Confrontation III

The small squad car raced down the wide road. The night-time commuters crawled through the streets while Unohana thundered past them. She switched on the siren to give them an excuse for such an illegal speed. They continued down the road which would eventually lead them to the cage.

Isane passed the time detailing her encounter with Ryo and the information she acquired in her interrogation. Unohana took it in silently and dashed to the finish. The car skidded to a halt outside the large prison and the three guards standing outside leapt out of the way of the rampant vehicle.

Isane and Unohana jumped out and displayed their badges, revealing their authority. The guards hesitantly let them through and once inside, the two women knew they had gone behind enemy lines. They could trust no-one now. Everyone was their enemy, but also a source of information...And that could be exploited...

Isane stroked the hidden holster concealed under her coat. She wore it over her blood-stained and tattered shirt which would look far too suspicious if left in plain sight. Unohana had lent her both coat and pistol before they left. She was glad she was now able to protect herself.

Unohana led the way and pushed the door open calmly. She scanned the area and frowned. "There are no staff in here..."

Isane strolled around a desk and screamed.

"Isane, what's wrong?"

Isane pointed at the desk. "Under there..." Unohana moved to a better view point and noticed a hand sticking out from under a seat. She kneeled down and discovered the corpse of one of the office staff. "They must have known we were coming. They killed everyone..."

"Not everyone." A sinister voice echoed from the next room.

Both women whirled around to face a wiry framed man with round spectacles. He adjusted them with pale hands and set his gaze on his two guests. "Only the loyal were fit to survive. Those with loose tongues would have been a nuisance so we dealt with them appropriately."

"You creep! Who are you?" Isane growled one hand resting on her hip, just over her holster.

"My name is Ugaki. I am merely protecting my employers from harm."

"Employers? Are you a mercenary?"

The strange man made a noise that sounded halfway between a sneeze and a cough, though it was probably supposed to be a laugh. "I was purchased from a different prison. I was released upon arrival and given the task of serving my new employer."

"Is Kaien Shiba your 'employer'?" Unohana inquired.

"A sharp mind. As expected from such dedicated police officers. Unfortunately, your dedication is rather irritating. You have been busy haven't you? We've lost two good men to your misdeeds." Ugaki adjusted his glasses.

"So you know about that huh?" Isane challenged.

"Yoshi discovered Mabashi's body only moments ago. I was informed just before you got through the gate. Admittedly, he was a headstrong fool and it was only a matter of time, but still it is quite annoying having to replace men like that. It was a high price to release them."

"Release them? You don't mean..." Isane was cut off her partner who joined the dots herself.

"They purchased prisoners from another prison and used them as henchmen. The bastards!" Unohana clenched a fist and looked around nervously.

"Do not fear. It is only me here right now. The prisoners are safe under lock and key and most of the guards are elsewhere. Sawatari is currently busy with a 'friend'." Ugaki sniggered at that remark.

A vague scream drifted in from down the hall.

Isane's eyes narrowed and she pulled out her gun. "Where is this Sawatari?"

"A gun won't faze me." Ugaki chuckled.

Unohana took out her own gun and fired. The bullet hit him in the shoulder yet the odd man continued to laugh. Unohana cocked her head and fired again. Still, Ugaki was unfazed. Unohana glanced over at her partner.

"I'll take him down. You go and rescue the guards." Isane nodded and checked her clip was full. She waited while Unohana charged at the man who suddenly produced a flick knife. Isane shot him in the wrist and he hesitated long enough for Unohana to tackle him. He bashed his head on the corner of a table and almost knocked himself out.

Isane jumped over him and ran up the corridor following the screams of the unfortunate guard. She found the right room and kicked the door down.

An old man glared at her from his mechanised throne. His wrinkled face quivered as he made a snarling sound. "Damn that Ugaki! I told him to stop you. That fool was never suited for this."

Isane ignored the old man and looked to the floor where a white haired guard was convulsing on the ground. Isane looked back up at the old man who was holding a stun gun. The old man's wrinkled face creased into a smile. "Have you come to stop me? Or to torture some lies out of me?"

The man's words threw Isane off-guard. He had shaken her confidence and gained the upper hand. He gave a deep raspy chuckle and then fired the taser again. This time he shot Isane. The initial shock threw her into the wall and she slumped down and her body rattled spasmodically as a powerful electric shock coursed through her.

She cried out in agony as her heartbeat suddenly went way too fast. Her wild convulsion caused her wounds to reopen and made her panic. She suddenly went numb. She knew well enough that that was a bad sign. She reached out for the gun she had dropped, but the old man's mechanised wheelchair drove over her fingers and then stopped upon them. Isane screamed and tried to push the chair off, but she was too weak from the shock.

