Chapter 7
It was dark. The things she could see were blurry. Rin struggled to sit up, but was impeded by something pressing down on her. There was something cool placed on her forehead, and the faint sound of voices. She tried to move away when the smell of blood hit her nose, but what strength she had was fading, and soon gone, as she slipped back into unconsciousness.
She awoke fully the next morning with a pounding headache. When she opened her eyes slightly, the sunlight assaulted them, making her close them tightly and turn away onto her side. Which, in turn, aggravated the wound there. Knowing that she wouldn't be going back to sleep now, she opened her eyes a tiny bit. They flew open and she sat up abruptly at what she saw.
This isn't my room, she thought.
Where am I?! Why...? It was Byakuya-sama, Rina, one of her zanpakuto spirits spoke, their voice distinctly masculine.
He brought you to his manor, since it was closer than the barracks. Now it hit her. Memories of last night's attack flooded her mind, making her scowl. If she ever found out who had done that, she would-
You stupid bitch, I can't believe you let that guy beat you up. You're fucking pathetic! her other, female, spirit snarled, interrupting her thoughts.
Fuck you. It's not like either of you were any help, anyways, Rin thought irritably before checking her injuries.
The one on her side had been bandaged and seemed to have begun healing, despite the fact that it hurt badly, and her head was wrapped as well. With a deep sigh, she eased herself back onto the pillows and closed her eyes. Her head was throbbing mercilessly, and it only seemed to get worse and worse the longer she was awake. It didn't help that her zanpakuto spirits were still clambering on and arguing in her head.
A knock at the door made her reopen her eyes and look up. A servant slid open the door and peered inside, smiling when she saw that Rin was awake.
"Oh, you're up!" she exclaimed. "Are you feeling okay? You hit your head so hard that you got a concussion... But you seem fine now. You're lucky, Asaje-sama, it must be very mild."
"This is Kuchiki manor, right?" Rin asked instead of answering the question.
"Yes," the servant replied, nodding.
She looked relieved that the other seemed to be thinking straight. But her eyes widened when the brown haired woman slung the blanket off her legs and turned to sit with them dangling over the edge.
"Where's my stuff? I've wasted enough time here." Before the servant could protest, Byakuya came up behind her, his eyes narrowed.
"You will not be going anywhere until you have given all the information you have on the attack from the night before. Plus, due to the injuries you have received, you are to stay in that bed until Captain Unohana allows you to leave."
"I already said I've wasted enough-" she began to protest.
"You do not have a choice in the matter," he cut her off. She gritted her teeth in frustration.
"I don't know, okay?! I don't even know if this person was a guy or a girl, much less who they are and why the hell they attacked me. As it is, I can barely remember the attack at all! I assumed they were Ryoka at the time, but, now that I think about it, none of the Ryoka were spotted in this area. I honestly don't have any fucking information I could give you. Can I go now?" she snarled.
"No. You will remain here. You may leave once Captain Unohana has allowed you to," he ordered. He then turned and walked away. The servant gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Would you like me to get you something, Asaje-sama?" she asked kindly.
"No..." Rin shook her head. "I feel too sick to eat right now..." The servant nodded and left.
"Must have been some concussion, then. You refusing food? I thought I'd never see the day! My goodness, it's an emergency! Get someone in here, now!"
A short, dark skinned woman stood at the doorway where the servant had been. She was hardly 4' 4", and had long, black hair done up in a French braid. When the sun hit it, dark purple highlights could be seen along its length.
She wore a sleeveless shihakusho top belted over black, form fitting pants, and black Chinese shoes. Strapped across her shoulders was her zanpakuto in the form of a wakizashi. She also had black, fingerless gloves that ended at her elbow and had an amethyst on the backs of the hands.
"Shut up, Aika," Rin snapped. "The hell are you doing here, anyways? When the hell did you get back?"
"A few years ago." Aika shrugged absently.
"And you never told us? Some friend you are," the other grumbled.
"I've been busy! They put me through the accelerated program at the Shino Academy," she insisted.
"What?! Bullshit! Why didn't me and Daisuke get that program?!" Rin yelled.
"Because you two couldn't read. I didn't know you two had joined Gotei 13, though. The last time I saw you, you were still adamant on keeping well away from Sereitei. What did Daisuke bribe you with?" She walked across the room to sit on the bed beside the taller woman. Rin rolled her eyes.
"Nothing. Like I'd tell you, anyways," she added.
"Oh? Was it food?" Her violet eyes twinkled with amusement.
"What?! No!" Rin snapped.
"Rin, you're a terrible liar. A terrible, horrible liar."
"Screw you! I lie perfectly fine!" she snarled. She quickly looked to the side, her eyes narrowed. "He didn't actually bribe me, though."
"Regardless of the reason, I'm glad you did. I've missed you terribly," Aika replied.
"Yeah, well, I didn't miss you at all," Rin grumbled, folding her arms across her chest. The short woman sighed and shook her head, though she was still smiling.
"It's good to see you again, Rin."
It wasn't until evening when Rin was given the all clear and allowed to leave the mansion. Though, she had been ordered to visit the Fourth Division daily until told otherwise and she still had a mild headache. Now, she was walking down the street trying to find a restaurant. Her appetite had only returned somewhat, but she wanted a place to try and figure out who had attacked her and why without the servants at the mansion fussing over her.
Gilepsi and Daisuke showed up just as she was entering a restaurant. The man was clearly worried. He only seemed to become more concerned when he spotted the bandages and her ripped clothing.
"Rin, where have you been? And why do you have bandages around your head? Did something happen with the Ryoka?" he asked as he followed her inside.
