Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach; it belongs totally to Tite Kubo. This is only a fanfic and just my preference and tribute to non-canon couples.
Authors Notes: Ohisahiburi desu ne!
Oh my, it's been a year since the last updated, gomen nasai. I could give so many excuses and reasons, but none would be relevant; I just need to devote more time to writing. Trust me, I miss it more than anyone, so much that I have started reading and reviewing again.
Not much going on this chapter, but it will get better and more secrets will be revealed.
Many thanks to - darklover, Stresses (unusual name) bleachfanficfanatic & Tuvstarrs lost heart for your reviews. Shisoukengo, as always, your a special case; however, no one gives feedback like you. I hope you all stick around.
Without further adieu, please, read, review and hopefully enjoy.
Chapter 3
The flames from the Isane's 'Red Cannon' kido spell had dispersed and the lingering smoke slowly dissipated, filling the chamber of the sewer engine room with a mild acidic odor. As the heat subsided and the crimson mist dissolved, it no longer served as a cloak for the Shinigami trapped inside.
Hisagi arrived at the scene to find Isane standing in the path of a hurtling 85-gallon steel drum. The Shinigami froze; fear, combined with an odd sense of deja vu and another emotion Hisagi had yet to give a name, roused him from a stupor and spurred him into action.
"Shunpo!"
First flash step - Hisagi reached Isane's side a millisecond before the steel drum would have struck its intended mark. Grabbing her by the waist, he lifted her bridal style and whisked her away.
Second flash step - both were airborne, appearing high above the scaffolds, as Hisagi searched for a place to land safely and avoid more hurtling objects. Piercing gray eyes located a spot on the second tier.
Third flash - Hisagi touched down on the upper metal walkway above the grit tanks and lowered Isane to the grated surface.
"You hurt?" he asked brusquely, looking down into her flushed face and wide gray eyes. His heart was pumping wildly, and not just from exertion.
"Hisagi-san!"
Breathless from the teleportation and stunned by Hisagi's sudden appearance, Isane could only murmur, "Okay, I... I'm okay." She shook her head to clear the cobwebs.
"That was close," thought Isane. Her heart was racing, but then so was Hisagi's. Cradled into his chest, she could feel the rapid, thudding pulse and she was sure it was the same for him. "He's too close," she moaned in her mind. Avoiding Hisagi's penetrating gaze, Isane pushed away, slid smoothly out of his embrace and made an awkward attempt to stand.
Sensing her chagrin, Hisagi stood and grabbed Isane's arm, hauling her to her feet. Next, he turned her in the direction of the stairs leading to the second landing where Hanataro and the others had retreated.
"Go on!" Hisagi commanded, nudging Isane toward the stairs leading to the medical team. "Make sure everyone's alright; I'll deal with this." He jerked his head toward the Adjucha.
"Oh… but…" Isane began but stopped as her eyes looked down on the beast below. The Adjucha stood still, its beady eyes glued to the individuals on the upper level. The creature seemed focused on Masaru; eerily watching the boy propped against the railing with Hanataro attending to his injured arm.
"It's caught the boy's scent," Hisagi observed and watched in disgust, as the beasts whip-like tongue slithered in and out of its snout; seemingly salivating.
"It has too much bulk to take stairs," Hisagi commented. "But I'm sure it's planning a way to get to them," he jerked his head in the direction of the medical team. "Seems it's got a thing for your injured medic," the Shinigami continued, his sharp eyes narrowed to slits, keeping a close watch on the Adjucha's movements.
"It's after Masaru?" Isane questioned, as she moved directly behind her rescuer and fellow vice-captain. "But - why?"
"Not sure," Hisagi shrugged and felt the point of Isane's chin, as it brushed his shoulder. The woman was an inch or two taller than him, but she had a bad habit of hunching her shoulders, trying to appear shorter than her six-foot frame.
"It made physical contact with the boy, right?"
Isane nodded. "It caught Masaru with its tongue and tried to drag him off…" she stopped, startled by a thought. "Wait! You don't think it was - it was trying to...?" The medic responded to the horrifying suspicion by gripping the back of Hisagi's kosode and, unconsciously, pressing into his back.
