Chapter 25

The Science of Deception

By Demon-of-Cats

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, the Tite does. I own my OC's and OOC's

Warnings: This is AU and has some spoilers. Evil Kurotsuchi. Implied character death.

No Flames please, but constructive criticism is welcome.

This chapter is a bit long but there are no good places for divisions that I can see.

A scream pierced the quiet of the Squad Eight barracks and then the frantic yell of a woman.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GONE!"

"I'm sorry ma'am we have no idea where he is. He likes to get into places so we suspected he just went and hid . . . but we can't find him."

"BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WATCH HIM!" Moria screamed and pulled at her blue hair in frustration and panic. She began to look around as if expecting to see someone pop up out of nowhere.

"What is going on?" Kyôraku asked as he and Nanao walked into the large room, "Moria what wrong?"

"Kureno is missing!" Moria cried and suddenly flash stepped out of the building.

Kyôraku looked at the person running the daycare, a deep frown across his features, "Where did you last see him?"

"We were in here all day. The weather didn't permit us to go out."

Kyôraku frowned and rubbed his nose in aggravation. He glanced at the window then and noticed a hell butterfly floating in gracefully. He extended his hand to it and heard the message. He then grit his teeth and chased after Moria.

"MORIA!" he called and caught up to her. He slowed his pace a bit to match hers and then spoke, "Kureno is alright now. Someone found him and took him to Squad Four. He was very upset when they found him and Unohana is looking after him right now."

Moria visibly sagged in relief and then switched directions so that she would end up in Squad Four. She used all the speed she could and made it to Squad Four in record time, for herself.

Though, a few roofs would need repaired because of her haste.

When she reached the building she heard the sound of a baby crying through an open window and recognized the cry instantly. She was in the window not a second later and taking her upset child from Isane.

"You know," Kyôraku said as he glanced in the window, "It is considered rude to enter buildings through fourth floor windows."

His tone was chastising yet there was an easy smile on his face.

Moria glanced at Isane and then muttered an apology.

Isane just laughed and said that it was alright, Kureno seemed much happier now that he was in mama's arms.

"Where was he?" Moria asked as she sat down and cuddled her son to calm him down.

Isane frowned, "I wasn't told where he was found. I was just asked to keep an eye on him until you got here."

Moria nodded and then glance up when Unohana entered the room. By now Kyôraku was also fully into the room.

"Mrs. Komamura," Unohana said and then asked, "Has anyone been curious about Kureno recently?"

Moria frowned and then said, "Captain Kurotsuchi. But, he's curious about almost everything."

Unohana nodded.

"Where was Kureno found?" Moria asked.

Unohana then frowned slightly, "The truth is that he was dumped in Squad Four by someone. We don't know who found him or where."

Umigiri materialized for a moment and gazed at Unohana before vanishing again.

Moria seemed oblivious to the fact.

"Hmm," Kyôraku mumbled and then smiled and then offered to walk Moria back to her home. The offer was accepted.

"Kidnapped?" Kai asked as he spoke with Yamamoto.

Yamamoto nodded, "He was kidnapped from the daycare only yesterday. Someone returned him to Squad Four anonymously, though Moria Komamura is in a state over it."

"I can understand that," Kai muttered through the connection, "Is there any idea who the perpetrator is?"

Unohana then spoke, "We found chemicals in his blood that are not found in anything the daycare or the Komamura home has. The chemicals were having a negative affect on Kureno as well. They were causing pain to him."

Kai looked troubled and then turned to his right. They could hear someone talking but couldn't make out the words.

Whatever was said caused Kai to smile though and then he ushered whoever had spoken forward.

"Arthur!" Yamamoto said in shock and then went down on one knee.

"Genryûsai," the new man said. He had a scholarly look about him, the glasses he wore increasing this. He also wore a long white and grey robe. Under the robe on his arms were gauntlets of white trimmed with gold. His boots were of the same gleaming metal combination.

"It is good to see you once again your majesty. It's been a long time," Yamamoto said and stood again, "How fares Europe?"

Moria was in a state. Kureno was missing again. He had been missing for three weeks now. At home she wouldn't talk, just stare at his play mat and cry.

At the squad building not much was different. She would do her duties and then go home.

Sajin had tried to distract her but nothing helped. Truth be told he wasn't surprised, yet one thing upset him.

