Nice work ya did, you're gonna go far kid
~The Offspring
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
"You surely took you time Yoru-nee." Kimiko commented flip handedly, snapping her fan shut.
"Oh shut it Kimi." Yoruichi snapped back halfheartedly, eyes lingering on the blood staining her cousins haori. Seeing the sympathy in her cousin's eyes Kimiko shot her a small grin, reassuring the woman that she would be okay.
Shihoins' are fiercely protective of their own after all.
"Yoruichi Shihoin." Byakuya said, interrupting the cousins. "Former Commander of the Stealth Force Captain of Squad One Punishment Force. Yoruichi Shihoin. I haven't seen you in a while. You've been in hiding for over 100 years. I thought you were dead." Even from where she was standing Kimiko could see the various emotions dancing on Byakuya's face. No one else could see it, he was a master of masking his emotions, but Kimiko had known the man for decades, she knew him before he was the seemingly emotionless man that stood before them. She knew how to read him.
"Yoruichi, you came to rescue me, didn't you? Thank you. Sorry, though. Move aside. I've got to defeat this guy." Ichigo interjected and Kimiko scoffed.
"Defeat him? You? Defeat him? You fool!" Yoruichi replied disbelievingly before disappearing from everyone's sight but her cousins. In a flash, she was in front of Ichigo, jabbing her hand into his wound.
A sedative, Kimiko noted while everyone else watched in varying degrees of shock.
"Wh-What're you doing? Yoru…i…" Sure enough, the boy's head rolled back and his body fell, to be caught by Yoruichi.
"Medicine." Jushiro commented in realization. "'Gaten' or 'hoten'. You thrust a powerful anesthetic into him didn't you? What do you intend to do with him Yoruichi?"
"Nothing you do will help." Byakuya stated. "There's no escaping from here."
Byakuya couldn't hope to compete with Yoruichi when it came to Flash Step. It's what she was renowned for.
But she does have the boy, the added weight will slow her. Her zanpakuto pointed out.
It was a good point, but even being weighed down by a boy no doubt heavier than her, Kimiko knew her cousin was still faster than Byakuya. She wouldn't let herself be caught, especially not by him.
"Oh…you talk like a big shot now don't you, Byakuya-boy. I bet you still can't beat Kimi, but you think you can beat me?" Yoruichi scoffed, throwing her cousin a wink, "Have you ever once beaten either of us at 'tag'?"
"Would you like to try me?" Byakuya questioned.
The chase that ensued was pointless. At one point Byakuya did manage to nick Yoruichi's top, slicing off a piece of fabric, but the woman stepped up her game after that, making sure it wouldn't happen again.
"Three days!" She called atop the building directly behind Kimiko and Jushiro. "In three days, I'll make this boy stronger than you. This fight is postponed until then. Give chase if you wish, but "Flash Master Yoruichi" won't be caught by the likes of you yet!"
Kimiko and her cousin locked eyes, understanding passing between the two of them and then the woman was gone.
"They got away." Jushiro commented after a beat of silence. Byakuya on the other hand simply turned and walked away, pride damaged once again. "Where are you going Byakuya? Didn't you want to capture the Ryoka?"
"I've lost interest. Do what you want now." He said indifferently before disappearing.
"Well that was exciting." Kimiko chirped, plastering on a smile. "But a captain's work is never done, I'll see ya later Jushiro. Take care!"
Kimiko emphasized the last sentiment. No one was safe, she knew that now. In a flash, she too was gone.
…
En route to meet with her cousin Kimiko stopped by her divisions barracks. Tomo immediately greeted her and she scooped the red panda up into her arms, feeling a bit better as the animal nuzzled lovingly against her face.
Her subordinates stared at her as she passed through the halls, seeing the blood on her haori and connecting the dots between the sight and the information of their fallen comrades. The mood was grey to say the least, but there was an angry undertone there as well.
It wasn't very often members of the fourteenth division were slain, mostly because Kimiko was meticulous in keeping them alive. If there was even the slightest risk she made sure there was more than one person, and she never sent someone on a mission beyond their capabilities. Seven was an unprecedented number within their division, and for a seated member especially was almost unbelievable.
"Hamasaki-taichou!" A voice called from behind her and she paused to turn and acknowledge the person. It was Tamaki unsurprisingly. "Taichou, with all due respect, we're all tired of sitting around. Seven of our comrades have fallen while we just twiddle our thumbs. Let us help."
