Bleach: Spirits Are Forever With You

Part 6

Chapter 6

Research And Development Institute

The Research And Development Institute lay in ruins, smoke and dust hanging heavily in the air, filling the acrid silence with the scent of burning equipment and charred paper. The once bustling hub of innovation and investigation was now a chaotic scene of destruction. The walls bore the scars of recent violence, cracked and blackened, and the floor was littered with debris—shards of glass, splintered wood, and twisted metal.

In the midst of this devastation, the healers of the 4th Division moved with swift, practiced efficiency, their soft murmurs of reassurances blending with the groans of the injured. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the sterile scent of antiseptic, mingling with the acrid smoke that clung to everything. The injured researchers, some with bandaged limbs, others with visible burns and cuts, were being carefully tended to, their pained expressions softened by the gentle touch of the healers.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the head of the 12th Division, stood at the center of this scene of destruction, his eyes blazing with a mixture of fury and intense curiosity. He had returned from his interrupted trial, Nemu Kurotsuchi, his faithful lieutenant, standing silently by his side. Her expression was calm, but her eyes betrayed a hint of concern as she surveyed the damage. Her movements were precise and controlled, her presence a stabilizing force amidst the chaos.

Mayuri's gaze fixed on Akon, who stood before him with a mix of guilt and anxiety etched on his face. Akon's usually steady hands trembled slightly as he adjusted his glasses, his voice wavering as he began to speak. "Captain Kurotsuchi, I apologize for the extensive damage. We were caught off guard..."

Mayuri cut him off with a sharp, impatient gesture. "Spare me your excuses, Akon. I need answers, not apologies. What happened here? Why didn't the enemy finish you off?"

Akon swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the ground as if searching for the right words among the scattered debris. "It's... it's because the lookalike, the one who resembled Szayelaporro Granz, had a strange reaction when he found the specimen."

Mayuri's eyes narrowed, his curiosity piqued despite his anger. He leaned in closer, his voice low and dangerous. "A strange reaction? Elaborate, Akon."

Akon took a deep breath, his gaze meeting Mayuri's with a mixture of fear and determination. "When he saw the specimen, it was as if he was looking at himself. He... he seemed confused, almost horrified. He muttered something about being degraded to a specimen and then... he just left. He didn't attack further, didn't try to destroy more than he already had."

Mayuri's fingers drummed impatiently on the hilt of his zanpakutō, his mind racing. The flickering light from the remaining intact lamps cast eerie shadows on his painted face, highlighting the deep furrows of his frown. "Interesting," he muttered, more to himself than to Akon. "So, he recognized himself. That means there's more to this than just an attack. There's a psychological element at play."

Nemu stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. "Captain, should we investigate the origin of this lookalike further? Perhaps there are records or clues in Szayelaporro's old files."

Mayuri nodded, his anger subsiding slightly as his analytical mind took over. "Yes, Nemu. We need to delve deeper into this. Akon, gather all available data on Szayelaporro Granz and any experiments he conducted that could explain this phenomenon. I want every detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem."

Akon nodded quickly, relief washing over his face as he received his orders. "Understood, Captain. I'll get right on it."

As Akon hurried away, Mayuri turned to survey the wreckage once more, his mind already piecing together theories and possibilities. The Institute would be rebuilt, the damage repaired, but the questions raised by this attack would not be so easily answered.