Chapter 15 - The Lessons We Learn
Warnings: Some swearing.
Japanese Translations:
Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho - Primary Medical Facility of Fourth Division - Hospital.
Obi - Sash on shinigami uniform
Ran – The currency of the Soul Society – Coins with square cut-outs.
~ Day 4 - Night - Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho ~
Unohana Retsu scanned a machine to check the levels of Rukia's reiatsu. When the numbers remained steady, she shut it off with a small click. "I'm sorry about that, Kuchiki-san, but after the incident with Captain Kuchiki, we've decided to screen all wounds for the same contaminant." She turned her eyes to her lieutenant. "Please restore Miss Kuchiki's reiatsu, Kotetsu Fukutaichou."
"At once, Captain Unohana," said Isane. Placing her palms over Rukia's chest, she pooled her reiryoku and summoned it. An invisible wave of kaidō washed over Rukia, who lay drained from battle on the pristine bed. A noise that sounded like whooshing static filled the small room and as she lay there, Rukia slowly began to feel better. The minutes ticked by and soon, Rukia found her fatigue easing and her energy slowly returning.
"I'm going to heal your wounds now, Rukia-san," said Isane, and Rukia offered her a small, grateful smile.
"Thank you," she replied.
Unohana walked past her towards the door. "I'll be back in a few minutes; I must see to the Lieutenant. If you're finished before I return, please complete the medical report." She swept from the room, knowing Isane had everything under control.
Isane helped Rukia remove her blood-soaked uniform just enough to reveal her upper arms, back and shoulders. As Rukia readjusted her obi, Isane inspected the many wounds. Lacerations crisscrossed in red lines along her neck, and the tops of her shoulders where the talon tips had landed. In the centre of her back, two deep grooves stood out to Isane, who supposed they were made by the unique claw on par with a thumb. There were varying depths, but none of the wounds were particularly shallow, and Isane could see hints of bone around the shoulders and collarbones where the talons had curled.
"As bad as these are, you were very lucky, Rukia-san; while these wounds are particularly deep in places, the creature missed all your vital areas. An intensive kaidō session will close them. They won't scar, but they might ache for a night or two, depending on the depth."
Rukia smiled. "That's good." She gave a little shrug of a smile.
The Lieutenant raised her eyes to inspect Rukia's neck and left cheek. "What happened to your face; was it friendly fire?"
Rukia shook her head. "I'm the only one that used kidō as far as I know. When the creature was grabbing my shoulders, it did its best to get its mouth on my neck and rip my throat out." Isane's eyes widened. "I grabbed its muzzle and blasted it with a Shakkahō point blank to get it off me before it could do that."
"I want to say you shouldn't have cast a hadō so close to your head or body, but under the circumstances, I commend you. It was very well cast. How long did the hadō sustain contact with your skin?"
Rukia furrowed her bottom lip as she recalled the event. "Maybe a second or two, but not more than that, and it was a palm-width away from my actual skin."
Isane nodded, looking more pleased than before. "That's much better than I thought. This burn is only a first-degree burn; it'll be pink for a few days, but again, there won't be any scarring. It will hurt though, so I'll prepare something for you to take home with you in the morning to help with that."
Rukia frowned with a hint of worry crinkling her eyebrows. "I have to stay the night?"
"It's just for observation, and nothing to worry about. Unohana Taichou insisted on being extra cautious concerning these creatures. Now, you relax and I'll begin the kaidō."
~ Day 4 - Night - Squad 6 Offices ~
Renji signed another sheet of paper, before wiping his brow and putting his pen away. He was definitely not a fan of paperwork, but on the other hand, it would still be sitting there in the morning. He stretched his shoulders and thanked the heavens that was the last of it. He still had to visit his Captain and hand off all the reports. He thumbed through the folders making sure they were all there when a knock shattered his concentration. Suzuki's face appeared around the doorframe.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I know you're probably wrapping up for the evening, but this just arrived," said Suzuki.
Renji frowned subconsciously, but rose and beckoned the man inside. The Third Seat hastily approached the desk, and held a thin folder out to his Lieutenant with a courteous bow. Renji wasted no time flipping it open, and his eyes widened.
Report
Shūhei Hisagi
9th Division ~ Lieutenant
Summary of Events:
The 9th Division, in combination with the 12th Division, were alerted to a disturbance featuring the Silver Maned Beasts by members of the Second Division and by order of the Soūtaichou. The alarm was raised by a young Cadet from the Thirteenth Division, Katsumi Sano, who was travelling back to her barracks with her Squad members from the Seireitei. These unseated officers, Masahiro Takagi, Kōji Miyamoto, and Kaoru Hayashi entered the forest to aid Rukia Kuchiki who had left to engage the enemy. She quickly made the decision to engage them to prevent them from escaping a known location, or travelling deeper into the Seireitei where they could potentially prey on its residents. Upon the arrival of the Ninth and Twelfth Divisions, seven creatures had been successfully terminated using the Way of Precision, and Kurotsuchi Taichou attempted to capture the final eighth creature, but was unsuccessful. Casualties were sustained with no shinigami fatalities.
Observations
Physical appearance: The beasts matched descriptions of previous reports.
Numbers: There were a total of eight enemy creatures present. It is unknown how they had breached the security of the Seireitei.
Abilities: The enemy's shunpō speed, agility and movements were as previously reported. They used canopies to attempt to evade, but were discovered using reikaku.
They still attack primarily using their talons, but during this engagement, attempted to bite and kill one of the unseated officers.
The creatures continue to attack in pairs, with one immediately followed by other pack members. The enemy continued to use ambush attacks and was able to injure two of the shinigami.
Reiatsu: It is now a verified fact that these creatures possess reiatsu. The final creature was restrained using Bakudō 61 in order to prevent it from escaping and continuing to attack. In order to transport it to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Captain Kurotsuchi ordered for Bakudō 99 to be used. The creature flared its reiatsu quite dramatically, and was able to flood its entire body and challenge the reserves and strength of a lieutenant. Using this method, it escaped from the Bakudō after the second seal had been applied. It is still at large.
Conclusion
Seven enemies were successfully eliminated primarily using zanjutsu, and some kidō. The 13th Division sustained moderate injuries. There were no injuries sustained by other Divisions or Seated Officers. Rukia Kuchiki was the most injured, sustaining deep lacerations to her upper body and shoulders, as well as facial burns.
Recommendations
It is my recommendation that when unseated officers find themselves in a similar situation, that they raise the alarm and evade. Unless they have the express permission or supervision of a Seated Officer, Lieutenant, or Captain, I recommend that they do not engage this enemy.
Shūhei Hisagi
A deep roiling pulse of furious reiatsu swept through the small office as Renji snapped the folder shut. Suzuki, having already perused the file, wisely kept his mouth shut, already fully aware of what it contained. As the Lieutenant hastily gathered the files and rushed past him, Suzuki knew exactly where he was headed.
"Renji?" said Rukia.
Renji paused to catch his breath after spending the last few minutes rushing around the hospital frantically to discover the whereabouts of his best friend. He knocked, and once inside, he didn't even notice they were alone, he was so upset.
"What the hell were you thinking?" came his quiet, bordering on vicious response. Rukia's eyebrows shot upwards as she frowned.
"Wh—." Rukia tried to calm him down.
"You could have been killed! You had no business engaging those creatures!" He fumed for a moment, as Rukia's expression became angry.
"I was walking to the barracks, minding my own business, when I saw one through the trees. We were only metres away from the entrance to the shopping district. It was travelling through the forest which could have led it to any of the Squad Grounds, or even the nobles backyards! What was I supposed to do, ignore it?"
