Bleach: Cero Devastador

Sakuya began talkign reluctantly, grasping my hand and entwinning our fingers as if to find support. Like this was the last time in her life she was ever going to mention this. 

"During that time in the hideout, after the deed was done... I-I was in so much pain that I wanted to escape, I wandered out of the room trying to find an exit even when I was told not to and happened to hear a conversation. It wasn't Gakurou but instead one of his underlings. From what I could tell there was a lot of rivalry within the gang and at any point anyone could try to strike him down to take his spot, but Gakurou had influence, so that person didn't think he would win a frontal confrontation. That person whose name I don't know said someone was going to be angry because they hadn't yet received the month's 'batch', by then surely the 'captain' would have Gakurou's head... that's what I heard".

"Captain? (Taisho) are you sure you heard that word? Any name alongside it?" Kurayami's eyes blinked rapidly and even Kukaku leaned forward with a frown. 

"That is the word they used, no name was mentioned. It seems this person was trying to delay a delivery or something of the sort, hoping to anger that captain and as a result, Gakurou would be assassinated and he would take the spot as the gang leader. There was a massive fight at that time as a result of this delay of which I only heard screams and voices because Gakurou had taken me and locked me back in his room. After that, he ushered me out in a rush and I never came back to that facility again" Sakuya concluded, she tugged onto me as if she had let out a lot of weight out of her chest.

"If there is a captain involved in this... that is huge" Kukaku said, "I may have to talk about this with my uncle".

"Don't do that" Kurayami hissed, this small comment made Kukaku frown and stand up in outrage. 

"You surely don't think my uncle is the one, do you?" Her voice sounded as if there were going to be consequences depending on her answer. Kurayami sighed and pulled her back down.

"I don't think he is. But until I have any conclusive proof, it is better if we don't make any risky moves. Even if it is not Captain Shiba, it could be someone in his circle. Captain could also be just a nickname, we can't base this whole investigation on just that word, although knowing this I will know to be more on alert".

"Do you have any hints in particular?" I asked her. 

"Captain Tosen is my primary suspect. As much as he said that he didn't order Shuhei Ryosuke, he could just be lying and I would never know. Other than him... Captain Sosuke".

"Aizen Sosuke?".

"He was the one who found Urahara Kisuke's experiment and blamed their treason. My sister also told me there was more to him than met the eye, but other than that, it is just my own bias at work"

"If you find the culprit, what do you expect to achieve?" I asked her this time. This question stumbled Kurayami off her train of thought, she had to give it some time to come to an answer.

"To clean my sister's name, I don't believe she committed that crime even if she is too prideful to just come out with the truth" Kurayami grit her teeth. That right there was the heart of the issue, I noticed it seeping off her.

Kurayami idolized her sister, Yoruichi. 

"Is that what she wants? If she wanted such; don't you think she would be pulling her pieces to do so? wouldn't she have tried to prove herself or explained to you the information that she has? If she hasn't done that so far, don't you think she has her reasons" I asked next.

"..."

It was at this time that Kurayami was left out of words... just as I expected, "I respect your sword, Kurayami, but you have a massive problem".

"... don't talk"

"You look up too much to your sister and even impose your will onto her. Stop chasing her steps and start living your own life".

"What do you even!–"

"I know. You have transmitted me enough feelings already through our exchanges with the sword. You want to mirror that person the same way I mirrored your Shunpo. There is only one result to that and you should know" I put my hand on her shoulder.

"..." Her gaze looked at me as if she didn't want me to say it. She didn't want me to completely crush her paradigms... the motives for which she holds the sword in the first place. 

It was like walking down a narrow path in one tunnel for years only to realise that at the end of it, there was a cliff... one wouldn't be able to accept it or turn around, one could only jump off that cliff. 

But there is a chance, one can indeed accept it and turn around, then take another path. Nothing is stopping her from doing so. 

"Imperfection is the answer, Kurayami. Because at the end of the day... one is reality, the other a mere reflection. Stop striving to be a reflection of your sister, become your own reality".

Her body shivered, her gaze contorted. Those were the words uttered not by a bystander, but by the man who defeated her. She had no choice but to give it some consideration. 

"I am too old to be advised by a brat" Kurayami stood up and left for the courtyard, but I did notice her shivering body and denial. There are only two possible outcomes to this: She either breaks or soars like the phoenix. 

My words seemed to have been so powerful that even Mikoto stood up, slapped both cheeks of her face, and ran out of the courtyard.

"I will continue, sensei!".

"M-Me too!" Sakuya followed right after. 

"Thanks" Kukaku mumbled and held my shoulder as I watched them go. 

"What for?".

"I have been telling her that for a while but she won't listen. I guess it had to be you who said it, otherwise she'd just remain headstrong in her own beliefs. You may be a bit of a brute and dumb".

"Hey..."

"But you're also quite wise, huh?~ tell me, why did you say that to her? you didn't need to..."

"Well, Kurayami Shihōin has a lot of potential. There is a saying that two apples don't fall too far from the same tree. If that Yoruichi is so amazing, so can she... she may even be better, but if I don't tell her this, we won't ever know" I smirked. 

"I want to fight the strongest version of her, that's all".

"A battle maniac through and through, huh? I don't know why I expected any different. Come, let's drink and drink some more!".