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Zanpakuto Tales	By : shadoesong Category: Bleach > General Views: 1542 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters, nor do I profit from this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 6

"The zanpakuto have become entities independent of us?" Unohana repeated, staring at Nemu with shock in her gaze. She and her Lieutenant had been working on healing Komamura when the Squad 12 Lieutenant had arrived with news concerning the zanpakuto spirits. Rin and Aika, who had decided to check up on Komamura, were there as well. The angry Captain's eyes narrowed.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She snapped irritably.

"Mayuri-sama used himself for his research on this phenomenon, and that was the answer he came to," Nemu replied simply.

"Could you tell us about this in more detail?" Unohana questioned.

"Hai. Mayuri-sama stated that our zanpakuto's soul have completely left our bodies. Normally, zanpakuto exist as an alter ego of their wielder. However, it seems as if they've turned into something completely different. We still do not know how this is possible in the first place."

"Things seem even worse than we had imagined," Aika spoke once the Lieutenant had finished. Did this mean they were lost to the shinigami forever?

"Wait. If we're separate entities now... What would happen if we started just killing them off?" Rin asked.

"I don't know," Nemu replied.

"Hm. So we could just kill them and never have zanpakuto again?" Rin rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "It'd be nice not having Akuma bitching at me ever again..."

"Rin... I've never known you to take the easy way out of any problem," Aika told her fellow Captain. She merely shrugged.

"We can't deny that it will happen. Because we lack so much crucial data, we can not confirm anything one way or the other," Nemu told them.

"No way..." Isane murmured.

"I understand. I'll let Captain Kurotsuchi handle this," Unohana spoke.

"Also, one more thing. I have something I would like to request of you," Nemu said, turning to Unohana.

"What is it?"

"As part of our analysis, could you please send us information regarding the shinigami that the 4th Division is healing?"

"Very well," the woman agreed immediately. "I'll send over all the information I have."

"We'd also like to collect data on you as well, Captain Unohana." Isane gasped at this.

"You want our Captain to go to Department of Research and Development for experimentation?" The Squad 4 Lieutenant inquired, her eyes wide.

"Yes. We need data on other Captains." Rin crossed her arms in front of her.

"Forget it. You bastards have done enough to me. You have enough goddamn data on me. You can use everyone else, but I'm never stepping foot in that horrid place ever again!" She snapped, backing away a step. Unohana glanced at Rin. When her gaze returned to the Lieutenant, she nodded.

"I understand."

"Captain!" Isane protested.

"Brave," Rin murmured. "Kudos to you, I suppose."

"It will be fine, Isane, Captain Asaje."

"I wasn't worried," the other Captain insisted, rolling her eyes.

"But..." Isane trailed off. "Captain Kurotsuchi physically examining you is... just outright rude." Rin blinked. Now she knew what the Lieutenant was getting worked up over. Not just the scary rumours, but because it was, as she put it, 'rude'. Before she could speak, however, her senior spoke to her Lieutenant.

"Isane, time is of the essence."

"Right..." Isane looked away. Unohana turned back to the Division 12 member.

"In exchange for my going over, I want Captain Kurotsuchi to report any new findings immediately. Is that acceptable?"

"Hai," Nemu confirmed, bowing slightly.

"I will go, as well," the small Captain added. Nemu gave Aika a slight nod in acknowledgement. At that moment, a messenger ran up.

"Reporting in! A large scale battle is taking place in Sereitei! According to readings, both Kuchiki Rukia-dono from the 13th Squad and shinigami daiko Kurosaki Ichigo are there fighting Muramasa." Upon hearing this, Rin sighed before she turned and walked away.

"I had no doubts that he would would be coming. That idiot shouldn't be fighting raccoon face until we know more about him, though."

"The boy is rash, and rushes in without a plan. Remind you of anyone in particular?" Aika said, teasing her old friend.

"Shut up! I don't do anything of the sort!" Rin scoffed.

"Are we going to help him stay out of trouble?" Aika questioned, padding after her friend. The angry Captain shook her head.

"No. I hate to admit it, but we'd just get caught in the crossfire if we tried. We'll wait for results. For now, I need to see Shunsui and Jyuushiro. I assume you're coming?"

"No, I'm going to join Toshiro after I visit Kurotsuchi. I've got Izuru setting up patrols of the able-bodied shinigami," Aika replied before disappearing.

A little while later, Rin came into the room just in time to see Shunsui being updated by a messenger. Ukitake, who had joined her on the way there, was right behind. He slipped by Rin and walked over to his friend.

"What have you heard, Kyouraku? Any good news?" He asked as he sat down at the desk in the room.

"Nope. Apparently Yama-ji's still missing."

"I'm really not surprised that they didn't find him. We're talking about Kusojiji here. That raccoon face isn't going to go easy on that guy. He's probably hidden in some unknown place and guarded well," Rin spoke, joining the white haired Captain at the table. Shunsui took the third chair.

"Have you heard anything, Jyuushiro?" His eyes went downcast.

"Yes. We've been having difficulties. But with Esaki-kun and Soi-Fon and her men helping us get a grasp on the situation, we're starting to get a better understanding of how many casualties each squad has suffered. Each squad has been sent out to search for its materialized zanpakuto immediately."

