Memories of the future past – part 2
Ichigo, Rukia and Renji were walking through Inuzuri for a few minutes. For the childhood friends, the place where they met and lived for decades had changed in some aspects, but mostly was still the same disgusting place full of people with evil hearts and empty eyes. That place was not made for everyone, only a few could live there for long, and the children were the ones that had more difficulty to survive. And, thinking about children, Renji and Rukia noticed something very odd.
They were walking in front of Ichigo, for they were the ones who knew the city. They suddenly stopped and started to look around, looking for something.
- Renji, are you thinking the same thing I am? - Asked Rukia, alarmed.
Renji still looked around, also alarmed, and suspicious.
- Probably yes.
Ichigo could not follow their line of thought.
- What is it? - He asked them, slightly irritated.
Rukia looked at her husband, who saw the worried expression on her face. She was sweating cold.
- There are no more kids here. - She said.
- What? - He looked into her eyes, feeling worried too.
Although they were walking for a long time, Ichigo only noticed the kids missing when Rukia pointed it out. He looked around to confirm.
- But where have they gone? - He asked again.
- We have no idea, but it's really disturbing, because Inuzuri was always filled with kids and not seeing them might be the beginning of a problem. - Said Renji.
- So, what will we do? - Wondered Ichigo.
- For now, we must split and look for these children, any child that might be walking around. If one of us finds anything, then we should send a reiatsu pulse to each other, so we can interrogate the child. - Suggested Rukia to them.
- What if we don't find anything? - questioned Ichigo.
- We will meet again in an hour, so look with caution and calm, we don't know exactly what's going on here.
- Ok! - Agreed Ichigo and Renji.
Inoue, Sado and Ishida arrived at Soul Society and were received by two members of two squads.
- Be welcomed, lady and gentlemen. - Said the captain with yellow smooth short hair, with a long and tick fang beside his face and an armband indicating that he was lieutenant.
- Kira-san, thank you for receiving us. - Greeted Inoue, recognizing him.
He smiled.
- Captain Abraai ordered us to receive you.
- And captain Kuchiki will show you the way. - Answered a man in front of the sixth squad.
- I see, Kira-san. Sado and I will go to the wreckages, we'll try to find any clue of the incident.
- Yes, mistress. - Kira greeted the two beside Inoue. - Men! You heard it, let's escort them!
- Yes, sir! - Answered the squad.
- Captain Kuchiki ordered we to guide you to the fourth squad, mister Uryuu, where the captain Unohana awaits you. - Said the third position of the squad in front of the other squad sent from Byakuya.
- I appreciate it. - Greeted Ishida.
- Let's go, men! We can't lose time! - He yelled.
- Yes sir! - They responded.
All of them started to move, going towards their objectives, vanishing moments later.
Byakuya was far away from there, in the central of overall commands, in a conference with Yamamoto Genryuusai.
- That's all, sir. - Byakuya finished his report about everything that happened on earth.
- I understand... - Yamamoto caressed his beard with one of his hands.
- Commander?
Yamamoto looked at him.
- Yes, Byakuya?
- Sir, was there ever a precursor project for the creation of a department of technology of research and development?
- No, but...
Byakuya raised his head to hear better.
- There was, a long time ago, a shinigami with extraordinary intelligence, an intelligence never seen to this day. He used to spend hours in his world, looking for answers for everything that existed on life and death... I remembered of something, when you mentioned documents found in the millennial archives of Soul Society signed with the initials...
- B and S. - reminded Byakuya.
- Bloodfield and Solomon, or, inverting the initials, Solomon Bloodfield.
- Who was he, sir?
- A primordial shinigami extremely powerful and companion of Magnus in the great first rebellion that happened centuries ago in Soul Society.
Yamamoto caressed his tired eyes. He was pensive and worried.
- It can't be... Could they possibly have survived all that?
- Sir?
Yamamoto looked at him again.
- Who's Magnus?
Yamamoto surprised Byakuya with a sad look on his face as he answered the question.
- The man who did all this in my head. - He answered, showing the big scar from the top of his head to the front.
"I remembered trusting a lot of archives to the Kuchiki family, it would be more enlightening if you look for them, a lot of your doubts would be answered."
