~FIREFLY KNIGHTS~
Bleach Copyright Tite Kubo
Firefly Knights Copyright Illand Girl
'For those that need a Guardian.'
Chapter 35:Revelations
Rukia panted as she forced open the door to Urahara's shop. It rattled with the force, startling the blonde. The soul reaper wiped her damp hair from her eyes. The rain had let up, but she was still drenched from chasing after Ichigo.
Kisuke Urahara sat at his table, alone, with his fan slowly wafting a breeze over his face.
"Hm? What can I do for you, Ms. Kuchiki?" Kisuke asked.
Rukia huffed, frowning. Her eyes raked around the room, noticing the sake bottle, along with three cups resting on the table in a neat little pile. Kisuke said nothing as Rukia's deep amethyst eyes returned to him. Someone had been here; she was sure of it.
"Was Ichigo here?" She asked, doubting herself the moment she asked the question. Kisuke was silent, his gaze turning down to the table. Another moment of silence and Rukia began to lose her patience. "Kisuke Urahara! Was Ichigo here or not?"
"Haven't seen him," Kisuke's eyes slid sideways to watch Rukia step further into the room. She searched- for what? She wasn't sure. Something about Urahara, about his behaviour, and the evasive language he used set her on edge. After searching for a while longer, she was interrupted. "I would leave Ichigo to his own devices for now. Surely the head captain had some choice words to say at today's meeting."
Seeing nothing, sensing no one nearby, Rukia took a breath. Kisuke gestured to the table, but she remained where she was. It seemed like Kisuke had an idea about what Yamamoto had declared. She nodded curtly.
"Fourteen days from now, we will host a rescue mission. Infiltrating Huecho Mundo to rescue Naomi." As Rukia spoke, Kisuke's hat tipped to hide his eyes. He said nothing, but picked up his tea to take a slow sip. It was cold, but he still drank as if it were boiling. Rukia wondered what could possibly be going through his mind as he sat there. She frowned when he looked across the room, eyes far away. He didn't look worried, not the type of worry one had for the safety a comrade- if he could call Naomi that. No, this look, it reminded Rukia of the look soul reapers wore the first time they killed a hollow. The first time blood hit their sword.
It was always taught in the academy to kill a hollow from the back. This way, you didn't stand a chance of ever seeing their faces when they died. You were granted the luxury of forgetting they were human. But the first time you killed them, you didn't forget it. Rukia's first kill had made deep grooves inside of her, ones she didn't wish to ever revisit. The look in Kisuke's eyes was filled with resolve, and remorse.
"Why did you think Aizen would go after Naomi?" Rukia tried again. Kisuke didn't respond, staring at the wall, but his eyes were not nearly as far away now. Slowly, his eyes drifted back to his cup. They sat in silence for a long minute. After another minute of silence, Rukia stood up.
"Fine then, keep your secrets." Rukia said, tone bristled and tight as she turned to leave.
"Rukia," Kisuke began, making the woman pause. Rukia looked back at him, eyes barely showing from beneath his hat. They no longer held penitence, but were now full of resolve. "Put your trust in Ichigo."
Rukia was surprised, if only a little, but then her mind wandered back to the night Naomi was taken, and she thought about everything Kisuke had said. Had this been part of his plan? Naomi was kidnapped, and it was some sort of motivator for Ichigo to get stronger? Or maybe he wasn't lying when he said Aizen would send more for Naomi until he got her? But why? Why Naomi? Rukia didn't think the head captain was entirely correct when he said Aizen feared Naomi. No, why would he let her live then? It was more like...
Rukia turned away from Kisuke, hand on the door frame.
"I always do."
But Rukia couldn't waste time playing word games with Kisuke, who clearly knew more than he was telling them. No, if Ichigo was training, then she couldn't waste a second longer. However, as Rukia was leaving the shop, she was surprised to see Captain Hitsugaya approaching.
"Captain Hitsugaya, Ichigo's not here, sir." Rukia said formally. Captain Hitsugaya looked up absently from his stroll, as though just realizing she was there. He nodded once, though didn't seem to be entirely sure what for.
"It's alright, Kuchiki. I figured he's gone off to train where he was before." His eyes wandered. "Naomi was the only one who seemed to know where that was."
Rukia, for a brief second, realized that the captain was using Naomi's first name. She couldn't help it when the corners of her mouth twitched up. The young captain raised a brow, prompting Rukai to immediately shake the smile from her face. Sensing she wasn't going to explain herself, Captain Hitsugaya politely dismissed her, aiming to walk into the shop. He only took five steps before an idea came to Rukia's head.
"Sir!" Rukia called, giving pause to the squad ten captain. He looked over his shoulder at her, curious and yet still the grumpy child he always was. Rukia stood up straighter. "I was actually- our zanpakutō are quite similar. I have only heard about Hyōrinmaru from Naomi, but from what I've heard, it is a magnificent ice and water zanpakutō."
The lines on Captain Hitsugaya's face softened, his eyes present in the moment as he looked at Rukia with appreciation.
"Hyōrinmaru is a water and ice dragon. I have heard good things from Captain Ukitake about your zanpakutō. He has mentioned it is an ice- based weapon?" Captain Hitsugaya mused, remembering how the other white-haired captain gushed about Rukia while stuffing sweets in his hands.
Rukia perked up.
"Yes sir! And- I was wondering if I could train with you. To learn more and improve on my own zanpakutō. If it would be possible, of course."
