Chapter 14: Memories in the Rain (Shiba)
Night, Kurosaki Clinic
Late in the night, a short-haired dirty-blonde girl wearing a green hoodie and a white and pink-stripped skirt quietly walks through the side door of the Kurosaki Clinic.
Yuzu sighs as she locks the front door, "I didn't plan on getting back this late, but I'm glad Uncle was able to sort everything out with that fake version of Dad. It's good to know real Dad wasn't attacked or anything…"
She takes her shoes off at the entrance and walks forward a distance before turning right to enter the living room and kitchen area. She pulls a skillet from one of the cabinets before placing it on the stove, intent on preparing a late-night dinner for herself. Pausing, she suddenly notices something in the corner of her eye. Lying on the counter next to the stove is a small plush lion with a handwritten note next to it. Now with a slight frown and raised brow, the girl picks the lion up with her left hand and reads the note in her right.
Hey, kiddo! I realized I forgot something at the house so came back to town today. I was planning on visiting, but something came up… I feel bad about not being around, so I'm giving you this stuffed lion to take care of. I know he's dirty and can be a real handful, but he's got a lot of character! I know you'll take great care of him. Think of him as a good luck charm if nothing else. He's apparently blessed by the spirits! Hope to see you again soon. Love, Dad.
After a moment of processing the information from the note, Yuzu regards the lion plush, which appears to be quite dirty, as her father mentioned. She raises the plush close to her face, inspecting it briefly with a curious expression.
The blonde girl wears a big, friendly smile, "Time for you to take a bath!"
15 Minutes Later, Yuzu's Room, Kurosaki Clinic
The past 15 minutes came as quite a surprise to Kon, who currently sits on Yuzu's fluffy bed next to the window with floral pink sheets. There is a collection of other plushies on the bed as well, including a gorilla and stuffed bear.
The lion inwardly beams, "That girl sure knows how to make a stuffed lion feel loved… I can't believe I thought she was going to treat me poorly! Now if only she were a little older, a little more stacked…"
Kon can't help but shake his head before returning to sitting still, "NO! What am I saying? She's like an angel—a definite upgrade from that old guy!"
After another moment, Yuzu walks into the bedroom, dressed in a clean pair of pajamas. Her hair is damp, and her cheeks are puffy, a sign that she just got done taking a shower herself. The girl walks across the room and rummages through a dresser before pulling out a small piece of fabric that the lion on the bed can't see.
The brown-eyed girl glances at the plushie with a caring smile on her face, "You don't want to be naked, do you? I just bought a doll, and I made these clothes for her! But I think they'd look a lot better on you! ~"
Kon struggles to keep his expression neutral as Yuzu gently puts the small pink dress on him before placing him back on the bed.
The girl beams at her work, "Wow! You look great in that outfit, Bostov!"
Screaming internally, the stuffed lion, now wearing the pink frilly dress, finds it even more difficult to keep up the act, "NO! I LOOK STUPID! Also, WHAT'S WITH THAT NAME?!"
After a moment of jovially humming, Yuzu suddenly sighs and sits in front of her bed, placing her head on the sheets with a distant look in her brown eyes, "Y'know, Bostov… dressing you up like this reminds me of the first time I cut Ichigo's hair…"
Kon mentally questions, "Ichigo? Who's that…?"
Yuzu wears a sad smile as she recalls, "Mom was still around then too… it's one of my only memories of her… It all started when I…"
Yuzu's Memory, Kurosaki Clinic
A small, 4-year-old dirty blonde girl watches her brother, an older but still young boy, sitting down expectantly on a chair as a woman with wavy, light brown hair places scissors and a couple of other cutting instruments on the table next to him.
The orange-haired boy notices the girl tug at his sleeve gently before glancing back at the woman, "Mommy wait."
The brunette pauses and gives her son a confused look before glancing down at her daughter. This prompts her to shift to a knowing smile.
The boy continues, "Can Yuzu try cutting my hair this time?"
The woman, now beaming, nods, "Why, I think that's a lovely idea, Ichigo!"
The brunette places the equipment on the table before picking Yuzu up off the ground and holding her so she can reach the boy's hair.
She regards her daughter with a loving smile, "Mommy is going to help you with this, Yuzu. We wouldn't want you to hurt him by mistake."
As promised, she guides her daughter with cutting Ichigo's orange hair. Overall, a warm and loving atmosphere is what the girl felt around her at that moment, making it something that she will never forget.
Present, Yuzu's Room, Kurosaki Clinic
Tears gather in Yuzu's eyes at the recollection of this memory, one of the only things she can remember of her mother. She wipes her eyes before glancing back at 'Bostov', who had been listening intently the entire time, although the girl is unaware of that.
Yuzu looks down dejectedly for a moment, "I wish they were both still here now…"
After a few more moments of silence, the girl climbs into her bed and hugs her plushie as she drifts off to sleep. Kon can feel the occasional spasm coming from the girl, no doubt due to bad dreams.
The stuffed lion can't help but feel sympathy for her, "Poor girl… losing her brother and mother so young must be rough…"
Meanwhile, Xcution Hideout, Naruki City
Within the dimly lit Xcution Hideout, Ginjo sits at the bar, his usual spot, shaking the liquor in his shot glass in a circular motion. The man has a bored expression on his face, letting out a sigh. At this point, he is the only Fullbringer at the hideout who is still awake, leaving only the footsteps of an approaching individual to be heard. He shifts on the barstool and glances back to face none other than a bespectacled Bambietta Basterbine, still wearing her modified black suit while regarding him with a cautious expression.
Ginjo raises a brow at this, "What do you want?"
The black-haired woman maintains her serious gaze as she takes a seat on the barstool next to him, "What are your intentions with Yuzu Kurosaki?"
He maintains his raised brow as he wears a troubled expression, "I thought I already—"
The Quincy cuts him off, "A lie, obviously. I want you to drop the bullshit and tell me the real reason you are interested in a Quincy like her."
Ginjo looks away with an unreadable expression, becoming quiet as he chooses not to respond immediately.
Bambietta narrows her purple eyes, "Who are you really, Kugo Ginjo?"
He chuckles and shrugs in response, shifting to a jovial expression, "Again, I'm confused what you mean… I just want to help Kurosaki control her powers, that's all."
The Sternritter suddenly slams her fist on the table and hisses at the man in hostility, "I told you to cut the bullshit! I can tell you're a killer—I knew from the first time I saw you. You have the empty look in your eyes—the same look I have in mine! I've seen it enough times to tell!"
Ginjo is silent for a moment as he regards his drink with a neutral expression. The silence only works to further the tension between the two supposed allies, making the woman narrow her eyes and continue to wear her hostile scowl.
After another moment of silence, the Fullbringer shifts to look at her with a dark look in his eyes, now wearing a sinister smirk to reveal his true nature, "So then, what if I told you I planned on using Kurosaki for my own benefit and throw her to the wayside when I'm through?"
