Ayumi followed both Mayuri and Captain Zaraki closely down the winding pathways on their way to the Squad 4 medical unit. With the vaccine now accurately mixed into the Reishi Serum, the moment of truth had dawned, and she felt herself feeling anxious about the outcome—I hope this actually works!
Ayumi had her doubts regarding her body's ability to help others, but, she figured that since the conclusion had come from Mayuri himself, he would know more about it than she would. Mayuri had insisted that she come with him and Zaraki to deliver the vaccine, stating that since it had been a collaboration between them all, that she should witness the fruits of her labor with her own eyes.
Ayumi wasn't sure how to take Mayuri's sudden mood swing. Earlier he had been cold to her, almost writing her off because she had dared to open her mouth, then after her admission, he had turned hot as fire…it seemed that once she had given him the space he'd asked for, that he was having some trouble handling it.
While Ayumi didn't feel like she was being rude, per se, she was just keeping to the background, only speaking when spoken to. Her earlier realization made her feel like all she'd really been to Mayuri was a giant distraction, and maybe, if his emotions had not been so clouded by her, he would have come up with this vaccine much earlier, sparing people from getting sick.
Ayumi adjusted the wooden crate she was carrying in her arms, the added weight and the pace she was having to keep was making her hip ache a little still, but, she wasn't going to be a whiner, she would make due.
A part of her felt a bit melancholy, while another part of her just wanted this whole situation to be done and over with. She wanted her old roommates to be able to carry on in their studies, and possibly, one day, find a love of their own—I just hope theirs is not as confusing as mine!
As the three of them walked up to the building, Ayumi noticed Lady Yoruichi standing in the doorway and a smile spread across her lips, she was happy to see her old teacher.
"Hey there! I hear you've managed to come up with a vaccine, this is really good news!" Yoruichi half smiled at Mayuri.
"Yes, it is, although I am afraid I cannot take all of the credit for this one." Mayuri grinned back.
"Credit doesn't really matter when you think about it, just as long as the risk is over!" Yoruichi countered.
"Only time will tell, I suggest we get on with it, the faster we administer the trial doses, the faster we will be able to determine the results." Mayuri replied, still smiling.
Ayumi watched as Yoruichi stepped aside and gestured for the three of them to enter into the now open doors of the Medical Unit. Ayumi felt her stomach knot up at the thought of the virus being let out into the open—What if this doesn't work!?
"Hey Ayumi! You seem to be looking well, I'm glad to see that!" Yoruichi smiled down at her.
Ayumi looked up at the woman and returned her smile before she replied.
"Hello, Lady Yoruichi. I am well, thank you. How has everything been at the academy?" Ayumi replied politely, attempting to hide her sadness and anxiety from the older woman, which seemed to work.
Ayumi had usually been so awkward when it came to socialization that she was sure not even Lady Yoruichi would be able to pick up on her sudden internal slump.
Ayumi felt like she had gone from learning how to fly, to having her wings clipped within a span of days, and she didn't even understand the reasons behind her overzealous emotions—Shouldn't I be happy that Mayuri isn't still upset with me? Shouldn't I be feeling content right now instead of sad?
"Things have been pretty good, I guess I can't complain, I have been worried about you girls though." Yoruichi confessed as the two of them walked into the main room of the medical unit.
"Us girls? Why does it sound like I am included?" Ayumi asked.
"Well, because you are included. I was given the news that you weren't sick, but, I had also overheard some more personal rumors about you." Yoruichi replied, her yellow catlike eyes peeking at Ayumi from under her lashes.
Ayumi felt her cheeks blush as the topic of conversation switched to her and Mayuri's personal relationship.
"I see, nothing to worry about, I can assure you." Ayumi replied, hoping that the older woman wouldn't feel the need to pry.
"Alright then, as long as you're happy, I'm happy." Yoruichi smiled turning her attention back to the now crowded room.
Ayumi's attention drifted to the aqua haired female that was lying on one of the medical beds, she could tell by the white animal skull that covered the woman's head that she was in fact the female Espada that Ayumi had caught herself getting jealous over—what a waste of energy that had been!