- Yes sir, I will do so. - Byakuya greeted him and retreated himself.
- Captain Kuchiki?
- Sir?
- Take good care of your niece. - He was almost whispering.
- Huh? I'm sorry, sir?
- Nothing... You are dismissed.
Byakuya got out of the conference room.
Yamamoto got up from his chair and walked to the grand courtyard behind the salon. He looked with anguish to Seireitei and tried to see the horizon where Rukongai was.
- After all these years... Would it be possible that he would free himself to get revenge?
Some old memories came to his mind, he closed his eyes for an instant and then opened them, looking at his right hand. He slowly clenched his fist and looked again to the horizon.
- Magnus... Our time will come...
Ichigo walked through the streets, but as he looked for the children, he was worried about something else too.
- This is a horrible place... How could Rukia and Renji live here? - He talked to himself, as he continued his path.
Rukia ran through the slopes of the mountains around Inuzuri, she knew well those trails and from there she had a panoramic view of the place.
- What's happening? Where have they gone...?
Renji ran close to the river, and when he saw a location with people, he asked them if they knew what happened. But, deep inside, he already knew what he would hear.
- I don't know, I'm glad those plagues went away. - Answered an ugly fat woman.
- What kids? Were there any kids here? - Answered a guy with muddy face with no answer at all.
- The mutts? The dogcathcer must have gotten them. - Said a drunk with laughter.
Renji continued his search, thinking.
"It's not possible that no one noticed their missing... It's like they were brainwashed."
An hour passed and the three met again, in the limits of the city, next to the south forest.
- So, how was it? - Came Rukia descending from the sky.
- It wasn't. No kids, nowhere. - Ichigo nodded negatively.
- And the people who live here seem to be unaware or they simply just don't care. - The tattooed redhead said.
- I went to the trails of the mountains where I and Renji used to play when we were kids to have a better view of the city and look what I found.
Rukia showed them a piece of cloth, that appeared to be from a Teddy bear. There was blood in it.
- There's blood in it. - Showed Renji.
- I know, when I found this on the ground, I searched for another thing that could be related to this or could indicate a direction and found a suspicious hidden cave, not very far, but I thought it would be better to report it to you so we can give a look at it together.
- You did well. - Welcomed Ichigo.
- Ichigo, you and Rukia can go. I need to do something first.
- What are you going to do, Renji? - Asked Rukia.
- It's obvious that something really strange is happening here, but Soul Society never cared about the districts beyond the number 50, so I will report to them what we discovered here; I will unite a group for Inuzuri and will request a contingent to verify the other districts that are further beyond Seireitei. Maybe this is not only happening here.
- You're right, Renji. - Rukia gave him the piece of the Teddy bear. - And let my Nii-sama know it too.
- All right.
- Good luck Renji. - Said Ichigo smiling.
- Rukia, Ichigo... Take care and don't do anything reckless before I get back here with help.
- Leave it to us, captain. - Rukia grinned, playing with her friend.
Renji bade farewell, but had a serious look on his face. He flew as fast as he could to Sereitei.
- Rukia. - Ichigo called his wife.
She looked at him.
- Show me the way.
- Follow me.
They jumped from tree to tree towards the mountains.
On earth, at the store of Urahara, Hisana and her friends had just had supper and taken a shower and were getting ready to sleep.
- Hisa-chan, it's so cool that after such a long time you can sleep here with us again, isn't it? - The little Katsuya said with a happy face.
- Yes, I think it's cool too.
The other kids started to giggle.
- What is it? - Katsuya asked them.
- Hisa-chan and Katsu are dating... - Said the blond girl with blue eyes.
Katsuya and Hisana blushed and protested.
- No, we are not!
- Yes, you are. - Said the older girl with a latin figure.
- We aren't! - Hisana threw a pillow in the face of the blond girl and received a pillow on hers as well.
- Hey! Don't throw pillows at my sister! - Screamed the little boy with black smooth hair and blue eyes.
Katsuya threw a pillow on him as well. Suddenly, all the children look at each other with an amusing look on their faces.
- Pillow war! - They yelled at the same time.
