Chapter 24: Doubt Spreads Like Wildfire
*Thank you for the well wishes. I feel slightly better because of the medicine I'm taking but I'm still having constant vertigo so I'm going to go back to the doctor and see what else we can do. It's disconcerting how I feel like I'm getting used to this sense of unbalance.
The Winter Olympics have begun! Since I'm an American I will be rooting for those representing my home country. Go Team USA! :D
The Serene Dancer, Yamamoto is at a crossroads about all this I'll say that much. I don't know if family members would have similar type swords, I'm taking some creative liberties here. Naomi and her grandfather are the only one who have a fire-based sword in their family, the other as you'll later see are other types of elements.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, just a lot of OCs.*
"It is by doubting that we come to investigate, and by investigating that we recognize the truth."~Pete Abelard
"Isn't it sad that we're having meetings like this so often?" Stanley said as he took his place in the lineup beside Sakura. "I thought the one thing I wouldn't have to worry about being dead is terrorist attacks. Look how wrong I was."
"I guess there are just some things you can't escape by dying," Sakura replied with a small grin.
He playfully nudged her and gave her a grin of his own, "I wouldn't be smiling if I were you. Your division could be next."
"And you think just because you were attacked once that you won't be attacked again?"
Stanley's grin dropped instantly and he paled a little, "I didn't think of that."
"That is because, like some other captains, you rarely think," Byakuya icily interjected.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Byakuya Kuchiki the man with a stick so far up his ass you can use him as a puppet," Stanley muttered sarcastically under his breath.
Sakura heard though and gave him a reprimanding jab of her elbow. She leaned over, "Be nice. This is not the time for us to be fighting amongst ourselves."
A sharp crack rang out as the Head Captain slammed his staff on the polished floor.
"Silence!" The noise of talking ceased instantly, "Thank you. As you all know the Eighth Division has recently been attacked in the same manner as the First and Third Divisions. Does anyone have any information or beliefs about who may have done this?"
Byakuya lifted his hand, "If I may say, I know I brought this matter up once before but I believe it warrants a second appearance. I find it peculiar that Lieutenant Yamamoto has been absent from her post at the time the last two attacks took place."
A stunned silence followed and then a soft rippling of voices next. How dare he! Sakura seethed once the shock faded. The Head Captain was right there! And here Kuchiki had the audacity and, the Quincy would add, arrogance to accuse Naomi, the Head Captain's granddaughter, of being a suspect to acts of terrorism again!
"So, what? You think she did it because she hasn't been around the last two times?" Stanley asked wanting to make sure he had heard right.
Urahara leaned forward slightly and caught Yoruichi's keen eye. He gestured faintly if he should speak up; she caught his hint and gave the barest shake of her head. Naomi had asked them to keep her Bankai training a secret and that was what they would do. Even if revealing her secret would give her an alibi and perhaps get Kuchiki off her back.
The nobleman sighed with a hint of annoyance, "Yes, that is what I believe. Lieutenant Yamamoto's absences could be correlated to these acts against the Gotei."
"In case you forgot Kuchiki, the kid got burned when the First was attacked along with the Old Man," Zaraki butted in gruffly.
"That may be true but she may have allowed herself to be wounded purposefully in order to make us believe that she is not involved," Byakuya coolly countered before turning to the Head Captain. "I believe the Fifth Division lieutenant should be brought forth, questioned and possibly arrested."
A soft wave of murmuring broke out. What Captain Kuchiki was saying did make sense especially considering the Gotei had been put through stranger incidents. Why should this one sound so outlandish? It sounded plausible and who really knew any one anymore? Who's to say someone who appears innocent can't be behind something malicious? Aizen taught them that lesson quite well and the survivors of that lesson would rather not repeat it.
"I don't fucking believe this," Sakura growled under her breath. She spoke up louder this time, prepared to defend her second in command, "I do not think the Head Captain is going to arrest her."
"What makes you believe he—"
"She's his granddaughter!" Sakura protested, "I highly doubt he's going to go along with your baseless accusations and arrest her."
There was another tense silence. The eyes of the other captains shifted between Captain Ishida and Captain Kuchiki. It was no secret that the two did not get along but they at least had a formal respect for each other and acted civilly. It was interesting to see them fight like this.
"Family relations matter little in the matters of law and preserving the peace. Granddaughter or not she is still a possible suspect," the noble's slate eyes narrowed.
"Ah right, I forgot that I was talking to the man who let his own sister be unjustly sent to the gallows. So of course family relations wouldn't matter so long as the law was upheld," the Quincy captain spat with fake civility.