Ayumi sighed to herself as she stepped forward and sat the crate of IV bags down on an empty bed that separated the Espada from the bed Amaya Aizen currently occupied. A sense of guilt washed over Ayumi as she looked down at the two women, if she hadn't been such a distraction, neither of them would have had to suffer in the first place!
Ayumi lifted her gaze as the immortal, Sosuke Aizen, walked over to her, as the rest of the captains, Mayuri, Zaraki, Kyoraku and also Lady Yoruichi seemed to still be discussing the probabilities and risks that were involved.
"Does this contain the vaccine?" Aizen asked her, his voice low.
Ayumi nodded as she met the man's honey brown gaze.
Ayumi didn't protest when Sosuke reached into the crate and grabbed one of the bags, then turned away—here goes nothing! I hope it works, Aizen, I really do!
"What are you doing, Sosuke?" the head captain asked as he seemed to notice the immortal's movements.
"What my wife would want me to do, I am going to administer the first bag to the sickest patient, and that would be Mikka." Sosuke replied, not even bothering to turn around when speaking, instead, he disappeared into the back of the building.
Ayumi paused, somewhat shocked by the man's actions. She had thought he had intended to give his wife the first dose, but it seemed that the man understood Amaya and what her wishes would be on a completely different level—I guess that is what happens when a couple shares a mental link.
Making a decision of her own Ayumi stepped forward, taking the same path that the immortal had taken before her and walked into the back hallway. She wanted to see just how bad her old roommate was, and even though she tried to prepare herself, it didn't help the shame that overwhelmed her when she walked into the room.
Aizen lifted his gaze and watched as Ayumi made her way over to the side of the surgical bed that Mikka laid on.
"I did what I had to insure her survival." Sosuke stated before turning his attention back to the task of switching out the bag of saline with the newly improved Reishi Vaccine.
"I thank you for that, and I know Mikka would as well." Ayumi replied, as she lifted the sick woman's hand between her own, no longer caring about her own problems, all she wanted was her old roommate to open her eyes, to go on living—while I was busy falling in love, they have all been fighting for their lives…
"Where is Ayumi!?" Mayuri asked as he turned his body to look around the room for her.
"She followed Aizen into the back." Kenpachi answered.
"I see, very well." Mayuri replied before walking over to the wooden crate Ayumi had placed on an empty medical bed.
Kenpachi walked over just as Mayuri pulled two bags from the crate, intending to administer the vaccine to the other two students himself.
The two captains shared a glance, and Mayuri didn't have to guess what the brute was glaring at him for. It was quite apparent that Ayumi's mood had indeed shifted, and from the look of it, it had shifted to a sense of overwhelming melancholy.
"She ain't looking at you the same way, Kurotsuchi…" Kenpachi stated.
"Now is not the time, Zaraki!" Mayuri retorted, resenting the man's observant nature while questioning why he even cared about his personal life—had the two of them formed some kind of bond that he was unaware of?
"Yeah, I know, but when it is…" Kenpachi continued.
"I shall take care of it! Now, if you wouldn't mind, I have other things I need to attend to!" Mayuri retorted before turning on his heel and heading into the back of the medical unit.
Mayuri sighed heavily as he entered the room the two students occupied and flipped the overhead light on. The notion that everyone seemed to have some form of concern for his and Ayumi's personal matters chafed him. It was none of Akon or Zaraki's business what happened between them, and furthermore, he didn't appreciate the prying!
Pushing the thoughts of his relationship to the back of his mind, Mayuri focused on the two students in front of him. While the two women seemed to still be feverish, they didn't seem to be in as bad of shape as he expected, which made Mayuri question the reason—could it be because they didn't have direct personal contact with the virus? Had they simply caught it from being in close contact, such as Isane and Hanataro?
Mikka had seemed to be the one the most affected, and with her being romantically linked to the deceased man, who Mayuri could only guess was the culprit of introduction, made Mayuri think that it was most likely the reason. It would take more study and comparison of the three women's blood samples to have an accurate reading of just how many spores were present in order to give his theory credibility, but, on the other hand, it simply didn't matter now—Ayumi is the cure!
Ayumi sat vigil in the surgical bay, waiting...
