Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Chapter 3: Promotion
The Gillian was lumbering about. With no dominant personality, the mindless beast can only act upon instinct, and so was left wandering Hueco Mundo for the time being.
Meanwhile, inside the Gillian….
'Nothing, I feel nothing. Where…am I?' thought one particular hollow.
'I remember….school…..man…smiling….chain of fate…..hollow', she thought.
'Yes, that's it….I am….. a hollow…black ball…another man…..explosion.'
'Blown away….another….hollow….eat…..lots…of hollows…eating…..pulled together,' her fragmented thoughts stopped as realization hit her.
'I am….inside….a hollow.' her will to live extinguished, she resigned to her fate.
'Then….nothing…I can do.'
She stopped thinking, stopped trying to remember her past, and stopped trying to become her.
That's when her mind showed her a memory.
"Come on Yuzu! We're gonna be late for class!" called a girl with shoulder length-black hair she was wearing a sports outfit.
Yuzu snapped to attention. She tried to recall the name of the girl when another memory was shown before her.
"Yuzu my child! Look how much you've grown! And you have already become such an expert in cooking! Ahhh I'm glad to be your father!" said a man with a shaggy beard, a lab coat, and a joyous personality.
Yuzu's mind was working on overdrive. She desperately tried to remember the names of the two figures.
'Karin-chan, otou-san…..'
She cried. She wanted to meet them again. Then she was shown one last memory.
"Wow, Yuzu this is delicious! Even mom would be proud! Can you show me how to make these?" asked a tall boy with blond hair, he was smiling at her, and it made her feel proud of herself.
' Okaa-san….Ichi…nii..' thought Yuzu, her emotional dam on the verge of overflowing.
And it broke, all the sadness, anger, and frustration Yuzu has bottled up was released. She cried and cried. She wants to go home, she wants to see her family again, she wants to be with them for the rest of her life.
When she finally stopped crying, her mid has made up, she will see her family again.
She closed her eyes, and concentrated within her, bringing up her consciousness upon the hollow
Nothing happened. She tried again. Forcing her will into the creature that consumed her, letting it know who the dominant entity was.
Still, nothing happened. Sighing in defeat, Yuzu opened her eyes. What greeted her was a sight to behold.
It was an enormous desert. The expanse of white sand was so vast that all Yuzu could see was the desert and a few hollows scattered here and there. She looked down, and gasped.
Her entire body was black, with only the white shoes to break the monotony. Then she realized that she was taller than before a lot taller. When she had finally gotten over her surprise at her sudden growth spurt, she used her newfound height to scan her surroundings.
There was a hollow directly below her.
'It must have been attracted to my power,' she thought. Once again, hunger consumed her. She let the hollow, a monster that had a striking resemblance to a hippo, come closer.
When the hollow came close enough, Yuzu grabbed the poor creature. The hollow struggled vainly, trying to escape the large hand that held it. It's desperate fight to survive ended moments later, when Yuzu ate it whole, the sound of the bite heard for miles around. She licked her lips, and looked around again.
Over in the distance were objects that looked like trees, only that they seem to be made of rock. Yuzu looked at the strange rock formations for a while, before finally setting her sights for it.
A few hours later, she made it to her destination. It looked like a forest had literally shot itself out of the sand, except said forest seem to be made of some kind of rock. Yuzu looked on in fascination at the wonder of nature, wishing her family were here to see it. She also hollow darting in and out of the forest, and sometimes even from below the sand. Yuzu continued to stare at what she saw, for a moment becoming a thirteen year old girl once more. That's when trouble started.
Something inside her was pulling at her consciousness, dragging it back down towards the depths of the Gillian. Yuzu can feel her dominance over her body fading. Horrified, she looked left and right frantically, and finally seeing a hollow, which looked like a pig than anything else, staring up at her, as if waiting for her to die. She lunged for the hollow, and only narrowly caught it as it tried to avoid her attack. With little time left, and an even smaller amount of her control remaining, she opened her mouth and ate the poor victim of circumstance.
Almost instantly, she can feel her control returning. Frightened and tired from her ordeal, Yuzu knelt on one knee, and contemplated over what she had learned.
'I guess I need to eat more hollows to maintain my power,' she thought. Then she grinned savagely beneath her mask. 'Then it looks like I'll have to start eating then.'
