamamoto struck. The kid didn't even notice it."
It was awhile since he saw his old students arguing this ferociously. It was even rarer to see the normally composed Ukitake breathing heavily, white hair in disarray and red blotches splashed across his cheeks. Shunsui's last comment stopped Jūshirō for a moment, before he built his anger up once more.
"That's still not enough of an excuse to allow Yamamoto-taichou to release his shikai, Shunsui."
"Enough!" Unohana's reiatsu swirled around the room, wrapping around the 8th and 13th Captains. "I understand your frustrations Ukitake, but there is no need for you to block all suggestions that are against your own. You are one of the oldest standing captains of the Gotei 13; act like one."
Making sure that the tension left Ukitake and Kyōraku, she pulled her reiatsu back. "Now, while the two of you were arguing, I was able do a simple examination of the boy." Her hands were glowing green, hovering on top of the child's chest. "As expected, he had three broken ribs, two on the right, one on the left. One rib scrapped his left lung, but it's already healed. Both his arms were obviously broken, ulna and radius snapped cleanly for each. There was surprisingly no burns in any part of his body. Care to explain, Yamamoto-taichou?"
All three pairs of eyes looked toward their superior, who had his eyes closed. "Ah yes, the burns." He rested his zanpakutou on his lap, staring down at Ryūjin Jakka. "I had to make sure if it happened, and just spoke with Ryūjin. My assumption of the boy's shikai was correct." Yamamoto stared at all three of the captains in the room.
"His zanpakutou drains anything and anyone that touches it of its reiryoku at a terrifying rate."
The green glow surrounding Unohana's hands sputtered to a stop as she immediately stepped away from the boy.
"I-impossible." Ukitake's eyes were wide, more in shock than in terror. "Such a technique, no. Such a spirit…"
"Are we dealing with a cannibal, Yamamoto? Because that's the only explanation why the boy's inner spirit has such an ability."
"Already considering the boy a threat?! After all we've done to him?"
"You heard the release of his zanpakutou, Jūshirō. 'Spread Despair Across the lands'? The zanpakutou is a reflection of our true self. And after hearing its special ability, this boy's clearly a threat."
"I believe we do not have to worry about Kago becoming a serial killer," Yamamoto butted in. "I've been checking on the boy for the past few months, and any sign of insanity only happened once; when he casted that interesting hado. In fact, I believe it is more of a, what's the word again? Ah, Multiple personality disorder we have on our hands."
Kyōraku scoffed, "A shallow excuse, Yamamoto. We've never heard of such a problem in all our lives; I bet it's the first time you've ever heard of it too, soutaichou."
"Well it's better than just already painting him as a killer!" Ukitake spat. "If you think Kago is a villain in the making, then how about the shinigami of 11th division?"
"Most of their zanpakutou are melee oriented, Ukitake, not death-based."
"I don't see anything wrong with that," Focus was once again on the only woman in the room. She still kept her distance away from the child, but her eyes looked far away in thought. "A death-type zanpakutou. That could just mean that the child had danced with death many times, which lead to his spirit having a connection to such a dangerous element."
A pretty sound explanation, Yamamoto thought, but still filled with many holes. "How about us, Unohana-taichou?" The Captain Commander waved his hands around the room, "All of us crossed with death 10 times more than this little boy could have possibly done. Many other shinigamis at least twice more than him. Why have none of the other shinigamis ever manifested a zanpakutou with a similar element as Kago's?"
She tilted her head to the side, Long braid following. "Perhaps," she muttered. "Perhaps the boy encountered death in a different way, a unique way."
"I'm still not gonna trust the boy, Unohana."
Yamamoto shot a look at his 8th Captain, "I could never ask you to trust the boy. I don't trust him either."
"Welcome back, Ukitake-taichou!"
"Yes, I'm back Kiyone, Sentarō."
"Ha! Taichou said my name first! Take that!"
"Oh shut up you hag, He only greeted you first because you're a girl."
"Nuh-uh, bastard, it's because I'm more powerful than you!"
"Huh?! You wanna say that to my face again?!"
