Arc continues: Countdown to Crowning

x

The Heir Apparent
Chapter 28: Individual Thoughts

'Hanako refused to eat after she recovered, and wasted away within a year,' Kyoraku finished the tale, 'I was promoted to lieutenant of the eighth. Shiba Maiyuki tried to go about her duties, but she started getting more and more distracted, and I had to help her out more and more. Three years later she committed sepaku, lost in her grief. The Shiba family was convinced they'd lost their progenitor forever, so they abandoned their traditional home. I became the interim captain of the eighth squad, and two years later my promotion was officially confirmed. At the time I was the youngest captain ever.'

A heavy silence followed, the listeners looking at the floor. Then Kukaku said, 'What about Daiken?'

'That's a tale for another day.'

Another silence followed; Ichigo broke it, saying, 'So ol' Yama burned me, and that saved my soul from being destroyed?' He remembered acutely what had happened to the Quincy on the beach. Thank goodness that hadn't been him.

'Approximately yes, but your soul was still damaged. Damaged souls normally float between the flows of the living and the dead, never being reborn. That's why the Shibas thought they'd lost you.'

'Then how come I came back?'

It was Kukaku who answered, 'According to Kisuke, when two humans of great spiritual power come together, they can actually repair a damaged soul and bring it back into the cycle.'

'But my dad was a Shinigami!'

'He was using a fully human Gigai. Since his wife was human, naturally they couldn't create new souls. What they did do though was bring three broken ones back into the world.'

'So Yuzu and Karin-'

'-Were also damaged souls, yes.'

Suddenly a memory resurfaced in Ichigo's mind, how Rukia had said that a Soul's true appearance and its physical form on earth were entirely separate things. He of course looked the same in both. 'So is this why I don't look different as a Shinigami?'

'You'd have to ask Kisuke yourself. But I'd guess so. The same is likely true for your sisters, when they became Soul Reapers they'll probably keep their appearance.'

Ichigo didn't want to think about that eventuality. He might be dead, but he wanted Yuzu and Karin to live long and happy lives before coming to Soul Society. 'So, when did you realise who I was?'

'The day before you broke into Seireitei, Yoruichi told me that Kisuke had suspicions about you. I had already been surprised by your appearance, and thought that there was a good chance you were a Shiba. When I searched the records though, I was astounded by what I found.'

'And you kept it from me?'

'Hey, what was I gonna do?' said Kukaku angrily, and mimicked a simpering tone, 'So sorry to bother you Ichigo, but you're actually my original grandfather and Ganju's too. Can I call you granddaddy? And the woman you're trying to rescue is your soul's partner. If you fail and she's executed by the Soukyoku, your every existence until the end of time will be meaningless. No pressure.'

Ichigo gritted his teeth and turned to Kyoraku, 'And you?'

'Me?'

'Don't play dumb, just when did you realise who I was?'

Kyoraku scratched his chin thoughtfully. 'Well, I always knew who Rukia-chan was of course. Then the Ryoka broke in, I fought your friend Sado-kun. Interesting young man, Sado-kun. Do you know where his powers came from? He was the primary soul of the Vasto Lorde you fought in your previous life, and he's retained a good portion of its abilities. Intriguing that you should be close in this life, ain't it? Anyways, when he mentioned you I suspected. It was only when I saw you appear in the flames on Sougyoku hill that I knew for sure. I remember thinking, in the flames you were lost, and now in the flames you return.'

'How poetic,' said Ichigo, deadpanned, 'So why have you been dropping hints when you could have just told me outright?'

'Yama-jii forbade me. I thought it was important you knew, so I made sure you'd find out.'

'And then you told me anyway!'

'Well, once you'd seen that fountain I doubt you'd have let it slide until you knew the whole story, so Yama can't fault me on that.'

'I don't know what to think about you anymore,' said Ichigo, 'Has our whole friendship been based on a relationship we had in my past life, would you have even approached me if not for that?'

'Ichigo, don't-' Rukia started.

