Chapter 14: Titania Descends 1/2

BLEACH is owned by Tite Kubo. Fairytail is owned by Hiro Mashima. I own nothing.

Special thanks to Greatkingrat88 for writing once again.

This is more than likely my favorite chapter to date so far, as well as the longest. I love every scene in this chapter, and I pray that you, my readers enjoy it as well.

It was almost a full month before it happened, long enough that Erza had almost let herself believe that Akamura Senrei had just been blowing hot air. But some people were inevitably petty enough to never let go of a slight, and nothing bred pettiness like the arrogance and pride of a nobleman. That is why one day, as Erza was headed to one of her classes, her path was blocked by two serious-looking Shinigami, swords at their side, carrying the insignia of second division order officers. The area was fairly secluded, away from where students would gather- undoubtedly, that had been their intention.

"Miss Scarlet," One of them said, hand demonstratively at the hilt of his sword, "you are under arrest." He had a scar just under his eye, and a very cool, cruel glare, the kind that said, 'Try it. Just make my day and try it.' His partner looked even fouler, short, with a stubby nose and a face like he ate lemons for breakfast every day, because happiness was for chumps. Somebody, apparently, had tried very hard to intimidate her. That somebody did not know her very well.

"On what charge?" She demanded.

"Assault, harassment, aggravated assault against a minor, attempted murder…" The first one said, digging out a small scroll, rolling it open, "subversion, heresy, spreading of anti-gotei propaganda, loitering, and… well, it's a long list, miss. And if you do anything other than get down on your knees and put your hands on your head, I'm adding resisting arrest to the list, too."

"You don't say." Erza said, nearly balling a fist. There was an urge in her- smash their faces in!- but she resisted it. "You're right, that is a long list."

"Didn't you hear?" The other one snarled. "That's resisting arrest, and that means we can get rough if we want to- so I'd shut my yap if I were you!"

There were quite a few remarks she could think of, smart, snappy little comebacks that would sound cool. "You could try", for one, or "Go ahead, see what happens". She could even give them a short little lecture about what it meant to threaten a single digit ranked terminator. Instead, she looked them in the eye, and said,

"I'd like to see the warrant for my arrest, please."

They looked at her with a curious look, as if she was some sort of mentally challenged ape, stepping in muck without realizing how far in she was getting.

"You what?" The second one began.

"The warrant." Erza said firmly. "According to regulation, no officer holding any numbered rank may be arrested without a warrant, except in the case that the one arresting holds a rank of vice-captain or higher. I see you brought a list of charges- so I'd like to see a warrant."

The two of them looked at each other quizzically. "I don't think you understand, miss," the first guard said, as if explaining something to a child, "You are under arrest. For the last time-"

"Show me the warrant, or I am walking away from here." Said Erza, steely. "I have classes to teach."

"You'll do as you're told, or-" the second one started, but Erza cut him off.

"Or what? If you thought you could take me down, you'd have done it already."

A look of frustration passed their faces, and the situation might have escalated further, if not for one of her students- Kira, she recalled his name was- had walked by.

"Sensei? Is there a problem?" He asked, looking concerned.

"These two men claim to be officers of the law." She said calmly. "I'm glad you stopped by- go get some more students. I think this will make a good lesson in applied law."

Kira snapped a sharp salute, and ran off with a determined look on his face. Just a few minutes later, spent with her having an informal staring contest with the two officers, he came back, with at least a dozen students in tow. There was a bustle, whispers, murmurs, chatter, all sounding concerned and very much excited.

"Students, please," Erza said calmly, and her students went quiet almost immediately, "these gentlemen claim to represent the police agency of the second division. However, they refuse to show a warrant for my arrest, or even proof of their identity as law enforcement. As far as I can tell, these two might as well be impostors attempting to kidnap me."

"This is bloody ridiculous." The first officer sneered, but he looked considerably less sure of himself. "You're only making this worse for yourself-"

"So are you." Erza said coldly, staring at him and letting her reiatsu flare a little. She could read them both well enough; by no means weak, but neither at all threatening- well, as far as she knew.

"What's going on?" One student- whose voice Erza recognized as Momo's- piped up. "Why do they want to arrest sensei?"

