In Spite of Appearances (Chapter Ten)
You know what? It's been rather a while since we've continued with the story of how our wonderful senior officers of the Tenth learned to work together. So, without further ado, the tenth chapter!
Title: In Spite of Appearances
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, and eventually quite a few others in supporting roles.
Genre: Action, Drama, Friendship
Rating: M, for violence
Wordcount: 4,325
Summary: In the early days of Hitsugaya's captaincy, his working relationship with Matsumoto is less than ideal. When one of the Tenth's squads goes down under mysterious circumstances, the two must learn to work together if they hope to discover the truth.
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
In Spite of Appearances
CHAPTER TEN
"Okay. Could you try explaining this one to me?"
Matsumoto's brow furrowed when she asked this question, trying to puzzle out what Toushirou was saying. Oh, what he had said was clear enough, but she didn't quite understand how it was possible. Really, if they weren't in Soul Society anymore, wouldn't that have been obvious? This place didn't have the distinctive feel of the Living World about it, and though she had never been there, all available information suggested that Hueco Mundo was a desert. And this place was certainly a far cry from that.
"You were paying attention, right?" Toushirou's voice was sarcastic, but it was lacking in bite. A reflexive response, then. He sighed. "There's too much a difference in the air, Hollows are literally appearing out of nowhere, and even when straining my senses to the limit I can't sense a single other soul than any of us. Either everyone else has been displaced, or we have; I'm going with what makes the most sense."
She itched at her neck as the prickling feeling came over her again. Ugh. That was getting to be such a nuisance. How could anyone get used to this? Though, in fairness, she guessed that she was suffering it more strongly than anyone except Toushirou. And she understood his logic, but that wasn't the only possibility. It was a good one - she'd give him that - but there was still another option out there.
"What makes you think we're not just surrounded by some kind of barrier?" she asked, brushing a lock of hair back over her shoulder in an effort to distract herself from the itch. It didn't work. "That could still account for everything you just described."
She expected to be snapped at for questioning his conclusions, but to her surprise, he merely frowned thoughtfully. She'd noticed over the past couple of days that Toushirou seemed to be taking her opinions a little more seriously, and though she liked that very much, it was still kind of odd. Still, this was the looser side of him, and that could only do everyone - including Toushirou himself - a world of good.
Toushirou was finally starting to act like a captain rather than a dictator. He would make it at his rank yet.
"I suppose that's possible," he conceded. "Still. It would have to be one hell of a big barrier for me not to have sensed its walls with how far I've cast out. And why would we have been put in one when it would have been so much easier just to kill us, instead? Something still doesn't add up."
Matsumoto frowned. He had a good point there, she had to admit. What was the use of sticking them all inside a barrier when the simpler thing to do would have been to kill them outright? The whole situation was just as fishy as ever. Their conclusions did not give them very much to go on, as far as plans went. But when an officer of superior rank was about, it wasn't incumbent upon her to draw up the plans.
"So." She glanced ahead, where she could now hear the voices of the rest of the squad gathered together. Everyone was still intact, it seemed. "Whatever our situation is, do you have any ideas on how to get out of it?"
Toushirou was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Maybe not quite yet. But there's something I want to check out. And for that, we need to find a lake."
She blinked, not sure what to make of his words. Still, it wasn't as though she had any better ideas to offer. Might as well just go along with whatever he was thinking. His people skills still needed a lot of work, but there was nothing wrong with his strategic abilities.
So she smiled down at him to show her support. "Well, I suppose we should get to that, then."
**
Hinamori's other hand clenched into her hakama as the Fourth Division member healed her wrist. No matter what she did, she could not get over the guilt she felt for doing her chosen duty. It had been such a terrible plan. She should have done as Aizen-taichou had ordered and just assisted in the capture no matter her feelings on it. By acting on her own, she had condemned someone else to a terrible fate.
She would tell Aizen-taichou, when she was released from here. If she had to endure punishment for her disobedience, then she would. It would hardly be inappropriate in this case, and at least her own captain was not nearly so vicious as Kurotsuchi-taichou.
Hinamori pointedly did not think of what Nemu must have gone through by now.
She hissed a little as a fracture in her wrist knitted together. Apparently, she had fallen on it a bit harder than she had thought. That was the worst of her injuries, though, and when it all came down to it, she had gotten off easy. Not like Nemu. And not like . . . Hitsugaya-kun and Rangiku-san. Hinamori had been very, very lucky.
The warmth of the healing kidou faded from her hand, and she finally looked over to her healer. He was a man who looked middle-aged by traditional standards, though as a shinigami he was doubtless older than that. Hinamori mustered a tiny smile at his kind eyes.
"That should take care of the worst of it, Hinamori-fukutaichou," he said with a smile of his own. "Though I would advise that you not wield a sword for a few more days, just to make certain that the bones have properly set."
