It was nearing 3 a.m. when the Captain-Commander's messenger stirred Retsu Unohana from her dreamless slumber. The woman quelled her mild irritation, instead taking a closer look at the boy who delivered a most surprising request. He was incredibly young – that is, given the position and responsibility placed on him. A piece of rough fabric covered most of the boy's face, revealing only his jaw and slightly plump cheeks. At first, his skin seemed ashen, yet after a few moments, Unohana concluded it was not true – it was of unhealthy colour, dark grey.
"Anything more?" Retsu asked, switching to her usual cheerful personality.
"Captain-Commander told us it's urgent," the boy responded, readying to leave.
"Thank you."
Once the words sounded, the messenger disappeared, making little to no sound. The 4th Division Captain glanced at the sheet the grey-skinned boy had brought, disdain imprinted on her face. It only contained vague pieces of information confirming what the messenger said, but sadly, nothing more. She hated secrecy.
With no other valid options, the dark-haired woman quickly changed, putting on her everyday captain's outfit, driven more by habit than anything else. As she reached for her sword, she wondered what had caused this rather unexpected summoning. Moreover, another question lingered: Was she the only one invited to the meeting?
A few minutes was all Unohana needed to get ready. Given the unholy early hour, how well she operated was slightly shocking. After all, she was no longer young. An abstract span of a thousand years was already past her. Still, it would have been a massive overstep for anyone to think she did not deserve her spot in Soul Society's highest echelons of power. Retsu might not have been as fast as she used to be, but in terms of strength, only a few could match her. She knew two other captains could best her, with a few more than could have posed a challenge. Unfortunately, throughout her life, she experienced the defence corp slowly growing weak. However, the recent training sessions she shared with young Byakuya made her realise something. Within the corp, there was much-unused potential. These few units could have been the backbone the future generations would rely on. Yet, they were akin to diamonds, powerful and beautiful but far from their final form. Perhaps it was high time for her and the Captain-Commander to pass the mantel and start forming them into something incredible.
Nonetheless, this internal contemplation brought back the unanswered questions. The first and most likely most intriguing one was: what was happening with Captain Kuchiki? Given that this awakening was only partially concluded, it would be unreasonable not to expect his overall strength to flourish further. Since the day the dark-haired man had replaced his grandfather as the Captain of the 6th Division, he was an enigma for many. The woman halted a chuckle. It was so typical to mislabel him at first glance. His over-complexity was hidden in details that usually required someone willing to observe to notice. As a contradiction, his dutifulness and lawfulness could be spotted immediately. Underneath this mask of coldness and emotionlessness, a young man resided, conflicted and torn apart by his responsibilities. If his change of heart towards his adopted sister indicated anything, a lot had changed inside the nobleman.
Still, Kuchiki was undoubtedly correct - he was a role model for many younger soul reapers—an unfortunate realisation putting ever more weight onto the young man's shoulders. Yet, it would have been foolish of Retsu to believe that what drove Byakuya toward obtaining more power was that. No, there was something else that the raven-haired man would not tell. Of course, Unohana respected his decision, though a seed of curiosity rapidly grew on her.
Before this contemplation could be summarised, the 4th Division Captain had reached her destination. Not in a mood to deal with others, she quickly covered the distance to the usual meeting room. With no intention to drag the already long stroll, she finally utilised her flash step, appearing in the designated area mere moments later. Then, she pondered, why had she not done so earlier, way earlier?
Unfortunately, she was not given time to find the answer, as she noticed the familiar silhouette of the Captain-Commander sitting comfortably on the wooden armchair. Taking the realisation into account, she decided to postpone the search, instead approaching the old man.
"Good morning, Captain-Commander," Retsu greeted her superior.
"Good morning, Captain Unohana," Yamamoto replied, slowly opening his eyes – still sharp and cold.
"May I ask some questions?" the raven-haired woman asked. As the man slowly nodded affirmatively, she quietly exhaled before speaking her mind. "What happened? Have you also requested other captains' presences, Commander?" she asked, allowing her past self to control the intonation.
