Always the innocent are the first victims, so it has been for ages past, so it is now.
~J.K. Rowling
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach
It took Kimiko less than five minutes to arrive at her home where it would have taken anyone else at least ten. The panicked woman was pushing her body much further than she should, but fear made it easy to disregard her own safety.
The lack of patrolling Shinigami was the first thing she noticed, the lack of Reiatsu caused her to feel sick. Her subordinates would never defect; they were some of the most loyal in the Gotei Fourteen.
Stay clearheaded young one. Her zanpakuto whispered as she drew the weapon from her side, the feeling of metal in her palm calming her racing heart.
Hanako's Reiatsu was present, strong as ever. The little girl was safe; it wasn't her fading Reiatsu that drew Kimiko. Rushing into her home through the open front door, Kimiko was faced with a sight that made her entire body freeze.
"Kimiko-taichou." The woman's fifth seat choked out, blood dripping from her mouth as she laid in a pool of blood, obviously her own. A quick sweep revealed they were alone save from Hanako whom was in her room, oblivious to the tragedy.
"Aimi-san." Kimiko whispered, sheathing her weapon and dropping to her knees beside the dying girl. Whoever did this, and the woman had her guess, was long gone.
"Hanako-chan is safe, it was Aizen-taichou, he-" A dreadful cough tore through the girl, spraying blood on the captain's white haori. "We weren't a match for him, I'm sorry taichou."
"Shh child, you've done excellent, you have nothing to be sorry about." Kimiko responded softly, gently stroking the head of the blonde. She knew the girl was beyond saving, even Unohana couldn't repair the damage that was done to her subordinate. "Rest Aimi-san, it has been an honor to have you as my fifth seat."
The girl had a small smile on her face as she closed her eyes, never to open them again. Kimiko kept the tears at bay, now wasn't the time.
"Kaa-san!" A child's voice cried out. Kimiko's reaction was immediate, lunging at her daughter and holding her close to her chest. The hug doubling as a way to keep her daughter from seeing her babysitter dead in a pool of blood.
The message was clear. Her daughter was safe for now, but Aizen had shown what he was capable of doing, what he was willing to do.
"Kaa-san? Why are you shaking?" Hanako questioned, voice muffled from being pressed to her mother's chest.
"No reason my little flower." Kimiko responded, doing her best to stop her shaking form, whether it be from rage or fear she wasn't sure. There was only one place the woman was sure her daughter would be safe. "Say, how about going stay with Ojii-san for a while?"
oOo
Kimiko's grandfather didn't question his granddaughter when she dropped her daughter off at the Shihoin estate with instructions to keep her by his side at all times. Something was wrong, he could tell by the trembling hand of his otherwise unshakeable granddaughter.
She immediately returned to her own house, comforted with the fact that her daughter would be safe. It was what she should have done from the start. Aizen and Gin made it clear her daughter would be a target, she could have saved the lives of her subordinates if only she'd been more cautious. It's just like all those years ago with Hotaru.
This is not the time for self-loathing fletching. Kimiko's zanpakuto chided sternly, causing the woman to sigh. The bird was right, she always was.
One by the one, the captain found the bodies of her subordinates. In the midst of it she called forth of Hell Butterfly to send a report to Yamamoto, informing him of the slaughter that took place at her residence, leaving out Aizen's name. There was no point in laying the blame, he'd have covered his tracks.
Each body she carried to her home weighed down on her very soul. Young men and women, filled with life, filled with promise, dead because of her.
The last body was laid on her lawn when Unohana arrived.
Seven Shinigami in total were slain, including Aimi. The two captain's stood in silence for a few minutes, staring at their dead comrades. This wasn't anything new for either of them, Shinigami die all the time in the field, but that never made it easier. As a captain it was your job to train these men and women, to protect them, Kimiko had failed.
The older woman placed a comforting hand on Kimiko's shoulder.
"It's truly a sad day for the Soul Society. First Aizen-taichou and now this." Kimiko kept her expression blank.
"What happened to Aizen-taichou?"
"He was found impaled on his own sword this morning by the Lieutenants after their meeting. His poor Lieutenant was heartbroken."
"I see, truly a shame." Unohana placed a comforting hand on the shorter woman's shoulder.
"I'll take things from here Kimiko-taichou." The woman said kindly and Kimiko nodded once, her eyes staying on her dead fifth seat, a storm raging inside of her.
