Silver and Gold
Part Three: Finding One's Place
A Bleach fanfiction
By: Lycanwolff
Author's Note: Thank you all for being so patient, so here's a long ass chapter to kick things off with! I present to you all, the third and final arc of SILVER AND GOLD! -Lights dim-
Part Three
Chapter 1
The air was stale. Every breath he took seemed to instantly turn acidic in his lungs and no amount of keeping the window open was going to change that.
It had been two additional days since the Hell Butterfly had come with a message from his captain, and there had yet to be word from the Head-Captain, or Central 46. He knew the Head-Captain was busy handling the situation, but he just couldn't shake the thought that things had taken a turn for the worse. He had read the letter that Captain Kuchiki had left him so many times, that its words had been permanently imprinted on his mind. He could recite it to himself without looking at it. He thought about what the Captain could possibly want to speak with him about, thinking that it might have been about the captain's recommendation paperwork, but he had immediately dismissed the thought since it wouldn't make much sense when he was still around to fill the role.
After he had handled Rukia's unconscionable worry by telling her that her brother had been sent on a confidential mission, she seemed to accept his sudden disappearance. He had breathed a sigh of relief that it hadn't taken much more than that to calm her down because if he had to go into any more detail than that, he was sure to receive an unholy beating from the tiny woman.
With the sun at his back, the black of his Shihakushō burned against his skin, finally reaching his tolerance for pain. He turned in the chair and shut the window shutter on one side, shielding him from the harsh rays of the afternoon sun. He was still in no mood to see people, so instead of stepping out of the office, he sat back down and buried his face in his folded arms on the desk.
The sudden knock at his door had barely registered with him, not even looking up from his own little world that was the crook of his elbow.
"What?" Renji deadpanned, his voice muffled by his arm.
"Lieutenant Abarai? Are you in there?" Asked the voice on the other side.
Renji knew who it was.
With a heavy sigh, Renji stood from the chair and went to the door, unlocking it with the flick of his wrist.
"I hope I'm not intruding." Captain Ukitake said as he entered the office and shut the door softly behind him.
"Nope." Renji shook his head as he plopped down heavily and slouched.
"You seem distant. Are you alright?" Ukitake asked, taking a seat across from him on the other side of the desk.
Renji bit his fingernail, "Feeling impatient."
"I see," Ukitake took in a long breath, "Well, I don't know if this is going to help, but I bring news." He said, releasing that breath in the form of a long sigh.
Renji instantly shot up straight, "You do?" His eyes were wide.
Ukitake nodded once, "I do, but... It's not entirely what we were hoping for."
Renji's heart sank, "Oh no... Did Central 46 issue arrest warrants?"
"Sort of," He sighed, "Central 46 has issued detainment orders for Nyruki and Byakuya, as well as Ichigo Kurosaki and his group. They want to hear what happened from them all directly before making their final decision." Ukitake said.
Renji's hands gripped the armrests tight enough to make the wood creek, "You can't be serious! Not even the Head-Captain was able to convince them otherwise?"
"You misunderstand, Renji. The Head-Captain has put his reputation on the line just to get Central 46 to hear what they have to say first. Otherwise, they would have issued arrest warrants long ago." Ukitake said.
Renji grit his teeth together as he went back to slouching in the chair and scoffed.
"This is the best we can do. We were successful in getting Central 46 to wait until they heard from them. Now, all we can do is wait for them to return." Ukitake said evenly.
"I hope it's soon. This is killing me not knowing if they're alright, or not. I wouldn't worry so much if we knew what they were walking into." Renji said, racking a hand back over his crimson hair that was more unruly than usually.
"We somewhat do. I managed to dig up some information on this Overlorde Byakuya mentioned now that I had a name. Renji... We should prepare ourselves for what might happen." Ukitake released a nervous breath.
"Is it that bad?" Renji asked.
Ukitake nodded, "I'm afraid so. This Overlorde is... Well, he's bad news." He looked down at his hands.
Renji's chest tightened, "Should I get the folder?"
"Yes. Bring it to me." Ukitake said lowly.
With a nod and a heavy sigh, Renji rose from the chair and went to the filing cabinet. Just as the letter had said, the file was neatly tucked away at the very back of the drawer, hidden behind a folder of disciplinary slips that the Captain had filled throughout the years. It was thin and unmarked, so if he hadn't been told about it ahead of time, he would have missed it entirely.
He shut the drawer, but stayed where he was for a moment as he stared at the outside of the folder. With the papers in his hand, all they served to do was highlight the light shaking. He wasn't sure if it was the contents of the folder that caused him to shake, or whether it was the fact that they were preparing for the worst, but whatever it was, he had to muscle passed it.
"Here." Renji exhaled as he handed the file to Ukitake and sat down in the chair that he had become all too familiar with as of late.
Ukitake opened the file and began to read through the papers in their entirety. His eyes skimmed over the fluid handwriting with considerable speed, reading each line and each mark without hesitation.
However, his eyes slowed once he reached the last page.
"You ok, Captain?" Renji asked with a mild furrowing in his brow as he watched the man.
Ukitake let out a slow, but shaky breath as he lightly placed a hand over his mouth and continued reading.
"Captain?" Renji repeated.
With another sigh, Ukitake finally looked up from the file and set his gaze on Renji.
"Have you read this?" He asked with a certain seriousness in his eyes that told Renji that whatever was written there, would strike right at his heart.
Renji shook his head, "I'm not sure I want to."
"I think you should." Ukitake said lowly, holding out the file for him to take.
