Pre-Note
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. This is for creative purposes. I do own this plot.
Note: There are no Images For This Chapter and Jūshirmai's name is pronounced Jew-Sheer-May. The spelling in no way is supposed to indicate the pronunciation. I just liked it that way.
Reminder: Mature-rating. Mystery-themed. Light sexual content. Crucial to remain attentive to detail. This is for Rukia and her relationships.
Say My Name
Pink cherry blossom petals encircled her frame and danced to formulate a circle around her body, forming a barrier to block out the impending reiatsu and wind that were the source of her struggle.
She slowly regained her consciousness and stood up to search for the eyes of Byakuya as the vision of Shiegeari Jushirmai became clear.
He was laughing.
Everything about that laugh pinched her core. She didn't like it, that sound suddenly feeling all too familiar.
She was here.
Suddenly, it did start to feel like fifty long years. He couldn't stand the sight of her appearance now but at the same time, he couldn't help but drink it all in as it was laughable.
He had truly crushed her. She now wore the title 'Lieutenant' and the name 'Kuchiki'. The name alone spat a bitter taste on his tongue. She was stubborn enough to heed all his warnings and become this—exactly what he knew she never wanted to be.
The image could dampen spirits.
Though he was laughing, there was a certain twitch which followed in his eyes because he had warned her of this and now all she could do was stand there as a mere Lieutenant.
The gloves sickened him to his stomach. He made a note to ask her later how it felt to fall inside the trap of a curse, one that could've been avoided if she only listened.
She was an exact mirror of...his thoughts paused as his interest fell on the Lieutenant's badge. The medallion awarded to high-ranking officers of the Gotei 13.
The Gotei 13 were fools. They were living a lie at its finest. Anything to keep their egos bloated and superiority untouched.
They were carelessly convinced that they were capable of handling him and invading the desire he contained ever since birth. It was foolish of them to even contemplate the idea of stopping him, because even if they thought they knew who he was, or at least understood his intentions, they didn't even understand a ¼ of its entirety.
It would take centuries of progression to even comprehend the true meaning behind his desire—this desire. This desire of obsession. This desire of competition.
This desire for...Rukia.
His medallion or rather key to what he had been yearning for all along.
His lines of ice came refracting back with an enormous amount of pink cherry blossoms engulfing Rukia's frame, his laughter died down and a gleam of interest sparked into his indigo eyes because Rukia was the wielder of Sode No Shirayuki.
The display was becoming even more amusing. Kuchikis. If he were to intervene, this entire setup would be even more hilarious. It was a joke if anything.
But it didn't seem as if the noble was around.
The array of petals formulated a circle around Rukia and automatically summoned a neutralized expression in response to the scene. It devised a barrier that protected her from his reiatsu and shattered the lines of ice before they refracted back.
She looked just as confused as him. Though he didn't show it, the other Kuchiki's interference would only make this encounter a joke if anything. He would wait until later to divulge into him.
Rukia searched for Byakuya, the blossoms were enough to tell her that he was near though she was strangely not sensing his presence anywhere. The cluster of petals changing colour caught her attention and thrusted her into a brilliant act as the petals suddenly began to...dance.
Astonishment swallowed her eyes, the hail of steel began to become lighter and lighter before painting itself chiffon white.
Moon white.
Chalk white.
Sode No Shirayuki sword's white.
It was a beautiful display. Almost like a gradient, she watched the taffy pink colour transition to cream and then pearl all while circling around her as if they were in her control, as if they belonged to her.
And slowly, she wordlessly extended her right hand and allowed her index finger to touch the marvelous white. In response to her touch, she didn't feel a wound cut open or her skin split after a tight slip of the blade—in fact, she felt nothing. Only the softness of the petal and the fragrance she had come to know.
She froze at the chilling touch of coldness the petal dispensed. It was almost as if there was a barrier surrounding it—similar to the white mist her own zanpakutō produced. She removed the contact of her finger before meeting Jushirmai's unbreakable stare—waiting for him to speak.
Her fascination would have to wait until later.
"Ridiculous, Rukia. Everything you've become is ridiculous—your life, your position, your face. It is truly saddening to watch you suffer like this as a man who has known you for so long." He said as she clenched her teeth.
"I've said it before, I don't know you. I've never known you nor do I plan to. And I still don't understand what it is that you want from me. So tell me now, what is it that you want?"
"You're lying, Rukia, you're lying. You know who I am but the past you so desperately want to obliterate is coming back to haunt you, and this time...you can't run away from it. I'll make sure of that—that you face what you started, because this little encounter is just the beginning of the real truth, Rukia—you haven't even seen a ¼ of it."
"I don't think I understand what you're alluding to."
"Then try to understand it. It is in your memories. Every single thing I'm alluding to here is in your memories and you're involved with every part of it. "
"Listen, Mizuri Jushirmai I do not know you nor do I remember ever seeing your face. This must be a misunderstanding."
