Don't own Bleach. Boo. Also, something I should have put out there earlier:
I really get a lot of my ideas from other fan-fics out there. I don't have the time to even list out the authors that have inspired this, but if you recognize something, know that I both apologize and thank you. Most likely you wrote something that isn't complete and since it isn't complete and I just need to know the ending to every story I like, I always end up imagining how I would tie up your loose ends. I like to think that this story is the result of all that imagining building up in my head. A release, if you will.
I admit it. This piece will not be really original (sorry kid who left first review). But if you're like me and always jonesing for some new HitsuRuki story, this is for you. An attempt to fill your need (and mine) until something better comes along.
p.s. I operate in English. And I only read the manga and didn't watch the show or movies…so, I don't really know how things with Aizen ended (if the show even got that far). Also, romance will be rather slow in the making. But I swear it will happen.
Also, as I write this chapter, I feel like it's kind of becoming a whole different animal compared to the last installment. And I changed the rating. I didn't think the language was that bad, but then again I am the daughter of a sailor. Cursing is in my blood. Oopsie!
"Love And…"
CH 1: Love and Work: surprises, promotions, and upset older brothers
In those final moments of his life, Aizen was truly surprised that a mere ryoka boy and his gullible former colleagues were actually killing him. What a serious downer! If there was ever going to be a road block to his plans for complete domination of the living world and Soul Society, it might as well be death. Naming those damned subordinates of his as the real hindrance of plans or that silly human and his silly human and soul reaper friends was just making lame excuses. Nope. Death was the best excuse anyone could ask for. You can't do anything if you're dead…unless your goal is to not breathe or something. Then death would be perfect for that.
Now, if one were to interview Aizen after his death (I say 'if' because, let's face it, who knows what even happens when soul reapers die…they start off as spirits of the dead in that dimension of theirs, so would they just be double-dead? Is there even a land for the double-dead?) and ask him if there was anything that surprised him more than the fact that his demise was brought about by a mere ryoka boy and his gullible former colleagues, one would receive this answer:
"Why, I can't say that there are many things that would surprise me more than that. I mean, come on! I had those Soul Society twits in the palm of my hand for ages! And that orange-haired brat was just some random anomaly picked up by that Kuchiki kid.
"But…if I really had to choose…it'd be the fact that as I lay there getting beat to death by those Soul Society jerks, the hougyoku had been forced from my body and shattered by the sheer force of their combined reiatsu. Yup, the hougyoku shattered…I'd probably expect that if your average everyday hollow were to imbed a piece of the sphere within itself it would experience a massive increase of power. And just think of the results if it were an arrancar!
"Haha, but I don't think those morons over at Soul Society even know that happened! What a surprise that'll be when they run into a supped up hollow! Oh my god! They'll probably freak out and think that I've returned from the dead! Hahaha!"
Of course, since Aizen is dead you can't ask him anything and he certainly can't provide any answers. But you would have to admit, the information contained in his hypothetical answer would be pretty useful to know. This information of powered up hollows and arrancars would be particularly useful to Rukia, who was currently on a mission to the living world with her squad's two third-seats, Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentaro Kotsubaki.
Although the war was over, there were still quite a few of Aizen's monstrosities roaming about worlds. Soul Society decided that the most prudent course of action was to make cleaning squads to take care of the left over messes of hollows from the war. Rukia, Kiyone and Sentaro formed such a squad.
Currently, they had just finished off a hollow in a rural area just outside Karakura city limits. Since it was particularly weak, Rukia and Kiyone let Sentaro finish it off on his own. But alas, just when a soul reaper thinks their work is done…
"Haha! What an easy job!" Sentaro exclaimed.
Kiyone merely rolled her eyes and dead-panned "Which is why it took you so long to beat that hollow. I would've had it killed like that!" and she snapped her fingers. The third seats then began their normal bickering.
Rukia shook her head. 'I don't think I'll ever be able to understand those two.' She began to unload the lunches from the pack they had brought along with them when she felt a momentary spike of reiatsu. The young woman froze. Although it was felt for only a matter of seconds, she could tell it was strong. This new presence blew that last hollow out of the water. Way out. Way way waaaaay out. Rukia only had a second to act.
"Kiyone! Sentaro! Hadou number 4! White lightning!" A powerful blast of lightning escaped from Rukia's fingertips and pierced through the outstretched arm of the monster that had just appeared. Any later than she was and her two companions would definitely be in the grasp of that hollow.
Kiyone and Sentaro jumped away from the monster after Rukia's hadou spell. The hollow seemed to be trapped in a moment of shock after having its arm blasted off. Its opponents were rather shocked themselves.
'Just what is going on?' Rukia thought.
In form, it looked like any other hollow; same white mask, its large lumbering body reminiscent of an orangutan…but its strength. Its strength was comparable to some of the most powerful arrancars they had to face during the war…
"Crap," Rukia cursed, "On your guard, guys!"
But her warning came too late. The beastly soul eater sent a blast of fire and energy towards Kiyone and Sentaro. Her companions barely dodged the blast with their lives…barely. The attack had left the two third-seats pretty incapacitated.