However, Renji made no move to take the folder, just staring at it with an uneasiness in his stomach that made him swallow down the threatening bile.
"I can't. I'm sorry, Captain... I just can't." Renji said with his own shaky voice that reflected in his eyes.
"When you're ready then," He closed the file, "It's all in order. All I have to do is sign and date it beneath Captain Kuchiki's signature. The only thing to decide now, is how much time do we allow before we submit it." Ukitake said, setting the file down on the desk.
Renji shook his head, "I don't know. I keep thinking that, even when and if Central 46 declares the Captain dead, that it'll look bad if we immediately submit the paperwork." He reserved himself to look out the window as Squad 6 trained.
"I suppose those are valid concerns. Would it make you feel better if you simply left it up to me?" Ukitake asked quietly.
Renji nodded as he leaned back in the chair.
"Alright. In the meantime-"
Ukitake was cut off as the office door blasted open with the sudden arrival of a very fatigued, very heavily breathing young Shinigami from Squad 6.
"Lieutenant! There's an unauthorized arrival coming through the Senkeimon!" The young Shinigami heaved, so out of breath that he needed to hold onto the door to keep himself on his feet.
Renji and Captain Ukitake locked gazes.
The two hadn't even bothered with the door, let alone speaking as they flash stepping through the open window so fast that the wind blew the shutter back open.
Their haste to the Senkeimon tower was clear to all whom managed to catch a glimpse of them as they raced along the rooftops, flash stepping the gaps between them so fast that after images were nearly left behind. They were at a full bore sprint that neither could keep up for very long, but they pushed through it until they arrived at the tower.
However, they were not the first, as a small squadron of guards had taken up positions around the slowly opening doors, all with their Zanpakutōs ready to draw blood.
As much as Captain Ukitake wanted to order them to sheath their swords, he knew that they couldn't. An unauthorized arrival was no laughing matter and it was far wiser to remain vigilant until they knew whom was arriving. They all watched with keen eyes and hands tightening around their Zanpakutōs, ready for battle should their unexpected arrival be hostile, but as the doors finished opening they realized that wouldn't be the case.
Ukitake's eyes were wide from not just surprise at what he was looking at, but sheer and utter relief that Nyruki was amongst them. He had hidden his apocalyptic worry from everyone as best he could, especially from Captain Kyōraku and Renji so that he didn't add to their own, but every night, when no one was watching, he had allowed his worry to show and all too often, it came in the form of tears.
Suddenly, the movements of several guards caught Ukitake's eye just as they had begun to step forward with Zanpakutōs ready.
"Arrancar!" One of the guards yelped as he started to charge.
As the guards advanced with their intent clear on their faces, Grimmjow stepped in front of Neliel to protect her from the incoming problem. His fists were clenched tight and his teeth were bared as the guards came closer, but all of them stopped when the feared Captain of Squad 6 spoke up.
"Everyone stop! They're with us!" Byakuya barked with his shoulders back. He had shifted into Captain mode.
Every guard froze in place with looks of shock that made their eyes wide.
"Everyone back down! Now!" Ukitake snapped with a commanding voice that echoed around them.
There was a moment of hesitation before the guards eased their aggressive stance, only a few feet from the group of eight and sheathed their Zanpakutōs.
"But, Captain Ukitake-" One such guard tried, still holding his Zanpakutō out of uneasiness.
"Do not argue! Captain Kuchiki has stated that they are with him, which means there is a reason behind this!" Ukitake said sternly.
"There is." Byakuya said, clasping his hands behind his back as he drew in a breath.
"One that you will explain post haste." Came a sudden, gravely voice that startled them all.
"Head-Captain!" Ukitake gasped.
The Head-Captain stepped through the ranks of guards, softly thunking the end of his cane into the stone with each step.
"By order of Central 46, all of you are to be placed into confinement and that includes Ichigo Kurosaki, his friends and these two Arrancar, which is quite the surprise." The Head-Captain said gruffly.
"Head-Captain... Ichigo Kurosaki and his ilk have nothing to do with our sudden departure. This does not include them." Byakuya said, standing his ground in front of the Head-Captain.
"Which means nothing to Central 46! They accompanied you on your journey, therefore, they wish to hear from them... All of them." The Head-Captain said, glaring at the Arrancar.
Byakuya silently exhaled as he glanced down at Nyruki whom was clearly worried, evident in her shaking golden eyes.
"It appears we have no choice." Byakuya said quietly.
"Take them into custody and escort them to the Squad 1 Barracks confinement wing." The Head-Captain ordered of the guards.
The guards swarmed around the group, but by Byakuya's silent request, none of them resisted as they were lead away, flanked on all sides by the armed guards.
"Sensai-" Ukitake said lowly as the old man walked passed, trailing a ways behind the large group.
"Do not speak, Captain Ukitake. You and Lieutenant Abarai are to continue your silence and do not attempt to go visit them. The same goes for Captain Kyōraku. If everything is as you say, then this will be over soon." The Head-Captain said evenly.
Ukitake's shoulders slumped, "Yes, Sensai."
As the rest of the guards and the Head-Captain left, Captain Ukitake and Renji were the only two left, standing in the middle of the round courtyard of the Senkeimon.
"What're we gonna do, Captain? I have a real bad feeling about this." Renji said, still trying to digest the entire situation they had just witnessed.
"We only have one option, Renji... We wait."