"This is disgraceful!" Another student piped up, and Erza recognized it as the voice of a young noblewoman in her class. "My father shall hear of this!"

"Mine, too!" Another chimed in.

"They should just go away! What are they thinking, making a scene like this?" A third said.

"Hey, teach?" Kira said. "Y'know, to me it looks like they're about to attack you. Does it not look like she has no choice but to defend herself?"

"Yeah!" Renji cried, having got to the forefront of the group. "They're a buncha crooks, right? You hear?"

There was a chorus of yeses and other affirmative words, and Renji slammed a fist into his palm. "Self-defense!" He cried. "Self-defense! Self-defense! Self-defense!" Catching on, the entire group started chanting with him. The two officers, Erza noticed, were now visibly sweating. Erza let them keep going for a while, before she raised her hand.

"That's enough, students," she said, a little bit of satisfaction in her voice. "I'm not going to make a scene. But I won't go anywhere without a warrant."

A look of pure rage passed the face of the second officer, and the first one looked only slightly less vexed.

"You!" He snapped at his comrade. "Go get- go get the paperwork. I'll be staying right here, keeping an eye on her."

"But-" the second one tried to argue.

"Go!" He snapped.

"Well, stay right here," Erza said cheerily, "and I'll be going about my duties. I'm not hard to find."

Of course, a bit of wit, intimidation and moral support did nothing to stop her, in the end, from being arrested. In the hours she had had left that day, she had pondered what to do- would she run away? Her career would more than likely be ruined now. She might be sent to prison for god knows how long, or even executed. No matter how you looked at it, this might be the end for her place here in the Gotei, and she couldn't help but curse her actions, if only for a moment. But, she knew, she couldn't have done it any differently. In the face of a storm, you could either bend and rise later, or stand and be crushed- but nothing about her had ever learned to bend, ever wanted to bend; it was not the Fairy Tail way. And now, because of it, it could all be over.

Would she run? She was strong now, but there were many, many people stronger still, and she wasn't good at hiding. Desertion equated to treason, and that was a guaranteed execution- how long before the special forces sent a hunting team to kill her? For how long could she go on like that? How many could she kill before they finally got to her, all her dreams unfulfilled? No- just like always, she would not bend, could not bend. She'd face her fate head on, no matter what it was, because not doing so would mean not being Erza, and Erza was keen on, if nothing else, being Erza.

And so, she had been taken in, only two hours later. She had come peacefully, and her hands had been chained, her wrists encased with anti-spiritual minerals, sealing her strength. She had been walked out of the school, for all to see- but she had refused humiliation, kept her head high every step of the way. Her chains were oppressive; the anti-spirit materials made it feel like her entire body was breathing through a thick, damp cloth, but she let nobody see her discomfort. She had been ushered into a small, dank room, lit only by the faint light of a small lantern, where a grim-looking interrogator had come to see her. Before five minutes had passed, he had begun screaming accusations at her, listing crime after crime, urging her, demanding of her that she confess. The process went on for three whole days, she later learned, and she did not receive so much as a drop of water in that time. But even with fatigue and hunger hounding her, she wouldn't say a word, not a single word, to her interrogator, only staring at him with silent contempt. Sometimes he went calm, reasonable, trying to convince her he wanted a good deal for her, that if she confessed she would get a lighter sentence, that really, she was better off bargaining…

But in the face of her silence, it never took him long to return to shouting at her, trying to break her down. His façade was completely unconvincing to Erza- although she had to admire his endurance.

After three days, they seemingly gave up, and Erza was thrown into a small cell, only just large enough to stand in. She was given water, just a small cup of lukewarm, dirty water, and was left to her own devices. Sitting down on the cold, hard floor, she wondered what could become of her, how many people missed her…

And fortunately- or unfortunately- she did not have to wait very long. Before two days had passed, two stern-looking guards took her out of her cell, and led her out of the prison barracks. She was walked to the courts, she was told, and she took every step of the way in chains. Their route went through the Gotei, many parts of which she had once patrolled, and she wondered if this would be the last time she saw it. She was helpless, and, she suspected, she was not going to get a fair trial.

