肌触り天罰、 風猛虎
"Scheduled report. From the 11th squad, 3rd seat Madarame Ikkaku-sama and 5th seat Ayasegawa Yumichika-sama have left the frontlines due to severe injuries. Each division is reporting minor injuries, however…the 11th division is reported to be completely wiped out."
The report caused a big reaction in the vice-captains meeting room. Kira Izuru and Hisagi Shuuhei muttered out words of disbelief whilst Momo stood there with her hands clasped over her mouth.
"Furthermore, based from witnesses, 3 ryoka has been identified. Reports are that 2 of the ryoka has taken a member of the 4th division."
Momo stood there in shock as she heard Tetsuzaemon-fukutaichou mentioning that the fourth seat of his member was missing. The calmness in Iba's voice when he mentioned that one of his subordinates might have fallen somewhere made Momo somewhat wary of the situation in Seireitei. To have devastated the strongest squad of all in a matter of hours…is unheard of.
"4th seat? Isn't that Jiroubou, the 'Kamaitaichi'?"
"Quite likely."
"Isn't he Jidanbou's little brother?"
Momo stood there as the impact of the news reached her ears. "Currently 4th seat of the 11th squad, Kyuumu Yukiko-sama, is missing in action. Investigations are carried out to find out whether she has been taken hostage, fallen or defected."
All hell broke loose. Momo was unbelievably worried for the young girl. However, she couldn't help but feel scared. The notion that the ryoka manage to obliterate the eleventh squad tugged at her fear.
Momo backed away from the unravelling scene before her. The calm Matsumoto Rangiku went into a fit, "there isn't any way that Yukiko could be a traitor!"
"I think it's a possibility. She did destroy a section of the eleventh squad. Not to mention she's irrational and so brash."
"The hell did you say Omaeda? I suggest you watch your mouth!"
"Am I wrong? There's a rumour going around that the brat wasn't really drunk at all, but planning a coup d'etat."
"And you expect people to believe that? There were witnesses to that incident you idiot!"
Momo backed away, "so scary," she was afraid of the turmoil happening between the vice captains. Trying to calm herself down she turned to tell her opinion on the matters only to find the door open with no Renji.
"Feels good smelling the fresh air. I miss the wind. Never using that sewer ever again." Yukiko stretched as she looked up at the sky.
"You can't go directly to the tower, but it's a lot closer now."
Ichigo and Ganju looked at the structure above the cliff. She took a deep breath as she readjusted to the sudden burst of reiatsu. "We better get a move on. I'm guessing that no one in Seireitei except Ikkaku and taichou knows about your current goal. It's best we get a move on before we find some one who will squeal."
Yukiko noticed Renji's reiatsu and swallowed. A second later she noticed that Ichigo noticed the presence. As the morning fog began to settle down Yukiko felt the tension between Renji and Ichigo.
"Yo, remember me?"
"Abarai Renji."
"You remember my name, how unexpected. You got pretty good memorization."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Yukiko looked at Ganju who wondered about Renji and how his pressure was completely different from the previous shinigami they met. Yukiko sighed as Hanatarou shivered and stuttered out Renji's name and position. Yukiko closed her eyes when she saw the fear in Ganju's eyes.
Such weak resolves, Kazemouko whispered inside her mind. Yukiko could only agree. This is what it means to rescue a criminal. Chances are more and more people stronger people will be encountered. With resolves that crumble in the face of a strong opponent just shows a weak resolve.
Yukiko heard Renji talking again, "I'm really surprised I thought you'd been killed by Kuchiki-taichou's attack."—Yukiko opened her eyes and saw Ichigo and Renji walking towards one another with Ganju telling him to stop—"I don't know how you survived, but it's pretty impressive. Worthy of a compliment."
Yukiko was mesmerized as she watched Ichigo and Renji take out their zanpakuto, ready to fight with all their might. She stood there as their attacks raised the particles around them and pushed them apart. Yukiko shielded her eyes from the dust that came swirling in every direction at each parry. She heard Ganju's unbelievable mutters only to be replied by Hantarou's faith filled one.
Yukiko breathed in sharply as she saw Renji summon his shikai. Ichigo was making him fight full strength. She felt her instincts start to twitch. A sadistic pleasure at watching two strong men fight and bleed washed at the base of her mind. She stood frozen on the spot, not bothering when Zabimaru pushed Ichigo straight into a building.
She hugged herself, holding in that wave of nauseating feeling. Cut, cut, cut. Lemme slice and dice 'em up! Yukiko swallowed and turned to look at Ichigo emerging from the destroyed building with an insult launched at Renji. Lemme join in the fight. Lemme make 'em all bleed.
