The Wandering of an Unstuck Stepbro: Multiverse Travel

(Rin's pov)

I was sitting in dogeza and meditating with my Zanpakuto on my lap. I wouldn't be much help in healing my children. I may have learned the basics from Isane and Captain Unohana, but with these types of injuries, I would be useless. Even Inoue-chan, who apparently didn't have her powers for even a year, is a better healer than me, but they are just strange like that. Using my Bankai would greatly help, but since their condition stabilized, it wouldn't be necessary.

'Not that I would have minded saving your children and all, but I would rather you use Bankai on Ryoto. A girl can dream.'

My Zanpakuto, Tsunagari, was talking to me as I was trying to gather my thoughts. I am obviously worried about Ryoto.

'Girl, you need to relax. We both know how strong he is. And he has the stamina to boot. You should know it best~.'

I rolled my eyes at this teasing comment. After years of Tsunagari teasing, I barely acknowledge it. 

'Yeah, yeah, Ryoto and I have sex. Tell me more about it. I didn't notice. We must have found Masaru in a giant peach or something.' I sarcastically answered.

'...I think Ryoto's sass rubbed off on you a bit.'

'It would be strange if it didn't. We spent over 250 years together. Now, can we talk about what we should be doing when Ryoto gets back? '

'I mean, he'll come back injured, and apparently, there's still a Quincy group that is still against Shinigami. He also wants us to be at full strength. Either he expects a follow-up attack after he returns, or, and I believe it's more likely, soon the climax of all past events is going to happen. I also worry about how wounded Ryoto will be. He promised to come back alive, but we both know that he didn't promise to be back safe. He very well may return and die seconds later, and he wouldn't break the promise.' I said.

'You are underestimating how strong Ryoto is. Didn't he say that he'll go full Hollow? In that form, he's crazy strong! I mean, he even can regenerate! How cool is that!?' Tsunagari tried to ease my worries, but it didn't help much.

'Even the strongest of enemies can be killed by an unexpected attack, and from what Yukima has said, there will be multiple.' I countered.

'You're overthinking it. We can't do anything with the information we have, so why bother. As long as Ryoto gets back alive, all is good. And what's going to happen is going to happen. Together, there's nothing we can't overcome. We'll cut through every plan that the enemy makes, and we'll stitch together everything that will allow us the future we want. And if everything goes to shit and Ryoto really will be at death's door, there's also the Bankai route.'

I smiled at my Zanpakuto answer.

'...Your optimism and confidence are really something else... but I don't hate it. It helps me not go full paranoid.'

'That's what I'm here for. We are partners for life, and I can't let you die before you try my style at least once. I promise you that you won't want to go back once you try it.'

I decided to ignore her last comment just like I ignored it for the last two centuries. I'm not going to try Gyaru's style even if she pays me. That's not for me, and I'm sure if I do it even once, Ryoto or someone else will find out, and they'll never let me forget it.

I then suddenly felt a foot on the side of my face kicking me, sending me to fly and breaking my meditation state. Because I knew that there wasn't any way for an enemy to be here, I wasn't on guard.

Looking for the culprit of the kick wasn't hard. It was Yoruichi, and I gave her an annoying glare and demanded from her why she kicked me.

"You had the same look when Ryoto is overthinking things, which is okay but annoying in big amounts, and we don't need a second Ryoto, do we?" Yoruichi said smugly, but I was still annoyed.

"I just resolved it with my Zanpakuto. Actually, seconds before you unceremoniously decided to forcefully change my location." I replied dryly.

"Oops. Sorry then." 

She wasn't sorry at all... Sigh I won't reprimand Yoruichi. I gave up on changing her behavior years ago. Yoruichi is... Yoruichi, for better or worse, is a domesticated cat, or, as Ryoto likes to say, a cat who didn't realize that she was tamed. That thought put a smile on my face.

Yoruichi used my short moment of reflection to get closer to me and poke my cheek as she hung around my neck.

"Hey, you thought something rude about me. You are lucky that I like you, or I would piss on your document."

I'll need to tell Komamura to make copies of all documents. You never know when Yoruichi jokes and when not, and in her cat form, she'll pretend to be an ordinary animal and do what she promised.

As I bantered with Yoruichi, Gin suddenly rushed in with a worried expression, but before I could ask what was wrong, a big Garganta opened in the Study Chamber. Everyone became tense. Yoruichi and I prepared to fight, and in the meanwhile, I sent a quick look to Rangiku Gin and Yukima to protect the injured and kids. Isane and Unohana will be the last resort as they still need to treat Masaru and Akio.

I immediately felt multiple Reiatsu coming from the gate created by a Hollow, and the Hollows coming from them were strong.

Strange... Hollows usually don't work in groups, not the strong ones, at least... not this strong.

The first to exit the Garganta was a blonde woman slightly taller than me. She also had a skin tone similar to Yoruichi's. Her face was hidden behind the jacket, but her Reiatsu was definitely not Human or Shinigami-like. It was Hollow, but I didn't rush to attack her. She is probably an Arrancar, and she doesn't look like she wants to strike at the moment. If we can solve this peacefully, then it's better for us. This battle wouldn't be pretty, not to mention that the Hollow in front of me was only the second strongest of their group, and that's not painting a good picture.

The Arrancar looked around and observed everyone in the Study Chamber, but I still couldn't sense any hostility. Hence, I waited patiently as I prepared to fight in the worst-case scenario. Yoruichi isn't known for her diplomacy, so I'll be the one doing the talking.

"What brings you here?"

