Chapter Forty Four, "Three Stages of Wither" - Part 1

Nagata Taishi waited in the front gates of what would hopefully become Touma's new middle school and even took the time to think up a proper disguise. So he stood in uncomfortable slacks, a buttoned down shirt complete with a black tie, suspenders, and square glasses. He even bothered to dye his hair back to black as Ageha suggested, as platinum blond made him look more like a delinquent. He was the scrutiny of every prepubescent girl and boy walking through the entrance, their inquiring conversations drifted to him each wondering, in their own way, who he was and why he was there. A few male students joked that he was probably the new transfer student and Nagata clenched his teeth to keep himself from yelling at them, while the females eyed him with bright, curious eyes, speaking among themselves in hushed tones and giggling like hyenas.

He checked his watch. It should not have surprised him that Ageha and Touma were running late. Ageha spent so much time cooped up in his own dimension that time worked differently for him; he was either very early or very late. Touma's reluctance to attend school, no matter how honorable the cause, was a direct guarantee of his tardiness.

Nagata saw Tatsuki approaching the gate with Kurosaki's sisters. The youngest greeted him with a sunny disposition, while the oldest gave him a pointed look and scoffed.

Tatsuki did not look the least bit charmed. "What's with the glasses?"

Her expression irritated him to the point he lost control of his mouth. "It's called a disguise, figured you should know one with that hideous mask you wear every day," he remarked, unconsciously touching the edge of his square glasses. He jutted his chin in her direction, eyeing her midriff. "Did you finally give up on life and gain twenty pounds?"

Tatsuki ushered the girls on ahead and waited until they disappeared in a crowd of students entering the building.

"You're such a bastard," she said, glaring at him.

Tatsuki rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. "Why are you here?"

"Enrolling Touma in school," he answered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Someone's gotta keep a watch on those girls. Not like any of us have the time to stalk them."

"Really? Seems like you have plenty of time," she remarked. "I never see you do anything."

"I teach history at your fucking school, I do something."

"No, the substitute teacher filling in for you teaches history, you humiliate people in class."

"You high schoolers need to stop being assholes."

"It's not like you ever bothered to evolve. You're a bully."

"No, bully's victimize one person at a time and tend to do so in a group. I have the class to make you all feel included and I do it by myself. I don't want you to think you'll be successful in life," he argued. "Besides, it's not like you need history for anything. You can just Wikipedia what you don't know."

"Wikipedia is not a reliable source!"

"Fine, just google it!"

Tatsuki huffed, folding her arms over her chest. "You are infuriating."

"Good," he said, glancing down one street to the next in search of Ageha and Touma. "I don't want you getting too chummy with me."

She snorted. "You think I want to get chummy with you? You think real highly about yourself, don't you?"

"Oh yeah? Then why aren't you leaving?" he asked with a grin. "Don't you have school in half an hour?"

Tatsuki made a disgusted face. "I wanted to talk to Ageha!"

"He won't be here for another hour or two, so you'd be wasting your time." Nagata moved closer to her, watching her back away warily. "So, what'd you want to know?"

"Do you honestly think Touma can take care of them in his condition?" she asked exasperatedly, unable to look him in the eyes without averting them quickly.

"He can kick your ass without his power," he told her, "and that's saying something."

"Ugh, I'd punch you if I didn't know any better," she grumbled.

"You can still punch me," he said, leaning forward to continue in a whisper. "I might enjoy it, though, so you might have to take responsibility. Accept and you can beat me bloody. Whatever gets you off probably gets me off."

Tatsuki's face turned a deep scarlet.

Nagata moved away before she sputtered a response at the first sight of Ageha. The white-haired man was walking down the sidewalk with Touma dragging his feet behind him in uniform, carrying his new schoolbag in his hands.

"Well, my husband is here," he said jokingly, staring down at Tatsuki's flabbergasted expression. "We can continue our complex mating rituals once I return from Soul Society. I look forward to sticking my tongue in your mouth."

