Rant of CREATOR: Okay. Forewarning, this story might be a little bit confusing. I don't know why, but it might be. It confused me. The writer—who is in fact not the owner of Bleach.
Shrouded
by nobility
Chapter II
Renji leaned against a tree within a dimly lit park located in Karakura City. He sighed heavily as he thought to himself, 'It's already been four days since Taicho gave me leave. Why haven't I found any clues yet? I've searched the neighboring cities and this just doesn't make sense. Where could she have gone in a short amount of time?'
"Hey, Renji? I know you're thinking something over there, so why don't you share with the rest of us?" Ichigo growled, glaring somewhat at his redheaded friend. "We need to keep moving. We're running out of time."
"No…" the Lieutenant answered, voice low and filled with utter disappointment, "Don't say that." Renji glanced at the other, and then turned his back to him. "It's best you go back—"
"What are you talking about? We still have two days left," Ichigo interrupted, clenching his fist. "Don't you dare give up now that we've come this far."
"I'm not giving up. Don't you sense the spirit pressure in the area?"
"Huh?" A dumbfound expression crossed the orange haired boy's face. "Spirit pressure. Well not that you mention it, yeah, I do. Hold on a sec. Isn't that, Toshirou?"
"That's Captain Hitsugaya, to you," answered the white haired youth as he approached both Renji and Ichigo from nearly nowhere. Oh, the joy of Shunpo.
After a few moments of silence, Ichigo spoke up, smirking at the one who had advanced towards him, "Well. What brings you here? Not exactly a place for a Captain appearance."
Hitsugaya grunted and looked away, glancing around, "I'm here on official business."
"Really? And just what is that," requested the substitute Shinigami.
"Business. Ukitake-Taicho is here too. We are only here to find a Hollow and destroy it before it…terminates those around it. Go see Captain Ukitake if you want details. I'll be going now." The young captain turned swiftly and began strolling away quickly, heading down an alleyway that remained silent, even after he was gone.
Renji watched the other go, beginning to suspect that something was happening where he could not see. Captain Hitsugaya had hesitated, and changed something in one of his sentences. It was then that he concluded something.
Something had driven Rukia away; at least, that was what he thought.
"Forgive me Captain, I wasn't able to position the 13th Division member, Kuchiki Rukia." Renji lowered his head, and turned his gaze somewhere else.
"I see," Byakuya answered, not even bothering to look up at his Lieutenant, "There is no need for you to be searching any longer. I suggest you return to your duties."
"Captain, there's just one thing I don't understand," Renji stated, knowing he was out of place. "What did you tell Rukia that day? She…she had been acting strange ever since she saw you that night before her mission." He took a step closer to Byakuya's desk. "She hasn't been able to even look at me—and now she's gone."
Byakuya turned his full attention to the Vice-Captain that stood before him. "Why do you wish to know? It does not concern you."
At that moment, Renji understood that he was not being told something. "Forgive me, Sir."
"If you feel that strongly about the situation, why don't you go to see her later. She should be in the 13th Division's barracks."
The 6th Division Lieutenant snapped to attention, eyes widened in surprise, as he scanned the apathetic expression of his Captain. Had she truly returned? And so soon?
"Wh-What? She's come back?" He smiled in relief, his grin widening at the thought of his childhood friend. So close.
"Yes. She was found and brought in by someone earlier this morning."
Without warning, the young fukutaicho turned and headed for the door once more, determined to at least check up on Rukia. After all, she had been gone for weeks. Months, even.
"Did you not hear a word I said? Later. Not now."
Renji whipped around to face his captain. "But…I wasn't going to disturb her. I just wanted to see that she's okay."
"Denied. Return to your duties."
The young deputy's head lowered, crestfallen. It was most likely for the best. Considering her returning now, almost certainly she would be too exhausted for any sort of greetings for him and just shoo him off. It did not matter though. Just seeing her face would be more than enough to put him at ease.
It was decided. He would wait until nightfall.
"Yo, Byakuya! Renji!" The Substitue Shinigami had arrived, only two hours after the Captain and the Lieutenant had spoken. It was only the middle of the day, not even close to becoming dark. He walked towards the Vice-Captain and his superior with a grin as an expression. Hearing the news of his dear friend being found must have cheered him up quite a bit.
"Surely you did not mean to call me by my first name," Byakuya replied out of pure anger.
Ichigo sighed heavily when he reached them and decided to skip straight to the point of why he had came, "That Hollow that attacked Rukia that night, did Toushiro kill it?"
"Hitsugaya-Taicho?" questioned Renji quietly. Something made sense. So Hitsugaya-Taicho was the one who found Rukia, huh? At least things went well. How did Ichigo know who found her, anyways? "Well why don't you go ask yourself? I'm betting that he did."
"Yeah. Well I sorta, kinda already went by, but he wasn't there and neither was that big breasted woman." That was the only way that he knew how to address Matsumoto, when he had forgotten her name.
"Huh? He isn't doing paperwork? That's strange," the Vice-Captain crossed his arms and thought for a moment. Hitsugaya was not working and Matsumoto was most likely just at a Sushi bar or out gorging herself on food. Turning his attention to his Captain, he opened his mouth to say something.
