Lost
Shuuhei looked at the device in his hand. He felt a little like drop kicking it, but there was still a chance it could help them and he didn't want to break it. He sighed and scanned again, predictably picking up nothing. Kira came over the hill with his group of searchers.
"I guess that means you haven't found anything," Shuuhei said, still looking at the blank screen on the device.
"We still have a couple more quadrants to look through," Kira replied. He tried to sound hopeful, which was hard because he wasn't a naturally optimistic person and he honestly thought that they weren't going to find anything, at least not with this search method.
"He…well…I mean, Renji said that Ichigo was really weak and had almost no spiritual pressure at all; he couldn't even stand. I don't think that this would find him in that case, and if he's being kept in some sort of kido barrier then…then…" Shuuhei said.
"This," Kira said, pointing to his device, "This not finding anything doesn't mean anything other than we can't detect him."
Shuuhei knew that what Kira was trying to tell him was "it doesn't mean that he's dead." He knew that.
"Can you sense anything yourself?" Kira asked.
"I haven't been able to, no," Shuuhei shook his head. He looked at the palace in the distance. "I'm going to try more over that way."
"I don't think we're supposed to…" Kira decided that it didn't matter. Shuuhei wouldn't leave until he had gone there himself and searched, and all previous reports were that the palace was practically abandoned. Kira wondered if that meant that the new ruler (or rulers) of this realm had decided to distance themselves from Aizen and the old palace, or if there was truly no one running Hueco Mundo.
"Lieutenant Izuru, Lieutenant Hisagi, and Lieutenant Matsumoto are heading three search units and are scanning Hueco Mundo for traces of Lieutenant Kurosaki's spiritual pressure," Head Captain Yamamoto reported to the group of captains. "We have retrieved video from the cameras that the security force had placed around the city upon Captain Abarai's arrival."
All the captains watched as the large screen that had been placed next to Yamamoto came to life, its images grainy and the silence of the film oddly disturbing.
Renji was walking through a clearing at a small park, followed closely by Ichigo. Neither had their zanpakuto drawn or looked like they had their guard up. Suddenly, a glowing tendril shot out of the ground, wrapping around Ichigo's ankle, stopping him forcefully and almost tripping him. Renji turned quickly. An arrancar appeared in front of him blocking his path. Just beyond him, four arrancar surrounded Ichigo, each shooting a device at him while he was still restrained by the tendril. He blocked the first attack with his zanpakuto, but then fell to his knees, dropping his weapon. They fired again, a bolt of energy blazing from each device, wrapping around each of his four limbs and swirling around his stomach and chest.
The arrancar in front of Renji was now dead. Renji was saying something to the arrancars around Ichigo, none of whom moved. Renji attacked them, killing them quickly since they didn't seem to do more than basic defense and refused to release their hold on Ichigo. As each died they dropped their weapon, but the energy bolts didn't dissipate. Instead the energy beam seemed to latch into the ground as the device shooting it was dropped. Renji was yelled something at Ichigo, who was now lying in a heap on the ground, not moving at all. Renji cautiously touched one of the beams with Zabimaru and was brought down to his knees. He backed up and raised a hand, obviously about to do a kido incantation, when a beam of light came down from the sky and encircled Ichigo's form.
Renji's face was contorted, obviously in a yell of some sort, screaming at Ichigo. He blindly attacked the beam, despite having to know that it would have no effect. As it began to move up, taking Ichigo with it, Renji paused a brief moment and then took off after it.
Back at the meeting, Byakuya tried to ignore the impulse to inform Renji in no uncertain terms that charging at Hueco Mundo solo starting by facing off an entire flank of Menos Grande was Grade A stupid. If Renji had made it fast enough, it would have been Renji and Ichigo lost. Byakuya shuddered slightly at the thought.
However, although it happened off screen, it was obvious that he hadn't made it in time before the passage to the other realm was closed.
In his mind, Renji was thanking whatever security patrol member put up that camera, because he didn't really want to have to describe it. He didn't want to answer any more questions and he didn't want to be at this stupid meeting instead of out with the search teams.
There was silence in the captains' meeting at the lights flickered on and the screen went dim.