As his third seat officers' hissing streak escalated, Jūshiro Ukitake still kept the warm smile on his face. After hearing Kiyone and Sentarō's never-ending spats for the past 50 years, Ukitake-taichou now equated their screeches and rants with the chirping of birds outside of his office.
Honestly those two, Ukitake thought, as he left the two to their bickering. There's no need for them to worry about me.
The second he entered his office Ukitake closed the door and raised a mid-level barrier to surround his room. Reaching under the sleeves of his shihakushō he pulled out a sheaf of paper, a picture of a black-haired, green-eyed Academy student on top of the pile. He flipped the picture over to see "Chigusa Kago" scribbled across.
"To be able to face Ryūjin head on and not even flinch at the massive amount of reiatsu, just what is he?" Ukitake shook his head. Though he witnessed the 'spar' first hand, the white-haired captain was still in disbelief. This Chigusa, he could feel that the boy will eventually be written down as one of the most fearsome shinigamis in history.
And Yamamoto wishes me to install such a person as my lieutenant… He looked at the lieutenant badge laying innocently on his desk. It still hurt just looking at it. Shiba Kaien, a man that he practically saw as his own son. He still can't bear to think of anyone filling that position. From time to time Jūshirō looked up from his duties, asking Kaien to brew a cup of tea to soothe his nerves, only to be met with silence.
And Yamamoto soutaichou wants me to install Chigusa as my new fukutaichou. He flipped the photo right side up again, looking closer at the picture.
The pain in his heart sharpened.
Green eyes…
Unkempt black hair…
And a personality so much like him…
A teardrop fell on the photo as Jūshirō slowly slid down to the floor.
"I can't do it, I just can't," the captain muttered. Tears were now flowing freely down his face as he crushed Kago's photo in his hands. "It's still too soon…"
Unohana Retsu wasn't one of the oldest standing captains of Gotei 13 for nothing. There was a reason why she was the oldest living 'Kenpachi'; she wasn't the founder of the 11th Division just due to her sheer strength.
She had intelligence
She had cunning.
And she was observant.
So while Unohana healed the two bite marks on the soutaichou's right shoulder, she went ahead and healed his muscles from the aftershocks of being electrocuted from the inside out.
As Ukitake and Kyōraku spun the belief that the Captain Commander was testing the students in how to prepare for an opponent that is stronger than their capabilities, she helped Yamamoto subtly take the unconscious, hidden student and deposited the child to the 4th Division's medical facility. Considering the fact that the child was still under Kyokkō, Unohana led Yamamoto to a private room and placed a barrier that only allowed the soutaichou, Ukitake, Kyōraku, and herself inside.
And when the three captains left, Unohana went ahead checked the student's reiryoku levels to see for herself how on earth this little boy was able to negate Ryūjin's massive reiatsu.
The result was enough to almost bring forth Unohana's bloodthirsty nature. So much power and strength in this frail boy. And his zanpakutou; oh this boy must have a strong sense of morals to fight against the utter monstrosity and insanity his zanpakutou composed of. She could practically taste the depravity oozing out of it that was flowing in the boy's blood.
A dark chuckle escaped her lips. Oh yes, this child will be fascinating.
As expected, Jūshirō won't be able to make this Kago kid his lieutenant. Sipping the cup of tea his friend offered, Shunsui glanced at the 13th Captain. Dark bags that weren't there yesterday now made Jūshirō looked like he sported two black eyes. His long white hair looked dull; he noticed a few knots here and there.
Shunsui leaned back on his chair. "You don't want him as a lieutenant." Only his centuries of friendship with this man had the 8th Captain notice the pursing of Jūshirō's mouth and the infinitesimal flinch of his eyes.
His friend looked down into his cup of tea, "They look too alike, Shunsui…"
Shunsui couldn't help but agree to his friend's statement. Green eyes, messy black hair. Kago's personality didn't help either. At a distance Ukitake could have coped; the boy was a small thing, probably not even reaching his sweet Nanao-chan's shoulders. But having to see Kago every day, up close?
