eight

Ivy woke early the next morning and slid out the squads barracks unnoticed. She had gone back after Kisuke left to ask the lieutenant a few more questions and had learned that he was sending another party out early the next morning. Remembering her promise she went in search of an accomplice. Sadly she kept running into dead ends. Tessai was busy, Soi still wasn't back and Yoruichi seemed to be in some sort of meeting that was going to last a bit if her guard was telling the truth. She poked her head into Kisuke's office to find him sleeping on his desk. She silently closed the door and wondered if it would be ok to just go and check it real quick. She technically wouldn't be alone if there were members of squad 10 there and she wouldn't stay long, just see if they made any progress or found any clues.

She turned and ran into Hiyori. "Damn ya idi," The small lieutenant started then saw who it was. "Oh hey, you feeling better?" Ivy nodded and started to leave. "Much better thanks, sorry for running into you. Oh and sorry if I scared you the other day." Hiyori shrugged and started to leave murmuring something about not being scared. Ivy had an idea and turned, stopping the small blonde before she could get too far. He said for her not to go alone, maybe. "Hey Hiyori are you busy?" She asked hopeful but the blonde rolled her eyes. "Hell yeah I am. They don't let me sleep around here. Why?" Well, Ivy thought, there goes that one. Maybe she would find someone on the way. "No biggie, I just promised that I wouldn't go alone but there's gonna be some squad 10 guys there so I won't be." They waved to eachother and Hiyori watched her disappear around the corner. "Promised who?" She grumbled then shrugged and went on her way

Ivy slid her pack higher on her shoulder as she headed to the forest of Rukongai to join the party. The bright sun warming her as she started down the path. Making her way deeper into the woods she noticed the lack of life and noise both from people and animals. Her pace slowed as she neared a clearing and looked at the paper in her hands. The lieutenant had said that they would be heading out late in the night and she could catch up on the morning, they should be here. There was something dark in the middle of the clearing, a pile of something it looked like. She couldn't tell she was too far. She strained her eyes to see what it might be before emerging from the trees. Was that a shihakushō, multiple shihakushōs? Kisuke's look of concern flashed across her memory as he slid the hat on her head yesterday. Her stomach twisted in a knot while her mouth went dry. Not good.

She couldn't sense anything, not good. She needed to leave, now! Ivy took one step back and heard the same kind voice she had heard yesterday when she had fallen. "Now don't be shy Miss Abarai, come out and join us." Wincing she stayed still wondering if Aizen would think he was mistaken and

she could sneak away. "Come now Ivy," Aizen's voice sounded kind but it still have her chills. "It's rude to keep your friends waiting." Biting her lip she stayed still hoping he would grow bored and leave or forget her. He was suddenly next to her casually walking out of the trees. "It is interesting, I infected you with it yesterday and yet," Aizen stopped a few feet away from the edge of the clearing and turned to look down at her, his smile never reaching his eyes. She remembered the blood running down her arm when she had bumped into him. Had he cut her on purpose? And infected, what did that mean?

"Your power is quite interesting." His head tilted in interest when she slowly stepped out of the brush pulling the short sword from its sheath at the small of her back. "That hat," He remarked as his eyes narrowed. She adjusted the blade so the blunt end lay against her forearm, brought it up to a defensive position in front of her and crouched. Soi Fon had taught her it was harder to take the blade if she fought like this. She had found it much easier to fight and maneuver this way as well. She evened her breaths and waited for him to move. Spotting movement out of the corner of her eye she swore under her breath. She could defend herself, Soi had made sure of that, but she wasn't the greatest fighter especially with multiple people. The movement had been silent and a brief flash. Hopefully just one other she thought. "Curious," The brunette continued seemingly in his own world.

Ok, she thought, biggest threat she wasn't sure about but Aizen seemed more interested in talking than fighting so she needed to foucs on the other one. She scanned the clearing and caught a glimpse of white in the darkness of the shadows. She brought the blade closer to her face and whispered into it's hilt, "Strike Uindokattā." The blade of her short sword morphed separated and grew changing from the silvery blade to two long dark red whips. The grips were wrapped in black and deep red leather strips crisscrossing over a dark brown handle. Aizen's brows lifted in interest. "Whips," He murmered to himself and she flicked one leaving the other to hang from her hand. There was a snap then crack and she turned and moved her arm again causing the end of the braided length to disappear into the trees.