"Kyuumu-san, are you okay?"
Yukiko shook her head. No, she was not fine. She was becoming animalistic. She did not like it one bit. She promised Kazemouko to keep her emotions in check. She didn't even turn to see when Renji had jumped onto the roof of the destroyed building to fight Ichigo.
Yukiko, deep breaths. I'll lend you my strength, Yukiko sighed as she felt Kazemouko's calming presence in her mind. She touched the hilt of her katana and took in a deep breath. Kazemouko's reiatsu enveloping her in warmth and care. She smiled and looked down at the zanpakuto, "thank you."
Yukiko looked up and saw the fire and determination in Ichigo's eyes. And in a flash it was over. Ichigo struck down his sword and broke Zabimaru and made Renji bled. Renji toppled over slightly and with his remaining strength he walked towards Ichigo.
Yukiko felt tears brimming in her eyes as she heard Renji's deep thoughts. The fear of opening up your deepest thoughts to the ones you love in pretence of a selfless act. Isn't that what she currently is doing?
She closed her eyes in pain as she heard Renji to tell Ichigo to save Rukia. With that Renji fell due to blood loss followed by Ichigo. Hanatarou told them to retreat for the moment because he saw people coming.
"Kyuumu-san let's go."
Yukiko shook her head. "Hana-chan, you go ahead. After seeing Renji and Ichigo fight…there's something I must do. So go ahead, I won't tell anyone."
After seeing them go back into the sewers, Yukiko took one last glance at Renji. She will tell Toshiro. Everything. She'll mention her aim and he'll let her decide what will become of their friendship.
Yukiko knocked on the door of the tenth squad captain's office. Her eyes sombre and worried. Once she heard a reply, she opened the door and saw a surprised Toshiro.
"You've never knocked before."
"I need to talk to you. Can we have a quick stop by the gardens? I need somewhere really private."
Toshiro stood and led the way to the garden. Reaching inside the garden Yukiko walked towards the bridge. She turned to look at Toshiro, whose eyes were filled with worry. "Toshiro, I'm going to go save Kuchiki Rukia."
Toshiro's eyes widened in shock. His fist clenched, "please tell me you're joking."
"Have you noticed how erratic the Central 46 behaviour is?"
"What's your point?"
"I'm not going to let Kuchiki Rukia serve her punishment without any trial. So don't get in my way." She said the last sentence with eyes as cold as ice.
Toshiro clenched his teeth. His fists clenched tighter and he felt his nail dug into his skin, about to draw blood. "If I do try and stop you, what will you do?"
"I'll fight you."
Toshiro saw Yukiko's hand on her hilt. There is no way in hell she'll let Yukiko go down with a capital offense for betraying Soul Society. If it means that he'll have to fight her with all his might to stop her. Toshiro took out his zanpakuto, "I guess this means that we'll have to fight."
Yukiko smiled wryly, her eyes filled with pain as she took out her zanpakuto. She stood in an attack position. Her eyes filling with tears. "Please don't get in my way!" With that she screamed and jumped to attack Toshiro.
Toshiro easily blocked the attack and pushed her back. He used shunpo to reach Yukiko's side ready to cut her only to have her block it with the Seki spell. He noticed Yukiko spinning her body around to give him a kick, he countered it with a barrier spell.
Yukiko grasped her katana tightly, she summoned her reiatsu and swung her sword, releasing a gust of wind that was enough to cut down her opponent. Toshiro jumped away from the sudden attack and instead the Sakura took the brunt force of it. The tree cracked in the middle and fell to the ground.
Toshiro used shunpo and bent down when he reached Yukiko, giving her an upper cut. Yukiko blocked the attack easily. He then summoned a low class binding spell however Yukiko sent Byakurai Toshiro's way. Pushing the spell away with his katana, he sent a kick that made Yukiko topple back wards. He attacked again with his sword only to have her block it again. The two zanpakuto resonated as both owner struggled for dominance.
She was bleeding. What idiot thinks of leaving the house with a weakened body to the worst of the area? Thanks to her weakened state a bunch of bandits attacked her. She managed to fend them all of and possibly killed a person, but in this land with no law nor rule, she didn't really care.
Has she lost a lot of blood already? She felt faint. She exhaled and moved her head sideways to look at the zanpakuto in her hand. She closed her eyes and felt the calming presence of her sword. At least she can die in peace knowing that she isn't in that Demon's house.
"Hey are you alright?"
