What Happens After The End (1/?)
Title: What Happens After The End
Author: Ragna (afteriwake)
Pairing: Ensemble, mostly focusing on Ichigo, Ichigo's nakama, and Tatsuki
Rating: PG-13, to be safe
Spoilers (if applicable): Goes AU in the Deicide arc.
Warnings (if applicable): None.
Summary: What if Aizen really had killed Tatsuki, Mizurio, Keigo and Chizuru and put their bodies up on display to taunt Ichigo? What would happen next?
Authors Notes: I had posted part of this here a few months ago but removed it because I was going to enter it in bleachbigbang, but sadly was not able to finish it in time. So I'm re-posting this part (with the new additions) and then adding the next two, so sorry for the spam!
---
Ichigo saw their bodies strung up on display, and the quiet fury he had just intensified. Tatsuki...Mizurio...Keigo...Chizuru. Aizen would pay for what he did, he was sure of that. And when he was done, he would make sure they were found. It was the least he could do for failing them so badly. With that thought, he went out to look for Aizen, ready to take him out and put him down so he was no longer a threat to anyone.
-
Tatsuki was the first to awaken. She stirred slightly at first, then looked around. The first thing she realized was that this was not Karakura Town. No, this was a meadow in the middle of nowhere with a building in the far distance. But at least she wasn't alone, she realized as she sat up and saw her friends waking up as well.
And then it hit her: they were dead. That man with the long hair...he had killed them. They must be in Soul Society, she thought to herself as she stood up. Orihime had mentioned it before she disappeared, a few times. She had thought it was more of Orihime's strange imagination but...it had rung true then, and this just confirmed it.
So. She was dead. They all were. Now what?”
-
Urahara put his hand on Ichigo's shoulder. “I saw, when I arrived,” he said as Ichigo's power began to fade and his hair went from jet black to orange red again.
“They were put on display,” he said quietly. He shrugged off Urahara's hand and sank to his knees. Urahara stood behind him silently. “Where are they now?”
“Yoruichi and your father have taken them down,” he said. “We have not figured out what to do with them yet.”
Ichigo nodded slowly, and then leaned over and retched. His friends...Aizen had brutalized them. Their families did not deserve to see them like that. But they deserved to know their children, their brothers and sisters, were dead. When he was done, he wiped his mouth and looked at Urahara. “Tell the others to find them.”
“As soon as some of the Captains come through, I will tell them.” He paused. “Do you want me to tell the others?” But he didn't get an answer, because suddenly Ichigo was screaming in agony, and then he collapsed. As he went to help in any way he could, he realized that this was a job that would fall to him, or to Isshin or Yoruichi. The others did not need to see what Ichigo had seen.
-
They had decided to head to the building. There was nothing else in sight, and perhaps they could get some answers. Mizurio was his usual calm self, facing the fact that he was dead with the same demeanor that he had shown when he was faced with how powerful the man that had killed them was. Chizuru was inconsolable, and Keigo was doing his best to try and console her, a task he did not seem to find frustrating. He himself was taking it well.
And she...well, she was the leader. She was making the decisions. She was doing what apparently came naturally to her, because they were listening to her. If this really was Soul Society, someone would be able to help them. Someone would know who they had seen, then men named Aizen and Gin. They would know, and they would get them help.
Help...well, they wouldn't have been able to save their lives, but at least they would be able to point them to someone who could avenge them, if Ichigo hadn't done it already. She hoped he had. She hoped Ichigo had killed them both, crushed their skulls and disemboweled them and done all the horrible things she wanted to do to those two men.
He had made her watch. He made her watch as he...did what he did. She didn't want to think about it. When the stray thought crossed her mind she felt like she would throw up. And she couldn't afford to do that. Right now she had to be strong. She had to find out exactly what was going on, get them help, get them shelter, get them food. Or at least get herself food. She was starving, like she had never eaten a thing in her life before.
She just had to get them to the house, and get some answers, and things would be okay. She had to believe this, for herself, and for all of them.
-
Orihime could not stop crying. Ichigo was unconscious, and Ishida was holding her, smoothing back her hair and whispering to her. Rukia was simply stunned, and Renji had his hands balled into fists, ready to punch the next person who so much as spoke to him. Chad seemed to take it in his normal manner, until he spoke. “You must find them,” he said quietly, a great sadness weighing heavy on his tone.