Bambietta blinks before she returns the sinister smirk with one of her own, "Then I would say you are an honest man."
The woman quickly drops the smirk and regards her host with a serious, yet still sinister, look, "If you do intend to enact any of those plans, then I will kill you without hesitation, and I won't leave much of you left for your 'people' to find."
A chill runs down the man's back in response to her very real and serious threat, which makes her eyes narrow in some kind of sadistic satisfaction as she crosses her arms, finishing, "I need the girl alive for my own benefit, too. You understand."
After a moment, the slight fear visible on Ginjo's face fades, prompting him to snort as he looks down at his drink with a more casual smile, "Well then, I should count myself lucky that I no longer have those intentions with Kurosaki. I want the girl alive and well, too."
A certain level of hostility naturally remains in the room despite his admission, which the Fullbringer decides to get rid of to avoid unnecessarily angering the volatile Quincy.
As such, Ginjo promptly offers her a playful smirk, "By the way… you shouldn't assume that I don't enjoy being smacked around by a strong woman. Y'know, a lot of people are into that kind of thing…"
Bambietta's eyes widen for a moment before offering the man a sultry look in kind, "Well, I could still smack you around, if you'd like… ~"
He chuckles and waves his hand defensively, "It's unfortunate I'm not a masochist then, because I'll have to pass up on that offer!"
The woman huffs before pointing to a nearby room with her thumb, "Either way, do you want to get a room and try me? ~"
The man stares blankly at her before chuckling in amusement.
The Sternritter's face becomes red as she barks, "W-What's so funny?! I'm being serious here!"
Ginjo stifles his laughter as he places his liquor on the table, "I-I know… it's just… you really took that part about me liking your direct side to heart, didn't you?"
Bambietta growls, once more crossing her arms, "And what's so wrong with being forward?!"
The man waves his hand defensively, "Nothing at all. You like to get right to the point… so traditional flirting isn't really for you. It might be a good way to get a one-night stand, but not so much to get someone to fall head over heels for you, y'know?"
The Quincy declares while stuttering in partial anger and embarrassment, "W-Well, I don't need to f-flirt anyway! Mark my words: you'll have no choice but to fall victim to my charming qualities and lust for me!"
Ginjo suddenly shifts to a serious look, although still smiling, which makes Bambietta flinch.
He promptly pats her head in a somewhat affectionate manner as he whispers, "I'm looking forward to it. ~"
Ginjo then jumps off the stool before walking off, leaving the Quincy a flustered mess as she shudders in place, "Damn it… that vicious look of his is too much…"
The Fullbringer, meanwhile, smirks as he sticks his hands in his pocket and walks toward the back of the hideout, muttering to himself, "Too easy…"
Lab, Las Noches
Roka Paramia has only ever known a life constrained to serving Szayelaporro, in whatever form that might entail. Currently, she counts herself lucky that she is serving him in the way she was created to—using her golden threads to assist his observational research.
The girl finds herself lost in her thoughts, "I feel sad for this poor Hollow that Master Szayelaporro has set his sights on… at least he doesn't seem interested in Master Nelliel anymore…"
Szayel, noticing the masked girl, wearing a long green dress, deep in thought, slaps her across the face. Around them is a mostly dark room save for monitors here and there and an operating table. Next to the table is a slew of equipment that Roka is personally familiar with, in the worst kind of way. In the back, there is a door to a storage room, with the words 'Failed Subjects' labeled above it. The girl knows the room houses the corpses of various unfortunate Hollows and Arrancars that the pink-haired scientist experimented on or tortured to death. She needn't even use her threads to know that, as she is more than familiar with the distinct scent of rotting corpses by now. His lab very much fits what one would expect from a mad scientist.
Szayel growls as he berates the girl, "I retrieved you from those imbeciles so that you could work as an extension of my will—not so that you could get lost in thoughts!"
Roka nods wordlessly before getting back to her feet and using her threads to scan over various locations in Hueco Mundo, feeding what she sees into one of the monitors for her master to view as well.
Once the scene settles onto a group of about fifteen Adjuchas fighting amongst themselves in the desert, Szayel orders, "Stop. I desire to observe this."
The Arrancar girl widens her left, and only visible, eye at the scene. What she sees is astonishing; a large orange-haired dragon Adjucha with long, forward-facing horns and a black striped pattern on its face. The beast is tearing through the group of other Adjuchas with extreme violence, showing absolutely no mercy. Her initial assessment that this was a free-for-all couldn't have been less true, in fact, it could hardly even be considered a fight, more like a one-sided slaughter.
"EXCELLENT!", the bespectacled Arrancar calls out, "It seems that White is just as ferocious as the stories claim! I can see how he would've been able to wound that fool Barragan."
Szayel continues to observe the dragon as it finishes devouring the last of the Adjuchas, a slight frown forming on his face, "We'd best keep this confidential… it'd be a shame if Barragan kills him before I have a chance to witness this creature as a Vasto Lorde."
Roka quietly notes to herself, "Master Szayelaporro did not say 'if he becomes a Vasto Lorde' like he usually does… Does he believe it is a foregone conclusion that this dragon will reach the pinnacle of Menos evolution?"
After a brief moment of silence, the scientist looks intently at the dragon on the monitor, instructing, "Try to interweave your threads into his essence. Extract copies of his memories but be discrete about it! I'd like to get a better idea of what type of being this creature truly is…"
The dark-haired girl says nothing as she robotically follows her master's instructions.
Morning, Kurosaki Clinic
The following morning, birds are chirping outside as a car passes the clinic. All-in-all there is a sense of peace and tranquility outside while the rising sun illuminates the town below.
Inside the clinic's kitchen, Yuzu, still wearing her pajamas, bows pleadingly, "I'm sorry, Uncle! I got lost!"
Standing before her is the white-haired form of Ryuken Ishida, who adjusts his glasses and glares at her with a look of disapproval, "I dropped you off right in front of the building—all you had to do was walk in. Are you lying to me, young lady?"
Yuzu frowns as she pouts, "No! Some older friends recognized me and made me go shopping with them right after you left! They didn't give me the chance to explain myself!"
The blonde girl recalls the way Candice and Bambietta seemingly jumped her after Ryuken drove away, the former not giving her a chance to explain that she had therapy before sweeping her away to go with them on their shopping spree.
The bespectacled man stares at her with scrutiny, "I can't sense deceit from her tone…"
After a moment, the man sighs before adjusting his glasses, "Alright, I believe you… next time it seems I'll have to escort you directly into the building so none of your irresponsible 'friends' can take you away."
Yuzu breathes a sigh of relief as she reiterates, "I'm sorry again… I should've called you… but I lost track of time and forgot while I was with my friends…"
Ryuken narrows his eyes, "Well, if you aren't going to therapy, then you are going to school. I was being serious when I said that being a Quincy is not profitable."
The girl looks at him for a moment before she starts giggling, "When aren't you serious?"