Toshiro let the shock deter him for a split second and Yukiko knocked him back. He went flying about to hit the wall. He somersaulted and used his feet as leverage to jump and aim a stab at Yukiko. She jumped to the side, then as Toshiro turned he fired a Shakkaho. She put up a shield to protect her from the full frontal blast.
Soon their swords clashed some more. Each blow was filled with desperation and sadness. How could they fight one another so easily? They were supposed to be the closest of friends. She stuck through thick and thin with him during their time in the Shinigami Academy. He was there to lend a comforting shoulder when her parents death anniversary came around.
"Please, just let me go!" She screamed in vain as the wind surrounding them became harsher and more violent.
"Like hell I'll let you get condemned! There's no way I'm letting you die!" Toshiro screamed back as the ground beneath him crackled.
Their garden. Their Eden. Looked like a wasteland. The Sakura tree that stood so proudly in the centre was fallen. The red bridge they put effort into making was burnt from a Shakkaho spell Toshiro launched at Yukiko previously. Yukiko's lips trembled, is this what their friendship will be like from now on? Nothing but a broken memory?
Toshiro inhaled and exhaled rapidly. It was true that none of them are taking damage, but the fight was dragging on for too long. He clenched his teeth as he saw Yukiko's face crumpled in pain. His grip on Hyourinmaru tightened. He needs to stop her. He won't let her go and help the ryoka only to get hurt. He won't let her die with a tarred name.
"Yukiko, sorry, but I have to end this quickly. Soten ni zase, Hyourinmaru." Toshiro raised his sword above him and struck down. Yukiko dodged the incoming ice dragon and destroyed it by summoning Hado spell number 58, Tenran. The tornado engulfed the ice dragon that was following her around. She saw another one coming at her and fired Sokatsui at it. She tsk-ed as some water got her legs.
Toshiro seeing that immediately froze it. Yukiko clenched her teeth, "Hadazawari tenbatsu, Kazemouko." The blast of reitasu shattered the ice freezing her legs. The hilt of her zanpakuto connected to a red ribbon with a black fan at the end. She summoned Tenrai again and aimed it at Toshiro, using her wind manipulation she snapped the fan close and the tornado engulfed Toshiro; ready to cut. Toshiro blocked the onslaught of attacks by surrounding himself in an ice shield.
The ice shield broke and Yukiko fired Soren Sokatsui at Toshiro. Toshiro launched another ice dragon at it. He then twirled his chain and aimed at Yukiko's arms. He'll first immobilize her fighting movements. Yukiko saw the attack coming and she spun around once, creating a wind surrounding her and blast the moon shaped blade away.
The fight was beginning to take its toll on Yukiko's stamina. Biting her bottom lip, Yukiko wondered if it was a good idea to use her incomplete move. The split second decision of thinking made Toshiro able to launch the moon blade at Yukiko making it land a centimeter ahead of her feet. Her feet were then bound in ice.
"Hado no roku ju san, Sajo Sabaku!" Toshiro raised his arms at Yukiko as yellow chains came out and surrounded Yukiko, he then closed his hand and the chains locked Yukiko's upper body.
Toshiro pulled the moon blade back and threw the chain to wrap around Yukiko. "I'm sorry Yukiko."
A tear fell from Yukiko.
And then darkness.
…
Rangiku stood outside the captain's office as she saw clouds forming in the sky. Deep down she knew that it was her captain using his shikai, however she refused to believe that he was fighting. Especially not when she sensed Yukiko's reitasu clashing with the captains.
As the reiatsu died down, Rangiku saw the clouds disappearing. Her fears were confirmed. She refused to accept reality and walked into the office, awaiting the news from her captain.
…
Toshiro entered the captain's office with Yukiko slung over his shoulder. He just fought his best friend. Regret and guilt washed over him. He saw Matsumoto eyes widened as he entered.
"Matsumoto get a pillow and blanket. Lots of blanket."
Matsumoto scrambled off the chair and headed for the door. Toshiro stopped her, "also, get a pair of reiatsu binding handcuffs." He saw Matsumoto's eyes widened but left without any questions.
He went and put Yukiko on the sofa, gently lying her down on the green comfort. He sat on the coffee table and looked at his hands, nail marks evident on his palms. They weren't bleeding but it was obvious that it will bruise.
Toshiro sighed. He just attacked his friend. His best friend. How can she ever forgive him for freezing her body like that? More importantly, how can she be as stupid as wanting so save the ryoka? Did their friendship not matter to her? He didn't even hear any reasoning for the sudden will of wanting to save a criminal. All he heard was 'I need to save her'. No whys. Toshiro slammed his hand onto his leg. He balled up his hands to a fists and clenched at his hakama.
