Chapter 2
"Is that it? No more Hollows?" Kaien panted. Hueco Mundo was eerily quiet, the screams of a multitude of Hollows silenced. The sands were strewn with dead bodies that were slowly dissolving into reishi.
Rukia looked similarly wiped out as she approached him. "I think that's all of them. All of the ones who weren't smart enough to run, at least."
"Can we get out of this hellhole?" Kaien was tired of looking at sand and at the palace Aizen had built, where he'd been imprisoned inside Aaroniero for years.
"Kurotsuchi-taicho should be able to reopen that Garganta," Rukia said.
"Then let's head over that way—" Kaien began before his legs gave out from under him and he toppled to the ground.
Rukia hurried towards him with a startled cry and knelt beside him. "Are you alright, Kaien-dono?"
Kaien groaned. "Yeah. I think I just… exhausted myself. My body has been weak ever since you saved me from Aaroniero."
"It will probably take some time for you to recover from that," Rukia said shrewdly as she helped back to his shaky feet. "Getting used to having a body again, right?"
"Something like that," Kaien agreed. Well, it was either that, or Kaien was adjusting to having an entirely new body built from Aaroniero's remains, as gross as that sounded.
Rukia took off in a slow, unsteady shunpo back towards Szayel's lab while halfway supporting Kaien. Along the way, they were joined by Kuchiki-taicho and a couple of Rukia's Human friends, the big one and the skinny Quincy. The rest of the group was already waiting for them back at the lab.
Kurotsuchi-taicho was eyeing Kaien greedily. "Some weakness in your body? Perhaps a reiatsu imbalance, yes… Nemu! Make note of this!" He started spouting something technical to his lieutenant, who dutifully began inputting notes in a handheld device that had somehow survived the invasion of Hueco Mundo intact. Kaien just sighed. It seemed he wouldn't be escaping scientific study, even if said study was noninvasive.
"Can't we go, or is there something holding us up?" the Quincy asked disdainfully, his dislike of Kurotsuchi-taicho quite clear.
"Yes, yes, I'll set up the Garganta in a moment," Kurotsuchi-taicho said dismissively, turning away to work on the Garganta.
In the meantime, Rukia set Kaien down while her friends curiously gathered around her. "Rukia, I'm glad to see you making friends! Who are they?" Kaien asked warmly, studying each of Rukia's friends (minus Kurosaki, who had long since departed). There was a large, dark-skinned Human, a skinny, pale Quincy, Inoue, and a spiked red-haired Shinigami who wore the badge of the Sixth's lieutenant.
"This is Chad, Ishida, you know Inoue, and Abarai Renji," Rukia said as she pointed to every one in turn. Kaien nodded cordially to each. "Everyone, this is Shiba Kaien-dono, who I thought had been killed by a Hollow but just wound up being a part of Aizen's experiments," she finished a bit bitterly.
There was a general chorus of hellos (and a little bit of wide-eyed awe and recognition from Renji) before Inoue knelt by Kaien, hands fluttering above him as she pulled out her two healing spirits, evidently seeing the trouble he was having with his body and wanting to help.
"Ah, don't do that," Kaien said quickly, before she could envelop him with the Souten Kisshun.
"Why not?" Inoue looked genuinely concerned.
"Your powers work by rejecting reality, correct?" Aizen had informed his Espada of why Inoue was so valuable, which meant that Kaien knew how her powers worked, too.
"I suppose that is one way to put it…" she said hesitantly.
"I'd rather not risk having Aaroniero, the ninth Espada, rejected back to life. I'm not saying that's what would happen, but it's a possibility." Kaien tried to be gentle, but she still recoiled from him at the thought of what her powers might be able to do.
"Oh, I-I'm so sorry," Inoue said shakily, downcast. "I wasn't thinking."
"Hey, it's okay. It just means I'll have to recover the old-fashioned way," Kaien said reassuringly.
"The Garganta is ready!" Kurotsuchi-taicho called, interrupting the conversation. Inoue still looked a little downcast, but now didn't seem the time for some tough Shiba love.
Rukia helped him up, and everyone crowded around the gaping black hole in the sky, save for Neliel and two Hollows that were apparently allies. This did not go unnoticed.
"Will you be coming with us, Nel? And your friends too?" Inoue asked, nodding to the two Hollows that seemed to function as Neliel's Fracción.
"We'll follow you wherever you decide to go, Neliel-sama!" one of them declared.