Byakuya's look could've melted frozen marble. He casually rested his hand on the handle of his sword. Sakura didn't take her eyes off his and the fingers of her gloved left hand twitched.
"You would do well to rein in that uncouth tongue of yours," he politely snarled.
"Or what? You'll cut it out?" Sakura challenged.
"That is enough," Yamamoto said in a tone that brokered no argument. "I will have no petty arguing between the two of you, is that understood?"
Both captains dipped their heads and muttered their assent.
But then Captain Hitsugaya decided to speak up, "Not to add more fuel to the fire but didn't Naomi Yamamoto defect from the Gotei a handful of years ago? Why should we trust the innocence of a deserter? Sure she came back but why should we trust her?"
The murmuring returned a little louder this time but Captain Kyoraku smoothed it over. He had a good idea who was really behind this and he wasn't about to let dear Naomi take the blame.
He spoke calmly, "Now wait a minute folks, let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Some of us here know Lieutenant Yamamoto very well and know that she left service for her own reasons, none of which had any malicious intent. She's just an innocent soul who's unfortunately been caught up in all this. She deserves no blame."
Hitsugaya scoffed, "Innocent, sure."
Byakuya seemed to agree with the shorter captain's sentiment. "She defected from the Gotei, something you just pointed out Captain Kyoraku, and someone who breaks such a serious law would have no qualms about breaking any other laws."
This seemed to set everyone into an arguing frenzy. People were throwing their ideas and beliefs at each other trying to prove they were right. The noisy quarrelling was put to rest when the Head Captain slammed his staff again, producing a silencing and ear-splitting crack. Once the commotion died away he almost seemed to sigh before returning to his stern self.
"Unless there is undeniable proof of Lieutenant Yamamoto having committed these crimes she will not be arrested and tried. Now Captain Shihoin, has anyone from your Division made any headway in the investigations behind the recent attacks?"
Yoruichi appeared serious, a great contrast to her normal jovial self. "Not yet sir. But from what I can tell so far the attacks on the Third and Eighth seem to be of the same manner as the attack on the First. I'm afraid we still have no leads as to who is behind this."
The Head Captain seemed to accept this, "Very well. Since we have so little information I am afraid the only thing we can do is place ourselves on high alert.
"So were pretty much sitting ducks?" Zaraki growled.
"At this time we can only continue our investigations but until we have a lead or solid proof of who is behind this then yes we are, as you put it, sitting ducks. I wish I had something more for you all to do other than sitting and waiting but I do not. This meeting is dismissed," he banged his staff on the floor and the captains slowly dispersed and walked out of the great hall.
Diallo silently watched everyone leave but not before they seemed to furtively glance at each other. The paranoia was becoming more deeply rooted with each passing day it seemed. People were becoming alarmed and worried. They had nothing and couldn't do the one thing they wanted to do most.
Find the culprit and throw them away in jail and perhaps end this madness. But the closest thing they had to a culprit was Miss Yamamoto but to Diallo she was looking more like a scapegoat. One that some captains didn't seem to care if she was sacrificed. He was brought out of his musing by the talking of his friends.
Stanley nudged Sakura, "Why did you get to be mean to the stiff noble and I couldn't? And what happened to 'not fighting amongst ourselves?"
Sakura explained, "Because he was raised a gentleman and he won't hurt me because I'm a woman unless I physically attack him. You on the other hand he won't hesitate to draw his sword to if you say a word out of line. And I wasn't being mean, I was defending my lieutenant.
It's one thing to just point fingers but another to make unjust accusations. I won't have anyone being unjustly blamed just so this mess can be swept under the rug and be forgotten."
The russet haired American shrugged, "Call it what you will I still thought it was pretty badass of you standing up to him."
Diallo nodded in agreement, "Indeed. It was an impressive display of courage and the bond you share with your lieutenant."
She blushed slightly, "Thank you and I'm sure you two would've stood up for your lieutenants as well."
"But the nerve of that guy, what a load of bull. You know where Naomi is don't you Sakura?"
She didn't answer right away and the two men looked at her with slightly worried looks. She grabbed both their arms and led them farther away from the hall and from prying ears. Once they were far enough she released them and they walked together at a slower pace.
"Actually I don't know where Naomi is now. When the Third was attacked she was with Ikkaku Madarame visiting her family at least that's what she told me. But right now… I don't know where she is. She requested a few days off and she'll be returning tomorrow."
Stanley raised an eyebrow, "You didn't ask why?"
"I did but she didn't really give me an answer and I let it go," she groaned realizing her oversight.