Experimentally, she rolled her wrist. There was still an ache there, though nothing so bad as the sharp, shooting pains that she had been experiencing earlier. And the joint did still feel a bit weak. It was nothing that would prevent her from any field work; she relied on her kidou a great deal more than she did her sword. In any case, she might wind up suspended from active duty, anyway.
She slid off the examination table and smoothed out her shihakushou. Not that it was terribly wrinkled - she had performed the same action before she had been called back for treatment - but she needed something for her hands to do. Otherwise, she might start wringing them and prompting questions as to whether she was all right. She didn't want to worry people with her personal problems.
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind," she said with a shallow bow, and headed for the door. But she stopped before stepping out of it, casting a worried glance at the man over her shoulder. "Um, could you tell me if there's been any change in the conditions of Hitsugaya-kun . . ." She trailed off here. It wasn't appropriate for her to address him that way to another shinigami. "I mean, the conditions of Hitsugaya-taichou and Matsumoto-fukutaichou?"
Perhaps it wasn't really her place to ask, but she simply could not come to the Fourth and not inquire about them. It would be nice to have some good news to bolster her before confessing her disobedience to Aizen-taichou. She would take any reprimand gladly as long as Hitsugaya-kun was all right.
The man's features softened into a frown. "I'm not personally privy to such information. But I've heard nothing to suggest that there has been any improvement or decline in the condition of either one of them."
Hinamori wasn't sure if she should be relieved or not. No better . . . but no worse, either. Were they going to stay like that forever? It might have been a silly thought, since it had only been a few days since she and Nemu had found them by the lake in West Fort-Eight, but she could not help the worry that nagged at her. They should have been better by now, and the fact that they weren't was very disturbing.
Still, that was hardly this man's fault. So she thanked him quietly and headed off to her own division. First to her own quarters, to wash off the blood and change into a clean uniform, then to Aizen-taichou's office. She had to face the consequences of her actions.
**
From all accounts, the mission had gone well.
Aizen sat behind his desk, filling out a mundane form with no thought as to what needed to go on the page. Paperwork was hardly a challenge that required all of his focus. But while he was still presenting himself as a captain, it had to be done, and he made certain that everything he did was done well. To do less would offend his sensibilities.
He had only second-hand reports on the mission at this point, but they made him smile nonetheless. However much it irked him to lose his experiments, he at least still had the results safely in hand. Hinamori had successfully destroyed one of his Hollows, rendering research from the Twelfth impossible. Had his affection for her been genuine, he might have been proud of her, for taking out a creature that had downed a captain.
Though he would admit that he found the idea that his Hollows were yet strong enough to defeat a captain a little farfetched; he had vouched for Hitsugaya's captaincy himself, and knew his ability. The boy and his vice-captain must have had severe miscommunication, or some other petty factor in their way. Children. Such utter foolishness.
As if on cue, a soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. The tentativeness of the action would have told him it was Hinamori even if he hadn't sensed her reiatsu approaching for the past few minutes. He had privately observed her commanding her troops, and she had exhibited no such tendency around them; it was purely the effect of his own presence. Perhaps she thought she had done something wrong by obeying his true order, rather than the one he had spoken?
"Hinamori-kun," he said gently, setting his brush aside. The paperwork could wait. "I have told you before that knocking is unnecessary when you seek to enter this office. Please come in."
At this, she slid the door open and quietly stepped inside. Her chin was level, but her eyes were cast toward the floor, afraid to meet his. It was almost cute, the way she tried so hard to keep herself steady. She certainly expected some punishment for her perceived disobedience. But it would hardly suit his purposes to punish her, even if she truly had gone against his orders. His expressing any disappointment in her would have her curling up in a corner. Anything more was unnecessary.
He moulded his features into a mask of concern. "Hinamori-kun? Are you all right?"
Hinamori finally looked up at that. "I . . . yes, sir. I'm fine. But I've some bad news about . . . about the mission. I'm sorry."
Aizen rose from his chair and crossed the office. Placing a solicitous hand between her shoulder blades, he guided her over to sit on the couch. She did not resist, or even let out a startled gasp at his actions. Instead, she silently complied, and bowed her head when he took a seat next to her. She truly was quite disturbed. Even after such kind gestures, she found it difficult to look him in the eye.
"I am sure you've nothing to apologize for." He leaned forward slightly to examine her features, and saw that a few tears had gathered in the corners of her eyes. "Everyone came back safely, did they not? Your mission was successful."
She tensed a little at his last statement. "I do have something to apologize for, Aizen-taichou. Yes, everyone came back safe, but I . . . I disobeyed you, sir. I willfully destroyed that Hollow even though we were ordered only to capture it. I'll accept any punishment you see fit for my disobedience."
Well didn't she just submit so beautifully? The fact that she came to confess this to him even though she expected harsh consequences spoke well for her loyalty and courage, but she bowed down in the end. It was a quality that he needed in her, for her to be desperate to please him above all else. Thus that also entailed accepting and fearing any disappointment he threw her way. She would not question him. In her eyes, she had done so in this case, and look what a mess that had made her.
