Chapter Four

When Renji finally awoke he found himself in a bed in the fourth division. Sitting next to him was Rukai.

"Renji you're awake," smiled Rukai as she hugged her friend tightly.

"Where is Kuchiki-taichou?" asked Renji as Rukai let him go.

"Nii-san is at a captains meeting," answered Rukai as she sat back down in her seat.

"What's the meeting about?" asked Renji as he sat up.

"It's about the Fox and how to capture him," answered Rukai, "But is it true you fought the Fox?"

"Yeah it's true. He was one hell of a fighter," answered Renji as he looked down at his hands.

"Did you ever find out what his true identity is?" asked Rukai in curiosity.

"No I did not," lied Renji as he pulled the sheets off himself and got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" asked Rukai as she watched Renji change back into his uniform.

"I'm going back to the sixth division to attend to my duties," answered Renji as he tied his hair up.

"But you shouldn't be straining yourself," called Rukai as she fallowed Renji out of the room.

"I won't I am just going to do paper work," sighed Renji as he closed his eyes and tried to ignore Rukai's nagging. But eventual Rukai stopped nagging him.

"Hey Renji," said Rukai as she walked next to Renji.

"What?" asked Renji as he looked down at Rukai.

"Who's Kuchiki Botan?" asked Rukai.

"Why do you ask?" asked Renji back who was a bit surprised by Rukai's sudden question.

"Ukitake-taichou and Kyoraku-taichou were talking about him when I was passing Ukitake-taichou's office," answered Rukai.

"I don't know," stated Renji who thought it wasn't in his place to tell Rukai, "Ask Kuchiki-taichou."

"I have asked him but every time I bring him up he changes subjects or makes up an excuse to leave," sighed Rukai as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Have you ever thought about going through the Kuchiki library and finding it out for yourself?" asked Renji as he looked up into the sky.

"I have also looked into that but when I found his name all his information was gone," answered Rukai, "It's really frustrating." Renji was surprised by this fact.

"That's strange," whispered Renji as they arrived at the 6th division barracks.

"I'll see you later Renji," smiled Rukai as she ran off to the 13th division.

"Bye," called Renji as he waved to Rukai as she left.

Later that Night

Renji was fast asleep in his bed when he felt something wet on his face. Renji opened his eyes to see a dog size orange fox that had nine tails and red eyes. Renji look at the fox in curiosity as it approached him. The fox opened his mouth and dropped something in Renji's lap. Sitting in Renji's lap was the locket that Botan always wore.

"Did Kuchiki-dono send you?" asked Renji as he looked from the locket to the fox. The fox nodded his head and sat down. Renji got out of bed and changed into his uniform.

"Lead the way," said Renji as he let the fox exit the room first. The fox sat up and leaped out of the room with Renji fallowing close behind. Renji fallowed the fox all the way to a grassy plain with one tree in view. Sitting under the sakura tree was Botan who was looking up at the moon. The fox mewed and ran over to Botan. Botan smiled as the fox jumped into his lap and curled up.

"Good boy Kyuubi," whispered Botan as he pet the fox's fur, "Welcome Renji."

"Why did you call me all the way out here?" asked Renji.

"I want to tell you my plan," answered Botan as he looked up at Renji.

"Why would you do that?" Renji asked as he raised an eye brow.

"You are strong and I have deemed you worth to know," answered Botan with a smile.

"So what is your plan?" questioned Renji as he walked over to Botan and sat in front of him, "And here is your locket." Renji dropped the locket in Botan's opened hand.

"Arigato Renji," smiled Botan as he threw his locket on.

Byakuya's POV

Byakuya was in his room brushing his hair out after taking a long bath. Then he saw the sakura clip his brother gave him sitting on the corner of table along with his old red ribbon he would wear when he was younger.

Flash Back

"BYA-CHAN!" called the voice of Byakuya's older brother. Byakuya turned and wiped his forehead with his empty hand since his other hand held a wooden katana.

"Nii-san!" smiled Byakuya as ran into his brother.

"How have you been Bya-chan?" asked Botan as he pet his younger brother's head.

"I've been good and grandfather says I'll be able to go to the academy soon," smiled Byakuya.

"That's great Bya-chan. I'm so proud of you," whispered Botan as he messed up Byakuya's hair.

"One day I'll be your vice captain Nii-san," told Byakuya to his older brother as he looked up at him.

"Yeah but you will have to wait until I'm a captain Bya-chan," laughed Botan as he grabbed Byakuya's hand and walked him into the house.

