Chapter Seven - Oso Sugiru
Renji knocked on Nikko's door in the morning. He had planned on catching her before she headed off to the squad meeting, but she never showed. He figured she was a little torn up over what happened and had to decided to skip out.
It made him feel worse than he already did.
"Nikko?" He called when she didn't answer the door. "Are you in there?"
He slid the door open just a little and peered through.
She wasn't in there.
He stepped through the door, looking wearily at the messy sheets. It was unlike her not to make her bed before she left.
Then his eyes caught the sight of the tiniest little drops of red on the ground. He kneeled down and touched it with his index finger. The liquid was still warm. It was blood.
"Oh, no." He gasped.
He ran out of the room and flashstepped the whole way to the Captain's office.
"Sir! Sir!" He yelled as soon as he pushed through the door.
Byakuya was, as always, sitting at his desk. His head jerked up at his Lieutenant's frantic voice.
"Captain!" Renji said, out of breath as he spoke. "Nikko's gone."
"What? Where?" Captain asked, confused.
"I don't know!" Renji yelled.
"What about Koishi?" Byakuya stood.
"I don't know." Renji said, still panicked. "I didn't check. But, sir, there was blood on Nikko's floor."
Byakuya's eyes widened. "No..."
Renji tried to follow as Byakuya flashstepped all the way to Koi's room.
"Koishi!" He said as he banged on the door. "Koishi!"
He opened the door when she didn't answer. He gasped at the untouched bed. She hadn't even came back last night.
"Not...here..." He muttered.
Byakuya stormed into the Captains meeting, angry and worried all at the same time. His eyes flew over thier confused faces, all other twelve of them.
"What seems to be the problem, Kuchiki?" Yamamoto asked in his ancient voice.
"My 3rd and 4th seat are missing." Byakuya said angrily. "I want to know what the hell is going on."
"Nikkohana and Koishi?" Soifon stepped forward with a worried look in her eyes.
Soifon had quite taken to Nikkohana. Nikko was strong, like Soifon, and they had had a good fight not too long ago.
"Yes." Kuchiki spat. "Where are they?"
"Kuchiki, be calm." Tosen urged. "Why would any of us know?"
"Whoever took Ukitake and Shinsui had to be powerful." Kuchiki demanded. "They're experianced Captains and they know how to fight. Whoever took them at least had to be a Captain themself."
"That is true." Unahana nodded from where she stood. "But none of us would have a reason to take them. They're only 3rd and 4th seat. Not even Lieutenants."
Byakuya growled. "They aren't normal Shimigami."
"Byakuya." Yamamoto's voice warned.
"Captain." Byakuya said roughly. "Someone has her...them. I want them back. They're in my Division and a Captain is responsable for his subordinates. The only way to find her-them- is if everybody looks. And they have to know...who they really are, if they're ever going to find them."
"What are you talking about?" Komamura took a step towards Byakuya.
"Excuse me." Kurosuchi took a step forward as well, but towards the door. "I have an important experiment to conduct. Can I leave?"
"Yes, Kurosuchi." Yamamoto allowed.
Byakuya watched cautiously as Kurosuchi passed him with a secret smile on his face. He was suddenly suspicious. What exactly was this experiment?
"You were saying, Kuchiki?" Hitsugaya urged.
"Nikko and Koishi are the Souls of Half." He blurted out, before turning his attention back to the Captains.
"What?"
"No way."
"Is that possible?"
The questions came quickly and Byakuya's patience was short.
"Quiet." He demanded. "I can't feel thier spiritual pressure anywhere. My Lieutenant is out searching as we speak."
"With power like that, how can thier reitsu be gone?" Soifon asked. "It would be rather hard to hide it. But we know they haven't left the Soul Society. That would be impossible."
"There are only a few places that can hide spiritual pressure like that." Zuraki stated. "And one of them happens to be in that nerd, Kurosuchi's Division."
"What?" Byakuya turned to Kenpachi.
"That place he does all those experiments of his." Zuraki smiled evilly, like he always does. "Under the 12th Division headquarters."
"That's..." Byakuya's head whipped back to the door.
"Kurosuchi wouldn't do that." Komamura shook his head.
"Oh, yes he would." Hitsugaya said. "He'll do anything for a good experiment."
"I'll go." Kuchiki sneered. "I'll take Renji. We'll get them back."
"Byakuya, you'll need help-" Unahana said.
"No." He cut her off. "We'll take care of it."
"There ain't no way you'll get past his Division all by yourself." Gin commented.
"At least let us go with you, Byakuya." Aizen said with a worried look in his eyes.
"I'm going alone." Byakuya said sharply. "My Vice-Captain will be with me."
"Byakuya-" Yamamoto started, but he was already gone.
"Renji." Kuchiki stopped in front of his Lieutenant as he searched through the 13th Division grounds.
"Captain, did you find out anything?" Renji said, rushed.
"Kurosuchi." Kuchiki sneered. "We have to hurry."
