Chapter 3: Drowning

XXXXXXXXXX

Claws reach up from down in the dark

Wanting to pull me under

Trying to pull me under

Curl and tighten around my heart

Leaving me there to wonder

I just have to wonder

Am I drowning? Falling under your spell?

Drowning, Open the gates to hell

I'm drowning…It isn't a sin

Drowning, Try to scream, but the water comes in…

XXXXXXXXXX

Rikichi entered the guest room that he and Tetsuya had been given and paused, looking around and feeling a touch of surprise that Byakuya's cousin was not where he had been before, curled up in the bed within their room.

"Tetsuya-san?" he called softly, frowning as he checked the bathroom and found no sign of the other young man.

He walked back out into the bedroom and extended his senses. The tiny sliver of Tetsuya's reiatsu that reached him led him out the bedroom window and into the small garden outside Urahara's shop. He found Tetsuya kneeling at the side of a little koi pond, blue eyes sad as they watched the fish within the pond swim about.

"I thought you were getting some rest," he commented softly, kneeling beside his troubled friend, "You've barely left Kuchiki taicho's side since he was injured. Is…is there anything I can do, Tetsuya-san?"

Tetsuya didn't answer for a moment as he considered, then he sighed and leaned against the sixth division officer's shoulder, sniffing and brushing a tear away from his eyes.

"Byakuya-sama would scold me for not getting my rest," he said finally, "but when I close my eyes all I see are the horrible injuries he suffered. I've never seen him with injuries on that level. Even when he'd been sparring with Zaraki taicho in Hueco Mundo while they waited for the garganta to open so they could return home."

"He's so powerful that his reiatsu sometimes feels like it could suffocate a person," Rikichi reflected, "I've always been kind of afraid of him, even though I know he's a good man."

"I owe Byakuya-sama everything," Tetsuya whispered, wiping away several more tears that had leaked onto his face, "He rescued me from a terrible situation when I was younger, and all that's been in my heart since then is that I want to protect him. Yet, I wasn't there for him when he needed me."

"That's not true," Rikichi objected, lacing his fingers together with his friend's, "You were there and started healing him right away, Tetsuya-san. If it wasn't for you, he mightn't have lived long enough to reach Orihime-chan and Unohana taicho. Your quick thinking and your abilities helped him. You're still helping him, but if you don't rest, then you won't have the strength to go on."

He sighed softly and climbed to his feet, bringing Tetsuya up with him. The half-noble's breath caught for a moment as he swayed a little and Rikichi put a hand out to steady him. Rikichi swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry and his heart pounding in his chest as he gave Tetsuya a little bracing smile.

"Come on, Tetsuya-san."

"I don't know if I'll be able to sleep at all."

Rikichi took a steadying breath.

"Then, so that you can take care of him, let me take care of you."

"R-Rikichi-san," Tetsuya managed breathlessly, "Thank you."

XXXXXXXXXX

Ichigo sat silently next to Yoruichi at the unconscious Kisuke's side, his eyes straying now and then to the motionless Byakuya, who still laid beneath the golden oval of Orihime's healing power. A teary-eyed Rukia held Renji's hand, and the redhead stared down at his lover with a devastated expression. Unohana taicho looked from Byakuya and Senbonzakura to Kisuke, her eyes dark with worry.

"Will you tell me again all you remember of each man's injury?" she asked, "We need to gather all of our information if we are to learn what manner of creature we are dealing with."

Ichigo shook his head.

"I was with Kisuke right before he was attacked. He was on edge, you know? That's why he didn't want me walking home alone. He was worried about the creature that has been sensed around here. And that's why Byakuya, Renji and Tetsuya were here. They were assigned to find out what it was."

"I am aware of their mission," Unohana acknowledged, "Go on."

