Two weeks later...
The two women stood in the open courtyard, stripped down to light training clothes, white material rippling around their bodies as they took identical stances, legs set into the 70-30 balance and L-shape with left feet extended. Their left arms were held out in a halting gesture, right hands balled into fists down by their waists. Their eyes were closed and their long dark hair fluttered out behind them as the wind blew through the grounds of the 10th Division compound. Even their chests rose and fell in synchrony. A heartbeat…then Rei Mikihara and Yugito Kosaka moved, right hands stabbing forward before rotating to the right, arms moving up into a guard position.
From the barrack doors, sitting on the steps leading down into the courtyard, Rangiku sat and watched the lieutenant and 4th Seated officer as they went through a sequence of motions, hand strikes, kicks and blocks, each perfectly coordinated, flawlessly executed. Their motions seemed to flow like water but each one was delivered with what the recruit reckoned had enough force to shatter stone. Every morning, the two women would be up early, carrying out the exact same movements but it was only this day when Rangiku was out of bed early enough to see them start. Sometimes other Division members were present, going through the same motions but failing to achieve the same grace and elegance as the two before her.
"Enjoying the show?" Rangiku almost jumped out of her skin as the voice spoke in her ear, a gentle but commanding one. She looked around to find the figure of Captain Hikifune standing behind her, leaning down to speak to her. The captain turned her head to look at her, a weary smile on her face. Up close, Rangiku could see that she really was a beautiful, young-looking woman, though tinged with a sense of sadness. Hikifune took a seat on the steps next to her, watching the two women training. The captain and recruit watched quietly for several moments before the latter broke the silence, hesitating a moment to get over being in the presence of such a senior officer. "What are they doing, captain? They do it every day without fail. Is it a special fighting style or something?"
"The Fist of Salvation... Shiro-kun named it since he created it." Hikifune looked reminiscent as she spoke, watching the two women in action. "Up until recently, shinigami of the Gotei 13 learned standard hakuda and only a few actually went on to train in more advanced arts. Nearly the only ones to bother are the 2nd Division, and their skills are channeled into the techniques of the Special Forces; the Fist of Destruction. Shiro-kun was never any good at healing...but some of Unohana-sensei's teachings did manage to filter through and so he developed his own style, aimed at saving the enemy from their own darkness through purification rather than their utter destruction"
"All of the 10th Division look up to Shiro-kun, but only those of his inner circle really know him as a person. Both of those two girls, Rei and Yugito...I reckon he made the biggest impact on them. Rei wears that red mark through her left eye in imitation of Shiro-kun's scar despite the others saying she looked...well, silly with it. But yes...he taught his own technique to his closest followers and now that he's gone missing, practicing it somehow allows them to continue to feel his presence around. That's why they're so focused, so concentrated on perfecting it. Considering the unrest that's going on at the moment, it also brings a measure of calm to them. Rei needs it especially..."
"I assume you saw her release her shikai last night. The first time anyone sees it, it's enough to shake them, especially a recruit like yourself. That sounds about right, doesn't it?" Rangiku nodded. The memory of Mikihara wreathed in flames and seemingly taking on the image of battle incarnate kept returning to her mind when she thought back on the night. It made her shiver. The white-haired captain placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Don't be hard on Rei. Her zanpakuto bears a fiery female spirit and it's a constant struggle for her to contain it when she has to fight. Unleashing it is a last resort for her, surrendering to a destructive lust within herself. For a gentle spirit such as her, it's...difficult. It's why she didn't want you to see how she goes when she has to fight seriously."
The captain stopped speaking and the two observers continued to sit in silence. Rangiku watched, entranced by the scene before her, the two beautiful young women going through the almost dance-like motions. An hour passed over an eternity until finally they came to a stop simultaneously, sliding back to the standing position and relaxing. They turned around, eyes opening to look up at where the captain and recruit were sitting. Mikihara's eyes were back to the soft dark brown Rangiku was used to, the memory of fire and blood in them fading. She tried a weak smile, which Rangiku made sure to return. In light of the new information, she felt bad for having shown fear in the wake of the lieutenant's battle charge that had ended up saving all their lives. Mikihara and Kosaka walked up the steps to where they sat, saluted to Hikifune and took seats alongside the two, toweling sweat from their faces and returning to resting state steadily.
"Captain Hikifune." Mikihara took a drink of water before addressing the senior ranking woman. "What news is there from the 1st Division? Any word from Shi...Captain Matsumura?"