And it looked like she came to the right place, for the 'forest' that she had stumbled upon was directly above an even larger forest, one where many of Hueco Mundo's hollows reside. Occasionally these hollow would surface to try their luck. Though fewer in number compared to the forest below, the hollows on the surface of the forest still commands a considerable amount.
Yuzu got up, towering over the landscape. If one can see her eyes, one would see a girl, left alone in a harsh world, that's determined to survive. But underneath that resolve, lies a darker personality, that of a hunter stalking its prey.
She walked about menacingly, trying to draw hollows out of hiding. Three came out, lured to Yuzu's spiritual pressure like insects to a bug zapper. Minutes later, Yuzu was biting down on the head on the third hollow, savoring every mouthful.
Unknown to young Gillian, with every hollow that she eats, the more powerful she gets, and the more hollows that will be attracted to her, and the easier it becomes to maintain dominance. Yuzu swallowed the last pieces of the hollow, and once again looked around. Before her were hundreds of eyes staring at her, all drawn to the power that she emits. She sighed to herself.
'This is going to be a long day.'
On Soul Society, a Soul Reaper named Retsu Unohana has just been summoned to the office of the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. The Gotei 13 was the armed forces of Soul Society, tasked with keeping the peace within and around Seireitei, the area where the Soul Reapers live, and Rukongai, where the ordinary souls live. They are also sent to the living world to help wandering soul move on to Soul Society, and to make sure those souls do not turn into hollows.
The Gotei 13 is made up of thirteen divisions, each unique, and each headed by a captain, who is the most powerful person in the division. Unohana was the captain of the fourth division, which specializes in medical operations. She had been a captain for over six hundred years, and is considered to be one of the most powerful captains in Soul Society, equalled or surpassed only by Yamamoto, the eighth division captain Shunsui Kyōraku, and thirteenth division captain Jushirō Ukitake, both of whom had been captains at around the same time as her, give or take a few years.
Opening the doors to Yamamoto's office, Unohana can't help but wonder why she had been called for.
"You wish to see me Captain?" she asked.
"Yes. You see Unohana, I have an urgent matter to discuss with you," replied the Captain-Commander.
Her interest piqued, Unohana entered Yamamoto's office.
"Can I get you some tea?" Yamamoto asked.
"Yes, that would be nice, thank you."
Yamamoto got up from his seat and took out a tea set he had prepared beforehand. He took a cup for himself and gave another to Unohana.
"Have a seat, I feel what I tell you may leave you weak at the knees," said Yamamoto, sitting on a chair near Unohana.
When Unohana heard this, she dreaded what would happen. She reluctantly took a seat beside Yamamoto.
'What did I do wrong, did something happen that's my fault?'
Seeing the look on her face, Yamamoto laughed softly.
"At ease Captain Unohana, you have done nothing wrong, rather, I have some interesting news," he said, pausing for dramatic effect, which worked, for Unohana was hanging on to his every word.
Yamamoto chuckled to himself upon seeing Unohana's expression.
"Retsu Unohana, captain of the fourth division of the Gotei 13, you have been promoted to the Royal Guard."
Unohana was left speechless. Her? Promoted to the Royal Guard? THE Royal Guard? The elite group of captains who protected the ruler of Soul Society? It was absurd. True enough, her body was left unable to move.
Yamamoto expected this.
"I understand your surprise; indeed, I have seen more extreme reactions to that news. But enough of that, Captain Unohana, do you accept the promotion?"
Unohana cannot move. She was being promoted to the Royal Guard, the dream of Soul Reapers everywhere and the pinnacle of what can be achieved as a Soul Reaper. But doing so would cut her off from the rest of Soul Society, effectively severing all ties with Kyoraku and Ukitake. She hung her head. She did not want to part with her comrades in Soul Society.
Yamamoto also expected this.
"While usually when one is promoted to the Royal Guard, he would have to cut all ties to Soul Society, the Spirit King has made an exception. You see Unohana, with Aizen's defection, the Royal Guard finally wanted to keep themselves updated on what is happening on Seireitei. As such, their Commander has requested that a Soul Reaper be made the spokesperson of the Royal Guard here in the Gotei 13. You will be able to stay here for a week every year, to do your duties as the spokesperson as well as take a trip down memory lane," said Yamamoto.