A shiver of awareness trickled down Hisagi's spine at her closeness, and it brought back memories of their last night at the medical barracks. At that time, the two were even closer than they were now and Isane had displayed that same nervousness, albeit for a different reason. Her heated skin exuded that familiar floral scent from that night.
"Focus!" Hisagi mentally berated himself. Taking a deep breath, he forced images of that night from his mind and tried to concentrate on the situation at hand. Swallowing hard, the Shinigami inquired with a catch in his voice, "So… I assume this is not typical behavior for an Adjucha?"
"As far as I know, they only consume hollows," said Isane. "But...," she paused, trying to recall the Adjucha transformation process. "Captain Kurotsuchi kept a specimen in his lab," she continued, "And If my memory serves correct, the captain mentioned something about evolution and requiring other forms of nourishment."
"A diet of Shinigami?" Hisagi asked with a raised brow, turning just enough to capture Isane's image in his peripheral vision. "You're kidding, right?"
"It's just theory."
Turning back to look down on the Adjucha, Hisagi felt there was a more straightforward explanation. "Maybe it's in the reverse stage."
"That's possible," Isane breathed, impressed that Hisagi remembered the levels of menos. "Based on what I've read, if an Adjucha that doesn't consume any gillians over a certain period, the process of evolution reverses."
"Right," Hisagi agreed and then added, analyzing the creature. "It possesses no human vocals, less intelligence, and displays more animalistic urges. It probably thinks and acts on that same level."
"It's the hunter, and Masaru is its prey," Hisagi deduced. Turning once again, he looked at back at Isane. "The captured should remain captive."
Isane frowned and looked confused at the comment. Her fellow vice-captain's voice was a rough whisper; the timbre and undercurrents held a provocative ambiguousness. It was as if Hisagi agreed and could somehow relate to that cogitation and, Isane, overwhelmed with sensation, abruptly released her grip on his robes and stepped back.
"The Adjucha, I mean," Hisagi said finally, enjoying Isane's discomfort. "That's what it thinks. A bit primitive, huh?"
"More neanderthal-ish, I'd say," the medic quipped back.
"Good," Hisagi thought to himself, "It's not just me; she feels something too."
With a smug smile, the Shinigami turned, giving his full attention to the Adjucha and withdrew his Zanpakuto. He had kept the Adjucha in his line of sight, although very much aware of the woman behind him.
The Adjucha's tail had started to twitch; the fluffy appendage swished from side-to-side in agitation. There was no doubt; the beast was preparing to attack.
"Go!" Hisagi snapped over his shoulder at Isane. "You'll only be in the way."
Isane's eye widened at the blatant dismissal. She paused for a moment, staring at the back of his head before whirling around to take the stairs two at a time. Her long legs and stride unencumbered by her robes, as she hurried to join her team on the upper landing.
"Of all the nerve!" she spat. "Who's in charge here?" Isane continued mumbling to herself.
"As soon as this mission is over… as soon as we're back in the Seireitei..." So annoyed, Isane was unable to form complete sentences and inwardly fumed at Hisagi. "So full of himself," she muttered as she approached the group and kneeled next to Hanataro and Ume.
"Is everyone okay?" Isane asked, her eyes swept over each team member.
"We were more concerned about you," Eiji said. He stood in front of the group, shielding Ume and Hanataro. "You're lucky, Lt. Hisagi showed up."
He was right of course, and it was clear, the other teammates came to the same conclusion. The weight of the drum could have caused severe injuries.
Hanataro was attending to Masaru's injured arm. Ume, although visibly shaken, masked her fear by assisting in the care of their injured team member, while Eiji provided protection. Although an assigned medic, out of the three, he was the one with the most combat training.
Turning to an unconscious Masaru, Isane automatically reached out to check his vitals. The boy's pulse was steady, albeit a bit slow. "What's his condition?" she addressed Hanataro.
"Dislocated shoulder, but he's stable," Hanataro responded, as he calmly repacked his medical knapsack. "I've reconnected the humerus to the glenoid and placed his arm in a sling. That should hold him for now."
"Masaru passed out while we were resetting the joint," Ume reported. "That's probably a good thing since we couldn't administer a painkiller."
"We make the worst patients," Isane spoke on behalf of all medics. With a sigh, she looked over the team's handiwork. Satisfied with the results, she added, "Excellent work, you two."