The captain shook her head. "No one's heard from Shiro-kun in a long while now. No reports back, no anything... And the old man has the 1st and 5th Divisions investigating at the moment. I get the impression trust is...not so strong with the 10th and 12th right now. It's bad enough having to deal with that pretentious Lieutenant Sasakibe and that lazy whiner, Shinji-kun. At least his lieutenant, Sousuke Aizen is a rather charming and polite person. Taking the investigation seriously for certain... And Yoruichi-san and the 2nd Division are still out looking for traces of Shiro-kun and the Hollows. She hasn't disappointed us before..."
"So anyway...all our work is suspended for the time being...despite how important the old man made our investigation out to be. I think Jushiro-kun's taking a hand in it too. If not for that, I think I would've gone crazy already. Kicking around the headquarters without anything to do is...well it's slightly frustrating when I know Shiro-kun is out...doing work." Hikifune looked contemplative again, staring off into the distance, identical to Mikihara. Rangiku followed their gaze, trying to see if there was something there before realising they were just in deep thought again. They seemed to spend a lot of time in deep thought. She didn't intend to be so stuffy when she grew up...maybe a bit more fun or wild.
"Can you tell us at all about what was stolen, Captain?" Kosaka spoke up from the other side of Rangiku, asking the question that had been playing on the minds of the others over the past few days. "You know...if it's not revealing too much, of course."
"Err...well the old man wanted it to be secret but without any actual details it's not really harmful. Still...let's step inside a moment." Hikifune sighed before standing and leading the others into the meeting room, Rangiku dutifully sliding the door shut behind her and sealing it. The four took their seats in a circle around the central table. The 10th Division members waited in silence as the captain cleared her throat and started to explain.
"It was a project assigned to the 12th Division several months ago. The old man wanted us to try and devise a way of alternating a being's spiritual composition with the primary aim of turning Hollows back to human by weakening the division between the different forms. Well, without having to slay them with zanpakuto and force them back into the life cycle, casting Hollows from Soul Society back to the real world and vice versa…"
"I don't know why the old man'd want something like that but it was his orders and so we followed our orders. Either way, we'd made a prototype though it was still a long way from being completed."
The four sat pondering that in silence, each caught up in their own personal ideas of what the Captain-Commander might want with such a tool before Hikifune spoke up, breaking their musings with the current problem with the whole situation.
"But now it's stolen... And the potential it could have in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing; the ability to change a being's form... It's a frightening prospect, which is why it was sealed away in our strongest vault and why the old man is taking this investigation so seriously... I don't know of anyone else who could be aware of this technology with enough knowledge to actually utilise it properly…"
More silence. Rangiku found herself thinking of the few members of Gotei 13 she knew who might have the training to pull off something like that and found none of them were applicable. She looked between the women seated around her but found no readable expressions on their faces. They looked to Hikifune again but she just shrugged.
"Oh well...I just stopped by to see how you were holding together over at the 10th, Rei-chan. I should probably be heading back soon. I ordered Hiyori to look after the headquarters until I got back but I can't even give her the task of cleaning up. Apparently it's all evidence or something and we have to leave it until the 1st and 5th say we can clean up. So yes...she'll be going insane and sulking. Maybe I'll bring her some ice cream or something from the 10th. You don't mind, do you, Rei?"
"No, go ahead, Captain." Hikifune rose, sliding the door open and starting off across the training ground. A slightly lighter expression reached Mikihara's face as she waved to the departing captain. "Thanks for stopping by and keep me informed, alright?"
"Of course, Rei-chan. Whatever you want." She waved a careless hand in goodbye, marching off through the compound doors and disappearing off into the distance, haori billowing out behind her until it whipped out of sight. Kosaka murmured something about heading to the female officer's quarters to shower and get changed into her shihakusho before getting up to leave too, leaving just Rangiku alone with the lieutenant.
"Rangiku, I..." Mikihara hesitated for a moment before going on, "I'm sorry about that night. I didn't want to scare you like that but if I didn't do what I did, well...I didn't feel like leaving it to the 12th Division to get us all out of there safely."
The young recruit shook her head quickly. "No... I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I was acting silly to be well...afraid of you. Nevermind..."
