Her eyes begin to slowly squint as her mystical vines heal the commander from within, having begun at the most severe injuries, the reconstruction of his organs had taken priority. She sees everything as it heals, and discerns what goes beyond her capabilities of reconstruction via
Iyashino hanadama. The changes are subtle at first. A younger face she might have not even recognized without the very scars given to him by his own hand. Inexplicable to her, her brows furrow, as the changes Shobatsu's body undergo are not within her powers. It takes a mere seconds to deduce this as the work of his own zanpakuto. Having seen it in action but a handful of times, this was an effect even she never witnessed before.
“There is no time.”
The combination of his voice and shifting petals as he raises his hand alert her. Her eyes widen, and the vines surrounding Shobatsu begin to unravel, yet the pressurized air rips their ends apart, while those beneath him fall limp on the floor after Honoka relinquishes her control on them to shield her face from the force of the shockwave produced by Shobatsu. A burst of her own reiatsu is released from her palms, enough to soften the blow over her face and abdomen. Still, her ears pop and the force of air pushes her a few centimeters back. The rumbling noise surrounding them does not escape Honoka. She averts her gaze in order to shield her eyes from the wind, only to see the walls crumble away behind them. Now the scene only Higen and Honoka where first to witness, becomes illuminated by the sun.
“Lieutenant Oki…Honoka…
Send word to the central forty six districts surrounding the Seireitei. Inform them that they are to elect a single representative from among their people. These forty six representatives will form the new governing body of the Soul Society. They will fill the void that I have wrought upon this place.”
To hear him call her by her given name, for the first time since their meeting. It was as if he was truly at death's door. Even she had never addressed him by his given name, not even jokingly. What sort of changes had Shihōken forced upon its wielder? She does not dwell on this, instead, she listens to the last orders he bestows upon her. Now with the selfish and greedy nobles no longer sitting as the ruling body, new winds of change will transform the Seireitei, giving power to the districts misrepresented by the nobles who only sought to fill their pockets at the expense of everyone else. Perhaps this was an abrupt and brutish way to have gone about it, but the change sought would have never come to pass if such nobility was allowed to remain unquestioned. Her heels click as she stands once again at attention, having received her orders, she will carry them out as every single order previously given to her. To perfection.
“Captain Kagaya-...Higen…
The humans are in danger. As we speak your men fight valiantly to protect them. Do not let their sacrifice be in vain. You will do what is necessary, I know this. That is why I entrust you with my command. I leave in your hands the scales of balance, so that you may stand between the precipice of peace, and the cusp of war. You feel you are not ready. You are wrong.”
She glances toward Higen, possibly her longest friend and confidant, who is equally as astonished to hear his own named called out by the Captain Commander. His task comes with a heavier mantle. While she stands quietly as the de-aging Shobatsu continues to speak, even she can't help but share in the weight of the task bestowed upon Higen Kagayaki. She, better than anyone, knew the weight of such a task. A difficult position, filled with responsibility and criticism by those ignorant to the burden of leading the entirety of the Gotei 13.
Her attention is once again stolen by the lifeless bodies as they suddenly begin to jolt in their places. Their movement unnatural and disturbing, even in her many years of life, she had never seen something like this. She's on edge; alarmed. It isn't until the multitude of mystical, ethereal hands reveal themselves to she and Higen, that she recalls this spell to be one of Commander Murasaki's own creation. The expression on her usually smiling face is solemn. While she understands the reason behind his return to Muken, she finds herself torn between the the peace of his just and fair leadership, and the validity of his return to Muken in order to carry out the remainder of his sentence. Perhaps the new elected members of Central 46 will move to restore him to his position, but now, it is too soon for such optimistic thoughts.