"Hm," a quiet hum sounded as Yamamoto thought about how to formulate the answer. "Let me start with the latter question. I intend on summoning a few of them later today," he said, slowly standing up. "However, I specifically wanted you to arrive earlier, as there is something I need to ask of you on a personal clearance."
"What would it be, then?"
"A trivial matter, I can assure you about that," the man commented, approaching the fellow captain. "Do tell me, Captain Unohana: am I still the strongest amongst us?"
"Pardon me, Captain-Commander: is this question even necessary?" Unohana replied with a question of her own. "Nonetheless, if you want me to reply to it. Then… yes, you're still a league above us," she said a moment later.
"Did my recent wounds handicapped me?"
"I'd say so," Retsu commented. "Even though you can still wield your sword with one hand, the missing limb reduces your capabilities."
"What would you suggest, then?"
"I heard there's a girl in the mortal world that possesses healing ability far exceeding what I can offer you, Captain-Commander."
"I take you are referring to that young girl who followed Kurosaki Ichigo?" Yamamoto inquired in a rhetorical manner.
"It's a rather rhetorical question," the 4th Division Captain commented. "But, yes. That's the girl I believe can restore your left arm."
"Will you accompany me, Captain Unohana?"
"What about the later meeting? Who's been invited?"
"Captains Kuchiki, Kenpachi, and Hitsugaya. I think it is high time to forge these three into our successors," the Captain-Commander said openly, bluntly even.
"Very well, then."
…
It had been a while since Byakuya fought Captain Hitsugaya. Given his relatively young age, underestimating his skills was sometimes trivial – it was always foolish. As their wooden swords clashed for the hundredth time, Kuchiki concluded that his fellow captain's prodigy status was well deserved. It was publicly known that Captain Shunsui Kyoraku believed Toshiro would have bested him skill-wise. Perhaps the nobleman missed something, but he disagreed with that statement. Of course, Captain Hitsugaya was a genius, but till the top echelon of the current Defense Corp lived, he doubted the young captain would have surpassed them. As of now, the white-haired boy had little to no chance of winning against him, not to mention the likes of Unohana, Kyoraku, and Yamamoto.
Still, despite the noticeable difference in power between them, their duel was satisfying. This training was incomparable to what he had been going through when he sparred with the 4th Division Captain. No, the blows they exchanged reminded him of a chess game or even shogi, as both of them tried to win by utilising different strategies instead of employing brutal strength. Nevertheless, Kuchiki already knew he would eventually win. However, he was in no hurry, trying to prolong the fight as long as possible, analysing his opponent's way of thinking.
"Can you finally finish that?!" Zaraki's voice thundered. "I want to fight you, Kuchiki! Let's see whether all the praises they gave you have any value!" the 11th Division Captain added, impatient as always.
"My fight with Captain Hitsugaya is not yet concluded," Kuchiki commented quietly. "And … as far as I can see, there is still some sand left in the hourglass," he added after gazing at the item.
"I don't care!" Kenpachi thundered, approaching his colleagues. "I can fight both of you simultaneously!"
"So be it," the white-haired boy sighed.
Without wasting a moment, Zaraki charged in, ready for a satisfactory encounter – after all, facing two captains should be entertaining, at the very least. As his main target was the noble brat, the berserker did not put any consideration into the younger man – he would be dealt with as an afterthought. Yet, when he was mere steps away from the prideful captain, his path was blocked by the wall made of ice.
"Brat! Don't you dare stand in my way!" the 11th Division Captain roared primarily. "That's the last warning; the next time you stop me, I'll cut you in two!"
"You are welcome to try," Toshiro replied coldly, rushing forward with his blade ready to slash.
For the time being, Byakuya allowed his fellow captains to clash, trying to memorise the brute's attack pattern. However, he quickly decided it was not worth the effort, as there was seemingly no rule. Zaraki slashed, lunged, and stroked only to eliminate his opponent. There was no elegance associated with these savage blows, no technique, only sheer determination to cut the target. Yet, it mattered not, as Kenpachi's strength was enough to overpower his younger enemy swiftly. And even though Captain Hitsugaya managed to leave some shallow wounds on the berserk, there was no way for him to win. To make matters worse, the white-haired man was being actively disrespected, for the eyepatch had not been removed yet.
