Bleach (c) Tite Kubo
Black and Blue
Long Time Coming
Save for Hiyori and Kensei, who are upstairs on watch and lunch duty respectively, the other six Visoreds have migrated to the underground training room. Their ninth is off somewhere doing god-only-knows what in town.
They've more or less given up trying to reign him in, especially in recent months.
As long as he's not doing anything stupid... Correction; as long as he's not doing anything outside the standard Shiba levels of stupid, he's free to act however he pleases.
In the artificial sunlight of their training hall, they've decided to put a new theory into practice. Although calling it a 'new' theory is a technically a misnomer.
They knew it was theoretically possible but the circumstances that produced the only known result were extremely particular. Any chances of reproducing the exact conditions were so astronomically remote even Kisuke denounced it as a one-in-a-billion miracle on numerous occasions. That, and no one was willing to let their Hollow take over, rampage through Hueco Mundo and devour thirty thousand plus Hollows on the snowball's chance in hell of replicating that scenario either.
Of course, Ichigo's own success mediating with his Hollow with next-to-no drama meant that extreme method wasn't the only path to reach the same solution (and the baby of the bunch showing them all up didn't iritate them at all. Not one bit.). Shinji wanted to speak with Ichigo first. He wanted to sketch out the finer details about that encounter, of exactly how Ichigo managed to get on the level with his Hollow, without resorting to the typical grudge match it boiled down to with the rest of their kind.
Unfortunately, it seems every time the town's invaded by one supernatural malcontent or another, Ichigo ends up on a sick bed. Among other things, kid's a menace to himself.
Seems to be a family trait.
In lieu of that, Shinji decided to wing it and took the first plunge like he'd indicated to Lisa and Kaien weeks ago.
Hachigen set up a triple layer barrier and they had their usual rotation on standby, one Visored sitting in the field with Shinji as a precaution while he performed a variant of Jinzen to focus on communing with his Hollow. If the Hollow went berserk or spiraled out of control, they'd flick on the timer and their standard rotation would begin. Shinji would have seventy minutes to regain control of himself or risk his fellow Visoreds liberating his head.
His first foray was... unsuccessful to put it mildly.
As Kaien predicted, the Hollow in Shinji, a sly manipulative bastard in his own right, spitefully refused to parlay at all on account of being locked up for nearly a hundred years. It took the first day alone to convince the Hollow Shinji's attempts at offering truce and partnership were entirely genuine.
Fun fact about one's inner world; there are no lies there. Of course, half-truths and lies of omission can be spoken but they're easy to detect if one knew how. That being said, the Hollow is as obstinate as Shinji in the worst possible way. Which makes sense considering its the manifestation of the darkest and worst aspects of Shiniji's soul, distilled then magnified to the umpteenth degree. But its still an aspect of himself, and one doesn't live as long as Shinji has, or achieve a Captaincy, without coming to terms with the worst parts of themselves.
The most shocking part was once an amicable agreement was reached (as in, the Hollow went from trying to stab him every couple seconds to every couple minutes, then maybe once an hour if it was moody), it became ridiculously easy to forge an agreement with his Hollow. The whole process took him three days at most. But Shinji's venture revealed a glaring downside to this new arrangement.
In this world, power granted willingly is a hell of a lot more potent than power taken by force. While Shinji found donning his mask a lot easier and his powers dramatically increased after he'd forged their truce (a magnitude of five if he had to put a number to it), maintaining his mask for his usual three minutes knocked him out for eight hours, and it took him twenty-four after that to feel somewhere approaching recovered.
Which honestly matches up to what they'd observed in Kaien's first attempt. He'd put his mask on as easy as breathing, holding it for twenty one seconds and passed out for twenty four hours afterwards from the strain (although the terrible condition his body was in at the time was the likely culprit for the extended recovery period as much as the strain of his Hollow mask).
It portents a new problem they'd have to contend with and one Shinji wagers they'd eagerly embrace; time management.
Shinji's new power output under his Hollowfication is ridiculous but welcome, and if the bodily fatigue remains a constant factor, they'd have retrain their bodies to handle the reiatsu drain more effectively.
Fortunately, with Shinji's success, the benchmark was set; three days plus wiggle room.
