"Who says I'm alone?" Grimmjow sneered, lifting his upper lip in contempt-Nothing's changed...He's still a cocky bastard!
"Oh? Well if I am wrong where is your host? I'm sure they wouldn't be so rude to leave you high and dry all the way out here in Zaraki district." Kisuke countered; his intelligent eyes filling with his amusement. Kisuke couldn't help but be tickled by the coincidence of running into Grimmjow.
"Does it really matter if I've been invited or not? What about you, shopkeeper? Ain't like you to show up here unless something's wrong..." Grimmjow retorted-I knew something was up! This guy's here because of whatever is happening to the sky back in the human world.
Kisuke let out a sigh, turning his head back towards the Seireitei. It wouldn't take Mayuri long to figure out he had used the hidden Senkaimon. Kisuke wasn't worried about it, it was after all Mayuri he had come to speak with. If the two of them could put their heads together, they might actually be able to make heads or tails out of whatever this new phenomenon actually was. Kisuke had already ruled out any form of natural occurrence, such as an eclipse. he color pattern was off, and it hadn't even been close enough to the sun. In all the years Kisuke had been alive, and that had been many, he had never come across such a perplexing situation.
"Not gonna answer? Tch...Should have figured it would be like that!" Grimmjow sighed-so much for getting information. I might as well just forget about it.
Grimmjow stepped forward, intending to walk passed Kisuke, the man he had helped during the quincy war. As he went to pass, Grimmjow tensed, feeling Kisuke's grip along the top of his shoulder. Grimmjow paused, turning his head, meeting the man's gaze. Kisuke stared back at Grimmjow with what looked like a sense of sadness in his grey eyes. Just below, Grimmjow could still make out the scars that marred the man's cheeks-Guess that's a decent trade off, I'd rather be scarred than blind.
"If I'm right; and I'm rarely ever wrong...something is about to happen. Something that might even have an effect on you and the other Espada in Hueco Mundo." Kisuke spoke lowly, grabbing Grimmjows full attention.
"You talkin' about the sky? You think something might be about to pay us a visit?" Grimmjow pressed.
"Interesting. Either you've been in the Human world, or you can see if from Hueco Mundo. Which one is it, Grimmjow?" Kisuke countered.
Grimmjow pursed his lips, not wanting to be pushed into another corner-He'd already helped the soul reapers enough over the years. All he wanted was to get to Karina and make sure she was safe from whatever was up in that sky.
"Oh, My! Am I interrupting something? it seems as if I have stumbled across a moment of bonding." Mayuri Kurotsuchi taunted the two men as he appeared on the dark pathway.
Grimmjow muffled a curse-Fuck! So much for making this quick! There's no way anything good will come from these two assholes putting their heads together!
"Mayuri!" Kisuke smiled, stepping away from Grimmjow and tossing his arms out as if in welcome to the squad 12 captain.
"Perfect timing, I was just on my way to see you." Kisuke continued.
"Hmmm." Mayuri hummed, his gaze narrowing at the man, his features less than amused.
"Is that so? For me to have the privilege of gaining your attention, something momentous would have to be taking place. Really, Kisuke, to what do I owe such a pleasure?" Mayuri countered, his high rasping voice laced with sarcasm.
"Hate to break up the reunion. You have something that belongs to me, Kurotsuchi." Grimmjow growled, taking several steps forward.
Mayuri's golden gaze shifted, taking in the state of the Espada. Noticing the way he was holding himself didn't quite match his energy-He's still recuperating from those wounds Amaya inflicted on him.
"Oh, Really?" Mayuri feigned his ignorance-I wonder if he will admit to me just how much he cares for the woman?
"Quit fucking around! You know as well as I do that Amaya Aizen brought you a new prisoner. Where is she!?" Grimmjow demanded; walking even closer to the 12th division captain.
"My. My. It would seem this so called prisoner you speak of has affected your beter judgement. Do not mistake our past association for comradely, Espada." Mayuri warned.