Unohana perked up. She would be able to see her friends after all. She smiled happily.
"I understand. I accept the promotion," said Unohana.
Yamamoto smiled behind his beard. "Very well, Retsu Unohana, captain of the fourth division of the Gotei 13, do hereby accept the promotion offered by the Royal Guard. In addition, by the tradition of the Royal Guard, you will be allowed up to three years to train your lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu, to take over the division."
Unohana nodded. She was given only three years to ease Isane into the position of captain.
Yamamoto looked at Unohana. "You understand that you would also have groom your third seat, Yasochika Iemura."
Unohana shook her head. "Iemura's performance has so far been satisfactory as a third seat, but I feel that the additional pressure from being promoted would be too much for him."
"I see, then you must also find a candidate suitable for the position of lieutenant. I suggest you start looking now. You are dismissed," said Yamamoto, both he and Unohana standing up from their seats. Unohana bowed to Yamamoto, and then exited the office.
Unohana had just passed the third division barracks when a black blur nearly collided into her. Only years of training allowed her to dodge the incoming missile, which slowed down to the form of a boy with blue eyes that seem to be half-asleep, with medium length black hair. He was wearing a black kimono that was the uniform of Soul Reapers. The boy stopped completely and walked towards Unohana.
"I'm so sorry Captain, I didn't see you when I was running with my squad to the second division," said the boy, who was now bowing again and again in front of Unohana.
"At ease Yamada-kun. Why were you and your squad going to Soi Fon's division? That being said, where is your squad?" asked Unohana.
Her last question was answered a second later, when a group of Soul Reapers ran past the both of them. They promptly stopped abruptly and proceeded to fall into the ground in a heap.
"Um, we were assigned cleaning duty on the second division barracks, Captain," said Yamada, who was now helping his squad members onto their feet.
With the squad member now on their feet, the group once again began running for the second division barracks. One by one, they greeted Yamada and Unohana, before running towards said barracks.
Yamada was helping the last one onto her feet when Unohana spoke.
"That was an impressive display of speed you and your squad have just done Hanatarō-kun, how long have you been assigned on cleaning duty?" she asked.
Hanatarō and his squad member rubbed their heads, embarrassed at the compliment.
"Um, just over fifty years Captain, though me and Kamiya-san here have been on cleaning duty longer than that," said Hanatarō. The squad member, Kamiya, blushed and nodded.
Unohana raised an eyebrow, 'such dedication to their work,' she thought.
Kamiya, who had been silent the whole time, finally made herself known.
"Hanatarō-senpai, we need to get going. I don't think Captain Soi Fon would be too happy when you are late," she said.
"Alright Hikari-chan. Captain Unohana, we will be going now," said Hanatarō, bowing before Unohana once more. Hikari did the same.
Unohana smiled and nodded. She watched as Hanatarō and Hikari took off into the second division barracks. She stood there for a few minutes as she took in what had just happened. Then she smiled softly.
'Looks like I've just found my lieutenant,' thought Unohana, as she walked off to find Isane.
3 months later….in Hueco Mundo.
Another hollow had been consumed, and Yuzu had just captured another. Three months after becoming a Gillian, Yuzu's power had risen significantly. The forest of rocks had been the perfect place for her, with numerous hollows to consume, and the trees provide a safe place to rest when she is tired.
She was now being attacked by hollows almost constantly, and even had another Gillian, the mindless variety, come towards her just three months after becoming a Gillian herself. Imagine her shock when the Gillian's mouth suddenly turned red, and fired a red energy beam moment later. Yuzu barely avoided the attack, and only managed to grab onto the the Gillian's jaw before it could fire another energy beam again. She bit off the head of the giant hollow, and ate the rest, leaving the head for last. Since then, she had been thinking of how to fire the red beam.
The breakthrough came just a few weeks after the Gillian incident. Yuzu had just bitten onto the head of another hollow, when she noticed energy collecting in her mouth. She had been mulling over how to fire the energy beam, a cero, as it was called by one of the hollows that saw the incident. After she had consumed her victim, Yuzu tried to get the energy to gather in her mouth.
