Chapter Text
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Date: August 2001 [Ryōka Invasion, Day 5]
The so-called 'Ryōka Invasion' has exhausted all the squads in very different ways.
However, no squad has dedicated itself as much to the hunt as Squad Twelve due to their own taichō's obsession. From the moment Ichimaru Gin warned everyone at the last captains meeting of the ryōka group trying to casually cross the West Gate, protected by Ikkanzaka Jidanbō, Kurotsuchi Mayuri has not let the topic go.
The fact that the gatekeeper even considered letting them through is absurd.
But putting this fact aside, one must keep in mind that, as part of the Research and Development Institute, it is not uncommon for Squad Twelve to get caught up in the witch hunt. That's exactly what the search for the ryōka has become, after they somehow managed to infiltrate the Seireitei by breaking through the barrier that protects it.
It is currently the fifth day since the arrival of the ryōka group in Soul Society tripped the Squad Twelve sensors. And is the second day since they invaded the Seireitei. The thing worrying Akon the most, though, is not that they infiltrated in the first place (something pending investigation, by the way). The most worrysome part in all of this, is that a single ryōka, after having fought with a lientenant and several seated officers, managed to not only survive, but dissapeared entirely.
There is no trace of any of the ryōka, infact.
That's what's worrying, in Akon's opinion.
And it also happens to be the reason why his squad has been as active as worker ants for the last thirty hours or so. His taichō have been very persistent in tracking down and arresting this peculiar group, apparently made up of a spiritually empowered variety of humans and the alleged ryōka boy who stole Kuchiki Rukia's powers.
(The latter which, in Akon's opinion, isn't very realistic.)
His captain, being the control freak that he is, hasn't given them a bloody break since yesterday. And after the ryōka with Shinigami powers (another subject pending investigation, a case that his taichō wants to personally review) fought with the fukutaichō Abarai Renji, he disappeared without a trace, after a close encounter with a Squad 11 patrol group, all while kidnapping some poor Squad Four bastard along the way.
It may be a human invention, but with the inhuman work hours his taichō routinely puts them through, he's pretty sure his blood has mostly turned to pure caffeine. It's fortunate that Squad Ten's fukutaichō loves her visits to Gensei so much. Her introduction of caffeine into the Gotei has been a life saver.
Akon couldn't be more grateful for that because it's the only reason he even continues to function as he does.
That's another night's sleep eased for him by a cup of coffee. However, his moment of calm, alone with his coffee, is interrupted when sensors pick up a strange signal appearing in the sky over the Seireitei. He almost spits his coffee out onto the monitors in front of him when the readings start to appear in front of his eyes.
"Oh damn, that can't be a good thing..."
Setting aside (unfortunately) his fourth infusion of the morning, Akon scrambles to his feet and rushes forward, his hands moving at breakneck speeds across the keyboard before him as he precisely keeps track of the readings displayed on the screens
He almost tripped over his own feet as one signal became two signals, lasting just long enough for the sensors to pick up the terribly abnormal readings, before disappearing completely as if they'd never been there.
What's worse is the fact that he hasn't even lasted long enough to begin to guess what they were. And since his taichō is a man of science, he hates incomplete data. He relies on accurate and conclusive data. Riddles, and Kami forbid, statements without solid facts to back them up, are not something he will tolerate.
At all.
As he collapses into his not-so-comfortable chair (after more than thirty hours in the same position, one can tell that something is no longer comfortable) while the readings continue to appear in front of him. But again, these are just readings and aside from specifying two approximate points of where they felt, there isn't much information.
Except for the fact that the reading of a reiatsu surge that just went off pretty impressively, if he can tell, matches almost 100% with the invading ryōka they accuse of stealing Kuchiki Rukia's powers. He also happens to be the same human boy who fought the previous day with two high-ranking officers from Squad Eleven and the fukutaichō from Squad Six.
However, as impressive as the readings were, it wasn't even one minute before the reiatsu went out like a light, completely disappearing from all radars. That's concerning, because while the ryōka is accused of not having control of his power it has been undetectable since its infiltration to the Seireitei.
(Said data on the lack of control of his powers comes from an interrogation report made to Madarame Ikkaku after the fight, which Akon's own taicho may or may not have hacked. Same reports that, for all intents and purposes, Akon should not have read.)
