Bleach: Cero Devastador

A small detail that couldn't be omitted; I noticed the prevalence of swords. Short blades, rusted, scratched and in such a bad state that it made me cringe at the mere look. To keep the tool that preserves your survival in such a pitiful state...

They deserve death indeed.  

Mikoto led me to wander around the tents crowded with people who most looked like they were ready to engage in a close and personal life-and-death battle at any time... There was barely any space to walk on. People looked at me and murmured stuff like 'newbie' or 'newcomer'.

"We all arrive wearing the same, so it is easy to tell when someone is new around here," Mikoto whispered, leading me away from the murmurs as she pulled my hand, "They love to take advantage of such people, be careful, Ryōma-kun" 

"..."

I almost smirked; swords everywhere, wickedness abounds... this place I arrived after my death was quite an interesting shithole; it is like a dream come true!

I can cut people down without consequences? Woah. To that Shinigami who harvested my soul, thank you, brother. 

Thinking about my future here as I walked down the crowded loud trenches, all I could do was smile. I took Mikoto with me simply because people in tension are more eager to talk when there is a girl around, her being cute is a plus. Anyone here could be a thief, an assassin –Everyone is on guard.

Mikoto-chan had friends but not many and most of the questions I asked were related to the gang where Gakurou belonged.

"How many are there?".

"Where do they usually frequent?".

"Who do they usually meet around here?".

"What sort of businesses do they do?".

"What can you tell me about Gakurou?"

...

There was no resistance, they were eager to talk and even more so after they knew of my little stunt.

Everyone was surprised at what I did to Gakurou, some others were present when it happened to confirm my story, and they paid their respects and said I was 'ballsy'. They also confirmed that Gakurou was still alive, just heavily injured. It came as a shock to me.

I also asked a lot about Gakurou's doings in this little camp and what sort of business he ran around, the guy was despiseful. I came to know this is just one of many places homeless people settle in this district, what's more… I came to know it is even worse than this in other districts.

"There is a love-and-hate relationship with that gang. They take advantage of people but also provide bread to the starving" Mikoto mumbled in disgust, as she did that, we heard gnashing and grieving screams from a group of people. The girl gasped when saw a group of individuals all hugging one old lady who was crying disconsolately. 

I wondered what was going on but instead of explaining right away, Mikoto took me away with a dejected expression. 

"Some of us leave in the morning and never come back. There have been a lot of disappearances, although they happen during certain seasons. Lately, it feels like the season has started again. Everyone is scared that their loved ones won't return during the evening" She mumbled. 

"Disappear? Does anyone do anything about it?" I asked her even though I already knew the answer.

"Nothing, they don't do anything! For them, our lives are worth less than cattle. The Shinigami don't even investigate it. They are never seen or heard of again, it is constant fear we have!"

"..."

There was a lot of helplessness in her voice.

We asked around a bit more until I was satisfied and had enough information to make myself a mental picture of the situation and how to tackle it. I already know how gangs operate, they're not all the same, that depends on the leader and his intentions, but the members are usually all the same: A bunch of rats who need a leader to keep them in check or they'll immediately start engaging in the most despicable behaviour. 

Such is the case of that Gakurou guy.

My primary objective was to see how strong I was, that kick broke a world of realisation in me; I am way stronger here than I used to be, but the people around me are also stronger. I need to know how much is this disparity. I have also been feeling something around me that I can't explain. It is like a fog that didn't use to be there, It is not uncomfortable, but it is annoying since it is something I have never felt before.

There were a lot of answers for now, but I still had questions these people couldn't handle. 

...

"Why are you so interested? Could it be that you're trying to get information to plan an assault or something?~" Mikoto asked with a rather thrilled look.

I squinted my brows, "That's exactly what I'm doing, girl".

!!!

"You can't…! There are dozens of them and Gakurou is not even the strongest. It is even said they have Shinigami amongst them. That gang has been allowed to exist and they turn a blind eye" She warned but deep inside she was hopeful.

I stared at her and then gently patted her head, it looked as if she didn't expect that, but she accepted me. My pats were clumsy but purposeful. I had asked enough people and garnered enough reactions to know a matter or two.

"Did he touch you?" I asked.

She flinched, her gaze looked down in shame before she eventually shook her head in denial.

"N-Not me".

"I understand. Let's go".

It was mere curiosity on my part, nothing more. But that mere question had already put tears in Mikoto's eyes.

"Hey, Ryōma-kun. If you do go get rid of them... can you take me with you?"

"Do you know how to fight?" I asked back, her slender build and cute face told me everything I needed to know. 

She shook her head, as I expected. 

"Then how do you intend to help? Are you going to become a burden? or will you work as bait?~" I pressed her with a smirk, her eyes opened widely and she avoided my gaze soon after. 

She wept, "I-I don't want to be bait... but I can become stronger, I promise!"

"..."

