Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Daydreams Come True ❯ Kaname Tosen ( Chapter 23 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.

 

I didn't expect to write from this character's viewpoint at this point, but it somehow needed to be done.

 

Kaname Tosen

 

Living in a world where justice was less important to most people than feeding their insatiable appetites, was intolerable. It meant he had to pretend; he had to hide his real desires and drives except from the one man who understood. For a short time, when he had begun his friendship with Sajin he had hoped there was a true meeting of minds, but ultimately his friend was too weak. The Captain General held sway over him and directed him on a different path to the one that Kaname had wished him to walk. The confidences he had been preparing to share were shored up within his mind, not able to be spoken.

 

The Captain General was a blind fool for all he had eyesight. He permitted that monster to live and even allowed him to run the Division for which he had murdered the previous captain. That was the most blatant example of the flaws within this system. Wherever he looked he saw corruption running deep within the Seireitei and Soul Society. Nobles holding offices, adoption of unworthy people within those families, drinking, debauchery, lack of discipline. He knew this to be true and it disgusted him.

 

Promotion should only occur due to worth, not even a strong reiatsu was enough. The monster had a strong reiatsu but no worth and he gathered people around him who were as amoral as he was. None of them were interested in pursuing the true beauty of justice, but were more intent on finding the next drink or the next opponent. Founding a Division on their ability to fight was flawed logic. Violence was a base instinct that was something to oppress rather than support.

 

His whole purpose of becoming a Shinigami had been to reform the society that had allowed the death of his friend to go unpunished. He had felt the dishonesty of the place even then, before he had known fully what it was. Crimes in the Seireitei were not punished. They were usually encouraged by the old man who was failing in his mind. His strongest supporters were the Captain's who had been with him the longest and one of them was suffering an illness that would kill him, eventually.

 

He had no argument against a Division devoted to healing and cleaning, a Division dedicated to research, study, surveillance, but many of the Divisions seemed directionless, aimless even. His Division provided information to everyone and that was important. He was proud of his achievements though he had overheard the animal call his Division `the bureaucrats and the gossip mongers'. He had smarted under those slights, all the time reminding himself that the opinion of that man did not matter. It galled him to think he could not prevent his mind from recalling the insulting words.

 

With every cell of his body he hated Captain's meetings because he had to stand next to the abomination. Being that close to the man revolted all his senses and made it impossible to relax for hours afterward. He bathed, scrubbing his skin with a pumice stone to try to remove the taint of his presence from his skin and his soul. He would wash his hair and immerse his body in the water until the air in his lungs gave out so that he could believe that he had cleared all trace of contact with the man from his skin.

 

Even within his own Division he sensed that people craved to escape his authority and do their work the way they thought it should be done, which would be slipshod and substandard. He had to maintain his firm hold on their actions and not permit them to flout his commands. Most of the people who served under him were fools and did not deserve even a slight measure of his time, but he was bound by duty and he would do what was required of him, even though he sometimes loathed the people. He held himself aloof, permitting his lips to stretch into the caricature of a smile occasionally and spoke politely to his subordinates all the time fretting against the façade.

 

His fear and pride did not permit him to form a very close bond with his second in command. In many was he was jealous how many of the people within his Division would approach Hisagi readily for assistance or suggestions, but never seek the same from him. If he asked his assistant captain he would say, “I was trying to spare you, Captain. I know how busy you are and how precious your time is, so I try to solve the little problems and leave you with the big ones.”

 

Even though he did not mean it, the words sounded like a reprimand. There seemed to be the unspoken accusation that his assistant captain was aware that Tosen did not share much with him; that all the major decisions were his alone, and the important information If necessary he would inform Hisagi, but then only providing the spare facts that were necessary. The man seemed grateful for any attention that he was given. While he did not really care about his subordinate, or his Division, it was best to appear in the supportive role. He did not wish to draw the Captain-General's attention. Too much was happening in his life that he wished to conceal.

 

The day it had changed was the day he finally felt that his life had commenced. Until then he had hidden his seething bitterness and resentment. Before this time he had pondered the importance of existence and debated the teachings of various philosophers. The calm rationalism of John Stuart Mill against the impassioned rhetoric of Jean Jacque Rousseau; the described perfection of Utopia and the Republic; and, of course the Way of the Tao. He had consumed each book, trying to distil his own understanding of faith from the knowledge of many, and failed. None of the philosophies satisfied his deep felt need to find a new and different meaning for existence. All fell short of providing the underlying basis by which he could live and this disappointed him. Desperately seeking an answer he read more: Jeremy Bentham, David Hume, tracts on Confucianism, Zen, The Koran, the Bible and the Buddhist Sutra's; anything he could obtain and each philosophy left him feeling a little more empty, less satisfied and more introspective.

