Chapter 10: Enter the Blackness

Renji burst through the door into the examination room Byakuya was in and met with the awful sight of his taichou being restrained by two members of the second division, while a healer injected him with something. He flash stepped forward, tearing Byakuya away from them as the taichou's legs gave way beneath him. He held Byakuya against him and started moving towards the door.

"Abarai fukutaichou! What are you doing? We were just trying to conduct the necessary tests and we needed to sedate him."

"What's wrong with you? You don't just knock a guy out and start running tests on him against his will!"

"But Soutaichou said that we…"

"I don't give a shit what Soutaichou told you! No one is touching him without his permission and I'll cut the fucking hand off anyone who tries."

"Ren…don't…let them…They are going to make us forget…Sou…taichou was…lying…"

"We weren't going to…"

"Yeah, right!" Renji fired back, "That's why you needed secret mobile corps in here for a simple medical examination! Don't think for a minute I'm falling for that!"

"He's obviously hallucinating, Abarai. We weren't going to…"

"They're…lying…" Byakuya gasped, his eyes wide and unfocused, "Don't trust…"

He sensed more healers approaching and threw the door open, lifting a semiconscious Byakuya into his arms.

"I'm taking him to Kuchiki Manor. If you want him examined, you send either Unohana taichou or Hanatarou. If you send anyone else, the door will be slammed in their faces!"

He engaged his flash step just in time to avoid the incoming healers and shot across the hallway and out into the lobby.

"There!" someone yelled, "That guy is crazy! He just busted in and started yelling and threatening everyone."

"Shit…" Renji muttered, "So much for not doing anything to get us separated. Sorry, Taichou, but I think we'll have to make a run for home."

He flash stepped again and again, angling for the exit doors and bursting outside. He breathed a sigh of relief as he put distance between the healers and security guards, and himself. Holding Byakuya close, he turned the corner and started down the next street. He had nearly reached the end of the street, when he heard the hiss of flash steps all around and the click of zanpakutou being drawn as the secret mobile corps began to appear around him.

"Back off!" he yelled at them, "I'm taking Kuchiki taichou home! This is what he wants. I'm not hurting anyone…I'm just trying to do what my taichou wants."

"You will surrender now or we will have no choice but to forcefully restrain you. Abarai fukutaichou, you are under arrest for disturbing the peace and interference with an investigation. You must allow us to return Kuchiki taichou to the fourth division. They are only trying to do their jobs and conduct the necessary tests. They are trying to help him. Now…you must surrender."

"Look…I know Kuchiki taichou better than you do and better than those hacks who were torturing him in there. I will go back into the fourth division and allow him to be examined by either Hanatarou or Unohana taichou. I give my word that I will cooperate…just…you can't just let them start drugging him and doing crazy tests. He's been through a lot, okay?"

The leader of the secret mobile corps shook his head.

"I understand your devotion to your taichou, but my orders are clear. You must surrender and be questioned. And Kuchiki taichou must be returned to the fourth division."

"Renji…" Byakuya said weakly, "Renji…something…They did something…I can't…remember. I…What happened? Where are we?"

"Damn them!" Renji hissed, dropping to his knees, "It'll be okay, taichou. I'll take care of you, okay?"

He looked up at the officer.

"Please…he needs help. I just want to take him home and let his personal staff care for him. I'll surrender once he is safe…"

More secret mobile corps suddenly flash stepped into view all around him and took hold of him as he struggled to break free and to hang on to Byakuya. Renji felt himself being forced to the ground and cried out in anger as Byakuya was torn from his arms and kidou ropes extended and wrapped around his wrists. A moment later, a shock went through him as his spirit energy was sealed away. He caught a glimpse of Byakuya being restrained and carried back to the fourth division. The leader of the secret mobile corps unit knelt next to Renji's restrained form and spoke in a low, sympathetic tone.

"Abarai Renji, you have my apologies. Don't think I am unsympathetic, but Soutaichou is very intent on protecting certain information you have. He wishes for your memories to be adjusted and he said that it was for the best to do this even though it meant lying to you. I am made uneasy by this, because I know you to be a good man. I have to take you in, but I give you this advice. If you want to be there for your taichou, then you need to come along calmly and submit. If you do that, you may be able to simply be mind-wiped and released afterward. But if you give us trouble, we have been ordered to hold you longer…to pursue more serious charges. I overheard the advice Kuchiki taichou gave you earlier while we were monitoring you. You should listen to him…if you want to be there for him."

