This Light, The Will of the Heart, I See
"Yare yare… this will be a huge fight, but we'll pull through, right Sakana-chan?" –Kyoraku Shunsui
NOTE: This is the second revision of this fanfic. If you have been reading it before, ya might wanna go back through an' look through it again… Shit, I just screwed up this chapter. Imma gonna hafta rewrite the entire damn chapter!
Inspiration: None.
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Spoiler Warnings: Up to the 25th Bleach Manga (checks Shonen Jump) uh, Chapter 14 of the Vizard Arc?
Chapter Warnings: mentions of rape. Shit, that's next chapter! Grrz…
Hey, something nice for you to know! There's gonna be only 14 chapters (hopefully). Can you guess why? /snicker/
"These are normal thoughts."
Note: Some Japanese words may be in italics.
These are thoughts Sakana (and spirit animals) receives. "This is stuff she sends."
"This is one's Zanpakuto."
Chapter 8: Shinigami-knapping (Would it technically be kidnapping since it's Sakana and Toshiro being kidnapped? Oops, spoiler.
[deleted])
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
Sakana paused, sensing something was wrong. The soul pager was beeping obnoxiously in the bedroom, but neither soul reaper had time to react, nor even grab it. The door to the small house was blasted to pieces as two white blurs zoomed in.
Through the wall stepped Gin, and Tousen. Toshiro narrowed his aqua eyes at the group. Grimmjow smirked at the infuriated Toshiro as he held Toshiro's arm from reaching for his Zanpakuto.
"Aw, what's wrong? Y'not happy to see us?" Grimmjow snorted. Toshiro growled.
"Hardly."
"Just come with us without a fuss." Ulquiorra said. Toshiro raised his left hand in front of him and pointed it at Ulquiorra.
"Hado 54: Hisaki!" Toshiro said. A fireball went sailing towards the green-eyed Espada. Ulquiorra quickly disappeared and reappeared with a flailing Sakana in his arms, Gin's Zanpakuto at her neck.
"Make another move, and she dies." Ulquiorra said, his cold green eyes glaring at Toshiro. Sakana squirmed in the Espada's arms, but couldn't escape.
Toshiro almost fell to his knees, but was held up by Grimmjow, who was now holding both arms behind his back. There was no use to trying to resist. If he moved, she would die. He couldn't put her in danger like that.
"Toshiro, run!"
Toshiro looked up at Sakana. She was still struggling to break free of Ulquiorra's grip. She looked at him pleadingly as Gin pressed his Zanpakuto against her neck.
"Just get out of here! Go!" She snapped. Toshiro quietly shook his head. He silently wished that this hadn't happened, that they weren't in this situation. If she could reach her Zanpakuto, then they could fly away. Sakana's speed was a little bit greater than the Espada's speed. They could escape that way, but it wasn't possible. Toshiro thought of all the possible options.
Surrender was the only way for both of them to get out of this alive.
"Toshiro, no…"
"Get her out of the Gigai and then you." Gin said coldly. Sakana struggled some more, but Ulquiorra bound her arms so she couldn't move them, then freed one hand to take his own Zanpakuto and put it to her neck.
"What happens if I don't?" Toshiro snarled.
"Yer lil' girlfriend's blood'll be shed!" Grimmjow smirked. Toshiro sighed; he had no choice. He reached into his Shikakushou and pulled out the glove he used for Sakana when she couldn't get out of her Gigai herself. He didn't like it. The plan was perfect; if one's life was threatened, the other would obey. That damn Aizen… he hated him.
Sakana's reddish-brown eyes, which were still a little pale, pleaded Toshiro to leave. She would be able to take care of herself. However, Toshiro did not intend to leave her. There was absolutely no way. He looked Sakana in the eyes, a sad smile on his face.
"…Don't worry. It will be my fault."
He pushed his palm against Sakana's forehead, and she fell out of her Gigai. Now she was exposed to the rough emotions the two Arrancar and the two traitors held. Then Toshiro left his Gigai. He thought he had a brief moment of freedom, but was mistaken when Grimmjow tightened his grip.
