Chapter Twenty: Baiting The Snare
As Orihime left the 13-Bantai barracks, her heart was heavy in her chest. Behind her, she could hear Byakuya's voice giving further instructions, and she frowned, her brows knitting together as she remembered the sudden, frightening way in which 13-Bantai's Captain had collapsed. He had seemed so deathly pale, she reflected sadly, anxiety flaring in her young heart. And then, to cough up blood…
It's serious, isn't it, to cough up blood? Oh, but Renji-kun said that he'd been sick for a long time. Even so, though…he really looked bad. If he was already feeling poorly…has coming to the Real World to get me made things worse?
She glanced at her hands, regret stirring inside of her.
Could I have helped? Or am I as useless in a situation like that as Byakuya-san said? Probably he's right, in the end. Probably there isn't anything I can do except get in the way. But even so…
She paused, turning back to gaze up at the black and white logo that hung over the gateway.
Even so, I'd have liked to have tried. Even if I couldn't do anything…I wanted to help him somehow.
She let out a heavy sigh, turning her attention back to the main thoroughfare that ran between the offices of the thirteen Gotei squads.
Why did Ukitake-san come to get me, in any case? Surely there's nothing I can do for Ishida-kun. If Yoruichi-san was right…if things are serious here too…my Rikka shield can't heal him from that. And maybe there's a small possibility he'll believe I'm Niji and let me talk to him but…but the last time he did that…the last time…
She faltered, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment as she recalled the awkwardness of the kiss.
That mustn't be allowed to happen again. Ishida-kun was so upset about it…and…and if there's a chance he might attack Kurosaki-kun because of me…I can't let something like that happen to him again. Ishida-kun's so proud, after all. He hates being embarrassed. Maybe bringing me here was a mistake after all. Maybe it would've been better if Sado-kun had come instead – at least, with his strength, he might have been able to make a difference.
She kicked absently at the dirt, disliking the feeling of helplessness that welled up inside of her. Although Byakuya had told her to go to 6-Bantai, she was apprehensive of doing so, uncertain about what she might find when she got there. The suddenness of Ukitake's summons coupled with his dramatic collapse told her that matters had become more urgent – but even on the trip between worlds the 13-Bantai Captain had told her little. At the time, Orihime had thought he'd seemed troubled and tired. Now, however, she understood.
He was fighting against his fever, to ensure I got here safe and sound.
She sighed, shaking her head as if to clear it.
I guess that means it is my fault, then, in the end. If I was stronger…
"Well, well. There's a face I didn't expect to see quite so soon as this."
At the sound of the voice Orihime faltered, turning in surprise and consternation to face the grinning, self-satisfied form of the 12-Bantai Captain.
"K…Kurotsuchi-san?" She said hesitantly, taking an instinctive step backwards, and at her reticence Kurotsuchi laughed, holding up his clawed hands in mock surrender.
"Now, now, there's no need for that." He said softly, his voice deceptively gentle. "The last time we spoke, true, we were enemies. But that was a long time ago, Inoue-san. You were mere ryoka and I was doing my duty as a Captain of Soul Society in attempting to apprehend you. None of us knew about the terrible things that were to come – these days, surely, we're on the same side?"
"I…I suppose that's true." Orihime said cautiously, and Kurotsuchi's features twitched into a look of hurt dismay.
"What's this?" He murmured. "You'll happily visit other Captains' quarters, but you won't even face me and hold a civil conversation? I'm hurt. I'm sure you aren't so ill-disposed towards Kuchiki-taichou, or, say, Abarai-fukutaichou – both of whom inflicted grievous harm on your friend Kurosaki, unless I miss my guess…?"
Despite herself, Orihime was ashamed.
"I…I'm sorry." She said guiltily. "You're right. I shouldn't be so suspicious of everyone. Even if you and Ishida-kun did fight…there's no reason now for me to consider you any differently from Byakuya-san or Ukitake-san or any of the other Captains."
"Well, indeed." Kurotsuchi bestowed her with a radiant smile. "After all, you and I share a close acquaintance, I believe. A truly mutual friend, one might say."
"A…mutual friend?" Orihime looked startled, and Kurotsuchi nodded.
"Urahara Kisuke." He agreed softly, and Orihime's eyes widened.
"Urahara-san?"
"Didn't you know?" Kurotsuchi tut-tutted under his breath. "But it's just like him, playing games and keeping secrets. Urahara was my predecessor here, of course – but he was also my close colleague for some years in other, more scientific respects. His exile was a terrible shock to everyone in 12-Bantai, you know."
