Chapter Two - Shameful Freedom
The two of them made their way up to the courtyard in silence, Soi Fon lead the way with a patient stride while the prisoner followed in tow, his long hair dragging along behind him. With his arms still in shackles he welcomed the slowly approaching light of the courtyard as the first taste of his freedom. It was still a part of the prison but it was a different setting, one which was lit brighter than the candles in the hallway of his cell managed.
In a twist of irony the light blinded him as he made the final step through the corridor into the courtyard and a deep shame came crashing down upon him. For him to have to cover his eyes and deny himself his own inward sense of freedom filled him with a sorrow that he had not felt since his inauguration to the Nest of Maggots.
'That is to be expected, your eyes have been deprived of light for far too long' Soi Fon remarked as she continues walking unphased by the prisoners pain.
He lowered his head and moved his hair to help cover his eyes as he continued following her. The short journey through the courtyard was unusually silent, whispers could be heard amongst the inmates but none of them approached the pair let alone moved.
As they closed in on the entrance the prisoner stumbled over another inmate who lay flat on the ground unconscious with a mangled left hand.
Daring to open his eyes until he could determine what was blocking his path the prisoner noticed the body in front of him and a dozen more nearby all unconscious or injured, the ones who were merely injured were as silent as the unconscious ones though.
'Now I understand why we haven't been attacked yet, you were quite harsh to them on your way to see me' the prisoner mumbled still trying to deal with the light.
'No, they always attacked me on the way back during my visits. The reason they aren't attacking this time is you' Soi Fon sternly assured him.
'They would attack a Captain before myself?'
'So it seems.'
'I guess that explains why none of them came to my cell during my stay but I can't...comprehend it.'
'The only other prisoner to have a cell in The Nest of Maggots is now a Captain level shinigami with a reputation for extreme sadism, in addition you are the only one to have ever been held here for a crime committed. When you piece this information together your status amongst them should be obvious, it is after all one of the reasons you have your freedom' Soi Fon explained.
'...I don't understand.'
'As the third seat of the Second Division you are the warden of this prison. It's management will be of ease for someone with your reputation.'
'No, if that was the case I would've been freed sooner, why now all of a sudden?'
Soi Fon waited for them to exit the courtyard and begin walking down the final corridor before explaining the next part to him. The prisoner moved his hands down from his eyes as she did so in the light deprived corridor.
'I'll be blunt. Soul Society has been invaded, the intruders managed to defeat Jidambo the West Gatekeeper earlier today though Captain Ichimaru managed to push them back before they could enter. It is assumed they will attempt to enter again, the job of stopping them outside the walls falls to you.'
Soi Fon noticed that the prisoner stopped halfway through the speech.
'What is it?' She asked in a tone that suggested her question was more of way of telling him to hurry up rather than one of curiosity.
'That child Gin Ichimaru is now a Captain?'
'Yes, he was one of the more recently promoted Captains, did I not mention this during one of my visits?...I may have left it out actually.'
The prisoner began walking in an almost rushed stride taking the lead on the way to the exit, Soi Fon relished the opportunity to exit at a faster pace. She arrived at the exit to see the prisoner standing by the outer guards once again covering his eyes. With her exit the guards stood at salute, one of them carried Suzumebachi he bowed as he presented it to his commander while the other unlocked the prisoners shackles with her permission.
Entry to the Nest of Maggots came hand in hand with leaving your weapons at the door and a sense of relief came to Soi Fon as she tied her partner to her sash, though she did not let it show as with most of her emotions.
'Let's continue, the barracks are close by. I will show you to your room.'
'Wait, please cut my hair, I don't want to drag it along any longer.' He stated almost regretfully as he noticed the dirt accumulating in his hair.
Soi Fon was accommodating and took special care to ensure that her handling of the prisoner was gentle. She grasped his hair from behind his neck and unsheathed her Zanpakuto but before she made the cut the prisoner interrupted.
'Wait...leave some length...please,' he muttered as his eyes remained covered.
'As you wish,' Soi Fon stated in compliance before lowering Suzumebachi below his shoulder blades. 'Is this length acceptable?' she confirmed.
'Yes...thank you,' he mumbled once again.
With his permission she sliced clean through the absurdly long growth. With his movements less restricted he turned to face her whilst still covering his eyes.
'I'm ready' he uncomfortably stated.
Soi Fon sheathed her Zanpakuto, dropped the hair and began walking towards the barracks, the prisoner followed trampling his hair in the process.
He wondered as he left the Maggots Nest how inconvenienced the guards would be in disposing of his hair and a playful smile began to form upon his face before the blindness caused by the his freedom wiped it back off.