Chapter 41
Okay guys, last chapter where I lay down the ending and a bit of ground work for the next novel, which I hope you're looking forward to, especially with the teaser I put in the last chapter. Well, I'll start it up and end this arc of Shinigami prototype.
I own nothing.
Heller and the other's stepped through the place of the official Senkaimon. Dana and Maya were the only ones that blinked in surprised, Heller not showing any signs through the mask he had made his face into, and the others had been to soul society before.
"The meeting hall is a ways away." Renji said, leading them out of the building to show soul society in all its glory.
Dana muttered "it's beautiful." Having lived in a city most of her life, she found something calming and humbling to be in a place that looked like old fashioned japan, with so much history and culture here.
Maya tugged Heller's hand and said "daddy, where are we?"
Heller looked down at Maya, his face smiling as his said "a very special place honey. One where many people don't get to visit."
He didn't want to explain where exactly they were, since she had only been free of mercer for not even a half hour, and he didn't want to scare her with talk of being in what could be called 'heaven'.
Then he said "Where's the meeting taking place?"
"Like I said, I can take you to the meeting hall, but once your there, only the commander will want you to enter." Renji said, glancing at Maya. "Alone."
Heller looked like he was about to object, but he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to see Orihime. She said "if you need to go alone, I can take care of Maya." She smiled at her and said "we got to know each other fairly well in that vault."
Heller hesitated, but ten turned to Maya and said "okay. Maya, I have a few people to talk to for a few minutes. Will you be okay if I leave you here with Orihime and her friends?"
Maya nodded, saying "I'll be fine daddy." She smiled at Orihime and said "me and Orihime are good friends. And I'd like to meet more of hers."
Heller smiled, happy to see his daughter smiling. Then he gave her a hug and said "I'll be back in 10 minutes."
He and Renji walked around the corner, the last look Heller saw was Maya shaking hands with Ichigo smiling happily.
Renji sighed and said "I have to say Heller, you're a lucky guy. And a good friend to have."
Heller chuckled and said "and just think, someday you and Rukia may have a child."
Renji stopped dead in his tracks, his face turning redder then his hair. Though he had entertained the thought a few times, he never saw the possibility being a reality. He didn't even want to think of what Byakuya would say, or worse, do.
Heller laughed as he saw this and patted Renji's shoulder, saying "ah, I'm just teasing buddy. I think you'd be a fine dad."
Renji nodded, his face still red, before he sputtered out "uh, we better get going. The commander's waiting."
Heller's good mood vanished behind his mask again, but he said nothing as he and Renji flash stepped, Renji leading the way.
When they arrived at the place, Renji said, "sorry, but this is where you go in alone. Good luck."
Heller was looking at the door calmly, but he muttered "I'm not the one needing it," as he walked to the doors, and they opened to accept him to the meeting of the commanders and the captains.
I won't describe the meeting place, but Heller was secretly impressed with the size of the place and the artful architecture from the old fashioned japan. Then he looked at the end of the room and saw the commander, the captains on two rows beside him. All of them were looking at him, but those who had never met him personally looked more interested.
But Heller only had eyes for the man who ordered him killed, simply because he was a risk, but he had to admit the old man was quite the poker player, his face giving nothing away as Heller walked forward, then stopped a few yards from him, surrounded by the Shinigami.
Heller spoke first, his voice level as he said "so. You're Commander Yamamoto."
"and you're James Heller. I've heard much about you."
Heller laughed bitterly as he said "oh, I'm sure you have." Then he cast a glance around. Mayuri was looking at Heller with a blank face, but his eyes showed nothing but fury, and hint of something else. Fear.
Soi Fon, on the other hand, was simply looking straight at the wall opposite of her, her face very white.
Tōshirō was looking at Heller with slight dislike, Byakuya had his face in its normal mask, Unohana was simply smiling at him, and the others looked at him with respect, interest, and curiosity.
Heller looked back at the commander and said "I'm told you wanted to speak with me."
"We all did."
Heller looked at the speaker. It was the tall man, who had long white hair that reached the middle of his back, but his face looked slightly thin, like someone who's been malnourished. He was wearing the typical captain attire as he held out his hand and said "it's an honor to meet you. My name is Jūshirō Ukitake."
Heller thought that name sounded familiar, and then it hit him as he shook the hand, saying "I've heard about you. Your Rukia's captain, correct?"
He smiled and nodded saying "indeed."
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you as well."
Then the commander cleared his throat, bringing back everyone's attention. Jūshirō retreated back to his place as the commander said "now, the purpose of bringing you here, James Heller, is to formally thank you for killing that abomination Alex Mercer."
Everyone shifted slightly, but Heller said "it was nothing. But I didn't do it for you." He allowed a little steel to enter his voice.
The commander noticed and let the slightest hint of spirit energy out, just enough to slightly raise the room temperature.
Heller noticed this and thought "so he wants to play hardball. Then let's play."