Neliel considered the question carefully. "I think we'll stay here for the time being. We wouldn't want a Shinigami mistaking us for an enemy!"
"By law, we are supposed to execute any Hollows we come across," Kuchiki-taicho pointed out, though he made no move to follow that rule.
"So it would be best if we stayed in Hueco Mundo! But just because we're hanging around here doesn't mean we can't come to visit once things die down! Oh, but wait, before you leave… be right back!" Neliel sonidoed off, covering great distances in the blink of an eye. She wasn't nearly as wiped out as some of the other members of the group were from fighting. She returned bearing a bloody and unconscious Grimmjow.
"Can you heal him?" Neliel asked, gently laying Grimmjow's form on the sand in front of Inoue.
"Yes, I should be able to," Inoue said, her spirits already hovering at each end of Grimmjow's body and creating the familiar yellow dome.
"Isn't he an enemy?" Renji asked, eyeing Grimmjow warily.
"Not necessarily. I think he was just like Kenpachi-san in wanting a good fight. He did attack Ulquiorra-san for interfering," Inoue said thoughtfully as she worked.
"He would be a powerful ally, if he so chose to help us," Ishida murmured.
"Exactly! I think he would be a good friend!" Neliel said happily. Inoue's power faded as Grimmjow was healed, though he remained unconscious.
"Are we all done here? Nothing else to do?" Renji checked as Neliel picked Grimmjow up again.
"Seems so," said Chad.
"Shall we, then?" Rukia said, gesturing toward the Garganta. One by one, each Shinigami and Human leapt through the portal, some waving goodbye to Neliel and her Fracción.
"Bye bye!" Neliel called cheerfully. "See you all again someday!"
The inside of the Garganta was black as pitch, save for the stable, glowing, white road of reishi Kuchiki-taicho was constructing at the front of the group. Kaien had seen the inside of these only a few times before – Metastacia and later Aaroniero had seldom gone world-hopping – but he was still vaguely aware of how they worked. It would take some time to make it back to the World of the Living. Or, as Kuchiki-taicho had informed them, to the fake Karakura Town that had been constructed specifically to stall Aizen.
This gave Kaien some time to try to manage his shaky body. He was still leaning on Rukia for support, his wobbly legs unable to fully handle his weight. It wasn't as bad as it had been in Hueco Mundo – it seemed he was recovering from exerting himself so much against the horde of Hollows – but he would probably need rest before he was back at one hundred percent. Unfortunately, they were in the middle of a war and had no time to recuperate, so he would just have to make do. At the very least, he wanted to be able to stand on his own two feet by the time they made it to the World of the Living, even if he wouldn't be participating in any more combat.
As it turned out, Kaien needn't have worried about engaging in the fighting, because there was no fighting in the fake Karakura Town anymore. All of the Espada and their Fracción had been killed or run off, though it seemed almost every Shinigami officer had been downed in the process. Kaien also picked up the reiatsu signatures of the exiles from a century ago – the Vizards, as he'd been informed they were called – so they'd apparently come to help, too.
But he was most interested in the very familiar signature emanating near Kyoraku-taicho's.
He bade goodbye to Rukia, who wanted to go with her friends to the real Karakura Town in Soul Society to see Kurosaki, and began making his way toward his old captain. Kurotsuchi-taicho was too busy complaining about the state that his construct was in to notice, Zaraki-taicho had wandered off, and Kuchiki-taicho had disappeared, likely to help with cleanup. The lower-class Shinigami that had also traveled to Hueco Mundo stayed with their captains.
Without shunpo, it was slow going, and it seemed Unohana-taicho made it to Ukitake-taicho and Kyoraku-taicho before he did. Ukitake-taicho was on his feet and headed Kaien's way before Kaien could get there, thanks to Unohana-taicho, so he leaned against a crumbling wall.
He didn't have to wait long. A disheveled and injured Ukitake Juushiro appeared in front of him, staring at him as though he were a hallucination. Kaien supposed a little incredulity was to be expected; he had died, after all.
"Hi, taicho," Kaien said tiredly. "Miss me?"
"Kaien… What in the world…?" Ukitake-taicho said, eyes roving over Kaien's form, from the "9" tattoo on his cheek to his torn and dirtied white uniform. "I thought I was just imagining things when I felt your reiatsu signature, but… what on earth happened? How are you alive?"