 

Once he had tried to talk to Sajin about the information he had garnered only to find his friend had adopted the blandest philosophy of all: that of acceptance of what he could not change. The fact that this was the tenet of many religious sects was not lost on Tosen and he began to wonder. He had rejected the idea of organised religion as most seemed to preach a form of tolerance and he could not be tolerant. To be tolerant meant that he would forego justice and that was not to be permitted. The philosophy of tolerance was preached by men who were too fearful to act and then accept the consequences. It was important to act. Calm acceptance was worse than failing to act.

 

The other philosophies that were more violent or unstructured did not fulfil his deep need for understanding. These disciplines were unsatisfactory and empty. Every new philosophy he read did not conform to his beliefs. Ultimately he gave up, deciding that all the previous thoughts could teach him was the acceptable beliefs and to these he could not conform, or accept.

 

This realisation made him feel estranged. He had tried to read Nietzsche, believing his radical and difficult claims would be closest to his misanthropic views, but ultimately gave up. The man did not base his theories in fact. The sweeping statements, the grand stabs at logic excited him at first, but ultimately he found it all hollow and egotistical.

 

Finally, unable to rid himself of the need to find justification for his way, he decided to think matters through, privately. He had been sitting outside, taking time away from the people in his Division from whom he was feeling increasingly alienated. The calm exterior he presented was almost second nature but none of his subordinates sought his company and while he did not need their presence, he resented the relative lack of demand for his attention. As his unacknowledged resentment grew he knew became aware of another consciousness and he raised his face in the direction of the intruder.

 

“Captain Aizen. Are you here with a message, or have you come to question the inclusions in the newsletter? I understand that you agreed to include an article about the importance of accepting the direction of the Council of 46 without question,” he tried to keep the irony out of his voice.

 

“Yes, I did submit my lies to your assistant captain earlier,” the smooth words were uttered in the usual light manner which confused Tosen for a minute, as he then realised their import.

 

“Your lies? But you are one of the strongest supporters of the current status quo. You are always deferring to Captain Yamamoto and making certain that your Division is the model for the rest of the Gotei 13.”

 

“Appearances can deceive. I thought that you, as a blind person would understand that better than any other person,” Aizen countered. “I have sensed disquiet in you for some time, Kaname. You are looking for something more.”

 

Tosen felt his mouth gape open. This overture was unexpected. Of all the people to discern his increasing lack on confidence in all the Gotei 13 represented, this man was the one he expected to understand him the least, except for the animal Kenpachi.

 

The conversation that followed gave him the sense of purpose he had been lacking until now. Aizen sought to restore justice and order to a place that was riddled with corruption. He was astonished to find that this man was not content to accept the current structures and questioned how captains were created. As the sun faded below the horizon he understood that there were complexities to the man with whom he conversed. Aizen baulked at the vice he saw in both Soul Society and the Seireitei and wanted to change the current hierarchy.

 

Returning to his Division he thought about the new information. One person, at least one person was trying to find a deeper meaning and direct change. Aizen was well respected and from his comments it was clear that his former assistant captain was involved. That one fact gave him pause. Gin Ichimaru was not a person he felt he could trust, believing that his loyalty was divided. There was the woman for one thing, the one who always forgot his rank and addressed him with great familiarity. They had been lovers once, at least that was the current belief, but there had been a rift between them. Tosen felt that, for all he tried to deny it, the Captain still held tender feelings for the 10th Division assistant captain. While he appeared to mock everything and everyone, he treated the woman differently, but tried to disguise it with his regular reprimands about referring to him correctly. Aizen trusted him, the smile in his voice evident when he reassured Tosen that there was nothing to fear.

 

Today was the day the next step of the plan came into play. He had been amused when Aizen's predictions of how people would react to the arrival of the ryoka were proven correct. The scramble to find the invaders was not the disciplined effort that Tosen would have directed, mostly due to the lack of organisation within the Divisions. He had endeavoured to keep his face expressionless in the Captain's meeting, especially when Ichimaru had been pardoned. The captains of the Gotei 13 were fools and their leader the biggest fool of all.

