Hello everyone :)
I proudly present Chapter XXVII
Same old good disclaimer, reminder and warnings:
Friendly reminder: this story will be slightly AU and some characters might be OOC. For anyone who is not into YAOI, please do not read any further, this is not going to be your cup of tea :) By now, all of you who are continuing to read on and supporting me, I know you know what this story is about, so fear not and please read on :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters, they all belong to Tite Kubo-Sensei etc., etc.
WARNINGS: Spoiler alert for anyone who is not up to date with the manga and only watched the anime! Somewhere along the way might contain, but is not limited to include: dark themes, suicidal thoughts, heavy sexual contest, yaoi (again xD) and some other themes not suitable for under-age reader. Read at your own risk and discretion! :3
Dear Lord, it's been ages since the last time I managed to write something, even longer since I posted our latest chapter.
Sorry! Believe it or not, to work and live on a ship, while simultaneously writing stories, is no easy work. Sometimes you need reminders, Internet and all the good stuff – and those are mostly the times when your connection is out. Of course, there is also Muse-san, who wants me to type away, but, honestly, some days I just want to lay down in bed and sleep until my next shift.
Thankfully, I finally managed to finish this one and even got to chance to sneak out once again to post this little addition to the growing 'Chapter' family x3
Hope you'll enjoy :D
Fingers crossed for the next one xD
I really hope it won't take me this long for the next post, but no promises made.
Chapter XXVII
Shirosaki, Ossan and Yoruichi remained silent and unmoving, waiting patiently for the moment when Soren would be gone. For some reason, it appeared Soren had no desire to leave anytime soon. Shortly, they found out why…
Soren was getting very annoyed. His associates were late. Perhaps he should consider it a blessing in disguise? Had they arrived sooner than the agreed time, they may have ended up bumping into the Quincy, which was something he wanted to avoid at all costs. There was no need for his followers to know he was subtly manipulating both sides. He still appreciated punctuality, mind you, but in this case, he was tankful none of the Shinigami were the punctual type.
Crunching hums accompanied by taps of footsteps finally reached his ears, instantly calming his agitated mood. It seemed the scoundrels were slowly, but surely, gathering around. Expanding his senses, he could feel several signatures coming in segregated groups. Two to his left, four to his right, one behind and one in front of his current position.
It was interesting to see that Shinigami were dispersed into sets. The polar opposite to the Quincy, who managed to put away their differences and work together, at least, when needed.
Unsurprising as, by default, Shinigami were not made to work in unison. The moment they finished the Academy and became members of the Gotei, Shinigami were separated in categories and divisions, never to work for another squad unless forced out from their unit or promoted.
Promotions happened periodically and it was even rarer for a Shinigami to be sent from one division to another. Changes and transfers equaled a huge amount of dreaded paperwork. Thus, all Taichou's were picky before selecting new members. Everything was taken into consideration: achievements, behavior prior, during and after graduation, grades, skills, talents and much more. Taichou's and Fuku-taichou's alike had their hands full after the graduation ceremony.
Even so, many who passed the Academy never made it in the ranks of the Gotei. Such unlucky souls would open their own businesses and shops within Seireitei. On second thought, maybe that was not such an unfortunate turn of events. They were given permission to linger in Seireitei, open their work station and live normal, peaceful lives. There were, of course, those who never even got a glimpse of Seireitei and were taken to the 'Maggot's nest' instantaneously, regardless of their Academical success. Not to forget the ones who got arrested even before finishing the Academy. He had wondered where the famed 'Nest' was located, but that was restricted information. Only members of the Second knew its whereabouts and those guys were hard to attain.
A low call of his name, brought Soren out of his racing mind. Not that it was visible, thanks to the ever-present mask covering his face. He gave a simple nod of the head in acknowledgement of the others presences and gestured for all to sit down.
Immediately, the Shinigami sat on the mini-pedestals at random. There was no such thing as a permanent seat and Soren knew they would always position themselves according to how they felt around other affiliates.
To Soren's left, clock-wise, stood a young-looking man with short wavy dark brown hair and kind brown eyes. The youngster wears the standard Shinigami uniform and white gloves. He is Ogidō Harunobu, 10th* Seat of the Fourth Division and third leader* of the fourth* relief team.
Next came another youthful man with shoulder-length-spiked black hair, with long fringes evenly split on his forehead, gentle raisin colored eyes, thin black eyebrows and a small fake smile plastered on his face. This is Kobayashi Arata* a non-seated officer of Squad Twelve. Following him are three more members of the same division.