It had been about an hour since the IV bag had been administered, and even though Ayumi knew that patience was considered a virtue, right now, she really didn't have any! As the clock ticked above the doorway, she found that she only grew more anxious as she sat with her left arm hugging her middle, her right thumb lifted to her lips, as she chewed on her thumbnail.
It wasn't like she was expecting some miraculous result, she understood that it would take time for the antibodies to make impact as they spread throughout the other woman's bloodstream. One by one Mikka's cells would be amplified by the introduction of the antibodies, and slowly, the virus would begin to die, allowing Mikka's Reiatsu to once again stabilize.
"Everything okay in here?" Lady Yoruichi asked as she entered the room.
Ayumi looked up, removing her hand from her mouth, she nodded.
Yoruichi walked over and looked down at the young woman lying on the bed.
"I really wouldn't start beating yourself up about this, Ayumi. Sometimes things like this happen…" Yoruichi stated.
Ayumi's shoulders slumped—So much for going unnoticed!
"I just want this to work…" Ayumi admitted.
"I understand that, believe me, we all want this to work, but it was also no secret the way these girls alienated you." Yoruichi replied.
Ayumi sighed heavily.
"I am aware of how they treated me, Lady Yoruichi, that's really not an issue, if I'm being truly honest, I wasn't bothered by it, and I became used to fading into the background." Ayumi replied.
"Well, maybe it's time you allow yourself to step to the forefront a little? Captain Kurotsuchi told me about everything you contributed to the research, how you came up with the idea of using the serum that fixed your vision." Yoruichi stated.
Ayumi shrugged.
"All I did was put two and two together, Mayuri is the one who created the serum and the vaccine." Ayumi replied.
"A vaccine that was created from your own antibodies." Yoruichi stated.
Ayumi scoffed, allowing herself to laugh sarcastically.
"A random fluke within my personal genetics is nothing to boast about, Lady Yoruichi, that's just simple biology." Ayumi countered.
Yoruichi sighed as she shook her head.
"What I'm trying to get at, Ayumi, is that you have no reason to feel any ounce of guilt, and that is what I am sensing from you right now." Yoruichi continued.
Ayumi lowered her head, her gaze falling to the floor as her teacher's words reached her. Ayumi knew that she wasn't to blame for the virus, or the fact that it had been her roommates to come down with it. She also knew that in reality, it wasn't anyone's fault—just a matter of random selection and shitty timing! Am I actually taking this whole situation too personally?
Just as Ayumi was about to turn and speak, her body jarred violently as an unexplainable amount of crippling fear washed over her, sending her stomach into her throat—something's wrong! Something's about to happen!
"Ayumi? What's the matter?"Yoruichi asked as she placed her palm over Ayumi's shoulder.
Ayumi forced her eyes shut, squeezing them tightly as she fought against the panic that overwhelmed her, her heart was pounding rapidly, her skin breaking out in goosebumps—it's happening again!
"Ayumi, answer me! What's going on?" Yoruichi insisted as she hunched down, studying the young woman.
Ayumi didn't reply, she just sat in the chair, her body shaking as if something had just scared the life out of her and she was somehow paralyzed by the fear. Yoruichi didn't know what to make of the situation, never having seen the young woman act in such a manner.
Fearing that this was something beyond her knowledge or ability to handle, Yoruichi stood, intending to go and seek out Mayuri, thinking that he may be able to comfort the woman enough to get an answer—He is her lover, after all.
Ayumi pulled her focus forward, just as she did the last time when laying on Mayuri's bed and the flash of carnage that filled her vision against the darkness sent her lurching forward in the chair. Bodies, limbs being torn apart, souls being consumed!
"Captain Zaraki!" Ayumi yelled as she jumped up from the chair.
Yoruichi paused, her eyes widening from Ayumi's sudden outburst.
Kenpachi Zaraki's tall wide frame filled the doorway as he came to see what the woman was yelling for. His gaze narrowed, remembering what Linake had told him about the woman possibly having some form of pre-psychic abilities when concerning events.
"What is it?" Kenpachi demanded.
"Hollows! A shit ton of hollows!" Ayumi answered.
"Where?!" He growled.
Ayumi closed her eyes again, pushing herself to see a location, anything that could give away the area…in a flash, she recognized the buildings and the irony made her feel like crying while she laughed.
