Chapter 22: Everything but the Rain
Karakura Town
After saying what she needed to, Yuzu left the hideout with Yoruichi and Kon. Yuzu had put on a spare outfit that Uryu had made her, identical to her other one, that she had stored at the hideout. This was to avoid any questionable looks from Shinigami or humans. They were silent the entire walk to Ryuken's manor.
Upon arrival at the manor, Yuzu is stopped by a maid, "Mr. Ishida would like to speak with you in the library. Alone."
After adding the last part, Kon and Yoruichi sigh, heading towards Yuzu's room—Masaki's old bedroom. Yuzu walks anxiously to the library, feeling that Ryuken will scold her and forbid any further association with Xcution.
As Yuzu walks into the library, her eyes widen to find Uryu seated in front of his father, who is quietly reading a book.
Ryuken regards Yuzu after she enters, closing his book, "Take a seat next to Uryu, my niece. I need both of you to be here when I explain this, so I won't need to repeat myself."
Uryu scowls at his father, "Typical… we have to bend to your needs! You're the parent—it should be the other way around! I had training planned today!"
Ryuken glares coldly at Uryu, "Were you aware that your cousin was attacked by a hollow today?"
"What?!" Uryu shoots up, looking at Yuzu in both surprise and confusion.
"She was reckless, allowing for the hollow to graze her spine. I had to operate on her personally on a billiards table of all things to save her life.", the man had particular contempt in his voice upon voicing 'billiards'.
Uryu looks at Yuzu for an explanation, but she looks away from both of their gazes.
"Yoruichi told me that you fought Grand Fisher. Is this true?" Ryuken questions, earning a questioning gaze from both his son and niece.
Yuzu nods, "That's right, uncle. But I don't see how the hollow's name is relevant…"
Ryuken sighs before adjusting his glasses, "I see… Isshin must not have mentioned that part when you listened in to his conversation."
Yuzu's body becomes stiff.
"What do you mean…?" she asks as her breathing speeds up.
Ryuken looks at two pictures resting on the table next to him, one of Masaki and another of a woman with dark hair holding a child with equally dark hair.
The man lets out a sigh, "Very well. Listen carefully because I'll only explain this once."
Ryuken's Memories
Ryuken hears shouts from his mother coming from the dining room, a sure sign that Masaki is in the room with her.
Ryuken sighs, adjusting his glasses before entering the room, "Mother. Please stop. People can hear you even from outside."
His mother gives him a look before making her way out of the room, "I will have the servants make dinner for you. You can tell Katagiri to clean up when you are done."
Ryuken asks, "Where is father?"
This prompts the woman to answer, dejectedly, "He is at the Fünfte Feld. I too would like to know when he will be back…"
Ryuken's gaze softens a degree as he watches his mother leave.
He then turns his gaze to Masaki, a young girl with short dirty blonde hair with a tint of orange, "My apologies… please forgive her. She is taking her loneliness out on you."
Masaki perks up and gives Ryuken a friendly smile, "There's nothing to forgive. I'm not even angry! This isn't something you should worry about, Ryu!"
The girl's smile is radiant in Ryuken's opinion, something akin to a star.
Masaki rushes past Ryuken, "The dinner was great! Oh—", she pauses at the doorway before turning to face Ryuken with a smirk, "by the way, the shrimp was great! I'd be glad to eat it if you don't. Bye!"
Masaki then runs off after giving a wave to the young man, who looks on after her with a stern expression.
A voice then calls out to Ryuken from behind, "Sir. Your dinner is ready. May I begin serving it?"
Ryuken's eyes widen, having been mildly surprised by suddenly being called on. He turns, regarding his maid, "Yeah. Please do, Katagiri."
Katagiri, a young woman with dark hair tied in a bun, begins laying out the dishes when Ryuken suddenly calls out her name.
Katagiri turns around to look at him with an enthusiastic, friendly expression, "Yes sir! What can I do for you?"