Omori Hayato*, a blond male with short hair slicked to the left side, long sideburns, small greasy black eyes, black thick eyebrows and a large nose. He is the tallest and broadest person among his colleagues. Kimura Kento*, an elderly looking man of average size with raven black curly hair, a large bumpy nose, long thin lips, and wide ebony eyes. Lastly from the Twelfth Division, came Matsuoka Takeshi*. Among his companions, he gave the air of the most intelligent. Either that or the higher in rank. He was older by appearance compared to Omori Hayato. He has thin, short black hair gelled to the back, small pebble colored eyes, trimmed eyebrows and a thin English mustache.
Right after the males of Squad Twelve stood two unruly characters. Kotsubaki Jin'emon, former lieutenant of the Seventh Division and Yamada Seinosuke, previously, the Fuku-taichou of Squad Four. As far as Soren knew, they retired shortly after a major incident involving several Taichou's and Fuku-taichou's about a hundred years or so ago. Irrelevant, really.
Kotsubaki Jin'emon is a giant of a man. His black hair is spiky and short with the exception of his long tied up ponytail. He has bushy black eyebrows and sideburns, a black pharaoh styled beard and frame-less red sunglasses. A scar runs along the left side of his face from his forehead, through his eye all the way to his cheek. The sunglasses make it impossible to see whether he could still see from that eye or not. Yamada Seinosuke seemed like a child in comparison. Long ago, the man was the Fuku-taichou of the Fourth. Now, he was the proud owner of the popular store Chiharu Chimon*. The shop sold all sorts of cosmetics and health products, most created by combining natural ingredients and Kaido*. Yamada looks around the late thirties, though he is much older. He has shoulder-length black, smooth hair with long bangs which he keeps behind his ears. He has thin eyebrows and smart calculative black eyes, giving the air of an intellectual commoner with a devious mind.
Last, but not least, is Umesada Toshimori who is the 20th Seat of the Ninth Division a position he shares with 15 other Shinigami of the same Squad. He is a large man with a top knot, large sideburns, a thick mustache above his upper lip and bushy, arching eyebrows close to his eyes. Above his left nostril, you can see a prominent mole. Seriously, can't miss that one.
Once again, Soren was left wondering how he ended up with such an unpredictable and weird bunch of people. He was sure it had something to do with the ongoing century. Nevertheless, he had a role to play; that of a benevolent ex-Shinigami interested in returning Soul Society to its glory.
"Gentlemen. Thank you for coming on this pleasant night. I hope there were no difficulties in locating our meeting point."
He received small grunts and shrugs, but no complaints, signaling that all went relatively well. Satisfied with the unspoken response, he pressed on.
"I am fully conscious that each one of you has a private or group agenda. Yet, we have gathered as one to change certain aspects of Soul Society. Without further ado, let us proceed. As of late, there have been many uncommon readings in the World of the Living. By now, I am certain you have heard rumors about powerful Hollows roaming in certain towns. My sources have confirmed they are caused by the settlement of the Jureichi of this era. I strongly believe it will stabilize in the upcoming months somewhere in Japan, in the zone under the jurisdiction of either Squad Thirteen or Ten. Hollows are getting drawn by the abundant reishi formed by this phenomenon. I would suggest avoiding missions to the Living World until this process is finalized and stable."
His words gave birth to murmurings and whispers between each separate group. Most Shinigami suddenly had deep frowns or worried expressions. The only one who seemed undisturbed was Umesada, he was also the sole individual who looked confused and lost. Obviously the highly important man was not up-to-date when it came to terms such as the Jureichi. Not for the first time, Soren questioned his own sanity. Why did he agree to help the sleazy, power hungry man? Oh, right. He needed to expand his numbers. The more people he got on his side, the easier it would be to overrule those in charge of Soul Society. That reminded him, he would need to start fishing for more subjects and Taichou level Shinigami.
Once more, his furious train of thoughts was haltered by an unexpected action. Kotsubaki Jin'emon abruptly stood from his seat, his deep, rough voice echoed clearly throughout the forest.
"With all due respect, we are not here to chit-chat. If there is nothing relevant for our assignments or benefit, please do say so right away. I do not wish to waste my time on pointless gossip."
Yamada Seinosuke fully agreed with his partner in crime and he too stood from his place ready to leave and follow after the bigger male. Close-by, the youngster from the Twelfth slightly squirmed on his spot. Against all odds, Kobayashi Arata broke out from his nervous demeanor and also stood up.
"Soren-sama, please do not be affronted, yet I believe we all share the same feeling as Kotsubaki-san. Was there a practical reason you wished to see us all together? We could have met as our standard way, individually. There is no meaning for all of us to be present at the same time, if we are only going to discuss minor events."