"Tch! Spare me the fucking lecture, will ya? Where the fuck is Karina!?" Grimmjow snarled between clenched teeth.
"Subject 6 is currently resting withing the barracks of squad 12. You are more then free to try and get to her before someone else becomes aware of your presence." Mayuri grinned.
"What have you done to her!? I swear, If you've touched her-" Grimmjow started to threaten.
"You will do what exactly? it seemed to me you are not in the position to be making idle threats! Why, you couldn't even protect her from a mere substitute soul reaper." Mayuri taunted.
"You son of a bitch!" Grimmjow spat, reaching out with reflexes faster than Mayuri had anticipated, gripping the squad 12 captain by the front of his captain's haori.
"After what I helped you do!? You don't want to see what I'll do to get Karina back!" Grimmjow retorted.
"It seems you have yet to learn your lesson, Espada. So easy to aggravate, so easy to lure." Mayuri smiled.
"What the fuck are you talking about!?" Grimmjow spat; his anger clouding his instincts; the only thing on his mind was the woman who had somehow managed to become so important to him he was threatening a man like Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"You are in my personal space, Grimmjow. A place not many would dare to tread." Mayuri grinned widely.
Grimmjow let out a curse, tensing his body to use his Sonído, but it was too little, too late. Grimmjow let out a grunt, staggering back on his feet as a sting ran up his left arm. Mayuri reached out, grabbing Grimmjow by the front of his jacket, lifting his pale painted hand, revealing the hidden syringe the bastard had planned on using on him all along-I fucked up...again!
"It would be a waste of time to try and fight this reality, Grimmjow. I will however give you some peace of mind. I have yet to examine subject 6. So, to answer your question; No. I have not touched her." Mayuri stated before letting go of the beast's jacket.
Grimmjow opened his mouth to curse the man, but all he heard was a slur of words-Fuck! I walked right into the assholes trap! Grimmjow clenched his teeth, feeling his bottom jaw beginning to chatter as if he no longer had control over his body. The sickening chill running through his veins reminded him of those hours laying in bed infected with the virus that Mayuri had cured him of.
Grimmjow's last thought reverted to Karina. Of when he'd seen her sitting inside that bar, drinking through that damn straw-I hate myself for feeling grateful to you, Kurotsuchi, but I'd do it all over again knowing I'd be able to taste Karina's sweet lips. Grimmjow felt his body lurch forward, his knees buckling out from under his weight. As if in slow motion he tipped forward, not even able to hold up his arms in order to break his fall. With a deep thud, Grimmjow kicked up dust as he hit the pathway face first. The only thing able to stifle his humiliation was the cover of darkness.
Mayuri lifted his right foot, toeing at Grimmjow's back with the tip of his sandal.
"Hmm. It took affect quicker than I had anticipated!" Mayuri smiled happily; With Grimmjow out of the way he would be able to concentrate on his examination of subject 6. If it turned out she wouldn't be a threat, Mayuri didn't see the issue with allowing her to return to the Espada.
"I didn't realize you two were on a first name basis. In fact, I didn't think you knew each other at all." Kisuke spoke, once again reminding Mayuri of his presence.
Mayuri turned his head and the two men locked gazes across the dirt pathway. A sense of understanding seeming to pass through each of them; only one thing would bring Kisuke Urahara back to the soul society.
"What seems to be the issue? You wouldn't appear here unless something dire has taken place." Mayuri observed.
"Something's going on in the human world. I'd like for you to take a look." Kisuke replied, holding up what looked to be some form of hard drive in his left hand.
"Tch. You've come all this way just to have me look at something you could have easily sent to me?" Mayuri countered.
"This isn't the kind of thing one sends in an e-mail, Mayuri." Kisuke retorted; letting the scientist know the severity of the situation.
"Very well. Make yourself useful. I will need to take the Espada back with us." Mayuri replied.
Kisuke let out deep sigh looking down at the unconscious Grimmjow. Shaking his head, Kisuke couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his chest.
"You couldn't have waited to drug him until we were closer to the Seireitei?" Kisuke teased.
