Chapter 25: The Pink Clad Captain
Kyoraku laid his head back on the fluffy pillow that he had found. He was laid out in one of the personal rooms that his best friend had at the thirteenth. The white haired captain was currently busy, but that didn't mean Kyoraku had to leave. As soon as he could, Ukitake would join him in the room with some tea. Putting his hat over his face he closed his eyes, his mind going back to the coordinated hollow battle he had been in, in the deep rokengai. It definitely was a coordinated attack, but saying that would put Yami-ji on full alert. He gave a deep sigh. Of course he'll want to know what made me think this and I'll have to reveal some things I'm not ready to reveal. Another sigh escaped his lips as his body began to fully relax. Like the fact I know there's a traitor amongst us. Trouble with that is, I don't know who it is; yet.
The sounds of birds singing in the background along with a windchime making a noise as the soft breeze moved it could be heard along with soft footsteps over the wooden floorboards. Kyoraku smiled under the hat as he heard the sliding pocket door open before it softly closed. A soft sigh escaped the person who had entered the room as a small serving tray was placed on the chabudai. "Have fun in the rukon?"
Pushing his hat off his face Kyoraku chuckled. "How'd you know I wasn't asleep?" he asked curiously towards the silver haired captain.
"You snore when you sleep." was his reply.
Sitting up quickly, Kyoraku sputtered. "I-I do not!" he tried to defend himself a flustered flush gracing his cheeks, this only seemed to cause his friend to laugh. "You're mean Jushiro. Picking on your tired old friend."
"Old?" Jushiro inquired. "When did you get old?"
"Nice." Kyoraku chuckled a smile appearing on his face as he took a sip from the cup he'd been offered. "To answer your question, not entirely." His voice took on a deeper tone causing the silver haired man to take notice.
"Is it bad?" he inquired.
"Perhaps." Kyoraku edged around the question.
"I wish you'd let me help you with whatever is going on." Jushiro told him as he noticed the tired look in his friend's eyes.
"No you don't." Kyoraku told him, knowing that if he did bring his friend in on this, things could get dangerous; for them both.
"A change of subject then Shun?" he asked, knowing he wouldn't get a straight answer from the man before him until Shunsui was ready to reveal what he knew.
"Yes please." was his answer as another tired sigh escaped his lips as he finished his tea.
"A member of my squad has gone missing." Jushiro said causing Kyoraku to look up at him, his brown eyes darkening at this information.
"Who?" he asked knowing Ukitake wouldn't have brought this up unless it was important.
"Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki." was his answer.
Kyoraku could see the worry etching his friend's features. He still hasn't forgiven himself for losing the Shiba boy. he thought as a second cup of tea was poured. "When did she go missing?" he inquired.
"She was assigned to Karakura Town, but was to return over two months ago." Ukitake answered as he took a sip from his own freshly poured cup of tea. "I'm worried."
"Is she a deserter?" Even as Shunsui asked this he knew that wasn't the case.
"No. I don't think so." he answered. "I want to investigate, but there's not enough evidence to state that she's missing or a deserter. For all I know, she could be investigating something or-"
"Would she do that without contacting you or telling you she was going to extend her stay in the living world?" Kyoraku saw Ukitake stir his tea aimlessly.
"No." Ukitake answered with sadness in his voice.
"Hmm..." Kyoraku pushed his hat up to reveal caring eyes. "I might be able to check things out, if I get my report in by the end of the day." Hope filled his best friend's eyes. "Just don't get yourself all upset."
Ukitake took in a deep breath before releasing it in a sigh. "Thank-you."
Shunsui smiled genuinely at him. "What are friends for?" he asked with a wide grin.
"To help you get out of trouble?" Jushiro asked with a smile of his own.
Shunsui barked out a laugh. "Or to help you get into trouble." he answered joyously. Ukitake joined him in his laughter. It wasn't a long visit, only because Shunsui was now truly curious as to why the Kuchiki girl had gone missing. I wonder why Byakuya hasn't made an inquiry into why she hasn't returned? he thought as he headed towards his squad. He could hear yells and cries as he went passed the eleventh and just chuckled at the sounds coming from the toughest, roughest squad in the gotei. Of course, Byakuya might think that this is normal. She's done missions that have probably lasted three or four months, but still...she's suppose to be his little sister. You'd think he'd get worried.
It was as if his thoughts had made the stuffy noble lord appear because as soon as he rounded a corner he saw the dark haired Kuchiki leader. "Ah, Captain Kuchiki." he greeted the up tight young man who looked at him with surprise. He probably didn't notice my presence because I've been hiding my reiatsu.
"Captain Kyoraku." the younger squad captain gave an inclination of his head to acknowledge the older man.
Just then a cry came from behind the captain causing a slight frown to mar the otherwise perfectly calm features of the Kuchiki leader, this caused Kyoraku to smirk as the red haired loud youth came out from squad nine. "Captain!"
"Lieutentant Abarai." the dark haired man turned his head towards the red haired man. "Have I not told you that you should not yell so loudly when approaching me?"
Kyoraku watched as the younger man rubbed the back of his neck as he apologized. "I'm sorry captain, it keeps slipping my mind." he stated as a flush graced his cheeks out of embarrassment. This seemed to cause the black tattoo lines to stand out on his olive tanned skin.
Byakuya gave a sigh as he gave his lieutenant his full attention. "What is that you found so important that you needed to scream so loudly for?" he inquired, slight annoyance could be heard in his tone, but only to those who knew the captain could actually hear it.
"Ah." Abarai gasped as he brought the papers that he held in his hands up. "Captain Tosen wanted me to give these to you. Said it had to do with those attacks in the upper rokangai. He says there's evidence of a shinigami being the one to be bringing in those hollows. He wants to borrow a few of the sixth in order to monitor a certain area where he believes the next attack will come in at."