The fight did not last much longer, which was not a surprise to the nobleman. The gap – in terms of offensive capabilities – between them was too massive for the young prodigy to overcome with his sheer talent. Still, he affected the berserker far more than he would ever admit. The dark-haired maniac had landed only one hit, but it was a devastating one. It left a long and deep cut starting on Toshiro's left shoulder and ending on the right side of his hip. For a brief moment, the 6th Division Captain wondered whether his colleague would shrug off the wound and continue the fight. But … a mere second later, he knew it was a foolish thought. As the blood started flowing, the young prodigy trembled and blacked out, falling to the ground. Yet, Zaraki's offensive did not stop; no, the brute already readied himself to strike again. Having less than a few heartbeats to react, Byakuya leapt forward, seemingly vanishing in the thin air.
"Fucking Kuchiki!" a feral growl escaped Kenpachi's throat as his serrated blade passed through nothing but air.
"It would be appreciated if you could control your ferocity," the nobleman commented, gently putting down the unconscious prodigy. "Our numbers are already dwindling; perhaps it would be best for you not to speed up the process?" he questioned rhetorically.
"Don't you dare command me!"
"It is not an order nor command," Kuchiki replied cooly. "It is a simple and logical suggestion. But … if you want to fight me so desperately, then let it happen," he added. "Ready?"
As a maniacal smile ceased the brute's face, the nobleman got his answer. With no intention to prolong this farce, he flash-stepped, attacking without warning.
…
"Master Byakuya, you're finally home," an overly sweet voice of Yamasaki Akiko greeted the captain the moment he entered the family compound. It was gentle and soft, akin to the highest quality velvet.
"Good evening, Akiko," the raven-haired man responded, fixing his exhausted gaze on the servant. "You waited for me, have you not?" he inquired, already speculating what would happen.
"Yes, master," Akiko said, bowing respectfully. "Elder Tanimoto invites you for a tea," she added.
"Did he mention the topic he would like to cover through this unexpected meeting?"
"Unfortunately, Elder Tanimoto didn't provide me with such information, master – my apologies."
"There is nothing to apologise for," the nobleman replied instantly. "Is this everything? If so, thank you for your service, Akiko. I will meet with him."
Considering that the servant bowed, nothing more was requested of her. As she slowly turned around and left, he observed. Yamasaki Akiko was a woman of average height with short, straight hair of a raven down. She was one of the few born within this compound's walls, serving from a young age and continuing the family tradition. Because of that, the nobleman knew her pretty well – she was not much younger than him. Akiko could be described with many words – especially her beauty - yet there was no need for it. Byakuya viewed the young woman as loyal, pure-hearted, and sometimes adorable. Her lively emerald green eyes were the very embodiment of the latter adjective. Behind them lurked a fiery spark.
For more than a few seconds, the house head stood completely still, deep in his thoughts. It was a long and tiring day, but the man suspected the real challenge was before him. Emptying his lungs, he tried to relax and prepare for what was to come. For, when it came to Elder Tanimoto, every dirty trick and ploy should be accounted for.
…
"Young Byakuya, come in, come in," the elder's deep voice filled the air. "I'm so glad you've accepted my invitation – truth be told, I haven't seen you in ages," he added, pointing toward the opposite seat, urging the house head to rest on it.
"Yes … I do think we have not met in some time," the raven-haired man replied after a short pause. However, he was rather fond of this occurrence. "What would you like to discuss, Tanimoto?" he inquired, determined to conclude this farce as soon as possible.
"Oh," a quiet gasp left the elder's throat. "I see you're in no mood for a tea. So … perhaps, let's hasten this matter, shall we?"
"It would be appreciated, Tanimoto," Byakuya said reservedly. In fact, there were things that he would have wanted to say, but he forced himself not to. Even though Tanimoto acted surprised and seemingly concerned with the raven-haired man's mood, it was but an act – a masterfully played; it must be acknowledged. "Can we start?"
