Ukitake Jūshirō sat up slowly and stretched. His lungs still felt congested – something that was unfortunately common – but today, there was no wet rattle when he breathed in and out, and that would have to suffice. Compared to how he'd been struggling to even sit up a few days ago, his current state was practically a blessing. He sighed, rubbing his brow. Out of all the weeks for my illness to flare up, why this one?
The Captain of the 13th left his bed before strolling to his wardrobe, and ignored his Shihakushō in favour of a casual blue kimono. While he was probably well enough to go to his Division and tackle some light paperwork, truthfully, Jūshirō would rather spend his limited energy on something more pressing. Namely, ensuring that the woman he'd like to have as a Lieutenant one day didn't die an unjustified death.
Heating up a cup of tea, Jūshirō took a slow sip. The soothing liquid failed to lighten up his pensive mood at all. If only I sent her to Karakura instead… He'd been so certain a few months in Shibuya would help Rukia, but instead, he'd sent her to her doom. The Captain was snapped out of his morose musings, however, as a familiar blot of Reiatsu approached his private quarters. A smile crossed his face as his old friend knocked on the door.
"Shunsui." Jūshirō slid the shoji screen open and gave his fellow Captain a polite nod. "Please, come on in – I've just prepared some tea."
"Good, good." The 8th Division Captain forced a smile, but it quickly dropped off his face. Shunsui instead let out a deep sigh. "We're going to need it."
Brows furrowed, Jūshirō took a seat. Now that he could get a better look at his friend, he noted with concern the dark rings under Shunsui's eyes. "Don't tell me – was my appeal denied?"
Jūshirō's stomach twisted in trepidation. This was all wrong. The Central 46's sentencing had been egregious to begin with, and it was rare for the judicial body to deny a single Captain's request, let alone two. Between himself and Byakuya, Rukia's freedom should have been assured.
Shunsui's lips pursed. "That's just the first bit of bad news, my friend." He stared into the distance. "Zaraki Kenpachi was incapacitated in a fight, and Captains Aizen and Kurotsuchi are both dead."
"What?!" Jūshirō's eyes snapped wide open. "Dead?! How?"
The sickly Captain listened grimly as Shunsui spun him a tale about a group of Ryoka that had infiltrated the Seireitei and the chaos they'd left in their wake. Jūshirō couldn't help but feel conflicted by the tale. Despite how stacked the odds were against them, a group of children had found the courage to take up arms and fight for Rukia's freedom. Jūshirō's petition seemed so craven in comparison. On the other hand, while the Captain could probably forgive them for Kurotsuchi's death – he was utterly depraved, after all – Aizen wouldn't even hurt a fly.
That, of course, was when Shunsui dropped his second bombshell. If the news about the Ryoka was surprising, the story about Aizen's potential betrayal was alarming. By the time his friend finished explaining Unohana's suspicions, Jūshirō's head was spinning. If their theories are right, what on earth does it all mean?
Before Jūshirō could voice his thoughts, however, a loud commotion suddenly erupted in front of his private quarters.
"Hey- what the?!" Sentarō's voice bellowed. "You can't just come in here!"
"Yeah, what bogey-head said!" Kiyone squawked.
"I don't care." A third voice stated bluntly.
Jūshirō's brow rose. His duel Third Seat officers tended to keep guard over him while he was convalescing. Until today, their presence had been completely unnecessary - in fact, it seemed like it was just yet another random task Sentarō and Kiyone had developed purely so they one-up each other at it - but Jūshirō supposed there was always a first time for everything.
The sounds of a brief squabble occurred, quickly followed by a loud splash and Kiyone's high-pitched shriek - she must have fallen into the pond. Considering no one's Reiatsu felt particularly agitated, however, Jūshirō assumed no one was in any genuine harm, and instead simply exchanged a perturbed glance with Shunsui.
His friend chuckled as he sipped his tea. "Ah, the vigour of youth."
"You weren't vigorous even when you were young." Jūshirō pointed out right before his door slid open.
The Captain's eyes widened when he recognised Niijima Isao. Visually speaking, he was rather unremarkable – he was a middle-aged man with dark brown hair peppered with grey, and was in good shape, even if he wasn't anywhere near as brawny as some of the men in the 11th. No, Niijima was more noticeable for his skills - the man was one of the rare Shinigami recruited straight from the Rukongai due to his possession of a functional Shikai. Jūshirō wasn't inclined to gamble, but he'd feel comfortable betting that Niijima had almost certainly been a Fullbringer when alive.
Right now, however, there was no sign of his usual calm professionalism. Niijima's skin was pale, and Jūshirō could feel the way his Reiatsu bubbled nervously under his skin. "Captain Ukitake, sir…" The man swallowed, before giving the Cpatain a deep bow. "I'm sorry for intruding, but there is a favour I must ask of you."
A stormy-faced Sentarō poked his head into Jūshirō's quarters - a somewhat damp Kiyone at his side - but the Captain waved them away. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious about Niijima's sudden shift in demeanour.
"Go ahead, Niijima-san. I'm happy to hear you out."
The middle-aged man shuffled, back still bent in a bow. "The Ryoka… I want you to give them your aid."
"What?!" Sentarō shrieked, jumping back.
"What?!" Kiyone shrieked, jumping back and toppling into the pond again.
Shunsui calmly sipped his tea. "Well, that's certainly a request."
Jūshirō simply blinked, eyes wide. Out of all the things for Niijima suddenly barge into his quarters and ask, that certainly wasn't at the top of the list. In fact, it wasn't even on the list to begin with. Did I hit my head and wake up in some strange parallel universe? Normally, the Captain would have dismissed such a ludicrous request out of pocket, but truthfully, after everything Shunsui had told him, a part of him was tempted to assist the Ryoka anyway.
"May I ask why?" He commented idly. "I didn't think you cared much for politics, and nor are you that close to Rukia."
Niijima finally straightened up, expression still mildly queasy. The man's shoulders slumped as he let out a deep sigh. "Two of the Ryoka are my daughters."
His words pierced the air like a cannonball, and Jūshirō almost choked on his tea. Shunsui peered at the Tenth Seat with unrestrained fascination, probably finding this latest drama delightfully juicy. He always was a bit of a gossip, after all.
"Since when did you have kids?!" Kiyone dragged herself out of the pond and jabbed a finger towards Niijima, unable to hide her naked shock.
"Yeah, what the hell?!" Sentarō yammered. "Why haven't you introduced us yet?!"
A look of irritation flashed across Niijima's face, which suited him far more than his prior nervousness did. "Because they should be in the World of the Living, since neither of them are actually dead." He then paused, grimacing. "And given their mother was a Quincy, I wouldn't be inclined to bring them here anyway."
… Oh. Well then, that certainly explained why he was so nervous.
"Hmm… that does fit in with some of the reports." Shunsui hummed. "I take it that means the silver-haired lass who intercepted Byakuya and Tōsen is yours? I recall Abarai-kun said she shared your last name."
