Chapter Ten
"Okay... what the hell is this room?" Ichigo questioned as the trio stood at the door of what looked to be a large, examination room with loads of equipment that looked like medieval torture weapons, examination beds, chains and straps.
"Well, at least we know where they were possibly keeping the humans." Tatsuki said before sliding down the railing of the metallic stairwell going down.
"What the– oi!" Ichigo protested at his childhood friend as she landed at the bottom. "And where the hell do you think you're going?"
"Exploring." Ichigo glared at Tatsuki. "Oh, come on, Strawberry. You've brought down a shinigami society to its knees, infiltrated the netherworld and taken down some big baddies. Don't tell me adulthood has made you soft."
Ichigo had an angry crack on his forehead and Yuzu giggled before walking down the stairs themselves and Ichigo immediately knew he was defeated. He decided to follow the two, muttering on how annoying they were. They were shocked to find several kinds of medical apparatus covered in blood. "Whoa! This is worse than I thought."
Tatsuki sighed as she picked up a tool with her gloves."This will take days of testing." She sighed but was caught off guard by a screech. "Looks like we got company." She gestured to the menos forming.
"Crap."
"Tatsuki look out." Yuzu called out and Tatsuki dove out of the way as one moved towards her to strike her but Ichigo had already separated from his body and struck the perpetrator down.
"Gillians." Ichigo huffed in annoyance, tightly gripping onto Zangetsu. "Yuzu, help Tatsuki gets samples safely and quickly. I'll clear off the hollows."
"But I can help —"
"Not now, Yuzu! Go!" He said before rushing forward to take down the hollows coming in.
"Yu… Let's go." Tatsuki told the younger girl who looked almost dejected but she nodded and followed her.
"Ah… It has been far too long!" Shinji stretched as they exited the dangai leading to Kisuke's shop where the former captain was nowhere to be found. In his place was Tsukabishi who was formerly affiliated with the kidō corps. They knew where Yoruichi was…
And Kuchiki-taicho knew that there would be chaos in their wake.
As an old… Friend? Acquaintance?... of the werecat, he knew that Yoruichi was acquainted with a lot of nobles. Unlike everyone else, he was not shocked that Mashiro was called. He knew of her history with Zanpakutō corruption because he was around for just as long as she was. The two of them grew up together. And for the sōtaichō to reject that obvious option when he knew otherwise bothered him.
Something is bound to happen in Soul Society.
"I believe Isshin said he would take you in to stay."
"That would be great." Shinji sighed, twirling his katana in one hand before moving towards the exit.
"Tsukabishi Tessai…" The man in question looked at Kuchiki-taicho. "You've seen the girl… How bad do you think this case is?"
"Her reiatsu has changed immensely." Tessai nodded in confirmation. "Pertains to a certain darkness."
"Hueco Mundo?"
"I'm afraid so." He said.
"You know Aizen Sōsuke's reiatsu, I believe?" He nodded. "Can you sense a link between the two?"
"... I would not like any speculation on that."
"Because she is your student?"
"Especially that…" Tessai said. "You may not see it that way but she is still a child. Imagine if it were true that she was taken by Aizen."
"Oi! Byakuya! Let's go!" Shinji said, after walking back in. The captain in question looked forth before looking to Tessai and nodding at him before following him out. Kuchiki-taicho knew there was a storm brewing and it wasn't just Aizen.
Too many things were off… And it would only be a matter of time.
Karin felt lost. Her eyes were wide opened and but she was lost within her self. She felt herself being dragged out of the room, being yelled instructions over ears but she was barely listening. Inside, she was at war with her spirit and it was a hefty battle as she tried to stay awake.
You're losing… Her zanpakutō laughed. You're losing!
And she felt as though she was.
"How soon can you get those tested?" Yuzu asked.
"Not long." Tatsuki said. "My assistant lab tech owes me a favour and I'm not looking for specific DNA. I just want to know how many individuals are present. If I find 5 or more then that is enough evidence that there was more than one person taken."
"But… That just brings in the question… Where are the others?" Ichigo asked.
"... Well…" Yuzu sighed. "That just shows us there is a bigger issue at hand. I will look up missing person's news from the past month and whether they returned."
"That would be a great start."Tatsuki said. "But if this really turns into a missing persons' case then I should submit this to the police for identification."