Soren was astonished. Who knew the little guy actually had a pair on him? He would have never guessed the spirited young man with the fake smile could ever stand up to anyone, least of all to someone as mighty as Soren. Glancing at all the Shinigami in his midst, he swore under his breath, while forcing himself to keep a cool demeanor. He did send a dirty look in the direction of the three standing Shinigami. The defiant bunch would need to learn their place in the packing order.
"Gentlemen, take your seats. This meeting is far from over. The events occurring in the World of the Living may appear insignificant, yet we are all using it as our reunion location. The outstanding number of strong Hollows is just the tip of the imaginary iceberg. If the case is so trivial, why are more and more Shinigami dying? I could understand the death of one or two incompetent fools. However, the death pool has increased to over ten in less than a month. As your benefactor and supporter, I see it fitting to inform you of the cause behind such matters. I also expect you to share any and all intel no matter how trivial the information might be. Sometimes to reach a certain goal, one needs to find out as many details as possible to facilitate operations. Not only does the task become easier, but it exponentially increases winning rates. Now then, sit down so we may continue. We wouldn't want to waste any more precious time than we already have. Would we?"
His words were spoken in an even tone, yet none failed to sense the heaviness of Soren's reiatsu. There was a subtle threat in the mans' posture sending chills and tremors down everyone's spines. Needless to say, the three quietly sat, waiting for further instructions. Seeing his subordinates' submission elevated Soren's spirit and with it the dangerous aura.
"When there are updates, I do request all of you to be present. It would be useless to keep repeating news to each group, thus we are already saving time by having a quick gathering. Now. Has there been anything suspicious going on in Seireitei?"
Ogidō Harunobu stood from his spot with his head held high. He knew he was the highest-ranking officer among the present, if one was to exclude the retired Shinigami. Therefore, his confidence was boosted to the maximum.
"With all due respect, gossip is not something I care much about. Still, even I could not but notice an increased number of missing Shinigami. I wonder if their absence is caused from your experiments Soren-sama?"
Soren smirked. He had correctly assumed this precise question would have come from the member of the Fourth. His deal with the men from the Twelfth centered on giving them 'samples' to work on. That did not mean he actually gave them the identity of every Shinigami under his control. Just a couple to satisfy their needs and the agreement. Never mind the fact that, at least in this situation, Soren had absolutely nothing to do with it.
There was that one lost Shinigami from the Fifth and those who died just recently during missions. But other than the aforementioned, all others were accounted for, which reminded him, he needed to 'hunt' for more soon. Out of the nine he got in one night, he was left with only four; two from the Eleventh, one from the Seventh and one from the Eight Division. Excluding the two individuals from Squad Seven and Eight, as these were the one he 'gave' to the experimental team, he only had two vile souls from the Eleventh. Oh well, he would have to force them into Hollowfication and spread the infection one of these nights. Not wanting to appear wary, he proceeded to answer in a casual manner with just the slightest dash of curiosity.
"No. I too have heard about cases of absent and disappearing Shinigami, but these incidents have nothing to do with the ongoing research. As the head of the project, Kobayashi-san here and his men can ascertain of the same. Am I right?"
Encouraged by the newly appointed title, the young leader of the Scientific group nodded his head in agreement and added his own two cents.
"That is correct. We have at the moment only two subjects. I can assure you, both are closely monitored. On another note, there have been rumors about a unique Hollow. Supposedly, the beast defeated and killed at least three seated officers in the span of a few days. I understand that the Living World is not stable at present, yet it doesn't explain the appearance of such a mysterious Hollow. By any chance, does anyone know anything regarding this matter?"
Silence fell upon the gathered men. All had heard one thing or the other, but nothing substantial. Soren, knew more than the rest, but waited to see if anyone had anything to add. Amazingly, it was Umesada who spoke up with his decidedly masculine tenor.
"I did hear that the Sōtaichō is planning to send Kuchiki Byakuya to get rid of it. Normally, the task of gathering data and dealing with such events should be given to the Tenth, but it's clear that the Sōtaichō has little faith in Shiba-Taichou."
Unbeknownst to the brash male, his words induced quite the commotion. All Shinigami were mumbling and quietly discussing the turn of events. Kotsubaki and Yamada were the only ones who refused to join the discussion, both extremely tense. It would do them no good if their 'target' left for the World of the Living. Meanwhile, Soren's head was overloaded and running a mile per second.
'Now, this is most interesting. I know the Hollow was just recently disposed of and all thanks to my link with all my test subjects. I am positive it was destroyed by the Taichou of the Tenth, if I was to judge by the number incised on the mans' Haori. I also do happen to know how Kuchiki Byakuya looks like and the man from a few hours ago was most certainly not the noble in charge of Recording History. On another note, how come the Tenth came to town, if they were planning on sending the Taichou of the Sixth? Not to mention the fact that Masaki made an appearance. Yet another mystery to add to the increasing list of weird things going on. As per Haschwalth and the Quincy readings, she was last tracked in Estonia. So, why did I see her through the Hollow's eyes in Japan helping a Shinigami, a Taichou no less? Just what is going on? I'll have to re-check the exact time her reiatsu was felt.'
