Shunsui Kyoraku yawned loudly as he made his way down the dirt pathway that would lead him to Kusajishi. The night had been a long one for everyone, and with all the excitement, the head captain had yet to make it back to his quarters for a well needed nap and it was already close to lunch time—but duty calls!
The head captain followed the pathway, using his straw hat to shield his face from the harsh mid-afternoon sun as he turned to his right and walked into the main residential area of Kusajishi.
Shunsui whistled out loud as he took in the job that was ahead of them, it was one thing to talk about lining everyone up and vaccinating them one by one. Now that the head captain had gotten a good look at the amount of souls that lived within just this one district, he was feeling a bit overwhelmed; there had to be over three hundred souls!
"How's everything going out here, Captain Kuchiki?" Shunsui asked as he walked over to the man he'd placed in charge.
Byakuya lifted his steel gaze to the head captain before he answered.
"So far everyone has complied with our demands, I have not had to use force."
Shunsui sighed.
"If I knew it was going to be this many souls, I would have sent you with some backup." Shunsui frowned as his head turned to the line, which kept growing as the squad 6 member's herded everyone in like cattle.
"We seem to be doing the job proficiently enough." Byakuya replied.
Shunsui smiled as he shook his head.
"I didn't think we'd ever have to face something like this, you hear about this kind of thing happening in the human world, not here in the soul society." Shunsui continued.
"It has come as a surprise to me as well, but we both understand that disease is not something even us soul reapers can escape." Byakuya countered.
"Yeah…that I do. How are Rukia and Renji holding up?" Shunsui continued, changing the subject.
"They will be fine after they get enough rest." Byakuya answered.
"Good. What about Ichika? I didn't think about her when I ordered you to come out here." Shunsui admitted.
"I made arrangements for her to be looked after, while my niece may be almost thirteen, she still has a habit of causing mischief." Byakuya replied, the side of his lips lifting slightly.
Shunsui half-laughed.
"Reminds me of someone else I used to know…" Shunsui smiled.
"What about squad 12? Has Lieutenant Akon made any progress?" Byakuya asked, switching the topic back to business.
"He has, that's why I came out here. Akon was working pretty fast on his own, but, I could tell he was about to burn out, lighting the candle from both ends you could say. I managed to gather him up some help and sent them his way about four hours ago. We should have enough vaccine currently made to treat around a thousand souls." Shunsui answered.
Byakuya's brow rose.
"It seems fast would be an understatement, I had not expected that to be your answer." Byakuya admitted.
Shunsui smiled again.
"Akon is a part of Squad 12 after all, you know as well as I do, if something sounds impossible, those guys are the first ones waiting around to prove you wrong." Shunsui countered.
Byakuya nodded.
"I'm sure once Captain Kurotsuchi makes it back with Ayumi it will go even faster, with them being the brains behind this operation." Shunsui continued.
"Are you still upset with her and Linake?" Byakuya asked curiously.
Shunsui sighed.
"They damn sure pulled a fast one on me, but, now that I've had time to think about it, I can't blame them for it." Shunsui admitted.
"I believe it was for the best…" Byakuya admitted.
Shunsui's brow lifted in surprise.
"That's not what I would expect from the Kuchiki clan leader…" Shunsui countered.
"We both knew the probability of both Zaraki and Kurotsuchi being trapped within Hueco Mundo, those women chose to act and in doing so, all of them will now be able to return." Byakuya replied.
"I guess I can't argue with that logic…" Shunsui smiled.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi turned and walked down the corridor in the opposite direction that Nelliel had been leading them, following the sound of the squad 11 captain's voice. Once Mayuri rounded the corner, he nearly ran into the other man's broad chest. Mayuri took a few steps back and then looked up at Linake, who was perched up on the brutes back.
"I take it you managed to tear down the barriers successfully?" Mayuri asked.
Linake smiled down at the 12th division captain.
"I did. Sorry it took me so long, but, that was some pretty dense energy." Linake answered.
"The time is really not an issue, as long as this world is no longer sealed, things should go back to its proper order." Mayuri smiled.
"Are you okay, Linake!?" Ayumi called out as she rounded the corner, her green eyes wide with concern.