I may have sounded a bit more hostile than I planned to, but in my defense, I had a very stressful day. Two of my children almost died, my husband, in everything but name, will probably come back injured, and a powerful Arrancar came to Soul Society and is not alone. Her allies are still in Garganta, so she acts as a scout of some kind.

"I was asked by someone very important to me to bring him here." The Arrancar answered me calmly, and I digested this new information. There aren't many people who know about this place, and most of the people are already here. I doubt that Kisuke is behind it. I mean, this is something he would do if maybe cornered, but I suddenly remembered something that Ryoto mentioned about 40 years ago.

"Tier Harribel?" I asked.

"Rin Kujou." She was more sure of her answer, confirming that she was the Hollow Ryoto befriended in Hueco Mundo. I relaxed significantly, but that didn't last long as after a small signal that Harribel-san gave to everyone inside the Garganta. There were 5 Arrancars, not counting Harribel-san, but who was in the middle almost gave me a heart attack.

Ryoto was breathing heavily, and his clothes were mostly ripped. The only remaining piece was at his waist that also covered part of his leg. His body was covered in wounds, and the most dire one was in the shape of a hole in his shoulder. The most eye-catching part of his injuries was the lack of his left arm. It wasn't easy to see, but I also noticed an almost invisible trail of smoke coming from Ryoto's eyes. Momentarily, his form was overlayed by his younger self when, many years ago, when I was still powerless, I waited for him, and he returned almost dead. 

Back then, I panicked but still managed to take care of his injuries. To be fair, they weren't as dire as they are now. In the present, my reaction was different. I released a wave of killing intent, and my eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Stop... Rin..."

Ryoto spoke with great difficulty, and hearing his voice was enough for me to refocus. He then raised his lone arm, pointing to where Unohana, Isane, and Inoue-chan were healing the others.

"Get me... there..."

No one interrupted two Arrancars transporting Ryoto. The healers had already noticed injured Ryoto and their expressions had hardened. Inoue-chan was an exception as she covered her mouth in shock. She probably never saw anyone injured to this extent. Poor girl. No child should experience this. It looks like neither she nor I were lucky enough to her normal childhood.

I couldn't self-loathe right now. I am a mother, and looking at my children, they need me, especially Yukima, so I elbowed Yoruichi lightly and made a motion with my head at Yukima. Yoruichi didn't need anything more to understand. She may not be great with emotions, but she is dependable when needed.

Yukima was already having a small panic attack, repeating, "It's all my fault. It's all my fault." Until Yoruichi hugged her. I'll let her handle this as I have another son to look after.

Gin may look cold or even sadistic on the outside, but he has a very kind heart, and he would kill it in a heartbeat if he could protect his loved ones. 

"It wasn't your fault, you know." I said to my son. "Even if you went with him, the outcome wouldn't change much, or it would even get worse. Like it or hate it, Ryoto probably knew what was going to happen the moment he made his decision, and that means that it was the best choice in his eyes." I tried to comfort the gray-haired boy. Even if he is a man at this point, I still see the young boy that Ryoto brought home all these years ago.

"...I didn't say anything."

I smirked. Of course, he denied worrying in any way of capacity.

"Gin, you are a lot more similar to Ryoto than you like to believe. Both of you, at your core, care about your loved ones more than you do about yourself. I think that's why Ryoto wanted to bring you into the family. He saw himself in you and knew that if left alone, you wouldn't get a happy ending while trying to help Rangiku in any shape and form." I paused, letting Gin think about what I had said before continuing. "All of us think of you as part of the family. Especially Ryoto. And he wouldn't want you to blame yourself over his choices. I just want you to know that you are not alone, Gin, and if you ever need to talk, I... we'll be there to listen."

I was ready to walk away, not expecting any answer, but the unexpected happened.

"The moment Ryoto fulfilled his promise and made Rangiku happy and full of smiles... I considered him my father."

I smiled gently.

"Then you'll need to tell him that later on. It will definitely make him happy."

(Ryoto's pov)

I was gently put down next to Unohana. Nearby were Masaru and Akio, with Isane and Inoue treating them, but they were still unconscious and full of wounds, but they look slightly better than before I left.

"How... are they..."

It still hurts to talk, but I needed to know their conditions before anything else.

"Both of them have stabilized already, and their life is no longer in danger, but they'll need a lot of time to recover... is what I would say if not for Ryouka's help. Akio and Masaru are healing at an incredible rate, but it still will take some time before they wake up. You should prioritize your own health at the moment." She chastised me lightly as she started using healing Kaido

"This... is just a flesh wound..."

I couldn't stop myself from saying that, but it earned me a light smack on my head. It wasn't even strong enough to feel it... or I just lost a sense of touch. Either is possible.

As she was treating me, she carefully observed my missing arm, and she slowly narrowed her eyes.

"You used forbidden Kido. Your arm was not cut but destroyed from within. Not to mention that your Reiatsu is still leaking unnaturally from it."

I nodded with some difficulty.

"Didn't have... much choice... It was... the only way to return... alive... and... keep my promise..."

The Captain of Squad 4 looked solemnly as she asked. "That bad..." Then her eyes became a bit sharper, and her usual 'smiling expression' wasn't anywhere to be seen. "You'll explain everything after you can talk without any lingering pain."

I once again nodded. Not that I planned to hide what happened today. The plot went out of the rails at this point, and there are two possible outcomes to today's events. 

One, the Quincies hide again and recover their strength until Yhwach is sure he can defeat us.

Two, they attack very soon before we can prepare for them.

I would prefer the first option, but knowing my luck, it will be the second.

But at the moment, I guess I can close my eyes for a second... I'm tired.

And just like that, I doze off.

---

END

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