Renji let out a long sigh and nodded defeatedly. He quietly allowed himself to be pulled to his feet and led away.

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya laid unmoving, his eyes wide and senseless as the secret mobile corps stood guard nearby.

"I heard they were moving him to a secret location in the living world," said one guard to the other.

"Damn shame. I can't believe he'd fall apart like that. I gotta wonder. What kind of hell did he and Abarai fukutaichou get sent to to come back in such a condition?"

"Don't ask too many questions," the other advised, "This was supposed to be a simple mind-wipe. This wasn't supposed to happen. The guys who mind-wiped Kuchiki taichou fucked up and overdid it. I guess they figured he would need a stronger dose…"

"Hell with that! They shouldn't be using that shit on enemies, let alone our own. I don't know what information they had, but it wasn't worth this!"

"Well, Abarai will be mind-wiped and probably promoted to Squad Six Taichou after Kuchiki taichou disappears."

"What if Kuchiki taichou regains his senses?"

"Look at him! Those fucking idiots fried his brains. He's not coming back. You can feel he's not flowing any reiatsu. He's gone…"

"Damn! And you gotta wonder what the hell it would take to do that."

"Don't wonder. Don't ask. Just forget…and realize that after they take him…they'll mind-wipe everyone here too. Whatever secret he had…is gone."

The door opened and the guards fell silent. Footsteps crossed the room and a black clad squad two officer stopped by the bed and gazed down at the senseless taichou.

"Time to go, Kuchiki taichou. We have a nice comfortable place for you to stay. We'll make sure no one hurts you."

The man in the bed did not move or respond. The other shook his head and moved forward, lifting Byakuya into his arms. He twitched softly as pale arms looped around his neck and his head came to rest on one shoulder.

"You came back for me…Renji…" Byakuya moaned softly, "I knew you would come back…"

"Yeah, I won't let anyone hurt you, Kuchiki taichou. We're going somewhere safe."

Byakuya's eyes closed and he drifted off as the officer flash stepped away, holding him securely in his arms.

XXXXXXXXXX

Renji sat quietly in the Squad Two Cellblock, waiting for the inevitable. He knew the guards would return at some point and erase his memory, but how to avoid it was a question he couldn't seem to answer. He had tried everything he could think of, from distracting his guards to pleading, but nothing could get him outside of the cell. He retreated to a chair in the corner and sat with his face in his hands, remembering his last glimpse of Byakuya…his dark eyes wide with terror, lost…broken.

"Why the fuck did they do that, Taichou?" he whispered, "We were as good as our word! Soutaichou had to know we would keep to what we said. Why would they do that to you? Why are they doing this to us? Where will they have taken you? How do I find you? How will I even know to look for you if they take my memories? Damn! We did what we were sent to do! We did everything we were supposed to! Why, Taichou? Why did they do this?"

His head drooped and he sat leaned against the wall, waiting for the footsteps. When he heard them, he rose to meet his fate wearily…resigned…disillusioned. Suddenly, Renji understood what might have motivated Aizen taichou and the others to abandon the Gotei 13. He understood that even if you followed the rules…you could still get screwed…by your own…

The soft footsteps stopped at his cell and he gazed down at the petite, black clad guard who opened the cell door. He blinked and looked closer and the guard's lips curled into a smile.

"I'm to take you to a secure location for your interrogation," the familiar voice said, "Do not resist."

"I won't," he said, hiding a smile.

He followed the dark form out of the cellblock and into a nearby alleyway. Quickly, the guard pulled him into a doorway.

"Here, Renji," Rukia said in a low voice, "It's a cover form. I'll wear one too. It will hide our identity until we can reach the living world."

"How did you even know I was here? That we were back?" Renji asked as he slipped into the cover form.

"Rikichi," Rukia said softly, "He was near the first division when you arrived and tailed the ones who led you away, then watched to see where they would take you."

