Two Souls, One Story

Chapter 26

Rukia frowned up at the sky as chaos seemed to ensue around her. The lieutenants were shouting at each other. Questions, demands for answers, even threats.

"Guys..." Rukia's voice strained to have any sense of volume amongst the pandemonium. "Maybe instead of tearing into each other, we should figure out what to do next?"

"While I agree with you," Rangiku started, eyes still glued to the sky. "It's... well, not every day we lose three captains in one day, and as traitors, too." She blinked several times, looking down at the smaller girl and squatting down to her level. "Are you okay, Rukia?"

Rukia blinked up at the taller woman and frowned, lips slightly pursed as she did. "I... I think I'll be okay... in a while." She offered a shaky smile. After all, she did almost die for a second- possibly a third time.

"It's okay to not be okay... Come find me if you're suddenly not. Us girls have to stick together," Rangiku said with a wink. She turned her head to where the humans were regrouping and recouping. "I gotta say, the orange-haired one is kinda cute. Too young, of course, but cute. Is he dating the girl?"

While the tease hung at the end of Rukia's mouth like a fish with a hook, it was not something that could be said. Yamamoto was slowly making his way. He was still battle ready, with spiritual pressure leaking like a dripping faucet.

She turned, wide eyed and faced the imposing form of the Head Captain.

"Kuchiki Rukia... Those in power made a grave and foolish mistake. Our beliefs that laws are absolute led forth a gap so wide, Aizen Sosuke exploited us for a hundred years. Without the swift and unprecedented actions of your friends and companions, your life would have been lost. This... mistake, is also a burden I shall forever carry on my shoulders." Yamamoto spoke slowly, but each syllable was that of an ancient poem. Only through decades of tutoring was Rukia even able to fully comprehend the formal language spoken. "As the Captain of the Gotei 13, I sincerely apologize..."

And then he bowed. So low, Rukia could see the top of his head and the back of his neck. Like a man resting his head on an execution block.

Rukia's hands hovered in front of her with almost feverish shakes. "Wh-what... Wait... Hold on! You don't have to bow so deeply!" Tears welled in her eyes, and her heartbeat had an erratic rhythm.

Fortunately for Rukia, Kyoraku chose now to approach the little gathering. "Careful, old man. Your back might throw out if you keep this up!" He spoke with a tired but jovial nature, which seemed to be the key to get Yamamoto to stand up straight.

The older Soul Reaper adjusted his stance, now returning to the calm old man he always portrayed. He turned to the group to bark orders. "Account the dead! The 4th- tend to the wounded! Have every squad member from the 3rd, 5th, and 9th taken into custody for interrogations! Except..."

Yamamoto paused, as if doing a headcount of all there. Apparently, the math was not mathing. His eyes swept over the gathering again. He then swiveled around to Rukia and Rangiku, like he thought checking on the two women would fix his mental abacus.

Rukia quickly did her own mental investigation. Brown, black, white, orange, even pink. But there was no blond hair. Rukia listened for something, perhaps the gushing of Aizen's hair, or a series of 'I told you so!' but there was... nothing.

She remembered how Gin returned bloodied.

"I think... I should find Izuru." Rukia tucked an arm to her chest, clutching her robes. Her spiritual energy, though weak, tried to reach out and look for her dear friend. But the most she could reach was Renji's energy a few meters away.

"Yes... You might have better success at locating him than I am, at this moment," Yamamoto said almost too casually.

She turned her head to look up at the old captain and smiled slightly. "Should I bring him here to you?"