Captain Hitsugaya looked surprised, but not insulted. His initial thought was to decline. The last thing he needed was to wound Kuchiki's adopted sister. He'd never hear the end of it with passive-aggressive commentary. However, it was a good opportunity, and in two weeks, they would all be rescuing Naomi. Each of them needed to be at their best.
He hesitated for only a moment, then nodded for her to follow.
"If you insist. I suppose I can show you a few things." Hitsugaya sounded indifferent, but the captain was never one to randomly assist someone. This was a big deal. Rukia was surprised, stumbling after him, deciding it was a good choice to ask him after all.
Even if she would regret it in the days to come.
"Whew, made it out just in time." Isshin sighed, rubbing his shoulder. Chiyo huffed, walking next to him as they escaped Urahara's Shop without notice. Isshin Kurosaki looked down at the woman walking beside him. Chiyo looked a lot like he remembered her. Curly black hair, indigo eyes, always pale, paler than her daughter, with a sort of vibrance to her that spoke of ferocity. But the fire was dying, it looked to be barely kindling. He could understand that. Life had not been kind to either of them.
"You look good, Chiyo," Isshin said, looking ahead. She'd hit him if he stared too long. Chiyo didn't look up. He hesitated for a moment, then continued on. "When I heard from Naomi what was going on, I wanted to reach out and help you. But I wasn't in any sort of position to say anything."
Silence.
It stretched on for a moment as Chiyo thought of the day Naomi left. The look of anguish and betrayal in her eyes. Naomi rarely cried as a child, but that day her eyes were red rimmed and puffy. An image Chiyo had not forgotten.
"It's him or me!"
She closed her eyes, took a soft breath, then looked ahead once more.
"You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved." She said calmly. Isshin looked down at her, sensing the inner turmoil from her tone. "I thought I was doing what was right by Naomi. I thought that, by staying, he would leave her alone."
The evening air was damp with freshly fallen rain; they could smell the humidity in the air. A car rolled by them. The headlights producing a glare across their faces, illuminating the darkness briefly.
"But he didn't. He went after her anyway. So I left, I found her and tried to say something. But I..." Chiyo distinctly remembered coming to Naomi's apartment, hiding from Ichigo as he waltzed out of the building – it was awfully late for him to be over, wasn't it? And without a chaperone? Chiyo had made it to Naomi's door, knocking, before her brain completely blue screened. She knew that Naomi had found an apartment, knew that she would've found work, but was she alright? Was she eating well? Did she still get to school every day? Knowing her daughter, she'd suffer away everyday just to get what she wanted.
When she opened that door, a tidal wave of relief washed over her. Naomi looked- she looked good. Better than the last time. She had filled out, looking a healthier weight and a lovely colour was in her cheeks. But it was the look of horror that crossed her eyes that made Chiyo freeze, stammering her words, allowing Naomi a chance to slam the door in her face. She deserved that, she knew.
Chiyo took a deep breath, arriving back in the present. Pursing her lips, she gave a side glance at Isshin.
"I appreciate you looking out for her." Chiyo said tightly. Isshin laughed.
"You almost sound like you mean it." Isshin teased. "Well, it's no trouble. She's always welcome, as are you, to the Kurosaki household. Did you know Ichigo and her are finally dating? She might become my daughter after all!"
"Oh fuck off!" Chiyo snapped, glaring at him. "I told you the last time, I'm not selling her like a prized cow!"
Isshin chuckled, Chiyo persisted.
"As for your son," she hesitated, looking away from Isshin. "I had a feeling. The way he talks about her, it's a lot like how you talked about Masaki."
A pang hit Isshin at the memory of his late wife. He wasn't the only one hurting though. He noticed Chiyo clenching and unclenching her hands, shivering. If he tried to help, she'd slap him, so he simply stayed quiet.
"Ichigo is still just a kid, but I can tell he respects Naomi more than anyone else." A smile slipped onto Isshin's lips as he thought of how Ichigo had grown in such a short time since her return. "He wants to do right by her, and become someone she can look up to. It's pushed him to work harder, to grow as a person. And he pushes Naomi to be a better version of herself as well. They work well together. So I wouldn't worry too much. They're smart kids."
"I've heard that one before." Chiyo said monotonously, eyes sliding to Isshin's. His cheeks turned pink as he looked pointedly away from her. Still, the idea that the Kurosaki's had taken care of Naomi when no one else did... it made a warmth bloom in her chest. A small smile slipped onto her lips. Isshin looked back, and the smile vanished. "I think the danger is if he turns out to be just like you."
"Hey come on! I think I've been a pretty stand-up guy." Isshin countered. Chiyo hummed as if thinking.
"I do recall saving your ass on occasion." She said, looking to the sky as though thinking harder. "Some might say I've saved you more than you've saved me."
Another pang of loss, Chiyo missed her powers greatly. She looked down to the ground. As they passed under a light, her shadow jumped from behind to in front of her. She let out a breath. Isshin noticed.
"So your powers are still gone?" He hummed once. "I suppose that makes sense. We needed a human anchor."
Chiyo tsked at him.
"You needed a blend of hollow and human, Kurosaki. A human with special powers. It was the only missing element. Mixing with Masaki's quincy powers and your soul reaper powers was the only way we could save her. Or did you already forget?"
"I know how it worked!" Isshin snapped, ears turning pink. "I just thought since my powers were returning yours might've as well."
Chiyo looked at her fingers, pale in the moonlight, then shoved her hands in her pockets.
