UBWR|
-Use Bleach When Required-
Ju san: Seireitei
To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.
- Sren Kierkegaard.
Run.
Her feet slapped the ground of the Dangai as she hurried as fast as she could through the wasteland.
Run.
She checked over her shoulder once more, making sure that there weren't any pursuers.
Run.
Her breathing was ragged, she was exhausted and weak but she had to keep running. She couldn't stop; they would be coming for her now. Surely an attack like that wouldn't go unnoticed for long, and once they realized that she had received a message to go to that specific place the whole of the Gotei Thirteen would know that it had been her. She had killed them all.
Sanae gritted her teeth as she ran, she tried to stop the tears as they rolled freely down her cheeks. She shook her head, trying to shake herself out of her grief. She couldn't crumble yet, she needed to get out first—her tears could come later.
She saw the exit of the Dangai up ahead as a moment of relief swept over her. She was almost out; once she was in the Human World she would be able to disappear easy enough. She passed through the portal and landed on a grassy bank, near the edge of a wide river. To her right was a wooden bridge that stretched from one side of the river to the other. It was almost dawn so a faint light illuminated the world around her. On the other side of the river, Edo style houses were spaced evenly around one another, with flickering candlelight's in the windows. Carriages were tethered to posts outside the homes and the distinct sound of horse whinnies could be heard as they awoke from their slumber.
Sanae ran over to the bridge, she wanted to know the name of the town she had landed in. She approached the signpost and carved into the wooden sign was the name.
KARAKURA.
"Are we there yet?" Ichigo whined from the front of the group. Yoruichi, perched upon Sanae's shoulder, sighed.
"You'll know it when we see it."
Ichigo glanced over his shoulder, looking passed Orihime and Ishida who were walking immediately behind him to Sanae and the black feline, who were behind them. Chad was walking ahead with Ichigo. "Are you sure you're reading the map right?" Ichigo questioned Ishida.
The Quincy spluttered and snapped his head up to meet Ichigo's questioning stare. "There's only one way to read a map! Of course we're going the right way!"
"Technically," Sanae said holding up a finger. "The Elder said that it was probably around here. No one actually knows where Kukaku lives."
"Why on earth do they move around so much?" Ichigo said to no one in particular.
Orihime clapped her hands. "Maybe it's because they're a secret agent, and they move around as to not get found out!"
Sanae and Yoruichi gave each other long looks but didn't comment on Orihime's analysis. The group walked for another short while before they approached the top of a small hill.
"What the hell is that?" Ichigo exclaimed angrily. Sanae was the last one to see it as she came to a stop next to Chad. Her eyes bugged out as she held in her laugh as she stared at the oddly shaped house on the hill. Two stone arms were raised up out of the ground; between them was a sign that read Shiba Kukaku. The house itself looked small and simple, a stark contrast to what was around the outside. Behind the house there was a large chimney of some sort, but it was over fifty feet tall.
"Ah!" Yoruichi exclaimed in glee. "There it is."
"It looks so cool!" Orihime grinned and bounced on her heels excitedly.
"Cool would not be the word I would use." Sanae said with a deadpan tone.
"There is no way in hell I'm going into a house that looks like that!" Ichigo bellowed, crossing his arms and turning his head away.
The group started to move off towards the house, leaving Ichigo behind. Sanae passed him and as she did she kept her eyes trailed on him. "Well, good luck getting into the Seireitei by yourself."
Ichigo growled and grumbled under his breath as he stomped along with everyone. Sanae grinned at the display and faced the house. Yoruichi was still perched upon her shoulder as they almost reached the front door, where Sanae could see that it was completely open and what looked like stairs led down into a dark abyss below.
Unbeknownst to the group beforehand, two people jumped down from the statues of the hands. They are both burly men, with tight shirts and red hats on top of their heads. Sanae prepared her stance for a fight as Ichigo reached for his blade.
"You shall not pass." The one in the white shirt said.
"Unless you wish to die!" The other man said. He was wearing a yellow shirt. Sanae narrowed her eyes at the black feline on her shoulder, so much for getting Kukaku's help. Before Ichigo could start his threatening retort to the two men, Yoruichi leaped off Sanae's shoulder and padded around Ichigo's leg. She raised her leg and waved playfully. Sanae watched the two men suddenly change their attitude completely.