Captain Unohana nodded. “We will. I apologize for your losses.”
“I want to help search,” Rukia said quietly. “I will tear the Rukongai apart until we find them.”
“Yeah, me too,” Renji said.
“You both need to heal more first,” she said gently. “We will send others to look for now.” She turned her attention back to Ichigo. “For now, I must take care of him.”
Chad went up to Rukia and Renji, and placed a hand on Renji's shoulder. “I have faith you will find them.”
“I know we will,” Rukia said, determination filling her voice. “I will make sure they are found, even if I have to go out every day and search myself.”
“Good,” Chad said with a nod before leaving them to go to his other friends.
“We may never find them,” Renji said, quietly.
“No. I have faith that we will,” Rukia said. “We have to.”
Renji nodded. “I just hope we can.”
Rukia looked at him, but in her own heart she knew it might take a very long time, and who knew what could happen before they were found. She just hoped they were found soon, and found as healthy and whole as they could be, under the circumstances. It was the least she could to, to look for her friends even if others gave up hope, because hope was the one thing she had not lost In this journey, and she wasn't about to lose it now.
-
When they made it to the house Chizuru had calmed down somewhat. Not enough to speak, as she was still crying, only this time is was quiet sobs. Keigo had relinquished his duties to Mizurio, who was guiding Chizuru along the pathway to the house. It was a strange house, with two golden arms in front holding up a banner. Tatsuki had asked the others if they were hungry at some point along the way, and had been told no by the boys and gotten a shaking head from Chizuru. She didn't know what it meant, but she figured it would be important. That question was among one of many she had, and she hoped the person here could give her answers.
Two men stood by the doorway, standing guard. She glanced at Keigo, who nodded and motioned for her to walk up to them. She squared her shoulders back, put on a determined face, and walked up to them. “Excuse me,” she said. The two men came closer, and she motioned to her friends. “We were murdered and landed here. I was wondering if we can get some information as to where we are.”
“You're in Soul Society,” one of the men said.
“Murdered, eh?” the other man asked. “How?”
“Two men came to Karakura Town and one was so powerful things just started to dissolve around him. Their names were Aizen and Gin, I think.”
Both men's eyes widened, and they looked at each other for a moment before one of them nodded, opened the door and went inside. “They were rogue shinigami, Sosuke Aizen and Gin Ichimaru,” the remaining man said. “They disappeared with another traitor, Kaname Tousen.”
“I only saw those two,” she said.
“Did you dissolve?” he asked.
She shook her head. “We...we were tortured,” she said quietly. “I think it was to affect our friend, Ichigo Kurosaki.”
“Kurosaki?” he said. “It has been a while since we saw him. We helped him get into Soul Society to rescue Kuchiki-san.”
“You knew him?” she asked, her jaw hanging slightly.
He nodded. “Yes. I am Kohanehiko, one of Kuukaku Shiba's assistants. My brother Shiroganehiko went downstairs to tell her. I am optimistic that she will be able to help you and your friends.” He motioned for the others to come closer. They continued to hang back and Tatsuki let out an exasperated sigh. “I assume you're in charge?”
“Yeah, not by choice,” she said. She was about to say something else but her stomach grumbled. “Sorry. I'm starving.”
“You came here hungry?” he asked, surprised.
She nodded. “About an hour after I woke up I started to feel hungry. I've just been getting hungrier and hungrier and they're just thirsty.”
“It means you have high spiritual pressure. You were all able to see the traitors?” She nodded. “Had you been able to see things before that?”
“I'd catch glimpses of these big white monsters, but nothing really substantial. According to Orihime Ichigo was taking care of them. And I saw these guys fighting in the streets wearing black robes. The were fighting people in white clothing.”
“Then you saw shinigami like your friend Ichigo-san, and I believe you also saw Arrancar.”
“My friends saw them too, so why aren't they hungry?” she asked.
“I do not know,” he said, spreading his hands slightly. “But I believe you must be stronger than they are.”
“I was paralyzed when the one guy got close,” she said quietly. “Keigo could still move.”
“Perhaps it is being here that affected you.” He nodded over to the others. “Tell them to come closer. I promise I won't hurt them, and neither will anyone in this house.”