The line seemed to catch somwthing as a grunt was heard and the line went ridged. She tightened her grip and poured some spiritual pressure into the handle. It shot through the whip, a line of light blue zipping down to the tip where another grunt sounded. She pulled with one quick motion and a dark man with braided hair fell from the brush not far from them. He seemed to be having trouble moving. Ivy flicked her wrist and the line of leather slid from the man's wrist and snaked back to her side. "Lethal?" Aizen asked intrigued. "Narcotic." She stated snidely and he nodded.

Her arm moved causing the whip to crack as she turned to him with a determined look. Suddenly a hand gripped her wrist and another pushed her head aside to leave her neck vulnerable. Before she could react there was a small stabbing pain where her neck met her shoulder. She jumped away and had to blink a few times. Aizen hadn't moved but he was also standing where she had just been. "What?" Her voice was breathy as her eyes went from one brunette to the other. "I can't very well study you if you're dead now can I?" His voice sounded distant as she slowly blinked again.

One man had disappeared, the one she had been focusing on for so long, the other stood with a syringe in his hand. The man she had struck with her venom was still on the ground his uniform clear in the sun. Her head felt fuzzy and her eyelids began to get heavy. "No," she murmered, "Kisuke, I have to," She studdered out the words as she stumbled back. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell forward only missing the ground because Aizen had caught her by the waist. He held her up and took the striped hat from her head. If he was correct then this belonged the Captain from squad 12. It could be one that looked identical but the odds of that were slim. If she had a connection with him then Aizen figured that could be beneficial in the future. Yes, keeping her alive would not only help his research but may benefit in other ways. Tosen stirred from where she had knocked him out, trying to stand on unstable legs. So the narcotic only lasted for a brief time. Most likely long enough for her to run or others to come and apprehend whomever she captured. As the brunette hoisted the girl on his shoulder to carry her to the lab he folded the striped hat and slid it into his uniform, just in case he needed it later.

Kisuke woke with a start sitting up so fast he fell backwards in his chair. That had been such a weird dream. Before he could process it fully Akon entered his office and handed him the results of the newest round of test on his prototype. He thanked the boy and started milling over the results. Something kept tugging at the back of his mind while he worked. His thoughts kept drifting back to the dream but he couldn't quite remember the details. All he could remember was a forest and running, someone was running and he could hear hissing. After about an hour of work and listening to his two lieutenants bickering he suggested they all three go for a walk to get some air.

There were quite a few people out, he noticed, as he smiled and nodded to a few. Hiyori glared at most and Mayuri seemed to be off in his own world. He closed his eyes and took a beep breath only helping to solidify the unease he was feeling. There was a flash of high grass in his mind and then it was gone. Something is wrong. Benihime said quietly. But what? He asked back in his mind.

Shinji emerged from around a corner and Kisuke raised his hand, "Good morning Mr. Hirako." Kisuke greeted. He had come to appreciate the senior Captain since his promotion. The blonde Captain was always understanding and helpful even when he refused to use Shinji's first name. Their conversation was interrupted as Hiyori slammed into the blondes back and they started to bicker. Kisuke chuckled as he watched them. They were close and he was glad she was starting to treat him the same, perhaps that meant they could be close as well.

"Oh. by the way did you hear?" Shinji's lieutenant said from beside Kisuke. He turned to the brunette and something inside him tensed. He wasn't sure why, he knew this man made Ivy uneasy, perhaps it was rubbing off on him. I don't like him either. Benihime sneered in his mind. He's up to something. Kisuke waved the swords comment off as he listened to Shinji tell him about the disappearances and deaths happening in Rokongai. That was what Ivy was looking into yesterday, he thought. Ivy, he hadn't seen her yet this morning. She was probably busy with her new nephew. He told himself though he didn't believe it. He waved at Shinji and the trio headed back to the barracks.