"Where are we going Nii-san?" asked Byakuya as he let his brother pull him through the house. Botan didn't answer but stop in front of his bedroom. He pushed the door open and entered into the room while pulling Byakuya with him. Byakuya smiled and ran over to a black rectangular box and opened it. Sitting in the box was his brother's sixth division arm band.

"One day I will be wearing this," smiled Byakuya as he pulled the arm band out to look at it.

"That's a good goal Bya-chan," chuckled Botan as he searched threw his drawers.

"Nii-san what are you looking for?" asked Byakuya as he noticed his brother searching threw his belongings.

"I'm looking for a present I bought a few weeks ago," answered Botan as he opened one of his many chests and started to look through it.

"Who's the present for?" asked Byakuya as he put the arm band back into its box and watch his brother search threw the chest.

"It's for Shinji," answered Botan as he looked deeper into the chest and fell it with a thud.

"Nii-san are you ok?" asked Byakuya as he ran over to the chest and looked into it to see his brother sitting there while rubbing his head.

"Yeah I'm fine and I found your hair band," smiled Botan as he handed Byakuya a red ribbon.

"Arigato Nii-san I was looking for this," thanked Byakuya as he changed out his hair bands, "But what does Shinji's present look like?"

"It's a newsboy cap," answered Botan as he got out of the trunk and picked up its contents and put it back into the trunk.

"Is that it Nii-san?" asked Byakuya as he picked up an olive green cap with brown zig zag lines going over it.

"Yeah that is it," sighed Botan as he took the cap from Byakuya, "Arigato Bya-chan."

"That hat is rather ugly why are you giving it to him?" asked Byakuya as he watched his brother put the hat in a small box which he then wrapped in white wrapping paper and mint green ribbon tied around it in a bow.

"It's a joke gift," laughed Botan as he finished tying the bow up.

"So what is his real gift going to be?"asked Byakuya as he lied down on his brother bed.

"Um well," whispered Botan while blushing.

"Nii-san, are you sick?" asked Byakuya as he noticed his brother's flushed cheeks.

"No I'm fine," smiled Botan as he stood up, "Bya-chan can you tie my arm band on for me?"

"Hai," answered Byakuya as he pulled the arm band out again and tied it around his brother's upper arm.

"I'll be back in the morning Bya-chan," told Botan as he picked up the gift, "On my way home tomorrow I'll buy you some candy."

"Where are you going again Nii-san?" asked Byakuya.

"I'm going to a birthday party," answered Botan as he kissed Byakuya's forehead, "don't cause the maids any trouble while I'm gone."Byakuya fallow his brother all the way out to front gate of the Kuchiki house hold before stopping and waving goodbye to his brother.

End of Flash Back

"What an ugly hat," mumbled Byakuya as he put his brush down and headed to bed.

In the Morning

Byakuya was awaked by a knock on his door.

"Kuchiki-taichou sumimasen," came a voice from the other side of the door.

"What is it?" asked Byakuya as he sat up.

"Abarai-fukutaichou is gone," answered the voice.

"Abarai is gone. What do you mean?" asked Byakuya as he quickly got out of bed and changed into his uniform scarf and all.

"Abarai-fukutaichou wasn't at breakfast so a few of us went to check to see if he was still asleep or not," answered the voice as Byakuya opened the door, "But when we went into his room there was no sign of him and his bed was unmade.

"Where would he go in the middle of the night," whispered Byakuya as he walked down the hall.

A Week Later

Byakuya was walking to the Kuchiki cemetery with a bundle of camellias in his arms.

"I'm back again Nii-san," smiled Byakuya as he knelt down in front of Botan's grave stone and put the flowers down in front of the picture. Byakuya prayed as he did last time but then something brought him out of his concentration. Byakuya stood up to see Fox standing on the branch of a tree staring at him.

"Fox," whispered Byakuya as he unsheathed his sword. The Fox also unsheathed his weapon from under his haori. The Fox disappeared and reappeared in front of Byakuya. Byakuya quickly blocked the attack. Both of them went at it block and dodge each other by using shunpo.

"So how much longer will we do this?" asked the Fox as he blocked Byakuya's attack and shunpo back.

"Scatter Senbonzakura!" called Byakuya as his katana turned into sakura pedals and came at the Fox. But before Senbonzakura could hit him Hihio Zabimaru covered him blocking Senbonzakura from hit him. Byakuya's eyes widen in shock as the large snake type bankai raised his head.

"You will not hurt him Taichou," came the voice of Renji. Byakuya watched as Hihio Zabimaru moved to reveal Renji standing in front of the Fox.

Thank you for reading this far please comments. ^_^