He placed the cup down. "I can promote the boy to my third seat, push Enjōji down to fourth. If push comes to shove I can just have two lieutenants…"
The suggestion brought Jūshirō out of his melancholy, green eyes widening. "I said I don't want him as my lieutenant Shunsui, it doesn't mean that I won't take him in."
Shunsui raised an eyebrow. "I know how you work, Jūshirō. You'll have a fake smile, pretend that you're all fine and dandy, and then you'll neglect your health until the point of near death."
Jūshirō slammed his cup down and rose up from his seat, green eyes glowing furiously. "You think I'm that weak? How dare you-"
"Oh I dare because that's what happened when Kaien died!" At the mention of his name all spark of fire died down.
Shunsui let out a sigh. "God, you still flinch at just the mention of his name. You can't take him in, Jūshirō."
"I can at least try," Jūshiro muttered. his friend's thin hands were balled into fists, shaking and grasping at the haori. His green eyes were now glistening because of the tears he was holding back.
A pregnant pause wafted through Jūshirō's office, Ukitake trying to calm himself down and Shunsui watching his friend under the rim of his sakkat. Judging by unusual silence from the 13th Division barracks, Ukitake's 3rd seat officers were probably trying their best to eavesdrop on the conversation.
Jūshirō sat back down on his chair, his composure back in place. A steel of determination graced his face. "I want to get to know him, before I make my final decision."
Shunsui just shrugged. He didn't see anything wrong with that. Besides, he also wanted to know more about this Kago guy.
… Master… …. … Master…
It was that cursed title again, haunting him.
Master… Beloved master…
He hated it, hated hearing that one word with all his heart.
I need you master… wake up please, beloved…
It reminded him of Voldemort. It made him think of himself as some megalomaniac tyrant.
But you aren't, precious beautiful master…
How he wanted to get rid of the title
NO!
Long thin nails scraped across his face, drawing a drop of blood before the cuts instantly closed up.
No no no no NO!
He could practically feel the other's killing curse eye boring on his face, gleaming in anger and fright.
Don't say such hurtful things, master. You must be my master. YOU MUST
All Harry could think was how white the ceiling was. I'm probably in the infirmary, he thought. He's visited Hogwart's medical wing enough times to learn that white everything equates to some form of hospital or medic room.
Harry let out a groan, snuggling deeper into the surprisingly comfy bed. What did I do to get in here again?
He tapped his chin. I didn't get in a hakuda match; no black eye. kido experiment gone wrong? nope, still have my eyebrows.
His thoughts stopped when the only door in the room opened to reveal a woman. Damn, that's a long braid.
The woman was without a doubt one of the shinigami captains, for she wore the infamous white haori. Her long hair was kept in a braid, but hung in front for some strange reason.
Her blue eyes looked gentle as she gave him a smile, "Good morning Chigusa-san, it's good to know that you're well after your spar with Yamamoto soutaichou."
It was amazing, Harry would think later, how the woman could give an innocent smile while dropping one bomb after another in just a sentence.
At that moment though, Harry's jaw dropped in horror, eyes bulging. "Who… what… … SOUTAICHOU?!"
Oh god, I faced the soutaichou, I faced the goddamn Captain Commander of the Gotei 13…
I called the Captain Commander a pedo.
…
He was acting a bit of a pedophile though.
He buried his face in his hands, ignoring the sharp pain that lanced through both of his arms. "Fuck. My. Life!"
The woman tsked, "Now Chigusa-san, since this is your first time here I'll excuse you for using such vulgar words in my presence. But the next time that you do…"
At that moment the woman's kind and gentle smile had a darker, sharper edge. Her face seemed to darken, her braid looking more like a noose.
It was gone in an instant. "I hope that it shall never happen!" She chirped.
I never thought I'd find someone on par with Kuroshibyō's insanity…
The captain let out a gasp. "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself." She clasped her hands together and bowed her head slightly in greeting. "I am Unohana Retsu, captain of the 4th Division."
Harry bobbed his head in response, stopping himself short from reaching out his hand. "It's an honour to meet you, Unohana-taichou."
What followed after was the most awkward silence Harry had ever experienced in his after-life.