"I see," he began slowly, as though hesitant to speak. Placing a warm hand on her head, he smiled gently. "I am not angry with you, Hinamori-kun. In fact, I applaud your courage. You followed your heart where I could not, and that is something to be praised, not punished."
Hinamori finally lifted her head, disbelief and adoration warring in her brown eyes. "But, I-I . . . that is . . . It was still against orders, sir. I shouldn't have done that. And since I did, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou must have been . . ." She looked away again, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "She said that her captain would punish her, for failing to get a live Hollow. And you . . . you know what Kurotsuchi-taichou is like. He'll hurt her. Badly."
Ah, yes. Kurotsuchi was indeed a most unforgiving sort with his subordinates; it only stood to reason that he would severely take his vice-captain to task for being unable to get what he wanted. The look of disgust on Aizen's face was genuine, but not for the treatment of Nemu as a person. Rather, it was born of the thought that someone could be so stupid as to damage his own pawns. That would not further any plans, and could in fact hinder them. Kurotsuchi might have prided himself on his intelligence, but he only falsified that pride with this kind of behaviour. The man had no idea how to use people properly.
Even if Aizen had wanted to help the Twelfth's vice-captain - which he did not; she was meaningless - it was too late by now. Kurotsuchi would have wasted no time delivering his reprimand. Whether or not the girl recovered was irrelevant. He could put a spin on the events either way that would only earn him adoration in Hinamori's eyes.
He ruffled her hair a little. "I fear it will have been too late for me to prevent her punishment by now, Hinamori-kun." He removed his hand from her head, and sighed sadly. "Kurotsuchi-taichou is far too cruel on such matters. How a captain could harm his vice-captain so is beyond my understanding. At best, I can implore him to change his disciplinary methods so that these circumstances do not recur, but he will be under no obligation to listen to me."
Hinamori blinked, and her face fell, just a little. "I . . . suppose so. I'm sorry, Aizen-taichou, for asking you to do something after nothing can be done. And I don't think that he would listen to anything you have to say about Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou. Her captain will have been very displeased with her, coming back with no sample, yet covered in the Hollow's blood."
Covered in Hollow blood? Aizen's eyes widened slightly. That was most unusual. Normally, every particle of a Hollow would dissipate after it was destroyed by a zanpakutou, and that included the blood. Had making their thought-scape more corporeal done the same for the blood? It was a strange connection, and without more thought on the matter, he was unable to understand how those aspects were linked. And for that, he might need samples of his own.
And Kurotsuchi would have them. Once the man came to the conclusion that the blood on his vice-captain had come from a Hollow, he would have something concrete to research. He could not be permitted to use it. Perhaps he would pay a visit to the Twelfth Division, after all.
He needed to get ahold of at least one of those samples. And find some unobtrusive way to destroy the rest. Though maybe it was best to avoid the risk of dirtying his hands on this. He would go to the Third instead; Gin ought to enjoy such an assignment.
"It does you no good to dwell upon things already transpired, Hinamori-kun," he said, tilting her chin up so she looked him in the eye. Inwardly, he smirked at the slight flush to her cheeks this had prompted. Foolishness. "I will do what I can to speak to Kurotsuchi-taichou on the matter. The effort must be made, even if the result comes to nothing. And I will not punish you; that would not sit well with me. You may continue to perform your duties as always."
Hinamori's eyes shone, her face brightening considerably. "Thank you so much! I'll do my best not to mess up like this again. I swear!"
He chuckled warmly and gave her an affectionate pat on the head; she was being so amusing that he couldn't resist. "I have no doubt that you will perform exceptionally. Perhaps both of us will find success in our further endeavours today." Aizen rose from the couch and favoured Hinamori with a smile. "I will make my way to the Twelfth now, to see if I might better things for the future."
**
In her mind, waves lapped gently along a smooth shore, periodically swallowing up the sand. Those same waves flowed around her bare feet, the water pleasantly warm against her skin. The sensation was enjoyable, but it was not the reason that Unohana had come here.
To outside eyes, she would seem to merely be sitting in her personal gardens, sword unsheathed and laid out before her. Of course, those who knew better than that would understand. Any shinigami who had achieved shikai would do well to practice this, even though many did not. More was the shame, really. The strength of the bond between wielder and zanpakutou was something to be nurtured, not ignored.
Thus she often entered her inner world, though in this case she was seeking guidance, as well. And so she fully projected herself onto the shores of her mind.
The water rippled smoothly as a huge form slowly rose to the surface, creating remarkably little splash for something so large. One enormous red eye regarded her with fond thoughtfulness as the body regally swam to a stop against the shore. Her hand reached out and gave him a calm pat. She was not a large woman by any imagining, but she would seem even smaller next to something of such gargantuan proportions.
You are troubled today, Retsu, came Minazuki's smooth voice, laced with a hint of concern. It saddens me to see such a downcast expression in your eyes.