Renji almost growled at her, as he squared his jaw furiously. "You were in the heart of the Seireitei; you could have gone with Cadet Sano to get the members of the Second Division!"
Rukia shook her head. "They're fast! It could have left by then to go somewhere else and hurt other people!"
Renji sighed heavily. "The Second Division is run by Fon Taichou! Her Squad trains its members to join the Ōnmitsukidō! There's literally a handful of shinigami that can match the speed of her men, or hide from them for long. If you had pointed out their general location where you saw them, she and her men would have taken care of the rest!" He rubbed his hand over his headband. "Rukia, you're an excellent shinigami! The rookies you were with couldn't imagine of some of the missions you've participated in, but these things put two Captains in hospital!" His tone changed to a defeated and worried one. "Please help me to understand why you went alone, and why you used reikaku to seek them out!"
Silence permeated the small hospital room, as Renji sank heavily onto the end of the bed. Renji groaned and lowered his hands from his face to pin Rukia with a look of concern and disappointment as he finally got a good look at the fresh, pink burns covering her normally pale face. Rukia suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment flood through her.
"It all happened in seconds. One minute we were laughing and talking, and the next we were being stalked. I was the only one who saw it, and I was so afraid, because I know how fast they are. I knew if it came our way, it would be on us in seconds and they wouldn't have even understood what was happening! So, I went to it instead. I did send a hell butterfly to Squad One though; I didn't intend to go it completely alone."
Renji paused at her quiet words, but his expression didn't change. It took him several moments to respond. "I'll never understand that Kuchiki pride." His soft words sounded baffled, without being insulting. "We don't help our friends by throwing away our own lives." He sighed. "It was one thing to read the reports and hear us talking about the previous battles, but it's another matter entirely to put yourself in the same situation with no back-up, and no idea how many enemies were there or what they could actually do to you. I understand why you chose to engage, but I want you to promise me that you will never do anything this stupid ever again. You might not be this lucky next time."
Rukia's lips squeezed together grimly, but she knew Renji was more scared than angry. He was older than her, and had plenty of experience in battle. She had known him for decades, and seen him flourish into a powerful, and capable Lieutenant. He was more level headed now, and the Divisions respected him. He was still her friend, and always would be, but in this instance, with his wealth of knowledge and experience, Renji was right.
She nodded, as her shoulders sagged slightly. "I'm sorry, Renji. Looking back, I didn't consider any other
options, and I should have." She averted her gaze. "I was stupid."
Renji sighed. "Rukia, you're not stupid. What you did was, but you are much smarter than this. I think you panicked, plain and simple," he said. "You're talented. You've got a shikai and you've led a lot of missions, but it's easy to forget how young you are sometimes."
Rukia wasn't insulted because she knew what he meant. Soul reapers could live to be two and half thousand years and more, compared to the measly century a human could live for. While she had a few centuries under her belt, she could easily achieve another two millenniums. By human standards, she compared to a young adult not more than twenty years old. She was definitely talented, but that didn't hold any weight when it wasn't coupled by experience and wisdom.
"I promise, Renji. I won't ever do anything like this again." As he stared at her, her eyes became more insistent and pleading. "I'm sorry for scaring you."
Renji gave a very soft smile, and rose. He hugged her, careful not to hurt her, and kissed her forehead. "You're damn right, you scared me." His muffled words were so soft and filled with emotion, Rukia almost didn't hear it. She hugged his strong shoulders before he released her. Their reiatsu met softly, like an apology, and Renji returned to his seat at the bottom of the bed.
"Those are some friends you have, though. I can't believe they followed you like that," said Renji incredulously. Rukia frowned without meaning to causing her friend to quirk an eyebrow.
"I asked them to stay on the street. I was pretty mad at them when I found them in the forest about to be attacked by a third creature. I only barely managed to kill it in time using Senshi," said Rukia.
Renji's eyebrows rose and fell appreciatively. "That's a double-handed thrust; it's not an easy technique." He paused, remembering the combat report. "I would say the Way of Precision isn't an easy form to pull off on a whim; I would have expected you to use your shikai." Though it wasn't phrased as a question, Rukia still felt as if he was expecting an answer if the edge in his voice was any indication.
"It was fresh in our heads, I suppose," she replied, with a light shrug. "It got added to our schedule unexpectedly."
Renji nodded slowly. While unusual, with the extraordinary circumstances of late, he supposed Ukitake Taichou had good reason to want his squad to refresh their memory of that specific form of zanjutsu. Rukia continued.
"The whole Squad had to do it, even the rookies. Early on, Katsumi-san and a good few of the others couldn't pool their reiryoku, but by the end of the training, they were able to do it as well as anyone. Miyamoto had one of the best Onibi strikes I've ever seen, so when we were having dinner, I told him about the time you used it. Takagi said you were pretty badass!"
Renji rolled his eyes and joined her in chuckling. "They sound like an interesting group. Tell me about them," he said softly.
Rukia snuck him a tentative glance, and replied in words so soft, Renji almost missed them. "Would you believe me if I told you we only became friends today?"
Renji took a moment to wrap his head around the concept. "What? You made friends with four rookies today, but they still followed you into battle like it was nothing?" He sat there stunned.
"I know," said Rukia. "It's hard to explain, but it really started after the conversation we had where you told me to think about what I wanted to achieve. Ukitake Taichou offered me similar advice about making choices, where if I made the best choice possible in any given situation, I wouldn't end up regretting it. I apologise for risking my life and scaring you, and my promise still stands, but on the whole, I don't have any regrets about today."
Renji frowned, but stared at the floor in a fixed manner, still listening intently.
"I sat and thought about my goals of becoming a Seated Officer, but I don't think it's something that I want anytime soon; I know I'm not ready for the responsibility. I'm not really a leader, and while people respect the Kuchiki name, they don't respect me. I don't want respect for vanity or for ego's sake, but if I were a Seated Officer, I'd need people to listen and follow my direction. I don't think that can be done without some amount of respect.
"I'm also lacking socially. I'm a reserved and composed person, and I speak and conduct myself formally. People generally don't like that, or see it as me holding others at arm's length. I find it challenging to be more social, so I tried to change that. During training, I let people see the real me; I lost my composure when the whole Squad performed Haretsu in unison after seeing it demonstrated once. It was amazing."
Renji released an audible breath, and turned his head to look at his best friend. By the tone of her voice, it definitely sounded like an incredible moment.
"When they performed Onibi, it sounded like a gatling gun going off. They were so in sync. For three hours, they listened and made some mistakes, but they tried. I was proud of them, and I was proud to be a member of Squad Thirteen, so I showed it. When training ended, Katsumi approached me asking if I wanted to go with them for dinner, and honestly, I didn't have a reason to refuse.
"She's really sweet. She's barely out of the academy, but she's bubbly and settling in well. Kaoru is well spoken and rational, but I think tonight may have been her first night facing an enemy. She hesitated using Agitowari, and paused in front of the creature. I felt awful about it when she told me, and I saw her injuries. She made me realise that asking for help wasn't a weakness, but a strength because you accept what you can or can't do. She's motivated to get stronger now. Takagi is a jokester, and a bit reckless, but he's lively and fun to be around. He stirred the group into joining me after I asked them to stay back, but I forgave him. He saw me today, the real me, and knew he wanted to be my friend. He said friends shouldn't face battle alone. Kōji saw today as a real eye opener, because it was the first time anyone had treated him with respect, and showed him the true power and potential a shinigami could achieve. He had no faith in himself as a shinigami, but thanks to the training and everything that happened, he does now. I think today inspired him, and I was honoured by that."
