Chapter 20 - Retrieval
Byakuya's POV
"Now this is my kind of weather. . . The sun's blazing, there's not a cloud in the sky, a slight breeze is in the air. . ."
"Is it just me, or is the barbarian on our left actually trying to make polite conversation?"
". . . This is the perfect weather for a fight!"
"You know what? Never mind! I was wrong! Zaraki is as single minded as ever. . . I shouldn't have bothered to think otherwise."
"No, you shouldn't have," I quietly agreed as I continued to rue the Captain Commander's decision to pair us up for this retrieval task.
He had assigned the mission to us at the tail end of our latest captain's meeting, where the focus was on Aizen's continuing preparations and the possible defection of Orihime Inoue to his side. It wasn't an idea that most in the room accepted, but the Captain Commander would remain unconvinced, declaring Inoue a traitor until proven otherwise.
Remembering how close she became with some among the Strike Force, he ordered that Zaraki and I retrieve the group before they could try anything reckless, and though Zaraki grumbled at being put on pickup duty - while I kept my complaints firmly in my head - we acquiesced to his decision.
I just wanted this mission to be completed as quickly as possible, simply because I didn't want to share space with my Eleventh Division . . . compatriot any more than I had to.
"Hey Princess Petals! Do I bore you that much?!"
"Should I even bother to entertain that question with a response?" I ask in return as the main Senkaimon finally comes into view.
"Ooh, looks like someone's testy. . . Did you get your panties in a twist?"
"Again, should I even answer that?"
"You just like to suck the life out of everything that seems remotely fun, don't ya?"
"You only say that because I am not battle hungry as you are."
"Ah, so you can answer a question!"
"He got you there master. . ."
"Quiet you!"
Ignoring the bemusement I can feel from Senbonzakura, I look to my left to find Zaraki watching me with a sadistic smile already in place, like a shark looking down at its latest target. "C'mon Byakuya, we have to communicate if we're gonna complete our mission successfully!"
"What gives you the idea that you could address me so informally?" I ask in return, my remark having the desired effect of wiping the smile off his face.
"You're still as stuck up as ever. . . I'll really enjoy taking you down a peg when I get the chance."
"You can certainly try," Is all I was willing to say as we finally reached the gate, which was already being prepared by members of the Kido Corps.
Despite the coverings hiding most of their faces, it wasn't hard to notice the focus in their eyes as they continued to get the gate operational. Overseeing it all were the Corps Commander and her Vice Chief, both dressed in their official regalia as they talked with a couple of their subordinates.
"Well, isn't this a rare sight!"
I resisted the urge to groan at the loud, obnoxious remark he made, just for the sake of it.
He even looked proud of himself . . . The sheer audacity of this brute. "What are you two doing out here? It's not every day that the Kido Corps' leadership would grace the public with their presence!"
This man had no sense of decorum whatsoever.
Most people would address the two women in a way that was properly respectful, not just because they were highly regarded kido specialists, but also because he was addressing the head of one of the Four Great Noble Houses and her daughter.
Then again, Kenpachi Zaraki is not like most people.
Noble or common born, he will address you the way he likes, regardless of how you may feel on the matter. . .
. . . And since I was courting a fellow member of their clan, I, admittedly, had an opinion on it.
"Well, hello to you too Captain Zaraki, Captain Kuchiki," says Lady Moka, looking more amused than anything as her zanpakuto watched the barbarian with an indifferent gaze. "I see you two are getting along."
"If you could call it that," I say, trying to not sound negative as Lady Seiren kept her eyes on the scroll in her hands. "I hate to cut this short, but have you been made aware of the Captain Commander's orders?"
"Indeed we have, and you don't need to apologize. It's not a secret that you two don't like each other, and I'm sure neither of you want to stay any closer to each other than what's required. . ."
"That's one way to summarize it. . ." I concede as Zaraki just smirks.
"Did your granddaughter tell you that?"
