Good day everyone!
I'm back with Chapter XXXIV, hope you're ready for it :D
Disclaimer, reminder and warnings all as per usual:
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
Heads-up everyone, I'm going to change my pen-name from AkemiRyuShuichi to Cass Ichirof on the same day I post Chapter 35. Since this is Chapter 34, it's going to happen very soon (hopefully) x3.
Also, a huge THANK YOU to Strawberry (Guest) - the last comment nearly brought me to tears. Thank you and thanks to everyone for the support. I do swear, no matter what, I'll never stop to write this story until the very end. Only once I conclude it, will I do more xD
Happy readings!
Chapter XXXIV
Have you ever woken from a good sleep, feeling like it was going to be a really good day? Did it ever occur that on such a supposedly amazing day, everything went from bad to worse until you were ready to explode?
Soren sure had one of those days. He woke up with a sense of achievement and satisfaction. He was certain the day would be positively eventful, so much so that he went as far s to whistle a cheerful tune under the shower.
If only he had known it was going to be one Hell of a day… He might have given himself an encouraging talk, or could have decided it was better to sleep it over to the next…
His newest experiments with Quincies was moving along in the right direction. The results were stupendous. The sole downside was the lack of subjects. He did get his hands on many deserters from the Living World. Yet, it was not sufficient. For his plan to come to fruition, he'd need an exponentially strong Quincy… one tainted by Hollow powers and not a regular Gemischt. In short, he needed someone on their dying breath.
Based on the few samples he worked on, Gemischt were better for his plan compared to Echt Quincies. Even so, something was lacking. Echt were decidedly stronger than Gemischt, but the Gemischt were more compatible for his needs.
All in all, he concluded he was stuck. Especially since Quincies were a nearly extinct race. Those within Wandenreich were all Echt, not to mention out of the equation. How could he possibly justify the disappearance of fellow Quincies within the Shadow Realm? With the capable Grandmaster still out of his grasp, it would be simply impossible.
He could always blame the hotblooded nature of a Sternritter or two, but that only worked on small occasions and when he was sure a Soldat or other Sternritter was targeted by a higher ranked officer.
That's how he actually made it to get a hold of a few Echt and Gemischt. His disappointment at having found out that he could not use the Echt ones for his benefits had been a serious blow to his plans.
Nevertheless, he was not known for giving up. His desire to rule over the mighty Kingdom, its soldiers and eventually, Soul Society was a strong motivation to keep pushing forth. Not the most noble reason to move forward, but to each their own.
All Gemischt he caught, had been from the World of the Living. Most of them ended up being trash material and almost did not produce any outcome. Only one among the six he gathered had been an Echt turned Gemischt from a Hollow attack. Based on that one test, his theory started to become a reality.
When he was under the impression that Masaki was dead, he had moved on from getting the Heirloom from her and was now instead working on a way to absorb a Quincy's essence and become the new Monarch. So far though, it was a very slow process. The 'Gemischt with Hollow in it' did not last very long. By the time it became evident he would be able to devour the Quincy without repercussion, the disgraceful bastard died…twice… leaving not a single drop of its Quincy heritage for Soren to consume.
If nothing else, Soren managed to do all this in private without being found out by either Haschwalth or any of the other Quincies. Naturally, he could not have accomplished all these feats by himself. It was easy to convince a group of intelligent Quincies to work for him. The group gathered mostly for the power he would bestow upon them in the near future. Some came for a favor or another he provided or would deliver in due time. Others, simply wanted to research to their hearts content without being labeled as traitors or monsters.
It was easy, really to read through the small differences and corner such individuals into confessing their wants and desires. Just like in his previous life, those entities became a regular part of his everyday-life and readily swore allegiances towards him and their shared mutual goal.
Finding out Masaki was not only alive but pregnant, had been an unexpected shock. Who would have imagined his old experiment had sliced the Taichou it had fought and infected him as much as Masaki? He was well aware the Hollow did taint the girl, but had been unsure if it managed to do the same to the Taichou. The bigger surprise was Masaki's ability to survive Soul Suicide.
Thankfully, the Hollow remnants went unnoticed by the Shinigami, consequently this allowed Soren to keep an eye out for Masaki and her status. The only difficulty was that he was still unable to find her exact location. It was as if the Taichou was even now subconsciously repressing the Hollow's poison. It was very aggravating to know he could get her without breaking a sweat, but was always pushed aside. As of right now, he did not manage to find out any descriptions or areas where they might be located.
Judging from everything he did gather through the Shinigami's eyes, they were in a quiet neighborhood, running a healing center of sorts. It was a shame he could not clearly see the name of the cursed center. That would have saved him a lot of time and energy. Another thing that angered him, was the lack of response from the Inner Hollow that should have eaten Masaki from the inside out…
After taking care of his morning needs, Soren made his way towards the congress hall where he would meet his fellow scientist for a routine check-up with the latest experiment. If his cheerful mood was any indication, it would be a great success.
Several hours later, he was proven wrong as the test miserably failed. How it backfired, dissolving all their tubes and previously accumulated results, will forever remain a mystery.
Infuriated by the unexpected situation, Soren rushed out of the examination chamber before he decided to eradicate the entire group of useless idiots working at his side. Had he been aware that the subject failed because of a certain Mohawk haired individual, he would have blown a fuse or two…
In his rage, he accidentally made the mental link with the Inner Hollow hidden within Masaki's husband. Soren was lucky the connection was established only after he entered his personal room. His fury at seeing the baby would have been palpable even to an infant. Which actually happened. It was surreal that the newborn felt his wrath from such a distance, even more so while Soren was not fully in charge of the Shinigami's body.
Yet, the brat started to wail and cry like its life depended on it. Which was good news for the child, but yet another nuisance to Soren. The moment it started sobbing, the Shinigami regained his consciousness and with all chances Soren might have had to dispose of the irksome infant.