She smiled at his worry. Over their long partnership, Minazuki had watched over her, guarded her, even though she knew that he did not lack confidence in her abilities. And she was not afraid to come to him at times like this, when she needed advice, or help puzzling through a confusing situation. They were not merely partners in healing and in battle; she respected his opinions just as much - or perhaps even more - as anyone else's.
"I must confess that this is not merely a social visit," she said. "I have come upon an occurrence that I find most bewildering, and I need your help so that I might comprehend it."
Mild amusement permeated Minazuki's voice this time, and he lightly splashed his tail in the water. This must be a great mystery, if you find that you need my aid to solve it. Your mind is a sharp one, and does not bewilder easily. Tell me the story then, Retsu. I shall do what I can to aid you, as I ever have and ever will.
Unohana gave him a thankful pat on his rubbery skin. She had not expected him to refuse her, but for him to voice such was worthy of gratitude all the same. "You know, of course, of the patients being brought in from recent Hollow attacks. The ones who have remained comatose in spite of all their injuries being healed. A few days ago, one perished under my care, struck by some unseen force that either penetrated my kidou barrier, or worked within it."
I see. Minazuki twitched his fins in thought. If you sensed nothing in the room with you, I would contend that whatever this force was, it was working within the shield. Anyone close by would have noticed a reiatsu spike powerful enough to puncture a barrier of yours. Yes, it must indeed have been inside the barrier, somehow.
Silently, Unohana nodded. She had come to that conclusion herself, but had wanted to hear Minazuki's thoughts on the matter. If she had missed something, he would see it and inform her of where the error of her observation lay. Of course, this still did not answer the question of what the force was, or why it was able to hide itself so effectively.
"I thought as much," she said after a moment, but her story was not yet finished. "And yesterday, it seemed primed to happen again - a sudden unseen attack, one that continued despite the barrier. But when I placed my hand against one wound to heal it, the moment I touched blood, I could sense power, and lethal intent." Her brow furrowed as she recounted the tale. "And just as quickly, the sensation ended, even though I had not drawn my hand back. The patient came to no further harm, and I was able to properly tend to him."
Minazuki's eye narrowed in a clear expression of puzzlement that would have been cute if not for the gravity of the situation. This . . . is most unusual. Blood is life, and it is possible to get a sense of a person's distress from it. But that would not simply vanish without withdrawing contact. Whatever the threat was, it was removed somehow before it could cause further harm.
Despite herself, Unohana blinked. Removed? But by what? She had done nothing differently than she had with the girl who died under the same circumstances. If it was nothing on her part, then perhaps it was something on the part of the patient.
"So this man fought it off somehow?" she asked, casting her gaze to one side as she considered this. An unconscious man could fight nothing. Not anything corporeal, at any rate. "Perhaps this threat was in his mind then, so powerful that it could affect his body so drastically?"
Minazuki hummed thoughtfully. I have not encountered anything that could attack the body from within the mind. Not directly. Whispering madness into someone's head, causing them to harm themselves has happened before. But not this. And yet no other explanation forms in my mind. I think, Retsu, that you may very well be correct. And if you are, then there is only one choice to remedy the situation.
Though he did not voice what that option was, Unohana knew it instinctively. She nodded her affirmation. "To eliminate such a threat, one must destroy its source." Smiling, she bowed at his massive form. "Thank you, Minazuki. As ever, you have helped me greatly. The next time I visit, I will ensure that it is under happier circumstances."
A visit from you is always pleasant, Retsu. No matter the reason for it. His voice had brightened a bit from its previous sombreness. Though I confess I will enjoy discussion on lighter topics next time.
Unohana managed a giggle as she withdrew from her inner world, returning her consciousness from the waves to her gardens. As usual, the visit had soothed her nerves, and this time, it also gave her purpose. That simple conversation had caused all of the pieces to fall into place.
She sheathed her sword and climbed to her feet, slinging the rope attached to the sheath over her shoulder. Some of these mysterious Hollows had been killed, and yet none who they had injured had managed yet to come out of their comas. Which meant that while those Hollows might have inflicted such a state, they were not its true cause.
A commander, or a host body working at the back lines? It was a distinct possibility. And if it did indeed exist, then that was what needed to be destroyed.
Lifting one hand, she summoned forth a Hell Butterfly to alight upon her fingers. She smiled fondly at the creature before recording her voice into it. "Yamamoto-soutaichou. I have reached a breakthrough in my investigation of the death of Agano Sayuri as well as the remainder of the comatose shinigami that were brought in by recent Hollow attacks. If you wish, I will report to you in person to explain the details, but I do believe that a captains' meeting will need to be called in light of this situation. I will defer to your judgement on the matter."
She softly thanked the butterfly, and twitched her hand delicately to send it on its way. Finally, it felt as though they were making progress on this situation. Destroying the source would eliminate all of its effects, and those remaining in critical condition would at last be able to recover properly.
Purposefully, she made her way back to the hospital. It would take time for Yamamoto-soutaichou to make his decision, and it would not do to sit idle during that time. She needed to be on hand for any of the emergencies that might come about.
