Hi! By the way, I now have an idea for a sequel to The Hollow, but at the minute it's not got any real storyline. Ideas will be welcome. PM me please. This chapter was inspired by the song "Swallow the Knife" by Story of the Year. Look them up. It's a good song.
Byakuya groaned as he started to wake up. Purple sparks danced in his eyes as he sat up. His head hurt awfully. What was going on? How long had he been asleep? Where was he? Why was it so dark?
"Oh, so you're awake then, Kuchiki," growled a voice to his left, "You've been sleeping longer than anyone normally does."
"Where am I? And how do you know my name?" he croaked, wincing at how awful his voice sounded. He really needed a drink.
"The Shinihana's base. Don't know where. You're a Shinigami like the others were, aren't you?" the voice continued, ignoring the second question, still sounding angry.
"The others?"
"Yeah, three of 'em. Said their names were Makki, Kota, Jushiree and Lonas. Sound familiar? They said they knew you."
"Yes, I know them. Why were you speaking of them in past tense?" Byakuya asked, already suspecting why, but not wanting his fears confirmed.
"The Shinihana locked 'em in their arena. No-one comes out of it alive. I heard 'em cheering. They only cheer at deaths. I'm sorry, I think your friends are dead."
Byakuya absorbed the news quietly. They were dead. Dead, just like the others. A hand was placed on his shoulder.
"If it's any conciliation," the voice said quietly, "you'll join 'em in a minute. They're gonna put you in there too. They always do that to Shinigami. Stops 'em starving to death in these cells."
Byakuya didn't respond.
"Shinigami?" the voice murmured, "Are you okay?"
"Who are you?"
The hand retracted from his shoulder. "I-I'm sorry?"
"You must be important if you're in the same cell as Shinigami. What did you do?" Byakuya pressed, curious despite himself.
"No-one. I'm no-one." he- Byakuya had decided the voice was male- responded.
Silent scepticism was his only response. He sighed in defeat.
"Fine," he groaned in defeat, "I'm Sokka. I used to be a member of the Shinihana, but I didn't like what I was being asked to do, which was abducting children to get to their families. It's still a favourite joining method among the Shinihana. I refused to do it, so the higher ups shut me away in here to rot. What about you?"
"I'm sorry?" Byakuya asked, confused.
"Normally, they send Shinigami into the arena in groups. They've kept you separate. What rank are you? The others used your name with repect, so I can tell you're important. That's how I knew your name. They kept using your name instead of your rank. What are you?"
"That's none of your business." Byakuya muttered, reluctant to give anything away.
"Are you a Fukutaichou? I might not be a Shinigami, but I can sense reiatsu you know."
"...Fine, yes. I am a Fukutaichou. Why are you suddenly so interested?"
"No reason. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how a Fukutaicho AND some pretty powerful Shinigami got kidnapped and killed by the Shinihana, that's all."
"We were deceived and outmatched." Byakuya growled, ignoring how the words damaged his pride. Admitting defeat was only outmatched in damaging pride by actual defeat and Byakuya had just experienced both. He wasn't happy about it.
"Really?" Sokka exclaimed in surprise, "Who did you fight?"
Byakuya hung his head. "There were five of them. I only really noticed two, though. One was a man I defeated by the name of Kayo, I think-"
"Kayo-sama!? You defeated him!? He's one of the strongest men here!" Sokka shouted, the noise awfully loud to Byakuya's ears.
"I'm presuming that is why they sent him against us." Byakuya muttered under his breath.
"Who was the other one?"
"A woman, her face was covered with bandages. She had purple eyes and she...she was extremely powerful. Do you know her?" Byakuya inquired -something like urgency in his tone. Sokka inhaled sharply.
"I know her, but not well. No-one knows her well. She's very reclusive. I don't know where she lives, I don't know what her powers are, but like you said, she's powerful. She doesn't give her name. But since you're a Shinigami, you probably won't know this, but those bandages mean something in the Rukongai," Sokka paused, taking a breath and sinking his voice in fear, "They mean that she's a Betrayer."
Byakuya frowned in confusion, not understanding the seriousness with which Sokka was speaking.
"A Betrayer?" he asked, his lack of knowledge irritating him.