Renji stiffened unbeknownst to Rukia, who continued to speak. "They are an amazing group of people, and I feel lucky to have them as friends. They made me realise exactly what I want to achieve. That's why I don't have any regrets."
Renji rose to his feet slowly, turned to Rukia. "I'm so proud of you." His voice was soft, and an intangible emotion filled his reiatsu. "You've taken some real first steps in learning about yourself, and finding out your strengths and areas that you feel can be improved upon. I want you to embrace this new friendship, if you feel like it's making you happier and stronger. Real friendship lifts you up, and it goes both ways." He paused. "It's up to you to explain this to your brother, but he'll know the facts of the battle." He held up the folders in his hand. "I've delayed long enough, unfortunately. I don't want him to think I forgot one of my duties," he said with a chuckle while scratching absently at his ear. Rukia chuckled.
"Tell him I'm okay, and not to worry; I'll be out in the morning."
"No problem, Rukia, sleep well." He gave a playful wave and turned on his heel.
The second he was alone in the corridor, his reiatsu erupted in a roiling wave of fresh fury. Everything clicked. The more Rukia spoke, the more it became clear to the increasingly enraged Lieutenant that Rukia hadn't participated in the training, but had actually led it. Everything made sense as she used words like, they were so in sync, instead of we were so in sync. The sudden new friendship, and the strange new way the rookies had gravitated to her. The reason she had been overcome with emotion after watching them perform an advanced technique as a unit.
As Renji raced down the corridors, he just knew the Third Seats had something to do with it. As Byakuya's room finally came into view, Renji's reiatsu crackled with fury.
"Calm yourself," came Byakuya's smooth, dulcet tone. Renji flushed with embarrassment, and straightened his back as he struggled reign in his reiatsu.
"I apologise, Captain Kuchiki," said Renji. He took a deep breath, and continued, "Rukia has just been admitted after engaging in battle with the enemy."
Byakuya's eyes flashed and narrowed, "Tell me everything you know."
Renji immediately began informing him of everything that had happened to Rukia and her friends, and his suspicions regarding the Third Seat's. When he finished, he noticed a glimmer of anger building in Byakuya's reiatsu as well. "I'd like to read Hisagi Fukutaichou's report."
Renji provided the thin file to his Captain without question, and as he perused it, Byakuya reclined regally to read it carefully. While the report was extensive, it lacked context, and while Renji's reservations about the Third Seats were possible, Rukia hadn't incriminated them, or admitted to leading the training in any clear way. However, some of her offhanded comments such as, 'They listened,' and 'I was so proud of them,' did stand out to him. He turned to his Lieutenant.
"This holds no facts," he said, gesturing to the file. "If the Third Seats have committed further offences, there is no proof of that here. We will continue with our investigation with the steps you outlined in the Misconduct Report before the events of this evening took place. I will leave it up to you to acquire the necessary witness statements, written orders, and documentation."
As Renji eyes pinched in a hint of a frown, Byakuya's eyes softened. "I don't trust my gut the way you do as I prefer to make decisions using facts, but I have come to learn that you have outstanding instincts when it comes to this job." Renji's eyes widened slightly, and Byakuya continued, "If your suspicions are true, we will gain all the proof we need to have them prosecuted by following procedure. As far as the Third Seat's are concerned, they've gotten away with these crimes for the moment, and are unaware that we are conducting this investigation. They have no reason to evade us, and no reason to feel threatened in any way. We represent the Military Police, Abarai Fukutaichou, and our job is to apprehend criminals and investigate complaints. I will not rest until I have a full understanding of everything that has transpired, and built a case against these criminals that leaves them with no options but to face the might of our judicial system. Patience is the key in this case; let them be for now. If they did play a part in putting my sister in danger, then rest assured, there will be repercussions."
Renji nodded and relaxed visibly, as the residual anger bled from his reiatsu. As his Captain closed the file and placed it at the back of the stack, he picked up the Captain's Meeting report, and began to peruse it silently. His gaze lingered on the point the Captain Zaraki made, and internally, he had to agree. No one was as adept as Captain Zaraki when it came to understanding the psychology of an enemy mid-battle. Captain Hitsugaya raised another valid point, and Byakuya could see where he drew his conclusions from. While he wasn't especially thrilled about the research Captain Kurotsuchi was conducting, he absolutely saw the need for it, and knew the Gotei would need any information he could provide. Byakuya also knew he owed the man a personal debt, as without his intervention, he would have succumbed to their deadly attack. If he could help the man in the future, he would without reservation.
Moving onto the final section of the meeting's agenda, Byakuya frowned with a dark expression. Captain Unohana had been generous with her description of the nobleman's ordeal leading to his gruesome murder, and added her gleanings of the perpetrator's psyche. It was more than a little disturbing. Thankfully, the Soūtaichou had seen fit to allow Captains Ukitake and Kyouraku to investigate the matter. They were two of the most perceptive Captains in the Gotei, and both noblemen themselves. That, combined with their seniority, meant they could investigate more avenues than the average Captain. He wondered if he would be called to apprehend this criminal in his official capacity as Head of the Military Police. Closing it softly, he found himself looking forward to working with his former mentor in the future, if he was called.
"A lot has happened since I was admitted," he said, finally. Renji afforded his Captain his full attention. "Two new battles and the murder of a nobleman. I doubt Captain Ukitake is even aware of what has transpired with his subordinates, being as preoccupied as he is. That said, I couldn't have named two better Captains to investigate such a crime."
"Did you know him, Sir?" asked Renji.
Byakuya looked up. "Seiya Chiba? Yes." His eye pinched slightly, and Renji wondered if they had a poor relationship. "His grandfather created their wealth and empire as a merchant. He had a knack for swindling others with business contracts that grew his wealth quickly as he paid himself with a percentage of their profit margins. While it wasn't illegal, you would think most people would have read these contracts before binding themselves to such a man, but Hiroyuki knew how to find business partners and vendors that were disadvantaged, or otherwise vulnerable, with no other option but to accept his conditions. He used this considerable wealth to buy a chair in Central Forty-Six quite some time ago. He was a despicable man with few scruples, and known not to be a forgiving man. He was not someone the elites would entertain if we could help it. Unfortunately, the apple didn't fall far from the tree."
Renji's eyebrows rose in alarm at this new information.
"Hiroyuki overlooked his own weak son, to favour Seiya, and groomed him to continue their dealings. He was just as ruthless as his grandfather, and was also entitled, pompous and arrogant. He possessed a knack for orating in the chambers of Central Forty-Six to levy heavier sentences on individuals, up to, and including, life in prison or execution. He used that method to seize the sentenced individual's assets; he cared not if these dwellings or businesses were meant to be handed to the families of these individuals, and I have to say, it earned him quite a reputation amongst those of us who are aware of the truth behind these dealings. He was more careful than his grandfather, however. After receiving a warning for his dealings, he never really drew the attention of the higher nobles or the Gotei again, or got caught doing anything illegal." He glanced quickly between the file and his Lieutenant. "This is retribution, but from who and concerning what, I cannot say."
Byakuya's eyes pinched in distaste as he closed the file relating to the Captain's Meeting, and moved onto the next. He began skimming the minutes of the Lieutenant's Meeting, and his eyebrows quickly rose. As he read through Captain Zaraki's dramatic decision regarding Madarame's questionable conduct and general insubordination, Byakuya found he was genuinely pleased that Ayasegawa had been promoted in his place. Zaraki remained one of his firm friends, and Byakuya couldn't help feeling a sense of irritation on his behalf. Perhaps things would improve now that Madarame had been relieved of his command.