The confinement wing of the Squad 1 barracks was dark and more than a little dank. The air smelt abnormally cold, somewhat musky from the lack of getting fresh air. The single, small and barred window wasn't nearly enough to allow fresh air into the large cell that was completely void of any furniture, which made more than a few irritated and very much wanting to get out from behind metal bars.
"I guess I'm not surprised, Pretty Boy." Grimmjow huffed, sitting on the floor in the corner with Neliel laying down with her head in his lap and his arm draped over her.
"You shouldn't be. I told you what would most likely happen the moment we stepped foot through the Senkeimon." Byakuya said, sitting along the adjacent wall with Nyruki next to him a few inches away.
"Why the hell did they arrest us too? What is Central 46 hoping to hear?" Ichigo grumbled, crossing his arms and standing in the middle of the cell.
"Most likely your interpretation of events." Byakuya said, resting his head back against the wall.
Ichigo's breath hiccuped in his throat.
"From all of us?" Uryū asked, sitting with Orihime and Chad, taking up the center of the cell.
Byakuya nodded, "Yes. I am unsure if Captain Ukitake and Renji were able to accomplish what I had tasked them with, but going by what the Head-Captain said, they were somewhat successful." He glanced at Nyruki.
"Which means I'm going up against Central 46... By myself." Nyruki nearly mumbled as she stared at her hands picking at her fingernails.
"We are all going to have to stand in front of Central 46, Nyruki." He said quietly as he gently grasped her hand.
"What's gonna happen to us, Pretty Boy?" Grimmjow asked, stroking Neliel's long turquoise hair.
Byakuya softly sighed, "I don't know. I find myself wishing you had taken the offer to return to your home."
"To what... Living in a rat box? Yeah, ok. Sounds good. Nelly and I'll just mosey on out of here," He rolled his eyes, "Are you stupid? How the fuck do you think you're gonna convince this Central 46 of yours to pardon me if you're locked up because you didn't bring back any sort of proof about what you were off doin'?" Grimmjow asked snidely.
"I see your point." Byakuya sighed.
"See? Maybe 'ol Grimmjow has a few brain cells after all." He scoffed.
"You don't even have enough to bang together and get fire." Ichigo snickered.
"Oi! I'll kick your ass right here, Berry brain!" Grimmjow growled a bit too loudly for the confined space.
"Go right ahead! Maybe we'll get out of here!"
"Silence!" Byakuya's voice roared within the space, "Don't you two do anything other than bicker? This is not the time, nor the place!"
Both immediately silenced, but frowned their displeasure.
The sudden ruckus from the cell had been enough to draw the attention of the detention guards as two, armed with spears, came running from down the long hall.
"What's going on?" The taller of the two guards asked sharply with a strong furrow in his overly thick brows.
"It's nothing. Just a squabble between two of us." Byakuya said, standing from the floor and walking over to the bars.
"No injured?" Asked the same guard.
"No. We're fine." Byakuya said, clasping his hands behind his back.
The guards nodded.
The taller of the two guards rubbed the back of his neck as the shorter one looked around, more than a bit stiffly which caught Byakuya's attention. They both appeared nervous, more on edge than they should for just checking up on some rowdy prisoners.
"Captain, we have something for you. We were waiting for a chance to come down, so we apologize for the lateness." The taller guard said quietly as he reached into his Shihakushō.
The guard pulled a small, folded piece of paper and handed it through the bars.
Byakuya's brows furrowed a bit as he took the offering and the moment he did, the two guards turned and left without another word.
"What is it, Byakuya?" Ichigo asked as he stepped up next to him.
"It would seem someone as slipped us a communication." Byakuya said quietly as he went back to the wall and sat down.
The group waited and stayed silent as Byakuya unfolded the paper and began to read.
"Who's it from?" Chad asked, having never moved from his spot in the center of the cell.
"It's from Captain Ukitake. It would seem he, Renji and Captain Kyōraku were able to convince Central 46 to hear us out. They've launched a general investigation and will be calling each one of us into the Central 46 chamber for separate inquiries." Byakuya said, still reading the note.
"What about us?" Grimmjow asked with a concerned look down at Neliel whom returned his worry.
"It says that Central 46 is discussing what to do, but are reserving judgement until they complete the investigation." Byakuya said, finishing the note and folding it.
"Well that's a change." Ichigo grumbled, crossing his arms again.
"Indeed. It seems Central 46 managed to put two and two together and have concluded, on their own accord, that the reason for our sudden disappearance and the fact that we returned with two Arrancar in tow are connected." Byakuya said as he slipped the note into his Shihakushō, safely out of sight.
Grimmjow scoffed, "So does that mean Nelly and I are gonna have to go up on this choppin' block?"
"I think so." Byakuya said.
"Great." Grimmjow groaned.
"What else did it say?" Uryū asked.
"That they have also been ordered not to make contact with us until the investigation is over, which means that Central 46 is concerned about another conspiracy." Byakuya said, drawing in a long breath.
"Central 46 is worried that they could be involved?" Ichigo asked with a sneer.
"Of course they are. Look what happened the last time there was a conspiracy." Byakuya shrugged with a sigh.
All Ichigo did was huff out of his nose as he slowly shook his head, finding a space along a wall to slide down and wait. It's all any of them could do, as they certainly weren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Or so they thought.
The sound of a heavy door opening down the hallway, out of sight, earned their attention as a horde of footsteps set down on the wooden floor. There were people coming and by the sounds of it, it was a lot of them.
Only a moment later and their suspicions were proven correct, as a healthy amount of punishment force guards appeared, lead by Captain Soi-Fon.
