Kaien was glowing with crimson spirit energy, a wolf's head made of energy behind him as he held his twin Zanpakuto to his sides. In front of him, Grimmjow stood grinning challengingly with Pantera drawn before him. Nearby, Gin stood with his Zanpakuto, Shinso, in hand. Kaien's spiritual energy suddenly spiked before he quickly charged Grimmjow, both blades reared back, Grimmjow still grinning as he moved to block the attack, both blades colliding with the Espada's Zanpakuto.
"Not bad! (Grunt) But you've still gotta ways to go!" Grimmjow said, still smiling as Kaien pressed against the blades before Grimmjow shoved him back, Kaien landing in a skid on his feet before coming to a halt.
"Time for a break." Gin said as he sheathed his Zanpakuto, Grimmjow and Kaien glancing at the ex-Captain for a moment before they sheathed their swords, Ametsuchi remaining in their Shikai as Kaien placed them on his back. Kaien promptly sat down on the ground, glancing around the chamber. The chamber was actually very wide open as opposed to its size when viewed from the outside. It's walls, ceiling, and floor were all the same dark grey-blue square tile and the only thing that differed from the rest of the décor was, on the ceiling was a single light that would gradually cycle through from yellow to blue then back to yellow again to simulate a day/night cycle while on one wall was a single door marking the exit with a clock above the door with thirty tick marks around it and only one arrow as opposed to the usual two. The arrow was pointing straight up at the number thirty. Kaien noticed this and arched a curious eyebrow.
"Hey, is our time up?" Kaien asked, curiously.
"Nah. That just means we've been in here for fifteen days. The damn clock runs on chamber time, not real world time so we're only halfway done." Grimmjow said, sitting down nearby as Gin brought over three boxed lunches. Kisuke had supplied them with specially made meals packed that would replenish a large amount of their Spirit Energy. The Chamber also provided a substantial amount of Spirit Energy as well in addition to the energy they received from their meals and at night when they slept.
"It's only been fifteen days? Wow I guess what Kisuke said about time passing quickly in here is true. It feels like a month since we started." Kaien said as Grimmjow chuckled, opening his lunch.
"Tell me about it. Being stuck in here with you and this bastard? Heh, I wish I'd've gone off with Neliel to Hawaii first." Grimmjow said as Gin arched a curious eyebrow.
"Ah but you'd end up missin' our puckish charm." Gin said, poking Grimmjow in the arm with his chopsticks, irritating the Espada.
"At least it's not that bastard Nnoitra…or worse, Tosen." Grimmjow grimaced.
"Yeah I remember you telling me about them a few days ago. Did my dad really almost get killed by him?" Kaien asked. Grimmjow let out a chuckle but didn't smile.
"Who didn't your dad almost get killed by? Ichigo's a tough S.O.B. He'd take a defeat now and again, but every time you ran into him again, the battle would be twice as hard. If you survived that second time, there's virtually no surviving the third." Grimmjow said.
"Says the man who fought and survived Captain Kurosaki three times." Gin said, taking a sip of tea from a flask.
"I won once, got interrupted the second time, and lost the third. But don't you dare go comparing yourself to your old man. If you start wussing out on us because you start having an inferiority complex compared to your old man, I'll just kill you now and save us all a lot of time and hassle!" Grimmjow warned, Kaien smirking back at him in response.
"Don't worry. If anything, my dad's actually more of a pillar of strength for me." Kaien said.
"Even though he acts like a jackass most of the time?" Grimmjow asked as Kaien smirked and looked up towards the ceiling.
"That's how he acts now, but he's not always been like that. You see, when I was little, I started practicing karate with Arisawa Sensei and at first, I was a very easy target." "No surprise there." Grimmjow taunted before suddenly finding Shinso pointed to his neckline.
"I'm in the mood for a story. Please don't interrupt him." Gin said before sheathing his sword.
"Anyway, I didn't exactly take my defeats well. But then my dad comes in, smiling down at me like he always did, regardless of if I won or lost a match. He'd always help me out, helping Arisawa Sensei show me what I did wrong. Usually he was the punching bag for Arisawa Sensei but he'd always get up with that same smile. He'd help me practice in the backyard and usually by the time of my next practice, he'd have helped me improve and by the time Hisana was born, I had my green belt." Kaien said, looking up towards the ceiling with a smile. He then scowled as he heard Grimmjow snoring. He turned and saw that Grimmjow was obviously faking.
"Oh, are you done?" Grimmjow asked, earning a twitchy eyed scowl from Kaien.
"No, as a matter of fact." Kaien growled.