As he continued to read down the page, he frowned. "What exactly is Lieutenant Kira proposing?"
Renji stepped closer and began reading the text beside Byakuya's index finger. As he straightened, he gazed at his Captain. "Lieutenant Kira wants to change his Division's occupation to Combat Medics. He let us read a mock up with a diagram, so it's a little difficult to explain. In a nutshell, if there was an injured shinigami in the field and they were called in, the assumption is that the enemy is still threatening that injured reaper, or the injuries are life threatening. Scouts would locate the shinigami that needed to be brought to the Fourth Division, and Kira and his men would take control of that situation depending on what the circumstance asked for. If the enemy was present and still a threat, Kira's heavy hitters would occupy them, preventing further injury to the patient, or stop that enemy from pursuing the patient if they were being evacuated immediately. If the patient was too badly injured to be extracted, they would employ kidō barriers to protect them, while carrying out kaidō at the scene. Once the patient was stabilised, and the enemy had been taken care of, Kira would bring that reaper to Unohana." Renji paused. "It's not approved yet, but there were some very strong words raised by the Lieutenants for the proposal to be approved. Kotetsu Fukutaichou is already offering to retrain his men on how to use kaidō. Sasakibe Fukutaichou is bringing it to the Soūtaichou, but that's the last I heard about it."
Byakuya remained still, and Renji couldn't decide what he was thinking. After a few more moments, the Captain finally broke his silence. "This is remarkable. I've never heard of a Lieutenant proposing a plan like this, but in the case of Squad Three, running a Division without the support of a Captain, is clearly causing Lieutenant Kira undue stress. He is obviously worried about the fate of his Division, and if approved, this would test the commitment of his men who would be forced to choose to leave the Division, or band together behind him in solidarity. If it goes ahead, what remains of Squad Three will become one of the most crucial elements of the Goteijūsantai. I am genuinely shocked that this came from a Lieutenant."
Renji frowned heavily. "I didn't know he felt that way, but in retrospect, I should have; running a Division isn't easy. I've just figured that out, and he's been running one by himself for three years, like Lieutenants Hisagi and Hinamori. Do you think the Soūtaichou will name three new Captains to join those three Divisions?"
Byakuya tensed a lip, as he thought about it. "It doesn't work like that. In running the Division for the past few days, you've now come to realise that having the support of the unseated officers is crucial. They need to be motivated to join Squad training, and actually put in the work in order to add value to the Squad as a whole. Similarly, dedication for personal gain, will never benefit the Division, which is why Zaraki Taichou is now dealing with Madarame as the bankai issue is proven to be a fact and not a rumour. A bankai is a huge boon to a Division, and must be utilised, which is the opposite of what Madarame has allowed. Every individual must work together, care for each other, and grow under a single statement of what it means to them to be a member of their particular Division. Without this, the men have no reason to give Lieutenant Kira their support, or agree to being retrained, or even remain members of the Division. For those reasons, Hinamori and Hisagi Fukutaichou haven't rocked the boat, and introduced major changes in training or in philosophy, although it certainly helped that Hisagi Fukutaichou 'put an end' to their Division's dishonour personally.
"Captains decide the rules of their Divisions, and it would be next to impossible to insert such a strong presence into a Division with the kind of strong ideas Lieutenant Kira is proposing. A new Captain might have a different idea of what kind of Division he or she would like to lead, or have an unsuitable skillset for what Kira is trying to cement. If a new Captain is named for the Third Division after this occupational change is introduced, then the only way it can happen is from within. In this way, the new Captain will have already embraced their philosophies and promote them instead of resisting what already exists. The Fifth and Ninth Division would present less difficulty, as neither Division is particularly specialised."
Renji stood stunned by this information. "The first thing Sasakibe Fukutaichou said was, it is unprecedented for a Lieutenant to propose this kind of change; is this what he meant?"
Byakuya nodded. "In the scheme of things, three years may seem like a stretch, but in the lifespan of a shinigami, it would equate to a mere matter of weeks to a human having to face such a dilemma. The Soūtaichou has many Captains at his disposal to ensure the continued smooth running of the Gotei, but he wouldn't allow this situation to continue as it is for very much longer. I daresay, he has been expecting something along these lines to happen organically. The next steps will ultimately be decided by the Soūtaichou and Lieutenant Kira despite what others think should be decided."
Renji agreed wholeheartedly. "That's the way it should be. At the meeting, we were all begging Sasakibe Fukutaichou to allow it, but now I realise, none of us has any say. In all honesty, I wouldn't exactly want outside interference at Squad Six; running a Division with a dual function is difficult enough without a leadership conflict. I may have decided our next steps regarding training, but I'd like to believe I've stayed true to our values and chosen training techniques that can benefit us across both functions. The unity and support of the men is only possible because they know what you expect of them when you return. It's a sign of their respect to you, Captain."
Byakuya allowed a rare smile to grace his lips. "It is also a sign of respect to you for facilitating my return. Had events transpired differently, it would be another matter entirely."
Renji crossed the room so quickly, Byakuya wondered if he had used a flash step. Renji leaned towards him and gently lifted his chin to look his Captain in the eye. "Don't—," Renji swallowed thickly, and his voice cracked. His gaze fleeted away for a moment, before he returned it with a look of forlorn sadness. "Please, don't say that," he murmured. "If the Squad lost you, if I—," he paused and cleared his throat. "All of it, the Squad, and me, would fall apart without you."
Before he knew it, Byakuya found himself swept into a kiss. A swirl of reiatsu crept around the two, as Renji's desperation and fear bled through his spiritual energy, and Byakuya poured his own swell of calm, and reassuring emotions to ease Renji's fears. Renji hummed into their chaste kiss and his reiatsu seemed to calm a little. As Byakuya's fingertips grazed the edge of his jaw, Renji pulled him into a deeper kiss, and the Captain found himself giving in to it. Their tongues met gently, and slowly. Byakuya began to enjoy the feeling on Renji's palm trailing from his cheek, down to give his shoulder a squeeze. He hummed again and drew the red-head closer. Renji steadied himself as their lips met again, all the while his hand continued downwards to touch the broad chest of the nobleman.
Passion began to take over them, and soon both men were lost in the swirl of tongues and feelings coursing through their bodies. Renji hands were strong and rough, and Byakuya groaned when he felt Renji push his kimono aside to reveal his toned upper chest and drag his fingertips down across his smooth skin. Renji broke the kiss to drink in the sight of his naked skin with an unreadable expression darkening in his eyes. As he began trailing kisses down his neck, his fingertips reached Byakuya's obi, and Byakuya found himself wanting the red-head to open it. The rough pads of Renji's fingers traced the skin wrapped by the silk fabric earning him another groan of satisfaction, and he could feel Renji smiling as he continued peppering kisses along his bare midriff. Byakuya could feel his body responding as the Renji gave in and pushed the kimono aside with a strong pull, and the cool air hit him. Renji raked his eyes over Byakuya's body, and his touch slowed to rest on Byakuya's hip.
Scar tissue marred the milky, pale skin above Byakuya's hip, where a fresh, light dressing had been applied. A memory of the narrow-indented gouge wounds, sent a shocking reminder through Renji's mind, of the muscles that had been slashed like butter. Renji's gaze continued to follow the angry red skin that formed a glaring contrast to the neat line of fresh, white tape strapping the dressing to the unblemished skin. Byakuya felt a strange emotion colouring Renji's reiatsu, as his eyes became unreadable. As Renji removed his hand and pulled away.
"I'm sorry," said Renji. "I promised I wouldn't push you like this."
