Well...this chapter was ridiculous to write. Seriously, I revised it over and over...adding, taking away...finally, I was pleased with it.
I think the main reason is that these next three chapters all occur within the SAME couple of hours/days...and there's SO MUCH going on, it gets confusing. Since some readers were confused as to what was going on (And I honestly don't blame you! haha!) I've created a (hopefully) Spoiler-Free cheat sheet to help you, the reader, keep things in line this chapter. There are three settings in this story:
1. The Real World. You'll find out what's going on there this chapter! ^^
2. The Soul Society. Basically the Vasto Lordes was invited in by Leta's brother Lyall, and a mysterious Arrancar showed up with him. The two hollow injured several aristocrats at the Summit Hall Ball a few chapters back, and a couple of Captains. Right now, the Gotei 13 are trying to keep the Vasto Lordes incident under wraps, while tending to the wounded. It's chaotic.
3. Hueco Mundo. This is where the Hollows live; and where Ichigo is rumored to be. Supposedly, the Vasto Lordes negotiated with the Council to kidnap Karin Kurosaki, to be bait for Ichigo. The reasons to this are currently unknown, but right now our heroine Karin is in Hueco Mundo with a Vasto Lordes, and another Hollow. We'll learn more about them next chapter!
I hope that clears up some things for now! I'm very thankful for the support the story has...this is officially my most reviewed story! Yay! It's all because of great people like you!
SPECIAL THANKS goes to the following: vanillatwilight132941, arden323, KazeArashiRaida, theloverofanime (haha, I saw that spelling error after you reviewed. I'm going to probably struggle to keep it "las" instead of "los" but I'm going to try! You'll find out what our Soul Society friends are up to this chapter. As for "Trigger", yeah, she's kind of like Hiyori...but kind of not. You'll see next chapter more about her and why she has that weird, WEIRD name. Also, another request for Vizards? I'll see what I can do! haha, wink wink!), bleach-chan (Thanks! I've had Sonido thought up for a long time, and you'll learn more about him soon...as for poor Karin, she's got the Kurosaki blood in her telling her that she can beat up a Vasto Lordes when she's only been a Shinigami for a couple of weeks? *sigh* What's she thinking? But yes, while it is good for her to get knocked around a few times...the Vasto Lordes may be surprised by how much she's like her brother...hmmm...), Turtle-chan in Blue (Doesn't he? He hasn't made it into the story until his arrival in the Soul Society, but he even reminds me of a character...I just can't place it. Curse our tiny brains, huh? ^^), bloodyrose1294 (haha! As much as I'd like to take your idea as canon, I will say that Ichigo didn't ask the Vasto Lordes to take Karin. HOWEVER, whether or not Ichigo will be meeting them/asking of them in the future...hmmmm...), Garnet Asian-Angel (Thanks! I'm glad you like it! Yeah, Karin explaining to Ichigo...eep! That could be bad! Also, Karin's just a beginner, so her getting the snot beat out of her is bound to happen...for a little while anyway! haha), and Nemane-chan (Oh no! I don't want my readers to be confused! Last chapter was a bit sporatic and hectic, so I hope the notes above helped! Please let me know if anything else is confusing/weird. I'll try to patch things up...without giving too much away! Thanks for the review!)
While the last chapter was made hecticly, and rushed a bit, this chapter was done slow and steady, so I feel 100 TIMES better about it! I hope you do too! Enjoy,
Romania Black
Chapter Forty-Three
absence of a friend
is grinding salt
into this gash on my heart
The Seventh Division Vice-Captain, Tetsuzaemon Iba, picked up the pace, his white socked feet thumping against the hardwood floors of the infirmary. Iba had never considered himself a "messenger's boy", but when the Sixth Division Captain shoves his pale blade towards your face and eyes you with soulless pupils of consuming rage...one does tend to leave their pride on the table.