"Kusajishi…" She answered.
"What the hell is going on!?" Mayuri spat from behind Zaraki.
Kenpachi turned his body sideways, giving Mayuri enough room to enter, to see to his woman.
"Has it happened yet?" Kenpachi asked Ayumi.
Ayumi stilled.
"I…I don't know...this usually happens right before the event takes place!" Ayumi answered.
Kenpachi nodded before he walked away.
"Would someone mind filling me in on what I have seemed to miss? What am I not comprehending here?" Mayuri demanded.
"Tch. Pretty pathetic, Kurotsuchi!" Kenpachi spat before walking away.
"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean!?" Mayuri shouted after the brute.
"The fact me and my wife seem to know more about your woman than you do!" Kenpachi retorted.
Mayuri stood motionless as the brute's accusation hit him hard. Mayuri spun on his heel, turning his gaze back to Ayumi.
"Just what is it that I have not been given the privilege of knowing, Ayumi!?" Mayuri demanded.
Ayumi lifted her head, meeting his gaze, she hadn't felt the need to confide in Mayrui about the events, and he had never taken it upon himself to actually ask her about the feeling she had felt that night that Grimmjow had come through the Garganta.
Ayumi glanced over at the bed where Mikka laid.
"I don't want to have this conversation here." Ayumi replied.
Mayuri's gaze lifted to the young woman and he agreed.
"Very well, then we will simply take this conversation to someplace more private!" Mayuri countered, walking over to Ayumi and taking a hold of her by the wrist.
Ayumi pulled her arm free from his grip and their gazes locked, it was the first time Ayumi had ever shown outright defiance to his actions.
"What is the meaning of this behavior? I simply wish to take you to a private room." Mayuri stated.
"Then I will walk next to you, you don't have to drag me!" Ayumi countered.
"Then walk!" Mayuri spat, a whole new sense of agitation radiated from him, once again putting Ayumi in another situation with the man, one she didn't know if she had enough strength to deal with—loving this man is exhausting!
"Where are you going in such a hurry, Captain Zaraki?" Shunsui Kyoraku asked as he noticed the squad 11 captain head for the doors.
"To take care of a shit storm!" Kenpachi barked, not even bothering to stop and explain any further.
Shunsui paused as realization hit him.
"What shit storm? Where is it at?" Shunsui called out.
"Kusajishi!"
"Ah, Hell!" Shusnui sighed.
"It would seem his theory was correct, which means that Halibel is no longer in control of Hueco Mundo." Sosuke stated.
Shunsui turned his head and glanced down at the bed Sosuke sat was sitting on. Aizen hadn't left Amaya's side since the Reishi Vaccine had been administered to her.
"With the way Zaraki explained the hordes of Hollows he fought while there, I can only imagine what's about to hit us…I'm afraid I'm not going to have any other option but to send some others to help him, whether he wants the help or not." Shunsui stated.
"I am sure he is more than capable." Sosuke interjected.
Shunsui half-laughed.
"This isn't about Zaraki's ability, this is about containment, if as many hollows come through as Zaraki fought previously, he may not be able to get to them all before too much damage is done." Shunsui countered.
"I'll be back!" Shunsui stated before he too stepped out, into the dark deserted pathways of the Seireitei—this is going to be one hell of a night!
Ayumi sat down on the medical bed she had sat on that first night when the virus had first appeared. Mayuri closed the door and turned to face her, his golden gaze peering down at her.
"I thought I had made myself clear before, Ayumi. I told you that if this is to work between us, that I would need you to be honest with me! What is this secret of yours?" Mayuri began.
Ayumi's brow furrowed.
"It wasn't a secret! I just never confided in you about it." Ayumi countered.
She was still having difficulties getting a hold of her emotions, his accusations that she had willingly held back information irked her, and it didn't help that she was still trying to reign in control, this had been the most vivid of her visions, and it had scared the hell out of her!
"And why is that? You can share my bed but you can't confide in me?" Mayuri countered.
Ayumi's jaw fell at his comment, he may not have physically touched her, but he may as well have just slapped her in the face.