Soren was so deeply immersed in his own thoughts that he failed to notice the whispering had stopped. He did, however, sense the many stares he got from his accomplices. It seemed he had unconsciously let out a large amount of reiatsu, dispelling just how annoyed he was by Umesadas' revelation. Acting accordingly, he pulled in his power and indignantly added.
"Well, this is most unfortunate news. And here I was planning to catch the unusual Hollow for the scientists' team. Not to mention, I am not keen on having a Taichou lingering around the World of the Living for an extended time period. I must say, all these changes are not sitting well with most of our plans. Then again, nothing in life is simple. And this is exactly why meetings are so important. How else would we have found out about such juicy information, if not when united?"
Having proven his previous point and explained away his agitated mood spell, Soren resumed his calm facade. On the inside, he was burning with excitement and a "healthy" dose of fury.
Soren was 90% sure the deceased Hollow was the lost subject of the Fifth and since its final demise, he might have ended up with a new 'sample'. Even better, he would have to look into the possibility it left its trace within Masaki. Though such miracle was unlikely. After all, if the girl was able to move this swiftly from Europe to Asia, it meant she must be accompanied by a powerful ally. Most likely a strong Quincy who would heal her from the Hollow's poison. It was a given, if not treated, she would die within twenty-four hours.
He looked again at the Shinigami forming his group. They begrudgingly admitted to themselves that he had been right regarding gatherings. Soren had no delusions, he would still face the same issue in the future. Still, now he had something to remind them about, meaning he would have less frequent issues.
"Is there anything else anyone wants to share? Remember, any and all information, no matter how ridiculous, could prove to be beneficial to all."
Soren waited patiently for a comeback or, well by this point, anything. Yet, none spoke. Again, Soren was reminded just how different Shinigami and Quincies were in general. The Quincy were definitely more organized and dedicated a lot of time and effort in gathering data. On the other hand, Shinigami were brash and lacked either the motivation or skill to get intel or, most likely, both. Members of the Tenth were the sole exception, but even their most apt investigator could be considered a toddler compared to an average Quincy. All due to the very different operational nature of each side.
Indeed, intriguing notion, but more often than not, an annoyance beyond words. He could get anything in perfect details from Quincies, yet from the Shinigami it was like searching for bread crumbs in a dense and overpopulated forest. Yeah, not easy at all.
"Very well. As there seems to be nothing further, we can call it a night. Anyone who wishes to discuss their, ahem, personal agendas, can return here and speak to me directly one on one as per our standard agreement. Meanwhile, should you stumble upon anything unusual or new, do inform everyone. Either that or we can arrange for another 'group' gathering. You are dismissed."
As one, all Shinigami stood from their positions and left in the same groups they came. Funny how they could stand up simultaneously yet could not work together to save their lives. Oh, well, whatever makes them happy.
Soren knew better than to stand and return to Wandenreich. He was sure some, if not all, would return to speak to him in person. Just as predicted, his first 'appointment' arrived.
Soren strongly believe in getting rid of the troublesome ones first, which was the reason Umesada Toshimori was always the first on his consultation list.
"Umesada-san. Welcome back. Good work on the data you shared just a little while ago. How could I assist you on this night?"
You could tell Umesada was excited. He was rarely congratulated for his observations and work. One of the many reasons he appreciated Soren-sama. The masked man made him feel much more important and appreciated than his own Taichou.
"Thank you Soren-sama. Just wanted to check the status on the power upgrade you mentioned. I do believe a promotion is in order. Still, I am stuck as one out of fifteen."
Yes, Umesada is a power hungry, sleazy and corrupt one. Soren did promise him to make him stronger to the point where he could either get a promotion to a higher rank. Though the male was interested in having his own seat or a position he would not have to share. Soren knew that if given the chance, the hunger would escalate to the point where it would hit him in the head and the fool would end up dead sooner rather than later. Which explained why Soren never gave him the power boost promised. It came anyway in the form of Hollowfication and Soren had ample space to play around Umesada's request.
"Fear not. The procedure is taking longer than I anticipated and I did involve the members of the Twelfth to expedite the operation. However, as you have agreed, we shall not perform anything until we are sure it is fully safe. I assure you, once we run all tests and are certain there are no ill consequences, your desires will come true."
