I'm back from the dead! Here's chapter eight!
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Chapter Eight: Safe
Rangiku knelt quietly in the damp earth as she listened to the two captains converse quietly above her. Her graceful fingers carded gently through dirty orange hair while she infused calming reiatsu to her charge.
You poor, poor boy. How could anyone do this? Please be strong, Ichigo. It had taken almost all her strength not to break down and cry when she first saw the teen's condition. Even now, her heart ached every time she looked at him. His beautiful orange hair had dulled considerably, and the bruises that still lingered, contrasted greatly with his pale complexion.
"Rangiku," She looked up and met the worried gaze of her captain. "Squad Four is ready to transport him back. Please accompany Captain Kuchiki back to Seireitei and report our current findings to the Head Captain. I'll remain here and assist Lieutenant Abarai with the search."
"Yes, sir. Please be careful."
"Yeah."
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Squad Four Barracks -Soul Society
"Captain Unohana! The recovery team returned! They've got both Kuchiki and Kurosaki."
Retsu Unohana stood quickly from her desk and walked briskly out of her office. "Take me to them, I'm assuming you have the report concerning their injuries?"
"Yes, ma'am. Kurosaki is the worst. His injuries include severe loss of blood, contusions through out his body, broken ribs, lacerations which are extremely infected, trauma to the head, open wounds around his wrists and is currently unconscious. We've yet to determine if he has any internal injures. Captain Kuchiki is extremely dehydrated, has slight malnutrition, and has minor injuries around his throat and wrist."
"Right. We'll start with Ichigo first. Meanwhile get Captain Kuchiki on some fluids."
"Right away, Captain."
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Division One – Head Captain's Office
"Report, Lieutenant Matsumoto."
"Yes sir. Captain Kuchiki and Substitute Shinigami, Ichigo Kurosaki, were found and retrieved sir. They are currently receiving treatment from Squad Four.
"Squad Ten along with Squad Six, while investigating suspicious hollow reiatsu, discovered a facility in the mountains west of Karakura Town. Large traces of hollow reiatsu were found around a destroyed section of the building.
"Captain Hitsuguya ordered Lieutenant Abarai to search for survivors, while he lead the rest of the team to follow the reiatsu trail.
"A few minutes later we found Captain Kuchiki, and Ichigo Kurosaki. Captain Hitsuguya remained behind to help finish the investigation."
"That is great news. I will send word to the other Captains that they have been found. Meanwhile, you are to await your captain's return, after which we will need to receive both Captain Kuchiki's, and Kurosaki Ichigo's report. We will know how to better proceed at that time. You are dismissed."
"Yes sir."
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Darkness. It surrounded him, completely and silently. He called out, only for his voice to be lost in the vastness. Where am I? What was I doing? It was important... I think.
He moved forward, or at least tried to. He really couldn't tell.
A movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention. A pale figure glowed slightly, slowly approaching him.
He squinted, then gasped as he recognized the figure. "Byakuya?! What's wrong?"
Byakuya swayed alarmingly as he shuffled closer. "Why?"
"What?"
"Why? I t-trusted you. You betrayed me. You betrayed Soul Society..."
"Wha? No, I haven't!"
"You still deny it, even in that form?"
Confused, Ichigo looked down, finally able to see more than just darkness. Though as soon as he did, he wished the darkness would return. Familiar blood colored claws greeted him, his torso bone white.
"Monster."
"I- didn't..."
"You killed me. Monster."
Tears stung his eyes, he looked up intent on defending himself, for he would never- Blood.
Terrible gashes surrounded Byakuya's neck, thick gobs of blood flowed freely from the open wounds. There were five, in the unmistakable shape of his hollow claws.
"No! I- Oh, god!" He lunged forward as Byakuya fell, catching the limp body just before it hit the ground.
"Byakuya!"
"Ichigo!" His eyes flew open, then closed again as bright florescent lights blinded him. "Calm down, Ichigo. I'm here. You are in the Fourth Division Barracks."
