Chapter 27: Back from Hueco Mundo

Minata's POV

"Captain Kuchiki, Captain Zaraki, you need to get treatment for your injuries!" says the head Shinigami from the front of our welcoming party as we finally emerged from the Garganta, our mission to Hueco Mundo now officially over.

"Oh these?" asks Kenpachi as he gestured to his wounds, sarcasm dripping from his gruff voice as he hoisted his nameless blade over his shoulder. "They're only flesh wounds. No big deal."

"And there he goes . . . the big Neanderthal acting all tough even after going through that long fight with an Espada more than ten times his size." mumbles Kurotsuchi as he and his daughter began walking away with their large cart in tow.

"What was that Blue Boy?" calls Kenpachi as he stared at Kurotsuchi's back as he continued to walk away. Zaraki may be dense sometime, but he definitely wasn't hard of hearing. "Mind saying that to my face?"

"I have no time for you right now," the 12th Division captain says as he looks over his shoulder. "Right now, I have experiments to do, unless you want to volunteer yourself for one of them, eh Kenpachi?"

"Hmm, thanks, but no thanks," Kenpachi tells him as the 4th Division medics finally arrive on the scene. "That's actually a bridge that I don't want to cross right now."

"Eh, suit yourself. Let's go Nemu." says the mad scientist as he walks off, his daughter and his cart following after him.

"Ken-chan, what was all that about?" asks Yachiru as she pops her head out from behind his shoulder.

"I could have taken him easily," answers Kenpachi as he allows one of the medics to begin healing him. "But I wouldn't want anyone to get in the way now would I?"

"Is he actually showing compassion?" I manage to hear Mizukiri whisper as she leans into Senbonzakura's ear.

"I highly doubt it . . ." Senbonzakura answers her passively as Byakuya begins getting treatment from one of the other medics.

"Third Seat Fukudome?"

As soon as I hear my name, I turn to see my cousin walking over with her Kage Mai following behind her with passive looks on their faces.

"Oh Akira, Kage Mai," I say in greeting. "How have things been going on your end?"

"Everything's been fine. So far, no Arrancars have managed to sneak their way into the Sereitei," she tells me as she brings a hand to her hip. ". . . Anyway, we've come here with a status report we just received from fake Karakura Town."

"What is your news?" I hear Byakuya ask as I hear his approaching footsteps. By sneaking one quick look at him, I see that his wounds were healed and bandaged, keeping a cool composure despite looking worse for wear.

"Well, I'll start off with the headliner," she tells us as her gaze moved to him. "Ichigo Kurosaki has defeated Sosuke Aizen."

"NO WAY!" yells Kenpachi, that sadistic smirk of his growing even bigger as he waved his medic off so that he could march over to us. "Ichigo actually killed that bitch?"

"Hmm, not exactly Captain Zaraki," Akira tells us with a shake of her head. "Kurosaki did defeat him, but because of his fusion with the Hogyoku, he couldn't be killed. After his fight with the substitute shinigami, Aizen was left severely injured enough that Kisuke Urahara managed to seal him away with a Kido spell."

"Wait a damn second . . ." mumbles Kenpachi, his eyes looking pissed. "Aizen was left severely injured, but he wasn't killed!"

"That's correct . . ." she tells him as she crosses her arms. "Like I said before Captain Zaraki, Aizen fused with the Hogyoku prior to the battle. The Hogyoku gives Aizen regenerative powers, powers that work so fast that it prevents him from dying."

"That lucky piece of shit . . ." he grumbles as he crosses his arms, and from the look on his face, Byakuya was agreeable with Zaraki's statement.

"Um, what happened to Icchi anyway?" asks Yachiru as she rests her chin along Kenpachi's left shoulder. "Did he make it out okay?"

"He's fine, to some degree . . ." the older half of Kage Mai, Shika, as she looked out into the near distance.

"Some degree?" asks Senbonzakura as Byakuya remained silent.

"Ichigo will recover from the injuries he suffered from facing Aizen, but he lost his shinigami powers in the process," answers Maru, the younger half of Akira's zanpakuto as she scratched the back of her neck. "Apparently, the last technique held the great risk of him losing his powers. He took that risk, and now he's paying for it."

"I see . . . what about the others? How have they fared?" asks Byakuya as he raises an eyebrow.

"The others didn't make it out unscathed if that's what you're asking Captain Kuchiki," she tells him with a terse nod. "Some of the seated officers were gravely wounded, other seriously, but Captain Unohana has managed to get all their injuries under control. Fourth Division medics are currently on their way there to assist her as needed."

"What about Gramps? How did he do?"

"He's fine, but he's not too happy about losing his left arm." she tells Yachiru, who already looked well on her way of thinking about the Captain Commander without his arm.

"Even if he has lost his left arm, it would be unwise to underestimate the Captain Commander in battle." mutters Byakuya as he places a hand underneath his chin.

"As if I care about that. I'm leaving." says Kenpachi as he and Yachiru shunpo away.

"Well, so much for a friendly goodbye," says Shika as she shakes her head. "Master, you still have that paperwork to do at the barracks."

"Oh right, I forgot about that," says Akira as she turns to her zanpakuto before turning back to us. "I better get back to it . . . Good day everyone."

"Is your cousin the forgetful type?" Byakuya suddenly asks me as Akira and Kage Mai shunpo away.

"Occasionally... She'll have her moments," I say with a small sigh as I turn to him, instantly noticing that some of his wounds were starting to bleed through his bandages. "Captain Kuchiki, you should probably get the rest of your wounds checked out."

"I guess a visit to the Fourth Division barracks couldn't hurt," he says with a terse nod as he examines his wounds. "What about you Third Seat Fukudome?"

"I might as well head back to my barracks and start on my status report," I say as I place a hand on my hip. "It's better to get a head start before the rest of the paperwork begins to come in."

"Good point . . . I'll see you at the Manor later then?" his tone was quiet, but the intention behind his statement was clear.

"You will," I tell him as I begin to walk away. "Have a good day Captain Kuchiki."

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Next Chapter: Zanpakuto Unknown Tales Arc