Lisa eagerly volunteered next. Though Shinji suspects her keenness was born out of a sense of rivalry with Kaien. Anyone with eyes and a single functioning brain cell could see what was brewing between those two idiots (neither of them were exactly subtle either) but nothing's ever quelled that innate sense of friendly competition they'd had with each other. A factor of their relationship that existed long before this last century of madness; and as a rule, she never liked being outdone. By him or by anyone.
Took Lisa five days to get her Hollow squared away, and observations suggest the pattern will hold. The explosive increase in power takes a proportionate toll on the body and requires a great deal of retraining before they could efficiently deploy them in battle.
Mashiro was next after that and she had them edged out in record time, taking the lesser part of an afternoon. Hiyori would've complained about how unfair that was if she'd been here to witness it. Although perhaps Mashiro's ease shouldn't have been too surprising. From the very beginning, she was the only one of them to maintain her original mask for fifteen hours without training. Given her simple straightforward nature and general lack of personality vices like wrath and pride, its quite possible her hollow had an equally simplistic nature and they managed to get on like a house on fire.
It really does lend credence to an emerging theory that each person's unique hollow and personality seemed to play a factor in how easily they could reach an accord with their inner Hollow. Mashiro and Kaien, their most straightforward and personable members, managed to get a handle on their Hollows in a snap. On the other hand, more reserved or sly individuals, like Lisa and Shinji respectively, had a much harder time breaking through.
Shinji notes his observations down in a journel as they progress. Doubtless, Kisuke would've liked to see how these breakthroughs played out with his own eyes, but the scientist-turn-shopkeeper is busy attending to his own tasks. In his absence, Shinji's taking it upon himself to keep a carefully documented record as a favour. Kisuke will just have to be content with Shiniji's chicken scratch.
With current observations in mind, Shinji hypothesizes they'll have the most difficult time handling Hiyori's, Kensei's and Love's Hollows.
There's been no physical altercations so far, on the outside at any rate, but given how those three can get when their blood's up - Shinji wouldn't be surprised if those pesky inner hollows get a bit uppity. And those feisty blighters might decide to cause a little havoc on their own in the real world.
"Then I shall go next." Hachigen announces while Lisa and Rose are helping a heavily disorientated Mashiro back upstairs to rest. "However, I am also aware that this will mean our barriers will be unavailable for at time."
"Mmm. Love, you're maintainin' the outer barriers while Hachi's dealin' with his Hollow. When Rose comes back, have him runnin' backup." Shinji delegates. "I'm hopin' this won't take too long but dependin' on how much time it does chew through, establish a rotation with Kaien when he gets his ass back here."
"Count on me." Love agrees and immediately moves to execute his instructions.
Hachigen inclines his head respectfully, moving towards the triple layer barriers and opening a passage way inside. "I shall endeavor to work swiftly."
"We ain't lookin' for swift, we're lookin' for right." Shinji tells him wryly, "Like I said ta Lisa and Mashiro, if things starts lookin' dicey, I want ya to cut the Jinzen and take a break. If it gets ta be too much, we'll step in and try again another day. Got it?"
Hachigen inclines his head again and takes a seat at the center of their clearing, right on time for Rose and Lisa to descend the staircase. Curiously, Lisa (still utterly exhausted yet paradoxically lighter on her feet) has the handset with her.
"Oi, Shinji. It's Kisuke, he wants to talk to you about something. Says its important but wouldn't tell me why." Lisa tells him without preamble, tossing the receiver to him which he effortlessly snatches out of the air.
After that, Lisa resumes her post atop a rock to observe Hachigen like a hawk. Her gaze narrowing as the white and yellow reishi of Hachigen's Hollow mask morphs over the gentle giant's face.
"Kisuke." Shinji greets, "What, got another little birdie trapped in yer rafters again and need help fishin' him out or somethin?"
He hears Kisuke give a short sound at the joke but his tone is firm and professional; otherwise known as the first sign of the apocalypse. "While I would dearly enjoy being indebted to you, Shinji, I wish I could say this was a social call. There's something I need to inform you about."
"Naturally." Shinji drawls. "Ya don't call unless it's somethin' major goin' on. What's the deal this time? 'nless yer 'bout ta tell me it's the apocalypse?"