"I'm alright! I'm just kinda tired." Linake replied.
Ayumi sighed with what looked like relief and Linake felt a little taken aback by the woman's apparent worry for her wellbeing, in such a short time, the two women had managed to form a bond.
"I was worried you might over exert yourself." Ayumi admitted.
"Let's get moving! I wanna get Linake home as soon as we can." Kenpachi countered.
Mayuri met the brutes gaze and for the first time, he didn't have to guess the man's feelings, he understood all too well the concern Zaraki felt for his wife.
"Very well. We were just on our way to vaccinate the beast, then we may return to the soul society." Mayuri replied.
"Let's get to it then!" Kenpachi barked.
Mayuri and Ayumi both turned, leading the squad 11 captain back down the hallway where Nelliel waited.
"Are you well, Linake?" Nelliel asked as she pushed herself up from the wall she had been leaning against.
Linake half-laughed.
"I'm fine, Nelliel, thank you." Linake answered.
"I'm glad…Thank you, Linake. Your assistance is greatly appreciated." Nelliel stated before turning her back to the group.
"If you'll follow me, I will take you to Grimmjow now." Nelliel continued, sensing that the group of soul reapers were more than ready to end their mission and return back home.
The group walked in silence for the better part of ten minutes, allowing the Espada to lead them down the rounding corridors, it seemed that whatever room Grimmjow occupied was hidden deep within the stronghold, which didn't come as too much of a surprise to Mayuri. Nelliel turned to her left and once again, she stopped at a set of double doors.
Mayuri watched as the female reached out to slide the doors open, but then hesitated.
"What is the issue?" Mayuri asked.
Nelliel turned her gaze to the 12th division captain, her features showing her awkwardness.
"I think it would be best if you go in, Captain Kurotsuchi, I'm afraid I don't feel comfortable invading Grimmjow's privacy." Nelliel stated as she backed away from the doors.
Mayuri narrowed his gaze at the female—she sure is full of surprises, why, she almost acts human…
"Very well, if you think I have any qualms against invading his privacy in order to complete my task, I can assure you, I feel no such thing." Mayuri stated as he stepped forward sliding the two large white doors open.
As Mayuri stepped inside the dark room, his gaze searched his surroundings. To the left, the squad 12 captain found a large futon tucked up under a rounding alcove. As the scientist walked deeper into the room he understood the female's hesitation. The beast was lying face down, his head tilted to the side facing away from Mayuri, and completely nude.
Mayuri sighed as he stepped forward forcefully jerking the white sheet from up under the beasts legs, then tossed it over the Espada's backside.
"Is that you, Mila Rose?" Grimmjow croaked.
Mayuri's brow lifted, revealing his surprise—He had not expected the beast to be awake…
"I am afraid not." Mayuri answered.
"What the fuck!?" Grimmjow spat as he pushed himself up on shaking arms and turned his head to face the captain.
Mayuri held his ground standing in the middle of the room, his arms tucked across his chest as he met the beast's challenging gaze.
"What the fuck are you doing in here, freak?" Grimmjow taunted.
"My goodness, is that any way to speak to the man who holds the very balance of your pathetic life in his hands? I swear, you and some of your comrades could really use a lesson in etiquette. " Mayuri frowned.
"What the fuck are you babbling about?" Grimmjow spat.
Mayuri took two more steps towards the bed and lifted one of his pale white arms, clasping his chin with his thin fingers.
"I am merrily weighing my options, you see, I have two; I could administer the vaccine that I have in my possession allowing you to continue living, or, I can make an example out of the last male Espada, why, the excitement is almost titillating." Mayuri taunted.
"Tch. If you think I'm about to beg you for whatever it is you have, you're wasting your time!" Grimmjow countered as he managed to push himself up into a sitting position, wrapping his right forearm around his cramping stomach.
"We have come to a crossroads, you and me. You see, I am afraid the last time I was in your presence you felt it necessary to insult me and did my ears just deceive me, or did you not just repeat that same error?" Mayuri challenged, his golden eyes staring down the Espada.
"Do what you're gonna do!" Grimmjow countered, meeting the soul reapers gaze, his lips lifting into a sneer.