His list of reasons to be pissed only increased as the day progressed. His Quincy subordinates did not bring any updates about Shirosaki's whereabouts, nor did they find Masaki. The only thing they seemed to do properly is detect Reiatsu. In the last year or so, the Jureichi stabilized around the city of Karakura and Hollows were swarming like flies to honey.
From his insight, Masaki couldn't be in that city. Not with the Hollow infestation. First, the place was quiet, and with all the Hollows going in Karakura, that option was out. Second, even if she was there, she should be disappearing very often from her home and working space. Since that was not the case, it left Soren to believe she opted for a calmer location in Japan. It was just recently that he changed his order to locate Masaki from the world-wide search, to only around Japan. To have Haschwalth reporting the Quincy were always returning empty-handed was disheartening.
Another thing which did not make any sense, was the Shinigami she married. Why she chose such a weakling, was beyond his comprehension. The guy barely had any Reiatsu at all, which was precisely the reason he could not completely control the others body and mind. There was progress, but it was moving at a snail's pace.
His search for the albino, was due to a personal grudge and a necessity to study the human. Going to his previous lab and getting his memories back had taken a lot of time. He did fix most of the inconsistencies and could clearly recall his fight with the bothersome imp. Before he died, he was sure he saw the scoundrel do something to his pale companion. It would explain why Shirosaki was reincarnated.
What he could not put his finger on, was the visage of the third person that was with Shirosaki and the hellion. He was certain it had been a male, a big one at that, but, as he was at the very edge between life and death, he did not get a proper look. No matter how much he tweaked and improved his machinery, what he did not see, could not be visualized. Such a shame.
In an attempt to get the missing puzzle pieces, he had personally ordered both his Quincy and Shinigami associates to find and capture the white haired being. Thanks to his masterpiece, he had been able to create a photo of sorts which he then distributed to each member individually, promising a great reward to the one who would bring him the selected specimen alive.
Nowadays, he wondered if that had been a good idea. Shirosaki might be either dead or getting old. Regardless of his current appearances, he should either be found in the World of the Living or in Soul Society as a citizen of the Rukongai. Depending on how long he lived or if he continued to exist.
Once again, he had been disappointed with the result of the Quincy search. The Living World should have been rather easy to scourge. As for the Shinigami, they did have a lot of ground to cover. The Rukongai was immense and people came and died at such a tremendous speed it was not funny. With the World expanding and more people living in congregated spaces, it was no wonder souls were reincarnated so quickly.
Regardless of how the World changed and adjusted itself, the biggest problem was Masaki's child. It should not have been possible for the kid to be reincarnated! Damaged souls could not be reformed, even less join the cycle of reincarnation. Or, so he had believed his entire life. He'd have to figure out a new method to get rid of the boy… the sooner the better.
The problem would be in the execution more than in the method. Although he wished for Masaki and her presence, he knew she would never allow any harm to befall her children. As a matter of fact, she was overly protective and tended to keep her Reiatsu open to any and all forms of attack, especially if the assault was anywhere near her babies.
He should know. He did have two with her in their old life. With Masaki back in the game, he figured he could still get his hands on the wish-granting-inheritance. He did not know exactly how the trinket worked, but he had overheard a conversation Masaki had with the Emperor before it had been passed down to her. Later, getting more data from Masaki had been a piece of cake. The only thing which remained uncovered was the mechanic on how the jewel worked.
See? Nothing was going as he wanted. Every time he thought he got one problem fixed, two more jumped out of nowhere and made his life miserable. Also, how big were chances he could eliminate the kid with his father's hands? Low, very low. The annoying Shinigami was keeping a good hold on the Hollow with or without Reiatsu. Meaning, even should he be able to control the body and the mind, the actions would be sluggish at best, at worst the subject could be capable of utterly disregarding the command. Urgh! If nothing, he knew exactly what to expect from the whole ordeal. It was good he had tested his powers to their limits.
With his head in turmoil, Soren's Reiatsu fluctuated around him in an impenetrable circle. The process abruptly stopped the second an unlikely idea clicked within Soren's deepest recesses.
'What if… what if Masaki figures out she has the orb… and passes it on to one of her children? If so, then I could grab it as she hands it over… The last thing she knew about it was that she gave it to someone, but could not remember whom, thanks to the Emperor messing with her brain. This means, she probably retains the urge to give it away. Knowing the Quincy King, he'd want for the orb to be issued to someone of equal or stronger power to hers. In the past years, that couldn't happen, for she was always more powerful than her parents and children. Now, though… If the brat is really reincarnated, he'd be the perfect person to pass it on to. In other words, I just have to sit tight and wait until that moment… Once the process is on the way, I'll force my will onto the Shinigami and get it along with Masaki. In the meantime, I want to see the extent of damage I can cause without being caught or noticed.'
A hidden smile stretched underneath the mask-wearing male. The grin soon turned into a snicker… within seconds, Soren was laughing out loud. With a new plan formed in his head, confidence and optimism soared from his rotten soul.
Only time would tell what the mastermind had in stock for the future. Haschwalth and Bazzard, who were casually passing nearby the Regent's room, could not suppress the tinge of worry and disgust at hearing the crazed laughter.
The upcoming months since their child was born, were some of the busiest Masaki had ever had. Raising a baby, working and occasionally killing Hollows, was by no means easy. She was glad she had agreed with Isshin to allow Urahara-san to set up those barriers. Hollows were very persistent in recent days. Either that or they were fleeing from their own world.
Ever since she started dating Isshin, Masaki had made it her job to assure the other was not aware of her Hollow hunts. She may not know the specifics, but she had the sensation that it was partly or mostly her fault Isshin did not have his Shinigami powers anymore.
Once they married, she confirmed her suspicions. During a particularly restless night caused by the infant in her belly, she used her Quincy skills on Isshin. There were Reishi strings attached to her which constantly kept them connected. The Reiatsu output was not very strong. Still, if you were to count that fragment along with the part that was fed to the Gigai and one more piece which was swirling within Isshin's soul, it became natural that the male would be powerless.
