What Happens After The End (2/?)
Title: What Happens After The End
Author: Ragna (afteriwake)
Pairing: Ensemble, mostly focusing on Tatsuki and Renji from here on out.
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: And here's part 2!
---
Getting down to Kuukaku took a long time, but when the quartet was shown into a room and she was sitting there, everyone's eyes widened and Keigo's jaw dropped. “I get that reaction a lot,” she said, a wry smile on her face. She waited for them to settle in, and then she looked around. “You two said you're hungry?”
They both nodded. “Yeah,” Tatsuki said.
“What about you two?” she asked, turning to Chizuru and Mizurio. They both nodded. “Okay. So this means all of you have spiritual pressure that's going to keep you hungry. Most people who come here aren't, because they didn't have it when they were alive.”
“But why am I hungrier than them?” Tatsuki asked.
“Probably because you were around Kurosaki so much,” she said with a slight shrug. “Point is, all of you are going to need food, and you're probably too young to have skills that'll help you survive in the Rukongai. Now, we're near the First District, which is probably the best out of all of them, so you have a chance at figuring something out. Until all of you come up with some plans, you can stay here. Do you know Yoruichi Shihoun?”
“No,” Keigo said, and the others shook their heads.
“Well, she knows Kurosaki so I'll pass the message to her. Least I can do is let her know so your friends won't worry.” She looked at Tatsuki. “I'd like to speak to you alone for a few minutes.” Then she looked at the door “Ginjou!”
He poked his head through the door. “Yeah?”
“Show the three of them to the kitchen, get 'em some food, and then show 'em to a bed. And get some food in here for me and her,” she said, nodding to Tatsuki.
“Okay, fine,” he said.
The others got up and followed him, leaving Tatsuki alone with Kuukaku. “There's a place you can go. Did you know Kuchiki-san? Rukia?”
“Yeah, I knew her,” she replied.
“Do you know what she is?” Tatsuki looked at her for a moment, then shook her head. “She's a shinigami. A death god. She's a member of the Gotei 13. Your friend Ichigo's only a substitute soul reaper. She's the real deal. And I think...well, you've probably got more spiritual pressure than your friends. If they'll take you at this age, and you don't mind essentially being in the military, you should think about joining the academy. Learning to do what she does.”
“I've seen Abarai-san in black robes before,” she said.
“The 6th Division Lieutenant, eh?” she said with a grin. “Kuchicki-san told me all about him. She felt the need to get to know us after she apologized for...” She paused. “Long story. Anyway, she's pretty cool, and he's come by on a few occasions. I'll tell Yoruichi to tell them. When they come back, they can help figure out what to do with all of you.” There was a knock on the door, and Shiroganehiko came in with a tray of food. He set it down, bowed to Kuukaku, and left. She turned to Tatsuki. “As you eat, you can tell me about what that traitor Aizen did.”
“I don't want to think about it,” she said, shutting her eyes.
“Then not all the details,” she said quietly. “If he's escaped, they need to know what he's done, how powerful he is. Just tell me what you can.”
“Okay,” she said. As she ate, she told her about his entry into Karakura Town, and his advancing, and all of that, up until the point he started to torture them. Then she stopped, and looked at Kuukaku, who nodded. “I can't go into any more.”
“He did something horrible to you, didn't he?” she said quietly.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Then don't think about it right now. I'll talk to you instead. I'll tell you everything my brother told me about the Academy, and being a shinigami.”
“You mean the guy who took my friends out?”
Kuukaku scoffed. “Who, Ganju? He hated shinigami for a long time. Never wanted to be one. And he's too lazy and immature. He'd get kicked out before they started teaching them the basics. No, my other brother, Kaien. He died a while ago. He was the lieutenant of the 13th Division. Rukia's division, actually. She knew him.” She paused. “Let's see...I'll start with the Academy. You ready for a long night?”
“Anything to keep from sleeping right now,” she said.
Kuukaku nodded. “Then let's begin.”
-
“Kisuke! Rukia! Renji!”
Urahara lifted his head up and the other two turned to the door, looking at Yoruichi holding up a piece of paper. “Yes, Yoruichi?”
“They've been found,” she said. “Kuukaku's got them, all four of them.”
Rukia shut her eyes and let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. “Good,” she said with a smile.
“Seems like one of them was incredibly hungry when they got there,” she said. “She wants you two to talk to her about the Academy and maybe being a shinigami.”
“Which one? Because if it's Honsho-san I'm going to quit,” Renji griped.