Not to mention the others who accompany him, none of which have been located, much less captured even after already having been inside the Seireitei for twenty-four hours, and facing several groups of shinigami in different parts of the Seireitei after getting separated during the infiltration.
Scanning the information about the location, Akon realizes that the ryōka with Shinigami power didn't get very far from the site of his battle with Abarai Renji the day before, as he is still in the southeast area of the Seireitei, which corresponds to the grounds of Squad Six.
Arching an eyebrow as he quickly tapped on the keyboard, Akon looks on in surprise, impressed with these humans' ability to sneak and hide. Especially the guy with Shinigami powers, since he hasn't even strayed far from Squad Six's territory.
It's amazing that he can hide from the taichō of said squad, because Kuchiki Byakuya is nothing if not very capable. And as he's learned, despite remaining just as cold and stoic as usual, everyone believes he still has a bone to pick with the human boy who took the powers of his adoptive sister.
Not that Akon is into gossip, but that sort of thing just spreads and always finds its way to him whether he wants it to or not.
Checking again the last known locations of the ryōka, Akon sighs in frustration. Especially when you think that two of them landed somewhere in his own squad's territories. And they still don't get caught, too.
A ping on the screen gets his attention, and Akon narrows his eyes at the information.
Setting aside the ryōka's reiatsu that spiked to out-of-the-box levels, before disappearing like it was never there, the other reading, the one indicating an abnormal disturbance in the Seireitei's sky, has just been revised and there is more information available.
According to the report, whatever caused such a disturbance specifically just happened somewhere in Squad Thirteen's barracks. According to further investigation, it is near Ugendō that the taichō's quarters are located.
Frowning, he leans forward, squinting at the report.
There isn't much more information, just as he's expecting, but the sensors can't extend much further either. While his taichō enjoys having eyes everywhere within the Seireitei, there are spots that are out of his control. Squad Thirteen is one of those points, as decades ago the taichō of both squads had a heated confrontation over his taichō's spying on the squad.
Neither party left happy after that, but his taichō had to back down and admit defeat, because Ukitake Jūshirō, the other squad's taichō, is not one to joke around when he gets serious.
And this time, he was very serious.
Akon barely knows the details, but he knows that aside from Squad One and Squad Eight, only Thirteen and Four have a lower surveillance level. Their respective taichō demanded it
Standing up after the reports are on paper, Akon picks up the bundle of sheets and rushes out of his office, running towards his fukutaichō's office. Like most of Squad Twelve's Shinigami, he knows better than to run straight to his taichō when he's locked in his own lab. He tried once, when he was a novice in dealing with it and found the truth of Kurotsuchi Mayuri's infamy.
Suffice it to say that he never, never did it again. He always makes sure to go through his daughter and fukutaichō, Kurotsuchi Nemu, before appearing before his taichō if and only if it is absolutely necessary.
Nemu opens the door with the same neutral expression that accompanies her 99% of the time, her clear eyes fixed on Akon.
(He doesn't flinch at her gaze, he doesn't! Even if she looks at him like he's not there, he doesn't.)
"What is it?"
"Kurosuchi-fukutaichō, I have important information to report to Kurotsuchi-taichō. Just a few moments ago, abnormal readings were picked up by our sensors over the Seireitei sky, specifically over Ugendō on the grounds of Squad Thirteen. We don't have much information about it," he stops when her brows furrow slightly and her eyelids droop a bit. Hastening, he adds: "However, it is not the only thing I have to report. Also: at the same time that this strange reading was picked up, southeast of the Seireitei, more specifically in sector 27 of Squad Six's territory, traces of the The ryōka's reiatsu with Shinigami powers skyrocketing to out-of-the-box levels, before disappearing as if it had never been there. According to our sensors, the area is very close to where Abarai-fukutaichō and the ryōka in question fought yesterday afternoon."
Raising her eyebrows slightly, she now watches him with a very, very slight hint of interest as she receives the thick paper report he presents to her. She doesn't even pay attention to him as she reads it at a speed that only she can reach. Her expression remains neutral, and aside from the slight movement of her eyebrows, there is no visible reaction as he waits for her to finish reading.
Finally, after a few minutes of silence, she looks up.
"Okay, got it. As you know, Mayuri-sama is working in his lab and hates being disturbed, so I'll make sure to relay the information right away as this topic is one he'll be interested in." Is the first thing she says, walking completely out of the office and shutting the door firmly behind her. "For now, it's best that you go back to your station and try to find out as much as you can about both matters. We should also send a team to each location to investigate. Make sure it's done immediately."