"I'll be succinct; a representative has arrived from the Seireitei bearing a missive from Captain-Commander Yamamoto. One addressed to you specifically. It seems the Soul Society wants to extend an olive branch and they believed I was the best person to establish contact with you." Kisuke informs him.
Shinji frowns, idly taking off his hat to twirl around his finger as an absent thought exercise. "That was succinct. What're they offerin'? I presumed ya opened it?"
"You misunderstand me. Captain Ukitake is here right now in my living room wishing to speak to you. He's informed me that he's here to discuss terms in person as a token of sincerity." Kisuke explains.
Terms. Shinji thinks derisively, as if negotiating a surrender. His hat falls into his lap while he ponders.
"He's come alone, Shinji. Whatever else he may wish to discuss, I do believe this is a genuine peace offering and I've detected no Omnitsukidou within a hundred spirit miles. The Gotei 13 has no presence here outside their vanguard, which I believe are currently too occupied to spare your group a second glance." Kisuke offers as reassurance.
Shinji whistles appreciatively, that's a massive area to leave blank. Maybe it is an act of sincerity, to show that whatever hole the Visoreds crawl out from will remain safely hidden away until Ukitake's fly-in visit is done. He's not surprised to hear its the Thirteenth Captain tending to this task, it would've been either him or Kyoraku. While both Captains would obey their teacher's instructions, they'd have an equally personal investment in bringing the Visoreds back to Soul Society safely. Thanks in no small part to the fact that both their beloved lieutenants currently reside in Shinji's charge.
Part of Shinji is compelled to reject the offer out of sheer spite, but he also knows this was exactly what their number nine was working towards.
Shiniji can generously be described as an asshole at times, but he's not so callous as to piss on what another man sacrificed his life for.
"I'm headed yer way now."
The three of them, Kisuke Urahara, Captain Jushiro Ukitake and Shinji Hirako, sit on square cushions around a chabudai where three ceramic mugs of long-gone-cold green tea sit untouched on coasters and a matching teapot rests on a lacquered serving tray.
Shinji hasn't seen Ukitake in a long time. The old Captain of the Thirteenth hasn't changed too much physically speaking. He's still struck by a sickly pallor with disease white hair, but the stresses of the recent months have obviously taken their toll. The man seems like he could use a year's sleep, even outside the chronic illness playing merry hell with his insides.
Meeting his old co-Captain again after so long was tense to put it mildly. After the last century, it seemed churlish to exchange base pleasantries like they were old friends who'd parted yesterday and happened upon each other again today. Ukitake knows this, and there's no real way to spark any of that friendly banter while old wounds still festered.
In absence of that, Ukitake cuts straight to the point once mild attempts at greetings are done.
Shinji rubs his temple in an attempt to stall a coming headache.
"A full pardon. That's what yer offering." Shinji sneers derisively, "Like we're the ones ta commit the crime in the first place."
Ukitake bares the rebuke stoically. "Unfortunately, this is the only thing we can legally grant you at the moment. Additionally, I've been authorized to inform you that should you accept, you'll all be permitted to return to your prior posts effective immediately with all the rights and privileges therein."
"And what 'bout the others?" Shinji challenges with an arched eyebrow, "Last I checked, yer already got folks posted at the Captains and Lieutenant seats they used ta occupy. What, yer plannin' on kickin' some newbies out and putting them back?"
Ukitake nods quietly. "That's already been considered. Arrangements can be made for those who's previous ranks have been fulfilled, appointments will granted by special wartime orders to permit them to carry the authority of their prior positions, functioning as either co-Captains or Co-Lieutenants with their modern contemporaries. And once this current crisis has abated, any and all of you will be permitted to resign effective immediately, free to return to your lives in the living world with no strings attached. Although as a personal aside, I would dearly prefer it if you all chose to remain, I'd understand if you considered the alternative once our current enemy has been defeated."
"Hmm. That's awful generous... or awful desperate. But why don't we dispense with the pleasantries. Yer comin' to yer exiled and reviled because the old man needs the manpower, not 'cause he's had a sudden miraculous change of heart and seen the error in his ways ta motivate a reconciliation." Shinji surmises, correctly in his opinion. "But let's say we don't wanna play ball. What's the go there?"