"Well alright then." The lieutenant flashed her a grin, cheered now that the distance that had developed over the past few weeks had been sealed up. She got to her feet, waiting for Rangiku to do likewise. "Come on. Let's get down to training. The captain's orders for me to train you still stand and I've got to keep everything running like normal in his absence. Meet me back at the dojo in ten minutes while I get changed and all. See you then, Rangiku-chan!"
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"You took yer time getting back here, Captain Hikifune. I thought someone like you'd want to oversee this investigation in person." The lazy drawl of Shinji Hirako came from behind her, Hikifune turning to find the 5th Division captain sitting on top of an overturned refrigeration unit, looking bored much as he always did, resting his chin on his hands. "If it were my Division being looked into, I'd…"
There was a black blur and a crash as the small figure of Sarugaki came flying across the room, smashing Hirako tumbling from his perch with a two-footed kick and dumping him upside down on the floor. He immediately leapt to his feet, clutching his bleeding nose and shouting a tirade of insults at the short lieutenant while the latter was screaming something about speaking with more respect to her captain, waving her sandal threateningly in one hand. Hikifune sighed before placing a hand on her lieutenant's shoulder, making her fall silent though still fuming. "That's enough, Hiyori. And thank you...for your concern, Captain Hirako. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a Division to...sort out."
"You shoulda let me take him, Captain!"
"Maybe another time, Hiyori dear... We have...well we should have more important things to do." Hikifune steered her lieutenant off down the corridor, back out of the research building and walking into her division's officers' quarters. The majority of the compound had been locked down by the investigation team or blown up by the Hollows. "So how are things going back here, lieutenant? Have they found anything yet?"
"Nothing except that Shinji's more a dickhead than I thought. Actually no, I knew he was this much a dickh..." Sarugaki noticed Hikifune's slight frown at her language and stopped short. She seemed to think for a moment before continuing. "Well...that guy Sousuke's been prodding around, as has that Sasakibe prat. They've been examining the vault especially, reviewin' documents and the surveillance equipment the Hollows didn't blow up when they attacked."
Hikifune led the way to her room and sat on her bed, gesturing for her lieutenant to sit down next to her. "They find anything?"
Sarugaki pondered for a moment, "Well they keep sendin' runners back to Captain Yamamoto and various things. Aizen has been spendin' a lot of time in the vault, inspectin' things. But I figure if they found anything' major, they'd make a big scene."
"Yeah...you're probably right... The 1st Division does love to make a scene..."
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It was a quiet night in the 10th Division compound. Leaving her lieutenant to sleep back at the 12th Division's barracks, Captain Hikifune had come back to see the senior officers, sitting around the fire in the meeting room. Rangiku had curled up asleep by the fire, unconsciously playing with the pink scarf Mikihara had given her after they'd met up again at the training room. The lieutenant sat behind her, prodding at the fire absentmindedly with a poker while Yugito Kosaka passed the tea around to the other women. It seemed to be a calm enough evening, much like how they'd spent the last few days without the guys around.
Several loud bangs sounded against the front gates. Angry raised shouts were heard, ordering them to be opened immediately. The night guards at the gates hurried to see who had turned up, the other members of the Division stumbling out of the barracks and spilling into the courtyard, pulling on shihakusho. The gates burst open just as Hikifune and Mikihara emerged from the meeting room, Rangiku and Kosaka hurrying in their wake. Accompanied by a mass of other shinigami, including a large number of seated officers, Lieutenant Sasakibe ignored the stares as he marched up to the two Division commanders and produced a rolled up makimono and began to read from it in a loud voice so the entire division could hear him.
"Captain Hikifune and Lieutenant Mikihara. By order of Captain-Commander Yamamoto-Genryūsai, the 10th and 12th Divisions are to be placed under house-arrest and the commanders to be kept under armed escort by officers of equal rank. You and all your subordinates are to surrender your zanpakuto and submit yourself to processing."
There was silence for a moment as the gravity of the lieutenant's statement sank in. Mikihara made to speak but Hikifune held up a hand to stop her before turning to address him. "This is not an amusing joke, Lieutenant Sasakibe. What is the meaning of this? You better have a damn good reason with you if you want to take our zanpakuto, 'Lieutenant'."
The 1st Lieutenant looked unruffled as he replied, staring back at the captain without flinching before her chilling glare. "Eyewitness and visual footage has been found of 10th Captain Matsumura's covert return to the Seireitei and involvement in the theft of the research prototype."