"It is not a misunderstanding." He growled. "It is you who is misunderstood. You have clearly forgotten who you are and it's disgusting to see what you've become."
"So what exactly was I before?" Rukia asked. "An orphan from the Rukongai District? Yes, I remember that clearly, but anything beyond that I don't remember."
"You do remember, Rukia. " He said, again. "And I'm pretty sure Abarai remembers too."
Something churned in her stomach. She hadn't expected the mention of Renji's name.
"Where is Abarai, Rukia?" He asked. "Is he with you? Or is he still suffering in the Rukongai District with the others?"
"I'm pretty sure you already know the answer." Rukia said in response.
That's right, he did.
He smirked. "Of course, I do. I know everything about Abarai as well as the Rukongai District, Gotei 13, and you."
"Oh really? Am I that amusing?" She already knew the answer.
"Incredibly."
"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind if I stand here and amuse you a bit longer with questions."
"Ask away, although I cannot guarantee that I will answer all of them truthfully."
"Question one: who are you acquainted with? And how did you obtain so much power?"
She wanted to laugh at her own questions.
"That's two questions."
"Answer them."
"Even you should know by now that my only acquaintance is the moon itself. As for my power, it was acquired from the moon as well as this Captain's zanpakutō that I stole decades ago."
A lie.
"Question two: how was the moon able to give you so much power? The moon is a natural satellite; it's not something that can necessarily provide you power."
No, it's not. Not unless you're a—
"That's where you're wrong, Rukia—the moon is more than just a simple object in the sky. And it's tremendous ability of staring into the depths of every soul is more capable and deadly than you or anyone could ever think of. Perhaps a first hand demonstration of its capabilities would suit you better."
"I do not need a demonstration, Jushirmai I want answers." She didn't one.
"You used my first name..." He noted out loud as the familiar sound of her uttering his name brought back memories. "I'm proud. It seems that you are finally coming to the realization of who I truly am."
"I already told you, I don't know who you are."
She cursed herself for uttering it.
"You're in denial of your past. Perhaps I should gather Abarai and we can all chat over a cup of tea."
"That won't be necessary." She said as the white petals remained around her figure.
He laughed. "Tell me, do you believe the saying 'you can't escape from your past', Rukia?"
Every word of that question twisted her insides. Suddenly it was getting hard to breathe.
"Question thre—"
"Answer the question."
Her eyebrows scrunched. "No, I don't believe that saying. It's ridiculous."
The voice of a lie was too obvious in this one. Her answer did nothing to camouflage what was already so obvious on her face.
"Because you've done it, correct?"
"I—"
"The only thing that is truly ridiculous here is you. Look at you. Look at what you've become. If Sense—"
"Stop!" She ordered with a commanding tone that sliced his words right off.
He stared at her with a grin tugging on his thin lips. She had cut him off. Only meaning one thing—he had unsettled her. To watch her calm and authoritative nature falter for a mere second in evident panic and displeasure made his presence all worthwhile.
It was worth it if it got under her skin that badly. He saw her heart leap the moment it was mentioned.
And then her expression returned.
"Now, do you understand, Rukia about what I'm alluding to? Do you understand what I mean about how pathetic and ridiculous you look now? Do you understand why I've come to get you?"
"No." She replied. "I don't, I still don't and I don't believe your story at all. "
His aura grew dark again with his lips forming a thin line. "There's a limited amount to my patience, Rukia. Whether you admit it or not, I will take you back."
"Take me back where?" She already knew.
"You will find out in due time."
"Tell me what you want from me, Jushirmai. What do you want? This chaos you've started in the Soul Society, turning the entire Seireitei to a block of ice, completely destroying the 11th Division, stealing the hearts of each soul reaper you kill, what is it that you desire from the Gotei 13? Why are you targeting us? What is your motive?" She asked him with her frustration getting the better of her mind.
"My motive is to find you."
"You would've never created this much chaos to find me, Jushirmai. There's something you want, so what is it?"
Deep down in the depths of her soul, sealed away in the far corners, she already knew the answer.
"You seem to underestimate the power of your so-called human friends." She took a step back.
"If it was me that you wanted you should've just come get me instead of creating this chaos for one person who can't offer you anything you want!"
That was probably the most truthful sentence that had left her mouth throughout this entire thing with the exception of the last part.
"Would you have come so easily?" He asked with a half-hearted laugh. "I believe the answer's no—you wouldn't."
"That may be true but if you're telling me the truth, then all of this chaos was pointless. Think of all soul reapers who have lost their lives for no reason because of you."
"The men I fought with deserved their impending deaths."
"You're a monster."
"A monster for you." She gulped and his eyes darkened. "We can't stand here forever in denial of the truth, Rukia. I don't have enough patience to stand here and talk to you any longer."
The outline of reiatsu immersed around his figure once again and Rukia watched carefully as the veins of ice slithered like vipers onto his body and surroundings as a grin tugged on his lips. It was only then in that moment of rising reiatsu that Rukia noticed the cherry blossom tree behind him that had turned white with a crystal light. The colour had changed to white—stark white—and it was all because of her. It triggered a question of curiosity as large and broad ice towers rose behind Jushirmai's figure of slithering ice lines.