Even amongst the elders, Tanimoto seemed ancient. His skin was an unhealthy ashen tone pockmarked by flaking black patches. However, this was hardly the most unappealing aspect of the man the young nobleman was forced to sit next to. Underneath all this, there was virtually no muscle. His skin seemingly wrapped over thin, weak bones. Byakuya suspected he was clinging to life with spite fuelled by some dark and twisted desire that was unreachable. As far as his memories could reach, he could not remember seeing Tanimoto with hair. It must have been decades if not hundreds of years, since he had gone bald. Still, his eyes seemed unphased by the passing of time, remaining cold, cruel, and deceitful. But, of course, most people would never see the truth Byakuya saw beneath the foul old man's facade. No… the elder was far too intelligent for that to happen, masking his true identity behind an expert act. With years of experience behind his back, he had perfected his play, making it near-impossible to pierce his mask of a kind old man with gentle sky-blue eyes.
"But, of course, young Byakuya," the elder replied, smirking mischievously. "See, the matter I want to bring to the table isn't new. My fellow elders already voiced their will about it, yet they're too cowardly to continue battling over it. This … as you might expect, upsets me and forces me to act. As … the well-being of the clan is my priority," he explained, stopping a few times to pick words carefully.
"I presume you are referring to my unwillingness to marry again?" Byakuya inquired rhetorically.
"Isn't it apparent, young master?" Tanimoto smirked mockingly. "We'd want nothing more but the blood linage to be secured. And … given that you're the current clan leader, and I dare say the most powerful we ever had. It's logical; we want you to beget an heir."
"I told you that countless times: I will not marry a woman whom I do not have feelings for."
"Would you – at the very least – be willing to consider the candidates we've selected for you, master?"
"I suspect you will not stop until I permit this farce to unfold," the raven-haired man sighed heavily. "So … be it."
…
When Captain Unohana put her sword back into its sheath, she slowly started relaxing and fending off the battle frenzies she had allowed to control her body for far too long. As the bloodlust steadily receded, the woman looked around, trying to assess what her rage had wrought. What she immediately noticed made her sigh, disappointed. As was expected, the entirety of the cave – she had opted to use for today's training session – was destroyed or severely damaged – at the very least. She must have used more strength than she had planned.
It took Retsu more than a few prolonged moments to finally locate her colleagues. Each of them was trapped underneath heavy boulders of rocks, marked with various wounds. Toshiro was found first – even though his wounds looked severe, his condition was stable. Thankfully, the young captain had lost consciousness long before she arrived, making it far easier to tend to his injuries.
The next one was Zaraki. Just like in the white-haired boy's case, the 11th Division Captain was blacked out. As the raven-haired woman analysed his pummelled body, her frown only deepened. Kenpachi's frame was cut in so many places that she had problems locating them all. To worsen the situation, only a handful of these were swallowed. It would be fair to state that if it were anybody else, that person would have died long ago. Yet, Zaraki's spiritual presence still filled the area, tainting it heavily. That – of course – did not mean that the man needed all of these cuts to be sealed, as the precious crimson liquid would inevitably run out.
Finally, after stabilising Kenpachi, it was high time to find the last of the missing captains – Byakuya.
"I am sorry, Captain Yachiru, I was not strong enough," a nobleman's weak and breaking voice sounded coming from behind.
"What are you apologising for?" the 4th Division Captain asked, surprised, turning around immediately.
What she saw froze the blood in her veins. A few steps away from her, the 6th Division Captain stood – compared to his peers, it was a considerable feat. But … there was something apparently off regarding the raven-haired man. His usual tall and proud posture was shattered, crumbling to the right. That side was covered with slash marks so deep that they revealed the man's bones. However, the same could not be said about the other one, as the left side was shimmering with a crimson reflection. At first, Retsu thought Byakuya had some armour protecting it. Yet, the longer she stared into it, the more she noticed it moved, constantly expanding and contracting. Then, Yachiru noticed Kuchiki still had a sword in his left hand. But it did not resemble Senbonzakura; no, the difference was like night and day. It was a long and heavy blade of European descent, coloured with a mix of black and crimson-red.