Rukia quickly released her zanpakuto, shouting out "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!" She managed to lead the hollow away from her injured superiors before crying "First dance, tsukishiro!"
The hollow gave a loud screech as it froze in place. The raven-haired girl ran to check on her injured comrades. They lay covered in bloody burns quite a good distance away from where they were hit…the two looked really bad, but not bad enough to be right on death's door…at least not yet.
"Kiyone! Sentaro!" she kneeled down between them. "Are you guys well enough to move?"
Sentaro struggled to sit up and gave the worried reaper a thumbs up. "H-h-he he…no problem for a third-seat under the great Captain Ukitake!" he promptly coughed up blood.
"Psh. You ok there, Goat-face? I could understand you being severely affected by that damn hollow, but me? A-as if!" Kiyone, now sitting up as well, gave Rukia the best smile she could. "Don't worry, Rukia! Let's you and me—the real third-seat under the great Captain Ukitake—get this Goat-man back to Soul Society."
Rukia gave a sigh. "You guys look seriously wounded, but if you're both well enough to be at your old antics—"
"Did you really think it was gonna be that easy?" a raspy voice cut in.
The three froze.
"Crap! We need to call for back up!" Kiyone gasped.
"By then, it may be too late…" Rukia stood up and gazed upon the ridiculously strong hollow she thought she had put down. Or she at least tried. The area where the hollow was once frozen was shrouded in fog.
"Don't take that thing on! Don't Rukia! We're fine!" Sentaro scolded. "We can help!"
Rukia merely snorted, her gaze still fixed on that misty area. "You two are in no condition." A silhouette became visible, yet the shape was different than that of the hollow that had previously attacked…vastly different…
"And you're in no condition to beat him!" Kiyone pleaded. "You aren't strong enough! Just help us escape so we can call Captain Ukitake—"
"Hadou number 63, Howl of Singed Thunder!"
A loud scream of pain caused Rukia to smirk.
"—or you can just charge on in." Kiyone and Sentaro finished. If they weren't hurt all over they'd be smacking their foreheads. The two down-ed reapers could only nervously watch as Rukia confronted the revived monster on her own.
The mists had cleared and there was an arrancar standing where the hollow was. It had long dark hair, a broken version of the mask it wore sitting askew atop his head, and sword in one hand. The only thing about it that was similar to its old form was the newly amputated arm. Rukia's smirk grew. At least she was able to make sure that its arm stayed blown up.
"You can't be the same creature from before." Rukia couldn't help but comment, despite her senses telling her otherwise.
"On the contrary, I am." The monster placed a grin on his very pale face.
"How?"
"Perhaps you three fools were too busy making a picnic and playing with that first inferior hollow, but there was an energy radiating a couple miles from where we stand. The source of that energy…" the hollow-turned-arrancar trailed off just to annoy his opponent.
Rukia's eyes had widened. The smirk had been wiped clean off her face. She had felt a little something before... Maybe it was just because it had been nestled within her for so long, but...well, anyways, she ignored it as some strange blip in her senses. A lot of good that did.
Again, Rukia demanded, "Damn it! How?!?"
"I don't know…" the arrancar taunted. His efforts were soon rewarded.
"NEXT DANCE, HAKUREN!" Rukia's opponent had an easier time dodging her attack than she would have liked. And he was laughing. Rukia was getting angry.
'Screw this.' Rukia had made the mistake of underestimating an enemy before…the result was her becoming a burden to Ichigo and all their friends here in the living world. She spared a side-glance towards her wounded comrades. They watched her while trying to stay conscious.
"Ho ho ho! So angry, yet so small!" the monster chuckled. "Shall I tell you the name of your killer?"
"I'll tell you yours if you can tell me mine," she replied. Rukia knew that if she was ever going to wipe the floor with this arrogant ass she would need to take things to a different level.
Kiyone and Sentaro saw Rukia take a deep breath, preparing to shout…god, it was getting harder to focus. Their vision was getting hazy, their hearing quite fuzzy…they heard Rukia cry something indiscernible and saw the flutter of a white kimono before passing out.
---this is supposed to be a border to separate the first part from the next part. The one in the last installment didn't show up, so now I have to do things this way. Boo---
'The unthinkable is happening.'
This phrase had been going through Byakuya Kuchiki's head all morning. Here, in the comfort of the lavish and grand Kuchiki mansion, Byakuya could sit back and properly think up a plan of action.
Everything that he had done to keep his sweet baby sister out of harm's way was coming undone! All the threats and the bribes and the threats! Not to mention a very disconcerting night spent with a very polite but intimidating 4th division captain…
Byakuya shuddered at the memory. 'The unthinkable is happening. All that effort going to waste…'
Flashback to the beginning of his horrible, rotten, no-good very bad day:
Poor old Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of the 6th division, woke up at the crack of dawn with a very bad feeling. Regardless of this foreboding feeling, the stoic man began to get ready for his day—he had a meeting that morning with Head-Captain Yamamoto that he could not be late for.
As the young noble neared the first division office, he couldn't help but notice this bad feeling grow worse…
"Hey! Byakuya!"
Yup, definitely getting worse.
