Inhale… exhale…
Acidic, green eyes, glinting with madness and blood.
Inhale… exhale…
Prominent cheekbones now too sharp, too bony and gaunt.
Inhale… exhale…
Hysterical laughter, dark and insane.
Hinamori was the first to break down, clutching her kosode as she took great gulps of air. Oh she was good, pretending that she wasn't effected by whatever the hell Chigusa did. But for everyone else in the room they saw the way she gripped her hakama like a lifeline during her little chat with the new lieutenant, hands shaking like brittled leaves. Isane had to shut down completely unless she wished to faint.
And Ise, beautiful, strong Ise. It was a godsend that she and Kira sat next to their new… 'colleague'. Those two were the strongest of them all, being constantly exposed to such heavy hitters like captains Ichimaru and Kyōraku. 'Holding back' doesn't compute in Ichimaru's mind, and 8th's Lieutenant and captain were together for such a long time that he could let his reiryoku out more freely around Ise.
As for him? Oh, he never felt this much terror since the incident he received the three scars down his right eye.
"What… what did he do?" A look around the room showed that no one could truly answer Hinamori's question.
Ise, now closest to the doors, slid it shut. She absently bit her bottom lip. "A drain in our energy… degradation of mobility and reflexes… it's almost… almost like we were getting older."
"He can't possibly do that!" Isane shouted hysterically. "Getting older? Are you nuts? How can he be able to do that!" her vehement argument against it just screamed denial. Isane didn't want to believe it, mostly because she knew that out of the five shinigamis in the room, she was the one that took the most damage of whatever Chigusa did.
And it showed.
The hands that she slammed on the now broken table looked more brittle, leathery. The ends of her eyes had the beginning outline of crow feet. And her silver hair…
Nearly half of it was white now.
Hisagi couldn't help but take a cursory look over his own body. Were wrinkles spread across his face? Fingers stiffer?
"He's dangerous." Kira was hyperventilating, eyes firmly staring at his hands. Hisagi saw his friend try to flex his fingers, only to utterly fail.
"So dangerous…" Kira whispered.
The first thing Harry James Potter saw was the color white. A White ceiling, a white floor, just endless white. He idly wondered how such a place could feel vast and cramped at the same time. He took his time, adjusting to his new surroundings before Harry finally realized that he was laid out on his back. He stood up, noting that his clothes were the same shade as this room; white. His green eyes and black hair was the only blot of color in this place.
He stretched his arms, rolled his shoulders, and ruffled his messy hair. He blinked, and Death was in front of him.
Or what Harry could presume was Death. Death didn't bring a new color in the sea of monotony, only various shades of black. From the off grey to inky black, Death only brought darkness. The color choice fit its persona though, Harry thought.
Its head - Harry believed it had a head - was hidden by a cowl, weathered and ragged. A skeletal hand, with bits of muscle and skin still sticking to the bones, was grasping a long thin scythe. The blade was black, dripping with blood and surprisingly dull. At most Death could only give Harry blunt force trauma. Cuts or beheading were out of the question.
Where its white eye would be, the symbol of the Deathly Hollows glowed green.
"So, this is the after-life?"
Not quite.
The voice shook him to the core. It rattled his bones, quickened his breath, and made him feel so pathetically weak. It consisted a plethora of voices; the innocent chirp of a newborn babe, the gravely voice of a chain-smoker, the wheezing sighs of an old human. Death spoke for all, and all spoke for Death.
"What do you mean?"
Death raised its scythe and in one strike brought it down, ripping a cut from thin air. The cut quivered, but eventually ripped open. And with that, color could be seen.
Grass, long green blades swaying back and forth, dancing in its own tune. A blue sky, endless and free, with the odd cloud drifting through. Harry saw the colors of nature, and couldn't help but bask in it. Harry was too busy to appreciate nature when he was alive. There was the horcrux hunt, and then losing Hermione…
He looked through the odd window, staying where he was. Death in turn was staring at him.
"Will I be going there?"
If you wish.
His nose scrunched in confusion. Why give him a choice? He was dead, right? Unless he could decide if he wanted to go to hell?
A gentle breeze escaped the portal, brushing across his face. It gradually escalated, the breathe of fresh air escalating to one large blast that forced him to close his eyes.
And that's when he was brought into a hug. Two pairs of arms, one from his back and the other in front of him. The sudden touch forced Harry to open his eyes.
What he saw was the most breath-taking image he'd ever seen.
"Harry…"
"Prongslet…"
The first thing Harry James Potter saw when he woke up from his memories was the beige ceiling of his room in Sereitei. The first thing Chigusa Kago did was cover his mouth to muffle his cries.