Akon attempted to roll over in bed, feeling as if something wasn't quite right. As he opened his eyes, he remembered, he wasn't even in his own room. Kameko rolled over, letting out a deep groan as if something had woken her. Akon blinked his eyes, trying to focus his hazed mind as he realized he had been woken up by something too.
"What is that sound?" Kameko asked, turning her head to Akon; both of them still blinking the sleep from their eyes. The two of them had fallen asleep without turning out the overhead light making the process of being woken up abruptly even harder to adjust to.
"It sounds like someone is knocking at the front door of the barracks. I'll have to go answer it." Akon stated, pushing himself up to his knees with his right hand. Kameko tucked her legs, allowing for Akon to pass her on the small mattress. The poor guy had been sleeping between her and the wall-He couldn't have been very comfortable in here!
Akon made it to his feet, just as another incessant knock rang down the hallways of squad 12-Why hadn't anyone from third shift answered the damn door!?
"I'll be right back." Akon assured her, not wanting Kameko to think he was about to abandon her after what they had shared with each other.
"I'd like to come along. It might be something important." Kameko decided, pushing herself up from the warmth of her bed and reaching for her Shihakusho.
"Alright." Akon agreed; not about to tell her she had to stay behind.
The two dressed quickly, only pausing to slip on their sandals before rushing from Kameko's room. If Akon had been in his own quarters, he wouldn't have even heard the knocking at all.
"Who do you think it could be?" Kameko asked as the pair rushed to the entrance, both of them on high alert as adrenaline overtook them.
"I'm not sure." Akon answered honestly just as they rounded the corner.
Akon didn't even stop to call out to whoever was on the other side of the giant metal doors. The sound of the metal bar scraping against the door stopped whoever was knocking. As the door swung out on its hinges, Akon's brow rose in utter surprise.
"Captain? What's going on?" Akon asked as Mayuri pushed his way through the doorway.
"It took you long enough! Where is third shift? They should have tended to the door!" Mayuri snapped.
"I'm not sure, Captain." Akon answered; trying to block Kameko's view of what laid in the dirt behind Kisuke Urahara-I should have asked her to stay in her room!
"Grimmjow!" Kameko let out a gasp, pushing her way passed Akon.
"C-captain Kurotsuchi! W-what happened to him!?" Kameko asked him as she lifted her emotional eyes to him.
Mayuri let out a sigh, lifting his hand to the woman's shoulder. Kameko didn't flinch from his touch; she would never fear her captain.
"I had to take precautions of his retaliation against Amaya Aizen. He's been sedated, nothing more." Mayuri assured the young soul.
Kameko shook her head, her light blue eyes slipping closed as if she were in distress.
"I-I understand." Kameko whispered before turning away from the men.
Akon reached out, placing his hand to her shoulder, half expecting her to jump out of her skin, but when all she did was look up at him with tear filled eyes, Akon felt as if she had just given him the world. Kameko let out a rushed breath as she lunged herself into Akon's arms, needing to feel his comfort-Grimmjow saved me! He shouldn't be punished for trying to protect the woman he loves!
"Kameko. Now is not the time. While I understand your reaction, we have pressing matters to discuss." Mayuri spoke to her, his tone stern, yet lighter than he would with anyone else.
Kameko peeked her head out from Akon's chest and nodded to her Captain, after all, it was Mayuri who had killed her attackers with Grimmjow's assistance.
"Yes, Sir." Kameko answered, doing her best to gain control of her emotions.
"Where do you want him?" Kisuke asked as he drug Grimmjow through the doorway by his boot-heals. The action making Kameko bite her inner cheek-did they drag him all the way here like that!?
"Allow me to help." Akon insisted, doing it more for Kameko's benefit than Grimmjow's.
Mayuri let out a sigh as he waited for Akon to assist Kisuke by gripping the Espada under the arms. The two of them carted Grimmjow deep within the squad 12 barracks, all the way to Mayuri's personal lab space. Mayuri noticed that Kameko had chosen to follow them, something he hadn't been anticipating-I find it almost unnerving how deep the woman's gratitude goes towards the beast...