"I see." Orihime offered the odd man a faint smile. "I didn't realise, but it makes sense. So, in that case, you must know why I'm here."
"Of course." Kurotsuchi said simply. "To help the Quincy boy, whose life has taken an unfortunately complicated twist of late."
Orihime sighed.
"Ishida-kun doesn't like you very much." She admitted. "He probably wouldn't like it if he knew you knew about all of those things."
"Quite probably not." Kurotsuchi responded evenly. "Yet in some respects I feel it was my fault, Inoue-san. After all, it was in fighting me that Ishida-kun lost his Quincy powers, was it not? Everything since appears to have been a direct consequence of that fact."
"So you know about that, too." Orihime looked troubled, and Kurotsuchi smiled.
"Between you and me, my dear, I've had Nemu paying particularly close attention to him since you all returned to your own world from Soul Society." He said softly. "I was afraid something like this could happen. In the fight between us, he went to extremes and pushed himself far beyond the limit of his human body. In doing so, the obvious end result was a loss of spiritual power. Yet he has potential – oh yes, great potential. And it seemed a shame to waste that when he's still so young. I've done a lot of study work with the Quincy over the past hundred years…I suppose I thought that perhaps I might be able to help him recover."
Orihime's gazed up at him, a sudden flicker of hope in her grey eyes.
"Do you mean…you can give him back his powers?" She asked softly. "And if he got those powers back…maybe all of this weird stuff would stop happening to him?"
"It's a complicated study." Kurotsuchi's eyes glittered with enthusiasm. "And I like a challenge. Yes, Inoue-san. I believe I can, shall we say, restore Ishida-kun's spiritual power. To an extremely high level, in fact. I have devoted much time and effort of late to that exact thing."
He gestured towards the 12-Bantai squad buildings.
"Will you trust me enough to come inside and see the fruits of my labours?" He asked. "Your Quincy friend doesn't trust me, as you said yourself. But he does trust you. In fact, he was willing to fight me to defend you, I seem to remember. So if he will listen to anyone, Inoue-san – I'm quite certain that he'd listen to you."
"I don't know about that." Orihime frowned, nevertheless allowing the Captain to guide her into the 12-Bantai courtyard and across to the door that led into the Institute itself. "I mean, when Ishida-kun has his mind made up, it's pretty difficult to change it. I think its part of being a Quincy. He doesn't like being protected – he has a lot of pride."
"I am well familiar with the Quincy concept of pride." Kurotsuchi's lips thinned slightly. "Well acquainted, my dear. But even so, a friend for whom he would risk his life…I'm sure that you stand a far better chance than anyone else in speaking to him."
"Ukitake-san said that something had happened at Byakuya-san's squad offices…that Ishida-kun had done something he shouldn't have done and caused some damage." Orihime reflected. "It means he's getting worse, doesn't it?"
"Ukitake…?" Kurotsuchi paused, consternation crossing his gaze. "So he was the one responsible for your sudden appearance here today? I see. That would explain why I saw you leaving 13-Bantai. Ukitake's wanting to help Ishida-kun too then, I trust?"
"Yes, although I don't know if he can." Orihime bit her lip. "He…he really isn't…very well."
"Well, that's nothing new." Kurotsuchi said dismissively, and Orihime shook her head, grasping Kurotsuchi by the arm in her eagerness to make herself understood.
"No…no, I mean really not well. He was coughing blood and he looked like he was about to die. Renji-kun said he'd been sick a long time – but even so, Kurotsuchi-san…you're a scientist, aren't you? Surely…"
"Ukitake suffers from a severe, if rare soul-based strain of tuberculosis that exhibits from an early age and appears to be genetic rather than epidemic." Kurotsuchi gently detached her fingers from his sleeve. "There is no cure that I could provide, Inoue-san. If he is foolhardy and pushes himself too far, he has attacks such as the one you saw. Although, I'm surprised – with the nature of ability you appear to have…could you not bring him any relief?"
"B…Byakuya-san said there was no point me trying." Orihime said dejectedly. "That whatever skills I had, they wouldn't be able to do anything and basically that I should go to 6-Bantai so I wasn't in the way."
Kurotsuchi's expression became thoughtful, and he tut-tutted under his breath.
"That was unkind of him." He murmured.
"I don't think he meant to be unkind." Orihime shook her head. "He was just…worried about Ukitake-san."