Grimmjow roughly bound Toshiro's arms. "That's more like it. Although I wouldn't have minded a little fight…" the blue-haired Espada sighed wistfully.
"Keep in mind Aizen-sama said to bring them back unharmed." Tousen said. Grimmjow just scoffed.
Toshiro watched as Sakana slowly lost consciousness, her body going limp. Ulquiorra threw the unconscious soul reaper over his shoulder like a sack o' potatoes and opened a garganta in the room.
"Let's go; mustn't keep Aizen-sama waiting." Tousen said. Toshiro bit his lip but allowed himself to be pushed through the garganta, not once looking back to the small, now trashed house.
This was all going to be his fault; he would willingly take the blame.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
"Aizen-sama, we have returned."
"Ah, Toshiro-kun. Sakana-chan. Welcome to my fortress of fortitude, Las Noches."
Toshiro growled at the traitorous bastard as Gin, Tousen, and Grimmjow bowed. The defector was smiling happily like a child who had gotten a special treat, and Toshiro did not like it. He could tell something was just waiting to happen. Oddly enough, he started thinking more like Sakana for a moment. "Las Nachos? The Nachos? (1) Are you kidding me?" she would probably have said had she not been unconscious. He snarled the next few words, glaring at the traitor.
"What do you want with us?"
Aizen chuckled and ruffled Toshiro's hair in an almost playful manner. "Ah, this is not the setting for a conversation such as that. We shall move in a moment."
Toshiro growled again. The duo had been dragged around through the fort, past many Arrancar. He could tell that besides the ones he had seen, there were many more lounging around, waiting for Aizen to give the signal to attack. Toshiro had tried to break free of Grimmjow's grasp, but he was stopped upon remembering that Ulquiorra's Zanpakuto was at his lover's neck.
"No injuries whatsoever? Excellent job."
"Hai, Aizen-sama." The four said (Grimmjow yawned). The traitor stepped down from his giant chair of doom and despair and motioned for Ulquiorra and Grimmjow to bring the two into another room. Toshiro then felt an unnatural chill go down his spine at Aizen's smile; it had gone from kind to conniving.
"Don't worry, you will find this very interesting…"
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
Ichigo, Rukia, Byakuya, and Hana looked in horror (well, Byakuya's mouth simply thinned to a line, cause we all know how emotionless he is) at the small house. There was a huge hole where the four had blown the door away, and the house itself looked like a tornado had struck. Two bodies lay next to each other next to a door, but it was clear that no one was inside. Hana returned from the bedroom with the beeping communicator; the message was still flashing on the inside. Ichigo was the first to break the deafening silence minus the rain pounding on the windows.
"What the hell happened?"
"Everyone, look around for some clues. Something to help us." Hana said. Rukia disappeared into the bedroom, Byakuya went to the kitchen, and Ichigo went to the living room.
Hana surveyed the surroundings. She had a feeling about what had happened to her captain, based on what she saw. The two had been about to open the door when the four intruders had burst in. They must have caught one of them, and the other had to comply, forcing both of them out of their gigai and to Hueco Mundo. There did not look like there were signs of a struggle either. Had there been a fight? No, because a lot more would have been out of place if there were. Aizen wanted them for something, but what?
Hana's thought process was interrupted by Byakuya prodding her shoulder.
"Hmm? Oh, Kuchiki-kun, what's this…?"
Hana looked at the piece of paper the noble had given her. On it was the word "Oshiire".
"Closet…?"
Hana looked at the closet that the two bodies were lying next to. As Byakuya shifted the bodies away from the door, Hana opened the closet door and noticed two boxes on the floor. One was clearly labeled, "To Kaen-hime". It must have been Sakana's birthday or Christmas present. The other said, "To Shinigami-chan". The box seemed to emit more of a sense of urgency, so she picked up the box and opened it.
Inside was a letter, neatly wrapped in ribbon. Hana pulled it out, tossed the box carelessly over her shoulder, and scanned through it.
"Oh, my god!" She shrieked after reading it. Rukia and Ichigo heard Hana's shriek and rushed over to where the noble was now reading the note, a frown appearing on his face.