Iba wiped a palmful of sweat from the side of his freshly shaven face, You know, Captain Kuchiki DOES have his own Lieutenant. Why couldn't he send him to come relay the message? There was no need, though, for him to question the Captain's motives. It was clear that Byakuya Kuchiki had sent Lieutenant Iba to the Fourth Squad's main medical infirmary because of one specific reason.
"Watch it!"
Iba sidestepped fast enough to allow a Shinigami in a light pink nursing uniform past him, wheeling a metal rack stocked with over a dozen bags of crimson liquid down the hallway. He saw the plastic flimsy containers each had different names labeled on them.
Bags specially made for patients, Iba frowned, his eyes looking darkly out the corner of his black sunglasses at the nurse as she rushed the opposite direction. Geez, they're literally overflowing this place with bodies, he sighed with a distressed furrow of his eyebrow, What the Hell happened at that Summit Dance anyway?
"Dammit!"
Toshiro's fist slammed against his desk, his back turned so he could face the window. His office was overflowing with papers scattered across the floor, a few disheveled piles still barely contained on his desk. It looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in weeks, the dust creeping up onto the outer surface of the white blinds, which Captain Hitsugaya had pulled down so no one could peek into the office itself from the window.
His eyes gazed out the slits into the blinding light outside, but he didn't dare turn around. Not in front of her. Not yet.
"Do whatever you want," Yoruichi stood at the front of his desk, facing the Captain's backside. She was wearing her Shinigami robes with an orange dusty half-jacket over the top; her plum hair gleaming in the laced sunlight filtering into the room. She could count the dust particles in the air floating like a halo around her body, and wondered why the Captain's quarters were so dirty. "What's done is done."
Toshiro had an arm propping himself up against the wall, his eyes focused on the dust accumulating on the blind's white plastic strips. "But both of them..." It took all of Toshiro's focus to keep from turning towards her, "Both of them escaped."
Yoruichi's head slouched, "I'm sorry," She clutched her left arm, a long gauze bandage wrapped from her wrist to her elbow. Her eyes narrowed as she looked to the Captain, "He had help escaping though. He was an arrancar, but not a powerful one. Another figure came up from behind and attacked me," Her eyes lingered on the back of Toshiro's head, "I was not prepared-"
"I'm not blaming you," Toshiro's knuckles were white; his voice seething with stifled anger, his teeth grinding, "I'm just pisssed off that there was nothing more I could have done." He stopped to breathe, "He just...took her." Karin's dark eyes flashed in his mind; they were wide in shock, terrified. "As if no one was even trying to protect her..."
He turned slowly to face the cat woman, and she could see a blush of pink on the outer rims of his eyes. She forced herself to look away, her brows furrowed slightly,
"He was a Vasto Lordes," She sighed, as if that was all the explanation needed.
"But we've dealt with Vasto Lordes before," Toshiro countered angrily, "They weren't like this one. This one was stronger, faster-"
"Then maybe we're wrong," Yoruichi snapped her head up, glaring at Toshiro, "Maybe there's another level beyond Vasto Lordes we're not even considering." Her eyes were a fiery gold.
Toshiro shook his head, looking incredulously at her, "That's insane."
"Who's to say?" Yoruichi paced towards the couch and plopped down onto the cushion, her arm draped over the back. "From the sound of both our stories," She let out a grim chuckle, "We were utter failures. Even several aristocrats were injured in the initial evacuation of the Summit Hall. The Fourth Division is completely filled from what I've heard," Yoruichi's golden eyes softened, "And while Rukia and Soi Fon's already stated to make full recoveries, Captain Komamura's still unconscious."
"We were lucky," Toshiro growled, his eyes turning back to the window, "Lucky it didn't stick around to do more damage." The small captain didn't even want to comprehend the casualties that could have occurred had the Vasto Lordes stayed in the Soul Society. He shuddered involuntarily. The feline femme sighed, her cheek squished against her propped up hand, looking bored.
"I guess we are," She sighed.
"What now?" Toshiro exhaled, running a hand through his silvery white hair. He felt the anger slowly seeping out of his body, being replaced with a dull numb hopelessness.
