A/N: Late, I know. I'm sorry. D; Writers block and a con in two weeks when you are nowhere near ready are not good combonations. DX Enjoy you lot!
NOT BETA'D YET
Life is a Deception – Chapter 6
The darkness was thick in Pantera's quarters, broken only by the flickering of a television screen. Pantera himself was sprawled out on a couch, flipping through the television channels with a bored expression. He paused at a bloody horror movie and watched as men and woman got torn to bloody shreds by a masked man with a chainsaw.
With a sadistic grin, the blue-haired teenager threw the remote down and focused his attention on the screen. However, as he sat back to watch, the lights flickered on and Grimmjow scowled. He turned to the doorway where Hichigo stood, leaning on the doorframe.
"Meeting in five," the pale teenager said before pushing off the doorframe and ambled of to inform the others. Pantera sighed heavily and jabbed the 'off' button on the television remote before standing. He stretched and headed down the corridor to the meeting room. Five other Espada's were waiting there. One of those Espada's was Mantis, to Grimmjow's great displeasure.
Mantis sneered at the blue-haired teenager as he passed. "Hey, kitty, how's you doin' on your fail mission?"
"Hello, cockroach," Grimmjow derided, lip turning back into a feral grin. "How's bein' a dog workin' out for ya?"
"Why you—!" Mantis snarled, pulling a crescent-shaped blade from his belt. "I'll kill ya! Just 'cause you're in charge don't change the fact that yer a lower rank'n I am!"
"That don't change the standin's now, do it?" Grimmjow asked. "Whether ya like it or not, yer basically my Fraccion 'til the end of the mission. So listen up like a good little doggy an' put that knife away."
Mantis' face turned ugly. "Shut the hell up, ya mangy stray!" He lunged at Pantera, the crescent blade glinting wickedly. He was stopped by another on of the waiting Espada's, who grabbed both his wrist and Grimmjow's.
"Now, Brothers, please stop this fighting." The Espada's dark skin was contrasted by the white of his mandarin-style white uniform top and hakama pants. A row of bony, white spikes sat on his head mohawk style, and a necklace of what appeared to be the remains of skeleton was strung around his neck. "This unrest disturbs the world's amour."
"Shaddup, Zommari!" Nnoitra growled. "You ain't the boss of me!"
"I am, however." The greasy-haired man froze. Leader was standing behind them; two rectangles of light flashed from under his hood as he addressed the fighting Espada. "Put your knife away, Mantis, before I remove it for you."
"Yes, my Lord," Mantis grumbled, sheathing his weapon with an ugly glare. The leader swept by the five waiting Espada, who followed after him. Minutes later, they were joined by the remaining five, along with Hichigo.
"My dear Espada," the hooded man said quietly once they were all settled, and a servant had come around with tea for them all, "our plan is coming into action. The targets have both been found, and the Hogyoku's whereabouts discovered. Nameless, Pantera; your mission officially begins now.
"I am leaving the way the mission is run completely up to you. You have unlimited access to our network of supplies, and complete control over all of the Espadas, Fraccion, and Arrancars. Do not disappoint me."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Hey, Dad, I'm home!" Hitsugaya closed the door behind him as he kicked off his shoes. He found his father in the kitchen, hair tied back and dress shirt sleeves rolled up, cutting meat and putting it into a stew pot.
"Welcome home, Shiro-chan," Ukitake said, putting the knife he was using down and washed off the cutting board. "How was school today?"
"Okay," Toshiro said, going to the fridge and getting an apple.
"Simply okay?" The man raised a dark eyebrow as he placed the cutting board down and washed the meat juice from his knife. "I would think it would be better, seeing as Rukia came back."
"Oh yeah," Toshiro said, starting to take a bite out of his apple before pausing and staring at his father quizzically. "Wait, how do you know about that?"
Jushiro laughed. "Toshiro, I've told you the answer to that question time and time again. I would have thought you would have known the answer already."
"Oh, right, you know people." Hitsugaya bit into his apple and chewed before saying, "How do you know so many people?"
"Through work and various things," Ukitake said airily as he began to cut vegetables.
"You know Byakuya, right?"
"Kuchiki-sama," Ukitake corrected gently, "and yes, I know Byakuya."
"So how come he didn't tell you about Rukia being missing?"
The white-haired man paused. "Well . . . I must say I wasn't very truthful about my knowledge of Rukia's disappearance to you, 'Shiro-chan."
White brows furrowed. "So you knew." The words were quiet. Ukitake nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Byakuya didn't want the information that Rukia was missing very public," the white-haired man said calmly as he scraped cut vegetables into a bowl and covered it with plastic wrap. "He asked me to not tell anyone anything about her disappearance."
Hitsugaya finished his apple and threw the core into the trashcan. "Dad, where was Rukia when she was gone? Can you tell me?"