"She was one of many sources, actually," Lady Seiren answered for her mother, her tone amused as she looked up at the taller man. "And yes, there are plenty . . . You two are simply not subtle when it comes to your dislike for one another."
"Eh, why deny something that's been obvious from the start?"
"Hmm, that's kinda true. . ."
"I don't need you voicing your agreement here Senbonzakura."
"But I can feel that you're not really against what he said, so you do agree with him, somewhat."
"We will talk about this later." I bluntly state, bringing this conversation to rest as Lady Moka watches me with a keen eye, as if she already had an inkling to what I was thinking.
With her telepathic abilities, she probably did.
"I would love to continue this chitchat, but I know you have a mission to complete so we won't keep you long," The elder woman declares as she turns to the gate. "Conveniently enough, today is the biannual maintenance check for this gate, so the quicker we get you two through it and back, the quicker my people can finish what we had already planned."
"Ah, looks like we're on the same page," Zaraki grumbles.
"How far will we have to travel to get to the Strike Team once we're in the Human World?" It was Senbonzakura who asked the question, having slipped out from our Inner World to stand next to me, and though I wasn't looking at him, I could still feel his amusement through our bond.
He thinks that me agreeing with Zaraki is funny. . . I would have to make him think otherwise later.
"I would like to see you try master."
"You won't have to travel far . . . We have the coordinates set at the exact location of the team in Karakura Town. You won't have to leave the gate to get them once you're there," She announces, just as the doors finally slid open. ". . . Safe travels, and please, make this quick!"
"We would hate to disappoint," I say, just as the barbarian leaps into the portal, his reiatsu spiking slightly as he disappears into the void. ". . . That man has no sense of patience."
"Considering that the Captain Commander wanted this recovery mission to be a prompt one, I thought you would appreciate Zaraki's willingness to move ahead so quickly," Lady Seiren was quick to say, shooting me a pointed gaze. "You better catch up before he decides to wreck some havoc on the other side."
"Unless one of them can give Zaraki a proper fight, he shouldn't be too much trouble," Lady Moka adds, smirking slightly as she turns to me. "If you go now, you may catch up to him before he can exit the tunnel."
"With his bad sense of direction, I probably won't see him there," I say as I move ahead, leaving the women in my wake.
Thanks to Zaraki not wasting any time to go through the door, I'm forced to use my shunpo to catch up to him, traversing the Dangai quick enough to catch him just as the shoji doors slid open, revealing the startled strike team and substitute shinigami that stood in the room before us.
"IT'S TIME TO GO BOYS AND GIRLS!"
True to form, the barbarian exclaims with an obnoxious tone that he likely knew would grate on my nerves, grinning from ear-to-ear as he stared down the group. His own subordinates, Fifth Seat Ayesegawa and Third Seat Madarame, were the first to move, soon followed by Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Matsumoto, neither of whom looked too approving of being brought back.
"Abarai, Rukia, it's time to go," I say, watching as my lieutenant and sister continue to watch Kurosaki's back. He was facing the monitor, most likely still taking in what the Captain Commander must have said before communication ceased. "We must leave."
". . . Yes Captain," I noticed the hesitancy in the redhead's tone, but I couldn't begrudge him of it as his eyes moved from the substitute to Rukia. "C'mon Rukia."
"Okay. . ." She concedes, still watching Kurosaki for any sign of movement on his part, only to be disappointed as he remains almost deathly still. "We'll see you around Ichigo."
The boy doesn't answer them as they finally enter the Senkaimon. He doesn't even spare them a last glance as we depart, remaining still as the door between our worlds slid closed.
No one dared to speak a word as we made the small trek back to the Soul Society. As soon as our feet touched Seireitei grounds, most of the group utilized shunpo to return to their respective divisions, leaving me alone with Rukia, Abarai, and those of the Kido Corps.
"Ah, good, that did not take much time at all!" Lady Moka exclaims, nodding approvingly in our direction before turning to her subordinates. "Let's proceed with the maintenance check everyone!"