“No, it's Arisawa-san,” Yoruichi said.
“Well, that's good,” Renji said with a grin. “I like her.”
“Yes, we all know you do,” Rukia muttered under her breath, her smile becoming a smirk.
“What's that?” he asked, glaring.
“Nothing, nothing,” Rukia said, the smirk dropping and a full blown smile forming on her face. Renji scowled, but she had already turned back to Yoruichi. “As soon as we know Ichigo's okay, we'll go.”
“I can go now,” Renji said. “He needs to say good-bye to you more than me.”
“Wait a second,” Rukia said. “He's your friend, too.”
“Yes, but you two...you're really close. You're like you and me close. I'm just a friend. I'm not a best friend. I can go back now. I mean, I can leave a note or something for him, but someone should really go help figure out what to do with them. Shiba-san's not going to keep them with her forever, you know.”
“He's right,” Urahara said as Rukia began to protest. “He can afford to go now.” He paused and turned to Rukia. “Ichigo's going to be powerless soon after waking up. He's lost four friends, and when he loses his powers it's possible he'll lose his purpose. The least you can do is be there until he can't see you anymore.”
Rukia looked at him, and then nodded. “I understand,” she said quietly.
“We'll arrange for you to go back now then, Abarai-san,” Urahara said.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Tell them what happened here,” Rukia said to Renji. “Let them know that everyone else is alive, and Aizen is imprisoned.”
“Should I tell them about Ichigo being powerless?” he asked, looking at Urahara and Yoruichi.
“Only if they ask,” Yoruichi said. “Unless Aizen was talking while he did what he did to them, they may not know it was done to make Ichigo suffer. If they believe he still has his powers and will protect their families, maybe it will help.”
“I believe that is the best course of action,” Urahara said with a nod. “If you do let them know, assure them that their families will be protected. I will make sure of it.”
“I will,” he said with a nod.
“Good. Write your note, and then prepare to go back to Soul Society,” Urahara said. Then he stopped. “I also believe you should speak to Inoue about her friend Arisawa-san. I believe she had something she wanted sent to her in case she was found.”
“Okay,” he replied with a nod. “I will.” And with that, he left, beginning to make his preparations to see them and help make decisions with them about the rest of their existence.
Author: Ragna (afteriwake)
Pairing: Ensemble, mostly focusing on Tatsuki and Renji from here on out.
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: And here's part 2!
---
Getting down to Kuukaku took a long time, but when the quartet was shown into a room and she was sitting there, everyone's eyes widened and Keigo's jaw dropped. “I get that reaction a lot,” she said, a wry smile on her face. She waited for them to settle in, and then she looked around. “You two said you're hungry?”
They both nodded. “Yeah,” Tatsuki said.
“What about you two?” she asked, turning to Chizuru and Mizurio. They both nodded. “Okay. So this means all of you have spiritual pressure that's going to keep you hungry. Most people who come here aren't, because they didn't have it when they were alive.”
“But why am I hungrier than them?” Tatsuki asked.
“Probably because you were around Kurosaki so much,” she said with a slight shrug. “Point is, all of you are going to need food, and you're probably too young to have skills that'll help you survive in the Rukongai. Now, we're near the First District, which is probably the best out of all of them, so you have a chance at figuring something out. Until all of you come up with some plans, you can stay here. Do you know Yoruichi Shihoun?”
“No,” Keigo said, and the others shook their heads.
“Well, she knows Kurosaki so I'll pass the message to her. Least I can do is let her know so your friends won't worry.” She looked at Tatsuki. “I'd like to speak to you alone for a few minutes.” Then she looked at the door “Ginjou!”
He poked his head through the door. “Yeah?”
“Show the three of them to the kitchen, get 'em some food, and then show 'em to a bed. And get some food in here for me and her,” she said, nodding to Tatsuki.
“Okay, fine,” he said.
The others got up and followed him, leaving Tatsuki alone with Kuukaku. “There's a place you can go. Did you know Kuchiki-san? Rukia?”
“Yeah, I knew her,” she replied.
“Do you know what she is?” Tatsuki looked at her for a moment, then shook her head. “She's a shinigami. A death god. She's a member of the Gotei 13. Your friend Ichigo's only a substitute soul reaper. She's the real deal. And I think...well, you've probably got more spiritual pressure than your friends. If they'll take you at this age, and you don't mind essentially being in the military, you should think about joining the academy. Learning to do what she does.”