Ukitake didn't know what to make of his lieutenant. The boy's zanjutsu skills left the 13th Captain's mind spinning; how can he do the kata exercises so flawlessly, but fall like a sack of potatoes with one sword strike? Hakudo and Hoho… it's best to not even think about it. Kago's kido skills, however, showed that he had an inborn talent with the art.
Perhaps his lieutenant will be like Ise-san? Someone that's average in all three other combat arts except kido?
But with his zanpakutou, he'll have to learn Zanjutsu. When Kago gleefully told him that the supposed party turned into an interrogation, he shooed Kago into the 13th barracks to sleep and shunpoed to the 'party's' location soon after. He was met with five of the most distinguished lieutenants breaking down in hysterics. Hinamori was grasping her chest, her eyes wide and glassy. Isane was wringing her hands, wheezing and out of breath. And Hisagi, unflappable Hisagi, he was staring at his hands in utter horror.
He eventually wrangled out a reason why all of them were acting strangely from Ise (Kira was too busy muttering under his breath). Ukitake wasn't surprised that they managed to see through Kago's poorly veiled mask during the initiation ceremony. He was disappointed at their callous attempt in wringing out the truth from his lieutenant, and felt resigned when he learned Kago basically gave them the 'finger' in the most roundabout way possible.
Ukitake was shocked, however, at what Kago's reiatsu did when he let it out. He remembered seeing Kira's new wrinkles, Isane's white hair, and Hisagi's stiff fingers. And Ise, stern, steady Ise, calmly removed her glasses and told him that her eyesight deteriorated.
It was fortunate that the changes to their bodies were only temporary. By the next day all five lieutenants were back to their regular... age. The accelerated ageing was eventually connected to Kago's zanpakutou. Similar to how the temperature in the room dropped whenever Hitsugaya-taichou let some of his reiatsu seep out, Kago could also do the same.
Only with a more dangerous outcome.
"Ōkasen: Kyōgeki no Kōgeki*"
Kago's right arm, raised as if to protect his chest, became engulfed in yellow light from elbow to the tip of his fingers. Bringing his glowing arm to his side he made a mad dash towards Ukitake. The run was quite slow for a lieutenant, but the unusual kido spell made him wary.
Ukitake raised his sword to parry his lieutenant's spell, his left hand free to cast a quick kido spell if needed. Seconds before the two clashed Kago brought his arm back and thrusted it forward, punching Ukitake's sword.
… Wait, what?
Ukitake couldn't help it but stare dumbfounded that someone actually punched a sword.
His befuddlement switched to utter shock when the kido spell was finally released. From Kago's pinky and thumb the the spell lashed out, Ukitake unable to block the two separate beams with his sword lodged in a knuckle.
Thank kami for Hoho.
Shunpoing behind his lieutenant, he watched as Kago's Ōkasen drilled straight through where he would have been and right through the 13th Division's walls.
Ukitake let out a dry chuckle. "Your kido is amazing as always. Now, if only you can lend some of your talent their to your zanjutsu."
Kago shrugged, carefully pulling out Ukitake's zanpakutou out. A simple toss and Sōgyo no Kotowari was back in its owner's hands.
"My zanjutsu skills will come in time. I was in the Academy for less than a year." A quick flick with his right hand had it glow a soft green, instantly healing the slight wound. "I'll eventually learn how to correctly swing my sword around." A chuckle escaped the Captain's lips before he could stop it.
It would still be years before Ukitake could truly understand his lieutenant, but the captain was already starting to grasp Kago's… uniqueness.
He was ridiculously blunt to the point of being rude, yet never passed the line of insulting someone.
He complained at the decades of backlog paperwork piled on his desk, and always started the day attempting an escape from his duties, but still manage to complete the work at the end of his working hours, the reports always thorough and detailed.
He faced everything with a lackadaisical approach, a biting or sarcastic remark just itching to spring out, while his green eyes remained sharp and focused.
Ukitake watched, analyzed, and finally deduced; he saw how Kago liked to catch others off-guard. He noticed how Kago accepted he made mistakes, but strove to work past it and get better. And Ukitake was happy to realize that his mindset was similar to his own. Through time, the two would become a cohesive and formidable team.
But as of this moment, their difference in skills was too vast. It was imperative to bring his lieutenant's combat skills up, but unfortunately he just wasn't in the right position to tutor the boy. I'll have to tackle most of the lieutenant duties until Kago improves.
The 13th Captain looked up to the sky. He needed to find someone to teach him, preferably someone within his division. My third seat officers are out. They're strong but both seemed to have established a detached, formal relationship with Kago. Most likely because Isane told her sister about what happened during the lieutenant's gathering.
How about Rukia? Honestly, she would be the best candidate. The only problem is...
"Hello, earth to Whitey! Are you reminiscing about the 'good ol' days' again?" Ukitake felt his eyebrow twitch in annoyance. He'll think about tutors later. For now? For now Ukitake was going to hit his lieutenant for his taunt. While Kago didn't insult him, there was just something with the boy's voice that made him want to hit something.