"Yoruichi-sama!" One said, falling to the ground so that they could be eye level with the cat.
"It is a great honor to have you as our guest!"
"We'll take you to our master right away!" The one in the white shirt said. The two men beckoned the group forwards. Sanae let the others lead as she walked behind the group. They all descended down the stairs. It brought them to a simple waiting room with large shoji doors on one side. Further back there was another door, simpler then the grand sliding doors. The two hulking men pulled on each door and then knelt down in respect as Shiba Kukaku was revealed to them.
"Eh?" Ichigo exclaimed in surprise.
X
Kukaku was indeed a woman. Sanae already knew this fact but apparently the others had assumed that Kukaku was going to be a man. Sanae observed the woman. She was dressed rather provocatively, with her legs and bust mostly on display. She had a white bandana around the top of her head and was currently smoking a long pipe.
After the initial shock had died down Kukaku smirked as Yoruichi approached her. "Yoruichi, it's been a long time!" Kukaku exclaimed with a grin on her face. The black cat came to a stop a few meters in front of her.
"Sorry to drop in on you like this."
Kukaku scoffed and drew in a deep breath from her pipe. "My guess it's something dangerous if you're here."
"You know me well," Yoruichi chuckled. "But yes, I have a favour to ask of you. And it'll more than likely cause trouble."
Kukaku smirked from behind her pipe. She took it out of her mouth with her two fingers. "I love trouble." Her eyes flicked through the rest of the company. "And who are your companions?"
Yoruichi sat herself down at the head of the group. "They are from the human world, here to rescue Kuchiki Rukia from execution."
Kukaku's eyebrows rose up to her hairline. "And I'm guessing that if you're involved then Kisuke also has something to do with this too?"
"You would assume correctly." Yoruichi said with a smirk. "We tried entering the Seireitei from the gates but a Captain blocked our path. I was hoping you might have something that could help us get in."
Kukaku took another drag from her pipe and took her time to blow out the smoke, as if she was tossing up the pros and cons of their situation. "Well, if Kisuke's involved then I can't really say no. But even though I trust you, I don't trust those little brats behind you. I'll be sending one of my minions with you on your journey." Kukaku rose up from her seat as she walked over to another set of doors. She knocked on them loudly. "Oi, I'm opening up the doors now, you better be ready!" Kukaku opened up the door to reveal a man bowing respectfully on the floor wearing a white kimono.
"It's nice to meet you," the man said as he raised his head. It was Ganju, the man that Ichigo had fought the previous day. There was complete silence in the room before electricity crackled in the air as Ganju and Ichigo both leapt at each other once more.
"I hope you've learned your lesson." Sanae said with a smug smile on her face as she stared down Ichigo. The orange haired teen was currently sitting cross-legged on the floor of the training room, taking a short drink break from practicing focusing his reiatsu.
"And what lesson would that be?" Ichigo grumbled at her, looking up from the spirit orb lying at his feet.
"The one that I taught you, idiot." Sanae rolled her eyes at him. "Never underestimate your opponent." Sanae inclined her head over to the corner of the room where Ganju was overseeing Ishida's training for the moment. Sanae was referring to the fact that even though their little fight had been stopped, Ganju currently possessed an ability that Ichigo didn't.
"I didn't underestimate him!" Ichigo argued, glaring up at her. Sanae held his glare before she turned her head away and snorted at him. "Well…" Ichigo spluttered. "You show me how it's done, seeing as you're this all powerful and clever teacher!" Ichigo chucked the orb at her as Sanae caught it effortlessly and held it in her hands. The orb was light and cool in her hands as she stared down at it for a moment, a smile came over her face.
"Lesson one in Kido spells!"
Sanae, a bright eyed first year academy student stood at the front of her class with a massive grin on her face. Today was finally the day that they would start to use Kido! She was so excited! Her sensei was an elder Shinigami man, with a baldhead and beady black eyes. He had a greying beard that reached his chest.
"Every single Kido spell has an incantation. Only those who have trained hard enough—and are also powerful enough can perform a spell without an incantation. It will be years before you will be able to do it, so for now, don't try and say them without the incantation otherwise you risk blowing yourself up."