Umesada was already imagining all the possibilities and things he would be able to achieve with the power he seeks. Hi daydreaming of the future was so obvious and Soren knew he got him right where he wanted him, in Dreamland. Soren knew much more about Hollowfication than he let on to the Scientific team and knew exactly what happened during the process. But kept quiet. This way, he had two parties within his grasp. Naturally, he had never let anyone on the tiny detail that he himself was part Hollow, neither in his previous or current life and it was not something he was eager to change any time soon. Umesada, mentally still elsewhere, bowed lightly and left shortly thereafter.
It did not take long for the next person to show up. Yet another solitary one with a similar and completely different scheme. Ogidō Harunobu was one of Soren's favorite Shinigami. The man came straight to the point and had no extreme expectations. As far as Soren remembered, the man was bored out of his mind with Seireitei and the close-minded fools from Central 46 ruling the whole Soul Society. There was more to it, but Soren never pushed it, it was irrelevant. Not to mention, the youngster would eventually spill the beans.
"Soren-sama, regarding our agreement. I would like to make a slight amendment. Yes, I do want to become stronger, but not exactly for the reason I mentioned."
Soren waited for the other to continue at his pace. Could it be he would find out the whole truth just like that? He had his doubts, but perhaps after all this time, Ogidō was ready to open up a little more.
"Yes, I admit to be fed-up with the current Soul Society. Everything is old fashioned and there have not been any interesting changes for ages. And with all the restrictions, there is not much going on. That is definitely something I want to terminate, this dull meaningless life we are all leading. Another thing I do want, is to get the real Retsu 'Yachiru' Unohana back from her sleeping state. The calm lifestyle we have in Seireitei affected her as well. I did hear rumors about her. No, I have confirmed most stories to be true. She should reclaim her title as Kenpachi and, alongside your grace of course, lead us all in a new era."
Soren tried to remember which one was Unohana. The respectful and nearly obsessed way of talking about this lady, made him believe it was either a seated officer or Taichou. But if the person had had the title of Kenpachi, then perhaps a Taichou at the very least.
Rummaging through his brain, Soren finally recalled the kind-hearted Taichou with the pitch-black aura surrounding her. Just remembering the feel of the concealed reiatsu was enough to bring forth chills all over him. That woman used to be a Kenpachi?! Sheesh, no wonder she could scare the living daylights out of people with a mere look.
And this guy wanted her to resume her previous position? Soren was inclined to believe the poor soul lost a few brain-cells along the way. Either that or he has never felt even the most minuscule fragment of that heavy, obscured, tainted reiatsu. Soren would have to tread extremely carefully with this one in the future.
"I see. I am glad you have explained the situation. Yes, I too agree something needs to be done at the earliest opportunity. Nevertheless, changes require time, which we, fortunately, have. As for Unohana-Taichou, if she was a Kenpachi, there is an easy, yet problematic solution. To awaken her, shall we say 'old self', she would need to battle against someone who could give her a challenge. By challenge I mean not just a regular fight. No, this would have to be something far more than a battle between Taichou's. A grand and glorious clash which will have her blood boiling for more. I can't promise for this to happen soon, but I can guarantee that it will occur. The experimentation we are currently doing should help greatly in this particular case. Most subjects, hopefully, will attain strength which transcends Shinigami norms. Once the whole process is complete and finalized, I am willing to bet we will have a few samples which could be 'tested' by your Taichou. Surely, one of them will be strong enough to awaken her dormant self."
Ogidō nodded in agreement and added a quiet "Thank you Soren-sama." He turned to leave but glanced back at his superior. One final request leaving his normally gentle lips.
"Oh, and I want you to promise me no one will touch Iemura Yasochika, our Fuku-taichou. He is mine and will perish by my sword alone."
Soren's astonishment was well hidden. Though, had it not been for his mask and years of practice, he might have slipped on this one occasion. Who knew the healer was a closet blood-thirsty monster? Not to forget, Soren wondered just what in the world did the unfortunate Fuku-taichou do to deserve such hatred from a subordinate.
"Hmm. In other words you are asking not to use him as a guinea pig for our research. Although it would facilitate our operation, I will grant you this one wish."
Ogidō let out a loud relieved breath. Iemura would have no idea what hit him. Naturally, that will be when he was stronger than the irksome male. With a final bow, he was gone in a flash of Shunpo, leaving a stunned Soren behind. Right on time too as Kotsubaki-san and Yamada-san made their entrance. This would be a breeze.
"Gentlemen, so glad you came back. I have some news regarding your noble prey. I know you may have some concerns regarding Kuchiki Byakuya and his mission to the World of the Living. Worry not though, as his leave would facilitate a plan I have formulated just for the two of you."