She struggled to find the right words to retaliate and instead shoved him by the shoulder. "Go die," she said loudly, and then pushed past some oncoming student traffic with a clumsy air about her. It was as if she couldn't get away from him fast enough.

Ageha met him with a soured expression. "Your mating rituals are ill suited for the modern era."

Nagata looked at him head to toe. He wore a dark, patterned kimono and sandals. "Your outfit is ill suited for the modern era."

The Hermit Arcana stared down his clothes and patted his chest. "Oh? But I wore my best kimono."

"It took him forever to pick out something appropriate," Touma said darkly. "Don't make him go back and change."

"Are you a special sort of angry, Touma?" Nagata asked, smiling at his furious brother.

Touma stared unimpressed. "Can we get this over with? I wouldn't want you two to spend any more of your precious Soul Society invasion time."

The short redhead walked on ahead of them.

Nagata and Ageha exchanged looks.

"Maybe we should take him," Ageha suggested. "There is no doubt in my mind that even in his condition that he can hold his own against new Arcana. He does not need his abilities to summon his sword and even without it, he is quite powerful."

"Do not try to please him because he's throwing a tantrum. His place is here, watching the girls who are in greater danger than we'll be in Soul Society." Nagata walked on ahead, eyes firm on the back of Touma's head. "He's too fucking spoiled."

Ageha caught up to him, forcing him to slow down to match his calmer strides. "I suppose you are correct. Nagisa spoiled him too much."

"Don't act innocent, you're just as guilty. You let him do whatever he wanted."

Ageha grimaced. "I made sure he was properly disciplined."

"Shut your lying trap and get walking."

The two followed Touma inside the building and walked to the principal's office for their appointment. Touma remained miserable, digging through the contents of his bag for his new cellphone as they waited for the principal to see them.

Ageha tugged at Nagata's shirt. "Would it have killed you to wear a jacket? This would have looked better with a jacket."

"I could ask you the same question," Nagata shot back.

"There isn't a dress code. I look presentable. You look like you're part of a K-pop group."

"Go die."

"That is so unkind. You need to stop speaking to me in that manner."

"Can you two stop?" Touma complained. "You're acting like a gross, old couple. It ain't cute."

"I do believe that was the plan," Ageha replied.

Nagata nodded. "Old, married couples complain about everything. We are complaining about"—he swatted Ageha's hand away from his face after having seen him lick it to tame his messy hair—"Quit it!"

"I don't understand why Tatsuki couldn't just pretend she was my mom. I don't want to deal with you both."

"In her high school uniform? Nobody'd believe that," Nagata said. "Besides, what's wrong with us? We make wonderful parents?"

"I want to be an adult."

Ageha pinched his cheek, his expression blank. "But you're so precious."

Touma ignored him, busy texting on his phone.

Nagata snatched the mobile phone from his hand and crushed it, earning a glare as the pieces rang against the floor. "You're here to learn, not text your older girlfriends. Keep it in your pants."

"You're only bitter 'cause you have to keep it in yours."

"Touma, you shouldn't make fun of your brother. He's going through a dry spell and its name is—"

"I will skin you alive, Ageha, if you so much as finish that sentence," Nagata warned, his anger on the brink of boiling over.

"If you invested less of your time thinking up complex mating rituals, Arisawa might have paid you the right kind of attention," Ageha suggested. "You're not all that terrible."

"Who the fuck is talking about Arisawa?" Nagata snapped. He tsked, arms folded over his chest. "Who'd want anything to do with that one? She's fucking volatile and I swear she has a thing for that loser friend of hers with the huge tits."

Ageha shook his head, disappointed. "Tits is a vulgar word. They're called breasts."

"Everyone knows about Honoka, En," Touma stated. "Besides, you could be less obvious. I mean you volunteered to train her and Asano. And when you invaded Soul Society the first time, you chose her to be on your team. This morning at the gate, you knew it was her week to bring the girls. 'Course you'd decide to enroll me in school today just to run into her as if it were a coincidence."

