Bleach 542 – Kurosaki Masaki
Scene opens where it left of previously.
Yamamoto and Soken are high in the sky observing Sokyoku hill. Soken looks down and sees Masaki on the ground on one side of the hill slowly walking towards Jugo and his army on the other side. Even though the distance is vast between them, she is not rushing or flash stepping, she just calmly keeps walking forward. Soken looks at Masaki for a few moments before looking back at Yamamoto.
Soken: You told me to never ask that question again, that it would never be allowed or permitted.
Yamamoto: ...Yes.
Soken: Masaki is that strong? Is she really that much of a threat?
Yamamoto glances over at Soken for a moment before replying
Yamamoto: Hmph, I guess her character didn't change much when she went to the real world. Let me guess, she never once trained with you or showed her abilities, am I correct in my assumptions?
Soken: Yes, she always said there was no need.
Yamamoto: hmph, no need. For such a hard-working child to be soo lazy. When has need ever been required to improve or refine your abilities. If my patience hadn't been weathered by Shunsui over the years...hmph.
Soken: (chuckles) You didn't answer my question old friend.
Yamamoto: Strength is relative but threat, yes she is indeed that much of a threat. If I was to put her threat into words...
Soken: …
Yamamoto: If she had still been a Captain of the Gotei 13 when Aizen rebelled, then there would have never been a war.
Soken:?!
Yamamoto: I would have just asked her to go bring him back!
Soken: ?! But then why did you not report her. Once I spoke to you, you could have pretty much guessed where to look, and I know your sense of duty my friend, so why?
Yamamoto glances at Soken with an upraised eye brow
Yamamoto: As if you did not have back up plans to protect them, you wouldn't have spoken to me if you didn't.
Yamamoto stares down at Masaki with a sombre expression on his face
Yamamoto: Also...there was a debt that needed to be repaid.
Scene Change to the Captain Commanders quarters in the 1st division headquarters
It is clear to see that this scene is from a long time back. The captain commanders quarters are intact and all seems peaceful and quiet. To one side of the room you see a low tea table laid out and seating mats to either side of the table. On one of the mats sits Isshin wearing his Lieutenants outfit. His face has a serious expression whilst facing down, his eyes intently staring at the teapot on the table.
Sitting across from him is the captain commander, his eyes firm and hard, staring intently at Isshin. Finally, after some time passes Yamamoto speaks.
Yamamoto: Hmph, did you really think I would not notice?! Did you think my mind and eyes had clouded over after so many years had passed?!
Isshin stays completely still for many moments before he speaks. His voice is not weak, quavery or full of trepidation as you might think but instead strong, firm and confident.
Isshin: I should take this to mean that I have failed to pass the captains exam?
Yamamoto: A Samanosuke chooses to join the Gotei 13, he chooses to stand before me in a captains exam and show me his skills and you expect me to believe that what you are concerned about is whether you have passed or not!
Isshin: …
Yamamoto: Isn't the reason you chose not to hide your name because you feel you now have the strength to exact your revenge?!
A long moment passes where both Yamamoto and Isshin are quiet and still. Finally Isshin takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. He lifts his hands up from his knees and slowly lifts the teapot and begins to pour tea into one of the cups. He picks up the cup and slowly lifts it up slowly towards Yamamoto whilst finally raising his head to meet his eyes.
Isshin: Revenge? I gave up on revenge a long time ago...senpai.
Yamamoto doesn't frown or flinch at this reference of senpai towards him. He stays still for a few moments before slowly taking the cup from Isshin.
Yamamoto: What would cause the hot blood of a Samanosuke heir to forsake his revenge?
Isshin: You know the answer to that better than anyone captain commander.
Yamamoto: ...And then I took her away from you too.
Isshin grunts in laughter a small smile finally appearing on his face as he looks at Yamamoto.
Isshin: I would indeed be a naïve child if I was to blame that on you. She had her own desires, responsibilities, her own destiny. Her decision to leave was hers alone...no one else's.
Yamamoto slowly takes a sip from his tea whilst still watching Isshin. He looks a little uncomfortable compared to the usually stolid and unfazed captain commander we've seen previously.
Yamamoto: …When were you told?
Ishhin: From the very beginning. (sighs) When I was born, the remnants of those left behind could tell immediately that I was special, that they might finally have a chance at their revenge after all this time. My training started at a very early age. Learning our history, declaring my determination to get revenge, learning the clans skills and techniques, being beaten until I was broken and shattered all over and then recouperation. Cycles and cycles of this for years all through my childhood...
Yamamoto: …
Isshin: (smiling) and then one day I met her.
Yamamoto: …
Isshin: I finally... i'm not sure how to explain it yamaji. I finally saw light, I finally felt warmth.
Yamamoto: ...
Isshin: I never told her anything about myself, just spending time with her was enough to help me bear everything else. (sighs) and then over time, I didn't even realise it at that point, I started looking forward to the training and the beatings, I went looking for it earnestly, not for revenge but because I wanted to be strong, because I wanted to be able to protect her.
Yamamoto: You could have still chosen to avenge your clan and protect her…
Isshin: …She changed me, how I viewed things. I joined the Gotei 13 because of her not for revenge, but I did briefly consider it at the time.
Yamamoto: …
Isshin: I saw what it was that you built, what it was that you were doing. I finally looked towards the man I'd heard about all those many years Shikeguni Yamamoto...
Yamamoto: …
Isshin: and I didn't recognise the man that stood before me.
