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Note: thanks for the reviews :) here ya go ^^
Chap 3: the Plan
Shuuhei and Izuru waited at the gate of Kuchiki manor for the others to arrive.
They didn't have to wait long until the first met them.
"Shuuhei, Izuru good to see, but what are you doing out here?" Rangiku asked her friends.
"Just waiting for the others to arrive, so we don't bother Kuchiki-taichou with interruptions." The black-haired man informed her.
"A wise decision Hisagi, but Kuchiki will get annoyed regardless of what you do. Espicially if that really is Kenpachi coming this way." Hitsugaya told him and caused them to turn in the direction he nodded.
True to his word Kenpachi was going towards Kuchiki manor, on his shoulder Yachiru and on either side of him where Yumichika and Ikkaku.
"Yo, tattoo-face can we go in now? Kuchiki-hime is waiting." The giant said already making his way to the main door of the manor.
"That will be an exhausting evening." Shuuhei said exhaling.
And with that the eight of them made their way into the main hall, where they were greeted by a servant. "Kuchiki-sama is already expecting you, if you would follow me."
They entered the maybe biggest room Kuchiki manor had to offer.
In the midst was a huge table decorated with delicious looking food that caused them to water their mouths. Already sitting there were Byakuya, Rukia, Ichigo, Juushirou and Shunsui.
"Ah I feared you would accompany them Zaraki, but that you actually came still surprises me." Byakuya said with closed eyes.
"Come now Byakuya, we need all the help we can get and Zaraki surely can be of good use." Ukitake tried to calm him.
"Juu is right you know Kuchiki-kun, we will need all the might we can get to find Abarai-san." Shunsui told him, looking at him from under his hat.
"Unfortunatly you both are right. So sit down and let's eat first." The clan-head told them, gracefully picking something he would eat.
After they finished eating the table got cleared and Byakuya sealed the room, so that no sound could be heard in the halls.
"Now it is time to assess the situation and prepare our moves." Byakuya told them and they nodded.
"Did you really lose crazy eyebrows Byakushi?" Yachiru exclaimed rushing towards his side. Byakuya just put some candy in her mouth to shut her up.
"We start to recall yesterday evening. Some of you were out with Abarai and brought him home, isn't that right?" the raven-head asked glancing at Hisagi, Kira, Matsumoto, Madarme and Ayasegawa, who all nodded.
"I brought him home, although we were both quite drunk… But I remember Renji-kun locking the door." Izuru told them frowning while he remembered.
"Yare, Yare. Seems we have to figure out what happened to Abarai-san from there on, hm?" Kyouraku asked while taking a sip of his sake.
"His door didn't look like someone burst in, it was in absolutely unharmed state. Also that the person left Zabimaru in Abarais home sure is a sign, that his rank was well known." Byakuya said giving the others more information.
"Tch. What would someone want from him anyways?" Zaraki asked not entirely sure why Abarai got abducted and not someone of higher rank.
"Good question Kenpachi. We assume that it's of private reason. The only question that stays is who would abduct him and why." Ukitake replied, thinking about possible answers.
"What about the 'where' Ukitake-san? Renji could be everywhere!" Ichigo exclaimed, hand slamming on the table.
"We are sure, that whoever abducted Abarai took him out of Seireitei. The person would know that sooner or later we would start a search and Seireitei is faster searched than the Rukongai. So calm down Kurosaki, there is no need." Byakuya replied taking a calm sip from his tea.
"Yeah then tell me Byakuya how are we going to find him? The Rukongai is fucking huge!" the orange-head replied, getting more and more furious at Byakuyas calm demeanor.
"That is our only problem Kurosaki. And it doesn't help, that Renjis reiatsu got suppressed." The raven-head said, looking into his cup, thinking.
"Hä? How do you know his reiatsu is suppressed?" the substitute asked now confused beyond believe.
"You might remember how Senbonzakura wasn't able to enter Renjis inner world to speak with Zabimaru. The failed connection is caused because Abarai himself can't connect with his zanpaktou and that is caused, because Abarais reiatsu is suppressed." He explained while the others just stared in awe at him, Ukitake and Kyouraku the only persons who nodded in agreement.
"Tch, really Kuchiki-hime, to figure that out so fast… nice." Zaraki said wolfish grin full in place, Byakuya just glared at him.
"And what if we are already too late Byakuya?" Ichigo asked looking at the floor nearly shaking with rage.
"No, Renji is strong. He can endure even without reiatsu." A soft voice whispered and all eyes turned to watch Rukia.
'We need to find him, for Rukia. I can't see her like this.' With that Ichigos determination got stronger.
"Oi, Byakuya. I bet you have already a plan in mind, how we search for him, don't you?" the orange-head asked.
"Yes I have. " And then there was a knock on the door and Byakuya got interrupted.
He released the kidou and stepped to the door. Upon opening it he came face to face with Hinamori Momo and his unseated officer Rikichi. Of course he knew what they wanted so he let them in, sealing the room again with the kidou.
"Sit down. We were about to discuss the plan to find Abarai." He told them sitting down on his spot.
"We are sorry to interrupt, please continue Kuchiki-taichou." The small girl said, both politly bowing.
"It is fine, you're timing was quite good, so I don't have to explain again." The raven-head said, now assessing the new information.
"Now we are 14 people to search for Abarai. I advise to part into groups of 3 persons." "But that doesn't divide right, Byakuya" Ichigo interrupted him, causing Byakuya to raise an ever dignified eyebrow.
"Of course it doesn't Kurosaki, believe me when I tell you that I am able to make the simplest math. If you would be so kind to let me continue? That would be pleasant." The raven-head said, dripping with sarcasm.
