Authors' Note: Alright guys…I am SO sorry for the slow update, but I have only a week left of school before the summer and I have been doing presentations and papers out of my ass, so I have been unable to do anything else.

Also this chapter may have some surprises…but it is slow, so don't complain about it and whatnot. I don't have time to fix anything or make it more interesting for you. Not all stories are interesting 100 of the time.

So anyway…please read and review!!


White Phoenix

Chapter 8

"Alright, alright…settle down please."

The commotion in the meeting room simmered down to a mere whisper, each captain eyeing one another as if they committed a horrible crime. Some still rubbed sleep out of their eyes; the bulging red veins were a dead give-away of staying up late the night before.

Yamamoto sat at the head, his fingers laced together in a thoughtful manner. The current state of his energy was unknown.

"I suppose you all know why you are here?" He asked with an inquisitive tone in his voice.

None answered.

He brushed his hand over his beard. "I see. Mayuri-sama, would you care to explain?" Yamamoto opened his hand towards the empty floor, allowing the strange captain to take the stage.

Mayuri stood up and took center floor, a grin on his face. There was something hidden behind his malignant stare, but some did not care, and others grumbled incoherent complaints under their breath. He was too cheerful this morning.

"It is apparent that you received the order to meet this morning, and I do apologize for the late notice…"

The hateful glares began to multiply around the room; many captains did not know until close to midnight while doing paperwork.

"But this meeting was essential as me and my research team has found some interesting news I think would interest everyone sitting in this room."

Hate turned to curiosity, and many sat more erect. Mayuri's toothy grin widened.

"Around four o'clock yesterday afternoon, I received a stack of papers concerning the living world, and the comings and goings of our Shinigami. As I read, I noticed that there were some 

strange appearances and pulses of reiatsu from some of our subordinates…that are not supposed to be in the living world at the present time."

Whispers and hushed exclamations of alarm crashed like a wave over the captains, the voices a resounding hum in one's ear. Yamamoto clapped his hands once to silence them, and in moments all was silent again. A muffled shuffle of clothes could be heard.

"There is no need to ruffle feathers now Mayuri," Yamamoto warned, his squinted beady eyes staring the captain down as if challenging him. Mayuri put his hands up in defense.

"I'm only explaining what I discovered, Yamamoto-soutaichou. It was not a means to cause panic." Although what he said was true, the twisted captain loved watching them squirm with anticipation.

Yamamoto waved a hand. "I understand. Anyway, please continue."

Mayuri bowed. "Thank you. Of course as you know, I studied the reiatsu patterns discovered on the radar, and…" He trailed off, thinking, and then said, "I found four whose reiatsu should not have been there."

"And could you tell us these four?" It was Byakuya; he seemed on edge.

"Of course Byakuya-sama." Mayuri replied with a sickeningly sweet voice. Byakuya shuddered inside. "The four were—"He looked at his paper. "—Abarai Renji, Kuchiki Rukia—"

Hitsugaya, who had not been at full attention, heard the names of his comrades escape Kurotsuchi's lips. He suddenly bore all of his attention down on him; Mayuri sensed this and turned to face the white haired captain, and the elder Kuchiki sitting beside him.

Byakuya's expression was unreadable, but Hitsugaya could feel his reiatsu rise in the compact room. Hitsugaya guessed Byakuya was troubled over Renji and Rukia seeing as he had an association with them.

"May I be excused, Yamamoto-soutaichou? I have urgent business to attend to." Hitsugaya's eyes glazed over as he turned to look at the head-captain.

Yamamoto nodded numbly. "Of course."

Without looking back at the scene, he stood swiftly and pushed his way out of the room towards his office; he hoped Rukia was already there sorting files into the drawers. He was in no mood to catch her running up and down Sereitei.

The remaining captains watched with interest as the short man shuffled out of the room with great speed, and then turned their attention back to Mayuri as he cleared his throat. It seemed he enjoyed the attention.

"The names are…Abarai Renji, Kuchiki Rukia, Hinamori Momo, and…" He stopped and read the last name several times before it struck him, and his face contorted in utter bewilderment. The room held its breath as he pulled the paper close to his face, then drew back. The cynical smile vanished from his face.

"…and…Matsumoto Rangiku."


