Chapter Eight

Envoy

Hiroki sat in stunned silence trying to process the information that Head Captain Kyōraku had just told him.

There's no way Sadao would have lied about that, he thought. The look on his face was clearly one of remorse. Hiroki shook his head before responding out loud.

"Your records must be wrong," he said. "I don't believe that Sa-that their leader would lie about this. Not something this impactful on them. Or…at least he didn't seem like he was lying."

"And how well do you actually know this leader of theirs?" Captain Hitsugaya asked.

"I…," Hiroki was about to respond, but then realized it was a good question. All he had to go on was the few times he talked with the man. And while Sadao didn't seem like a bad guy, Hiroki just didn't know him all that well.

"I guess I don't really know him," Hiroki responded. "But still, it just…something doesn't feel right here. Like I said, and like you said, maybe the records are wrong. Maybe it was covered up to hide the fact that you turned them away. I mean, that would look bad."

"While we lost a lot of people in the invasion, there are still plenty of people here from twenty years ago," Shunsui replied. "Honestly, I don't think there are records because there never were. We were never approached by this Splintered group."

"I guess you would know, being the Head Captain and all. You would have been the one that they would have asked."

"Twenty years ago, I wasn't the Head Captain."

Hiroki's face lit up, "Well, maybe the former Head Captain hid it from you. Maybe-"

He was interrupted by Shunsui chuckling, "Old Man Yama probably hid a lot of things from me, but this wouldn't have been one of them."

"And why not? Maybe I can talk to him, maybe convince him…" Hiroki's voice trailed off as he noticed everyone's faces. He gulped and continued, "I won't be able to talk to him, will I?"

"He died over a year ago," Rangiku answered. "During the invasion."

"Oh," Hiroki simply said, a look of defeat returning to his face. "But why do you think he would tell you?"

"If he did know about your group," Shunsui answered. "He would have viewed you as a threat, and told all of the Captains at the time to be on the lookout."

"I guess that makes sense. So you really don't have any records on us?" Shunsui shook his head in response.

"No offense, but how do I know you're not lying to me right now?"

"You don't. But you also don't know if their leader is lying."

Hiroki sat back and sighed. He wasn't sure what to do at this point. He continued to ask himself over and over again about why Sadao would lie to him, and what would the Splintered leader even get from lying. And if he did lie, what else was a lie? Who else lied? An image of Makoto's face flashed in his mind, and he could feel his chest tighten slightly. He shook his head. No, he thought, until I know for a fact that I was lied to, I'll believe them. He stood up, and everyone in the room looked at him.

"Now that you've done your research, may I return to the Human World?" he asked.

"I don't think that's wise," Hitsugaya responded.

"I have to agree with the Captain," Nanao added. "He could return and tell them about us. What if that was his sole purpose in coming here?"

"I don't think it was," Shunsui smiled. "I think it's pretty clear that all he wanted to do was talk. In fact, Byakuya informed me that when you encountered him, you didn't even try putting up a fight. Now at first I thought it was because you couldn't, especially not against a Captain. But after your fight with Ikkaku, I don't think that's the case."

"Sir?" Nanao asked. "What are you saying?"

"Don't get me wrong. I don't think he could go toe to toe with Byakuya from what I've seen so far, but if he wanted to make himself look like a threat to get captured, there were easier ways. To get to the point, I think it's okay if he returns."

"Sir, I really don't think that that's a good idea."

"I think it'll be fine. I mean what's he going to tell them? He's only fought Ikkaku."

"What if there's more of them than we know? What if they're planning an invasion as well?"

Shunsui stared at his Lieutenant for a moment, eyes narrowed in thought, before replying, "I guess you do have a point. How about this: I send some people with him. An envoy of sorts."

"That would leave us even more open for an invasion," Hitsugaya said, rubbing the bridge of his nose in irritation.

"Well, unless they have a way of entering the Soul Society, I think we'll be fine," Shunsui responded. The Head Captain stood up, "Now I just have to figure out who to send."