Kimiko sighed. She knew Tamaki was voicing the thoughts of the majority and she couldn't blame them. Of course they were frustrated, they were the only division not doing something. But the problem was that there was nothing they could do. Kimiko trusted every single member of her division and their abilities, but there wasn't an enemy for them to fight.
"I understand the frustration and helplessness everyone is feeling, but you have to trust me. The people who are responsible for the deaths of our comrades will pay dearly, but right now I need everyone here. Get things in order, prepare for the fallout of what may or may not occur. Because though I cannot tell you the details, if these people succeed, the Gotei Fourteen will not be the same." Tamaki wasn't satisfied, that was easy to see, but he nodded regardless, putting his faith in his captain.
She smiled at him before turning completing the walk to her office. Shrugging off the bloodstained haori she folded it neatly and placed it in her closet, pulling out a fresh one, realizing for the first time she left her purple haori at Jushiro's.
"Prepare for the fall out huh?" Akane scoffed, arms crossed and leaning against the doorframe.
"There's nothing else to be done Akane." Kimiko sighed, tying her haori into place and turning to face the girl.
"I can think of a few things." She growled.
"What? Get yourself killed?" Kimiko shot back, sharper than she meant.
"Do you have so little faith in me?" Akane questioned, an undertone of hurt present.
"Of course not Akane." Kimiko stressed. "But they took out seven of our comrades as easy as swatting flies. They could keep their intentions hidden this whole time, tricking everyone in the Seireitei. Not to mention that if they plan on betraying the entirety of the Gotei Fourteen, they are more than confident in their abilities. I am confident in your abilities, it's why you're my third seat, but these men have probably surpassed the abilities of a captain."
Akane's shoulders slouched at your words. She knew her captain was right, she always was.
"I hate this. I hate not doing anything." She grumbled and before Kimiko could respond, a knock on her door interrupted them.
"Come in."
"Hamasaki-taichou, I hate to disturb you but I have urgent news from Hitsugaya-taichou." The Shinigami said.
"Proceed."
"Hinamori-fukutaichou, Izuru-fukutaichou, and Abarai-fukutaichou have all escaped from their holding cells." Kimiko nodded once and dismissed the Shinigami. She knew Yoruichi was waiting for her, and her cousin was never the patient type.
"I have to go now Akane, thank you for understanding and remember this isn't a punishment, nor is it me not having faith in your abilities." Kimiko stressed, looking her subordinate in her eyes, making sure her words reached the girl.
"I understand Taichou." She murmured, averting her gaze. Not many people saw this side of the girl. Because despite her tough demeanor, Akane was just that, a girl. One who was forced to grow up too fast. For every sneer, every snarky remark, and every growl, Kimiko knew what it was hiding. Vulnerability. The fear of not being good enough, not being strong enough, not being anything.
Kimiko gave her a reassuring grin before she was gone. The captain made a straight shot to where she knew Yoruichi would be training the Ryoka, where she knew Renji was heading.
"Geez and you call me slow Kimi-chan." Yoruichi teased when her cousin appeared at her side.
"I've been a bit preoccupied with my own problem Yoru-nee." Kimiko responded, too exhausted to banter with her cousin at the moment. The taller woman's expression visibly hardened at the reminder.
"We'll get that bastard, he's crazy to think he could attack a member of the Shihoin clan and live." She growled, her voice oozing venom.
"He'll be pleading for the release of death by the time I'm done with him." Kimiko responded, a sinister smile on her face. She wasn't a cruel or sadistic person by nature, but when the situation called for it, she was no amateur.
"Kimiko-taichou?!" Renji shouted, surprised at the sudden appearance of the woman. Ichigo barely spared the woman a second glance, focused intently on his own training. "What are you doing here?"
"She's here to aid in your training of course." Yoruichi stated simply while her cousin cheerfully waved at the dumbstruck Lieutenant. "I may be faster than my cousin here, but her power exceeds mine. Besides, she's the person most familiar with Byakuya's technique. You'll benefit more from training with her."
"I won't go easy on your Renji-kun!" The woman exclaimed, more than a little excited to finally blow off a little steam. Renji visibly paled when she took out her fan and began lazily waving her fan, the grin on her face anything but comforting.
…
Seven hours later, Renji finally falls to the ground, a sweaty, bloody mess. His opponent on the other hand looked like she had barely broken a sweat. The woman spun her scythe Zanpakuto and in one smooth motion, put it back in its sheath, it having transformed back to its Shikai state.
"Well, I think I'm going to hit the hot spring! My muscled ache quite a bit, Renji come with!" The boy shouted something unintelligible when the woman whom was a foot shorter than him picked him up and threw him over her shoulder with ease.
