Jadeite walked down the halls of the youma base as he went over what had happened over the last few days. The youma that Kiba Ikaragi had made a deal with was dead and the energy it had gathered had been scattered, leaving him with nothing but information.
Hopefully Empress Beryl would accept that in lieu of success.
He didn't remember much about the Eternal Sleep he'd been punished with and there were parts of his memory that hadn't fully recovered yet. What he did remember was that he had continually failed because he had underestimated the Sailor Guardians' abilities and determination. After being frozen for several years he'd awoken to find Queens Beryl and Metalia dead and the Dark Kingdom smashed. But all that changed after their encounter with the being that called herself an Arrancar. With a wave of a tiny crystal she resurrected Queen Beryl, infusing her with the combined power of Queen Metalia and an entity called Pharaoh 90. They didn't know much about the latter other than that its power had been considerable.
Rebuilding the youma army had been his Empress' first order, one that Jadeite had completed with ease, earning some semblance of his ruler's respect once more. Beryl, naturally suspicious of their new 'ally' and furious at her defeat by Sailor Moon's hands, had then given him a simple order: Kill the Sailor Guardians.
"What do you have to report, Jadeite?" Empress Beryl asked as he entered the main chamber.
"The modified youma performed much as we expected but its power was anything but impressive, my Empress," he said, fear creeping into his mind. "It would also seem the Sailor Guardians have a new ally of their own. I believe he is what the Arrancar woman warned us of: a shinigami."
"Is that an excuse?" Her tone told him that it was unlikely he'd be frozen again but rather annihilated or devoured by the Hollows that now wandered D Point.
"I'm afraid it is," he admitted, bowing his head in shame. "I was prepared for the Sailor Guardians and chose this youma for that very reason. However, the skills of a shinigami weren't accounted for and the Hollowfied youma was quickly dispatched." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I have no excuse for my failure this time, my Empress."
"What were you able to learn about the shinigami?" Beryl asked, her voice calm and Jadeite felt something resembling relief flood through his body.
"He is extremely skilled with a blade and seems proficient in spellcraft. I doubt, however, that he will show us his full strength unless given no other choice." When asked for a suggestion Jadeite carefully considered his options. "I don't believe we can deceive the shinigami but we may be able to either destroy the Sailor Guardians or lull them into a sense of complacency, making it easier to destroy them. I don't think our ally would be interested in this plan however."
"It may have struck my fancy," a sweet voice said from behind him and Jadeite turned. Stepping out of a large black tear in the fabric of reality was a woman with short tousled stark-shite hair in a white midriff top in addition to white hakama and black boots. Along her jawline were the remains of her Hollow mask that curled up behind her ears. "Why don't you humor me, Jadeite, and tell me how you want to destroy those pesky Sailor Guardians this time."
Her violet eyes bored into him and Jadeite knew full well that she was mocking him. How she'd become aware of his past failures before reviving Beryl he didn't know but she'd been the one to save him all the same. "I need a contingent of these Gillian you've talked about," he said finally. "The Guardians will likely assume that it will be the most powerful Hollow they can possibly encounter and we'll support this by using lower-level Hollows attack them before and after, should they survive. Once the others have awoken we'll then be able to crush them with ease."
"You're hoping that no matter the outcome of the fight that we come out on top?" Beryl asked him and Jadeite nodded. "I see. What do you think, Minerva?"
The Arrancar, Minerva Kialla, crossed her arms over her ample chest as she smile at Jadeite. "I like your style, boy," she admitted causing the human to seethe. "Despite the fact that the Gotei 13 will eventually interfere the Gillians will still be able to do a great deal of damage in the time it takes them to respond. And if this shinigami of yours gets involved I doubt that anyone short of a Lieutenant could take on a dozen or so Menos Grande." Jadeite's and Beryl's eyes widened as Minerva turned to show them the '8' tattooed on her left side. "Give me some time. Arranging transport for so many Gillian at once is a logistical nightmare." She stepped back into the Garganta and the tear sealed itself.