The feeling of unease in his gut grew stronger as the day progressed. Eventually he tuned it out and emerged himself in his gigai prototype. When the 6th squad member came and requested assistance for Kensai, he had all but forgotten about it. He sent Hiyori since she seemed miserable when he and Mayuri got engrossed in their work. Looking back on it now he wished he had gone instead. Perhaps it would have gone differently. When the emergency Captain's summons went off the feeling of unease skyrocketed. That was the place Ivy had been looking into and he still hadn't seen her. She had promised to not go alone but what if she had found someone to go with instead of him. And now Hiyori was headed there. As he rushed to the meeting hall all he could do was hope they were alright. Hope that Hiyori hadn't made it. Hope Ivy was with her sister.

The Head Captain had refused to let him go. Trust and have patience Kyoraku had told him as he headed back to his lab. The feeling in his gut was inconsolable and he knew something terrible was happening. He grabbed his new cloak that would mask his energy and headed out. He had honestly believed that he would have to fight his friend Tessai but thankfully he was mistaken. Tessai had felt off about this night as well.

As they moved silently through the Seireitei his mind raced with all the possible scenarios of what could happen. He worked through each figuring was to resolve each and prayed they wouldn't find the worst. As they ran through the woods and tall grass he got flashes of his dream. This was definitely going from bad to worse. They could feel different people's reishi weaken or just completely disappear.

He and Tessai ran faster as the distant screams and shouts got louder. Shinji screamed and they both froze. Kisuke crept forward and drew his sword. "Let's end this Captain Hirako." A deep voice spoke confidently. He knew that voice, he had heard it yesterday. "Remember this," Aizen said. Kisuke looked to Tessai who nodded to him that he was ready. "Transparent treachery is nothing to fear. What's truly terrifying is treachery that can't be detected." He watched as the lieutenant drew his sword. "You people were magnificent pawns." He said holding his sword high. Kisuke flew from the shadows heading intently for the traitor catching him off guard.

Kisuke took in the scene before him. The different squad members on the ground. The white substance growing from them and forming over their faces. "What are you doing here?" He asked Aizen who gave a flimsy excuse back. Kisuke had an idea of what was happening, he was working on something similar. The only difference between them was Kisuke would never take it to this extent. He would never use it on others. Aizen called the people on the ground injured. He knew well enough they were far worse off than just injuries. "This is hollowfication." Kisuke ground out. Aizen smile grew, "I see. You are the man I expected you to be." The cryptic way he said it coupled with his sinister smirk made a chill run up Kisuke's spine. "Too bad you were too late to help them." The way he spoke seemed as though he knew something that no one else did. "I wonder," the brunette said as he reached into his uniform slowly. "Why you didn't come and help her."

As he pulled something from his clothes Kisuke's blood ran cold. The green and white hat that he had last seen on Ivy's head hung from a single finger on the lieutenant's hand. Kisuke's gut bottomed out to his feet. "What have you done?" He asked, voice raspy and low. Aizen shook his head and let the hat fall. "We're leaving." He turned and the two at his side followed suit. The blast of Tessai's attack bairly registered in his empty mind. When the smoke cleared the trio was gone, the only evidence of them was his hat collecting dust on the ground. Before he could reach for it there was a roar.

The next hour rushed by in such a blur. They got the everyone back to squad 12's barracks thanks to Tessai and after a brief explanation of his creation he set to work trying to reverse the hollowfication. The effort proved to be futal as he collapsed on the floor from the strain of using the hogyoku. He stood and headed outside for some air only for he and Tessai to be efficiently arrested.

They were whisked to the Council 46 where the injustice continued. He would never experiment on anyone how could they think that, Mayuri would without thought but he would never. They had been tipped off but said Aizen hadn't left the barracks all night. It was impossible. When they told him not only a Captain but other officers had testified against him he felt the severity of the situation. How, how did Aizen do this? How did he manipulate and deceive so many? Was it mind control? Who would have said he was experimenting on others? Was that Aizen as well?