"Kuchiki-taichou?" Kurotsuchi shot her a startled look. "You do surprise me. I was under the impression that the Kuchiki-ke didn't generally look beyond their own level when it came to showing concern."
Orihime sighed.
"Byakuya-san was worried." She said firmly. "And I was, too. But I was useless…I couldn't do anything to help."
"And Ukitake is quite unwell, you say?" Kurotsuchi's eyes narrowed. "In that case, he would do better to rest and let other people take care of matters on his behalf."
He pushed open the door of the laboratory, ushering his young companion inside, and Orihime gazed around her with a mixture of awe and amazement, absorbing the many screens and the gaggle of odd-looking individuals which seemed to have all their attention focused on the dots and dashes that darted across in front of them. Kurotsuchi did not pause here, however, leading her through to a room beyond, and as he opened the door, Orihime let out an exclamation of surprise.
"But…all this…this is Quincy stuff, isn't it?"
"Gleaned and donated over the generations by the kind individuals who helped me with my study." There was a veiled humour in Kurotsuchi's voice, and he nodded. "Though most of it had been put in storage. I exhumed it recently – on account of young Ishida-kun's plight, you see."
"I see." Orihime reached out to touch the faded edges of a Quincy mantle, turning to face him. "You really do know a lot about the Quincy, then, don't you?"
"More, I expect, than anyone in Soul Society." Kurotsuchi said confidently.
"Then I suppose if anyone can help Ishida-kun, it's you." Orihime let out a sigh. "I'm sorry I was suspicious of you, Kurotsuchi-san. Like you said, there's really no reason to be. Aizen-san and his friends were the real bad guys. Everything else was just a misunderstanding."
Kurotsuchi eyed her for a moment, and Orihime met his gaze, wondering what her enigmatic companion was thinking.
"At some point, my dear, I would like to speak to you in more detail about your own unique and fascinating techniques." He said softly. "I'm sure that, come the Winter battle, they will have a great role to play all of their own. But unfortunately, for now, your Quincy friend is more pressing on my attentions."
He moved across the chamber, pausing for a second, then pressing his hand to a panel of the wall. It slid back with a hiss, revealing a chamber beyond, and Orihime's eyes opened wide with disbelief.
"A secret…room?"
"Scientists' lives are full of secrets." Kurotsuchi told her cryptically, beckoning for her to follow. "But if you come with me, I'll show you the thing which I think will help your young friend most of all. Nemu has been taking good care of it for me…do you remember my Vice Captain, Nemu?"
As they stepped into the hidden room, Nemu glanced up at the sound of her name, her gaze flitting from Orihime to her Captain without a word. Orihime bowed her head hastily, offering the other girl a smile. Slowly Nemu followed suit, and Kurotsuchi's eyes twinkled with humour.
"Over here." Was all he said, however, gesturing to a glass case that held something glittering inside of it. As Orihime approached it, she could make out the rounded blue guard and long, glinting silver blade, and she faltered, staring at the Captain in confusion.
"But that…is that a zanpakutou?"
"You're very astute. It is." Kurotsuchi nodded.
"But…how will that help Ishida-kun regain his Quincy powers?" Orihime's brows knitted in confusion, and Kurotsuchi chuckled, shaking his head.
"You mistake me, my dear." He said softly. "I don't believe I said anything about him regaining his Quincy powers."
"But…"
"This sword is Hassuiryou." Kurotsuchi explained. "Which I went to great pains to obtain on Ishida's behalf."
"Hass…" Shock flooded Orihime's eyes, and she took a step away from the sword. "You mean…you were the one who stole it from 3-Bantai? You were the one who…"
"Stole is such an ugly word." Kurotsuchi tut-tutted. "I prefer 'borrowed'."
"But…Ukitake-san said that Ishida-kun shouldn't get his hands on that." Orihime whispered. "That it might be dangerous. That…"
"That if he did, his reiryoku would be complete and Shizuki Ametatsu would be, effectively, brought back to life?" Kurotsuchi was amused. "But that's fine, isn't it? He has no power as a useless, drained Quincy. Why not restore the powers he had in a previous existence? Shizuki Ametatsu was a strong Captain, after all. A fighter and a man of principle by all accounts. Don't you think that, in the end, it's a better solution to the problem?"
"I…I need to leave now." Orihime took a step away from the boxed blade, and Kurotsuchi let out a low chuckle.