"I also have to say that I don't think this is a good idea," Hiroki managed to speak again. "Even if their leader lied to me, their animosity toward you all was definitely not fake. If they see Shinigami, they'll either run, put up their guard, or fight. They're not going to want to talk it out."

"That's what you're there for," Shunsui nodded toward Hiroki. "To act as a bridge. I mean, it's what you wanted in the first place, correct?"

"I…yeah, I guess it is," Hiroki replied, rubbing the back of his head. "But we need to leave soon. They said that they were gonna move locations because they were discovered. They might already be gone."

"They were just going to leave you behind?" Rangiku asked.

"Well, I'm not officially a part of their group, and they seem to value self-preservation."

"Shouldn't we all?" Shunsui chuckled. "But no matter, I've already picked who I'm going to send with you. Captain Hitsugaya, you'll be one of them. You've had the most time with Hiroki, if only for a little bit. I've already sent people to inform the others. We'll meet at the Senkaimon." And with that, Shunsui walked out the door, followed by Nanao.

"What's the Senkaimon?" Hiroki asked.

"It's the only safe and official way of travel between the Soul Society and the World of the Living," Rangiku answered.

"There are other unsafe ways?"

"Yep, but that doesn't matter. Come on Captain, let's go."

"The Head Captain only requested that I go," Captain Hitsugaya responded. "You can stay here and finish the papers like you were supposed to have already done."

"But-"

"Now, Lieutenant."

"Oh, fine," Rangiku grumbled and turned to the papers that were still on the table. Hiroki almost felt a little bad for her.

He followed Hitsugaya out of the building. The Captain led Hiroki down the road and past several other buildings. They passed other Shinigami who muttered to themselves when the duo walked by. Hiroki assumed that stories about his fight were flying throughout the Seireitei. And if he was being honest with himself, he felt a little embarrassed about it. He didn't really want to stand out, but by this point, he knew it was inevitable. After an hour of walking, the duo found themselves at the base of a tall tower. Hiroki had to strain his neck to even see the top of it.

"On top of this tower is the Senkaimon," Hitsugaya informed the nineteen-year old. "Come on. I'm sure they're already waiting for us."

It took them several minutes before they reached the top where they walked out onto a large courtyard. The rim of the courtyard was enclosed by several interconnected, tall, yellowish brick arches. But they weren't what drew Hiroki's eye. On the far end of the courtyard, standing nearly twice as high as the arches were two massive, red, wooden doors that had symmetrical golden lines on them. Above the door was another of the light brown roofs. Standing in front of the door, and dwarfed by it, were several Shinigami. He recognized Ikkaku, Yumichika, Byakuya, Renji, Shunsui, and Nanao. There was also the Lieutenant he had seen before with the tattoos on his cheek, but Hiroki never figured out his name. Then there were several he didn't recognize.

The first one Hiroki noticed was a muscular man even taller than Shunsui. He had a long face with pronounced cheekbones and brow ridges though he had no eyebrows. His left eye was green while his right was unseen as it had a black and gray single-piece eyepatch covering it. There was also a scar running vertically down the left side of his face, and over his eye. His hair was black and stringy, reaching down past his shoulders. He wore the normal Shinigami robes with a ragged-looking, sleeveless Captain's Haori.

The second person Hiroki looked at was a young looking, tall woman with gray eyes and short, slightly-messy silver hair with shoulder-length strands on the right side of her face styled into two braids. She wore a thin, dangling red earring on each ear, and standard Shinigami attire with a Captain's Haori.

The third Shinigami was another muscular man though he was around Hiroki's height. He had sharp features with short, mussed up, gray hair and brown eyes. His sleeveless shihakushō was worn slightly open to reveal his chest which had a '69' tattooed on it that looked similar to the Lieutenant for whom Hiroki had never received a name and who was currently standing right behind the Captain. The Captain also had a sleeveless white haori and a metallic belt tied around his robes. Finally he had a series of piercings, one on his left eyebrow and three on his left ear as well as a pair of black, fingerless gloves.