"Lyall's being taken care of," Yoruichi replied, as she slowly rose from the couch, "We're no use in that area. However," Her eyes gained back some of the golden fire they had earlier, "I did hear some interesting gossip this morning. That's another reason I came by your office." She glanced around the untidy quarters, Though I should probably call a maid to clean this place up while I'm at it...
Toshiro had turned his head to glance at the cat woman out of the corner of his teal eye, "What kind of gossip?" He asked slowly. "From the Council?"
"No," Yoruichi scoffed, "The Council has no clue about this. It's from...," She slyly grinned, "Alternate sources."
Urahara. The word immediately popped into Toshiro's head. "I'm listening."
"The Vasto Lordes took Karin," She noticed his eyes narrow slightly, but continued without missing a beat, "under the pretense that it would lure Ichigo to him. For whatever reason this Vasto Lordes wants Ichigo, we still don't know." She paused, chuckling softly, "Probably for something that's not beneficial to his health."
"Keep going," Toshiro glared.
"Anyway, that's their reason for kidnapping her. However," Her feline eyes were golden slits, "they're about to be heavily disappointed that their plan has hit a minor snag."
Toshiro felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, "Why?" He managed in a hushed inquiry, his body now turned to face the cat woman.
"Ichigo is not currently in Hueco Mundo," Yoruichi gave the captain a cat-like grin, "He's in Karakura Town."
Rukia hated him like this.
Usually brash, headstrong but loyal, and the first to leap into a fray, many in the Rukongai referred to him as the "Stray Dog," and it wasn't a far from true statement. While she normally felt happy have his friendship, occasionally his personality strayed towards more of a puppy than dog; one of sincere worry and overbearing desire to protect her from the world's darkness...as if she couldn't take care of herself. And she hated this attitude most.
"How's your arm?"
In the cramped hospital room, Renji Abarai sat with his back leaning against the molding of its doorway, his arms crossed stiff against his chest and the rest of his body language just as seemingly uncomfortable. His brown eyes glanced down at the woman sitting on top of the infirmary beds. She had one arm limp on her lap, the other gently caressing it.
"Well," Rukia gave a slight stubborn frown, rubbing her wrist, "It could have been worse. Captain Unohana didn't have to do much to heal it." She gave him an irritated glance, seeing his eyes fill with concern, "Quit looking at me like that, Renji. It's not your fault, and I'm fine-"
"If it's completely healed," Renji walked towards her and knelt onto one knee, crouching so he could be at eye level with her, "Then why do you still handle it like it's made of glass?" His large hands shrowded the injured hand, as if insulating it. The warmth spread through Rukia's body at the touch, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. Renji arched an eyebrow at her, wondering if she was catching a cold at the sight of her flushed cheeks.
"Stop," She growled, seeing him eye her face.
"What's wrong, Rukia?"
"I hate it," Her purple eyes met his surprised brown irises,
"What?"
"I hate men always doting on me like I'm completely helpless." She gave him a sideways glance, her voice quietly irritated, "It's insulting. Pathetic."
Renji looked at her in silence for a moment, before giving an impatient sigh, looking at the floor, "Rukia...," His voice sounded hesitant, which made Rukia all the more aggravated.
"Spit it out, Renji," She looked down at him with matching impatience.
The Lieutenant continued to stare at the floor, his voice steady, "I can't help be pathetic, Rukia," He let his dark eyes rise to meet hers, "If it's insulting to care about someone."
Oh please, spare me, The female Shinigami rolled her eyes, "I don't need your care," Rukia said in a low, quiet voice. "Nothing makes me madder than that ridiculously childish concerned look you and Ichigo constantly give me."
Renji's hand twitched at the mention of Ichigo, then squeezed Rukia's hand a little firmer, "I'm sorry, Rukia," He finally told her, his eyes looking away. "I thought..." He didn't know really what he wanted to say to her.