"It's like a faint whisper, sometimes. Like something is there but... No," she said softly. "It's not likely to ever come back."
Isshin felt for her. Chiyo back then had been such a proud, confident woman. Her abilities had been terrifying; he shivered just imagining it. Maybe it was a good thing she didn't have it right now? Isshin knew there wasn't a chance in Hell Chiyo would be standing here otherwise. She would've gone after her daughter in a heartbeat. That was the Chiyo he remembered very well. The one willing to sacrifice everything to protect her loved ones. The one in front of him, however, was a woman who was struggling to hold everything together.
A silence followed, where Isshin knew saying sorry would only make her angry. The more he thought though, the more he noticed the similarities between mother and daughter. He felt another smile grace his lips.
"You know, Naomi takes after you a lot." He smirked as she looked up at him. "She's stubborn. That girl was committed to surviving in the apartment on her own and never telling a soul. She's also fiercely protective of her family. She-"
He felt a jolt rush through him as the image of her falling into a pool of her own blood flashed across his eyes. For the tiniest, briefest moments, he thought that they were all home. Safe and sound.
But he'd failed her.
"You did a good job with her." He finished quietly. Chiyo's breath hitched, Isshin back tracked. "Before you hit me-"
"It wasn't me," Chiyo said in a near watery tone. Isshin looked at her, noticing how she wavered. She swallowed once. "It was Hiroshi."
Isshin remained quiet, listening intently. Chiyo never wanted to speak of him, speak his name.
"Say what you want about him, about his choices, about what he did. But I know, deep in my heart, words could never describe that look in his eye when he was with her." She took a staggering breath, regrouping. Isshin waited patiently. "He was the one who taught Naomi to live without him. Without me. Not because he wanted to leave. But- I think he knew. I think he always knew it couldn't last. Not with Sōsuke being so close to-"
"You mentioned Aizen before. What was their relationship, Aizen and Hiroshi?" Isshin asked. Chiyo flinched, looking up at him. A guarded expression on her face. She looked away immediately. Why was she making that face?
"I-" She stopped herself, stopped walking entirely. As Isshin turned to look at her, halting as well a step later, he realized how incredibly young Chiyo still was. She had been nineteen when she became pregnant with Naomi. Nineteen years old, a baby. Masaki hadn't been far behind, but she was married, and Isshin had devoted himself to her. Chiyo had given up her youth for her daughter, kept the baby despite having inconsistent support from Naomi's father, and it showed on her face. Now, seventeen years later, Chiyo was only thirty-five. She was still so young. She and her daughter were so much alike sometimes, that it was painful to look at. Because he could see Naomi's future laying in front of her.
"You don't have to tell me." Isshin said eventually. Chiyo looked up at him, a rare vulnerability in her eyes. "Believe it or not, I think you're entitled to your own secrets."
Chiyo swallowed, nodding.
They continued to walk quietly, eventually making it to the hotel Chiyo was staying in.
"You can always come to the clinic. There's a spare room in the back. It needs to be set up still. I would've offered it to Naomi, but she paid for the apartment in advance." Isshin explained. Chiyo froze at the entrance, her back to him. She didn't say anything for a long minute. Then-
"Thank you, Isshin."
A proper appreciation from Chiyo Sakurai surprised him. She didn't turn around, didn't move one bit.
"I don't blame you, y'know. For Masaki," it felt like she'd finally ripped a band aid off an oozing wound. One that needed to be opened in order to heal. She looked up at the neon sign of the hotel. "And I'm sorry for what I said that day. I was... A part of me died with her, I think."
"I understand." Isshin said, voice forcibly stiff. Chiyo looked at the door again. "You lost her too."
Chiyo let out a shuddering breath. In her reflection Isshin could see her blinking rapidly. Finally, she looked at him, eyes rimmed with unshed tears.
"She was my best friend, Isshin. I was supposed to go with her that day. I would've-"
"-died right beside her." Isshin finished, cutting Chiyo off as he made a fist. "Then Naomi would've been an orphan."
Hesitantly, he stepped forward. Reconsidering it twice, he finally placed a hand on her shoulder. She tensed, but to his surprise, he hadn't been slapped yet.
"It wasn't your fault either, Chiyo. I don't want you to blame yourself for it. It does nothing but hurt those left behind. And I'm certain Masaki wouldn't want you to blame yourself either." He squeezed her shoulder, then she smacked it away with hard whack. He winced, jerking his hand away.
Chiyo aggressively rubbed at her eyes, turning away from Isshin.
"You're right, how could I forget." Her voice still staggered, sounding small despite her attempts to sound strong. Isshin smiled despite himself, thinking she had become a bit more like her old self.
"Last question then," Chiyo began, looking back at Isshin with a serious look in her eye. He already knew the question, the air around them changing.
"Can Ichigo really save Naomi?" Chiyo asked. Isshin knew how this would go. If he wasn't completely and entirely certain, Chiyo would book the first ticket she could to Huecho Mundo by any means necessary- including jumping off a building and dying- just to see her child again. He wasn't sure why she was behaving the way she was. He didn't know what sort of connection Aizen had with Hiroshi, and Naomi by extension. All he knew, was that in his gut he had the answer. It came to him with a confident smile, surprising Chiyo.
"I think he's the only one Naomi would allow to rescue her, if I'm completely honest." His eyes looked faraway then. "She's always been protecting my son. Always had his back, even in a fight. But that's why Ichigo is the only one who can do it. Because she knows just how strong he is, even in ways his enemies never could."