The room became a war zone.
Rukia and Ichigo reached the front of the cave.
- Is it here, Rukia?
- Yes.
Ichigo looked at the darkness. In the entrance of the cave, he felt a very unpleasant feeling as if it was coming from inside the dark and a gloomy cold wind started to blow.
- Rukia... This place... Smells like death... - He said, finding it hard to say the right words to express his feelings.
- I know honey, I felt it too, that's why I couldn't get in. I felt a terrible anguish when I put my feet here.
- Let's walk in carefully. - Ichgio walks in ahead slowly.
- Right. - Rukia followed him closely.
In the meanwhile, at the forest, a very agile person was jumping among the trees without tipping any leaves. She went towards two unknown reiatsus, but even using her full speed, she knew that it would take long for her to get there.
- I hope they don't hesitate to attack... - She said to herself, biting her lower lip.
Ichigo and Rukia walked with caution, but it was too dark to see, so Rukia helped.
- Shekkahou! - She condensed, with both hands, a little red sphere, creating a lamp to help to guide them.
- Far better than Renji, heh? - Said Ichigo with a mocking tone.
- Of course it's better than his, what do you think I am? - She refuted, looking in his eyes.
- I didn't say anything... Sorry...
They continued to walk, getting deeper inside the cave. With time, they didn't know anymore where they were, but they kept moving forward.
All of a sudden, they realized that they were reaching a different place, open and clear.
- Ichigo, look at this.
- I see, we're elsewhere. Here the wind blows with more intensity.
They guided themselves feeling the walls and when Rukia saw that it was clear enough, she canceled her kidou and moments later they saw cables that apparently provided energy. They followed the cables to a place so full of light that it seemed to be day. There, they witnessed a shocking scene.
The couple looked around and went gaping.
- What the fuck is this? - Ichigo loudly exclaimed.
They were in a lab, well organized, filled with machines they never saw before, they were on and active. That place looked alive.
- What place is this? - Rukia stared amazed, trying to figure out what kind of machines they were. She took the opportunity to touch them, but, as she touched the structures, she activated something. - Oh... - She took a step back.
Ichigo and her saw a giant gate open in front of them that revealed giant test tubes, used for experiments filled with...
- My god... - That's all Rukia could say.
- The children... It can't be... - Whispered her husband, equally shocked.
Inside the test tubes, there were children, some deformed, others apparently normal and the rest almost unrecognizable.
Rukia stared at them with horror, feeling her heart tight and heavy, she imagined her daughter inside one of those tubes, making her heart ache more.
- So, that's where the Inuzuri children came to... - Ichigo could not describe what he felt.
- What monster would have the courage to do this to a child...? - Rukia was trying to control her anguish.
- Monster? Your words hurt my intellect.
The voice sounded creepy from behind Ichigo and Rukia that, in one leap, took defense positions.
- Who is there? - Yelled the redhead.
The steps were slow and light, demonstrating calmness. A man wearing a dark blue suit appeared in a platform above the lab; he was tall, with white skin, brown eyes, some grey hair showing he was middle aged and wore an elegant monocle in his right eye giving him an intellectual appearance. He walked with the help of a cane that had the design of a head of a creature in silver details that could not be distinguished. Slowly, he came to the border of the platform and stared at Ichigo and Rukia.
- Well, well, well, more unexpected guests. - He said smiling and analyzing the two.
- Who are you? - Ichigo repeated the question this time a little louder when he saw that the man might not have heard him, due to his age.
The man looked at Ichigo with a peaceful look on his face, and looked at Rukia as if he could see her interior. His easy smile vanished as his profound voice spoke:
- My name is Solomon Bloodfield.
- Are you the one who kidnaped all those kids? - Screamed Rukia with anger.
He stared Rukia and answered naturally.
- No. They have. - Solomon pointed at the direction of Rukia with his cane.
The couple looked behind them to where he had pointed and they saw many kids similar to the ones they say inside the giant tubes coming to them. Their reiatsus were different from anything the shinigamis had ever felt before and they looked hungry and thirsty.
- But what the... - Ichigo was frightened.
The kids jumped on them, roaring like monsters. They dodged without attacking.