She appreciated Isshin's efforts and determination to help her out back then. Even more, she loved his caring and tender side. The goofy and silly parts often brought her to tears of mirth. All in all, she strongly believed she made the right choice in both saving his life and marrying him. Judging by their little one, it sure did pay off.
Ichigo was already crawling all around the house. The first time he did go on an adventure, her heart almost stopped as the baby disappeared from her sight. How the child moved from the baby-pen at the bottom level of the house to the nursery up the stairs was something she found fascinating. His Reiatsu was still not very detectable, which was both positive and negative. It was good, for it would not attract unwanted attention, but she was a little disappointed he was not showing much of his heritage from either side of the family.
Nonetheless, she adored and loved him with all her heart. Every time she looked upon his tiny frame, she found herself smiling.
With the Clinic becoming more popular and well-known, Isshin and Masaki's workload became significantly demanding, to the point it was hard to keep track of time. There were occasions where Masaki did not even have enough energy to oversee their infant, or even feed him properly. However, where she failed, Isshin jumped up and surprised her by having taken care of the spirited youth. Though, she would have appreciated if Isshin would not forget the bottles nearby the child as often as he did. Many times, she would find Ichigo playing with the leftover bottle, which in turn meant she had to disinfect it properly before the next feeding.
The time Isshin overlooked to mention they finished the baby formula had been a disaster. Honestly how could he be so irresponsible? She had mentioned more than once to buy more when she sent him grocery-shopping. Yet, she could not find it in her to be angry or upset. Thus, she always disregarded it as part of his enthusiastic nature.
What did concern her, were the bruises the baby had at times. It was normal for children to play and bruise easily, especially one as curious and hyperactive as Ichigo. As a mother, she could not but feel responsible every instance she found a new injury, no matter how small. Isshin did always come to cheer her up when she was like that. He'd say something along the lines of:
"Aha! Our little boy is already exploring the world like a real man! Before long, he'll bear battle scars with pride while chasing girls around."
No matter how often Isshin said those or similar lines, it always made her laugh out loud. Their baby was not even a year old and Isshin was already urging him to run after ladies' skirts. She'd have to be more vigilant than anticipated when Ichigo reaches puberty. Lord knows what will happen if he gets too influenced by Isshin's encouragements.
At present, she took a well-deserved break from the Clinic. Not that a mother and wife ever had a true pause, for even now, she was preparing a delicious meal for Isshin and herself in the kitchen, while Ichigo was secured inside a soft-plastic light blue and grey playpen. The child was fascinated by the colorful rattles and toys littered about. Thankfully, Ichigo seemed to dislike too much noise, therefore he rarely used the clatters for more than a few minutes per day.
Since baby teeth were growing at a steady pace, the parents made sure there were many diverse items scattered in the pen for those cases when the child wanted to nibble on something to alleviate the discomfort in its mouth.
Another beautiful trait their baby-boy possessed was his sleeping pattern. Most parents have difficulties with wakeful nights due to the baby rousing them up. With Ichigo, it rarely occurred. But whenever it did happen, it was always an emergency situation. Most of the time, Ichigo warned them whenever a Hollow was getting too close for comfort. Only once or twice did her son wake up for a random reason.
Any more thoughts were suddenly broken when Masaki heard a loud commotion in the Clinic part of the house. Letting out an exasperated breath, she braced herself for whatever may be waiting for her should she choose to help Isshin. Since the disturbance did not involve any jovial laughter, she surmised there must have been an accident somewhere nearby. At least supper was ready to be eaten later. Wouldn't be the first time they shared a cold or re-heated meal. Long live microwaves and whoever created the useful contraption.
Sparing one last glance at the child who, undisturbed by the clamor, played within the confines of the pen, Masaki made her decision. With quick strides she entered her 'nurse' mode ready to deal with whatever was going on in the Clinic.
Pity she missed the saddened face of the infant confined inside the playpen. The sorrow soon turned into happiness. The moment it was certain Masaki was long gone, a visitor made an appearance.
Ever since the day their power had been sealed, Zangetsu had trouble manifesting. The problem was persistent, but Zangetsu was more stubborn. It took him weeks to come out and even longer to maintain his form for longer than nine seconds. From what he could tell, only Ichigo was able to spot him, which was both a blessing and one hell of an inconvenience.
As long as Ichigo could see him, he knew he could be of use and more often than not, he provided the child with entertainment and food. Zangetsu found out from day one that the parents were very irresponsible, leaving the little one unprotected and unsupervised. Fine, Ichigo was a magnet for trouble, but that didn't mean the kid should be left all alone and forgotten to the point where it was famished!
The first few weeks until he was able to come out, had been disastrous for both Ichigo and Zangetsu. With no possibility to leave their Inner World, the Zanpakuto could do so much before the infant fell unconscious from lack of nutrients. Zangetsu did everything in his powers to at least keep them alive. Their saving grace was Ichigo's Reiatsu and, though it wasn't much of a food source, it acted as one and was better than nothing.
Whenever the little one fainted, Zangetsu made it his job to drag him into their shared world, make him company and feed him energy. The very second Zangetsu would sense either the father or mother approach, he'd push Ichigo into the Material World, making sure the kid would be awake and letting his hunger or other need known.
The tactic worked wonders. Ichigo being left frequently alone spurred Zangetsu to double his efforts. It sure did pay off, especially when Ichigo greeted him with an expression of outmost bliss. Though it became almost an everyday ritual, Zangetsu still got stunned every single time he became visible to his wielder. Not once had Ichigo displayed fear at his humongous presence. Instead, he was always met with pure felicity.