Even if her aid was not what had saved that man's life, she would stand by the side of anyone in that state all the same.
Title: In Spite of Appearances
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, and eventually quite a few others in supporting roles.
Genre: Action, Drama, Friendship
Rating: M, for violence
Wordcount: 4,325
Summary: In the early days of Hitsugaya's captaincy, his working relationship with Matsumoto is less than ideal. When one of the Tenth's squads goes down under mysterious circumstances, the two must learn to work together if they hope to discover the truth.
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
In Spite of Appearances
CHAPTER TEN
"Okay. Could you try explaining this one to me?"
Matsumoto's brow furrowed when she asked this question, trying to puzzle out what Toushirou was saying. Oh, what he had said was clear enough, but she didn't quite understand how it was possible. Really, if they weren't in Soul Society anymore, wouldn't that have been obvious? This place didn't have the distinctive feel of the Living World about it, and though she had never been there, all available information suggested that Hueco Mundo was a desert. And this place was certainly a far cry from that.
"You were paying attention, right?" Toushirou's voice was sarcastic, but it was lacking in bite. A reflexive response, then. He sighed. "There's too much a difference in the air, Hollows are literally appearing out of nowhere, and even when straining my senses to the limit I can't sense a single other soul than any of us. Either everyone else has been displaced, or we have; I'm going with what makes the most sense."
She itched at her neck as the prickling feeling came over her again. Ugh. That was getting to be such a nuisance. How could anyone get used to this? Though, in fairness, she guessed that she was suffering it more strongly than anyone except Toushirou. And she understood his logic, but that wasn't the only possibility. It was a good one - she'd give him that - but there was still another option out there.
"What makes you think we're not just surrounded by some kind of barrier?" she asked, brushing a lock of hair back over her shoulder in an effort to distract herself from the itch. It didn't work. "That could still account for everything you just described."
She expected to be snapped at for questioning his conclusions, but to her surprise, he merely frowned thoughtfully. She'd noticed over the past couple of days that Toushirou seemed to be taking her opinions a little more seriously, and though she liked that very much, it was still kind of odd. Still, this was the looser side of him, and that could only do everyone - including Toushirou himself - a world of good.
Toushirou was finally starting to act like a captain rather than a dictator. He would make it at his rank yet.
"I suppose that's possible," he conceded. "Still. It would have to be one hell of a big barrier for me not to have sensed its walls with how far I've cast out. And why would we have been put in one when it would have been so much easier just to kill us, instead? Something still doesn't add up."
Matsumoto frowned. He had a good point there, she had to admit. What was the use of sticking them all inside a barrier when the simpler thing to do would have been to kill them outright? The whole situation was just as fishy as ever. Their conclusions did not give them very much to go on, as far as plans went. But when an officer of superior rank was about, it wasn't incumbent upon her to draw up the plans.
"So." She glanced ahead, where she could now hear the voices of the rest of the squad gathered together. Everyone was still intact, it seemed. "Whatever our situation is, do you have any ideas on how to get out of it?"
Toushirou was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Maybe not quite yet. But there's something I want to check out. And for that, we need to find a lake."
She blinked, not sure what to make of his words. Still, it wasn't as though she had any better ideas to offer. Might as well just go along with whatever he was thinking. His people skills still needed a lot of work, but there was nothing wrong with his strategic abilities.
So she smiled down at him to show her support. "Well, I suppose we should get to that, then."
**
Hinamori's other hand clenched into her hakama as the Fourth Division member healed her wrist. No matter what she did, she could not get over the guilt she felt for doing her chosen duty. It had been such a terrible plan. She should have done as Aizen-taichou had ordered and just assisted in the capture no matter her feelings on it. By acting on her own, she had condemned someone else to a terrible fate.
She would tell Aizen-taichou, when she was released from here. If she had to endure punishment for her disobedience, then she would. It would hardly be inappropriate in this case, and at least her own captain was not nearly so vicious as Kurotsuchi-taichou.
Hinamori pointedly did not think of what Nemu must have gone through by now.
She hissed a little as a fracture in her wrist knitted together. Apparently, she had fallen on it a bit harder than she had thought. That was the worst of her injuries, though, and when it all came down to it, she had gotten off easy. Not like Nemu. And not like . . . Hitsugaya-kun and Rangiku-san. Hinamori had been very, very lucky.
The warmth of the healing kidou faded from her hand, and she finally looked over to her healer. He was a man who looked middle-aged by traditional standards, though as a shinigami he was doubtless older than that. Hinamori mustered a tiny smile at his kind eyes.
"That should take care of the worst of it, Hinamori-fukutaichou," he said with a smile of his own. "Though I would advise that you not wield a sword for a few more days, just to make certain that the bones have properly set."
Experimentally, she rolled her wrist. There was still an ache there, though nothing so bad as the sharp, shooting pains that she had been experiencing earlier. And the joint did still feel a bit weak. It was nothing that would prevent her from any field work; she relied on her kidou a great deal more than she did her sword. In any case, she might wind up suspended from active duty, anyway.
