I usually try to keep this and Ao3 concurrent, but the NFL divisional round and technichal difficulties kept this behind schedual here. But if you're seeing this I've figured it out. Enjoy.
The August heat was bearing down on the Seireitei, the only saving grace being that the entire fortress was largely lighter colors, and most of the important buildings had air conditioning restored early on in the rebuilding process.
This was something Yoruichi was glad for as her cat form was not as adept at heat regulation as her normal body, but she needed to speak with the head captain now and it was likely she was watched. Thus she had to deal with the August heat as the fur of her feline form did its job a little too well.
Fortunately, she had found her way into the office of the head captain unnoticed before the heat got too bad.
A sigh could be heard as the head captain noticed her entry.
"Seems one of the second's pets got loose," Sui-Féng was a great leader and peer, but her obsession with cats was something that puzzled him.
"I will forgive the mistake given the circumstances, but I am not one of the mere simpletons that my former student lets wander the halls," The baritone of Yorichi's cat form caught Shunsui entirely off guard, almost causing him to jump out of his chair. The surprise faded quickly as it became clear who the cat before him was.
"Well, that's a neat parlor trick, though I doubt you came all this way just to show me," Shunsui neatly put down his pen as he prepared for whatever Yoruichi had to say.
"I received a call from Urahara today asking me for everything I knew about Michibane," The statement caused the atmosphere in the room to chill suddenly. "She called him in an attempt to arrange a meeting."
"I hope he has no intention of joining them," Urahara was a dangerous sort of man, his intelligence was on par with Aizen and he was far far less predictable. It was only his continued support of the Gotei that kept him free.
"I would bet my life on it," Yoruichi however knew Urahara far better. Not only that, but they had talked over and over on the nature of the status quo, and how any radical change to it would probably do more harm than good.
He would never take part in whatever Michibane had planned.
Kisuke Urahara had taken a jaunt to a nearby park. It was hardly frequented and provided a nice place to speak in private. He wanted to hear Michibane out, find out what she wanted from him, and hopefully, get a glimpse of her plan.
That was when he felt the fullbringer's reiatsu. She was strong for a fullbringer, probably topping out at high lieutenant level, strong enough for him to seriously have to think about engaging her. Not for his sake, but for the sake of everyone around them.
"Kisuke Urahara, a pleasure to finally meet you," Michibane's voice was professional, almost too much so. It was as if she was disconnected from the world around her.
"Please, I'm not that big of a deal, I'm just a humble shopkeep," Urahara lied coyly, he needed to gauge how much she knew, and playing dumb was the best way to do that.
"You sell yourself short Urahara. A former captain such as yourself will always have the power to shape the world," She knew a lot. This was bad, very bad.
"I left for a reason," Urahara's voice became grim, the joviality and coyness fading rapidly.
"Yes, you were used by Aizen as a catspaw to cover his experiments with hollowfication. A shame that they fell for something like that," Urahara frowned at her response. That was way too much information to have for someone like her. Her connection must run deeper than just being allied with someone inside the Visuals Department, no that was top-level information, things that would only be recorded in the deepest recesses of the Kuchiki archives.
"I wonder, how did you get that information?" Urahara tried prodding for that info. He wasn't expecting a straight answer, she'd never give that to him without him joining them.
"I'll leave it at having friends in high places. You'll find out if you decide to help us," Aura's tone was measured and calm. She felt as if she was in control of the situation. However, Urahara had already figured out why she called him.
"You want me to make you a hogyoku, yes?" Aura smiled faintly at Urahara's question.
"Indeed. While I go to great lengths to avoid being predictable, I have my limits," Aura dare not think she'd be able to hide her intentions from him.
"Then my answer is no. Making mine the first time was a mistake, one I do not intend to repeat," Urahara turned to leave.
His response perplexed Michibane. He had the keys to everything! Why sit idly by?
"You've seen how humanity acts!" Aura's composure broke, "How we are doomed to self-destruction! How could you stand by and let us do this to ourselves?" It didn't make any sense! He's seen the worst of humanity! He should know better than anyone that the Five Houses are best equipped to end this farce!
"Do you think we are any better?" Urahara turned to look back at the fullbringer.
"You've-"
"Lived for hundreds of years. I know, but those centuries have given me a better perspective on things," Urahara sighed.
"A Hogyoku is made from ripping apart the souls of fulbringers like yourself," shadow covered the scientist's face. "at the core of many fulbringers is an infinitesimally small fragment of the Soul King, a being I'm sure you've heard of."
Urahara turned to look at the cult leader. his eyes empty of mirth, the same empty look he gave Aizen upon sealing him.
"While you may be special by comparison, the same logic applies to you. This small fragment attracts hollows to attack the gestating soul as it is bonding to its new body, causing the hollow's reiyoku to alter that of the yet-to-be-born, allowing them the power to speak with the souls of the world around them," He stepped closer, staring her in the eyes.