Toshiro didn't like the idea of losing Yukiko and her friendship. They were close to one another. When he first met her at the Shinigami Academy, he felt like he had met her and known her for the longest of time. Even though Toshiro was blackmailed into calling her by her first name whilst others had to content with always being called by their family name. Even though she would always call him by his first name without any honorifics and regardless of his status. He was content. Their friendship was like breathing in air; easy, effortless and necessary. So why was she doing something as idiotic and moronic as wanting to threaten that peace?
He heard the door slide open and Matsumoto asked what his next orders are. He took the handcuffs from her and told her to put the blankets and pillow aside. Toshiro put the cuffs around Yukiko's wrists. He then set the pillow under her head. His hands brushed against her neck and face, only then he noticed how cold her body was. Holding in another surge of guilt he covered her with the blankets in order to warm her body up.
"Taichou…did Yukiko really defected?"
Toshiro fell back onto the coffee table. He buried his head in his hands. "That's up to you to decide. Until we find Zaraki, Yukiko is under house arrest in the tenth squad. I'll be heading to the captain's meeting now. She should stay asleep until I get back." Toshiro got up and went off. Morosely he closed the door and walked in silence. He knew that despite his inner turmoil, no matter what happens, what the future consequences are, he would readily forgive Yukiko.
"Yukiko, please be careful with that."
The little girl nodded and ran off into the woods. She then returned crying, running towards her mother. The older woman hugged her and calmed the little child's frayed nerves. Apparently a bee stung the young child.
Yukiko watched the scene unfold before her. Her mother, her beloved sweet mother hugging her. Yukiko remembered her warmth. Her kind and gentle smiles. The scene then faded out to show another one.
The young Yukiko was gleefully smiling as she had a play spar with her father. She fought him with all her might as he playfully blocked her. However his easiness went away when she managed to sneak through his defenses and launched a kick that sent him crashing against a tree. He stood up with a proud grin on his face as he tackled the young child into a bear hug.
Yukiko mourned on the loss of her beloved parents. The ever gentle mother and the brash but caring father. Yukiko closed her eyes as her consciousness went deeper into darkness.
"Yukiko, fight."
"You're weak."
Yukiko closed her eyes as she heard her parent's killer's voice. She clenched her eyes and turned to a fetal position.
Momo woke up in the morning late for the vice captains' meeting. Running she went through a shortcut. Her mind was happy and at peace from the comfort her taichou had given her last night. She turned the last corner before stopping when blood caught her eyes.
Her eyes widened and she let out a blood curling scream. Her breathing was heavy as she struggled for words. The figure stuck on the wall with blood dripping all the way down made her world turn black. Not able to think of anything as her world came crashing down, she screamed out Aizen-taichou in desperation. She walked towads the wall looking up at him. Momo screamed out his name over and over again in hopes that maybe he'll open his eyes and tell her sorry for playing such a cruel trick on her.
"What's going on? Who is screaming so early in the morning?"
Momo turned around to look at Ichimaru Gin. Toshiro's word ringing clear in her ears, "Be careful, watch out for the 3rd division…especially when Aizen is taking a walk alone at night." Momo's previous unwillingness to fight was gone as her anger rose through her sorrow.
Her reitasu blasted left and right as rage filed her. Momo gave Ichimaru a glare filled with contempt, "It was you!" She ran towards Ichimaru sword taken out. As she was about to strike down Kira-kun stopped her from cutting that smiling bastard.
"Kira-kun…why?"
"I am the vice captain of the third division. I don't care what your reason is. I will not allow you to hurt my captain."
Momo's voice filled with despair, "move aside."
"I can't."
"Move aside."
"I can't."
Momo's eyes filled with red, "What part of 'move aside' do you not understand?"
"What part of 'I can't' do you not understand?"
Momo angered by the death of her captain called out her shikai. She didn't care what Kira-kun thinks now. If he was going to stand in the way of her finishing off the sly bastard then she'll defeat him. Kira called out his shikai as well. They were both ready to strike one another to kill. However before she could even hit Kira's sword, Toshiro came in and stopped everything.
"Don't move." Momo stared in shock at his childhood friend. He looked worse for wear, but his eyes glinted dangerously. She called out his name, but he didn't spare a glance and instead told the others to restrain both her and Kira-kun.
…
Toshiro watched the fukutaichou take away Izuru and Momo. He told them that he'll report the incident to the Commander. He didn't even turn to look at Ichimaru as he gave him a 'sincere apology'. His mind can't believe the actions of his friends, first Yukiko with the whole saving the criminal business and now Momo with her rage.
Without turning to face Ichimaru, Toshiro asked whether or not he was planning to kill Momo.
