CHAPTER 11 Something Wicked This Way Comes

Early, the next morning Byakuya is in the 6th squad reading the latest report that was brought to his desk. It's regarding the strange attacks outside of Seretai. As Byakuya reads, his anger simmers . . . why wasn't he informed of this last night? Yes, Zaraki and Hisagi handled it well but, an attack on shinigami should have been reported to him especially as he is supposed to be back-up for Zaraki and Hisagi's squad.

Byakuya quickly writes a message to both Zaraki and Hisagi.

"Renji!"

Renji appears somewhat disheveled having shunpoed over to not be late, his head throbbing a bit from last nights outing with Ikaku.

"Hai, Taicho."

"It appears there were various deaths last night outside Seretai, 6 shinigami were wounded, 2 fatally and there was enough blood in another part of town to suggest at minimum that 2 civilians were slaughtered."

Renji blinks digesting the information, which quickly sobers him up.

"I am requesting of both Zaraki Taicho and Vice-Captain Hisagi, that they notify us at once if any further attacks take place. I also want you to set up a work schedule for teams of three to be on-call from now on; when an attack takes place whomever is on call is to respond and do as is needed."

"Hai Taicho. Taicho, any clues to who's doing this?"

"No, but we are going right now to Unahana Taicho's squad . . . I want to speak to the victims if possible."

"Hai!"

Byakuya "Rikichi!"

Rikichi walks in and bows a bit nervously as he recently started working in the captain's office "Hai Taicho."

"Please messenger these to both Zaraki Taicho and Vice Captain Hisagi and notify them that Vice Captain Abarai and I are going to speak with the victims of last nights attack."

"Hai, Taicho." Before he turns to leave, Byakuya continues.

"Afterwards, (Byakuya picks up the folder with all the reports regarding these strange attacks and hands it to Rikichi) please familiarize yourself with this file and you will assist Vice Captain Abarai when he returns."

Rikichi hears the seriousness of his captains tone . . . something is wrong.

"Hai Taicho!"

Byakuya and Renji leave.

At the 4th Squad . . . .

Byakuya explains to Unahana why he is there and Unahana informs him that 3 of the victims are in a healing coma and cannot be disturbed for possibly a few more days. The 4th survivor is sleeping and cannot be disturbed for at least 1 more hour.

Byakuya asks her to describe what she has found. Unahana "I just finished the report when you arrived. Come to my office."

They follow Unahana and in her office she gives them both a copy of the report. It describes how all 6 shinigami had their spiritual pressure depleted to different extents and some had more physical injuries to the throat then others. The 2 who passed on had only about 35% of their reitsu left.

Byakuya "What type of physical injuries?"

"It is as if their reitsu were literally sucked out of them, all had bite marks but, some had violent tearing on their necks and shoulders."

Unahana's use of the term "suck out" causes Byakuya to recall last nights dream or rather, nightmare.

Renji "Unahana Taicho . . . you suspect there's more than one enemy . . ."

"Yes, the bite marks were different in size and width, there were at least 4 different entities involved."

Renji "Entities? What do you mean?"

"I do not know what they are but, their teeth are somewhat different to that of a civilian . . and I do not know of any civilian who can suck reitsu from another's body."

Byakuya "Perhaps there is some research that can be done."

Next to him Renji inwardly cringes and crosses his fingers in hopes of not having to do research which he hates.

Unahana "I thought likewise so I have included a note to the Commander requesting a Captains meeting to update everyone.

Byakuya nods in agreement.

"Renji"

"Hai Taicho" he still has his fingers crossed.

"Please deliver Unahana Taicho's report and request at once, then carry out the scheduling with Rikichi."

"Hai!" he bows and shunpoes out.

"Renji seemed nervous."

"Afraid I would make him do the research I'm sure."

Unahana smiles.

"So while you wait to speak with Matsui-kun (4th victim), how have you been Kuchiki Taicho?" Unahana with her superior medical eye notices he seems a bit tired.

Byakuya wants to say "not well since I woke up this morning to find my room looking like a tornado had passed through it coupled with a splitting headache quite early in the morning."

Before he can reply she asks "Have you been sleeping well Kuchiki Taicho?"