"Everyone on your feet." She said sternly, standing in front of the bars.
"What is this regarding, Captain Soi-Fon?" Byakuya asked, making no move to stand up.
"I'm here to separate you all by order of Central 46." She said, clenching her small, but lethal fists as her brows pulled down hard.
Nyruki instantly went rigid next to him, but he set it aside as he rose to his feet.
"Is that really necessary?" Byakuya asked, clasping his hands in front of him and holding himself to a noble's posture.
"Central 46 wants you all separated so you can't discuss the investigation." Soi-Fon said, crossing her arms.
"I see," Byakuya rested a knuckle against his chin, "I don't see that as being necessary, Captain Soi-Fon. You have my word we will not discuss the circumstances surrounding Nyruki's and my's disappearance." He lowered his hand.
"Nice try, Captain Kuchiki. The order has already been issued, so no protest from a noble, even one such as yourself, can refute it. So, I say again, everyone up, or we will force you up." She said.
Byakuya lightly sighed as he glanced around the cell, momentarily setting his eyes on each one. They looked back, waiting for his guidance on what to do, especially Grimmjow and Neliel whom were, by all accounts, in enemy territory. With how much they have been chronically breaking the rules, he knew their best bet was to follow them from here on out.
With just a nod, the others in the cell climbed to their feet without so much as a word of protest.
Soi-Fon smirked as she snapped her fingers as one of her men unlocked the cell and slid the gate open with a metal squeal. Her men began to filter inside, but as a pair of guards grabbed ahold of Grimmjow's arms to wrest his hands from his pockets, he sneered with a curling of his upper lip and yanked his arm free.
"Don't touch me." Grimmjow growled, but made no move to attack.
"Grimmjow... Play by the rules." Byakuya said lowly as a pair of guards tightly grabbed his arms.
Grimmjow just growled, but did as he was told.
"Bind their hands." Ordered Captain Soi-Fon.
Nyruki's nerves had already been doing somersaults in the pit of her stomach at the thought of being separated from Byakuya, but when a pair of guards took hold of her arms, she had begun to stiffen with the thought of fighting them off. The very thought of being bound sent her mind racing with memories she didn't want to remember, memories she wanted very much to forget, but a third guard pulled a pair of zip tie cuffs from his obi, her skin clammed up, her eyes went wide and her panic began to take hold.
"No... No, d-don't!" Nyruki said with a voice that had begun to shake so much that her words stuttered.
"We will not fight you, Captain. We understand the situation and will fully comply. There is no need for this." Byakuya said with weak resistance against the pair trying to pull his arms back behind him.
"Yes, there is." Soi-Fon said, standing her ground.
The guard trying to bind Nyruki's hands zipped one side of the cuffs onto her wrist, where she started to fight, struggling against her captives. They tightened their grip on her and even went as far as to bend her over to reduce the risk of her kicking. That only added to Nyruki's spiking panic.
"No! Let me go! Please!" She started to cry as the blood drained from her face, turning her already pale skin as close to white as it would allow.
"Let her go, Captain. This is my final warning." Byakuya said with a deathly calm as he too, began to struggle.
"Orders are orders. Bind her legs! If she wishes to act like a pig, then she will be bound like a pig!" She barked.
"No! Let me go! Please! Don't do this! Don't! Let me go!" Nyruki began to scream, fighting against her captures that had grown from three, to six.
Byakuya could feel her panic, see it rising in her eyes. The tears shined their surfaces to a high gloss that reflected like a mirror, showing him his own reflection. Those eyes plead for rescue, plead for help, to be freed from captivity and not bound. It pained his heart the more she struggled, sent his heart racing with rising adrenaline to do whatever it took to get to her and as the first large, heavy tear leapt free of her eye, his rage began to threaten the punishment force's lives.
"Let her go! You have no idea what you're doing!" Byakuya scowled, fighting harder against the guards whom had ahold of his arms, trying to lock his hands into the zip tie cuffs.
"I'm following orders, Captain Kuchiki. You of all people should understand that." She said without a flinch anywhere to be seen.
Nyruki's eyes were pouring tears as she fought against the men whom had ahold of her, shaking violently as she tried, to no avail, to wrest herself free. They had bound her hands behind her and were trying to do the same to her ankles, having picked her up to lay her down, which only added to the sheer panic.
"Let me go! Let me go! Don't! Please! I'll do anything! Just don't bind me! Please!" She screamed, crying uncontrollable tears that dripped from her chin in droves.
Byakuya ripped an arm free of one of the guard's holds and tried to run for her, to save her, but more guards pounced, surrounding him in a circle as they regained control of his powerful struggling.
"Let her go! Now!" He ordered, gritting his teeth together as he tried to free his arms and shoot forward through the circle of guards.
Soi-Fon simply stood with her arms crossed.
Nyruki's panic reached a fever pitch as she began to kick and scream, howling for the punishment force to let her go. Her lavender aura began to radiate from her body and more tears poured from her eyes in long, unbroken rivers that had forgone dripping off her chin to stream down her neck. The punishment force guards had picked her up, but one of her feet had found purchase and slammed into one of the guard's covered faces. More guards surrounded her, putting their hands on her to restrain her, pawing at her to get her back under control and it added fuel to Byakuya's already terrifying rage.
"I swear on the Kuchiki clan, that if you do not let her go this very moment, then I will spend the rest of my natural life making sure that my house crushes yours! I will not rest until every last one of you degenerate, low class mongrels is dead!" Byakuya roared with a look in his eyes that had turned predatory, feral even with rage as he continued to resist.