"YES COMMANDER!" They chorused, sounding like one unit as they get to work, and I leave them to it, walking in the direction of the Sixth.
I only managed to walk five steps before noticing the lack of footsteps following behind me. Turning my head slightly, I find the two looking at the gate, practically mirroring Kurosaki's stance from earlier.
"So, how long do you think Kurosaki is going to last before he decides to go against the Captain Commander's orders to go save the Inoue girl?" Senbonzakura asks through our bond, sounding more amused than concerned.
"Not long. . . Not a week. A couple of days, give or take?"
"And how long do you think it'll take for Abarai and Rukia to go off on their own to help him?"
"In comparison to Kurosaki, they likely will not be much better. . ." I concede, shaking my head. They have not known each other for long, but Kurosaki had made such an impact on both of them in such a short time, it was not hard to imagine that they were willing to help him, regardless of the Captain Commander's position on the matter.
"Well? Will you stop them before they can even attempt to assist Kurosaki, or not?"
"I could try, but my interference would not stop their resolve. . . Not any more at least." I admit, knowing what I would do next. "It appears that my job here is done."
"Nii-sama?" I hear Rukia ask, confusion making itself known on her and Abarai's faces. "What do you mean?"
"The Captain Commander ordered Captain Zaraki and myself to bring you back to the Soul Society, nothing more, nothing less," I explain, watching as Rukia's eyes widened slightly. Abarai still looked more or less confused. "What you decide to do now is none of my concern."
"Even if what we do next may not be in line with what's already been ordered?" She finds the will to ask, a newfound determination settling in her gaze.
"I believe you already know the answer to that question, Rukia."
Minata's POV
"Hmm, that's strange. . ." I mumbled to myself as I walked into the foyer of the Sixth Division, stretching my senses out to get a lock on the people I was looking for, finding one, but not the other. "It doesn't feel like Abarai is near his captain, or anywhere here for that matter."
"That's because he isn't."
Turning my head, a young man with black hair and gray eyes stood by the wall, a broomstick held in his right hand as he watched me with a welcoming grin.
"He's not Officer. . ." I trail off, not knowing his name.
"Rikichi Yuki, and I'm not an officer. . . Well, not yet anyway," He explains as he starts to sweep. "Captain Kuchiki came back about an hour ago from his recovery mission to the Human World with Captain Zaraki, but Lieutenant Abarai wasn't with him."
"I see. . ." I mumble, bringing a hand to my chin. "And Captain Kuchiki has been here since he has returned?"
"Haven't left the office since he came back."
After giving Yuki my thanks for his intel, I walked through the familiar hallways of the Sixth's barracks until I found myself in front of Byakuya's door. It only took one knock and a quick flare of my reiatsu to gain his attention, and when I entered, I found Byakuya staring out his window, his paperwork seemingly left untouched.
"I hope I am not interrupting anything. . ." I say, trailing off as I neared his desk.
"No, you're not interrupting. I only had a few reports to look over, and I did it a while ago," He explains, keeping his gaze on what he could see through the window. ". . . I've simply been going over my thoughts in the meantime, that is all."
"With the ongoing preparations for war, I cannot blame you for that," I say as I clasp my hands behind my back.
"And yet, the war is not what is on my mind," He admits as he finally turns around, giving me his complete attention.
"And what exactly is on your mind?"
"My lieutenant and my sister," He admits as he places his hands on his desk. "I'm sure you've noticed the lack of Abarai's presence within the barracks by now."
"I have. . . One of your subordinates explained to me that you arrived from your mission sans the tattooed redhead when I entered the building lobby," I told him. "You wouldn't happen to know where he went, do you? The Captain Commander wants his report immediately."
"He's not waiting for the paperwork?"
