Hi, sorry it's been so long... Since August... Meh, I've been busy. Thanks to everyone who's reading this fic. It means a lot.
Usual disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo. Not to me.
"Well done, Shinigami-sama," the Betrayer said politely, getting up and facing him, "Very well done indeed."
Her eyes ran over him, and he could practically see her smirking. Was she... sizing him up? Surely, she wasn't going to... fight him? However, she was so unpredictable, he couldn't say for sure WHAT she'd do!
Suddenly, she coughed, and turned away, walking towards a door. She pulled the handle, revealing a well-lit room, a futon and four familiar faces greeting him. Makki, Jusiree, Lonos and Kota. She gestured for him to go through, holding the door and bowing. Byakuya went through, kneeling with his men, and watched her close the door. She knelt, too, and cleared her throat.
"What I have to say may come as a shock," she said, keeping her voice steady,despite her obvious qualms about addressing the Shinigami, "but it needs to be said. You four; Makki, Jusiree, Kota and Lonos, need to return to the Sereitei, to report what you've seen and heard. However," she paused, coughing again, "you, Fukutaichou-sama, need to stay."
Angry protests broke out from the men, indignantly protesting what she had just said.
"How can we trust you?"
"We won't leave Kuchiki-fukutaichou!"
"That's not going to happen!"
Byakuya held up a hand for silence, and, when they had all stopped, he asked, "Is there a valid reason why, Betrayer-san?"
She nodded once, a quick, jerky bob that sent her black hair dancing through the air. Their eyes locked, and he saw only truth reflected in her strange, amethyst eyes. It was so strange. He hardly knew this woman, but, already, her eyes were like the open pages of a book to him. He looked away quickly, and into the faces of his men.
"I agree that a report is long overdue, and Soutaichou...it is best to keep him updated on the situation. However, I, too, have a few qualms about staying," he began, keeping his voice neutral. A babble of agreements followed his words, but he held up a hand for silence. It went quiet immediately.
"However, if I were in the place of the Shinihana, I would be watching out for the fukutaichou I let go. Also, Betrayer-San has put herself in a very dangerous position in helping us like she has, so I have no doubt that the Shinihana are watching for any unusual movements she makes. This puts us out of the picture for now."
Everyone was focused on his words, listening intently. Byakuya paused, taking a breath to collect his thoughts. This needed to be done carefully, or they'd never leave...
"With due respect, Fukutaichou, I think we can guess what you're going to say," Makki interrupted,suddenly becoming very interested in his lap, "You're going to try to convince us to leave... for our sakes, and to report to Soutaichou. You needn't say it, sir."
Byakuya looked hard at his men, and none of them met his eyes. The Betrayer stood, and began to walk towards a shoji door on the other side of the room. She paused, coughing, and pushed the door aside, revealing another dark corridor, seemingly endless. There was no light at the end, like a cavernous mouth.
"This corridor," she said quietly, "will bring you to a small clump of trees in the Hokutan district, third district in the north. You can make your way back to the Serietei from there. The Shinihana know nothing of this."
She coughed again, hand flying up suddenly to her face. Byakuya frowned. She'd been doing that a lot...She walked back along the room, towards the other door, the one they had only just come through, and turned, looking each man in the face.
"Your devotion to Fukutaichou-sama is admirable, and I swear to you that I will not harm him, and will do everything in my power to get him back to you soon," she declared, solemnly, snd then, more gently, she said, "I'll let you say your goodbyes in peace."
And with that, she turned on her heel and left the room, her footsteps echoing as she walked down the corridor.
Byakuya stood, ignoring his protesting muscles. His men followed suit. Each of them toured his shoulder, and wished him the best of luck. He bid them the same. They were just about to start down the tunnel, when Makki ran back. He clasped the noble's hand, and whispered, "I don't like this, Kuchiki-Fukutaichou. Should one of us not stay? It doesn't take four to report to Soutaichou!"
Byakuya paused, surprised. He hadn't expected this...
"For your own safety, I would advise returning," he said quietly, "It is bad enough that I have to stay, surrounded by eyes as we are. I do not need to worry about anyone else's safety as well. Please return to the Sereitei. It is safer there."
Makki looked as if he were about to protest, but caught himself before he could say anything. Instead, he nodded, and pressed a small device into Byakuya' s palm.
"That's a prototype from the Twelfth squad," he whispered, "if you press the button at the top, it will broadcast your location to Kurotsuchi-taichou, and emit a distress signal. If you're in trouble, sir, at least we'll know where to find you."
Byakuya thanked him, concealing the brief flash of irritation he felt behind grateful words. Honestly, he was Fukutaichou, not an unseated new recruit! He knew how to look after himself... He knew Makki had his best interests at heart, but even so, it was a little dint in his pride nonetheless.
The men left without looking back.