10 Chapter 10: Consequences.

Isshin Shiba's POV.

Glancing at Old Man Yama's retreating back, I decide to continue Riku's debrief/scolding. The tension in the white, overly sterilized ward was palpable. Riku's face was stoic, but the slightly hidden right hand that was clenching the bed sheets spoke volumes of his inner turmoil.

"Riku, the Captain-Commander, prevented the Central 46 from outright executing you. Arguing that you showed great potential, even possibly becoming a powerful Captain if you lived long enough." Not mentioning how incredibly difficult it was to convince them, I continued, "However, your use of Quincy-like techniques can't be forgiven all that easily." Giving him a once over to see if he had healed enough, I called out to the Second division members waiting outside. "He is ready."

Turning back to Riku, I could see his indifferent facade slip. 'Don't be too surprised yet, champ. This is going to be a long day for you...' Making sure to look him in the eye, I started explaining, "Third Seat Riku of the Tenth division, you are hereby under arrest for the potential use of traitorous techniques-" Cringing slightly at the disproportionately of the punishment, I pushed through it. "By order of the Central 46, you are sentenced to serve a hundred years in the Nest of Maggots."

Expecting Riku to fight back, even if it would be futile, I shift my right hand onto Engetsu. But seeing his shoulder slack and his head tilt downwards, I know that he understands his situation. As the two members of the Detention Unit restrain an unresisting Riku with reiatsu-dampening seals, I couldn't help but sigh again. "Maybe I promoted you too early. Take this time to cool off, kid..."

He didn't respond as the Detention Unit marshalled him out of the ward. 'I just hope he doesn't take this too badly.' Mirthlessly chuckling at the ridiculous thought, I started mentally preparing myself to tell Rangiku. "Knowing her, she's probably not going to forgive herself." Slowly walking through a quiet corridor, the silence seemed to reaffirm my words.

Rangiku Matsumoto's POV.

"A hundred years?! He saved my life!" I exclaimed in shock as the Captain informed me of Riku's fate. I was currently standing opposite the Captain in his messy office, although I didn't care about his cleanliness right now. Kicking away some of the trash blocking my way, I moved closer and stared him down. "And Quincy techniques? We all know that his powers come from his zanpakutō. That's as Shinigami as a person can get."

The sheer stupidity of the Central 46's sentence was baffling. Trying to reason with him, I continued in a more subdued tone, "Even if Riku's last-ditch attempt put the squad members in danger, his actions reduced the casualties from a total wipeout to at least two survivors making it back. We were up against an Adjuchas-"

"Rangiku!" I quieted down as the Captain snapped at me. "It's done. He is alive, and this sentence isn't the end for him." Seeing him pause, I wanted to continue, but he started shooing me away. Taking the dismissal for what it is, I turned around to leave. Opening the traditional shoji with the word 'Captain' printed on it in kanji, the Captain's sigh caused me to pause for a moment. In a tired voice, he said his piece, "He'll be fine, Rangiku..." Not responding to him, I shut the shoji behind me.

Narrator's POV.

The sound of dripping water echoed throughout a seemingly empty prison cell. The blood stains on its walls attested to the unknown suffering of its past inhabitants. If one looked closer, though, in one of the corners shrouded by shadow, you could see a man in a meditative poise. The man had a vibrant bronze completion and short dark blue hair. Coupled with his bright brown eyes, one could readily mistake him as a member of some kind of branch of the Shihōin clan.

The surrounding cells had rowdy inmates who were banging on the cell bars and roaring about past injustices. However, carved on the door frame of each cell were seals that prevented reiatsu, objects or even sound from escaping the cells. The intention behind this design was all too clear, eternal silence will break any man.

Riku's POV.

Meditating in my prison, I started thinking about my situation as I've often done in the last month I've been sent here. 'I honestly expected just a slap on the wrist.' Considering that I killed that Adjuchas, I was expecting the Captain-Commander to not care about the sacrifices it took to do so. The motto of the Gotei is 'to give your life to vanquish great evil' and all that.

'Maybe using Quincy techniques hit a sore spot for him.' I don't remember much about Bleach. I was always a more casual fan than anything, although some things stuck more than others. More relevant to me, I vaguely recall there being two wars against the Quincy. One seven hundred years ago, the details of which were covered in the academy, and another that's going to occur between now and the time of Ichigo.

There was not much to do in a prison cell. The cell itself is completely grey and uniform. 'Probably designed to not provide any interesting visual stimuli.' Having no cell mates didn't help either. But to my great relief, I could still communicate with Sōten ni zase.

A week ago, I discovered that I could still reach out to him even if my zanpakutō was confiscated. At the time, I was spiralling into despair, but his deep electronic hum got me out of that dark place. Knowing that I was not going to be alone for one hundred years allowed me to have a new perspective on gratitude. It turns out that he doesn't need the zanpakutō to function. The blade obviously helps immensely, but his abilities rely mostly on my body to act as a medium.

Dismissing my roaming thoughts, I called out to Sōten ni zase. 'Buddy, how's connecting to the outside reishi going.' Receiving the memory, I could tell that the seals were far more disruptive to his ability than the absence of the zanpakutō. I had no knowledge on seals and barriers, thanks to the Central 46, but it seems like I'm going to have to figure it out on my own. Sōten ni zase released a dissatisfied hum, 'Sorry, bud. I mean on our own.'

Shifting my focus a bit, I started telling him my idea. 'Since brute forcing our way out is impossible, how about we start at the basics? Everything is in this world made out of reishi-' glaring at the prison door, I continued, 'even these seals...'