Where did these come from?
And...why are they white? She asked herself in deep thought.
Her eyes absently searched for Byakuya's reiatsu again but found none. Not to mention, Sode No Shirayuki didn't produce cherry blossoms. But they definitely didn't belong to Senbonzakura if they were here. She was sure of that—almost positive. For one, if they were Senbonzakura's, they should've cut her but didn't.
These felt very much real. There had to be something else to it that she was yet to understand as they had protected her from the reiatsu which charged at her. In one way, they had formed a protective barrier around her figure and created an isolated spot where the suffocation could not be felt and gave her moments to recuperate in a circle.
It was strange—too strange, but Rukia couldn't bother herself to worry about it in her current position. If it weren't for the same white petals that saved her, she would've been dead. Dead at the hands of Mizuri Jushirmai—to wake up in the unknown.
His gaze remained intact with her body and she couldn't bring herself to seek what was hidden in those darkened eyes. In fact, as the veins of ice grew in height and towered everything in sight with its height, all she could think about was what she didn't want to see.
Her past. His face. Her life.
And in an unexpected turn of events, the veins of ice grew to attack her—or most likely, to capture her since she was the only person he wanted to fight.
By then the cherry blossom petals that had shielded her, abandoned her. Her defenses were down and all she could see through her dilated eyes were thousands of lines hissing at her with great speed. They were getting closer and the feeling she once possessed every time the late Ichimaru Gin had looked at her or even entered her presence, resurfaced. They were like vipers without eyes or mouths but the desire to feed. The fear in her eyes increased as the lines became too close for her to even open her eyes.
But then a—"Getsuga Tensho!"—reached her ears and she couldn't help but stare in shock after her closed eyes reopened.
The lines were slashed away and in that very moment Rukia felt like she could properly breathe again without the aid of the barrier as her head turned around to see her friends—cloaked in a cape-like coat and softened expression at their meeting.
"Ichigo." Her eyes lit with surprise as amber flames met hers.
"Rukia." He said softly with a smile tugged on his lips.
"What...are you doing here?" She asked after releasing a breath and analyzing her human friends' current stance. Uryū, Chad, Orihime, and Ichigo all stood with different coloured capes and appeared ready to fight as the discarded Jushirmai, watched the scene unfold.
"Urahara-san and Yoruichi-san told us about the ice taking over the Seireitei and asked us to help." Ichigo explained.
"Not to mention, the temperatures in the World of the Living are increasing as the temperatures here are going down." Uryū said as Rukia stared at her closest friends in awe.
"I see, it seems like the Soul Society is having a much deeper effect on the World of the Living than I originally thought." Rukia said with her hand on her chin and one arm crossed above her chest.
"Yeah, it's already reached over 45 degrees Celsius in Karakura Town and it's getting even worse as the temperature here decreases. Urahara-san said he was going to try to find a way to get the temperature to go down but I don't think he's having any luck." Ichigo said.
"Same here. It's been over two hours since Captain Kurotsuchi initiated a barrier around each Captain's haori and blanket for division members but he hasn't found a way to melt the ice."
"That's because the ice cannot be destroyed." Jushirmai's deep and raspy voice said as it met their ears and altered their attention from each other to the man who stood untouched.
Ichigo glared. "Who are you? And what the hell do you want?" He questioned shortly after as the man's eyes averted from Rukia's to amber flames.
"Kurosaki Ichigo." He acknowledged as the name dripped off the tip of his tongue like bitter poison. "Substitute soul reaper, visored, hollow, fullbringer, and human. You have certainly found a way to amuse yourself in the time being."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ichigo questioned.
"A mere human child like yourself is an ally of soul reapers, how delightful—but I expected better. It's truly laughable that the Gotei 13 have to rely on someone like you to solve their problems."
"Why the hell are you doing all of this?" Ichigo voiced before turning to Rukia. "Rukia, what the hell does this guy want?" He asked.
The group stood in the air and looked down to the petite soul reaper as she shook her head in cluelessness. "I don't know..." Rukia muttered before avoiding Jushirmai's piercing gaze. "He wouldn't say."
"I wouldn't say?" He chuckled darkly. "I've already told you, it's you that I want Rukia. The substitute soul reaper holds no interest in me."
"And what do you want with Rukia?" Ichigo asked loudly as silent rage slowly built itself in his eyes.
"You should be more concerned about why she lied to you instead of questioning why I want her." Jushirmai said.
"That's not important, just answer the goddamn question!" Ichigo voiced loudly.
"Kurosaki-kun..." Orihime said in a quiet voice. "Please...calm down."
"The reason why I want her doesn't concern you. You should be more concerned about yourself."
"And why's that?"