There was a nervous murmur through the group of students. Sanae herself was still grinning. She was ready for this. Her sensei split them off into pairs as they were going to be practicing their first Kido spell on each other. Some had protested, because of this whole 'blowing' up situation.
"Don't worry," he reassured them. "This Kido is harmless at your level. It's a simple binding Kido; at most you should barely be able to tickle your partner. I'd be impressed if any of you were able to bind someone at this stage." He chuckled, diffusing some of the tension that the other students had. "Now, the incantation for the spell is as follows. Seek on high bare trails, flight of herons on dark sky. Follow on dark loneliness. Bakudo #1: Sai!"
Sanae heard low voices as the other students began to memorize the incantation before they practiced on each other. Sanae committed it to memory as she faced her partner. It was a boy, around her age with short pale hair styled up. His eyes were dark and he was already pretty muscular for only just starting at the academy.
"Ladies first." He bowed his head, speaking with a hint of a condescending tone. Sanae smirked over at him. She readied the stance that they had already been taught.
"Bakudo #1: Sai!"
His eyes widened in terror as Sanae shouted the spell. There was silence for a split second before a collection of reiatsu pooled at her fingertips and exploded in a bright white light. Screams rocked the training room as Sanae was launched back and slammed against the wall from the force of the spell backfiring. Her partner had been thrown back too, but not as far and as painfully as she did.
"Are you insane?" Her sensei bellowed as he marched up to her. Sanae coughed away the reiatsu fog and rubbed the back of her head. "You could have killed yourself and…" he waved his hand over in the boys direction. The boy in question rubbed his forehead.
"Kensei."
"Kensei!" Her sensei shrieked. "I specifically told you not to do the spell without an incantation!"
Sanae stood up and brushed herself down. "Guess I'll just have to try it again and make sure it doesn't blow up in my face this time." She smiled up at her sensei innocently. It was comical to watch his face suddenly turn a bright red.
"Get out! I will not have such negligence in my classroom. Out!"
Sanae sighed in annoyance, spun on her heel and strode out of the training room. She could feel the stares of her classmen watching her as she left the room.
She ended up sitting at one of the window seats near the training room. She would wait until the class was over before going back in to see her sensei and asked for his forgiveness. She should've just done the incantation. It was stupid of her to think that she could've performed her first Kido without doing one. She just really wanted to be the best at something for once.
The class was almost over, only a few more minutes before they would all come out. Sanae glanced out the window to see the sun setting on the horizon. This class had been her last class for the day too.
"So are you the reason for that explosion just before?" A voice asked, coming from down the corridor. Sanae turned, seeing an older boy approaching her. He had long brown hair that touched the collar of his kosode. He was quite handsome, she thought.
Sanae felt her cheeks flush at the embarrassment. "Does everyone know?"
He chuckled. "The whole academy felt that! Don't worry," he patted her on the shoulder and jerked his thumb in the direction of the training room. "If you apologise he'll let you back in. He did for me." He flashed a charming smile at Sanae.
"I'm Sanae."
"Shunsui." He replied. Kyoraku threw his arm around her shoulder and started pulling her in the direction he had just come from. "Now, let me treat you to some dinner and then I'll give you a few pointers on mastering that incantation-less Kido spell, hmm?"
Sanae grinned over at him, "I'd love that!"
"Oi…oi!" Ichigo growled at Sanae as she jumped and met his piercing brown gaze. She was still holding the orb in her hands. Ichigo was now standing and towering over her. "The hell was that?" He asked her accusingly.
Sanae cleared her throat. "Oh, nothing. Just—let me do this so you'll shut up." Ichigo rolled his eyes at her. Sanae stuck her tongue out at Ichigo as she flicked the orb up and then balanced it on one finger. Adding a slight bit of concentration Sanae managed to make one of the cannonballs with little effort.
Ichigo's face was priceless. His jaw dropped to the floor and his eyes almost bugged out of his head before he composed himself and grumpily turned away from her.
"Well done, Sanae-chan!" Orihime clapped from the other side of the room. Sanae waved over at her with her free hand. Sanae let the cannon ball disappear as she walked up to Ichigo and tossed the orb at him. He fumbled with it in his hands for a few seconds before he had a hold of it.