"What? That I couldn't handle myself?" Rukia glared at him, but it wasn't angry; more curious. "That I wouldn't be able to survive a fight against him?"
"No, that's not it," Renji looked up at the ceiling, irritated, and rubbing the back of his head.
Rukia stared at him; there was something he wasn't saying. Why won't he just tell me what's going on? Renji... "Renji," She said softly, slowly realizing their faces were inches apart. She could feel his warm breath on her collar bone.
"I don't worry about your safety," He said suddenly, his voice strained; as if this was a secret he was being forced to share, "That's not it. I just...," Renji paused, and then his brow furrowed and he rose to his feet. "...forget it." He turned away from Rukia, who looked stunned.
"Wait. Renji," Rukia's mouth hung open, What was he about to tell me? "Renji!"
"I'm happy you're not hurt," Renji glanced to the side of the room, his eyes not meeting hers, "Rukia." He let a hand linger on the doorframe, before walking out of the infirmary room; leaving Rukia alone atop the bed.
The female Shinigami stared at the now empty spot where Renji had once stood. She couldn't be more confused. What...just happened? She felt an overwhelming feeling rise in her stomach; a churning of... Guilt? No...not that...
Renji walked down the hallway, his head pounding and Rukia's voice lingering in the forefront of his mind,
"Wait. Renji. Renji!"
The Lieutenant exhaled slowly, his eyes closing in frustration.
Who am I kidding?
"Wait," Toshiro raised a hand to his forehead, his face a startled mix of confusion and excitement, "Ichigo isn't in Hueco Mundo right now?"
"Good to see your hearing hasn't gone downhill," Yoruichi smirked, coming from the side of the couch like a cat cornering a mouse, "Yes, he's in the Real World," She flicked a strand of plum hair, "But the nature of his return is still unknown."
"I'm guessing you're having Urahara keep tabs on him?" Toshiro's teal eyes were sharp as he looked to the feline-like woman.
"He's trying to contact him as we speak," She stated simply. Captain Hitsugaya scratched his chin, his gaze directed towards the floor, before his eyes slowly rose to meet Yoruichi's. "I felt like telling you so you would be able to vouch for me when I leave to go there."
"What are you going to do?"
Yoruichi's smile was devilish, "I am going to the Real World to see why Ichigo has returned. We need to discover whether or not Ichigo knows about Karin's...situation," She phrased carefully. "It's the least we can do since Lyall's being taken care of-"
"I'm going with you," Toshiro cut in, his eyes gazing intently at her. The cat woman laughed,
"Oh? Any particular reason you're wanting to get involved?" Her golden eyes glanced playfully at Toshiro, and to her surprise he suddenly grabbed her by the collar of her Shinigami robes and drug her face downwards to meet him eye-to-eye.
"It's my fault she was taken," He said, the steady voice building in his throat, "It's my fault she's a Shinigami. It will be my fault," His voice faltered for a second, "if she dies." He spoke these last words like they were sacred; to utter them was worthy of eternal damnation. His eyes narrowed, the teal burning into Yoruichi's golden eyes. "I am going with you."
Yoruichi stared at him blankly for a moment, her gaze scanning over his determined features. Her grin slowly broadened, "I suppose you are."
The Kamaguchi mansion was surprisingly quiet, or so Shunsui Kyoraku noticed as he blew the steam off his cup of Black Chai tea. He imagined the illustrious aristocratic hallways would be bustling with staff members and servants eager to tend to the eldest Kamaguchi sibling, Layla and her whims. Especially in spite of recent events...Shunsui thought as he sipped the tea, sighing deeply. Yet since he had been sitting in the Kamaguchi "Green" room, he hadn't heard a soul outside or in. It was almost disturbing; a giant mansion with not a soul moving about.
Almost as if the Manor was listening in on this thoughts, a thick mahogany door opened with a dull moan and a servant agilely slipping in and bowing low to Shunsui; the servant's bun of brown hair flopping near the floor.
"Madame Kamaguchi sends her immediate apologies," The servant stated, nearly out of breath, "She realizes she has taken longer than expected with the suspect and hopes you can forgive her for her rudeness."