It was hard work, no matter how hard she tried, very little energy would be collected. She sighed in defeat, and took a break from her practice by again going hollow hunting. As she was about to bite an unfortunate hollow, one that looked like a pink lion that reminded her of the one back home, she became aware of energy gathering in her mouth. Amazed at the discovery, she quickly devoured the poor corrupted soul and left to practice what she had seen.
'So, if I imagine that I am eating something, maybe it will work?' she thought.
She tried to again collect energy into her mouth, but this time she also imagined that she was eating a delicious chocolate cake. The results were astounding. The energy that she amassed was enough to be seen for miles around. Yuzu, surprised at her success, forgot to fire the energy, which had dissipated moments after being collected. Unfazed by this setback, she tried again, this time forming a smaller, more controllable ball of energy.
'Now, how do I fire this?'
As she was pondered how to turn the ball into a beam, she breathed out, and the ball of red energy that had been condensing in her mouth was suddenly released in a powerful beam that struck one of the trees. The tree shattered, and all the hollows living in it ran for their lives to avoid being crushed by the heavy debris.
Yuzu stared at the commotion. 'So that's how you fire it.'
3 more months later…..
Yet another hollow fell before Yuzu's jaws. It had been another three months since she had successfully fired a cero. Unfortunately, after that incident, life had gone back to the monotony of eating for survival. To say that Yuzu was bored was an understatement.
'I just wish something special would happen,' thought Yuzu. She got her wish.
As soon as the last hollow was swallowed, Yuzu began to feel strange. Her body felt warm, the next moment it exploded. Oddly enough, she felt no pain.
Many of the hollows in the area gathered to watch as a Gillian's body burst and began reforming itself. The mask too, was renovated, with the eyes set far apart from each other and a row of teeth three-quarters the way down.
When the transformation was complete, Yuzu greatly resembled her old body before she was a Gillian, a lime green humanoid creature with a hole in the chest. But now she had a complete set of limbs, hands, and feet, as opposed to before where they were nothing but arms and legs with pointy ends. The tentacles too, were present, and also colored a deep purple, with the tips a lighter shade compared to the rest of the tendrils.
Yuzu opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was that the hollows seem much larger than before. Then she looked upon herself, and gasped. She had transformed.
She looked at her hands, which looked like ordinary human hands, and moved her fingers. She felt her toes, the sand beneath her feet. Then she noticed the tentacles on her back. She grabbed one of them, and examined it. She moved the other appendages, shaky and unresponsive at first, but eventually she was manipulating them almost as easily as if they were there the whole time.
The other hollows, who were watching this whole time, were suffocating from the immense power that Yuzu was emitting. The few that did manage to resist, however, tried to come closer, to try and take the power for themselves. And those few that did stepped forward, found themselves impaled by a tentacle or two.
Yuzu looked on in amazement as she gave her newfound extensions a test run. She found out that the tentacles can extend beyond its original length, and can pierce through the tough hollow masks. The hollows that came closer to her were testament to that. She then took notice of the other hollows that were on the ground, as if gasping for air. She walked over to one of them, and stepped back in surprise as the hollow began to struggle harder, and harder, until finally it made one final intake of air and died.
Yuzu stared at the corpse. Up until that moment, she had never known that her power was the reason why hollows were attracted to her. And now, because one of them dies just by being near her.
Resolving to try and get the excess power under control, Yuzu devoured all the hollows around her, before walking to another part of the forest, this time as an Adjuchas level hollow.
Author's note: I guess I have to do another disclaimer.
Disclaimer number two: I do not own the character Hikari Yagami/Kari Kamiya. She is owned by the owners of Digimon.
Author's note number two: I never intended this to be this long. Guess I got carried away. And now I introduce a side story for my other favorite character, The Rise of Hanatarō Yamada. I decided for him to be a lieutenant because I believe the seventh seat still has a very, very long way to go before becoming a captain. And I also want his ascension to be believable. I found too many fics that would either feature Hanatarō as weak or too powerful. Hope you like it.
I put Kari in here because I am too lazy to think up of original names. You will also find other characters from other series in here. They will have no connections with the original series; I am only using their names, personalities, and appearance.
Finally, I hope I did not make Yuzu too powerful too soon.
I don't think I'll be putting up a pairing to Yuzu, though Hanatarō is open for discussion; put your suggestions on the reviews, but no slash/yaoi pairings. Those will be ignored, I am not a fan of such pairings unfortunately.
Please read and review!