"The Omnitsukidou has been called off regardless. On all but paper, you're free men and women. However, Captain-Commander Yamamoto would still invite those who decline his offer to make their account." Ukitake explains patiently.
Shinji glowers at the elder Captain.
"Yer understand how that can only sound like a trap, Jushiro?" Shinji retorts, "What, does the old geezer think we're a buncha schmucks and simpletons that'd fall fer such an obvious rouse?"
Ukitake folds his hands on the table. "I understand how it may seem. But you should know that regardless of the outcome, whether you decide to accept the offer to return or not, the pardon has already been issued and its conditions will stand. Not just for your cohort, but for Yoruichi Shihoin, Tessai Tsukabishi and Kisuke Urahara. You have my word on that."
Shinji studies him for a long moment. "Funny. I almost wanna believe ya."
Ukitake's focus lowers to the chabudai, tracing the wood grain with something weighing heavily on his mind.
"Hirako."
Ukitake begins. He closes his eyes, draws in a breath and starts again.
"Shinji, you should know that I would dearly wish to see you and your cohort return to the Soul Society. The last century has been nothing short of a travesty; of justice, arrogance and base decency. While there's very little we can do to change the past, I would do everything in my power to ensure the injustice that befell you all won't happen again in the future."
Shinji cocks an eyebrow, unfazed. "Oh yeah, well that's a nice sentiment an' all but we're both workin' on limited time here. Why don't we just skip the niceties and cut straight ta the point?"
"Very well then. I have to confess there is another reason why I'd agreed to deliver the Captain-Commander's missive in person and offer our terms. And I believe it goes without saying that you, both of you, already know precisely what that reason is." Ukitake reveals gravely, eying each former Captain in turn.
When the ancient Captain's eyes alight on Shinji, he feels himself pinned in place by that steely penetrating gaze. Shinji knew this next topic was a matter of 'when' not if.
The Captain fixes his gaze on the Shinigami-turn-Visored. His expression is neutral but the intensity in his eyes betray his true feelings on the matter. Tears don't fall from eyes as weathered as theirs, neither Ukitake's or Shinji's nor an ex-assassin like Kisuke, but the pleading emotions swimming there are barely restrained by patience.
"Please. Where is he?"
Shinji shows nothing outside a passive mask before he snorts. "You certainly took yer sweet time askin'. When Kisuke told me you were the one ta negotiate for the Gotei, I half-expected that ta be the first question ta come flyin' outta yer mouth."
Shinji meets that levelled gaze with a cool detachment of his own. Eager to push this conversation back into the vague realm of his comfort zone, he wears his usual crooked grin albeit a little more strained than usual and leans forward.
"Since the day that man landed in my care, and every day since he's been my ward, he has been the most unfathomably stubborn pain in my ass. Fer the record, I regret ever complaining that you stole him away from the Fifth and I can say this wholeheartedly; you can keep him."
Kisuke hides behind his unfolded fan, disguising his reaction by clearing his throat. Even Ukitake fails to bite back a bark of laughter.
"Stick around for a few minutes. I'll call 'im for ya."
Renji Abarai can safely say he hadn't expected anything like this.
Orihime Inoue bumped into him about ten minutes ago saying that Rangiku might need help handling a spot of trouble. With the recent Arrancar attacks on the town, Renji immediately assumed the worst and made haste to link up with the senior Lieutenant.
He expected danger and prepared accordingly, hand clutching the gikon dispenser in his pocket for that eventuality as he ran, but when he'd arrived at the small midtown park Orihime had indicated, he witnessed Rangiku simply conversing with someone on a bench, seeming for all the world like she was catching up with an old friend. Which is a bizarre thought considering as far as Renji knew Rangiku hadn't visited the World of the Living in over two decades.
Maybe she'd happened upon another specially powered human last time and became if not friends than decently amicable acquaintances, like how he heard Rukia initially encountered Ichigo?
When Renji accosts her however, that train of thought derails completely.
Rangiku stands up to address his hails, and in doing so revealed the face of her companion. While Renji had his attention focused solely on her to start with, his curious gaze flickered to the man she'd been in animated discussion with, and it turns his blood to ice. Awe and fear well inside him when the man, a ghost, returns his gaze.
"Y-You. Your-?!"