"As you can see," Captain Kurotsuchi was saying, "It was a trap specifically targeting Ichigo Kurosaki. Captain Abarai was able to go over the same area and not trigger the device, although, the device did still affect him if he came into contact with it."
As Captain Kurotsuchi continued to talk about how he thought the device worked, Head Captain Yamamoto looked at the faces of the captains gathered in the room. Glum, he thought. Young Ichigo Kurosaki definitely has a presence among us if his disappearance can cause such a reaction.
Captain Kuchiki looked strained and was continually checking on Captain Abarai. Renji wasn't looking at anyone and had a telling tightness around his eyes and mouth. Captain Urahara had bags under his eyes, probably due to not sleeping while working on more sophisticated spiritual pressure detectors to hopefully be able to track Ichigo with. Soifon was glancing at Yoruichi, whose normal smile and playful eyes were replaced with a grim and serious expression. Yamamoto knew that the boy had struck up a friendship with Jushiro and could see the worry in his face. Kenpachi was glowering at the ceiling and fingering his zanpakuto. Not like that was really unusual. We were just getting back to normal, Yamamoto thought with a sigh. I was hoping that we would at least get a modicum of peace for a couple hundred years, he thought.
"Who do we think has taken him and why?" Captain Kyoraku said, breaking into Yamamoto's thoughts.
"We have no idea, on both counts," Yamamoto answered. "As far as we can tell, there is no strong leadership in Hueco Mundo now. There has been infighting for the right to rule the dimension, and almost everything going on now is hollow against hollow, arrancar against arrancar."
"It is possible that a small group has captured Ichigo to gain some sort of notoriety then?" Shunsui suggested. "Something to show that they are the rightful rulers? I mean, he killed Aizen. They seem to highly respect strength, so anyone that could defeat Ichigo would get that."
"They didn't defeat him," Kenpachi growled. "They just fucking fired weird magic at him so that they didn't have to fight him."
"Kido," Mayuri corrected him. "Science isn't magic."
"Whatever," Kenpachi said. "The point is there's no damn way that's how he's going to die. It would be a fucking tragedy."
"I agree," Captain Komamura said. "It wasn't an honorable attack."
"The cowards that did this are really gonna get it," Kenpachi promised.
"Well, I think Renji already killed them all," Shunsui pointed out.
"There's more someplace," Kenpachi replied.
"Go away," Shuuhei said to the knock at his door. He felt who it was though and knew he'd just wait out there all night if Shuuhei didn't let him in. "What?" he said to Kira, throwing the door open.
"I thought I'd keep you company tonight," Kira said with a shrug.
"My plans for tonight consist of getting drunk and then sleeping," Shuuhei said. "If you want to sit and watch me do it, then whatever, have fun I guess."
About an hour later there was another knock. Shuuhei sighed and answered the door.
"Hi, Shuuhei," Renji said. Shuuhei didn't say anything, just let him in. "Hm," Renji said, rubbing his hand over Shuuhei's unshaven stubble.
"Yeah, like you look so much better," Shuuhei said, sitting down.
Kira offered Renji some sake.
Hours later, Shuuhei lay alone in his bed staring at the ceiling. He could hear the low murmur of Renji and Kira's conversation in his living room and wondered if they were planning on staying all night. He turned, putting his hand over the empty space next to him.
"Happy Anniversary, Ichigo," he said in a whisper, closing his eyes tightly in pain.
Byakuya had his head on Renji's bare chest, his arm across his body.
"Byakuya?"
"Yes, Renji?"
"Do you think that if I had used kido first instead of Zabimaru there would have been enough time to…"
"No," Byakuya answered.
"Not even if I was at good as kido as you are?"
"Renji…" Byakuya held him a little tighter. "Renji, I doubt that there was a way out of that situation. It could have happened to anyone."
"It happened to me. Even if he wasn't my best friend, he'd still be my lieutenant. It was my duty to protect him."
"I don't think that's how the rule book goes," Byakuya said.
"You wouldn't have forgiven yourself for losing me," Renji replied.
"That's…a little different."
"It's not that much different to me," Renji answered. "I hate not knowing if he's out there, just waiting for me. I can't let him down."
"And if he's not…waiting for you?" Byakuya said gently.
