Again, thanks so much to bundamba for being an awesome and quick beta! Ilu! Thus, every mistakes you can spot are my fault and mine alone.
Also, thanks to everyone who added the story to their alerts/faves! Means a lot to me! *cough* would love some comments too, though *cough*
Umm, anyway! I hope you enjoy! For once, the action starts to move forward, ahaha. ^^;;
Chapter 3
Ichigo stuffs his hands into his pockets. It is becoming cold in Soul Society – Fall this year is not beautiful at all. In fact, it's as far from beautiful as it could be; the sky is gray and ugly, streets are dirty and it is hard to walk outside without getting one's feet wet. It's even harder to avoid fallen leaves sticking to the shoes. Ichigo can't remember the last time the weather in Soul Society has been this nasty, making his own mood foul. He's not sure if it's the weather doing, though, or if it is just Byakuya with his schemes; and being successful at those too, at least for now.
Ichigo scowls and continues walking. The man has been on his mind for the last few days, refusing to leave him alone. This is not exactly something he's used to, especially after so many years of separating himself from Soul Society. He shouldn't care so much, really. He isn't fifteen anymore, he should know better than getting himself into yet another mess that has absolutely nothing to do with him.
Except it has now– since Byakuya offered his payment.
That's why he agreed.
Yes?
His scowl deepens when he hears the water splash under his feet and he realizes he just stomped into particularly deep puddle, getting his legs unpleasantly wet and soon-to-be cold probably too.
Gods, he really is starting to hate this place.
*
Byakuya lights a joss stick in the temple, brings his palms together and with his head bowed, he whispers a prayer. Once he's done, he walks out and directs his steps to another temple, this time a Christian one. There already should be a servant with a golden cup, waiting for Byakuya to arrive and to pay a tribute to God.
Byakuya's not a believer.
He's simply practical.
He has already paid a proper tribute to ancient Greek gods earlier that day and tomorrow he's planning to visit temples of Norman ones and pray for protection of the family he leads. Not that he thinks it's going to be really helpful, but then again, who knows? If by doing so he may protect the members of his clan, then by all means he is going to visit each single temple in Soul Society.
If he doesn't, he can just make things worse – gods, after all, are very petulant and don't like to be passed over, now do they?
Byakuya is a pragmatist and a strategist, all he does has a rational foundation. He knows that it is better to be safe than sorry. This is how he was taught, both by his grandfather and by his own experience.
And if there aren't any gods – well, he will lose nothing anyway. Maybe just a bit of time, but that isn't something he's bothered by.
He sighs quietly, walking down the road partly covered in mud. The weather has been bad for the last days, but it strangely seems to affect the ones responsible for disappearances. There haven't been any since Yuuki vanished.
Why, though?
Byakuya doesn't believe it has stopped completely. He is not sure about the cause of this brief pause – could it be that they found whatever they were looking for? Or they started searching somewhere else and not in noble children? Or are they preparing? If so, then what for?
His brows furrow together as he walks down the road deep in thoughts. It is of no use just guessing while he has no proof, no clues, no – nothing.
*
"Permission, my child?"
Renji shifts uncomfortably under the piercing gaze of an elder woman. He doesn't feel as confident as he did a few minutes ago. "…Yeah."
"Are you so eager to pursue knowledge?" A mocking smile appears on her face and her eyes glitter with amusement. She is clearly enjoying herself and Renji hates her with passion.
"Uh, ya could say so."
The woman barks out a raspy cackle, making Renji flinch, his eyes widening with surprise. It's not exactly a reaction he expected of an elder woman of the Kuchiki clan, much less Byakuya's grand-mother. "No problem, kid. You did good coming to me with that." Her smile is wide, showing off her ugly teeth. The woman isn't all that beautiful in general – in fact, Renji suspects that even when young, she must have been quite hideous. It is surprising, considering how handsome Byakuya is and Renji can't help a wry thought that the other man was lucky to receive the better genes.
"But careful with that, kid. Politics is a dirty whore and she won't let you do her for free." She narrows her eyes, the smile long gone. Renji is not sure if that's an advice or a warning, so he just nods noncommittally, confused. He really doesn't feel secure around the woman and he once again is glad Byakuya inherited little of her features.
