Chapter 26. Confrontation ( part 2):A March to the Sēireitei

SOMEWHERE IN THE YOKAI VILLAGE....

As dawn was approaching soon, darkness remained an unwanted guest for winter. The moon seemed to stick around a little longer before the lazy sun arrived once again.

Inside his castle, Hirōshi got up as early as he could, whilst not wearing any of his clothing. Sleeping by his side of his bed was his wife and somehow she and Hirōshi were engaging `sexual activities` as the festival ended. He sat on his bed side before leaving her to go and take a bath.

When she reached out her hand, she noticed he was gone. Hirōshi's body plunged itself into a bathtub filled with never-ending warm water and sat there, continuing rubbing his own moist skin. His wife also got out from bed and located to the bathroom.

Silence was involved, but Hirōshi glanced at her in the corner and she asked as she was deeply concerned about him:

" You're not going back to the Soul society, are you?"

Hirōshi sighed and answered in his frustration:

" What choice do I have when Shingekuni summoned me for this shit, Aki? He captured my messenger, defended the enemy that murdered Chika Shihōin and Sukuna Mishima in a merciless cold blooded death, sold my people into slavery, turned his back on his friend, watched my father brutally murdered and doing absolutely nothing and dismantled the 14 Division that actually was its reason for redeeming this forsaken Sēireitei, all because he'd satisfied that selfish `devilish ` hag."

Aki stepped closer towards him and felt every suffering that he'd endured. She kneeled down and rubbed his hair and a glowing scarlet tattoo lines that appeared through his veins when his temper had reached its boiling point.

" I wish I could take this pain away from you and we might live in a carefree life. " she muttered in a low grieving tone.

" You know we can't do that, my autumn love. Whatever Shingekuni wants, I'll hear his `tell-a-tale` reasons. He better not give me any excuses for his actions.", He answered. , " However; since it's pretty dark, how about we could do some deeds before I leave. "

" Maybe later. As for now, we do have a mission. When you come back, we'll do it. " Aki smiled before leaving him with a deep kiss.

Hirōshi might brought himself with a bright smile on her, resulted his glowing scarlet lines to disappear from his skin. He kept looking at her hourglass shaped body while covering it with a large furry fleece blanket. But at the same time, his safety towards the Nobusama and Yamamoto's message lingered through his mind.

~~~~~~~

SOMEWHERE IN THE CRYSTAL SOUL....

[ ZEN'S POV]

Inside a Mishima / Nishimiya household, sat Iruka and Zen on the living room. Somehow, Zen did sheltered himself at Iruka's home after a meeting with this mysterious woman he'd met in the Authority office.

Papers were scattered across the wooden coffee table. Figuring out the listed documents about entities and how they discovered a crucial evidence about Ichitaro's `extinct ` clan, what they'd discovered was fascinating by one after another. Yet, each and every names were drawn in red lines, making Zen's job to protect Ichitaro over the upcoming danger remained difficult than he'd expected.

" So, that's how the Kishida clan died and the Soul society had literally done nothing to help afterwards? "

" Not just the Kishida clan, but also both the Uzumaki and the Kagami clans. Yet, where they come from and their deaths remains uncertain. "

" I mean, yeah. Keitaro and Neji sure does have a heck of mysteries in their lives. But my question is what's the deal with those red lines drawn on each names? Is it more like a hit list or something?" Iruka asked.

" It sounds more or less like it." Zen answered, but unsure if he's right. As questions remained unanswered, swinging back and forth with no possible solutions, they could hear a knock at their side of the door. Iruka might guess if it's Ichitaro, Zen guested otherwise as he picked up a spirit energy of a foe.

' I have to hide those documents, otherwise secrets might be out. Nanami might not be happy. ' he thought anxiously, giving him a hasty time to pack up every single papers before anybody else could.

{ KNOCK ×5}

Someone bang the door in a moderated manner and Iruka simply went straight towards the door. Iruka wasn't as happy when someone knocked like that as if they were soul reapers or other guards from different entities.

Iruka opened the door and wasn't amazed when a partial bald man was there. Without greeting anyone, he pushed him away and found Zen there after he cleaned the entire coffee table from the documents, leaving no evidence behind. Confused, Zen was astonished by his actions and asked:

" It's already late and you come here like a lunatic burglar at this time. What do you want?"

" I'm sorry to disturb you at this hour. But the queen would like to see you at the Soul society by dawn. ", He explained.

" The Soul society? What am I going to do there, Pedro? What does Kazumi want from me this time?" Zen inquired.

" I think it has something to do with the child that had magically ended up there. It's unclear what it was, but it'll be delightful for you to be there. "

Zen was indignant at first. He often wondered:

'Out of all places, why here? Why the Soul society? It's still under investigation for every crime it had committed, including the Fullbringer genocide. Something isn't right here and I'll get to the bottom of this. However, if this has something to do with Keitaro's kid, then I'll react as soon as possible. '

Waiting for Zen's response, Pedro noticed a fawn-colored file lying around the floor. He was anxious that Zen might have found a crucial evidence that will point at Kazumi. He moved his black shoes and was stopped by Iruka's presence. Iruka simply gave the ` don't even think about it ` look, shook his head and folded his arms as if he wanted to cause a fight yet again.

After a fewer minutes before the sun rises, Zen sighed and finally responded :

" Very well. But Iruka is coming with me whether you like it or not." Until then, he simply left without a single word from each men.

Pedro was pleased, but at the same time, felt a little bit uncomfortable when he mentioned Iruka. When he once again spotted the file, a yawn was heard from Kumori's room while being distracted.

Iruka activated his long light goldenrod spirit energy and used it as a rope and tied him down from his hands to his legs. Kumori was awakened by the mumbling sounds and asked her uncle:

" Uncle Iruka, what is going on here? Is it about Ichitaro?"

" I think it's best you need to go to bed. It's getting late and the sun hasn't shine yet." He demanded softly, yet didn't gave her any uncertain answers.

" No. I have to go and see him. What if something bad happened to him or worse?"

" Trust me, sweetheart. He's fine wherever he is. "

" Okay, then. I'm coming with you. " she stated, grabbing her own blue cloak and followed Zen.

Iruka remained dumbfounded, but was amazed how swiftly she'd grown. He dragged Pedro out of the house and found Zen there. He was about to ask him why Kumori was joining them, but realized it's about Ichitaro's safety. Kumori, Iruka and Pedro catches up with him as they're all heading out to the Soul society.