"Oh, but you're a part of my plans too, Inoue-san." He said lightly. "I hadn't imagined I'd encounter you so easily – when I felt your reiatsu flickering across Seireitei I knew I had to take my opportunity to waylay you at all costs."
"But…I don't understand." Orihime stammered, fear touching her soul at the suddenly predatorial expression on her companion's odd features.
"As I said before, Ishida-kun cares about protecting you." Kurotsuchi murmured softly, reaching a long, clammy finger across to brush her cheek. She flinched back from his touch, light glittering across her hair-slides as she felt the spirits of her ShunShun Rikka shield stir instinctively to attention. "Now I have the sword, I need to have the Quincy. But he won't come to me on his own. So that's why I have insurance. You."
"Kurotsuchi-san, I…"
"It's useless to protest." Kurotsuchi offered Orihime a cool smile. "And if you use those powers of yours, so much the better for me to analyse and dissect them."
"I thought you wanted to help Ishida-kun!"
"Oh, I do. Only you – and he – and noone else in Soul Society – seem to appreciate quite how much."
"But he doesn't want to be a Shinigami!"
"Want is such a vague, fleeting emotion." Kurotsuchi said dismissively. "It's not a matter of what he wants. A research subject doesn't have wants. And in the name of science, all things are open season."
He raised his hand.
"Now, Nemu, if you please."
"Yes, Mayuri-sama." Nemu got to her feet, taking Orihime firmly in her grasp as she pressed something soft and damp to the girl's nose and mouth. Orihime struggled to scream, but as she did so a stifling, sweet smell choked her senses. As her mind seemed to be floating away from her legs and arms, she felt Nemu's surprisingly strong grip loosen slightly, as she was lowered down onto the floor.
"It will wear off in about an hour." She said quietly, and though Orihime could see and hear what was going on, she was unable to move even the slightest bit in her own defence.
"Then stop wasting time, you stupid wench." Kurotsuchi told her sharply. "Take her and lock her in the confinement unit. Much as I'd like to dissect her here and now, if I'm to lure the Quincy here, I need the girl to be in one piece."
He bent to touch Orihime's hair-slides pensively, and she stared up at him in horror and fright.
"I'm sorry, my dear, but that experiment will have to wait for another day." He said regretfully. "Nemu, I'm leaving you to take care of her. Then report to me…I have another errand for you to undertake."
"Yes, Mayuri-sama." Nemu nodded her head, hoisting the limp Orihime up in her arms. "As you wish."
With that she left the room, Orihime still mentally screaming in her grasp as she made her way silently along the corridors to the 12-Bantai's deepest confinement cell.
As she lay Orihime down on the floor, she paused, eying her for a moment with a flicker of regret in her dark eyes as she deftly fitted spirit-draining cuffs to each of the girl's wrists.
"Stay here and don't cause any problems." She murmured. "Mayuri-sama won't hurt you, so long as you do that."
Orihime stared at her, wishing she could make her frozen vocal chords function, but she could not even so much as croak, and Nemu sighed.
"The Quincy will come to save you." She said softly. "That's the kind of person he is. Just stay quietly and wait. He'll come for you soon enough and then Mayuri-sama will let you go."
She got to her feet, glancing at Orihime for a moment, then turning on her heel and leaving the cell. There was the click of the lock being fastened, and Orihime was left alone.
Despite herself, frustration welled up inside of her as she realised she couldn't even cry.
Don't come here, Ishida-kun. Please, whatever he says to you, don't come here. I got myself into this trouble and I'll get myself out – somehow, I'll find a way to get out. So don't come worrying about me, Ishida-kun. If you do…you might never be able to be Ishida-kun again!
------------
"Renji and Byakuya are back."
Ichigo dropped down from his perch on the roof of the 6-Bantai training gymnasium, dusting himself down as he did so. "Byakuya's got a funny look on his face – like he sniffed somethin' nasty – an' Renji looks hacked off as well. I guess whatever they went to find out this morning, they didn't find it out."
"I wonder if it has to do with last night." Rukia drew her knees up to her chest, looking troubled. "When that guy collapsed outside of the squad grounds, whatever it was he said had Nii-sama pretty alert and for him and Renji both to go in person without telling us anything…I don't know about you, Ichigo. But I get the distinct impression something's up."
"This is Soul Society. Somethin's always up." Ichigo said ruefully. "But now they're back, we can find out what. I'm fed up of Byakuya's tellin' us to keep to barracks all the time, in any case. If it wasn't that he seemed to know some shit about Ishida…"
"I think Nii-sama wants to help, but he is being high-handed." Rukia sighed. "Or maybe he thinks you're less trouble if you're here and I'll have less to do to keep you in line. The Sou Taichou gave me that responsibility, after all – it's probably that as much as anything else."