"Yes, fukutaichō, I'll take care of that right now."
As he is about to say goodbye to go do exactly that, heavy footsteps echo down the long, wide hallway, echoing off the walls. A reiatsu ignites in his senses as its owner turns around the corner and runs straight for them.
"Fukutaichō, fukutaichō, it's terrible, something terrible happened!"
And he comes screaming, struggling to stop before he crashes into them.
He just barely makes it.
Akon doesn't recognize the Shinigami in front of him, but that's because he's probably one of the guards at the squad gates, if his appearance means anything. He looks agitated, sweaty, and abnormally pale.
Clearly, just like his screaming and pale, messy appearance of him shows, whatever happened is serious.
"What's wrong? You should behave better in front of Kurotsuchi-fukutaichō!"
Akon scolds, because he can tell that if he doesn't, his fukutaichō will no doubt have a few choice words to give him, if her slightly downturned brows mean anything. And while Nemu may not be the maniac who will experiment on her own men like her father (Akon's very appearance is proof of just how crazy his taichō is, and the lines he will cross, for the sake of his experiments) she can certainly be fierce in some situations.
And the truth is that Nemu doesn't like disorder and neither does noisy people.
The Shinigami in question currently meets both conditions.
"I'm sorry!" He apologizes, almost out of breath; whether it's because of the race or some other reason Akon doesn't care. "But something terrible has happened, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichō, Akon-sanseki. A report has come in that the taichō of Squad Five, Aizen Sōsuke-taichō, has been found dead at East Holy Wall about half an hour ago."
She has absolutely no reaction to such a revelation. Akon, for his part, blanches at the thought of a taichō being killed.
"Okay, I got it, you can go back to your post," Nemu replies nonchalantly, which doesn't surprise Akon at all. Only once the Shinigami has quickly bowed, accepting the farewell and leaves, does she turn to him. "Send a group to the East Holy Wall and tell them to make sure they do not miss anything. Mayuri-sama will want to know how and why Aizen-taichō was killed. Also make sure they are discreet, I'm sure this kind of event will cause a commotion and it will bring chaos. There is a possibility that it was one of the ryōka. I will go report all this to Mayuri-sama, you can go and take care of everything I asked of you."
Akon blinks in surprise as he feels a chill run down his spine at this sudden turn of events. Especially after hearing his fukutaichō talk about him, even if he ignores the indifference in his voice, he can't ignore the meaning of his words.
The prospect that a ryōka could even go head to head with a taichō is incredible. But even commit the murder of one? That is truly worrisome, whether they were able to or not.
This is something that certainly requires extensive investigation.
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Less than half an hour later, Akon slumps back in his chair, watching the computer in front of him running. He's supposed to be analyzing data, checking sensors and stuff, but frankly, he's tired. More than tired, he is exhausted.
And his head keeps going back to all the events that happened in just the last two hours.
After deploying three investigative teams, just as Nemu had ordered, he headed back to his office, quickly slipping out of sight of any prying eye. He's not in the mood for that. And while he's supposed to be running the investigation personally, he'll have to be enough for the computer to do it. At least for a time. He needs a breather.
Now, as he returns to his previously abandoned cold cup of coffee, he sighs.
When he feels a powerful reiatsu rise on the other side of the labs, he stops drinking long enough to cringe in on himself and shudder a bit, as his taichō's reiatsu spikes because he probably just got the news from Nemu.
Akon, for his part, is grateful to be away from him... until someone interrupts his peace.
"Akon-sempai!"
A small, slender figure, draped in the Shinigami's shihakushō and an enormous white robe, bursts through the door that crashes into the wall with a loud crash. Short purple hair flies around as Kuna Niko, with her bright green eyes, makes her way.
The little researcher who has been with the squad for over a century is one of Akon's favorite assistants, as they have known each other for over a century. They both served under the former taichō, Urahara Kisuke, and both have been partners for so long. Aside from her sometimes loud, startled and slightly impressionable attitude, she's great.
Regardless, unlike most of the other reaserchers he's surrounded by, Akon actually doesn't mind her at all.
"What's wrong Niko?" He asks herself with a patience that he doesn't possess.
It's been a busy morning, okay? And he hasn't even been able to finish his cup of coffee! So yeah, he's a little stressed and the caffeine withdrawal is starting to show.