"Oh no, he wants the full verbal version first, right from the mouth of all those that participated on the mission," I say, noticing the gears turning in his slate gray eyes. "I've been tasked to escort Lieutenant Abarai and your sister to the First Division for debriefing. . . I stopped by the Thirteenth to pick up Rukia first, but Captain Ukitake told me that she stopped by to pick something up before disappearing, and now I come here to find out that your lieutenant is also M.I.A?"
"It is not an ideal situation. I will admit that" He tells me, his stoic expression slowly cracking to show the true emotion underneath.
Surprisingly enough, it wasn't the annoyance I was expecting. It was concern, which only proved to show that Byakuya knew a lot more than he was letting on.
"Byakuya," I say, not bothering with his title as I stared him straight in the eyes. "What exactly do you know?"
"It's improper to address those ranked higher than you without their proper title, Third Seat Fukudome." He warns, though there was no bite to his tone.
"And yet it's improper to hold back information that could prove to be imperative to the true issue at hand," I counter, looking less like the noble captain that the world knows, and more like the temperamental teen that I grew up with. ". . . And really, pulling the seniority card? You may be ranked higher than me, but I've known you since we were both in swaddling clothes! It's not going to work when we're the only two in the room."
"She has you there master!" Senbonzakura chuckles, suddenly appearing at his master's side holding his sides. "I warned you to not try that on her, but did you listen? NO!"
"Must you add your input Senbonzakura?" Byakuya asks his zanpakuto, not even bothering to hide his annoyance now as he glares daggers the samurai's way.
"In this instance, yes." He admits, blunt with his delivery as he finally recovers from his chuckle fit. ". . . You should just tell her what she wants to know. It's more an assumption than fact at this point."
"And what's this assumption he's speaking of?" I ask, sliding my gaze back to my fellow noble.
"I can't confirm it, but I believe that Rukia and Abarai plan to help Kurosaki infiltrate Hueco Mundo to save Inoue from Aizen and his Arrancars." He finally admits, breathing out a deep sigh as he brings a hand to his chin.
"With your subtle approval, might I add. . ."
Byakuya's stoic mask fully cracks as he glares at Senbonzakura, but the samurai is completely unaffected by it. In fact, despite the mask he wears, he was likely smiling underneath, knowing exactly how much he was pushing his master's buttons.
"Your subtle approval. . ?" I ask, more curious than concerned by this new bit of news.
"I only told them that the mission entailed Captain Zaraki and myself arriving in the Human World to extract them and the rest of the Strike Force from Karakura Town and bring them back to the Soul Society. My job was done once we returned through the Senkaimon," He says in his defense. "What they do afterward was up to them."
"And what they seemingly plan to do is join Kurosaki's side to save Orihime Inoue, despite the Captain Commander's orders on the matter," I conclude, shaking my head. ". . . Well, the old man will certainly not be happy to hear about this, but I can't blame them for it."
"You don't?"
"After what they've been through, how can I?" I ask in return. "Rukia has spent enough time in the Human World to not only form a bond with Kurosaki, but form bonds with his friends as well, a group that includes Inoue, so she definitely has a personal investment in seeing her friend be safely returned."
"And Abarai?"
"Renji doesn't know Inoue on a personal level like Rukia does, and he only really knows Kurosaki through the battles they have had against each other," I mumble as I think it over. "If I had to wager a guess, I think he's helping out as a way of returning the favor to the substitute."
"Returning the favor?" Byakuya asks, not hiding his confusion. "And what do you mean by that?"
"Isn't it obvious? Kurosaki saved Rukia when Abarai couldn't, and it was through his help that prompted Rukia and Abarai to start repairing a friendship that fell into disarray when someone came knocking to whisk his sister-in-law-turned-adopted-sister away to his manor," I admit, not even bothering to be subtle as I looked the man directly in the eye.
At the very least, Byakuya had the knowledge to look a little embarrassed at being put on the spot. "I guess Abarai figured that since Kurosaki was willing to risk so much to save his friend, he was going to do the same for him . . . It's quite honorable if you ask me."