"We're one big inconvenience to him, in fact." Ichigo responded dryly. "I get it. I've been tiptoin' around him an' playin' it by his rules so far for Ishida's sake, but I'm gettin' a mite twitchy, to be honest. If something is going on…we ought to be in the know."
"It's somewhat comforting to know that I'm not the only one who's being left in the dark." Uryuu put in from his corner beneath a shady elm tree, setting his book aside as he fixed them both with a pointed look, and Rukia shot him a sheepish smile.
"I didn't think you'd want to know that this Shizuki guy killed folk." She said frankly. "I guess after you went nuts and blew up a building, I didn't want to give you any more triggers."
"And like I said to Kurosaki, I'm not mentally unstable and I don't need to be protected." Uryuu said coldly. "The sooner I know all the facts, the sooner I can get some answers."
"Well, you know all we know, now." Ichigo said matter-of-factly. "An' it ain't a whole lot, to be honest."
"Are you kids sitting around doin' nothing again?" At that moment, Renji strode into the yard, casting his gaze around at their various sprawled positions as he did so. "Yeesh, do you expect us t'do all the dirty work, or what?"
"Your Captain seems to have an objection to any of us walking round Seireitei without a nanny." Ichigo said bluntly. "Where did you go to anyway, Renji? You've been rushing round since last night an' noone's told us anything. Is this to do with our bein' here or somethin' totally different?"
"Depends on how you view different." Renji said cryptically. "One of my comrades got KO'ed in his own basement last night, an' his whole squad didn't come off too much better. We went t'see him…fortunately he's okay this mornin', else I'd be usin' Zabimaru t'cut the perpetrator a new gullet."
"A comrade?" Ichigo looked startled. "Someone we know?"
"Kira." Renji dropped down opposite him, crossing his legs as he met the other Shinigami's gaze with a fed up one of his own.
"Kira? As in Kira-fukutaichou?" Rukia blinked, and Renji nodded.
"That's the blond haired guy who was with us the other day – the one who had Shizuki's name in his notes, right?" Ichigo's ears pricked up at the sound of the familiar name, and Renji nodded again.
"That's the one." He said heavily. "I thought that we'd got past the trait of Soul Society's folk knockin' over their own to get the prize, but I guess I overestimated. Either way, he an' his squad were attacked an' poisoned with some hallucinogenic stuff or other which means not only were they out for the count, none of them remember clearly what hit them. Kira was the worst hit, an' he wasn't breathin' when I found him…it makes me angry that someone'd gamble someone else's life in exchange for a lousy piece of dead treasure."
"Sounds like one hell of a night." Ichigo said ruefully. "But the guy's all right, right?"
"He is." Renji nodded. "Dizzy an' a shade hungover this mornin', but yeah, he'll live."
Uryuu frowned, a troubled look crossing his dark blue eyes.
"Abarai-kun…the dead treasure you mentioned…" He murmured, and Renji glanced at him in surprise.
"Hello, Ishida's here too." He realised. "You're hidin' under that tree, you know – an' with your feeble ass reiatsu at the moment, I didn't even notice you."
"The feeling's mutual." Uryuu said archly. "But about that dead treasure…"
"It's nothing." Renji flicked his hand dismissively. "Jus' some ancient Soul Society stuff in a vault beneath 3-Bantai. Nothin' you kids need to worry about. The Taichou's takin' it in hand, in any case."
"Renji…?" Rukia shot him a quizzical look, and Renji frowned, shaking his head.
"Byakuya doesn't want you to talk to us, is that it?" Ichigo demanded, and Renji shook his head.
"It ain't like that. It's just…"
"It's me that Byakuya-san doesn't want to know about it." Uryuu said astutely. "Abarai-kun wouldn't have said a word about it if he'd realised from the start that I was with you. But he didn't. And now he doesn't want to talk about it any more."
He shrugged, getting to his feet as if to leave.
"It's all right, in any case, Abarai-kun." He said evenly. "I already know what it was that was stolen. It doesn't take Einstein to figure it out. Kira-san was busy searching for the sword belonging to Shizuki Ametatsu. Hassuiryou. Right? And I'm guessing he found it, somewhere beneath 3-Bantai. But then he was attacked. And that's what was stolen. Wasn't it?"
