Keiko-san, from what I’ve gathered during your time in squad 4’s infirmary, it would seem as though your body has changed itself. You’d be lucky if you were ever able to release your Zanpaktou again…

The words repeated themselves in her mind without relent, each time the knife sinking a little deeper into her brain. If Mayuri-Taichou’s words were true, then her choices were limited to two distinct possibilities. She could choose to leave Soul Society, returning to either Rukongai or the land of the living, or she could beg the research division to find a way to restore her lost abilities. Unfortunately, in choosing the latter, she had been forced to seek out the division head, the very same man that had left her such harsh words in the first place. After drawing a long, uncomfortable breath, she rounded the final corner into 12th Squad’s territory, her form quietly overshadowed by the facility that lay before her. For a half moment, Keiko had considered leaving; but the loss of her Zanpaktou still lay burning within her mind and body.

As she stepped inside, Keiko faced an immediate and cold greeting from a fair sum of lower ranked officers on patrol. While she pushed passed them with haste, their icy expressions had left a lasting impression on her already frail demeanor. As she wandered the halls in absence, her reception remained just as unpleasing. For a short while, the woman had taken to gathering her thoughts, hoping that she would be able to come up with an offer that would convince the Division leader to renew her powers in time. When she had finally grasped some form of an idea, she laid a lightly balled fist upon the doorway to one of his private labs, one final, calming breath separating her discomfort from her agenda.

After several crashes and screams of ignorance, a woman had appeared in the doorway; hands folded neatly in front of her obi as the soft folds of her kimono twittered in an artificial breeze. “Nemu-san,” Keiko began, glancing past the battered woman for a short moment before focusing once again, “is Mayuri-sama terribly busy right now?” From what she could see, the Captain had been busy with one of his more awkward experiments, a strange looking hollow squealing while Mayuri dissected each damaged and writhing limb. There had been violet blood coating the edges of his hands, a purely maniacal smile gracing painted-white skin. Nemu coughed rather gently, her eyes scanning the cherry-haired lieutenant with mild confusion, “a little, why do you wish to speak with Mayuri-sama?”

Before Keiko could answer, Mayuri had thrown the other woman aside with great force, his larger figure dwarfing that of her own. As a half-smile lit up his twisted face, he placed his hands deep within the folds of his obi, wiping them free of the remains of his last experiment, “what do you want? Are you here for the actual report on the Makura’s dissection?” His voice held little kindness, a small pain throbbing within her chest as he tilted his head sideways, “or have you come looking for my help.” After nodding, she had bowed lightly, “Mayuri-sama, please help me regain control over my Zanpaktou. I’m sure the experience will prove valuable to your research, and I will do absolutely whatever you say if you’re willing to help me. Please, Mayuri-sama…”

Her voice held a strong sense of desperation, Mayuri’s own voice elevating on account of the amusement sustained within it, “ah, so you expect to bribe me with your body, then? I’m afraid the only information I can gain from such endeavors would be in regards to the technique utilized against you. Still,” as his hands shifted along the hilt of his own Zanpaktou, he offered the girl a strangely disconcerting smile. “I think I will help you, simply because, if my initial hypothesis proves correct, you’ll be of great use to me in the future.” A heavy hand came down to rest against her shoulder, bony fingers prying into her flesh as Mayuri pulled her forward, shutting the door comfortably behind her.

“Now then, let’s get started,” he breathed, clearing off a rather large steel table before motioning for the girl to take her place upon it. Keiko looked uneasy, but when Nemu returned to her side in an effort to guide her to place, she had little choice in regards to her actions. She hadn’t expected to be received so quickly, the urgency in which Mayuri-taichou had taken her in proving almost…suspicious. After hopping onto the table, Mayuri offered her an annoyed frown, “I do suggest you remove your clothing yourself, I don’t have all day you know.” Flushed, Keiko seemed to nod, slipping out of her hakama and robes before placing her body against the frigid stainless steal.

The operating table was impossibly cold, each movement, no matter how minor, sending vicious chills up the length of her spine. In an effort to calm her body, she drew in a wavering breath, Nemu’s hands soon coming to rest against her stomach. “Mayuri-sama,” Nemu whispered, her voice softened by the presence of her master, “shall I gather together your tools?” The man’s hand had risen to Nemu’s cheek, a heavy-handed slap crashing against her face. “You idiot, don’t ask for my permission!”

Keiko shivered, the display above her hardly promising a pleasant, or even safe, return of her powers. Infact, this whole thing hadn’t been a guarantee regardless. Well, it’s too late now, she thought to herself as Nemu returned with a small cart of surgical tools.   At least I can’t come out of this any worse than dead… Wait, there are plenty of things worse than dead, and this is Mayuri Kurotsachi. Of course I could come out worse than dead! Oh, shit…what have I gotten myself into here? Her sudden, noticeable discomfort solicited an uncomfortable look from Nemu, and a smile from her twisted superior.