"Honorable, but highly risky," He counters, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If they do go through with this, and Kurosaki is bullheaded enough to make the attempt and drag his friends along with him, they would be going into an environment they know little about. One where Aizen and his minions have the distinct advantage."
"And yet, Kurosaki has been in this position before," I say in return. "He was bullheaded enough to enter the Soul Society to save Rukia. He entered an environment he knew next to nothing about, with no advantages to his credit and numerous strong opponents in his path, and what happened?"
". . . He saved my sister," He concedes, letting out a deep breath. "I will admit that the comparison is warranted, but the stakes are different this time around. Even though Kurosaki, Rukia, and their friends want to save Inoue, how certain are they of her intentions? The details surrounding her disappearance lends more to defection than abduction . . . Can we be certain that the girl they plan to save is still the girl that they know?"
"Honestly, they will not know unless they talk to her, but something tells me there is more to this story than what we already know," I concede as I watch him leave his seat. "We'll just have to wait till the answers reveal themselves, or seek them out ourselves if forced to."
"Seek them out?" He asks as he weaves himself around his desk.
"Once it is discovered that Rukia and Abarai have joined Kurosaki and his friends in Hueco Mundo, the initial plans for the war will have to be altered," I say, bringing a hand to my chin. "The likeliest bet is that we'll have to split our forces more than originally predicted."
"And, if I may be so bold to ask, how likely is it that I will be chosen for the force that will be sent to Hueco Mundo?"
"Hmm, you have a preference?" I couldn't help but ask as a smirk crossed my face, my amusement obvious in the face of his ever-present mask of stoicism. ". . . Concern for your sister and lieutenant perhaps?"
"Is that what you think?" He asks in return, still maintaining the mask, even though he didn't really need to.
"Byakuya," I say, my eyes narrowing slightly. "We're in the privacy of your office. You don't have to keep the whole noble facade up in here with me. . . Or your own zanpakuto spirit for that matter."
"Oh, so you two haven't forgotten about me after all? I'm glad to hear that!"
"I honestly forgot that he was still out here. . ." To many, what Byakuya said was spoken with the utmost of seriousness.
To those that actually know him and what he can be like, this was him actually being sarcastic.
"He can be quite silent when he wants to be," I concede, smirking slightly as Senbonzakura very audibly scoffed. ". . . But back to my earlier point. You being chosen for the force that will be sent to Hueco Mundo is a fair bet. The Captain Commander would like nothing more than for all traces of Aizen's schemes in that perpetual wasteland to be wiped away clean, and I believe Senbonzakura's wide ranging abilities can help with that."
"I would be glad to offer my assistance," The samurai adds, more to be cheeky than to add valuable input.
"Good to know. . ." Byakuya mumbles, and I look up to see that his stoic face was finally softening into something more emotional. "For now, Rukia, Abarai, and the others will just have to hold out until we get there."
"They're strong Byakuya. You wouldn't have chosen Abarai to be your lieutenant, or allowed Rukia to continue on the path of the shinigami in the first place if they weren't," I remind him, smirking slightly as I detect a bit of sheepishness in his gaze. "They have each other's backs, and they're resourceful. . . I won't say they'll be in one piece by the time the strike force is sent, but at the very least, they'll be alive."
"You have a way of being realistically reassuring, you know that right?" He asks as his hand slowly takes hold of my own.
"I never was a fan of being overly optimistic," I concede as I let him pull me in a little closer. "In our line of work, you can't afford to be too idealistic anyway. You just set yourself up for more grief if you do."
"That is a fair thing to say. . ." He concedes, surprising me by leaning his forehead against my own, his eyes looking squarely into my own. ". . . And to be honest, I am not too worried about Abarai. I'm mainly concerned for Rukia. . . Her powers have only recently returned to her after all."
"She will hold her own," I reiterate once again, trying to be stern enough so that the idea could finally settle into his well-coiffed head. "She is a lot more skilled than you give her credit for, even Ukitake will attest to that. . . Plus, she is not alone out there. The others will have her back, especially Abarai and Kurosaki!"