Looking at the child, the Zanpakuto grumbled in annoyance. Personally, did not fancy the enclosed playpen. Ichigo was a free-spirited youngster… to be locked inside a cage, no matter how soft or secure, was just wrong. It simply did not suit his owner. If you were to see his Inner World, which was a barren space alight when Ichigo is awake and shrouded in darkness when sleeps, you'd agree as well. It might be empty, but it was not restrictive.
Although Ichigo's parents were nearly always absent and Zangetsu was semi-pressured to play the role of baby-sitter, he got certain benefits from the whole ordeal. The most notable one is the weakening of the seals.
Forcing materialization did take a lot of Zangetsu's time and energy. Yet, simultaneously, it put a lot of strain on the seals. In due time, they would break and when that came to be, Zangetsu swore to search and find the repulsive creature responsible for the trauma. Judging from his slow progress, he reckoned, it would take him years to be finally rid of them.
He did achieve a lot in the short time, but it was not enough. He would not rest until the seals were off and the two of them could be free to do as they pleased.
Since coming out was draining, he could not check-up on Ichigo 24/7. He did drag the child into their Inner World when needed and yes, he did make Ichigo company when he had the energy to do so, but it was not exactly a norm among Zanpakuto's. Hell, it was utterly unheard of. And he wouldn't have it any other way.
On another note, even with the majority of their power locked away, Ichigo managed to be a magnet for Hollows. The child's Reiatsu couldn't be felt from the outside, which was great, but that did not stop certain Hollows to sniff his soul out. He lost cunt of the many nights he got woken up by a distress call. Without he full power, he wasn't able to protect his wielder properly. At least he now understood well how human spirit feel like… with the exception that more people could see them, namely Masaki.
Ichigo's mother must have realized something, right? With the amount of souls residing in their home, she couldn't have possibly not noticed that her child could see the solitary spirits and interact with them, correct? Well, guess again… She did not. She was too busy with everything else, she neglected to see what was in front of her eyes. At least she did get rid of the irksome apparitions. There was so much he could possibly do in his current condition.
Speaking of irritating, it pissed him off to no end the fact that Ichigo always got hurt when he was not around! Seriously, what was with that? Why did he have to come out and find new cuts and bruises? Fine, the kid was energetic and could have injured himself… he was a child after all… but it did not add up.
There were also times he could sense something was wrong… The bad thing is, those incidences were not specific and happened at random and more often than not, during the hours he was taking a nap.
Judging from the way the parents dotted on Ichigo, when they were around, he couldn't imagine putting the blame on either one of them. Yet, Ichigo got mostly wounded while he was in their care. In Zangetsu's opinion, the mother was too careful and the father was bat-shit crazy, but couldn't picture either one of them going as far as to injure the little one.
Disregarding his thoughts, since they weren't helping him much, Zangetsu focused on getting Ichigo out of the playpen. The more he tried to interact with inanimate objects, random spirits and Hollows, the sooner he would break free and could properly touch the young one again.
He missed holding the baby in his hands… yearned to feel his caresses. Yes, it happened only once in the Material World, but he longed for those gestures all over again. He did get plenty of those whenever he got Ichigo within their minds-cape… but it never lasted long, either he had to return him because the kid needed something and his parents were actually around or they would be both too tired to keep the connection.
Sometimes, somehow, in the middle of the night, Ichigo would end up in their Inner World. He had no idea how the baby did it, but he didn't mind the late-night visits. Though they spent a lot of time together, he did find it fascinating that Ichigo seemed to be looking for something or someone. It was almost like the infant knew there was supposed to be someone else there.
It was a bitter-sweet experience. Sad at first, for Ichigo would try so hard to locate an individual that wasn't there. The gloomy face and disheartened feel of the infant's aura caused Zangetsu to be brokenhearted whenever the child finished the futile search. Nonetheless, within minutes, Ichigo would be back to normal, jumping around and nuzzling the great beast-like Zanpakuto.
All in all, Zangetsu strongly believed they were on the right path. With Ichigo instinctively searching for his missing soul pieces, it was only a matter of time before they were restored to their full strength.
Glancing at the playpen, he was pleased to see that he finally managed to unzip the fastener which was keeping Ichigo locked in place. The baby clapped and giggled at the sight of freedom. With a steady pace, the child moved from the playpen and tried to grab a hold of the gentle giant. It was fortunate Zangetsu got used to moving on all fours, with his height it would have been impossible to otherwise move around.
Normally, this was the way they would spend the majority of the day, exploring around the house or the garden which was accessible from the backdoor. Today though, an unexpected turn of events blew the Zanpakuto's mind. Instead of going in a random direction, Ichigo was focused on Zangetsu's tail.
Afraid to scare the infant, Zangetsu remained still as a statue, while the little one started to prod at the appendage. The gesture was unexpected and surreal. Until then, Ichigo was not able to touch the materialized Zangetsu. Today, he did it. Zangetsu knew he himself was not capable of touching much in the Living World, yet this new development was a welcomed change.
Sensing that the big creature did not mind the touch, Ichigo became even bolder. Instead of poking at the long unknown limb, the infant decided to grasp it. As there were no changes in behavior, the little one went even further and started to climb up the tail. The movements were slow and deliberate, as though the baby refused to hurt his big companion. The movements did not stop, until Ichigo reached the mighty shoulders and spikes. Only then did the baby falter. It did not know where else to go. Thus, instead, it decided to nuzzle the long locks of hair so similar yet different from his own.
Zangetsu, who remained immobile, was stunned by such a development. He had not seen that one coming. Pleased with the caresses he had yearned for, he could not suppress purring sounds from escaping his lips, nor the slight vibrations that action caused. It did not look like Ichigo minded one bit, on the contrary, the child smiled and used his tiny hands to rub and pat the Zanpakuto in an effort to produce as many of those sounds as he could. Zangetsu basked in the attention and enjoyed himself very much. Before long, both were so content in each other's company, they all but forgot about exploring the world around them.