"I was busy trying to help others, I told you the night before I shared your bed, that I had a feeling that lead me to come after you when you went to Kusajishi." Ayumi retorted.
Mayuri stilled, his memory in fact remembering her mention something about having a feeling…
"I see." Mayuri replied.
Ayumi kept her gaze on him, noticing the way his body seemed to deflate before her eyes.
"I take it this feeling you had was an indication that something was about to happen? Perhaps a warning of some kind?" Mayuri asked.
Ayumi paused, not understanding how the man was able to pick up on things so quickly, so accurately!
"I believe it was trying to warn me of Grimmjow's arrival." Ayumi answered.
Mayuri closed the distance between them then, taking a seat next to her on the small bed.
Ayumi's body tensed, not wanting to be so close to him after he had just made her feel so cheap, the nerve to imply that she would sleep with him while purposely keeping things from him.
Mayuri sighed heavily.
"I guess an apology would be in order on my part…" Mayuri admitted.
Ayumi's eyes widened as she turned and met his gaze.
Mayuri chuckled.
"I am capable of it you know, apologizing..." He countered.
Ayumi didn't know how to respond to his apology, the mere fact that he had even bothered to give her one played even more havoc on her already raw emotions.
"I do not like the fact that others knew something about you that I did not." Mayuri explained.
"I had planned on talking to you about it once everything else settled down." Ayumi admitted.
"Did you? After the time spent in my room earlier, it felt as if you didn't wish to speak to me at all." Mayuri countered.
Ayumi turned her head and sighed as she looked down at the floor.
"I was giving you what you asked for, space." Ayumi replied.
Mayuri snorted.
"I asked for a moment to gain control of myself, I do not remember asking you to pull away from me." Mayuri retorted.
"Why is this so difficult?" Ayumi whispered.
Mayuri lifted his hand, cupping the side of her face to get her attention.
Ayumi allowed him to turn her head towards him.
"I must admit that I am out of my normal element of comfort. I have never cared for someone as much as I seem to care for you, I am afraid that leaves me in a very precarious situation." Mayuri admitted.
"What are you trying to tell me, Mayuri? Is this your way of telling me you love me back?" Ayumi asked.
"That's just it, how am I supposed to answer that question, when I don't even comprehend the notion? However, if you wish to put my care for you under the label of love, I would permit it." Mayuri answered.
Ayumi felt her chest tighten as she heard him, even though he hadn't come right out and said the words, she understood that for a man like Mayuri what he had told her had not been easy.
"It is okay, Mayuri. Knowing that you care for me is enough, the rest, I guess we can try and figure out together?" Ayumi asked.
Mayuri smiled at her, feeling as if the two of them somehow had managed to make it to another milestone, the woman kept surprising him, showing him that deep down inside her, lived a very confidant woman just begging to come out.
"I think that would be the wiser decision, now, tell me about these feelings you have had, how many have there been, and what happens to you when it accrues?" Mayuri asked.
Ayumi smiled back as the dark cloud of doubt and sadness that had been looming over her seemed to dissipate, allowing light to once again shine for her—Loving this man may be exhausting, but it's worth it!
Kenpachi grasped the hilt of his Zanpakuto, pulling if from its sheathe as he walked forward, the residence of the 79th district scattering in all directions as a massive horde of Hollows rained down from an open Garganta. Kenpachi grinned as he charged forward, meeting the hollows head on, lifting and swinging his sword arm skillfully, managing to take down multiple targets at once as the fray oozed from the opening in the nights sky. Like foreboding creatures the unruly hollows descended down upon the soul society. The night was filled with the eerie sound of the squad 11 captain's excited laughter.
"Holy shit, Captain! This is a lot of hollows! There has to be over a thousand!"
"Yes, it seems that somehow a Garganta has been opened." The captain replied.
"What's the plan?"
"We will fan out and give Zaraki the backup that he needs, you take the element of surprise and come up from the back. It looks as if Zaraki can cover the front, I will concentrate on trying to prevent more from coming forward."
"Yes, Captain!" The Lieutenant replied before using flash step to position himself accordingly.
The captain stepped forward pulling his Zanpakuto free from its sheath, he would not allow the hollows to make it into the Seireitei!
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"