"I'll leave you to it then, good luck, Ichigo." Sanae headed for the door and missed the face that Ichigo pulled behind her back.
X
Outside the training room Sanae spotted Yoruichi talking with Kukaku. They looked to be in deep conversation but when they saw her approaching they stopped and faced her. Kukaku had a smirk on her face. "Nice work on the cannonball. I've never encountered a human soul doing it on the first try."
Sanae could hear the questioning tone in her voice. She obviously knew that something was up. "Sanae's a special case." Yoruichi replied for her. Kukaku gave Yoruichi and Sanae a knowing look but didn't inquire on the subject further. Instead Kukaku took another drag from her pipe.
"Keep your secrets, Yoruichi. I'm gonna head on up and finish preparing the cannon for later."
"We're heading in tonight?" Sanae asked, her brows creasing in worry.
"The sooner the better." Yoruichi stated. Sanae glanced down at the feline. "Don't worry, Sanae. Ichigo will get the hang of it."
"That's not what I'm worried about." She muttered, looking down at her feet. Yoruichi caught on about what she was talking about. She 'hmm'd' and left with Kukaku, going topside.
Sanae let her arm drop by her side as she heard a little jingle. She glanced down at her wrist, where the small silver bracelet sat, the one that Urahara had given her before they had departed. She fingered the jewelry, her fingers glossing over the pendant of a cross in a circle. She had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before she would be ripping off the bracelet, revealing her former self. Sanae dropped her arm once more; she wasn't going to think about it for a little longer. Right now, she was happy being unknown, because being unknown kept everyone safe.
X
Sanae sat on the platform outside by herself. The rest of the group was inside, tending to an unconscious Ichigo as he had managed to blow himself up with his uncontrollable reiatsu. He had finally managed to create a cannonball. It wasn't as stable as say, Orihime's, but he had got the gist of how to focus his reiatsu in the long run. They were just waiting for him to wake up before they made their move into the Seireitei.
"You can't quit on me now." Yoruichi said as she padded along the platform and sat down next to Sanae. Sanae made a point to not stare at the cat's crooked tail.
"I'm not going anywhere yet." Sanae replied. She brought one leg up and placed it on the platform. "I'm just worried about what they're going to think of me when they find out I've been lying to them this whole time."
Yoruichi yawned. "Well, think of it this way. They're not the first people you've lied to, and they surely won't be the last." Sanae gave Yoruichi a deadpan stare. The feline sniggered. "You worry too much, Sanae. You never used to be like this. What happened to the girl who would charge head first into a nest of Hollows? Who played pranks on Yamamoto because she wanted to torture him for not making her captain? And who, to my best knowledge was one of the bravest and smartest Shinigami that I've ever met."
Sanae frowned at the grass beneath her foot. "She killed her friends."
"You don't know that, and that's why you're here—to find out."
"And for me to find out I need to leave. Once we're in the Seireitei I can't stay with the group."
"I know." Yoruichi sighed in acceptance.
Sanae gnawed on her bottom lip for a moment. "I'm trying to keep them all safe, well as safe as I can by not being with them while I search for information. If I get revealed, they'll execute me on the spot. At least if they capture them they might be able to get away with it alive."
The pair was silent for a while. Both happy to sit together, lost in their own thoughts. Sanae played with her fingers before she sighed in defeat. "Yoruichi, will you do me a favor?"
The black cat turned her head, staring at Sanae. Yellow eyes met sapphire blue. "Of course."
Sanae took a moment to think carefully about what she wanted to say. "When I leave, will you tell Ichigo that I'm sorry? I know he'll be mad at me for abandoning everyone, but I need him to know that."
"I will." Yoruichi replied with a nod.
"And you know," Sanae started sarcastically. "If I die and everything. Feel free to tell them all my tragic backstory. I won't need to keep it a secret anymore if I'm dead." Sanae pulled a face and chuckled.
"You're not going to die. None of us are." Yoruichi said sternly. Sanae didn't reply to her feline friend. She didn't have the heart to argue with her on that. But Sanae knew that there was a chance that she was going to be killed within the next few days.
"You've survived more then most, Sanae. And you sure as hell will survive this too." Sanae grinned over at the cat, their eyes meeting once again.