- You monster, what have you done to them? - Rukia screamed at Solomon as she kept dodging the attacks.
- You invaded my lab, saw my creations and you still can't see the grandiosity of my science?
- You are insane! - Rukia and Ichigo yelled together.
- At least, the first invader tried to understand what I'm doing...
- Are you talking about captain Mayuri? Are you the one who killed him?
- No, I just transformed him in what he should always have been. - The man nodded negatively.
- What do you mean?
Solomon snapped his finger and the children stopped attacking. They jumped back and kept roaring like fierce dogs waiting for orders.
Steps adn chains being dragged started to sound from a corridor of tubes. Ichigo and Rukia retrieved their swords. Something powerful was approaching.
A grotesque being with human appearance was limping towards them, he dragged a chain tied to a sickle and in his waist, something that appeared to be a zanpakutou. He also wore a white Haori from a captain and looked familiar.
- Captain Mayuri... - Rukia was sweating cold.
Ichigo was perplexed.
- But how is that possible?! They said his body was at Seireitei! - He screamed.
- Who told you that the one inside the body you found is Mayuri? - Solomon asked raising a smile.
- It can't be...
Rukia and Ichigo were astonished.
In the headquarters of the fourth squad, Ishida was greeted by everyone and welcomed by the captain. They talked, exchanging information, then, minutes after, they went to the mortuary, where they prepared themselves to open Mayuri's complex and modified body.
- Ready, Unohana-san?
She answered by getting the scalpel and giving it to Ishida. He prepared himself for the first cut, but as he placed the cold blade in the skin of the captain, they had a surprise.
It was Mayuri's hand holding Ishida's hand, stopping him from doing the cut.
Unohana jumped backwards. Ishida couldn't step back, because his arm was firmly held by the captain. He then opened his eyes, revealing yellow shining iris. He got up and sat on the necropsy table, still holding Ishida.
- What do you think you're doing? - Said the cold voice of the captain.
- Captain Kurotsuchi, you are alive! But how?! - Unohana seemed happy.
Ishida stared at Mayuri. Something must have been wrong, for he did not believe in miracles. He positioned himself in front of the captain and looked at his face.
- Finally, I'm back home... - Mayuri had a diabolical expression. He raised his head and, as if the time passed slowly, he looked at Ishida, with his dark smile, and started to laugh.
- Unohana-san, watch out! - That's all Ishida could scream.
A giant explosion swallowed the headquarters of the fourth squad making many blocks and lives vanish.
The chaos begun in Seireitei, and from the flames, a tall person with golden hair and golden eyes came walking calmly and imposing to his objective:
The central of general commands.
The general Yamamoto Genryuusai watched perplexed to the giant flames coming from the fourth squad. He could hear people screaming for help.
- Sir! - Soi Fon came to him and got down to his knees, with an urgent look on his face. - The headquarters of the fourth squad exploded.
Yamamoto couldn't waste any time. An infernal butterfly appeared in front of him to transmit his order.
- All the captains must go to the explosion, the priority is to help survivors and to find the responsible for this!
All the captains heard the orders and reunited their squads as fast as they could, and went directly to the place of the explosion.
Soi Fon also had gone and with Onmitsu Kidou, she would strengthen the guard at strategic points of Seireitei.
Yamamoto, when he saw Soi Fon leaving, asked that lieutenant Sasakibe also left. Then, he sat on his chair and waited for something to happen.
Ichigo and Rukia were on guard as they observed Mayuri and the children.
- What happened? Aren't you going to do something? I must tell you, your friend don't remember any of you anymore.
- You bastard, what have you done to him? - Screamed Ichigo filled with hate.
- I just transformed him into something more useful, a guard dog, ferocious and... - Solomon snapped his fingers. - Very obedient.
The children and Mayuri attacked Ichigo and Rukia; they dodged the first attacks, but that place was too small for a fight with all of them.
- Rukia, let's split!
- OK!
Rukia separated from Ichigo and the children went towards her, as Mayuri tried to hit Ichigo with his sickle. He babbled like a monster and salivated like a hungry dog.
- Mayuri-san! Stop! - Screamed Ichigo.
But it was in vain.