Niijima looked fundamentally pained as he ran a hand through his hair. "Yes – Sae, my oldest. She's talented, but given she swore off all things spiritual a decade ago, I sincerely doubt she's the brains behind this operation." His lips wrinkled like he'd bitten into a lemon. "No, that would be my younger daughter, Makoto. She'd be around Kuchiki-chan's age, physically speaking – I guess they must have met in the World of the Living. She always had a strong sense of justice, but can be naïve at times – this is the exact sort of thing she'd do. I assume Sae's just here to keep an eye on her."
Jūshirō nodded, contemplating his words. Niijima was almost certainly telling them the truth, judging by Shunsui's comment. A Fullbringer and a Quincy, huh? He'd love to hear the story behind that one during a less troubled time. There was one more thing he had to ask though before he gave Isao an answer, however.
"Do you think either of them has anything to do with Aizen's death?"
"Absolutely not!" Niijima reeled back, scandalised. "Sae would rather die than kill anyone, and Makoto is just a kid. Neither of them would ever do such a thing!"
"Peace – I believe you." Jūshirō raised his hands placatingly.
The Captain took a calming breath and contemplated the facts. Frankly, looking at the situation as a whole, the Ryoka were right. Aizen had manipulated the very systems that were meant to promote peace and order in the Seireitei, and had gotten away with it scot-free. How could Jūshirō place his trust in them now? Not to mention, was a law that would condemn an innocent woman to a fate worse than death even worth upholding in the first place?
Jūshirō straightened his shoulders, expression firm. "From this moment onwards, the 13th will provide the Ryoka aid."
The sheer and utter relief in Niijima's Reiatsu was palpable, but he was not the first to speak after Jūshirō's declaration.
"Finally!" A deep voice purred, and Jūshirō whirled around to see a black cat draped over his windowsill. "That took you long enough!"
…..
Far away from Ukitake's humble abode and hundreds of metres below the earth, a man sat on his throne and watched his parliament of corpses with amusement in his wicked eyes. For a society that thought itself invulnerable, it was fascinating how easy it was to slaughter its governing body. The Central 46 had assumed their anonymity would keep them safe. Instead, it simply meant that once they'd all perished, nobody had even noticed.
It was terrible news for the Seireitei, but excellent news for him.
For many years he'd pondered over how truly blind people could be. When he was younger, the obliviousness of the masses had horrified him. As the years went by, however, his shock had twisted into disgust, which eventually waned into patronising bemusement. The mindless drones that filled this society like a rot mattered very little, in the end. Once the throne of heaven was his, they would face enlightenment whether they wanted it or not.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the chamber's halls, snapping him out of his musings. The man's eyes flicked towards the Underground Assembly Hall's entrance, where two men now stood.
"Gin, Kaname." He smiled calmly as he lounged on what had once been the judges' chairs. "Please, come in."
"Love what you've done to the place." Gin drawled, expression gleeful as he trailed a finger through a puddle of dried blood. "Very festive."
He arched a brow, feeling a flutter of amusement at his former Lieutenant's antics. How quaint, that a snake would complain about the bite of a basilisk. "If I recall, you were right by my side when I did the Seireitei this particular favour."
Gin snickered, and Kaname's lips thinned. Unlike his compatriots, he gained no pleasure from the thrill of the kill. Still, even if he had no bloodlust to sate, the 9th Division Captain would sleep easier knowing the Central 46 were six feet under the earth. A hunger for retribution burned like a greedy flame in his heart, just as surely as Gin was plagued by a constant thirst for the suffering of others. Their differing but shared afflictions were how he'd ensnared them into his service, after all.
"Tell me, Kaname, how goes things on the surface?" He asked, turning away from Gin and towards his other subordinate.
The blind man tipped his head. "While she escaped before I could inflict any lasting damage, the chief threat among the Ryoka has been disorientated – now, only three remain in reach of the Senzaikyū." Kaname's voice was emotionless as he continued. "First are the duo that beat Abarai. The boy is weak, and while the girl has potential, she lacks experience. Finally, there is the child that aided the Quincy who killed Kurotsuchi. While I do not believe she used her full strength in that fight, it does not matter – none of them stand a chance against Kuchiki Byakuya."
He nodded, absorbing his underling's words. As expected, the Captain of the 6th had taken root in the Senzaikyū the second the Ryoka had begun to draw near - it was unlikely he would leave until the dawn of the execution. "Tell me." He spoke, and while he smiled it did not reach his eyes. "On the off chance the Ryoka you fought is less befuddled than you expect, what are their chances of success?"
Kaname flinched at the subtle reprimand. "… She might be able to defeat Kuchiki, sir."
"Very well." He nodded. "While I'm sure your calculations are correct, there's no reason to leave room for error. Gin, it's time for the Central 46 to make an announcement – Kuchiki-chan's execution has been expedited. Noon, the day after tomorrow, perhaps?"
The silver-haired man gave him a laconic salute. "Aye aye, Captain."
With that, the two men departed, and as soon as he was alone the false levity dropped from his face. For him to gain what Urahara had lost, Kuchiki Rukia must die by the flames of the Sōkyoku. At the same time, he was very much a fan of contingencies – on the off chance the execution was foiled, he would need another plan.
He steepled his fingers, smirking.
Good thing he already had one.
…..
As dawn broke, Makoto continued her journey. It wasn't like she was getting much in the way of sleep, anyway. Whenever she closed her eyes, she was plagued by images of dissection tables and a butchered and mutilated corpse, except in her dreams, it had Uryū's face instead of Sōken's. After waking up covered in sweat for the third time that night, she'd given up. At least Yoruichi had confirmed both he and Sae were alive – without that faint glimmer of hope keeping her afloat, she didn't know how she'd continue.
About an hour into her solitary journey, a static buzz entered her ears. It was Ann, and some of the heaviness plaguing Makoto lifted when she revealed she and Ryuji had reached the Senzaikyū. Makoto didn't bother replying – it'd just be a waste of time – but the blonde's message bolstered her spirits, and as she advanced through the Seireitei, there was something almost resembling a spring to her step. Still, as the brunette hurried through the Seireitei, relying more on raw speed than stealth, Uryū's absence was as pronounced as a missing limb. She kept opening her mouth, planning to make idle comments or talk strategy, only to realise nobody was there. The lack of his Reiatsu buzzing at her side also made her feel oddly exposed, almost as if she was half naked.
As Makoto rounded the corner, she skidded to a halt, eyes widening. The student council president had been so caught up in her own head, she hadn't realised how close she was to her destination. All that stood between her and the arched gate leading into the Senzaikyū was a large plaza. Excitement flared in her chest, and she stepped away, planning to find a small alcove she could bunker down in while she contacted the others. Her joy was short-lived, however. Makoto froze as a shadow fell over her, and a crunch echoed through the quiet air like a bullet.
"Aw, man." A deep voice groaned. "First, the Captain drags me out of bed at the crack of dawn, and now I have the misfortune of a Ryoka appearing on my watch? Couldn't you have come a few hours later?"
Cursing, she whirled around – the Senzaikyū hadn't been the only thing she'd failed to notice. As she glanced up towards the rooftops, Makoto's eyes narrowed as she examined her foe. He was a massive man in both height and girth, donned in a simply tacky amount of jewellery. In one hand, he held a bag of rice crackers – probably the source of the crunch she heard. She'd clearly interrupted his breakfast.