He couldn't be possibly more wrong, though.
*
When Renji was still in the Sixth Division, he used to think, not without a bit of mockery and bitterness, that their Squad more often than not reminded him of a monarchy, with Byakuya as the absolute monarch, as far away from the image of patriarchal ruler as it was possible. Of course, it only occurred to him years after being Byakuya's lieutenant, when he was wiser and knew more things he once used to snarl at.
Even more years later, though, he noticed that such an attitude Byakuya had developed towards his clan and for some reason, the way Byakuya treated his subordinates didn't seem nearly as frustrating anymore to him. That was when Renji not only became wiser, but when he too understood more and saw wider.
That was also when Zabimaru grew two more snakes on his tail. Two polar opposites; the first one calm and observing, calculating and hunting; the other one hissing in Renji's head every time someone wronged the man, whispering venomous curses, angrily crawling in the air as if trying to free itself from the restraints of Renji's soul.
"Let me sink my fangs in his throat," it had spoken for the first time, when Renji had been lying on the ground, dirty and bloody, Byakuya's back becoming smaller as the other man had left him to die. "Let me make him suffer. Bite him. Poison him."
It was only much later, in Hueco Mundo when Renji once again lay defeated, Byakuya's and Zaraki's reiatsu clashing together as they fought Yammy, when Renji heard it again.
"Stand up," it told him, all furious hisses and dangerous writhing in the air. "Let me fight whoever hurt you." He could feel unruly, red spiritual pressure flowing in his veins painfully, too hard, too throbbing.
The third snake, though, appeared even later, years later, right before Renji's promotion to a captain. It was a quiet, strong presence he felt securely wrapped around him, layering other Zabimaru's auras. It calmed him with gentle strokes of its reiatsu each time he was close losing his temper, each time it was dangerous to lose his temper.
"Fool," say now both of them, snarl at him, as he lay the lit lantern on the massive table, throwing dark, deep and irregular shadows on the bookshelves of the Kuchiki library. "Foolish kid," It was rather half-hearted and Renji knows Zabimaru's simply worried just as much as he is a bit anxious about this escapade.
"It's none of your business," one of the snakes hisses in his head. "Why do you always have to stick your nose where it doesn't belong, foolish child?"
"Why d'ya never listen ta yer own advices, stupid snake?" counters Renji angrily. He's irritated enough without his zanpakuto's babbling in his head. He knows he promised Byakuya not to get caught up in this mess, but it just won't leave him alone. Especially when Rukia is so upset about it. But even that aside, Renji just can't walk by impassively – in a way, it is his business, because it's all about his soon-to-be family. No matter what this family is like.
Now when Zabimaru finally shut up, Renji turns around to eye tall, massive bookshelves, each labeled with whatever genre it contains. The library is huge even without small rooms attached to it when Renji knows are stored more of the ancient books and documents. The Kuchiki are, after all, historians, it is expected for so much paper to be here, necessary or not.
Renji sighs quietly to himself. Just where in the world should he start his research? He literally knows shit all about Kuchiki clan's library; this is his second time in the room. Besides, research is not exactly his cup of tea and he's aware of that fact. However that is the only information source he can turn to, considering how secret this mess has been made both by Gotei 13 and noble houses.
He turns around to take the lantern back and with the light source in hand, he starts walking between bookshelves, searching for the section that would somehow start off the gears in his brain. He doesn't know much about the case. Just that right after the valuable item was stolen from the Kuchiki household, the case of sudden disappearance just – happened. It's very little, but it's always something.
What item? Was it really an item or just a valid piece of information? What use could become of it?
Renji's not stupid, he knows that noble clans have always stored anything of a great value, be it historical or financial. Great value or even inexpensive: objects, books, information, facilities, in other words, everything; often illegal no less. Given the wide range of possibilities, he suspects a whole lot of sleepless nights await him.
There are light steps on a wooden floor.
Renji's body goes still, but soon he berates himself for such a stupid reaction. He has the permission from an elder to use every corner of the library to his likings. He's not doing anything wrong. He forces his body to relax and turns around o see who's come, as if offhandedly. He flinches at the sight. Byakuya…?
A pair of silvery blue eyes bore an intent stare into his skull. "What are you doing, Renji?"