The fourth person was another man, though he didn't appear muscular and was of average height. His blonde hair was cut straight and reached his jawline and his asymmetrical bangs, the left side being longer than the right, reached almost down to his brown eyes. He wore the regular Shinigami robes with a long-sleeved Captain's haori, and a white robe between the two.

The last person that Hiroki noticed stood behind the blonde Captain. She had black hair that hung down in a bob with a clip on the left side as well as brown eyes. She wore the normal robes and had a lieutenant's badge wrapped around her left arm with the kanji for the number five and a Lily of the Valley symbol underneath.

Along with all of the aforementioned Shinigami, there were also four more standing near the giant gate in identical uniforms. They wore the normal robes, but also a white face-covering that enveloped the entirety of their head except the eyes and hung down past their waist.

"Surely all these people aren't going with me," Hiroki whispered to Hitsugaya.

"I would normally assume not, but Head Captain Kyōraku can be…unpredictable," the small Captain replied. Everyone stared at Hiroki as the two of them approached.

"So this is the one who beat you," the tall, muscular Captain said to Ikkaku. "He doesn't look like much."

"He may have beaten me once, but he won't do it again, Captain," Ikkaku responded. "Now that I know what his sword is capable of, I won't be taken by surprise again."

"Wasn't this the second time he defeated you?"

"The first time didn't count. We were interrupted before a winner could be decided."

"Well, whatever. Just make sure he doesn't beat you again. And as for you," the Captain walked up to Hiroki who felt even smaller now that the massive man was right in front of him, "why don't we test you and you can fight me? I've been itching for a good fight. It's been awhile."

"Captain Zaraki," Hitsugaya butted in. "We weren't called here to fight. Surely, you already know this."

"He's correct, Zaraki," Shunsui said. "Though I only called a few of you here. I am wondering as to why the others showed up."

"I was just curious since I hadn't seen the prisoner up close," the blonde-haired Captain responded.

"Same," the gray-haired Captain agreed. "I watched his fight from a distance, but up close, I have to agree with Captain Zaraki. He doesn't seem like much. But he did beat Lieutenant Madarame, so I guess he can't be that weak."

Thanks, Hiroki thought sarcastically.

"Well anyway," Shunsui sighed. "The only ones I'm sending with Hiroki are Captains Hitsugaya, Zaraki and Kuchiki. Captain Kotetsu is here to make sure you're okay to travel. Everyone else here, who I didn't invite, will remain here in case something happens. Normally, I wouldn't send three Captains, but the Splintered group and their potential abilities are unknown. Your job is to act as an envoy. Hiroki and Hitsugaya will do the talking. Kuchiki and Zaraki will act as bodyguards."

Hiroki glanced at Zaraki and Byakuya. Zaraki looked annoyed, and while Byakuya was harder to read, Hiroki could swear he was the same. Obviously these two did not like bodyguard duty.

"What if this is a trap?" Captain Kotetsu, the female Captain, asked.

"I think that if there was a trap," Shunsui responded, "it would have been set off when I originally sent people to investigate after Hiroki fought the three Lieutenants. I don't believe there's a reason to set one now. But even if it is, I have faith in these three to find a way out of it."

"I understand, but something just doesn't feel right."

"If we want answers, we need to take some risks," Shunsui replied, chuckling. "Do they appear okay to travel?"

Captain Kotetsu sighed, "Yes, they appear fine."

"Good," he then turned back to Hiroki, "Now, are you ready to leave? Once you do, you'll have a large task ahead of you." Hiroki simply nodded. "Now we just need to open the Senkaimon, and you four can be on your way."