Renji only nodded before they both ran for the 12th Division.
Koi woke up in a cage. She was surrounded by spirit surpressing bars. Beside her was another, empty cage.
Suddenly, screaming reached her ears. Her head whipped up to see Captain Kurosuchi and Nemu beside him. Kurosuchi was leaning over a table with something writhing on the surface.
"Nikko!" Koi screamed. "Nikko! Nikko!"
She screamed over and over again.
"Nemu, shut her up." Kurosuchi demanded.
Nemu walked over to the cage and shoved her hand inside. She held Koi's throat tightly.
"Don't you dare touch her, you bitch!" Nikko screamed.
"Silence, fool." Kurosuchi smacked Nikko across the face.
She screamed as he put another needle into her arm, making her entire body freeze in an awkward position.
"Renji!" She cried, tears soaking her face. "Renji, I'm sorry..."
Her eyes closed and she suddenly fell into her enduced coma.
"Ah, finally silence." Kurosuchi smiled. "Nemu."
"Yes, sir?" Nemu said in her monotone.
Kurosuchi threw her a needle. "Give her that."
"No!" Koi screamed as she pushed herself against the back of the cage. "You bitch, don't do it!"
Nemu shoved her arm back into the cage and growled as Koi bit her arm right before Nemu shoved the needle into her neck.
"You bastard."
The voice came from the door. It was Renji. His eyes were pained and gazing at Nikko's open eyes as they stared emptily at the ceiling.
"Ah, Kuchiki. Renji." Kurosuchi said flatly. "I assume you came to ruin my fun."
Suddenly, Kuchiki was in front of Kurosuchi, his Zanpaktou at his throat.
"You're going to let my 3rd and 4th seat officers go." Kuchiki demanded. "Now."
"I'm afraid I have already started experimentation." Kurosuchi smirked. "I can't release them at the moment."
Kuchiki growled, cutting Kurosuchi's Captains robe and watching the blood fall from his chest.
"Let them go!" He demanded.
"Nemu." Kurosuchi was still smirking. "Please unlock Koi's cage and remove Nikko's restraints."
Nemu obeyed without a word.
"And wake them up for the Captain." Kurosuchi continued to smirk evilly.
She injected the both of them with something before returning to Kurosuchi's side.
The two girls began to stir before thier eyes shot open.
"Nikkohana. Koishi." Kurosuchi said. "Come here please."
Nikko sat up on the table and threw her legs over to stand. Renji didn't like the blank look in her eyes. It resembled Nemu's in a way he didn't approve of.
Koi crawled out of the cage with a rather menacing look in her eyes. Byakuya looked at her, barely recognizing that look on her sweet face.
The two girls nearly slinked over to Kurosuchi's side.
"I let them go, Kuchiki." Kurosuchi smirked. "Trouble is, it will be hard to convince them to go with you."
"Nikko?" Renji took a step forward before Byakuya held an arm out to stop him.
Her head had jerked to him and examined him with robotic eyes. A foreign smile spread across her lips, sending chills up Renji's spine.
"Nikko..." He repeated, his voice pained.
"Girls." Kurosuchi looked at each of them as they silently gazed at him. "Kill them."
Koi and Nikko's heads whipped back to Byakuya and Renji. They took a step back at the evil look in the girls eyes. They were suddenly afraid...
Not for thierselves, but for Nikko and Koi. If they attacked...they were much stronger. They could even outmatch a Captain, and most definatly a Lieutenant. Byakuya and Renji would either have to die themselves or kill the girls...
Koi jumped for Byakuya, her fingers like claws, ad Nikko walked calmly towards Renji.
"Koi..." Byakuya spoke softly as he could as he quickly stepped away from her attack, wincing as she hit the floor.
She stood up and scowled at him.
"Byakuya Kuchiki." She sneered, her voice dark and frightening. "You think you can boss everybody around just because you nobility, eh? You think you're just so bad because those stupid pieces of junk on your head! Well, let me tell you something, sweetie!"
She took another swipe at him but he dodged it again.
"I could kill you right here, right now." She spat at him. "Because I don't give a shit about your snotty nobility."
"You couldn't kill me." He said, his eyes sad.
"Wanna bet!" She screamed, a ball of energy glowing in her hands.
"Oh, if you wanted to, you could most definatly kill me." Byakuya sighed. "But you don't really want to, do you?"
She looked blankly at him. "Who says I don't want to?"
He took a cautious step towards her, but she jumped back.
"Stay back!" She demanded.
"Koi, I didn't want to make things complicated, so I kept how I felt to myself." He said simply.
"What the hell does that mean?" She yelled.
"I love you, Koi." He shrugged. "And I would much rather die myself than have to kill you. So please...just make it quick."
Byakuya threw his Zanpaktou on the ground, and took a deep breath before looking back at her.
"Pick up your sword!" She demanded, her voice growing more and more like it used to be. "Pick it up!"
"I'm not going to fight you." He shook his head before walking up to her. "Do what you want with me."