Renji eyed him for a moment, then he sighed.
"If the Taichou finds out I told you, I'm in the shit." He said at length. "He's in a bad mood…no, that's an understatement. He's in a friggin' homicidal mood. So keep your lip buttoned, all right? It's for your own good, trust me – the less you know about Shizuki Ametatsu the better."
"That's a little difficult." Uryuu hesitated, then sank back down beneath his tree. "Considering the situation."
"Well, even so, it ain't like you need to go prying into his life and his background." Renji amended. "Seriously, Ishida. Let it alone as much as you can. Taichou's working on a solution. Ukitake-taichou even got involved, too. We'll find an answer. But you need t'keep out of it. It'll put you in danger – I ain't kidding."
"I don't need to be protected." Uryuu stiffened, and Ichigo sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Will you stop friggin' saying that?" He demanded. "Obviously you do, or you wouldn't be in this position!"
"If it wasn't for that twisted bastard at 12-Bantai, I wouldn't be in this position." Uryuu snapped back. "If Byakuya-san wants answers, he should be taking that place apart with a fine tooth comb. If anyone's got the sword, it's going to be that guy. And whatever he intends to do with it – you can bet that it's not good."
"Kurotsuchi?" Rukia looked startled. "You think he has the sword?"
"Think? No. I'm certain of it." Uryuu said darkly. "Even without a smoking gun. A poisoned Vice Captain? Good enough for me. I keep telling you. He's as wound up in this as he could be, right back to the start."
Renji sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Taichou and I think so too." He admitted, and Rukia let out an exclamation.
"For real?" She demanded. "I know Kurotsuchi-taichou's a bit eccentric but…dammit, Renji, you said Kira almost died last night!"
"Spoils of progress, I suppose he'd call it." Uryuu said acidly. "The first time I encountered Kurotsuchi, he killed a group of his squad members in an attempt to entrap Inoue-san and myself, in order for him to dissect us. More specifically, for him to dissect Inoue-san. That's not eccentric. That's psychotic. There's a big difference."
"Speakin' of which, where is Inoue, anyway?" Renji glanced around him. "Surely the little ditz didn't get lost walkin' seven blocks."
"Inoue?" Ichigo frowned. "What are you talking about, Renji? Inoue's in the Real World. Why would she be here?"
"Because Ukitake-taichou brought her back with him." Now it was Renji's turn to look befuddled. "Taichou sent her back here with a message for Rukia that we'd be back soon. Ukitake-taichou had one of his attacks, an' I guess the Taichou was a bit sharp with her – but she seemed to be headin' here in any case. I told her you were here, Ichigo – an' that she'd do best comin' to find you."
"Inoue's in Soul Society?" Rukia exchanged glances with her companions. "She hasn't been here, Renji. None of us have left the barracks today. And Inoue certainly hasn't shown up here."
"Ishida, can you sense her reiatsu?" Ichigo asked anxiously, and Uryuu frowned, genuine anxiety flickering in his dark blue eyes. Slowly he shook his head.
"No." He admitted. "I can't. Maybe I sensed something when she came through the gate, but my senses have been so all over the place of late I didn't really think much about it. But now I try to find her…I can't. Abarai, are you quite sure she's here in Soul Society?"
"Positive." Renji nodded. "The Taichou can back me up, too. She's here, all right. Ukitake-taichou brought her here for your benefit, Ishida. So I don't see why she'd have gone anywhere else."
"For my benefit?" Uryuu's features flooded red with embarrassment. "Why on earth?"
"Because, apparently, when you go nuts, you think she's that guy's chick, Niji." Renji shrugged. "Seems mental t'me too, but Ukitake-taichou seemed t'think if she was around, she might be able t'calm things down if they got heated. He put his health on the line to do it, so I guess he's seriously worried about something."
"I don't think it's a good thing for me to spend any time around Inoue-san when I'm not in control of my faculties." Uryuu said soberly, meeting Ichigo's gaze briefly, and Ichigo nodded his head.
"I agree." He said frankly. "But for the time being, if she's here…where is she? She's dizzy sometimes, true enough – but it's not like she has no sense of direction. Plus, she can sense reiatsu – much better than I can. She'd know where to find me, even if she couldn't pick up on Ishida's feeble signal at the moment. So she'd have come right here. Wouldn't she?"
"Unless something happened to her on the way." Rukia's brows knitted together. "Renji, if Ukitake-taichou brought her back, does that mean that he manipulated the Gate to re-open back in 13-Bantai's territory?"