"Unlike Mr. Jaegerjaquez, I for one am interested, Kurosaki. Please continue." Gin said, putting Shinso up to Grimmjow's neck as a preemptive threat.
"That smile my dad wore then is the same smile he wears every day. Even when he's acting like a total jackass and attacks me, he still wears that smile. My mom and my aunts all say that he hardly ever smiled when he was my age. They say it's because he lost someone very special to him when he was only ten." Kaien said as Gin nodded knowingly.
"Ah that would've been your grandmother, Masaki Kurosaki." Gin said as Kaien arched a curious eyebrow.
"Grandma? But she's alive. She comes to visit every year for Christmas." Kaien said as Grimmjow leaned forward curiously.
"Doesn't it seem a little odd that your grandparents never seem to age, and that you only see them during the holidays?" Grimmjow asked. Kaien seemed to understand.
"Oh. They live in the Soul Society." Kaien said as Gin and Grimmjow both nodded.
"And your Aunt Karin and Uncle Byakuya." Gin added.
"Hey fox-face, didn't something specific happen to Ichigo's old lady for her to end up in the Soul Society? I remember Neliel mentioning something about it years ago." Grimmjow asked, trying to remember for himself as Gin turned towards him.
"Grand Fisher." Gin said as Grimmjow snapped his fingers in realization.
"That's right, Grand Fisher got 'er." Grimmjow said, both concerning and confusing Kaien.
"Grand Fisher?" Kaien asked.
"Kurosaki, your grandmother didn't die peacefully. No, she was killed by a Hollow, her soul consumed by it even." Gin explained, Kaien's eyes widening in horror.
"What?" He asked in shock.
"The Hollow's name was Grand Fisher. He was a powerful Hollow, an Adjuchas I think. I know a lot of Soul Reapers died trying to kill him." Grimmjow said as Gin nodded.
"Ah but in the end, your old man fought a great battle with Fisher, overcomin' and defeatin' him. He didn't kill him, but in the end, Fisher was killed by your grandfather, Captain Isshin Kurosaki. If old Kaname Tosen was here, he'd've said it was a justified killin'." Gin explained as Kaien looked straight ahead, pondering his words.
"So my grandmother, really is a ghost?" Kaien asked curiously.
"Well after your grandfather slew Grand Fisher, the souls Fisher had consumed were released and sent to the Soul Society. Your grandmother was found and picked up by Aizen, hoping to use her as a weapon against your old man, but she had retained her memories as a livin' bein', and thanks to a little sabotage by a few traitors in Aizen's ranks, myself bein' one of the traitors slash saboteurs, Mrs. Kurosaki managed to rejoin her family." Gin explained.
"So what does she do in the Soul Society, or do you know? Is she a Soul Reaper?" Kaien asked, Gin and Grimmjow both nodding.
"I think she's part of the pansy division." Grimmjow sniggered.
"He means the Fourth Division. Last I heard she was the eighth seat of the Fourth Division, which is a medical and supply division. They're the backbone of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads although few squad members recognize it as such. Now your grandfather, Isshin Kurosaki, used to be the Captain of the Eleventh Division." Gin explained.
"Wait, Yachiru told me about them. They're supposed to be an elite fighting division, right?" Kaien asked.
"Ya got that right, Kurosaki. Ya see your grandfather is a highly skilled swordsman, once even bearin' the title of Kenpachi, which is a title given to the best swordsman in the Soul Society and the person bearin' the title is always the Captain of the Eleventh Division. Your grandfather is the only Kenpachi to have ever stepped down from the position and retired." Gin explained.
"I wonder why he did." Kaien wondered.
"From what I hear, he got tired of all fighting." Grimmjow added.
"He did. I've spoken to him on occasion." Gin said as Kaien pondered.
"I remember him saying that he's a teacher now. I know from dad that he was a doctor before that." Kaien said.
"Isshin is a lecturer at the Soul Reaper Academy. He teaches first aid and advanced sword skills. Your Aunt Karin is…or was Captain of Squad Five, replacing Sosuke Aizen as the Division's fulltime Captain." Gin said as Kaien clinched his fists.
"Yeah…I know." Kaien hissed.
"Then there's Captain Hitsugaya. Haven't met him yet, have ya?" Gin asked but Kaien nodded.
"No we've met. Aunt Karin's brought him for Christmas a few times. He always enjoys a good snowball fight, although he has to be goaded into it first, and he's an amazing ice-skater." Kaien said as Gin shrugged.
"Well then of course you know what your Uncle Byakuya does." Gin said as Kaien nodded with a smile.
"Captain of Squad Six and head of the Kuchiki clan." Kaien said his smile wide.