The commander said "maybe not, but you have done a great service, both to the world of the living and that of soul society. I'm sure that Ichigo told you of his mission there."
Heller nodded, saying "yes. But that was never my main goal, despite what you seem to think. My goal was to kill mercer in the beginning, but later, it was to kill mercer…and find my daughter."
Those in the room felt touched by his honesty in his voice, feeling that he was a good man and good father, aside from Soi Fon and Mayuri of course.
The commander said "an admirable goal, and I still thank you for killing that man. And I have brought you here for another reason. Jūshirō."
Jūshirō nodded and walked forward, taking out a small piece of white cloth which he unwrapped to show Heller. He saw a pentagon shaped pendant, on which was a cartoon like skull and cross bones on it, along with a rope like string laced through the top, to put around his neck.
Jūshirō started explaining. This is what's called a substitute Shinigami badge. This is only given to those who have shown themselves to be a good and powerful ally to soul society, and given to them to show in the world of the living. If you were to accept, this would allow you into the ranks of the Gotei 13, and allow you to hunt hollows in the world of the living, while showing you were entitled to."
The commander took over here.
"In other words, James Heller, we are offering you a place among the ranks of the Gotei 13, and to become a substitute Shinigami, and all that it entities."
Heller slowly took and held the wooden badge in his hand. He saw how the commander was playing this. Though the commander didn't seem to remember, Heller had the memories and knowledge of Ashisogi Jizō, and he knew exactly the purpose of this badge.
The true purpose of the badge was a cleaver tracking and limiter device. The badge, so long as he kept it on his person, would broadcast his location to soul society at all times, while it also siphoned off and analyzed his spirit energy. In essence it was a limiter, and given to those who were potential threats to soul society.
Heller looked at the badge, then the commander and said "I'm touched by the generosity of this offer. I just have one question."
"Yes?"
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Heller said it very matter-of-factly, but it caused everyone to draw back in surprise.
Heller kept going.
"You may have forgotten this, but I have the spirit of Ashisogi Jizō, and all its memories and knowledge, and that of chuckles the clown over there. I know exactly what this is and its intended purpose."
The commander said nothing, but the others were shifting in discomfort as Heller talked.
"Or have you forgotten how you ordered me killed?" Heller growled, his energy starting to rise quickly, and his energy had only grown in density and power from consuming mercer.
The commander said "I was doing what was right for soul society. And if you cannot accept that, then you are blind to the true world."
Heller laughed and said "oh, coming from you that's very rich, very rich indeed," he said as his energy stopped, him keeping himself in check so as to not give away his true strength.
"You're the one blind from the true world commander. I only have to look at what happened with Azien to see that." Everyone looked shocked at Heller's insult, but he wasn't anywhere close to done.
"Azien was able to deceive you all for over 100 years, and you didn't have the slightest clue of his true intentions from that time. Do you have a reason? No? I'll tell you why he was able to deceive you. It wasn't just because he was a brilliant manipulator of emotions, or his Zanpakuto powers, or even his own acting. No. he was able to deceive you for all those years because you assume you know everything about a person, their character and what they are or aren't capable of. You never give people second chances or the benefit of the doubt at all. You just go off assumptions you have made on the surface. That's how he was able to deceive you. Because he used your pride against you. "
"ENOUGH!" the commander roared. His energy shot sky high, causing the temperature in the room to rise drastically and everyone's body feel weighed down, but the commander focused most of his energy on Heller. Now in reality, the commander's energy was just slightly higher than mercer's but Heller's was significantly higher than either of theirs now. But to fool them, he pretended to fall to the floor on his hands and knees, gasping and making himself sweat to enhance the performance.
The commander growled "do not think to lecture me human. I have been alive for over 2000 years, and have far more power then you could ever hope for. I have run this division for almost as long, and I will not be lectured by a human a mere 30 years of age who has barely any experience on how the world works."
Heller chuckled, still keeping up his performance, as he said "and I… will not be lectured… by a stubborn old man."
Finally, Heller thought he had gone along with this enough and stopped suppressing his power. His aura exploded outwards as the commanders spirit energy was countered with his own, allowing him to throw of the heavy feeling while he started standing up.
The captains were looking at him in shock. This man was expanding enough spirit energy to not only let him stand, but counter the commander's own spirit energy enough to breath normally.
Then Heller vanished, only to reappear in front of the commander with his sword out and the tip less than an inch from his throat through his beard.
The other captains had all their blades out and pointed at Heller's back in an instant, but Heller ignored them to look at the commander, who looked back at him in slight shock at how close he had gotten.
Soi Fon growled "take your blade from the commander's throat Heller."
Heller sad "keep it up Soi Fon, and I'll I think I'll tell a certain someone what I made you see with that vision. Care to guess who?"
Soi Fon looked, if possible, even more pale at the threat.