She nodded, then went over to the others. “They're going to try and help us,” she replied.
“How can they help us?” Chizuru whispered. “We're dead.”
“Well, we're going to be here for a long time so maybe they can help us in some way that you don't know about,” Tatsuki snapped. Chizuru shrank back a bit and Tatsuki sighed. “I'm sorry. Look, Kohanehiko, the guy I was talking to? He wanted me to come get you guys. He won't hurt us.”
Mizurio looked at Keigo, and then back at Tatsuki. “Okay,” he said, guiding Chizuru up the pathway. They hang back as Tatsuki went to Kohanehiko.
“I have some food here,” he said, handing her a small package. She opened it up and saw some food, and as her stomach grumbled again she took a bite. “Don't eat too fast,” he warned.
“There's food?” Keigo said. “Because now I'm kind of hungry.”
“How hungry?” Kohanhiko asked.
“Just a little.”
“And how hungry are you?” he asked Tatsuki.
She swallowed her food. “Starving.”
“Hmm,” he replied, motioning for Keigo to come closer. “If the others become hungry as well it may mean that all of you will have some abilities here that the vast majority do not have. But you...what are your names?”
“I'm Tatsuki Arisawa,” she replied. She then turned and introduced everyone else. “Why am I hungrier?”
“When was the first time you saw one of the white monsters?” he asked.
She thought. “A few years ago. I'd seen white blurs when I was younger, but the first solid one I saw was this one monster who shot little things into me. Orihime fought him off, but he controlled me for a while. Wanted me to hurt her.”
“And you?” he asked Keigo.
“Maybe a year and a half ago,” he said. “When those two guys came to Karakura Town and my sister made them stay with us. I saw them fighting a guy in white clothing, though, not a big white monster.”
“That could be why you're hungrier,” he mused, looking at Tatsuki. “You've seen them earlier. How long have you know Kurosaki?”
“Since we were about four,” she said.
He nodded. “He has very strong spiritual pressure. Perhaps being around it so long has affected you.”
“Maybe,” she said with a nod as the door opened again and Shiroganehiko came out.
“She'll see them,” he replied.
“Very well. I'll take you downstairs,” he said to them. “Come on.”
Author: Ragna (afteriwake)
Pairing: Ensemble, mostly focusing on Ichigo, Ichigo's nakama, and Tatsuki
Rating: PG-13, to be safe
Spoilers (if applicable): Goes AU in the Deicide arc.
Warnings (if applicable): None.
Summary: What if Aizen really had killed Tatsuki, Mizurio, Keigo and Chizuru and put their bodies up on display to taunt Ichigo? What would happen next?
Authors Notes: I had posted part of this here a few months ago but removed it because I was going to enter it in bleachbigbang, but sadly was not able to finish it in time. So I'm re-posting this part (with the new additions) and then adding the next two, so sorry for the spam!
---
Ichigo saw their bodies strung up on display, and the quiet fury he had just intensified. Tatsuki...Mizurio...Keigo...Chizuru. Aizen would pay for what he did, he was sure of that. And when he was done, he would make sure they were found. It was the least he could do for failing them so badly. With that thought, he went out to look for Aizen, ready to take him out and put him down so he was no longer a threat to anyone.
-
Tatsuki was the first to awaken. She stirred slightly at first, then looked around. The first thing she realized was that this was not Karakura Town. No, this was a meadow in the middle of nowhere with a building in the far distance. But at least she wasn't alone, she realized as she sat up and saw her friends waking up as well.
And then it hit her: they were dead. That man with the long hair...he had killed them. They must be in Soul Society, she thought to herself as she stood up. Orihime had mentioned it before she disappeared, a few times. She had thought it was more of Orihime's strange imagination but...it had rung true then, and this just confirmed it.
So. She was dead. They all were. Now what?”
-
Urahara put his hand on Ichigo's shoulder. “I saw, when I arrived,” he said as Ichigo's power began to fade and his hair went from jet black to orange red again.
“They were put on display,” he said quietly. He shrugged off Urahara's hand and sank to his knees. Urahara stood behind him silently. “Where are they now?”
“Yoruichi and your father have taken them down,” he said. “We have not figured out what to do with them yet.”