"…this is not good. We need to have an emergency meeting right away. Let us return to the Seireitei."
"Hai!"
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
The duo was dragged into a room that looked more like a lab room. Arrancar littered the area; they were sitting around; simply lounging until the next set of orders was given to them. Aizen smiled at the duo, first at the slightly bristling Toshiro, and then the unconscious Sakana, who was laid on an operating table. The sickening smell of both blood and sterile was suffocating.
"So, would you like to explain what is happening with Sakana-chan? Or would you rather hear my theory about her?" Aizen asked. Toshiro was tempted to snap back "neither", but he did not want to bring any harm to either of them through rash actions.
"Why would I tell you anything?" Toshiro said instead.
"Not speaking? Oh, well, no matter. I will tell you my theory. Feel free to interject with positive feedback or things I may have left out." Aizen said, sounding much like a teacher about to give a monologue, "But first things first… Bakudou no. 99, Kin (AN: seal)."
Toshiro felt a numb feeling spread first from his feet throughout his entire body, stopping at his neck. He couldn't feel or move his arms or legs, but his head was free. (It's only a partial seal.)
"I need you to stay out of my way and the process."
"What process?" Toshiro asked, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach.
"Hollowfication."
Toshiro felt like the world had just exploded around him.
"I have been watching both of you. Mostly her. I knew what had happened when Sakana-chan fought that Arrancar. Why he named himself Gay, I do not know, but I had created him just for infiltrating the Soul Society. I expected him to actually kill one of you, and bring the other here, but then something unexpected happened."
Toshiro knew what it was; when he had dove to protect her.
"You saved her life by diving in front of the blast. Of course, water is stronger against fire, so she had almost been rendered useless. However, she unleashed her final attack, her last attempt. And she won, but at a price. She became empathic, unable to stand being within a few feet of people with strong emotions. So she became very vulnerable."
Toshiro growled. "I know all of this, get to the point."
Toshiro could have sworn that Aizen's smile had turned into an asymmetrical grin.
"In due time, Toshiro-kun. Now, I knew that it would take some time for her to recover, so I decided to send you little hints and tests. You are both very strong, and you could become Espada, maybe a one or two."
"We won't just bow down and be your pets just like that." Toshiro snarled.
"Ah, but you will. I have her in my grasp; there is nothing you can do about that. I know about your bond: your Rinji kenpei. That is why I have brought you here. The bond of yours even allows you to communicate with each other's Zanpakuto spirit. Besides, with all of the Arrancar and Espada around, as well as the hollows that roam the dry desert of Hueco Mundo, there is no way you could escape."
Toshiro didn't say anything. He couldn't.
"The process should be very interesting. After all, I have not tried it before. But… rinji kenpei that works only with two people, and those two people actually meeting… it is a once in a thousand… no, 5000 year occurrence. You are more than nakamas, yes?"
"Stay out of it." Toshiro growled, glaring into Aizen's menacing brown eyes.
"You might want to be a little more civil, Toshiro-kun. Remember, I have her life in my grasp." Aizen said as Ulquiorra moved his Zanpakuto closer to Sakana's neck. Sakana's breath hitched quietly, and Toshiro felt some relief. It was the first thing she had done since they had arrived in Las Noches, but it meant she was still alive. The traitor turned to Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and Tousen.
"You three may leave. Gin-san, you may stay here."
"Hai." The four chorused. Grimmjow bounded out of the room, seemingly relieved from having to deal with the snowy taichou. Aizen moved over to where Sakana lay, gently placing a hand on her cheek.
"Get your filthy hand off of her!" Toshiro yelled. Sakana's breathing became more labored, her eyes squeezed shut.
"She truly is empathic. My reiatsu isn't affecting her, but…."
Toshiro looked around wildly. He needed some way to stall, to make Aizen pause for only a moment.
"I had hoped that her being in his place would be enough to cause the hollowfication to take place. I suppose I was wrong."
"Aizen, leave her alone." Toshiro growled. Aizen frowned, putting his fingers close to where he could feel her fluttering pulse. She began to gasp for air.