Mayuri lifted his left hand, tucking it inside of his captain's haori pulling another dosage of the vaccine from the inner pocket.
"While your prideful behavior could seem somewhat admirable to some, I don't find it very amusing… Know this, Espada, the only reason you are receiving this from me is because of the twisted events of fate that allowed you to come out of that Garganta when you did." Mayuri explained as he stepped forward.
Grimmjow leaned back away from the squad 12 captain as the man hunched down in front of him.
"You talking about those three men that ran?" Grimmjow asked.
Mayuri lifted his gaze, meeting the beast's cobalt eyes.
"Precisely… while it pains me to admit it, I am in a sort of debt to you for chasing them off." Mayuri admitted.
"I wondered why they left her behind when they ran, are you telling me if I hadn't shown up when I did, that woman, the one you were willing to fight me over, would have been hurt?" Grimmjow asked.
Mayuri narrowed his golden gaze at the Espada.
"Am I supposed to believe that would have bothered you?" Mayuri retorted.
"Tch. I really don't give a fuck what you believe, soul reaper…" Grimmjow retorted.
"Hold out your arm, Espada!" Mayuri demanded.
"How do I know whatever you're about to shoot me up with won't kill me anyway?" Grimmjow countered.
Mayuri laughed.
"My, my, the insults never stop, and here I am, going against my better judgment offering you this token of my appreciation. Are you telling me you would rather not have what I am offering?" Mayuri asked.
"Tell you what, you shoot me up with whatever this shit is and if I do survive, I'll help you find those men, that enough gratitude for ya?" Grimmjow replied.
"I am listening… how would you help me find them?" Mayuri asked, leaning in closer to the beast.
"They had a certain scent to them, I could find it again." Grimmjow answered.
"Excellent! I believe we have an arrangement." Mayuri smiled as he held out his left hand for the Espada's arm.
Grimmjow lifted his right arm from across his midsection, he didn't know what it was that made him strike the deal with the soul reaper, maybe the look in the freak's eyes when he had mentioned those three men—I knew I smelt the scent of bloodlust in the air that night...
"That woman means a lot to you, doesn't she?" Grimmjow asked just as Mayuri wrapped his left hand around the beast's bicep, tightening his grip just enough to force the veins forward.
Mayuri met the Espada's gaze once more before lifting the syringe to his lips and pulling the cap with his teeth, like he had before, then slowly, he inserted the tip of the needle into the beast's arm. Grimmjow felt the cool rush of liquid spread throughout his veins as the captain pushed down on the plunger.
"If you in fact keep your word to me and lead me to those three men as you claim you can, you will witness just how much I have come to care for that woman." Mayuri admitted as he pulled the now empty syringe from Grimmjow's arm and stood up.
"Until our paths meet again, Espada…" Mayuri stated as he turned on his heel and made his way back to the double doors, while tucking the empty syringe back into his inner pocket.
Nelliel leaned forward, peeking her head inside the double doors.
"Did everything go well, Captain?" Nelliel asked.
Mayuri met the females gaze and smiled.
"Oh yes, I do believe it did." Mayuri answered as he stepped back out into the hallway.
"Nelliel!?" Grimmjow called out to her from inside the dark room.
"He's awake?" Nelliel asked, her eyes widening from her surprise.
"Indeed he is." Mayuri answered.
"Please, Excuse me for a minute…" Nelliel stated before stepping into the dark room.
Grimmjow managed to keep himself in his upright position even though his body was still cramping like hell, his body was shaking like crazy now, whatever that bastard had injected him with had him feeling like he'd just bathed in ice water.
"Grimmjow?" Nellile called out to him as she stepped forward.
Grimmjow could just make out her features from the light that flooded in through the open doors.
"You okay?" Grimmjow asked.
Nelliel paused for a second, unsure why the 6th Espada would bother to ask of her wellbeing.
"I am fine. I've been given the same medication that was just administered to you." Nelliel replied.
Grimmjow let out a half-laugh.
"That's good. What about everyone else?" Grimmjow continued.
Nelliel smiled softly, seeming to understand that his concern was not just for her, but for everyone.
