Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ The Winter War ❯ Family Reunions ( Chapter 1 )

The Winter War

A Bleach Fanfic

 

By Arthur Dent 84

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters thereof. Tite Kubo and others do. I'm just borrowing them for my own amusement. This disclaimer shall be repeated at the start of each chapter.

Warning: Spoilers through the Hueco Mundo Arc; you can also expect foul language

Canonicity: I'm treating the Bount filler arc from the anime as canon, so you can expect to see Ririn, Cloud, and Nova (at least in their plushie forms); the first movie didn't happen. I'm also going by the anime in that Kukaku Shiba (Ganju and Kaien's sister) has a prosthetic right arm.

Pairings: Undecided as of yet, warnings will be included in later chapters as necessary

Terminology (the names of groups of people)

Soul Reaper/Shinigami/Death God; organized into Companies lead by Captains, who are aided by Lieutenants

Hollow, Menos, Gillian/Menos Grande, Adjuchas, Vasto Lorde,

Arrancar, Espada, Privaron (former Espada), Numeros, Fraccion

Quincy

Vizard

 

Chapter 1: Family Reunions

 

General Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryuusai was not happy at all with Ichigo Kurosaki. The substitute Soul Reaper had defied a direct order against traveling to Hueco Mundo to rescue Orihime Inoue. He had nearly lost his life fighting against the Espada, even though he did manage to capture one. His companions—especially that bespectacled Quincy brat Uryu Ishida—had nearly died as well, and Lieutenant Abarai and Officer Kuchiki were still in intensive care.

Some good had come out of the unauthorized incursion into Las Noches. Aizen was short Espada Seis, Siete, Ocho, and Nueve, seriously undercutting his forces. New allies, in the form of the former Espada and her two companions, were under the watch of the Special Forces, and were being quite cooperative, all things considered. Espada Ocho was in the hands of Twelfth Company and Captain Kurotsuchi, and everybody who went to Las Noches survived. So perhaps

He was a tired old man…he had seen a lot in his two millennia and more of service to Soul Society. He would have to retire as soon as Aizen and his accomplices were dealt with, as long as he had a worthy successor. There would be losses among the forces of Soul Society, just like during the whole Kuchiki execution debacle. He was only hoping that everybody would recover properly.

 

West Rukongai, Fifteenth District

In a certain herbalist's shop, the new clerk was taking her first vacation day. She had sensed her son's spiritual presence, faint though it was, and she would petition the guards to Seireitei to see him. She had just arrived in Soul Society five weeks ago, after the Hollow that consumed her was destroyed. She still remembered her mortal life, which was practically unheard of among her new neighbors, and she needed to see her baby boy, who, it was heard, had grown up to become a fine young man.

 

Fourth Company Headquarters, Seireitei, Soul Society

Captain Retsu Unohana was making her rounds in the intensive care ward. Her three Arrancar patients, the former Espadas Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, Gantenbainne Mosqueada, and Neliel Tu Oderschvank, were guarded by members of Squad Eleven, and the Special Forces of Squad Two, personally selected by Captains Zaraki and Fong. Seventh Seat Hanataro Yamada and Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu were personally overseeing the recuperation of Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends, ably aided by the recovered Orihime Inoue.

“Isane-san,” Unohana said as she came into the ward. “How are they?”

“They're doing about as well as could be expected, Ma'am. Ichigo, Uryu, Renji, and Chad will be awake within a few hours. Hanataro has, bless him, gone all out in trying to cure Rukia, and Orihime has really come into her own. The worst of their injuries were taken care of by Minazuki during our withdrawal from Las Noches.”

At that moment, Hanataro burst from Rukia's private room, saying “Captain Unohana, Lieutenant Kotetsu, Rukia's just woken up.”

“Then let's go see her, Hanataro-san,” Unohana said. “Isane-san, could you please see that Captain Kuchiki is informed that his sister is awake?”

“Yes, ma'am, right away.” Isane raced off, and Unohana and Hanataro entered the chamber. Rukia was still lying down on the comfortable futon, but her eyes were open, a definite change.

“How are you feeling, Rukia-san,” Unohana asked.

“Well-rested, Captain Unohana, thank you. Is Nii-sama aware of the improvement in my condition?”

“Word is being sent as we speak, Rukia-san. Would you like something to drink and some warm soup, dear?”

“Yes, please, but before I eat, I need to speak with Captain Ukitake, as well as Kukaku Shiba and her brother Ganju. Tell them it's about Kaien-dono.”

“Of course, dear. Hanataro-san, would you please go get these individuals and bring them here?”

