"So what I'm hearing is that when the captains arrived, they almost all took Momo's side? Hmmm." An Asian man with deep violet skin and thick-rimmed glasses nodded in quiet thought, his focus shifting between the notepad in his lap and the occupant of the sofa sitting across from him. Hints of rose drifted through the room from the scented candle on the knee-high coffee table between them. "How did that make you feel?"
"I felt super frustrated at the unfairness of the situation. I mean, I've done 30 years of great work in the 11th division, and yet, they couldn't get over whatever bad assumptions about me and arrested me." Sprawled out with forearms covering his forehead, another Asian man with scars scattered across his face responded in exasperation.
"I can see how that would be a super frustrating feeling for you. Let's try separating out that feeling. What would you like to say to that frustration?"
"..."
----------- Flashback Begins -----------
Turns out, when a Shinigami is sealed, they don't drift in eternal darkness or the void of deep slumber. Instead, they will find themselves inside their spiritual world as Lei did, when he woke up laying on concrete in the middle of his city. Numb to his surroundings and the injustice he had just suffered, he had stayed there in a catatonic daze. It was only after an unperceived amount of time that his Zanpakuto spirit came up to him.
"When are you going to get out of your dump?"
"What's the point? Everything is over. From how the captains interacted just now, my chances at Captain candidacy are shot. They'll choose someone like Momo over me for any future captain positions." Deep resignation marked his response.
"Come on. When did you become so defeatist and negative?" Softly continuing under his breath so that Lei couldn't hear, "Hah, when will he realize..."
Gradually, Mewtwo (the Zanpakuto spirit, not the Pokemon) urged Lei out of his stupor and into movement. Of course, emotions don't just disappear, and as conversations between the two continued, they somehow turned into this therapeutic format.
----------- Flashback Ends -----------
Thus, the current situation.
The sky outside the small, intimate room turned a hue of dark purple as time passed, giving Lei a much needed opportunity to decompress and unwind. After an hour, Mewtwo shut his notebook, a crisp snap announcing the end of the therapy session.
"Now that we're running out of time, let's end things on a prayer, and I can send you on your way."
"Oh wow - is time up already? ...Why don't we continue? I mean, it's not like you'll be doing something else anyways."
Mewtwo looked almost offended. "I'm your Zanpakuto spirit, not your nanny. Despite what you may believe, I have a life too you know." Looking outwards and up, he stared at the ray of light breaking through a group of clouds. "And besides, it seems like the time has come for you to wake up already."
Following his gaze, Lei looked at the growing bright patch on the horizon. Since he had been sealed, the sky had stayed in a never ending violet twilight, the only signal of the passing of time shifts between lighter purple and darker purple. Turning back to his spirit, Lei remarked. "Well, it was a good time buddy. I'll come back to visit you soon."
The Zanpakuto spirit gave a noncommittal wave in return. As the sunrise began to fill the room, it continued to grow in blinding intensity until Lei couldn't help but close his eyes. When he opened his eyes the next time, he came face to face with Zaraki's signature giant grin.
"Woah! What the heck?!"
Zaraki frowned. "Well now you know what others feel like when they see your face."
"Touche. But anyways, what are you doing here Captain?"
Yachiru popped up over her designated spot on Zaraki's shoulder and pointed behind her, "We were originally just coming to check up on you, but we ran into some stragglers, and they made an offer Kenny couldn't refuse."
Following the finger, Lei found an assortment of different characters. The entire Ryoka Invasion gang awkwardly stood there watching the exchange, and to the side, to Lei's great surprise, he also saw Renji.
Seeing the questioning gaze, the 6th division lieutenant captain shrugged and tried to be nonchalant. "Seeing you fight two captains made me realize that their judgement and strength aren't infallible. I... decided that I want to save Rukia more than I want to listen to Captain Kuchiki. And working in as strong of a group of a possible makes the chances the highest."