Everyone turned to the gate as the Shinigami that were standing to the side of it moved so that one was on either side and the other two were in front of it. They did something with their hands which Hiroki couldn't exactly make out. Suddenly the massive doors slowly swung inward and there was a bright white light on the other side which also shot into the air. Hitsugaya began to walk forward which Hiroki quickly followed suit since he wasn't sure what protocol, if any, he was supposed to follow. They now stood right in front of the gate with Zaraki and Byakuya standing behind them.

Hiroki glanced over to Hitsugaya and noticed something land on the Captain's shoulder. It appeared to be a black butterfly with purple wings. It also appeared that Hitsugaya wasn't fazed by this in the slightest, so Hiroki didn't say anything, assuming it was supposed to be there. He turned back to the gate as it was now fully opened. The Shinigami that had opened the gate did some hand movements, but before Hiroki could ask what it was for, Shunsui spoke.

"Remember, you're just there to talk," the Head Captain reiterated. "Not to start a fight." Hiroki could swear Shunsui glanced at Zaraki for a second, but then the Head Captain continued. "Only fight in defense. If the negotiations break down, I want your first priority to be to return here."

Hitsugaya nodded and walked forward. Hiroki did the same as did Byakuya and Zaraki. They passed through the gate into what looked like a waiting room. In front of them, Hiroki recognized the Shōji as the one he saw the Shinigami pass through while they were leaving and entering the Human World. The doors slid open, and in front of Hiroki was the rooftop that he was on before he was essentially kidnapped, and standing on it was Haru. He also noticed that it was dark outside; not because it was night, but due to the dark storm clouds that were covering the skies. When Haru looked at the three Captains, her eyes widened, and she did an awkward bow. The three Captains and Hiroki all stepped out of the doors which closed behind them and disappeared.

"Has there been any development in the group we asked you to watch, Imai?" Byakuya asked.

"N…no, sir," she stuttered, though that didn't seem to faze her Captain. "But without being able to sense their pressure and the fact that I…I haven't seen them before…well, they may have done something I'm unaware of."

"Very well," he turned to Hiroki. "Show us where they're hiding."

"A please would be nice," Hiroki muttered before talking at his normal volume. "If they're still there, it's in this direction." He used Hirenkyaku to move to another building in the direction toward the warehouse. He noticed that Byakuya told Imai something, but the two were now too far away for Hiroki to hear. After the two were done, the three Captains followed Hiroki.

They made their way from building to building. There wasn't much noise as Hiroki assumed people were trying to stay indoors before it started raining. As they moved, Hiroki felt a drop of water hit him and roll down his cheek. He glanced up right before the shower started. He was a little surprised at first that the water could touch him while he was in his Shinigami form, but that surprise quickly turned to annoyance. He glanced at the others, but they seemed unfazed which actually somehow made him slightly more annoyed.

After a few minutes of moving from roof to roof, Hiroki stopped as he just remembered something. He looked over to his right as the others stopped as well.

"What is it?" Hitsugaya asked.

"My apartment is over in that direction," Hiroki responded. "Before we go to the hideout, I need to go check on my body."

"Oh, right. I almost forgot that you were actually part Human. Very well, but we need to make it quick, so we can get back to our mission."

"Understood," Hiroki nodded and moved off to the right.

They made it to Hroki's balcony, and he realized that he had left the door open as there was now some water pooled on the inside from being blown by the wind. He made his way in and looked over at his bed to where he had left his body. His eyes widened. His body was gone.

"What is it?" Hitsugaya asked.

"My body isn't here," Hiroki managed to say though it was quieter than usual since he wasn't completely over the shock. He rushed over to the other rooms in his apartment hoping that he had just misremembered where he had left it, but his body was not in his apartment.

"Do you know who could have taken it?" Hitsugaya asked. Hiroki was too stunned to answer. Thoughts flew through his mind as he was trying to figure out what could have happened. Unfortunately, they kept coming to the same conclusion.

"Hiroki!" Hitsugaya shouted, breaking the nineteen-year old out of his trance. "Do you know what might have happened?"