"Kameko. Would you be so kind as to wait for Akon in your quarters? I assure you I will take very precaution to ensure Grimmjow is not harmed." Mayuri stated.
Kameko paused in the hallway right outside of her captain's personal lab space, her emotions conflicting her; all she wanted was to tend to Grimmjow for Karina's sake and to pay him back for the kindness he had shown her that awful night.
"Y-yes. Of course, Captain." Kameko forced herself to answer before turning on her heal and heading back to her room.
"Why do I get the feeling something sneaky is going on here?" Kisuke asked with a soft smile on his lips.
"Frankly speaking, it is none of your concern." Mayuri countered.
Kisuke shrugged his shoulders, his eyes once again giving away his sense of amusement. It had been a long time since he'd seen Mayuri, and it looked like Yoruichi hadn't been pulling his leg after all. Mayuri did seem different.
"What do you plan to do about Grimmjow?" Akon asked, bringing Mayuri's attention back to the thorn in his side.
" Place a restriction on him. Once he awakens, I will decide on whether or not placing him inside with subject 6 will be enough of a motivation to forget about Amaya Aizen's actions." Mayuri answered.
"Yes, Captain." Akon replied; quickly moving towards the back of the room where Akon and Kisuke had laid Grimmjow down on a medical bed Mayuri kept within the lab for emergencies.
Mayuri let out a deep sigh as he took a seat in his computer chair. Kisuke took it upon himself to step forward and without speaking placed the hard drive into Mayuri's expectant hand. Silence fell within the room, the only sound was Akon working to secure a small microchip within Grimmjow's skin that would control the beast's spiritual pressure; as long as that chip remained hidden within Grimmjow, he wouldn't be able to use his abilities-not even his Sonído.
Mayuri waited patiently for the file to download onto his main hard drive. Not bothering to speak; he wasn't one for small talk, even if it was Kisuke standing next to him, however, it seemed the former squad 12 captain didn't feel the same.
"When am I going to be able to meet this wife of yours I've heard so much about?" Kisuke smiled; interested in seeing Mayuri's reaction to his question.
Mayuri's shoulders tensed slightly as he turned his head to the left. Kisuke's warm smile allowed Mayuri to understand that his question hadn't been intended to taunt him, but was actually genuine.
"Ayumi is looking after our daughter's. I am sure she will make an appearance as soon as Nemuri is able to take over their care for the day." Mayuri answered.
"I see. It looks like you've managed to gain a nice little family." Kisuke replied; feeling a little twinge of envy as he really thought about everything Mayuri had gained after the Quincy war-I have to admit, I'm happy for him.
"Yes. I suppose I have." Mayuri answered before turning his attention to the downloaded file.
As the recorded feed popped up on the main monitor of Mayuri's screen, his brow rose as if confused. There before him was a surveillance read out of the human worlds solar system.
"I wasn't aware you felt the need to monitor the human world so closely." Mayuri commented as his gaze zeroed in on the abnormality.
"After the last surprise attack, I figured it would be wise to keep track on all possibility." Kisuke answered.
"I see. Right here. This read out, it seems to suggest there is something moving towards the Earth's atmosphere." Mayuri sighed.
"That's right. If you scroll down a little I've included some snap shot's of the sky." Kisuke informed him.
Mayuri's brow furrowed as he typed in the code of symbols into his computer system, making the file scroll down until the photo's appeared.
"My. My. To my knowledge we have yet to even pick up on this disturbance from our end. Tell me, how are the human's reacting to such a drastic change?" Mayuri asked.
Kisuke let out a sigh, lifting his left hand to the back of his neck.
"That's the thing. It looks as if it's not even visible to any of the humans. I did stop by Ichigo's in order to see if maybe those with higher levels of spiritual pressure were able to see. It turns out I was right about that suspicion. Ichigo and Orihime as well as Kazui are able to see it." Kisuke explained.
"Interesting..." Mayuri replied; feeling a sense of unease overtake him; the human solar system was not one of his areas of expertise.