Ichigo nodded slowly, and then leaned over and retched. His friends...Aizen had brutalized them. Their families did not deserve to see them like that. But they deserved to know their children, their brothers and sisters, were dead. When he was done, he wiped his mouth and looked at Urahara. “Tell the others to find them.”
“As soon as some of the Captains come through, I will tell them.” He paused. “Do you want me to tell the others?” But he didn't get an answer, because suddenly Ichigo was screaming in agony, and then he collapsed. As he went to help in any way he could, he realized that this was a job that would fall to him, or to Isshin or Yoruichi. The others did not need to see what Ichigo had seen.
-
They had decided to head to the building. There was nothing else in sight, and perhaps they could get some answers. Mizurio was his usual calm self, facing the fact that he was dead with the same demeanor that he had shown when he was faced with how powerful the man that had killed them was. Chizuru was inconsolable, and Keigo was doing his best to try and console her, a task he did not seem to find frustrating. He himself was taking it well.
And she...well, she was the leader. She was making the decisions. She was doing what apparently came naturally to her, because they were listening to her. If this really was Soul Society, someone would be able to help them. Someone would know who they had seen, then men named Aizen and Gin. They would know, and they would get them help.
Help...well, they wouldn't have been able to save their lives, but at least they would be able to point them to someone who could avenge them, if Ichigo hadn't done it already. She hoped he had. She hoped Ichigo had killed them both, crushed their skulls and disemboweled them and done all the horrible things she wanted to do to those two men.
He had made her watch. He made her watch as he...did what he did. She didn't want to think about it. When the stray thought crossed her mind she felt like she would throw up. And she couldn't afford to do that. Right now she had to be strong. She had to find out exactly what was going on, get them help, get them shelter, get them food. Or at least get herself food. She was starving, like she had never eaten a thing in her life before.
She just had to get them to the house, and get some answers, and things would be okay. She had to believe this, for herself, and for all of them.
-
Orihime could not stop crying. Ichigo was unconscious, and Ishida was holding her, smoothing back her hair and whispering to her. Rukia was simply stunned, and Renji had his hands balled into fists, ready to punch the next person who so much as spoke to him. Chad seemed to take it in his normal manner, until he spoke. “You must find them,” he said quietly, a great sadness weighing heavy on his tone.
Captain Unohana nodded. “We will. I apologize for your losses.”
“I want to help search,” Rukia said quietly. “I will tear the Rukongai apart until we find them.”
“Yeah, me too,” Renji said.
“You both need to heal more first,” she said gently. “We will send others to look for now.” She turned her attention back to Ichigo. “For now, I must take care of him.”
Chad went up to Rukia and Renji, and placed a hand on Renji's shoulder. “I have faith you will find them.”
“I know we will,” Rukia said, determination filling her voice. “I will make sure they are found, even if I have to go out every day and search myself.”
“Good,” Chad said with a nod before leaving them to go to his other friends.
“We may never find them,” Renji said, quietly.
“No. I have faith that we will,” Rukia said. “We have to.”
Renji nodded. “I just hope we can.”
Rukia looked at him, but in her own heart she knew it might take a very long time, and who knew what could happen before they were found. She just hoped they were found soon, and found as healthy and whole as they could be, under the circumstances. It was the least she could to, to look for her friends even if others gave up hope, because hope was the one thing she had not lost In this journey, and she wasn't about to lose it now.
-
When they made it to the house Chizuru had calmed down somewhat. Not enough to speak, as she was still crying, only this time is was quiet sobs. Keigo had relinquished his duties to Mizurio, who was guiding Chizuru along the pathway to the house. It was a strange house, with two golden arms in front holding up a banner. Tatsuki had asked the others if they were hungry at some point along the way, and had been told no by the boys and gotten a shaking head from Chizuru. She didn't know what it meant, but she figured it would be important. That question was among one of many she had, and she hoped the person here could give her answers.
Two men stood by the doorway, standing guard. She glanced at Keigo, who nodded and motioned for her to walk up to them. She squared her shoulders back, put on a determined face, and walked up to them. “Excuse me,” she said. The two men came closer, and she motioned to her friends. “We were murdered and landed here. I was wondering if we can get some information as to where we are.”
“You're in Soul Society,” one of the men said.
“Murdered, eh?” the other man asked. “How?”
“Two men came to Karakura Town and one was so powerful things just started to dissolve around him. Their names were Aizen and Gin, I think.”