"Are you crazy?! We can't go into a hot spring together!" He protested, trying to struggle out of the captain's grip to no avail. Yoruichi laughed from her post as she watched the pair.
Eventually the duo reached the hot spring and before Renji could protest more, Kimiko tossed him in. She immediately jumped in after him, only removing her socks and sandals as an afterthought. The red head came up sputtering curses at the woman whom was relaxing with her eyes closed, relishing in the feel of the hot water.
"You won't beat him Renji." The woman finally said bluntly.
"Of course I will! I can use Bankai now and you've taught me how to fight against him." Renji shouted angrily.
"There's a difference between being able to use it and mastering it." Kimiko countered. "I'm not saying you're not going to put up a good fight, you'll probably even gets some hits in, but Byakuya has had decades to master his use of Bankai. He's simply more skilled than you are."
"I have to try though. I have to save Rukia." He muttered and you cracked once eye open, seeing an unusually solemn look on his face.
"You're not the only one fighting for Renji." She reminded. "Make sure to get a good few hits in, Byakuya needs to be knocked down a notch or two."
Just as Kimiko was just letting her body relax when the sound of a familiar fluttering ruined the moment. She opened her eyes and spotted the black butter in the distance, coming straight to her. When the creature finally reached the duo, Kimiko shot a glance at Renji before holding her hand out for it to land.
"Hamasaki-taichou of the Fourteenth Division, urgent news involving the prisoner Rukia Kuchiki. Her execution has been moved up to today at noon. This is the final decision in the matter of her sentence." Kimiko and Renji sat in stunned silence for a beat before jumping into action, the captain going straight for Yoruichi and Renji no doubt going to his captain.
"Less than ideal news Yoru-nee, Rukia's execution has been moved to today at noon." She relayed, her cousin's face hardening at the news.
"You're leaving then?"
"I have to confirm my theory about Central Forty-Six
"Be safe Kimi." The older Shihoin said, concern lacing her features. She knew Kimiko was more than capable of taking care of herself, but years of being the older one, the "protector", was hard to break.
"That's my line." The captain teased and the pair shared an affectionate smile before the younger of the two was gone.
The lack of guards present was the first thing Kimiko noticed when she arrives at Central Forty-Six. That coupled with the fact that the door opened with no resistance when she pushed it open puts her on her guard immediately. It looked deserted.
"I am Kimiko Hamasaki-taichou of the Fourteenth Division requesting permission to enter." She announced when she reached the gate to the underground assembly hall. The only response the captain got was the emergency locks activating.
Hardening her resolve, Kimiko unsheathes her Zanpakuto and sliced through the door. The lack of any alarm and guards practically confirmed her theory right then and there.
They must have removed the guards, resealed the door, and deactivated the alarms. They certainly took precautions. Kimiko thought, an uneasy feeling in her gut.
Wasting no time, Kimiko ran through the empty halls, right hand on the handle of her Zanpakuto just in case. The scene the young woman came upon made her sick to her stomach. Every single member of Central Forty-Six lay dead in their seats. Fighting her emotions, the captain ran her finger along the table, feeling the black, flaky blood.
This happened far from recently. How long have Gin and Aizen been pulling the strings? The thought made her even more sick.
Calm down young one, take a deep breath and process everything. A comforting voice said inside Kimiko's head and she did what her Zanpakuto instructs her too.
Her suspicions were proven correct. She didn't have evidence directly linking Gin and Aizen to the crime but she as positive this was their doing. Next was to locate Aizen, he wasn't dead, she knew that. He was supposed to be dead, so he would be somewhere where no one could stumble upon him.
It hit her and without further delay began to Flash Step to her destination. Seijotokyorin, the living quarters of Central Forty-Six and absolutely off limits. The perfect spot for someone who's supposed to be dead.
While on her way to her destination, she couldn't help but notice the influx of Spiritual Pressure coming from Sokyoku Hill. A smile wormed its way onto her face. Kimiko may or may not have slipped the tool needed to seal Sokyoku after her spat with Byakuya to Jushiro. Being that her little brother was the head of the Shihoin clan, she could get the tool with no resistance.
She arrived at the Seijotokyorin, bursting through the front doors just in time to witnedd Aizen impale Momo Hinamori, his own lieutenant, with his Zanpakuto. Hearing her entrance, he turned to her, a sickening smile on his face.
"Welcome, my love."
A/N: Another day, another chapter in which I shamelessly beg for reviews.