Sins of the Unholy

Chapter 16: Missing

It's close to midnight when he returns, what was supposed to be a few hours turns into six. The blast had done more than knock out communications. He knows he should go to the Head Captain first. But as soon as they step out of the Senkaimon, Toshiro flash steps to his squad. It's all a reflex, he makes it in record time and the sound of crying is what pulls his attention once he lands in the garden.

Looking to the landing, he watches as Tsuki holds a crying Saki. He makes no move to get closer to them, fear and anger are coursing through his veins. He turns to face them and Tsuki is the one who looks up first. The boy has tear tracks down his own cheeks but he's putting on a brave face now.

"Captain." Saki shakes harder at Tsuki's word and the two hold each other tighter. Moving toward them he lays a gentle hand on Tsuki and Saki's heads. The girl looks up at him, eyes wet and face red.

"She left, she left us here to wait for you." Sobs Saki as she pushes away from Tuski to cry into Toshiro's chest. The Captain winces a bit as the tension ramps up as he pulls his hand away from Tsuki to hold Saki. These teens before him, mear children when they'd first come to stay with them. Tsuki hardened by the area, unsure of who to trust. Saki so naive, simply following Juno around like a lost pup.

"Captain, what are you going to do?" Asks Tsuki as he stands up and takes his glasses off. He wipes his face with his sleeve before standing to his full height. He's a foot and a half shorter than Toshiro, the malnutrition from his old home wrecked them for years. But now they show signs of improvement and strength. A strength he never thought he'd have to see in these kids.

"In all honesty, I was hoping it was a miscommunication. Everything doesn't seem real right now." Toshiro holds tight to Saki who has stopped sobbing and hiccups in his arms. He pushes Saki away gently to look over both of them.

"I need to report in. Once that's done, I'll come back and we'll figure out what happened here. Thank you, both of you, you came all this way with so much going on. I feel like I've placed you into more danger. I am sorry for that." His eyes soften and Tsuki moves to pull Saki toward him.

"Just come back Captain, being left in the dark is not something we enjoy."

Captain Hitsugaya is the last to arrive. He makes no move to apologize, simply steps into his place along the Captains line and crosses his arms. Eyes are on him, I could feel it the moment he'd walked up to the Captains meeting. The air is heavy, filled like a charge left over from battle but something settles under it all. He knows he should talk with Rukia but right now is not the time. He can't afford to be soft.

"Captain Hirako report." The bandaged Captain steps forward and turns to the head Captain.

"Five beginnings wearing Tengu masks attacked the world of the living. They brought Gillians with them in order to slow down our troops. I broke off from Captain Hitsugaya after the fifth appeared to take on one that had a green orb. The Substitute Soul Reapers of the area joined in to help with the battle." He pauses a moment before continuing.

"Power level wise, I would compare them to Adjuchas level threat. They were well versed in cero attacks. I attacked first and managed to cut him in half, but the Tengu reformed and seemed to use the reishi of the fallen Kirin as a power source." Hirako rubs his hand along the back of his head, seeming disinterested in the report.

"We continued to battle, no bankai's were activated as we had no limiter over Karakura. In all our preparation we seem to have forgotten the protection spell." A few Captain's bristle at Hirako's words and Toshiro simply rolls his eyes.

"Considering the attack was early, it's to be expected." Speaks up the Head Captain. Toshiro balls his fits and waits out the tediousness of the meeting.

"Thank you for your report. For now all Captains are dismissed, we are working to get our squads back into working order. Go back to your Squads Captains, make preparations as needed. Captain Hitsugaya stay back." All the Captains bow before the Head Captain and everyone leaves. Toshiro stays in his spot, not trusting himself to get closer.

"We will need to report it." The words echo in the hall and drill at Toshiro, Hyorinmaru since being back in the Soul Society, has been eerily quiet.

"Central 46 will issue a warrant for her arrest, but if we do not get to her quickly it could easily change." The Head Captain takes a few steps forward and Toshiro takes a few back. The Head Captain is shocked by the movement but continues to speak.

"If they ask for you to step down for this war, will you?" Toshiro's eyes widen and he finally takes in the Head Captain. The man has always stood taller than him, even now with the few inches he has Toshiro feels like a child under his eyes.

"Are you asking me to leave Ryuzaki in the hands of the other Captains?" His voice cracks and Hyorinmaru rumbles along his back. The room begins to turn cold and Shunsui looks on with sad eyes.

"I'm asking you to leave Ryuzaki in the hands of the Soul Society. We will bring her in, but we have to have your word, if they hand out the sentancings you'll do right by your title." Toshiro's fist unclenches, his shoulders sag and he deflated before Shunsui. To stand down and not help, to leave his wife in the hands of others. He was doing it again, turning his back on what was left of his relationship.

"My title, my standing. You are asking me to turn away from my family." Taking a few more steps toward the exit. Toshiro leaves quickly, to acknowledge the question, to even answer it truthfully, he could not make that decision now.

"Hello my dear."

Juno wakes to pain. Laying across the floor, she slowly pushes herself up and looks around the immaculate castle. It's dark furnishings with white marble statues before her. A staircase with gray carpet leads up to a large throne. Upon it sits the skeletal figure from her dreams. It's draped in a dark blue cloak with a sun crest holding it along it's shoulders.

Moving to get to her knees, her head swims a bit before she looks to her sides. Pillars holding up the second level that connects to the throne. The architecture is foreign to her as she spots tengu's at the bottom of the stairs. One of them holds Kiseichu.

"Where am I?" She asks as she pushes herself to her feet and takes a shaky step back. The fight plays in her mind and Kiseichu's actions shake her. He brought her here, he placed her in the hands of the enemy.

"Welcome to Silko Keep, you stand before the lord of this land. Lord Kaito has been watching you closely." One of the Tengu's steps forward, his black feathers falling from his neck. He gives Juno a bow before turning to look up at the skeleton. It's moved, now it sits forward watching her.

"You've been disturbing my visions."

"We have been doing what is necessary. You, my dear, will bring us into the new world. We will rule as we have done in years past. You will help restore our glory."

Toshiro sits shirtless in his room. Saki works on treating the burns along his arm and shoulder. Tsuki hands over bandages when she asks and all three work in silence. Since the meeting with the Head Captain, Toshiro had worked in a haze. He checked on Matsumoto, she was up and talking with the healers when he'd arrived, but he couldn't bring himself to enter the room.

Leaving quickly, he went to his squad. Five of his men had been burned in the attack on the soul society. He looked over the charred bodies and felt like he was going to throw up. He left everything to his seated members.

He hisses as Saki comes to a particularly harsh burn along his wrist. Quickly she pulls away and he can hear the deep breath she takes, since he'd come back she'd been crying softly at anything. Hyorinmaru was currently destroying the inner world and Toshiro could not bring himself to stop the Zanpakto.

"Leave it Saki, I can finish." He pulls his arm back but the teen stops him. She grabs his hand and places it back on her lap, focusing once again she works on wrapping him up.

"Captain, she left nothing behind. What will we do?" Asks Tsuki as he looks over the bedroom. He and Saki had been all over the room, for anything pertaining to Juno. But nothing stood out. Toshiro closes his eyes and just breathes, he can feel traces of her spiritual pressure. Like dust covering everything, he can feel her touch upon his bare skin and it causes him to break out in goosebumps.

"We will find her and bring her home. But we must wait on them to decide what the next move will be."