Ryuken utters Masaki's name before continuing, "Masaki was only brought into this family to keep the Ishida's Echt bloodline pure."
Katagiri gives a questioning look, "Did the Madam tell her that?"
This prompts Ryuken to ask her a question in turn, "Do you really think Masaki needed to be told that? She isn't that stupid."
Ryuken murmurs as he looks out the window at the darkness of night, "Knowing that… do you really think she'd be happy marrying me?"
Katagiri gives Ryuken a soft look before stating, "You think that happiness is a requirement for a Quincy marriage… you're so kind."
The woman looks to the ground as she says this, with a hint of admiration or perhaps envy in her eyes. Ryuken's eyes widen at this as he turns and gives Katagiri a surprised look.
Katagiri continues, wearing a smile as she faces Ryuken, "That kindness is sure to be enough to make Miss Masaki happy!"
Ryuken looks to the side with an empty look, "Don't be silly… there is nothing about me that is kind… I just want Masaki to be happy, because without happiness one cannot set their sights on the future. And I don't mean Masaki's future or my own, but the future of the Quincy as a whole."
Katagiri then gives Ryuken a sad look before the two of them feel a surge of reiatsu.
Ryuken wears an expression of mild surprise, "A Shinigami Captain must be in the world of the living…"
The teen then walks to leave the room.
Katagiri calls out to him, "Are you not going to eat your dinner, sir?"
Ryuken glances at her, "I lost my appetite… you can store my share in the kitchen fridge. I'm going to tell Masaki she's free to have it."
Katagiri nods, looking down at the dish she made from scratch with disappointment as Ryuken leaves the room.
As Ryuken is making his way to Masaki's room, he feels a second surge of captain level reiatsu, this time from a hollow. His eyes widen at this as he starts to wonder if the captain was attempting to draw this thing out.
Just then, he catches sight of Masaki running past him and calls out to her, "Where do you think you are going?"
Masaki turns and gives him a surprised look.
Ryuken regards the girl with a scolding tone, "I don't even need to ask. Don't do it."
Masaki gasps out his name, "Ryu…"
Ryuken continues to scold her, "How many times must I tell you? We Quincies should only show up after the Shinigami die. And even then… it is tradition for Gemischt Quincy like Katagiri to handle it."
Ryuken then states in finality, "We Echt Quincy should not shed blood so easily."
Masaki protests, "But Ryu…!"
Ryuken and Masaki start to argue but suddenly a massive reiatsu blast is felt, which causes Ryuken to shudder. Masaki, however, is unaffected as she looks at Ryuken resolutely. The girl turns and runs off as Ryuken calls out to her to stop, prompting Masaki to pause her stride and glance back at him.
Masaki states, "I think it's great that you are always thinking about the Quincy, your mother, and other such things first and foremost. I respect that about you. But for me, 'taking care of myself' means taking care of others when I can. I know that my future self would never forgive me if following customs means that I let someone die."
The girl then runs off as Ryuken watches her leaving with a solemn expression.
Ryuken pulls out a small device and speaks into it, "Katagiri. We're going out. Get the Reisho Heisho ready."
5 Minutes Later
Ryuken watches in horror at the sight of a horned black eldritch hollow with a white mask that is casually holding its own with a captain. He notices Masaki on the ground below, who fires a shot at the hollow, causing him to freak out at the sight of her careless actions.
Katagiri asks, "What are your orders?"
Before Ryuken can answer, the beast charges at Masaki suddenly. The teen hesitates as he sees Masaki discard her bow. The beast bites down on Masaki, which isn't fatal due to her great proficiency in Blut Vene.
Ryuken's eyes widen as he realizes what she is doing and waits above the battlefield as Masaki says, "I've got you now. ~"
The girl then shoots an arrow through the hollow's head. Ryuken sighs briefly in relief, before immediately grimacing at the subsequent explosion, happening too quickly for him to help with. Both Ryuken and Katagiri watch the aftermath, realizing the only one critically hurt is the Shinigami, as the man and Masaki exchange words.