Nemu slowly pressed a small needle into Keiko’s neck, a bright, oozing red liquid dribbling out the sides as she placed a heavy deal of pressure on the plunger. The feeling was incredibly strange, but by the time the initial euphoria had passed, Keiko had found herself unable to move despite her will to do so. Mayuri simply cocked a heavy grin, drawing what appeared to be an unreasonably sharp instrument before placing it against her skin. The pain was unreal, the small bladed tool forming a deep incision in her chest where she had previously been attacked. While she could not move her body, her mind was crashing, the sheer agony of his movements forcing her in and out of consciousness. Evidently, Mayuri didn’t help others with anesthetics.

After a short while, she had been unable to withstand the torture, her mind dispersing itself from her body as her subconscious took over. Mayuri had continued to look inside of the girl’s body, pulling back her internal tissue to locate the Makura’s original point of attack. While the female had no physical hole in her chest following the healing process, there had been one directly centered in her heart; soft, golden flares of reiatsu pouring from the hollow-like chasm. Nemu simply gasped, silencing herself as Mayuri’s hand once again made contact with the side of her face, staining it with the other female’s blood. “Ah! So I suppose this is an interesting procedure after all.” Mayuri’s words were venomous, and as Nemu raised her voice in question, he interrupted, “What this means is we’re going to modify her soul chain and soul sleep to more...original specifications. I finally have a chance to try out my new research!” Nemu simply frowned as Mayuri’s insane laughter consumed the room, “Hai, Mayuri-sama.”

--

“What do you expect me to say? That I love you or something?!” Keiko flushed heavily as the last words were uttered, turning away from her partner before his eyes could capture the redness upon her cheeks. She hadn’t meant to say that, she hadn’t even chosen to let such thoughts enter her mind. But there they were, something she’d been hiding for what seemed like an eternity, was now laying exposed before the two Shinigami. The girl drew in a heavy breath, the soft feeling of his hands as they graced her shoulders bringing her halfway down to earth.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” he said, spinning the girl around with an oddly gentle motion. “Because I do, too.” For a moment, she had been encased in a feeling so sacred she could never hope to let it go, a feeling of content, of completion. When she had once again mustered the will to speak, she cocked somewhat of a forced grin,

“Nice try, cheapskate. If you think I’m letting you off without saying the actual word!” Thankfully, the woman’s sense of humor had returned to her.

“Fine then, I’ll say it, and I won’t beat around the bush—I love you.” Kabuto spoke in an overly cheered voice, and Keiko…well; her mind was somewhere entirely different. The feeling had been perfect in every possible way, a strong sense of warmth rushing through her body as she minded her words with care. Nothing could have ruined it; nothing in the entire, screwed up world could have put an end to the euphoric feelings that swam through her entirety. For the longest time, words seemed meaningless, and yet she still forced them out, their conversation slowly drawing them away from the encounter.

When she had been alone, Keiko had collapsed upon the ground, gathering her clothing together in her arms as she dreamily regarded the sunset above. Everything, for the first time in a long time, had felt as though it was going to be fine. Sure, they had something to deal with, but they would get through it—there was no way that they could fail. The conspiracy behind it all, Renji-kun, Hisagi-taichou, Matsumoto-san, their actions had all led to one final moment of… limitless perfection.

--
“Enmi Musigen, the name of Shino’s Zanpaktou, wasn’t it?” Mayuri scratched the back of his head with a fairly idle motion as Keiko outwardly whispered the final two words. “I wonder why she would be saying such a trite thing.”

Nemu bowed gently before her master, thankful when her actions did not solicit another slap to the face. Mayuri had been far too interested in the task at hand, and as a rarity, had sparred his subordinate any form of negative retaliation for her movements. “Tsk, I suppose you can’t control your thoughts with such weak spiritual pressure. What a pity.”
--
Dear Kabuto-kun,

I would have stayed until you were actually awake to tell you this, but Hisagi-taichou wanted to get you back in Karakura town as quickly as possible. Your mission details are the same, but for the time being, I’m afraid I am not allowed to go with you. I know it’s going to be hard, but don’t worry! You inspired me to do something about this. I’d tell you what, but considering the nature of what I’m about to do, I don’t think you’d be so willing to give your approval. Unfortunately, I’m a Shinigami at heart, and I am willing to absorb the repercussions of this ditch effort.

I’ll join you in Karakura town in three months time, and if everything goes according to plan, it won’t be as a renegade officer; it will once again be as your Co-Lieutenant. I wish you the best of luck in your current mission, and as a warning, I will literally kill you if you die before I return. I will seriously find a way to resurrect your dick-headed spirit, and then murder it again, and again, and again until it is mushy and impotent.

But hey, you’re the invincible Kabuto-kun, right? That shouldn’t be any trouble for someone of your stature. I apologize once more for my secrecy, but this is the way it has to be. Enclosed is a small token to go along with this promise: I will come back to you, no matter what. Even if it’s in another life.

 With love, Keiko Inuruki.


With a final smile, she had sealed up the envelope containing her letter, scribbling out his name before placing it beneath his sleeping head. For a moment, she leaned forward, kissing the side of his cheek rather gently before straightening her posture. Enclosed in her note had been the very same necklace she had worn since long before her time in Seiretei. It meant the world to her, and apparently, so did he.
--