Earlier that morning . . . .

After waking early in the morning, Baykuya's dream/nightmare kept replaying in his mind, bits and pieces that he couldn't quite put together. He had looked around his room, the mess . . . it was too familiar . . . too familiar of what seemed a lifetime ago.

Cautiously he had sat on his bedroom floor in lotus pose and forced his mind and body to quiet. He had hated meditating as a child and pre-teen, he had been punished often for "faking it."

He had sat breathing in and out deeply and . . . slowly but surely his mind had quieted. After gaining the stillness he needed he had for the first time in years willed his minds eye to awaken, to create . . . . It had taken about 20 minutes but, when he opened his minds eye he was standing in a dreamscape. He looked around taking in the detail of his dreamscape . . . it was a twilight by a cascade. The grass was covered in sakura petals. He smiles . . . he had created this dreamscape not long after he'd begun to hear Senbonsakura whisper to him . . . before meeting his sword he had dreamed of sakura petals. He walks towards the falling water and sticks his hand out which gets wet with sprinkling water. The realness of the dreamscape had always caused him wonder . . . but these current dreams, these unsettling almost menacing feelings . . . he is confused

Voice "This is beautiful master. I have not seen it in a very long time"

Byakuya glances sideways to see Senbonsakura near the stream.

Senbonsaskura notices something amiss "Master, I have sensed your distress"

"Distress? Have I been distressed"

"Are you not aware of it yourself, master? Has it something to do with this world?"
Byakuya looks around him "I do not understand what is happening . . .why is this happening?" he gestures to the scene before them.

Senbonsakura is confused, not knowing what has been going on in Byakuya's nightmares as he cannot willingly enter dreamscapes created by others

"You created it . . . ."

"not willingly."

"I do not understand." Senbonsakura is concerned.

"I fear this is an omen."

"Master – "

"Something is happening to me, my dreamscape is awakening yet, I cannot recall details"

"How long has this been happening master?"

"A few weeks now."

"Perhaps it is a natural progression master."

Byakuya looks at Senbonsakura with a scowl

"Explain yourself."

"You cannot reject a part of yourself forever master and if you feel this is an omen then perhaps some part of you, this part of you, knows your hidden abilities will be needed."

"How can you say that when together we have defeated countless enemies. I have never needed more than you."

"And yet, we have never reached our full potential because you have rejected your full potential."

"My potential." Byakuya almost spits the words out "this world was never about my potential it was about ambition, greed . . . "

"That is what it was used for by others Master . . . "

Byakuya says angrily "And now? Why do I only feel a sense of menace and . . . disorientation?"

Senbonsakura's concern heightens "Master you cannot ignore this worlds sudden and involuntary appearance in your life especially if those feelings – "

Byakuya cuts him off " I am not ignoring it, clearly" as he gestures to where they are w/impatience.

"Yet you are not controlling it" sternly. "I can feel your reitsu is somewhat unbalanced" said more gently.

Senbonsakura is deeply concerned but says no more knowing Byakuya needs time to cope with all the emotions, and memories this world has stirred in him. As Senbonsakura looks at the scenery it begins to slowly dissolve in a wave of deep sadness.

Byakuya had opened his eyes to feel a deep pain in his chest, a tightening in his throat . . . He had closed his eyes and taken a few deep breaths to allow it to pass through and out of him. Reopening his eyes, they were now troubled . . . Senbonsakura is correct, he cannot ignore this . . .

Back at Unahana's office . . .

"Kuchiki Taicho?" with concern.

Byakuya looks at Unahana's desk and sees a lovely seashell on it, he looks at it glances at Unahana and, for the second time in 1 morning he opens his minds eye envisioning an old drill he would practice in his dreamscape. Byakuya takes a deep breath and with resolve he opens his palm and wills the seashell to him . . . it flies directly into his hand.

"Byakuya" Unahana's surprise.

Byakuya stares at the seashell in his palm and looking at it he says

"I can't help but feel that something wicked this way comes."

Sorry to my fans for the delay, been hashing this chapter out amid real life controversies. Hope you enjoy it! Next chapter is in the works so hope to update soon.