"Because you're the one who's going to suffer at the end of all this." He said with a raspy and silently raged tone. "You'll be on your knees...blood will cover every speck of your body...tears will build up in your eyes...every inch of hope you once carried will be sucked out and spat on before you can even say another word. You're powerless, Kurosaki Ichigo, powerless and you will die in vain because of it."
"Is that so?"
"Your ambition will destroy you long before I can."
"How about we test that theory out while we're still here?" Ichigo challenged.
"We will test it in due time but it's Rukia that concerns me right now." He turned to face the petite figure who had her vibrant plum eyes lowered. "If it weren't for her, the Soul Society wouldn't be experiencing the coldest weather they've ever witnessed in their entire afterlife. So if I were you, I wouldn't be pointing fingers at me. I'd point them to her—Rukia, the cause of all this destruction."
"Don't you dare blame her. Rukia has nothing to do with this or you."
"And how are you so sure of that, ryoka boy? After all, she just lied to you a few minutes ago—how can you trust what she says about her life? How can you trust her, period?"
"Ichigo." She called in concern—summoning his attention and a look of disgust on Jushirmai's face. He turned his head to meet hers with his hardened expression, softening. "I don't know this man. You have to believe me—I don't."
"Don't worry, Rukia. I know." He said and after a pause, he spoke. "I trust you—you got nothing to worry about."
She nodded her head with a small smile before turning her attention back to Jushirmai. "How pathetic, you actually believe her."
"Tell me how long you're going to resist the truth, Rukia. Tell me how long you're going to pretend that you don't see me—that you've never known this voice in your entire life."
"I don't."
"But you do." He urged on with impatience as the group stared. "And I'll continue to freeze the entire Soul Society with ice until you do, Rukia. Until you recognize my voice and call me by my name—the name you know."
Snow started to fall wildly, leaving a dense white haze to swallow them whole. The fresh air felt good against her skin though was deceitful. The flakes of snow sliced past their skin like a knife, every inch felt as if it had been cut.
Despite his name being all-too-familiar, she didn't want to believe. And she didn't want to reminisce on hidden memories, especially when it had to do with him—but this man wasn't him. It couldn't be...and even if she was still in denial, she wouldn't believe it.
Who...are you?
The presence of Ichigo and her—his—friends never made her feel uneasy. But with the possibility of her conscience's suspicion in mind being right, she couldn't help but feel discomfort at their presence with a man claiming that he knew her with the same name.
There was nothing evil about her past. Anything he was saying was based on his own delusional state, not hers. She wasn't lying to him, nor was she lying to Ichigo and her friends.
But was she lying to herself?
"Rukia!" The voice of Renji called before summoning her figure to turn around to view four people flash-stepping their way into the scene.
Renji...Byakuya...Captain Hitsugaya...Rangiku...you're all here.
Displeasure threatened to express on her face but she masked it with surprise at their appearance before the murderous laugh of Mizuri Jushirmai filled her ears.
"How pathetic, Rukia. The Gotei 13 has come to save you." Jushirmai said before Rangiku opened her mouth to speak.
"So, what's this guy's story?" Rangiku asked with a stoic expression and a barrier-type blanket covering her figure.
"He doesn't have one." Rukia muttered before turning around to meet his eyes again.
"I don't have one?" He laughed. "My story simply revolves around you, Rukia—tell them the truth."
Go to Hell.
"Who are you? And who are you acquainted with?" Captain Hitsugaya voiced with turquoise eyes drilling holes in Jushirmai's broad and muscular figure.
"My name is Mizuri Jushirmai and my only acquaintance is the moon." He introduced with the full moon gleaming brightly behind him after his first proper introduction.
"Acquaintance of the moon?" Rangiku asked.
"Yes, the very moon you see gleaming in the sky."
"That's ridiculous." Captain Hitsugaya commented.
"As foolish as it may sound, it is the truth, Captain Hitsugaya." Jushirmai said.
"So you know me."
"I know all of you." Jushirmai said in response. "And it's all because of the beautiful moon and it's exhilarating power."
"What power?" Captain Hitsugaya questioned. "What could the moon possibly offer you that is so immensely powerful?" He asked.
His grin disappeared. "It is people like you, Captain Hitsugaya that underestimate one's power before testing their soul, first. The moon has always contained power beyond your soul reaper abilities, but you've failed to realize it countless times because of your own disgusting ambition and ignorance. In fact, its very power is based on what you soul reapers are supposed to be an expert on. Souls."
Rukia's entire body tingled as the group waited for an explanation.
"The moon is the human embodiment of an eye that can see into the depths of one's soul. It rises in the night and dies along to welcome the day—when the dead are at peace and the moon's human eye is invisible because of the sun. But when the day is over, and night comes along, the dead are restless...because they are latched onto someone's soul. A soul only the moon can see during the night, when the world is quiet and everyone's asleep. Everyone has a deadened soul that is latched onto theirs—there is no such thing as peace to a deadened soul that hasn't moved on from another. This power I'm alluding to is the ability to view the deadened soul still latched on to one's inner conscience. That is the power I speak of that comes from the moon and has so fortunately been transferred to me."