"We got to my house okay. We didn't sense anything. I left him outside and went up to my room. I went to bed and was in the middle of a dream, when Kisuke busted in through my window and fell onto me. Scared the hell out of me. He was all wet…and covered in blood. It looked like he was trying to say something, but I couldn't understand. I just took him and ran for Orihime's house. Kami, I didn't even think about the fact that the thing that did this was probably right there watching!"

"That is very probably correct," the healer said softly, "You are fortunate that it did not harm you. Now, you say you were sleeping? Having a dream?"

"Y-yeah."

"Sometimes beings with dark spirit energy around them can cause nightmares, or the creatures, themselves can invade human dreams. Do you remember what the dream was about?"

Ichigo scratched the back of his neck and thought carefully.

"Ah…I remember that I was in Soul Society. I was in some mountains, looking at Sokyoku hill off in the distance. I came down off the hill and walked into the Seireitei, right past the guards at the gate without anyone seeing me. It gets fuzzy after that. I remember a man's voice. It sounded sort of like Byakuya's, but different. I remember a garden and…and a man…green eyes. That's all."

"Hmmm…"

"Sorry," Ichigo said, shaking his head again, "I wish I could have given you something useful."

"That's all right. Now, did any of the rest of you see or sense anything around the time Kuchiki taicho was attacked?"

"Tetsuya, Rikichi, Ichigo, Rukia and I were all off searching for clues," said Ichigo, "We didn't see or sense anything until we sensed the power of the attack."

"The power that struck Byakuya was intense and occurred very suddenly," added Yoruichi, "He was taken down in a single blow. There was a second attack, but from the position of Byakuya's zanpakuto, Senbonzakura manifested, likely in response to Byakuya being cut down, and he was also broken in a single blow."

"Did Kuchiki taicho say anything or have any moments of lucidity?"

"He opened his eyes for a moment," Renji said in a shaky voice, "but he didn't say anything."

"Hmmm…" mused the healer, "There is appallingly little to work with. I have sent for a team of secret mobile corps to scan the site."

She sighed softly, studying the two unconscious men.

"Urahara-san will probably wake soon. I have raised his consciousness and he is showing signs of recovery."

Her eyes fell on the sixth division taicho and her frown deepened.

"Kuchiki taicho is comatose at the moment, and he will require follow up surgery to repair the damage to his spirit centers, so I am having him evacuated to the Seireitei."

"Will Nii-sama be all right?" asked Rukia in a trembling voice.

Unohana placed an arm around the young woman's shoulders.

"We will do everything we can to see that he recovers fully. You must remain hopeful, Kuchiki Rukia."

Rukia nodded and rubbed her eyes.

"I'll be going back with you," she said softly, "Is that all right?"

"Of course," said the healer, "I will let your taicho know you are with me until further notice."

"Arigato, Unohana taicho."

She turned to Renji.

"Will you be coming back to the Seireitei?" Rukia asked.

Renji gazed down at Byakuya with conflicted eyes.

"N-no."

"Renji?" queried Rukia, her eyes widening.

"I want you to stay with him," Renji said, his hand closing into a fist, "I'm going to find Rikichi and Tetsuya and we're not going to stop looking until we find out who did this. They're not going to get away with this!"

Rukia swallowed hard and nodded. Their heads turned as the secret mobile corps and Squad Four evacuation team arrived. The secret mobile corps leader spoke briefly with Unohana taicho, then left with his men for the attack site. The evacuation team carefully prepared Byakuya for the trip back, then lifted him and carried him into the senkaimon with Unohana taicho and Rukia following.

"Damn!" hissed Renji as the senkaimon closed, "I hope he'll be okay. I feel awful, not going back to wait with Rukia, but…"

"But I'll need you here," Yoruichi said quietly, "Renji, you realize that you and I are still possible targets. Tessai too, needs to be wary. And realize as well, why Kisuke and Byakuya might have been targeted."

"They were both investigating this creature," Ichigo said softly.