"Forgive me if I sound reprimanding but that was a careless oversight and a sign of negligence as you position as her superior," Diallo murmured. His deep voice vibrated with slight disappointment.
Sakura cringed, "I know. What if Naomi really is behind all this? I mean she has been gone during both attacks…"
Stanley held up his hands as if to literally stop the conversation, "Whoa, whoa, whoa let's stop and back up a second. Don't tell me you're going to believe Byakuya Kuchiki after you just defend Naomi from his finger pointing.
"Look no one knows anything for sure yet. Yoruichi said her team isn't done investigating and I say people should hold off on their accusations until then. Plus Naomi should be coming back soon right? So just talk to her about this."
Diallo and Sakura looked at him with shock. How could someone who usually acts so goofy could come up with a sound and reasonable plan?
"It is times like this that you remind me that you have and use your common sense, Captain Flynn," Diallo murmured with some humor.
"I have my moments," Stanley chuckled.
Sakura smiled but then slowed down and her two friends paused and turned around. "Wait a minute I just realized something. How did Byakuya even know Naomi has been gone?"
Stanley shrugged, "Maybe he was bluffing?"
"Someone else could have noticed and spread through word of mouth and he could have overheard," Diallo offered.
Sakura mulled those suggestions over, "Perhaps." But why would he care if she was gone? Is Byakuya really just trying to find the culprit or is he actively trying to blame Naomi?
Naomi sat on the ground and leaned back against a large rock. Her muscles seemed to sigh in relief at finally getting a chance to rest. She had just been put through four grueling hours of training by Kitsune until she decided on a break right now. But the training was proving to be worth it. She could already feel her muscles and limbs becoming accustomed to wielding the new form her zanpakutou took. She was also getting better at controlling some of the special abilities that came with her Bankai.
She looked down at her arms. Ever since she first used her Shikai Naomi knew that playing with fire was going to leave her burned. But these were… different kinds of burns. I can always soak in that healing spring, she remembered.
With that appealing thought in mind Naomi hefted herself up onto her feet. But then she looked up and saw Yoruichi standing slightly above her.
"You look like you've been put through quite the workout," the feline woman said casually.
"Kitsune can be overeager when it comes to, what she calls, playing. What's up?" It was curious that Yoruichi was down here alone.
The tan captain dropped the casual air and Naomi was certain something was up. "I thought you should know the Eighth Division has just been attacked and in the same way as the First and Third Divisions."
Naomi felt her knees go weak so she leaned back against the boulder for support. "Is everyone alright?"
"A few were mildly injured but on the whole yes, only part of the main Division building was damaged. Captain Kyoraku told me he found a yellow chrysanthemum right after the fire started."
Naomi relaxed then tensed and even more when Yoruichi spoke again.
"Captain Kuchiki believes you might be behind these attacks."
The lieutenant's green eyes widened, "What? Why?"
"Because you've been absent from your post at the time of the last incident and now this one."
"Does anyone believe him? Are you here to arrest me?" Naomi tried to fight back the rising panic.
"It didn't seem like it. Your captain defended you pretty vehemently and no I'm not here to arrest you only to tell you what's been happening."
The blonde breathed a strangled sigh of relief at hearing that people didn't believe those claims and that she wasn't going to be arrested. Hearing the part about her captain defending her sparked a sense of amazement, "She defended me?"
The other woman nodded, "She stared Byakuya down and told him how wrong he was about you."
Naomi was so used to people fighting her and going against her that the idea of someone on her side and fighting for her was a novel one. For someone to boldly stand up against Byakuya Kuchiki for her that was astounding. Maybe I really can trust her. She shook her head as if to rid the thought. What am I thinking? Of course I can trust her. But a small cynical voice perked up, then why didn't you tell her where you were going and doing?
"Did either you or Captain Urahara tell anyone where I really was?"
Yoruichi shook her head, "No, you asked us to keep it a secret and we did. It may not have helped you in having an alibi but..."
There was silence between them and Naomi shyly looked up, "I owe her an explanation, don't I?"
The older woman placed her hands lightly on her hips, "I'm sure she'd appreciate it since she pretty much staked her reputation as a captain on you being innocent."
*Not as short as last time but this is a good cut off spot. I'm sorry if any parts are crappy I've had a busy two weeks with school and me still being slightly sick. So people are paranoid and Naomi might be in trouble.
Have a Happy Valentine's Day since I won't see you next week. Do me a favor and review please; I'll give you chocolates this time around if you do. I'll see you again February 21st.*