As he lay in his half-reclined position, with his naked chest bare before the taller man, Byakuya froze, suddenly feeling ashamed and self-conscious. He snapped out of his stupor and began fixing his kimono around his shoulder and chest, refusing to meet Renji's eye.
"Captain—," began Renji, when Byakuya held his palm up.
Anger, mixed with disappointment settled in Byakuya's eyes as he finally looked into Renji's eyes. "I asked you to call me by my name when we were alone, Renji."
Renji's face fell in a moment of instant regret. "Byakuya, I'm s—"
Byakuya held up his palm again. "No. This is my fault." He ripped his gaze away from Renji, who was quickly losing his battle with his own emotions. Byakuya swept his reiatsu around himself and an expression of guilt and shame settled on his proud features. "I was a fool!"
Renji found himself rushing towards his Captain, only to find his progress blocked by the man's furious spiritual pressure. As he fought to catch a breath, he became crushed by the glare in his Captain's eyes, and desperately tried to apologise again. With his mouth set firm and resolute, Byakuya cut through his rushed attempts until silence bore down between them.
"Leave," said Byakuya suddenly. As a look of crushing defeat clouded Renji's face, Byakuya added, "Return to your duties; I wish to rest now."
Renji chest rose and fell rapidly, as he swallowed thickly as tears welled up in his eyes. "At once, Captain Kuchiki," said Renji, his voice close to breaking. He bowed low and swept from the room leaving Byakuya alone in his own turbulent emotions.
'He will only ever see me as Captain Kuchiki, and not for who I am. I was a fool to think this would work.'
"I'm not injured, I promise," said Shūhei as Captain Unohana began her examination.
"Perhaps not, but you are far from fit to leave here, young man," came her polite, but clipped reply. She wore a smile that Shūhei found difficult to argue with, so he lay back and allowed her to search him with her reiatsu.
She hummed and wrote something in the medical notes with a sweeping flourish. "As I suspected; your reiatsu is low."
He chanced a glance at her by raising an eyebrow in her general direction, causing her to chuckle. "Considering the bakudō you used, I'm not surprised. This is nothing to worry about; I'll restore your reiatsu and you'll be free to leave."
"Tonight?" he asked with a hopeful tint to his words.
"Yes," she replied.
"Oh, good," he laughed quietly, and relaxed with a smile. "I still have some things to do, and I also promised to meet a friend tonight as well for a chat."
As she read the numbers on her monitor, and began the kaidō, her eyes widened. "You have more work this evening?"
He laughed. "Not work, per say. I've been training Yuumichika Sanseki at my Division before and after work, because I promised him I would, and because he needs my help. Captain Zaraki promoted him to Third Seat after an incident with Ikkaku Madarame. He was upset with the way the last battle went, same as his Captain, and I offered to help."
She flashed him a stern look at the word 'training', but he hastily raised his palms up. "Don't worry; Yuumichika is the one doing the work, I won't be sparring with him tonight or anything like that. He did an entire Squad assessment today, so I doubt he's up for any sparring either."
Very slowly, with one eye pinned on him, her face returned to its previous pleasant expression, and Shūhei relaxed once more. The static, rhythmic whooshing sound permeated the quiet room, and soon the Lieutenant found his energy returning slowly. The minutes ticked away, and Unohana Taichou became lost in thought. Though to Shūhei, it appeared she was simply engrossed in her work. She rubbed the skin under her plait, and her eye creased with a mild frown.
'I was aware that he was displeased, but not to this extent. I thought he would have sought me out by now, but it appears as though he is still not ready. It's been so long, I wonder if he will ever be ready?'
"—hana Taichou?"
The Captain blinked.
"Pardon me?" Looking down at her hands, she could see that her kaidō therapy was no longer having an effect on the now fully restored Lieutenant. "Oh! I'm sorry."
The mild frown on Shūhei's face vanished, as his face immediately broke out into another smile. "Don't worry, Captain, it's been a long day for all of us."
She gave a polite smile, and met his gaze just long enough to be courteous. She stepped back, and added a few more lines to the chart. Shūhei swung his legs over the bed and onto the floor, and grabbed his files from when he had arrived. He bowed to the female Captain, and exited.
'It has been a long day, and some of us have had to wait much longer than others. How much longer will you keep me waiting.'
'Earn it… What the fuck does he mean? I don't have to earn anything! I fucking had everything, for fucks sake. Now, thanks to him, I have to get everything back!'
Ikkaku stared around the massive dorm room in the barracks of Squad Eleven and sneered at the tiny, futon against the bland, taupe back wall. It had off-white, but clean sheets and a pillow. The quilt was light, but appropriate for the time of year, dressed in a pale blue cover. Next to the futon stood a small night stand with a single drawer, enough to store a few knick-knacks, and maybe a photo frame or other personal item. At the foot of the futon, an old scuffed box-shaped shelf stood unobtrusively for him to store his sandals. Above the futon, a rack was bolted to the wall. With another frown, Ikkaku removed his zanpakutō from his obi, and rested it carefully on the wooden sword rack.
As he stared across the rows of identical futons, shinigami of all sizes, genders and ages readied themselves to sleep after a long, and hard day of training, and Ikkaku found himself sneering again to himself. This was a far cry from the comfort he had enjoyed in the private wing, reserved for the seated officers. There he had enjoyed a comfortable, and expensive futon, clothed in his own personal linens. He had cabinets and wardrobes filled with his personal effects, and he was greeted with respect wherever he went. He had the ear of the Captain, and a friendly sense of camaraderie with the upper echelons of the Division. Most of all, he'd had a best friend that would do anything for him without question.
In the space of a single day, his entire world had been torn away from under him, and he couldn't understand how. At first, he thought he was dreaming when Yuumichika had walked into the hall for breakfast, but then as the training commenced, and Zaraki Taichou sang his praises, Ikkaku was sure he'd lost his mind. The thing that really got him was the exercise that Yuumichika had asked the Squad to perform.
Reiatsu manipulation, shunpō, air tiles, and reikaku? What the hell was Yuumichika playing at? As far as he was concerned, that type of wishy-washy, girly training had no place in Squad Eleven. But the last straw, the last straw, was the way the Captain and Lieutenant had embraced this obstacle course as if Yuumichika was some kind of a genius.
All of it was nothing more than some kind of sick joke, and Ikkaku was convinced that when the Squad had had enough of Yuumichika's training, they'd come running back to him for some real training. He had no problem biding his time, until that back-stabbing thief was exposed for the joke that he actually was. Now that he thought about it, when Yuumichika had given him a look of disappointment after his run through the obstacle course, he'd actually found it pretty funny.
~ Flashback ~ Squad Eleven Training Grounds ~ Earlier that day.
"Ikkaku Madarame, please step forward." Ikkaku strolled up to the edge of the obstacle course with a look of distaste. "Begin!"
Ikkaku rolled his eyes and took off down the straight, in what could only be described as a laid back, and lazy manner. His flash step brought to the edge of groups of trees and bushes, but at his speed, none presented any difficulty. He skirted around the bushes and sipped through the spaces between the trees and found himself in front of the log.
He curled his lip, but knew he had to get this farce over with. He rolled his neck and shoulders and jumped a few times lightly on his feet. His spiritual pressure began to seep from his skin and along his shikakushō, rolling across his arms and shoulders. He bent to grab one end of the log, and grunted as he lifted it. With the tenacity and stubbornness of a bull, he dragged the log towards the marked spot, grumbling with every step he took. Without a second glance, he dumped the log in the general vicinity of the designated spot, and glanced around at the masts with his hands on his hips.