Kaien began summarizing the entire ordeal to his captain, start to finish. "Very long story short, it turns out Metastacia was one of Aizen's experiments, and it regenerated my body in Hueco Mundo. It was still in control at the time. Then it was eaten by an Arrancar named Aaroniero, and my power was integrated into his. He had full use of Nejibana and could access all of my memories. Rukia, that reckless idiot, destroyed Aaroniero and saved me by transferring her powers to me."
Ukitake-taicho listened quietly and intently, lips pressed together in displeasure at hearing the fate that had befallen Kaien. He was an astute man and was no doubt picking up on the misery Kaien had had to endure by being under a Hollow's thumb. Instead of grilling him for details, though, Ukitake-taicho just pulled him into a bear hug. "Welcome back," he said softly.
"Good to be back," Kaien said, smiling. "And, taicho? Thank you for allowing me to battle Metastacia on my own. I realize the outcome wasn't ideal, but…"
"You're welcome. It was a fight for your pride and honor, and I had no right to interfere with that."
"Yeah," Kaien said. "Anyway, what's happened with Aizen? Is he dead?"
"Not that I know of," Ukitake-taicho sighed. "He's gone to the real Karakura Town. Kurosaki-san followed him, but we haven't heard any news yet."
"So we're just waiting," Kaien surmised. "Great. Waiting to hear news of the end of the world is so much fun."
Ukitake-taicho snorted in amusement before falling into a coughing fit. Kaien automatically moved to put a comforting hand on his back, a habit ingrained from decades of practice and not something that would be easily erased, even by years of imprisonment and abuse.
"So how's the division been doing? Have you found a replacement for me yet?" Kaien asked teasingly once his captain had recovered.
"I haven't found a lieutenant, actually," Ukitake-taicho said. Seeing Kaien's frown, he added, "I have two Third Seats, Kiyone and Sentaro, that have taken over most of the tasks you used to handle. I have plenty of help; don't worry."
"Good. They're great Shinigami," Kaien said, casting his thoughts to the enthusiastic Shinigami who'd been Seventh Seat and Ninth Seat last he'd checked. They'd held him in high esteem – idolized him, almost – but they were competent, and between the two of them, there shouldn't be any problems. But before Kaien could ask about what was happening in the division in general – who'd been promoted or demoted, who'd died, how well the division was functioning – a voice interrupted him.
"Attention, all Shinigami… and to the masked ones who aided us. Kurosaki Ichigo has defeated Aizen Sousuke, whose power has been sealed. Repeat, Kurosaki Ichigo has defeated Aizen Sousuke, whose power has been sealed. Please be aware that the constructed town and the real one will switch places in three minutes. Report to the center of the town if you are able. You will be picked up, if otherwise."
"That sounds like Sasakibe-fukutaicho," Kaien noted as the kido-enhanced voice faded. "Shall we, taicho?"
When they made it to the center of the town, sometime after the real and fake Karakura Towns had switched places, Kaien took note of all the new and familiar faces among the Shinigami who had battled, though it seemed the exiles from a century ago had run off already. One face was of particular note, though he supposed he shouldn't have been surprised.
"Isshin-ji!" he called, waving and attracting the attention of a number of the Shinigami, who stared in shock. Soi Fon-taicho's remaining hand crept to her zanpakuto, but Ukitake-taicho moved to intercept her and smooth things over by explaining his presence. Thankfully, Isshin also looked his way and gaped in astonishment.
"Kaien!" he said in wonder. "How…? Wait a second, what's with that uniform and tattoo?"
"This body used to belong to the ninth Espada. It's complicated. I'm sure you'll hear the whole story soon enough. But, surprise, I've come back to life!" Kaien paused, taking note of the shred of captain's haori tied to Isshin's shoulder. "What about you? I see you made captain while I was gone! I'm surprised Yamamoto lets you wear the haori like that."
"Yeah." Isshin gave a tight, pained grin. Whoops, it seemed as though this was a touchy subject. Something else to talk about… wait, he'd heard something in Las Noches from Aizen about Kurosaki Ichigo being Shiba Isshin's son, hadn't he?
"So, Kurosaki Ichigo is yours?" Kaien questioned.
A proud but sad look flitted across Isshin's face before it was gone. "Yeah, Ichigo's my kid."
"I guess I'll see him back in Soul Society, then," Kaien said pensively. Provided that Central 46 didn't do anything stupid regarding his nephew's Hollow powers. Though Central 46 would face a huge backlash if they tried to do anything untoward to the Shinigami's savior.