"Hi. Kaien Shiba. How's it going?" The ghost of the Thirteenth Lieutenant greets brightly, then his expressions morphs to unbridled fury. "I'm giving you five seconds. Start running."
Lieutenant Kaien Shiba, Captain Ukitake's late protégé and Rukia's dearly-departed mentor, climbs to his feet, fists in his pant pockets and staring Renji down with a ferocious anger burning in those ocean green eyes.
Renji's first instinct is to suspect this is a trap, a twisted ploy by Aizen. Their enemy has deceived them in similar ways before. Aizen the nihilistic psychopath publicly and graphically faked his own death to sow the seeds discord among their ranks while he played them all like pieces on a chessboard. That aside, he does notice Rangiku isn't on guard in the slightest. She is eying Shiba warily but not as a threat to be watched for the slightest whiff of treachery, but a silent plea from one friend to another not to do anything remarkably rash or stupid.
"You're supposed to be dead." Renji chokes out.
Lieutenant Shiba shrugs a shoulder. "I got better. Then I got pissed. Despite my graphic demise and subsequent exile, I've been keeping tabs on the other side and I have to say I'm not the greatest fan of the things I've been hearing. Especially about the Sixth's command staff in recent months. You, sir, well and truly screwed up."
"Kaien." Rangiku warns, putting a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Rangiku." Shiba glances at her.
The blonde Lieutenant meets his gaze steadily before relenting with a resigned sigh, releasing her hold and crossing her arms.
Renji swallows the lump in his throat. "Is this about Rukia Kuchiki?"
Shiba waves it away, "Oh, no no. But I promise you she's on the list. When I get the chance, I'm planning to tear that arrogant little twerp Byakuya-"
"Captain Kuchiki!" Renji interjects in defence of his Captain with a peel of anger.
"That arrogant little twerp Byakuya-" Shiba repeats firmly, "-a new asshole for letting the situation get that far out of hand, and not lifting a damn finger while his own sister was on death row. No, no. What I'm pissed about right now is what you two upstart brats did to Ichigo Kurosaki."
Renji blinks, caught totally wrongfooted, "Y-you know Ichigo?"
"Oh, I do. Absolutely love the kid to hell and back. Used to babysit him too. Precious little scamp."
That casual bombshell throws Renji through an even bigger loop than Shiba seemingly springing back to life, but former Lieutenant is pushing on regardless of whether Renji's fully processed his words (tangentially, he notes Rangiku raise an intrigued eyebrow at that little chestnut).
"Anyways, you can imagine how utterly incensed I was upon discovering that instead of following protocol when a new substitute appears; standard procedure like performing a character assessment, putting his name on the registry, issuing him a combat pass and all that jazz - the laws I watched Captain Ukitake specifically write for this kind of eventuality - you two hapless punks beat the shit out of him then left him to die in the middle of the street, all for defending his friend."
Shiba regards Renji with such intensity and scorn that makes him squirm and want to wither into nothing. It feels like Renji's a raw neophyte back at Shin'ou Academy, getting grilled for making an arse out of himself. To make matters worst, Shiba's perfectly calm and controlled tone does more to emphasize his simmering ire, not less.
"Hearing that tends to leave a man feeling ever-so-slightly irate."
Renji has the distinct impression that if his fists weren't in his pockets, this conversation wouldn't be happening because Shiba would be bludgeoning his head into a fine red mist.
"So tell me; what kind of character assessment were either of you conducting while you were busy attempting to murder a fifteen year old? How well he could tank two holes to the chest?"
"At the time, we'd believed that he'd somehow coerced Rukia into giving him her powers. He was disengaged an enemy." Renji defends weakly, half-heartedly at best.
That was the justification they - that is Renji and Captain Kuchiki - were given by Central 46 when they were ordered to apprehend Rukia. The same Central 46 that Aizen had puppeted then murdered. In light of everything else, it's exactly as vacant and insincere as it sounds. Worst still, that whole event is yet another source of recent shame for Renji, especially since Ichigo is something of a friend now. Renji would go so far as to say (though not outright admit) they were rapidly becoming good friends, despite their turbulent introduction.