~~~~~~~

MEANWHILE....

A FEW MOMENTS LATER...

" Hey, Soul reaper. It's time to wake up. ", a Tengu dictated Renji from his sleep by nudging his foot on his back.

A Tengu simply stood still and watched as Renji's slothful body was awakened. Just as he got up from his bed from after an excessively drinking sakē from last night, he he felt a sharp pain seared through his skull.

He growled in pain, whilst grabbing his head through his red hair and asked :

" Do you know what time it is?"

" I do. It's this for you to leave this village immediately along with your friends. The emperor's order. " he answered.

" Ah shit. ", Renji mumbled in a curse word.

He got up from his bed and went towards Shikamaru, who was also asleep after staying up all night. He took his foot and dragged him to outside where a Tengu was waiting for them at the doorsteps. Shikamaru finally woke up and noticed Renji was dragging his leg, yet was walking from side to side.

He pulled his own leg from Renji and assisted him as he knew he was too sick to walk and almost collapsing to the floor.

' Heh. Hangover sure can happen to anyone, including a hot-headed dog shit like him. ' Shikamaru thought cheerfully. A Tengu spotted him and Shikamaru and decided to head out to Rukia, who's still in the clinic from her healing wound. Rukia was asleep until she could hear a tap on the window frame.

Instead a Tanuki doctor arrived outside his clinic and asked:

" Greetings, Tengu. Were you looking for my patient at this time?"

" Unfortunately, yes. I'm not sure why was the emperor laughed that yesterday evening and I think it has something to do with that message this soul reaper had sent. " he explained.

" You know, I feel sorry for him. The emperor doesn't deserve any of this turmoil. He deserves every happiness in his life. "

" Indeed."

Rukia opened her eyes and saw both the Yokai doctor and the royal guard speaking to each other from the window. She then got up and peeped on the door. She slowly opened it and it stopped them from ever talking.

" Oh, you're awake. That's good. " said the Tengu as his smile sparked on his face for the first time. Rukia slowly stretched her arms and yawned, whilst covering her mouth.