It would be hours later that Masaki would return to find the infant lying asleep on the ground just outside the playpen. Putting a mental blame on Isshin, she shook her head while smiling. Taking the child from the ground, she made sure to change and wash the little one without rousing it from its slumber. Soon after, she took him to the cradle. Once the baby was settled, she made her way back to the kitchenette where she prepared two plates for herself and her husband, content with her life.
Moving around the barracks of the Sixth division, Ossan was having a relatively calm day. There were no Hollows attacking Soul Society, no drills scheduled for the afternoon nor did he have any tasks in particular to perform. It was calm and serene, a particularly rare instance.
Not that he was complaining. In fact, he enjoyed the pleasant weather and lack of Shirosaki's presence. He cared for the albino dearly, though he did like occasional moments of solitude. As for Shirosaki, the Hybrid was escorting several seated officers in the Rukongai for a standard mission. The assignment was simple, scout several districts for any sings of mutiny against Soul Society and get rid of any threats including roaming Hollows.
In recent years, Shinigami were not disappearing as much as they did in the past. From what the Shinigami knew, Shiba Isshin, ex-Taichou of the Tenth Division had been labeled a traitor and the one responsible for the missing agents. All of this had been meticulously reported and affirmed by one Aizen Sosuke.
He hated to give the mad-man any praise, but had to admit that blaming Shiba Isshin had been a genius move. Since the investigation was lead by three Taichou, including Aizen, the male worked diligently and twisted any and all evidences against him to his benefit, while pointing all accusations towards the absent former Taichou.
When you looked at the consequences, it was sad, really, for that incident spilled the last drop of patience Central 46 had for the Shiba Family. Although the main branch head, Shiba Kaien, was not considered responsible and there were no signs that any other family member was involved in the case, the old fools decided to punish the entire Clan by removing it from the list of Noble Houses.
Needless to say, the Shiba's didn't take it well. At the same time, they did not seem to care much either. They were certain Isshin was innocent and framed. Nevertheless, they complied for the sake of peace, stating that it was irrelevant whether they were recognized as Nobles or not. After all, no one would be able to remove the task the Reiou gave them, therefore, they did not feel it was a major loss.
Some of them even joked, stating it was a blessing in disguise, for now they would not be forced to attend annoying, boring and long meetings with other Clan Heads and could marry and do as they pleased, as long as they did not break the law.
With a light exhale, Ossan wondered, not for the first time, if Isshin was made aware of the situation in Soul Society. With Yoruichi going back and forth between Worlds, Urahara must be aware, especially since Shirosaki and Ossan themselves had given him the account on all that was happening.
Yes, it was not his problem and, knowing Aizen, it would have probably occurred sooner or later. Yet, he could not put it out of his head that the incident came before its supposed time precisely because of the events played in Karakura.
Oh well, at the end of the day Masaki was happy, Isshin was certainly content as well, they wouldn't have gotten married, the Shiba's were understanding and did their own things their way… Everything appeared to have been for the best, but only time would tell if they made the right decision.
Without realizing it, Ossan found himself in the open, outside the barracks. He was relatively used to his assignments and tasks that he would finish them early and spend most of his time outside of the Squad. One thing he could not get accustomed to was the Shinigami uniform.
The traditional wear was terrible to remove and stuffy on sunny days. Carrying a nameless Zanpakuto and being dressed in the cloths of his old enemies was curious and unusual. He pondered why he was able to become accustomed to the white and blue uniform of the students at the Academy while it was such so bothersome to dress in the black and white uniform.
If nothing else, he now had a better understanding of the entire organization. Back in his days as the Emperor, things were different. Yes, the Academy was running, however he was not sure how much apprentices were taught back then. He could count on one hand the number of troops who knew how to use Kido in the old age. Now, almost everyone knew how to use the art, besides him.
It wasn't surprising that he could not perform Kido. It was a Shinigami technique and though he was capable to tweak and manipulate Reishi at will, it wasn't exactly the same. The only reason he passed the final test, was due to him memorizing the spells and theory rather than for his performance. His fighting and sword skills were an added bonus which helped him greatly.
Shirosaki, too did not display much interest in that particular field. They were fortunate Urahara Kisuke considered that into their resume. Having been supposedly raised from one of the worst parts of the Rukongai, no one expected much out of them. Many were surprised they ended up in the Sixth. It was customary for the lower level 'scum' to sing-up at the Eleventh.
Presently, Kuchiki-Taichou was not giving them much attention nor difficulties. They were considered lower soldiers with no spectacular abilities besides brains and brawn. At the very beginning, the Kuchiki Noble approached them demanding respect and to behave appropriately as members of his Division. With them being naught but 'filth' the Taichou felt the need to accentuate those two terms.
Shirosaki sure did relish in proving the stoic Taichou wrong. Not once did he misbehave in the last couple of years. Except when they were doing their business behind everyone's back… Fine, Shirosaki did slip once in a while during assignments with division members. Though, Ossan did not blame him, the officers were a sad bunch of wimps. Sure, they did uphold rules and regulations, acted as uptight as their Taichou and have some skills. But that was definitely not good enough for war situations or true survival.
They lacked experience, discipline to see flaws in their moves and the wish to improve themselves. With such weak resolve to do anything rather than drink, eat, do a flimsy job and sleep, they would never be strong enough to achieve anything in life… afterlife. Huh… if that is the case, no wonder someone smart enough couldn't stand to see the stand-still situation and use it to his advantage. Honestly, should he be forced to remain in Soul Society longer than a decade or two, he might do the same. Anything to see this society move in any direction, be it good or wrong.
Taking a deep breath, Ossan shook his head in amusement. Typical of him to want to see everyone doing their absolute best no matter the circumstances. Years could come and pass-by, still, he would never be able to lose that which made him an Emperor. He had witnessed many inexperienced youngsters reach for the stars and then going beyond. The way he had set-up his rule, encouraged such behavior, while his fairness resulted in nearly unbreakable loyalties.