Rukia sorted report after report, her fingers aching from the amount of paper she had already slipped into the manila folders over the short amount of time. The morning routine took a toll on her; she had to be up earlier to ensure her captain would not find her absent. The sun was just rising in the window.

She found it odd, this sudden captains' meeting. It was not like Yamamoto to call them together at such short notice, let alone organize it so early in the morning. Rukia guessed that Hitsugaya-taichou was just as tired as she was, and he must be quite grouchy. She prepared herself for his arrival and his usual grunt-responses.

"RUKIA!"

It was far from a grunt.

Rukia turned her head towards the office door, and it was still shut.

"Rukia, you better be in there!"

She shuddered, but timidly answered, "I'm here taichou."

He burst through the door, his face reddened with anger and humiliation. Rukia could barely stand up before he strode over to her and glowered at her menacingly. She fought to stay calm; the fire in his eyes was scarier than Aizen himself.

"What the hell are you doing!?" He exploded, his knuckles whitening.

"Huh?"

"Don't play dumb with me!"

Rukia hunched her shoulders and put her hands in front of her for defense. "I'm not playing dumb taichou! What are you talking about?"

"You disobeyed orders!" Hitsugaya stated hotly.

"I'm doing as you asked! I even got up early to do my train—"

"I'm not talking about that you idiot! I'm talking about disobeying Yamamoto's orders!"

Rukia's eyes darkened in confusion as she stared at her red-faced captain, who looked just like a cherry with whipped cream on top. As she stood and thought, the frustration rose within Hitsugaya. He was fighting to stay level, but the captain's side of him took over.

"He directly ordered all subordinates, no matter their rank, to stay in Sereitei unless given direct permission to enter the real world! You deliberately disobeyed orders and went to Karakura town, didn't you!? After you were told not to!"

"But taichou I didn't—"

"Does Urahara know about this?! I think one of us needs to take a visit and see what he knows. And Kurosaki too!" Hitsugaya's blood pressure rose as he thought of Rukia meeting up with the orange-haired brat.

"Hitsugaya-taichou!" Rukia cried out, her heart pounding in her head.

"And you!" He exclaimed pointing a finger in her face, "You will be confined to this office each and every day! You will go home to Byakuya-taichou at night, wake up, do your training, and then come here. No more running errands outside of this room!"

"But if you would just let me—"

"No. There will be no training for bankai today, and maybe not any day."

Rukia's eyes began to burn with tears as she stared at Hitsugaya. How could he accuse her of something she never did, and refuse her explanation? Without saying another word to him, she walked over and sat on the couch, quietly holding her arms in her hands.

Hitsugaya took in a deep breath to calm himself, knowing that holding all of this anger would give him a headache. Resigned, he shuffled over to his desk and slumped into his cushioned chair. It had been a long day already.

"I didn't do it."

Hitsugaya looked up from rubbing his temples. "Excuse me?"

She turned and looked at him coldly. "I said I didn't do it."


"Matsumoto Rangiku?" Yamamoto's head rose in curiosity, his nearly closed eyes squinting all the more.

Kurotsuchi looked over the paper several times. From the shock writhing on his features, each person knew that the demented captain never took into account before the meeting that the 

strawberry blonde was no longer present. He dropped the paper at his side and looked to the head-captain.

"Luck happened upon you Kurotsuchi," Ukitake finally graced the room with his voice, "If Hitsugaya-taichou had been in here—"

"Let us not think about that," Yamamoto cut off the sickly captain before he could finish the sentence. Ukitake nodded in approval and bowed his head. "For now, I need to adjourn this meeting and allow Mayuri some time to dig into this."

"Of course, soutaichou. And I shall keep this confidential, yes?"

"Yes. Hitsugaya must not find out about what you have found. If he does…well, I'm not sure what would happen. But all who are present here today must promise to keep this amongst themselves."

"What about Abarai and Rukia?" Byakuya's perturbed glare scanned the room until it rested on the head-captain. "Do I have a right to speak to them regarding this matter?"

"About Rangiku?"

Byakuya shook his head. "No, regarding their escapades to the living world."

"Ah. Well, it is best you leave Rukia to Hitsugaya, since she is under him now. Abarai you have full permission to do whatever you need to do." Byakuya nodded and slightly squirmed with unease; he was ready to jump on the red-head, and inside wondered what the short-tempered captain would do to Rukia.