That got Soi-Fon's attention, as her eyes widened and her arms dropped to her sides.
"Enough!" Came another, unseen voice from down the hallway.
Byakuya's fierce struggling stopped as all the guards froze and watched, waiting for the owner of the gravelly voice to appear.
Byakuya already knew who was, and it was only confirmed when Soi-Fon dropped to a knee and bowed.
"Head-Captain! The prisoners are resisting." She said, looking down at the floor as Head-Captain Yamamoto appeared.
"They are not prisoners, Captain Soi-Fon. They are simply being held for questioning. Why treat them as such?" The Head-Captain asked lowly, resting his hand on his cane as he scanned the cell.
He paid particular attention to Nyruki's panicked crying as she started to hyperventilate, heaving breaths so fast that there was no time for her lungs to register that she had even taken a breath at all.
"Release them." The Head-Captain said with a solid bang of his cane against the floor.
Soi-Fon snapped to her feet, "But, Head-Captain! Central 46 ordered they be separated pending their official inquiry!"
"Do you really need to bind them? Captain Kuchiki gave you his word. Release them." Said the Head-Captain with a furrowing in his brow when none of the punishment force made a move to free them.
Soi-Fon released a long sigh, but then snapped her fingers with a loud pop.
The wordless command was enough for the punishment force to do as the Head-Captain wanted, cutting the zip tie cuffs from those whom had been bound. They immediately rubbed their wrists from the chaffing, but when it came to Byakuya, they continued to hold him with all their strength until the guards had cut the cuffs from Nyruki.
The second her arms were free, she pushed herself free and sprinted straight for him as the guards released their hold on Byakuya. She crashed into his chest and was immediately wrapped up in his arms, shielding her, protecting her from harm as she cried into his chest, clutching huge clumps of his Shihakushō in her shaking fists.
With her safely back in his arms, he cradled her to him with a hand on the back of her head and his lips against her hair. She was shaking so violently against him that it took some strength to keep her on her feet.
"Ssh... It's ok. I'm here." He whispered, tightening his hold on her so that she knew he was there.
"Captain Kuchiki... I will allow you all to stay together. However, if I hear that any discussions have taken place regarding the situation and your disappearances, then I will separate you. Am I clear?" The Head-Captain asked sternly.
Byakuya nodded, "Yes, Head-Captain. You have my word." He said, no longer boiling over with rage.
"Then I leave you to smooth things over with Captain Soi-Fon." The Head-Captain said before turning to leave.
Byakuya locked gazes with that very captain, still holding onto Nyruki as close as their physical beings would allow. Her crying had quieted to mere sobs and he could feel the heat from her tears soaking through his clothes.
"Punishment Force... Leave." Captain Soi-Fon said with another snap of her fingers.
The guards began to filter out of the cell where the last one slid the bars closed and locked it, once again trapping all eight inside. The guards didn't stay however, leaving Soi-Fon the sole observer looking into their cage. She recrossed her arms and stared at Byakuya, her eyes flicking down to Nyruki every so often before coming back up to meet his gaze.
Drawing in a long breath, Byakuya looked over his shoulder at Orihime, standing with worry in her eyes against the wall.
"Please take her." Byakuya said lowly as he started to loosen his hold on Nyruki.
However, Nyruki's grasp on him tightened as she buried her face even further into his chest and her shaking spiked for a brief moment until his hold returned to her.
"Ssh... It's ok, Nyruki. It's Orihime. I need to speak with Captain Soi-Fon." He said quietly to her.
Nyruki turned her head just enough to allow a single eye to see Orihime step up to her with awaiting arms. She just nodded as she shut her eyes and allowed the young woman to take her, immediately latching on with arms wrapped around her petite frame.
With Nyruki safely in the arms of Orihime and now, Neliel, Byakuya squared his shoulders and fixed his mussed Shihakushō, straightening it out where Nyruki's hands had crinkled it. He turned and took the pair of steps to the bars, all but glaring down at the much smaller captain with his stone gaze, unreadable and unwavering.
"Well isn't that interesting." Soi-Fon said lowly as she leaned over just enough to peer around Byakuya.
"I fail to see what you are referring to." Byakuya said, knowing full well what she meant, but not willing to just come out and say it.
"I know you do. Don't play dumb." Soi-Fon snapped quietly as she returned to standing up straight.
"Do not speak to me as if I were one of your lackeys." Byakuya said with zero emotion in his voice.
"As you are the one behind bars, I don't think you have the power to make such a request." Soi-Fon said.
"Perhaps, but that doesn't change the fact that I am a captain and the 28th head of one of the four great noble houses, upon which you are not." Byakuya said, clasping his hands behind his back.
"I don't see your captain's haori, nor do I see any sort of noble blood affiliation. You are a prisoner as far as I am concerned." She said.
"Whether I wear either, or not, doesn't change the facts. You have crossed the Kuchiki clan, Captain Soi-Fon." He said plainly.
"Should I prepare my house to defend itself? Prepare the Punishment Force?" She asked with the barest of shakes in her posture that Byakuya caught.
"House business cannot be handled with official resources, Captain Soi-Fon. You of all should know that." Byakuya said.
"I would do anything to defend my house against a threat so severe." She said, tightening her grip on her arms.
"That is actually something we have in common." He said with a brief narrowing in his eyes.
"So do I? Do I prepare while you're stuck in here?" She asked with a noticeable gulp.