Ume blushed at the praise. The girl stood and bowed to her superior, before moving to stand next to Eiji.
Isane turned to Hanataro, recalling her words to him regarding leadership as they set out on their mission.
"As my second in command, Hanataro, the team becomes your responsibility. If I am otherwise occupied or engaged, the others will turn to you for guidance; don't let us down, okay?"
"You did well, Yamada-nana-Seki!" Isane addressed the youth by his division title and gave him a brief pat on the back. Hanataro was the most advanced member of the Relief Team, as well as a promising medic with a bright future in the 4th Division. The boy had more than proved his worth in Hueco Mundo during the battle with Ichigo Kurosaki and the Espadas.
"Thank you," Hanataro responded modestly.
Determined to draw the attention away from himself, the boy turned to his superior. "Uh… Vice-captain?" he questioned and proceeded at Isane's nod. "I had no idea you were that strong." At her baffled look, Hanataro continued. "Oh, I've seen you lift and transport patients before, but you ripped Masaru's arm right of out its socket."
"Rush of adrenaline," Isane mumbled, as the reason for her surprising strength, which resulted in Masaru's state of incapacitation.
Hanataro smothered a laugh, knowing his vice-captain felt terrible about injuring a team member, but the 4th Division was going to have a field day with this one. Vice-captain Kotetsu would be the butt of many jokes in the upcoming weeks.
To ease Isane's guilt, Hanataro decided to deflect the conversation. "Vice-captain?"
"Yes," Isane replied, unnecessarily rechecking Masaru's vitals.
"Who's full of himself? Were you referring to Vice-captain Hisagi?"
No response.
Hanataro watched Isane for a moment before the sound of battle drew his attention. Now that Masaru was on the mend, the young medic took the opportunity to wander over to the railing, joining Umi and Eiji to watch the fight between Hisagi and the Adjucha.
"Whoa… he's super fast!" Eiji exclaimed in adolescent awe.
"Amazing!" Umi breathed regarding Hisagi's battle prowess.
And he was, Isane was forced to agree, as she stopped fiddling needlessly over Masaru and settled back on her heels to also watch Hisagi's battle.
No matter how annoyed she was with her fellow vice-captain at the moment, Isane could not deny his impressive skills as a fighter. With eyes drawn to Hisagi's lean, battle-honed body and nearly impossible maneuvers, Isane heaved a great sigh and remembered the past.
Since their days at the academy, Isane had secretly harbored feelings for Hisagi, but he had barely noticed her. After just one year at Shin'o, Isane was pulled and transferred to the 4th Division to train under Captain Unohana. She and Hisagi had met on a few occasions, but it was nothing memorable.
After their promotion to vice-captain status, the two spent more time around each other, but it was all for naught. Isane discovered that Hisagi was interested in Rangiku Matsumoto, a mutual friend, and fellow vice-captain. It was that reason that Isane had decided to bury her unrequited feelings.
After the fake Karakura town battle, Isane, along with Captains Byakuya and Zaraki, had returned from Hueco Mundo to find the medical barracks full of injured Shinigami.
Momo's injuries were so severe that she was transported to the research institute under Captain Kurotsuchi while Captain Unohana left Ikkaku Madarame and Hisagi's recovery to Isane. After a month of medical attention, rehabilitation and proximity with Shuhei Hisagi, Isane's suppressed feelings had started to resurface.
The night before Hisagi's discharge, Isane was performing rounds and heard a melody emanating from the far side of the medical barracks. Following the sound, she had stood in the shadows at the end of the engawa listening as Hisagi plucked the strings of the acoustic guitar he had found in the human world.
Privy to the private jamming session, Isane's untrained ear did not detect Hisagi's missed barre chords nor the fact that the D string needed tuning. To her, it was the most beautiful music ever played.
As she watched Hisagi battling the Adjucha, Isane remembered the feel of being in his arms. From that night at the medical barracks to him saving her just now, she realized it was going to be even harder this time around to subdue her feelings.
XxXxX
Brandishing his zanpakuto, Hisagi waited until Isane's retreating footsteps revealed she had reached the second landing and safety before launching himself at the Adjucha. Taking the direct approach, the Shinigami launched a frontal attack. He appeared directly in front of the beast and thrust his blade forward, aiming for the center of its chest.