"I know this isn't something either one of us really has much of a grasp on. When it comes to the solor systems of each dimension, we haven't really taken the time to study it." Kisuke offered.
"No, I have not. Although there is one who has taken the time." Mayuri countered.
Kisuke's brow lifted, a sense of hope filling him with the new information-Someone here has taken up an interest in Astronomy?
"Who here would have taken up that kind of hobby?" Kisuke wondered aloud.
"It wasn't so much as a hobby to her as it was her choice of carrier before being brought to the soul society. If there is one who may be able to tell us what we are looking at, it would be Linake Zaraki." Mayuri explained.
"Papa!"
Kenpachi let out a grunt as he felt his son pressing down on his bicep. Kenpachi blinked his eyes, already knowing it was too damn early for the kid to be waking him up.
"What is it, Takeo?" Kenpachi asked, going up on his left elbow to look at the four year old. Time had seemed to fly and before Kenpachi could really take it in, his son had started to grow up. It felt like just yesterday Takeo couldn't even walk on his own, but now, the kid was like a tornado of energy always running around the barracks with a smile on his face.
"You thirsty or do you have to pee?" Kenpachi asked, knowing it was going to be one or the other.
Linake had started potty training their son about a year ago, and even though Takeo had gotten the hang of it; he still came to Kenpachi in the middle of the night when he needed to go-Kenpachi had a feeling it was because Takeo was afraid of the dark.
"Pee." Takeo answered; not looking Kenpachi in the eye.
"What did I tell ya last time?" Kenpachi countered; wanting to break his son of his needless fear.
Takeo shifted on his feet; even though the kid was only four years old, he looked to be around six already. His build not very far away from his father's. Kenpachi had a feeling Takeo was going to grow to be as tall as he was eventually.
"I'm a big kid. I can do it by myself..." Takeo finally answered.
"That's right. So why are you wakin' me up?" Kenpachi continued; not bothering to sugar coat how he spoke to his son.
Linake let out a moan as she rolled over on the bed and pressed her hand into Kenpachi's back, giving him a nudge.
"Just take him, Kenpachi." Linake demanded him.
Kenpachi let out a deep sigh, tossing the blanket over his legs and pushing himself up from the bed. Kenpachi reached his hand down, adjusting the bottoms of his sleeping Kimono; something he had started wearing to bed after the first night Takeo had decided to wake him up instead of his mother. Takeo waited for his father to make it to his feet and then craned his neck to stare up at him with wide childlike blue eyes. Kenpachi couldn't help the half smile the spread across his lips. Lifting his right hand, Kenpachi ruffled his son's black hair.
"Come on...I'm gonna show ya there's nothing in that bathroom to be afraid of, kid." Kenpachi stated.
Linake smiled as she allowed her body to stretch out on the mattress before taking a peek at the clock on the side table. It was half passed four in the morning already. Linake let out a deep yawn as she debated on just getting up for the day. She knew it would only be about another hour before Akio would start crying for her. The 16 month old baby girl always woke up early in the mornings needing something, whether it was to be changed or just wanting to he held.
Kenpachi emerged from the bathroom with Takeo but didn't come straight back to their bed. As always Kenpachi ended up walking down the small hallway the couple had added onto their quarters not long after Takeo's 3rd birthday. Instead of moving Takeo into the main barracks away from his parents, Linake had opted to have renovations done to Kenpachi's captain quarters, that way the couple didn't disturb their squad every night. What once was just a large room with a bathroom connected, was now like a three bedroom apartment complete with a small kitchenette tucked between their children's bedrooms. Kenpachi let out a sigh as he entered back into their bedroom, pulling the pocket door that sealed off the hallway closed again before coming to lay back down next to Linake.
"You get him tucked back in?" Linake smiled to her husband.
"Yeah..." Kenpachi grunted as he reached out for her, pulling her into his arms and covering her mouth with his.