"Um, well, as far as I know, only one of the Splintered had ever been here," he responded slowly. "But she could have told the others."

"So you think they took your body?"

"I don't know who else would have done it. I highly doubt any of you knew where I lived."

"Well, you're still here which means that technically your body is still alive. But this isn't good. This could give them bargaining power over you. We were already at a disadvantage to start with by not knowing what they're capable of, but now…" he turned to Hiroki. "You have to tell us everything you know about them. It's the only way that we can get closer to equal footing before trying to talk with them."

Hiroki sighed. He really didn't want to divulge anything yet on the off chance that the Splintered were still on his side, but he started to feel as if he didn't have much of a choice. He sat down on his bed and told them what he knew. He explained that as far as he knew, all of the Splintered had the potential for Shikai and Bankai as well as Hirenkyaku. He told them the powers of those he knew including both Sho and Makoto's Shikai though he assumed they already knew about Makoto's from when she trapped Yumichika. He also talked about the mark and the hiding of spiritual pressure that Maiko could perform.

"Not being able to sense them is going to be a problem," Hitsugaya said after Hiroki was finished. "If this does turn into a trap, we may very well fall into it. Do the two of you have anything to add?"

"Let them set their traps," Captain Zaraki answered. "Only cowards don't fight head-on."

"As much as I am not fond of the thought of agreeing with him, Captain Zaraki is correct," Byakuya replied. "Only cowards hide. But this is under the assumption that they are going to set a trap. As of right now, our mission is to talk with them, and our orders come first."

"Very well," Hitsugaya turned back to Hiroki. "Show us to the hideout."

Hiroki nodded and stood up. The three Captains followed Hiroki outside of his apartment and back into the rain. They went from rooftop to rooftop passing over multiple people who were still out and about but were obviously unaware of the supernatural beings above them.

As they moved, Hiroki turned to Hitsugaya, "I've been meaning to ask but what did those Shinigami do with their hands before we passed through the gate?" He had to talk louder than normal over the wind and rain.

"It's the seal that allows only the usage of twenty percent of our power," Hitsugaya answered. Hiroki remembered Sadao talking about the seal before, but he wasn't sure if it was true or not until now.

They continued until Hiroki dropped into an empty side alley below. The same alley where Makoto had used her net on him. After taking a glance at the spot where it happened, Hiroki could feel his heart start to beat faster out of nervousness. He knew that he wasn't ready for how he would be looked at by bringing not only three Shinigami, but three Captains to the hideout. He took a breath and went down the alley followed by the others. They continued until they came to the street where the warehouse was located.

"They should know we're here by now," Hitsugaya said as they approached. "So why hasn't anything happened?"

"They could have already left this place," Byakuya responded. "It has been a day since we discovered them. And if they took his body with them, we may never find it again."

"Well there's only one way to find out," Hiroki said.

"You're right," Zaraki grinned. He walked over and grabbed the bottom of the entrance to the warehouse and flung it up and open. It crashed as it raised and Hiroki and Hitsugaya winced. Byakuya seemed unfazed though Hiroki could swear one of his eyes twitched a little. Hiroki assumed that it was from annoyance at the rash action.

After the noise had settled down, the four of them entered the warehouse. Other than the wind and rain outside, it was silent. Since there wasn't a lot of sunlight coming through the small windows at the top of the warehouse due to cloud cover and the lights inside weren't on, it was difficult to see anything. Hiroki could make out outlines of boxes and chairs in the dark, but that was it. If there was someone standing inside, he couldn't see them.

"Hello," Hitsugaya called out, and his voice echoed a little. "Is there anybody here that we may talk to? We are from the Soul Society and we wish to speak with the Splintered. Your leader would be best, but anybody would work for now."

"Is that right?" a voice came from the darkness. Hiroki recognized it immediately. The voice was followed by taps on the ground as if someone was walking with a cane. Walking into what little light there was, Sadao appeared, his umbrella in hand, pointing down.