"Thanks, Yoruichi."
"You're standing too close to me, baka!" Ichigo growled at Ganju from inside the cannon. Ganju glared back and shoved Ichigo roughly in the shoulder.
"Well you're stinking up this whole room!"
"Oh for soul sake would the both of you put a cork in it!?" Sanae bellowed at the two men from beside Ichigo. She sent them both death glares. Ichigo and Ganju met her glare, and then looked away hastily. The rest of the group was patiently waiting for Kukaku to blast them into the air.
"Now," Yoruichi started. "When we enter the Seireitei, we stick together and avoid any unnecessary battles." She sent a pointed look towards Ichigo. "But in the chance that we do get separated and you run into a Captain, run. Our main goal is to save Rukia." The group nodded in agreement. Kukaku announced that she was starting the countdown. "Create the cannonball!" Yoruichi ordered.
The group of seven placed their hands upon the orb and poured their reiatsu into creating the cannonball. Sanae adjusted her output to match everyone else's as she felt Yoruichi do the same. A few tense moments passed before there was a great rumbling under their feet. All of a sudden there was an explosion as they were launched into the sky.
Sanae's breath got caught in her throat as she glanced outside the ball. She could see the whole of Seireitei from here. She felt nostalgia well in her gut as she spotted the academy, her old barracks, the headquarters and the Sokyoko hill.
"Hey, this is pretty cool." Ichigo commented, glancing around.
"That was the easy bit." Ganju stated ominously. Six pairs of eyes turned to the Shiba man as he pulled out a long scroll from his pocket. There was a sudden blast of force as the cannonball picked up speed and changed direction slightly as they were speeding towards the Seireitei. "I need to complete the second phase for us to enter safely. I need all of you to keep the ball stable otherwise we could all die."
A heavy feeling settled on everyone. They all concentrated on the orb in the center of the ball. It seemed to be going well until Orihime winced and gasped.
"Kurosaki-kun, could you please lower your reiatsu output? I can't match it."
Ichigo jerked in surprise, like he hadn't realized that he had been putting in so much. His brow creased in concentration. Sanae looked from him to Yoruichi, the cat giving her a concerned look in response.
"Hurry up, Kurosaki!" Ishida hollered at him. Sanae examined the Quincy; he too looked like he was struggling.
"I'm trying!" Ichigo retorted.
"Sanae, try and balance it out!" Yoruichi bellowed over the roar the cannonball was making. Sanae nodded at Yoruichi command and focused on the orb. She was amazed at the sheer amount and power of Ichigo's reiatsu output. He was certainly on another level after having his training. She dug deep into herself and expelled more of her own reiatsu into the orb.
Sanae grit her teeth in agony. It was painful to use so much reiatsu in her Gigai. Her mod body was only supposed to expel the bare minimum to keep her levels at that of a normal human. She could use basic Kido spells that wouldn't be as powerful enough if she were in her soul form, and even then the expenditure was only for a second. This was a continuous feed of energy, energy that she hadn't used in over two hundred years.
"Ah!" Sanae gasped, a sharp pain shooting through her skull.
"Sanae!" Two voices called out to her at the same time. Her eyes squeezed shut, hoping to give her some relief. Her hands started to slip off the orb.
"It's no use!" Yoruichi bellowed. The ball hit the membrane just as Sanae lost her energy to continue on. "Everyone, pour everything you've got into it!"
Sanae shuddered as she suddenly felt everyone force their reiatsu into the orb. She focused her mind and helped with pouring the rest of her reiatsu into the ball. Sweat dripped down the side of her face as she felt the ball slip through the membrane but then immediately disintegrated.
The group was suspended in mid air, high above the ground. Sanae could barely move as she found Yoruichi not to far away from her. "Everyone stick together! The cannonball is going to collapse into a whirlpool and then explode. If you're separated you'll get blown away!"
The whirlpool began to suck them in, as Sanae's nearest person was Ichigo. He noticed this too as he reached down and grabbed her wrist, pulling her to him. Yoruichi lands on Ichigo's shoulder and Ganju arrives. He holds onto a piece of Ichigo's Shihakusho. Sanae glanced up at Yoruichi perched on the Shinigami's shoulder. The cat met her gaze for a moment.