He knew his son wasn't in the Seireitei. He could sense it. It was an inborn instinct of his kind to know where their children where, or at least to know that their children were alive. He knew Kureno was not in the Seireitei . . . and yet he couldn't get permission to leave the Seireitei to find his son.

Soi Fon had asked for an exact location so she could find him but Sajin hadn't been able to give her that. The seki-seki rock blocked him from getting an exact fix on him. All he knew was that his son was somewhere in west rukongai.

Five weeks after Kureno had disappeared Sajin when to Yamamoto's office directly. He asked for an audience with the General and received it a few minutes later.

He was surprised to see Kai there along with another man whom he didn't know, but he bowed in respect to the stranger and to his superiors.

"Captain Komamura," Yamamoto said and stepped forward, "What is it that you wish to speak to me about?"

Sajin straightened and then said, "I wish for permission to exit the Seireitei for a day or so."

The man whom he didn't know was the one to speak, "Why is this Komamura?"

"My son is somewhere in west rukongai but I can't tell exactly where because of the seki-seki rock in the walls surrounding us. If I can exit the Seireitei I can find him."

The man turned to Yamamoto and said, "Seems like a reasonable request to me."

Yamamoto blinked and then asked, "Arthur?"

Arthur turned and looked at Sajin for a moment. He now wore white armor trimmed with gold. The helmet of the armor he wore looked as if a dragon had left its head there and a crest was on the breast plate that had a dragon, "I have worked with your kind before Sajin Komamura. Specifically I have worked with your great-great-grandfather. I know what your kind can do with their children. I know you can find your son with the abilities you have."

"My great-great-grandfather?" Sajin said and blinked then bowed down to one knee, "Sir Arthur Pendragon I presume."

Arthur laughed, "Ah! Someone knows who I am then. Stand. I will not have someone with your bloodline bowing to me. Never do so in my presence. Stand tall for me. Your wife should too. Though formalities are still required for groups, I suppose."

Everyone in the room chuckled and then Sajin was dismissed to find his son.

It was Kai who broke the silence, "What did his great-great-grandfather do?"

Arthur smiled and then said, "He saved my life. He was a soul reaper while I was still alive and king of Europe, though in a sense I still am. I could see spirits at that time. He knew what I was to be, I think, and he protected me. When I died he led me to the soul society and helped me become a soul reaper myself. There I regained Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake. She told me that Excalibur had chosen me and my court for something great in the soul society and gave me my youth back. When the rest of my court died Komamura was the one to lead them to soul society to me and the lady and she gave each their youth back and revealed to them their own zanpaku-tô."

"What happened to him?"

Arthur smiled slightly, "He rests in a place of great honor in Europe. He rests in Camelot. Well, the soul society's version of it. He was a dear friend to me and I was there when he died, his heart broken by what his son had done to himself. I'm glad to see that his family has now escaped the shadow that curse put them under."

Yamamoto spoke then, "Was he made into a knight of the round?"

Arthur shook his head, "No. He didn't wish for it and didn't believe himself worthy of such a thing. Your Captain there looks a lot like him though Yamamoto. What is his zanpaku-tô's name?"

"Tenken," Yamamoto said.

Arthur's smile seemed to deepen and then he muttered something that none caught before he turned to Kai, "Now take me to meet this grandson of yours."

The first thing that Sajin did once he had permission was to go to Moria and tell her what he was doing. He didn't want her to worry about him while he was gone. She asked if she could come with him but he shook his head and told her it would be best if she didn't. Having her there would split his senses. He needed her to stay home and get things ready for Kureno's return.

Moria nodded sadly, but did as he asked her to do. At least now one of them was doing something proactive.

Sajin hated to leave his wife behind, but things would go faster if he worked alone on this. He would be the last to admit it, but she didn't look well. He could see the strands of silver appearing in her young hair from the stress.

He figured he had a few appearing as well.

As he passed the wall of seki-seki he instantly felt where his son was, quite a distance away. He moved with all the speed his body held and after six hours he landed next to his son and lifted his baby into his arms.

Kureno was crying at the top of his little lungs. Sajin did his best to calm him but he couldn't stop the tears that were shed. He didn't know what was wrong but he moved just as quickly to return to the Seireitei and get his son to Squad Four.

Unohana quickly took the child and rushed him to urgent care. An hour after Kureno went in Unohana came out.