"The ability to view a deadened soul latched onto someone's conscience, you say." Byakuya said with his silver eyes hidden with pale lids. "How foolish of you to even consider yourself a man of that sort."
"Kuchiki Byakuya." Jushirmai acknowledged. The sight automatically triggered angered memories of another face. Kuchikis. "As a man known for your skill and intelligence, you surely underestimate every enemy you see until they cut you down with no mercy and watch you bleed. As for my ability to see deadened souls, I can already see one that has been greatly haunting you. It ends with an 'ana' and starts with the letters 'H', 'I', 'S'. Surely you can guess who it is."
Hisana.
Byakuya's entire aura grew murderous at the mention of her name, his eyebrows crumpled with anger and his misty grey eyes exposed themselves to the light to see Jushirmai's face.
"But of course there's plenty more, that one just happens to be the most recent one latched onto you." Jushirmai said with a smirk before continuing. "But there's no reason to fret, if Rukia continues to suffer from denial I'll unfortunately be forced to kill her, which will automatically add a new deadened soul to your prolonged list, Kuchiki Byakuya." For a little while.
And then his attention turned to Captain Hitsugaya.
"As for you, when I look at you, I see an old woman—she has greyish white hair and squinted eyes. She's your grandmother, correct? A woman important to you that died. But as I stare at you, I find someone else—a boy, a former friend. His name is Kusaka Sōjirō and he's the second wielder of your zanpakutō, Hyōrinmaru, correct?"
Captain Hitsugaya's turquoise eyes glared as his hand reached to touch the hilt of Hyōrinmaru.
"And now you, "he motioned to Rangiku, "he has squinted eyes, greyish-lavender hair, and a snake-like smile. He's known for disappearing without telling you and always smiles. His name is Ichimaru Gin—a very close friend, indeed. You grew up with him in the Rukongai District, correct? And your birthday is the date you met before he took his leave."
Rangiku's powder blue eyes flashed in surprise before her eyebrows scrunched in response to the mentioning of Gin.
His head now turned to Chad. "Are you missing your Abuelo, Yasutora Sado?"
He then repeated it in Spanish. Chad's face stiffened at the mention of his Abuelo.
Next came Orihime. "Inoue Sora—your brother, correct? He raised you until his death before you were left all alone, isn't that right Inoue Orihime or is your mind too latched onto someone else?"
Her eyes widened as she released a gasp at the mention of her brother. Shock was evident in her eyes as the man shifted to Uryū.
Then came Uryū. "Your mother was a very beautiful lady, Ishida Uryū—much more kinder and reliable than your father, correct?"
Uryū's eyes widened momentarily before positioning himself in a stance to release his bow-and-arrow at the mention of his mother.
"Don't talk about my mother! And do not talk about my father!" Uryū said.
Then came Ichigo. "And you—Kurosaki Masaki, the name rhymes but it sure as hell summons some familiarity. She died protecting you, and you've always harbored guilt for that very reason, correct?"
Ichigo growled. "Don't you dare mention anything about my mother!"
"You can calm down, Kurosaki Ichigo. I was simply proving that the moon's power of viewing deadened souls has been transferred to me—in which I can see them naturally through my own eyes."
"And what of it? Is that your only power? Because if that's the only thing you've got, you're going to lose." Ichigo said.
"That simple trick? That's not even close to what I'm capable of when I'm on my own. Isn't that right...Rukia?" His eyes averted to hers.
"How many times does she have to tell you? She doesn't know you, so let this go." Ichigo said.
"You shouldn't be defending someone you don't understand or even know, Kurosaki." Jushirmai said. "As for you, Rukia, whether you recognize me or not that is not important. In due time when I take off my mask you will most definitely recognize the truth."
"What truth?" Ichigo voiced.
"That has no concern to you, Kurosaki—I'd rather watch you perish in a block of ice." Jushirmai said before the ground everyone stood on became glazed with frozen ice as towers began to immerse on the area where each figure was standing. The glistening veins of ice immediately formed a structure around each figure, using the challenging reiatsu from Jushirmai, they suffocated Ichigo and his friends along with the two Captains and Lieutenants until the block of ice was formed.
Before the group could escape, each figure got trapped in a block of rectangular ice that contained their figures in a motionless confinement, except the petite Rukia. Faces remained frozen, but voices remained heard.
Jushirmai laughed as Rukia stared at him with anger. He was visibly finding this amusing as Rukia's eyes left his to stare at the group behind her. Renji was placed a few steps away from her on the right side, Byakuya was placed a space beside him, Captain Hitsugaya and Rangiku were placed closer to Ichigo and the group on the left side, and then there was her—standing in the middle, alone and in Jushirmai's reachable view.
Sode No Shirayuki was gripped loosely in her right hand as Jushirmai's infuriating grin pierced her skin.
"Now, we can finally get back to business."