"Captain Kurotsuchi has treated all but one." Nelliel answered honestly.
Grimmjow's brow furrowed.
"Who?" He asked.
Nelliel let out a soft sigh.
"Mila Rose." She answered.
Grimmjow snorted.
"I guess that's what the bastard meant by his comment…" Grimmjow muttered.
Nelliel's brows rose.
"It would seem that Captain Kurotsuchi doesn't take very kindly to those who are rude to Ayumi." Nelliel tried to explain.
The side of Grimmjow's lips lifted.
"So the woman came with him?" Grimmjow asked.
"Not exactly. If you would be willing to wait, I can come back and explain everything to you once I have opened the Garganta for the soul reapers. There is a lot we should discuss." Nelliel replied, dreading the upcoming conversation she would have to have with her comrades.
"Okay…" Grimmjow agreed as he turned his shaking body and laid down on his back.
Nelliel stepped forward taking it upon herself to help him, even though she expected him to just glare at her for her efforts.
"What are you doing, now?" Grimmjow asked.
Nelliel reached down towards the foot of the bed, pulling a white blanket forward, she covered him with it, even taking the time to lean down and tuck it in around his neck and shoulders.
"The vaccine may react differently to all of us, it seems it's making you feel cold, so I'm helping you." Nelliel explained before standing straight again.
"Thanks…" Grimmjow whispered to her.
Nelliel smiled fully as she heard the feint whisper, is wasn't like Grimmjow to thank her for her kindness but she wasn't going to read anything into it, he was after all, ill.
Nelliel turned away from him once she noticed he had closed his eyes and looked to be drifting to sleep. Once she made it back to the hallway she turned to the four soul reapers and smiled softly.
"If you will all follow me back outside, I will open another Garganta for you to use, so you may return home." Nelliel stated.
"About time…" Kenpachi barked, his impatience showing on his face.
"It would be appreciated, and since you have gone to such lengths to assist us, I shall leave you with this…" Mayuri stated as he stepped forward, dropping a filled syringe into her palm.
"For the one I still refuse to treat personally." Mayuri explained.
Nelliel met the man's gaze and couldn't help but smile, she had half expected the 12th division captain to actually leave Mila Rose to her fate as he had threatened.
"Thank you!" Nelliel replied.
"Yes, well, lucky for her, I have decided to be generous." Mayuri answered, before turning to the side and gesturing for Nelliel to take the lead.
Nelliel nodded to him before stepping forward, once again leading the soul reapers through the rounded hallways. She could sense that the squad 11 captain was more than ready to get Linake safely back to the soul society and she really couldn't blame him. She peeked back at the substitute who was still perched up on her husband's back.
Linake looked exhausted and it did nothing but make Nelliel feel guilty, if it had not been for their misguidance the woman would not have had to over exert herself in order to correct their mistakes. Deciding to get them home as quickly as she could, Nelliel turned to the left abruptly, she would take them out the back way and open the Garganta right outside the building, the faster Linake could get back to the Soul Society, the faster she could recharge herself with its sunlight.
Mayuri paused as the Espada turned suddenly in another direction.
"Is there a reason you have diverted from the original path?" Mayuri asked her.
Nelliel turned slightly speaking over her shoulder as she kept walking.
"I'll take you out the back way. It will be faster." Nelliel informed him.
"Ah, I see." Mayuri replied before turning to his right, noticing Ayumi was busy staring at the buildings structure.
"What is so interesting?" Mayuri asked her.
Ayumi turned her head and met his gaze.
"The construction of this building, I'm just wondering what was used to support the concrete? It seems strange to me to build a base in the shape of a sphere." Ayumi admitted.
Mayuri smiled before taking a hold of her hand once again. Ayumi allowed him to thread his fingers with hers and when he pulled her closer to his side, she followed.
"I am pleased that you have started to pay closer attention to your surroundings." Mayuri stated.
Ayumi smiled at him.
"Better late than never, right?" She joked.
Mayuri allowed himself a half-laugh at her humor, little did the woman know that just minutes before he had made a deal with the Espada. The simple thought of getting his hands on those men who had dared to even try and hurt her made his mind race with excitement—and just like I promised her, I will show them a level of fear they never knew existed!