Mayuri spun his weapon and copped Ichigo's left leg. He pulled him and started to spin him in the air, breaking many tubes with monstrous children inside.
- Ichigo! - Screamed Rukia as she dodged the attacks.
- I told you, he doesn't recognize you, so stop trying to call him or awaken his consciousness, because it won't work. - Explained Solomon.
- Then we have no choice... - Mourned Rukia. - Mae! Sode no Shirayuki! - The blade of her sword became different, it was still purely white, but it was longer than it used to be and the lace on its cable was now around Rukia's right arm to her shoulder, emanating a cold aura and more than one bell appeared on the cable, shining with a white and purple light.
- Don't do it Rukia, those children are innocent! - Said Ichigo, when he got rid of the chains.
- If we don't do anything, we will never get out of here alive and, if we purify them with the zanpakuotu, we'll recover their reincarnation cicle! - Explained Rukia defending herself with her zanpakutou.
Ichigo thought for a moment and realized she was right.
- So, it means I don't have to control myself, right? - Said Ichigo, with another eyes.
He held his sword.
- Bankai! - An overcoat appeared on Ihcigo's body, but his nude right arm was tied in chains. He held firmly the cable of his sword, and his blade emanated a red aura.
Solomon looked at that with great interest.
- Now I want to see if you can stop us! - Ichigo ran towards the captain and punched him. Mayuri crashed against the wall, but the wall staied intact. - What? The wall didn't even crack...?
- I built this laboratory to be safe and hidden from normal people, therefore, these walls don't allow your reiatsu to affect it or to be felt outside. Oh! And... I almost forgot, Ichigo and Rukia, right?
They both looked at him.
- If you kill them, don't think that in forty years the'll be back to their reincarnation cycle.
- What do you mean? - Asked Rukia.
- The ones that you are seeing right now are cratures genetically and spiritually modified by my great geniality with the purpouse to serve me only. That's why they are not creatures from the Great King, they are my creatures, in other words, creatures out of the reincarnation cycle, summarizing... - Solomon smiled cynically. - If you kill them, their souls will be lost forever.
Ichigo and Rukia were shaken.
Rukia didn't see the kick she received on her back. She flew towards the wall, breaking many tubes and making a loud noise when she clashed against the wall.
Ichigo was going to scream her name, but Mayuri hit him with his sickle, throwing Ichigo close to his wife.
They tried to stand up.
- Rukia, are you all right?
- Yes.
- Interesting. - Said Solomon, as he studied the couple.
- What's interesting, you son of a bitch? - Rukia growled, on her feet.
- Your zanpakutous are very similar, I'd say that it's a coincidence if it wasn't for the fact that you two have an also similar reiatsu, I risk myself saying that you could even have the same spiritual core. - He said, demonstrating interest.
Rukia and Ichigo were surprised.
- How did you...
- I see I'm right... And looking at the ring on your finger, I believe you are husband and wife. - He smiled.
Rukia and Ichigo stood guard, waiting for the enemies to approach.
- Do you have children? - He asked again.
- This is none of your business! - Ichigo screamed with anger.
- Oh... I see by your reaction that yes. - He grinned having fun.
Rukia had already heard enough.
- Some no Mai! Tsukishiro! - Rukia made a big frozen circle under Solomon's feet. He felt his feet cold and jumped away, half a second before an ice column with electricity almost froze him.
- Interesting. - Solomon looked aside just in time to see the blow from Ichigo's sword that made some objects and equipment go through the air.
- It can't be! - Ichigo said surprised.
Solomon stopped the blow with his cane and analyzed them again:
- You have the same spiritual core, what is a really rare thing, but your reiatsus, even being the same, have interesting peculiarities... - He looked at Rukia. - She intensifies her pure spiritual energy and her vital energy in denser spiritual matter, making her reaitsu bigger and her attacks based on Kidou more effectives and powerfull. - He looked at Ichigo. - But you do the opposite. You materialize your spiritual energy in pure physical strength, condensing it and making your attacks devastating. That's why it's so hard to feel your reiatsu.
- You can feel my reiatsu? - Asked Ichigo still holding Solomon's cane.