"You lying bastard!" Mikihara's reiatsu seemed to explode with rage as she started towards the man only to have Hikifune forcefully grab her and hold her back. "How dare you say such things about the captain, like that?"
"Keep control of yourself, Lieutenant Mikihara. The evidence, written statements and visual footage can be found in this..." He threw a package to Mikihara, which she caught, still being restrained by the captain. Calmly, the 1st Lieutenant turned his attention back to Hikifune again. "12th Captain Hikifune, your negligence in allowing Captain Matsumura access to the 12th Division's high security vault and allowing this theft to take place are already serious crimes. Whether you were complicit in it has yet to be found. Your cooperation now might cause the Captain-Commander to look slightly more favourably on your case. And if you don't wish to come quietly..."
"Sensei...?!"
Hikifune could barely suppress her gasp of shock as two figures materialised from among the massed ranks of black clad shinigami, flashes of white and the whipping of captains' haori. 4th Captain Unohana and 6th Captain Kuchiki appeared before her, hands clasped before them and heads lowered as if unable to meet her gaze out of distaste. Spiritual pressure flowed freely from them, causing the 10th Division members to shrink back. Rangiku found herself shuddering violently, a cold sweat breaking across her brow as she clutched at Kosaka's hand, disconcerted to find the 4th Seated officer's hand shaking too. At the front of the group, Hikifune and Mikihara drew their zanpakuto...before holding them out in two hands for 1st Division members to come forward and take them. Following their lead, the other 10th Division members also began to hand over their sheathed blades reluctantly but complying with their lieutenant's unspoken orders.
"We'll escort you back to your own Division now, Captain Hikifune." She nodded slowly, allowing herself to be led away by the arresting mob. She glanced back momentarily to exchange a seemingly meaningful look with Mikihara before disappearing. Then the crowd departed, leaving the still waking shinigami to start muttering among themselves in worried tones. Several hurried over to where Lieutenant Mikihara stood, still frozen in place, staring after where the 12th Division captain had left.
"Lieutenant Mikihara! What the hell is going on? What they said about the captain..."
She shook her head, a lost expression on her face. When she spoke, her voice shook, lacking in her normal inspiration and confidence. "I don't know... Return to your barracks for now. I'll issue new orders in the morning. Until then, stay in the compound and don't cause any trouble."
The 10th Division members slowly made their way back to their barracks, still muttering amongst themselves. Kosaka placed a steadying hand on Mikihara's shoulder. "Rei-chan... You know the captain would never do any of this. There's got to be some reason for..."
"Yu...I know. I...know." She held up a hand to forestall anything more from the 4th Seat, still not looking at them. "But you heard my orders. Return to the barracks and stay there for now. And take Rangiku with you. I have to...think. On my own for now."
Kosaka made as if to try again but then thought better of it, taking Rangiku's hand and leading her back to the recruit's dormitories, leaving Lieutenant Mikihara standing alone in the darkness of the courtyard, not looking back as she sank to her knees, head resting in a hand, whisper carried on the night wind.
"Shiro...kun."
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"It's done then?"
"Of course." A tall man wearing a strip of cloth over his eyes and a white captain's haori marked with the symbol of the 10th Division leaned against the wall in the shadow of a Rukongai shack. The face of Captain Matsumura grinned widely. "Charging off to the source of the enhanced Hollows and now the Gotei 13 trying to kill him too? I have a feeling that Shiro Matsumura's time in Soul Society will be coming to an end very soon."
"Perfect... And have you got the prototype for me?"
The captain tossed a small object to another man wearing a black shihakusho. The other man gave a smirk of his own, examining the glint of the item in the moonlight before pocketing it. He turned and started off, heading back towards the Seireitei. "Thank you...Captain Matsumura. Now head up north. You're needed up there. I'm sure you can come up with something...interesting."
The captain gave an ironic salute before turning on his heel and walking out into the streets again, body rippling as it morphed to take on the appearance of a simple Rukongai inhabitant, strolling off and whistling absent mindedly, heading upwards to see what other betrayal Captain Shiro Matsumura could pull off before the Gotei 13 caught up with him.
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'Writer's note: For those of you who would claim the Hogyoku was the created by Urahara, this is the prototype of the device, which I'm hoping explaining how Aizen was carrying out his experiments before he retrieves it from Rukia 100 years later. As for it being the concept of Urahara's, the intention behind his device was different, that of enhancing a shinigami's potential power, using Hikifune's prototype as a source of information. ^^