"As far as I am concerned, you let her go. The threat is null and void." He said, never taking his eyes off her so he could watch her squirm under his fierce gaze.
"I only let her go because the Head-Captain ordered it." Soi-Fon said, drawing in a deep breath.
"Did you? Interesting... That's not what I saw."
Just like that, the conversation was over as Byakuya turned and stepped away from the bars, going to the group of males standing towards the back of the cell, beneath the sad little window that was their only connection to the outside. They stood a few feet away from where Orihime and Neliel had sat down, holding Nyruki close between them as she worked on calming herself down.
"What in all the fucks was that?" Grimmjow asked in just above a whisper as he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.
"Which part?" Ichigo asked.
"Any! That little bitch trying to put cuffs on us and then all of a sudden, Pretty Boy here turns into a fuckin' tiger!" Grimmjow said, managing to keep his voice down.
Byakuya crossed his arms as he looked at the girls, relieved to see that, at least, Nyruki's breathing was returning to normal. She was no longer at risk of hyperventilating.
"I don't think I've ever seen you angry like that, Byakuya." Ichigo said, mimicking Grimmjow's posture against the wall.
"You've seen me mad. You've never seen me pissed off." Byakuya said quietly as he bowed his head to stare at the floor.
"Which one was that?" Ichigo asked.
"Beyond pissed off and into the realm of apocalyptic." Byakuya said, lifting his head to look at them.
"Believe us... We could tell." Grimmjow said, rubbing a wrist from how tight the cuffs had gone.
"What happened with Sawada? Why did she react like that?" Ichigo asked, making sure to keep his voice down; a rarity in all honesty.
"Kurosaki, obviously there is a history there and most likely one you don't need to know." Uryū said, pushing up his glasses.
"Uyrū is correct. Yes, there is a history, and no, you don't need to know." Byakuya said quietly.
Grimmjow scoffed, "I've seen it before. There's no mistakin' that instinct." He said, looking down at the floor with his arms crossed once more.
"What instinct?" Ichigo arced a brow.
"That undeniable instinct to do whatever it takes to survive another day... Hell, survive another minute. In Hueco Mundo, there's no structure, no civilized society. It's kill, or be killed. Eat, or be eaten. You were either predator, or prey and it wasn't until Aizen showed up that some semblance of structure was put into place. Even then, how do you think a bunch of Arrancar bartered with each other... With the only thing we've got." Grimmjow scoffed, looking away from them.
"Yourselves." Ichigo exhaled.
"Exactly. We all used our bodies to get what we wanted. Outside of the Espada, it was a free for all. Whomever was willing to go the furthest made it to the top and believe me when I tell you that outside your precious little Seireitei, it ain't no different." Grimmjow said, finally looking up from the floor to them.
"That's how she survived for so long." Ichigo said in a whisper as it all clicked into place from the tale he had heard on their flight.
Byakuya nodded, "Yes, and this is the last we'll speak of it, Ichigo Kurosaki." He crossed his arms.
Ichigo simply nodded.
Byakuya nodded his thanks to the teenager before he stepped away and knelt down next to the girls, softly resting his hand on Nyruki's back. The touch caused her to flinch, but the moment she realized that the hand belonged to Byakuya, she instantly relaxed and reached for him.
He took her from the girls, releasing them from their duty of watching over the trembling woman. He shifted to sit and lean back against the wall before Nyruki settled into his lap, burying her face into his chest with another large handful of his Shihakushō. She curled into him, hiding herself from the world as he enveloped her in his arms, gently stroking her hair.
He would hold her for as long as it took for her to return to normal, knowing full well that what had happened had rattled her to the core. He would sit without a sound, without a move and when she came back, he would be there. For as long as it took.
Renji's leg was idling so bad, that the sound of his foot hitting the floor was translating to the floor below in the Squad 6 barracks. He couldn't be more on edge, in fact, he was so close that he risked falling into whatever depths were below. His eyes stared at some invisible object suspended in the air at an undetermined distance, unblinking and void of consciousness to the point that he didn't even acknowledge when the door opened.
"Renji? Do you have a minute?" Rukia asked quietly as she shut the door behind her.
At her voice, Renji finally blinked and set his eyes on the small woman whom had become apart of his soul. She sat down in front of him on the other side of the desk with a saddened look in her violet eyes that immediately caught his attention, silencing his idling leg.
"You ok, Rukia?" He asked with genuine concern.
Rukia released a long sigh and reserved herself to look down at her hands.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me Nii-Sama has been arrested!" She suddenly boomed, shooting to her feet as she clenched her fists tightly.
Renji jumped, "Wha?! I couldn't! The Head-Captain ordered me not to!" He instantly defended himself, tightly gripping the armrests of his chair.
"You baka! Since when do you follow orders to the T?" Rukia howled.
"Since I've been acting captain, that's when!" Renji shot back, gripping the armrests tighter.
"Jail, Renji! My brother is in jail! Why?" Rukia demanded with her shoulders tightening with her anger.
"I can't tell you! I've told you that!" Renji yelled as he rose to his feet to tower over her.
"Confidential mission my ass! You lied to me!" Rukia was fuming.
"I was told to! Captain Ukitake and I didn't want you running off to try and help them!" Renji boomed as he slammed his hands down on the desk and held eye contact.
"My captain even knew?! You people are incredible!"
"Will you stop, Rukia! We didn't want you running off and getting hurt! The captain would've killed me if something happened to you!" Renji's hand clawed on the desk.
"Which one!"