"Wait a second. Now that I think about it, I did hear Ukitake say she was at the 4th Division resting area," Ichigo added quickly before Renji began a speaking, "Was Rukia injured?"
The redhead just stood there for a second, his face pale. The in the room Captain sighed.
Byakuya chose this time to react, answering before any more could be said on the subject and compel his Vice-Captain to go against his orders. "No. Rukia was ill. That is why she is still there."
Renji stared at him in disbelief. "You said earlier that she was in the 13th Division barracks."
"That was then. There is no need to go now. She already has a guest."
"What?" Two sets of eyes fell upon the calm façade of the Sixth division's Captain. Both young men know that the other was hiding something, considering that he kept insisting that Renji doesn't go visit.
"And just who would that be?" Ichigo asked.
"The Tenth Division's Captain. There is no need for an explanation," Byakuya answered, sounding heartless as he stood from his seat and moved to the side of the desk, keeping his eyes on his Vice-Captain.
Renji's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fist, remaining somewhat calm. "Captain…you should have told me that this had happened to Rukia. I deserved to know just as much as anyone else."
"Is that so, Abarai?" Even though it was faint, a slight smirk crossed the Taicho's face, "And what would you have done if I had let you go see her right then? Even if you had no intentions of approaching her then, you would have reacted the same way as now, correct? Angered."
"Of course!"
"That's exactly why I chose not to mention this," answered the slightly annoyed Captain as he moved towards the door with haste.
"Still! Ukitake knew where she was, but that's understandable. He is her captain—but Hitsugaya-Taicho is not. He's not even connected with her. Why is he there?" His voice became louder as he spoke, reflecting the anger that was boiling within him. Ichigo gazed at him suspiciously, wondering what had brought his friend to actually become so enraged. "Why did he have to know so much if it was just some Hollow attack and he brought her in? That's the only thing I see that connects them—and that's hardly anything."
"Not connected?" The commander glanced over his shoulder briefly, flashing an interested expression, "I assure you, Abarai, Hitsugaya-Taicho does share some affiliation. Did she not tell you what sort of relationship they had?"
Worried of what his Captain was saying, Renji glanced at Ichigo's equally confused expression, searching for an answer, but nothing came. "Huh? Like what?"
"Matrimonial relations."
"You're late," was the first thing that came from the Kuchiki noble. "I assume that by your being here, you're going to search for Rukia?"
"As if I had a choice. It's an obligation, remember, Kuchiki-Taicho," answered a male, as he stopped and loomed a few feet behind Byakuya, "She's my Fiancé. I would be seen as cold hearted if I ignored the fact that she's missing. I barely know her so saying that I feel anything for your sister would be dishonest." The male figure sighed, and crossed his arms. "No more than a stranger."
The 6th Division Captain turned to face the other person, a slight look of disappointment in his expression. "I see. Well then. I won't delay you any longer. You may leave."
The shady figure turned and began strolling away, only to slow to a halt, finding something else to say. "Just one more thing."
"What is it," Byakuya answered quickly, not bothering to face the other.
"Do not let word of this get out just yet. I don't want anyone knowing beforehand," he replied sternly, staring up at the cloudy night sky, "If I fail in finding your sister, there's no sense in even saying that we were engaged."
"I see…" The noblemen considered this, taking a few moments to weigh out the situation. There was nothing to really think on. If Hitsugaya failed to find Rukia, then… "Just out of curiosity, I've been wondering…why exactly did you agree to the commitment? You are quite young yourself."
"Why did you offer it to me, Kuchiki-Taicho?"
"Hesitating your answer," he turned to face the other, a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
"I'm not hesitating," Hitsugaya began, grinning ever so slightly, "I'll tell you when I've found Rukia." With that said, the young captain had vanished.
Ranting Author Moment: Oh, please do forgive me for this but…I hope you don't mind if I discontinue this whole story. The entire Hitsugaya x Rukia fan fictions are unheard of, yes? That's not the reason. The reason is…I just can't keep on task. I want to write all sorts of things like Devil May Cry and Tales of the Abyss stories. (Speaking of Tales of the Abyss stories, I already wrote and posted one, just so you know.)
And that brings me to the question: Should I keep it going as a Hitsu/Ruki? Or the classic RenRuki? I'm leanin' more towards the second one.
Alsooooooo! I must give my thanks, and props, to my very first reviewers! Thanks a bunch! When I destroy the world, I'll let you guys live.
The first reviewer: The Gandhara (Yay. I'm likin' your answer! I might go with it.)
Second: Randomcat23 (So formal. Don't know how you like my non-descriptive stories, but hey, since you do, we're buddies.)
Third: Girl-who-sings-the-blues (I'm glad you like my Author's notes…or read them, for that matter.)
Fourth: Nymbis (Isn't your name from DBZ? You know. That cloud that Goku rides.)
Fifth: Sabaku No Izumi (Oh, goody. 'Tis music to my ears when I…read positive reviews.)
I will add more words to make 2,000 words.
-Vincentre