Winded from his exertions, he strolled on foot towards the mast at the end of the field, unaware of Yuumichika's increasing frown, and drew Hōzukimaru. With a posture that was clearly uninterested, the red reiatsu wafted around him for the second time, this time brushing across his zanpakutō. The sheathed blade sang with the power of a dragon, and Ikkaku swung the blade, pommel first at the log, causing a tiny fissure of energy to traverse the length of the mast and destroy the pin that was holding the ribbon in place. Ikkaku swore as the ribbon fluttered off in the breeze, and watched its haphazard progress towards the ground, before strolling over to the spot where it lay on the grass. He leaned over to grab it and eyed the pit of water.
With a sigh, he dug his heels into the ground where he stood, and took off towards the pit, his momentum building with every step. At the edge of the pool, his reiatsu reverberated around him for a split second, allowing him to vault across the pool with just enough ground to spare.
After a moment to catch his breath, he gave the pit of dirt a dispassionate look. Holding the ribbon by the tip, the length of fabric hung down beside his leg less than two feet from the ground. As he slowly walked across the pit, he watched it carefully. Nearing the centre of the pit, the ribbon quivered and gave the slightest hint of a pull towards the ground. Ikkaku took a few steps back and forth, before determining the strongest pull, and released it. The charcoal ball rose to the top of the ground after a moment, and Ikkaku scooped them up and exited the course.
Dumping the ribbon and ball into a box at the perimeter, Ikkaku ignored the polite claps from the men around him. As he returned to his place in the ranks, he failed to notice the unimpressed look on Yuumichika's face as he wrote on his clipboard.
~ Squad Eleven Barracks ~ Night
As Ikkaku strolled to the private area of the barracks that housed the dressing rooms and bathrooms, he couldn't help but pick up on a few passing glances of some of the men. Some were changing, and some were chatting quietly with their friends as they shaved in front of the mirrors. A tall, built man, with shoulder-length black hair sat trimming his toenails, stopping occasionally to clean the tool he was using. A huge giant of a man with thick brown hair, and a beard that reached his collarbones stood in front of a mirror cleaning his teeth, while a final, slim man exited the shower room with a puff of steam around him, wrapped in a fluffy grey towel.
Ikkaku stepped around them to reach one of the available mirrors, and placed a small bag of shaving equipment near the edge of the sink. As he stared at his chin and jaw critically, he was suddenly aware that the noise level had lowered, as all conversation ceased and the men began to pause what they were doing. The only sound that remained was water spilling from the taps into the sinks.
For a few moments, Ikkaku ignored them, concentrating on his face, but as the seconds ticked by, he caught a glimpse of a few frowns and expressions of displeasure in the mirror. Not bothering to turn around, Ikkaku addressed the room, "If there's something on your mind, speak; I'm right here."
The man with the beard shared a fleeting glance towards the slim red-head, before both looked back at Ikkaku. "Is everything Ayasegawa Sanseki said about the night of the battle true? Did Zaraki Taichou take your badge because you stopped caring about us?" said the huge man with the beard.
Ikkaku seethed at the mention of Yuumichika's name, but his eyes widened at the second question. From his frozen position, he slowly turned towards the men. "Nakashima, we've been brothers since my first day here. You're one of the toughest guys I know, and you've kicked my ass more times than I can count. I will say this once, because I know every guy in here already knows this; every single one of you is my brother! I would throw myself into battle next to any one of you, no hesitation and no questions asked. You all know that. It doesn't sound like a man that's stopped caring about you. What I find hard to understand is how, after one measly day, all of you are questioning my leadership in the past?"
Nakashima's lip twitched in a sort of unapologetic shrug, but he didn't deny a single thing Ikkaku said. "It's just, a lot of what he said made sense, you know? He said you didn't read the reports from the Fourth Division, and you were more interested in going after the Captain, than to check on us. I also didn't exactly appreciate you saying that some of us don't belong here 'cause of the tactics those creatures used."
A murmur of agreement rose up around them, and Ikkaku conceded their point with a nod.
"You're right. I did say if some of you were having as hard a time during the battle as Yuumichika thought, they shouldn't be members of this Squad. I admit that, I shouldn't have said it, and it was stupid." Ikkaku curled his lip and looked at the floor with his jaw set in a scowl of annoyance. "I got mad at Yuumichika, okay? He strolled in, wearing my badge, and wasted an entire day on his airy-fairy, girly techniques, and pushed all my buttons. He had the gall to stand there and insult every decision I've ever made, every hour that I spent training this Squad until you bled, and making a big deal out of nothing.
"No, I didn't go to the Fourth Division. I didn't go because I knew you were all okay, and didn't need me running around like a mother-hen. By the time I skimmed that report, all of you were already healed and returned to active duty, but I do love the way he tried to use that against me. Yes, I followed the Captain, because I did enjoy the battle and I wasn't ready to call it a day. I'm a proud member of this Division; is it a crime to enjoy a good battle now?" He shook his head and fought not to roll his eyes.
"Of course not, Madarame-kun, but he made it sound like you were only out for yourself. I mean, why else would the Captain take your badge and give it to him? He said he got it because he went to the Captain after the battle and did your job. What the hell does that mean?" said the man with the shoulder-length black hair.
Ikkaku released another sigh, and clicked his tongue. "You want to know what happened, Himura? Do you all want to know what all of this is actually about, hm?"
Murmurs rang around the group of nodding men, and Ikkaku levelled with them.
"Yuumichika has been my best friend for damn near centuries. He found me half dead in the street one day and fixed me up with some food and water, and a place to stay till my wounds closed up. After that, I was on my way, but he packed up all of his stuff and followed me. I didn't give a shit either way, and I kept travelling from place to place in the districts finding strong opponents, and one day I met a man that should have killed me. The fight was like nothing I'd ever faced, the intensity, the bloodlust; he tried to kill me from the first swing of his blade. When I hit the dirt, I was so tired, and so torn up, I looked up at him with the last ounce of energy I had and begged him to kill me. He told me to get up and get stronger and to seek him out when I did. As he walked off, I asked him for his name, and he told me he was known as the Kenpachi from Zaraki. From that moment, I vowed to do exactly what he said."
The men sat in awe, and shock. Whatever they expected Ikkaku to say, was the furthest thing from what he actually said.
"I got up and after I healed, I spent years going from place to place asking anyone if they knew where I could find him. For years, it was just me and Yuumichika, brothers on our quest to get stronger and find purpose in this miserable world. I knew if I could just find him, I would have that purpose. One day I was lucky, and some old guy told me he'd killed a Captain in the Gotei and taken over his Division. Bold as brass, the two of us stole some uniforms and snuck in expecting to get caught and thrown out, but we didn't. We made it all the way here, and when we did, I found him. I fought some carry-on from the previous line up of seated officers, and took my rightful place as Third Seat of this Division under Zaraki Kenpachi. The day he handed me my badge, was the day I vowed to myself that I would live and die fighting under that man. Yuumichika knew this from day one, and said he understood that, and I was a fool to believe him. Do you want to know what he said when he got his badge?"
The men shook their heads.
"He said he wished he had my badge because the kanji for the number three was more beautiful than the kanji for the number five." Ikkaku released a long laugh, full of all the turbulent emotions he was feeling. "We joined the Squad and trained; we didn't expect anything from anyone, and we worked hard to learn the skills we needed to become men the Captain could depend on. We achieved shikai, and around ten years ago, I learned bankai." Ikkaku's voice became softer and more serious. "I knew if anyone found out about it, that other Squads would come knocking and asking me to join their pathetic Squads, when my purpose is to stay here, so we kept it a secret."