"Both of them! Do you have any idea how much you mean to them?... Especially my Captain?" Renji's shoulders started to shake.
"I'm not so weak where I can't handle myself, Renji! I've saved your ass plenty of times!"
"And I yours! Ugh! For crying out loud, Rukia! I'd kill myself if something happened to you!" Renji instantly held his breath as he slammed a hand over his mouth.
Rukia's anger immediately got pushed into the back of her mind, "W-What did you say?"
Renji's eyes were wide and it felt as if he couldn't breathe. His chest suddenly hurt as if someone had a firm hold of his heart that was still racing, beating into their palms without the necessary room to do so. He growled low in his throat as he clawed his hands into his messy hair that he had actually given up on trying to keep combed, instead having thrown it up into a plain high ponytail and bound it together with ribbon.
"N-Nothing. I didn't say a goddamn thing." Renji said lowly as he flopped back down into his chair and stared at his hands.
"You baka... What did you say?" Rukia asked, this time without the raging anger.
Renji watched as he picked at his fingernails, "I said I'd kill myself if something happened to you. It's the real reason why I didn't say anything... Why I lied to you. I didn't want you disappearing too and getting hurt." He nearly mumbled.
Rukia sat down, "Renji... We could've gone together to help Nii-Sama."
Renji shook his head, "No, we couldn't have. Captain Ukitake and I read what we could on this dude and there's no chance in hell I was gonna let you waltz right in there. If it meant lying to you to keep you here, than so be it." He still refused to look at her.
Rukia's shoulder's slumped, "Renji... I-"
"Fuck... I miss you, Rukia. I miss what we had. I miss you braiding my hair at night. I miss how we used to lay awake just talking instead of going to sleep." Renji said, watching his hands because he couldn't stomach looking at her.
Rukia just sat in stunned silence while Renji continued.
"I miss how when we were kids, growing up in that god awful shack and how we always had each other's backs," He huffed a sad laugh, "I remember how we used to lay on that horrible leaky ass roof, just watching the moon crawl across the sky." He added.
Rukia softly smiled, "Yeah... Sometimes we got caught out in the rain."
"Yeah... I'm still trying to figure out which leaked less. The sky, or the shack." Renji near mumbled.
Rukia nodded.
Renji's throat growled, "I still remember that day when that noble bastard swooped in and took you away from me. I was so fucking excited that I passed my test and I wanted to take you out to dinner to celebrate and when I saw him and his grandfather there, offering you their name and house, my heart hit the fucking floor. I wanted to be anywhere else, but there." He said as he pressed his thumb and forefinger into his eyes to rid them of the building sting.
"R-Renji... W-Why didn't you say anything then?" Rukia managed to ask a bit stiffly.
"And what? Ruin your chance to have a better life? No... No, I wasn't gonna do that. I could sleep in a ditch with a smile on my face knowing you were safe, warm and happy somewhere else. I'm a stray dog, Rukia. Always have been and always will be." Renji said as he gripped the back of his neck with both hands and stared up at the ceiling.
Suddenly, Rukia's chest hurt. It pained her to see Renji so defeated when he most certainly was not. He was one of the most resilient people she had ever known. Sure he was a glutton for punishment, always fighting despite his chances of winning being lower than dirt sometimes, but he was a fighter, a dedicated warrior more than capable of etching his name in the history books, if at all for the simple fact that his personality was as fiery as his hair.
With a soft sigh, Rukia stood from the chair and stepped around the desk where she clutched the heavy rope of bound hair. It was knotted and hopelessly tangled, but kept in check by the black ribbon that crisscrossed around it.
"Baka... What the hell happened to your hair?" She asked as she untied the black ribbon to free the monster.
"Captain's been gone and you've been busy with your shit and I can't get into the estate unless the Captain is there, so I've had no one to braid it at night." Renji grumbled as he tried not to wince from Rukia tugging at the larger knots to try and loosen them up.
"This is a mess, Renji." Rukia softly laughed.
"Tell me about it. It hurts like hell." Renji mumbled, watching his hands pick at their fingernails some more.
"Well yeah, the tangles are tight against your scalp. We should fix this." Rukia said as she dropped the heavy rope and stepped in front of him to sit on the desk with a smile.
"You're not mad at me for trying to protect you?" Renji asked with a slow sigh.
"I guess I can see your point," She lightly punched his shoulder, "Come on, you baka. Lets get that thing tamed and you can tell me what Nii-Sama's been up to." She slipped off the desk and started for the door.
"I'll think about it, but no promises." Renji said as he stood and followed her.
"Well, whether, or not, can you at least confirm one thing for me?" Rukia asked, stopping at the door and turning to face him.
"Depends on what it is." Renji crossed his arms as he glared down at her.
"Are Nyruki and my brother-"
"Yes."
It had been a full twenty-four hours since being locked up. A full day since last they saw the sun that wasn't through the space allowed by the small barred window. It's not like it mattered much anyways, as for most of those twenty-four hours was cast in angry clouds that poured a steady rain.
Their first night had been spent in relative quiet, making small talk to fill the time. The guards that had delivered Captain Ukitake's note had returned not long after Captain Soi-Fon had left, carrying eight bedrolls that they passed through the bars. Having a thin pad to lay on was a great reprieve from the hard bamboo floor and all were silently grateful.
After their lackluster supper that evening, they had retired early, eager to get some solid rest that wasn't filled with a watch rotation. Grimmjow and Neliel had been the first to drift off, laying together with Grimmjow's back up against the wall. He held her close to cover his front and Byakuya knew it was a survival instinct that drove him that was coupled with his affection for her.