Her comment makes the surgeon blush lightly while adjusting his spectacles, "Just get ready for school…"
Shiba Residence, Rukongai
Karin, still wearing her black Shihakushō, shifts in her futon in the middle of Kaien's old room, the smile on her face making it clear that she is in the middle of a somewhat pleasant dream for the first time in about a week. Suddenly, however, her dreams are interrupted by an immensely cold sensation, as if someone poured cold water on her.
The girl's black eyes shoot open, realizing that's exactly what happened, "THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Karin looks at Rukia standing above her, holding a second bucket of ice water. The Shiba girl's glare is murderous.
Despite the look of death, the purple-eyed Shinigami smiles innocently as she places the ice water on the floor, "Good, you're finally awake!"
The younger snarls as she sits up straight and rubs the back of her head, "What time is it, anyway?"
"Before dawn.", Rukia answers immediately in a casual tone.
Karin deadpans before viciously snapping, "WHAT?!"
Rukia waves her hands defensively, "It was your father's idea. Here, I'll explain…"
The older Shinigami pulls a sketchpad from her Gi, scrolling through it to show the girl various drawings of rabbits and other animals wearing Shinigami clothing.
She explains while pointing at some of the doodles with a marker, "Most people who want to attend the academy have to pass the entrance exam. Due to Central 46, the government in the Seireitei, ordering that you must attend the academy, you do not technically need to take the exam at all. However, Captain Shiba insisted I toughen you up to take it anyway. I will be the one to judge whether or not you have what it takes. Now, before I get into the specific details, do you have any questions so far?"
Karin raises a brow before blurting out, "Yeah, how come your drawings suck so much—?!"
She is met by the sketchpad being thrown in her face, knocking her back somewhat.
Rukia growls as her face is flustered in both anger and embarrassment, "I stayed up all night drawing out these explanations and this is the thanks I get?! I'm the teacher and you are the student—show a bit more respect and gratitude!"
Karin's eyes widen before she bows awkwardly, "Oh—uh, I'm sorry, Sensei! Please, continue your explanation."
The girl's words make the older Shinigami huff while crossing her arms, "It's fine…"
The Shiba girl returns the sketchpad to her new mentor, prompting the older black-haired Shinigami to resume her explanation, "Your father gave me a 2-week training regimen, which includes waking you up in a somewhat violent manner before dawn every morning, followed by a morning run, which will lead into Zanjutsu, or swordplay, training. Only after this, will you be allowed to have breakfast."
Karin gawks, "That's insane!"
Rukia shakes her head before leveling a serious look at her new student, "It's not. If you want to have what it takes for me to feel comfortable giving you a passing score on the entrance exam, then you will need to toughen up. Also, as I mentioned, your father wants to be doubly sure you are ready to be a real Shinigami."
The young black-haired girl looks down slightly before questioning, "I think I get it… so you said we were going on a run?"
The older Shinigami hands her student the sketchpad, explaining, "Follow the instructions drawn out to get to the training area. Try to keep up!"
Karin's eyes widen as Rukia seemingly vanishes, "Wha—? HEY!"
The girl grabs her sheathed Zanpakutō and bounds out of the residence, following the directions the older girl gave her.
10 Minutes Later, Nearby Forest
Karin huffs as she arrives at the location specified—a forest clearing with wooden targets set up a distance away.
"Took you long enough!", she hears Rukia's voice call out from above.
The young Shinigami watches as her mentor lands in front of her with grace and elegance.
Rukia glances at Karin momentarily before pointing at the wooden targets, "Those will be for later if we have time for you to learn Kidō…"
The Shiba girl raises a brow, "Kido?"
The raven-haired Shinigami nods, "Yes. They are the spells that we Shinigami can use to attack, bind, or heal. They can also do various other things depending on the spell. Many Shinigami think of it as a backup for when you can't fight with your Zanpakutō."
Karin still looks a bit confused, which prompts her mentor to sigh, "You don't have to understand what Kidō is yet. We are here to work on your swordplay, after all."
Rukia promptly draws her katana strapped to her waist, prompting the younger girl to draw her own, strapped instead to her back.
The older, raven-haired girl calls out in warning, "Now, your father insisted that I be rough on you, so don't hold back!"
The young Shinigami nods before rushing carelessly with her sword raised overhead. Rukia doesn't even need her sword, as she sidesteps and evades the girl's attack easily before grabbing her by the wrist and flipping her over to land on her back. The older Shinigami backs away a fair distance as her student struggles to pick herself up from the dirt.
The petite, young-looking woman eyes the other Shinigami before suddenly asking, "Why do you fight, Karin?"
After dusting herself off, Karin raises a brow, "You already should know the reason. I've said it around you before…"
Rukia sighs, closing her eyes as she asserts, "If you choose to follow that path, you must constantly have the resolve to affirm those beliefs."
The short-haired girl, unable to get the sight of Ichigo being dragged away out of her head, states while balling her hand into a fist, "Never… I'll never stop until Hollows can't do anything like that ever again… and until that Hollow White has been slain."
The petite woman sees the resolve, or perhaps hate, in her student's eyes, making her wear a cautious look, "Be careful… the path of vengeance and honor often destroys and warps those who do not have the resolve to see it to the end. I've seen it too many times…"
Karin gives the woman a soft, apologetic look, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to bring up bad memories…"
Rukia's resolute gaze meets her student's faltering one, "No. You need to know the dangers. I'll tell you about what happened to your cousin, Kaien."
Karin's eyes widen as her mentor starts, "Going by how time passes in the world of the living, it would've been over 40 years ago that I met him…"
Roughly 45 Years Ago, Squad 13 Barracks
Rukia stands at attention in a square-shaped room in the Squad 13 Barracks, awaiting some kind of orientation. However, she can't shake the feeling that she is being alienated in some way.
The raven-haired girl glances over at a man standing outside the room in the hallway, "Um…"
The man perks up and looks at her, noticing her glance, "Can I help you?"
She gives the man an almost pleading look, "I'm just a new officer. Please treat me like anyone else."
This makes him give her a clearly fake smile, "Oh yes! O-Of course! I'll try to keep it in mind!"
He chuckles softly before walking down the hallway a distance, out of sight. However, Rukia can still hear him as he whispers to his fellow Squad 13 members in the hallway.
"Did you hear about the new girl?", one of the men in the hallway asks.
Another responds, "Yeah, she's supposed to be from the Kuchiki Clan."
A third man groans, "Great, just what we need—another captain's pet getting treated better than the rest of us."
The voice of yet another man adds, "I heard she didn't even need to pass the graduation exam to get into the squad… what a joke! And the rest of us have to bust our asses just to stay out of trouble!"
Rukia looks to the floor in disappointment as she continues to listen to the hushed voices carrying on about her privilege, "I knew it. It's the same here, as everywhere else…"
Suddenly, an assertive voice shouts throughout the hallway as stomping footsteps can be heard, "HEY! What are you lazy bums hanging around here for?! This isn't a show! Get back to your posts!"