Isshin looked down at Chiyo, catching her off guard with that look. She swallowed once again, feeling a shadow that lingered on her heart be swept away. Chiyo looked at his feet, taking a deep breath.
"I hope you're right, Isshin."
Three days.
It had been three days that I had been in Huecho Mundo. The routine was the same each day, or night. It was difficult to tell how long it had been since it was always dark and the moon didn't move in the sky. The only method of telling time seemed to be a strange clock that sat in the 'lounge' where we ate. It rested by the couches, a large clock face on the floor with a pendulum swinging back and forth above it. Throughout the day, I had noticed it swinging in a different direction than the time before. It was familiar, reminding me of an experiment I'd read about.
"Strange thing, ain't it?" Gin hummed, standing uncomfortably close behind me. I tensed, but didn't say anything. He'd been poking at me the last few days, trying to piss me off, but the harder he pressed the more I resisted. "Captain says it'sa dial that tells time, but I ain't sure how it's s'posed to work."
"It moves with gravitational pull," I said before I could reconsider. "It will change based on the rotation of the planet."
Hang on, how was this working if that was the case? Huecho Mundo, as far as I knew, was in a different dimension, and had a completely different set of conditions? A frown worked its way onto my face, curiosity getting the best of me.
"Well, on Earth that's how it would work. Here, I imagine it's set to a different condition." I murmured, side-eyeing Gin as he hummed and hawed. "But you already knew that, didn't you, Ichimaru?"
The silver haired man tsked, frowning at me.
"Ah, what's with the Ichimaru? I thought we're friends, Naomi." He taunted, leaning closer to my ear. Minutely, I shifted away from him. "I thought this would be a great thing, you n' I gettin' to spend time together without any tricks or lies."
"You almost killed me." I argued. He chuckled, making a shiver rushed down my spine as his hot breath fanned on my neck. Gin stood up straight, towering over me.
"And yet ya live. Why is that?" He challenged. I said nothing, looking back at the clock. It had been the same for the past few days.
Each morning- well, each time I woke up, Ulquiorra would appear. He would bring other arrancar to change my bandages- no matter how much I fought it, it was a fruitless affair- I would be hauled to the lounge, eat a meal, then either was left in the lounge with Gin, or sent back to my room with Ulquiorra. It seemed to be based on what tasks Aizen had for either of them. For the past three days, I had managed to sleep heartily, to the point that it seemed to have increased my healing.
I would scar, it was a given. Particularly the wounds on my left side. This was the first day I could move without pain or discomfort. A mild ache sometimes hit, but mostly if the skin on my left arm was touched. Other than the one arm, I was almost entirely free of wounds. Quite a feat, in my opinion. Aizen still hadn't explained what the markings on my body were, and I was too stubborn to ask him. Part of me was contemplating that I was currently in a coma, with Kyoka Suigetsu permanently in my psyche and all of this was just a dream.
Maybe Akito killed me and I just made all of this up.
"Ya know, if you're just gunna to sit there n' contemplate things, you get kinda borin'." Gin sighed, sounding disappointed. "Here I thought we were startin' to get a long, Naomi."
"It's called Stockholm Syndrome."
"Ah you're just mad that your powers're sealed, ain'tcha?" He stepped away from me, moving to one of the couches. Even throwing himself down, Gin reminded me of a fox. Never unbalanced, always quick on his feet, and never actually relaxing. Even now, sprawled out, I didn't doubt he was still balanced and ready for action. Gin rested his elbow on the couch arm, propping his head up on a fist as he crossed his legs. "I remember ya bein' way more fun."
I refused to answer to that. Gin scoffed.
"I'd offer ya somethin' else to do, other than suffer with lil' ol' me, but I can't take you anywhere else in Las Noches." Gin sighed. I frowned, not interested in walking at Gin's heels all day. Or worse, being forgotten and lost somewhere in the building. While I had no doubt I was a prisoner, I had come to the begrudging understanding that Aizen- currently- wanted me alive. For how long? I didn't know. But I doubted his hospitality would be shared by the other arrancar.
Still, the idea of going somewhere, anywhere besides the lounge and my room, it was very appealing. I thought on it, considering why Gin would even want to go elsewhere. What was he scheming? The man was such a suspicious character, and I knew I couldn't trust him.
At least he wasn't horrible company... most of the time.
"Why?" I asked. Gin raised a brow. "What's in it for you?"
A slow smile, the same ear-splitting foxlike smirk, slithered across his face. It was a trap, I knew it, but for what? Slowly, Gin sat up straight. Even sitting, the man was almost as tall as me. His head came up to my shoulder. A chuckle escaped his lips, as if he were laughing at a joke he'd never said.
"I promise it ain't anythin'... unsavoury. I'm just a lil' curious 'bout somethin'." Gin leaned back on the couch, crossing his legs again. "I can take you anywhere you want, even to some of the nicer wings of the castle. But ya have to ask the captain for me."
There it was.
"Why am I asking Aizen?" This smelt fishy. What was this? Was there a trick? Was this Kanzen Saimin? What could Aizen possibly gain from this? Gin chuckled.
"Don't be so suspicious, Naomi." Gin shrugged, holding his hands up innocently. It did nothing for him. "I promise, it's just for my own entertainment. All ya gotta do, is ask him."
"And why can't we just go? What's stopping us?" I asked, eyeing the door. "Unless this is all just in my head."
Gin paused, then he laughed shortly.