"Wait a minute, you're smiling." Grimmjow said, pointing at Kaien suspiciously.
"So?" Kaien asked the Espada.
"Don't ya, you know, hate his guts for sealing away your powers…twice?" Grimmjow asked but Kaien shook his head, still smiling.
"I know my uncle, Grimmjow. I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt that everything he did was for my own safety. Most people wouldn't see the mercy in his actions, but I do. If I were someone else, he'd probably have let me die. But instead he seals my powers, sparing my life and giving me an opportunity to live on and grow stronger." Kaien explained.
"You must be big on third chances." Grimmjow mumbled.
"No, I just understand my family. They might've kept their secrets from me, but I know that whatever those secrets were, they've been kept from me for a good reason." Kaien said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the, now slightly crumpled, photo of him and his family.
"So what about Lieutenant Kusajishi? Ya willin' to risk life and limb to save her?" Gin asked as Grimmjow interrupted.
"Uh he's already risked a limb for her. Remember the uh-…" Grimmjow said, pulling his left arm behind his back to make it look like it wasn't there. Kaien's smile was replaced by a determined scowl aimed straight ahead of him.
"I know what you mean. Yachiru unlocked my powers, powers which I'd've probably gotten on my own anyway without her help. And yet they're condemning her to death for it. She doesn't deserve that. And as for those other charges she confessed to, I'm not buying it. When she confessed the other day, I knew something was fishy about the confession. She looked confused when she said it, as if she were just then remembering it. Kisuke confirmed it when he said those memories were fabricated. That's why I'm going to stop the Soul Society from executing her for crimes she didn't commit and from receiving a punishment she doesn't deserve, even if I die trying to stop it in the process." Kaien said as Gin and Grimmjow both smiled at him.
"You are so your father's son." Grimmjow said as they continued their meals in silence.
Meanwhile in the Soul Society…
Toshiro Hitsugaya and Kaichou Kurosaki were traversing the bridge to the Penance Cell.
"Thanks for agreeing to bring me along, Captain Hitsugaya." Kaichou said as they continued to approach the guarded doors.
"I promised Karin that I would help you get in. She's insistent that Lieutenant Kusajishi is innocent of the charges made against her and she needed someone to ask the questions she can't right now." Toshiro said as Kaichou nodded understandingly.
"And what's your position on this?" Kaichou asked.
"Lieutenant Kusajishi confessed to her crimes. Unless something comes up that'll convince me to doubt her own confession, then my position is that she's guilty. The facts are against her in this case." Toshiro said as they got to the middle of the bridge.
"Despite the fact that it's totally against her character to do something like this?" Kaichou asked, Toshiro stopping in front of her before turning to look over his shoulder at her.
"I recall a certain Fifth Division Captain, years ago, who took us all by surprise and fooled us all into believing he had been murdered when in reality it was just an elaborate plot. I'm not going to be fooled like that again." Toshiro said before turning back towards the front and continuing on. Kaichou couldn't blame him for his skepticism but she didn't share it. Finally they reached the doors to the Penance Cell where the guards stood at attention.
"Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya and acting Lieutenant Black Wrangler here to see the prisoner." Toshiro said to the guards who nodded.
"Understood, Captain Hitsugaya. You may enter." One of the guards said before they turned and opened the doors to the cell, allowing Toshiro and Kaichou to enter. Inside they saw, sitting in the narrow window directly across from them, wearing the white robe and red collar of the prison, was Yachiru, watching glumly out the window. She turned when she heard the door open and let a small sad smile appear on her face.
"Blacky, Frosty, you came to see me." Yachiru said, relieved.
"I brought you a little something to cheer you up." Kaichou said as she reached into her kimono and pulled out a box of candies. Yachiru's eyes lit up at the sight.
"Candy! Oh thank you, Blackie!" Yachiru exclaimed as she took the box.
"Fresh assorted candy, courtesy of the Urahara Shop in Karakura Town, Japan." Kaichou said as Yachiru opened the box and paused curiously. Inside was an assortment of candy and a metal file. She pulled the file out and looked at it curiously. Toshiro was confused as well but Kaichou was chuckling.
"Trust me, if you'd have seen as many comedy films surrounding prison breaks as I have, you'd find that amusing." Kaichou said as Toshiro glared at her.
"How would that have helped her when there are no metal bars for her to saw through?" Toshiro asked.
"It's a joke, Hitsugaya. I'd've thought becoming a father would have helped on that one." Kaichou said, earning a scowl from Toshiro but he said nothing.