"Especially Kurosaki?"
"He may be a young, immature fifteen-year-old teenager, but he was willing to come into the Soul Society, a place he has no business being in until he's actually dead, with his ragtag group of friends to save a girl that he only knew for a few months. He fought Zaraki, he fought you, he even tried to take a swing at Aizen for crying out loud!" I say, almost exasperated by the boy's gumption. "You may think of him as a nuisance, but Kurosaki's determination is very commendable, a bit foolhardy, but commendable . . . Hmm, maybe there is something more between him and Rukia that we don't know about?'
"Please, do not speculate on that. I do not want to think about it."
"Ah, I see your dormant older brother instinct is rearing its head once again!"
"Must you interrupt Senbon?" Byakuya suddenly asks in return, scowling at the spirit, who raises his hands in surrender, showing he meant no harm.
"I think he has a point," I add, smirking slightly as the smugness rolls off the samurai in waves as Byakuya frowns at my words. "It's nice to see you embracing being the older brother a bit more . . . You're learning, and I find that very cute."
"Very cute?" He asks as I slip out of his grasp.
"Well, yes, and a bit sexy as well," I say over my shoulder, smirking slightly at how wide his eyes suddenly got, accompanied by the very audible "OH!" from Senbonzakura, which just seemed to add to the moment even more. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to get back to the Captain Commander."
"Not without this first."
"Not without wh-?" I say before being cut off, courtesy of Byakuya's lips. A second, louder "OH!" erupting from Senbon somewhere behind us seemed to punctuate the moment as my eyes slid closed, too swept into the moment to care either way.
"Master, you feel quite surprised, yet happy . . . Did something happen? Master? Master?!"
"I'll talk to you later Kiri. . ." I managed to say, only noticing that Mizukiri was speaking only after Byakuya pulled away, smirking slightly as I tried to get my bearings back together.
"A penny for your thoughts, my lady?" He asks, looking more like the smug teenager I grew up with than the stoic man I knew now.
"You know exactly what you were doing with that kiss," I sigh, trying in vain to look annoyed. "I'll get you back for that one."
"I await your response." He says, just as someone started knocking on his door. I had been so distracted by the kiss; I hadn't felt anyone approach until it was too late. "Yes?"
"Captain, Captain Ukitake has arrived and would like a word with you sir," Says his subordinate, sounding a little nervous as she addressed her superior. "He's waiting in the garden."
"Tell him I will be there in a minute," He orders, remaining silent until the footsteps move further back down the hallway. "It seems we have to cut this conversation short."
"Don't worry; I can show myself out." I say, smirking slightly as I pecked his cheek. "You return to your duties, and I will return to mine."
"Shall we continue this conversation over dinner later?"
"Byakuya, are you asking me out on a date?" I ask, smirking slightly as I reach for the doorknob.
"Yes, yes he is!"
"It is still a bit too early to entertain the thought of going out to a restaurant, don't you think? I was thinking of a small, quiet affair at the manor," He explains, glancing sternly at his zanpakuto. "Would that be alright?"
"It would," I agreed as we stepped out into the hallway. "Might as well enjoy our shared privacy before opening ourselves up to the public eye."
"Hmm, I could not have said that any better myself."
"He could have, but he was so focused on giving himself a high five in his head that he couldn't come up with a proper witty response."
"Senbonzakura, you really have a penchant for talking too much, you know that right?"
"I reflect your inner feelings master. What I say is all because of you."
"He has a point Byakuya."
"Mina, please, do not encourage him."
"Technically Byakuya, shouldn't it be phrased 'do not encourage you'?" I ask, just to be cheeky.
"Is this you getting back at me?" He asks as his zanpakuto starts chuckling behind us.
"I'll . . . I'll let you think about it. Bye now!"
And with a burst of shunpo, I was gone, smiling all the way back to the First Division.
A/N: Leave a comment if you like!