The raven-haired girl looks with slightly widened eyes at the entrance of the room, where a man with spiky black hair and green eyes stands between the green sliding doors.
The man, and source of the shouting voice, has a unique, black swirly tattoo on his left arm, which he immediately moves to greet the girl with an informal solute, "I'm Vice-Captain Kaien Shiba! Welcome aboard!"
Rukia sweat drops with fully widened eyes, "I see… yes, sir."
It was an ordinary encounter.
An irritated tick-mark forms on Kaien's face as he growls at the purple-eyed girl, "What did you just say?"
The man suddenly grabs the hair on the top of the girl's head, causing her to yelp in surprise.
He proceeds to aggressively scold her, "What kind of greeting is that supposed to be?! I'm your vice-captain! You're supposed to state your name and say, 'Pleased to meet you, sir!' What's your name, damn it?!"
Rukia struggles to get out the words, "Ru… Rukia… Kuchiki… sir."
Kaien tilts his head to the side, eyes narrowed and clearly unamused, "And…?"
The girl stiffens as she sweats nervously, "A-and I'm p-pleased to meet you, sir!"
An ordinary greeting, an ordinary chewing-out, and an ordinary relationship between superior and subordinate…
The Shiba man removes his hand from the girl's head, giving her a friendly smile, "Good! You're ok, Rukia!"
But 'ordinary' was exactly…
Rukia attempts to fix her disheveled hair as Kaien enthusiastically explains, "Welcome to Squad 13, the best squad of 'em all! Our captain's in poor health, so I basically run the show! It's ok to call me 'Captain Kaien' every now and then by mistake!"
The girl, whose hair is still disheveled, stares at the man with wide eyes, "All right. I'll keep that in mind…"
…what I'd been searching for.
Night, Kuchiki Residence, Noble District, Seireitei
As the moon shines down on the Noble District within the Seireitei, Rukia is kneeling in a doorway on a wooden platform next to the grassy courtyard in the Kuchiki Residence. She is currently bowing in the direction of the lord of the residence, seated in the room with his back turned to her.
Rukia, still prostrating herself, explains in a respectful tone, "Lord Byakuya, my enlistment ceremony with Squad 13 today went smoothly."
The robed captain doesn't bother to turn back to look at her from his seat, "What seat were you named?"
The girl looks down in disappointment at her brother's words, "Um… well… I'm sorry, brother. With my abilities… a seat wasn't…"
There is silence for a moment as she trails off.
Byakuya still has his back turned on his sister as he calmly responds, "I see… you may leave."
Rukia purses her lips, feeling like a failure as she bows and quietly closes the sliding door.
A Few Days Later, Squad 13 Barracks
Rukia can't hide her disappointment, even days later as she sits in the grass in the forested area in the Squad 13 Barracks.
Kaien suddenly appears before the girl, noting her absentminded look and calling her out as he bends over to face her upside down while standing right behind her, "Uh oh, what's with that long face again?"
Rukia squeals in reaction, just now noticing him.
The vice-captain gives the girl a look of irritation as he holds a drink in both of his hands, "Seems like you squeal every time you see me. It kinda hurts my feelings."
He drops the irritated expression as he hands his subordinate one of the drinks, "Anyway, I got this for you. Drink up!"
As Rukia starts to sip her drink, Kaien seats himself in the grass next to her. They sit next to each other in silence momentarily, having only the sounds of the birds chirping to listen to.
Kaien looks off in the distance, starting, "Knowing you, you probably won't tell me what's bothering you."
Rukia shifts her face away from her drink as she stares with widened eyes at the man, surprised at being read like a book.
The vice-captain's gaze is serious as he continues to look off into the distance, "Don't forget, as long as you're in this company, I'm your friend for life. I will stand by you even if it costs me my life."
The raven-haired girl purses her lips, finally finding her words, "Vice-Captain—"
She is cut off as the blonde form of Kiyone Kotetsu and the bearded black-haired form of Sentaro Kotsubaki suddenly appear behind them, the latter starting as he pinches his nose, "Aw yeah! Smells like love in the air!"
Kiyone's flustered form clasps her hands together as she swoons, "You're so nice, Vice-Captain! *hiccup* I just love a man in uniform!"
Sentaro, also flustered and clearly drunk, bends and mockingly 'whispers' into the short-haired blonde's ear, "Did you hear that? *hiccup* 'I'll stand by you', he says!"
They continue laughing as Kiyone starts wagging her finger with a flustered wink, "You've got her wrapped around your little finger now! Now all you need to—"
Kaien shoots to his feet, barking, "KIYONE! SENTARO! SHUT UP!"
His orders make the drunks instinctually kneel before their vice-captain, who continues as Rukia sweat drops at the sight, "How dare you show up for duty drunk again?!"
Sentaro perks up and points to the raven-haired girl jovially, "Don't let it get to you, Rukia! I'm from the slums, too, so I know what it's like! All of these snobs telling me I'm low class really gets annoying."
The raven-haired girl smiles slightly, not taking the man seriously as he continues with an angry tick mark on his head, "Whenever they try, just do like I do and flick a booger at 'em. Works every time!"
Kiyone's giggling, tearful form slides in behind him, "Now that's class!"
The pair continues to laugh, making Kaien shake his head and snap, "Okay, party's over! Sober up and get back to your posts!"
The vice-captain flings the contents of his drink at them, making them cease their laughter as the blonde girl states with a smile, "Aw, but we were just having fun! You're such a killjoy!"
Rukia quietly observes Kaien further scolding the squad members and can't help but smile genuinely for the first time in days.
Kaien always had a way of putting me at ease.
Some Time Later, Forest, Rukongai
A large bipedal Hollow howls into the sky as it stands within a forest in the Rukongai. There is stunned terror in the eyes of Rukia, who lies on her hands and knees on the grass, mud smeared on her left cheek. Meanwhile, the forms of many of the other Shinigami from Squad 13 regard the masked monster carefully with their blades drawn as a certain, black-haired Shinigami rushes towards it.
Kaien Shiba leaps at the beast mid-sprint and raises his katana above his head to strike it down, crying, "DIE HOLLOW!"
Before the creature can so much as raise its arms to block, the vice-captain mercilessly slices it down the middle, cutting it in half and prompting it to quickly turn into particles of light, now purified. Shortly after the last of the light particles disperse, many of the Shinigami sheathe their blades as they approach their superior and congratulate him on a job well done.
Kaien sheathes his Zanpakutō as well, before energetically regarding his subordinates, "Alright, mission accomplished!"
The man's confidence and charisma allow the raven-haired girl, still on the ground, to shift from a look of terror to one of relief as a small smile forms on her face.
As the rest of the squad debriefs with their superior, Rukia sits up, noting the scrape on her left arm with a wince, "I'm hurt…"
The girl widens her eyes as her head is suddenly held still by a gentle right hand before the mud on her cheek is cleaned off by a careful left hand holding a cloth.