Hisagi watched his sword slid into the folds of fur surrounding the Adjucha's body but gasped in surprise as, instead of sinking into flesh, the blade struck a hard substance.
"Dammit!" the Shinigami cursed and barely managed to avoid the beast tongue as it lashed out like a whip in retaliation.
"Body armor," Hisagi smirked, as he fell back and checked out the tip of his zanpakuto. Seeing there was no damage, the Shinigami took up a battle stance. "Okay… let's take a different approach."
XxXxX
Jushirou Ukitake, the captain of the 13th Division, passed through the barracks, heading to the Ugendou quarters. Entering his private health haven, the captain sat down and relaxed back against the floor cushions to stare up at the ceiling.
Unohana was hiding something, thought Ukitake, as his eyes narrowed on the beams overhead. However, she wasn't the only one. Now that the Aizen crisis was supposed over, he had started to analyze each member of the Gotei 13 secretly.
No one, including Captain-commander Yamamoto, had foreseen Aizen's schemes. And it only made sense that the higher-ups wondered about the possibility of future threats from within the Seireitei, and Shinigami who secretly harbored similar twisted ambitions. Undoubtedly, the likes of Aizen, Tousen, and Gin were not the only ones in Soul Society who posed a potential threat. Therefore, it was best to check the backgrounds and pre-life history of each Shinigami.
With a sigh, Ukitake sat up and his hazel gaze settled on the flat table in front of him. The square ceremonial piece originated from China; it was solid, made of oak and contained a hidden compartment underneath which concealed data on Shinigami currently under investigation and whom Ukitake had taken a particular interest.
Arranging the tray, teapot, and cups in a specific pattern, unlocked the secret compartment under the table, and Ukitake reached in and withdrew Shinigami profiles obtained from the Daireishokairou (The Great Spirit Library).
The library was a repository containing the history of Soul Society and information on every Shinigami past and present, which resided here. Ukitake flipped through the profiles, perusing through a compiled list of questionable suspects, which consisted of two Gotei 13 squad members, a handful of Shinigami and one member of the S.R.D.I unit of the 12th Division.
The new members of Central 46 (Aizen killed the previous members) had recruited Ukitake to conduct a surveillance throughout Soul Society. The reassembled group and Captain-Commander Yamamoto had urged Ukitake to pursue the surveyance with the highest discretion. The only other accomplices privileged to Intel was Soi-Fong, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, and the Patrol Corps. Even Ukitake's longtime friend and fellow captain, Shunsui, had no idea of this mission.
Reaching further into the hidden compartment, Ukitake removed two profile data sheets and looked down at the pictures located in the upper left-hand corner of the documents. Neither were part of the investigation, but what Ukitake uncovered regarding the two, could cause a ripple through the Seireitei.
"I hope it's just my imagination," Ukitake murmured to himself, took one last look at the two profiles before returning them to their hiding place.
"Unohana is one of the founders of Soul Society; she knows the rules better than anyone, " the 13th Division captain thought. "She wouldn't..."
"Taichou!"
The combined bellows of his lieutenants, Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarou Kotsubaki shattered Ukitake's peace and solitude, as well as interrupting his train of thought. By the time the two reached the shoji entrance, he had replaced and secured the documents and lay back against the cushions, as if asleep.
The shoji doors were swung open with such force the hinges rattled.
"Captain Ukitake!" Kiyone yelled.
"Are you asleep, sir?!" Sentarou's voice boomed.
"If I was, I'm not now," Ukitake responded calmly with eyes still closed. Did these two have nothing better to do than competing for their captain's attention?
"Sorry, sir!" They both whispered loudly and Ukitake, with eyes still closed, heard them enter the room and drop to their knees.
"Can we help you with something, captain?" Kiyone asked. "Do you need anything?"
"Rest would be nice," Ukitake smiled. "Wake me in about three hours," the 13th Division captain informed his lieutenants. "I need to report to the Captain-commander later this evening."
"No prob!" Kiyone saluted and elbowed Sentarou in the ribs to take center stage."Three hours it is!"