Byakuya held out his hand, his lieutenant gave the papers to him. As the captain of the sixth division looked over the papers, Kyoraku read some of them from over Byakuya's shoulder. Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks there's a traitor amongst us.
"He believes the next attack with come in two months." Byakuya looked up from the pages towards his lieutenant. "Abarai, I want you to choose the men for this. Train them, and when Captain Tosen comes to our squad for the men, you're to go with them to ensure they come back with the traitor still alive."
"Yes Captain!" the red haired, tattooed youth grinned as he took back the papers before bowing and leaving.
"Captain Kyoraku, may I inquire why you're still here?" Byakuya looked a bit annoyed at having been watched by the elder shinigami.
"No reason." he said with a light chuckle. "I take it that the reason you're having Abarai go with the men has to do with the fact that the hollows might end up protecting their informant?"
Byakuya gave a slight nod. "We cannot afford to lose anyone to something that might turn into a trap." he said as he began to walk away. "I trust you will be sending men just in case this turns into something more."
Shunsui lifted his hat a bit so that his eyes could be seen better. "Why of course!" he said with a smile. "We can't have a possible traitor hurt anyone too badly." Byakuya gave a nod before walking off away from the captain of the eighth. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? he wondered as he continued to make his why back to his squad.
By the time Kyoraku was done with his paper work, much to the surprise of his beautiful lieutenant; he was exhausted. Having made a promise to check things out in the living world, Kyoraku made sure his weekend was clear before heading off towards the senkaimon. Making sure to leave a note on his desk, he left without a word to anyone.
As his feet touched the green grass of a grassy hill that overlooked the river that went through Karakura Town. Hmm... he thought to himself as he noticed the many buildings that surrounded him. Seems there are more buildings than there use to be. Humans evolve so quickly here in the living world. Things change so fast, that if you blink you'll miss it. Taking a deep breath, he quickly shielded his reiatsu and quickly began to search to city for the Kuchiki girl's reiatsu, but found that he could not sense it. However, he did sense two or three powerful reiatsu's along with a dozen or so others that seemed to be growing in power.
Now this is interesting. he thought as he took off towards the nearest one to see what exactly he was sensing. He found himself standing outside an apartment complex that looked to have been repaired due to something. Stretching out his senses he felt a slight residual reiatsu energy lingering in this area. The power had been very strong. There was also some hollow energy in the area, but the hollow's reiatsu had been overwhelmed by the unknown reiatsu. Seems something was strong enough to kill a hollow and leave powerful residual reiatsu behind.
"Captain Kyoraku?" a voice behind him caused the pink kimono clad captain to turn towards the voice.
"Hmm?" he answered, his eyes landing upon the figure of a shinigami male he could swear he'd seen before.
"Captain, why are you here?" the man asked.
"I'm checking up on a friend's squad member that was stationed in this town." he answered truthfully, though he didn't mention why he was doing so. "I feel like I should know you, but your name escapes me."
The soldier seemed go groan at this. "You're not the first to say this to me tonight." Standing straighter he began to introduce himself. "I'm Eikichiro Saido of squad two..."
"Oh! You're one of Soi Fon's men." he knew he'd seen the younger man before.
"Yes captain." was his deadpan answer.
"Well, I'll be off." Kyoraku was hoping to leave the stealth soldier to continue whatever mission Soi Fon had him on.
"Captain, you wouldn't be looking for Rukia Kuchiki would you?" Eikichiro inquired from the captain of the eighth.
"Now why would you asked that?" Kyoraku had a sudden bad feeling come over him. His Hand lazily reaching down to caress his zanpakuto hilt.
The soldier seemed yo be nervous suddenly. "Because, I came in contact with her tonight. I almost didn't know it was her." her answered not liking the sudden menacing feeling he was getting from the captain of the eighth.
"I see." Kyoraku gave sigh. So the girl is alive. Good. He gave an internal nod. Now to find her and bring her back to Ukitake before anything bad becomes of this. "Where is she?" he inquired.
"The thing is, I don't think she's going to come back without some force." Eikichiro answered. "Tonight I witnessed something that I always thought impossible and Lieutenant Kuchiki is at the center of it sir."
"Tell me everything soldier." Kyoraku demanded, his voice going deeper causing his zanpakuto to give off a dark pulse. Eikichiro felt something crawl up his spine and knew he would be in a lot of trouble if he did not do what the captain was ordering him to do.
"Yes sir." Above them lightning flashed in the evening sky as dark clouds began to gather as Eikichiro Saido began the tale of what he had witnessed.
M-Angel: Next chapter will be the chapter where Uryu and Ichigo go head to head with that Quicy bait. I'm going to be giving it a bit of ist here and there. I hope everybody enjoys it and that I do it justice. That was one of my favorite episodes in the anime and loved the magna version. Also, I might not post a new chapter until Tuesday because of the Memorial Weekend. So enjoy your weekend everyone because I'm going to be very busy over the next few days. ^_^
AmberDeath15: I would answer you in a PM, but you've disabled it and I don't want to ruin the story for everyone else, so let's just say that it's a big surprise and everyone will hopefully like it. With that said, I'm glad you like my story! ^_^
Antx- The Legendary Zoroak: Yes, it's Urahara's fault. Btw, love your name. It's so unique! ^_^
Juti: Orihime will not be crushed. I have plans for her and no it's not Ulquiorra.
GunBlade2018: At this moment they're still working on the friends bit. The Ichigo/Rukia pairing won't happen until after the Hueco Mundo invasion arc, closer towards the TYBW arc when Ichigo is closer to eighteen.