Heller slowly took his blade from the commander's throat and taps it against the top of the commander's cane, causing his blade to glow red. He then flash stepped away from them, standing back in his normal spot as his blade reformed into his normal arm.
"I didn't come here to kill you, though I would like nothing better, considering what you tried to do. Nor do I hold a grudge with any more of you, expect you two," he said, looking at Mayuri and Soi Fon. The captains had kept their blades out, but returned to their original places.
"I only wanted one thing, and that was to kill Alex mercer, which I've achieved. And I found out my daughter was alive and rescued her, and Orihime. Now I only want one thing. To raise my daughter someplace she can be safe, and live out the rest of my life in relative peace. And I think I'll take this any way." He said, raising his hand to show he had the substitute Shinigami badge. No one looked to surprised, but they were a little, considering that Heller knew what it was.
"Why?" Jūshirō asked, curious as to why Heller wanted it.
"As I said, I have no grudge against most of you, and to be honest, I like a few of you. The rest of you strike me as honorable and I don't hate people unless they give me a reason so I'm willing to give you a chance. And this badge can also be useful in terms of my energy. I'm too strong as I am now, and I need a way to restrain my strength. But most of all, I'm taking it as a sign that I'll trust those of you who have yet to make an impression on me. I'm giving you a chance."
Heller waited a moment, and then when no one said anything, he said "now, if that's all, I have to get back to my daughter."
Heller walked to the door, slipping the badge into his coat pocket, then stopped and said, with his back still turned, "There is one more thing though."
Heller turned to look back at the commander, his eyes now black, with blue iris as he said "if Maya is in any way hurt or killed, by anyone in soul society or its allies, I will come for your head Yamamoto. And I'll know just what weapon to use."
He shifted to blade arm, then released shadow shifter and said, with his energy restrained as best it could be, "Burn all creation to ashes, Ryūjin Jakka"
Heller's blade began to dance with white hot flames along the edge, the heat feeling like a bone fire from that distance and scorching the floor. Heller left the ability active just long enough for his point to sink in, then sealed the blade again, turned it to his normal arm, then walked out, the doors closing behind him with a hollow thud.
Heller flash stepped to where he felt the other's and saw that they were talking and laughing, but Ichigo, Rukia, and Renji all looked nervous, but hiding it. Heller smiled, and whistled to get their attention. Maya ran to her father and tackle hugged him, saying "all done?"
"all done. I said what I needed to." Heller said, rubbing the top of Maya's head.
Ichigo sounded nervous as he said "we felt that energy. What did you say?" not wanting to be more specific in front of Maya.
"just let them know where I stood and felt. Oh, and they gave me this." He dug out the badge and showed it to the other's, causing their jaws to drop, but he put in back in his pocket, picked up Maya and said "now, I think it's time to go to our new home."
Ichigo said "Where are you planning to go?"
Heller smiled. "I thought that Karakura Town wouldn't be a bad place to settle. Plus, I don't plan on losing touch with you any time soon. We've been through too much to part ways now."
Orihime smiled and clapped excitedly and said "we'd love that and Maya and I can stay friends!"
Ichigo smiled, putting his arms around Orihime as he said "there might be a small place in Karakura Town for you two. Urahara can help you find a place."
Heller smiled. He felt wonderful. Maya was alive, his friends save, and now he could put his past behind him. He could enjoy a new lease on life, and enjoy it to the fullest.
Human world, undisclosed location
The room was dark and almost silent, except for a light slithery sound and what sounded like the barest of whispers coming in the darkness. In the center was a figure, sitting on a thrown like chair, it's finger tapping it's claw on the arm rest as it kept it's red eyes on the door in front of it.
With a groan, said doors opened to admit a figure in a black robe, which quickly walked across the floor, were covered in red tendrils, until it reached the foot of the throne. There, the figure crouched into a bow, saying in a familiar voice "it's happening exactly as expected my lord. Since Heller killed mercer, Blackwatch has begun to fall apart."
The figure's face was hidden, but it smiled to show white teeth, but jagged and pointed like a sharks as it said "good. If we are to achieve our goals, we must use this to our advantage. And soon everything shall be as it should. Report back at regular intervals and you will be rewarded greatly. Am I understood?"
"Yes master." The figure said, and then it looked up, causing its hood to fall back and show… Captain rooks. His eyes slightly red with his bald head covered in slight black veins. Rooks retreated from the room with another bow, the doors closing behind him and leaving the figure in the dark again.
The lone figure chuckled long and deep saying "soon, everything will fall into place, and the world will be mine. The humans will rue the day they took me from MOTHER."
Then the figure started laughing long and deep, filling the room with its mirth at what would so be.
Blacklight was far from dead. And fate had yet to unfold what would happen.
Well, I think that's it for this chapter. Heller's going to Karakura Town, and fate is writing a new tale. I hope you like book 1. Look forward to book 2, Shinigami prototype game of shadows!
Also, don't forget to review!