"They are also both closely linked with you. Kisuke is linked to you through being your mentor…and Byakuya was not only investigating, he is also Rukia's brother, and that connects him to you as well. And Kisuke noticed that the locations in which the creature was sensed were always placed between the shop and your home."

"So…this is about me?" Ichigo said in a bewildered voice, "I mean, Kisuke told me he thought it might be, but Yoruichi, hardly anyone knows I've regained my powers. Why would they want to come after me?"

Yoruichi shrugged.

"It is possible that some of the remaining strong Arrancar are lashing out because you were involved in the downfall of their leader. It could be someone whose attention was caught in the fight against Aizen. There are many possibilities. The important thing for now is to keep the creature from attacking again."

Ichigo looked down at Kisuke, studying him quietly and considering everything that had happened.

"Yoruichi," he said finally, "tell me something. If this creature is interested in me, then why hasn't it attacked me yet? Why is it targeting the people around me? And that being the case, why is it focusing on the people around me that wield the greatest power? If it was trying to make a point or trying to hurt me, it would have struck at me directly…or it would have attacked the weaker ones to manipulate my emotions. But this…attacking Kisuke and Byakuya. Yoruichi, what does that tell you?"

Renji cleared his throat softly.

"I'll tell you what it means…because Byakuya has told me a thousand times that a cocky enemy will not direct itself to the weaker ones to make his point. He will overwhelm and intimidate, then take the enemy in a single swift move," he said in a low voice, "If I read the situation correctly, then Kisuke and Byakuya were taken down both to intimidate and to sweep them aside. I think that as soon as this creature thinks that the way has been cleared enough, it will move in and it will make its move on you, Ichigo."

"Then the enemy is only going to find that it has much more to sweep aside," said a male voice from the doorway.

All eyes turned to meet those of the light-haired man who had appeared in the doorway.

"Shinji!" exclaimed Ichigo, coming to his feet and flash stepping across the room, "What are you doing here?"

"We sensed the presence of this creature who has been concealing itself near here. When it began to grow stronger, we suspected that it would act soon…but we could not anticipate exactly what it would do. The attack on Urahara-san made us certain the creature was up to no good, but it wasn't until it attacked Kuchiki taicho that we realized it was trying to isolate you."

"To isolate me?" Ichigo repeated, staring.

"Yeah," said Renji from across the room, "Like I said, Ichigo, it took down Kisuke and Byakuya to get them out of the way."

Shinji nodded.

"That is our suspicion as well. And that is why we have taken up protective positions around the shop and the area between it and Ichigo's home. Whatever this thing is, and however strong it is, it is going to find itself facing a lot more strong enemies if it wants to get to you!"

Ichigo let out a soft breath and his eyes softened with gratitude.

"Arigato, Shinji. I appreciate the help."

The vizard nodded.

"I can't stay," he said, turning to leave, "We are guarding in groups to make ourselves less vulnerable. I suggest that you all do the same."

Yoruichi rose and motioned for Renji to join her.

"Wait, Renji and I will work with you to make sure as much ground as possible is covered."

"Very well, then," Shinji said quietly, "Come with me and I'll show you how we've set ourselves up."

Ichigo watched as they disappeared out the door and Tessai walked in with tea and cookies.

"I thought you might be hungry after all of that waiting to see if Kuchiki-san would be all right," he said, setting the tray down.

"Arigato," Ichigo said gratefully, "But what I really need is for you to make Orihime comfortable here, and then to go and bring Chad and Uryuu here for their protection. What Shinji said about staying together is true. We need to stay together to protect each other. Because honestly, we don't know when this creature is going to stop attacking the people around me and make whatever move he's planning."

"That sounds like a very intelligent strategy," agreed Tessai, setting down the tray, "Come, Inoue-san, I will show you to your room."

Ichigo sighed softly as he was left alone with Kisuke, and he moved slowly back to the shopkeeper's side. He sat next to the former taicho and replaced the cool, wet cloth on his forehead, then lifted the blanket to change the bandages on his healing wound.