"I don't mean to second guess you, Empress," Jadeite said, his skin still crawling, "but are you sure it's wise to trust that woman? I feel that we are nothing more than pawns to her."
"For the time being we have no choice but the trust this Octava Espada," the Empress said, closing her eyes. "Even with the power of Queen Metalia and Pharaoh 90 within me her power eclipses that several times over. There is not a doubt in my mind that she is using us but for the time being our goals seem to be the same." Her servant bowed, accepting her decision. "In the meantime continue to test the limits of the youma modifications she provided and see if one of them can be tailored to fight the shinigami."
"As you wish, my Empress." With that Jadeite vanished in a cloud of energy.
Beryl brought up an image of three human figures wrapped in white bandages from head-to-toe. Ever since her own resurrection these three had been like this with no change. Minerva had promised that their power would increase exponentially once they were completed but that it would also take time. "All of them were killed either because of their incompetence or because of the Sailor Guardians," she thought, "and yet Minerva was able to bring all of us back from the dead and make us more powerful. What does that woman possess that gives her such unbelievable power?"
It was a peaceful Tuesday and Kenshin was enjoying lunch with the girls, talking about the test they had coming up next week when a wooden sword struck him in the back of the head. "Suzaku! I need to see you in my office!" Ikkaku shouted from across the courtyard. Kenshin, still seeing stars, gave him a thumbs up and the bald teacher walked off.
"Is he seriously allowed to do that to a student?" Rei asked, impressed by his accuracy.
"It's just his way of testing my reflexes," Kenshin replied, his voice tinged with pain. "I'll catch you girls later." He grabbed the sword and his lunch and headed towards the kendo instructor's office. "I almost didn't hear it," he said, handing the sword back to Ikkaku. "But if I had dodged you would've hit Minako."
"I'd've let her get hit but whatever," the 3rd Seat of the 11th Division replied as he motioned to the back of his office. He and Kenshin passed through the wall as it rippled around them where Yumichika was waiting for them in his shinigami form. Next to him was a man with a painted face and an outfit that could only be described as outlandish.
"Captain Kurotsuchi. I didn't expect to see you here," Kenshin said as members of the Shinigami Research & Development Institute walked around him to get to their workstations.
"After your little stunt I felt that we needed an outpost here," the Squad 12 Captain said in his nasal voice. "It seems the only ones to notice that the school had needed repaired were the Sailor Guardians."
"They were talking about it when they went on one of their patrols the other night," Kenshin confirmed. "For now I think they're willing to let it drop until they get more clues." He narrowed his eyes at the scientist. "But I highly doubt that you came all this way for a little lab setup. Is there something you wanted to get done here?"
"Aren't you the curious one," Mayuri said with a sly smile. "There is something actually. I need to apprehend one of the Sailor Guardians in order to study their abilities. It may also give us some insight into these 'youma' you've been encountering." He barked a command to one of the researchers who brought up an image on the computer screen. "Do you know this girl?"
"Ami Mizuno also known as Sailor Mercury," Kenshin replied quickly. "Her abilities seem to focus around water and ice but she's also the tactical brains of the team and can formulate strategies while analyzing enemy strengths and weaknesses. Long story short I doubt that these Guardians would even be alive if it weren't for Ami."
"I'll make the arrangements then," Mayuri said, tapping his long fingernail against his temple. "I'll leave it up to you to keep the others in the dark."
"It won't be that easy, Captain." The strangely-dressed shinigami turned back towards Kenshin. "These girls are pretty tuned into each other. If you take one of them back to Seireitei they're going to notice her absence spiritually and physically when she doesn't show up for school." The Captain looked at him, his bored gaze asking both why he should care and if the young shinigami had a solution. "Let me handle this, sir."
Mayuri gave Kenshin a brief glare before dismissing him, deciding it might be more interesting to leave him in charge. The three 11th Division members walked out of the research lab and Yumichika entered his gigai, adjusting his tie as they three of them discussed what had been going on.
