Brought Together Chapter 36:

Takashi's Plan

The next day, Kisshu and Ichigo were getting ready to go to the training room when there was a knock on the door. Ichigo opened it, and saw Hana, who was completely out of breath. "Hana! What's wrong?" Ichigo asked.

"Emi's gone missing!" Hana cried. "Have you seen her?"

"No, we were just getting ready to go train," Kisshu said, coming up to the girls. "Have you looked everywhere?"

"Yes! I can't find her anywhere!" Hana wailed.

Kisshu and Ichigo looked at each other, worried. "We should go to Kuro-sama," Ichigo said. "He needs to know, and then I think the force should start searching. Hana, come with us."

"O-okay," Hana said. Ichigo, Kisshu and Hana teleported to the building where the Elder Council met. Kisshu knocked on the door, and they heard, "Come in!"

Ichigo opened the door, and they went in. Kuro-sama wasn't there, but Akiko-sama was, and she asked, "What's wrong?"

"Hana's little sister Emi has vanished," Kisshu said.

"Hana, have you looked everywhere?" Akiko-sama asked.

"Hai," Hana said. "I looked everywhere, and finally came to Ichigo and Kisshu, in case she was with them, since she likes Ichigo so much."

"And you two haven't seen her?" Akiko-sama asked.

"No," Kisshu said. "She was over at our house last night, but she went home with Hana after a while."

"This is worrying," Akiko-sama said. "We also haven't seen Kuro-sama today. I hope nothing bad has happened to them."

"What if Takashi has them?" Ichigo asked. "He might want leverage against the force, and a hostage situation puts us in a very delicate situation."

"Well, if that is the case, we'll have to find Takashi," Akiko-sama said. "Maybe Claw would be able to sniff him out."

"That's a good idea," Kisshu said. "We should go ask him."

"Very well, go ahead, and I'll call the force together," Akiko-sama said.

Ichigo, Kisshu and Hana bowed, and teleported out. They teleported back to Kisshu and Ichigo's home, and were met by the others. Claw was there too, looking a bit nervous.

"What's up?" Sakura asked. "You look worried."

"Kuro-sama and Emi have both disappeared," Kisshu said grimly. "Akiko-sama is gathering the rest of the force, but we need Claw's help too."

"Why do you need me?" Claw asked.

"We're hoping you can smell where Emi is, because we think Takashi has both of them somewhere," Ichigo said.

"I think I can do that," Claw said. "Emi has a different scent than the rest of you, so I can probably find her."

"That's good, will you come with us? The rest of the force is waiting," Kisshu said.

"Okay," said Claw.

Kisshu turned to Hana. "We'll get Emi back, so stay here," he said. "We don't need any more hostages."

"I understand," Hana said.

Kisshu nodded to Ichigo, and she put a hand on Claw's shoulder. Then they both teleported to the training room, which was the meeting place.

Everyone was already there, and so was Akiko-sama. "Good, you're here," Akiko-sama said. "Claw, do you think you can find Emi?"

"Yep!" Claw said.

"Then I suggest you all get going," Akiko-sama said. Everyone bowed and teleported out.

They all reappeared at the edge of the forest near the village. "Okay, Claw, can you smell Emi?" Kisshu asked.

Claw lifted his nose to the air and sniffed. Suddenly he looked to the right, away from the village. "This way!" he said.

Kisshu nodded to the others, and they followed Claw. Claw led them deep into the forest, and suddenly stopped in front of a huge tree. "Up there," Claw said, pointing to the top of the tree. "Takashi is there as well, and one other Cyniclon."

"Okay, good job," Kisshu said. "We'll handle it from here. Can you wait here?"

"I can climb trees. Can't I come?" Claw asked.

"Okay," Kisshu said. "Start climbing, we're going to fly up."

Claw nodded and leaped onto the first branch, then clawed his way up as Kisshu, Ichigo and the rest of the force started to fly up. Finally they all reached a small treehouse. Claw jumped up on the branch supporting it, and the force stopped. Ichigo slowly peeked in the doorway, since there were no windows. Takashi was standing in front of a bound and gagged Kuro-sama, who appeared to be unconscious. Emi was in a corner, also bound and gagged. She was awake, however, and struggling. Ichigo pulled back and described what she had seen. "What do we do, Kisshu?" she asked.

"We should get Emi out first, she can't fight," Kisshu said. "Claw, can you take Emi back to the village if we get her to you?"

"Yep," Claw said. Kisshu nodded, and said, "Okay, there's not much room in there, so Ichigo, Takoi, Choji, you'll come in with me and get Emi out. The rest of you wait here with Claw until I call for you."

The others nodded, and Kisshu, Ichigo, Takoi and Shiro quietly entered the treehouse. Takashi still heard them though, and turned. "So, you found me," he said.

"We did, and you're going to die here," Kisshu said. "What you've done is unforgivable."

"I don't care," Takashi snarled. "I wanted to be second in command, but instead you chose that woman!"

"I chose Ichigo for her skill," Kisshu said. "To be honest, my second choice would have been Choji, not you. I didn't think you were really cut out to be a leader, whereas Choji proved that he could lead while I was injured. My second in command would have to be someone good at leadership, like Ichigo or Choji."

While Takashi and Kisshu were talking, Ichigo waited, then said telepathically to Takoi, Get Emi, I'll cover you. When you've got her, take her outside to Claw, untie her, and tell him to take her back to the village.

Okay, Takoi said. Ichigo shifted slightly, so that Takoi was hidden behind her, and he teleported to Emi, grabbed her, and teleported out before Takashi could move.

"Damn!" Takashi snarled.

"Why did you kidnap Emi as well as Kuro-sama?" Ichigo asked. "Emi means nothing to you."

"Yes, but she means a lot to you," Takashi said. "If I held a knife to her throat, you all would be helpless."

"You're a monster, Takashi. No warrior of our people would do that to a child," Kisshu said. "And a monster must be taken down before it can harm others- like the clarut that almost killed me."

"I still have Kuro-sama for leverage," Takashi reminded Kisshu. "What are you going to do?"

"What do you hope to gain by doing this?" Ichigo asked. "As far as I can see, you're only digging yourself deeper into an early grave."

"I want only one thing: your death," Takashi said. "And if I have to threaten Kuro-sama to get what I want, so be it."

"We won't let you have your way, Takashi," Kisshu said. "You will die here, regardless of what you think."

"Then try to kill me," Takashi said, and took out a sword. Ichigo and Kisshu were surprised that he wasn't using his own weapon, but they took out their weapons nonetheless, and stood ready. Kisshu said telepathically to Choji, Get Kuro-sama out the first chance you see. Ichigo and I will cover you.

Okay, Choji said, and stood ready.

Kisshu then said telepathically to Ichigo, I told Choji to get Kuro-sama. If you see him move, make sure Takashi doesn't attack him. I'll do the same.

Got it, Ichigo said, and turned her attention to Takashi.

The fight was beginning…

Cliffhanger, I know. I'll post more soon though! And besides, I posted 14 chapters in one day.