"Well it's the thought that counts. By the way, how's Kenny? Is he mad?" Yachiru said as she started snacking down on the candies.
"Kenpachi hasn't come to see you?" Kaichou asked as she sat down next to the Lieutenant, Toshiro choosing to stand in the dead center of the room.
"I haven't seen anyone since they put me in here." Yachiru said sadly.
"Well Kenpachi says he's sorry he can't visit you. He's saving his strength for whoever put you in here. He believes you're innocent." Kaichou said, Yachiru seeming worried by the information.
"Kenny's saving his strength for-. No, no he can't do that. It's not his fault. It's not K-." Yachiru said but caught herself and looked away.
"Whose fault?" Kaichou asked, curiously.
"I don't want to get him in more trouble. He didn't do anything wrong. In fact he tried to protect me when Byakushi and Taki-Taki came to arrest me. Just, please, don't ask for his name. I don't want him involved." Yachiru pleaded.
"Is this the human you gave Soul Reaper powers to?" Toshiro asked.
"Yes but please don't make me say his name." Yachiru begged.
"I won't ask for his name then. Neither will Toshiro." Kaichou said, shooting a glare to Hitsugaya as if daring him to disagree with her. Toshiro remained silent and didn't react.
"Thank you." Yachiru said, relieved.
"The human can remain out of this, but a number of us find the other charges against you kinda fishy. Stealing records from the Soul Reaper Institute of Research and Development and giving them to Hollows in exchange for them giving you a Vizard mask? We know you, Yachiru, and it's not like you to do something like that." Kaichou said as Yachiru fidgeted.
"I know. But I did it, that's all that matters." Yachiru said, sadly.
"Satisfied?" Toshiro asked Kaichou, earning a death glare from her in response.
"Thank you Captain Tactful, and no, I'm not." Kaichou said before turning back to Yachiru.
"Why would you do it Yachiru? You're already very powerful in your own right. You're probably the strongest Lieutenant in terms of raw power in the whole of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. You know that full well so why steal those records?" Kaichou asked.
"I-…-I wanted a Vizard mask." She replied, pinching the bridge of her nose slightly. Kaichou noticed this reaction and her interest piqued.
"Yachiru, would you mind going over what happened when you were arrested?" Kaichou asked, confusing Hitsugaya.
"Why do you want her to do that?" Toshiro asked.
"I'm curious." Kaichou replied, although her tone implied more than just a passing curiosity. Yachiru began to explain, deliberately referring to the unknown human as "the human," but when she reached a specific part, she started wincing as if something was hurting her.
"Something wrong?" Kaichou asked suspiciously.
"My head feels funny. You know when a mosquito flies up to your ear and you swat at it? Well I feel that way except the mosquito is in my head." Yachiru said as Kaichou's eyes widened.
"Alright, start at the top from your story, leave out no details." Kaichou said, intriguing Toshiro but he said nothing. Yachiru shrugged and started again. When she reached that same spot, she winced again.
"Alright stop a minute." Kaichou said, standing up and walking back towards the door, her hand on her chin in thought. When she reached Toshiro, she stopped.
"Did you notice that? The way she reacts when she mentions Captain Yamashi when he presents the evidence of her crime?" Kaichou asked not looking towards anyone, Toshiro nodding.
"Yes, I did. You're the one who's trained to notice psychological issues, so I take it there's something about her reactions that stand out to you." Toshiro said.
"It's not a matter of psychological issues. I think I've seen this before. Give me a minute." Kaichou said as she fished into her pocket for something while turning back towards Yachiru.
"Lieutenant, I want you to tell me something. What was it that Captain Yamashi showed you as evidence of your crime?" Kaichou asked her hand still in her robe. Yachiru rubbed her forehead as she answered…
"The access card I used to hack into the Institute's files. Why?" She asked as Kaichou pulled something out of her pocket, causing Yachiru to pinch the bridge of her nose when she saw it.
"It that-." Yachiru winced. It was an access card from the Institute of Research and Development.
"You don't recognize it? It's the same card you used to access the Institute's files. Doesn't it refresh your memory?" Kaichou asked as Yachiru looked at her curiously yet also amazed, as if Kaichou had just read her mind. Kaichou then pocketed the card, turned on her heels and started walking towards the door, Toshiro quickly following after her. As soon as the two had left the cell, Toshiro caught up to her with a suspicious look on his face.
"Where did you get that card? I thought the card was seized by Central 46 as evidence." Toshiro said as they reached the middle of the bridge.
"They did. That was my card I showed her. Although I could've showed her Kurotsuchi's own pass card and we've have still gotten the same result." Kaichou said, confusing Toshiro.