Ichigo had taken up the adjacent corner with Orihime a couple feet away between he and Uryū, and Chad had simply splayed out in the middle of the cell, leaving Byakuya and Nyruki with the space beneath the sad little window.
With their second evening drawling on, the whole group had reserved themselves to sit on their bedrolls while they waited for their evening meal to arrive.
"This thing ever gonna kick off?" Grimmjow grumbled, laying on his side with his head in his hand.
"One would hope so, but where Central 46 is concerned, a timeline is typically difficult to predict." Byakuya said, leaning back against the wall, on his bedroll, with Nyruki resting her head in his lap.
"It's stupid." Grimmjow scoffed as he picked at his teeth.
"It is their way I'm afraid. No amount of grumbling about it is going to change that. All we can do is wait." Byakuya said, stroking Nyruki's hair and threading his fingers through its strands.
Grimmjow just growled low in his throat from his impatience as Neliel massaged his available hand with a deft touch.
The sound of a door opening down the hall garnished their attention, and it was soon joined by small voices. They were too far for anyone within the cell to pick apart what was being said, but it didn't take long until soft footfalls began to draw close.
With a soft pat to the top of Nyruki's head, she sat up to allow Byakuya to climb to his feet. He went to the bars and peered through with his hands resting on the metal and it only took a few moments before their visitor appeared from around the corner.
"Rukia?" He said quietly, which spurred all inside the cell to rise to their feet.
"Nii-Sama... I'm so glad you're alright." Rukia exhaled with genuine relief as she came to stand in front of him on the other side of the bars.
"I'm fine. Just exhausted and eager to be free of here. What are you doing here?" Byakuya asked as he dropped his hands from the bars.
"I came to see you all. There was no order from the Head-Captain saying I couldn't come see you." Rukia said, lightly crossing her arms.
Ichigo stepped up next to Byakuya, "Have you heard anything about us getting out of here soon?" He asked, he too, crossing his arms.
"No... I'm afraid not and I can't get a damn thing out of Renji." Rukia rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"And rightfully so. This is best kept quiet until all is resolved." Byakuya said quietly.
Byakuya glanced to his available side as Nyruki stepped up with a soft smile across her lips. The panic that had stricken her their first day was completely gone, and she had returned to being her normal self which was a huge weight lifted off of his shoulders.
"Hey, Nyruki. You managing alright?" Rukia asked softly.
Nyruki nodded, "As best as can be expected. Still pretty worried about this whole investigation though." She exhale her nerves.
"I understand," Rukia rubbed her neck, "Nii-Sama... IHBSTFYFCJU." She added.
Nyruki's and Ichigo's brows pulled down hard as they glared at the tiny woman, but Byakuya's simply widened for a moment as if he understood.
"BCF,R. TMCTWUCSTBWCFS." Byakuya said in just above a whisper.
Rukia nodded once as she reached inside her sleeve and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper that she slipped between the bars into his awaiting hand.
"I should get going, Nii-Sama. I just needed to confirm you were alright." Rukia said, no longer speaking in the strange code.
"We all are. TLRATHDAGJ." Byakuya added.
Rukia's soft smile broadened for a moment as she bowed and turned to leave, leaving Ichigo and Nyruki staring at Byakuya with utter confusion.
"What the hell was that?" Ichigo asked, his arms crossed even tighter as he glared.
"Shorthand. Her and Renji used to speak it when they were living in the 78th district." Byakuya said, stepping away from the bars to return to sitting against the wall.
"And she taught it to you?" Nyruki asked, sitting back down next to him.
"In a sense, yes. I picked it up and deciphered it from several of their notes they would pass to each other after she was adopted into the Kuchiki family. She caught me, but understood my concern, so she taught me the rest." Byakuya said, hiding the piece of paper in his sleeve for the time being.
"Well that's being nosey." Grimmjow scoffed.
"Perhaps, but at the time, I was overly protective of Rukia and hadn't yet developed any trust in Renji. I, admittedly... snooped." Byakuya lightly cringed.
"You're a strange one, Byakuya." Ichigo mumbled, returning to lounging on his bedroll with his hands behind his head.
"Perhaps, but I had my reasons for my actions. I will not apologize for that." Byakuya said simply.
"So what did she say?" Uryū asked from his bedroll, pushing up his glasses and sweeping his bangs out of his face.
"That Captain Ukitake has passed us another note. I told her to be weary of passing us too many contacts because it could spell trouble with Central 46." Byakuya said.
"And that last bit?" Grimmjow asked.
"Nothing that pertains to this." Byakuya said, pulling the paper from his sleeve and flipping it open.
The note was incredibly short, only being a single line that only his eyes could read, as it was written in Rukia's shorthand. It only took a moment for him to decipher what was written before refolding the paper and tucking it into his sleeve.
"Well?" Ichigo asked flatly.
"The investigation starts in the morning." Is all Byakuya said.
"Bought damn time." Grimmjow huffed as Neliel resumed her massage, this time at his shoulders that lolled his head forward.
"Who's up first?" Ichigo asked.
"It didn't say. We will find out in the morning. We shall discuss this no further." Byakuya said.
The group quieted down in time for their evening meal to arrive, being another less than appetizing meal that lacked flavor and appeal. But none complained, as it was a steady and guaranteed meal to fill their stomachs with. They knew it would be another early night, but that was alright with them, as they were going to need their rest for what was to come.