"Yes. In the old training grounds, I think." Renji nodded. "Ukitake-taichou looked half dead when he came to speak to us, too – so I guess it wasn't an easy trip. But we got kinda distracted when he started coughing. Even the Taichou was worried."
"Even the Taichou, Renji?"
Byakuya's calm, cool question struck silence across the group of teenagers, and Renji winced as his Captain stepped out into the sunshine, eying them all disdainfully.
"You really do need to learn to either sense my coming or curb your tongue, Vice Captain Abarai." He said softly. "What, pray, might I have been so worried about?"
"Ukitake-taichou, sir." Renji recovered his wits, a rueful expression on his face. "When he collapsed."
"Ukitake is foolish and overly sentimental." Byakuya said frankly. "He jeopardises his health and the security of his division when he takes reckless gambles of that nature. Today you saw the proof of it for yourself."
"Nii-sama, has Inoue been with you?" Rukia asked softly, and Byakuya looked surprised, casting her a quizzical glance.
"Inoue? Inoue Orihime?"
"Yeah." Ichigo nodded. "Renji said she was heading to us here – but she never arrived. None of us have seen her…and we can't pick up her reiatsu, either."
Byakuya's brows knitted together.
"I am quite sure I instructed her to come here." He said, an irritated look entering his grey eyes. "Surely she cannot have mistaken her way? It is such a short distance, really, between 13-Bantai and 6-Bantai, and I am sure she has done the trip before."
"We were worried that something might've happened to her." Renji admitted. "Otherwise we'd at least be able to pick up where she was."
"Something?" Byakuya eyed him quizzically. "Such as…?"
"Perhaps someone between here and 13-Bantai decided they wanted a new research subject." Uryuu said bitterly, and Ichigo stared at him in alarm.
"Shit…you think that Kurotsuchi guy grabbed her?"
"He's sick enough to. And he's wanted to study her since he met her the first time. That's why I sent her away from the fight. Because if I didn't beat him, he'd have grabbed her. And she's not as good at fighting as I am…or at least, was."
"Accusations without evidence are not worth the breath they use." Byakuya said cautiously. "Be careful, Quincy. Whether you have reason behind your suspicion or not – there is no proof that Inoue Orihime has even been abducted, let alone…"
"Then let's go and look for her." Ichigo said firmly, getting to his feet. "If you're busy, Byakuya, then let us do it. We can split up an' meet back here in a coupl'a hours. If she's wanderin' round someplace, we'll find her. An' if not…"
Byakuya sent Ichigo a chilling look, making no attempt to respond, and Ichigo sighed, rolling his eyes heavenwards.
"Kuchiki-taichou, then." He said wearily, emphasising each syllable as he did so. "Whatever. It's better than sitting round here, anyway. An' we know our way around better'n you think. We ain't goin' to go fightin' anyone, you know. We just want to track down Inoue. That's all. You ain't goin' to kick off about that, are you?"
"With a Bankai like yours, Kurosaki Ichigo, and with the current state of your Quincy friend, do you wonder that I have reservations about allowing you free reign around Seireitei?" Byakuya asked softly. "The Sou Taichou appears to have entrusted you to Rukia. Rukia is my sister, therefore the responsibility also falls to my squad. And I will not have 6-Bantai disgraced by ryoka acting on impulse. Do you understand?"
"What do you mean, with a Bankai like mine?" Ichigo protested, and Byakuya's eyes narrowed to near slits.
"You understand my meaning perfectly." He said crisply.
"Nii-sama, I think we should look for Inoue." Rukia spoke up now. "We could split up and go in pairs…if Renji came with us too, that would be two and two, after all."
Byakuya shook his head.
"Renji is quite capable of searching for the girl without supervision." He said frankly. "You may accompany Kurosaki Ichigo, Rukia, and ensure his behaviour does not put anyone at risk. Ishida Uryuu remains here, however."
"What?" Uryuu's eyes opened wide with disbelief. "Byakuya-san, what are you…Inoue-san is my friend too, you know! And I'm not going to hurt her! Dammit, if something's happened to her, it's probably on my account in any case! Ukitake-san brought her back here for my benefit – that's what Abarai said! If I don't go…if I just sit here…what the hell use am I, if I just wait behind?"