She slid off the examination table and smoothed out her shihakushou. Not that it was terribly wrinkled - she had performed the same action before she had been called back for treatment - but she needed something for her hands to do. Otherwise, she might start wringing them and prompting questions as to whether she was all right. She didn't want to worry people with her personal problems.
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind," she said with a shallow bow, and headed for the door. But she stopped before stepping out of it, casting a worried glance at the man over her shoulder. "Um, could you tell me if there's been any change in the conditions of Hitsugaya-kun . . ." She trailed off here. It wasn't appropriate for her to address him that way to another shinigami. "I mean, the conditions of Hitsugaya-taichou and Matsumoto-fukutaichou?"
Perhaps it wasn't really her place to ask, but she simply could not come to the Fourth and not inquire about them. It would be nice to have some good news to bolster her before confessing her disobedience to Aizen-taichou. She would take any reprimand gladly as long as Hitsugaya-kun was all right.
The man's features softened into a frown. "I'm not personally privy to such information. But I've heard nothing to suggest that there has been any improvement or decline in the condition of either one of them."
Hinamori wasn't sure if she should be relieved or not. No better . . . but no worse, either. Were they going to stay like that forever? It might have been a silly thought, since it had only been a few days since she and Nemu had found them by the lake in West Fort-Eight, but she could not help the worry that nagged at her. They should have been better by now, and the fact that they weren't was very disturbing.
Still, that was hardly this man's fault. So she thanked him quietly and headed off to her own division. First to her own quarters, to wash off the blood and change into a clean uniform, then to Aizen-taichou's office. She had to face the consequences of her actions.
**
From all accounts, the mission had gone well.
Aizen sat behind his desk, filling out a mundane form with no thought as to what needed to go on the page. Paperwork was hardly a challenge that required all of his focus. But while he was still presenting himself as a captain, it had to be done, and he made certain that everything he did was done well. To do less would offend his sensibilities.
He had only second-hand reports on the mission at this point, but they made him smile nonetheless. However much it irked him to lose his experiments, he at least still had the results safely in hand. Hinamori had successfully destroyed one of his Hollows, rendering research from the Twelfth impossible. Had his affection for her been genuine, he might have been proud of her, for taking out a creature that had downed a captain.
Though he would admit that he found the idea that his Hollows were yet strong enough to defeat a captain a little farfetched; he had vouched for Hitsugaya's captaincy himself, and knew his ability. The boy and his vice-captain must have had severe miscommunication, or some other petty factor in their way. Children. Such utter foolishness.
As if on cue, a soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. The tentativeness of the action would have told him it was Hinamori even if he hadn't sensed her reiatsu approaching for the past few minutes. He had privately observed her commanding her troops, and she had exhibited no such tendency around them; it was purely the effect of his own presence. Perhaps she thought she had done something wrong by obeying his true order, rather than the one he had spoken?
"Hinamori-kun," he said gently, setting his brush aside. The paperwork could wait. "I have told you before that knocking is unnecessary when you seek to enter this office. Please come in."
At this, she slid the door open and quietly stepped inside. Her chin was level, but her eyes were cast toward the floor, afraid to meet his. It was almost cute, the way she tried so hard to keep herself steady. She certainly expected some punishment for her perceived disobedience. But it would hardly suit his purposes to punish her, even if she truly had gone against his orders. His expressing any disappointment in her would have her curling up in a corner. Anything more was unnecessary.
He moulded his features into a mask of concern. "Hinamori-kun? Are you all right?"
Hinamori finally looked up at that. "I . . . yes, sir. I'm fine. But I've some bad news about . . . about the mission. I'm sorry."
Aizen rose from his chair and crossed the office. Placing a solicitous hand between her shoulder blades, he guided her over to sit on the couch. She did not resist, or even let out a startled gasp at his actions. Instead, she silently complied, and bowed her head when he took a seat next to her. She truly was quite disturbed. Even after such kind gestures, she found it difficult to look him in the eye.
"I am sure you've nothing to apologize for." He leaned forward slightly to examine her features, and saw that a few tears had gathered in the corners of her eyes. "Everyone came back safely, did they not? Your mission was successful."
She tensed a little at his last statement. "I do have something to apologize for, Aizen-taichou. Yes, everyone came back safe, but I . . . I disobeyed you, sir. I willfully destroyed that Hollow even though we were ordered only to capture it. I'll accept any punishment you see fit for my disobedience."
Well didn't she just submit so beautifully? The fact that she came to confess this to him even though she expected harsh consequences spoke well for her loyalty and courage, but she bowed down in the end. It was a quality that he needed in her, for her to be desperate to please him above all else. Thus that also entailed accepting and fearing any disappointment he threw her way. She would not question him. In her eyes, she had done so in this case, and look what a mess that had made her.
"I see," he began slowly, as though hesitant to speak. Placing a warm hand on her head, he smiled gently. "I am not angry with you, Hinamori-kun. In fact, I applaud your courage. You followed your heart where I could not, and that is something to be praised, not punished."