Though every step was stumbled, weakened as she was by the chains, all too soon she stood before the court building, an elaborately designed building at the outskirts of the Gotei. The noble's court, she recalled as she was walked through its gates. Well, that was that…

And so, about five days after her arrest, Erza stood behind a podium, under the gaze of five, stern men in noble, dignified regalia, all carrying the crest of Gotei Law. Sitting behind her to the right, with a legal representative and several clan members carrying his colours, was Akamura Senrei. His son sat next to him- although, Erza noticed, there was none of the victorious glee in his face that she might have expected; the young man's eyes seemed fixed on his feet. Glee was in no short supply on his father's face, however…

And to her left, where she assumed her defense would be, sat nobody at all, the courtroom having given her none. This was what passed for justice?

"All present?" Said the middle judge, the eldest and most elaborately well-dressed of them all. He looked around the courtroom with discerning, judgmental eyes, finally fixing his gaze on Erza, in her now dirty teacher's shihakusho. "Very well. The Gotei Thirteen's court of noble affairs will now hear the case of Erza Scarlet versus Akamura Senrei."

Senrei's representative, a sleazy-looking man with an expensive dress and carefully groomed black hair, stepped up, and begun his oration. For nearly an hour, he described the blackest, most vicious harassment, a bully intent on terrorizing her student, targeting noble students out of a viciously hateful jealousy of their success and status, spinning a tale of a student bravely standing up to her ruthless terror tactics, and being singled out for it…

It was a good, well told lie, told with passion and ardour, one that most anybody could believe just by virtue of the conviction with which it was told. Erza's blood boiled as she heard it; it was so brazenly untrue, so completely uncaring about truth- but, she noticed, the judges looked bored. Was there hope?

"And so, having made her vicious assault on my client, her hatred spilling into action, abusing the strength she should use to righteously smite our enemies-" Said the prosecutor, waving his arms enthusiastically-

"Prosecutor Kunaji," a judge on the right said, "you are regurgitating your story. Get on with it."

"Agreed." The chief judge said. "Present your evidence now. We have heard enough."

"Gladly, your honours!" Said the prosecutor, and went on to recite several witness testimonies- all of them forged, all of them describing stories fitting his oratory perfectly. For nearly an hour more, he presented more and more so-called evidence, witnesses, recordings… and while Erza scowled at the lies, some things went beyond mere lying.

"…and so, after finishing school, the accused went on her very first assignment-"

No. He would not go there, would he? There was no way-

She listened in horror as he described it, the massacre, all her friends dying…

"…and as the record will show, the alleged hollow- which was far too strong to reasonably appear in such a weakly saturated place- was conveniently missing once officials entered the scene. With such bestial strength as the accused has, one has to ask the question- was there really ever a hollow, or was it an excuse to cover up something far… darker?"

Something boiled over in Erza, a primal rage right down from her gut and upwards, reaching her head in seconds. She felt like she would explode. Almost screaming, she exclaimed,

"You lying son of a bitch! How dare you! You- you- I was there, I saw it! I saw it slaughter my friends!" A little voice in her head cried to her to stop, that this is what she wanted, but she was too furious to listen. "You wretched, pathetic little man, you have no idea what you're saying! I should snap your-" she finally controlled herself, before the threat was finished.

"As you can see, your honours," said the prosecutor smugly, "her violent tendencies are unrestrained, not even capable of holding back when it should matter most. Given her excessive history of especially brutal hollow hunting, with a clear and evidenced lack of regard for her squadmates, it seems obvious that we are dealing with a dangerous, unstable individual, quite likely psychotic. It is the prosecution's recommendation that, at the very least, she be detained in the Maggot's Nest for all her life."

"Not nearly enough!" Senrei sneered loudly. "Whip her till her skin comes off, and then cut off her head! She deserves no less!"

"You horrible, horrible little man," Erza hissed between her teeth, still seething, "you are crossing a line here, do you understand?"

"There isn't much you can do about it, is there?" Senrei said smugly, gloating unabashedly.