Nagata decided, at that point, that he would use their skulls as bowls for lunch later when the door opened behind them.

A cheery woman in oval glasses welcomed them into her office, offering an apology for making them wait. Ageha and Nagata switched on their roles as Touma sank into one of the seats in front of the woman's oak desk. She was a slender woman with a small face, muted brown eyes, and blond-brown hair that fell a little past her small shoulders in loose curls. She gave off a strange sort of energy that was not entirely human, but judging by the lack of recognition in her eyes, she was ignorant to anything beyond her boring little job.

Ageha and Nagata exchanged glances, giving each other a curt nod while the principal's back was turned towards them.

She reached out to Nagata, shaking his hand. "I'm Wakamiya Yuya," she introduced with a brilliant smile, and then turned to Ageha to extend the same gesture and offer her hand again. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

She looked at both of them perplexed. "Housen-san…?"

"I'm Housen Enishi," he said professionally. "Excuse the lack of manners."

She shook her head. "That's quite alright," she said. "Will your wife be late? Sumizone-san was it?"

"I'm Sumizone," the Hermit chimed in, amused by the abashed look on her face. "Ageha. We talked on the phone."

"I apologize," she said quickly, moving to sit behind her desk. She said something to Touma that distracted him from picking at his nails in boredom.

Yuya dug through a stack of files on her desk, gesturing to the seats in front of her. Ageha took the seat in the middle and started to drum his fingers against the arms of the chair. Nagata sat in the empty chair beside Ageha, his impatience starting to wear him down.

The principal found the manila folder she was searching for and opened it up, eyes scanning its contents in wonder. "Your test scores are impressive, Housen-kun," she praised, looking at Touma. "With these, you would have had no problem entering any good private school." She leaned forward on her desk, looking to Ageha and Nagata with curiosity. "Why enroll him here? I think he might benefit from a more challenging school."

"We offered to let him choose from a good crop of schools," Ageha said politely. "He preferred this one better than his other options. Isn't that right, Touma?"

Touma nodded absently.

Yuya smiled. "We are happy to have you here, Touma," she said, getting out of her seat to take a slip of paper from the printer. She stared down at the small slip of paper. "I tried to have you accommodated in as many advanced classes as possible, so you might have to do a lot of moving around. I hope you don't mind."

"I won't so long as it isn't boring," Touma replied.

Her smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. "I'll have you shown to your homeroom—2A. It's right on the second floor."

"I can find my way up," Touma said, leaving his seat.

"Okay…well, your new homeroom teacher was already informed about your transfer." Yuya handed him the slip of paper. "Have a good day."

Touma shot Nagata and Ageha a glare. He packed a thousand words in that grimace, one that further expressed his disdain over the fact that he would be stuck learning in school and they would be out having a picnic with Aizen in Soul Society. "I'll see you afterschool," he said, tightlipped and brooding. He leaned forward. "I hope Aizen doesn't betray you assholes."

Nagata and Ageha grinned in response, both standing at the same time to see him off properly as any parents would if they intended to embarrass said child.

"Don't bet on it, that deal is as solid as your resentment," Nagata replied in a joking manner. "Have fun in school, son."

"Be sure to walk yourself to the Kurosaki Clinic, we're going to be late coming home," Ageha told him, following him out the door. "Have fun in class and try to make friends. Oh, and stay out of trouble. I don't want to have to speak to another teacher about having walked in on you having sex in class."

"Ageha! Stop!" Touma shouted. Embarrassment accomplished.

"I'm only worried, Touma!" Ageha was clearly proud of his work.

Yuya faced Nagata skeptically.

"He really likes women," Nagata divulged with a shrug. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, striding out of her office. "You have our number in case anything happens."

"Ah, yes. Have a good day."

"You too," he returned, shutting her door behind him.