Captain Kuchiki immediately attempted to use kido to break the current confinement he was trapped in however, Hado #33 Sokatsui proved to be useless as his attempt refused to come into action and quickly subsided. Captain Hitsugaya tried using his reiatsu to shatter the block of ice into pieces although it was proven useless despite his immense spiritual energy. Ichigo, who had Zangetsu clutched tightly in his hand, couldn't even make a slash to emit Getsuga Tensho, proving his attempt fruitless.
It was useless. They were all stuck. In a box of unbreakable ice.
And all Jushirmai could do was laugh.
The group trapped in ice remained frozen in the rectangular box as Rukia looked up to him—fear evidently hidden in her eyes.
"Unfortunately for you, I don't plan on leaving here until you get my name right, Rukia. And when you do, I will let your so-called friends go."
"Shiegeari Jushirmai is your name."
"Wrong, but correct. Shiegeari Jushirmai is my birth name, Mizuri Jushirmai is the name I gave myself, there is one name missing in between, Rukia—can you figure it out?"
"I don't know you."
"Stop saying that." He growled. "I see bringing your friends here has led you into more denial than before, how sad that you won't even admit the truth in front of their faces. I wonder why, Rukia. Tell me why."
"The reason is simple: I...don't...know...you."
"Stop it!" He growled again and in a sudden action of rage and enmity merged into one, the ice confinement Orihime was trapped in, vigorously slammed onto the tree. Rukia stared wide-eyed as the clear block of ice slammed again onto the tree before settling down.
"Inoue!" Rukia yelled as the clear box fell to the ground.
"What do you want?" Rukia hissed.
"I want you."
"That's not a rational answer."
"It's rational enough for me."
"What does the Soul Society have to do with this? What does the Gotei 13 have to do with this? If it was me that you wanted, you could've met me anytime—there is something else you want, so what is it?"
"The Gotei 13 will find out in due time about what exactly I want. But before I can do anything I need you."
"For what?"
"You're well aware of your capabilities, Rukia. Their something beyond the Gotei 13 never came to know."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Still in denial, I see. So let me ask you this, why did Urahara Kisuke place the hōgyoku inside of you? The real reason why." He asked before silence engulfed them shortly as she lowered her head.
She opened her mouth to speak but was quick to shut it as the question repeated itself in her mind. She couldn't provide any reasonable answer to his question so she didn't bother speaking. In a way, she was silently displaying her defeat at his words but he hardly saw it as defeat in his own eyes. He saw cracking, not shattering. And when the shattering began, then came the story.
"I don't know." She muttered quietly.
"You're right." He answered with a serious expression. "You wouldn't know in this current state of denial and resistance, but you will understand—eventually."
"The fact of the matter is, after fifty years of hiding—I've finally found you as I promised before. And now that I know that you're alive and well, I can finally expose the truth about you and take you back to where you once belonged before." Jushirmai continued. "These soul reapers are no less than a thorn on a rose, they are hardly irrelevant to what I'm planning to discuss with you later on. But as time passes on and you get comfortable with your old position, they will become relevant. And as powerless as they are, they will always hold a threat against me."
"What...old...position...are...you...talking...about?" Ichigo asked in the frozen confinement after struggling to conceive proper words in his present state.
"As I said before, you will eventually find out in due time. However as of now, you are irrelevant to this matter, Kurosaki Ichigo—return to the World of the Living." Jushirmai said. "Return to where you belong."
And the words inevitably stung him and he hated the man, Jushirmai for even bringing it along. After almost two years of being associated with soul reapers for so long—defeating the Bounts, Arrancars, Espadas, Aizen, Ginjo etc—he was a part of them, substitute soul reaper or not. He may be human...and the Soul Society might not be where he belongs, but...after hearing the words of 'not belonging' after everything they've been through, together inspired enmity in him that burned brighter than flames.
The ice within the rectangular confinement shattered and Ichigo found himself capable of moving again within the transparent block of ice. Anger shielded his emotions as he stared up at the manly figure in the sky.
"Where I belong? God dammit, you said it yourself—I'm an ally of the Gotei 13, I'm not leaving them and I'm not leaving Rukia."
"It seems that your anger shattered the frozen ice within the box but not the box, itself." Jushirmai analyzed.
"Getsuga...Tens—"
"I wouldn't try that if I were you." Jushirmai said to slice him off.
"And why the hell not?"
"Haven't you noticed, Kurosaki? The ice that I possess is different from all natural ice sources to exist in this very world as it contains a frosted barrier that repels heat and is able to freeze any physical or kido attack before inevitably crushing it into dust. That confinement is unbreakable—unless broken by the person who enabled it, himself. " Jushirmai explained. "It is useless—pointless, when will you understand?."
"As for you Rukia, you won't be able to do anything to break it from the outside as physical attacks have no effect on it and you are in fact an ice and snow zanpakutō wielder."
"Getsuga...Tensho!" Ichigo yelled before making a slash with Zangetsu that emitted a black streak outlined with red. The vicious streak that would usually appear threatening with the addition of Ichigo's immense reiatsu appeared rather useless as the streak was declined and instantly crushed itself into ice.