"Whatever are you talking about?"
"Let me make this clear. If you make Hinamori spill of one drop,"—Toshiro glared turned around to glare at Ichimaru giving off some killing intent in the process—", I'll kill you."
"My, my. What a terrifying thing to say. You better make sure that no one bad gets to her then."
Yukiko awoke with a headache. She looked at her surrounding and noticed that she was in the tenth squad main office. She recalled how Toshiro froze her body and it gave her body such a traumatic shock to feel a thousand needles in every pore of her body that she fainted. Yukiko couldn't blame him. It was her fault for trying to challenge him.
She pushed her feet off the sofa and then noticed that her wrists were restricted. A reiatsu binding handcuffs. Yukiko smiled mockingly at the cuffs. Such wimpy things won't restrict her reiatsu, she learnt to overcome it when she was with that Demon.
Yukiko heard the door slide open and saw Toshiro come in. His eyes looked tired and it appeared as if he just saw something shocking. Yukiko stood up and called out his name. Toshiro turned to look at her and gave her a small nod.
"I take it I'm under house arrest." Toshiro nodded at her statement. Yukiko looked down at her feet, "did something happen while I was out of it?"
Toshiro sighed. He walked towards her took a seat on the sofa, she followed suit and sat next to him. "Aizen-taichou is dead." Yukiko didn't move at the news she merely stared ahead. "Hinamori took the news badly. A brawl happened between Izuru and Hinamori because she was about to attack Ichimaru."
"Why?"
"Probably because I warned her to watch out for him."
Yukiko looked to the side, "the issue now is whether the death was caused by someone within Seireitei or caused by the ryoka. Either way, this death will cause internal conflict."
"In other words, it's only a matter of time before Seireitei possibly self destruct. A possible conspiracy?"
"It seems like it. Still too early to tell."
"Despite 'how erratic the Central 46 behaviour' is?"
Yukiko glared at him as he quoted her before their fight. She harrumphed and looked away with a pout. "Where's Ran-nee?"
Toshiro stood and walked towards his desk, "visiting Hinamori's cell. I investigated into Aizen's death and saw a letter in Aizen's office addressed to her."
Yukiko stood up, "if I told you I can get out of these handcuffs and attack you right here right now what would you do?"
"Your zanpakuto is locked away in a hidden place."
"I'm serious about rescuing Rukia, with or without a zanpakuto."
Yukiko stared into Toshiro's eyes. She was glad that he could talk normally with her as if nothing happened the previous night. However, she was going to rescue Rukia. Whether he liked it or not. Yukiko took a step beck when she saw a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Toshiro stood up, "you still don't get it do you. Do you know the consequences of rescuing a criminal?" Toshiro then got close to her. It's true that Toshiro is shorter than her by about ten centimetres, but as of right now Yukiko felt smaller than him.
Yukiko gulped, "banishment. Worst case scenario is execution."
"Then what makes you think I'll let that happen to you?"
The intensity of Toshiro's teal eyes made Yukiko go weak at the knees. She swore to Kami, she just wanted to jump his bones right then and there and kiss him senseless. The world be damned. instead of doing that, Yukiko opted for the teasing action, "don't tell me you're in love with me or something?" Yukiko saw Toshiro blanced and he bent his head down. Yukiko swore that the temperature got colder by ten degrees Celsius.
Toshiro shot his arms up, "just rest! I swear to kami, you are so annoying. Shut up and don't disturb while I fill in paperwork for today."
Yukiko smiled and giggled, her heart content. This earned a questioning look from Toshiro. "Nothing. I just like you the most after all Toshiro."
Toshiro just shook his head and gave her a soft smile, "now shut it and rest."
Yukiko sat down and looked on the ground. No matter how tranquil and happy the scene, Yukiko will find a way to repay her debt to Kuchiki Rukia.
…
Outside, Rangiku leaned against the shoji. Her face serene and a small smile graced her lips. After everything that happened today, I'm glad Yukiko can cheer taichou up. With that she decided to head to bed and prepare for tomorrow.
…
To be continued
Author's note:
That's about just over 4500 words. Did it all in like…3 days time? Anyway, to clear some confusion!
Kyuumu Yukiko is 143 centimetres tall, which makes her 10 cm taller than Toshiro. Her zanpakuto is Kazemouko which is translated as Wind Fierce Tiger. The summoning is Hadazawari Tenbatsu which is Touch of Divine Punishment.
Anyway! I hope you like this chapter. Man I just remembered how much fun writing fanfics are. R&R! Oh! And Taka thanks for reviewing for the last chapter!