"Byakuya?" Ichigo's pounding heart calmed slightly at the sound of Byakuya's voice beside him. He opened his eyes, slowly this time, and looked around him.
Byakuya sat in a chair just beside his bed. Medical equipment beeped steadily on the opposite side. "We're really back? It isn't an illusion?"
"Captain Hitsuguya found us shortly after you broke us out. He and Lieutenant Abarai stayed behind to finish examining the facility. They should return soon."
"I broke us out?" He turned back toward Byakuya, this time looked the noble over carefully. His eyes landed almost immediately on the slightly bloodied bandages around his neck.
Monster.
Ichigo flinched as he recalled Byakuya's plan. His body trembled as he realized what exactly had happened.
"Oh god. Bya-" His voice shook, "I didn't mean- I'm sorry."
"Ichigo! Calm yourself." Byakuya stood carefully and set his hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "It was my idea for you to use that form. My injuries are not your fault. Do not blame yourself for something I made you do."
"B-but, I could have killed you! Don't you realize that? I can't control myself when I use that form, I could have killed everyone! I almost did last time!"
"Yet you didn't. You didn't kill me, I stopped you. You didn't kill your friends, Ulquiorra stopped you. You are not invincible in that form. Stop troubling yourself over things that didn't happen. We're safe now, because you used that form. You saved us Ichigo. Now, please rest. You are not yet fully healed. Rest while you can, before they come for your report."
"Report?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, Ichigo, but you'll have to tell them everything. In order to condemn the men who captured us, we must give a full report. It will be used as evidence against them during their trial, and will help to ensure their imprisonment."
"Everything...even-"
"Sleep Ichigo, worry about it when you have rested."
"Alright. Byakuya?"
"Yes?"
"Don't leave, please."
"I will be right here."
"Thanks."
World of the Living – Discovered Facility
Renji glared at the two men restrained before him. He had found them cowering in what seemed to be a surgical room. He glanced again at the sharp tools scattered around the floor. This has to be where they had them.
"Where are they?" He said yet again, yelled more like. His anger increased as the, creepier, of the two men merely smirked at him. "I will fucking hurt you if you don't answer."
"I have no idea where they are. I don't know who it is you are looking for, as you haven't specified. Though if you're talking about that delightful little shinigami I devoured, then I might know who you're talking about."
"Why you-" He growled out. The sound of shunpo interrupted what would've been a very satisfying fist to jaw movement.
"Lieutenant Abarai." He turned toward the small Captain, who had arrived with the rest of Squad Ten. "We found them. They've been taken back to Soul Society. Did you finish things here?"
"You found them! That's great! These two were the only ones we found, sir. The rest of Squad Six finished up shortly before you go here. We're ready to head back when you are."
"Right then. Let's go back. Make sure those two are properly restrained."
"Yes sir."
Fourth Division Barracks
Byakuya's eyes never left Ichigo's sleeping form, but his thoughts were miles away.
Every time his eyes scanned over the bandaged torso before him, he couldn't help but see ugly hand shaped bruises. Every time he remembered, his fists clenched in anger.
So far Ichigo hadn't been awake enough to fully recall what had happened, and Byakuya was gratefully, in a bitter sort of way. At least he can get some rest, before his wounds are all but torn open again.
His fists clenched again as anger rolled through him. He stood abruptly and paced toward the window. When I see that man again, I am going to fucking kill him. Slowly. Painfully. He'll wish he'd never even laid eyes on Ichigo.
A quiet moan drew his attention back to the slumbering teen. He moved close, and gently brushed Ichigo's hair from his forehead.
"Don't worry, Ichigo. You are safe. I'll protect you now, I swear it."
…
Heh. After being horrible to you guys and procrastinating for forever, I finally sat down and wrote this chapter. It literally took me half an hour. God. I'm sorry guys. XD
As usual, grammar/spelling has not been checked. Cause I'm lazy like that.
Hate me after you review, favorite, and follow please.
Till next time,
~Eir