He had let her go alone knowing that she was more than capable of holding her own. Now he was skeptical. Just how strong were the Ryoka? She didn't answer him until she had sat down at one of the tables, with Gilepsi jumping onto her lap.
"No, it wasn't the Ryoka. I was attacked the night before by someone I couldn't identify. Whoever they were, they said that 'my presence had been requested', though they didn't say by who. They also knew my name, so I was definitely their target. I have no idea why, though.
"Kuchiki showed up and scared him off, but I fainted cus I got a minor concussion when the bastard slammed his pommel into the back of my head. Basically, I was at the Kuchiki Mansion most of the day until they finally let me out... what, an hour ago? Who knows." She shrugged. He stared at her.
"Someone's targeting you? Do you think it could be-" She swiftly cut him off.
"No one would know about that. Only important people, but important people have no reason to target me."
Their conversation ceased temporarily when the server came. After ordering and fighting over whether or not Gilepsi was allowed in, with Rin winning in the end, Daisuke spoke on the previous topic once more.
"If only important people know, Rin, then maybe something's going on. A conspiracy, or something along those lines."
He shook his head, unsure. He wasn't one to know about those types of things. He was only a commoner, after all, and had little experience when dealing with 'important people'.
"A conspiracy?" she repeated thoughtfully.
She remembered the ominous feeling of the whole invasion, leading to her reluctance in taking care of the Ryoka. Should she share with Daisuke? Or keep it to herself? Finally, she rolled her eyes in mock disbelief.
"As if. Nothing like that's ever happened in Sereitei. You're getting all worked up over nothing. If anything, this whole thing might be because of that bastard Hatori. I thought that he would stop going after me, but I might have been wrong."
Whatever it was, she didn't want her friend involved unless it was absolutely necessary. Conspiracies were always bad news, after all. And, though skeptical, he seemed to buy into her lie. He nodded and said.
"Maybe you're right. Even if it was something like a conspiracy, the Captains would take care of it. If this is Hatori's doing..." He sighed.
"I'll take care of it," Rin muttered. "It's my problem."
"I can't let you do that alone."
"Do you honestly think you have any choice in the matter, Daisuke? I will do it alone. I don't need your help. Never had, never will," she snapped.
"That's a blatant lie and you know it," Daisuke argued. Rin stood, forcing Gilepsi off her lap as she did, and turned away.
"Fuck this," she hissed before storming out of the restaurant.
With Gilepsi's help, Rin found her way back to her room. She was surprised to find a small, but long, black box on her bed. She strode across the floor and picked it up, studying it. There was a note beneath it. It was a birthday present from Daisuke. She imagined that he had dropped it off the night before.
Without hesitation, she took off the lid and tossed it onto the bed. She was surprised at what she saw within. It was a silver chain necklace. Anchored in the middle was a heart, its surface encrusted with blood red jewels. She carefully lifted it from its resting spot to see it better. She recognized it as an expensive piece of jewelry that she had only seen nobles wearing. Her eyes glowed with the natural greed of a thief as they took in every detail of it. Gilepsi had jumped on the bed and was now trying to bat at it. She meowed loudly.
"Shiny, isn't it? And legit, as well. This must have cost a fortune," Rin murmured, lowering it so the animal could see it better. Gilepsi sniffed it thoroughly before purring, showing her owner that she approved. Rin scowled.
"Like it matters whether or not you like it, you little bitch," she growled. Gilepsi hissed in reply.
"Why doesn't your opinion matter? Because you're a stupid animal. Plus, it's my gift, anyway. You have no say," she retorted.
Though, she felt a bit guilty that Daisuke had wasted so much money on something so impressive. She was sure that it must have cost him a fortune. She also knew that he would never let her return it. With a sigh, she looped it around her neck and put it on.
It sat perfectly in the hollow of her neck. Rin wasn't one to admire jewelry, but she had to admit this was something she truly loved. She decided she would have to pay Daisuke back somehow, even if it was meant as a birthday gift.
Two men stood in a dark, round room. The first had his back to the one in the doorway and was standing in front of a desk. The other closed the door behind him so only a sliver of light filtered through. The one further into the room was the first to speak, his voice filled with disappointment.
"I didn't expect you to come back empty handed, Gin."
"Sorry, Cap'n Aizen, but I was rudely interrupted. I simply couldn't risk givin' us away before our plan has been put in place. I wasn't able t' eliminate them, either. I was t' busy concealin' my reiatsu so they wouldn't recognize me," Gin purred.
"Hm. I see. Was it Captain Kuchiki?" Aizen asked.
"Surprisingly, no. It was Aika-chan who showed up instead. She may become a problem, Cap'n."
"Don't worry, Gin. Everything will go according to my plan. Getting back to Asaje Rin, the ability continues to remain out of our reach," Aizen mused. "I don't believe we will have another chance before our plan is set in motion. Fortunately, we will have other opportunities to retrieve Asaje Rin after that. Then, we will progress the power of her ability. I have many things planned for her." He turned around to face the other man.
"Be sure that she is kept as much in the dark about the Ryoka invasion as we can manage. She is a smart woman, and has already noticed that something is amiss. If she learns more and shares these concerns with any of the Captains or Lieutenants, it could jeopardize all we have strived to do."
"No problem, Cap'n Aizen. It'll be easy to do. But what about the other one? Esaki-kun? She's only a step away from confidin' in him, too."
"Esaki Daisuke... His zanpakuto is interesting, its abilities quite dangerous, but useless to us, for now. Keep them separated, if you can. Come now, though. There's a Captain's Meeting. It is of utmost importance that I attend. I believe I have already explained what you should do, Gin?"
"O' course, Cap'n Aizen. I'll be on m' way as soon as possible."
The man bowed, and then left the room.