Ukitake sighed before pouring water into the pot and covering it. "I suppose I could tell you. Rukia ran away from home a few weeks before summer break ended."
"Where did she go?"
"More questions?" Ukitake chuckled and turned the burner under the pot on. "Rukia ran to the neighboring town of Karakura and stayed with a family there. The police found her there yesterday and brought her back to Seireitei today."
"Why did she run away?"
"I suspect she was angry at Byakuya," Ukitake answered.
"Why?"
Hitsugaya's adoptive father shrugged. "That is one thing I don't know, 'Shiro-chan."
"Oh. . ." The white-haired teenager muttered. "When's dinner going to be ready?"
"At six, as usual."
"Okay." Hitsugaya picked his bag up from the floor and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm going to do my homework."
Ukitake nodded. "I'll call you when I need your help."
'Kay." Hitsugaya turned and walked down the hallway before pounding up the stairs. Ukitake sighed and shook his head before turning to the sink and began to wash his cooking utensils.
Hitsugaya's phone went off next to his ear, and his eyes shot open. ". . . what . . . the?" He reached over and picked up the phone and opened it quickly. "'Lo?"
"Toshiro?" The voice was quiet. "I'm sorry to wake you, but—"
"Hanataro?" Hitsugaya rolled over and looked at the clock. "Do you know what time it is?'
"Y-Yes, two in the morning," his friend replied. "I-I'm really s-sorry about waking you up, but I've got something i-important to tell you."
"Like what?"
"Can you get on IM?"
Hitsugaya rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Yeah, why?"
"It's late; I don't wanna wake anyone up, especially my uncle or Ukitake-san. I'll tell you online." The line went dead and Hitsugaya groaned. He stumbled his way through the dark to his laptop, opened the lid, and signed on to messenger.
*** SoccerSnowflake has signed on.*
*** Clumsy_Flower has signed on.*
SoccerSnowflake: What did u want me 4, Hana?
Clumsy_Flower: Srry, Toshiro, but I have something 2 tell u
SoccerSnowflake: wat?
Clumsy_Flower: U know I work at Kuchiki mansion after skool, y/n?
SoccerSnowflake: Y
Clumsy_Flower: Well, u know Renji works there 2?
SoccerSnowflake: yea…
Clumsy_Flower: I accidently… overheard him and Kuchiki-sama talking
SoccerSnowflake: 'bout what?
Clumsy_Flower: Rukia
SoccerSnowflake: WHAT?!
SoccerSnowflake: WHY
Clumsy_Flower: they were arguing bout her
Clumsy_Flower: I didn't wanna hear
Clumsy_Flower: but Renji said he didn't wanna protect Rukia
SoccerSnowflake: . . . wat
Clumsy_Flower: I duno;
Clumsy_Flower: But Renji said "I don't wanna be Rukia's frickin bodyguard anymore, goddamit!"
Clumsy_Flower: And Kuchiki-sama said "You will do what I tell you if you still wish to earn money here."
SoccerSnowflake: wat…the…heck
Clumsy_Flower: I dunno;
SoccerSnowflake: Why is Renji protecting Rukia?!
Clumsy_Flower: I don't know! I just know he is!
SoccerSnowflake: Why are u telling me this, hana?
Clumsy_Flower: Thought u wanna know
Clumsy_Flower: they're your friends
SoccerSnowflake: And yours
Clumsy_Flower: yeah
Clumsy_Flower: anyway, gotta go, homework
SoccerSnowflake: this late?!
Clumsy_Flower: Yeah
Clumsy_Flower: I work late
SoccerSnowflake: Get some sleep, hana;;;
Clumsy_Flower: Homework first, sleep later
SoccerSnowflake: suit yourself
Clumsy_Flower: bye
SoccerSnowflake: yeah
*** Clumsy_Flower has signed off.*
*** SoccerSnowflake has signed off.*
Hitsugaya sat back from his computer screen and rubbed his eyes. Renji . . . a bodyguard? What did that mean? Why was he protecting Rukia? What was he guarding her against? Why—
"What are you doing up?" Hitsugaya jumped as the light in his room turned on. He whirled around in his seat to see Ukitake frowning at him from the doorway. "Instant Messaging at this hour?"
Toshiro looked at the carpeted floor. "Sorry, Dad . . ."
"Go to bed, 'Shiro-chan, it's late." Ukitake watched his close his computer and crawl into bed. He looked at his son critically before saying, "Don't worry; I'm asking the same questions you are." Then the older man turned off the light and shut the door, leaving Hitsugaya stunned.
A/N: WHUT IS THIS REAVEALING?! PROTECTING RUKIA FROM WHAT?! THE WORLD WILL FIND OUT.... next chapter. 8D
I'll try to update quickly!
-Toasty