As the hands retract, Rukia shifts and looks behind her with slight surprise in her gaze, "Ms. Miyako…"
Held in her gaze is the kneeling form of a noticeably taller woman with black hair tied up with a strand trailing down her back wearing a Shinigami Shihakushō. As with many Shinigami, her sheathed blade is strapped to her waist.
After the woman, Miyako, finishes folding the cloth neatly in her hands, she regards the girl with a gentle smile, "Are you alright, Rukia?"
Rukia flinches as she nervously shifts to sit in a polite manner, stuttering with still-widened purple eyes, "Y-yes! I-It was nothing, ma'am. Thank you."
The woman's smile widens as she tucks the cloth into the sleeve of her Gi, "Oh, good. I was worried for a second."
Suddenly, the brash voice of Kaien calls from behind them, "HEY! Who's that?! Is that you, Miyako?!"
The two female Shinigami rise to their feet as the vice-captain eagerly runs over to them, a noticeable pep in his step.
As Kaien is right before the woman, he continues with equal amounts of energy, "I wasn't expecting you! How long have you been here?!"
Miyako casually responds, "Oh, I've been here a little while—long enough to see you finish off that Hollow. I just came in case you messed it up and needed me to save you."
The vice-captain briefly frowns as he raises a brow before promptly laughing it off with a big smile, "Well, at least it's nice to know you have my back!"
His attitude causes the woman to giggle into her hand, clearly enjoying his company.
After a moment, Kaien and Miyako, still wearing smiles, look at the younger raven-haired Shinigami, the Shiba man instructing, "Rukia, go alert the squad. Have Sentaro and Kiyone help. Tell them we're pulling out."
Rukia quickly bows toward her superior, "Yes, sir."
Within the next breath, the raven-haired girl also bows toward the taller woman, "And thank you for helping me, Ms. Miyako."
The woman chuckles, "You take care of yourself, now."
The younger girl perks up with a smile, "Yes! I will!"
Rukia promptly bows again before running through the grass to find Sentaro and Kiyone, leaving Miyako and Kaien to continue speaking with each other.
Ms. Miyako was Vice-Captain Shiba's wife.
She was a strong woman, proven by how quickly she had risen to the position of 3rd seat…
Not only was she strong, but she was wise, kind, and beautiful.
I looked up to her.
I wanted to be just like her.
She was… my idol.
Roughly 5 Years Later, Morning, Squad 13 Barracks
One day, Miyako received orders to lead a reconnaissance mission…
At the gate of the Squad 13 Barracks, Rukia and Kaien stand in front of Miyako, flanked by multiple taller male Shinigami.
The vice-captain starts to explain as he rubs the side of his head in mild irritation, "Unfortunately, this Hollow is an unknown entity. And none of the Shinigami it's attacked have survived to report back."
He frowns, placing both of his hands on his sides as he looks down slightly at his wife with a warning tone, "Don't be reckless."
The black-haired woman smiles, "You'd have to admit, that's some pretty unusual advice coming from someone like you, Vice-Captain."
She starts giggling, prompting her husband to sweat drop, "Quit joking around."
Miyako stops laughing at his words, noticing the worried look in Rukia's eyes as well.
This prompts the 3rd seat to soften her gaze as she explains seriously, "It's alright. I take my mission as a Shinigami very seriously. This Hollow's horrible crimes cannot be allowed to continue. I'll do whatever I can to put a stop to such evil."
The raven-haired girl furrows her brows slightly, starting, "Ms. Miyako…"
Miyako wears a reassuring smile, asserting calmly, "Oh, don't worry about me. This is just a recon mission. We'll gather all the information and leave all the heavy stuff to you and the vice-captain."
After a moment, the 3rd seat orders, "Recon team, move out."
"Yes, ma'am!", they reply before beginning to leave alongside the woman.
This leaves Rukia and Kaien to watch Miyako and the Shinigami accompanying her disappear from sight, the young Shinigami experiencing an inexplicable sinking feeling.
Late Evening, Squad 13 Barracks
As the sun sets on the Squad 13 Barracks, multiple Shinigami walk through the yard, attending to their duties as usual. Within the barracks, the captain's office, lit by candles, is occupied by the seated forms of the squad's captain and vice-captain.
Captain Jushiro Ukitake, whose white hair hangs freely as it does in the present day, suddenly coughs, prompting Kaien to question, "Do you need anything, Captain?"
The white-haired man shakes his head, "No, thanks… I'll be fine."
Rukia suddenly walks into the room carrying a tray of rice dumplings and teacups with her, "Excuse me, sirs."
The pair look intently at her as she walks across the room before seating herself next to the vice-captain, who casually takes one of the dumplings.
Ukitake narrows his eyes as he frowns worriedly, "Rukia, is there any report from the reconnaissance team yet?"
The raven-haired girl explains while handing her captain a teacup, "I'm afraid not, sir. They still haven't returned."
As if on cue, loud footsteps can be heard approaching from outside, prompting the trio to look at the sliding doors curiously.
The bearded form of Sentaro suddenly slides the doors open, regarding the captain with urgency, "Sir, the recon team—there's bad news!"
Ukitake, Kaien, and Rukia all frown and sweat nervously as the man continues to give his report.
A Few Minutes Later
Within another room of the barracks, Kaien stares with wide eyes at the motionless corpse of his wife lying on a table. All of her body except her head is hidden under a tarp, concealing the fatal wounds dealt by her killer. Rukia stands next to him with a similar expression of dread and disbelief. As they continue to look in shock, Ukitake enters the room and glances at the corpse with a deeply saddened expression.
The captain starts, grimly, "I just finished hearing the entire report from Sentaro… Her entire unit was annihilated…"
A bead of sweat falls down the green-eyed vice-captain's face.
Ukitake calmly continues with narrowed eyes, "None of them escaped… so we hardly know anything about the Hollow that did this. We'll assemble a combat unit. In two days, we'll…"
Kaien suddenly turns on his heel and rushes toward the exit of the room.
The captain's gaze is urgent as he calls after him, "WAIT, KAIEN! Calm down! We don't know anything about the enemy!"
The spiky-black-haired Shiba man pauses in the doorway before he snaps, "I know all I need to know! I don't care what its abilities are! You expect me to just sit here and wait?! Leave it to the combat unit and do nothing? THAT THING KILLED MY WIFE!"
Ukitake's expression softens upon hearing his subordinate's emotional outburst, "I know…"
The room is silent as Rukia nervously looks between her two superiors.
After another moment of silence, the captain sighs before starting, "Alright… We know two things about the Hollow… one, that it's non-migratory. It nests in one place and hunts for prey. And two, that its nest is located in a certain forest within the Rukongai…"
Later, Night, Forest, Rukongai
Ukitake, Kaien, and Rukia stand on the branch of a large tree within a heavily forested area, the moonlight shining through the branches the only thing illuminating their features.