"How exactly are you going to get her to tell you what the Captain wants?" Yumichika asked. "As you said, the other Guardians will know if she goes missing."
"Trust me on this, Yumichika," Kenshin said with a grin. "Remember you're talking to a former member of the Onmitsukidō. Kidnapping and interrogation were some of my specialties back in the day."
After school the group went their separate ways with Makoto and Ami heading toward the latter's apartment. Makoto left her at the main floor as she headed back to her place and Ami headed up to her apartment, humming a tune she'd heard on the train ride over. She unlocked the door and went in, starting to close it before something else caught her attention. She drew her transformation rod as she turned to see a shinigami whose face was obscured by a scarlet scarf.
"Why are you here? What do you want?" she shouted, quickly recognizing him. He didn't respond as purple cherry blossoms fell around Ami and her eyes widened. She tried to question the intruder once more but the room began to spin as she fell to the ground.
When she finally came to she was on a hard cot in a dark room. There was a single light not far from her and the aroma of freshly brewed tea filled her nostrils. She tried to stand but her legs felt like rubber. "Ah, you're awake," a voice said from near the light. Ami looked toward it to see an older man pouring the tea into two fancy cups. He wore a black shihakusho like the shinigami in Tokyo but wore a jinbaori over it in addition to long white armguards and a white turtleneck underneath his top. His silver-grey hair and thin black handlebar mustache gave him an air of sophistication. Ami noticed an armband around his left arm with the kanji for 'one' and a carving of a chrysanthemum underneath it.
"Where...where am I?" Ami asked, her head still spinning. "And who are you?"
"I apologize for the rude manner in which you were brought here," the man said, offering her his hand which she took. He walked her over to the table where she sat down across for him. "Unfortunately it was deemed a necessity as we did not think that you would come willingly. As for who I am..." He sat up straight. "My name is Chōjirō Sasakibe, Lieutenant of the 1st Division of the Gotei 13."
"Guessing by how you're dressed I can assume that you are a shinigami," Ami said, sipping the tea cautiously. She stopped as she looked down at the tea. "This is amazing! I've never had tea so fresh."
"That would be because I grew the leaves myself," Chōjirō replied with a smile. "And yes, I am a shinigami. It's not surprising that you know of us now seeing as how it was the one stationed in Tokyo that saved your friend."
"So why have you brought me here? Am I a prisoner?" Her questions got right to the point to which Chōjirō sighed and set down his cup.
"By any definition, yes, you are prisoner here," he admitted, surprising Ami. "We would like to study your abilities to see if we would be able to benefit from incorporating them into our own. We also have a number of questions about the youma in general. We would like your cooperation and, if you are willing to give it, I would be more than happy to share information both on Soul Society and Hollows with you in exchange. Does that sound acceptable to you, Sailor Mercury?"
Ami visibly winced. While she wasn't fond of being experimented on and interrogated the information would likely be more than worth it. "Do you have my friends here or is it just me?" she asked after a moment and Chōjirō assured her that it was just her. "And in the process of these experiments I won't be harmed?" He nodded. "Then I'm willing to help you. There's a great deal we don't know about these Hollows and we need to be able to fight them."
"You'll have to deal with questioning her for now, Lieutenant," Mayuri said from off to the side. Ami looked to see him studying the Crystal Change Rod. When she demanded it back the scientist just tilted his head and stared at her, almost like he was bored. "I'm curious to know more about this transformation you Guardians use and the simplest way is to study the item you use to achieve it. Don't worry, I won't damage it...too much."
"Please forgive him. Captain Kurotsuchi can be very...curious," Chōjirō apologized, giving Ami a small bow. She calmed down after a few moments and told him that it was okay.
"Before we go too far into this would I be able to meet the shinigami that saved Minako?" she asked.
