A Reflection of a Soul: Lieutenant Kazuko Tsukumo is shocked to learn that her friend and subordinate Rukia has gone missing in the human realm on what should have been an easy, routine mission of hollow termination. When sent to find her, Kazuko follows an unexpected trail and runs into a familiar face from her distant childhood that she never expected to see again which awakens long forgotten memories of childish worries and struggles that bleed into the present.
Rating: Rated M. This is gonna get dark the longer it goes.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach, I am just borrowing the characters and plot for a time.
Author's Note: When I tell you that I have had this story in my head for years…I am not exaggerating. Please let me know what you think about my character. I already have a pairing picked out, but it's gonna be a slow burn. The main focus isn't romance *shrugs.*
Chapter 1: A Missing Shinigami
"Lieutenant!"
"Lieutenant Tsukumo!"
Clear, blue eyes looked up from a document they were reading in the direction their name was being called. An exasperated sigh escaped pale lips as the woman leaned her head on a pale, graceful hand, cupping their cheek as deep red hair in a long ponytail spilt over her shoulder. The document fluttered to the desk. They, Lieutenant Tsukumo, knew there would not be any more work completed until the two calling her name were calmed down and taken care of.
"Lieutenant!" The barrack's office door was slammed open loudly, two shinigami stood in its place, panting and fighting to gain entry at the same time: Sentaro Kotsubaki, a man with spiky, short black hair and a matching goatee that wore the standard shinigami uniform with a white headband and shoulder straps , and Kiyone Kotetsu, a young woman with short, dirty blond hair that also wore the standard shihakushō with added accessories like a white collar and gloves. Both wore similar expressions of shock and anxiousness.
"Yes? What is so important that you felt the need to yell my name for all of the Seireitei to hear?" The lieutenant asked boredly.
"The Captain would like to see you!" Both exclaimed, Kiyone jerking forward and managing to enter the room first with Sentaro scrambling after her.
"It's urgent!"
"I figured," Kazuko Tsukumo released another sigh and stood up from the crowded desk, stacks of papers that needed attention would once more have to wait. "And you couldn't send a jigokuchō? Would that not have been faster?" Both stiffened, not having thought of that. She offered them a small smile in response, the two third seats of squad 13 were eager and honest, something she appreciated, even if they were a little loud. "Well, I will go see what the Captain wants. Since you both are here, please deliver these to the appropriate squads," she gestured to a stack of completed folders that she had worked on all morning.
"Yes, Lieutenant Tsukumo!" The tall shinigami lieutenant offered both of her subordinates a pat on the shoulder as she passed them, red hair waving with every movement.
Hmmm, the day has turned gloomy, Kazuko pondered, fiddling with the deep blue sash she had tired around her waist that held her zanpakuto, a sakabato encased in a white scabbard and deep blue pommel that matched the sash around her waist. A small silver circle hung from the cord around the scabbard that jingled lightly with every movement Kazuko made. As she gathered a small amount of reiatsu and took a small step which began her shunpo movements across the 13th squad barracks to where she felt her captain's reiatsu.
"Captain Ukitake," Kazuko greeted her captain, bowing her head lightly in respect to the white haired, older man who was sitting on a blanket in the courtyard's gazebo, tea and sake laid out before him and his fellow captain, Shunsui Kyoraku, who was captain of the 8th division. "Captain Kyoraku," she greeted as well, however she didn't offer the other man a bow.
"Is that anyway to greet your old friend and captain, Kazu-chan?" The older, handsome man responded, a gentle smile on his face as he held a sake cup to his lips. Kazuko ignored the taunting, knowing the scruffy, laidback man wanted a response from her. She would not give in like Nanao often did.
"You needed to see me Captain?" She instead spoke to her captain, who also wore a gentle smile that quickly transformed into a worried frown.
"Yes, we've received news from the world of the living," He placed his tea down, "Rukia has not reported in for more than a week." Kazuko straightened, shocked at the news. Rukia Kuchiki was a member of squad 13, having been sent by her orders to the human world when a number of low level hallows had been reported to be causing mayhem in the small city of Karakura. The mission should have only taken her a few days, a week at most, with regular reports to 3rd division for check-ins. It was an easy mission, something Kazuko felt Rukia needed to continue her growth. "Someone will be sent to find out what has happened and," his frown deepened, "see if there is anything that needs to be retrieved for her family if necessary."
"I will go," Kazuko responded, "It was under my orders that she was sent, and if there was a strong enough hollow there to take out Rukia, someone of a higher rank should be sent. It just doesn't make sense," Kazuko said, "this was a routine mission."
Ukitake locked eyes with his long time friend, brown meeting brown. "Are you sure, Kazuko-chan? Squad 6 has already volunteered to send their Lieutenant, Abarai Renji, to locate her. Her brother, Captain Kuchiki, appears to be worried."
Kazuko couldn't help but roll her eyes at the name, Byakuya wasn't worried about anything but the Kuchiki name. Having a member go missing in the human realm, even if they aren't a blood member, would not sit well with him. She still couldn't believe he had adopted Rukia into the noble family. "I can handle it. Rukia is from our squad. We'll find her. Do I have your permission to go, Captain?" Kazuko responded, waiting for a response. Ukitake sighed, knowing how stubborn the much younger lieutenant was. It was something he admired as it allowed her to grow as a shinigami quickly and had caught his eye since she was a child defying her family to become a member of the Gotei 13, but he also worried her stubbornness would get her into trouble one day. "Yes. Lieutenant Tsumumo, you are to travel to Karakura, locate Rukia Kuchiki and figure out what has happened."
Kazuko bowed in respect, a look of determination shining in eyes "yes, Captain Ukitake!"
"Come back safely Kazu-chan, Nanao-chan and I would be sad if anything happened to our little Zuzu," Shunsui said, taking another sip of his sake, grin widening as Kazuko huffed, a light blush darkening her cheeks that she tried to hide by turning away and leaving quickly, reiatsu flaring lightly as she shunpoed out of the barracks in the direction of squad 3's barrack where the door to the human realm resided.
Stupid, stupid old man, Kazuko thought, flashing quickly through the different barracks, dodging her fellow shinigami as she went. Within minutes she arrived within the grounds of squad 3 and the gate.
"Ah! Lieutenant Tsukumo, in a rush I see?" The woman bowed stiffly to the higher ranked, silver haired man - Gin Ichimaru, captain of squad 3. He was a thin, skeletal man with silver hair that was always wearing a smile.
"Yes Captain Ichimaru," Kazuko answered, rising up from her bow, a slight frown on her face as the smile on the man's face widened. Another fake smile, huh? How gross. "I am being sent to locate and retrieve my squad member, Rukia Kuchiki. She has yet to check in on her mission in the world of the living and Captain Ukitake is worried."
"My, my," Gin said, nodding and allowing one of his squad members to type in the gate coordinates to open it, "and they are sending a Lieutenant? Isn't that kind of overkill," He folded his arms within his hakama sleeves, smile impossibly widening.
"I don't question my Captain's order's sir," Kazuko replied, "If you will excuse me Captain Ichimaru, thank you for allowing me access to the gate." She bowed quickly and stiffly once more.
"Come back quickly Lieutenant," Gin offered, "I'm sure there are those you are patiently waiting for your return and that of the Little Kuchiki as well."
Kazuko ignored the other shinigami as she stepped through the doors, focusing reishi to her feet as she began the short walk through to the human world and to Karakura town. Rukia, what has happened?