In front of the 13th Captain's office a young woman was standing, staring at the closed shoji doors Her black hair was styled into a bob, its length reaching just past her shoulders. A stray strand was hanging between her violet eyes.
You can do it, she thought. Just knock, damnit. Her right hand was held up, just inches from knocking on the shoji doors. KNOCK!
"Rukia? Are you alright?" She jumped at the voice, looking up to see captain Ukitake staring down with worried eyes. She didn't even notice the door opening.
She shook her head slightly and gave a short bow to her captain. "Sorry taichou, I just got lost in my thoughts for a minute. Thank you for your concern." The white-haired man just smiled at her, patting the top of her head.
"It's alright Rukia, as long as your fine. Come on in, I've been waiting for you." Ukitake-taichou stepped to the side and ushered her in. He gestured towards a simple wooden chair, placed in front of his desk. "Have a seat. Do you want some tea?"
She settled herself at the edge of the cushion, back straight and hands on her lap. "I'm fine sir, and sorry for making you wait."
He waved her apology away. "I already told you, it's fine! I'm actually a bit grateful that you arrived a bit late, it's been so busy lately after Kago became lieutenant."
Ah yes, the new lieutenant. She clutched her hakama tightly, looking down in her lap.
"You're wondering who kago is, aren't you. I understand, you were close to… to Kaien…"
A wave of misery past through her. Kaien-dono… Her shoulders hunched as she bit her bottom lip. It felt like that night happened yesterday. She could still feel the phantom touches of her lieutenant trying to reassure her, the tap on her heart as he gasped his last parting words to her.
His reassurances didn't change the fact that she killed him.
"Rukia." Violet eyes instantly snapped up.
Ukitake's brows were furrowed, a small frown in place. His hands were clasped together on the desk. "Let me make this clear; what I'll be asking you to do is purely due to your expertise in all four shinigami skills."
"Ukitake-taichou?"
"I need you to teach Koga the shinigami combat arts." Teach Kago? Teach the lieutenant...?
Violet eyes widened in horror, skin rapidly paling. "N-no!" The words spilled out before she knew it. "I… I'm sorry sir, but I can't." Silence fell upon the two, but it didn't hide the fact that Rukia was breaking down. The tension in her shoulder could practically be felt in the room, and the minute trembling in her arms or legs didn't help either. She knew Ukitake-taichou was scrutinizing her.
"Can I at least explain why the new lieutenant needs a tutor, and why I asked you?"
No. Unfortunately her silence brought a different conclusion for her captain. "Did you know, Rukia, that I wanted you to be my next lieutenant?"
What?
"It's true; you are the second strongest shinigami in my squad, and you were taught by Kaien personally. You are also well-liked in this division."
Blood was rushing to her head, a furious blush splotching her cheeks. "U-Ukitake-taichou! Please stop!"
He just let out a throaty laugh. It soon stopped as he looked serious once more. "The only reason why I haven't promoted you yet is because you aren't emotionally prepared to take on the position." He leaned closer. "You still blame yourself for Kaien's death."
- If you pass your heart to your friends, then you will always live on within them… -
Ukitake leaned back, letting out an exhausted sigh. "I can't tell you not to blame yourself, for that will make me a hypocrite."
"You're wrong, taichou!" blood, so warm to the touch, dripping down… Her breath quickened, eyes, blurring as she felt tears dripping down her face. "You are not to blame, you weren't the one who stabbed him! Your… your zanpakutou didn't make Kaien-dono…"
- Thanks to you, my heart can still stay here… -
A tissue box slid in front of her, and she quickly took a few.
Silence once again fell upon the two, with only Rukia's sniffles heard. Ukitake looked out through his office window, his eyes shining with unshed tears of his own. Other than that, her captain was the epitome of a hardened and indifferent soldier.
"Chigusa Kago has been excellent in the administrative side of his position. Tomorrow he'll finally be finished with all the back-up paperwork, and he'll start helping me tackling my own workload. For leading and fighting however,"
His hand went up to comb through his long white hair, "The formal ceremony last week was a disaster; he painted himself as an incompetent second in command, when I know that he is anything but. All his skills beside kido, though, are abysmal. Even still, he didn't learn all the kido spells before he was removed from the Academy." He finally looked back at Rukia.
"I need you to bring him up to task. I'll be too busy handling my duties and tasks Kago is currently unable to accomplish, such as training our members."
"How about Kotetsu-san or Kotsubaki-san?"
"You're stronger than them."
"They're still third seat officers, and I'm unseated."
"Only because you're still effected by that night." He clasped his hands together, elbows on his desk. "Please Rukia, you are the best person in our division to teach our lieutenant."