'It's quite alright,' said Kyoraku, rising to his feet. 'I haven't been entirely honest with you, and I will understand if you wish to discontinue our friendship. It would sadden me though.' he sighed, 'Let's go, Nanao-chan.'

'Hai,' she said.

Kyoraku opened and stepped through the sliding door, with Nanao following behind. Before he closed it, he said, 'I hope to see you at practise tomorrow.'

The five of them were left. After a few moments of tense silence Byakuya got up and left as well. Then Kukaku and Ganju went, apparently to explore the grounds. That left Ichigo and Rukia staring at each other, wondering what to say.

'I guess we should go,' said Rukia, 'Unless you still want to buy this place.'

'Not a chance,' said Ichigo, 'Let's go.'

x

Byakuya didn't usually spend too much time travelling in Rukongai, he'd always preferred to flash-step through rather than having to endure the stares of the commoners and the general filth. At the moment he didn't have the strength to do that for longer than a few seconds. This time didn't bother him, he needed time to sort through his thoughts.

'So,' he said to himself, 'That dream-'

That must have been his recollection of his last moments in his past life, there were recorded cases of that happening before. Generally only when the person had been at death's door. Perhaps his loss of power had brought it out, perhaps he'd dreamt more but just couldn't remember it.

'I was killed in battle,' he muttered, 'Fitting.'

Even still it was galling to think that he'd never reached captaincy, and by the sounds of it had only just reached Bankai level before his death. He was noble, he was the original founder house Kuchiki. He'd been a captain four times, if you included this life. Now that he thought about it though, he'd only ever learned of the times when he had been a captain, there must have been times in-between when he hadn't reached that level. Perhaps for a lacking in motivation, perhaps he hadn't met his soul partner.

'Hisana,' he said softly, cherishing the sound of her name.

After she had died he had withdrawn within himself more than ever. He'd had nothing to live for, he'd wanted to die. Many days he'd contemplated suicide. What had kept him going that first year was Hisana's dying wish, to find Rukia. He'd poured all his energies into finding her, scouring Rukongai far more effectively than his late wife had ever done. In the end he'd found her literally under his nose, at the Academy, thanks to a tip off.

Living with Rukia had been difficult, she looked so much like Hisana yet she was so different. Hisana had been soft and feminine. Rukia was more of a tomboy. Whenever Byakuya saw her out the corner of his eye he'd been certain that his wife had returned, only to be invariably disappointed. But for all of the closeness in looks, he didn't feel anything for Rukia, there was just a blank empty hole there. So he did what he had to, to fulfil his wife's dying wish, and looked out for her. Otherwise he stayed as far away from her as he could.

It was then that he'd become so devoted to his training, needing a new outlet for his hurt and frustration. He'd reached Bankai level, and within a year had discovered two new forms of it. He inherited his Grandfather's position as captain of the sixth squad as well as becoming the head of the family, and immersed himself in work. That had seemed to mute the pain, but it couldn't seal it completely.

Now that seal had been shattered, forcing him to relive all his emotions. But now he had hope. For if he waited long enough, Hisana would surely return from the living and they could be together again. Of course she wouldn't be the exact same Hisana he knew, she would have a whole new set of character traits. He would just have to learn to love the new her as he had loved the old.

'We'll be together again, like we were back then,' he murmured, 'With your sister, and her fool of a captain.'

He no longer had any doubts about Rukia and Ichigo. He'd always planned to stay out of their way and see how things progressed between them. And if he made her happy, then he would give his blessing. Armed with this new knowledge, he knew that it would only be a matter of time. Quite some time perhaps, knowing how stubborn they both were.

Byakuya had a lightness in his heart that he hadn't felt in a long time. Perhaps things had turned out this way for a reason.

x

Kyoraku walked silently alongside his lieutenant as she looked at the various stores set up along the sides of the road. This was the market section of the first district, western quarter. It was famous for having the best selection of high-quality goods in all of Soul Society. Kyoraku hated shopping, but could put up with it simply to spend time with his Nanao-chan. And today the mindless chaperoning was exactly what he needed.