Considering everything, Ichigo had been a true candidate to take over his empire. The child was brave, stubborn, gentle and an amazing fighter. One thing which escalated all others, was Ichigo's desire to protect. Never had his grandson fought for anything else. The unbreakable and unwavering determination pushed him to the limits and past all obstacles. There was no crazed need to beat everyone to a pulp or overly display his superiority, he battled for a good cause and motivated the rest of the troops with ease, earning respect and devotion in the process.
'Will we get to see you again my son? Will you ever forgive this old fool for having been blind to your pain?'
Memories of the fiery boy always brought a sense of melancholy and failure, hence the main reason neither Shirosaki nor Ossan mentioned Ichigo's name since his death. There were more motives behind it, like the unusual flashbacks he experienced very now and then. Shirosaki would not tell him what it was about and with Ossan forgetting them immediately after such episodes, it was hard to keep track of them.
Occasionally, he would remember and have vivid images, though in those instances, he was not sure if those were recollections or horrible delusions of might have transpired under his nose.
Ossan was startled from his misery by a hand on his shoulders. He had been so out of it, he neglected to sense anything or anyone around him. A most uncommon mistake from his side. Luckily, the individual whom approached him was well known for being a nice guy, if a little overpowered and sickly.
"Hello there. I believe you might have gotten a little too far from your Division young man. Pardon me, but it is a bit unusual to see anyone roaming around the Thirteenth old training grounds. I dare say, most of my own men do not know how to get here."
Looking around, Ossan became aware his feet took him in someplace he had never been to before. It was a nice location… grass fields from all sides with a dug-up area, which, he surmised, was a working out land of sorts. As he had to turn around to face the speaker, Ossan was met by kind green eyes, black eyebrows and long white hair. It was none other than Ukitake Jushiro, Taichou of Squad Thirteen.
Of all the people he might have encountered in his dazed state, he couldn't have come upon a better man. The sickly Taichou was well known and adored by many in Soul Society. It was common fact that the male was a highly honorable one, treating everyone with respect no matter of the rank or position.
Deciding to go with the 'truth', Ossan bowed as expected from his current low standing and addressed the Taichou with appropriate esteem.
"My apologies, Ukitake-Taichou, I was thinking a lot and my feet carried me on their own accord. It won't happen again."
The genuine shock and surprise Ukitake had detected from the young man in front of him, made him believe the guy was telling the truth. Not to mention, the astonishment in sapphire-blue eyes when the youngster was prompted to orient himself.
"Ma, don't worry about it much. I understand. Though, I have to wonder what one as young as you might be pondering upon so deeply to disregard everything around. You know, it could get you killed."
Ossan was not surprised in the least on how accurate and perceiving the Taichou was. Having learned pretty much everything regarding the Taichou and their history, he was well aware that this was one of two of Yamamoto's personal disciples. The very first duo that became Taichou after graduating from the Academy and holding that title for centuries. Thus, he looked up, meeting the man's gaze without falter. Hell would freeze over before he confided his darkest thoughts to anyone working on Yamamoto's payroll.
Sensing the 'little one' was not up for conversation, Ukitake softly exhaled. Determining that they were in the open with chances of anyone listening on their conversation, he did what came naturally and invited the youth to his barracks for a cup of tea. As for Ossan, there was no plausible way to decline such an invitation without appearing suspicious of one thing or another. Without much trouble, he agreed and followed the white haired Taichou to his personal office.
Once in the Taichou's office, he had to bite his lips from letting any sounds loose. He had all but forgotten about Shiba Kaien, the Fuku-Taichou and the uncanny resemblance the raven-black haired man had with Ichigo. They could nearly pass as twins. Once again, he had to remind himself to watch for the differences rather than the similarities, which, in this case, were numerous. Even in attitude and behavior, there were many semblances. Fortunately, not all characteristics were the same. In fact, he dared say, Ichigo had been much more outspoken.
Regrettably, his minor blunder did not go unnoticed by the Taichou. Not that he himself had cared enough to realize his little mistake. Having felt the loneliness in the 'younger' man, Ukitake-Taichou asked his second in command to check if their two Fourth Seats were working or goofing around. With it being an every-day duty, Shiba Kaien was unfazed by the semi-order and went in search of the troublesome duo, leaving the two behind.
Silence befell the office, neither one wanting to be the first to speak up. That is, until tea arrived and Ukitake had lost to his curiosity.
"If I recall correctly, you are one of Kuchiki-Taichou's newer recruits. Hino-san am I right?"
There was no harm in answering such an innocent question. Regardless, Ossan opted for just nodding his head in confirmation.
"My… not very talkative, are you? Though, I did hear you are the quiet type. If there is anything you'd wish to talk about, know that my doors are always open."
That had been unexpected. The Taichou was talking as if he knew more than he let on. Feigning ignorance, Ossan tried his luck.
"I appreciate your kind offer, Ukitake-Taichou and will keep it in mind. Although, there is not much to be discussed. Just memories from a long time ago…"
From ages of experience, Ossan knew that the best way to obscure your true intentions, is by stating as much truth as you can possibly get away with. With it, at least the opponent was open and their motives became clearer. Most of all, by being honest, you appealed to their own morals and indirectly coerced them into confessing their own goals. A unique ability gained through the ages, which could fool anyone, even a Taichou as knowledgeable as Ukitake Jushiro.
"Ah, I see. It must not have been easy living in Kusajishi and it must have been even harder to go through the Academy, passing it and becoming a full-fledged Shinigami, especially one under Kuchiki-Taichou. After all, the standards and requirements are very demanding."
Ossan wished he could roll his eyes. Demanding standards? More like absolutely laughable. Besides having to uphold the law and reinforce it, there wasn't much going on. Even the trainings were child's play, at least to individuals of his and Shirosaki's caliber. No, the Taichou was trying to make him talk in an indirect way, in a nice and semi-cunning matter. Going with the flow, he chose to play this game of wits.
