Well, not many reviews in general, but it's not just Bleach…a lot of anime fanfics don't seem to be getting as many reviews…
But that's alright, I'm not complaining, to the few that are reading and to any new readers, welcome, enjoy yourself, hope I don't disappoint with this.
This chapter will be a bit enlightening, I hope, it'll shine a bit of a light into the past of this mysterious Kaworu and his friends.
For those who don't know my style, Italics are usually a character thinking OR flashing back.
In this chapter, there's going to be a rather long flash back to previous history, so keep that in mind.
I'll be updating this as well as I can.
Let's get this started!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters, settings, etc.. Did you really need me to tell you that?
Soul Society
Seireitei
Rukia gasped, slowly trying to pull her bruised body up before she lapsed back into unconsciousness.
She had no idea why her wounds felt so painful. This man hadn't even drawn a weapon or seemed to have possessed one. He had defeated her with simple hand-to-hand combat.
How pitiful! If Ichigo could see her…Ichigo…Byakuya…Byakuya!
Her eyes widened as she glimpsed the empty courtyard and buildings around her, showing no sign of wear and tear.
Her brother…and the man were gone…
She sighed, the pain of breathing significant as she slowly fingered her chest.
Probably…a rib or two…
She just barely remembered the blow. And that man's eyes…so full of…killing intent.
She remembered now...the horror of it all.
He held out his hand in her direction, smirking.
"Destructive Art: 95, Lighting Genesi -"
Rukia fell backwards, her eyes widening in terror at the spiritual pressure that the man had been collecting for such a high level spell. It didn't even seem that he had planned to chant it either.
"Never mind…the kidō actually. I think I'm getting carried away…if I attack you like that there may only be enough Kuchiki to fit in a dust pan to take back. Little Sōsuke would be quiet annoyed though…maybe I should kill you just to get on his nerves?"
She stared at him hatefully, thinking feverishly on what she could do to attack or escape this menace.
"Who the hell are you?! Are you man? Beast? Shinigami? Where is your zanpakutō, if you are, and why are you attacking me?"
"You are not worthy of seeing Inazuma unveiled. You are not even worthy of being slain or tortured. What a pity! Is this what Seireitei has fallen to? Has the Kuchiki line devolved so low since little Byakuya?"
"How…do you know these things?! How do you know my brother?! Identify yourself, bastard!"
The man sneered and reappeared alongside her before she could even blink, giving her a brutal punch in the stomach.
"You are not worthy of hearing my name either."
She gasped for air, her eyes bulging as she fell to her hands and knees and spit blood.
"And here I thought I'd have a challenge. You're not even making me sweat."
Who HAD been that man? How had he known of her brother and the Kuchiki line? Or a better question, how the hell had he gotten into Soul Society? This was madness…
Byakuya…his wounds…there's no way he's one hundred percent…and that man…I couldn't even follow his movements the slightest bit…and he wasn't even fighting seriously! Bya…bya…
She coughed up blood, falling to her knees as tears flowed down her face.
"Bya…kuya…"
Suddenly she felt comforting arms wrap around her and she turned, seeing her brother's face smiling back at her as he lifted her up on his shoulder.
"B-Brother…"
She sighed, feeling the comforting warmth as her eyes closed and she passed out.
Yoruichi sighed, staring at Rukia who was draped around her shoulder.
The poor girl had passed out mumbling and muttering in pain before Yoruichi was able to ask her what happened.
Could this…be connected to what I felt this morning? Could HE…no…no…he's dead…he's dead…
Yoruichi Shihouin smiled with what seemed to be confidence as she made sure Rukia had a safe spot on her shoulder and pretended to flash step out.
I need to…take her to get treated…and to find out what happened…I also need to make sure Ichigo doesn't go crazy ripping the whole place apart when he finds out Rukia's been injured.
However, there seemed far more in Yoruichi's mind and face than just these subsurface thoughts and the surfacing confident smile.
Her lips trembled and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she clenched a fist and bit her lip fiercely.
It…cannot…be…Okami, my love…you are dead, aren't you?
Yoruichi turned, staring up at the sky.
After all…I killed you with my own hands…
Many Centuries Ago
Soul Society
Seireitei
"Don't you understand?! This is madness! Slaughter! They're living beings who deserve our respect!"
Urahara sighed, shaking his head as Yoruichi watched morosely from the corner.
"Kaworu you don't understand the grave danger of this matter.