From the nearly invisible left outer pocket, Soren took several sheets of paper which resembled blueprints. And in fact, they were indeed drawings displaying the outlines of the Kuchiki manor in details. Along the pages, there were scattered notes exposing several week-spots as well as a drawn-up plan of action for the two hired murderers. They might have worked together with other members of the Kuchiki household in the past. Yet both had their private business going and money was required to keep them running. As of late, it had been extremely difficult to sell goods. Especially for Yamada-san and his shop.
Soren did save their skin when they made their first attempt at Kuchiki Byakuya's life. Had the man not showed himself when he did, both would have been captured and sentenced to death or worse. That was the only reason they followed Soren. That and the ingenious mind the man possessed. Needless to say, the two took the documents, bowed and left without a single word.
"If only it was this simple with the whole lot of them. Come-take-leave. Oh, well. Just the Freak-team and that's it for the night."
Soren barely finished that thought, when the largest group arrived. Letting an inaudible sigh, Soren prepared himself for yet another quickie. Nothing to say to these ones really. These guys wanted to be scientist but were told by their Taichou they lacked brain and a figurative true determination. As per their Taichou, the four should display their eagerness of becoming students by modifying their own bodies. A weird display of loyalty, but rather irrelevant.
Soren did agree to offer them his 'research' material along with the many miserable souls he Hollowfied and used as spies. Just not the whole bunch. He allowed them to play with a few, but he needed his own set-up to monitor the on goings in Seireitei. After all, it is such a large area to cover.
"Gentlemen. Good evening once again. Yes, I am alert to the fact we require new subjects and I will inform you as soon as I can provide you with more. In the meantime, how are the ongoing Hollowfication coming along?"
Kobayashi immediately responded.
"It's a most fascinating and unusual process. Some experiments barely succeed, yet others don't make it even half of what we got form previous samples. We are coming to the conclusion that results will vary from person to person. Some yield better results than others, yet all tests had the same or a similar mask pattern which fascinated us on more than one occasion. We will double check with the next batch, but we believe this may have been caused because the subjects were influenced by the same Hollow or an extremely similar one."
Soren had to admit he had not expected this bunch of idiots to figure out as much. On the other side, they have been working for him already several decades. Even a complete idiot would have realized the pattern was identical. Acting surprised and satisfied, Soren went on ahead as though this was something new.
"You don't say? A most peculiar situation indeed. Perhaps it has something to do with the location? I do tend to gather our specimen around the same area. Keep up the good work and post me on what happens with the remaining ones until I bring you fresh experiments."
Happy with their success and metaphorical pat on the shoulder, the four bowed and departed, leaving Soren to his own devices.
Speaking of Soren, the masked man seemed to be even more agitated than prior his meetings. Mind you, he was more than happy to have finished all the gatherings for the current time. What bothered him were all the information and data accumulated in one go.
In fact, he was so restless he did not realize he stood from his place. Even worse, he was unaware of his resumed pacing back and forth while talking to himself aloud.
"Dear Reiou, nothing is ever simple. First the whole fiasco with Masaki, then the Quincy and their desires followed by the Shinigami. Seriously! The hell they think I am?! A magician?! Hah! To indulge all their needs and requests I would have to transcend God territory. Yeah, right! Not even a God would be able to fulfill such disturbing and vile demands. If only I could get Masaki and the stupid jewel!"
He paused in his strides and exhaled loudly, only to restart in a similar fashion, this time mumbling a little quitter. Still, even should he whisper, his words were meant to be perfectly audible to all those within the stone pedestals. Not that he knew there were three invisible individuals soaking up all the juicy details and happenings of the night. Had he been privy to their presences, he would have cancelled the whole deal. But, what he didn't know, could not hurt him… much… at least for now… maybe?
"First things first. Masaki! How did she move from Europe to Asia in a flicker? Even better, why would she endanger herself and whoever she is traveling with just to help a Shinigami, a Taichou at that?! Something does not add up. It's fishy. Either she is traveling with someone really powerful, capable of moving through space and time, or the whole lead we've been following is fake, courtesy of the person she is with. There is also the possibility Haschwalth might be somehow involved… No! That couldn't be true. Haschwalth's whole interest is in freeing the Quincy King from his seal. I did give them all a very believable tale that Masaki holds the 'key' to liberate The Emperor. That was the only reason he let me inside Wandenreich and take the position of Regent. Nope, it can't be Haschwalth, but then someone from the inside or an amazing servant from the Kurosaki household. Hmm… I'd say the latter is the most plausible case."
Taking a large intake of breath, he continued as though he never paused.
