(Day 2)

How did his spiritual energy get so low? That was the question that had been plaguing Suì-Fēng's mind for a little over a day now. She tapped the bud of her pen against her desk, going down the list she had written for the tenth time.

1 – Accident

Suì-Fēng hated that this was always an option. No matter how suspicious something may seem, fate had a way of stringing together circumstances into a series of unfortunate events that sometimes resulted in tragedy. She was tempted to cross it but until she had some more evidence, she had to consider it as a possible truth.

2 - Self-imposed XXXXXXXXX

Highly unlikely, hence why she had put crosses behind it. Ichigo was strong; physically, mentally and spiritually. He had a purpose in life and took pride in that. Suì-Fēng couldn't fathom the young lieutenant taking his own life-so long his loved ones were alive, at least. Even then, draining oneself to death wasn't quick nor painless. It made no sense for someone to torture themselves like that when there are many methods that would make your second passing swift and painless.

She shook her head and scratched the line completely.

3 - Medical

Isane may still be green in her position as a captain, but her knowledge of kaidō was unmatched. Still, if it had been her predecessor, Unohana Retsu, Suì-Fēng wouldn't even have written this down as a possibility. The late captain had much more experience, had seen everything a soul can ail. Ichigo could be suffering from some rare disease Isane doesn't know about. He did have a very unique core, after all. There was no way of knowing if it reacted-or even functioned-the same way as other cores. Therefore, Suì-Fēng couldn't write this one off.

4 - Inflicted by a third party

It was an unfortunate truth but Ichigo had many who openly hated him. Not because of the man's personality, mind you-Suì-Fēng would be lying if she said he hadn't been growing on her. However, the man's inclusion in the Shiba Clan combined with his heritage and rank made him a prime target for many. Having said that, it also made him a high-risk mark. Harming a person of such stature... punishment would begin at lifelong in prison.

Suì-Fēng put down her pen and pinched the bridge of her nose. It wouldn't do her much good to dwell on the options when she didn't have much to go on. All she had was the testimony of Isane and her two lieutenants. All of whom gave similar statements.

One thing stood out to her. Lieutenant Hanatarō, while describing the same event, worded it much differently. Where his captain and colleague blamed the Inner Hollow, Hanatarō sympathised with it. Even going as far as referring to it as "Getsu-san".

Of course, Suì-Fēng wouldn't be the captain of the Second Division if she hadn't pressed the subject.

"Oh, well..." Yamada looked away from her, eyes shifting to the side and hands going to the sash of his medical pack. "I p-p-promised I wouldn't—"

"Lieutenant Hanatarō, if you hide information from me, I can arrest you for obstruction", Suì-Fēng stated.

"Oh, n-no!" Yamada shook his head, "I am n-n-not obstruc-c-c-ting!"

"Then please, tell me why you refer to the Inner Hollow that took over Lieutenant Shiba's body as "Getsu-san".

Yamada nursed his bottom lip, eyes flicking up and down in conflict. "P-please don't t-tell other people if it isn't—"

"Speak".

There was a noticeable flinch at her words, hands tightening on the strap. "Lieutenant Sh-Shiba introduced me to his spirits a few months b-back", Yamada told. "He was in the Fourth after his fall out with C-C-Captain—"

"Are you referring to the one where Captain Zakari broke Lieutenant Shiba's zanpakutō?" Suì-Fēng clarified.

There was a twitch in the Yamada's brows, both briefly knitting together before smoothing out in the lieutenant's usual expression.

"Yes". Yamada's eyes turned sombre, "Lieutenant Sh-Shiba had been very upset". He sighed, playing with the strap between his fingers, "Lieutenant Sh-Shiba forgot to eat sometimes and it hindered his own rec-c-covery".

Suì-Fēng frowned, "Why is that?"

"He t-told me Zangetsu was feeling unwell. He k-kept them c-company while they rec-c-covered from being b-broken".

Interesting, I should ask my own Zanpakutō about that, Suì-Fēng mused. "When did Lieutenant Shiba introduce you?"

"A few days after he c-came in". Yamada pouted slightly, "Because of his c-concern about Zangetsu, Lieutenant Sh-Shiba was still in n-need of care by the time his Zanpak-k-kutō had recovered".

"I think it was the sec-c-cond to last day of his stay", Yamada settled on with certainty. "I was passing his room and d-decided to ask if he wanted anything. It was outside of my schedule, so I think he hadn't expec-c-cted me to enter". Yamada smiled a bit, "When I opened the door, I found Lieutenant Sh-Shiba playing c-cards with his spirits".

"Pardon?" In all her years, Suì-Fēng had never known or heard of someone who materialised their Zanpakutō for reasons other than training.

Yamada nodded, "It was outside of v-visiting hours, so I was surprised t-to see he had c-company. When I t-told him, he introduced me".

"Could you describe the spirits?" Suì-Fēng already had some reports on their appearance from the Muramasa affair but it could never hurt to hear it again from a witness.

"Sure. Uhm…let's see. T-Tensa-san is a little shorter than me", Yamada said, raising his left hand to his forehead to indicate the height. "He wears a black c-coat with a hood. He always has it d-drawn…I suppose he is shy".