Linake let out a light moan as her husband kissed her good morning in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. Even after being married for almost five years, the couple still felt just as immersed in one another as they had in the beginning of their relationship. Linake wrapped her right arm around Kenpachi's neck, deepening the kiss even more; letting Kenpachi know just how much she loved kissing him. Before the couple could go any farther with their morning greeting a soft knock sounded on the front door making Kenpachi pull back from Linake with a furrowed brow.
"What the hell? It's too early for someone to be comin' around..." Kenpachi growled.
"Something might have happened with Karina." Linake offered the only explanation she could come up with as Kenpachi rolled away from her, once again getting up from the bed. Kenpachi crossed the room in three strides, unlocking the front door and pulling it open, not prepared for who was on the other side.
"Good Morning, Captain Zaraki. I am terribly sorry for disturbing you so early. Captain Kurotsuchi has requested to speak with your wife as soon as possible." Rin Tsubokura stated abruptly.
"Tch. What is it this time?" Kenpachi countered; not liking the fact Linake was once again being called on. Sometimes Kenpachi resented the fact he'd chosen a woman as smart as Linake to be his wife. Maybe if she would have been a little more on his level, they wouldn't be bothered all the time.
"Is something wrong with Karina?" Linake asked as she appeared next to Kenpachi's side.
Rin turned his head to look at Linake as he shook his head.
"I'm afraid this isn't that simple. The situation is a little sensitive." Rin explained.
Linake jerked her head in the direction of the hallway as she heard her daughter beginning to cry, feeling conflicted on what to do. Kenpachi let out an irritated growl from deep in his chest; between taking care of their kids and other squads always buggin' Linake about something, Kenpachi felt like their quality time together had taken a nose dive. A part of him wanted to slam the door on Rin and tell 'em to handle whatever it was on their own.
"I'm sorry, Rin. I have to take care of Akio before I'll be able to head to squad 12." Linake explained.
"Yes, of course. I will let my captain know you will come as soon as your children are settled." Rin replied before turning on his heal and heading back down the small staircase.
"This is gettin' old..." Kenpachi complained as he slid the pocket door closed.
Linake turned her head, meeting her husband's gaze. Deep down Linake knew he was frustrated with the situation, between two children, training a squad and Linake being called on to assist other squad's Kenpachi was feeling a little neglected-I'll have to make this up to him soon, it's been a while since we've had time for one another.
"I'm sorry, Kenpachi." Linake replied, not knowing what else to say to him before leaving him in order to take care of their daughter.
Linake half expected Kenpachi to go back to sleep and sulk while she took care of Akio, but to her surprise the giant man followed her into the smaller of the two back bedrooms. Kenpachi smiled as Linake lifted their baby girl from her crib.
" Tch. All that wild hair..." Kenpachi commented as he brushed his right hand over his daughter's head. Every time he looked at his children he couldn't help but see how much they had taken after him; even Akio looked so much like him with pieces of Linake mixed in. Both of his children had their mother's eyes; something that always made Kenpachi happy to see.
"She needs a change and she's probably hungry. Would you mind getting her something for breakfast?" Linake asked as she turned to lay her daughter down on the changing table.
"She likes that sweet potato stuff, right?" Kenpachi asked as he went to walk out into the hallway.
Linake smiled, her chest warming as she heard her husband ask about what his little girl liked to eat. If anyone would have told Linake the kind of father Kenpachi would have been, a part of her wouldn't have believed them. He was without a doubt the best man she ever could have chosen to make a life with, even with all of his rough edges.
"Yes. She does." Linake answered a little too late, realizing Kenpachi had already left the room.
Linake made quick work of changing her daughter, disposing of the soiled diaper in the trash bin and making sure she was clean and comfortable before dusting her with some baby powder and securing the fresh diaper in place. Akio laid back, her wide blue eyes searching her mother's features. As Linake smiled down at her, Akio kicked her chubby legs out, making happy gurgling noises. Linake tickled her tummy, making the baby girl giggle. Linake inhaled a deep breath, feeling a wave of contentment wash over her-I wouldn't trade a minute of this life I have here.
"What's got her gigglin'?" Kenpachi asked as he made his way back inside the room.