"Silence!" The head judge demanded. "The court will make note of Scarlet's outburst. Very well- the prosecution has spoken. The court will now hear the defense. Erza Scarlet, what have you got to say

Erza swallowed, frustration joining her anger. What could she possibly say? She had no evidence, no defense; nothing she could do to counter. The odds had been carefully and deliberately stacked against her. Though it was hard to admit it, fear rose in her chest to join her rage- she could be killed here, or sent to prison for all eternity- for hundreds, maybe thousands of years… and there was nothing she could think of to prevent it. She gaped, and swallowed, stuttering out some incoherent noises.

"I, ah, ehm, hee…"

"Speak, officer scarlet," one of the judges said sternly. "The court will not give you another chance. Make your damn case so we can be done with this."

There was a disgust in his voice, resentment… did he hate her so much? Did they all? Had she nothing now, judged by strangers with nobody to support her? This was nothing like battle- this was the doing of people, of civilized society, and she had no means of fighting back. She felt weak, tired…

"Lies," she said, her words barely a whisper, "he's lying. It's all- it's all lies. He just wouldn't- he wouldn't let me teach- and I, and I-" She trailed off. Despair was just around the corner; she could see its dark and ugly face leering at her.

"Given that officer Scarlet has nothing further to add," said the head judge after a minute or so of silence had passed, "I suggest we move on to judgment."

"An excellent suggestion, your honour!" The prosecutor beamed. "We move that the defendant be sentenced to death, after being tortured publicly."

The judge shot him a look like he had been addressed by a particularly filthy insect, but went on to say,

"The court has head the evidence. We have been presented with a case telling a tale of harassment, abuse, and attempted murder. We see no option but to-"

And then, as Erza hung her head, the strangest thing happened. The judge's voice went silent, and she could her the creaking of a door. Despair flew away, replaced by Hope, however desperate, and Erza turned her head towards the noise.

"I hope you do not mind," a gentle voice came, "but I would like to voice my objection."

Aizen. It was Aizen. And beside him was her captain, Shiba Isshin. Behind them, an entourage of people; noblemen, judging by their gaudy, official clothing. The relief she felt was like no sensation she had ever been through before, flooding over her like rain across a dry field.

"What is the meaning of this?" A judge sneered. "These are private law chambers, and you are not authorized to be here, captain!"

Aizen smiled, and gave them a knowing look. "I would have words with you, your honours, and you would be wise to listen to them. For your own good, if nothing else."

"You had best explain yourself," said the head judge sternly, "and it had best be a good explanation." But, Erza noticed, there was something to his stern, official tone that had changed- as if a little shaken, and uncertain.

"Certainly, your honour," Aizen said, bowing politely. His manners were, as always, impeccable- but there was no doubt he was taking charge. "And may I thank you for having patience with me? I know I came in unannounced- most uncivil of me." He looked around the courtroom, his eyes landing on Akamura Senrei, who squirmed in his seat, looking like he wanted to fire off a barbed remark- but somehow, he seemed unable to.

"Uncivil, indeed," he continued, "just like violating the due process of law severely and repeatedly. I would never accuse anybody of having manipulated the law for their own gain- surely, fine, wise men like yourselves never would. However, it does seem strange to me- I am well-read in the matters of Gotei law, civil, noble and martial, and I was under the impression that the mandatory minimal time for preparing a court is one week, for the sake of gathering evidence, and setting up proper procedure- although, to my understanding, it often runs as long as a month. Am I mistaken, your honours?"

One of the judges shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and grunted,

"You have yet to explain your intrusion, captain."

"Am I?" Aizen said calmly. "Oh yes- dear me, it seems like I have. My most sincere apologyies, gentlemen- I will get right to it."

Every last word he spoke was perfectly calm, kind, civil, but everyone- the judges, Senrei, his prosecutor- looked at him fearfully.

"It is of course possible that I am mistaken about putting a prisoner to trial within five days, but I am positive, on the whole, that any prosecuted officer is entitled to a legal defense, as well as legal counsel prior to the court room. Tell me, was officer Scarlet offered this when she was shoved into second division's interrogation chambers?" His voice sharpened, ever so slightly.

"We have no knowledge of this-" the head judge said uncertainly.

"Of course you wouldn't, your honour," Aizen cut him off politely, "you would never be party to a miscarriage of justice. Your moral character is well known among the courts. I am sure you are completely unaware of these developments."