Chōjirō shook his head. "I'm afraid that he has requested that his identity be kept confidential unless it becomes absolutely necessary for him to reveal it," the lieutenant explained. "But if you like I can pass along a message for you."
Ami accepted his offer and the two began to talk. She had a hard time believing how complex the Gotei 13 was, not to mention Soul Society, but tried to focus her questions on the Hollows, their abilities and even how they were created. In return she told Chōjirō what they knew about youma as well as the various enemies they'd faced in the past. He seemed most curious about the relationship between the Dark Kingdom and the Silver Millennium. Before Ami knew it Mayuri returned her rod and was asked to demonstrate her powers against him.
"I wouldn't worry about hurting either of us," the Captain said, idly picking his ear. "Despite how powerful you believe you've become you are nothing compared to a Captain of the Gotei 13."
"If you insist," Ami said as she brought the rod over her head. "Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up!" With a swirl of the rod and the trailing energy she felt her transformation finish as she stared at the two shinigami. Chōjirō seemed surprised while Mayuri had barely paid attention. A weight on her right arm drew her attention to see a black band wrapped around her bicep.
"Rather than trying to scan your attacks from the outside it was easier to make an addition to the rod that provided a sensor," Mayuri explained when she asked. "It will only last as long as this transformation so feel free to use everything you have against us.
Ami grimaced. She didn't like the fact that he had tampered with her transformation without her knowing and this unwelcome addition didn't help. "Then tell me how this one is!" she said as energy began to form in her hands. "Bubble Spray Freeze!" The bubbles erupted towards the shinigami, engulfing them in a storm of bubbles but they soon popped leaving the two shinigami no worse for wear. "But how?"
"As I said. Your powers are still significantly less than a Captain's," Mayuri reiterated. "Please do continue." In response Ami used everything she had in her repertoire against them but came up short as each attack did nothing to them. She collapsed onto her knees, sweat pouring off her brow as she gasped for breath. "Are you finished?" the Captain asked after a moment. "I was hoping that you would have more to show but I suppose that will have to do for now."
"Are you ready to head back home?" Chōjirō asked, offering his hand to Ami who gladly accepted it once more.
"I have one last question if you don't mind," she said as her transformation faded away. "The shinigami in Juuban used several techniques against a Hollow. I believe he called it Hadō."
"You are referring to kidō attacks, one of the pillars of shinigami training." Chōjirō held his hand out towards the wall and a small sphere of red formed in the center. "Attack techniques are referred to as Hadō and sealing techniques are called Bakudō." The sphere faded as Chōjirō put his hands together. "If you would like I can give you a more practical demonstration." Ami nodded and Chōjirō couldn't help but smile. He held his left hand up and it began to glow with a gentle white light. "Bakudō #37 – Hakufuku."
Purple cherry blossoms surrounded Ami again and she realized too late it was happening again. Chōjirō caught her as she fell and placed her back on the cot. "Using kidō while in the middle of using a modified bakudō is impressive I'll admit," Mayuri said as the air around Chōjirō began to shimmer. "I suppose that's a result of being trained by Hachigen Ushōda and Tessai Tsukabishi isn't it, Kenshin Suzaku."
As the energy dissipated the 11th Division member threw Ami over his shoulder. "There's not a lot of people who know about that, Captain. I'd prefer if that were kept between us," he requested. Mayuri shrugged and handed Kenshin a pentagon badge with a black skull imposed over a black 'X'. "What is this?"
"It will allow us to monitor the Sailor Guardians in both their civilian and Guardian forms," Mayuri explained. "Once they all touch it it will take a unique form for each of them. I'll be able to study and analyze their powers from here or in Seireitei and will also allow them to communicate with you."
"So we're making this alliance official?"
The Captain nodded. "The Captain-Commander's orders are final: Assist the Sailor Guardians in any way possible." Kenshin nodded as he stepped out of the lab into Ikkaku's office and out the nearest window.