Hinamori finally lifted her head, disbelief and adoration warring in her brown eyes. "But, I-I . . . that is . . . It was still against orders, sir. I shouldn't have done that. And since I did, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou must have been . . ." She looked away again, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "She said that her captain would punish her, for failing to get a live Hollow. And you . . . you know what Kurotsuchi-taichou is like. He'll hurt her. Badly."
Ah, yes. Kurotsuchi was indeed a most unforgiving sort with his subordinates; it only stood to reason that he would severely take his vice-captain to task for being unable to get what he wanted. The look of disgust on Aizen's face was genuine, but not for the treatment of Nemu as a person. Rather, it was born of the thought that someone could be so stupid as to damage his own pawns. That would not further any plans, and could in fact hinder them. Kurotsuchi might have prided himself on his intelligence, but he only falsified that pride with this kind of behaviour. The man had no idea how to use people properly.
Even if Aizen had wanted to help the Twelfth's vice-captain - which he did not; she was meaningless - it was too late by now. Kurotsuchi would have wasted no time delivering his reprimand. Whether or not the girl recovered was irrelevant. He could put a spin on the events either way that would only earn him adoration in Hinamori's eyes.
He ruffled her hair a little. "I fear it will have been too late for me to prevent her punishment by now, Hinamori-kun." He removed his hand from her head, and sighed sadly. "Kurotsuchi-taichou is far too cruel on such matters. How a captain could harm his vice-captain so is beyond my understanding. At best, I can implore him to change his disciplinary methods so that these circumstances do not recur, but he will be under no obligation to listen to me."
Hinamori blinked, and her face fell, just a little. "I . . . suppose so. I'm sorry, Aizen-taichou, for asking you to do something after nothing can be done. And I don't think that he would listen to anything you have to say about Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou. Her captain will have been very displeased with her, coming back with no sample, yet covered in the Hollow's blood."
Covered in Hollow blood? Aizen's eyes widened slightly. That was most unusual. Normally, every particle of a Hollow would dissipate after it was destroyed by a zanpakutou, and that included the blood. Had making their thought-scape more corporeal done the same for the blood? It was a strange connection, and without more thought on the matter, he was unable to understand how those aspects were linked. And for that, he might need samples of his own.
And Kurotsuchi would have them. Once the man came to the conclusion that the blood on his vice-captain had come from a Hollow, he would have something concrete to research. He could not be permitted to use it. Perhaps he would pay a visit to the Twelfth Division, after all.
He needed to get ahold of at least one of those samples. And find some unobtrusive way to destroy the rest. Though maybe it was best to avoid the risk of dirtying his hands on this. He would go to the Third instead; Gin ought to enjoy such an assignment.
"It does you no good to dwell upon things already transpired, Hinamori-kun," he said, tilting her chin up so she looked him in the eye. Inwardly, he smirked at the slight flush to her cheeks this had prompted. Foolishness. "I will do what I can to speak to Kurotsuchi-taichou on the matter. The effort must be made, even if the result comes to nothing. And I will not punish you; that would not sit well with me. You may continue to perform your duties as always."
Hinamori's eyes shone, her face brightening considerably. "Thank you so much! I'll do my best not to mess up like this again. I swear!"
He chuckled warmly and gave her an affectionate pat on the head; she was being so amusing that he couldn't resist. "I have no doubt that you will perform exceptionally. Perhaps both of us will find success in our further endeavours today." Aizen rose from the couch and favoured Hinamori with a smile. "I will make my way to the Twelfth now, to see if I might better things for the future."
**
In her mind, waves lapped gently along a smooth shore, periodically swallowing up the sand. Those same waves flowed around her bare feet, the water pleasantly warm against her skin. The sensation was enjoyable, but it was not the reason that Unohana had come here.
To outside eyes, she would seem to merely be sitting in her personal gardens, sword unsheathed and laid out before her. Of course, those who knew better than that would understand. Any shinigami who had achieved shikai would do well to practice this, even though many did not. More was the shame, really. The strength of the bond between wielder and zanpakutou was something to be nurtured, not ignored.
Thus she often entered her inner world, though in this case she was seeking guidance, as well. And so she fully projected herself onto the shores of her mind.
The water rippled smoothly as a huge form slowly rose to the surface, creating remarkably little splash for something so large. One enormous red eye regarded her with fond thoughtfulness as the body regally swam to a stop against the shore. Her hand reached out and gave him a calm pat. She was not a large woman by any imagining, but she would seem even smaller next to something of such gargantuan proportions.
You are troubled today, Retsu, came Minazuki's smooth voice, laced with a hint of concern. It saddens me to see such a downcast expression in your eyes.
She smiled at his worry. Over their long partnership, Minazuki had watched over her, guarded her, even though she knew that he did not lack confidence in her abilities. And she was not afraid to come to him at times like this, when she needed advice, or help puzzling through a confusing situation. They were not merely partners in healing and in battle; she respected his opinions just as much - or perhaps even more - as anyone else's.