The captain frowns as he looks down at something on the ground below them, "There it is…"
The group looks down at a unique-looking, green Hollow with orange flame-like tattoos around its empty eye-sockets. The creature walks on six limbs, which appear as humanoid arms and possesses grotesque tentacles, which come from its head and upper back.
The beast, standing within a grass clearing, glares up at the Shinigami standing on the tree branch above, "The scent of… prey!"
Kaien draws his blade, glaring at the Hollow in cold fury.
Rukia prepares to draw her blade as well, "Kaien, sir… I'll go first. I'll scout out what its abilities are."
The vice-captain doesn't take his eyes off the Hollow, his calm wrath evident in his tone, "Captain… let me go alone."
The raven-haired girl looks at her superior in shock and confusion.
Why?
Ukitake quietly glances at his vice-captain for a moment, noting the determined, intent look in his green eyes.
Why didn't I…
After another moment, the white-haired man closes his eyes and nods in solemn understanding, "Very well…"
…try to stop him?
Kaien jumps off the tree with his blade in hand, maintaining the death glare on the Hollow.
The Hollow chuckles, "So it's you first, eh, boy?"
The vice-captain regards the Hollow seriously, "Before we fight, there's something I'd like to ask you… How many Shinigami have you eaten?"
The beast thinks for a moment before responding, "Sorry, I don't keep track of such useless things…"
Kaien tries to maintain a passive tone, "Have you… ever regretted it?"
The Hollow grunts, "What a stupid question. I have feelings, just like you. Not a night goes by when I don't regret eating a Shinigami. Why right now, I'm regretting last night…"
The grotesque creature finishes as it laughs loudly, "I REGRET NOT EATING THE REST OF THAT FEMALE SHINIGAMI!"
The Shiba man glares darkly at the Hollow, "I see…"
The beast prepares to charge at Kaien; however, the man rushes the Hollow far too quickly, cutting off one of its left arms before it can process what happened. The vice-captain, utilizing his superior speed, jumps on its back and grabs one of its red tentacles.
Kaien raises his Zanpakutō above his head, "Rankle the seas and heavens, Nejibana!"
Right after he says this, his blade completely shatters from the hilt up.
The vice-captain widens his eyes in horror, "WHAT THE HELL?!"
The Hollow chuckles darkly as it elaborates, "You fell for it, boy… Once a night, the first to touch my tentacles has their Zanpakutō destroyed!"
The red tentacles promptly slash at Kaien, sending him flying back with a baffled look on his face. The Hollow continues to pursue him and lashes out violently with its tendrils.
Rukia calls out, "KAIEN, SIR!"
The girl grabs the hilt of her blade and prepares to leap off the tree; however, she is halted from so much as unsheathing her sword by a hand grabbing her own.
Rukia looks up to her captain in confusion, "C-Captain?! Please let me go! We… WE HAVE TO SAVE HIM!"
Ukitake doesn't move his eyes from the fight below, "But what will become of Kaien's pride if you save him? If you go to his aid now, his life will be saved. But you would end up killing his pride forever."
The younger Shinigami argues desperately, "WHO CARES ABOUT PRIDE?! Compared to his life, pride is…"
The white-haired veteran continues his explanation, "Listen and remember this well. There are two kinds of battles. Each time we fight we must know whether it's a battle to protect life…"
Ukitake continues with a scowl, finding it incredibly difficult to hold himself back, "…or a battle to defend honor."
Rukia gives her captain a troubled look.
The captain finishes, as Kaien's bloodied form savagely rips tentacles from the Hollow's back with his bare hands, "Right now, Kaien is fighting for honor. For the honor of his men, and for that of his wife. But above all… for his own honor. Think of it as foolish pride if you like. But let him fight this battle alone."
The Shinigami girl loosens her grip on her hilt as Ukitake concludes his speech. The pair look down at the Shinigami and Hollow continuing to battle in the clearing below. The vice-captain and tentacled creature stare each other down, both badly wounded at this point, yet equally unwilling to back down.
The Hollow chuckles, "To come this far without a Zanpakutō… not bad."
Kaien's bloodied form smirks as he breathes heavily, "What did you expect? My Kidō's more than enough to finish scum like you. You're going down!"
The tentacled creature stares at the Shinigami dubiously, "You talk big, boy. Fine… I didn't want to use it again today, but since you insist on insulting me, you leave me no choice!"
The Hollow roars as its tendrils suddenly shoot out and pierce the man's arm. Both Rukia and Ukitake gasp in horror as they watch the scene play out.
The raven-haired girl calls out, "Kaien, sir…!"
The remainder of the Hollow's body falls limp as Kaien looks up at Rukia, his eyes now pitch-black save for a sinister yellow glow, "What? Did you call my name, little girl?"
Rukia stares at him with a horrified expression, seeing that his skin has turned green and the area around his eyes has the same orange flame tattoos from earlier.
The Shinigami girl scrunches her brows as her tone turns desperate, "Kaien… sir?"
The Kaien licks his lips, "Why do you keep saying my name like that? Are you that worried about me, little girl? Am I that dear to you?"
Rukia is too taken aback in horror to be able to react when the possessed form of her vice-captain jumps up and is within arm's reach of her.
The Kaien cackles, "In that case, I'll start by devouring you first!"
Ukitake quickly comes between the Hollow and Rukia, his sword drawn to block the creature's mouth, now biting on the blade.
"Captain…", the raven-haired girl gasps, still regaining her bearings.
Ukitake glances back at the younger Shinigami, urging, "Run, Kuchiki."
Rukia sweats as she stares at her captain with a confused look, "What?"
The captain barks, not wanting to repeat himself, "GET OUT OF HERE NOW! DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!"
The younger Shinigami shudders in fear before turning and running away, cursing the events, "Why? Why is this happening? Why?! Vice-Captain Kaien!"
The Hollow taunts Ukitake as they face off, "What's the matter? Why won't you attack?! …I know what you're up to! You're trying to think of a way to drag me out of his body! But it's hopeless! This isn't like human possession! I'm a spiritual entity and so is he."
The captain's eyes widen upon hearing the explanation.
The fused Hollow continues gleefully, its tongue wildly hanging from its mouth, "We're a fusion of spiritual entities! We can't be separated! I'll spend all night eating his spirit from the inside!"
In a flash, Ukitake slashes the fused abomination across the side of the neck, calmly uttering, "Is that so?"
The captain regards his profusely bleeding enemy with steeled, cold eyes, "Then it can't be helped. I'll kill Kaien along with you."
The Hollow starts to get desperate as it holds its bleeding neck, "Are you crazy?! You'd kill me, your subordinate, with your own hands?!"
Ukitake doesn't hesitate as he narrows his eyes, having made up his mind, "Yes. I won't let you have Kaien's body."
Just after he says this, the white-haired captain feels a sharp pain before spitting up blood due to his illness.
He curses himself as the Kaien approaches, "Not now!"
The Hollow, however, passes Ukitake and instead heads after Rukia who is standing with her sword drawn between the trees a distance away.