"It would be highly inappropriate of me or anyone else to soil the workings of one's own Division. My state of turmoil had nothing to do with my duties or workload Ukitake-Taichou. As mentioned, I was minding my own business, recalling certain events from my past and figuring a way to make things better."
His words must have surprised the tactful Taichou. He had spilled more cards than was common during this kind of game, not that the other knew he was playing around and gathering data.
"Am I to presume these memories happen to have something to do with your partner whom resembles my Fuku-Taichou, right? Excuse my unexpected question, but your sadness at the sight of my subordinate was palpable. I can imagine, it must be bothering you to be separated from your companion. I mean, I haven't seen the two of you away from one another for extended periods of time."
Ossan did not see that question coming, but went along.
"The answer is both yes and no. No, because it has nothing to do with Akira. And yes, both Akira and Shiba-Fuku-Taichou are similar to an individual I miss dearly."
It was Ukitake's turn to be amazed. Normally, it took a lot more to get sorrowful people to talk about what bothered them. For one as young looking as the preteen, it sure sounded like he was carrying a very heavy weight upon his soul. Taking care of his family, his duties as a Shinigami, as a Taichou, as a mentor and teacher, but most importantly as a friend, he could sympathize.
"I understand if you do not want to talk about whatever occurred. Just note that it is in the past and life goes on. I'm sure this friend of yours would have wanted for you to have a happy existence… I hope you don't mind if we jump from one theme to another. Please do not think badly of me, however, I have been meaning to talk to your and your partner for a while now."
Bingo! Now the real match begun. Acting intrigued with a small dose of curiosity, Ossan played his next act like a pro.
"Really? I… why… it's an honor. Even though, I'm not sure what Akira and I could possibly interest you with… I mean… we're nothing special, being from the lowest of the possible low. Kusajishi is really not a nice place to grow up in and there are no nice connections or customs we could share with a Taichou such as yourself. But if you believe there is anything we may be of service to you, Ukitake-Taichou, it would be a great privilege for two poor newbies."
The humble performance paid off, for it appeared as if Ukitake bit the bait. The notion was semi-confirmed by his next statement.
"No need to be nervous. Quite the opposite. First of all, I would like to thank you both for saving Kuchiki-Taichou a few night ago."
Drat! They had been spotted after all! He had argued with Shihouin-san about their latest rescue mission. The plan she proposed had been too rash, wild and downright absurd. He had forewarned, they could easily get caught if not by the assassins, then by any other Shinigami loitering around. Did anyone listen? Of course not! Else this wouldn't be a thing! Fortunately, Aizen had not been in Seireitei that evening or their cover would have been blown.
"Ukitake-Taichou, I am well aware I won't be able to pull the wool over your eyes. Therefore, I'll get to the point… Akira and I were hired by a certain person to keep tabs on Kuchiki Byakuya in order to assure he lives long enough to witness the next century. No matter what you do or say, we won't disclose who is our patron, nor will we divulge further data. Just know, that what we're doing will be beneficial to Soul Society in the long run."
To say Ukitake was taken off-guard, would be an understatement. He had correctly guessed the two were no regular Shinigami and probably entered the Academy with the sole purpose to infiltrate their ranks. Or, that was what he had wanted to confirm… But to be bluntly told one of their goals, while insinuating there were more, was beyond crazy. Why jeopardize the entire mission from one flimsy investigation? Unless, the stakes were higher than he ever imagined.
"Hino-san, you aren't just a scoundrel from the Rukongai. From the little I could gather, you might not even be from Kusajishi. Your mannerism, behavior and intellect far transcend that of a normal lost soul. Just, who are you two? Most of all, are you a threat?"
Chuckling under his breath, Ossan gave the shocked Taichou a jovial look.
"With all due respect, if you ever suspected even for a second we were a danger to Seireitei or Soul Society in general, we wouldn't be having this conversation now, would we? No, you want to reaffirm your doubts, see what we are and figure us out by talking us into coming out peacefully. Of all the Taichou's who might have approached us, you were always the first that came to mind. The sole one intelligent enough to realize something is wrong."
He didn't receive an answer for his troubles, hence, Ossan pushed a few more buttons.
"What you want from us is loyalty and a chance to monitor us without raising too much suspicion onto yourself. Undoubtedly, you prepared a trinket you'd wish for us to carry around, a tracker which would be able to tell you our location, Reiatsu pattern and could probably capture our conversations."
The slight widening of the others' eyes was proof enough for the Emperor caged in a boy's body.
"A delightful plan from your side. Nevertheless, you neglected to count the probability of us being alert to such trickery. As it stands, you are not the only one who wants to control us. Our 'benefactor' is much the same. Since we are working alongside that man, we don't complain too much. A request from a third party, however, will be politely declined. Akira is not fond of such gadgets and tends to…ahem… overreact."
The white-haired Taichou did not move an inch, although, Ossan could tell he was tense. No matter how good one was at hiding his feelings, a well-trained Quincy was more than capable to sense even the slightest change in demeanor. Being the father of all Quincies, Ossan was the best in this particular field.
"Fear not. As I did say, we are not plotting against Soul Society. Quite the opposite, we are here to help. I know it sounds odd, but have you ever wondered why so many Shinigami disappeared? Why the case suddenly stopped? Surely, you don't believe that all was done singlehandedly? Shiba Isshin might have been a great warrior and a Noble, but a mastermind with an agenda… not so much. From the little I know about him, he is very lax and not the greatest strategist. That alone should tell you enough."
"Are you saying, you want to prove Shiba's innocence? I find that hard to believe. Why would you care about someone who is considered MIA*? Moreover, even if that was a fact, it would only mean Isshin was your sponsor. But then, it would be pointless to protect Byakuya, wouldn't it?"