"I must confess that this is not merely a social visit," she said. "I have come upon an occurrence that I find most bewildering, and I need your help so that I might comprehend it."
Mild amusement permeated Minazuki's voice this time, and he lightly splashed his tail in the water. This must be a great mystery, if you find that you need my aid to solve it. Your mind is a sharp one, and does not bewilder easily. Tell me the story then, Retsu. I shall do what I can to aid you, as I ever have and ever will.
Unohana gave him a thankful pat on his rubbery skin. She had not expected him to refuse her, but for him to voice such was worthy of gratitude all the same. "You know, of course, of the patients being brought in from recent Hollow attacks. The ones who have remained comatose in spite of all their injuries being healed. A few days ago, one perished under my care, struck by some unseen force that either penetrated my kidou barrier, or worked within it."
I see. Minazuki twitched his fins in thought. If you sensed nothing in the room with you, I would contend that whatever this force was, it was working within the shield. Anyone close by would have noticed a reiatsu spike powerful enough to puncture a barrier of yours. Yes, it must indeed have been inside the barrier, somehow.
Silently, Unohana nodded. She had come to that conclusion herself, but had wanted to hear Minazuki's thoughts on the matter. If she had missed something, he would see it and inform her of where the error of her observation lay. Of course, this still did not answer the question of what the force was, or why it was able to hide itself so effectively.
"I thought as much," she said after a moment, but her story was not yet finished. "And yesterday, it seemed primed to happen again - a sudden unseen attack, one that continued despite the barrier. But when I placed my hand against one wound to heal it, the moment I touched blood, I could sense power, and lethal intent." Her brow furrowed as she recounted the tale. "And just as quickly, the sensation ended, even though I had not drawn my hand back. The patient came to no further harm, and I was able to properly tend to him."
Minazuki's eye narrowed in a clear expression of puzzlement that would have been cute if not for the gravity of the situation. This . . . is most unusual. Blood is life, and it is possible to get a sense of a person's distress from it. But that would not simply vanish without withdrawing contact. Whatever the threat was, it was removed somehow before it could cause further harm.
Despite herself, Unohana blinked. Removed? But by what? She had done nothing differently than she had with the girl who died under the same circumstances. If it was nothing on her part, then perhaps it was something on the part of the patient.
"So this man fought it off somehow?" she asked, casting her gaze to one side as she considered this. An unconscious man could fight nothing. Not anything corporeal, at any rate. "Perhaps this threat was in his mind then, so powerful that it could affect his body so drastically?"
Minazuki hummed thoughtfully. I have not encountered anything that could attack the body from within the mind. Not directly. Whispering madness into someone's head, causing them to harm themselves has happened before. But not this. And yet no other explanation forms in my mind. I think, Retsu, that you may very well be correct. And if you are, then there is only one choice to remedy the situation.
Though he did not voice what that option was, Unohana knew it instinctively. She nodded her affirmation. "To eliminate such a threat, one must destroy its source." Smiling, she bowed at his massive form. "Thank you, Minazuki. As ever, you have helped me greatly. The next time I visit, I will ensure that it is under happier circumstances."
A visit from you is always pleasant, Retsu. No matter the reason for it. His voice had brightened a bit from its previous sombreness. Though I confess I will enjoy discussion on lighter topics next time.
Unohana managed a giggle as she withdrew from her inner world, returning her consciousness from the waves to her gardens. As usual, the visit had soothed her nerves, and this time, it also gave her purpose. That simple conversation had caused all of the pieces to fall into place.
She sheathed her sword and climbed to her feet, slinging the rope attached to the sheath over her shoulder. Some of these mysterious Hollows had been killed, and yet none who they had injured had managed yet to come out of their comas. Which meant that while those Hollows might have inflicted such a state, they were not its true cause.
A commander, or a host body working at the back lines? It was a distinct possibility. And if it did indeed exist, then that was what needed to be destroyed.
Lifting one hand, she summoned forth a Hell Butterfly to alight upon her fingers. She smiled fondly at the creature before recording her voice into it. "Yamamoto-soutaichou. I have reached a breakthrough in my investigation of the death of Agano Sayuri as well as the remainder of the comatose shinigami that were brought in by recent Hollow attacks. If you wish, I will report to you in person to explain the details, but I do believe that a captains' meeting will need to be called in light of this situation. I will defer to your judgement on the matter."
She softly thanked the butterfly, and twitched her hand delicately to send it on its way. Finally, it felt as though they were making progress on this situation. Destroying the source would eliminate all of its effects, and those remaining in critical condition would at last be able to recover properly.
Purposefully, she made her way back to the hospital. It would take time for Yamamoto-soutaichou to make his decision, and it would not do to sit idle during that time. She needed to be on hand for any of the emergencies that might come about.
Even if her aid was not what had saved that man's life, she would stand by the side of anyone in that state all the same.