"The fuck? No!" He hissed and Tatsuki liked deflated. "How are we going to explain where we got this info from, how we knew it was here and how we knew who took them?"
"I… I don't know but it would be better to identify them to know. I'll figure it out." She said.
"Well we don't need to do that." Ichigo argued. Yuzu could feel an argument about to brew and she stepped up.
"Listen… I have to catch a train back home." She said. "I understand Tatsuki's concern but we need to understand this first. But if there are people truly missing, we submit the information to the Tokyo police… Anonymously!" She emphasized before Ichigo could interrupt and he nodded eventually, accepting the compromise. "Try not to kill each other in the process." Yuzu said as she picked up her backpack and ran off.
Tōshirō walked home that evening, feeling his head overwhelmed by the information constantly being fed to him. "Shit…" He hissed as he walked. He never knew he could swear this much but then again, he was never this agitated. Nothing made sense and it felt like he was going insane.
"Why is everything a mess? How the fuck did Aizen escape? Why Karin? And why is the sōtaichō acting like this is some quick retrieval mission? This is… Fuck!" He paused for a moment as he calmed down.
Hyōrinmaru.
Yes?
This all feels very disjointed.
It really does.
Something doesn't make sense.
You have been repeating that but have never actually gotten to the point.
How did Aizen Sōsuke escape Central 46 for what seems like over a month and no one realised it?
He did slaughter Central 46 the first time.
He wasn't a prisoner the first time. That's the difference. The current Central 46 is still alive. They sent us word that he escaped.
Is that not correct?
We had to inform them of our hunch. Does that mean they don't keep track of their prisoners?
Are you implying they let him out?
… This all seems too rehearsed for it to seem like he escaped without being detected. Are you telling me not a single shinigami came across, saw him, encountered him and got killed by him without even raising a tiny suspicion?
… Someone let him out.
He is working with someone.
Do you think Mayuri? He was very adamant about it.
I hate the bastard but… I doubt he even has the capacity to carry out such a plan.
How so?
He likes direct pay offs. What can he gain for this from this whole situation except… Tōshirō paused. Nothing of that sort would make him risk his neck for that. He is a coward and a risk this high where he knows there are extreme pitfalls, he would not.
So stumbling upon Karin?
Fucking luck. Someone else is working with him. Looking into zanpakutō corruption is useless right now because we already know it is and the decision has been taken.
Where do we start?
Central 46.
"Otō-san! Otō-san!" Yuzu shouted as she entered the house after her long trip from Tokyo. "Otō-san! We figured out who took Kar–" Yuzu stopped in her tracks as she spotted two figures seated on the couch. One stood up – a man wearing a haori who she had never seen before. "Hel..llo…"
"Oh. You must be Shiba-san's daughter." The awkward blonde man smirked with his teeth. "My true love."
Yuzu looked weirded out. "Yeah… no…" She shook her head.
"But…"
"Dude! Why are you in my house?" Yuzu looked disgusted.
"But we are your guests, Yuzu-tan." The man smirked.
"Don't say -tan… Like ever." Yuzu shook her head, taking a step back. "And… we?" It was then Kuchiki-taichō decided to stand up and make his presence known and Yuzu's eyes widened. "Ku...Kuchiki-dono!" She choked out at him and looked between the two men.
"Oh, Yuzu-chan!" Isshin grinned before attacking his first born twin in a bear hug. "My beautiful daughter has decided to come home."
"Uh… thanks…" Yuzu awkwardly chuckled, untangling herself from her father. "Quick question… we have guests?"
"Oh, yes!" Isshin said. "These fine captains were sent here to investigate Aizen's escape."
"Okay… where's Karin-chan… shouldn't she be here?" Yuzu asked before looking at the two. "Where's my sister?" The captains looked at the young girl and she took their silence as an answer. "I gotta go." Yuzu retook her jacket.
"And where are you going?" Isshin asked.
"Soul Society. To my sister." Yuzu said.
"The Senkaimons have been shut down indefinitely, Kurosaki Yuzu." Kuchiki-dono said.
Yuzu turned to him. "Eh?"
"Because Aizen Sōsuke is on the loose, the senkaimons have been closed to prevent him from traveling in and out of Seireitei." He clarified.
Yuzu looked dumbfounded. "And what happens if he is here, huh?"
"Do you think we are trapped out here for no good reason, Yuzu-chan?" The other man said.