"I can always leave and come back once you're gone, if you prefer." Makoto's reply was brisk.
"Sorry, no can do." Abandoning his snack, the man leapt down from the roof, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw the band around his arm. "I'm the Lieutenant of the 2nd Division, and Captain of the Onmitsukidō's Second Branch, the Security Force Unit – Omaeda Marechiyo! If you think I'm going to let a Ryoka go, you're mistaken!" He then grimaced and muttered something under his breath. "Plus, the Captain would tan my hide if I did…"
Slipping into a battle stance, Makoto clenched her fists. Unfortunately, while the Lieutenant didn't seem particularly motivated, it was clear he wasn't going to let her go without a fight. She'd used up all of her Gintō fighting and escaping Kurotsuchi, leaving her with nothing but her fists. Still, that was fine with her. Makoto hadn't spent all those years learning martial arts for no reason.
Flashing to his side in a blitz of shunpo, Omaeda's eyes widened as she launched a rapid-fire volley of punches into his solar plexus, Blut Arterie activated. Wheezing, the man crumpled, but Makoto didn't stop her assault. She swung her foot at his head, the force of the kick sending him flying, but he wasn't down for the count just yet. Rolling to his feet, the Lieutenant wiped a trail of blood leaking down from his split lip.
"Oh, you're going to pay for harming the face of the Seireitei's most handsome man, Ryoka!"
… Pardon? Makoto had no time to ponder over his words though, as Omaeda whipped out his Zanpakutō, and charged at her with a yell. While there was considerable force behind each of his blows, they were predictable and sloppy, and Makoto weaved through them with ease. It wasn't long before his guard slipped, exposing his stomach, and Makoto took the opportunity to strike. Her fist sailed through the air, but instead of smashing into the Lieutenant, she stumbled as she hit nothing but air.
What?! Where did he-
Makoto whirled around, but she was too late.
"Crush, Gegetsuburi!"
If she hadn't swapped to Blut Vene at the last second, she would have been taken out then and there. Instead, as a giant spiked ball half the size of her body crashed into her, she was simply thrown into the air like a ragdoll, as opposed to having all her ribs crushed like twigs. Pain exploded in her torso as she skidded across the ground before eventually coming to a halt. A part of Makoto felt like curling up into a ball and whimpering, but she knew if she didn't get to her feet right now, she'd be dead. Staggering upwards, this time, it was her turn to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Glaring at her opponent, she saw Omaeda's demeanour had done a complete turnabout. His bombastic grin had been replaced by a subtle smirk, and calculation shined in his eyes. Now that he wasn't trying to murder her with it, she got a proper look at his Zanpakutō. She'd initially thought Gegetsuburi was a mace, but her heart sank when she saw a chain attached to the spiked ball, and realised it was a flail. In other words, it was a perfect counter for her now that she no longer had any long-range attacks in her arsenal.
Omaeda leered at her. "I'm in the Onmitsukidō, girl – do you really think I'd be that slow?"
So, that was his plan – he played the part of the fool until I got complacent, then struck. It was clever, Makoto had to give him that. On the flipside though, now that he'd dropped the act, it wouldn't work twice.
Still, that didn't matter if he simply outclassed her anyway. Gegetsuburi whipped out at the brunette again, far too fast for something that big, and Makoto barely managed to roll out of its way. Omaeda struck again and again, and as she narrowed dodged his strikes, a plan started to form in her mind. As Gegetsuburi flew past her head, Makoto shunpoed straight to Omaeda's side. As a long-ranged weapon, his Zanpakutō would be useless in close quarters. She managed to get in a solid punch to the Lieutenant's ribs before Gegetsuburi came flying back, and Makoto's eyes widened as its chain shrunk, turning it into a bludgeon. She quickly backpedalled before she got squished like a bug - unfortunately, she hadn't been wrong about his Shikai after all.
Pushing her emotions to the side, Makoto analysed the situation. Omaeda might be slightly faster than her, but the margin was small at best. With the aid of her Blut Vene, Makoto could clearly take more hits than him, but that mattered little if she couldn't inflict any in return to begin with. Ideally, she'd be able to drag out the fight until his energy waned, and strike then, but as a beacon of Reiatsu began honing in on their location at a rapid pace, Makoto's lips pursed. It looked like she wasn't going to get the luxury of choice. Unless she wanted to get double-teamed, she needed to take the Lieutenant down, now.
Not daring to take her eyes off Omaeda, she kept her feet light and her stance firm. Yoruichi had told Makoto that she should only use this technique if she had no other option - it would drain her Reiryoku even faster than her Blut, and could potentially capture the wrong sort of attention if certain individuals saw it. Still, the 'no other option' part was the keyword here - it was the only way she'd be able to take out Omaeda before his backup arrived.
Makoto's Reiatsu skyrocketed as she drew out so much spiritual energy the world around her was painted azure blue. "Shunkō!"
Raw energy exploded from her back in a blinding blast, and an electrifying wave of adrenaline ran through her, so potent she felt like she could punch the moon in half with a single blow. As the brilliant blue glow of her Shunkō radiated from her back to the ends of her limbs, Omaeda lifted Gegetsuburi in a last-ditch effort to shield himself, but he was too late. Red lines of Blut Arterie race down her arm as Makoto punched a fist in Omaeda's direction. A ball of raw energy thrice the size of his body hurtled towards the Lieutenant, smashing into him before he could even blink, and knocking him through not just one, but two different buildings. The brunette didn't bother looking at the fallen Lieutenant – the way his Reiatsu plummeted told her all she needed to know.
Deactivating her Shunkō, Makoto ran, glancing over her shoulder. The brunette cursed - it seemed Omaeda's backup had arrived and was gaining on her, fast. As the figure grew closer, Makoto's heart skipped a beat – the diminutive woman was wearing a Captain's haori. Her eyes widened with horror, but she was quickly distracted from her fear when her foot came crashing down and was greeted with nothing.
Yelping, Makoto fell, the world rushing past her in a blur. A pair of strong arms caught her before she hit the ground, and heart racing a mile a minute, she lashed her fist into her Shinigami attacker's face. An audible crack echoed through the air as they dropped her, cursing, and Makoto quickly rolled to her feet. It was then that she promptly realised several things. Firstly, her attacker wasn't an attacker at all. Secondly, they weren't even a Shinigami. Thirdly, as Sae cursed, tears shining in her eyes as she healed her broken nose, Makoto realised she'd just decked her sister in the face.
Her heart-pounding adrenaline was promptly replaced by an all-consuming sense of guilt. "Sis?! Oh god, I'm so sorry!" Makoto wailed.
"'S alright." Sae replied nasally, though her voice returned to normal as she continued to speak. "I really should have predicted that, honestly."
Everything suddenly went dark, and an unknown voice echoed through the air. "I've sealed the entrance, Niijima-san!"
"Good – do you think they noticed us?" Sae glanced upwards, and Makoto saw she was staring towards the top of a ladder embedded in the rusty red walls surrounding them.