"Where is he now?" asked Renji.

"Tailing the ones who have my brother. They were at the fourth division when I last heard from him, but they will probably move him. Something happened that wasn't supposed to, Renji."

"Yeah, I'll tell you what happened, Rukia. We were screwed over…Byakuya and I promised not to say a thing, but Soutaichou was lying when he said we didn't have to be mind-wiped. When we got to the fourth division, secret mobile corps showed up and they tried to mind-wipe him…but they used too much or fucked up somehow…I don't know exactly, but I heard him scream my name and I went to help him. I tried to get him out of there…take him home, but we got surrounded…and they took him. Rukia, he was really out of it when they took him. He sounded like he was completely unhinged."

"Damn it! I knew it was something like that, but I didn't know what. What happened to the two of you?"

Renji gazed at her for a moment.

"Hell…it's not like they kept their part of the agreement, so I guess I don't feel obligated to keep mine. We were sent to the royal palace. Aizen Sosuke attacked and…"

"I heard about that," Rukia said, "but…"

"But you probably didn't know that…"

"Renji…Ukitake taichou knew where they sent my brother and you. He told me that you went to the palace to use the rebirth ritual to birth the new king. He swore me to secrecy."

"Did he tell you anything about the process or our roles?" Renji asked quietly.

"No…but I know it must be bad. What Rikichi saw tells me that whatever it is…it was very bad for my brother. So to help him, I'm going to get you to the senkaimon. I have to stay in plain sight most of the time, because they watch me a lot. I was lucky to give them the slip this time. But you have to get to Urahara Kisuke. He can hide you…and then you and Ichigo can look for Byakuya. I will make contact with Rikichi and bring any new information to you."

"So…once I find Byakuya, what then?" Renji asked softly, "They'll still…"

"Get him to the elders," Rukia said firmly, "Remember, the Kuchikis are the strongest of the noble clans. Once they see what was done to Byakuya, they will provide pressure to keep the two of you safe. The Gotei 13 is strong, but the clans are stronger. They won't tolerate what was done to Byakuya. But Renji, they won't listen to us. They will need to see Byakuya before they will act. We have to find him and we have to bring him back."

Renji nodded.

"I'll find him, Rukia," Renji promised, "I won't stop until I do."

XXXXXXXXXX

"So…you say he was found like this?" asked the doctor, looking at her clipboard, "No name or ID? Nothing from him about a name or…anything?"

"Nothing…just him."

"Damn! I hate these…" the doctor muttered, "I like to know more about my patients."

"Yeah, well, sometimes they just come outta nowhere. Look, I gotta go. I'll catch you next time."

"Thanks," the doctor said, turning to Byakuya, "Now then, let's see if I can get you to talk to me. Sometimes people just don't want to talk to police and security people. Well…now it's just you and me. I promise I just want to help you."

She stepped closer.

"You have beautiful eyes! Kami, you look like an angel with that glowing skin of yours! Come on, angel, tell me what cloud you fell off of. I need a name, some way to help you find your way home. Can you tell me your name?"

The dark gray eyes struggled to focus and his lips moved, but no sound came out. The doctor waited.

"Well," she said finally, "I am Doctor Mika…but you can call me Talia. Now, I told you my name. You think you can give me yours? It's only polite, I mean."

She waited and gazed down at him, trying to give him every chance to rise to the surface. Finally, she sighed and shook her head.

"Looks like we'll have to try again tomorrow. It's time for me to go home now, angel, but if you need anything, a nurse will be coming by to check on you every so often."

She checked the soft restraints and looked down at him sympathetically.

"Tell you what," she said softly, "You talk to me? Tell me your name? And I'll see what I can do to get you out of these. You only need them because we don't know you well enough to know what you'll do if we take them off. If you talk to me, you and I can get to know each other and these won't be necessary. I want to see you get better. I want to see you get out of here. Someone like you doesn't belong here…"

She turned and started toward the door.

"B-bya…"

The doctor stopped and turned. The man's eyes were closed now and he seemed to have drifted off. She stepped back to his side and smiled down at him.

"Sweet dreams, Bya. I will be back in the morning and we can talk more then."