"Who are you?" Isshin asks her.
Masaki hesitates, wondering if she should tell him the truth as Shinigami hunt Quincy.
The girl wears a resolute expression, "I am Masaki Kurosaki, a Quincy."
Isshin looks in surprise for a moment, "A Quincy…"
Masaki looks away, having expected this outcome but is surprised as Isshin gives her a friendly laugh, "I've never met a Quincy before! I feel lucky to be one of the few to meet one in real life!"
Masaki wonders, "What is wrong with this man…?"
The girl can't help herself from laughing along with him, wearing an equally friendly expression as the man.
Ryuken can make out laughter and sees Masaki smiling at the man.
He then turns to Katagiri, "We are done here. Masaki is safe. Nothing happened here… do you understand?"
Katagiri gives a solemn look before stating that she does.
Soul Society
A few days later, Isshin is back in the Soul Society being questioned by the head captain Yamamoto.
Yamamoto states sternly, "Your transgressions may be overlooked this time, as you were able to put a quick and timely end to this hollow. Normal protocol may have not been quick enough to put a quick end to this hollow's rampage and a lot more people could have been killed."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi remarks, "I still think his failure to bring it in alive is unforgivable!"
This prompts Yamamoto to glare at the scientist, silencing him.
Yamamoto asks, "Is there anything else you wish to report?"
Isshin thinks about the Quincy, before answering, "No."
20 Minutes Later
Isshin sits alone in the Squad 10 barracks, thinking back on the girl from earlier, "It wouldn't be right for me to not even thank her for saving me… yeah, I'd have to be a real jerk not to."
Isshin then gets up and writes a quick letter for Rangiku, his Vice Captain, which he leaves on his desk, before he starts walking away.
His mind wonders to the wound on his back from other night, "I'm not sure who those traitor's could be… I'll have to look into it once I get back."
Shortly after Isshin leaves, a busty blonde woman, wearing a pink scarf, walks in, with a friendly smile on her face, "Captain! Could you please do my paperwork?"
Instead, the woman finds a note on his desk addressed to her, "To Raniku. Going to the world of the living. Tell the head captain whatever you have to tell him."
Rangiku is enraged at this, violently tearing up the note, "He has some nerve going back to the world of the living just because he was lucky enough to escape punishment this time! Will you ever learn?!"
Rangiku then tosses the remaining paper at the wall, sailing above the head of the then 3rd seat, Toshiro Hitsugaya, in irritation, "What does he think his job is?!"
This prompts Toshiro to look at her with a deadpan, "Look who's talking…"
Toshiro then looks a bit concerned, "The captain left for the second time this week… usually he is complacent in his duties…"
Rangiku huffs, "Captain Shiba is one of their strongest Captains… you shouldn't be too worried about him. He can handle himself."
Toshiro nods, "I know that… but I still can't shake this feeling that something is amiss…"
Squad 5 Barracks, Soul Society
Sosuke Aizen is in the middle of painting calligraphy before suddenly pausing as a shadow of a figure is at his door.
Aizen regards the figure, "Come in Gin."
Gin opens the door, before nonchalantly taking a seat across from Aizen, "Have you heard? Captain Shiba disappeared again."
Aizen hums, "I suspected as much. He's likely going to visit that girl."
Gin looks dubiously at Aizen, who resumes his painting as if nothing is wrong, "Aren't you worried he'll come looking for us?"
Aizen pauses mid-stroke, wearing a slight grin, "Not at all. We can just let the Central 46 in on the fact that Captain Shiba saved a Quincy, which he neglected to mention to the Head Captain. Speaking of which…"
Aizen puts his brush to the side and looks at Gin, now wearing a sinister smile, "I'd very much like to keep tabs on her myself. A Quincy and a hollow… I can't wait to see what becomes of this!"