Aizen wasn't dead, that much she knew for sure. He was very much alive, just the way Kimiko wanted. When than man drew his last breath she wanted it to be impaled on her zapakuto.
oOo
"I'll rip them apart piece by fucking piece!" Akane bellowed, face flushed with rage, her whole body shaking in anger.
"Akane-san, please calm yourself." Shikima said. Despite his outwardly indifferent expression, Kimiko could tell the man was just as furious as Akane, his was just more of a cold anger, while Akane's was blinding hot.
"Calm myself? You want me to calm myself?! Seven of our comrades were fucking murdered and you just want me to calm down?! This is bullshit!" Akane screamed, hand coming down hard on Kimiko's desk, a crack racing down the middle of it.
"Shikima is right Akane-san, this blind anger will get us nowhere." Kimiko reasoned, her voice tired and withdrawn. She hadn't even changed before calling the two into her office with the news, the blood of her subordinates was still staining her white haori.
"Then what do we do? Where do we go from here? They can't get away with this!"
"And they won't." Akane simmered down at her captain's tone. It's not something heard often. Kimiko often held her emotions at bay, keeping a poker face, but venom was seeping into her voice. Her hatred was evident. "They will pay, that I swear."
"What is our current plan Kimiko-sama?" Shikima questioned causing the woman to sigh.
"The division needs to be notified first and foremost. This is something I would do myself usually but there are more pressing matters to be dealt with. The fight with Kenpachi and the Ryoka has begun and Shunsui is currently engaged with a Ryoka. Right now two small Reiatsu are approaching the Shishinro, no doubt to try and break out Rukia, however Byakuya is already there." Kimiko stated, standing from her desk.
"So what? You want us to deliver the news and sit quiet like children?" Akane asked angrily.
"Too many of you have already died Akane-chan, there's nothing you can do at this moment. We can't confront Gin outright and we don't know where the real Aizen is, so yes, I want you to sit quiet like a child."
She didn't give her a chance to respond, Akane wouldn't go against her wishes, that much she knew.
Kimiko arrived at the Shishinro with only seconds to spare. Byakuya had just released his Shikai and was aiming at a man she had known for many decades.
It was just like her cousin to omit the fact that someone close to her would be present. She thought bitterly as she landed in front of the man, pulling her fan from her sleeve to hide her smile from Byakuya, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, the blood still on her haori making sure of that.
"What?! Nee-san?!" Ganju exclaimed in surprise.
"Ganju-kun! It's been so long! How's Kukaku doing? I really need to come visit; I've been neglecting you guys!" Kimiko chattered, turning her back on the irate Kuchiki.
"Move Hamasaki-taichou." Byakuya commanded, causing the woman to turn back around, a Cheshire cat grin on her face.
"I cannot allow you to kill this man Byakuya-boy."
"If you do not move I will take it that you are siding with the enemy and are therefore an enemy yourself. I will not hesitate to attack you."
"Try as you may, but I doubt you could even land a hit on me Byakuya-boy." She replied. Instead of replying, he aimed the pieces of his Zanapkuto menacingly towards the smirking captain. With a flick of her wrist she propelled Ganju back, out of range of the attack. She did nothing to prepare for the attack, opting to stand there, fan in front of her face and smile ever present.
"Will you not draw your Zanpakuto?" Byakuya questioned.
"This fan is the only weapon I need against you." The minute the words leave her mouth, the sword fragments descended upon the girl. Rukia screamed as the woman refused to move, a grin ever present on her face. In the second before the cherry blossom look-a-likes, in a movement almost too fast for even Byakuya's eyes to follow, Kimiko concentrated her Reiryoku in the fan and swung it in one fluid motion. The effect was a powerful gust of wind the successfully knocked away the Kuchiki heir's attack.
"Is that really the best you can do Byakuya-boy, I'm disappointed." Kimiko commented, lazily fanning herself. She was playing a dangerous game, she knew that, but she needed to keep his attention, to buy time for her idiot cousin.
Byakuya Flash Stepped toward the girl in an attempted to strike her with his zanpakuto, only getting frustrated the more and more she seemed to effortlessly dodge his attacks.
"You never have been able to beat me or Chi at tag Byakuya-boy." She teased as he swung at her again and she used her fan to deflect it. In his next swing, the sword grazed the sleeve of her haori and she swore under her breath. She was getting slower. The events of the morning took a great deal out of her, she wouldn't be able to keep one step ahead of her childhood friend much longer.
"Kimiko-san I warn you to be careful and I come upon you teasing poor Byakuya-taichou." An amused voice called out and Kimiko smiled. Jushiro always had a knack of showing up right when she needed him.
