Bleach: The Exiled Captain

Chapter Twenty: Broken Pride

March 27, 2014

Ash POV:

I noticed the sun beginning to rise over the destroyed Seireitei as I sat on top of a tower. No one slept that night, how could we, we were just attacked. Most of our buildings had been destroyed but we can always rebuild. However the pride of every Soul Reaper was broken.

"Do you mind if I sit next to you?"

I turned around to see April shyly holding her right arm, she was pretty bruised up and parts of her clothing were tattered. But her vibe felt different, no longer did I sense the cheerfulness that she had once radiated, its as if a dark cloud of depression surrounded her soul. Who could blame her though?

"Yeah of course you can sit next to me." I said to her with a smile, but her mood didn't change as she sat next to me.

"Do you think they'll come back?" She asked as she hid her face in her arms.

"I doubt it, this was just their message for war."

"War?"

"Yea it is obvious that we are now at war." I paused. "The question is with who? Clearly not the hollows, they are not smart enough to invade us with an entire army."

"Oh, I see."

Her voice was so depressing when I heard her say that, I couldn't take it!

I stood up and held out my hand to her, she stared at me with her sad pink eyes.

"Come on, being blue doesn't suit you."

I saw her cheeks glow a dim red as she faintly smiled.

"There's that beautiful smile of yours, now are you going to leave me hanging?"

She grabbed my hand and stood next to me as the sun ascended higher into the air.

With a massive mood swing, "Of course not, now lets go get some food!"

"Haha, okay."

A hell butterfly landed on my hand, I listened to the message it had. Once it was over it flew away.

"Sorry April, my Captain has ordered for my presence, so I can't make it to breakfast."

She held both her arms behind her back as she swayed left and right. Then she began to walk closely towards me as she whispered into my ear.

"Well, I guess you owe me a date then, Ashy."

She gave me a peck on my right cheek and then jumped off the tower and onto the road.

"Wait, did she say a date?" I asked myself out loud but immediately brushed the thought. "No time for that, I have work to do."

*

As I reached the Squad Four Barracks, which thankfully wasn't destroyed, I heard someone scream.

"Move out the way!"

I managed to move to the right as a Soul Reaper was dashing with a stretcher which was supporting someone injured.

Once I entered the barracks, a horrific scene was laid upon me. More than hundreds of Soul Reapers were badly injured. Some had ligaments torn off, others were screaming in horror as they found out that some of their friends were dead. They are fools, as Soul Reapers we should be prepared to die; but still, I can't imagine if I was in their shoes. What if it had been my sister?

"Let us go, Ash."

Out of thought I turned around to see my Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki. He wears the Captain's haori with a silver scarf around his neck. He has long black hair in which he also wears white, intricate, head pieces on the top of his hair and on the left and right. He is of noble blood and can be a bit of an asshole at times, but he is a strong leader no doubt.

"Right, Captain Kuchiki." I said as I bowed.

As we walked outside of the barracks I questioned him, "May I ask why'd you request for my presence?"

He replied with a serious face, "I wanted to tell you about the Captain's meeting that we had."

"Oh, what did you and the other Captain's discuss?"

"As you may know, we are at war. But do you know with who?"

I shook my head as a response.

"His name is Alec, an Ex-Captain that was exiled a century ago as the war with Quincies was close to a finish. He now wants revenge against the Soul Society and so he attacked us."

I took a minute to process things, "So when is the next battle.?"

"He mentioned the Winter Solstice."

"I see, anything else that you guys talked about?"

"Yes, we discussed about who will take up the position of Squad 13."

"Really, who will it be?"

"I do not know, but Captain Kyõraku already has someone in mind. Apparently his recommendation will come by in four days."

"I wonder who will take his place." I stopped walking as did my Captain. "Sir, what will you have me do for the time being?"

He stared at me with his slate gray eyes. "We rebuild the Seireitei. Until we have a full roster of 13 Captain's, that is all we do in the meantime."

***

On the outskirts of the Soul Society, at the top of a mountain, a man stared off into the dark night.

"So its been five days." He said as he gazed off into the stars. "I can sense that we were attacked in my absence."

His blue eye's filled with electricity, dark clouds rumbled through the calm skies as he clenched his fist.

"You guys better have survived."

As the dark clouds rolled over him, lighting struck onto the mountain, the sound of thunder now being heard through out the Soul Society. Winds lifted the young man as he controlled them as he headed towards the Seireitei; lighting crashing down behind him.

***

In the Squad 8 barracks, Shunsui faintly smirked, "He is back."

"Who's back, Captain?" Nanao asked.

"My apprentice." He raised his straw hat. "Nanao, please send a hell butterfly towards him with the message to come at Squad 12 barracks."

The Lt. did as she was told.

"This should be fun." Shunsui said as another lightning bolt was seen from the far distance.