Bleach: Sea of butterflies

Musashi's vision swam, and his head throbbed with pain as he drifted in and out of consciousness. The world around him was a mix of hazy shapes and muted colors, the most vivid being Suì-Fēng's silhouette as she worked tirelessly. He could barely make out her words over the pounding in his ears.

"Arasaka, what should we do? He's still bleeding."

"Just bandage his body for now. I'll apply basic Kaidō later." Arasaka's voice sounded strained, his exhaustion evident. "I've got no Reiryoku left..."

Musashi groaned softly, the cold floor beneath him offering little comfort as his vision darkened. Suì-Fēng's protests were the last thing he heard before everything went black.

...

When Musashi awoke again, the pain was sharper, yet his body felt heavier, almost immobile. He was vaguely aware of his surroundings: the dim light of the cave, the damp chill in the air, and the faint presence of Reiryoku emanating from his companions.

Suì-Fēng sat nearby, her gaze alternating between watching over him and checking on Captain Ginrei. The captain rested against the wall of the cave, his arm now just a bandaged stump. Arasaka, though conscious, leaned heavily against the opposite wall, looking drained and pale.

"What an idiot," Suì-Fēng muttered as she glanced at Musashi. Her voice was low but tinged with both worry and frustration. "What was he thinking, jumping into that slash?"

Her hands trembled as she tied another bandage around Musashi's torso. When she had removed his tattered uniform to treat him, she was startled by the network of scars crisscrossing his body.

When she tried to pry the broken zanpakutō from his hand, it refused to budge. His fingers were locked around the hilt in a death grip, as though his very soul clung to the shattered blade.

"Where are we even?" she whispered to herself.

The cave they had found was hidden deep within the Forest of Menos, a sprawling labyrinth of twisted trees and dense spiritual pressure. Shadows danced along the cavern walls as countless Gillian lumbered aimlessly in the distance, their massive forms too close for comfort.

...

Musashi stirred again, groaning softly as he forced his eyes open. Every movement sent sharp pain coursing through his body, and he winced as he tried to sit up.

"Finally awake, huh?"

Arasaka's voice came from his left. Musashi turned his head to see the exhausted Shinigami watching him with a faint smirk.

"Took you long enough," Arasaka added, though his words carried more relief than teasing.

Musashi didn't reply. He lowered his gaze, staring at the broken remains of his zanpakutō. Its blade, once whole and dependable, was now jagged and lifeless.

The sound of footsteps broke the silence. Suì-Fēng stood before him, her arms crossed and her expression stormy.

"What were you thinking?" she snapped, her voice cutting through the heavy air. "Jumping into that attack like that! Why didn't you use your Shikai?"

Musashi's lips twisted into a bitter smile as he looked away.

"I don't have one."

Suì-Fēng blinked, her anger giving way to confusion. "What?"

Musashi exhaled shakily, lifting the broken zanpakutō in front of him. "I don't have a Shikai. I've been trying to communicate with my zanpakutō for years, but... there's no response."

His voice grew quieter, almost a whisper. "It's like it's not even there."

Suì-Fēng's expression softened as she sat down beside him. For a moment, neither spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said at last. "I didn't know."

"It's fine," Musashi muttered.

She hesitated before pointing at the scars on his torso. "How did you get those?"

Musashi tensed, his grip tightening on his zanpakutō. "I don't want to talk about it."

Suì-Fēng looked away, respecting his silence.

...

A low groan echoed through the cave, drawing their attention. Captain Ginrei shifted against the wall, his eyes fluttering open.

"Captain Ginrei! You're awake!" Suì-Fēng exclaimed, rushing to his side.

"What happened?" Ginrei asked, his voice hoarse.

"We managed to escape," Suì-Fēng explained. "We're somewhere underground."

Ginrei nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings. "Forest of Menos. Wise choice. It's dangerous here, but it'll buy us time."

"Captain," Musashi said weakly, turning his head toward Ginrei. "What was that Hollow? An Adjuchas, yet stronger than a Vasto Lorde?"

Ginrei sighed heavily, closing his eyes for a moment. "It's an anomaly. Hollows like that are rare, but they exist. This is acualy a second time I see Adjuchas like that. In the past Ikomikidomoe was one such Hollow—a powerful Adjuchas that defied the natural order. It was so strong that it scarred the Head Captain himself before attacking the Royal Palace."

"What happened to it?" Suì-Fēng asked.

"No one knows, but it's believed to be dead," Ginrei replied. He then turned his gaze to Musashi, whose face was shadowed with guilt.

"Captain," Musashi said, his voice trembling. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't... if I hadn't been so reckless, you wouldn't have lost your arm. We wouldn't be... in Hueco Mundo. In this mess."

Ginrei shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Musashi, this isn't your fault. You acted in the heat of battle, and no one blames you. If anything, I deserved to lose that arm."

Musashi stared at him in disbelief. "Deserved? Who says that about losing an arm?"

Ginrei chuckled softly. "I'm old, Musashi. Old and rusty. I haven't faced real combat in years, and I underestimated our opponent. Next time, I won't make that mistake."

Musashi's guilt deepened. "You're not even angry?"

"Angry?" Ginrei repeated. "Why would I be? That Hollow was following its nature, and we as Shinigami must follow ours—to cleanse it."

Musashi felt like a child being scolded for throwing a tantrum. He clenched his fists, his frustration turning inward.

"I feel so stupid," he muttered.

Ginrei reached out with his remaining hand, placing it on Musashi's shoulder. "Then use that feeling to grow stronger. We can't change the past, but we can prepare for what's to come."

The group fell into a tense silence, broken only by the distant roars of Gillian wandering the forest.

"We'll rest here a little longer," Ginrei said at last. "But this cave won't go unnoticed forever. Once we're ready, we'll move and find a way to contact the Gotei 13."

The weight of their situation pressed down on them, but they found solace in the knowledge that they had survived. For now, that was enough.

(End of a chapter)