Yamamoto:!
Isshin: You are not the same man as the one who destroyed my clan. Avenging my clan would bring nothing but more pain and hatred. A new cycle would start… a new tragedy. I've already informed them of my decision, unhappy as they are about it, it's not like they have any other choice than to accept it.
There is a long moments silence before Yamamoto finally asks
Yamamoto: What do you intend to do now?
Isshin grunts in amusement at himself
Isshin: what is there left for me to do? My revenge has fallen flat on its butt and my woman has left me to be a productive member of society. (sighs) I'm just a footnote in other people's tales commander, I suppose I'll carry on serving in the Gotei 13 and provide some assistance to other naïve youngsters.
Yamamoto stares at Isshin for a long while before placing the teacup back on the table. He places his hands on his knees before speaking to Isshin.
Yamamoto: I will not provide any excuses. Those were different times, we were different people...
Isshin:…
Yamamoto: Your clan had its pride in it's fire techniques and skill and I had my pride in Ryujin Jakka. We learned many things from each other, we taught each other many things. They taught me how your own abilities and techniques can be used to improve your sword. I taught them how the sword can help improve your own abilities and techniques.
Isshin: …
Yamamoto: We both had immense pride in our own achievements. But fire burns! Fire has a temper! Once the embers of arrogance were touched there was no way back from that hell for either of us.
Isshin: …
Yamamoto: You will not be aware of this Samanosuke Isshin, but out of respect for your clan, out of regret for my actions, to ensure that they will never be forgotten, I still carry their teachings with me in my Bankai.
Isshin: …
Yamamoto: I have ensured that their accomplishments will forever be recorded in the archives of central 46 so as to never be forgotten…and…one other thing
Isshin:?
Yamamoto clenches his knees with his hands and bows his head down low
Yamamoto: I, Shikeguni Yamamoto, apologise to the heir of the Samanosuke clan for the pain, suffering and death I have caused!
Isshin:! Captain commander please-
Yamamoto raises his head and looks at the flustered Isshin waving his hands. He finally gets up and walks over to his desk picking up some papers. Isshin quietly gets up and walks to stand close by.
Yamamoto: The announcement of your promotion to captain will be made later today
Isshin: ? Did you already predict-
Yamamoto: and I have also registered you in central 46
Isshin:?
Yamamoto: From this day on you will be known to have the second strongest flame type Zanpakuto after myself.
Isshin scratches his head and laughs nervously.
Isshin: If you wouldn't mind captain commander could we keep that to ourselves, I would rather that not get spread around.
Yamamoto: …If you so wish. I'll ensure it is recorded there but not mentioned further.
Isshin: Thank you sir.
Isshin begins to walk to the door and opens it just as Yamamoto speaks
Yamamoto: Samanosuke Isshin!
Isshin turns to look at the captain commander
Yamamoto: …I'm sorry about Masaki
Isshin: (Chuckles) If I'm ever daring enough to kidnap her, don't come looking for us and we'll call it even okay.
Scene Change back to Yamamoto and Soken above Sokyoku hill.
Yamamoto's gaze lingers on Masaki. Soken is observing him enquiringly but chooses to not ask him what he means.
Soken: They do say looks can be deceiving, and I always used to advise young Uryuu to never be misled by them, but I have to admit I have a hard time picturing Masaki as such as threat (chuckles).
Yamamoto: The threat comes from one's ability and not one's strength alone. Masaki never chose to hide hers and so she was only left with two choices once she grew strong enough to be a captain. Either to be imprisoned or to take the test for the Zero squad.
Soken: …
Yamamoto: The irony behind this is that had Aizen chosen not to hide his ability or strength, he would have been given the same choice, though whether he would have passed and been allowed to join is something we'll never know.
Soken: ...Imprisonment or promotion. What could cause such a situation?
Yamamoto: When your inherent ability is a threat to the whole world.
Soken:?!
Yamamoto: If I was to release my Bankai and hide somewhere, just the release of it would eventually destroy all of soul society. The same applies to the human world and Hueco Mundo. Aizen, with little effort, could enslave us all with his illusions with no real opportunity to fight back. In fact he pretty much did exactly that and could have chosen to do the same to the whole of Hueco Mundo and the human world without us being able to do anything to stop him. When there is little or no defence against an ability, it is considered a threat to all existence. Then, such decisions are required to be made.
Soken: ...and you say that Masaki also fits into this category?
Yamamoto: Hmph, you remember that I once asked for your assistance with the first Kenpachi?
Soken: How could I forget, the utter bloodshed! I still don't agree with decision made to seal her away.
Yamamoto: ...Masaki once met the first Kenpachi though she was not aware of it.
Soken: What?! She was released?!
Yamamoto: No she is still sealed away, but she was partially unsealed for a short period. Masaki met her then briefly...and was given a nickname by her. In fact, she was even offered her freedom by Central 46 if she was able to capture and bring back Masaki after she escaped to the real world...she refused.
Soken: She...refused?!
Yamamoto: hmph, without hesitation.
Soken: What nickname did she give masaki?
Yamamoto: ...Soul Reaper.
Soken:?!
Next Time: Bleach 543 - Soul Reaper
Authors Note: Chapter 543 was originally intended to just be the fight. However i've written soo much about... other things that were originally supposed to tie in that i have no idea yet the best way to adjust the chapters.
So just a heads up that 543 may still remain as 'Soul Reaper' however it might get moved to chapter 544.