"Sanae, don't. You're too weak right now!"
Sanae shook her head in disagreement. The argument had caught Ichigo's attention, drawing him away from watching Chad throw Ishida at Orihime. His grip tightened on her wrist but Sanae used all her force and wrenched her arm out and pushed away from him.
"Sanae!" Ichigo cried out.
"You'll never survive the crash!" Yoruichi bellowed, her eyes wide with fear for her. Ichigo looked at Sanae and then Orihime and Ishida as they were trying to reach him.
"Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime screamed. Her hand outstretched to him.
"I'm sorry!" Sanae called out, just as she was reaching the edge of the whirlpool.
"Sanae!" Ichigo yelled one last time before she was blown out of the vortex.
Kyoraku and Nanao walked along the catwalk together after the captains meeting had been cut short by the alarm bell.
"What do you think these Ryoka want?" Nanao questioned her captain. Kyoraku adjusted his kimono.
"Maybe I could ask one." He joked with a smile pointed at her. Nanao glared at her captain as he chuckled under his breath. "I'm sure, like anyone they could probably be—"
Kyoraku halted. His gaze shot up to the sky as he twisted around quickly.
"Taicho?" Nanao called out cautiously.
This feeling, he thought to himself. His grey eyes scanned the blue sky. It can't be. He spotted an orb in the sky just as it hit the membrane surrounding the Seireitei. Electricity crackled around it. Kyoraku couldn't take his eyes off of it.
"It must be the Ryoka!" Nanao exclaimed in a panic.
Kyoraku wanted to agree with her, but he couldn't get over what he had just felt. He had sensed something that hadn't been in Soul Society in over two hundred years. As quickly as it had appeared it was gone, but Kyoraku was certain. He knew exactly what that was.
"Sanae…" he whispered.
It was hot. Blistering. Scalding. It was like the heat was searing her skin off. Sanae screamed. It was drowned out by the sound of an explosion as she was sent veering towards the ground. Like Yoruichi had said, she was weak. The expenditure of her reiatsu had taken a toll on her Gigai and her self. It would be a miracle if she weren't obliterated upon landing.
She couldn't see anything; only feel the sheer speed of her body heading towards the Seireitei. She had a feeling she'd be hitting the ground soon. She summoned up the rest of her energy as she held her hands out in front of her body.
"Bakudo #42: Goyōgai!"
A golden barrier erected around her body just as Sanae hit the roof of a building and crashed through, impacting the ground. Her barrier disintegrated upon impact as she yelped in pain from her barrier breaking. She gasped for air in her crumpled position on the floor. She was weak, her body hurt. She hadn't done something like that in a long time. The Gigai wasn't meant for this.
Sanae pushed herself up onto her hands and lifted her sore head. It was then she realized where she was. She was in the Seireitei once more. She was back.
A/N
Hi yes it's me again. Not dead just had major writers block for this chapter goddamn. But it's finally written and now the real fun can begin. I've planned out the whole SS arc and it should span around 4 or 5 chapters. That's a strong 'should' as it may be more but it certainly won't be less. I'm pretty excited for this as we'll finally get the answers about who killed Sanae's friends all those years ago. And of course we'll be reunited with Ukitake and Kyoraku and not just seeing memories from the past! Ah, I'm excited!
omg and has anyone seen the new information about AnimeJapan 2020? There's a bleach stage and rumoured that the anime may return for the 20th anniversary. Now I don't wanna get my hopes up but my fingers, toes and eyes are crossed in hopes that it will return!
Anyway, thanks everyone for sticking through it, I should have another chapter up soon seeing as my block is now over!
Nixxon Mysterio -ugh I can't believe I didn't post for so long again! I hate writers block so much! You'll probably have to reread a few chapters again to remind yourself about what happens so sorry for that! Man I can't wait for that reveal and to do everyone's reactions. Obviously Sanae knows so I can't do her but I'm sure a certain strawberry will be pissed that she knew and didn't tell him xD and also that cave scene will have a cute little sanaexichigo moment. oooo i need to come up with a ship name for them... anyway hope you like the chapter even though it took me another donkeys year to get it out xD
Guest - Hi thank you! Sorry it's taken me a while to get this out! And yessss Sanae will have some interactions with Aizen! Just wait!