"It looks a lot better," he commented, "And your reiatsu has been restored…so why don't you stop milking the situation and scaring us all to death and just wake up, Urahara-san. I want to find the bastard who did this to you and Byakuya and I want to make him pay! But I can't do that without you. Come on and wake up. Wake up, Kisuke."

He slipped a hand into the shopkeeper's and sighed in resignation.

"Damn," he said softly, "I really need you to wake up, Kisuke."

He finished the cookies and tea, then realized suddenly how tired he was and let his head and upper body settle on the edge of the bed. He closed his eyes, planning to just doze, but instead fell into a deep sleep.

He found himself in the Seireitei again, standing in the garden that reminded him of Kuchiki Manor. Birds sang in the trees and he could hear the rushing sound of water nearby. He felt a presence ahead of him and moved forward.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," the voice he remembered said quietly, "I am glad you have returned. I have been waiting for you."

He moved forward, his breath catching as he came upon the tall man he had seen before. He looked more closely this time, studying the fine clothing and dark cape he wore. The thin lips smiled at him and the man's green eyes fixed on his.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked softly, "And why do I keep dreaming about you? I remember now. I have been dreaming like this for some time now."

"Yes," said the man, blinking slowly, "I am not surprised to hear you say that. Indeed, I have been reaching for you for some time now."

"Is that why your voice sounds so familiar? I feel like I've heard it…even before the dreams started."

"Yes, well, you will remember that later, I am certain. Our link is growing stronger as the days pass. Come with me. I believe we are linked strongly enough to begin to train together."

"To train for what? Is this about the creature that attacked Kisuke and Byakuya? Is it going to attack me?"

The man smiled.

"The one who circles around you now has a very specific purpose in doing so. That will be revealed in time…and when it is, you must be prepared for what the situation will require. I am to instruct you."

"Huh…well," said Ichigo, scratching his head, "I don't know if I feel comfortable training with a guy I don't even know. How about you tell me your name?"

He strained his ears to hear what the man said, but felt himself being pulled away. Someone was squeezing his hand, and he heard a male voice saying his name. He inhaled sharply as the garden faded and everything went dark.

"I-Ichigo?"

He opened his eyes and found himself still leaned forward onto the bed, with his head rested on one hand and the other hand holding Kisuke's. The shopkeeper's gray eyes were open and gazing at him from only inches away. Kisuke gave him a weak smile.

"Ichigo," he said again, "It's good to see you."

"Kisuke," he whispered, his hand tightening on the other man's and his voice flooded with relief.

XXXXXXXXXX

Tetsuya woke to find himself still resting in Rikichi's embrace and he slowly extracted himself and sat up on the bed, admiring his sleeping friend for a few minutes before climbing out of the bed and heading to the window. Outside, it had grown dark and the sky overhead was filled with lovely stars and a bright moon that he knew his cousin would have loved to observe. The horrid ache returned to his heart as he thought again about the injuries Byakuya and Senbonzakura had suffered.

We need to find out who did this before anyone else is hurt.

He looked back at Rikichi's sleeping form, then at the bedroom door, but he was well aware that if Renji, Ichigo or Tessai saw him out of bed and not resting, he would be stopped from what he was about to do.

This enemy uses stealth to make his attacks, but…he is not the only one capable of being stealthy.

He invoked his power and slowly the color seemed to leave his body until only a faint outline was left.

It's dark now where Byakuya-sama was attacked. I should be able to move around without being seen.

He climbed out the window and dropped down to the ground, surveying the area and spotting the positions of the vizards who stood guard around the shop. He maneuvered his way past them, then headed back towards the river, carefully sensing everything around him. He avoided the areas around the lights that ran along the sides of the walking path and strayed down to the edges of the water, then dove in to scan the area below the surface. Finding nothing useful, he surfaced and worked his way slowly back to the place where Kisuke and Byakuya had fallen, then focused his attention on every trace of blood and reiatsu he could find. He pored over what he was sure was the attacker's reiatsu, feeling an odd sense of familiarity that made his brow furrow in frustration as he tried in vain to place it. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Rikichi's voice sound softly a short distance away where the sixth division soldier stood on the pathway.