"And you didn't think to use an ounce of critical thinking to scrutinize those orders? Gez, are you a puppet or a Lieutenant?" Shiba asks, disappointment oozing from every word. He shakes his head. "And the fact that you of all people didn't stop to think or even question that execution order in the slightest? Or consider the possibility that there might've been a reasonable explanation? Last I knew Rukia is your child friend, or she was supposed to be. For cryin' out loud, no one on Soul Society's side knew anything was wrong until that runt Menos showed up, which I remind you Ichigo fought back to defend this town."
As it turns out, Shiba is far more informed than Renji and perhaps Rangiku realizes, judging by her stunned expression.
"In light of that feat, rather than giving the kid the benefit of the doubt and talk things out like men to clear up the whole misconception, because Ichigo's been doing nothing but favours for Soul Society since the get-go; you decided the best way to conduct yourself was to attack a surrendering prisoner and engage in a dick measuring contest, again with a fifteen year old, then leave him to bleed out when you got bored?" Shiba shakes his head scornfully. "Stellar conduct there, pal. I'm sure you'll get a glowing end-of-year performance review."
"That's not fair, Kaien." Rangiku interjects sternly. "You can't blame Renji for that whole misunderstanding. Or Captain Kuchiki for that matter. Next to none of us knew anything was amiss, add to that the fact the Shinigami substitute laws are obscure to most."
"Fine. I'll concede that; the Gotei 13 were busy chasing their own tails while Aizen hid in the shadows manipulating the situation to one degree or other. But that's a whole other discussion and a half," Kaien agrees, glancing her way with a nod before that penetrating glare lands on Renji again, "Doesn't change the fact you could've acted like the adult you purport to be, not some head-up-his-own-ass schoolyard bully throwin' his shiny new authority around."
"Can I change any of that now?" Renji bites back. He's made his mistakes and he's willing to put up with a lot because of that, but he has his limits. "Yes, I admit it. I screwed up. That entire situation was utter crap from the start and I had no idea what I was supposed to do. And yes, I had my head up my own ass. I'll take my punches on the chin because I can't change any of it. And if I could go back and do the whole thing again, there's a mountain of things I'd do differently. But its all fine and dandy to hurl criticism at me when I didn't see you there. Tell me, if you've be alive this whole time; where the hell were you doing that whole situation?"
Shiba's expression turns thunderous, aiming a threatening finger at Renji. "Be glad I wasn't there."
"Let me guess; you'd have pummeled me into paste?" Renji mocks in a snarky tone.
Shiba grunts derisively. "Don't insult me; by the time I'd be done with you, there wouldn't even be that much left."
"Boys." Rangiku interjects, physically placing herself between the two men, one hand hovering over both of their chests to act as a barrier in case they came to blows. "Kaien, cool it. I know how passionate you get about your family but what's done is done. There's no point getting hot under the collar about things in the past."
Shiba glowers at Renji a few seconds longer before purposefully taking a few steps back, hands open and raised to show he doesn't mean any harm. Renji glowers in turn.
Their impromptu staring contest is broken when a phone chime rings out through the clearing. Shiba groans, fishing out a navy blue flip phone from his pocket and backing away to answer.
Rangiku laments with a sigh, folding her arms again. "Always letting his temper get the better of him... That much hasn't changed either."
Renji sneers when he's out of earshot. "I knew the guy's reputation but I thought people liked him because he wasn't supposed to be your typical asshole noble."
"People tend to place martyrs on pedestals, accentuating the good while washing out the bad, and despite popular opinion he's always had a foul temper when something gets under his skin." Rangiku informs him wearily.
Renji shoots a confused look at her and Rangiku explains, "We had a very illuminating discussion before you arrived. Though I have to say I do understand him. You attacked a member of his family and he's outraged, both as an elder brother and a former clan leader. The orders might've been forged or manipulated but yours was the sword that carried them out. Truthfully, you're not actually the target of his anger, just an unfortunately convenient scapegoat."
"Shockingly that doesn't make me feel any better. And scapegoat or not, that anger felt pretty genuine from where I stand..." Renji frowns, glaring daggers into the other man's back while he converses with the caller. "You don't honestly believe that he and Ichigo are kin, d-?"
"I do." Rangiku interrupts unhesitatingly. "Wholeheartedly. Look at the two of them, it couldn't be more obvious."