"Oh, Mr. Research, can you put a value on their lives? I bet you can…you and my father, authorizing the wholesale GENOCIDE OF THEM ALL! I won't be a part of this…I don't care…"
Urahara rose, staring with evident fatigue at Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
"Do you have any idea what you're saying? If you weren't his son you would already be imprisoned for treason!"
"Precisely…"
Kaworu clenched his fist.
"Precisely…why I refuse to be a part of this madness any longer. Uncle Gendo refuses as well!"
Kisuke sighed.
"Kaworu…We two are your best friends, are we not? Do you not understand that the Quincy unsettle the balance of our worlds? They tip the scale…they do not purify, they DESTROY!"
"Still, that doesn't justify putting them all to death! And my division in the head of the battle as well, thrusting in and ready to kill them all, huh? That's the plan? For me to shed innocent blood? Father acted as if it were an honor!"
"Kaworu…please…listen to us…Like I said, we're your best friends…trust me…these feelings you have will pass…The Quincy are DIFFERENT from us."
"'We'?! Since when do you speak for HER?!"
Kawuro turned and glanced into Yoruichi's eyes, expecting some sort of response. However Yoruichi only looked down, feeling shameful inside for abandoning her lover.
"I…I cannot believe this…you too, Ichi-chan? Hahahahaaha…what a…what a revelation."
Kaworu turned and stared at his two friends, the two other members of the Three Prodigies and his eyes bulged. In his mind he saw them glancing at each other, conspiring…their bodies…their minds…together…against him…betraying him…
"Enough of this…you two have made your choices…So be it. I will halt this genocide myself, even if I have to kill my father in the process. One life means nothing in the face of thousands."
And with that, the one nicknamed as 'Okami', son of the great General Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai disappeared in a flashing spiral of dust and smoke.
Kisuke Urahara sighed as he slowly adjusted his flowing captain's garments, standing at the gate where he knew the young man who had once been his friend would arrive.
They stared at each other, silent until Kaworu stopped in front of Kisuke.
"Captain Urahara…get out of my way…"
"I'm afraid I cannot, Captain Yamamoto. What you intend to do is treason and a danger to the entirety of the Shinigami society."
Kaworu's eyes widened and he pressed himself into Kisuke's face until his forehead was pressed gently against Kisuke's forehead in a desperately genuine gesture of brotherhood and misery.
He whispered their faces only inches apart.
"Please…Kisuke…don't make me fight you…"
Urahara shivered, tears running down his young face.
"Kaworu…think of Yoruichi."
Suddenly, Kaworu's eyes were no longer kind and he head butted his forehead hard into Kisuke's nose, sending the Shinigami falling backwards with blood splattered on his face.
"Think of her?! Oh, I bet you think of her all the time, don't you…Urahara Kisuke? You'd love for me to die…so you could have…"
He bent over and leaned in to whisper in Urahara's ears.
"Those…smooth…supple brown curves…oh I've seen your glances…I know you want her…covet her even…what would you do without me in the way, hmmm?"
"Shut up! SHUT UP! It's not like that, Kaworu!"
Urahara rose angrily, his hand reaching to his hip, though it halted as Kaworu smiled and spoke.
"I SEE how it is. You would draw Benihime against me, would you? Either way, you have no problem with killing me where I stand."
"Kaworu…please…I have no choice. Think of your actions, I do not wish to draw my blade against you. But you give me no choice."
"Ah…calm, happy little Kisuke, always so well loved and adored for his research and blah blah…you speak of not having a choice? Will you allow the collar that is the law of this land rein you in? There are times when a man must betray even the laws of his own home to do what is right."
"Then I do now what is right…I defend General Yamamoto and Seireitei. That is my duty."
"So be it."
They both disappeared, quickly flash stepping, though one could hear angry screams and grunts of conflict as they hurtled about faster than the eye.
General Yamamoto sighed, sitting in his seat in his large chambers and watching as his only son open wide the front door and stepped inside.
"Why do you disturb me?"
"You know why, father…Tell the squads to turn back! I will not be a part of this murder, but I will also not allow anyone else to commit it as well. There are other ways of dealing with the Quincy. They are living and breathing, they do not deserve to be stepped upon like mere vermin!"
"There are laws that must not be forsaken…laws that keep the balance of the world and our society."
"Laws that condemn an entire race to death?!"
"You disappoint me, Kaworu. I had hoped you would one day be a worthy successor. I thought you of all people could understand the worthiness of law and order."
Kaworu's face darkened, and he shook his head.
"You presume to call this law? This forceful brutality? This killing? I KNOW now what law means in this existence. Law means pain. Let me show you my law, father."