Shunsui chuckled lightly, which caused the servant to perk her head up in surprise. The Captain waved his free hand dismissively. "Nonsense, nonsense!" He smiled, "I am in no hurry today, and she is willing to take all the time necessary," His smile deepened and he gave the servant a sharp look, raising the delicate porcelain cup, "Granted there will be more tea for me."
The servant took the joke in with a bright red blush, and quickly nodded her head, "Oh! Of course, Captain! I shall go and put another kettle on for you." She turned on her heels and rushed out of the room; leaving Shunsui listening to the rushed pit-pats of her feet along the corridor.
The Eighth Division Captain smirked as he took another sip of tea, his eyes scanning the room; which was almost exclusively comprised of mahogany wood furniture and olive green accents. His mind drifted to the rumors about the Kamaguchis: their vast wealth, their ties to the Kido Corps, Layla's persistent refusal of marriage (until her recent engagement two nights ago), Lyall's power and mysterious nature, and of course Leta. The youngest Kamaguchi, Leta had the most controversy surrounding her among all the siblings.
Hmmmm, Shunsui entertained an idea slowly in his mind but after a second's thinking, and another sip of tea, let it pass. Nevermind, he thought with a bemusing smile, It's probably nothing relevant.
Iba crossed the corner into another hallway, his eyes shifting from door to door beneath his black sunglasses. Alright, which one is Captain Komamura's room? Captain Unohana told me it was room 418...Let's see, his eyes glanced at the numbers as he strode past, 409, 410, 411-
"Ack! Hey!" Iba, not paying attention, ran straight into one of the workers in the hall, the figure bouncing backwards. "Oh, sorry," Iba gruffly called out to the figure, "I didn't mea-Oh," The Vice-Captain's eyes widened.
The worker wasn't a worker at all; it was Renji Abarai, who looked as startled to see Iba as Iba was to see him.
"Tetsuzaemon," Renji's face broke into a smirk, shaking the fellow Lieutenant's hand firmly, "I haven't seen you lately."
"There's good reason," Iba huffed, "I've been tied down in the Seventh Division for months doing odd jobs and training new recruits. I only came out here because of the scuffle a few nights ago." He paused, realizing, "You were there, at that Summit Hall dance...weren't you?"
Renji scratched the back of his head in an annoyed fashion; clearly unenthused to talk about it, "Yeah, I went with Rukia," His glare silenced any words Iba was about to utter, "It was a damn mess if I've ever seen one."
"That's what I've heard," Iba nodded, his eyes scanning the hospital rooms they were near. Nurses were bandaging wounds on people whom the Lieutenant didn't recognize. He could only assume they were aristocrats.
"Why are you here, Iba?" Renji cut in, sensing the silence grow stale between them.
"Oh, yes, follow me," Iba strode past the Lieutenant, counting the doors once more, "I was sent by Captain Unohana to find Captain Komamura's room; at Madame Kamaguchi's request. Though," Iba frowned, "she was pretty mysterious about specific details as to why."
Of course she was. No one but the Nobles and those at the Summit Ball know that Karin is missing. It must have something to do with that, Renji thought grimly as he walked alongside Iba. "That doesn't make sense. What use would Captain Komamura be for Layla? To protect her? I don't think that will work with the Captain being unconscious-"
Iba and Renji came to the door whose outside plaque read 418. Tetsuzaemon Iba turned to grasp the doorknob, turning it as he looked inside. The massive, dog-like captain was resting on his back, his wolf head and arm the only thing visible coming from the white sheet over his body. A figure dressed in all black robes with a yellow sash tied around its waist had its back turned to the doorway. Iba glanced down and saw a glimpse of her slender hand slide from atop the Captain's furry fingers and back down to her side as he opened the door wide, Renji entering first. Leta Kamaguchi turned her head casually to look at the two,
"Lieutenant Renji Abarai...and Lieutenant Iba," She smiled cheerfully and wide, but Iba had known her long enough to tell it wasn't a true grin. Renji seemed to buy it, however.