Yoruichi Shihoin smiled as she stepped inside the sick ward that belonged to the 4th division. While she had expected the group to make progress over the night, she had not expected to see her students up and already walking around.
"Lady Yoruichi!" Haru called out to her as she made her way over.
"Hey there, you look like you are feeling better!"
The young woman smiled up at her.
"I am, we all are. I have never been more grateful." Haru replied.
Yoruichi lifted her gaze searching the room, half expecting to see Mikka walking around, but she didn't spot her.
"What about Mikka? Has she gotten up yet?" Yoruichi asked.
Haru averted her gaze and by the look on the young woman's face Yoruichi knew something was up.
"She hasn't come out yet, she asked about Hayate about an hour after she woke up fully. Mr. Aizen didn't lie to her about it, he felt it would be best to tell her the truth." Haru explained.
Yoruichi's catlike eyes veered to the right side of the room where she spotted the former soul reaper. Sosuke lifted his head and met her gaze, his features blank and unapologetic.
"You really thought that was wise after everything she has been through?" Yoruichi countered, not bothering to hide her agitation with the man.
Amaya pushed herself up from his chest seeming not to like the way Yoruichi was speaking to her husband, or rather what she had just called him inside her mind…
"You think it would have been better to keep something like that from her? Mikka was only with the boy for a matter of weeks, while it does hurt her now, she will heal from it in time." Sosuke retorted.
"Even if it was only a couple of weeks, she's too young to have all of this shoved on her at once!" Yoruichi argued as she stepped deeper into the room intending to go and console the girl.
"Since when have you started coddling those around you, Yoruichi? Mikka is alive, and while that boy may have meant something to her, as time goes forward she will realize that what she once thought of as love was nothing more than an unhealthy infatuation. You, yourself, agreed to have Hayate removed from the academy due to his behaviors, so you of all people should know when not to pass judgment." Sosuke countered.
Yoruichi stilled in the middle of the room, her yellow eyes turned back to face the immortal, and even though she hated to admit it, Yoruichi could see what was behind his reasoning.
"I just wish you would have given her some more time, Sosuke…" Yoruichi sighed.
"Mikka asked about him, Yoruichi, what were we supposed to do, lie?" Amaya countered.
Yoruichi turned her gaze away from the couple as her frustration began to wane a little. Mikka had almost died, twice, and both times it had been Sosuke who had saved her from that fate—while he may sound cold, his intentions are actually the opposite!
"If you really want to know, Mikka is more torn up about how she treated Ayumi over the years than that affair she had with that guy anyway." Amaya revealed.
Yoruichi let out a half-laugh and almost made a fool of herself by asking how Amaya would know what her student was really feeling or not, but then she remembered who she was speaking to, if anyone would know what Mikka was thinking, it was Amaya Aizen.
"I'll go talk to her then, see if I can get her to come out." Yoruichi stated.
"It would help if you told her it's not her fault for getting her friends sick. She seems to have an awful lot of guilt running through her right now." Amaya called out as Yoruichi stepped into the back of the medical ward and turned down the hallway.
Yoruichi shook her head—why the hell would Mikka think it was her fault?
Yoruichi squared her shoulders as she reached out and turned the knob to the room Mikka had been placed in after waking up. Aizen had helped her move out of the surgical bay when she had requested it the night before.
The door swung open revealing the depressed young woman curled up on her side, her cheeks lined with salt filled tears as they fell from her eyes.
"Mikka?" Yoruichi called out to her softly.
Yoruichi heard the girl sniffle as she lifted her head.
"How are you feeling, Mikka?" Yoruichi continued as she stepped inside the room and closed the door behind her.
"I guess I'm going to be okay." Mikka replied, her voice sounding nasal ly due to her crying.
Yoruichi walked over to the side table that stood on the left wall, then lifted a couple issues from a box that laid on top of hardwood before making her way over to Mikka. The younger woman pushed herself up into a sitting position, her dark hair tousled, looking rather greasy from days without being able to bathe.
"Thanks." Mikka spoke softly as she accepted the tissues from her teacher and blew her nose.