- Of course. You spiritual energy can only materialize until it's limit, but you, unconsciously, don't allow your energy to condensate completely, or you'll run the risk of losing your spiritual body, am I right? But I can fell something more inside of you, my dear...
Ichigo widened his eyes. Solomon was talking about his hollow.
Solomon moved Ichigo away with his cane and got down to the ground.
Rukia and Ichigo were side by side once more.
- Who... Who are you really? - Asked Rukia, tense. - A shinigami could never analyze us this way with just one look!
Solomon grinned.
- I am the guardian of all sciences and technologies that exist, existed and will exist in this world. I am the Primordial Shinigami Solomon Bloodfield, right arm of Omni Magnus, the one that, in this instant, is killing Yamamoto Genryuusai and destroying Soul Society and I believe that I found the perfect test subjects for my primordial research. - He said, with both hands resting on his cane and smiling to them.
- Shunkou!
The walls of the cave behind Solomon exploded and he looked surprised at his back.
- Impossible, the walls of Sekkiseki!
Yoruichi came descending in the middle of the children, blowing them away in pieces, she kicked Mayuri's face and his head turned on the contrary and he was thrown towards the wall, that broke this time. She stood in front of Ichigo and Rukia, looking at Solomon.
- Who are you? - He asked, with a serious expression.
- Shihouin Yoruichi! - She answered.
- Oh... The family Shihouin was always surprising, and how did you get here if it was impossible to feel their reiatsus? - He asked curious.
Yoruichi smiled with a playful expression.
- You may not have felt their reiatsus but I am a good scout and followed your footsteps.
- Very intelligent. No wonder why your family has the best strategists of Soul Society. - He complimented.
Solomon turned around and walked away.
- Wait, where do you think you're going? - Ichigo screamed at him.
- I'm leaving, don't you see?
- We are not done!
- Are you sure? I just told you that Yamamoto Genryuusai is dead and Soul Society is destroyed, and you want to waste your time with a poor old scientist? - Solomon mocked them.
- You son of a bitch! - Ichigo prepared to attack.
- Wait Ichigo! - Yoruichi held his shoulder. - Let's go.
- But, Yoruichi-san!
Yoruichi looked at Solomon, Ichigo noticed that she was sweating cold and her hand on his shoulder was trembling. He looked again at Solomon, but he no longer looked at them.
- What? - Screamed Rukia that was talking to someone on the phone.
Yoruichi and Ichigo looked at her.
- What is it? - He asked.
- The fourth squad was destroyed! - Rukia said apprehensively.
- No! Ishida was going there! - Ichigo reminded concerned.
- Let's get back to Soul Society quickly, on the way, I need to tell you something. - Said Yoruichi.
- Then let's move! - Ichigo ran to the hole Yoruichi did.
The former captain of Onmitsu kidou went after him, followed by Rukia that still looked behind her, sad at those kids and the captain who no longer moved.
Yamamoto Genryuusai was sitting on his chair when he heard the scream of the people behind the door of his office, suddenly, everything went quiet and the door opened slowly.
Yamamoto looked in the eyes of the man who just got in with a cold look.
- It's been a long time, my "old" friend. - The man smiled at him gloomily, and emphasized the word old.
The captain took a deep breath, as if he was waiting for this a long time.
- Magnus...
The man approached Yamamoto and continued to smile gloomly.
Yamamoto, in turn, looked sad at Magnus. He stared Seireitei on fire and then again to Magnus.
- Why does it have to be like this?
- I remember what you said before, that we are not the ones who make the rules, Yamamoto, if you have doubts, ask "him". - Answered Magnus, pointing at the great gate.
- I understand... Yamamoto got up from his chair. - But I remember that I told you differently: "I will stop you from doing this madness to yourself". - Said Yamamoto holding his sword.
Magnus laughed.
- All right, my friend, let's see if you can do something without the help of the great king and this time, I doubt he will help this sick, decadent world.
- I don't need his help to finish you, fool!
Magnus smiled calmly.
- Then do your best, "old friend".
Yamamoto and Magnus started to fight in the middle of the room of overall commands and this battle had as background Seireitei burning, where desperate screams could be heard.
To be continued...