But he still tries to be patient only because it is Niko, whom he has known for many years.
"Do you know why Kurotsuchi-taichō is so upset?!"
Sighing heavily, he turns in his chair toward her as she closes the distance between them. Her eyes are wide and she looks surprised, her breathing is slightly ragged as she probably just ran from her work station after the burst of their taichō.
Since she wasn't here all morning, it's not surprising that she didn't find out.
Unlike him, she is getting the usual and necessary hours of sleep. Lucky her.
"She probably lost it when Kurotsuchi-fukutaichō informed her about the strangeness of this morning, as well as Aizen-taichō's death." He comments nonchalantly.
Akon still doesn't know whether to be more concerned about the unusual readings he picked up earlier or the fact that one of the Gotei 13's taichō was killed presumably (and that's too vague) by a ryōka. If the latter is true... well, that doesn't look good for anyone.
The fact that a ryōka could even finish off a taichō... Akon shudders at the possibility, even if he still clearly remembers the off-the-charts readings earlier on the ryōka with Shinigami powers.
Niko turns quite pale when he hears his words and chokes briefly.
"W-What?! Aizen-taichō was killed? By whom?! Who is even capable of matching a taichō let alone murdering him?" She looks a little dizzy at the thought.
Something that Akon understands perfectly.
Akon repeats what Nemu said:
"There is a possibility that he was one of the ryōka."
At this, Niko physically steps back, her lips trembling slightly.
"Is that even possible?" She mutters under her breath.
"Well... ordinarily, I wouldn't support that theory but less than an hour ago an unusually high reiatsu reading was picked up by our sensors in the southeast of the Seireitei, near where Abarai-fukutaichō fought the ryōka previously mentioned yesterday afternoon. Not only was it unusually high, it's safe to say that the power readings indicate he might be at the level of a taichō. Just like Kurotsuchi-fukutaichō said, I wouldn't rule out the possibility... yet."
"B-But he's human… how can he have so much of power? That's impossible…"
"We don't know exactly what he is, but we can't rule out the idea that it's not quite... human. That kind of power is not something any human could dream of attaining. Much less a living human. And one so young too." Akon explains, drinking the last of his coffee before pushing aside the empty mug in disgust. Cold coffee certainly tastes bad, even if it at least keeps it's effects.
"That's true," she says, even though she doesn't sound at all sure. "And what of all this do you think he made Kurotsuchi-taichō angry?"
"Undoubtedly the fact that there is no information about the readings from before," is his automatic response. "As much as Aizen-taichō's death may cause chaos and shock throughout the world right now, especially during the ryōka invasion, I highly doubt he cares too much about his life or death. After all, taichō has always been felt disgusted with him, for whatever reason. On the other hand, something as interesting as the unusual readings that we receive... and about which we have little information, that is something that he will undoubtedly pay attention to. It is especially true due to the lack of information. That is also a reason for him to be frustrated. But there is nothing we can do. I already sent an investigation group to take care of these three matters, we can only wait right now."
"You don't think he'll run to investigate personally, do you?"
"I have no doubt he will, but I don't think he wants to go anywhere near Squad Thirteen. It didn't go well the last time he set foot on its grounds. Ukitake-taichō doesn't appreciate him, or any of our squad, snooping around his territory." Akon shrugged.
If he was the white-haired taichō and had that power to back him up, not to mention the support of the sōtaichō, he would undoubtedly go against someone like Kurotsuchi Mayuri to protect his privacy and intimacy as well as his people's. It's too bad he ended up with the taichō who likes to poke his nose into everything, even when people despise him doing so.
"And the ryōka?"
"He's probably already being extensively searched by Kuchiki-taichō. After all, whether he admits it or not, he's personally involved with this matter through his sister. And another thing, that's another territory where we're not welcome, so aside from a small, inconspicuous group sent to investigate, we can't do more without messing with him. And no one wants to be on Kuchiki Byakuya's bad side, not even Kurotsuchi-taichō."
"By the way... I heard something interesting when I got here." She says suddenly, perking up a bit. "Hinamori-fukutaichō and Kira-fukutaichō were arrested this morning. I don't know the details, but apparently they were fighting, I think."
"Hmm." He mutters non-committal.
"Now that you tell me all this, I suppose it makes some sense. Perhaps they fought over Aizen-taichō's death?"