"I said I don't want to discuss it," He said dully, flipping through papers.

"That is not fair taichou. What if I told you that I have never left Sereitei and that you of all people should know that!" Rukia half-screamed; her frustration was seeping unwillingly out of her. Hitsugaya looked up, this time curiosity lacing his furrowed brow.

"How would I know your comings and goings? Is it truly my fault that you disobeyed direct orders?"

"That's the thing! I didn't disobey any orders, because I never stepped foot in the real world. I haven't had any time!"

"You are not stupid. You could figure out a way."

"Why would I want to? I have no reason." She took half-compliment from his words.

Kurosaki… "What about going to see your friends?" Hitsugaya asked, beating around Kurosaki's name.

Rukia looked bewildered. "Oh, well when I talked to Ichigo the other day after his training with Renji…"

Hitsugaya zoned out and the wheels in his head began to turn, the room falling away and an infinite darkness taking over him as he thought. That's right…Kurosaki is here in Sereitei with Renji and Urahara…which means that she wouldn't have gone to see him…and...and Urahara was not present in the real world either! This could make for someone slipping out…or something

"Taichou? Hello! Are you there?" She waved a hand in front of his face. When he came back to reality Rukia was hanging over his desk, a concerned glaze in her eyes. Hitsugaya pulled back slightly to focus on her violet orbs.

"Hunh? Oh yeah...I'm here." There was a sullen hint to his voice.

Rukia tilted her head. "Something wrong?"

"I'm sorry, what all did you say before?" His head was still buzzing; there was no way he could accuse Rukia of something as big as this…at least as big as he thinks it is. He hoped he could use her reasoning to forgive her.

She sighed. "I was saying that I talked to Ichigo, and he said that everyone is extremely busy with school and other matters. If you remember several of them are taking their entrance exams into college. Ichigo is taking over the family business so that's why he can afford to be here. There is no reason for me to be there. I promise—"

"I believe you Rukia."

She stopped, stunned and stared at his face; there was an indescribable expression that confused the raven-haired girl beyond belief. One moment he was fuming, the next, almost depressed.

"O-okay…"

"You really have no reason to be there, so I cannot sit here and accuse you of something you may not have done…what I don't understand is how you popped up on radar."

"That would be something to ask Kurotsuchi-taichou. Maybe he's coming up with some interesting information as we speak. I highly doubt the meeting has lasted this long."

Hitsugaya still seemed distracted but nodded.


Renji inhaled deeply as he hoisted his sword to come even with his eyes; the tip was pointing directly at the orange-haired teen that stood in his bankai form, sword also poised straight ahead. Ichigo's penetrating eyes were scrunched in concentration.

"I'm guessing you aren't done yet, eh, Abarai?" Ichigo breathed out heavily.

Renji shook his head. "Damn right! If you're still standing, I'm not done."

"Good, good." Urahara clapped lightly, his sandals clacking on the dusty rocks. "You have not defeated your opponent if he is still standing."

Ichigo laughed heartily. "Just 'cause they are on the ground doesn't mean they're done either. I've learned that the hard way." He held his chest lightly as he remembered Ulquiorra and the deadly hole the bastard left in his chest.

"Right," Renji said, blinking. "So when you fall down I'll keep hitting you until I think you're dead."

"You're funny." Ichigo stated dully as he positioned his shoulders.

"And you're about to be defeated." Renji replied haughtily as he slashed his sword at a forty-five degree angle in front of him. Ichigo smirked.

"Let's go then!"

Ichigo shifted his feet to gain balance before he pushed off towards his red-headed opponent, leaving an intense wave of dust in his wake. Urahara coughed lightly as the flying dirt covered him completely.

"Fine by me, brat!" Renji obliged as he lifted his sword above his head and touched the hilt. "Howl, Zabimaru!" As his hand delicately slipped down the blade, the jagged edges of Zabimaru began to appear.

Ichigo laughed as he touched his face and raked his fingers across, a hollow mask appearing in pieces. Yellow eyes replaced his golden brown ones; they were glowing with a dark desire that Ichigo had not yet fully mastered. Against his will he raised his sword, a devious cackle rising in his throat. He took a menacing step towards Renji.