Linake smiled up at her husband. Kenpachi held a small bowl in the palm of his hand, a small light pink spoon sticking up out of the deep orange puree of baby food.
"I was tickling her tummy." Linake answered.
Kenpachi half-smiled, looking down at his daughter. Even though he'd been frustrated lately, he knew deep down he enjoyed every minute of being a father; teaching his son what is was to be a man was something he looked forward to. Kenpachi couldn't wait for the day Takeo would pick up a sword. While the thought of Akio growing up made him feel hesitant; knowing that as she got older she would probably take on a figure much like her mother's. The thought of her growing old enough to date left a sour taste in Kenpachi's mouth-she ain't datin' until I'm dead...
"I have a couple hours before drills start. Go see whatever it is Kurotsuchi wants. I'll feed her." Kenpachi stated; surprising Linake with his offer.
"Are you sure? She can be a handful." Linake countered; referring to way Akio would sometimes get fussy when you fed her.
"I got this. I ain't about to be bested by my own little girl. She'll figure out I'm even more stubborn than she is." Kenpachi grinned; making Linake snort.
"Well I can't argue with that. I'll try and be quick about it." Linake replied as she turned to leave him to it.
Kenpachi reached out, snaring Linake by the waste with his free arm. Linake felt her breath hitch as her husband bent his frame low, taking another kiss from her. Linake kissed back, savoring the moment between them.
"One of these days I'm gonna get ya to myself again, Woman." Kenpachi teased her as he pulled back from her lips.
"I look forward to it." Linake whispered back, knowing it would please him to hear he wasn't the only one thinking about it.
Linake hurried down the dirt pathway with the intention of getting in and out of squad 12 as quickly as she could. Even though Kenpachi was more than capable of taking care of their children; Linake had always thought of it more as a partnership between them and didn't want to miss something important. Linake let out a deep sigh as she made it to the front of squad 12 and knocked loudly on the tall metal doors. Deep down she felt restless; if Mayuri was calling on her for something, that meant he wasn't sure of whatever it was-Makes me nervous to see what that something is! Linake didn't have to wait long before the door was opened for her. She stepped back as the giant door swung open and she was greeted by Akon.
"Good morning, Linake." Akon stated.
Linake nodded.
"Good Morning, Akon." She greeted back.
" Captain Kurotsuchi has been waiting for you. If you would follow me, please." Akon continued, stepping out of her way so that she could enter the barracks.
Linake waited for him to secure the doors once more before he turned on his heal and headed down the dimly lit hallway. Linake had spent to much time within the squad 12 barracks she almost felt as if it were a second home to her. As Linake's mind wondered to Ayumi and the girls, she was led into Mayuri's main lab. Linake paused, her gaze moving to a man she had never seen before.
"Ah. Here she is..." Mayuri stated as he turned in his computer chair.
"Wow..." Kisuke commented, a sly smile spreading across his lips.
"This is Kisuke Urahara." Mayuri stated, nodding his head in the direction of the smirking man.
Linake shifted her weight on her feet as she nodded to him,not sure if she liked the smirk on the strangers face or not. While the grey eyed man took his time studying her appearance, Linake walked forward towards Mayuri.
"Rin told me you needed my help with something?" Linake asked.
"Yes. I do. If you would so kind as to tell what you make of this..." Mayuri answered as he stood from his chair, holding his hand out in offer for Linake to take his place.
Linake hesitated, feeling her stomach lurch-He's offering me his chair? What the hell could this be!? Linake accepted Mayuri' kindness, knowing well enough it would chafe him to have something he didn't understand presented to him in the first place. Linake's brow lifted and then furrowed as she took in the photo's in front of her. It looked as if the human sky had been taken over by something.
"W-what is this?" Linake whispered; hoping she was wrong.
"What the human worlds sky currently looks like." Mayuri answered her, making Linake close her eyes.
"This popped up around eight hours ago now." Kisuke explained to her, taking a step closer to the chair she occupied.
"Is this all you have for me to look at?" Linake asked.