Looking stunned, the judge simply nodded.

"However," Aizen continued, "to the untrained eye, one less familiar with the subtleties of law, this might look like a rigged trial- one that some would even call a sham. Can you imagine that, your honours? Why, I even know some judges- very overzealous, of course- who would call this criminal. Perhaps even put every last one of you on trial yourself." His voice sharpened, just for a second, but almost instantly he was back to his calm, understanding self.

"This is outrageous!" The prosecutor snapped, finally working up the courage to speak back. "This is an intentional and malicious attempt at meddling with a clearly justified court-"

"Ah, prosecutor Kunaji," Aizen said, smiling at him. "Why, I haven't seen you since I saw you stand trial for embezzling. I am so glad to see your corruption charges were dropped- I almost feared you would have been disbarred."

"…evidence prevailed." The prosecutor said stiffly, and slumped back in his chair.

"Justice is a wonderful thing." Aizen said, once again turning to the judges. "Your honours, I realize this is most unorthodox- but as officer Scarlet somehow seems to lack representation- a perfectly understandable clerical error, I'm sure- I would request that I be allowed to speak on her behalf."

"…you may." The head judge said, nodding.

"Very kind of you. Now, I believe my colleague has something to say on the matter?" He pointed at Isshin, who stepped up.

"Right." Isshin said, and his brows were furrowed into a deep, furious scowl. "Now, I ain't prim and proper like Aizen here is, so I'll just speak plainly. You lot are either in Senrei's pocket, or he made you do this, and either way I have half a mind to beat you all half to death." The head judge looked as if he would object, but the look on Isshin's face kept him silent. "I have a word or two to say to every last one of you, and you'll listen!"

As Isshin launched into a long, angry tirade, berating all of them- the judges, the Akamura clan, the prosecutor- Aizen calmly walked up to Erza, and led her to a table by the defense benches, where the both of them sat down.

"Thank you." She whispered. "Thank you so much."

"We did not sit idle," Aizen said, smiling the same calm smile. "Your students made quite a fuss, and word reached my ears that you had angered somebody rich and important. I've seen it happen before, and I never much liked it. It was my pleasure to help. I am sorry I could not do anything sooner- the bureaucracy was quite tiresome to go through, and I had to move carefully."

"You're here now." Erza said, and smiled at him. "That's enough."

"I think so, yes," he said, sounding confident, "but let's hear Captain Shiba out for a little. This ought to be amusing- the man is very… forthright."

'Forthright' was one way of putting it. He was chewing the whole courtroom out, with a wrathful passion Erza hadn't ever seen in him before.

"-and you," Isshin sneered at the prosecutor, "you're a low-life criminal who cheated the justice system, and now you work for this piece of trash. Have you no shame?"

"That's enough!" Senrei shot back. "This- this woman, this bitch of a woman publicly humiliated me! In front of everybody! Do you think such an affront could stand? Your idiocy is well known, Shiba, but have you no concept of honour as well?"

"That's because you're a rat prick with your head up your arse, and an ego bigger than this courthouse," Isshin sneered back, "and if you had spent some time slapping some sense into your boy instead of teaching him the sun shines out his ass, she wouldn't have needed to put him down. You got what you had coming, you little shit."

"Now listen just a minute-" Senrei began, red in the face with anger, but he was interrupted- this time by the nobles who had accompanied Aizen and Isshin into the courtroom. One by one, in disorderly fashion, they stood up and started talking over each other.

"This is outrageous!" One of them, in blue robes, declared. 'Outrageous', Erza noticed, was a popular word in these circles. "She made a man out of my boy! I sent him to the academy to toughen up, and by Jove, he toughened up! He went from being a scrawny little wimp to a strong, young lad, and it's all because she wouldn't accept nothing but the best! I always said swordfighting is the noblest of arts, and she taught him well! Why, just last month he bested me in a spar!"

"My daughter looks up to her!" Another man, old and wearing white and yellow, proclaimed. "I could barely get a word out of her before- no respect! But these days, I can actually have a conversation with her! Do you have any idea what a miracle that is?"