Renji pulled himself to a stop. He was in mid-step, Zabimaru poised to attack, when Ichigo's face suddenly transformed. The reiatsu in the underground rose considerably, and even Urahara raised a fan against his face.

"Ichigo…you—"

"That's right Abarai. Come and defeat me now." His sinister laugh resounded amongst the sand and rocks. Renji stood stock still.

"Urahara! You know I couldn't defeat him in this form!" Renji pointed an accusing sword-tip at the blonde-haired man who stood quite a distance away. "Did you tell him to do this!?"

Urahara continued to wave his fan lightly. "I didn't tell him to do anything." Renji only growled at the response.

"What are you waiting for, Renji? Come and defeat me like you promised! Don't hold back now!"

"I…"

Suddenly a powerful wind burst through the open arena, all three men holding their hands in front of their faces to deflect the flying rocks. Renji could feel anger and disappointment flooding throughout the room, and suddenly he knew who it was. His knees felt weak.

"Ah, Byakuya-sama!" Urahara sang sweetly as he lowered his arms.

Byakuya passed by them both and headed straight for Renji, his body as stiff as a board. Renji could only swallow hard as his captain neared him, the reiatsu stronger than ever. He fought to stay standing.

"You will come with me, now!" Byakuya ordered as he grabbed Renji by the hair and drug him away.

"Yes—ouch!—I can follow you—ouch!—let go of my hair taichou!—ouch!—I can follow without you pulling me!"

Byakuya stopped and let go of him. Renji rubbed his head.

"What the hell were you thinking Abarai!?" Byakuya exploded, his normally calm personality vanished.

"What are you talking about taichou? I was just here practicing—"

"And making secret trips to the real world in between?! I would not have expected this of you."

"The real world…what?" Renji looked around to see Ichigo and Urahara exchange a perplexed glance.

Byakuya's nostrils flared. "Don't insult me Abarai, or so help me…"

"Umm…if I may make a statement…" It was Urahara; he lowered his fan, and his face was serious.

"And what would that be, Kisuke? Trying to protect him?"

"Yes, because we have proof he never entered the living world."

"Well, until you can prove it to me on paper then I will not hear any more of it! According to Kurotsuchi he was in the living world, and the radar photos prove it. If Abarai can show me visual proof he was never there, then I will believe him. Until then, he is forbidden to obtain captain's rank."

Without hearing another word from any of the three, Byakuya stormed away and left the underground room silently. Renji could only stare after him in shock.

"Renji…?" Ichigo's hollow form dissipated moments after Byakuya arrived; his mental state was clear enough to understand the situation. "Renji, are you alright?"

"I can't obtain captain's rank now…" His voice dropped an octave and the fire in his eyes vanished. Renji looked empty.

Urahara clasped a hand on his shoulder. "We're going to straighten this out Abarai. There is no sense in you losing this privilege when we know you are innocent."

"Tell that to Byakuya-taichou."

"We will," Ichigo butted in, "After we get more information."

"Yes… getting more information…"

Urahara flipped out his fan and grinned, Ichigo and Renji passing each other a worried stare. What was he up to…?

Renji pulled his head back. "What are you thinking Urahara?"

"Nothing you need to know right now freeloader. I think you need to head back to Byakuya-sama for now. He may swipe your head off otherwise."

"I'm not a freeloader!"

"Until you can prove it on paper, then I don't want to hear another word about it!" Urahara imitated the serious Kuchiki with an almost creepy likeness. Renji scoffed and crossed his arms.

"Fine, if I have to." Renji sheathed his sword and stormed off, making his way out of the underground.

Ichigo looked over at Urahara; the glaze in his eyes was distant and thoughtful. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking…" Urahara said lightly, "That I can find ways to get this information without going directly to Kurotsuchi."


Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed it a little bit! I'm really trying my best to make it suspenseful…but I don't really think I'm doing a good job. Heh…I apologize if you don't like it, but don't give me flame shit. It doesn't do anything.

Please review!! It would make me oh so happy! And again I can hold the next chapter until I feel I get enough reviews to move on. I want to know that people enjoy it! If you're going to take time to press the little button…type a few words of encouragement. Plleeease?

Next chapter up…whenever I feel like posting it! Join the HitsuRuki army!

Evilmoose