"Sure because two captains are enough to find missing Japanese citizens." Yuzu said in disbelief. "Plus a psycho with a zanpakutō."
"We will have you know, Kurosaki Yuzu, that we are captain leveled shinigami and we are capable of taking Aizen Sosuke back to Soul Society where he should be imprisoned." Kuchiki-taichō said.
"I'd trust that statement if you actually managed to keep him there." Yuzu sighed defeatedly. "Okay, fine. Do… whatever. I have a sister to see."
"You Kurosakis are quite stubborn." Kuchiki said. "Your boneheadednsss will get you killed."
Yuzu's eye twitched. "Bonehead!"
"Ah… Yuzu-chan, would you like to make our guests dinner?" Isshin suggested, seeing her daughter was slowly getting agitated.
"Very well." She sighed before stomping off in the direction of the kitchen.
"I apologise for my daughter's behavior." Isshin said. "She's normally more behaved than this. Being without her sister that long without any idea where she is really made her on edge." The two captains watched her as she rummaged through the drawers and began her task.
They would start experimentation in the morning, they said. Karin was too numb… But she was still hopeful.
They aren't coming. The voice said and Karin flipped them the bird. Why so hopeful?
My sister wouldn't abandon me.
She chose to leave.
You're lying.
She left. She abandoned you. Just like your idiotic older brother. They don't care." Karin shook her head. They don't.
They do.
Fine. They laughed. Good luck staying awake to the darkness.
"This is so good!" Shinji smiled as he gobbled Yuzu's food while she watched them closely. She could tell that Kuchiki-taicho was incredibly uncomfortable… But she barely had any fucks to give.
"You have out did yourself today, my daughter." Yuzu nodded and thanked her father before standing up from the dinner table. "Do you need something?"
"I'm going out." She said, taking her coat off the coat hanger.
"Come back before bed time."
"I'll try." At least she didn't lie. She walked out of the house and jumped onto her bicycle and peddled quickly down the street. A couple of streets later, she jumped off her bike and knocked on the door.
"Hai! Hai!" The door opened and a sleepy Uehara Kei appeared. "You missed school. Midori-chan is concerned." He rubbed his eyes. "No bass?"
"No… I need help." Yuzu pushed her coat off of her shoulders and hung it on it. "Are your parents home?"
"No." He yawned. "Do you need notes or something?"
"I'd appreciate it but that's not what I came for." Yuzu took off her shoes.
Kei blinked at her like a child getting used to light after they wake up. "I take it you need help with something else."
"Sadly." Yuzu smiled before shaking him by the shoulders. "But you're going to find this request weird."
"How weird?"
"Missing people in Tokyo from the last month."
Kei blinked at Yuzu, looked at the floor then looked at her again. "Can't you just ask for us to make out sometimes?" Yuzu rolled her eyes before following him to his room where he sat on his computer. "Where is Karin?" He asked.
"Still at soccer camp." She lied.
"Seriously? She was supposed to be back by now." He complained.
"Don't worry. She misses you and the boys too." Yuzu said. "So… How about those missing people?"
"Wanna explain to me the why you need that information?" He asked.
Yuzu smirked. "I will show you how thankful I am." Kei looked a bit irked but sighed, stroking a clump of his fluffy hair before turning to boot his computer and working through it.
Omake
"Taichō!" Rangiku swooned playfully, running into his office to try another sneak attack upon him with her bosom but when she leaped towards the desk, she hit nothing, sailed past and hit the cabinet behind his desk. "Taichō!" She whined, wondering if he had dodged her but she was surprised to see him nowhere nearby but she could hear soft snoring somewhere nearby.
Matsumoto stood up and walked around the couch to see Tōshirō sleeping with a book over his head and a few more opened around him. She picked up the book, looking through it and stared at her captain sadly. "Hmmm… Taichō." She sighed, looking at the book about zanpakutōs.
She knew how shattered Hitsugaya was after he was forbidden from seeing her. He may have not seen it before but she did. She watched him grow and she watched how he interacted with her when they first met. He was in love with her and this issue revolving around her was tearing him apart, especially now that everyone was excluding him from the equation.
Before, it was easier to carry him to the couch and put him to sleep. When he got older, she would put a fleece on him and call it a night. Now that he was matured, she did the only thing she could: "TAICHŌ!"
"What?!" Her captain woke with a start and hit his head against the wall. "Fuck!"