"Uhm, yeah sure… go on." The substitute said, dumbfounded.
"Like I said we are 14 people and we will divide into groups of 3 persons, that leaves 2 of us without a group. Those two would be Ukitake-san and Kyouraku-san, they will stay in Seireitei." "WHAT?! How can you let them stay here? They are way too powerful to be left here." Again Ichigo interrupted.
Now Byakuya nearly lost his temper, how dare that human interrupt him? HIM, of all people?
Ukitake sensing Byakuyas short fuse tried to interfere: "Ah, please Ichigo-kun let Byakuya-kun finish his plan, then we can always put our two cents into it, right?" he asked with his ever polite smile.
"Huh, yeah sure." Ichigo gave in.
"Like I said we will divide and two of us will stay in Seireitei, Ukitake-san and Kyouraku-san to be exact. I thought of them, because one: Ukitake-sans health might be hindrance in the search, two: they can distract the soutaichou from us, while we search for Abarai and three: they make a research in the libraries about Abarai, who he associated while in the academy and out of the academy. The others will be in groups of three, I will announce now:
Zaraki, Madarame, Ayasegawa
Hisagi, Kira, Kurosaki
Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Hinamori
Myself, Rukia and Rikichi
Every group will search one part of the Rukongai:
Zarakis group will search the north, Kurosakis the east, my group the south and Hitsugayas the west." He ended his explanation.
"Why can't I be in your group Byakuya? I want to search with you and Rukia." Ichigo complained.
"That, Kurosaki, would be insufficient. As you may have recognized in every group is a taichou or in your case a taichou level Shinigami, owning Bankai or coming close to it" he said looking from Madarame to Zaraki and back.
"Tch. You know Kuchiki-hime, that is quite the idea you have here." The giant said with admiration.
"Arigatou Kenpachi, but it seems I am not quite done. We need to prevent ourselves from being detected, we have to look like commoners. Meaning we can't wear haori and Shihakushou also we have to hide our zanpaktou, that would be a difficult feat for you Kurosaki, but you have to. We can't be detected or the whole plan will fail. Furthermore we can't search in regular times. That would just draw attention to us and I am sure whoever has Abarai will make sure to keep it that way. So we not only need to take different times between the groups but also from day to day." Byakuya finished his plan, thinking if he may have forgotten something.
"Yare Yare, quite the plan you have here Kuchiki-kun." Shunsui said, admiring Byakuyas ability to differ plans when new situations arrived.
"Uhm do you even have commoner clothing Byakuya?" the orange-head asked, eyes narrowing.
"Unfortunately not, but I will take same of Abarais clothing. That I won't be detected easily, his clothes should hide me quite good." the raven-head said, not sensing the strange looks he received from some of the assembled persons.
"What about new found information kuchiki-taichou? And uhm... What should we even search for?" Shuuhei asked.
The raven-head nodded, thinking. "We need a place where we can gather our input. I must admit, I have right now no idea where that could be. As for what we search: Everything. Reiatsu traces of Abarai even if it is faint can help us, maybe we find some of his blood. We need to gather everything that could be of help. And don't forget, that Abarai comes from Inuzuri, if need be he can be very stealthy so keep your eyes open."
"The sakura tree on the hill in front of the sixth division." Rukia said with a sad smile. "It is Renjis most favourite spot. There is a small whole high in the tree he used as a storage." She told them eyes nearly getting teary, so she tried to hide it with her hair.
"Why would that idiot use a tree as a storage?" Ichigo asked incredulous.
"Hm right, I remember Abarai often sitting in there, sometimes evening sleeping. That is a very good idea Rukia, we will do so." Byakuya said nodding his agreement.
"And when do you want to start Byakuya-kun?" Ukitake asked.
"It would be best to start as soon as possible. I think it would be best to start tomorrow morning."
And with that all nodded and departed to take a good night rest.
Renji on the other hand hadn't the luxuary of a good night rest. Sure he could sleep wherever and whenever he wanted, but that was just ridiculous…
He was still chained to the ceiling, his whole body sore due to his captor and now rapist. At least the man released the Kidou that bound his ankles, although that wasn't as reassuring as he hoped it would be.
And then the red-headed remembered something.
That strange man had a knife, but he went without it. So where was that damn knife? If he found it he could at least make an attempt to get off the ceiling. Sure he wouldn't get those cuffs of, they were reiatsu suppressing and unfortunately he knew that they only could be released when in contact with reiatsu. So go figure, that Fortuna wasn't on his side.
Nevertheless the red-head wasn't one to give up, at least not now anyways.
And fuck his taichou and mentor was Kuchiki fucking Byakuya! All he really learned he learned from that man, fuck the academy with their theoretical bullshit. You learn only on the battlefield.
And so he tested the ceiling. It wasn't really stable, to his luck with some force he would be able to cause the chain to get off from the ceiling and so he tested the waters.
But the red-head really was an unlucky fellow. As he struggled with the chains an unmasked man entered, hearing the clatter of the chains.
'Yeah my luck… that fucker positioned guards. Well Abarai you have to think and that quick!'
"Oi, what cha doing?" the guard asked. "Oh nothing, just trying a new position these cuffs aren't that comfortable ya know? Maybe you could help me." He really hoped the man was as stupid as he thought.
"Ah ne, boss said ya dangerous even withou ya reiatsu." And with that he remained at his position in front of the door.
'Oh damn. Well at least he let me be, so there still is hope, right? I just have to get of that ceiling'
So yeah that's it for chap 3 :D
Hope you liked it, even though it wasn't that thrilling…