“Yes, Captain Unohana, ma'am.” Hanataro raced out of the room after popping one of the skull-marked nutrient cakes into his mouth. He had been up all night healing Rukia, and he needed the extra energy to get to where he needed to be.

“Now, Rukia-san, let's get you some fresh blankets and some soup. You're going to need to get your strength up.”

 

One hour later, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki was at the entrance of the Fourth Company's main hospital. Lieutenant Kotetsu was panting at his side, not being as adept at long-distance use of flash-steps.

“Captain Kuchiki is here to see his sister in the Intensive Care ward,” the Lieutenant said to the guards. “He is to be allowed to remain here as long as he wishes on order of Captain Unohana.” The guards bowed to the Sixth Company Captain and their own Lieutenant and held the door open deferentially.

The two of them went quickly using mundane walking to the Intensive Care Ward, to Rukia's room on the third floor. Captain Unohana obviously sensed their approach, as she was waiting outside the room.

“Captain Unohana, how is my sister?”

“She is doing very well, considering the circumstances, Captain Kuchiki. She should be fit for light duty in two or three days. Come inside and see for yourself.” Captain Unohana opened the door and led her fellow captain inside. Rukia set aside her empty bowl of soup when her brother came into the room, and sat up as straight as she could.

“Nii-sama, I am sorry for any dishonor I have brought upon our clan in being injured in combat.”

“You fought against an Espada, Rukia, so your injuries bring the family no dishonor. How are you feeling?”

“I am much better, Nii-sama. I am grateful beyond words that you arrived in time to stop the Seventh Espada from killing me.”

“I am your brother, Rukia, and while I have not always acted it, I will protect you. Now, who was the Espada that you fought?”

“He was Espada Novena—the Ninth Espada, Nii-sama. He called himself Aaronieru Alulueri. He was the single most challenging opponent I have ever fought, and he was the Ninth Espada. He had…he had Kaien-dono's memories inside him, Nii-sama. The Arrancar, before he became an Espada, ate the Hollow that killed Kaien-dono.”

“Then you have finally put Lieutenant Shiba to rest, Rukia. If there is any luck, he has already been reincarnated here in Soul Society, and he will be himself again. You have done well, coming as far as you have since you joined Thirteenth Company. Captain Unohana, could you please give us a moment?”

“Certainly, Captain Kuchiki. I will be right outside if you need me.” Rukia by this point was on the verge of tears. Byakuya flipped his expensive shawl so it draped down his left arm and held his adopted sister in his arms as she cried all over his captain's uniform. He felt rather like a father comforting his daughter after her first suitor heartlessly left her by the wayside.

 

Forty-five minutes later, Byakuya stepped outside, his scowl deep and sad. “Rukia is sleeping now. She's emotionally exhausted, and I'm not sure she should have any more company today.”

“I understand, Captain Kuchiki. Does she have anything at the estate that makes her comfortable?”

“I will have one of the servants send along a few of her Chappy the Rabbit collectibles. Good day, Captain Unohana.”

“Good day, Captain Kuchiki.” Byakuya strode imperiously toward the entrance of the hospital and, as soon as he was outside of the building, flash-stepped back to his office. Captain Unohana would have had his head if the release of spiritual pressure disturbed her patients. No sooner had he left than Captain Ukitake, along with Kukaku Shiba and her brother Ganju, appeared. Kukaku and Ganju were carrying a stretcher. Hanataro was at Captain Ukitake's side, ready to help if his tuberculosis was acting up again.

“We're here to see Captain Unohana,” Ukitake said. “We have a small problem.”

The figure on the stretcher twitched, and the blanket fell off of his face. It was the face of a dead man. It was the face of Kaien Shiba.

“I'll get her right away, Captain Ukitake,” one of the guards said.

 

Preview for Chapter Two

Ichigo stared at the woman before him. Except for her clothing, she looked just like the poster on the wall of the clinic's dining room. She looked just like his mother.

“Mom…” he breathed. “Mom, is it really you?”

“It's me, baby,” the woman replied. “Oh, how you've grown. Thankfully you got my looks, and you're not going to be a goat-chinned goofball like your father.” Ichigo knew then that it really was his mom. Only a Kurosaki would call Isshin a goat-chinned goofball.

“I've missed you so much, Mom. And Yuzu and Karin have, as well. Dad…he's gotten stranger, but he still cares.”

“Does he still smoke?”

“Only on June 17th, when we go visit your grave at the family shrine. He says you thought it made him look cool when you were dating.” Masaki embraced her son, and Ichigo broke down crying as he hugged her back. He had found his mother in Soul Society and she remembered him. He couldn't remember feeling this happy since he found out Rukia wasn't going to be executed.