"I can not control it," the proud nobleman provided a whisper-like reply. "I can barely move, yet it urges me to keep going."
"What happened?"
As the words escaped her slightly parted lips, a set of flashbacks flooded the woman's mind, filling the gaps caused by the bloodlust. The battle had already concluded when she arrived. The raven-haired nobleman stood unphased and barely scratched while holding Kenpachi by his neck, slowly choking him. His left side was covered by small, razor-sharp, and scale-like crimson-red petals, forming seemingly an impenetrable shield. Without uttering a question, Retsu attacked, giving herself into a battle rage.
"I can not control it," Byakuya repeated, then took a step forward before falling flat onto the ground.
Surprised by the unexpected turn of events, the 4th Division Captain remained still for a few moments, assessing whether it was safe for her to approach the nobleman. However, fate opted to act before she could make a final decision. The petals slowly receded, allowing the woman to witness the result of her fury to its fullest. And … it made her sick, twisting something inside of her.
Author's notes section:
[2023-08-18]: Hey, here is a preview of the story's next chapter. Please, bear in mind that it is, as mentioned, a preview. Some parts of it might not be included in the final release. I will try to finish this chapter as soon as possible. I would like to clean up some of the tasks in my schedule, and right now, there are many chapters queued there.
[2023-08-28]: Hey, I have a major update for you.
[2023-09-13]: Hey, I have a major update for you.
[2023-09-14]: Hey, I have a major update for you that concludes this chapter.
Don't forget to comment. I really appreciate your feedback.
Note that the dialogues written in italic are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2023-08-18]: A preview has been released.
[2023-08-28]: A major update applied focused on enriching the story.
[2023-09-13]: A major update applied, focused on expanding and enriching the piece.
[2023-09-14]: A major update applied, focused on concluding the piece and introducing a few new characters.
Info: I have included more stories in the schedule as I'm not 100% certain what I want to write next. Please, keep in mind that I might add or remove positions from the list. I might rewrite some of the older stories or extract some of the longer stories from `The story of one lost soul`.
Schedule:
- The broken heart (finish the WIP)
- My home is where my heart lies (finish the WIP)
- The shadows can be deceiving (new chapter)
- Hidden in the mountain's shadow (new chapter)
- The war call (new chapter)
- The rise of the Blood Moons' servants (new chapter)
- Black Diamond (new chapter)
- When the clock is ticking (Warhammer 40k new story)
- Sometimes it's just better not to know (new chapter)
- My home is where my heart lies (rewrite chapter 4)
- The heart not so cold (rewrite chapter 2)
- The family tree (revisit the previous chapters and apply adjustments)
- Will you look past my mistakes? (new chapter)
- The silence of the shackles (new chapter)
- The Prisoner of Your Eyes (new chapter)
- Lifetime of war (new chapter)
- Hope is the last one to die (new story in SW universe)
- Sometimes it's just better not to know (finish rewriting the second chapter)
- Life is full of surprises (new chapter)
- Exiled you say? (new chapter)
- Until my last breath (new chapter)
- The family tree (new chapter)
- The story of one lost soul (new chapter)
- See the world through my eyes (new chapter)
Bonuses' section:
A new story taking place in the Warhammer 40k universe.
Story of one lost soul: The war call: rewrite.
An entirely new story (possibly Akali x [Irelia, Syndra, Katarina]).
A new short story (Vi x Cait).
An entirely original story (possibly even two stories, one taking place in medieval times, the other in the far future)
Bleach story. (Byakuya x Yoruichi / ?)
Naruto story. (Neji x Hinata / Neji x TenTen / Nagato x Konan)
Fairy Tail story. (most likely Erza x Mira)
Maybe some Star Wars?
References:
*bonuses will be worked on when I don't feel like writing the chapters pointed out in the schedule :D
End of the author's notes section.