"Um, I don't think so! Captain Soifon wasn't in sight when Niijima-chan fell down, and I doubt she knows where the opening points in the sewers are off the top of her head…"
As Makoto's eyes adjusted to the gloom, she looked around. The tunnel they were in was large and damp, but thankfully didn't smell too gross. As a small figure joined them at the sewer's side, the brunette regarded him curiously. He was clearly a Shinigami, though not one she recognised from Urahara's reports. Odd – if any of us were going to befriend a member of the Gotei 13, I didn't think it would be Sae.
"This is Yamada Hanatarō." Her sister explained. "He's a friend of Kuchiki-chan's, and has offered to help us out – we were heading towards the Senzaikyū when I felt your Reiatsu."
Makoto rubbed her chin. He did look like the sort of person to be called Yamada Hanatarō, didn't he?
"I-it's nice to meet you, Niijima-chan." Yamada bowed politely. "Niijima-san's told me a lot about you."
Both sisters blushed at that, but Makoto ignored the warm butterflies in her stomach in favour of returning Yamada's gesture. "It's a pleasure to meet you too – thank you for helping my sister."
Speaking of Sae, Makoto turned around and at the sight of her sister, something inside her broke. The events of the last few days came crashing down, and with a childish whimper she threw herself at Sae, embracing her big sister with a sob. She was bloody and dirty, but she was whole - she was here. A part of Makoto half-expected Sae to push her off, or to tell her she was being silly – she'd never been particularly physically affectionate – but instead, as Makoto's shoulders quaked and snot dribbled down her face, Sae held her tightly, returning Makoto's embrace.
Sae's voice was soothing as she stroked her sister's back. "It's okay, Makoto – I'm here. Everything's going to be okay."
As Makoto soaked in the warmth emanating from her body, she believed her.
…..
"Fuck!" Soifon hissed, clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles went white.
She'd been surveying the Onmitsukidō's new Senzaikyū base camp when she felt her useless Lieutenant's Reiatsu rise. She'd been content to ignore him initially, but when it soared higher, indicating he'd unleashed his Shikai, she'd paused. Omaeda was a pathetic lump, but he wasn't completely incompetent – he wouldn't use Gegetsuburi against any weakling. Sighing, Soifon had shunpoed his way – it'd be a political nightmare if he got killed under her watch given how much funding his family provided the 2nd. The Captain reached the Senzaikyū's base just in time to see the Ryoka claim victory, and had made an amateur mistake – Soifon had frozen. She wasn't surprised that Omaeda had lost, no, but about how the Ryoka had won.
Ever since her Bankai turned out to be colossally useless for assassination, Soifon had spent decades working to compensate for that loss. Recently, after years of effort, she'd finally figured out how to augment her body with the power of Kidō. She'd developed the technique so recently, in fact, she hadn't even had the time to give it a proper name. And yet, somehow, the Ryoka had figured out how to do the exact same thing. Even worse – she'd done it better. Instead of the wisps of wind-like Kidō that drifted off Soifon's body when she used the technique, azure flames had blasted off her back like a heatless inferno, setting the Ryoka alight with power.
The Captain had been so caught off-guard she'd stumbled to a halt, and the Ryoka had used the split-second delay to slip out of her fingers like a grain of sand.
As Soifon's head snapped back and forth, she tried to quell the anger that bubbled within her. The Ryoka might have escaped, but this wasn't a total loss. There was no way in hell some random human had managed to discover and perfect a technique like that when Soifon had failed too. Ergo, someone must have taught her, and the Captain was pretty damn sure she knew who. Soifon's vision grew red as a growl burst from her throat. She'd finally thought she'd eclipsed her traitorous predecessor, but it seemed that Soifon was still plodding along in her shadow. No. No more. I'll surpass you at last, Shihōin Yoruichi!
A wicked smirk crossed her features, as the skeleton of an idea formed in her mind. The Ryoka wanted Kuchiki? Fine – they could have her. Soifon had bigger fishes to fry.
Turning on her heel, the Captain marched towards the 4th.
…..
Ryuji bounced his leg, eyes darting to and fro. The blond was slouched against a stone wall topped by bushes that blotted out the light, and Ann paced before him, a frown marring her face. Even though she was more patient than Ryuji himself, it wasn't exactly a virtue of hers, and they'd been waiting for ages now.
It had taken them a grand total of ten minutes to reach the Senzaikyū that morning. The plaza leading to the towering white prison was far too exposed, so they'd taken refuge in a small courtyard in a nearby side street while they waited for the others. He hadn't been too concerned for the first couple of hours, but as morning melted into afternoon, Ryuji found himself growing increasingly antsy. What if Makoto had been forced to take another detour? What if Yoruichi's feline form had been exposed? What if they'd both been captured, and Ann and Ryuji were just waiting around like sitting ducks?
Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore. "Do you think we should try and rescue Rukia ourselves?"
Ann whirled around, eyes wide. "What? Are you mad?!"
He gritted his teeth and swept a hand through his hair. "Look, we haven't heard or sensed anyone else, and we've been waiting forever. What if they've been caught and it's just down to us?"
"I dunno." Ann frowned. "I mean… wouldn't we have felt it if the others got into a fight? Especially Yoruichi."
"Well, sure, but…" Ryuji admitted reluctantly. Ann had a point, but he'd go mental if he had to sit there another minute.
Unfortunately, Ryuji's impatience wasn't enough to get Ann to bite. "Honestly, it sounds like a bad idea."
He opened his mouth to object, but then the air by the alcove's entrance shimmered. A veil of light parted, revealing a man with greying hair donned in a Shinigami's Shihakushō.
"You're right. Assaulting the Senzaikyū at this moment would earn you a one-way ticket to an interrogation cell." The man commented nonchalantly.
Cursing, Ryuji leapt off the wall and scrabbled for his Zanpakutō. Dammit – he'd completely forgotten they weren't the only ones who could use a Kyokkō! Armed and ready, both teens glowered at the Shinigami. Ryuji couldn't really sense his Reiatsu, so he probably wasn't that strong, and he wore no haori or armband. In fact, he just looked like any other middle-aged man – the blond was pretty sure they could take him down.
However, the newcomer made no move to attack, and simply crossed his arms before arching an unimpressed brow in their direction. "Calm down – if I had any intention of hurting you, I wouldn't have announced my presence, would I? In fact, I'm here to help."
"Oh, yeah?" Ryuji snarled. "Why the hell should we believe you?"
"I'm Niijima Isao, Tenth Seat, 13th Division – Kuchiki-chan's Division. Captain Ukitake was hoping to stop her execution the legal way, but now that that's fallen through, he decided the best way to prevent her death would be assisting you lot."
Ann and Ryuji exchanged a glance, and the blonde teenager bit her lip. "Urahara did say that Captain Ukitake might be willing to help us if he heard us out."
Ryuji frowned. He absolutely hated the thought of trusting some random adult - for all they knew, this guy was completely full of shit. At the same time his excuse did check out, and having a Captain on their side would be an absolute godsend at this point.