"Yes. Do you really not know? A Betrayer is someone who has been punished for betraying people. She only uses the name Betrayer-san, not using her own. No-one knows who she betrayed, no-one knows why, but no-one asks. She scares most people in here. She never shows anyone her full powers, which is why she still serves under Kayo-sama." Sokka revealed, sounding fearful, almost like the subject was tabooed, "Do NOT get involved with her. It will not end well."
Byakuya was silent, absorbing the information. Sokka's description made her sound heartless, cold and uncaring. It didn't match up with the concern, care and fear that he had witnessed with his own eyes. But one thing did match up. She was powerful. She was dangerous. She was not someone to trust. But something inside him squirmed. 'That isn't right,' something told him, something fierce and forceful, 'That's REALLY not right!' Byakuya didn't understand what was going on. It unnerved him. That didn't happen often. Sokka watched him with something like pity. He had seen this before.
"Fukutaichou?" he whispered quietly, gently.
"Yes?"
"They are gonna come for you soon. You know, for the arena?"
Byakuya sighed. "I presumed as much."
"I'll tell you about it. You're the strongest person to go in there, so you might stand a chance." Sokka said, urgent and frightened that the Shinigami could be dragged out soon.
"Then tell me. If it will make a difference to my survival, then I'll be willing to hear it."
"Okay then, in the arena there will be the whole of the Shinihana watching you. They do it for the bets. You will fight the people selected from the audience at random. The Shinihana will be sat in class order. The weakest in the first tier, the strongest in the top; there are seven tiers in total. You will fight either a group, or one-on-one. No-one has outlasted the fourth tier. Avoid getting Kayo-sama, Jyan-sama, Betrayer-san and the two twin captains: Shini-sama and Hana-sama. They occupy the top tier. If you get them, you will die. Anyone else and you might live. You will be allowed your zanpak-uto. Do you have Shikai?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then try not to use it until the upper three tiers. Do you have Bankai?"
"...No. Not yet."
"Lair. Your reiatsu is high enough, and it's tailored enough to have it."
"That was no lie;" Byakuya said icily, "I'm currently trying to master it. Even if I did have it, they wouldn't be worthy of it."
"Oh, perfect." Sokka groaned, "You're a noble aren't you? Kuchiki! I thought the name sounded familiar. Here's a tip. That thinking may impress them, but it will get you killed. Never think like that. They may not be worthy of it, but use it if you need it. Kill or be killed is their creed. Never forget that." Sokka pressed, sincere, but angry. "Got that, Shinigami?"
Byakuya scowled in the darkness. He liked Sokka less and less by the minute.
"Shinigami?"
"Yes," he snapped, "I've got the general idea!"
Suddenly, a space to his left was flooded with light. He raised a hand to shield his eyes, black spots dancing in his vision. He could make out the silhouette of a petit figure; one hand on what he presumed was the door, one in a clenched fist.
"What idea?" asked the figure, innocently, voice slightly muffled.
Byakuya didn't need to hear Sokka's panicked gasp of fear to recognise the voice.
"B-Betrayer-san!" he whimpered, obviously afraid.
"Tell me Sokka-san," she said, a smile in her tone, "what were you telling the Shinigami?"
"N-nothing, Betrayer-san!"
"Oh come now, Sokka," she said, pouting, "I know that's not true. You were telling him about the arena, weren't you? Giving him tips to survive? Don't lie Sokka, please."
"Yes Betrayer-san, I was." he groaned, hanging his head in defeat.
"Good for you," she said cheerily, crouching down, touching his arm and staring into his face, "you saved me a job. Thanks."
Sokka gasped in shock. Byakuya saw him raise his arm as if to make sure it was still there. It didn't comfort him in the slightest. He stood up shakily. The Betrayer turned and looked at him.
"You're taking me to the arena, aren't you?" he asked, voice devoid of emotion.
She nodded once, all joking attitude gone in an instant. He gestured to the doorway.
"Well then, lead on." he invited, voice still cold. She stood and swept gracefully out of the door, not waiting for him to follow.
"Good luck, Fukutaichou Kuchiki," Sokka whispered, glancing at the Betrayer. He acknowledged the words with a nod, before following the Betrayer to what could possibly be his death.