Soul Society is worried and the captains desperately attempt to find Rurou Kurobishi's killer. Head Captain Yamamoto points the finger, but is he on the right track?

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Chapter Two Suspects and Suspicions

The Captain's Hall

1 day after first murder

The doors slammed shut as the last of the captains entered the room. Unsurprisingly, it was Zaraki Kenpachi who entered last, a rather bored look on his scarred face. He slipped into line, standing beside Shunsui Kyoraku, the captain's hat shadowing his face. Eventually they heard a tapping noise coming from outside the hall and two large doors were thrust open, light flooding in. They could see the silhouette of an elderly man standing in the doorway. He made his way into the room slowly, his walking stick making a loud echoing noise with every step. The man stepped in and stood at the end of both lines, the captains on either side of him. He slammed his cane down onto the ground and lifted his head up, his flowing white beard rippling with his movements.

'The meeting is now in session!' he boomed. 'Head Captain Shigekuni Genryuusai Yamamoto present.'

Each captain turned their head to face him and bowed slightly.

'Well now…' Yamamoto said simply, addressing everyone. 'What do we do now?' he looked slowly at Captain Unohana who took in a breath.

'So far we have only one confirmed death. If there are any others we don't know about it yet.' she looked wearily over the faces of all the others. 'Rurou Kurobishi, 6th Seat of the 5th Division. He was pronounced dead outside the walls of the 5th Division last night with minor burns and a severe stab wound. The blade has not been identified.'

'6th Seat?' Yamamoto asked and she nodded in reply. 'So what was his position?'

'He was on patrol that night with three others.' Toshiro Hitsugaya filled in. His silver hair stood out in the lines as did his rather minute stature accompanied with his solemn and concerned expression.

'How do you know this?' Yamamoto questioned him but Toshiro had an answer.

'Ever since Aizen's departure, I have been helping out lieutenant Hinamori.' he answered. The Head Captain nodded with understanding and turned his attention back to everyone.

'And these other three men? Who are they?' he asked Toshiro.

'Sasuki Tachete, Kaname Warane and Ryu Yutiria were the three other men on patrol. They are all seated officers but none rank as high as 6th.' the small captain answered.

'A lower seat than the victim?' Ukitake said cautiously. 'Does this mean we can rule them out?'

'It most certainly does not. They are our only leads.' Yamamoto said, nodding to Soi Fon. 'Arrest them and take them into custody. If the murders continue, we shall delve further into these matters.' Just as he was about to end the session however, Shunsui Kyoraku looked up and coughed loudly, everyone looking at him almost in unison.

'I'm sorry, I don't mean to cause a fuss but, how can we arrest them when we have no evidence?' he said, smiling slightly under his straw hat. Yamamoto was silent.

'It does not matter. They are suspects and will be dealt with as so.' came the cold, stern voice that was Byakuya Kuchiki.

'But why on Earth would members of his own division want to kill him?' Kyoraku protested. Kuchiki kept his eyes closed but spoke softly to the captain.

'We are not on Earth anymore, Captain Kyoraku. Anything can happen.' he said bluntly, not really dignifying the charismatic man.

'Touché…' Shunsui smiled, lifting his hat up as so to reveal his eyes. With that, Captain Yamamoto slammed his cane onto the ground once again and a bang echoed out through the hall.

'It is done. Tachete, Warane and Yutiria will be placed in custody by the 2nd Division special forces. Thank you all, the session is dismissed.' Yamamoto declared and turned, leaving through the enormous double doors he entered from. Several captains exchanged glances before turning to go, the midday Sun slowly dipping.

Later on, in the evening, when the Sun had turned the sky blood red and the clouds were slowly forming once again, Kyoraku Shunsui was trudging slowly up towards his quarters in the usual fashion. He took off his hat and waved it in front of his face, his long brown ponytail free to flail around.

'My, my…' he sighed heavily, sweat running down his face, his cheeks red and flustered. '…what a day…'

He reached his large oak doors and placed his hand on the golden handle. It was freezing. He smiled slightly.

'It certainly is hard for you to hide…' he said as a figure stepped out behind him. '…Toshiro Hitsugaya.' he turned round and twiddled his hat in his fingers.

'What brings you out at this time?' he asked nicely but the young boy had a distant look on his face.

'Do you know something…the others don't?' he faced the man who shrugged sheepishly. 'Kyoraku…' he said quietly, almost begging.

'Oh boy…' Shunsui said rubbing the back of his head. 'Perhaps we'd better go inside.' he decided, grasping the handle and twisting it, the door flinging open. With a swish, the captains stepped elegantly inside, the doors closing behind Toshiro.

The inside of his room was extravagant to say the least. Large, golden statues of dragons, petals painted on the walls, pink and green and all sorts of lively colours. There were so many plants, flowers either in pots or hanging from the walls. They sat down and Shunsui poured himself a drink.

'Sake?' he brandished in front of Toshiro who turned his nose up at it. Toshiro laid his hands on the table in front of them.

'Kyoraku…' he said, his icy blue eyes boring into the man's. 'What is it you know?'

The captain finished another gulp of sake and placed his cup on the table. The chink of china cut through the silence and he sighed. The air seemed to grow thicker and the Sun dimmed outside, casting shadows across the otherwise empty room.

'Its not that I know anything as such…' he began, looking around. 'It just all seems wrong.'

'What do you mean?' asked the small captain. Again, after looking about, Shunsui spoke.

'Well, just earlier this morning I was speaking to Captain Unohana…' Shunsui said, remembering back.

'Kurobishi died of massive blood loss and some minor burns, but nothing that couldn't have been caused by any Shinigami that knows Kido.' she said simply.

'Doesn't it strike you odd?' Shunsui pressed on. 'Minor burns, when no one in that squad has a flame zanpaktou?'

'No one but…' then Toshiro flared up. 'Are you saying Momo did this!?'

'I didn't say that. Like she said, anyone who uses Kido could have done this.' Shunsui defended himself quickly.

'I also have one other problem…' Shunsui added.

'Whats that?' Toshiro asked.

'Well, Tachete, Warane and Yutiria…they couldn't have done it.' he said, closing his eyes and looking out of the window.

'Whys that?' Toshiro asked again, pressing him on.

'Because…they were with me the entire night.' said Kyoraku darkly. Toshiro gasped and his eyes widened.

'But…how's that possible!? Momo gave me the information herself…she told me that they were patrolling with Kurobishi…' exclaimed the young captain.

Shunsui shrugged.

'Perhaps she was mistaken? Either that or they were slacking off…' said the captain, clearly puzzled.

'But…if they were with you then…they are innocent?' Toshiro said, pulling everything together.

'Exactly.' Shunsui said darkly. 'You know what that means…' Toshiro nodded.

'The killer is still out there!'