"… Alright." Ryuji lowered Sorakaizoku, but didn't sheathe it as he shot Niijima a mulish glare. "We'll listen, for now." Worse comes to worst, they could just beat him up anyway.
Niijima seemingly took no offence at his hostility, and merely pointed towards the Senzaikyū. "Focus your senses. You should be able to pick up two Reiatsu signatures that stand out compared to the others."
Ryuji could feel jack diddly-squat, but Ann's brows furrowed as she peered towards the tower. "… Yeah, I can sense them." She announced.
"Those belong to Captain Soifon and Captain Kuchiki. Captain Soifon is the leader of the Gotei 13's black ops, specialising in assassination, security, and tracking." Niijima's voice was blunt as the two teenagers stared at him in shock. "Still, she's only there on rotation, so you could always strike when she's absent. I wouldn't recommend it, but you'd possibly be capable of sneaking past Captain Kuchiki… if he hadn't taken roost directly in front of Kuchiki-chan's cell, that is."
Oh. That's… bad. Very bad. Ryuji gulped, releasing he'd almost pressured Ann into walking right into a trap. The blonde's skin also turned pale – perhaps she'd bitten into Ryuji's hair-brained idea more than he expected.
He didn't realise he'd voiced his thoughts aloud until Niijima replied. "Yes – if anything, that's an understatement. Even lingering here is a bad idea with the Onmitsukidō on the prowl. We should fall back. Captain Kuchiki isn't going to leave his position until the day of the execution – we'll be better served using this time to rest and train, before ambushing Kuchiki-chan's convoy en route to the Sōkyoku."
Niijima turned around and started walking away, clearly expecting the two teens to follow, but they remained rooted to the spot. He paused, glancing back over his shoulder. For the first time since they'd met him, the man's frown cracked into a ruthful smile. "… You don't trust me, do you?"
"Uh, no. Look, your plan sounds great and everything, but for all we know you're lying out of your teeth." Ann scratched the back of her head, voicing Ryuji's exact sentiments.
"That's fair – you shouldn't blindly believe everyone you meet." Oddly enough, Niijima looked somewhat approving at their scepticism. The man's crimson eyes softened. "Would it help if I admitted I had some ulterior motives?"
Ann narrowed her eyes. "Oh, yeah?"
Niijima nodded. "Yes. I believe you're friends with my daughters?"
Wait. Ryuji's eyes grew as wide as saucers. Niijima. Jaw dropping, his eyes roved all over the man. Brown hair, check. Dark reddish eyes, check. Now that he was looking for it, Isao's jawline was similar to Sae's, wasn't it?
"You're Makoto's dad?!" Ann shrieked.
"Dude, for real?!" Ryuji choked, the sheer insanity of this latest twist bludgeoning him in the skull. What the actual hell?!
"Indeed, I am." Isao laughed, before leaning forward. "Now, for the love of god, tell me how on earth she managed to talk Sae into this crazy stunt?"
Ryuji rubbed his chin. "Uh, Makoto gave her a big, dramatic speech about teamwork and shit?"
"Isshiki Wakaba offered her witness testimony if she helped us out." Ann stately flatly.
"That's…" Isao sighed. "Oh, Sae."
After sharing a quick round of introductions, any further lamentations about Makoto's workaholic sister were cut off as Reiatsu exploded in the distance, and both Ann and Isao went green.
"Makoto." He gasped, skin paling.
The trio leapt into action immediately and raced off towards their friend. As they neared Makoto's location, Ryuji's stomach twisted as he picked up a second blot of Reiatsu gaining on her. Per the rule of thumb, if Ryuji could sense it, it was bad. Suddenly though, the cold fire of Makoto's Reiatsu vanished, and her pursuer's blared in alarm. Frantic, Ryuji started to race around the corner, but suddenly Isao shoved out his arm, blocking him.
"Keep your Reiatsu down." He whispered, as the trio carefully peered around the edge of the building and into the street where Makoto had vanished.
Yet again, the older man had saved their hides – at the other end of the street stood a woman in a white haori, and Ryuji realised she must be the 2nd's Captain, Soifon. Her eyes were wide with shock, but they quickly narrowed, and her lips curled as if she'd caught the scent of something disgusting. A wave of relief swept through Ryuji as she turned on her heel and shunpoed away. Isao remained still, and the blond realised he was waiting to make sure Soifon had truly gone before he came out. After fifteen seconds or so, the tension left his shoulders, and he stepped into the open.
The street looked like any old Seireitei road, cobbled with grey stones and lined with small buildings and the occasional tree. Looking around, Ryuji couldn't see anywhere to hide, though admittedly simply ducking behind something wouldn't shield you from anyone who could sense even a jot of Reiatsu.
Ann frowned, trailing her fingers through the air. "I can't detect a Kyokkō – maybe Makoto's used the Quincy equivalent?"
"No – that would still leave traces of Reiatsu, and if she was nearby, there's no reason she wouldn't have approached us now that Captain Soifon has left." Isao shook his head.
"How did she disappear then? Space/time Kidō is crazy complex – even I can't do it – and Makoto struggled to learn a Tenteikūra." Ann furrowed her brows. "Even if there is some Quincy teleporting magic, it'd probably use up all her Gintō, and I just can't see her doing that."
Ryuji bit his lip, thinking things through. Makoto was here half a minute ago, but then suddenly disappeared. She wasn't invisible, and she couldn't have teleported, so she had to be nearby, but at the same time, she couldn't just walk over to them either.
"Maybe there's like… a hidden room or something around here, which… blocks off Reiatsu, I guess?" Ryuji suggested weakly, already feeling like facepalming – what sort of dumb suggestion was that?
Ann, however, whirled around, eyes lighting up as she grabbed his lapels. "Of course! Ryuji, you're a genius!"
"I am?" He scrunched his nose.
"Yes!" She nodded vigorously. "Remember – the sewers! Urahara said they're insulated against Reiatsu, but we probably couldn't sneak through them as only certain Shinigami can access them!"
"Not bad thinking, Takamaki-chan." Isao rubbed his chin and scrutinised the street, before suddenly pointing at some nondescript tiles. "Jackpot – there's a manhole right there."
Ryuji blinked, mildly surprised his off-the-wall idea had actually born fruit as the three of them hurried to the tiles' side. Now that he was closer, he could see that the grooves surrounding them were slightly darker than normal, but Isao had to have the eyes of a hawk to see that all the way from where they were standing. Maybe it's his detective instincts? The older man didn't lift up the manhole cover, however, but poked it with his finger, which glowed with a golden light. Bright circular lines and symbols suddenly flared to life at his touch, covering the tile and some of the surrounding brick.
"It's a Kidō lock." Isao explained, not taking his eyes off the marks. "Only Reiatsu signatures keyed into the system can move the cover. I should be able to break it, but it might take some time…"
"I'll help." Ann offered, kneeling alongside him. "Ryuji, mind being the lookout?"
"Sure." He offered, even though he was pretty sure both of them would notice any approaching Reiatsu well before he did.