"Unfortunately, searching for rogue swords leaves us vulnerable here. If they can get past those out on the field, all the injured here are screwed," Rin murmured. She scratched her head. "Jeez. And who'd expect us to go looking for our own swords?"

"The able bodied Captains here should be able to hold them off just fine, Rina-chan," Shunsui assured. "Plus, Aika-chan has Kira-kun drawing up patrols of shinigami."

"I had no doubts. They would still outnumber us, though. If we're busy defending people, that's even worse. But we didn't come here to discuss that. What else is happening?" She asked, turning back to Jyuushiro.

"Byakuya is still missing. What do you two think about that? I think that he may be suppressing his reiatsu." The question was directed more at Rin, who knew the man the best. But even she was unsure. She frowned and leaned forward on her elbow.

"I have no idea... Why would he do that, though?"

"It is weird," Shunsui agreed.

"Yeah." The sickly Captain nodded. Everyone looked over when they heard Unohana come in.

"This situation is certainly less than ideal," she said. Ukitake stood immediately.

"Captain Unohana!" Rin and Shunsui were slower to stand.

"Ah, Captain Unohana. When did you get here?" Shunsui drawled lazily.

"Please. I'm sure you had sensed my reiatsu before I spoke," the woman said kindly. She gave them a closed eyed smile.

"Yikes... That's scary," Shunsui murmured.

"Not the best idea to be saying it right in front of her, stupid," Rin whispered harshly.

"Kuchiki! How is Kuchiki doing?" Ukitake said suddenly. Rukia had gotten into a fight with her zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki, and received serious injuries.

"We managed to get her stabilized, but her injuries are still severe. She still hasn't regained consciousness," Unohana informed them.

"At least she's alive. All the zanpakuto seem overly aggressive. She could have just as easily died by her own sword's hand," Rin looked up briefly. "That sounds so weird. Swords shouldn't have hands..."

"Yes," Ukitake agreed, closing his eyes briefly. "Captain Unohana, I wanted to apologize for turning your barracks into our headquarters."

"It is no problem. At times like this, we should avoid weakening ourselves by splitting up. The 4th Squad will do all it can to help."

"At any rate, we need to focus on putting an end to our zanpakutos' rampage." Shunsui folded his arms across his chest.

"Speaking of which..." Unohana walked into the room to join the conversation properly. "12th Squad has requested test subjects for analysis. I just came back from helping Captain Kurotsuchi."

"That's right. I forgot to tell you two." Rin rubbed her face with one hand. "Sorry 'bout that."

"You didn't go, Rina-chan?" Ukitake queried.

"Hell no. They've done enough."

"I'm a little surprised that Captain Unohana did," Shunsui murmured. The woman turned to him.

"You disapprove?"

"No, but you went to see Captain Kurotsuchi personally?" Ukitake answered for his friend. He seemed a little shaken by her decision.

"This isn't the time to be talking like that. Captain Kawasuzu went, as well. It is our duty to set an example," Unohana replied, a veiled warning in her soft voice. Rin rolled her eyes, certain that comment was meant for her. "According to Captain Kurotsuchi, our zanpakuto have become completely independent of their shinigami. As such, if we're not careful with how we deal with them, we could wind up destroying our zanpakuto."

"Hm. Things aren't sounding good," Shunsui murmured. He had a grim look on his face.

"It doesn't seem right, though. They're a part of us, they shouldn't be destroyed so easily," Rin said. "I'm not sure if they'd be completely obliterated. Especially if we're the ones killing our own zanpakuto."

"True, but we do not have the means in which to test that theory, Rina-chan. For now, we'll hold them off the best we can without killing them. At least until Captain Kurotsuchi can further identify what we are up against," Ukitake told her. "Why don't you join the others in hunting down their swords?"

The young woman glanced up at him, her eyes veiled of emotion. She knew that he was trying to distract her from her thoughts by sending her out to fight. He could clearly see that, despite the strong face she put up, she was silently hurting over her husband's disappearance. She sighed and forced a smile for him. Beating on Akuma might even put her in a fair mood.

"Yeah. It'd be nice to beat the crap out of my zanpakuto. Better than sticking around here. I'll collect Aika and go now. If we're not back by evening, we're out drinking," she joked before walking out the door and disappearing.

Aika found the white haired Captain sitting on the roof of his barracks. He stared off into the night, not even glancing at her when she sat beside him. Now that his orders had been given and reports and meetings done, were the events starting to sink in. If they weren't bonded the way they were she wouldn't have known how upset he was. He was always very good at concealing his reiatsu.

She had always admired his composure. She felt that she was going to fall apart at any moment. Jinsoku Koshi had been there, always. He was the only friend she had when she was a child. She had been six when he first manifested. He had held her, wiped away her tears, and comforted her when the others kids taunted and bullied her.

"It will be alright," he said, covering her hand with his.

"And here I was going to comfort you," she said, smiling sadly. She leaned her head on his shoulder. She noted that the fires were now under control as her gaze took in the Sereitei.
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Zanpakuto Tales