"Do you really need me to head over there now?" They hear Shiba question grumpily, evidently unwilling to tend to whatever task he's been asked to perform by whomever was on the line. They watch him rub his eyes in a mix of fatigue and frustration. "Fine. Give me ten minutes; I need a bit of time to sort through some stuff... Got it. See you."
"Crap." Shiba bemoans, glaring at his phone. When he returns to them seeming far more tired than anything else. "Rangiku, I've got a job I need to take care of so I'm gonna have to head off. If you want to tell the other members of the Vanguard about me, I'm not gonna try to stop you but I'll leave that for you to decide how much you share, alright?"
"If and when I decide to inform the Captain of anything, I'll keep things brief. Less complications that way. But wherever you're going, be careful, would you? We just got you back and I'd hate to have to disappoint Rukia or Captain Ukitake." Rangiku give a conspiratorially wink.
"Thank you. I owe you one."
"Only one?" Rangiku retorts teasingly, jabbing a finger at him. "Last time I checked, you still own me a year's supply of saké from our last bet. Don't you dare think I've forgotten."
Shiba stares at her incredulously. "Woman, I died. What was I going to do, have it delivered weekly through Jibokucho express mail the second I shuffled back onto the mortal coil?"
"There's a thought; why didn't you?" Rangiku muses mildly.
Shiba huffs, rolling his eyes with a chuckle. Rangiku closes the gap to give him a brief but tight embrace, which he returns. "Stay safe."
"You too." Shiba parts, giving Renji one last hard look before turning away.
Both of them jump in surprise when he vanishes with a static blurt.
"That... wasn't shunpo." Renji observes, mildly concerned.
"That was the same movement the technique the Arrancars use." Rangiku frowns at the spot, lips pressed in a thin line while she considers the implications. "I suppose he really has picked up a few new tricks while he's been away. Alright. Let's go find Orihime, no doubt we've scared that poor girl senseless. We should set her at ease. No cause for concern."
"No cause for-" Renji shakes his head in disbelief, "Another one of our officers just came back to life, has been spying on us, gave me the dressing down of the year, and is apparently capable of using the enemy's techniques; how is that not cause for concern? Shouldn't we be reporting this to Captain Hitsuguya immediately?"
"I'll make the report to the Captain, but I need to collate a few things first. As I understand it, former Lieutenant Shiba is quite the sticky legal and political bind. There's a lot of complex factors to consider, not the least of which is how to handle that exact problem of people accusing him of being another Aizen. Leave it with me for now. Go back to your patrols and keep this between us until I figure out what to say to the Captain." Rangiku tells him, turning back to walk out of the park the way Renji came.
Renji scratches the back of his neck, staring off into the space where Shiba stood not a few minutes earlier.
"Rukia is going to flip out."
It's just not Kaien's day today.
First up, Kaien originally planned to check on Ichigo, maybe take him out for a bite to eat and get his mind off things for a little while, then offer to help him get to grips with his Zanpakutou problem, but best laid plans and all that. His plan gradually took nudge after nudge for the worse, then promptly tail-spun out of control (Arashi, the incessant drama hollow that he is, crashed that party and kicked up a stink before taking their body for a joyride). Then, while winding down from that escapade, an old friend happened upon him.
That's completely on Kaien. He'd lowered his guard. Distracted by internal bickering he wasn't as vigilant as he should have been and didn't keep an attentive enough eye on their surroundings. That being said, if someone from the Vanguard (other than Rukia) discovered him, Rangiku Matsumoto is the next best pick.
Rangiku always was a fun woman to hang around. Kaien knew her when she was only a fifth seat in the Tenth Division with hungry eyes on the vacant Lieutenant posting, but they'd been in enough of the same circles to develop a friendship, later becoming companionable drinking buddies. But under that party girl slacker persona was a shrewd woman with more than a few dozen accolades to her name. She'd barely been promoted to Lieutenant by the time Kaien faced down Metastacia and based on second hand accounts from Uncle Isshin, she'd taken to the role extraordinarily well and somehow managed to keep Isshin in line.
Being discovered by her was salvageable.
They even managed to somewhat fall back into their old routine of light-hearted banter and pulling each other's pigtails.
But then that red haired guy showed up.