When 10 seconds passed by Harry finally realised that Unohana-taichou was expecting him to say anything.
He was still raking through his brain what she wanted him to say after another 10 seconds passed.
At the thirty second mark, Harry finally realised that he was expected to introduce himself.
Harry chose to fiddle with the edges of his blanket instead.
When a minute passed by, the woman finally cracked. "I would like it if you introduce yourself to me in kind."
While he still kept a placid expression, his voice dripped with disdain. "Oh but Unohana-taichou, you already know my name."
"Let me rephrase it then as an order, introduce yourself Shinigami."
"But Unohana-taichou, I am still an academy student…"
"That graduated yesterday with full honours. Congratulations, Chigusa-san on becoming a full-fledged shinigami."
Wait, graduated? Becoming a shinigami? This wasn't supposed to happen! He could feel the woman watching him, observing his reaction to yet another life-changing statement. Judging by his balled fists and pursed lips, Harry could bet that his anger towards his new position could be seen as clear as day.
He decided to give up on the mind games for the moment and focus more on calming himself. It's suicidal to antagonise anyone while he's bedridden, not to mention picking a fight with the person that healed you. No, it's best to play along for now.
"Chigusa Kago, graduated student of Shin'ō Academy."
Unohana's eyes narrowed once more. "That's not your real name, though." Tension filled the room again, as the Captain's blue eyes bore down on him.
Harry still kept his head down. "That's the name that I'll be using for the rest of my life." The Captain thankfully decided to accept his answer.
"Very well then, Chigusa-san." She finally sat down at the only chair in the room, picking up a clip-board from its seat. "After your spar with the soutaichou, I was able to heal most of your wounds. Your arms and chest are fully healed." Huh, so that's why there's gauze wrapped in both places… he stretched his arms out, testing for any lingering pain. No wonder she's the Captain of the 4th Division, all that's left is just a lingering ache.
"I am requiring you to stay here for the next two days though. Partly to not have you sprain your muscles, but mostly because you have not been placed into a division yet."
He looked at Unohana, "Not yet? Why? I thought you would've just shipped me to the first division so the old geezer would have his eye on me."
The woman had one of the best poker faces he'd ever seen, for she hadn't even twitched at Harry's interesting nick-name to the head of the Gotei 13.
"The soutaichou is actually aiming to start you off as a seated officer, thought his real goal is to have you as a lieutenant. As of this moment, all lieutenant positions are full except at the 13th Division.
Harry's eye twitched. "You guys… are you high?"
"We were, and still am, of rational mind when this plan was thought out."
"Really. Look Unohana-san, I'm not sure if you were there or not but I freakin' electrocuted the crap out of the old geezer. Why on earth would you want to put the person who hurt their leader into a position of power?"
"It's because you scored a hit with Yamamoto that we want you as a lieutenant." Looking over Unohana's shoulder Harry saw the two men from yesterday just outside the door. They should've worn those robes yesterday, he thought, eyeing their white haori's with distaste. I would've never been in this position if they did.
The man wearing a flower-patterned kimono over his white hoari ventured inside, reaching a hand out to muss Harry's hair. "Glad you're awake, kiddo. Had a nice sleep?"
He slapped the offending hand away. "Shut up you weirdo. Why are you and whitey here anyway?"
"'Weirdo'? Why not 'fabulous-'"
The white-haired man moved forward, his eyes closed but mouth shaped into a warm smile. "We're just here to check on you. I was worried about your health after that spar with Yamamoto-taichou."
"Spar? More like massacre-"
"I"m Ukitake Jūshirō, captin of the 13th Division. You can call me Ukitake, without the honorifics please. My friend next to me is Kyōraku Shunsui, captain of he 8th Division." He gave Harry a mischievous smirk. "You can keep on calling him by the nickname though."
"Maa Jūshirō, I've never seen this side of you before." The two were clearly long-time friends by their casual remarks. But Harry could see there was an underlying tension. They most likely had a recent argument.
"It's nice to meet you again Ukitake-san, weirdo-san."
"Hey!"
Yep, gotta love teasing the floral guy. Especially since he stopped Ukitake yesterday from stopping the fight. "So, you're the Captain of the 13th Division, right? the one with the empty lieutenant position?"