As he notices her, Ukitake shouts urgently, "KUCHIKI, YOU FOOL! WHY DID YOU COME BACK?!"
When I came back…
…I had no plan.
I just knew…
…I couldn't run away.
I knew I had to…
…save the vice-captain.
"KILL HIM!", Ukitake suddenly roars as more blood spurts from his mouth.
While the Hollow continues to rush toward Rukia, her eyes widen as her captain urgently elaborates, "HE ISN'T KAIEN ANYMORE!"
The raven-haired girl only recalls a blur as the Kaien is upon her, her mind completely blank.
It is then that she hears the violent, desperate roar of her captain once again, "KILL HIM!"
In the next moment, her blade pierces the heart of Kaien Shiba. Blood drenches the girl's hands and soaks her blade as the body of her vice-captain lies hunched over her much smaller form.
It begins to rain heavily as Kaien, whose consciousness returns in his final moments, whispers out to his captain, who at this point is near enough to hear, "Captain… thank you… for letting me fight."
Ukitake's gaze softens, recognizing that his vice-captain and friend may die as himself.
Rukia glances at her superior, tears streaming down her eyes, "K… Kaien, sir."
Kaien regards the girl softly, placing a hand on her back as the rain soaks their forms, "Kuchiki… sorry I got you into this mess. You… must've been scared. Thank you. Now… I can… leave my heart behind…"
The vice-captain's body begins to dissolve into pieces, leaving the Shinigami girl to fall to her knees and clutch onto his form as she sobs uncontrollably.
Present, Forest Near Shiba Residence, Rukongai
Within the forest clearing, Karin stares at the raven-haired woman, wide-eyed, "I…"
Rukia shakes her head, "I do not wish for you to go down the path of vengeance, as Kaien did… I realized that I could've stopped him but chose not to. I won't repeat that mistake if I can…"
The Shiba girl frowns as she dwells on this for a moment before her mentor catches her attention again.
Rukia states with a hint of bloodlust, "Besides… you're not strong enough to choose your own path yet, anyway!"
The older Shinigami immediately closes the distance between them, leaving the young girl only able to block with her katana. The purple-eyed woman's slash proves mighty, however, as Karin recoils and falls on her back again.
This causes the voice of her Zanpakutō to squeal in excitement, "FINALLY! Someone worth my time!"
Ignoring the voice in her head, Karin looks up to see Rukia's ice-cold gaze as she holds her Zanpakutō to her neck, "If you truly wish to slay this Hollow White and end the existence of Hollows in the living world, you must become strong… far stronger than you are now—stronger than I, certainly. Only someone on the level of Captain Ukitake or your father so much as have the right to dream of such a possibility… So, I ask you… do you have what it takes, girl?"
The Shiba girl wears a shocked expression, making the voice of her Zanpakutō call, "What are you doing?! Stand up and fight!"
Karin's gaze promptly hardens as her blade's words grant her a second wind, "I'll do whatever it takes…"
Rukia sees the look in the girl's eyes, which makes her sigh before backing away a distance, "Then rise to your feet and come at me. Once you can land a hit on me, you will have the right to have breakfast. I won't even use Flash Step this time."
2 Hours Later
Karin tries to slash her mentor for a good 2 hours; however, it is obvious that nothing she had tried was working.
She frowns in frustration, "This is impossible… Maybe I should—"
The girl hears the voice of her Zanpakutō yet again, "Don't you dare give up! This could be a lot of fun if you catch her off guard—watch her movements!"
Karin frowns, considering Rukia's movements over the past 2 hours very carefully.
After a moment, her eyes widen slightly, "Her parrying! She's been using her left hand to divert my strikes, and then she sends me to my back with the blunt edge of her katana. If she doesn't parry, then she just sidesteps so I miss entirely…"
Karin then smiles, regarding her katana held in her hand, "I just might have an idea…"
The girl takes a moment to explain, making the Zanpakutō chuckle, "Such an amusing idea… I like it! Let's do it!"
Karin once more charges with her blade held in both hands. Rukia is used to this by now, so prepares to intercept her student's charge. The older Shinigami uses her hand to push the girl's strike away and swings to hit her with her sword only to widen her eyes as she sees the young Shinigami's left leg outstretched. The momentum of Karin's body causes her foot to kick Rukia in the side of her stomach while the woman's sword hits her in the face. The Shiba girl is sent barreling back to the ground, her sword flying from her grasp and through a nearby tree. The raven-haired woman, meanwhile, is sent backward slightly from the kick, the sliding of her feet on the ground generating a small cloud of dust.
Rukia winces as she grabs her side, "That kick actually hurt!"
Karin quickly gets off the ground, stating casually, "So, we can have breakfast now."
The older Shinigami frowns before pouting, "H-hey! You didn't use your Zanpakutō! That was a cheap shot!"
The young girl shrugs, "You never said I had to hit you with my Zanpakutō—just that I had to hit you! Besides, isn't it a bit hypocritical to preach that honor is bad and then get mad over a cheap shot?"
Rukia growls a bit with a face as red as a tomato before sighing and returning to a normal expression, calming down, "Yes. You're right… the Shibas are quite unconventional to begin with, which is perhaps one of their main strengths…"
Karin doesn't respond to this, but flinches as the woman looks at the Zanpakutō lodged in a tree before glaring at her student with mild frustration, "Never let go of your sword in combat! You should always remember to respect them as if they were an extension of yourself—because they are! Now, go retrieve them and tell them you're sorry!"
As the young girl begrudgingly does so, she hesitates to apologize to her Zanpakutō.
The blade merely chuckles, "I like her and her sword! We should keep fighting. We just got to the good part!"
Karin growls at the katana, "Can it, ya stupid sword!"
Rukia sends a glare in her student's direction, prompting the girl to flinch before changing her words, "Oh—I'm sorry… I-I didn't mean it!"
The black-haired girl grumbles internally as she can hear the woman giggling in her mindscape, "Oh, you're VERY welcome, Karin!"
After a moment, Rukia's glare drops as she sighs and sheathes her sword, "Well, that's it for now, then…"
Karin nods before sheathing her own blade and accompanying her mentor out of the forest, now both heading toward the Shiba Residence.
Afternoon, Karakura Elementary School
As the sun beats down on the concrete courtyard in front of the elementary school, Yuzu, wearing her school uniform, shifts anxiously. A bespectacled female teacher stands next to her, the woman's gaze soft as she knows who the girl is waiting for.
The teacher regards the girl with a reassuring tone, "I'm sure he's just busy at the hospital. Midoriko's parents are always open to—"
A voice cuts her off, "That won't be necessary."
The teacher and blonde girl both look to see a boy with long dark-blue hair and glasses wearing a high school uniform and a neutral expression on his face.
Yuzu recognizes the boy instantly, "Uryu!"
The boy stiffens as the girl addresses him with a friendly smile, "I never recall formally introducing myself to her—she's acting overly familiar…"
While Uryu thinks to himself, the younger girl looks up at her teacher, "This is Uryu. He's Ryuken's son, so I can leave with him."