"I got this, Ukitake-Taichou!" Sentarou gave the thumbs up with one hand while grabbing the back of Kiyone's keso with the other, dragging her toward the entrance. "Seventeen hundred hours; not a second later. Consider me your personal alarm!"
"Thank you," their captain sighed.
His subordinates continued to argue as they left the room. After their footsteps had faded away and the quiet returned, Joshirou Ukitake opened his eyes to stare up at the beams overhead. What were the motives for each person on the list that bore some grudge against Soul Society, he wondered and were these gripes legitimate?
As he closed his eyes once again, Ukitake decided to let it go for the moment. He would take this opportunity to rest before presenting his findings to the Captain -Commander and the 2nd Division. Yamamoto was reasonable, but Ukitake needed every ounce of energy to deal with Soi Fong's obstinance. She would most likely prefer to strike down every person on the list first and then interrogate the corpses.
XxXxX
Rebounding off every steel frame, beam and grounded piece of equipment, Hisagi propelled his body toward the Adjucha. He combined speed and momentum adding force behind his strikes, while at the same time avoiding the beast whiplash tongue and massive tail, as he searched for chinks in its armor.
Hisagi recalled the makeup of ancient samurai armor from the warring states era and based his attacks on that analysis. He had tried several vulnerable areas - the neck and throat, under the armpits, back of the knees, but not a single opening.
Landing on a ceiling beam, Hisagi stopped to take a breather and a moment to reassess. There was a weak spot; he just needed to find it.
"The areas most vulnerable areas are usually small and well hidden..."
Former division captain, Kensei Muguruma's words echoed in Hisagi's head. Looking the beast over from his vantage point, the Shinigami took in the massive body and tail, but its head was the smallest part of its body.
"Bingo!" Hisagi eyes narrowed to slits, as he focused on the target. Pushing off the ceiling, Hisagi dove down and spiraled toward the floor. One arm was stretched out, used as a guide to pinpoint his mark, the other held the zanpakuto centered at his chest, preparing to thrust.
The beast tongue whipped out, but it was too late. Hisagi's attack was so fast, the blade of his sword was already penetrating the Adjucha's forehead straight through its tiny skull.
Hisagi whirled his body around, planted his feet on the beast shoulders and pushed back, extracting his blade and landed a few feet away. He watched as the Adjucha twitched; its tongue hung limp and suddenly slithered back inside of its mouth before the beast reared again and fell over dead.
Resheathing his sword, Hisagi turned to look up at the medical team on the upper level. "Everyone okay?" he yelled.
Eiji gave him a 'thumbs up' with a wide grin plastered to his face; Hanataro and Ume waved, but there was no sign of Isane.
Hisagi raised a hand, and a made a circular motion with his finger hand, notifying the others he would do a perimeter check before joining them. Hanataro responded with an 'OK' sign and turned away.
XxXxX
"Lieutenant Hisagi Hisagi defeated the Adjucha," Hanataro stated unnecessarily, as he kneeled next to his superior.
"I saw," Isane responded absently, searching through the boy's medical backpack.
"What are you looking for?"
"Willow root," his vice-captain said. "Masaru is coming around; he'll need something for pain."
"Inner pocket." Hanataro pointed and watched Isane withdraw the powdery substance wrapped in cheesecloth.
The two were silent, as Isane measured the dose of medicine and added it to a flask of water for Masaru to drink. In the background, Eiji droned on and on about Hisagi's fight to Ume preventing any other conversation.
"Are you upset?"
Hanataro's sudden question startled Isane, and she turned to him baffled.
"Upset?" she asked. "What makes you think that?"
"Well..." Hanataro began tentatively. "You've been acting a little weird. Is it Vice-captain Hisagi?"
"No!" Isane responded heatedly and a bit too quick.
"You know, it's not always necessary, but it is mandatory to have a combatant accompany the medical team on missions," Hanataro began. "According to the medical ethics code, a military type serves as a backup to the acting medical officer."
"I think I'm well aware the medical ethics code, thank you," Isane huffed. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, technically, Vice-captain Hisagi can't seize command, unless something happens to you," the boy stated reasonably. "As he just saved you, your position is obviously not threatened."
"Now see here!" Isane snapped. "That's not what this is about!"
"What is it about then?"
Isane froze as Hisagi's rich baritone washed over her. She turned her head slowly, her doe-like eyes widening in response to his probing gaze.