She saw how his request - no, plead - was so ernest. And he honestly believed that she could teach the lieutenant.
Shouldn't Chigusa-fukutaichou be the one teaching me? She already knew the answer for that. Even though she was an unseated officer, she was still a member of the Kuchiki clan. She knew her lieutenant earned a bad impression with her nii-sama. She also heard her nii-sama's lieutenant inform him about what happened in the lieutenant's get-together, how his reiatsu could potentially be lethal.
It was enough for Rukia to know that Chigusa-san was taken out of the Academy so early and promoted to the 13th's lieutenant position because he was dangerous.
Chigusa-san was deemed too dangerous to learn with the other students in the Academy.
Why not ask someone outside of the division teach him? Another easy question to answer.
There's a difference in having a lieutenant that seems to be incompetent, and having a lieutenant that is known to be incompetent. The 13th Division's reputation, no matter how powerful their captain is, would be tarnished to have such a weak lieutenant, and as a result little to no newly-graduated shinigamis would want to enter the 13th Division.
She already knew from the beginning that begging off would be pointless; her captain always had good reasons to each of his decisions.
She answered. "I'll teach him."
"Eh, why are you so short?"
"S-Short?!" Before he could even blink a fist landed square on his face. The punch had enough strength to make him fall to the ground.
"We're practically the same height, you idiot!" He brought his hand to his face and was annoyed to find that his nose was dripping with blood.
"The fuck? Why the hell did you have to punch me?"
The girl - 'cause no way was she over fourteen with a face like that - glared at him. "Because you were rude and disrespectful, you idiot."
His eye gave an involuntary twitch. Stop calling me an idiot, you idiot.
"That's still not enough of a good reason to hurt me. Ah, seriously," He picked himself off from the floor, brushing away the dirt that clung to his back when he fell. "Kid, didn't you learn from your parents that violence isn't the answer?"
The girl's violet eyes darkened, her hands shaking. Instead of one, both were clenched into fists. Holy shit, is she gonna hit me again?
"What did you just call me?"
He blinked. "… huh?"
Her glare was downright fierce, teeth grinding together. "You called me a kid didn't you…" Wait, that's what made her angry?! Why are children these days so sensitive to such meaningless things?
"Relax, I called you kid in the general sense. The only reason why I called you that was because I don't know your name." And with that all problems will hopefully go away.
"In the general sense…?" With one swift move she swung her left leg and kicked him right on the chest. "I'm an adult, gaki!" The force of the kick was enough bring Harry to his knees and slide a few feet away. Shit, I think she broke a rib! And all because…
He looked at the person in front of him. She was just a few inches shorter than him (a little part of him died when he noticed this). There were no signs of wrinkles or blemishes on her face. While her eyes looked old and weary, Harry immediately chalked it up to her experience as a soldier. Fighting in life or death scenarios will age anyone. In the long run, this girl just couldn't be an adult.
"Liar."
Reiatsu suddenly poured out of her in waves. While it wasn't as annoying as the old geezer's, he could still feel it. Quite impressive for her age. "You… I'M OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD!"
He waved his hands in a shooing motion. "Yeah yeah, say that when you look closer in age with Ukitake. At least he's rocking the white hair."
Her body did a full body twitch when he finished talking. At this point her hands were in the form of claws, fingers twitching as if wanting to strangle something. Probably my neck. "How old are you then?" she snapped.
A grin spread across his face. "Just turned twenty a few weeks ago."
With that her reiatsu suddenly vanished along with her anger. Her violet eyes bulged in shock, and her jaw was literally hanging. "W-wha, twenty? Twenty?!"
A frown appeared on his face. What's wrong with being twenty? Is it because of how young I died? "Yeah, what of it? I died when I was eighteen years old, and I've been here for two years." Shouldn't be too young. Look at her. Heck, look at that 10th captain! Bet he didn't even hit puberty yet…
A quick look at the girl brought him to see her grinding the top of her head on a tree, muttering too softly for him to hear.
"Hey kid, are you alright?" He took a few steps closer to the clearly mentally ill girl. He finally managed to hear her say, "… and to make it all the better, the boy calls me a kid…"
Boy...
Oh. No. She. Didn't.
He grabbed the hilt of his blank sword, slowly unsheathing it. "Oi girl," he sneered. "You're supposed to be my tutor, right?" She stopped hurting her head but didn't turn around to face him.
"Yes," she said. "Ukitake-taichou told me that I'm to teach you hakuda, hoho, and zanjutsu. I am also tasked in helping you complete your lessons in kido."
He gave the girl a savage grin. "Then let's start with zanjutsu, girl."
Said shinigami gave another full body twitch before she finally turned and gave back an equally harsh glare. "Yes, let's start with that, boy."
*Kyōgeki no Kōgeki- Pincer attack