'Do you think these would go with my blue dress?' said Nanao, holding up a pair of navy hairclips.

'Yes dear,' said Kyoraku, smiling indulgently.

'And I could get a matching book bag!'

'Of course.'

Nanao looked back at him, and sighed. 'I know what you're thinking, that you've blown it with Ichigo.'

Kyoraku didn't say anything. He didn't need to.

'He'll come around, I know it. You've done so much for him, he can't just ignore that.'

'I'm not so sure,' he admitted. 'I mean, I hope he does, but-'

She whacked him over the head with the clipboard which held her shopping list. Besides the stars that started spinning above his head, his hat was pushed to an odd angle where it stood almost vertical.

'Don't but me mister,' she shouted, 'Believe it! Your bond is stronger than that, you know it, I know it, and he knows it. Don't you ever doubt it.'

What could he say but, 'Yes dear.'

x

The sun was setting when Ichigo and Rukia returned to the offices of the thirteenth division. They had spent a quiet day after Kyoraku's revelation, mulling over their thoughts in companionable silence. But now they were back, and it was like a spell had been broken. Now they had to face the fact that they would be with each other the next day, and the next, and the one after; going on for the rest of the foreseeable future. Now they had to deal with the issues that had been brought up.

Ichigo spoke first, trying to use levity to lessen the seriousness of the situation. 'What great sin did I commit,' he said, 'To end up with a midget like you?'

She kicked, hard, in the groin. He groaned and fell down, fighting tears of pain. 'Oow, hell, shit, c'mon did you -oof- really have to hit me there?' Apparently his effort hadn't worked.

'Maybe that was a bit much,' she conceded. 'Our children might be deformed.'

He forgot his pain in an instant, 'Wait a minute, since when did we decide we were having children?'

'Well, not now, but maybe some time in the future. Remember, you are required by law to produce a child in the next, oh, forty-nine years and eleven months. And if I'm your partner, I suppose I'll have to help out.'

'Wait, aren't you confused about this and all?' he said, rising to his feet shakily.

'Hmm, I've moved on from that stage now,' she smirked.

'Evil gremlin,' he growled. He snorted and looked away from her, 'So, how do you really feel?'

He had only an instant's warning before she jumped onto him, wrapping her legs around his waist and arms around his neck. Then she kissed him as he instinctively grabbed her bottom to stop her from sliding down.

'Hmm,' she said, 'I always wanted to try that. The girls always do that to their hot Bishi in the mangas. Actually it isn't half bad.'

'So I'm you're hot Bishi?' he said, staring into her eyes. Feeling her firm body gripping onto him was giving him thoughts he wasn't sure he should be having.

'Can you deal with that?'

'Hell yeah.'

'Then my hot Bishi you are,' she said, and kissed him again, this time flicking her tongue between his lips.

'Rukia,' he gasped aloud.

It was too good a moment to last, and it was ruined by two people walking in. One was tiny and pale, the other tall and tanned. Both had bright orange hair, the tall one's bore signs of attempted straightening that obviously hadn't gone well.

'Kiyone, Sentaro,' said Rukia, quickly jumping off him.

'What the hell-' Ichigo began.

'-Did you idiots do to your hair?' Rukia finished.

'Oh, they're completing each other's sentences. How cute!' said Kiyone.

'So adorable,' said Sentaro, wiping away a tear.

'…Okay seriously, what's with the new hairdo?' said Rukia.

'We wanted to be more like Captain Kurosaki,' said Sentaro.

'He's so cool,' sighed Kiyone.

'You two are freaks,' said Ichigo, staring at them with the look of a man that had just discovered the truth of the universe.

'If you say so, sir,' they chorused.

He shook his head. 'Alright, get out of here. And you'd better get your style and colour back to what it always was by tomorrow.'

'Hai!' They continued to stare at him.

'Did you miss the part when I told you to leave?'

'Hai.'

'Just go, you buffoons,' Rukia interjected.

Finally they left, and Ichigo sighed in relief. 'Those two, really.'

'Well, they are devoted to you, even if they do express it in slightly creepy ways.'