"He will be alright Captain Komamura. I want to keep him here overnight for observation," Unohana said, "You and Mrs. Komamura may come in the morning to pick him up. I will let you know if something happens in the night to change things."

"Why wouldn't he stop crying?"

"He was in pain," Unohana said and then stepped forward, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave Captain Komamura. I know you don't wish to leave, but you need to tell your wife to ease her mind."

Sajin nodded and then left to his home.

When he got home she met him, questions in her eyes.

"He's alright," Sajin said, "He's with Unohana right now. He was crying and I couldn't calm him so I took him there. She wanted to keep him overnight for observation. She is under the impression that he will be alright though."

For a moment Moria seemed to freeze and then her body gave out and she collapsed in relief against her husband. He held her for a long while and then he carried her to bed. She held on to him with a powerful need, and soon they were both asleep.

Moria awoke before Sajin the next morning. She showered and then dressed in a kimono, not her uniform. She then went to a desk in the study and pulled out an envelope. It held the Squad Eight emblem and she then went to Squad Eight in the early morning darkness and quiet.

As she moved there were tears in her eyes but her mind was made up. She entered the building and made her way to the Captain's office. She figured Captain Kyôraku wouldn't be there so she slipped in, unnoticed.

She then glanced around the office and placed the envelope where she was certain that the Captain would find it. With the envelope she placed another slip of paper, written on in her elegant writing. She used the Captain's favorite cup as a weight to make sure that it didn't blow away and make sure he found it.

She exited the office and the squad building, thinking she had been unnoticed.

She had been seen, though.

Kyôraku watched her leave and then entered his office to find what she had left. He found the envelope and paper underneath his sake cup and read the note, "I'm sorry Captain Kyôraku."

He looked at the note sadly for a moment and then pondered aloud, "What do you have to be sorry for Moria?"

He then opened the envelope and found out what was in it, resignation papers.

He looked over the papers and noticed a few spots where the ink was slightly smudged and the paper warped from water.

Moria had cried while she filled these out.

"Hmm," Kyôraku muttered and then glanced up when Nanao walked in, "Hello Nanao."

"You're here early Captain," Nanao said and then turned when someone else walked in, "Captain Unohana. Captain Ukitake. Mr. Hirako."

"You can just call me Shinji, Nanao."

Unohana noticed the papers in Kyôraku's hand, "What are those papers Captain Kyôraku?"

Kyôraku smiled sadly, "Something I'm not going to file yet. Not until all of her vacation time is used up."

"What is it?" Shinji asked and glanced at the papers over Kyôraku's shoulder. He froze as he read it and noticed the name, "Moria just turned these in?"

"I saw her walk out just after she left them in here," Kyôraku said.

Shinji looked upset but said nothing more.

Unohana then spoke again, "Actually, I came to talk about Mrs. Komamura, Kureno as well. Soi Fon and I have discovered who is responsible for his kidnapping. She turned the info in to Reiô as he came to inspect her squad building a few hours ago."

"Why to Reiô though?" Ukitake asked.

"Because," Unohana started, "He's the only one that can make certain that it never happens again."

Shinji, Kyôraku, and Ukitake looked at her in confusion. Nanao's jaw dropped.

"It was another Captain?" she whispered, not able to believe.

Unohana simply nodded and then turned to the door, "Excuse me."

Those left in the room stared at each other in shock.

At the time that Unohana was leaving Kyôraku's office, Kurotsuchi was in his private lab. He contemplated the screen of the computer for a long moment and then turned when the door opened.

"Nemu! I have told you before not to . . . hello Reiô," Kurotsuchi said and bowed, "It is an honor to have you here."

Kai frowned and then looked around, anger in his eyes. Another man walked into the room as well. He looked just as angry as Kai.

"Arthur," Kai said.

Arthur frowned and then held his zanpaku-tô out, pointed at Kurotsuchi, "Lady of the lake's holy blade Excalibur. Third light, holy truth!"

Kurotsuchi's eyes widened as a beam of light touched his chest. Instantly he knew that he could not lie to these people.

Arthur then spoke, "Did you orchestrate the kidnapping of Kureno Komamura?"

"I did."

"Why?"

"For science. There is much to learn from him. I couldn't resist."

Kai ground his teeth and then said, "That day I first appeared to the Captains, I gave you a warning. What was it?"

"Never to touch a child in my experiments," Kurotsuchi said. He was now afraid and he didn't have his zanpaku-tô to defend himself.

