Night has fallen once again over the Seireitei...what part does Ichigo play in this sordid mystery?

please review guys!

Chapter Five The Waiting

Karakura Town

The Kurosaki Clinic

The door slammed shut with a bang. There was a clatter of pots and pans and then the sound of someone stomping up some stairs, the monotonous thumping sound crashing through the house. There was a second bang as another door slammed shut. A school bag soared through the air and hit the far wall, sliding down it and landing softly on the bed.

'Eurgh…' growled Ichigo, rubbing the back of his head angrily, his eyes closed in a frown, his brow creased as if he were trying to think hard. He sat down heavily on his bed and lay on his back, his arms behind his head, staring dreamily at the ceiling.

'Stupid school…' he mumbled to himself. He lay over onto his side so that he was facing the wardrobe. It was slightly ajar. Puzzled, he stood up, not really in the mood for this.

'What the…?' he said to himself, opening the doors a bit more. 'Where's Zangetsu?' he rustled through the jackets in his wardrobe but to no avail. He shrugged.

'Eh. It'll turn up somewhere.' he sighed, slouching back down on the bed, flicking through his homework studies. Inevitably he threw them onto his side table and closed his eyes.

The night was in full bloom now in the Seireitei, the moon overhanging the restless world. It shone through the misty clouds, a crescent moon. A half moon. The air was thick and cold and the scene of the murder was no longer closed off. One man with bright blonde hair and sparkly blue eyes was lying on the grass, a piece of grass in his mouth.

'My, my…' he said to himself. 'Who knew this job was so boring…' he sat up and looked around.

'Guess I'd better be on my guard…' he sighed. The wind rustled through the trees and leaves were thrown about all over the place. He stood rigid as his hair fluttered around all over the place, his eyes still.

One by one, the lights in the Seireitei flicked off. Night was truly upon them now and the moon was slowly pushing its way through the clouds. From one of the windows, the curtains were parted slightly, the lights off however. The golden eyes of Sajin Komamura glinted in the darkness.

'Do you think they will come?' whispered the voice of Iba, but he received no answer.

Up in the 13th Division's room, Ukitake Jushiro was watching from a small window. He could make out the figure of Shunsui, alone outside. He was the only man on patrol tonight. The perfect lure. Something moved in the corner of the captain's eye and his head span round but it was a cat, scampering over the fence. Breathing a deep sigh he turned back to his fellow captain, the latter of which was for the first time ever, afraid.

Underground, Kurotsuchi Mayuri mixed a potion in the dark. As it fizzed a deep blood red, a bell chimed outside.

Immediately the hairs on Komamura were on their end. Iba was also afraid. The captain was deathly still, his golden eyes fixated on Shunsui.

Deep in the Shinigami Academy, a door slammed. The wind howled through an open window and a fire was slowly put out. Soi Fon left the room, completely surrounded by darkness. She went to the window and looked out over the Seireitei, filled with the slumber of night, yet none were sleeping. A lone figure walked through the halls of the academy, his zanpaktou in hand. He turned a corner and heard a door creak. He backed up against the wall, his hand tightening on the hilt. He heard a loud tapping noise, someone was running. As it neared he emerged and stopped fast as the figure of Tanno ran into him.

'Kiriobi…' Tanno said, breathing heavily, only sections of his face visible in the moonlight.

'What are you doing out this late Tanno?' Kiriobi asked, picking up his book.

'I could ask you the same question…' replied the other student, his eyes flashing green in the darkness. With that, Tanno continued on down the hallway, unaware that they were being watched from one of the outside windows. There was a rustle from outside and Kiriobi looked up, his eyes darting from corner to corner. Hurriedly, he moved quickly down the corridor and into the room at the end.

The 10th Division was deserted, save for it's captain. He moved swiftly through the halls, his eyes moving from in front to behind all the time. As he turned a corner he looked swiftly back to ensure he was not being followed. Then, as the bell chimed again, he heard something. It sounded like someone crying. At the end of the corridor was a lone light, slipping from a door ajar. He grasped his hilt and slowly moved towards it, the crying becoming clearer. He felt his foot touch something and, looking down his eyes widened. The floor was stained with blood.

'My God…' he said, a quiver in his voice. Bracing himself, he nudged the door open. He wanted to scream, but the voice had left his throat.

Iba felt the prickle of Komamura's hairs and the air was filled with tension.

'Blood has been spilt…' said the captain worriedly, turning to look at his lieutenant, his eyes terrifying in the darkness. They turned back to the window and watched Shunsui, the captain still not moving. The wind was picking up now, the moon in full view. Suddenly Shunsui heard a rustle and he gripped his hilt, his eyes darting from side to side, shadow to shadow.

'Everyone is supposed to be inside…' he thought to himself, his ears heightened.

'Where's the snap!?' he thought to himself, gritting his teeth. Then, a ferocious wind blew, snapping shut the curtains in front of anyone watching. They recoiled in surprise and a figure stepped out behind Shunsui, cloaked in black with a hood, his face in shadow.

'You are?' Shunsui asked, turning round. The figure looked up, his face concealed behind a metal mask.

'Another one on patrol? How foolish…' came the harsh, metallic voice and he whipped out his blade, a storm thrashing across the land.

Toshiro backed up in horror.

'M…Momo…' he whispered. She was curled up in a corner of the room, rocking backwards and forwards, a trail of blood leading from her to the door. He made his way to her, reaching out for her. She span round in a crack of lightning, her face soaked with blood, scratches down her cheeks, her eyes rolled up in her head. She grabbed his haori with her blood soaked fingers.

'Another!!' she screamed insanely. 'Another will die tonight!!!!!' she cried. Komamura's head turned to the 10th Division, her screams tearing through the night.

Toshiro pulled her off of him and she cowered in the corner again, shaking, her Shinigami robes dyed a sordid red.

Shunsui readied himself as the wind rushed towards him and they locked blades, sparks flying everywhere.

'Impossible…the last one…' muttered the attacker who was thrown off, landing with a thud on the ground.

'Was not a captain.' Shunsui said sternly, whisking the gigai from his face. The attacker turned to run but was stopped by Soi Fon who whisked off his mask, just like Shunsui's gigai. The man dropped his blade and fell to the floor, Momo fainting at the same time. And like that, it was done. She grabbed his hood and hauled him to his feet. Soi Fon's eyes widened in shock.

The moon slipped slowly back into the shadows…