"Gin, I will leave both of them in your custody." Aizen said, removing his hand. Sakana's breathing calmed a little bit, but her eyes were still scrunched shut in pain. Her shuddering breath worried Toshiro, but he knew that she was still alive.
"Hai, Aizen-sama. Hakufuku…" Gin said. Toshiro felt his sight fading in and out. Damn, he couldn't take his eyes off her. However, the power of the spell was stronger than his will, and he slipped into unconsciousness, looking into Aizen's eyes.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
Sakana woke up feeling sick to her stomach. She hadn't felt this sick in a while. She looked around at her surroundings; a white room with white walls and a white floor. "That man needs an interior decorator." She thought. Then she saw Toshiro, lying unconscious next to her. She turned and made sure he wasn't hurt. He looked okay, except for the expression on his face. He looked as if he was in terrible pain, but also terribly upset.
"Toshiro…"
"You're awake."
Sakana almost fell out of the bed. It was Gin's voice, but it sounded nothing like Gin at all.
"Gin? Hey, shinyuu!" Sakana said, trying to be a little cheerful around her old friend.
"How odd of you, referring to me as if we were friends." Gin muttered. Sakana gave Gin a skeptical look.
"We are friends."
"Not that I am aware of." Gin said, "I have never even met you."
Suddenly, Sakana understood.
"You're under Aizen's control, aren't you? This isn't you." Sakana whispered.
"No, this is me. This is the true me. I have always been indebted to Aizen-sama."
Sakana approached the Shinigami. Part of her was terribly afraid of the man she had once called her friend. The other part wanted to reestablish their friendship. That part trusted Gin. However, the part wanted to bring the old Gin back was stronger. She leaned forward, ignoring the suffocating feelings that she was getting from him. She willed herself to stay conscious, at least for a few moments more.
"This isn't you. I know." She muttered, "We used to go drinking all the time. We used to have fun. This definitely isn't you."
"Make me believe it."
Sakana had looked up memory displacement kidou while in the Central Library. She knew there were types that could completely rewrite a person's memory.
But she knew how to bring it back.
Gin's expression turned to one of shock as Sakana pressed her lips to his. Thank goodness, Toshiro was unconscious, or he would have a fit. The man's subconscious became muddled as Sakana brought all of the true thoughts and memories from the depths of his mind. Suddenly, she pushed him away, backing away from him as she did Rangiku before.
"What's wrong? Are y'okay?" Gin asked, approaching the girl.
"Don't come any closer!" Sakana cried out, pushing Gin away from her. She was breathing heavily again, almost hyperventilating. She took a few steps backwards and crashed into a side table, knocking the lamp off. When it shattered, Toshiro's body jolted and he snapped awake.
"Sakana!"
He immediately went to her side. The other captain had her head buried in her hands, rocking back and forth. He wrapped his arms around her while glaring at Gin.
"What did you do to her?"
Gin gave the duo a blank look. "I didn't do anythin'. She just freaked out an' scooted away from me."
Toshiro was surprised. Gin's dialect had changed, from being polite to a rougher dialect.
"What the hell?"
Sakana's trembling subsided, and she looked up at him wearily, pain reflected in her pale reddish-brown eyes.
"S-shiro…"
Toshiro gripped her, allowing his reiatsu to wash over her. The snowy taichou turned to Gin, a glare in his eyes.
"What does Aizen want with us?"
"He wants you for your rinji kenpei."
Toshiro had a blank look on his face. He knew that some people had rinji kenpei, and others lacked it altogether. His and Sakana's hadn't matured yet, so why would he want them?
"Oh, ya don't know 'bout it? Guess it'll be better hearin' it from me than hearin' it from Aizen-teme later…"
Translations and Kuso like that:
Hisaki: means flame.
Rinji kenpei: Special Power. It's a power that varies among Soul Reapers, but it rarely has anything to do with the Zanpakuto. Gin-kun will explain it more next chapter.
Namaka: colleague/friend.
Oshiire: it does mean closet…
Shinyuu: friend.
(1) me and Becky's little inside joke. It means "The Night", but we call it "The Nachos". xD
Oh, man, I totally rewrote this entire chapter, which means Imma hafta rewrite the other two! GRRZ…