Ichigo's amber eyes widened at the scene. It was almost as if he had never striked the vicious slash before as he stared at the new crumbles on the icy ground. His entire body fell stiff and still in disbelief that a strike from Zangetsu had zero to little effect on the small structure containing his body. He tried it again—releasing all his reiatsu at once and drilling his eyes into tranquilizing indigo.
"Getsuga...Tensho!" He repeated again with another murderous strike—threatening to cut down anything in its path, except the beautiful ice. The ice confinement remained and the attack had barely touched one side of it before crumbling into ice dust and now, the disbelief was finally sinking in.
"Do you finally understand, Kurosaki Ichigo? That confinement cannot be simply broken by zanpakutōs or kido."
"Bastard." Ichigo growled.
"Well it appears you're finally coming to terms with what I said before." Jushirmai said.
"We haven't come to terms with anything, you bastard!" Renji said, summoning the attention of Rukia and Ichigo who were capable of freely talking. He was stuck in the same position as Ichigo—trapped in the ice confinement with the ability to talk. The ice surrounding him had visibly shattered as he stared up to Mizuri Jushirmai.
"Abarai...it's been awhile. Do you remember me? Or do I have to do some explaining to both you and Rukia?"
"I don't need explaining." Renji said.
"So you know who I am."
"Hardly."
Jushirmai scoffed at his reply. "You're still the same. Cocky and useless."
"It amazes me that the soul reapers even accepted you as one of them, let alone—a Lieutenant." Jushirmai said. "I have no use for you, but it appears Rukia still has some for you since you're still around."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Renji questioned.
"Are you still in denial as well Abarai?" Jushirmai asked. "Perhaps a demonstration of my power will summon a memory."
And before Renji could say anything else, a weapon he familiarly knew escaped Jushirmai's grasp and aimed towards Rukia. Renji's eyes widened as his eyes slowed down the pace of the action to catch a sight of the weapon used. His lines of ice rose behind him but they were not the weapons that aimed towards Rukia and Renji was well aware of it. The lustrous spark of silver chains—two of them, grasped lightly in his hand—and the familiar silver circle with blades attached to it were all too familiar and prompted a realization of who Mizuri Jushirmai truly was.
The action of the weapon was fast, it was aimed towards Rukia in a blink of the eye but she had noticed it long before it had reached her body.
"Rukia!" Ichigo yelled in a panicked tone as the circling blade aimed close to her body, but Rukia was able to repel it instantaneously with Sode No Shirayuki. With her hand grasping Sode No Shirayuki tightly in her hand, she stabbed it into the ground that instantaneously emitted a circle of ice that surrounded her petite frame and released thick ice particles that came from the ground. The silver blade that threatened to slice her neck was immediately crushed into ice as Sode No Shirayuki's circular barrier froze it and protected its master in a barrier of ice mist.
The ice mist that came to a rose, quickly discarded itself as the blade was crushed and put away—but the perfect circle of gleaming ice, remained. Ichigo released a sharp breath in relief as Renji's eyes widened at the man standing above. And although he didn't want to admit it, it had to be him. It only made sense after he released that familiar weapon. That weapon...Rukia knew too well.
The memory of his face was much more different than his appearance right now. His hair was the most noticeable feature that was certainly more different than he had last seen before. It couldn't help but summon a question—was it really his face? Or just a mask? Renji analyzed the man's features deeply as he flashed from his memory to the man above.
The pale skin.
The dark indigo eyes.
The red string.
His voice.
They were all familiar attributes that Renji had distinctly remembered from the bitter man in the Rukongai. But his tattoo. The familiar black ink that was shaped like a crescent moon was missing from this man's features. It was a very noticeable attribute that defined the man he knew in the Rukongai quite distinctly up until now. Not to mention, his hairstyle was far from what Renji had ever remembered. It was shorter than before, possibly straighter than before, and most importantly shaped differently.
He stared at him.
The thought of this man returning to Rukia's life again only inspired the hatred he once contained for this man before. And if it was truly him—the person Rukia had come to hate and know, it wasn't safe for her to be around. Not with the Gotei 13, at least. With him, he would suffice. Through the memories she had shared with him, Renji was there through it all. He knew everything. He understood everything. And most importantly, he knew her.
"Rukia." Renji said in a tone Rukia had never once heard him use before and it worried her. It sounded serious—deadly consumed by fear for her...fear for what would unfold if her secluded past took a rise again. She turned to look at him, with silent fear drenched in her plum waters called eyes.
Renji gulped. "His face, Rukia...his face." He said in a quiet voice with his eyes meeting hers in regret for what could possibly come next.
Rukia stared at him worriedly and to see his best friend close to the verge of tears made him feel even more regretful than he was used to being.
So she knew...Renji thought. But she didn't want to believe it.