The teacher glances at the bespectacled boy before nodding, "Very well. I'll see you tomorrow then, Yuzu."
The blonde girl smiles and waves at the teacher before starting to walk down the street with her cousin. While walking, the teen doesn't so much as speak, leaving an awkward silence between them. This makes the tiny blonde girl shift around nervously, unsure of what to say.
Uryu notices this, prompting him to blurt out what's on his mind, "So, Ryuken told me you want to become a Quincy… I wasn't aware your mother had Quincy blood."
Yuzu perks up and shifts to an excited smile, happy to converse as she nods, "Yes, I want to follow in Mom's footsteps! But I didn't even know what Quincies were until just recently."
The teen sighs as he adjusts his glasses, "I see… well, I know you already know this, but I am Uryu Ishida—the last of the Quincy, and I hate Shinigami."
The grade-schooler giggles, causing the boy to stumble back awkwardly, "What's so funny?"
Yuzu smiles joyfully, "Well, you're just so serious. You remind me of Uncle Ryuken!"
Uryu gawks before he hisses with narrowed eyes, "Please do not compare me to that man!"
The girl frowns, tilting her head in confusion, "Why not? He is your dad, isn't he?"
Dodging the question, the teen adjusts his glasses once more, "In any case, Ryuken said we could use the sealed training area under the hospital today to train…. I hope you are Quincy material, Kurosaki."
Yuzu, completely shifting gears, now regards her cousin with a serious expression, "I'll try my best to meet your expectations! Also, please call me Yuzu—Kurosaki is too formal!"
Her assertion makes the boy sweat drop, "This girl just won't give up!"
1 Hour Later, Underneath Karakura Hospital
Underneath Karakura Hospital is a large, tiled training area with a multitude of cubic structures that act as elevation, if necessary for training. The entire room is lit with dim, blue lights, giving the entire room a somewhat ominous feeling.
Uryu sighs while examining the rubble that used to be the shooting range, noting the metal target in the distance still standing, "While your firepower is exceptional, your marksmanship…"
Yuzu looks down at the rumble in disappointment, "I know how bad it is…"
The boy raises a curious brow, "How would you—?"
Just then, the door to the chamber opens, leaving Ryuken, wearing his white suit, to walk down the stairs before entering the training area.
The white-haired man observes the training ground curiously, "I was surprised when I felt her Reiatsu from upstairs, as this training ground should cut it off from the outside… but it would seem that she has been operating off of raw talent…"
Yuzu sheepishly rubs the back of her head, "Sorry for making a mess…"
Ryuken shakes his head, "You've nothing to be apologizing for, this is Uryu's fault."
Uryu is baffled as he snaps, "WHAT?! But you said—"
The surgeon glares at his son, "I told you to bring her here and wait for me for any training. Any practice she did before now was under your supervision. I expect you to have this cleaned up before tomorrow morning, Uryu."
The boy growls at his father but stops as he is suddenly tossed a key, making him raise a brow.
The older Quincy explains, "That key is to the Quincy library locked away in the vault within the hospital. You know where to find it, Uryu."
The boy maintains his frown, unsure of why his father is giving him this, leaving Yuzu to chime in, "Wait, Uncle… are you saying that you keep all the Quincy books here? You don't keep anything in the library at the mansion?"
Ryuken nods, "My father and I moved all of the Quincy literature into the vault here after we started hiring human servants to replace the Quincy ones who were dying out for one reason or another. Although they are vaguely aware of the spiritual dealings of my family, we thought it unwise to leave all of that information about the Quincies easily available to humans."
Yuzu has a look of slight realization in her eyes as the man adjusts his glasses, concluding, "The Quincy literature you will find in the vault is mostly common knowledge, so it would do you good in particular to read up on them to understand the culture, my niece. I'm sure you would prefer to read those as opposed to the numerous medical textbooks outlining the human anatomy that you'll find at the mansion. Although, Uryu seemed invested in them when he was younger…"
The teen scowls intensely, earning him a troubled look from the blonde girl as the doctor promptly turns and leaves, refusing to elaborate.
The man's thoughts linger on the texts, "It will be fine if they read the texts in the vault… but they can't, under any circumstances, see the sensitive material locked in my office here or at the mansion… at least not yet…"
Uryu hisses as Ryuken leaves the training area, asserting, "I'll never be a doctor like you… not anymore…"
Yuzu hears this and her frown deepens as she asks, "How come you don't want to be a doctor? You can save a lot of lives that way…"
The boy widens his eyes and looks at the younger girl's troubled expression.
His eyes soften as he considers a vision from his past of a younger version of his father wearing surgeon clothes and operating on a corpse lying out on a table, "If being a doctor means you have to cut up your wife, then I want nothing to do with it…"
Uryu looks away with a solemn look, lying, "I would rather pursue a more casual field, so I have more time for my Quincy training…"
Yuzu continues frowning as she now looks to the ground despite knowing the answer is logical, "He's hiding something from me, too…"
After a moment, the girl considers the somewhat pained look in her cousin's eyes before sighing, "But it's probably something personal, so I won't pry… it's rude to pry…"
The teen is quiet, his thoughts still lingering on his mother, before his attention is grabbed by Yuzu, who changes the subject, "So, are we going to do any Blut training?"
Uryu's eyes widen as he notices blue lines running across the girl's skin.
"You can already use Blut?! HOW?!", the boy states in utter shock.
The dirty blonde girl looks confused by his reaction, "I don't get why that's such a big deal… it was super easy to learn… isn't that the case for all Quincies?"
Uryu can't believe what he is hearing, "The way she switched between them and how she talks about it… is she an Echt Quincy? Excluding marksmanship, she's already surpassed my level as a Quincy… I don't understand, I thought Father was the last Echt Quincy? Unless she's actually my sis—"
The teen brings his thoughts to a halt, not wanting to think about the further implications surrounding Yuzu's birth, as it would be too disgusting to stomach.
The brown-eyed girl notices the look of disgust on Uryu's face, making her wear a worried expression, "Did I do something wrong?"
Her cousin shakes his head, "No… It's just that only Echt Quincy can master Blut in the period of time you have…"
Yuzu tilts her head, "E-Ack? Uck—uh…"
Uryu sighs, repeating, "'Echt'… but apparently you weren't fully aware there were different types of Quincies, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I think it's best if you continue your target practice. When you're done, I'll walk you home. Don't worry about the mess."
The younger girl nods with a smile, "Alright, thanks!"
Returning to training, Uryu tries not to cringe as he continues to watch Yuzu's failed attempts at hitting the target, "Despite her talent, she's got a long way to go before she's ready to fight anyone, that's for sure…"
Author's Note:
As I mentioned in a previous chapter, I'll continue to place snippets of Szayel and Roka throughout this arc, as well as some other Hollows in Hueco Mundo here and there.
The next chapter will focus on Karin.