Isshin shifted in embarrassment, which Kaien immediately noticed. "Isshin-ji, what have you done?" he asked suspiciously. Isshin always seemed to be the center of some commotion or another.
"I may have married a Human woman. And my kids are Human," Isshin said sheepishly.
Kaien gaped. How the hell was that even possible? And how had Isshin gotten away with it? "Kids? Plural? Wait a second. You live in the Human world now?" he asked dazedly.
"…Quite possibly," Isshin replied.
Kaien facepalmed. "Of course you'd finally find a woman only for her to end up being Human. What am I going to do with you?" Kaien said dramatically. "Well, I'll just have to come down and visit sometime. You're still family."
Isshin's expression abruptly turned grave. "About that…"
"Shiba Kaien." Whatever Isshin was going to say was interrupted by the arrival of the captain-commander, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who was stern as always but was also curiously missing an arm. "It seems you've been miraculously returned to us." Ah, yes, the grilling. To make sure Kaien wouldn't attempt to attack them or otherwise help Aizen.
Kaien considered himself lucky to escape that encounter with merely an order to report to Unohana Retsu within the next month to determine if Aaroniero Arruruerie was truly gone. And Kaien was going to comply. The captain-commander was scary.
Kaien probably should have expected the incredulous stares and unsubtle whispering as he walked past scores of Shinigami on his way from the Senkaimon to the clan compound. He was still well-known, apparently, despite having been dead for decades. He was allowed to wander off by himself, though Ukitake-taicho did ask him to come to the Thirteenth's barracks to say hi to Kiyone and Sentaro, who would be over the moon to find out he'd been essentially resurrected.
Right now, though, he had a clan to reunite with, because for Shibas, family came first.
…Except that the clan compound wasn't where it was supposed to be, in the noble province of Seireitei. In fact, the compound was completely gone, nothing but a bare patch of land to show that there had once been a gigantic house there. Kaien turned in a circle, wondering what on earth had happened while he'd been dead.
"So the rumors are true." Oh, crap, that was Kukaku's I'm-pissed-beyond-pissed voice and Kaien was so dead. "Shiba Kaien has returned from the grave."
"Hi, sis," Kaien squeaked as he turned, seeing his sister for the first time in years. Normally, he'd give her a giant hug as a greeting, but she seemed too irate for that right now. Almost on the verge of tears, in fact. Kaien knew his sister had a temper, but he'd never seen her so worked up before.
"You know, when the news came from Seireitei that you'd been recovered alive, I couldn't believe it. I thought people were playing a cruel prank," Kukaku said shakily, looking as though she was holding onto her self-control with her fingertips. "Ganju and our retainers were absolutely shattered when they heard people saying such things. But… here you are. You jerk! How dare you go and die on all of us!" Kukaku roared, racing forward to tackle Kaien to the ground. Kaien made no move to stop her, especially when he felt droplets of water fall to his face as he was enveloped in a bone-crushing hug.
"Easy, little sis," he murmured, embracing her back as she cried. "It's okay. I'm back."
"If you're ever so stupid as to die alone again when you have backup, I'll bring you back myself just to kill you again!" she snarled into his shirt, her grip tightening on the torn white clothes that Kaien really wanted to change out of and burn. Kaien knew Kukaku understood the type of fight that was for pride… but he'd really hurt her, the whole family too, by his decision. Maybe if he were in a similar situation again, he'd tell his pride to hang, because the consequences if he failed were too great, and he probably wouldn't be the only one gunning for revenge against something that had killed someone important, anyway.
Sometime after Kukaku had stopped quivering from the force of her emotions, Kukaku rolled off of him to lie in the dirt beside him, an arm thrown over her eyes. "…Ganju and the others are going to freak out when I get you home," she mumbled.
"Speaking of, uh, where's the compound?" Kaien asked, looking over at her.
"Oh. You don't know, then. The clan's been scattered, banished to Rukongai. There are now only four Great Nobles Houses in Seireitei," Kukaku said bitterly.
"…WHAT?!"
Shorter than the last chapter, but hopefully we'll be back to full size next chapter. This is a pretty transitional, filler chapter, and it was kind of tough to write. Because there were also lots of feels, and I'm bad at those.
Anyway. Next time: Ganju and the rest of the Shiba family, lots of paperwork, and what is that sound Kaien hears in his mindscape?
Thanks for reading!
-HM