Karakura Town
Masaki is talking to friends, laughing with them on her way home from school before bumping into a shady looking man with a hat and clogs. Masaki completely freezes against this man, feeling mild pain in her chest that subsides as she quickly backs away.
She apologizes to him, which prompts the man wave his hand with a friendly smile, "It's alright… are you ok, Miss?"
Masaki and her friends leave, as the man suddenly turns around to look at her with widened eyes.
Ishida Estate
Ryuken sees Masaki being scolded by his mother as she enters the house. A common sight, for sure, but what isn't common is what she is being scolded for, "I have reason to believe that you engaged in battle with a Shinigami and Hollow the other night."
Masaki stares at the woman with an anxious expression, "I don't know what you're talking about…"
The woman continues, "I have credible evidence. Lying will only make things worse for you."
Ryuken's face fills with rage as he rushes to Katagiri, bursting into the room she's in before slamming her against a wall, "Why did you tell mother about the other night?! I told you to tell her nothing happened!"
Katagiri calls out, "Something did happen! Miss Masaki was wounded, and she must receive proper Quincy treatment from your father or mother immediately! If she doesn't there's a possibility that the future Ishida bloodline will lose its purity!"
Ryuken nearly spits at her, "For a reason like that… for a reason like that, you…?!"
Katagiri snaps back at him, "What other reason is there?! You said it yourself! Your marriage to Miss Masaki is the future of the Quincy!"
Ryuken is wide eyed at this before his glare turns intense on Katagiri.
He runs out of the room, cursing before shouting to his mother as he runs down the hall, "Mother, wait!"
Both Masaki and the woman scolding her look up at Ryuken at the top of the stairs.
"Ryu!", Masaki gasps.
"Ryuken…", the woman states blankly.
Ryuken shouts urgently in explanation, "Masaki isn't to blame! Masaki was…"
Masaki cuts Ryuken off by walking forward a bit and waving her hands, "It's ok Ryu. I'm alright—"
Masaki suddenly falls limp to the ground. Both Ryuken and his mother look at Masaki in confusion.
Ryuken rushes down the stairs to Masaki's side, "What's wrong Masaki? Are you in pain…"
After turning her over, Ryuken lets out a gasp of horror upon seeing the hollow hole forming on her chest.
"What is this? A hollow's hole?", his mother wonders aloud.
Ryuken suddenly pulls Masaki off the ground and carries her out the door.
"What do you think you are doing Ryuken?", his mother questions.
Ryuken glances back at his mother, "Where's father?"
The woman answers, "I don't know. We are trying to find him right now. You wait here."
Ryuken doesn't listen as he rushes out of the door.
"Ryuken! Wait! You'll put yourself in danger by being with that unknown thing!", his mother calls after him, feeling the sting of her own scar on her leg.
"Stop Ryuken! Come back! Come… Please come back, Ryuken!", she shouts after her son as he uses Hirenkyaku to leave.
Ryuken admonishes himself for not coming between White and Masaki the other night, because if he had, she would not be hurting like this. His thoughts are interrupted as a hollow jumps out at him from behind. Ryuken curses as he won't be able to handle it from this angle, but the beast is suddenly cleaved in two, revealing the proud figure of Isshin.
Isshin states jovially, "Woah that was close! No need to thank me! I don't take thanks from dudes!"
Ryuken glares as Isshin, "You're…"
Masaki's head falls from where it was nestled in Ryuken's shoulder, prompting Isshin to widen his eyes, "Wait! Let me take a look at her! Is that…?"
Ryuken growls, "Don't touch her!"
Isshin pauses as Ryuken continues to growl at him, "How do you think… Masaki got this way…?"
Isshin is silent as Ryuken looks at him with rage, "It's because of you!"
Isshin is wide eyed at this, letting out a gasp.