"Hey, wait up! Byakuya!"
Byakuya stopped and turned towards the source of the voice. "Captain Ukitake," he greeted (which wasn't much of a greeting really, but considering who he was, this was as good as it was gonna get).
"Good morning!" Captain Jushiro Ukitake, Byakuya's sickly colleague and leader of the 13th division, finally caught up with him—despite all subtle attempts at speeding away.
"So, you got called in by the head-captain too?" Ukitake asked.
Byakuya merely nodded (again, this was as good as it was gonna get).
"Any idea what this meeting is about?"
Byakuya merely shook his head.
'I guess this is as good as it's gonna get.' Ukitake thought. 'I just hope he takes the news ok.' Externally, Ukitake was being as amiable as he always was. Internally, Ukitake was sporting one exceptional grimace. He knew what the meeting was about. I mean, generally, the filling of vice-captain positions—and other positions as well—didn't require special private meetings like this. Usually there was just a simple general meeting with all the captains and vice-captains present to agree on and then welcome the new appointee…but then again, most promotions didn't involve Byakuya's younger sister.
The 13th squad captain let out a sigh—internally, of course. Clearly, things weren't going to go so well if the head-captain needed to break the news to Byakuya before he told all of the others.
'And of course, the head-captain just had to share this dubious pleasure with me…' Ukitake thought.
The two finally arrived in front of Yamamoto's office and were ushered in by the first division vice-captain.
The leader of all soul reapers sat behind his desk thoughtfully stroking his beard. "Good morning, Byakuya, Jushiro." he greeted.
"Good morning, sir." the much much much younger captains responded.
Yamamoto gave a very heavy sigh. "Look, I'm sure both of you know that since the war ended, Soul Society has had to deal with its repercussions."
Both men standing before him nodded.
Yamamoto continued, "I'm sure you also know that in order to deal with the rebuilding of our fine society, I have been working with the rest of your colleagues to find suitable candidates for those positions of captain and vice-captain that are left open."
It was as if a light had been turned on. Byakuya now knew why he and Ukitake had been called to the head-captain's office, yet he dare not voice the answer, not even in the confines of his own mind.
Now, if Byakuya Kuchiki were a more open individual, he would have gasped, smacked his forehead in anticipation, widened his eyes, uttered an "oh my god, you must be joking." Instead, he opted to remain physically unchanged.
"Among these unfilled positions is the spot of 13th division vice-captain..." Yamamoto paused.
As calm and cool as Byakuya was trained to be, nay, born to be, he could not prevent the smallest of eye twitches from escaping his control. Ukitake and the head-captain exchanged glances. 'Oh god, he's going to be a complete brat about this' was what these glances said.
"…Captain Ukitake and I both agree that your sister shall be the one to fill such a role. I know that you have discussed with each and everyone of us about the prevention of her attaining any sort of seated position, but—"
All of a sudden, Yamamoto was cut off by a very loud boom. Byakuya looked around in alarm.
"Something wrong, Byakuya?" His boss and fellow-captain looked at him like he was in need of a trip to the 4th division.
"You did not hear that?" For once, he allowed his face to reveal the smallest trace of bewilderment.
His companions shook their heads. It was then, that the Kuchiki clan leader realized that what he had heard was the sound of that foreboding feeling that had been growing within him all morning exploding within his gut.
Again, Ukitake and the head-captain exchange glances. 'Oh god, he's not going to be a brat; he's going to go insane.'
End Flashback
Rukia was a smart girl. She couldn't draw for beans, yet she knew how to talk to people. Although she had struggled a bit when she first joined and could be quite the crazy short-tempered brat, she was well-liked by her fellow reapers in the 13th division (both male and female). She was a loyal friend and comrade until the end. She rivaled the 10th division captain in terms of diligence in the work place. She now had perfect control of her zanpakuto's shikai and was one of the best reapers when it came to kido. She had experience in working in the living world. She was an honored veteran of the war against Aizen. She knew pain—physical and emotional—and how to overcome it. Most importantly, she could kick serious ass.
Nope, Byakuya could not find any serious reason that would make his sister ineligible to take over the role of vice-captain for her squad.
There was only one thing that he could think of to force Rukia out of that position and ultimately out of her duties as a soul reaper. As out-dated and sexist as it was and as much as he would hate it, he firmly believed it was the only way. He did promise to keep her safe after all. 'I only hope you won't hate me, Hisana…'
End CH 1: Love and Work
I told you things would get sillier.
Rukia's shikai abilities: some no mai tsukishiro—first dance, white moon; tsugi no mai, hakuren—next dance, white ripple. I was very indecisive about whether or not to use English for all attack names, or the original Japanese. I've told you before, I operate in English. This was all about making things sound good with doing the least amount of Japanese to English notes as possible. "White ripple" seems less cool than "hakuren" to me, but I needed to stay consistent otherwise I'd be bothered like heck…
And I'll throw Hitsugaya into the next chapter since he wasn't in this on (I felt bad for stating the dedication in the opening of the last chapter even though he never showed up)…it's a little crazy how into this pairing I've become. It's also a little crazy how every plan of action for this story eventually gets me to a flashback.