"Leta," He said in a surprised voice. She looked good despite the recent battle she'd been in. Her Shinigami robes were freshly washed, and her hair that usually was in a messy updo was now smoothed waves that were tied into the form of a braid flowing like a snake down her back to the floor.
Iba cleared his throat, "Third Seat, Leta Kamaguchi, you have been requested by Madame Layla Kamaguchi to report to the Kamaguchi Noble Manor at once," His voice commanded like a soldier's, his back stiff and eyes staring straight ahead.
Renji rolled his eyes, Come off it, Iba. You're not fooling anyone.
"I see," Leta turned, her braid swinging against the new sunlight that had burst into the room. It was nearly blinding, "Send a Hell Butterfly informing her I'm on my way. Renji," Leta glanced from Iba to the red-haired Lieutenant, "Would you care to join me?"
Renji was taken aback, "Uhm," What? "Y-Yes, of course."
"Thank you," Leta turned to Iba, her hazel eyes gleaming, "Would you please stay with the Captain for a little bit? At least until the nurse returns?"
Tetsuzaemon furrowed his brow, not happy at all she was ordering him around, but finally nodded, "Yes."
"Thank you," She gave him a quick, friendly kiss on the cheek, and then immediately departed the room with Renji bringing up the rear.
The Seventh Division Lieutenant gave a grunt of frustration and rubbed his cheek angrily. That- That brat! She-why did she-He felt the flesh of his face burning -She did that just to annoy me! That witch...He turned to glance at the still form of his Captain, listening to his steady breaths rise from the massive animal-like lungs, feeling a lump blocking the angry thoughts he had towards Leta in that instance. Captain...
Renji trailed behind Leta, who was moving at lightening rates down the corridor of the infirmary,
"So tell me again why I'm coming with you?" He called out to her, his voice laced with frustration. He felt like today had consisted of nothing but him being yanked all over the Soul Society.
"You, Lieutenant Nanao Ise, Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki, Hanatarou Yamada, and the remaining Captains of the Gotei 13 are the only ones who know of Karin's absence." She stated matter-of-factly, "We're meeting Captain Shunsui Kyoraku and Captain Kuchiki at the Manor to interrogate my brother."
Renji nearly stopped in his tracks, "What?"
"Layla is with Lyall right now," her hazel eyes stared sternly ahead, "I know it. She was planning on an interrogation within the next few days, to figure out the entire story about the Council's negotiation with the Vasto Lordes. There has to be something else we're missing...for instance, why the Vasto Lordes are even after Ichigo Kurosaki." She blinked, "If there's any information that can help Karin now, Lyall's the one to tell us."
"Why not go straight to the source?" Renji huffed. Leta's eyes darted to his face angrily,
"Do you honestly think the Council is going to tell us anything?" She glared, "Besides, they don't need to know we're involved...at least not yet."
Renji let this information slowly sink in, their feet touching down onto the dirt as they exited the hospital, "So let me get this straight," He gave Leta a skeptical glance, "We don't want the council to know that we're searching for Karin...but we're going to use their inside man, Lyall, to tell us why she was taken," Renji's brown eyes narrowed, "And he's not going to just go and tell them our plan after he's told us whatever he knows, if that's even the truth?" None of this sounded feasible to the Lieutenant. He gave Leta a critical stare, to which she averted her eyes.
"It's not the best plan, certainly," Leta sighed heavily, "But it's the only one we have at the moment. In cases like these," Her eyes lingered towards Renji's face; he saw the distress growing in them, "Time is something we don't have a great abundance of."
So dear reader,
Toshiro and Yoruichi are going to the Real World!
Renji and Leta are going to help Layla, Byakuya, and Shunsui interrogate Lyall!
And what's happening with Ichigo and Karin as we speak? You'll find out next chapter! Thanks again for reading the story!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Have a great weekend,
Romania Black