Ikkaku sighed and rubbed the back of his bald head. "When this whole mess started. Renji Abarai was seconds away from being attacked by those creatures, when his Captain saw it coming and pulled him out of the way. In the process, the creature attacked him instead, and tore him up pretty badly. Renji was angry with himself, and instead of facing it like a man, he took it out on me. I know it was the dumbest possible moment to make an offhand comment, but I did and Renji got pissed off, and blabbed to the Captain about my bankai. Our Captain wants to fight the strongest, and I knew in hindsight I should have told him about it, but I didn't, and then he got pissed off. He took the badge because I hid a skill from him that he would have enjoyed fighting, end of story, that's it.
"All this bullshit that Yuumichika pulled out of nowhere is nothing but smoke and mirrors to make himself look good and sound good. The second the number three position was up for grabs, he ran off to the Captain and told him everything he wanted to hear and got the badge. The funniest part is, earlier that same day, he was patting me on the back telling me how to get the badge back while helping me move my stuff out of my room. Not an hour passed, and he was wearing the badge. Doesn't that seem a little funny to any of you?"
The expressions of the men ranged from angry on Ikkaku's behalf to incredulous to calculating. A few of them were nodding in response to Ikkaku's question, and thoughtful at the same time.
"I will go to Squad Six and apologise to Captain Kuchiki, and I'll spar with the Captain morning, noon, and night with my bankai until he stops being pissed off with me. This thing with Yuumichika is going to get really old, really fast, and when it does, I'll be right there, waiting to take my badge back from that conniving prick. I wonder how long it will take the Captain to see past his lies?"
Ikkaku shook his head with a look of disgust, and he found himself seeing similar expressions on the faces of the men.
"I can't believe he would do this to you, after everything," said the red-head.
"Some friend, right, Ueda?" hummed Ikkaku humourlessly. When the man nodded back with a grin, Ikkaku returned it in full.
"How dare he play the Captain like this! I bet he'll throw him out of the Squad for this when he runs out of lies to tell," said a shorter, distinguished blonde man.
"I might have a party in the barracks if that day comes, eh, Furuda?" Ikkaku chuckled and gave a jovial salute to his brothers. "I'm bushed, guys. I have to be up bright and early for bankai training."
A round of guffaws and chuckles rose at his words, and Ikkaku strolled back in the direction of the sleeping area. As he settled down to sleep, he couldn't help the last thought that went through his mind.
'I'll play your game, Yuumichika, but you better be prepared for the possibility that I might win.'
"I'm afraid there were no matches for the reiatsu sample you provided, Captain Kyouraku," said Captain Kurotsuchi.
Shunsui frowned and glanced over the screen of the machine, that was showing precisely what the Captain said. "A person modified a bakudō in order to torture and kill a nobleman in his own home. There was evidence of shunpō, reiatsu manipulation, and a deep understanding of anatomy. I am quite inclined to believe that this was the work of a soul reaper."
Captain Kurotsuchi inclined his head, now slightly more interested now that he was reminded of the facts of the case Shunsui was trying to solve. "Yes, I believe Unohana Taichou said as much at our last meeting, and from an analytical point of view, I am inclined to agree with you, Captain Kyouraku. Unfortunately, I cannot help you discover the identity of this criminal based on the sample you collected."
Shunsui frowned. "Aren't all shinigami required to register?"
Captain Kurotsuchi made a face of distaste. "They are, but unfortunately, registration only became mandatory in the last seven hundred years. Any soul reaper that joined a Division prior to that date was exempt from registration, except on a voluntary basis. Noblemen fall into the same category; they are also welcome to register, but it is not required unless they become active shinigami under the purview of the Soūtaichou. If your culprit is a soul reaper, they would be retired soul reapers, or they joined before this law came into effect.
"If it's not a soul reaper, then this nobleman has ties to soul reapers who taught him the skills he needed to commit this crime. Still, this person doesn't strike me as the type who recently acquired these skills; his manipulation of the body was too precise. I wonder if they have a record?"
His thoughtful musings made Shunsui shiver, knowing the only way to investigate a man with a record was to request them directly from the chambers of Central Forty-Six. He hoped that wouldn't become an eventuality, and that Jūshirō was having better luck than him.
"In that case, I thank you for your time and assistance." He gave his fellow Captain a genial salute, and turned towards the door. "I'll let you know how it goes."
"How did you know the deceased, Tanaka-sama?" asked Captain Ukitake.
The older man frowned as he continued to scan a long receipt while peering over his glasses. "I didn't know him as well as my parents did; it was quite a while back when I was only a boy. My father was a simple man with a stall that worked hard for every ran he made, selling the finest tea you could buy in the Seireitei to the soul reapers. My mother pushed him to realise his dream of opening up his own place, but he didn't have the money to buy a place, or hire staff or any of that. What money he did make was put back into his stall or given to her until Chiba came into our lives." The old man sighed heavily, and put the receipt down to look the Captain in the eye. "I know you're a good man, Captain Ukitake, but you have to understand what kind of man he was. He was a demon that preyed on kind people like my father, and he did his utmost to ruin him."
An expression of worry, tinged with a hint of fear, crossed the Captain's face as he stared back at Tanaka. "Can you elaborate, please?"
With a simple nod, the old man guided the Captain towards a comfortable chair in the teashop, nodding to the custodial staff that were cleaning it down.
"It's a difficult story for me to relive, Captain Ukitake, but if it will help you, I'll do my best," said Tanaka. He stared down at his clasped hands, fighting the urge to wring them due to the tension coursing through his shoulders. He waved a hand at one of the girls, who nodded without a word.
"Thank you, Tanaka-sama," said Jūshirō, as he inclined his head politely.
"It was a normal day in the streets of the Seireitei; soul reapers, merchants and shoppers were going about their business on a cold winter's day, and my father didn't have a cloak to keep himself warm. He wrapped his shaking hands around the teacups to keep them warm, but he'd already developed a terrible cough from the weather. Knowing my mother was tending to me at home, he still went back to his spot in the market and found the energy to smile at the customers and tempt them to buy his tea. 'Finest in the Seireitei', he used to say."
He smiled sadly, and cleared his throat. Jūshirō leaned forwards and touched the man's hand softly in reassurance, earning him another small smile of gratitude.
"That was the day my father first met Seiya Chiba. He strolled up, like any other customer, and got chatting to my father over a cup of green tea. He noticed his cough and freezing fingers, and asked why he didn't own his own teahouse with tea as good as his, and my father told him the truth. Chiba offered to front him the money to buy a small shop, and that day he signed a contract, and came home to my mother so happy, you'd have thought he won a lottery." A light chuckle escaped his lips, before his face turned vengeful. Ukitake held his breath.
"The contract seemed innocent at first, and I remember coming with my mother to clean the place and make it seem welcoming and cosy. At the end of that first month, Chiba came knocking, asking for payment on the loan. He wasn't pleased with the meagre amount my father had earned, but offered to amend the contract. He said he would promote the place, if my father agreed to a higher rate of interest on the start-up loan. My father, not being a savvy business man, agreed. My father didn't realise what he'd signed after the changes were made, and only noticed the throngs of customers he suddenly had.
"Months passed, and I remember my mother crying when I asked her why we were having plain rice again for dinner. She told me it was all we could afford, not that I understood a the time, but basically, aside from the costs of keeping the teahouse open, every cent was going to Chiba, while my father got nothing."
Jūshirō flinched at the sudden tone of anger, but when the realisation hit him, his face became sympathetic and concerned.
"He knew my father didn't have the means to oppose him, and his demands kept coming. While my father sank into a pit of ever-increasing debt, we were at home starving. With every month end for years, my father chipped away the loan until eventually, the balance was paid. We survived because he bought food on the sly as a business expense and faithfully kept it hidden from Chiba. We thought things would turn around, but Chiba hit him with the finally blow."