"Tetsuya-san?" he whispered, "Are you here?"

Tetsuya let out a relieved breath and moved forward, intending to join his friend, but as he was approaching, a dark shadow slipped out of the foliage and crept towards Rikichi, holding a sword ready to attack. Tetsuya flash stepped in his friend's direction, calling Rikichi's name urgently.

"Rikichi!"

He loosed a blast of kido that forced the attacker to dodge, then he moved in between the two and let his waterform fade. The shadowy attacker slashed at Tetsuya once crossing swords with him for a moment, then he disappeared, leaving the two young men staring in dismay at the place he had been.

"Did you get a look at him?" Tetsuya asked, looking around, but finding no sign of their assailant.

"Just for a second," Rikichi answered, taking up a protective position behind Tetsuya as Renji and Shinji ran to join them.

"What are you two idiots doing out here?" Shinji scolded them, "You asking to be slaughtered?"

"Take it easy, Shinji," Renji chided the vizard, "Tetsuya's more than a healer. He's Byakuya's bodyguard and head of house security."

"If he's so great, how was Byakuya cut down like that?" Shinji asked sarcastically.

"Knock it off, all right?" Renji snapped, "It wasn't Tetsuya's fault, and he's the one who kept Taicho alive when he was hurt."

"He still doesn't belong out here, mucking things up."

"I can cloak myself in my waterforms," Tetsuya explained, "I wasn't in any danger, but Rikichi realized I wasn't in bed and came to look for me."

"I wondered why you were out here against orders, kid," Renji said sternly.

"S-sorry, sir. I was just w-worried about Tetsuya and followed him."

Shinji's eyes narrowed as he studied the two men more closely.

"Okay, lovebirds," he added sarcastically, making Rikichi blush furiously, "you should leave the investigation to us. That's why we're out here. Renji and I were trying to get the bastard to attack one of us when you got in the way."

"Sorry," Rikichi apologized, "I didn't mean to-"

"I get it," Shinji sighed, waving him off, "Get outta here and let us do our work, okay? Take your little healer boyfriend with you."

"H-he's—"

"Come Rikichi," Tetsuya chuckled, taking his friend's hand, "I think we've had enough excitement."

He led his flustered friend back in the direction of the candy shop.

"Tetsuya-san, why did you go out alone?" Rikichi asked worriedly, "I know your power allows you to move around without being seen, but you should have taken me with you."

Tetsuya paused, turning to face the young officer.

"You're right," he admitted quietly, "While I can avoid being seen, the ability is not foolproof. Besides, it seems you've decided that I need looking after, so I dare say that trying to sneak around without you would be difficult at this point."

"Ah…erm…" Rikichi stammered, blushing more darkly.

"The question is, did Byakuya-sama ask you to look out for me or was Rikichi-san just worried about me on his own?"

"Eh…"

Tetsuya squeezed his friend's hand and smiled warmly.

"It was reckless of me to go out alone after two more powerful men were attacked," he admitted, "I'm sorry I worried you. You are…very kind, Rikichi-san. I—"

Tetsuya froze, his breath stolen away as Rikichi leaned forward and pressed warm, flushed lips to his then wrapped his arms tightly around him.

"Don't go away like that again!" he pleaded in a shaky voice, "I was scared something would happen to you, Tetsuya!"

"I'm all right," Tetsuya reassured him, placing his hands on his friend's flushed cheeks and returning his kiss tenderly, "and…I realized something when you were almost attacked just now. Whoever that man was who tried to attack you, his reiatsu has touched me before. I don't remember where or how yet, but I'm going to figure it out. I know I will!"