Her eyes refused to meet the indigo eyes wanting to meet her own. In fact, her eye contact remained with Renji and then Jushirmai finally knew.
"That isn't your face!" Renji hollered and Rukia bitterly closed her eyes. She didn't think she could handle it—the scene that would unfold right in front eyes. It was too memorable, too painful...too hurting to see the figure that would appear just shortly in front of her irises.
Jushirmai grinned. "You're more intelligent than I took you for, Abarai."
"Renji! What do you mean by that's not his face?!" Ichigo hollered at him, but Renji couldn't bring himself to turn his eyes. They remained fixed on Jushirmai, to witness the scene of his past—the scene of Rukia's past all unfold as her gaze remained intact with his face.
A shatter of ice—sounding similar to glass—caught Ichigo's attention to see Byakuya's blazing reiatsu as Senbonzakura could finally be clutched in his hand. The ice confinement remained around him but he was now capable of freely moving like Ichigo and Renji. Being the silent person he was, he said nothing as he observed the current situation and Rukia's troubling eyes that refused to look at the man standing above them.
"Byakuya! Do you know anything about this?!" Ichigo yelled in frustration as Jushirmai's powerful reiatsu engulfed his own body, whole. The pale lilac colour transformed into poisonous purple and generated a humongous cloud containing his body. The suffocation became more evident as Rukia coughed slightly at the fumes of reiatsu that threatened to steal her oxygen supply.
The Captain did not reply as his concentration was more focused on Rukia, Renji, and the man towering the group from above. The purple fumes then faded to grey and with the disappearance of the reiatsu, came a figure—a slightly new one—a figure Rukia came to know once before.
The thick tendrils of hair he had seen before were now thicker than ever and framed his pale face with bangs that were connected to his thick black hair that was no longer straightened, but wavy. The strange tattoo he had noted once before as unidentifiable was now more coherent than ever—a thick-drawn crescent moon on his right wrist with the familiar red string tossed around his last visible vein.
His face was the same. But his newly elongated hair and the arrival of his crescent tattoo inspired a very cautionary feeling to take over Byakuya as Renji stared with widened eyes.
Renji took in a sharp breath as he stared at the man—it was him. It was fucking him and Rukia...just couldn't bring herself to look. She could feel his presence, almost taste it like he was a part of some poison as his laughter grew and eyes dared to meet hers.
Ichigo watched the scene unfold—visibly confused and frustrated because of his oblivion to what was going on. Orihime, Uryū, Chad, Captain Hitsugaya, and Rangiku remained completely frozen in the block of ice but were able to show little to zero emotion with widened eyes at the scene.
"What's wrong, Rukia?" He asked with his voice sounding so deep and alluring. "Is my face that repelling to you that you won't even look at me in the eyes after fifty years?"
It truly felt like it had been that long. Her coyness only amplified that feeling.
She hated the fact that she appeared weak and frightful in front of his eyes, but it couldn't be helped. She would've never imagined...not in a million years that she would have to bring herself to look directly into the eyes of her past in front of them.
It was almost as if her memories had merged into a living, breathing person to destroy her with one monstrous look and face.
"What the hell did you do to Rukia? What can't she look at you in your eyes!" Ichigo questioned with his frustration and oblivion getting the best of him.
"Answer me!" Ichigo yelled as Jushirmai's eyes and grin remained on Rukia.
A dark shadow casted on her face as it remained lowered and hidden from Jushirmai's eyes. She trembled from Jushirmai's gaze but she knew she was bound to face it sooner or later. The last name she had come to know after so many years finally rested on the tip of her tongue. She knew his name. The last name he had been wanting her to call all along. She gulped nervously as she slowly raised her head and the dark shadow began to disappear.
"What's my real name, Rukia?" He asked with a grin. "My real last name." He urged on with satisfaction.
Rukia kept her face turned away and silent as he urged her to say his name. It certainly did her a big favor before, so why couldn't it be one now?
But she had to say it.
She knew she had to say his name.
He said he'd release them.
After that, she didn't even have to remember his name or even think about him. For now.
Facing his face now was better than facing it later on when his presence was fully registered in her brain.
"Say it." He urged Rukia as her face remained hidden.
"Say my name, Rukia." He said again with a venomously grin. "Say my name."
The casted dark shadow disappeared as her head rose higher and the corner of her right eye finally met his figure. The vibrancy of her violet eyes were illuminated in the moonlight as her pale face turned and looked up to the figure that met her eyes with the most dangerous smile.
"Okasake Jushirmai."
And with that, the blocks of ice came to a shatter.
End Note
Jushirmai's character was highly influenced by Naraku from Inuyasha. But I promise you that the story line and the character's motives are completely different and are far from similar. The physical component of Naraku's appearance is originally what I wanted Jushirmai to appear like so they are similar in appearance. I'd also like to point out that one widely known attribute of Naraku's character being obsession will be used for Jushirmai as well.
Disclaimer: Naraku is a character that belongs to Takahashi Rumiko's series, Inuyasha—not me.
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