Ryuken elaborates, "She sustained this wound from protecting you… she saved a Shinigami, at the cost of breaking Quincy rules… Why does Masaki have to go through this?!"
Isshin's face is full of dread, "Is this from that wound…?"
Ryuken glares at Isshin, "What else could it be from?! I'll never…"
"Alright, break it up.", a voice calls out to them.
The two turn to find a shady man in hat and clogs, "We don't have time to waste. Both of you, please come with me. I will tell you… the choices you have to save her…"
?
Masaki feels herself being drawn in by some kind of force. Her eyes open to reveal the visage of a White hollow mask, preparing to clamp down on her body.
Urahara Shoten
"I've been researching the symptom the girl is displaying for the last 100 years.", the man in hat and clogs states.
"One hundred years?!" Ryuken gasps disbelief.
Isshin then questions the man, "So, you're not as young as you look… who are you?"
The man answers, "My name is Kisuke Urahara. I was banished from the Soul Society."
Isshin's eyes widen in recognition of this, "You're Kisuke Urahra?"
Ryuken slams his foot on the ground, "I don't care who you are! Just save Masaki already!"
Urahara glances back at the younger man, who is wearing a desperate look on his face, "I didn't say I could save her."
Ryuken gasps in shock, "What—?"
Urahara explains, "I'll keep this brief. That young lady, Miss Masaki, will never be who she once was."
Both Isshin and Ryuken widen their eyes in surprise at this.
Urahara gestures to a mat next to him, "Please lay her on the mat there. Her symptom is called hollowfication."
Urahara explains to Isshin and Ryuken what Soul Suicide is and that the only way to prevent Masaki's Soul Suicide is to counter it with a soul that is a direct opposite to her Quincy and Hollow one—one that is Human and Shinigami. He unveils a manakin looking object that he explains is a special Gigai that will make Isshin one such hybrid, should he choose to become one with it. Urahara clarifies that this will result in the complete loss of Isshin's Shinigami powers, and he will just be a normal human after that.
Ryuken crunches his fist, losing all hope, "He'll never do it. There are only downsides in it for him!"
Isshin, however, immediately responds, "I'll do it!"
Both Urahara and Ryuken gasp in surprise.
"Are you sure? There are no take backs…" Urahara reminds the captain.
Isshin grunts, "Yes, I'm sure! She saved my life and I'd have to be an absolute asshole to not do the same for her now. My future self would never forgive me if I let her die!"
Ryuken's eyes widen at these words, and his face scrunches into one of dread and despair, coming to terms with the fact that he can do absolutely nothing to help Masaki. Urahara nods, aiding Isshin in performing the ritual as Ryuken walks out with a look of shame on his face.
Masaki's Mindscape
Masaki screams out as the hollow is about to tear her apart when suddenly Isshin comes out of nowhere and parries the hollow's attack. Masaki looks up at Isshin who has an arm wrapped around her waist.
He looks back at her, giving a curt "Yo."
The man then shifts his attention back to the hollow, "Hey hollow! If you want the girl, then you'll have to go through me!"
The giant hollow mask rears back and attacks Isshin, who holds his sword in front of him with his left hand, flames concentrating around it.
"Getsuga Tensho!" he screams, as a blast of fire is released from his sword, wiping the hollow mask out of existence.
Urahara Shoten
Isshin, now in the Gigai wearing a T shirt and pants, looks down at Masaki who is sleeping not so soundly with a dumb smile on her face, "Hey, you're the Shinigami from the other day. Hehe, you got mad at me screaming butt naked…"
Urahara and Isshin wear deadpanned expressions before Isshin gives Masaki a noogie.
The girl groans, "Ow that hurts…"
Karakura Town
Ryuken stands alone in the rain, continuing to admonish himself for being worthless. Katagiri approaches him, walking past him with an umbrella. The two have their backs to each other and stand in silence for a few moments.
Katagiri suddenly speaks, "Did you leave Masaki behind with that Shinigami?"
