The Sōkyoku

It took Yoruichi and Urahara hours before they could find the entry where the exiled arrancar Arturo Plateado was sealed. As they walked along the dark tunnel, Yoruichi felt anxious as to what lay in store for them, on what they would learn about the said arrancar.

"Yoruichi-san, look at this" Urahara said as he gave her a broken, glowing fragment. "It looks familiar, does it?" He asked as Yoruichi walked towards him.

"Yes… it's the shattered Sōkyoku…" Yoruichi replied as she took the fragment. At the end of the tunnel where they entered, both noticed a glowing light and upon reaching it, they found remnants of what used to be a statue where the arrancar was previously sealed in.

"Kisuke, this is bad…" Yoruichi said

"The seal has been broken… not good indeed" Urahara stated

"But who could have broken it? I mean it's been ages when this happened as written on the scroll. No one in our generation knows about this but Soutaichou Yamamoto and my elders since they were the ones who witnessed this, this Arturo… " Yoruichi replied

"Yoruichi-san, remember when Kurosaki-san rescued Rukia? Then maybe when the Sōkyoku was destroyed, it must for some reason have broken the seal holding this arrancar." Urahara stated, looking at her.

"And the Sōkyoku contains…" Yoruichi said

"a million reiatsus" Urahara replied, confirming their suspicion.

"If my suspicion is correct, this arrancar regained its power - or more thru the Sōkyoku when it was destroyed… and thru the Negaccion he was able to go back to Hueco Mundo." Yoruichi stated, remembering the time when Ichigo rescued Rukia from being executed and the betrayal of Aizen, Tousen and Gin. She clenched her hand in anger, crushing the Sōkyoku fragment in her hands. Both Yoruichi and Urahara's eyes widened when the fragment burst into tiny glowing particles, energizing them both.

"We can just imagine how powerful that arrancar can be if…" Urahara said

"We need to… wait… wait… " Yoruichi suddenly stopped, as a thought dawned on her.

"What is it Yoruichi-san?" Urahara asked

"The remains of the Sōkyoku. I remember it now. The remains… the remains of the shattered Sōkyoku are with the 4 Noble Families!" She exclaimed.

"Not four senpai… one" Byakuya replied, with Michiko beside him.

At the Kuchiki manor, Yoruichi, Urahara, Michiko and Byakuya were at the manor's teahouse, discussing.

"Byakuya-boo tell me what happened" Yoruichi requested. Michiko and Urahara were silent as both looked at Byakuya.

"Our family has no records on the said arrancar." Byakuya began, "it happened before any of us were born, and if my calculations are correct, I think it happened when Ojiisama was newly promoted as Taichou of the 6th Division during that time."

"I was not even promoted during that time Byakuya…" corrected Ginrei Kuchiki, former 6th Division Captain and clan head of the Kuchiki entered the teahouse, smiling at the group.

"Please tell us what happen then, Ojiisama?" Yoruichi requested the elder Kuchiki who sat beside his grandson.

Ginrei began, "This arrancar, Plateado Arturo is a self-made arrancar. It was a typical day then when all of a sudden we received reports that there was a melee at the 79th District. As always, a squad from the 11th Division would always be sent to settle it, since they are experts in dispersing any ruckus. We were astounded when we were informed that the squad sent to check on that area all perished. It was too late when we learned that it was not the usual melee but an attack by an arrancar. During that time it took 3 Taichous and 6 Fukutaichous who gave their lives in order to seal him. It was then that the sealed arrancar was kept in Sōkyoku Hill."

"Ojiisama, I remember that after the incident wherein the Sōkyoku was destroyed, the remaining fragments were given to the 4 noble families for safekeeping since they are the ones who can handle its massive reiatsu." Yoruichi said.

"True." Byakuya added. "But not long afterwards, the heads of the noble families died in a peculiar manner. And the deaths came one after the other. We also found out that the remains of the Sōkyoku that was given to them were nowhere to be found."

"But the last remaining piece of the Sōkyoku, it's with your clan, right?" Yoruichi asked.

"Yes, but we had to seal it by keeping it in a special vessel" Ginrei added.

"Then Ginrei-sama, where is this 'vessel' that you are saying? And why did the other 3 noble families did not use the same kind of vessel?" Urahara asked, puzzled at the discovery.

"It was a dangerous gamble, a last recourse in using him as a vessel. And during that time, we were already anxious since we were the only clan left that still has possession of the remaining Sōkyoku piece." Ginrei said; his expression grim.

"Him? You mean the vessel is a person? Then where is he?" Urahara asked.

"I am the vessel" Byakuya simply stated.

"WHAT?!" Yoruichi gasped, aghast at the discovery.

"But… how?" Michiko wondered and looked at her husband in awe, who took her hand with his.

"When the heads of the families died in a very strange manner, Byakuya and I noticed that the remains of the Sōkyoku that was given to them also vanished. Our assumption during that time then was that maybe the reiatsu was too much for the clan heads to handle, and it was the cause of their death. With Yamamoto Soutaichou's help, Byakuya had the remains sealed within him. I suppose you all know that my grandson is the strongest of all Kuchiki clan heads and with his massive reiatsu, he is able to negate the remaining Sōkyoku within him." Ginrei explained.

"But the deaths of the noble clan heads, why the secrecy? I thought that the ascension of new clan heads were for them to learn early on the ropes of leading the clan" Michiko asked.

"The deaths of the clan heads of the other noble families was kept a secret since we Ginrei looked at his grandson and the new clan heads decided not to stir anymore tension in Seireitei. The tragedy that happened in Seireitei – the massacre of Chamber 46, the near execution of Rukia-chan, the betrayal of Aizen was already too much for the people to handle" the elder Kuchiki stated.

"I see… so that explains things. Going back to this arrancar, this Arturo Plateado." Urahara stated.

"It seems that this arrancar discovered the power of the Sōkyoku and came back to retrieve it. Looking back, it is also possible that he has something to do with the deaths of the 3 noble clan heads" Ginrei stated.

"So you mean he is after- " Michiko exclaimed

"He is after me" Byakuya answered. "That's why I need to have this remaining fragment transferred in order for him not to find it."

"But to whom? I don't think I'm a good candidate for it since surely this arrancar already knows a lot about the nobles of Seireitei" Yoruichi said.

"What about the other noble clan heads?" Urahara asked.

"They all declined since they were already traumatized by the untimely deaths of their kin." Byakuya replied.

Michiko looked at her husband and at Ginrei who was deep in thought. "What if I be the vessel?" She asked.

Byakuya, Ginrei, Urahara and Yoruichi all looked at Michiko with shocked expression.

"Michiko…" Byakuya uttered.

oOo oOo oOo

translation:

ojiisan - grandfather; in this chapter is used the formal honorifics 'sama' since ginrei kuchiki is of nobility. thus ojiisama :)

author's note: hi there! i hope you enjoy this chapter. i know it has no action but i wanted to explain further the Sōkyoku so that there would be no confusion. as for byakuya's grandfather ginrei i decided for him to be in the story though im not sure if in the actual bleach manga if the said kuchiki elder is still living.

the next chapter is under works and hopefully i could post it by next week. thanks for reading and reviewing. until the next chapter... ja :)