"While fulbringers can result without the need for this stray viscera, it is far more common for them to have this, and collecting this viscera is key to making a Hogyoku. It is a painful process," Urahara could still smell the blood of his victims. He put them under anesthetic, he tried to be as minimally invasive as possible, and he always tried to ensure their survival, not because he was kind, but simply because to not do so would be recklessly endangering the balance. Only now, long removed from his crimes, and after finally realizing what Kaien was trying to teach him, had he begun to feel remorse.
"You are asking a people who see you as nothing more than livestock to be herded to lead those they barely understand. We are no better than you we are far far worse. This way is best for all involved." Urahara then vanished soundlessly.
This was not optimal, but Aura had grown to expect this, and soon Soul Society would have a glimpse of their goal.
It was time to act.
Ichigo was speaking with one of his older cousins about clan matters. Things were going well baring the incident with Bawa-Bawa. He was going to see how the repairs were going to that section of the manor.
Neliel had offered the assistance of herself and her fraccion, which Ichigo and Kukaku agreed to decline. All bets were off with Pesche and Dondachakka, and it was probably best they remain as guests.
As for the front part of the manor, it was all normal. Until Ichigo noticed a new feature.
"No, no she did not get that approved!" Ichigo saw that where once was a normal mounting of the family crest, there were now two pillars shaped like muscular arms holding up a banner saying ' Welcome to the Shiba Estate' baring the family's flaming crest on either side.
"Honestly I don't see the issue," The voice of the one heading the renovation chuckled. "I've seen worse over the years."
Ichigo simply stared incredulously at his cousin before responding.
"How do you not see any issue with this? It's ridiculous!" He practically yelled as he outstretched his arms in the direction of the offending display of his aunt's aesthetic sense.
"Exactly, and that makes it funny to watch the reactions of all of the snobs who have failed to remove the rods they have up their asses," Ichigo cut his losses and turned to leave. This family was just a bunch of people who were just as crazy as his father. There was never a boring day with the Shiba and he was starting to hate it.
That was when one of the servants ran up to him.
"Lord Ichigo, Lady Kukaku wants to speak with you," That snapped Ichigo out of his frustration as he vanished in a loud burst almost instinctively.
Kukaku was waiting for Ichigo alone in the main meeting room of the manor.
It was a moderately sized room where she could hold large family meetings with the branch heads and subordinate houses, but today it was just her, the family zanpakuto displayed above her head and a hell butterfly that had just given her a message from the Kuchiki.
She had just sent a servant to get Ichigo, due to Ichigo's speed and his tendency to react as though something is on fire whenever someone calls for him, he should be here right about…
Now.
The thoomp of his sonido appearing before her was entirely ignored. She had called for him expecting this and she had frankly gotten used to it with Nelliel as a diplomatic guest.
"What is it?" Ichigo was not panicking like she would have expected him to a while ago, but he still thought it was urgent.
"Don't worry, nothing's on fire," As much as she liked how prompt he was, and how he took his newfound role seriously, not everything was so dreadfully serious.
"Yet," Ichigo didn't see it that way. At least not yet. The family had just been reinstated, most of the clan was still outside of the compound and was slowly trickling in, meaning that they would need to move in and get situated, not to mention that trying to do anything that involved coordination between the branches was like herding cats!
"Ichigo, we take fire safety quite seriously," as was to be expected with the only clan in the Seireitei that manufactured gunpowder. sure they still made black powder, but they had since also diversified into the manufacture of various low and high explosives. Though fireworks were what got them into becoming the experts on explosives.
"You might, but I don't trust Ganju around the powder barn," Kukaku sighed. Ichigo still needed to get used to how the Shiba did things. That would come with time, however.
"Anyway, I called you over to tell you that Byakuya sent a hell butterfly over," That got Ichigo's attention.
"What was it about?" If it was sent by hell butterfly it had to be important.
"The Kuchiki elders want to meet with you at the start of next week," Kukaku was surprised that they were willing to skip straight to this step. usually, there was an intensive leadup before this. She didn't know if this was good or bad.
"Seems rather trivial to be sent by hell butterfly…" Hell butterflies were priority mesengers. Using them for this seemed rather wasteful to him.
"If it was between lesser clans then yes it would be, but this is between two great houses," By the very nature of how Soul Society was structured, the Great Houses were exempt from many of the Seireitei's rules. This included free use of hell butterflies. "Welcome to nobility."
Ichigo sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"Any tips?" Ichigo didn't know how to handle elders.
"Keep your mouth shut and only speak when spoken to, and if possible, let Byakuya do the talking." Kukaku knew that it would be hard for him, but if he wanted to get past this phase he needed to play their game. While they had no actual ability to halt the proceedings, going against the elders would burn a lot of political capital. Something Byakuya doesn't have to spare, not that Kukaku thought that would stop him.
"Great…" Just what Ichigo needed to worry about. Some old farts deciding he shouldn't be able to be with the person whom he loves, and who loves him.
"Marriages are political here. I hate it just as much as you do, but if you want to marry her you need to put up with the bullshit," She knew this all too well. She also knew that the Kuchiki were of split opinions on the Shiba. She hated politics.
And that's it for this week. remember, comments are welcome.