 

A thin smile touched his lips as he remembered destroying the members of the inner council. Their execution was vindicated due to their inability to administer justice. The three of them had gloried in the deaths as the guilty blood was shed, each death binding them closer in their triumvirate of power. None of them had showed the slightest reluctance in the termination of these people's existence. Ichimaru had seemed particularly pleased at the excuse to kill without stint, but Tosen had held back a little. The role of executioner was addictive and he felt rage enfold him that he could only perform this function here, not in the Seireitei where it was necessary.

 

As predicted the little fool, Hinamori had gone to Aizen last night and stayed. The words and the eventual mating he'd overheard as he and Ichimaru had waited outside Aizen's quarters, repulsed him. He knew that Aizen wanted them to hear, to witness this small triumph. The girl made not one protest and only offered submissive eagerness as her captain took her as he'd planned.

 

He remembered when Gin had previously expressed his curiosity about the relationship between Aizen and his assistant captain.

 

“Have you broken in your adoring dog yet?” he'd asked crudely, the insolent grin on his face stretching his lips wider than normal.

 

A spasm of anger crossed Aizen's face. “It's not your right to ask, but no. Not yet. That will be the final interaction between us before I pretend to die. It will reinforce her distress making her more irrational and easier to manipulate. I've already implanted the idea that she will come to visit me that night. Sometimes I tire of how easy it is to influence Momo, but I'm sure it will please me to take her innocence before I kill her.”

 

Tosen felt a frisson of shock at the premeditated cruelty implicit in his words. The man had planned out so much. “Do you think this plan is best?” He felt Aizen's anger turn on him and quickly offered a sop. “I will support you as long as I hold the chance to kill that parody of a Captain that commands 11th Division.”

 

Aizen nodded, his mouth stretching into the rictus of a smile. “Of course it is the best plan. It is my plan.”

 

This had been the first time Tosen had identified that though he tried to infer they were equals, Aizen did consider them his inferiors. It made him question his loyalty to the man and the plan, but the thought of remaining inactive, living his normal, moral life filled him with abhorrence.

 

It was enough that her captain had the chance to again reinforce all the prior teaching. Had the girl always been as gullible as she appeared? It mattered little because she would play her part as necessary. When she found her adored superior's `body', apparently murdered so cruelly, and reacted in her overly dramatic manner, no one would question the truth. She would react and draw everyone's attention as the great lie grew.

 

As soon as Aizen had finished with the girl he put her to sleep, leaving his quarters. Tosen and Ichimaru followed. It had taken a little time to position the fake in the correct manner and set up the blood to look convincing. Losing sleep to assist in the arrangements seemed a small sacrifice.

 

In some respects Tosen was disappointed that he could not be there to watch the discovery of the body. The amusement to be obtained from the exclamations of shock and horror, the fear and disquiet would have pleased him for a time, but it was imperative that he was elsewhere. When he had spoken to his assistant captain he had reinforced the idea that he should be with his peers as they walked to assembly. Hisagi had agreed, seemingly surprised at the direction. It was normal practice for him to walk in company with the others and Tosen realised he had made a small error in making the suggestion.

 

Tosen made some brusque excuse and quickly asked questions about some unimportant task he had given to the man. Hisagi answered with due deference and appeared to forget the blunder. Tosen cursed the necessity to play these games.

 

There was one fact for which he was grateful. Killing the council may have provided pleasure to Gin and Aizen and though he would never admit it, to him, but the aftermath, the smell of the decomposing bodies made him feel sick. He was glad that Aizen would now spend most of his time there, thus limiting the amount of time that Tosen had to inhale the increasing stench. Gin and Aizen had mocked him, telling him that the smell was all in his imagination, but the certainty that he was correct could not be swayed. They were dead and the decay that had been hidden by their existence was now becoming evident after their deaths.

 

He was distracted by the feeling, the feeling of tension, fear, anger and grief that suddenly surged through the atmosphere. The `body' had been found and now the game began in earnest. He turned to Sajin who was his alibi.

 

“I fear a tragedy had resulted from the incursion of the Ryoka,” he said, trying to hide the growing excitement he felt.

 

“You feel it too? I think we should go there quickly and assist. The mix of emotions is worrying.”

 

“Let us not be too hasty. We do not know what may be happening. We could be walking into a trap planned by the ryoka,” Tosen tried to delay.

 

“I know you hate fighting, Kaname, we have discussed it often, but now is the time for all of us to cooperate. These ryoka will be crushed by the Gotei 13. They have no understanding of what they face.” Sajin's voice held a tone of reproof that Tosen recognised.

 

“Ah, do you feel that?” Sajin looked in the direction where the body had been placed.