The young server returned and placed two hot, steaming cups of tea before them, and bowed without a word. Jūshirō grasped it, wondering how the story could possibly get any worse.
"As the owner of the business and shop, Chiba was actually the landlord, as well as the financier. He dropped a ledger of unpaid rent on the counter of the shop and asked for the lump sum due from the day the shop first opened. It hit my father something terrible, and he told Chiba then and there, that the amount of money due would ruin him and cause the teahouse to close. Chiba didn't care and said, if the balance wasn't squared by the end of the month, he'd send people around to collect it. My father worked harder that month, than any that came before it, but it still wasn't enough. The thugs dropped by, took all the money they could find, and beat my father within an inch of his life."
Jūshirō's mouth fell open in shock, as he was utterly unable to comprehend such cruelty. He gave Tanaka's hand another squeeze.
"Another month went by, but I was a bit older at that stage, and myself and my mother came to work as my father was unable. When Chiba came around this time, I remember the leer he gave my mother. When she refused his offer to come to a new arrangement concerning the unpaid rent, he sneered at her and left. The next day, a summons arrived from Central Forty-Six; my father with his broken legs sat trial for his unpaid debts!"
Ukitake's hand flew to his mouth, "No!" he groaned softly. "Tell me he didn't."
Tanaka grimaced. "Oh, he did. Facing life in prison, my father told them everything. The panel members were siding with Chiba until my mother walked in with every sheet of paper, and every receipt she'd hidden. Chiba tried to cover his tracks, but Ginrei Kuchiki called a halt to the proceedings; he wanted every scrap of new evidence reviewed before he agreed to continue." Tanaka smiled as he took a sip of his tea, and murmured, "Thank the heavens for that man."
"A week later, Ginrei called a mistrial. The percentage and rent owed was calculated and counted against the profits Chiba had been seizing since the first day. My father had paid him every last ran and had actually paid off the entire loan and the rent, and then some, and Chiba ended up owing us a small fortune. In the end, Chiba conceded ownership back to my father, and washed his hands of him. That was the last we saw of him."
Ukitake sighed softly, hesitant to ask how the family had fared after their ordeal, but Tanaka was perceptive, and smiled.
"My father ran that teahouse after he recovered, and handed it to me when I came of age. He never walked right after what they did to him, but he soldiered on until I was able to step up. I've kept this place open since he passed away to keep his dream alive, and intend to pass it to my own son if the day ever comes when he decides that he wants to retire from being a soul reaper."
He chuckled, and missed the look of trepidation that crossed Ukitake's face. "Oh? What Squad is he with?"
"The Sixth Division under Captain Kuchiki! He joined them straight out of the academy three hundred years ago, and he was delighted when he was drafted. We owe the Kuchiki's a debt we can never repay; they became patrons of our fine establishment after my father regained ownership, and my son honours that every day with hard work and service to Ginrei's grandson. I'm very proud."
Ukitake smile warmly and gave his hand a final squeeze. "I would be as well, if were in your position, Tanaka-sama. I'm sorry for the ordeal your family faced, but I'm glad that it's over now."
Tanaka nodded. "I'm grateful to the Kuchiki's for all they've done, and always will be, but a part of me is glad that that demon is dead. I have no doubts he was swindling other good folks with similar contracts even after he was warned and fined. Maybe he messed with the wrong person, and he finally met someone he couldn't intimidate?" He shook his head, and Ukitake's gazed grew sharper and more serious.
"Perhaps you're right, Tanaka-sama." He finished his tea and rose calmly. With a polite bow to the older man, Jūshirō placed a few coins on the table, more than enough to pay for a hundred cups of tea, and left before the man could give it back. From the street outside, Jūshirō smiled and waved, before the same serving girl pulled down the blinds and closed the teahouse for the night.
'Tanaka's Teahouse, the finest tea in the Seireitei, what a sorry history you've had. May you have success in the future,' thought Ukitake quietly to himself.
"Jū -chan?"
Jūshirō blinked, and spun around quickly, before his face broke into a delighted smile. "Shunsui," he said, as he wished he could wrap his arms around his lover under the light of the beautiful moon. "How did your investigation go at Squad Twelve?"
Shunsui sighed. "No luck, I'm afraid. There was no match to any soul reaper in the records. Captain Kurotsuchi thinks it's either an unregistered nobleman, or a soul reaper that signed up to division before the law was enforced, seven hundred years ago. He is also more inclined to believe that this is the work of a soul reaper." He gave a light shrug. "How did your interviews go?"
Jūshirō groaned and massage his temple softly as they continued to walk towards the heart of the Seireitei. "The general consensus is that Seiya Chiba was some kind of a demon, that routinely used awful contracts that allowed him to lawfully demand sums of money from business owners, adding in whatever fees he could dream up, as well as insurmountable debts disguised as start-up loans. I can't believe its legal!"
Shunsui's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"While they're all glad that he's dead and not a source or stress and negativity, none struck me as killers, or had ties to any soul reapers that fit our criteria." Jūshirō paused. "Although, now that I think about it, a lot of the people I spoke definitely have reason enough to want Seiya Chiba dead. Tanaka-sama believes he finally met a person he couldn't intimidate in his usual way, and ended up paying the price for it. I think he may be onto something."
Shunsui nodded. "So, it would seem." He sighed. "While we were both able to learn more about Chiba today, we're still no closer to catching the person that killed him. I don't think we can put it off any longer; we have to request the records from Central Forty-Six."
Jūshirō froze mid-step and met his lovers eyes, and saw the same fear mirrored there.
"I'm sorry that there isn't any other way, Jū-chan," said Shunsui, as if he had suddenly gained the ability to read his lover's mind. As Jūshirō's face fell, Shunsui gave him a comforting one-armed hug. "You know what? I'll go."
Ukitake pivoted to pin Shunsui with a look of alarm, "What? You can't go there by yourself!"
Shunsui chuckled and flashed him a smile. "I only have to speak to the clerk form the office where they keep the records, that's all; it'll be fine."
Jūshirō frowned heavily and murmured softly, "I'm not sure about this, Shu-chan."
Shunsui's expression became softer and warmer. "Jū-chan, it'll be fine," he repeated. He glanced around, and saw nothing but a deserted street. He drew Jūshirō into a tender kiss. He could feel his lover's trepidation and helplessness, but he embraced him deeper, and wrapped reiatsu around him.
When Jūshirō finally broke the kiss, he smiled at Shunsui with a look of reproach. "You know we can't, Shu-chan; it's far too public here."
"I know," said Shunsui. "Why don't we forget about all of this and relax for the rest of the night? Central Forty-Six will still be there in the morning, and we can pick this up again tomorrow."
Jūshirō nodded. "That sounds good, Shu-chan." He began walking, and stopped a moment later when he realised Shunsui hadn't moved. Shooting him a questioning look, Shunsui gazed back at him with a soft smile playing at his lips.
"Stay with me tonight?"
Author Notes.
That was a lot of fun to write. Originally I intended for Ikkaku to be met with more opposition from his squad members, but realised it actually did turn out better coming purely from Ikkaku's perspective.
There is also quite a bit of froeshadowing in this one, but I won't spoil it.
Also, please let me know how you want Ukitake to answer Shunsui's question, yes to lemons or no, cause now would be the time according to the story. There's also a poll on my profile for anyone interested in Kira/Isane as a pairing. Again, I leave it up to you, and thank you all again for your thoughts. You've been incredible!
Lisa