The door to the entrance of the chamber slammed open and everyone turned to find a shadowy figure standing in the light. The council members might not know who it was be he sure as hell did. Yoruichi landed between them knocking them out and carrying both effortlessly to the secret training grounds. When he woke and was free of his bindings she scolded him for not calling her for help. Of course she knew what he would do, what was happening. She had people watching every corner of the Seireitei. "I brought all eight of them as well as the prototype for the new gigai. Get to work." She told him and he turned to tell Tessai to stop time for his eight friends. As they started to get to work Tessai asked, "What about Yoruichi?" She smirked at them. "Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself." She turned to leave but stopped and pulled his hat from her suit. She handed it to him. He looked down on it sadly. What had Aizen done with her. "I'm sure she's still around. She's tough." She said sadly before disappearing. The only problem he saw with that logic was that if she was alive, Aizen had her. He sighed and turned, sliding the hat on his head He needed to focus on the task at hand.

Ivy lay in the middle of the tall grass and watched the stars shine through the canopy above her. Something moved through the grass causing the long stalks of green to bend and shift with it's weight. A dark shape emerged from the blades near her feet. A large black snake with a thick red strip running down it's back slid along her ankle and up her leg until it's large head lay on her stomach. Ivy sighed and held her hand skyward spreading her fingers wide and mapping out the stars between them. Do you think he'll send another one? Uindokatta's breathy voice tickled the skin under Ivy's chin as he spoke.

When she had gone unconscious there had been a thing in her inner world, it's long bone white limbs seems out of place in the dark jungle like environment. She thought it was a hollow but didn't understand how it would've gotten here. It had lunged at her, it's bright red eyes intent, and Uindokattā had fell from a tree landing on top of it. The large snake had bit the creatures arm and the thing had instantly disentagrated with a pop.

She shook her head and patted the snake. What did you see when you woke? He asked and she barked out a laugh. "Nothing Doka, just blackness." They lay in silence listening to the wind howl. It's been a bit, why not try again. She was silent as she milled it over. She didn't want to think the worst but after getting knocked out and waking up here with long and angry she didn't see an up side. Well she figured it could be worse. She could open her eyes to being strapped to a table where Aizen was standing over her with a sharp knife. She grimiced and sighed closing her eyes and willing herself to wake.

This time it was different. As she came into consciousness she felt weightless, as if she was floating. Cracking her eyes open the world was a blue blur. That was normal for someone coming back to consciousness but the weightlessness and the odd pull on her wrists were not. There also seemed to be something covering half of her face. She couldn't see it but it felt like a mask and it wasn't constricting her breathing so she tried not to panic. Focus on what you can fix, not what you can't she spoke the words she told everyone when they started to panic. It didn't always calm everyone down but it helped her focus.

The fog that had envaded her mind in the forest was still lingering making it hard to see or maybe it was the fact that she was submerged in some liquid. She grunted realizing why she felt weightless and explained the need for the mask. She was in one of those glass tanks like Kisuke and Mayuri had in their lab. She tried to move her hands but realized they were definitely bound and attached to a cord that ran to the bottom of the tank. The pinch on the back of her hand told her there was also some kind of needle stuck in her as well. Shit, she thought, I'm so screwed.

She squinted trying to make out what was happening or where she was. The lights from the ceiling caused odd iridescent colors to filter in the oddly colored liquid around her. There were weird echoey beeps and odd deep booms. Something slid open in the room across from her causing light to fill the dark corners. Three figures walked in and spread around the room. She blinked and tilted her head down trying to focus on the small blob infront of her. She moved a little, the drugs in her system making it hard to function. The more she stared the better her eyes adjusted to the murky fluid that surrounded her.

There was a small silver haired boy looking up at her, an odd smile on his youthful face. Ivy moved her linked hands closer to the glass and felt the needle in her hand dig deeper scratching her bone. She flinched then noticed the taller figure walking up to her new prison. Judging by the brown blob on the top of it she knew who it had to be. Aizen watched her for a minute his presence making her skin crawl. His lips started to move but all she could hear was the hum of machines and a deep buzzing of muffled words. He extended his arm and his fingers flew over the board in front of her pressing and turning necessary knobs and buttons. The boy looked up at Aizen with an odd look of distain for a split second before the smirk resurfaced. Something warm was being injected into her system. The veins in her arm tingled as the clouds returned threatening to make her sleep again. She tried to fight it but whatever it was that was being injected into her was strong. She watched as the trio excited the room knowing that she was royally screwed. As the lights dimmed in the room her eyes grew heavier until everything went black.