The Suicidal And The Sacrificial

S2: Our Lonely Days

The night before...

Urahara's Store

Nozomi sits on the roof overlooking the town. For regular shinigami, they have to concentrate in order to locate someone's spirit particle. One of the tasks she did as the Division 4 Captain was to monitor shinigami trapped in the gate as she could detect spirit participles secluded. Memorizing spirit particles was the challenging part. It was a game she would often play in her younger years and would always win. She brags about her skill to Ayumi which makes the noble feel irritated to see her wide grin. For some reason, she closed her eyes and was hoping to just feel a few of her friend's particles. It always led to Sumire's location. She chuckled and opened her eyes.

"What was I hoping for?", she gave a short laugh and stood.

"I already made what you were asking me for", Urahara passed her an item covered in a paper bag. She slipped it inside her shihakusho. "The moon is perfectly full today, Urahara-san. I feel like something will happen, whether good or bad", the lady had a resting smile on her face. "Are you sure you wouldn't want me to tag along? I can repair people's limbs temporarily if needed", he offered. "You've done more than enough, Urahara-san. Someone so capable like you should live for the next millennium. I give you such a blessing", Nozomi waved goodbye and disappeared.

Present

Forest

Zaraki threw his sword but was deflected by the new face. He wasn't fazed by the crazy amount of spirit particles that the Captain was pouring down on the place. "I will be monitoring the area to see humans. With this density of spirit particles, they will die right away", Soifon looked at the noble whom she saw as the leader to them all in this particular mission. Nozomi just nodded and Soifon left with some of the black corps that she brought along. "You seem to know that person", Toshiro noticed. "Captain Hitsugaya, I kind of need someone who specializes in catching mice. Would you just rely on Yoruichi and Urahara", the whitehead said without looking at the Captain. "I would trust that you would be able to keep Zaraki at bay", Toshiro said before disappearing. 

After some encounter with the unknown person, Zaraki was slammed on the ground. He slowly stood and laughed. It was the thrill of battle he had been thirsty of for a decade. "Finally, a worthy opponent", he declared and went back to launch his impulsive attacks. Nozomi stepped back as the ground started to shake. "Captain Zaraki. You have to be reminded that you are in the human realm. Having to pour such spirit particle would attract a lot of attention", Nozomi already felt hollows headed in their direction. "You can take care of the small fries", the man smirked and continued having a clash of swords with the new face. 

Nozomi was surrounded by hollows with their holes outside their body. "Are you also here to pick up a mouse?", the white head drew another sword. It was Ayumi's. She coated it with her spirit particles. She didn't hesitate to slash them unlike before. "I made some of you disappear forever. It wasn't because I didn't have a choice. I was just weak", the lady looked at the last hollow before delivering the blow. "Pass the message to Ukitake-san", Nozomi said with a pained tone and turned to the direction where Zaraki and the unknown man is having a battle.

"I am not here for you", the man said with such a cold tone and drew his sword. The place had the trees and grass dried up. "I didn't want to attract much attention but you leave me no choice", the long-haired man was about to thrust it to Zaraki when Nozomi made a block of ice. "I don't want to doubt and yet I still want to protect whatever I can. If I am mistaken with my decision to trust you, all that I ever built up until this time will crumble", the white-haired pressed her lip and looked at the ground. "Raise your head, child. What is it that makes you waver?", such a commanding and yet assuring voice made Nozomi's eyes tear up. 

"You did a good job holding on", Yoruichi arrived with Urahara. The man smiled and understood his assignment. He set up a high barrier to enclose the man. He slightly raised his brow. "Trust me. We're not doing this to capture you. Everyone is on the lookout for the remaining noble of Tsunayoshiro. The Captain Commander might be alarmed already but we're hiding your presence from someone as well", Nozomi reached into the barrier and hoped she would gain his trust. "You aged but you became more like your mother", the man also reached out his hand but there was a layer of barrier that kept them from touching each other. "Sorry, even if I tried whatever I could to learn swordsmanship and spells. My strength wasn't enough to-", the lady was interrupted when she saw a smile on the person's face. "I'm home, Nozomi", Hiroshi, the brother of the head of the Tsunayoshiro clan gave a brief and reserved smile. 

Nozomi gulped and activated her Bankai taking everyone under her cover. "Welcome home, the two of you. It's time for our reunion", a voice startled the two of them. Urahara, Yoruichi, and Zaraki felt heavy and suffocated. "Allow me to introduce myself, a new generation of shinigami. I am the Head of the Tsunayoshiro Clan. Tsunayoshiro Yamio, I am the dead resurrected to haunt Soul Society", he stepped out of the portal with multiple chains connected to his heart. "But now, my daughter came to free me from these shackles", his deep voice was audible to everyone. "What makes you think I will do that?", Nozomi held on her sword and to Ayumi's. "Why are you still holding on to that disgusting sword?", Yamio continued walking forward. In the blink of an eye, he is already holding Nozomi's neck. 

"Who are you calling daughter? What kind of father would strangle their daughter in their first meeting?", Hiroshi punched the barrier but it didn't budge. He looked at Urahara and signaled him to tear down the barrier. The man in the hat closed his eyes and shook his head. "If I would to swing this sword, it is to have your head rolling on the floor", Nozomi kicked the man's neck but there was an invisible around Yamio. "I watched you grow with that Kuchiki. You became tainted and you turned out to be this weak. The likes of us thrive better in the abyss. Come, I will show you how we are never built for Soul Society", the man pulled the white-haired to enter the portal. "Don't. Yamio, let go of my daughter", Hiroshi used a spell to leave the barrier but it just exploded inside. 

"Father! I asked Urahara-san and Yoruichi-san a favor. You should know the rest of the plan", Nozomi smiled and it was the last thing that Hiroshi saw before the portal closed. The place brightened and a shinigami appeared in the location of the portal but saw nothing but a sword that was left as a keepsake of his aunt. "You were a bit late, Kuchiki. We were never on the same page. Why are you here? ", Hiroshi clenched his bleeding fist trying to leave the barrier. 

Urahara's Underground

"This is connected to a training ground at the Black Corps. No one has access to this place aside from Yoruichi", Urahara assured. People started to gather around. "You are an interesting group", Hiroshi commented. "A Quincy, humans who were given more spirit particle than what is needed, a noble, and those who were once banished", he enumerated. He was still in the barrier so Zaraki had to carry the box that was created by Urahara. Another person went down to the secret hideout. "You shouldn't be here, Sumire", Ishida said with a concerned voice. "I heard that the idiot was taken away. I just pity her kidnappers", Sumire turned in the direction of Hiroshi. "What are you to my daughter? Why would she go to the extent of depleting her spirit particle just for puny humans", he also looked at Ichigo. "You look more civil than her. I am a human she irresponsibly reaped", Sumire introduced herself and fell in awe of the man's aura. She looked at Byakuya and nodded. "They say that women usually marries someone who is like their father", the lady's statement made the whole group nod as well. Hiroshi tilted his head in confusion of what they are trying to imply. 

Chapter end.