“I've seen Abarai-san in black robes before,” she said.
“The 6th Division Lieutenant, eh?” she said with a grin. “Kuchicki-san told me all about him. She felt the need to get to know us after she apologized for...” She paused. “Long story. Anyway, she's pretty cool, and he's come by on a few occasions. I'll tell Yoruichi to tell them. When they come back, they can help figure out what to do with all of you.” There was a knock on the door, and Shiroganehiko came in with a tray of food. He set it down, bowed to Kuukaku, and left. She turned to Tatsuki. “As you eat, you can tell me about what that traitor Aizen did.”
“I don't want to think about it,” she said, shutting her eyes.
“Then not all the details,” she said quietly. “If he's escaped, they need to know what he's done, how powerful he is. Just tell me what you can.”
“Okay,” she said. As she ate, she told her about his entry into Karakura Town, and his advancing, and all of that, up until the point he started to torture them. Then she stopped, and looked at Kuukaku, who nodded. “I can't go into any more.”
“He did something horrible to you, didn't he?” she said quietly.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Then don't think about it right now. I'll talk to you instead. I'll tell you everything my brother told me about the Academy, and being a shinigami.”
“You mean the guy who took my friends out?”
Kuukaku scoffed. “Who, Ganju? He hated shinigami for a long time. Never wanted to be one. And he's too lazy and immature. He'd get kicked out before they started teaching them the basics. No, my other brother, Kaien. He died a while ago. He was the lieutenant of the 13th Division. Rukia's division, actually. She knew him.” She paused. “Let's see...I'll start with the Academy. You ready for a long night?”
“Anything to keep from sleeping right now,” she said.
Kuukaku nodded. “Then let's begin.”
-
“Kisuke! Rukia! Renji!”
Urahara lifted his head up and the other two turned to the door, looking at Yoruichi holding up a piece of paper. “Yes, Yoruichi?”
“They've been found,” she said. “Kuukaku's got them, all four of them.”
Rukia shut her eyes and let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. “Good,” she said with a smile.
“Seems like one of them was incredibly hungry when they got there,” she said. “She wants you two to talk to her about the Academy and maybe being a shinigami.”
“Which one? Because if it's Honsho-san I'm going to quit,” Renji griped.
“No, it's Arisawa-san,” Yoruichi said.
“Well, that's good,” Renji said with a grin. “I like her.”
“Yes, we all know you do,” Rukia muttered under her breath, her smile becoming a smirk.
“What's that?” he asked, glaring.
“Nothing, nothing,” Rukia said, the smirk dropping and a full blown smile forming on her face. Renji scowled, but she had already turned back to Yoruichi. “As soon as we know Ichigo's okay, we'll go.”
“I can go now,” Renji said. “He needs to say good-bye to you more than me.”
“Wait a second,” Rukia said. “He's your friend, too.”
“Yes, but you two...you're really close. You're like you and me close. I'm just a friend. I'm not a best friend. I can go back now. I mean, I can leave a note or something for him, but someone should really go help figure out what to do with them. Shiba-san's not going to keep them with her forever, you know.”
“He's right,” Urahara said as Rukia began to protest. “He can afford to go now.” He paused and turned to Rukia. “Ichigo's going to be powerless soon after waking up. He's lost four friends, and when he loses his powers it's possible he'll lose his purpose. The least you can do is be there until he can't see you anymore.”
Rukia looked at him, and then nodded. “I understand,” she said quietly.
“We'll arrange for you to go back now then, Abarai-san,” Urahara said.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Tell them what happened here,” Rukia said to Renji. “Let them know that everyone else is alive, and Aizen is imprisoned.”
“Should I tell them about Ichigo being powerless?” he asked, looking at Urahara and Yoruichi.
“Only if they ask,” Yoruichi said. “Unless Aizen was talking while he did what he did to them, they may not know it was done to make Ichigo suffer. If they believe he still has his powers and will protect their families, maybe it will help.”
“I believe that is the best course of action,” Urahara said with a nod. “If you do let them know, assure them that their families will be protected. I will make sure of it.”
“I will,” he said with a nod.
“Good. Write your note, and then prepare to go back to Soul Society,” Urahara said. Then he stopped. “I also believe you should speak to Inoue about her friend Arisawa-san. I believe she had something she wanted sent to her in case she was found.”
“Okay,” he replied with a nod. “I will.” And with that, he left, beginning to make his preparations to see them and help make decisions with them about the rest of their existence.