"That must be it. I'll have to speak to Haschwalth about resuming the search in Japan. I doubt she left the country and if the servant is this good, he or she is making sure the girl is not affected much. That being said, he or she would try to keep her in a calm and quaint little city, not overly crowded with minimal Hollow encounters. That would explain her sudden appearance in Japan as well as the constant false signals we're getting everywhere. Now as for why she rescued that Shinigami…"
Unbeknownst to his observers, a fond smile stretched on Soren's lips. That was exactly how he met her in the first place… at least in his previous life. Overcome by memories of the past, Soren automatically stopped all his movements.
"Right… that's just the kind of person she is. No matter the distance, she must have sensed that monstrosity and came to dispose of it before it hurt anyone. Heh, knowing her, she is beating herself up for not arriving before the guy got injured."
Acting on pure instincts, Soren crossed his hands to his chest, as though he was still able to fell the caresses and hugs shared with Masaki back in those days. That did not last long, as he continued to stride while still keeping his hands crossed to his front.
"Once I have Masaki, by default I will attain the heirloom. Wait!"
Another abrupt stop, followed by even faster and shorter steps.
"How was it supposed to work again? During the cursed battle, the little rascal did say something about it… just what?"
By this point, I dare say anyone sane would have lost all reason thanks to Soren and his behavior. Honestly, if you were to continuously watch a form strolling, halting, then walking around again while talking to thin air, you too would lose a screw or two. Soren's outfit and mask would not help you much either, as he could easily pass for an apparition, a ghost or a horror character.
"Hmm… Let's see… Masaki's old memories were tampered with… so she would believe or remember giving the stone to him… but it supposedly stayed within her… He also said that if she was murdered or died an unnatural or premature death, the stone would crumble to dust…disappear or something… but how do I get it out of her before any of that happens? I can probably get the majority of things fixed and done by subtly influencing her choices… Yet, that is not enough! I will never achieve my goals unless I dominate the darned trinket completely. It must have a master… And it can only be one at a time!"
Having said that, he slowed down to a calmer walk, still babbling to himself.
"Hmm, last time she had no idea since her mind had been played with… What if I was to tell her the truth?! If I made her aware that the orb is in her possession, perhaps that would simplify the whole ordeal… Yes… that's right! IF she received it from The Emperor, it must mean she too should be able to hand it over to another, just as she presumed she did… just as I believed she did… If I make her realize she did not, it will be all solved. Once I win her confidence and trust, I'll make it as though all the bad things happening around her are due to the power of the little rock… Then, of course, as the good Samaritan I am, I would offer her the chance to get rid of it and its 'curse' laying dormant upon the Kurosaki's family and name. Making her conscious of her ownership and rights might be risky and may lead to some other issues and outcomes. Come what may, I will convince her it will be for the best to leave it into my care."
The loud exhale which escaped Soren's masked features, echoed through the still forest.
"Alright! Get Masaki, make her understand she has the gem of doom in her body and manipulate her to abandon it. Now, the only missing piece to the puzzle is… how does she pass it on to another?... Bah! Surely, the answer is in the genetic code or something… A skill she'll not even be acquainted with unless fully awakened to the fact she holds the little thingamajig."
Feeling much more at ease, Soren discontinued his gait, but continued to keep his hands folded close to his chest.
"Finally, one dilemma out. Next is the blurry figure of Shirosaki I saw through the Hollow's eyes. He should not be alive, that's for sure. Nevertheless, from my calculation, I too should not be back either, yet here I am. No, no, no! The brat can never come back! Getting my memories back was hard work, but the dungeon-turned-lab, had been one of my greatest ideas. Even with all my predictions and programs, they are still messed-up and, at times, hard to grasp… A possible by-product from his last attack?! Feasible and I am likely experiencing the end result. Curse him all the way to Hell and back! Argh! To Hell and NO return actually! Sheesh! Talking to myself again? What can I say? I need to speak with someone smart from time to time, else with all these idiots surrounding me I'll go insane!"
Soren took several calming breaths before picking-up his brain-work.
"Yeah, Shirosaki is back, but so am I. The Quincy King is still sealed and there are no signs of the blasted imp. Back then, my invention should have disintegrated Shirosaki's soul into smithereens. And still, I could have sworn that was him… It must be him… So how is he back?"
In the shadows, hidden by Urahara's creation, two souls, out of three, were wondering just what Soren's reaction would be, if he knew that Shirosaki never died in the first place. Nonetheless, the unspoken inquiry will remain unanswered…for now.
"Let's see… The collar was flawless, thus, it surely worked… Could it be yet another feat from my very own hell-raiser? I knew I should have ended him the day he was born! Not that it would have been easy… The Emperor sure did take a liking to him… going as far as to assign Haschwalth as the kid's personal coach, instructor and tutor… That is, until Kasper Braam* and Ichirou Shirosaki made their appearances. Shoot! I'm getting off track… Shirosaki and the device… Shirosaki should not be alive, but he is…how?!"