"Hear, hear!" A third one said. "My son has the biggest crush on her, and I can see why! I even hear she gives extra lessons to needing students!"

That last one was a little bit awkward, as she knew what student that man was the father of- but nevertheless, it was appreciated, this strange show of support.

"You better let it go, Akamura," Isshin said, looking at him with steel in his eyes, "or it'll come back to bite you."

"I'm never giving up." Senrei spat. "I will have retribution! I will not allow my name to be spat upon like this! I-"

"Then how about this?" Isshin shot back. "I'm officially taking her under my protection. What she's done, whatever it counts for, is a Shiba matter now."

Senrei went quiet for a while. "…you wouldn't. For this woman?!"

"Damn right I would." Isshin said stubbornly. "And I don't know law that well, but I do know that means I can invoke the right of trial by combat. A really old rule, but I like it. Go on- name a time and a place, and I'll kick your ass. Or whatever champion you choose. Go on."

Senrei went quiet, rage apparent in his face.

"I don't like to invoke this," Isshin said, crossing his arms across his chest, "but we're bigger and more important than you. Drop it, or I'll set your house back to the dark ages."

"That is," Aizen spoke up, "if we decide not to just sue you for everything you own. I am sure these fine judges would gladly stand testimony for how you forced them to violate the law."

The judges looked eager, whispering between themselves, and Erza got a feeling they weren't very loyal to Senrei.

Looking defeated, the same anger and frustration flowing through him that Erza had felt just minutes earlier, Senrei stood up.

"Come on," he sneered at his son, "we're leaving."

"Am I to take this as you withdrawing all charges?" Aizen said innocently. Senrei did not reply.

"Because if you do not say the words," Aizen continued, "the case cannot be dismissed."

"Admit defeat." Isshin said, putting a hand on his sword, "do it, if you know what's good for you."

With a look on his face like he had been forced to suck on a lemon, Senrei turned to the judges.

"…I, Akamura Senrei," he began, forcing every last word out slowly, "would like to excuse myself from this case. I will seek no retribution."

"The court hears your request, and approves," the head judge said, sounding relieved. "Officer Erza Scarlet no longer stands accused. This court is finished, by virtue of my authority as senior judge of the noble court of the Gotei Thirteen!"

Erza felt like she was soaring upwards on a cloud, true relief washing through her mind and body. The nightmare was over.

"Never forget that you have friends," Aizen said, as the two of them stood up, "in places high and low. You may not be a captain yet, but you'd be surprised how many hear the name of Erza Scarlet and think of it with respect."

"I never felt this weak…" Erza mumbled. Aizen took off her cuffs, and the rush of spiritual energy made her feel light-headed.

"There is no shame in weakness- nobody is strong all of the time." He said reassuringly. "Now, how about we go get some tea? I'll have some business to wrap up, but it should not take long."

Erza could only nod weakly.

In the most strangely simple, life returned to normal. After some paperwork, Erza was released, and the very next day she was back at school. The students had cheered for her when she got back to class, every pair of eyes turned her way- except, that is, the Akamura boy, who was strangely absent. Taking in their cheers, Erza had smiled, and her doubts in herself as a teacher had lessened somewhat. Not being one to laze around, Erza had kicked her classes back into overdrive- it was nearly a week's worth of missed classes she had to make up for. And though cheers turned to groans soon enough, she was back to normal.

Normal included her nightly spars with Renji, too. He had grown, both in spirit and in body- he was all muscle now, reaping the benefits of good food and hard training, and he had gotten faster and stronger for it- and more skilled from her training of course. Sparring was a strange thing; it could be one of the most intimate way of knowing somebody. Every movement familiar, every attack predictable… and the same was true for him. Soon, he'd have to seek new partners, or his form would go stale. She wouldn't have counted herself among his closest friends, but in this one way, she knew him better than anybody, and he knew her better than most.

This, of course, meant that whenever something was off, even by a small margin, it was screamingly obvious when it was. So it was that now, this night, fully two weeks after her legal ordeal, she broke off the spar midways. The both of them were breathing heavily, the sweat on their bodies glistening in the moonlight.

"What?" Renji said, motioning for her to attack again. "Come on, sensei- we got time, don't we?"