"But what does his death have to do with Kira-fukutaichō and Hinamori-fukutaichō fighting? From what I know, those two have been friends since the academy, right?"
"From what I understand, yes." She nods. "Even more interesting: it was Hitsugaya-taichō who ordered their arrest. Apparently, Ichimaru-taichō was on the scene as well, along with Iba-fukutaichō, Hisagi-fukutaichō, and Matsumoto-fukutaichō."
"Akon-sanseki, I have news from Team Three!"
A Shinigami he doesn't know makes his way into his office, without knocking, because apparently that's extremely normal, and he stops when he sees Niko sitting nearby.
Team Three is the team that he previously sent to the crime scene where Aizen Sōsuke was found to investigate as much as possible about what happened there. It's surprising that they sent out information so quickly, but that's a good thing too.
Hopefully, the arrival of some nugget of information will placate his taichō a bit.
"Go ahead, talk. I have to inform Kurotsuchi-fukutaichō as soon as he knows anything." He demands, making it clear that he won't be bothered by Niko's presence. Anyway, she's a Senior Investigator and she'll find out about everything anyway.
And then, he goes on to report the scene that the group in question discovered while they were investigating. Some things were already reported to him by Niko, which she herself picked up through office gossip, which apparently travels extremely fast. Indeed, Hinamori Momo was the one who found the body of Aizen Sōsuke, impaled by his own Zanpakutō on top of the tallest building in East Holy Wall.
As she screamed at the bloody murder (apparently there was a literal river of blood falling from her gray, lifeless body) there were four fukutaichō arriving in the area who quickly caught up. Those were Kira Izuru, Iba Tetsuzaemon, Hisagi Shūhei, and Matsumoto Rangiku.
At some point, Ichimaru Gin even appeared.
Although they were unable to investigate what exactly happened, whatever it was was enough to aggravate the Squad Five fukutaichō enough for her to break out and release her Shikai. Even though the sōtaichō announced approval to release Shikai within the Seireitei to deal with the ryōka, no one said it was okay for a fukutaichō to turn her sword against one of their own, and a taichō at that. And without apparent justification, too.
But the fukutaichō of Squad Three intercepted the attack, confronting his old friend.
And then, after the taichō apparently goaded his dead colleague's fukutaichō, she completely lost it and even wanted to use her Shikai to attack. In turn, the other fukutaichō activated her own Shikai and managed to block the attack. But when the two were about to cross swords, Hitsugaya Tōshirō intervened and stopped them both.
It was he who ordered the arrest of the two fukutaichō.
He was also the one who dealt with the aftermath and guarded the crime scene until the arrival of Unohana Retsu, taichō of Squad Four, who was apparently personally sent by the sōtaichō to take over the investigation as soon as the murder became known. As the leader of the medical squad, it is not a surprise as there is expected to be an autopsy on the body and a precise investigation of the scene to collect as much evidence and information as possible.
And to end the "brief" report, the Shinigami told him that there is currently chaos in Squad Five since they are without their two commanding officers and that both fukutaichō are arrested in their respective squads under the watch of his taichō in the case of Kira Izuru and Squad Ten's close surveillance in the case of Hinamori Momo.
Apparently the taichō of Squad Ten has decided to personally deal with the chaos of Squad Five in the absence of other senior officers.
After hearing everything and dismissing the Shinigami who brought the information, Akon leans back in his chair, feeling a headache coming on.
"Well... at least this has nothing to do with us. Now that Unohana-taichō has taken command of the investigation, it's unlikely that Kurotsuchi-taichō would want to get involved in that, right?"
"Right," though certainly Akon isn't entirely sure of that.
"Anyway, he still has something to do even without it. Aren't those unusual readings being investigated? That'll probably occupy his time, since it has to do with the ryōka invasion rather than Aizen-taichō's murder."
Akon can only sigh; he wishes he could be as positive as Niko, but he can't. Like Nemu, if it had been hours, even two hours, before, Akon could have ruled out the ryōka as the cause of Aizen Sōsuke's death. But currently, he can't. Not only do the readings not support the idea of ruling them out entirely, but there's also the fact that they only know the powers of the ryōka with Shinigami powers. There are at least three more who are with him and know absolutely nothing of his powers.
So, he can't completely dismiss the idea.
On the other hand...
"None of my business as long as taichō keeps his experiments away from me." Akon mutters under his breath.
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