"Getsu-san looks a-a lot like Lieutenant Sh-Shiba when he was y-younger only…very pale. He has r-really long hair that he k-keeps in a b-braid".

"And the spirit named "Getsu" is also Lieutenant Shiba's Inner Hollow?"

"Uhm…Hollow Zanpak-k-kutō, actually", Yamada corrected softly.

I see. "Thank you".

And then it happened. She had turned around to leave, having asked her questions and gotten the answers she needed for now. But the meek lieutenant had more to say to her and would not let her go without having said his piece.

"Uhm…wait! C-C-Captain!"

Suì-Fēng paused. "What is it?"

Yamada was strangling the strap of his medical pack, fighting against his timidity to look her in the eye. "Get-t-tsu-san isn't t-t-that b-bad", he managed to bring out. "He is ac-c-ctually really—"

"I don't need your opinion, Lieutenant Hanatarō", Suì-Fēng dismissed. "Emotions have no place in—"

"W-Well!" Yamada fisted his hands, knuckles turning white. His brows set into that frown of before and his eyes burned with offence at her words. "At least Getsu-san d-d-doesn't interupt-t me!"

Those words stole the ones Suì-Fēng had ready on her tongue. She stared at the lieutenant before her, at the sheer determination on his face mixed with the rim of terrified tears he was refusing to shed. His outburst had taken her aback but it was his words that made her shut her mouth.

"Getsu-san is k-k-kind!" Yamada nearly yelled at her, words full of fear and anger. He was scared of her power, personality and rank but his anger at her words kept him going. "He d-didn't mean t-to hurt anyone! It was an ac-c-ccindent!"

A kind Inner Hollow? One who waited patiently for some weak Soul Reaper with a stutter to finish speaking? It sounded outlandish, a made-up story to protect a friend. But Yamada was a poor liar and had an even worse imagination. Suì-Fēng believed every word he spoke, which only made the whole scenario stranger.

Hollow Zanpakutō, the idea alone made Suì-Fēng cringe. She couldn't imagine Suzumebachi being tainted like that. Allowing her to stay like that. Something like that shouldn't exist.

A knock on her door interrupted her musings.

'Enter'.

The door slid open and three of her subordinates entered. They lined up before her.

'Speak'.

The one on her right took half a step forward and knelt down.

'Captain Kuchiki has stated Lieutenant Shiba looked tired when she saw him yesterday morning. They had a light altercation after which Lieutenant Shiba took a break on her orders'.

'A break that early?'

'Lieutenant Shiba has had past Friday to Sunday off. Friday was spent celebrating his birthday. Captain Kuchiki was unwilling to disclose the reason for the weekend. However, we suspect it was to go to Hueco Mundo to fight with the ex-Espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez', the Soul Reaper told. 'Apparently, Lieutenant Shiba came in late Sunday to work on the backlog and has been working through the night'.

'Anything else?'

The Soul Reaper shook their head and stepped back. The one in the middle stepped forward.

'Yuki Rikichi is a member of the Sixth Division. He claimed he came across Lieutenant Shiba on his way to work. The two conversed, talking about how their days had been when Lieutenant Shiba passed out', the Soul reaper told. 'Yuki claimed it happened suddenly and without warning. He hadn't noticed anything off about the lieutenant beside him looking tired'.

'Did he know where the lieutenant was heading?'

'He said Lieutenant Shiba was just taking a stroll'. The soul reaper stepped back, allowing the last in line to step forward. He handed her a file before speaking.

'His kosode and hakama were clean. As were his wallet, wedding band, hami and waijari. There was, however, a strange substance found on the inside of the left sleeve of the shitagi. It was too faint for the machines to decipher and too little to get a sample'.

'The pieces were, originally, a bracelet. The pieces consist of two different kinds of minerals, held together with a special kind of glue. The white side is a thin slab of Seki Seki. The coloured side is an Ikio-Shuno, also known as a preserver stone'.

'Whose energy is stored within?'

'Kurosaki Orihime, Shiba Karin, Kurosaki Yuzu, Ishida Uryū, Yasataro Sado, Arisawa Tatsuki and Kurosaki Kazui', The forensic replied. 'If worn correctly, only the wearer will be able to sense the signatures contained'.

The head of forensics turned a page, prompting his captain to do the same. 'On the Ikio-Shuno, we found a strange paste. It mostly consisted of Leptin'.

'Leptin?'

'It's a hormone the body produces when we eat. It sends a signal to the brain to inform it is satisfied and no more food is required'.

'Whoever wore this bracelet, would end up starving themselves without realising it', Suì-Fēng said.

'Correct'.

'Do you know from which jeweller it came?'

'Golden Circle. Its located South-West in the Seireitei. It's run by Kajiya Onshu, Fifty-two years old. Married and has one son. Their full biography is included'.

Suì-Fēng smirked, pleased by the work her people had delivered on such short notice.

'Thank you. Leave your findings at my desk, you can leave'.

It would seem she would have to pay the goldsmith a visit.

#

TO BE CONTINUED

BLEACH – Tite Kubo