Still, that didn't mean he should half-ass it, so Ryuji closed his eyes and focused on the world around him. Busting the lock was slow going, and a couple of times they had to duck away as patrols passed them by, stopping progress completely. Eventually, though, Ryuji picked up a slowly approaching ball of blistering Reiatsu which surpassed all the prior patrols put together.
"Uh, something's coming, and it doesn't feel good." Ryuji swallowed, turning around. "How much longer have we got?"
As he looked at their progress though, his eyes widened in dismay. Lines of crimson Kidō had been woven between the lock's various symbols and swirls, but Ann and Isao were barely halfway done.
"Shit!" Ann hissed. "Can we brute-force this?"
Isao's lips thinned. "Not without alerting the 4th, and after what happened to your friend, I don't want to risk that. If we play things fast and loose though…"
Brows wrinkled in concentration, Isao poured more energy into the lock, but as the monstrous Reiatsu grew closer and closer, Ryuji knew it was futile. The blond furrowed his brow. If brute-forcing the lock wasn't going to work, they'd just have to brute-force something else.
"Blast them away, Sorakaizoku!" Unleashing his Shikai, Ryuji flipped the lid off his cannon. "Steer clear, this is gonna be loud!"
"Ryuji, are you nuts?!" Ann wailed.
Isao smartly realised that Ryuji was gonna do what Ryuji was gonna do, and slung a hand around her waist before shunpoing them both out of the blast radius. Generating a ball of electrical energy, Ryuji shot it straight at the manhole, blowing it to pieces as shrapnel and dust pierced the air. The delinquent coughed, wiping his eyes, and saw that a large crater had been blown into the once-pristine street, and half the ladder leading into the sewer's dark depths had been blown off its hinges.
Ryuji faced his companions and gave them a thumbs up. "Got it! Let's go!"
Jumping down the hole, both Isao and Ann followed, but his fellow blonde was still unimpressed.
"For god's sake, half the bloody Gotei 13 is going to have felt that!" She threw her hands up into the air. "Not to mention, everyone's going to know now we're down in the sewers!"
"So what?" Ryuji challenged her. "Once we've grabbed Makoto, we're getting out of here! Besides, I've got a plan!"
Ann quieted at that, and once the trio had been in the slimy tunnel long enough for Ryuji to feel safe, he pointed Sorakaizoku towards the ceiling behind them and fired another blast. The golden light illuminated the dark tunnel like a minature sun before smashing into the roof and sending a ton of brick and stone crumbling down. Another wave of dust and debris rushed through the air, and as things settled, Ryuji noted with satisfaction that the pathway they'd taken had been completely sealed off.
"… It doesn't matter if they know where we are if they can't reach us!" He concluded.
Ann pulled a face, but that could have been because of all the sewer dust covering her. Either way, satisfaction bubbled in his stomach – he'd take this as a win.
"… Let's go and find Makoto before she gets too far away – the racket has likely spooked her." Isao commented, leaving his opinions of Ryuji's scheme unvoiced.
As the trio run down the musty tunnels, the faint scent of decay lingering in Ryuji's nose, Isao's suspicions turned out to be correct. A blip of Reiatsu that probably belonged to Makoto drew further and further away, until it suddenly paused, and cautiously turned in their direction – she must have recognised his and Ann's Reiatsu. Eventually, a set of footsteps not belonging to any of Ryuji's group began echoing down the sewer, and a giddy grin rushed onto Ryuji's face as a familiar brunette rounded the corner. She wasn't alone, either. Sae was at her side, and some shrimpy Shinigami was bringing up the rear – perhaps another member of Ukitake's Division.
"Ann, Ryuji!" Makoto yelled, eyes brightening as she returned his beaming grin. "Thank god you're alright!"
"We could say the same to you!" Ann laughed, sweeping the other girl up into a hug.
Relief flooded through the delinquent teen, and he bypassed the hug in favour of giving her a hearty pat on the back. "You gave us half a heart attack back there, Queen!"
She blushed, a happy smile donning her face, but the joyous expression dropped off her face when Sae's Reiatsu suddenly jolted, and a strangled gasp escaped the older Niijima sister's throat. The prosecutor's wine-red eyes were as wide as saucers as she stared at Isao like he was a zombie who'd just crawled out of a grave. Makoto glanced between her sister and Isao, then froze, jaw hanging wide open as she finally recognised him. If Sae was looking at her father like he was some sort of horrible curse, Makoto did the opposite.
Her eyes brimmed with wonder, and a tentative smile crossed the brunette's face. "… Dad?"
"Hey there, sweet pea." Isao walked forward, lips trembling as his eyes grew misty. "God, you've grown so much."
A delighted laugh tore from Makoto's throat as she jumped into her father's arms, hugging him like she never intended to let go. "What – how?!"
"It's a long story." He patted her head affectionately. "Why don't we have this chat somewhere a bit more comfortable?"
…..
As the reunited members of the Phantoms followed Isao's lead, Makoto could hardly tear her eyes off her father. He's here! He's really here! While logically, it probably shouldn't have been quite so surprising – she knew he was spiritually sensitive and Sae had suspected the Shinigami might have saved his soul in time – it was surreal seeing him here in the flesh, looking exactly like he did in all her memories (sans the Shinigami Shihakushō, of course).
She was so caught up in her excitement, Makoto almost missed the way Sae had fallen to the back of the group. Her delighted mood spluttered and died the second she caught sight of her sister's expression. Her face was so gloomy it looked like she was part of a funeral procession, and she studiously looked anywhere but at Isao. Guilt sparked in Makoto's stomach – she'd been so caught up in her own happiness, she'd almost forgotten about Sae's strained relationship with their father.
Makoto slowed her pace, falling to her sister's side. "Hey – are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Sae shot her a tense smile, very clearly lying out of her teeth, but nudged Makoto forward anyway. "Go on – I know this is probably very exciting for you."
Makoto frowned. "Are you sure? I don't want to -"
"Yes, Makoto, I'm sure." A hint of exasperation leaked into Sae's voice as she interrupted her.
Shooting one last concerned look back at her sister, Makoto returned to her position at the front of the formation. There was little she could do for Sae while she continued to insist things were hunky dory, and while Makoto could probably squeeze the truth out of her if she pushed, she had no intention of trampling over her sister's boundaries considering how well things had been going between them lately. If they just leave each other alone, hopefully, things will be alright. The brunette attempted to console herself.
Still, as the day went on and they snuck out of the sewers, Makoto quickly found that her worries were overtaken by the sheer joy of finally being reunited with her father. There's so much I want to talk to you about. As Isao cast a glance over his shoulder, and met Makoto's eyes with a gentle smile, she could tell the feeling was mutual.
Eventually, they slipped out of shunpo, and her father began to slow. It looked like they'd looped back to the Seireitei's centre, but instead of approaching the Senzaikyū, they'd gone into the forest at the base of the Sōkyoku Hill. Unlike the rest of the Seireitei, which had been blessed with warm summer days ever since Makoto's arrival, the air under the leafy canopy was cold, with a faint aroma of dew and moss. It was quieter, too, just like how Inokashira Park was a blessed spot of tranquillity amongst the bustling Tokyo.