"I've never been good at taking your advice Jushiro." She chirped while barely dodging another swing of Byakuya's sword.
"I heard about what happed this morning. You and your division have my condolences." Jushiro said with a bow of his head and Kimiko felt her heart clench at the reminder, the faces of her fallen subordinates playing through her head. She noticed a flash of something flash across Byakuya's face before it snapped back to indifference.
"Thank you Jushiro, in times like this the support of a friend means the world." The sickly captain shot her a sympathetic smile before turning his attention to Rukia.
"And look at your Rukia! How are you? You look a bit skinny." Jushiro said, looking at his subordinate in concern.
"What is the meaning of this Ukitake-taichou?" Byakuya questioned.
"Kimiko-san was right to stop you from killing the Ryoka, what if it was him who killed Aizen? Who killed members of her division? They will be needed for questioning." Kimiko hid her smile with her fan, she knew that he knew that's far from the reason she intervened. Before their conversation can continue, an amazingly strong Reiatsu approached, lifting her spirits.
She hadn't realized it before, being too occupied staying out of Byakuya's reach, but Kenpachi's Reiatsu was dangerously low, lower than she had ever witnessed. Only seconds later an orange haired boy dressed in Shinigami attire soared over the side of the bridge, using the same device she had seen her cousin employ. The boy was still dressed in bandages but Kimiko could barely register the fact after getting a good look at his face.
"Kimiko-san?" Jushiro whispered, mirroring her own shock.
"It's not him Jushiro, you know that." She replied, her own voice barely raising above a whisper. They stay still, staring at the boy, but seeing someone else, seeing blue instead of orange as he conversed with Rukia.
"You sure are taking it slow." He remarked as Byakuya began approaching him. "Rukia and I did all that talking and you never attacked."
"Who do you think I am? Are you saying I have to look for an opening to kill you? Don't talk so big boy." If the situation wasn't so dire Kimiko would have scoffed at Byakuya's arrogance. She did scoff in the next moment when he released the extent of his Reiatsu. The boy, Ichigo she learned from his conversation with Rukia, stopped in his tracks and hunched over slighty. Rukia and the medic boy both crumpled under the weight and Kimiko shared a look with Jushiro. Such a trivial thing had no effect on the two captains watching from the sidelines.
Still, it's impressive that he can withstand this Reiatsu. I've never seen a Ryoka do so. Her sword commented thoughtfully and Kimiko couldn't help but agree. It was impressive indeed, however, the fact that Ichigo was injured meant he couldn't beat Byakuya, not now. Kenpachi wasn't an easy opponent to defeat, Kimiko had firsthand experience. That man fought with no regard for his own life, and those were always the fiercest opponents.
"Oh? You aren't perturbed by this Reiatsu? You seem to have improved a great deal." Byakuya said. "I don't know how you acquired the powers of a Shinigami again. You could have stayed peacefully in the human world. But you came here to throw away the life so narrowly saved."
"I aint gonna throw it away. I'm gonna defeat you and leave." Ichigo replied and Kimiko crossed her arms. He was confident, confidence was always a double edged sword. Confidence was good to have yes, but too much lead to arrogance. Being arrogant on the battle field was a death sentence to most.
"I told you not to talk so big boy." In the next second Byakuya disappeared, well, to the untrained eye. Kimiko's eyes easily followed him, and it seemed Ichigo did as well. She nodded to herself in approval. Byakuya's Flash Step was not one to laugh at. Though slow by Shihoin standards, the Kuchiki was actually quite skilled when compared to other Shinigami.
"You're not going to intervene? The boy is injured; he can't defeat Byakuya in that state." Jushiro asked curiously, causing the shorter of the pair to smirk.
"No need." She replied, no longer focusing on the battle in front of her, but the approaching Reiatsu that was getting closer as the seconds ticked by. Jushiro tensed as Byakuya brought his zanpakuto in front of his face, a sign of the release of his Shikai.
"Kimiko-"
"Scatter-" Was all he managed to say before a white bandage wrapped around his weapon. The gathered Shinigami glanced down in shock at the figure of Yoruichi, crouched, white bandage wrapped around her hand.
"You!" Byakuya exclaimed, eyes wide.
"It's been a long time eh? Byakuya-boy." Yoruichi said with a smirk on her tanned face.
AN: Wow this chapter took me a long time to write! It took me forever to get the first part the way I wanted. Anyone, you guys know the drill, hope you enjoyed! Lemme know if I got any Bleach facts wrong, thanks in advance!