Nagata joined Ageha outside the building and together they walked to the gate. Nagata slid off his suspenders and loosened his tie. He unbuttoned the first three buttons on his dress shirt.

"Arcana?" asked Nagata.

"Sixth Cycle, Justice," Ageha answered. "That would mean Soul Society was successful in creating replacements with Ukitake Jūshirō as king. This isn't good."

"The hell it's not, we're getting stuck with all the confused newbies that don't know what the fuck they're getting into," Nagata spat. "That lady in there looks like she'd faint at the sight of blood. We don't have use for people like that."

"We also don't have the time to train people like that," Ageha corrected. He exhaled deeply as they reached the school gate. "I think it is time we start using similar methods. We need people that are trained for battle."

"Kurosaki has a horde of friends trained to fight," Nagata suggested. "We should start there."

"We need a healer for the excursion," Ageha said.

"I suppose we should start looking for one."

In silent agreement, Nagata and Ageha made the trip to Karakura High where they went to the office to have Inoue Orihime called out of class. Ageha played the part of a distant relative present to deliver a forgotten project and the teenage girl came down the stairs to meet the two by the entrance, looking confused and perhaps a little wary at the sight of Death. Nagata could only imagine the things Tatsuki must have told her.

"Sumizone-san, Nagata-san, good morning," Orihime greeted, a pleasant smile on curved her lips. They had more or less become acquainted when she dropped in with Tatsuki to see Ichigo at Haruka's home. "I heard you went to enroll Touma-san in school."

"We just came from there," Ageha explained, "but figured we stopped by to talk."

"About?"

"I am sure Arisawa-san has told you that we intend to enter Oblivion to rescue our dying queen," he began, and when she nodded in confirmation, he continued. "My knowledge in the healing arts is a little archaic when it comes to beings like ourselves and we fear they might not be enough to save Haruka."

"Oh, uh," she started nervously, "I've never healed an Arcana before, but if you think my powers can be of use, I can…"

"The problem is we aren't sure you can heal an Arcana because you're human," Nagata told her.

Orihime looked a little disappointed, like she really wanted to help. "Oh."

"There is a way, however," Ageha added, "but that would require you becoming one of us."

The young girl stilled, the prospect of his words frightened her and it made sense that they did because it meant she understood what it meant to become an Arcana. The path was dangerous, the transition was deadly, and the aftermath was the worst.

"We need your help, Inoue Orihime," Ageha said. "Soul Society stole our lives a thousand years ago and they seek to punish us for wanting justice. We may not have the finest methods to see this accomplished, but we mean your world no harm. Please, consider our offer. Consider becoming our new Priestess."

Orihime remained silent. There was plenty for her to consider, though they were running out of time. However, the answer, whether she could speak it now or discover it later, had already been decided. She would help them by becoming one of them.

Ageha properly excused himself before turning away to leave. Nagata inclined his head and walked off, sticking his hands into his pockets. He followed the Hermit Arcana outside the building, catching up to him by taking longer strides.

"You are cruel."

The Hermit chuckled. "Look at the pot calling the kettle black," he said, casting a look in his direction. "You are the one that suggested using Kurosaki's friends. We need to complete the Arcana to regain our strength and we need a capable healer to help Haruka survive. We are going to need her if we plan to counteract whatever Nagisa is plotting."

It was not about needing Haruka, it was that she was their family and they wanted to do everything in their power to save her because they failed to protect her properly.

Nagata planned to see Soul Society fall, crushed beneath his might, and hoped that when he did, he, Haruka, and Touma could live the lives they always wanted. He would not mind seeing her run off with that useless idiot, Kurosaki, if it meant she found happiness.

Ageha set his hand on his shoulder. "We will save Haruka."

"We fucking better."

Nagata walked several steps ahead of Ageha before picturing Haruka's home where he, Ichigo, and Keigo had been staying and disappearing in a cloud of black smoke.