"N-never mind," the woman stuttered, waving him away. "Thanks for coming to my rescue earlier." Isane fiddled with the medication flask. "I'll just finish this and..."
The flask suddenly snatched from her hand stopped her mid-sentence, and Isane gasped as she was hauled abruptly to her feet.
"Hanataro... heads up!" Hisagi tossed the flask to the boy, who caught it with both hands. "See to Masaru's meds, would you? I need a word with your superior."
"Uh... oh, sure," Hanataro responded, caught off guard.
Isane was speechless. She stumbled behind Hisagi, as he pulled her down the metal walkway. Reaching the end of the corridor, Hisagi flung open a utility room door and peered inside. Satisfied that all was clear, he stepped inside, pulling Isane behind him and swung her around.
"Lt. Kotetsu," Hisagi began and paused, waiting for her to stop fidgeting and face him directly.
With a sigh, Isane finally lifted her head and looked him in the eye. "Yes, Lt. Hisagi," she mimicked.
Isane watched his lips curved into a slight smile as if he found her response amusing. The sight sent warmth coursing through her body, but it annoyed at the same time.
"Do you think this is funny, Lieutenant?" snapped Isane haughtily.
"Ah... no, that's not it." Hisagi backpedaled, trying to straighten his face. He never noticed how clear and beautiful her eyes were and what he found amusing was her attempt at sarcasm. "It's just... we have a man down, we haven't made contact with the missing team. I'm wondering how we should proceed?"
Isane relaxed visibly, seeing Hisagi had resumed his stone-face and the topic of conversation focused on the mission. Stepping around him, she moved over to an open water tank and sat on the edge.
Hisagi turned, as she brushed past. He watched her sit, fold her arms, biting her lower lip as contemplated their situation. Although he wanted to make a suggestion, he decided to wait for her assessment.
"There's no reason we can't move forward," Isane stated, looking over at Hisagi. "It's already been several hours since the first distress transmission, and I won't feel comfortable turning back now."
"Masaru may be injured, but I can guarantee he will want to complete his mission. He's a chemistry major," Isane informed Hisagi. "Whatever happened in District 17, if there was an exposure to toxins or chemicals, we will need his expertise."
"The presence of Adjucha's will pose a problem, but that's why you're here." Isane continued. "However, we can't assume there's only one. So, based on that..." Isane pushed away from the tank and stood. "I think we should call for back-up. What do you think?"
Hisagi fought to suppress another smile. For her to want to continue, came as no surprise. However, her deductions were thorough, and it appeared she had considered many things before embarking on this mission. Isane's assessment was profound, and if he were forced to explain it, he would have to say she was more observant than strategic.
"Agreed," Hisagi said finally. He took so long answering that he noticed Isane had started fidgeting again. A trait which portrayed her lack of confidence. But - that also stroked Hisagi's male ego; after Isane's accurate summarization, she still felt the need to ask his opinion.
When compared to the other women Shinigami, Hisagi never imagined there were so many facets to this shy, seemingly quiet woman? The more time he spent with Isane, the more things Hisagi found to like.
"Good," Isane blushed. "I'll contact Captain Unohana."
"Tenteikura?" Hisagi inquired on the method of communication.
"Yes," Isane replied absently, busying herself with painting the tattoos to activate the spell.
"I'll notify the others," he said but stood in the doorway watching as she began the incantation.
"Black and white net. Twenty-two bridges, sixty-six crowns, and belts. Footprints, distant thunder..."
Hisagi finally turned and exited the room. As he approached Hanataro, he heard the transmission connect and Isane passing information to her captain. Their location, the appearance of the Adjucha and her injured team member, was revealed to Unohana.
"Is everything okay between you two?" Hanataro asked meekly.
"We've called a truce... for now," Hisagi told the boy. However, he knew that wouldn't last once they returned to the Seireitei because Hisagi planned to pursue Isane with the fervor as a cheetah hunting a gazelle.
"I can't wait til this missions over," he muttered, and Hanataro drew back in alarm. So engrossed in his thoughts, Hisagi did not realize his words, the sinister smile and the eerie hand rubbing promoted the image of a scheming villain and the epitome of evil.
Til next time…