 

The surge of reiatsu was the clear indication that Ichimaru had done as directed and turned up on the scene, drawing the wrath of the girl. Her anger overflowed and Tosen savoured the raw emotion as they moved in the direction of the fighting. He lagged somewhat, not wishing to appear on the scene before the planned highlight had been played out and resolved, probably by the boy captain. He tried so hard, harder than most of the other captains, to prove himself. Aizen had noted it and had begun a subtle undermining operation, but to see how effective that was would take time; time they may not have. Why he saw the boy as a threat he would not say.

 

With Sajin leading they arrived soon after Kira and Momo had been removed. Ichimaru remained, as they had agreed, his composure unruffled as he watched the removal of the `body'.

 

“Such a pity. A loss to the Seireitei when we need to be at full strength. Can't be helped. Dear me, 5th Division has suffered a double loss today. How sad. Ah, Captain 7 and 9. Thought ya might turn up. Looks like the ryoka causing more problems.” The words rattled out of his mouth.

 

“We cannot allow this insult to stand,” Tosen said, trying to sound as if he had not rehearsed the line.

 

Sajin grunted and patted Tosen on the shoulder. “The ryoka will be found and punished. All this panic is causing problems. We need to think of some way to calm the situation so people concentrate. Too many losses. Who are these ryoka? How can they be so strong? We've still got to capture one to find out what they want.”

 

“Ya don't think it has somethin' to do with Captain 6's sister do ya?” Ichimaru said quietly so only Sajin and Tosen could hear. It was imperative that the rumours begin small and Gin was so good at planting doubt and suspicion.

 

Tosen did not reply waiting for Sajin to think about the facts.

 

“Rukia Kuchiki? Why would humans come for her? She was in the human world for a little time. I might mention the matter to the Captain-General. He might want to increase security.”

 

Smiling to hide his disappointment at the evidence of Sajin's dependence on the Captain-General, Tosen nodded. “Yes, he should be told.”

 

“I think we should confirm the death first,” Sajin stated, surprising Tosen as he deviated from the expected script. “Let's go to 4th Division first and consult Captain Unohana. It might be a trick by the ryoka to try to distract attention.”

 

“Yeah, sounds like a good idea. You check with doctor lady and then report to Yamamoto. I bet he knows about the death already. Bad news travels fast, don't it?” Ichimaru did not seem slightly worried by the departure from the plan.

 

“So do the ryoka, apparently,” Sajin said dryly. Tosen was again reminded that Sajin had mixed feelings about Ichimaru, which he had expressed on many occasions. “I hear you saw the accused.”

 

Gin laughed guiltily. “Just wanted to say good-bye. Ya know, she didn't seem pleased to see me. Don't know why.”

 

“I'm sure you could work it out if you tried,” the irony heavy in his voice Sajin turned away. “Are you coming Kaname? I think we should do this for Captain Yamamoto. He needs to know the truth and I want to plan my strategy.”

 

As they left Sajin stiffened. “People are fighting. Two distinct battles are taking place and I can recognise the reiatsu of only two of the fighters. I think the threat of the ryoka will soon be dispelled as they are fighting two of our Captains. These humans are either foolish or arrogant. How do they believe they can prevail?”

 

Tosen sensed the reiatsu and his face darkened. One of the captains was the hated one, the one who deserved death. His existence threatened every Captain because from his example none of them were safe.

 

The Captain-General was aware that Tosen hated fighting as were most of the other captains. When he was appointed to his position, he had warned the Captain-General that he did not enjoy battle. Execution was a different matter, like killing the council members, but fighting was something he preferred to avoid. Animals fought. It was the responsibility of rational beings to think beyond fighting.

 

It was another point which showed the clear difference between him and the 11th Division Captain. The animal loved to fight, he did not. The animal was loud and abrasive. Tosen was calm and wise. Knowing his limitations was one of the reasons that he had been placed as Captain of 9th Division.

 

One thing that still stung was he had to give his word that if necessary he would fight. It seemed that the time was approaching when he would be forced to draw his blade.

 

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Author's Note:

 

This was not the easiest chapter to write, but it seemed necessary to be distant from Aizen's fake death and Tosen has to be included somewhere. It would have been easier to write this chapter from Momo's viewpoint but I wanted a challenge.

 

Next featured character. It will be someone easier. Nanao? Zaraki? Shunsui? Uryu's pouting because he feels neglected. Momo? Yumichika? Kon? So many choices, so little time.

 

Please review.

 

MS