Advancing through the forest, Isao eventually came to a halt as the trees abruptly parted in favour of a sheer stone cliff. Her eyes followed the rugged rock wall up and up and up, but the height of it made her dizzy, and Makoto abandoned her endeavour in favour of watching what her father was doing. He approached a part of the cliff face half-covered in shrubbery and muttered some sort of spell under his breath. As he finished his chant, Makoto's brows rose as the rock surface vanished, revealing a dark tunnel.
"Come on – the sooner I can seal this back up, the better." Isao instructed.
Cautiously, the motley patrol followed him into the gloom. Eventually, a light shone at the end of the tunnel, and walking into it, Makoto's brows rose to the ceiling as they stepped into a spacious cavern that stretched on almost infinitely. As she absorbed her surroundings, she was vividly reminded of the training grounds under the Urahara Shōten.
"You kept me waiting! I was half-worried you'd gotten yourself lost!" A voice echoed through the cave.
Tilting her head upwards, a wave of relief ran through Makoto as she saw a familiar figure standing on top of one of the rocky spires that dotted the landscape. Yoruichi jumped to the ground – cat form abandoned in favour of her human one – and approached the group with a cheeky grin on her face. A flicker of realisation ran through Makoto as she approached – now that Yoruichi had joined them, all of the free Phantoms were finally reunited.
In contrast to Yoruichi's casual demeanour, her father bowed politely, all business. "My apologies, Shihōin-san – we ran into a couple of unexpected delays."
"Yeesh, so formal!" Yoruichi laughed. "I can see where Sae gets it from."
Isao frowned at that, though it was a positively mild expression compared to Sae's scowl.
Wandering forward, Ryuji kicked a pebble, oblivious to the tension in the air. "What's this place, anyway? It kinda looks like Urahara's basement."
The change of topic quickly diffused the strained atmosphere. "Good eye, Ryuji." Yoruichi nodded. "You're right – this was the prototype for his little underground dungeon. We built it together with Tessai's aid before we left the Gotei 13."
The blond cringed. "Please don't call it a dungeon… that's just weird."
The lithe woman paid him no heed. "Anyway, I'm sure Isao's told you the plan. With Byakuya-boy lurking around the Senzaikyū, we'll have to strike on the execution day – he'll need to go back to the Kuchiki Manor to primp up." Yoruichi strode towards the cavern's entrance. "There's food around the back, and a hot spring imbued with healing Kidō between the crags over there. You've got around a week to rest and train, so use your time wisely."
Ann shot her a curious look. "You're not staying?"
The woman paused, shaking her head. "No – there's some business I need to sort out with Ukitake and Kyōraku which will probably take a while. I'll try to keep in touch, but there's a good chance it'll keep me occupied until it's time to strike."
Makoto's stomach twisted uncomfortably at the news. While her experience with the Phantoms had undoubtedly made her more independent, after the nightmare the last few days had been, the thought of letting the adults take the reins had been a comforting one. Still, she realised her feelings were illogical – her father and Sae were still here, after all, and it wasn't like Yoruichi was leaving them without a plan. In the end, Makoto managed to shoot her a warm smile and wished Yoruichi good luck as she left the room.
Ryuji stretched, breaking the silence. "Well, I don't know about you lot, but I'm gonna do some laps, and maybe some mediation. Anyone wanna come with?"
Ann mulled things over. "Hmm. I might join you later, but honestly, those hot springs sound really tempting. I haven't washed my hair in days." She turned around to face the men. "That means you lot need to stay clear, okay?"
"Y-yes, Takamaki-san!" Yamada saluted nervously, as her father gave Ann a respectful nod.
With a smile, she walked away. "Feel free to join me, Makoto, Sae-san!"
Ryuji seemed to take pity on Sae's 4th Division hanger-on. "Hey, wanna work out with me? I've never done any training with a proper Shinigami before."
Yamada flushed. "Oh, um, that's very kind of you, Sakamoto-san, but I'm not particularly good at, w-well, anything other than Kaidō…"
"Ryuji is fine – you're basically the same age as us. Anyway, I don't mind it if you're a beginner – we've all gotta start somewhere." The blond shrugged. "Besides, it's not exactly like I'm a powerhouse compared to some of these guys."
"U-um, if you're sure...!" Yamada shot Ryuji a nervous smile, and both boys headed over to the other side of the training grounds.
As they disappeared from sight, butterflies filled Makoto's stomach as she realised it was only her family left. Turning to her dad, her heart skipped a beat. What if he doesn't like my friends? What if he's angry with me for joining the Phantoms?
When Makoto met his eyes though, she couldn't see a trace of judgement within them. "Why don't we go to the food stocks and see if they have some tea?" He suggested, voice warm. "We've certainly got a lot to catch up on."
A warm and fuzzy feeling ran through Makoto. "S-sure! That sounds great!"
Isao threw a tight smile in Sae's vague direction. "Would you like to join us too, honey? Takamaki-chan mentioned you're working with the SIU – how's that going?"
It was the wrong thing to say.
"You know, you'd already know the answer to that question if you hadn't gotten yourself goddamn killed!" Sae snapped, throwing her hands into the air. "I was an unemployed university student! Makoto hadn't even entered high school! And then you left us because you couldn't help but pick a fight I told you not to! For fuck's sake, Makoto was practically catatonic, and I barely knew how to pay the bills, let alone organise a funeral! And now, you have to gall to walk back into our lives like nothing has happened?!"
Sae's outburst echoed through the air like a thunderclap, her normally imperceptible Reiatsu buzzing through the air like a swarm of hornets.
Isao flinched, his daughter's words clearly cutting him deeper than the blade of any sword. Sighing, he looked away. "I… I'm sorry, Sae. I never wanted to hurt you – I never wanted to hurt either of you."
"Then why do you keep on doing it?!" Sae's voice rose in fevered desperation, her fury caving into a heart-wrenching sob. "Even now, you still can't…!"
Her voice trailed off, and Makoto managed to catch a glimpse of the tears in her eyes as Sae disappeared with a flash, fleeing in the direction of the hot springs.
Isao was rooted to the spot in bewildered silence, crimson eyes wide open as he blinked mawkishly towards where Sae had stood a second ago. Clearing his throat, he turned back to Makoto, spine stiff and expression guarded – a sharp contrast to the open joy he'd worn before. "Sae isn't… she's not exactly wrong, honestly. I suppose I got so enthralled with the idea of seeing you two again, I forgot to consider how much pain my death would have put you through. If you're uncomfortable with my presence, I understand – I'll leave you be if that's what you wish."
"It's okay. I've forgiven you – I forgave you a long time ago. I'm just happy you're alright." Stepping forward, Makoto pulled her father into a gentle hug. "While I can't say the same for Sae, I don't think she wants you to leave, either."
As she embraced her dad, Makoto's thoughts churned. Given what Sae had told her about how distant their relationship had been ever since the fiasco with their mother, the meaning behind her parting words had been obvious to Makoto. Isao's first reaction had been one of confusion, however, and even once Sae's words had sunk in, he'd focused more on the first half of her breakdown.