"You haven't lost your edge yet, have ya? Nah, the Captain ain't the type to waste time when he's got other things on his mind." Other things? Like what? Like another person to capture, or another attack? Gin didn't continue, and I didn't ask for more. What was the right thing in this situation? To stay here? To not speak with Aizen? Or to ask and see what happened? Was it a test? I couldn't see how it would be a test to ask for a liberty to walk around. There was a motif, but I couldn't figure it out quite yet. Nor did I understand what Gin was after. I also needed to be careful, nothing could be trusted here. However, with nothing to stand on, I was struggling to keep a level head and not sink into fight or flight mode.
I moved away from the couches, towards a cart with cold tea. It smelled lovely, like jasmine tea. I poured myself a cup, not bothered by the lukewarm tea, trying to ease my mind. Taking the cup, I moved to the vast open window. It was an interesting landscape, Huecho Mundo that is, once you got past the shrieking hollows in the distance. I'd never seen something quite like it. Today was windy, a breeze blowing on my face as I stood by the open scene. The dry air brush my hair over my shoulder. I had left it down today, one of the rare times it wasn't held back from my face. My interest in my appearance had dwindled since my arrival and subsequent embarrassment when they stripped me bare to change my bandages.
The door to the lounge opened. I turned to see two arrancar, these ones looked female. Both stood at their full height, looking surly, eyes snapping to me. The one with long black hair glared outright, face twisted into a scowl as she looked me up and down. I raised a brow as she stormed her way in. Her bravado weakened when she noticed Gin lounging on the couches, but she still marched up to me, without as much sass.
"So, you're the girl. The one I can't stop hearing about." She said, looking me over again. A grumble, gritting noise ripped from her mouth. Was she grinding her teeth? "I don't get what's so special about you. You're not very pretty, and you don't look all that tough."
Who was this girl? She was about the same size as me, or she would've been if she wasn't wearing a kitten heel. Her outfit stood out, being very... different from the others. Even her companion- who was currently eyeing Gin nervously- wasn't dressed quite as... scantily. Both had bone masks covering an eye, and both looked oddly out of place. I didn't even know how I would describe her outfit if asked. Were they... call girls?
I quirked my head, wondering why she was here. It was frustrating to not know how strong she was, considering it would give me the advantage of being able to defend myself if need be.
"Who are you?" I asked, tone flat. The black-haired girl growled, eye becoming dangerous. She grabbed my collar, tugging me forward, I didn't have the same strength she did. It was enough to hold me in place. I placed my teacup on a small table nearby, sensing I wouldn't get a chance to drink it now.
"I don't like you, or your smell." She seethed. I didn't react, eyes going neutral as I tried to decide what the best approach to this was.
"Eh, careful there, Loly, I don't think you wanna be caught with your hands on 'er." Gin drawled from his seat. He'd taken to lounging his head on the back of the couch, watching us casually with a grin. Loly, the girl in front of me, snapped her head around to catch his gaze.
"Yeah, and what are you gunna do about it, Ichimaru?" She snapped, surprising me. Awfully audacious to speak to the second in command like that. Was she trying to die? But Gin just chuckled, like there was an inside joke we weren't privy to. It pissed Loly off as she turned back to me. Her grip on my collar tightening as she looked me in the eye. A sadistic smile slipped onto her lips, realization running across her features.
"Oh I see, you little whore." Her voice was lower, as if Gin couldn't hear her ten feet away. "Your lover boy is gone so you moved onto Lord Aizen, didn't you?"
My world faltered.
"Gone?" I asked immediately. Loly didn't answer, allowing a sadistic smirk to slip onto her features instead.
If there was ever the wrong thing to say, that had been it.
I felt my entire world turn black in an instant. For a moment, I thought I fainted. Well and truly blacked out.
Ichigo...
And in the next instant, this all-consuming rage took over. As Loly opened her mouth, my hand snapped forward, grabbing at her throat. She staggered, letting go of me in favour of grabbing my wrist, a wheeze all that escaped her. I could faintly feel her clawing at my wrist.
Ichigo...
You can't be...
"What did you say?!" My lungs felt empty, voice scratchy. A pain blossomed in my chest as I squeezed her throat harder. No sounds came out this time. Her eyes were rolling into the back of her head. My mind circled what she just said, replaying it over and over inside my head.
It couldn't- It wasn't possible- I- Air- Can't breathe- think think think- No he isn't-
A hand landed on the crown of my head, startling me, and for the briefest of moments I could smell a distinct scent lingering in the air around me. Reiatsu. It was all-consuming, powerful, and pressing down on me. It was the alluring scent of cinnamon and cologne. Another few seconds passed before I remembered how to breathe. My body felt lighter, weightless even. The hand gently brushed down my hair, as though washing away whatever panic that flowed through me.
"Please let go of my subordinate, Naomi." I knew that voice, that smell. It was Aizen. Another moment later, I realized my fingers were still grasped tightly around Loly's neck. I wasn't sure who was shaking more though. Her, or me? I retracted, pulling myself away from the arrancar. She collapsed, gasping, peaking at me with a fearful glare. Her pink eye roamed over to her master.
"Lord Aizen, this girl! She's not-"
"That will be all, Loly." Aizen cut her off. Loly looked stunned, stammering as she rebuked him.
"But- my lord-" She froze as her eyes met his. A shiver ran through her, but her cheeks turned pink. Loly rose up, bowed to Aizen, glared at me, then turned and stormed away from my view. Aizen's hand was still on my back, and I wasn't sure how to feel about it. My head was spinning, but his touch was also anchoring.