"Please, just to help somehow... I want to do it for Sakuya-san"

"Perhaps you could become strong later, but you are not strong right now. So, no..." I began walking away. 

"But you still need someone to guide you since you're new around here!" She chased after me, pulling my sleeve. 

"That's what you think, Mikoto. I can do it on my own so long as I have enough information–".

"Our tent is the opposite way, by the way," She giggled, "See? You can't even reach the tent–"

"This means nothing".

...

*cough!*

Mikoto guided me back to our tent, as we talked and divagated we had gone to the other edge of the massive bridge. 

The gang didn't have a name in particular, people feared them because they did all sorts of shady business not only in this Inuzuri district but most of the outer districts too. 

"What shinigami are in charge of this district? Do you know anyone by name" I asked Mikoto. Another subject of interest for me is the Shinigami.

"There is not a shinigami in particular... but if I had to say, Shinigamis under the 9th Division, the Captain Kaname Tosen... most of the Shinigami's we have seen around were under his rule… sometimes it goes months before we see anyone, I think the last the last guy we saw was named Ryoutarou and he was in the 9th Division, he came to investigate the disappearance of a shinigami had come from the 8th District. Hmph, only when it is one of them who disappears, only then do they care" Mikoto growled. 

'Ryōtaro, Kaname Tosen...'

I saved the names in my mind.

Among the people we talked to, they were surprised I was able to overpower Gakurou, some didn't believe my story but it was confirmed by the other few who were present when it all happened. They also confirmed that Gakurou hadn't died, he was just heavily injured.

I became a Hero, but these people thought I would have an early death like the rest of the heroes. According to them, I had 'messed up with someone I shouldn't have'.

I didn't express any comments, it is better if they see it with their own eyes. 

'What I can do in a world without guns~'. 

...

We returned to the tent, the young boys were sleeping. Even Murasaki was sleeping unworriedly, much to my distress, this boy is too careless. Only Sakuya was awake, she seemed relieved when she saw Mikoto was in one piece.

"You should go and sleep, Mikoto".

"When are you going?" She asked me, regarding the 'raid'.

"Tomorrow morning, so have a rest and then we will go" I lied.

"Where are you two going?" Sakuya frowned at me, she had a great deal of hostility towards me. Or towards men in general, for all I know.

"That's a secret!~" Mikoto giggled and went to sleep with the young boys under rags.

"Mikoto!" Sakuya scolded, hoping for an answer, but her words landed on deaf ears. 

I sighed and sat down next to the still-blazing bonfire.

"You don't have bad intentions, do you?" Sakuya asked me with a voice that resembled a threat, or at least the threat she could muster with her feeble strength.

"If I had them, would I say it?"

"Do you even know what you have done? We will starve from now on! What Mikoto and I scavenge around is not enough–"

"Did you like fucking him that much?"

*PHEW!*

She vomited a bit there and then, I wasn't expecting such a strong reaction in such a public manner, I guess she's truly disgusted; It was almost laughable.

"Please, shut up if you don't know anything... I don't know what she told you but–".

"She didn't tell me anything Sakuya, I asked around and put the pieces together".

"So what? D-Do you come to do the same?".

"I'm not interested in weaklings".

"P-Pardon...?"

"What you heard. I don't want you, so settle down" I took a branch to live up the fire, she was still staring at me aghast and admittedly a bit insulted too. 

"I know enough. You protected Mikoto, Murasaki and the kids" I continued.

"…" Her eyes welled up, but Sakuya refused to cry, "I did what I had to do".

"And who protects you?"

"Who cares about me?" She self-mocked, hugging her knees, staring at the blazing fire like hypnotised, "I care about them, they're the only thing I have in this world... that's all that matters".

"Are they a 'thing' to you?" I squinted my brows.

"Yes," She answered resolutely, surprising me. 

"It is better to have something than nothing at all".

"..."

After that there was silence as I considered her words, she seemed to peek her eyes at me as if wondering what I was going to say next; as if I had the answers to the existential crisis she was currently going through. 

"Weak people are such an enigma. Sacrifice yourself to protect others. When you're not around, who is going to protect them? You should have just let them feel the pain" I said the only thing I could think of, an answer fueled by my beliefs... the beliefs of someone who has experienced nothing but pain.

Sakuya looked disappointed, "You are disgusting".

"Thank you".

She gasped but otherwise remained quiet as if she had just given up on me.

"They don't know and they don't need to know... please" She suddenly said, I merely waved my hands in dismissal, that is not my problem. 

"How long has this useless boy been sleeping?"

"Ever since you left, and don't call him useless!"

"I see…"

I slapped Murasaki on the back of the head and he woke up with a headstart.

"W-What what!? What happened?!"

"You have a hungry family here and you don't have even bread to feed them. Do you have time to sleep? Do you consider yourself a man?"

!!!

The boy and the lady looked at me, aghast... Sakuya's reaction was even stronger.

"Wake the fuck up, Samurai. We have a gang to burn".