"I don't understand."
"She's been conditioned to react the same way whenever she sees an access card like this or recalls the events of her arrest at the point when she was also shown an access card just like it. And did you notice her expression when I asked her if it seemed to refresh her memory?" Kaichou asked. Toshiro pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, I did notice it. She seemed surprised by your choice of words." Toshiro said as Kaichou pulled her hat down over her eyes.
"That's because the memories she has of her crimes are false. They're memories that have been implanted to convince her that she's guilty." Kaichou replied.
"Are you certain?" Toshiro asked.
"There's a forbidden Kido spell that we used in the days before we had the Kikanshinki device. After we got the Kikanshinki, Central 46 outlawed its use because it could be used to manipulate the memories of anyone, even Soul Reapers. False memories could be implanted and buried within their subconscious, set to reveal themselves whenever they received a specific stimulus that would trigger the memories. Sleeper agents if you will. In Yachiru's case, it's seeing an access card, any access card as long as it resembles the ones from the Institute." Kaichou explained.
"And you're sure these memories are implanted?" Toshiro asked.
"I can still clearly remember the reactions of people who have had their memories manipulated under that Kido spell. I've used that spell before and I know its mechanics. When the subject thinks back to the event or events that have been manipulated, they complain of a buzzing in their head and if the memory is refreshed for whatever reason, it causes an irritating twinge in the front of their head, usually making them pinch the bridge of their nose in an effort to combat the pain. Believe me, she's being used as a scapegoat and someone has gone through a lot of trouble to make sure that even she believes she's guilty." Kaichou said as Toshiro glanced back towards the Penance Cell.
"Is there anything that can be done to cancel out those memories?" Toshiro asked, Kaichou glancing down at him with a small smirk.
"I've already taken the necessary steps." She said as they continued on. Back inside the Penance Cell, Yachiru was munching down on the candy from the box. She happened to glance down at the box and noticed, underneath the candy, was something on the bottom of the inside. She carefully dumped the candy into a fold in her robe and looked to see that there was something written on the inside. It was the word "okunen" written in kanji, which meant "something one always remembers." As she looked at the word, she suddenly felt the buzzing in her head return then hastily vanish accompanied by a brief blue glow in her eyes. She shut her eyes and shook her head as if doing a double take as the memories of her theft of the files in the Institute of Research and Development and handing them over to Hollows seemed to vanish to the point that she couldn't remember even the slightest detail.
But there was more. Her memories of her time in Karakura became drastically different. Instead of spending time eating sweets, she suddenly remembered being on patrol the night after having riding on Kaien's back then being ambushed by not one but five Hollows who managed to knock her out. She then had sporadic memories of being attached to a strange set of tubes and hoses while a large Arrancar woman guarded her within a strange building. As the memories came flooding back to her she gasped as she made a terrible realization. She had truly confessed to crimes she didn't commit. It was then that she realized something very important…
"I'm innocent."
End Chapter 37.
A/N: I'd like to go ahead and point out that Toshiro appears the way he does a year after Aizen's defeat in the Manga. The altered hairstyle and the teal scarf around his neck. Everyone else is the same.
Soul Reaper Illustrated Guide.
Jinta was bashing his head against the wall. Neko had intercepted the anonymous letter meant for Yuzu the night before and now Yuzu was at work next door in the Clinic office. Ichigo was over at Karakura Hospital sorting out a records snafu with Uryu and Rukia was in town running errands so it was only Yuzu in the office.
"Now's my chance to get her that message." Jinta said, hastily writing down another message then running up to the door, sliding it between the door and the doorframe, then ringing the doorbell and running off to hide in the bushes. Inside, Yuzu heard the bell and looked up. As she stood up to answer the door, she suddenly felt nature's call and knowing she couldn't easily ignore either, she had only one option.
"Hisana!" Yuzu called into the house. Almost instantly the orange haired bowl cut ten year old appeared at the door that separated the house section from the clinic.
"Yes, Aunt Yuzu?" she asked.
"Can you answer the door for me; I um…need to visit the little girl's room." Yuzu said sheepishly. Hisana shrugged casually.
"Sure." Hisana said as she walked to the door. When she arrived, she saw no one there. This caused her to arch a confused eyebrow.
"Okay." She mumbled as she opened the door to look around but when she did, she noticed a piece of paper fall out. She reached down, picked up the paper, and read it. Upon noticing what seemed to be a child's handwriting she sighed heavily and shook her head.
"No Ryo, I'm not interested, and you really need to work on your handwriting." Hisana mumbled as she pocketed the paper. Outside, Jinta was tearing his hair out.
End.