Kaien has never actually met Renji Abarai but he's heard enough; from Rukia before this whole fiasco, from Kisuke and Yoruichi's accounts, and from Ichigo recounting his experiences in Soul Society. Although the guy's heart was in the right place and he'd finally managed to get his act together by the end, that didn't excuse his actions or the complete lack of professional conduct.
However, for all that bluster and as much as Kaien wanted his pound of flesh, he knows he probably could've conducted himself better too.
To sum it up, he's not been at his best today.
Whatever Shinji wanted him to do at Kisuke's shop had better be damned important. He'll figure out whatever they needed help with, handle it quickly and neatly, then he'll head back to the warehouse to take a shower and have a nap, maybe challenge someone to a spar and blow off a bit of steam first.
Kaien wonders if he has time to light up a cigarette before -
He stops midway through retrieving his pack and lighter. A reiatsu signature tingles at the very edge of his senses. A very familiar signature he hasn't sensed in sixty years. His eyes snap wide when he realizes in about a second flat that its emanating from the direction of Kisuke's shop.
All other thoughts forgotten, Kaien breaks into a dead sprint rounding the last corner where the dingy back alley shop stood. He pushes he way inside, striding with purpose and barely even noticing Kisuke and Shinji conversing on the shop floor. Kisuke offered a greeting while Shinji aims a knowing smirk his way but Kaien scarcely registers either of them, moving past both men to make his way into the back area where the dining room is situated, practically wrenching the door open.
Captain Jushiro Ukitake's eyes alight on him instantly and Kaien feels himself momentarily fixed in place.
The Captain is sitting on a square cushion by a chabudai with empty cold tea mugs sitting around. He must've been discussing things with Kisuke and Shinji before the latter called Kaien. No wonder what the blond Visored acted so bloody vague.
A long silence follows and it seems as if the Captain isn't even breathing, something Kaien realizes he should probably do something about. He steps inside the room and sketches a chest-low bow.
"Captain, its been a while. I'm glad to see you up and about. Hope that means you've been feeling better lately?"
No answer.
The Captain stares at him in stunned silence, as if trying to convince himself that Kaien is actually real and standing here and not some spectre to vanish in a puff of smoke.
Trying to fish any kind of response out of his former Captain, Kaien gives a half-hearted apology, "Sorry about dumping all that paperwork on your lap. I know it wasn't ideal, but I promise it wasn't deliberate."
Ukitake still doesn't respond. He pushes himself to his feet, closing the gap between the two of them. One hand clamps around Kaien's shoulder and yanks him straight into his Captain's chest. A split second later, he's being hugged within an inch of his life (sometimes its easy to forget that despite his frailty, Captain Ukitake is still one of the most powerful beings in the Soul Society). Kaien flails for a second, he wasn't expecting such an abrupt action but recovers quickly enough to return the gesture. He's absolutely not ashamed to admit feeling a sting in his eyes either.
"Welcome back." Ukitake says softly, but the room is so quite the words ring out like tolling bells.
"Damn glad to be back." Kaien replies.
With the utmost reluctance, Ukitake breaks the hug a few minutes later but keeps a hand pressed against Kaien's cheek, intensely studying his protégé's faintly smile face, trying to permanently etch it into his memory and overwrite that last grisly moments sixty years ago. He takes in everything that is new; the scar on his throat, the tattoo, the bags under his eyes and maybe the first subtle hints of grey.
"You are tired." Ukitake observes sadly.
Kaien shrugs with a helpless smile. "Like I told you before, Captain, its, uh, its been a hell of a century. There is...a lot to talk about."
"And I'll listen." Ukitake tells him earnestly, the hand moving to Kaien's shoulder to give a reassuring squeeze. "I'd like to hear everything you have to say."
Kaien's gaze lowers, a sudden peel of self-consciousness and shame twisting knots in his guts. "I'm sorry to say not all of it will make for particularly pleasant conversation."
"That doesn't matter." Ukitake dismisses with a single shake of the head, "You did what you had to to survive, no one will ever blame you for that. But we'll have time enough for that discussion later. For now, I've come to bring you home."
Author's note:
Kaien be like "Gah. I need something to make this day bett - OMFG, ITS WORK DAD! TT^TT "
Edited: 30/4/2023 - Cleaned up the chapter's grammatical errors and spruced up the language a little.
Regards,
Aurora313