"I don't know. I think…I think I'm not built to be a captain," Renji admitted. "I don't want to do it anymore."
Byakuya had thought that this was going to come up. "You know that's not what he would have wanted."
"I'm no good to the squad anymore. They all jump when I come in a room because they know that I'm going to bitch and growl at them or blame them for some stupid paperwork they didn't do, or not training hard enough, or something."
"They feel it as well. It's not just you who lost someone. You need to be there for your squad. I'm sure that they all understand why you're acting the way you are, but you need to change your behavior towards them," Byakuya said.
"I know; that's what I'm saying. I'll just leave and put them in better hands."
"Well then, what if Ichigo is waiting?" Byakuya asked. "You can't search for him well if you didn't have the resources you do now."
Renji sighed. "Maybe Kisuke would help me."
"Renji," Byakuya said disapprovingly.
"I know…I know," Renji mumbled.
"Ichigo is the most stubborn person I've ever met," Byakuya said.
"Mm?" Renji replied.
"If there's any way for him to survive, he will."
"Yeah. You're right," Renji replied. One year. If he's not back in one year, Renji told himself, if he's not back by then I'm not going to be good for anyone anymore. I'll just leave and go back to the Rukon district or something.
Renji didn't see the concerned look that Byakuya was giving him.
"I think that we should talk about possible candidates for a new Squad 5 Lieutenant," Captain Kurotsuchi said.
"No," Renji answered firmly.
"It's been six months and we have no reason…"
Renji's face was tight with anger, his fists slightly clenched.
"Mayuri!" Surprisingly (or not so surprisingly), it was Captain Ukitake's voice that was raised.
"We all see what you are saying, Captain Kurotsuchi," Captain Kuchiki stepped in. "But you have Captain Abarai's answer."
"He's not dead," Kenpachi stated.
"You have no way of knowing that!" Mayuri said angrily.
"I think I'd know if he was dead," Kenpachi replied.
"That is such a stupid statement. Sentimentality is not your style," Mayuri said.
"Like I care what you think," Kenpachi answered.
I…I feel that way too. Like I'd know if he were really dead, Renji thought to himself. Is that as idiotic as Captain Kurotsuchi thinks it is?
"Good evening!" Rangiku said cheerily.
"Busy," Shuuhei said.
"I can spot you," Rangiku suggested.
"Oh yeah? And exactly how much do you bench?" Shuuhei asked incredulously.
"Fine, I can stand here and watch you work out. Plus, you look good sweaty."
"What do you want?" Shuuhei asked, ingoring her and starting another set.
"A group of us are going out tonight."
"Not interested."
"You don't have to drink," Rangiku said hesitantly. Shuuhei had starting regularly drinking heavily after Ichigo had disappeared. Evidentially it had gotten to be too much for Shuuhei because recently he seemed to have given up drinking altogether and was now was usually found training or working out. She knew he was just trying to distract himself and tire himself out enough that he could just fall asleep without having to think about…things. She had her own methods to try and induce forgetfulness, but she definitely understood what he was doing. "We just haven't seen you for awhile is all."
"Maybe some other time," Shuuhei said. He wondered if he was lying.
"Um, ok."
Six months, Shuuhei thought to himself. Six months as of today he's been gone. I wonder if they'll let me go back and search for him again. It hasn't been that long since the last search though, and they're probably getting worried about me going so often. At least Captain Urahara has been understanding.
"Can you believe the idiots here? They almost didn't let me in through the barrier. I'd like to show them what would happen if they did that," the man said. He paused when he didn't get a response. "HEY! I'm talking to you."
"Mmmummmrrrr," Ichigo said something unintelligible.
"That ain't what I'm looking for."
Ichigo straightened up, his shackles clinking against the wall. "Good morning to you too, you fucking annoying blue haired asshole."
"That's more like it," Grimmjow said with a wide grin.
A/N: Short but intense! Poor Shuuhei, and what's with Grimmjow? Also, I HATE the word "arrancars". To me, the plural should be the same as the singular, but they always add that damn "s" in the English dubs so I forced myself to add it here. To me it's like "mooses", it's a no go. It should be "surrounded by arrancar" and "surrounded by moose". You know, if moose were attacking you for some reason.