In the Rubble of a Dream [Saionji Siblings]

KEI SAIONJI

Kei had worked, eaten, and slept within the same bunker since the attack. She had known one thing when the invasion started: there would be chaos. She had sprung into action once it was clear both of her superiors were out of reach. The 1st Division's emergency bunker was a communications hub buried underneath the main offices. It was where they could communicate with the other Divisions and assess the situation remotely—a way to maintain order within eventual chaos.

Kei had directed most personnel into the bunker in order to keep an accurate record of what all was going on. Numerous strong Hollow and Arrancar had attacked and most of the horde had left or been destroyed by the following day. She had also maintained a strict order. No one below a Vice-Captain (or third seat if there was no Vice-Captain) was to be admitted into the bunker. Authorization for detainment via Kidō was given. There was only one exception: her friend and co-third-seat, Igendai. She had informed him of her plan and whereabouts. She would focus on this, and he could be on the frontlines instead of needing to focus on the necessary trivialities.

Once the invasion had subsided, Kei had stayed awake for as long as she could until she was falling asleep at the command desk. She had retired to one of the many cots in the designated communal bedroom. Kei had only had four hours of sleep when she was gently awoken with a gruff voice. She let out an annoyed, groggy groan as a reply.

"Ma'am. I'm sorry to wake you up, but... we have a slight problem. There's a seated officer trying to enter, and he's threatening to use his Zanpakutō to force his way in. He's specifically searching for you, ma'am."
"Who the hell is it? I told you to use whatever means necessary to keep non-authorized personnel out of the bunker."
"I understand that, but... well, it's your brother, Fourth Seat Saionji from the Sixth Division."
"Oh." Kei sat up. "I'm still on my mandatory rest for another half hour... I'll go see him. Send a message..." Kei looked down. She was still in her shihakkusho from yesterday. There was no point in changing. "Nevermind. I'll just go. Watch over this while I'm gone." Kei handed over the golden hairpiece that was neatly packed under her cot. She wasn't going to put that in, and she definitely wasn't letting something so expensive just remain unguarded.

Kei walked out of the bunker's entrance to two mancatcher-wielding guards threatening her brother. There was immediate relief on her face when she saw he wasn't missing an arm or leg. "J, please stop tormenting this poor guards. They're acting under my orders." She nodded to an empty room to their left. "Let's speak in there." As soon as the door shut behind them, Kei wrapped her arms around her brother. He could feel her shaking as she wept into his chest.

”If my sister is not within my sights in the next five minutes, I will force myself through. Understood? I do not make idle threats.”

Twenty-four hours went by and J. Saionji had not confirmed the health of his little sister. Tsubine was fine. Mayumi was safe. His manor had been completely destroyed. His staff, guards, and others who worked for him for years were all dead. He had no home. Memories and legacies were all gone overnight. To say J was angry was an egregious understatement, but he held himself firm, strong... outwardly calm. Even his threat to this cowering member of the First Division was said with little fury, and maybe that was why it was taken so seriously and they went to find Kei.

Of course, he wasn't patient enough. They were walking. "Okay, enough," J stepped in to force himself through, but was blocked. Putting a hand on his zanpakuto, the two members that remained here readied themselves for a fight. "Get out of my way," J said. "If you insist on coming through, we will have to stop you, sir," one of them said, clenching his jaw. Neither of these two wanted to fight J... He'd kill them.

J's attention was brought up by his sister's voice. 'She's safe...' J knew she would be, but he needed to see it, not just assume. He let his hand fall from his zanpakuto and followed her into the room she gestured toward. Once the door closed, J welcomed his sister's hug immediately. One arm firmly wrapped around her back, the other brushed her hair back. "You're safe," J said, an attempt at reassuring her. Her shaking only helped to anger him more. "I hate to ask, but what all do you know?"

KEI SAIONJI

"More than I can tell you." Kei took a moment to gather herself. She pulled away from J and looked upwards as she wiped away the tears. "I have information that I can't tell you until it's been authorized. If I told even you, Lieutenant Masamune would probably cut me into ribbons—and I would deserve it. The only thing I can say is that we're going to be down a lot of important people for the foreseeable future."

Kei began pacing around the small room. She was disheveled, and this was the worst J would have ever seen her. "It may be selfish, but I had someone monitoring you when we could... That's the only reason I knew you made it out alive. I take it the unknown Shinigami Reiatsu signature that was near you was Tsubine?" A thought flashed into her mind: a small, chubby-cheeked face. "Oh god, Mayumi. Is she okay? Please tell me she's okay, J. I tried reaching out to Suzuki, but all the service on the Denreishikis is overloaded." Suzuki was Mayumi's nanny when J and Kei were both unavailable. A former member of the Onmitsukidō's messenger corps, she was tasked with both keeping up with Mayumi and evacuating her.