"What, precisely, do you propose to do, Quincy?" Byakuya asked crushingly. "You have no reiryoku if you should encounter trouble. And you are currently unstable. I cannot guarantee you will not act out a second time – or that other people, possibly including the girl, could be hurt. You will stay here. My decision is final."
Uryuu's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Byakuya-san, but I'm not one of your squad Shinigami to be ordered around like that." He said coldly, pushing his spectacles further up his nose as if to emphasise his point. "I'm a Quincy, regardless of what form I might be here under at the moment. And as a Quincy, I swear it…if Inoue-san is in trouble, I will go and find her. If Inoue-san needs my help, I won't sit back and do nothing about it!"
Ichigo's eyes widened at this sudden, petulant outburst, and Byakuya sighed, shaking his head.
"Renji." He said softly. "Will you please take Ishida Uryuu down to the holding cells and secure him within one of them?"
"What?" Now Rukia was on her feet. "Nii-sama, surely you aren't going to…"
"Rukia, it's for his own sake." Renji said gruffly, obediently getting to his feet and advancing on the bewildered, indignant Quincy.
"You too?" Rukia stared at Renji in disbelief. "You're going to just…you can't lock him up!"
"Rukia's right." Ichigo took a hand. "Ishida's not a prisoner. And he's got as much right as anyone to go find Inoue. Byakuya, you're acting outta line. This is…"
"This is my squad headquarters, and I make the decisions." Byakuya's eyes glinted dangerously as he turned to glare at Ichigo. "Insubordination will not be tolerated. I have given my instructions. Renji, do as you have been bidden. Then you have my leave to go and search for the girl. Rukia, if you can keep Kurosaki under control, you may leave here also. For the time being, however, if the Quincy refuses to obey my instructions, he will have to be made to obey them."
"Let go of me!" As Renji grabbed Uryuu firmly by the shoulders, the Quincy struggled, but his lean frame was no match for the Vice Captain's brawn and Renji shot him a rueful look, even as he pulled the boy's arms behind his back.
"It'd be a lot easier for both of us if you didn't fight." He said frankly. "Trust me, I don't like it either. But the Taichou's right. It ain't safe for you t'be out there. So come quiet like a good boy, huh? We'll find Inoue. You jus' sit tightly an' wait."
"Like hell am I going to sit quietly!" Uryuu continued to struggle, fighting to land a kick on Renji's knee-cap, and Renji sighed, shaking his head. Deftly he brought his hand down against the base of Uryuu's skull, and in a moment the boy flopped limply over his arm.
"Renji!" Rukia's eyes almost fell out at this. "What are you doing?"
"He'll hurt himself if he tries t'fight me, an' I don't need a visit from his alter ego into the bargain." Renji said briskly. "You do as Taichou says. Take the strawberry here an' get goin'. I'll follow behind soon as I've seen Ishida safe. Don't look so horrified, dammit! It's for his own good."
With that he was gone, Quincy in arms, and Ichigo muttered a curse under his breath.
"Why did you do that?" He demanded, wheeling on Byakuya indignantly. "Ishida's going to be hell when he comes round – why won't you let him come search with us? Even if he did kick off, don't you think one of us could calm him down?"
Byakuya eyed him for a moment, his eyes unreadable. Then,
"It is not your concern." He said frankly. "If you are worried about your friend, go search. Leave 6-Bantai's affairs to 6-Bantai."
"Nii-sama, please…answer Ichigo's question." Rukia begged. "I don't understand…why would you order Renji to lock him up? And why would Renji do it? It doesn't make sense."
Byakuya sighed, but Rukia's plea had turned the scale, and he spread his hands.
"Ishida Uryuu is the reincarnation of the Shinigami known as Shizuki Ametatsu. There is no doubt." He said quietly. "While the sword remains missing, with location and motive unknown, he is in danger. If he remains here, I believe noone would be foolish enough to attack. Certainly few individuals would choose to encounter Senbonzakura by breaking into my squad buildings the same way as 3-Bantai was recently penetrated. However, as soon as he leaves here, it is a different matter. I am trying to prevent him from being killed. If you have an objection to that, please, voice it now."
"Is the sword really that dangerous?" Ichigo asked softly, and Byakuya shrugged.
"I hope we will not come to find out." He said frankly. "Ukitake said that Ishida should not be brought in contact with the sword, and I concur with his opinion. Ukitake also saw the sword in action, and understands what it is capable of. I cannot take the risk that Ishida Uryuu may be able to use that sword in the same way as Shizuki Ametatsu did. And if he did…there would be no choice but for Seireitei to bring him down."