He reached at his hip and pulled out a small tantō, which he held in front of him confidently. However it was clear his hands were trembling.
"Kowasu, Inazuma!"
His father made no move, the wistful man simply staring at his son and sighing.
"You would draw your blade against me?"
"You're out of line father! Uncle agrees with me!"
"Oh, brother Gendo? He has been taken care of already, I'm afraid."
"Taken care of?! Father?!"
"The penalty for resisting the laws of the Shinigami society are severe, I'm afraid."
"Shut up! You have no heart, embroiled in your laws and convenient moralities!"
The old man only snorted, shaking his head.
"What do you know, child?! What do you know of sacrifice? Of strengthening and defending the Soul Society all of your life? You play these child's games still, bluffing and biting!"
Kaworu strode forward determined towards his father, who in response rose as well, reaching for the sword at his own hip.
"You will realize that life is complex and unfair. That sometimes, lives must be taken for the world to be balanced!"
A massive burst of flame hurtled all around them as the old man spoke these words, but Kaworu seemed mostly unharmed.
"It's called slaughter!"
"It is called order, boy! This isn't show and tell! This isn't a child's game! This is ORDER. THIS IS PUNISHMENT!"
Kaworu only smirked, charging forward to meet his father's outstretched blade.
"Show and tell? Let me show you something, and tell you something as well."
Their weapons clashed as Kaworu hissed out his angry words.
"This, that I show you, will be the last thing those eyes glimpse. What I tell you, is spoken to my weapon, not to you. BANKAI!"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's old, wistful, and usually supremely calm eyes suddenly twisted into surprise and confusion.
The massive ivory hall buckled and shook with the explosions that would follow.
Kisuke Urahara sighed as he remembered Kaworu's words before he had slammed his fist lighting quick into Urahara's stomach and sent him crashing hard into the ground before he could parry with Benihime or any sort of tactic.
He coughed up some blood, but his mind was not on his wounds, as they seemed far from fatal, just rather painful.
"You fool…what did you say…before you departed? 'Sometime there are more important things in life than law and duty'?"
Urahara sighed.
"And then…what of your life? Do you not value it, Kaworu? You throw it away, far too soon...my friend..."
Kisuke slumped over, passing out from the exhaustion of the battle he had fought and the overwhelming fatigue these emotions instilled in him.
The only response to his words was the eerie silence of the buildings around him, most of them having been damaged in his tussle with Kawuro.
She had waited for him, after hearing what had happened. She had waited for him. She remembered the orders she had been given.
She could not refuse the orders of one Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
She could not refuse the lips of one Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
Was love all one needed? She trembled in supreme confusion, her usual confident and joking self torn away for the last few weeks of this crisis.
"They ride out…tonight…don't they…to erase the Quincy from the annals of time?"
She had barely noticed the fact that Kaworu had already arrived, and as his words registered, she turned.
Yoruichi tried to stifle the gasp that was issued at glimpsing his appearance.
He was covered in blood, and she noticed deep sword wounds all across his chest and torso. It seemed as if most of his clothes were burnt off as well, and she could actually see severe burn marks on his back as he rounded the corner.
Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai had failed. But Shigekuni had allowed his son to live, regardless of the supreme treason.
Or so the rest of the Soul Society thought.
Yoruichi Shihouin knew better. She had heard General Yamamoto's words to her.
He had promptly informed her of her duties as head of Special Forces in Soul Society. He had informed her that there was no forgiveness or leniency when one crossed the rules of this world.
She had noticed, though tried to avoid making it obvious she was staring, that the wistful old Yamamoto had also been dealt some rather painful wounds though overall he didn't look worst for wear.
Kaworu strode forward, not hesitating as he took Yoruichi Shihouin in his wounded and dirty arms and pressed her into his embrace. Her head rested against his deeply breathing chest, where she felt his heartbeat in her skull.
His hand slowly rested against her neck, caressing her skin as he let out a sigh.
His voice was almost unrecognizable to her now; it seemed supremely tired, resigned, and hoarse.
"My Ichi-chan…if I were to run away from this place…would you join me?"
He rested his fingers gently on her chin, lifting up her face to gaze into his.
"Would you? Leave this place, this land of duty and law, this land where you were raised…leave this land where you hold such supreme position…leave this land for your heart and mine?"
Yoruichi trembled, tears running down her face.
"I know what I have to do…my Kaworu…my Okami…"
Kaworu smiled lovingly, taking this as an affirmative response, his hand reaching to pull her in a kiss.
Suddenly, however, his brow furrowed, and he sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry."