Kenshin sped across the city, doing his best to avoid any unnecessary movement so that the girl on his shoulder wouldn't wake up prematurely. Even though he'd been trained by the Kidō Corps using two spells simultaneously was still a bit out of his league. He knew of shinigami capable of casting two spells at once using the incantations but it wasn't a skill he'd ever been very good at. Not to mention that he'd skipped the incantation on Hakufuku in favor of catching Ami off-guard.
"Not much further," he told himself as he stepped on empty space and shot upward. As he neared the apartment a familiar reiatsu flooded his senses and he swore under his breath. He doubled his pace and within seconds was outside Ami's window. He quickly opened it and set her on the bed before releasing some of his own reiatsu, knowing the girls would come charging towards it.
Rei and Makoto bolted up the stairs through Ami's complex while Minako and Usagi chose the elevator, arriving at about the same time as the other two. From there they went to Ami's apartment where the door had been left cracked open and they stormed in.
"Ami!" Makoto all but shouted as she saw the blue-haired girl sitting on her bed, still groggy from the aftereffects of the bakudō. "You're okay!"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" she asked, trying to stand but then quickly remembering what had happened the last time. She sat back down and took a deep breath. "Sorry, I just need to get my bearings." Her friends all tackled her, nearly suffocating the poor girl who cried out both for help and an explanation.
"You've been missing for almost two days!" Rei said as she tried to pry a crying Usagi off of Ami. "We managed to cover for you at school but-"
"Oh no! I missed the math test!" The girls all sighed together, not shocked in the least at Ami's priorities. "But wait, I was only with them for a few hours." Almost on cue they asked who she was talking about. "There was a very nice gentleman named Chōjirō and another, well, not so nice man. I think Chōjirō called him Captain Kurotsuchi."
"Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of the 12 Division and Head of the Shinigami Research & Development Institute to be accurate. He was also the one responsible for messing with your sense of time so that you wouldn't be concerned with going missing," a male voice said. The girls all stiffened as they looked around for the source. Kenshin knocked on the window and Ami stuck her head out. She looked at him leaning against the wall and standing on the air as if it was no concern. He turned his head to stare at her, all but his eyes hidden by the crimson scarf. "We meet again, Ami Mizuno."
"H-h-how is he doing that?!" Usagi cried. Kenshin didn't answer as he stepped through the window and onto the floor. "Hang on a second. How do you know Ami?"
"There's no point in hiding it, Usagi," Ami told the bun-haired teen. "The Gotei 13 already know about us." The girls turned to her, not sure what she meant. "Ah, sorry. The Gotei 13 are a group of shinigami dedicated to protecting Soul Society and defeating Hollows."
To prove the point Kenshin pointed to each of the girls, naming them and their appropriate Guardian identities, even pointing out that Luna and Artemis could talk and were their advisors. Kenshin made a mental note that he'd been fortunate the cats hadn't been waiting in Ami's room otherwise they would have seen his face. "Any questions?" he asked when he was done. "And before you ask it, no, I'm not going to tell you my name. There wouldn't be a point to it since we won't be seeing much of each other if I can help it."
"Wow, talk about a grouch," Makoto muttered and Kenshin glared daggers at her.
"I'm only here talking with you because I was ordered to," he told her pointedly, tossing the badge Mayuri had given him onto Ami's bed. "You can use that if you need to get in touch with me." He stepped onto the window ledge when Ami asked how it worked. "Why don't you all put your hands on it and find out?"
"Wait! Please," Minako said as Kenshin prepared to leave. "You're the one that saved me, aren't you?"
Kenshin was silent for a moment, measuring his answer carefully. "If you're going to thank me don't bother," he said finally, taking the blonde by surprise. "My duty is to hunt down Hollows. When I tracked the boy down that's what I thought he was. It's fortunate for you that he Hollowfied when he did." With that he was gone.
"Man, someone needs to pull the stick out of his ass," Makoto said, putting her fist on her hip.
"It's more like an entire tree," Usagi added and earned a giggle out of the brunette.