"But...but..." Her voice trailed off and her eyes rolled into the back of her head before she fell, Byakuya catching her in his arms.
Meanwhile, Renji didn't have such luck. He was using his Zanpaktou to block the red fire balls Nikko kept throwing at him ruthlessly.
"You! Bastard!" She screamed.
"Nikko, calm down, baby!" Renji called.
She was right in front of him, so close he could feel her breathe, instantly.
"You don't have the right to call me baby anymore." She sneered at him.
"Nikko, I am so sorry." He said softly.
He dropped his Zanpaktou to his side and sighed. She looked at him with confused eyes as his were filled with sadness.
"Just kill me, Nikko." He pleaded before holding the hilt of his Zanpaktou out to her. "I can't take this."
"What the hell?" She screamed. "Quite being a coward, Renji!"
"No." He shook his head. "If you want to kill me, then please do. I just want to give you what you want."
She laughed darkly. "So you say."
She took his Zanpaktou from his head and threw it at the wall, lodging it into the stone. She grabbed him by his collar and screamed in his face.
"I wanted you to understand! I wanted you to feel the same way as me! I loved you! More than I ever loved anyone...and you threw it back in my face like it was nothing." She was crying now, her voice gaining normality. "I just...wanted you to want me as more than just some hook up in a random storage closet. I needed something more. I was wrong to have even assumed that much."
"Nikko." Renji reached up and softly wiped the tears off her cheek. "I loved you, too. I just didn't know how to say it...or show it appearantly. That time, with the Captain...it was instict to clean up my own mess, and quickly. But I've learned my lesson. I hurt you, and that hurt me. I'm so sorry, Nikko. Please forgive me."
Nikko's eyes went cloudy and she sighed as she fell towards the floor.
Byakuya and Renji laid Nikko and Koi softly on the floor behind them. Byakuya turned slowly back to where Kurosuchi and Nemu still stood, frozen.
There was no escape for them. There were no windows or exits other than the door that was currently on the other side of Byakuya and Renji.
"Kurosuchi." Kuchiki said as he turned back to the 12th Division Captain. "What you've done is unforgivable. By order of Head Captain Yamamoto, you will be trialed for this incident. You and your Lieutenant are now under house arrest."
Byakuya turned back to the door. "Zuraki. Ikkaku. Yumichika."
The door burst open and the three of them came into the room. Zuraki laughed at the look on Byakuya's face.
"What?" He smirked. "You didn't expect me of all people to miss a good fight."
"My, my, my." Yumichika examined the unconcious Nikko and Koi. "So beautiful when they sleep."
Byakuya and Renji were suddenly on both sides of him, glaring at him with force.
"Just...uh...kidding?" He said as he shrunk under them.
"Zuraki," Byakuya continued. "Will you please take Captain Kurosuchi and Lieutenant Kurosuchi to thier quarters. Don't let them leave."
"Sure." He shrugged. "Come on, dorky."
Zuraki grabbed Kurosuchi by the waste and lifted him onto his shoulder.
"Hey! Hey! Put me down, you mongrol!" He yelled as he kicked.
It honestly didn't phase Kenpachi at all.
"Hey, Ikkaku." Zuraki nodded to his 3rd seat officer. "Grab Little Miss Pretty."
Ikkaku smiled as he grabbed Nemu's arm and lead her out.
"Kenny!" Yachiru squeaked as she jumped on the Captains back.
She kicked Kurosuchi in the face as she did so.
"Don't hurt Nikky and Ko-Ko!" She yelled at him.
Byakuya and Renji couldn't help but laugh.
Nikko and Koi stirred on the ground, making both men drop to thier knees at thier sides.
"Are you okay?" Renji said as he laid Nikko's head on his lap.
"What happened?" She asked softly as she rubbed her eyes.
"Nothing." He chuckled as he touched her face softly. "Nothing at all."
"Renji..." She sat up and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry."
"There's no need to be sorry." Renji sighed. "Unless you're me. Can you forgive me for being heartless?"
"Of course, baby." She kissed his cheek softly. "I always seem to anyways."
He laughed.
Koi had her own arms wrapped around Byakuya as he comforted her.
"I'm so so so so so so so so so sorry for going Super Psycho Crazy Girl on you." She said quickly.
"I don't mind." He kissed her cheek. "I like you that way."
"Captain Kuchiki?" She said softly. "Did you really mean what you said?"
"Otherwise, I wouldn't of said it." He told her.
"Can you...can you say it again?" She pleaded. "If you don't want to you don't have to-"
"Shh." He hushed her and pulled away from her so he could see her face. "I love you, Koi."
"I...I love you, too." She said quietly.
Byakuya leaned down and touched his lips to hers. She couldn't restrain her joy, tackling him down to the ground and making the kiss deeper.
Nikko and Renji laughed at them.
"Get a room." Nikko said.
Renji touched her face and traced a thumb over her lips. She leaned forward and kissed him, long and slow.