Yoruichi took a seat next to her on the small bed and met Mikka's gaze.
"What has you feeling so upset?" Yoruichi asked, not wanting to bring up Hayate again.
Mikka sighed as her shoulders slumped.
"I'm just emotional right now. I…I guess I died twice…I don't even know where to begin to process what has happened, I've lost so many days, I don't remember certain things that Haru said happened…all I know is I have been sick and it's because of Sosuke Aizen that I am still alive." Mikka admitted.
Yoruichi's brow furrowed.
"What parts are you not remembering?" She asked.
Mikka averted her gaze before she answered.
"I don't remember going to Kusajishi…Haru and Rei swore we went and that I had a fight with Hayate in the middle of the street." Mikka answered.
Yoruichi allowed her eyes to close for a brief moment before she spoke again.
"I'm sure that's just your mind trying to block out what you're not ready to remember, Mikka. Give yourself time and things will come back to you. If you want, we could ask Captain Kurotsuchi to take a look at you once he returns from his mission." Yoruichi offered.
Mikka shook her head as more tears fell down her cheeks.
"He's done enough for me already…Sosuke explained to me what Ayumi and Captain Kurotsuchi have been doing this whole time… a-and I was so cruel to her, I never gave her a chance because she was so different…" Mikka admitted.
Yoruichi reached out taking the girls hand in her own making Mikka meet her gaze.
"Ayumi doesn't hold a grudge against you at all, I know that for sure, she told me herself." Yoruichi stated.
Mikka nodded.
"I know that…" She whispered.
Yoruichi sighed, feeling a bit out of place with the situation, but she knew one thing, she couldn't let the girl sit in this room feeling sorry for herself or her mind would never recover.
"Come on. I will help get you cleaned up and then we can go take a walk outside, some sunshine will do you some good!" Yoruichi ordered as she stood up, pulling the blankets from the girls legs.
Mikka looked up at her then and even though the young woman was in the process of battling so much fear and confusion and a heaping pile of guilt, she still managed to allow herself to humor Yoruichi, by giving her a soft smile.
Kenpachi Zaraki hoisted his wife up high on his shoulders before stepping through the black void the Espada had conjured. He didn't understand the difference between how she had managed to open this one verses when she used the rock before, but the logistics behind it really didn't matter to him.
Linake was losing energy, he could feel it, while she had insisted she was okay, he'd been around her long enough to read the signs of her over exerting herself—the woman's too damn stubborn!
Mayuri and Ayumi followed the couple inside then turned to say goodbye to Nelliel. Kenpachi didn't wait, instead he created the pathway with this spiritual pressure and then ran forward…he didn't know how long this Garganta was going to be.
"Don't pass out on me, Linake!" Kenpachi demanded as he felt her face fall against his shoulder, her body going limp against him.
Linake didn't lift her head but he heard her whisper to him.
"I'm just tired, I'll be okay…" Linake insisted.
"Okay, my ass! Your Spiritual Pressure is being drained! Why the fuck can't you be honest with me about it!?" Kenpachi barked as he continued to run.
"The baby will be fine…don't worry…" Linake whispered back.
Kenpachi growled.
"I'm worried about you and the Kid, woman!" He barked back.
"It was that fucking moon wasn't it?" Kenpachi continued.
Linake's eyes fluttered closed, she was having a hard time keeping them open, while she had managed to bring down all of the lunar pulls within Hueco Mundo, it seemed that in doing so the hollow moon had also been draining her energy in the process without her realizing it.
"That moon wasn't like ours, in order to get the pulls closed I had to keep putting in more of my energy, it wasn't until the last couple pulls that I realized, it was feeding off of me in exchange." Linake replied.
"You're really starting to piss me off for real, Linake!" Kenpachi retorted.
"I didn't know until it was too late…" Linake admitted.
"But you still told me you were fine, you gave me shit about worrying even though I had a reason to! We all asked you and you lied about it! Why!? I don't think you're weak woman, so if that's what you're worried about, you can go ahead and cut the bullshit!" Kenpachi countered.
"Zaraki!?" Mayuri called out to him as he and Ayumi seemed to catch up with them.