Minako nibbled on her thumb nervously as she thought about what Kenshin had said. "Even though he said all that I don't think he really would've let you die, Minako," Rei assured her. "Remember, when we came upon him he was getting ready to blow the youma away." Now it was her turn to worry. "Then again, he didn't seem to mind killing Kiba in the process regardless of whether he was Hollow, human or youma." The two of them turned to Makoto who was looking over the badge Kenshin had left behind. "Now what about that?"
"It's just a wooden badge," Makoto said as she tossed it into the air a few times. "I don't see how it's supposed to contact him. Maybe..." She held it to her mouth like a radio. "Come in, Grumpy. Over."
"We could try like he said," Usagi offered, putting her hand on the badge. It started to glow with a gentle light and she immediately pulled back. "Whoa! That was weird."
"What's the worst that can happen?" Minako said as she put her hand on it. The other girls, although unsure, followed suit and when all five were touching it the badge let out a burst of intense light. When it passed all five were in their Guardian forms. "Hang on a second! How did that happen?!"
"Is this because that Captain was studying my transformation rod?" Ami wondered out loud. A beep from her computer drew her attention so she pulled it out to see a flashing skull, identical to the one on the badge, on her screen. She touched it and four tendrils of energy shot out, latching on to the others' left earrings and transforming them into small skulls. An identical one appeared on the back of Ami's computer and with another short pulse of light the badge disintegrated.
"It would appear that Captain Kurotsuchi's research paid off quickly." Kenshin's voice could be heard clear as day in all the Guardians' ears. "You'll only be able to use this communicator in your Guardian forms but I can reach you if I need to in your civilian forms. Just do me a favor and don't call unless you absolutely need me to save your asses. I may have been ordered to help you but I wasn't told how often I had to."
"How about you pull that stick out, pal?" Makoto shouted, hoping that he could hear her.
"Eat me." There was an audible click just as Makoto let loose a stream of expletives that left the other Guardians in a state of shock.
"The next time I see that jerk I swear I'm gonna let him have it!" the Jupiter guardian swore, still fuming. They each deactivated their transformations and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Luna, Artemis. Would you mind staying here tonight so I can go over the information I got from Chōjirō?" Ami asked the cats and, after a nod from their respective owners, they both nodded. "Thanks. I'll go over what I can tonight but I'm exhausted."
"Do you want one of us to stay here with you, just in case?" Usagi asked worriedly but Ami shook her head. "How about this: You get some rest and we'll all come over tomorrow and you can tell us what you learned." The blonde gave her friend a pouty glare. "And how much you told them."
"Umm, I may have to take a rain check on that," Minako said, remembering the plans she'd made with Kenshin. "I kinda already have plans for tomorrow and I can't really change them." The curious glances of her friends intensified. "Okay, I don't want to change them but this is really important to me too."
"It's a long weekend for you girls and it's been a hectic week to say the least," Luna interjected. "It wouldn't hurt for all of you to take some time off and relax."
"Yay! I say we all go to the park!" Usagi shouted excitedly and the girls quickly shushed her, reminding her that there were other people living around Ami. Pouting she reiterated her point much to Minako's obvious discomfort. "Well, Minako? Can whatever you have to do be relocated to the park?"
"That shouldn't be a problem," the blonde replied, mentally cursing Usagi for her suggestion but knowing that if she tried to change the girls' plans it would just make them more suspicious. "I'll give you a call tomorrow and let you know, okay? Well, gotta call it a night!" She quickly made her exit, her mind racing as she tried to think of what to tell Kenshin.
"Okay, that wasn't the least bit suspicious," Rei pointed out. "It's almost like she didn't want us asking any questions about her plans."
"She's been pretty excited all week," Artemis added, hopping onto Ami's bed and curling into a ball at the end. "Well, she was until Ami went missing."
"Ten bucks it's a date," Makoto said flatly and the other girls sighed their agreement. "But who do you think with?" They looked at each other before muttering the same name: "Kenshin."