Sorry for the long wait! Here's the next chapter please review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Noble In Danger
After putting the girl in the room for Aizen, Starrk quietly left the building, his wolves quickly disappearing. His mind was idly thinking of the girl as he remembered her mostly clear gaze, slightly unfocused as she attempted to keep herself standing. A small part of him regretted having to take her to Aizen, such a waste…no. Shaking his head, he stepped into the darkening streets, his gray eyes showing a trace of regret and anger before disappearing behind their mask once more.
Making his way through the twisting alleyways, Kyouraku brooded, a dark cloud surrounding him, scaring all nearby inhabitants. His eyes remained flat and lightless as his mind began to whir with plans and ideas while his feet soon carried him to a plain door with a sign so worn, the words were unintelligible except for a chipped letter C.
Looking up with darkened eyes, he pushed the door open to reveal a dimly lit room with rickety chairs and tables scattered about the room. Sitting down on a torn seat he stared at the grain of the wooden bar, tracing the patterns over and over again. A glass of clear, amber liquid coasted to a gentle stop an inch away from his elbow.
His stare turned to the glass, uncomprehending for a moment before he took the glass in his hand and took a gulp of the amber liquid. Grimacing, Kyouraku looked up to meet the eyes of a man that sat two chairs away. Kyouraku's eyes lit up with recognition while the eyes of the man stared on with mild interest,
"Hello Starrk, still no taste in alcohol I see." Kyouraku said, a weak smile plastered across his face as he turned to the man. Starrk examined Kyouraku for a moment before finishing the last sip from the glass before him,
"What's wrong?" Starrk asked as his glass was set down, the ice cubes clinking in the now empty glass. The fake smile slowly faded from Kyouraku's face as he stared moodily into the half full glass of amber liquor.
His story began slowly and picked up speed as his face turned stoic and unmoving,
"Someone very precious has been taken from me, though I have no ideas to where I can find her and if I cannot find her soon, she will face two very unsavory choices. What makes it worse is that I could've prevented it yet I was unable to." Shaking his head and grimacing, Kyouraku finished the last of the alcohol in his glass. Starrk's eyes softened as he heard Kyouraku's problem, he knew loneliness well and suffered from it quite often,
"Tell me what she looks like, I've got a few friends in the underworld that may be able to help." Starrk offered as he called the bartender over to order another round of drinks.
Eyes suddenly sparking, a glimpse of Kyouraku's normal self appeared as he began his description that was filled with poetical nonsense which Starrk ultimately ignored. Soon he was processing the useful information hidden beneath all the frills that Kyouraku had spouted and his eyes widened the slightest bit as he pieced everything together.
Heaving a small sigh, Starrk turned to face Kyouraku to speak, "I think I know where this friend of yours is." Kyouraku's eyes turned sharply towards him as he spoke and grasped Starrk by the shoulders,
"Where is she?" His voice went dark as his grip tightened. Shrugging off the tight grip as if it were nothing but the brush of a feather, Starrk reached over to grab a napkin and quickly scrawled an address on the paper with a pen he pulled from his jacket. Wordlessly, he handed it to Kyouraku who muttered a few words of gratitude before rushing out,
"Thank you." Raising his glass to him, Starrk quickly threw it back as he mentally thought,
"Good luck my friend. I hope you find her." On his face was a rare smile as he walked out of the bar.
Giving a quick glance at the stubborn girl walking beside him, arms crossed, Gin shook his head, still as stubborn as ever. Catching the movement from the corner of her eye, Rangiku frowned as she glared at him mulishly. A flicker of movement drew Rangiku's eye as Gin's eyes flashed open for a moment as they neared the doorway.
Turning to Rangiku, Gin's eyes questioned her silently,
"Do you really want to do this?" Rangiku said nothing, only stepping forward to push open the door revealing a candle lit room where Yoruichi and Urahara stood quietly talking.
Following Rangiku into the room, Gin tilted his head as he leaned forward to rest his hands on the worn, wooden table, as his voice quietly stated his request,
"Please, give us the address to Aizen's headquarters. It is of the utmost importance that you hurry." Raising an eyebrow, Yoruichi leaned back, her golden eyes trained on the man as she carefully phrased her answer,
"What makes you think we have the address of this man?" Smirking, Gin slowly rose from his tensed position,
"You two know everything that happens in this city. You know." He said simply as he forced himself to relax while he stared at the pair. Breaking the silence with a whisper, Rangiku looked up, her eyes pleading,
"Please help us, we need this address to find someone." Suddenly, Urahara stepped forward, his eyes hidden by his hat as he set a small piece of white paper on the table between them,
"Here's the address. I wish you the best of luck."
After the two had left, Yoruichi slumped down in a chair, hand at her forehead as she lifted her head and stared at Urahara with narrowed eyes,
"What are you planning Kisuke? You know just as well as I do that they don't stand a chance against Aizen." Leaning back in his chair with his hat tipped over his eyes, Urahara looked at the door with an appraising look,
"We'll just wait and see, they just might do it."
Glaring hatefully at the man who had just entered the room, the few tears that Nanao had allowed to trickle down her cheeks had already mixed with the blood from the gash on her cheek. Clucking his tongue, Aizen mockingly shook his head as he hit her once more, as the beginnings a bruise appeared on her face while the left side of her face began to swell,
"Do not look at me in such a disrespectful manner." Aizen stated coldly while he turned around, an unseen smirk on his face while he spoke,
"Besides, soon you won't be my problem, I have come across an offer for you. Hope you don't get seasick easily, because you'll be stuck on a boat in an hour and in a week you'll be turned to property." Staring at the man's retreating back, Nanao's eyes flared for a moment as her mouth quickly flung out words that she would later regret,
"I hope you rot away in hell you egotistical, vile man!" Nanao spat out, at Aizen's now still back. Slowly turning around, a smirk grew on his face as Aizen loomed over Nanao,
"You will come to regret that, girl."