Kisuke shook his head, the smirk still planted on his lips as if a permanent side effect.
Mayuri leaned forward, not even taking the time to explain his intentions to Linake as he typed in a couple symbols and then scrolled back up to the previous pages he had already looked at. Linake sucked in a deep breath as she leaned forward in her chair.
"You said this was eight hours ago?" Linake repeated.
"Yes." Kisuke replied.
"What is it, Linake? What do you suspect?" Mayuri asked.
"This is some form of mass." Linake answered as she pointed to the dark shadow surrounded by deep red energy.
"Here under the flames, this is solid." Linake explained.
" Flames? How would you make that classification?" Mayuri demanded as he leaned forward to inspect the image.
"Whatever this is, is moving at high speed towards the Earth's atmosphere. It's traveling at a speed of at least 17,000 miles per hour. It would have to be operated by something strong enough to handle that speed. The rocket's used in the human world for space travel are fueled with a substance that pretty much explodes during take off." Linake explained.
"Interesting..." Mayuri replied.
"So are you saying you think this is some kind of ship?" Kisuke asked; his grey eyes narrowing.
Linake swallowed deeply as she leaned in for another look, even going as far as to ask Mayuri to enhance the image. All those years sitting on top of roof tops, wondering if human's were the only life within the universe. Linake shook her head as she stared back at the blown up image. She had spent years looking at footage of asteroids and meteors, even a comet wouldn't have this shape to it.
" An asteroid or even a meteor would begin to break apart the closer it got to Earth's atmosphere. It's pretty common for those to pass by, or to even hit in some cases, but, this isn't breaking apart..." Linake whispered as if she were talking to herself.
"Oh my god..." Linake whispered under her breath as she sat back in Mayuri's chair; her mind racing with so many variables, everything she had been taught while at college, each aspect of common sense she had drilled in her mind couldn't answer what she was looking at.
"What is it, Linake? Spit it out!" Mayuri demanded.
Linake shook her head before turning it to look Mayuri in the eye.
" I know this much. The UFO is traveling at a speed of at least 17,000 miles per hour. It's coming from the direction of Centaurus, the closest constellation to Earth. With that being said, Proxima Centauri, the closest star within that constellation is still 2.4 light years away..." Linake explained.
"And what is the relevance of this?" Mayuri countered.
"2.4 light years would mean it would take one hundred and thirty-seven thousand years to make it to Earth." Linake answered.
"My. My..." Mayuri whispered as he turned away from Linake, seeming to be caught within his own thought process.
"Mayuri...the only way this could be any kind of ship is if it's been literally hovering in the air for thousands of years. Whatever would have that kind of power would have to be older than dinosaurs!" Linake rambled.
"We both know that assumption is not nearly as farfetched as it sounds. I myself am well over six hundred years old." Mayuri countered.
Linake paused; remembering that all of her training hadn't prepared her for the reveal of the soul society either.
"Another dimension?" Kisuke offered.
Linake shrugged her shoulders before she replied.
"That would make more sense than something hovering in mid air." Linake answered.
"I have to say, I was hoping you would tell me this was nothing more than some cosmic evolution that happens every million years." Mayuri sighed.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Captain Kurotsuchi, but all the indicators point to it being one thing, no matter how badly I want it to be fake." Linake replied.
"So that's it then. Any idea on how we prepare for this?" Kisuke asked.
Linake snorted.
"Yeah, sure. Let me consult my "How to prepare for an alien invasion" handbook." Linake countered sarcastically.
" While the circumstances are less than expected, I find myself quite interested. I wonder, what would cause another race to travel such a distance?" Mayuri pondered as he grinned.
Linake felt like she wanted to cry. In all of the presented hypothesis she had read when it came to a possible Extra Terrestrial occurrence, only one thing had been presented as the outcome. Intergalactic war.
"I really don't want to find out." Linake whispered.
"Yes, well. Look on the bright side. If they in fact do end up being malevolent, your husband will finally have the entertainment he's been seeking for years." Mayuri teased.