"I…understand…but…did it have to be so…ruthless, Ichi-chan?"
The young man fell to the ground and coughed up violent streams of his own crimson blood, staring at the blade sticking out of his chest. The blade Yoruichi had stuck into him.
He stared up Yoruichi, who was a trembling, sobbing mess, and his shivering right hand reached out and brushed the hair out of her eyes, smiling.
"Shh…don't cry Yoruichi…I understand…only following…orders…"
"Kaworu!"
"Sh...I…don't know…you and Kisuke…how…long can you…survive…following the archaic laws and fool orders of…Soul Society and…the Gotei 13? How long…before you are forced to escape…or killed…or exiled…"
She only shook silently as crushing sobs overtook her, as his gentle caressing hand brushed against her soft lips and face.
Suddenly however it took hold of her chin, roughly, painfully, with energy that should not have existed in a dying man.
He pulled Yoruichi forward roughly by the chin so that she was inches away from his lips, her own breath washing against his short and hitched dying breaths.
Kaworu licked his lips, moving forward so that his lips were nearly touching Yoruichi, yet he halted before they met and smiled sardonically.
Yoruichi trembled in fear, noticing something in his eyes. Killing intent. Hate. They bored into her skull, mixed with sentiments that could have been love and morose abandonment of life.
"Let me…teach you a valuable lesson… Yoruichi Shihouin…there is nothing in this world of worth…NOTHING! Love is a mere foolish fancy, as we both know well now. It is so easy to betray love…so easy to fall weak because of reliance on the human heart."
She flinched at his words.
"As are all other adventures in emotion and frailty…useless…a waste of time, this existence."
To her surprise he rose, pushing her off of him and looking down imperiously at her as he yanked out the blade embedded in his chest in one clean motion.
It clattered to the floor and blood began to rush unimpeded from Kaworu's fatal wound.
As he stared down at her, he smiled, and then spit in her face, speaking slowly in contempt.
"It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream - a grotesque and foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought - a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forlorn among the empty eternities!"
And with that he turned, taking one step…two steps…three st-…no…he fell at two…and he never rose again.
She rushed over to him, seeing the blood pooling around his unmoving form. She could almost see her own reflection in that pool of liquid.
One her face, the saliva that he had spat was mixed heavily with blood and her own tears.
Yoruichi's heart wrenching screams could be heard all around the already fragile Soul Society.
Back In The Present Era
Soul Society
Seireitei
Byakuya's eyes widened imperceptivity as he felt another burst of pain and rush of wind around him, stumbling backwards from a noticeable and painful new ache in his chest.
Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai had gotten faster. Much faster. Byakuya would never admit it to himself or to his opponent, but he hadn't even seen Kaworu's fist slam into his body or any other sign of the man.
But Byakuya Kuchiki had not trained for centuries and carried on the Kuchiki line proudly for naught. He would defeat this fossil of the past, overcome this foolishness.
Kaworu smirked, the old Captain's robes that indicated him as Captain of Fifth Squad still on him, flapping in the breeze as he stood squarely in front of Byakuya and watched the blood dripping from the Kuchiki's lip.
"You're not bad…Little Byakuya…but I could still kill you in two cigarette's time…probably less. Ukitake didn't train you well enough, I suppose. No matter, he was always father's lesser pupil anyway.
Byakuya's eyes widened once more, this time in noble outrage as he held his blade firmly in front of himself.
"Save your words for the abyss, Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai! Chire, Senbonzakura!"
Byakuya's blade burst and scattered into thousands of small things resembling beautiful cherry blossoms, wafting about around the two competitors.
Byakuya didn't even raise an arm, only staring at Kaworu with thinly veiled contempt as a massive stream of blossoms flew straight from the ground in front of Byakuya and crashed hard towards former Captain Kaworu.
Hope you're enjoying this chapter. Sorry if it had too much FLASHBACKING going on…
I just sort of wanted to give some of the story behind the three friends, Kaworu, Yoruichi, and Urahara. There's always a triangle of friendship, romance, and tension between all of them.
Though keep in mind, the history on all those events isn't written in stone…we'll see a lot more of what happened in the later chapters…because I certainly figure some characters may have differing views on what really happened…like how is Kaworu even around? Wasn't he killed?
Anyway, no worries if you got bored by this chapter, as you can see by the last part of this chapter, Byakuya is just getting warmed up!
Can he defeat someone who is supposedly even older, more experienced, and of a more noble line than even himself…Byakuya being someone who often seems to boast of his noble lineage and history…even if it's not overtly.
We will see.
See you next chapter, I hope!