" So, is something wrong " she asked.

" Oh no. Not at all.... Actually the emperor decided it's time for you and your friends to leave. I don't know why, but it's an order.

Her heart sank in despair as her visit to the Yokai district came shortly to an end. She was down heartened as she looked down and at the same time anxious about Ichitaro's safety. She finally broke silence and bravely requested:

" Is it okay if I bring them with me?"

Both of them were baffled by her request.

" Are you talking about those three spirit demons?" The Tanuki doctor asked.

" I'm afraid so. I would like to thank you for healing my wounds and keep us here from an unwelcome foe. But I have to take them with me. I made a promise to someone, even he wasn't here I'll protect them with my life. I would like to apologize to the emperor and I hope he'll understand. "

As silence remained in place, the Tengu finally understood Rukia and walked away. The Tanuki doctor went back to the clinic and collected as many crystal clear Nuppeppo as he can inside a tiny body, turning them into crystal balls. As for Rukia, she went to the inn where the triplets were and waited for either the Tengu, The Tanuki doctor or Hirōshi's appearance.

~~~~~~~~

Inside a dark room, Hirōshi opened the door and found Hanatarō in deep slumber. He wasn't flabbergasted nor ashamed of him at all when he gave him the remaining food and sakē. He folded his arms and waited for his awakening from his sleep, yet it didn't work.

' I don't have time for this shit. ' he thought, activating a hot red flame from his finger and shot him right in his left side cheek on his arse. Hanatarō was finally awake and screamed in pain as the flames scorched him and Hirōshi held his laughter really well.

Hirōshi, simply pulled his flame away from him and commanded:

" Oh I see you're awake, soul reaper. Anyway, I have to send out one of my men to awaken your friends. We have to get moving. "

Hanatarō slowly kept his pace and catches up with Hirōshi, while trying to heal himself from the burns he'd received.

Once both of them were out of the castle, Renji and Shikamaru were there too. Rukia struggled a little bit with Ichitaro still asleep, even though she was an inch shorter than him. The Tengu did grabbed Yoshimura and Rangiku and placed them on a cart-like wagon. Hanatarō and the Tengu decided to join them along with Renji and Shikamaru.

Rukia and Hirōshi were the first to go in the front of the cart along with the Tanuki doctor.

As they took off, very few Yokai villagers accompanied them including the Ōnyūdō and an ox sized Ushi Oni and carried the cart towards the exit. Aki felt wrenched with grief as she waved them farewell.

The Nurikabē magically opened a portal like cave just to get them through. After darkness and a cold wind peeped through the portal as they leave, Rukia rubbed Ichitaro's short hair as her tears slowly slipped on her cheeks. She now worried not only Ichitaro and herself, but also the people she'd cared about, including her brother and Ichigo. She'd no choice but to remain strong in this difficult moment.

~~~~~~~~

After a few metres from the Yokai district all the way to the Soul society, most of the Yokai guards were in shock and felt a gloomy presence. Nearly a third of the sēireitei were destroyed and knew that Rukia and the others ended up in their village and were seriously in grave danger. How Yamamoto finally came here remained anonymous.

When they've reached towards there, they paused for a moment and emperor Hirōshi exited from the cart and was halted by two of the soul reapers.He simply snapped his fingers and a gush of wind hoisted them away to on top of the building and pushed the door open and stormed towards the hallway along with a robustful violent wind that circled around him, while the rest remained behind.

~~~~~~~

MEANWHILE....

9 remaining captains, including Chōjirō and Captain Yamamoto were at the hall, in which apparently were waiting for a ` certain guest` . Byakuya, Unohana, Shunsui and Toshiro were still in the hospital bed. Even though Zaraki was injured due to the Nobusama attack, his arm was bandaged and forced himself to attend this meeting. The Nobusama is still inside the aviary cage inside the Senzaikyū.

Just as they were expecting a guest, a gush of violent wind viciously blew the door open. Majority of the captains took cover, but were blasted and thrown away to the wall and were crashing down to the ground. Only Yamamoto stood still as he was facing the wrath of Emperor Hirōshi. He was pleased when he first saw him, yet had to face his wrath.

They now witnessed the emperor seeing red as his scarlet tattoo lines became visible.

" It's nice to see you again, Hirōshi." He rejoiced.