Ukitake opened his eyes, showing its green color. "Yes, I am."
Harry gave a quick once over of the captain. Pale and thin, long white hair. Eyes were a bit sunken, and his clothes were just slightly ruffled. Didn't have a good night's sleep then. While his eyes looked calm, butHarry could see that his smile was strained. He leaned back on the headboard.
"So, I'm just going to be chucked into the 1st Division then?"
All three captains blinked at the random question.
"Because," he explained, "Ukitake-san clearly doesn't like me."
And suddenly the calm feeling permeating the room vanished in an instant. What did I say? Oh fuck, don't tell me they were planning to kill me all along? At least open the blinds so I can see the sky before I die!
Unohana straightened up, tucking her hands in the sleeves of her uniform. "You are quite observant, Kago-san."
He let out a weak laugh, "Ah, just happened to have sharp eyes is all. Not unusual right?" At least, not unusual enough to suffocate me in the middle of the night?
"Oh no, not weird at all," Shunsui reassured him. "It's just rare for others that are not captains to notice those things."
"Oh, ok. That's good." Harry brushed away a few strands of his unruly hair from his face. "Either way though, it looks like I'll be under the old geezer's thumb in the future."
Ukitake cocked one eyebrow up. "I haven't said that I don't want you as my lieutenant, Chigusa-san."
"True, but you also didn't refute my previous statement. You don't like me."
The 13th captain shook his head, "It's not that I don't like you. It's more that, well, I'm unsure if you can take on the responsibilities a lieutenant has to do."
"Not to mention," Kyōraku added, "that because of Jūshirō's health problems, you'll take a more commanding lead than most others in your position." Ah, so that's why the 13th Division's lieutenant position is empty. Whoever gets that seat also becomes a captain every once in a while.
"Then there you have it, I'm not worthy of being lieutenant. Hello old geezer, here I come!" The 13th Captain covered his mouth to hide his smile, but Kyōraku had no shame to laugh out loud. Even Unohana, who kept quiet during the duration of the conversation, had the edges of her mouth quirked up.
Ukitake cleared his throat. "Chigusa-san, you are more than worthy enough to become a lieutenant. You were able to take on Yamamoto-taichou's shikai, and even wound him!" He patted Harry's knee. "You have more than enough power to become lieutenant."
Harry stilled at the man's word, his placid, calm face slipping away. Vibrant green eyes dulled, and his lips did not purse nor stretched into a smile. Power, oh how I hate that word.
"Ukitake-taichou, I don't agree with you saying power is enough to become a lieutenant…"
Harry looked down at his hands. He still remembers the many times when those same hands were dripping with blood. "Becoming a lieutenant means that you are the second in command of a division. The second in command of protecting and leading a great many people into danger." His hands balled into fists. "Wielding a powerful sword is not enough. No, you need someone who experienced death. Someone who went through hardship and pain, glory and hope. Someone…"
An acidic ray of green light zoomed towards him, only to be blocked by a snowy white owl.
"Someone…"
'Kill the spare!'
"Someone that is willing to sacrifice their body…"
Blood was dripping down his mouth, giving Harry a peaceful smile while his eyes lost all trace of life. The body was enough to stop the sword from impaling Harry's chest.
"…Sanity…"
The scream finally tapered down at the fifteen minute mark, only to be replaced by hysterical laughter. She lost; the witch finally succumbed to the cruciatus curse.
"… and morality…"
The killing curse struck true, snuffing the life out of the 10 year old boy. 'It had to be done,' Harry thought. 'He saw their hide out. The boy, a child of a death eater, had to die.'
"If it meant keeping the people under their care alive."
Harry ignored the captains, ignored their stares. Right now all he could think about was the time when he was alive. The blood, the tears, the deaths. Harry was drowning in it, suffocating…
Someone squeezed his shoulder. "Ukitake-taichou?" The 13th Captain's green eyes were glistening with unshed tears, but his smile was bright. It wasn't fake this time around.
"Kago-san, I'd like you to be my lieutenant."