Both men's eyes widened, and they looked at each other for a moment before one of them nodded, opened the door and went inside. “They were rogue shinigami, Sosuke Aizen and Gin Ichimaru,” the remaining man said. “They disappeared with another traitor, Kaname Tousen.”
“I only saw those two,” she said.
“Did you dissolve?” he asked.
She shook her head. “We...we were tortured,” she said quietly. “I think it was to affect our friend, Ichigo Kurosaki.”
“Kurosaki?” he said. “It has been a while since we saw him. We helped him get into Soul Society to rescue Kuchiki-san.”
“You knew him?” she asked, her jaw hanging slightly.
He nodded. “Yes. I am Kohanehiko, one of Kuukaku Shiba's assistants. My brother Shiroganehiko went downstairs to tell her. I am optimistic that she will be able to help you and your friends.” He motioned for the others to come closer. They continued to hang back and Tatsuki let out an exasperated sigh. “I assume you're in charge?”
“Yeah, not by choice,” she said. She was about to say something else but her stomach grumbled. “Sorry. I'm starving.”
“You came here hungry?” he asked, surprised.
She nodded. “About an hour after I woke up I started to feel hungry. I've just been getting hungrier and hungrier and they're just thirsty.”
“It means you have high spiritual pressure. You were all able to see the traitors?” She nodded. “Had you been able to see things before that?”
“I'd catch glimpses of these big white monsters, but nothing really substantial. According to Orihime Ichigo was taking care of them. And I saw these guys fighting in the streets wearing black robes. The were fighting people in white clothing.”
“Then you saw shinigami like your friend Ichigo-san, and I believe you also saw Arrancar.”
“My friends saw them too, so why aren't they hungry?” she asked.
“I do not know,” he said, spreading his hands slightly. “But I believe you must be stronger than they are.”
“I was paralyzed when the one guy got close,” she said quietly. “Keigo could still move.”
“Perhaps it is being here that affected you.” He nodded over to the others. “Tell them to come closer. I promise I won't hurt them, and neither will anyone in this house.”
She nodded, then went over to the others. “They're going to try and help us,” she replied.
“How can they help us?” Chizuru whispered. “We're dead.”
“Well, we're going to be here for a long time so maybe they can help us in some way that you don't know about,” Tatsuki snapped. Chizuru shrank back a bit and Tatsuki sighed. “I'm sorry. Look, Kohanehiko, the guy I was talking to? He wanted me to come get you guys. He won't hurt us.”
Mizurio looked at Keigo, and then back at Tatsuki. “Okay,” he said, guiding Chizuru up the pathway. They hang back as Tatsuki went to Kohanehiko.
“I have some food here,” he said, handing her a small package. She opened it up and saw some food, and as her stomach grumbled again she took a bite. “Don't eat too fast,” he warned.
“There's food?” Keigo said. “Because now I'm kind of hungry.”
“How hungry?” Kohanhiko asked.
“Just a little.”
“And how hungry are you?” he asked Tatsuki.
She swallowed her food. “Starving.”
“Hmm,” he replied, motioning for Keigo to come closer. “If the others become hungry as well it may mean that all of you will have some abilities here that the vast majority do not have. But you...what are your names?”
“I'm Tatsuki Arisawa,” she replied. She then turned and introduced everyone else. “Why am I hungrier?”
“When was the first time you saw one of the white monsters?” he asked.
She thought. “A few years ago. I'd seen white blurs when I was younger, but the first solid one I saw was this one monster who shot little things into me. Orihime fought him off, but he controlled me for a while. Wanted me to hurt her.”
“And you?” he asked Keigo.
“Maybe a year and a half ago,” he said. “When those two guys came to Karakura Town and my sister made them stay with us. I saw them fighting a guy in white clothing, though, not a big white monster.”
“That could be why you're hungrier,” he mused, looking at Tatsuki. “You've seen them earlier. How long have you know Kurosaki?”
“Since we were about four,” she said.
He nodded. “He has very strong spiritual pressure. Perhaps being around it so long has affected you.”
“Maybe,” she said with a nod as the door opened again and Shiroganehiko came out.
“She'll see them,” he replied.
“Very well. I'll take you downstairs,” he said to them. “Come on.”