"You're trembling." He said softly. I didn't speak, trying to focus on breathing. The thought of Ichigo being- it had been in the back of my mind. Somewhere, I had considered it a possibility. Otherwise, he'd have come for me already, right? He had to know by now that I was gone. So, if Ichigo wasn't here, then that meant-
I felt tears fall down my face and immediately swiped at them; nearly punching myself in the process. In my gut, I felt something sink deeper. Was I the scape goat? Was I really... not that important to the plan? Surely Ichigo would've at least tried to find me by now? Or maybe Kisuke had him hog tied in the basement? But...
My mind struggled to come to terms with the idea that Ichigo... So I didn't. I ignored it. It wasn't something I could unpack right now. I had to keep moving, keep surviving, until I could gather information.
I looked up at Aizen once I had a semblance of control over myself. He was wearing that Captain Aizen face, and I hated how disarming it was. His hand vanished from my back, and with it the scent that he emitted. It was only after the scent vanished that I realized- I could smell. Briefly, only for a moment, but I could still smell him. It brought the tiniest pocket of light to me, at least.
"Are you alright?" He asked, though I doubted he truly cared. Yet his tone was ever faithful in faking his concern. I forced a nod, feeling a headache coming on.
"I'm sorry, she just said something that... She upset me, and I lost my temper." Aizen didn't speak, not even when I looked up to him. His brown eyes stared down at me with a mix of feigned interest and something masked beneath it. He tilted his head down, angling his head to look at me rather than down the bridge of his nose.
"I did not expect you to lose your temper so easily." He said, veiled condescending beneath the surface.
"Sorry that I didn't meet your expectations." I replied automatically before tensing. When nothing happened, I felt my shoulders relaxed minutely. Aizen watched me, his gaze never changing.
"Not to worry," then, he raised his head, looking down his nose once more. "I'm used to this inadequacy."
Don't take the bait.
I raised a brow, tilting my chin up in defiance. Aizen's hands might've been in his pockets, but the ghosting feeling of his appendage on my head, trailing down my hair to my back, made a shiver run down my spine involuntarily.
"Some might call it opulence. The ability to have more surprises at their disposal." I challenged. Aizen hummed, his sharp eyes narrowing a fraction.
"Others would deem it conceited to think that way." He countered. I snorted, but didn't get a chance to speak as Aizen continued. "What was said that had so easily broke through your defenses, I wonder?"
He had to know, right? Everything in this place had to be under his watchful eye. I felt a pang hit my chest then, my nose scrunching, a frown tugged at the corners of my lips. Would it matter if he knew or not? Even more, would he ever tell me the truth? Judging by his character, I couldn't see a reason for him to lie. Aizen was a lot of things, and one of those seemed to be oozing confidence. Would he need to lie to keep me here? I doubted it. I doubted there was any reason for him to lie about... About Ichigo...
"She implied Ichigo is dead," then, a beat later, and in a much smaller voice, I added, "is he?"
If Aizen had any tiny bit of kindness in his heart, it was the most well-hidden and guarded piece of him. But, for a brief, horribly short second, his eyes looked faraway. He was lost somewhere, for only a flash, and his eyes looked contemplative as he thought. Then they were back, they were cold, and they were calculating.
"He lives." He said easily. My breath hitched; warmth blossomed through my chest. I searched his eyes, expecting to see something akin to a lie, but all I saw was glossy brown staring back at me. Aizen didn't have a need to lie to me, and this must've been his way of proving it. He could've told me Ichigo was dead, broke my spirit, but he didn't. He didn't have to. He didn't need to ruin me to keep me here, and I could see it in his eyes that this was no loss for him. Not an admission out of kindness, but rather one that played no part to him.
Lowering my head, I gave the tiniest of bows.
"Thank you." I said softly. There was no reply. Instead, Aizen turned away from me, and walked across the room. As my eyes lifted to follow him, they landed on Gin. The smug bastard was grinning ear to ear, like a cheshire cat. It was then that I remembered my original task. The one Gin seemed rather partial to see all the way through as he nodded his head to Aizen.
Following Aizen across the room, I stopped nearby, hesitant on how to approach my question. Sōsuke Aizen seemed to sense this, speaking to me without turning around.
"What is it, Naomi?" He asked, easily using my name. My mouth twitched to a frown before I forced it to a neutral expression.
"I wanted to ask you, if it were possible for me to... move freely about Las Noches." My words caught his attention. Aizen turned to face me. When he didn't speak, it prompted me to continue. "Gin had mentioned I needed your permission to be escorted elsewhere."
His mouth twitched, his eyes travelling across the room to Gin.
"Did he now..." He said slowly. A chuckle could be heard behind me. Just as I was beginning to doubt the validity of that statement, Aizen looked back at me. "It is not wise to travel far from here."
What an odd turn of events. If I had been told this would be my life one day, I would have found it too absurd. The idea of the afterlife was enough, but this really took the cake too. If he thought I would listen to him, obey like his words held finality, Sōsuke Aizen was woefully wrong. His first mistake was leaving it so open ended.
"Gin has volunteered to be my guide." I pointed out. Then, with a little bit more tone, I added. "I do presume your second in command would have to authority to make any location in your castle safe to traverse."
Aizen's eyes slid back to mine, staring hard and long. Something was just beneath the surface, but I couldn't tell what. It was like the time in the hall, where he seemed to be thinking something much deeper than his words.
"I see," he watched me for a moment longer, then turned back to his task. "Then I suppose you have already placed your life in Gin's hands."