Kei proved she had a great deal of respect for her work over the years, so when her answer came back professionally, he knew that she didn’t know about their home. He quickly figured out that people had died, likely high ranking members of the Gotei. He would keep his theories to himself about who, but he had a pretty good idea of who…

He silently watched his little sister pace the room, noting the unrecognizable amount of anxiety she was currently exuding. She had likely gotten little rest in the midst of all this. Her having him checked on was nice to know; he wished he could have done the same thing for her.

"Mayumi is safe and unharmed," J began with that first, stopping that worry immediately. "Suzuki gave her life protecting her, and Kaminari Hatakeyama pulled Mayumi from the battlefield before..." J closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "...before our manor was destroyed, caught in the main blast of an Arrancar's attack. Everything is gone."

KEI SAIONJI

Kei let out a fraction of the tension she had been holding in. Mayumi... that would have destroyed J, and Tsubine too, she guessed. The latter wasn't exactly the priority in her life. She didn't necessarily even like the guy because he was a bad influence on J, but he was at least trying to be a good father. Suzuki was one of the staff J and Kei had personally collaborated on hiring, so her loss was unfortunate.

And yet, J continued.

More than the tension fell. Kei didn't believe him at first, but J wouldn't lie. He wouldn't exagerrate either. She named many of their servants. J nodded to each one. It didn't take many names before she stopped. She knew the answer. She knew it before each name was asked. She slumped against the wall. It wasn't like Kei was exactly homeless—a third seat had their own apartment. Even J would have something similar. To say Kei felt empty was wrong. There were so many emotions roiling around while J's face grew ever-distant that no singular one could take hold.

At the same time, there was relief. Kei had hated that house for years—she tolerated it because it was the only chance she had to spend time with her brother. If the house had been razed but the staff and her few cousins survived, Kei would have to fake being sad about it. Any stain he left was now gone, save for the mark at the back of her neck. But J didn't have those regrets—that disgust. "What... what are we going to do, J?"

J’s eyes became distant with every name she inquired about. He had to confirm each death again. No one survived that attack, and it was thanks to one J had never spoken to that Mayumi was saved. It was either luck or a blessing that brought Kaminari to protect Mayumi.

J leaned against a wall and at her question, felt the world pull away from him. He slid down until he sat on the floor, arms resting across his knees as he stared at the wall across from him. He was silent for a while, he wasn't sure how long, as his mind tried to create some sort of plan. He always had one, needed one. He needed to know the next step. If he didn't, he would likely fall apart and that couldn't happen after all this.

"For now, we both do our jobs as Shinigami. We focus on the realm, restabilizing the Gotei, helping rebuild... We take each day at a time. We focus on that. Just that," J said with a small amount of confidence. It came off as a "no choice" or a "this is a must." The fact was, his path had been lost. He was not sure what path to take next beyond what was right in front of everyone. They would deal with the realm... for now.

KEI SAIONJI

There were only a few times where J's tone lacked confidence. The most prominent was the night their father attacked her. Even now, that moment dwarfed their current predicament. "Our jobs, huh..." Kei let out a mirthless, incredulous chuckle. What would their jobs even be after this? She could see J taking an extended leave after the initial chaos. He at least could focus on rebuilding the family. But her? Kei only had her service in the Gotei. If she stopped her job, she'd have nothing to do.

"I can't tell which of us is going to have it worse. You are going to have to deal with sleepless nights maintaining order and probably striking down vagabonds taking advantage of our chaos. I'm going to have to see the lists of dead and missing. At least you'll have something to take your anger out on."

J’s widened eyes shifted up from nothing to Kei as he leaned his head back against the wall to just watch her. He knew who had it worse, she did. She would recognize allies, friends, people she went to school with. He wished so badly that he could protect her from that, but he couldn't.

"Just one day at time," J said and then pushed himself back to his feet. "I can't stay," he said and gave his sister another firm hug, rubbing her back and placing a small kiss on her forehead, like he had since she was a little girl. "If you need me, do not hesitate to reach out to me, understood?"

KEI SAIONJI

One day at a time. Of course that was going to be plan, J. But taking each day at a time wasn't a plan... They'd have to revisit this conversation in the future. Now, however, was the time for duty. Later would be the time for mourning. And even past that, then would be the time for planning. It was far enough out that she wouldn't bother J about it for the forseeable future.

"I would say the same... but I think my superior officer is a bit scarier than yours, and I don't think she'd appreciate me taking time away for personal matters." Kei shook her head. She couldn't even fake a laugh. "That's a joke. If you need me, I can concoct some reason to step away. How else do you think I got away with not doing so many chores when I was a child?"

"Go, go. My break's over. And you," Kei pushed J out the door, "likely have criminals to arrest." Kei closed the door once he was out—even if it was in his face. Once she heard him walking away, she let out a shuddering breath. Kei slapped her own cheeks once. She put on a brave face once again before marching back into the makeshift command center.