With Higen remaining still at her side and the ornate key held before them by the large hand, Honoka takes the key as the ethereal hand vanishes. Her grip tightens around it's length, enough that her knuckles begin to turn white. It is not that she struggles to keep a hold, or that it is too heavy, in fact, to her, despite its size and weight, it is no different than holding a pencil in her grasp. It is the culmination of emotions and responsibilities that befall her in the acceptance of such a relic that cause her to grip it tighter than necessary. Finally, she looks from the key back to the Great Judicator as he stands before them in his full height, towering over her and the newly appointed Captain Commander, Higen Kagayaki. A new scent wafts into her nostrils. Searing flesh. Seeking to seal off any remaining blood vessels that poured blood, left unhealed after he prematurely burst out before his healing was completed.
“I am not above judgment. For my crimes, I must pay the price. I have slain those who released me, and as penance, must now return to fulfill the remainder of my sentence. Do not seek the obstruction of justice. With this wound inflicted upon me, I do not know what I am to become. Even now, I feel the experiences of my life fading from me. Memories, which I cherish, lost. The man I was once is not the man you know now. You must not seek to free me from the Muken...”
Honoka, for once, is left truly speechless. Watching as the years fade from his face. The change in his posture, making stand even taller than she had ever seen him in all her years at his side. Even the subtle changes beneath his clothing at his shoulders and arms. These miniscule changes do not escape her perception. What does escape her watchful eye is Shihōken reappearing in Shobatsu's hand.
“If this is to be our final meeting, then I am glad that it is you two who are here. My only regret is that I cannot look upon you with my own eyes... ...to see your faces one last time.”
“Command-!”
How bittersweet. To know that despite being a man of few words, it is now, at his departure, that he speaks so freely. To leave the command behind to serve his punishment, while at the same time, entrusting the lieutenant turned captain, and his successor with the safety and prosperity of the Seireitei. She does not attempt to chase after him, or even reach out as Higen did, instead, as Kagayaki's hand rests on her shoulder in an attempt to ease what would undoubtedly be an emotional blow to her, she collects herself. Even now she has no time to waste, much less to wait around. Shobatsu's actions leave a power vacuum in the structure of the Soul Society, and it is a void that must be refilled as soon as possible.
With a wave of her right hand, the thicket of vines part, allowing Higen to exit through the very threshold they initially crossed. She remains silent. Is it due to her loss of words? Or perhaps the knot in her throat as she upholds the facade of strength and poise before Higen? It isn't until he is out of her sight that Honoka rests her back against the wall, if only for a moment, to support her body. Her verdant eyes shift to the key in her grasp, which she finally loosens enough to allow the blood to flow through her knuckles, restoring the color to them.
Now what do I do with-
The sentence in her mind is left unfinished. She rescinds her plant growths. Every vine, every root, down to the last petal summoned disappears as if they never existed in the first place. Then, with her free hand, she pulls on the collar of her uniform, making a large enough opening for her to drop the key in her bosom. Her options are limited, and she cannot afford it to fall in the wrong hands. She adjusts they key underneath her clothes, ensuring that not a single part of it protrudes from her uniform. Secured against her body, she finally emerges from the compound back to the surface, where a pair of shinigami making their rounds turn the corner. She approaches them, her expression still serious.
"Central 46 is dead. Because the protection of Central 46 falls under the jurisdiction of Sixth Division, I need cooperation between both divisions. Notify Shusuke Kiyoshi immediately, this takes precedence over anything else. Everything must be documented meticulously. I need the detailed autopsy reports for every single member, and only once I am satisfied with the reports will we turn over their bodies back to their families. They are still nobles so treat their bodies accordingly."
The pair of First Division shinigami bow and shunpo away to carry out their orders, sparing no time to gossip or speculate on the events. They split; one on a mission to find the Sixth Division shinigami specifically requested by Honoka, and the other begins to notify members of First Division to begin the investigative process, until the relay of orders makes its way to Akarui's ears. This was a disaster of the greatest scales, beauritically speaking. The families of these nobles would demand justice... possibly even blood at the news of the loss of their kin. Truly ironic, as thirst for their own brand of justice is what lead to this scenario to begin with. Not only that, but there was no brushing this under the rug. It was transparency the Seireitei needed.