Ossan liked the way the guy was thinking. At least he showed some brains, unlike the guy that was sitting outside the office listening on their conversation. Even with being good at hiding Reiatsu, the idiot forgot that alcohol could be smelt more than felt. Typical, you don't get one without the other. The two Taichous were a package deal. You couldn't get one without the other. Especially, not for this long. Ossan took a calming breath, no point in displaying his skills. It was better, if the two were under the illusion, he didn't know about the other one.
"You don't see the whole picture. I said: 'We are here to help'. The Shiba case is not the only injustice which befell your world. There were other situations. By now, most of them, long forgotten. They even occurred in a time when the Shiba you're mentioning was probably not even a Fuku-Taichou. More like, on the verge of becoming one. I will tell you this: there is an impostor in Seireitei, a genius playing a dangerous game. Should he succeed, the world as you know it, will cease to exist. To put it lightly, you are dealing with an egocentric maniac with a God complex."
The raise of a black eyebrow, was the only sign of skepticism Ukitake allowed himself. He was under the impression the young Shinigami was either utterly mad or great at lying. As if reading through his unspoken thoughts, the 'child' proceeded.
"Can't believe me, can you? Hah, that is utterly irrelevant… at least, for me. Yet, I'd kindly ask you to keep this to heart… One day, Akira and I will have no choice but vanish. When that time comes, know that we were getting too close to unravel the mole and were either taken out the hard way or we had no options but to retreated and escape. Whichever comes first. Should this occur, I'd like to ask you to be vigilant of your fellow Taichou. Oh, except Yamamoto-Sōtaichō, Soi-Fon-Taichou, Unohana-Taichou, Kuchiki-Taichou Komamura-Taichou, Kyoraku-Taichou, Kenpachi-Taichou and yourself. The rest, I'd keep at arm's length, if I were you."
Ossan left his statement sink deep within the mind and heart of the docile Taichou. Soon after, before the Taichou could process the new data, he stood-up concluding the whole conversation.
"Thank you for the tea and chat Ukitake-Taichou. It would appear Akira and the rest of the group has returned. I should make my way back as well. If you could, please consider our conversation and do keep it a secret. I wish you a good day."
Without further prompting, Ossan left the room, making sure to go in the opposite direction of the 'hiding' Taichou.
The man in question is a tall, light-skinned Shinigami with high cheekbones, grey eyes and long wavy brown hair tied in a ponytail decorated with two pin-wheel hairpins. Long bangs frame the left side of his face while thin facial hair surround his mouth and partly his cheeks. Wearing a Sugegasa* straw hat, no tabi* with the Shinigami sandals and a pink, flowered lady's kimono, which was draped across the shoulders over the Taichou's Haori, the male gave the appearance of a laid-back womanizer.
This is none other than Kyoraku-Taichou. Once assured Hino-san's presence was long gone, he joined his stunned friend and for some time, neither uttered a single syllable. Unable to stop himself, Kyoraku was the first to break the silence.
"What do you think? You know I'm not good at reading minds, even if that is yours."
The semi-compliment was the right push to make Ukitake spill the beans.
"I'm not sure. The only thing I know is that there were no lies in his words. I'm not going to say he gave us more than necessary, but enough to make us reconsider."
Kyoraku was thinking around the same lines. Much had been discussed in those short minutes, yet more than anticipated.
"Hmm. These guys sure did put you in a tight spot. Especially by saving Byakuya's life. What if that is all a farce? What if they meant for you to see them do it?"
The concentration on Ukitake's features, made him pause. Kyoraku was finger crossing his partner would re-affirm his own thoughts.
"No. They were really immersed in that saving attempt. Besides, there would be no point in giving us that data and not something else. Also, the slight twitch in his face tells me he was upset at having been noticed. We should concentrate on keeping tabs on the two while simultaneously be under the impression that what he said was partly true. We may be facing an enemy right under our noses and be blindsided just because they are one of us."
Content with the outcome, Kyoraku tipped his straw hat, obscuring the tiny smile forming on his face.
"Heh. I knew I could get you all worked-up. If you believe this to be our best choice, I'm game. We'll bring it up with Yama-ji when we have concrete evidence at hand. You know how he gets when we have naught but speculations."
With a nod of his head, Ukitake sealed their agreement and right on time too, for the door was suddenly busted open with three figures running amok. Kotetsu Kiyone and Kotsubaki Sentarō were running in circles while avoiding a peeved Shiba Kaien from capturing them. It would appear it was one of those days.
Ukitake never minded much the playful nature of his subordinates. On the contrary, he felt it always brought a breath of fresh air metaphorically and literally. By the end of the day, he would have to arrange for a new door to replace the crumbled pieces at the entrance. His men sure knew how to break tense moments in the best imaginable and unbelievable ways.
Looking forward to any and all criticism.
Reminders: English is still not my mother language. If I made a mistake along the way, please let me know. Sorry for repeating the same parts all over again xD
*MIA* – for those wondering it is a casualty classification assigned to combatants, military chaplains, combat medics, and prisoners of war who are reported missing during wartime or ceasefire. Such individuals may have been killed, wounded, captured, or deserted. If dead there are no remains or graves which can be positively identified.
*Sugegasa* straw hat – is a type of traditional Japanese hats. Some of these are known as: amigasa, jingasa, sandogasa and takuhatsugasa.
*Tabi* – are traditional Japanese socks dating back to the 15th century. They are ankle-high and with a separation between the big toe and other toes. These are worn by both men and women with zori, geta, and other traditional footwear. Tabi are also essential with traditional clothing, such as kimono as well as being worn by samurai in the feudal era. The most common color is white which are worn in formal situations like at tea ceremonies. Men sometimes wear blue or black tabi for travelling. Patterned and colored tabi are also available and are worn mostly by women, though they are gaining popularity among men as well. In contrast to socks that, when pulled on, fit the foot snugly, tabi are sewn from cloth cut to form. They are open at the back so they can be slipped on and have a row of fasteners along the opening so they can be closed.
Until next time, enjoy! :D