Maybe there's more to this situation than I initially thought – what if there's no malice involved, but simple miscommunication?
"Hey, dad? Before we catch up, I need to talk to you about something…"
…..
As Sae soaked in the soothing waters of the hot springs, her bubbling rage simmered down and was slowly replaced by a potent sense of humiliation. Her shoulders slumped. She'd told Makoto that things were fine, and she could put up with their father's presence, but the second he'd looked at her (or to be more accurate, failed to), she'd snapped, and half a decade of buried resentment had risen to the surface all at once.
The prosecutor had arrived at the springs mainly by accident – she hadn't been paying attention to where she was going, just that she put as much distance between herself and her father as physically possible. Takamaki had taken one look at her, however, and had told her to come on in. The blonde had clearly managed to put two-and-two together about Sae and her father and avoided the topic deftly, talking about cute girls and fun movies she'd recently seen instead. Normally Sae wouldn't have humoured such meaningless small talk, but she was so desperate for a distraction from her feelings she'd leapt into the conversation with aplomb.
The blonde had left once Sae's mood evened out, leaving the prosecutor alone with her thoughts. With her anger abated though, the only thing Sae felt was shame. Her face flushed as she sunk into the water. Why was she always like this? She was an adult with a prestigious career and a minor in her care - she should have her shit together, and yet, no matter how hard she tried to keep in control, she always ended up falling apart. Bitter thoughts and ugly, resentful feelings constantly festered inside her like a plague of locusts, buzzing and buzzing until the hum drowned out the entire world. She'd then snap, lose her temper, and say something stupid or petty or cruel that always ended up haunting her later. Sae's cheeks were painted red in a deep, ashamed blush - she knew she was acting like an overgrown child, and she hated it.
(She hated the feeling of a monster writhing under her skin, so intimately entwined with what made her herself that it was almost impossible to tell when one of them ended and the other began.)
Eventually, the prosecutor rose to her feet and left the water with a sigh. It was clear the springs had calmed her down as much as they were going to. Drying herself off with a towel, she changed into a fresh Shihakushō Takamaki had fetched her from the supply closet. Honestly, the sooner she could go back to wearing her suit, the better – putting on all these layers was frankly tedious. At least it's black, I guess. If Sae had to wear orange or pink she'd be half tempted just to go back home, Wakaba's testimony be damned.
Now that she was dressed, Sae realised she had absolutely no idea what to do with herself. It was only mid-afternoon, by her estimate – far too early to call it a day. Perhaps she should join Sakamoto and Yamada – she didn't know anything about swordsmanship, but knew enough about fighting in general to give the boys some tips. Still… the thought of being around anyone right now made her recoil. In the end, Sae decided she'd rather go off and brood. Finding a small cliff, she plonked herself down, legs hanging over the edge. The prosecutor sighed – if only she'd brought some work with her. She didn't think she'd been away from her job this long since she'd joined the SIU, and the lack of evidence to sort, testimony to gather, and cases to build made her feel strangely empty. She hadn't had free time in years, and had absolutely no idea what to do with it.
Sae was snapped out of her melancholy thoughts as a bubble of Reiatsu tentatively approached her. Immediately identifying it as Isao, a massive scowl crossed her face. Still, the irritation that kindled in her chest was mere embers compared to the inferno that had gripped her before. In the end, she simply felt too tired to go out of her way to avoid her father and continued to stare into the distance as he approached. Isao's Shihakushō rustled as he sat next to her, but Sae didn't bother turning her head to face him.
"Hey…" Isao's voice trailed off, and despite herself, she glanced his way. His mouth was drawn into a thin line, and he remained silent for a moment, as if he was unsure how to breach the chasm between him and his daughter. "I've been talking to Makoto, and… you know I don't hold what happened to your mother against you, right?"
While she'd had every intention of stonewalling him, the insinuation was so ridiculous Sae couldn't help but snort. Makoto must have given him one hell of a guilt trip for him to come here pedalling those sorts of lies.
She rubbed her brow, voice more tired than bitter. "Look, if you want to play house with Makoto, fine. I won't get in your way. Just… don't try to drag me into it when it's blatantly clear my presence is neither wanted nor needed, alright?"
"Sae, what on earth are you talking about?" Isao wrinkled his nose, stoking her faint annoyance into something more potent.
"Oh, please – don't act like you don't know. I appreciate that you tried to hide it from me, but it was obvious. I know you haven't forgiven me for what I did to mum. For heaven's sake, you've literally never looked me in the eye since that day. I can take a hint, okay?!"
Sae was expecting him to give her a curt frown, mutter a half-hearted apology and leave. Alternatively, he'd tell her she was being ridiculous, before giving her a sigh and leaving. As she finished her tirade though, she was caught off guard when Isao's Reiatsu lurched and his red eyes widened with horror. For half a second, she thought somebody must have infiltrated the training grounds, but when Sae peered over her shoulder, there was no one there.
"T-that's... is that really how you've been feeling, for all these years?!" Isao's voice wavered.
Sae snorted, ready to fire off a retort, but it died in her mouth as for the first time in a decade, Niijima Isao actually met her gaze. As their identical crimson eyes stared into each other for what felt like an eternity, Sae faltered, confused. The only word that could accurately describe her father's expression was devastation. Leaning forward, Isao wrapped her into a firm hug. A part of Sae screamed, bubbling with fury that he dared touch her, but another part of her melted into his arms, having craved this for almost a decade. Torn between two extremes, merely Sae sat there in bewilderment as her father held her like he was never planning to let go.
"Sae, honey… you did what you had to do. I've never blamed you for what happened to Chihiro, not once."
Her voice trembled, as she slowly, tentatively returned his embrace. "T-then why…?"
A barking laugh tore from his throat, and Sae could almost taste the hysteria in his voice. "Because what sort of father fails to notice their child is being preyed on by a Hollow for several years?! I was meant to protect you, and I failed. Hell, I couldn't even get you therapy afterwards! How could I look you in the eyes, when I had let you down in every way that mattered? I didn't deserve you, Sae - I never did."
Sae's world began to spin as her father started to sob into her shoulder. Everything she had ever believed for the last ten years had suddenly been flipped on its head. All that awkward tension between them… it wasn't because he blamed her for her mum's death. It was because he blamed himself. Sae trembled, filled with so much raw emotion she could barely think.
"It's… it's the reason why I couldn't stop fighting Hollows." Isao concluded, voice heavy with exhaustion. "There was nothing I could do to help you, and given how badly I'd messed things up I didn't think you'd want me too even if I could. While I couldn't undo the harm Chihiro caused you though, I thought maybe, just maybe, I could protect other children from suffering the same fate." He pulled away from her, and met Sae's eyes for the second time in as many minutes. Eyes red and cheeks smudged with tears, Isao gave her a rueful smile. "And yet, you were right. Because of that I failed you yet again, and for that, I'm sorry."
It was as if a dam within her had broken. Vision blurring, a sob tore itself from her throat, and for the first time since she was a child, Sae found herself crying in her father's arms. He held her tightly, and finally, the beast beneath her skin finally began to settle.