'At least they're not as bad as this other midget person who- OOF!'

'Very funny,' said Rukia, removing her knee from his thigh. He was crouched over with a dead leg, and she grabbed him; wrapping her arms warmly around the neck. 'Now, where were we?'

x

The sun had long gone down when Hitsugaya Toshiro returned to the tenth divisional headquarters, exhausted and demoralized. There had been no new leads on Hinamori's whereabouts, and the ones he'd had had all proved false. Now he had no idea what to do, or where to look.

It was a pleasant surprise though for him to find Matsumoto waiting for him, with a cup of green tea in her hand.

'I felt you coming, taicho,' she said, passing the cup to him.

The warm liquid was soothing, and lent energy to his tired body. 'Thank you,' he said, with feeling.

'Don't mention it. Besides, with Renji in the material world, who else do I have to visit? Kira's up to his neck in work, Shunsui's spending all his time with Ichigo, and if I ever visit Ikkaku; Yumichika ends up trying to compete with me. Not that he can even compare, hah.'

Hitsugaya smiled weakly. 'I wonder how Abarai's search is going.'

x

At that precise point in time, Abarai Renji's search wasn't going anywhere. In fact, while he hadn't gone so far as to give up the search entirely, he was pretty certain that if Hinamori was found it wouldn't be because he found her. Urahara had set up an entire team creating some fancy technological gimmick that would track people with reitsu in the material world, no matter how much they tried to conceal their presence. It was primarily to find the reborn Arrancar and those Quincy-Shinigami guys they'd encountered the other day, but if Hinamori was here it would find her too. Of course such a contraption couldn't possibly work in Soul Society, which was overflowing with spirit particles.

As for Renji, that meant that he was free to help Urahara and Yoruichi in apprehending the rebirths of the various Arrancar that had fallen in the war. The humans, if allowed to grow up, would still bear the marks of Hougyoku and have great; if unstable; spiritual power. They had to be caught and cleansed before it could develop. In the evenings he could practise with either of them, or even both.

It was these sparring sessions that made it so worthwhile for him to be working with them. Renji was determined to get stronger, and to do that he needed to practise against people stronger than him. Sparring with Ikkaku was good and everything, but he'd long since passed the point of being able to learn anything new from him. All he could do there was sharpen existing skills. Urahara and Yoruichi though pushed him to a new level of performance.

'Phew, that's a first, well done Renji-kun,' said Urahara, touching a finger to his cut cheek and examining the blood.

They were in the massive basement of the twelfth division's material world outpost, which had until recently been the Urahara Shoken.

'I can't believe it took me this long,' Renji muttered, as the links of his snake-sword reattached with loud clanks.

'Well, I think you're ready. Are you ready to fight Bankai to Bankai?'

'Wait, didn't you say when you wanted me to train Sado that your Bankai wasn't any good for training people?'

'I did,' said Urahara, 'But it's not mine that you'll be facing.'

Yoruichi jumped off the ledge that she'd been watching them from, landing gracefully and drawing her wakizashi. 'Get ready, because I'm not going to hold back,' she warned.'

Renji's raised eyebrows lowered, and he grinned, 'Neither will I.'

x

A/N: A few things I wanted to mention. Why did Ukitake not think of Mikio when he first saw Ichigo? Simple, he never knew him well. Kaien on the other hand had been his second in command for years, decades even. So its only natural that his comparison would be with him. An interesting thing to note in the Manga is that we never get to see Shunsui's thoughts at all. Man, he's so mysterious. And there has GOT to be something behind that smile when Ichigo saves Rukia from the Soukyoku. Reread that section if you don't believe me, it's in Deathberry Returns.

As to 3600-4000, that's the area where Karakura town now stands, I hope everybody picked up on that.

Next chapter will be the last one of this arc before we go onto a new one, which will by the way be the last arc before the end of the story. If you've been reading, I think you can guess what it will be about.

I'm rambling now, so I'll just leave you with an apology that I haven't updated sooner. Life got hectic, what can I say. All the best, KotW.