He glossed over the details, but from his expression, Lei knew that Renji must have done a lot of soul searching to come to that conclusion - especially without Ichigo's chicken soup from the original timeline. Clearly, emotional growth happened to Renji as well, and Lei gave an acknowledging nod to the man. Only true men have the courage to re-examine themselves and admit they were wrong.
"And what did they offer that possibly could have incentivized you, Captain Zaraki?"
"Haha, they said that I could fight some of the other captains! I've always been itching to wipe those arrogant smugs off their faces hahaha!"
Lei smacked his forehead.
"I should have expected from Zaraki. Give me back my gratefulness from saving me you lout!"
Of course, he said the above internally. He just got unsealed and wasn't looking to start a fight immediately (not that he ever did so anyways). Turning his attention away from what will only frustrate him, he directed his focus to Ichigo, "I'm assuming that since you broke me out, there's a plan then?"
"Yeah, we go full force and rush to the execution platform." Ichigo declared confidently.
"...Aaaaand?"
"...is there supposed to be something else?"
Lei smacked his forehead again.
Looking at Yoruichi in sheer disbelief, Lei signaled to her to somehow deter Ichigo and come up with something more realistic. Recently liberated prisoner (pointing to himself) was NOT looking to get arrested again.
[What in the world are you thinking? This is suicidal!]
[Believe me in that I tried to convince him. The boy's foolhardy.]
[Please save me, Lei Senpai! Ichigo is going crazy again!] From behind Yoruichi, eyes visibility stressed and lips anxiously pulled tight, Ganju's face popped up.
[Save yourselves and leave me out of it! Don't drag others into your folly!]
[Ho - do you think you can wash yourselves free of us? We technically saved you.] Crossing her arms, a smug smile tugged at Yoruichi's lips.
[That's ridiculous. Captain Zaraki saved me.]
[A group of Ryoka with obvious intentions walk into a prison and the strongest prisoner is set free at the same time. You think the Captain's presence will matter?]
[...]
A deep voice sounded inside Lei's mind. [She's got you cornered Lei. Sometimes you just have to take the L and move on.]
[Not you too Mewtwo!]
[Seriously. More importantly, I want you to look at Ichigo.]
[What?]
[Look at him. What do you see?]
Lei glanced at Ichigo and was not impressed. Still too scrawny. Wrapped in bandages. Reiatsu... okay, that was a *little* better.
[Okay, he looks a little stronger. So what?]
[No - that's not the point. Look at. HIM.]
Mentally sighing in exasperation, but wrong enough times to know better than to correct his therapist, Lei looked at the boy again. Things started popping out to him.
Limbs thin. But not trembling. Zaraki not controlling Reiatsu, other Ryoka having difficulty but not him. Improved tolerance towards Captain-level combatants. Improved control on his own Reiatsu. Likely has achieved Bankai based on original timeline.
Bandages on body. No visible difficulties in moving. Likely recovering or near complete recovery. Back straight. Posture alert. Standing to protect his friends in case of Zaraki or me. Significantly more combat aware than before. Not hesitating to make eye contact.
Strong eyes.
Staring into those black pupils, the confidence radiating from them like heat from coals, Lei saw himself. But not just a standard reflection. In those black mirrors stood a younger version of himself, a more confident version of himself, a version unaffected by the fears and the struggles of his Isekai. And at that moment, the accumulation of many hours of therapy and self-reflection resulted in one resounding thought.
When did I become so scared?
It was like a shackle was unlocked, and as the realization sank in, the internal voice left a final word before echoing away. [Finally]
Sometimes a personality needs only a single realization to dramatically change. Staring at Ichigo again, Lei let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha, that sounds good. Let's do that! With that attitude, we can't lose!"
Of course, not everyone had the same opinion.
To the side, Yoruichi facepalmed.
Ganju facepalmed.
Uryu facepalmed.
Orihime turned pale.
"The idiocy is spreading." She murmured under her breath.