He didn't even feel it as the blade struck him twice in the chest, destroying his soul reaper powers. He did, however, see Soi Fon, Yoruichi and the punishment force staring at him. Their cold eyes told him that they knew what he had done.

"Take him back to the maggots nest," Kai said, "I feel a little generous today."

"However," Arthur said, "I do not Kai. He will be taken to Europe and executed for his crimes."i

Kai smiled and nodded before leaving back to the king's dimension.

When Moria returned home Sajin pulled her into his arms the moment she stepped into the door.

"Sajin," Moria mumbled.

"Where did you go?" Sajin asked.

Moria shook as the tears threatened to come again.

"It's alright," Sajin said, "You don't have to tell me. I can tell you didn't want to do it. Will I find out eventually?"

Moria nodded and then sniffed the air, instantly she noticed the smell of breakfast.

The two of them ate in silence and then went to Squad Four.

Moria still wore her kimono as she walked into the building. They were greeted by Unohana and she led them to Kureno.

He was quiet as they entered the room but as soon as he heard and smelled them he began to cry.

Moria was next to him and holding him less than a second after he began to cry. She had him against her chest and his ear listening to her heart.

Sajin was there too. Kureno was quickly pressed between his parents.

He smelled their scents and quieted slightly.

"Has he eaten?" Moria asked.

"A little bit," Unohana said as Isane walked in with a bottle of formula. The bottle was quickly handed to Moria who fed her son.

"Will you be alright Moria?" Sajin asked her.

She nodded and held her son a little tighter before she glanced up at her husband, "I'll see you tonight my love."

Sajin nodded and they kissed before he left Squad Four to go to his own duties.

Unohana watched the interaction and then put an arm around Moria after Sajin had left, "Are you really alright?"

Moria shrugged as she nuzzled her son's hair, "I don't know . . ."

Kureno seemed to pick up on his mother's distress and whined slightly. He wasn't used to her acting like that. Usually she always smiled around him.

Moria picked up on her son's distress and brought him to her face to bump noses with him. She smiled when he touched her face with clumsy hands, and explored her features.

"Hey there Moria," said a voice from the window.

Moria turned and noticed Yoruichi, "Hello Yoruichi. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Yoruichi said and then glanced at Unohana, "The deed is done. Can we tell her now?"

Unohana nodded and then glanced at Moria, "The punishment force found out who it was that orchestrated the kidnapping of Kureno both times."

"Who?" Moria said and turned her head quickly to Unohana.

"Who?" said the silky voice of Umigiri as she appeared and gazed at Yoruichi.

They had spoken in unison.

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi," Yoruichi said, "Nemu had nothing to do with it though. In fact Mayuri made sure that she didn't know. He knew that would be the only thing she would ever betray him on. She wouldn't allow him to harm Kureno in any way."

Moria shook and her knees failed her. She held her son close and then began to glance over him, as if to check for something.

"What did he do to my baby?" Moria asked after several long moments.

Her voice was calm and yet her eyes showed all the anger behind them. There was an intent to murder there that surprised Unohana.

However, she was spared from answering by Arthur, "He tried to run experiments on your son. He will be dealt with accordingly my lady. He is on his way to Europe as we speak for execution."

"Who are you sir?" Moria asked and gazed at Arthur. The bloodlust in her eyes was now less but not gone.

"Forgive me. I am Sir Arthur Pendragon, head General of the European soul society."

"Head General?" Moria asked, confused.

"Well, the European soul society is quite large, possibly five or six times larger than this one. I have five other Generals and I am the head General."

Moria nodded and then looked down at Kureno who broke the evil mood she had been in with one of his famous smiles.

Although she was still upset, she left her mood at that for the time being. She knew her son would be safer now.

She could now sleep a little better.

End Chapter 25

A/N Yes I was hard on Kurotsuchi. Do I think he would do something like that? Yes I do. He thinks of everything as an experiment and I don't believe he would hesitate if he felt he had the opportunity. This was the reason that he was housed by himself in the maggots nest AND chained to the wall, he was the most dangerous there. I'm sorry to the Kurotsuchi fans, but this is my opinion of him.

i Yes it is harsh. I am in the mind of if you harm or mess with a child that is not yours in a harmful way, mental or physical, you should be hurt badly. VERY badly. I also fully believe that the mother of said child should have the right to do what she wants to you. That is MY opinion.