Kenpachi didn't slow down. In the three and half years that he and Linake had been together, whenever she needed her energy to be restored she would go out in the sun and even though Kenpachi didn't know dick about the process or what it all meant, he knew that's what she needed!
"What is it, Zaraki!?" Mayuri insisted.
"I gotta get her to the sun!" Kenpachi replied.
"The sun? Is her Spiritual Pressure unstable?" Mayuri asked knowing enough about Linake's abilities to understand that the sun would recharge her and stabilize her body while also healing any damage.
"I thought she said she was okay!?" Ayumi yelled from farther back, seeming to be having trouble keeping up with the two men in front of her.
Mayuri paused on the pathway realizing that Ayumi was not strong enough to create her own and had been running behind him, using his.
"Ayumi! Why didn't you tell me you couldn't create your own pathway!?" Mayuri scolded her.
Ayumi stopped and stared at him.
"You kind of took off after Captain Zaraki before I could…" Ayumi pointed out.
Mayuri sighed before he turned again giving her his back.
"At least hold on to me from behind so you don't fall!" Mayuri ordered her.
"I should be able to follow the pathway on my own if you want to catch back up with Captain Zaraki." Ayumi offered.
"I will catch up with him soon enough, I am not about to let you walk this alone, with your track record you'll wonder right off the side." Mayuri countered.
Ayumi wasn't sure if his comment was meant to be a joke or an insult, but it didn't stop her from laughing.
"I don't see what is so humorous…" Mayuri countered even though she spotted the side of his mouth lift, contradicting him.
"Is Linake really not okay?" Ayumi asked.
Mayuri sighed.
"She will be, once Zaraki can get her back to the Soul Society she will be able to absorb the sun's rays and her Spriritual Pressure will level out again." Mayuri explained as he began to walk forward and she followed.
Ayumi's brow furrowed as agitation filled her.
"Why couldn't she just be honest about it then? Does she think it will make her look weak if she admits it, I mean, with her being a member of Squad 11 and all?" Ayumi asked.
"Ayumi…I asked you to hold onto me!" Mayuri reiterated.
Ayumi rolled her eyes before she lifted her hands and took a hold of the back of his captain's haori.
"I believe you may have answered your own question, Linake was once just a simple human, she has gone through many changes in a very short time, and while she seems to have gotten quite a lot stronger, she will never be at the same level as Zaraki. She may feel that admitting to him she needs help could be seen as a weakness to him." Mayuri replied.
Ayumi shook her head.
"That's pretty stupid! I mean, that's like me worrying about you thinking I'm dumb even though I'll never reach your level of intelligence." Ayumi countered.
Mayuri half-laughed.
"Yes, well, there are not many that can match my mind, but you would be correct, I don't find you dumb in the slightest, as a matter of fact, I find your mind fascinating." Mayuri admitted.
Ayumi smiled to herself as she continued to follow Mayuri down his pathway of spiritual pressure. It seemed that with all the excitement they had already managed to clear most of the Garganta.
"Shield your eyes, the sunlight is going to come as quite the shock to you once we exit." Mayuri explained as he lifted his own hand and stepped out of the darkness and into the light.
Ayumi kept both of her hands on his haori but averted her gaze downward as she stepped forward, her feet making contact with the dirt pathway.
Mayuri kept his hand lifted over his eyes as he searched their surroundings, it seemed as if they had been let out close to the 79th district this time. Off in the distance he spotted Zaraki, who had managed to get his wife down from her perch and the couple were sitting in the middle of the dirt pathway facing the mid-afternoon sunlight.
Ayumi allowed her hands to fall from Mayuri's back and she stepped forward, taking her place by his side, the two of them silently making their way over to the other couple.
"Oh wow…" Ayumi whispered in awe as the two of them closed the distance.
"My, my…that woman will never fail to amaze me…" Mayuri smiled.
Ayumi looked over at Mayuri and the two scientist's shared a look before turning their attention back to the substitute soul reaper. Linake was sitting in her husband's lap, her face lifted towards the sky and with every breath she inhaled, her skin lit up as bright as the sky, as if the sun itself lived inside her.