I frowned, it was such a strange comment to make, and with such a tone too. Before I could look further into it, a hand rested on my shoulder. I tensed, but felt myself being tugged along by none other than the snake himself. The scent of roses and apricots faintly danced into my nose. Was it-
"Mah! That's great! Let's go Naomi! Seeya later, captain." Gin drawled as he ushered me towards the door. Something strange passed in the air as Aizen and Gin locked gazes. I shivered, feeling strange. What was that? The entire exchange seemed... odd. Especially since I couldn't tell what Aizen was thinking.
"Well well, I didn't actually think he'd let ya leave." Gin said once we had walked for some time. I glanced up at him, raising a brow. He caught on, looking down at me. "Ah, I guess I did say I'd tell ya. Come 'ere first."
We continued down the hall. I thanked the lord my legs didn't hurt to use today. Otherwise, this pace that Gin walked at would've been torture. My little legs could barely keep up with the giant on a good day, and today was not one of those days. However, as we rounded a corner, I nearly ran into another giant.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Looking every bit like the caged cat I remembered him to be. His wild blue eyes snapped down to me, a snarl on his lips, they lit up in recognition. His snarl deepened.
"You're still alive?" He grumbled. I raised a brow. Last time I had seen the man, we were both whole. However, as my eyes travelled down to his empty sleeve, I couldn't help myself as I clapped back.
"At least I'm in one piece." My eyes flickered back up to his. Grimmjow growled.
"Your fucking mate did this to me." His eyes glanced down at the empty sleeve, rage filling them to the brim. Pride swelled in my chest, knowing it was Ichigo would cut it off. After having doubts about my boyfriend's well-being, hearing anything about him put my heart at ease.
I smirked. "That's my man."
Grimmjow sneered, stepping even closer to me.
"Fuck off! Who the hell do you think you even are? Your reiatsu is pathetic again." He used his height to his advantage, leaning over me, bumping back a step into the wall. I refused to be intimidated, tired of all the veiled- and some not so- threats and attacks, especially by someone that I knew was weaker than me.
"As I said, even your great Lord Aizen can't sense it, so why would you?" I said, feeling haughty. I had been able to defend against him before, and the closer he got, the easier it was to smell. Raw flesh and salt, his scent. When he was this close, I could smell him. My powers were still there, just beneath the surface. Was that what happened with Loly? Was I still able to access them?
Grimmjow's one arm punched beside my head, crumbling bits of the wall and almost making me go deaf on that side. His head lowered to be directly next to mine, nose to nose, before Gin's chuckle interrupted us.
"My my, so ya still got a mouth on you, hey, Naomi?" Gin's grin widened. "You just needed to have it coaxed outta ya."
Grimmjow glared at Gin, then- as if realizing who was there- he shirked back, glaring at me instead. When I didn't back down, his eyes narrowed, and he turned to stomp down the hall instead.
"Heh, Captain was right. Lettin' you wander's a bad idea." Gin stepped beside me as we watched the sixth espada stomp away. "That mouth o' yers is gunna get you into some real trouble."
"I'm stronger than him." I said, watching the retreating form. Gin hummed.
"You were," he agreed. "But now you're not."
My lip twitched, but I refrained from saying anything to Gin. He didn't need to know I could still smell them up close. It was the one sense that I could rely on. The only one that Aizen couldn't control with his Kanzen Saimin. I refused to let anyone take that away from me entirely.
"Come, I did say I'd tell ya what I had planned." Gin drawled, gesturing for me to follow him.
The walk was mostly silent. We passed the odd arrancar, but none gave us a second glance at all. In fact, many evaded Gin like the plague. I could understand that, he was an acquired taste, it seemed. After some time, Gin stopped by a door. He opened it, gesturing for me to head inside first.
This room looked like a living-quarters. Which was confusing initially, until Gin stepped right behind me.
This was his room.
"You really trust me a lil' too much." Gin taunted. I frowned, feeling the heat from his body on my back. When I turned my head to look back at him, he was wearing his usual grin. "Walkin' into men's rooms. It won't always end well, kid. Now I know you look all innocent and such, but I get the feelin' you know what I'm talkin' about. Not as innocent as everybody thinks."
His implications almost made me want to roll my eyes. Gin had, not once, ever given me the impression that he would assault me. It was the one saving grace to him and Aizen. They were not the type to torture their captives. Gin liked to play with his enemy. Aizen seemed like the type to slowly make them unravel. If I was right, assaulting me had no merit, and I felt like I was right.
"You aren't the type." I told him, watching the grin wane just a little. Then it came back full force.
"Not the type? Heh, you know me that well already?" He spoke slowly, taunting. I bit right back.
"I'd like to think your type isn't children, Ichimaru." I quipped. Gin snickered, leaning down to my face.
"Now now, lil' girl. You're taking Loly's words to heart, ain'tcha?" He snickered. I thought back to what Loly had said, a sour taste in my mouth as I remembered her implying I was trying to get with Sōsuke Aizen. I glared, my nose scrunching at the mere idea of it. Instead of getting angry, though, I got even.
"I'm taken, thanks." I said tightly, my insides churning as Gin laughed at me, moving uncomfortably closer. He loved to push buttons, loved to make me uncomfortable.
"It can be our little secret." He said in a teasing tone. I frowned, reaching my limit.
"Did you tell Rangiku that too?"
Gin flinched, grin fading completely. A small smirk slipped onto my lips. I knew it. I could see it from a mile away. He had feelings for the lieutenant.