Ryuken is silent for a moment before answering with a simple, "I did."
After another moment, Ryuken speaks once more, "Go home and tell my mother that Ryuken Ishida no longer has the right to protect the Quincy."
Katagiri responds with a hint of resolve in her voice, "I will not go back."
"I said go home…" Ryuken repeats.
Katagiri doesn't give in, however, "I will not. I will not let you be by yourself."
Ryuken begins to raise his voice in anger, "Katagiri…!"
"Master Ryuken. Have You forgotten? It is my duty to serve you… with all of my life." Katagiri is facing Ryuken's back, as the man's eyes widen slightly.
Katagiri explains, "From the day I met you, my life has belonged to you."
This prompts Ryuken to recall when he first met Katagiri all those years ago, the two being merely small children back then. He recalls the look of surprise on her face when she was introduced to him, having been told he was her master.
Katagiri continues as Ryuken processes his thoughts, "So please… please don't be sad. When you are sad, my heart is torn apart."
A tear falls from Katagiri's face as she says these words, "When you cry…"
"Katagiri." Ryuken interrupts her, half facing her at this point, "That's enough… let's go home."
Katagiri's eyes widen at this before softening, "Yes sir!"
Present
Ryuken concludes his explanation of the past, "After that, Masaki was kicked out of the Ishida household and had to make ends meet on her own. However, given who she was, she managed. Isshin set up a clinic with the help of Urahara near his candy store in Karakura Town. Apparently, Masaki would visit often when she was in college. I suppose that led to them falling in love with each other, because they settled down shortly after she graduated… and as for Katagiri and myself, my mother permitted us to be married as Masaki was no longer a pure Echt Quincy, which led to you, Uryu—the heir to the title 'Last of the Quincy'."
Yuzu smiles, "I never knew that mom and dad had such a romantic backstory—but wait…"
Yuzu scrunches her brows slightly, "What does this have to do with Grand Fisher?"
Ryuken glances once more at the picture of Masaki before offering his explanation, "As I told you, your mother was attacked by a powerful hollow named White, who has returned recently. And with your father's intervention, Masaki was able to survive that attack. Indeed, she went on to use her Quincy powers in their full capacity until the day she was murdered."
Yuzu's eyes widen at this, "But I thought she—"
Ryuken shakes his head, "Your father must've lied to you about the circumstances of Masaki's death. She was killed by a hollow named Grand Fisher."
Yuzu cannot believe what she is hearing, nor can she accept it, "NO! That hollow was weak! Even I could've killed it, and I've only had my powers for a month! There is no way my mother was that weak! Even if it caught her off guard, she should've destroyed it!"
Uryu looks at the girl with sympathy while Ryuken nods in agreement, "I agree. Had she had her powers, a minor hollow like Grand Fisher would've been no more dangerous than a bug to her. Her Blut, like yours, was the strongest I've ever seen."
Yuzu's expression becomes troubled at this, looking to the floor, "She lost her powers…?"
Uryu also looks at Ryuken as if wondering how such a thing is possible.
Ryuken adjusts his glasses once more before continuing his explanation, "Six years ago today, Masaki Kurosaki lost her Quincy powers and was killed by a minor hollow while protecting her son… Uryu, do you remember what else happened today six years ago?"
Uryu's eyes widen at this, "You don't mean…"
Ryuken nods, "Indeed. My wife, Kanae Ishida, had lost her Quincy powers on this day six years ago as well. Shortly after, she fell ill and eventually succumbed to her illness. At least, that's what I told everyone."
Both Uryu and Yuzu are wide-eyed at this, unable to process what they are hearing.
Ryuken peers at the two children before him, "My wife died of no human illness—she died of a Quincy one. It's a type of illness that robs the Quincy of their abilities and slowly kills them—turning their heart to steel."
Author's Note:
The next chapter will begin to shift focus to Hueco Mundo.