Back to pacing. Soren's strides were long and nervous as though he would jump out of his skin at any given sound.
"It must have been him… He did something…but in such a short time? Oh, well. It wouldn't be the first time he achieved the impossible… In that case, Shirosaki should not remember his past, just like Masaki and all other souls who reincarnate. Another thing to add on the to do list… Double check on Shirosaki and assure he really does not have any recollection of his previous life… I'll give this one to Haschwalth, but I'll closely monitor this task… the two did get along rather well for complete opposites. Ah! Finally, another issue almost solved."
Having arrived to a solution made him pause both his musing and steps. There were a few tense seconds when everything was quiet. Until broken by a loud puff of air.
"Ah. That leaves only the task to get more samples for myself and the 'research-team'. Or at least, these are the most pressing ones. I don't have many subjects left, which means I need to gain more… Oh, that should be easy enough. The new Academy Year should start soon, which simultaneously means more 'fresh meat'. I'll definitely use the brutes from the Eleventh to get me some new tests for the four makeshift scientists. By the end of the year, there will be many new Shinigami available for the picking… I'll just have to keep an eye out for the two puppets from Squad Seven and Eight. With any luck, they will stay alive until the end of the Academy Year, when I'll get even more marionettes."
Having said that, Soren started to nod his head in approval, as though re-affirming that all which had to be done had been, indeed, finalized. And at a good time too, as the first rays of the rising sun started to penetrate through the dense foliage, reminding him that he had spent the entire night in the open.
"It's morning already? Better get back to Wandenreich and set the rest in motion, but at a later time. Yeah… probably much later… got to get at least a few hours before having to deal with that mess again."
With that said, Soren moved into a rather fast Shunpo, eager to leave the mansions premises. Once in a 'safe-zone' he would use the medallion which would take him to Wandenreich and in the comfort of his chambers. Oblivious to the world and to the detail that most, if not all of his plans, had been overheard by a dangerous group.
Looking forward to any and all criticism.
Might want to mention this, but if anyone noticed, I am not writing the meaning of names which Tite Kubo used for his characters. I regret to say, but I am not yet a fluent Japanese speaker (getting there, work in progress xD). Therefore, I do not wish to just put what I think may be the right meaning of names he already used. On the other hand, any and all names I create, give and/or make will have an explanation ^.^
*10th Seat and third leader* – in the anime/manga Ogidō Harunobu is actually the 8th Seat of Squad Four and second leader of the first relief team. I gave him lower positions due to the fact we are still a long way away from the original timeline. Completely different from Umesada Toshimori. Call me mean, but I could never bear to give him a promotion whether in the past or future.
As is tradition in Japan to present people with last names followed by first names, this is the same principle I will try and use when presenting Shinigami.
*Kobayashi Arata* – Kobayashi is a Japanese surname meaning 'small forest'. Never underestimate the little ones, they are the ones with the biggest bite xD Arata is a first name, meaning 'fresh new'
*Omori Hayato* – Omori is a combination of the kanji characters 'O' and 'MORI' (sorry, don't have the keyboard for kanji) which mean 'big' and 'forest'. Hayato means 'falcon person' or something like that xD
*Kimura Kento* – Kimura means 'wood village' while Kento is from 'KEN' (healthy, strong) and 'TO' (person).
*Matsuoka Takeshi* – From Japanese 'MATSU' (pine tree) and 'OKA' (ridge, hill) and Takeshi which means 'military, martial'
*Chiharu Chimon* – Chiharu means 'springs and clear skies' and Chimon 'gate of wisdom'. I thought it would be a nice name for a store selling beauty/healthy products for both sexes xD
*Kaido* is also known as healing Kido. These spells do not have known names, numbers, or incantations and simply heal the targeted area or individual. As the user holds his/her hands above the wound, palms glow with green spiritual energy which is directed toward the zone in need of healing.
*Kasper Braam* – ok, I will admit, I played a bit with this name. Kasper is a German name meaning 'a treasured secret', but many will remember or think of the name "Casper", that of 'a friendly ghost'. All in all, it was perfect for my enigmatic lecturer. On the other hand, Braam is a Dutch surname, meaning 'Blackberry' (yummy). I love languages, so I will have many names from all over the world. Don't shoot me in advance if I mix a few in between xD
Reminders: English is still not my mother language. So, if I made any mistakes or errors, please let me know. I am the writer and spellcheck person all in one and at times (most of the time), after I type things, I simply see them as I wanted them to be. Alas, mistakes happen. I know this is getting old. But better safe than sorry xD
Wishing everyone an amazing day/night ahead :D
Time for me to get to bed too :)