"Like I said," Gin said slowly. "That mouth o' yours is gunna get you in real trouble someday."
Our conversation seemed to be done, with me coming out on top for once. He stepped away, moving around the room, the gesture reminding me why I was here.
"So what was your motif?" I asked, luring Gin from his thoughts. He paused what he was doing, chuckled, then turned back to me.
"Mah, I almost forgot." He plopped himself onto the couch, gesturing for me to sit as well. I didn't, instead moving to look at the small bookshelf he had in the corner. "I s'pose it doesn't make sense, since you don't have your history facts yet."
"History facts...?" I mused, looking over the spines of the books. Gin hummed.
"Tell me, what d'ya remember of your father?" He asked out of the blue. It startled me, breaking my train of thought as I looked over to him.
"My... My father?" When he only nodded, I thought for a second. "He's been gone a long time. That's about it."
"Do you know what happened to him?" Gin asked. I scoffed, turning to face him as I leaning on the bookshelf.
"I don't even know his name." I confessed. Mom had never said anything to me. Not ever. I didn't even know if he was alive or not.
"Hiroshi," Gin said suddenly. "Your father's name was Hiroshi."
Seconds rolled by with me just staring blankly at Gin. How did he know my father's name? Was that really his name? I felt so confused in that moment, uncertain how to proceed.
"Wh... What?" I began, uncertain. "How would you- What kind of-"
I didn't know what to say. Gin didn't react, lounging in his spot like a cat. It was beginning to piss me off.
"Yeah, he wasn't very famous, well, he was in some circles, but he mostly flew under the radar." Gin stretched as he spoke like he was talking about the weather outside. I stared, trying to comprehend what he was saying.
"That's- It's not possible." It didn't make any sense how he... "If you knew him, my father would be a-"
"Soul reaper, yeah, I know. We were kinda wonderin' that too. But captain seems to have it all figured out." Gin sprawled his arms across the back of the couch, crossing his legs, leaning back as if basking in the light. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, then another for good luck, before I opened my eyes once more and looked calmly across at Gin.
"If my father was a soul reaper, and you knew him... did you... Did you kill him?" I asked, bewildered. Gin broke into a short laugh.
"Really? That's your first thought? Hurts Naomi, hurts real bad." He snickered. "Nah, it's more complicated than that. But no, wasn't us."
"What was he like?" I asked immediately. Gin's grin returned, and I knew it was exactly what he was waiting for me to ask all along. He shrugged.
"Dunno, didn't know him that well," he said airily. I glared, ready to snap about how he was clearly lying, when he added. "I'm not the one who would know all about him."
Implying that someone did know him? A tiny piece of me began to get anxious. Was this a trick? Or maybe there was something Gin was telling me that had been there this whole time.
"Gin," I began, thinking carefully. Gin looked like he knew what I was about to ask. "What is it that you all aren't telling me?"
He grinned wider.
"I'd ask Sōsuke about it." Gin mused. I frowned, remembering the conversation in the hallway.
"I did try and ask, but he wouldn't tell me." Gin chuckled.
"You didn't ask the right question," he mused, bringing his arms to fold in his lap. "You never asked about Hiroshi himself."
I frowned, something clicking in the back of my head.
"Naomi Sakurai, sir." I said politely, noticing the twitch in Gin's hand on my shoulder. If he hadn't been touching me, I wouldn't have been able to tell anything from his facial expression. I looked up at him, noticing him staring at me.
"You find me that interesting huh?" I raised my zanpakutō to rest the flat side on my shoulder. "If I didn't know any better Gin, I'd say you're stalking me."
"Just a hunch but," he turned to look at Ichigo. "I would suggest not going anywhere alone for the next little while."
"I just meant if you hurt yourself then Ichigo won't have anybody to assist him, right?" His words made me remember Shinji and his friends. "The world is a dangerous place for cute little girls Naomi, so I wouldn't wander off alone too often."
"Tell me, what does Lord Aizen want with you children, hm? You don't seem his type, if he even has one."
"Tell me Aizen, why was Kisuke Urahara so certain I would survive?"
"Nah, 'sides, I didn't think ya wanted to kill 'er, hm?"
"Because it doesn't add up. There's a piece of the puzzle you're not telling me. None of you are."
"You knew," I said slowly. My eyes felt blurry, unfocused. "You knew who I was the day we met."
"Yeah, I did. Such a surprise, 'specially since captain told me to kill any Ryoka that got into the city." He chuckled, resting his chin on his palm. "But I made an exception, o'course."
My head was spinning, my gaze refocusing. Was this it? Was this the thing that none of them had told me yet? What if the reason my father went missing was because of them? Gin could be lying- or he could be telling the complete truth. I didn't know, wouldn't know. But I wanted- no I needed to hear more. Something in my heart and soul reached out at this, urging me to find more truth.
"So it's Aizen. Aizen knew my father?" I asked, knowing the answer, and yet not being at all prepared for what Gin said next. The grin was cheshire in shape, a victorious gleam in his slatted eyes as they widened enough for me to see icy blue.
"O'course he would." He laughed. My heart hammered, realizing that wasn't the end as he spoke again.
"They were practically brothers, after all."
I'm gunna be on vacation for most of december, but i'm hoping to get two more chapters out to you before then. if they're not out by December 1st, I'm sorry but life got too busy! I will be gone until after christmas!
Thank you all for reading. i need a nap but really wanted to post this.
Cheers!
Iland Girl