Just when she was about to attack the old man she was shot again, but this time her heart skipped several beats before stopping completely. Isane gasped and her head dropped to the floor. She tried to call out for help but she blacked out, losing herself in the terrifying abyss of unconsciousness.


Unohana stepped away from Ugaki's corpse and leaned against the wall while she cradled her wounded arm. She had beaten him easily enough though she took a hit from the crazy ex-con. Thankfully, she had gotten a few answers out of him before he became too aggressive. It seemed one of the questions made him snap. That fateful questions was, 'What is Kaien planning?' Even though she got no answer for that, there was some new information that would be of use.

"One prison transport is headed to a desolate little town out in the desert. Another is heading to another prison. Surely one is doing a transfer...Though what is the other one doing? Is that where Kaien is escaping to? Isane said that one bus was only with him apparently..." Unohana mused to herself.

The continuing screams made her uneasy and she followed the source of the sound to the room where Sawatari was waiting.

The old man looked up with a smile and pointed a stun gun at her. Before his withered fingers could pull the trigger Unohana shot him in the chest. He shuddered and dropped the weapon.

"Before you slip away I want you to tell me something. What is Kaien planning?"

The old man chuckled. "I'll never tell you anything, you witch!" He reached into his pocket with a shaking hand and pulled out a syringe filled with blue liquid.

"Wait!" Unohana reached for the man but he had already injected the unknown serum into his arm. In a matter of seconds his head rolled forward and he fell off of his chair. Unohana gasped and took in her surroundings. A familiar guard was hiding in the corner, leaning over another familiar face.

"Isane! What happened to her?"

Ukitake looked up, revealing black eyes and scars on his face. His skin was even paler than usual and he looked awful. "She had a heart-attack. I can resuscitate her but its best if she rests for a while."

"That's fine. We have a long drive until we reach our destination." Unohana pinched the bridge of her nose. "I have no idea what is truly going on, but I know there are two prison transports, each one headed to a different city, but our friends are in one and Kaien is in the other..."

"So you're going after Kaien?" Ukitake asked while pressing down on Isane's chest. He listened while he performed CPR.

"We're going to one of the destinations. I only know where they are but I don't know who is where. We'll figure out a plan when we get there depending on who we find." Unohana explained and then waited while Urahara continued his CPR. After five minutes Isane was breathing uncomfortably, but breathing nonetheless.

Ukitake helped her up and led her out to the front of the prison where a spare prison bus was nestled in a cramped little shed. "So, where are we going?"

"The abandoned town. I have a hunch that Kaien would be hiding out there in the middle of nowhere. He may be protected by armed guards so it would be best to arm ourselves as well. Is there an armoury inside?"

Ukitake nodded. "I'll go pack some bags. Just set Isane down and keep her company."

Unohana and Isane took the front seats on the bus. Isane sank into the seat and her head rested against the window. "Where are we going?" She asked lazily.

Unohana chuckled. "We're going on a road trip."


Rukia huddled with her friends, staring out the window at the setting sun. Soon night would fall and then all hell would break loose. Guards were regularly patrolling, acting non-chalant.

"Don't worry. You did the right thing. Ulquiorra is a threat to us and still had to be stopped." Shunsui tried to reassure her.

"Will we be released if they catch him?" Kiyone asked. Everyone frowned at her and she nodded. "Oh...Right..."

Rukia gazed down at her feet. "Why do I feel so awful about this?"

"Guilt." Kariya's intrusive voice called out. Once again he appeared seemingly out of nowhere to give his two cents worth. "You feel guilty for betraying Ulquiorra despite having no attachment to him whatsoever. Funny isn't it? We humans are so complex..."

"What do you want with us now?" Ichigo growled.

Kariya scoffed and turned away from Ichigo and began walking towards Rukia with a sinister smile. "I have come to seek help from Miss Kuchiki. The operation has been planned thoroughly but it will only succeed if we have your cooperation."

Rukia said nothing, but her curious gaze was deemed enough to go on.

"We need her to act as bait to lure out the beast." Kariya chuckled. He shot a fierce glare at the young girl and grinned. "I trust there are no objections?"

Rukia glanced over her shoulder at her assembled friends but it did little to help her come to a decision. She searched deep within herself for the answer but that also yielded nothing. As a last resort she looked to Ichigo for guidance. His gaze bore into her and wordlessly he gave his view on the subject. He gave a slight nod and Rukia gave a weak smile in return. She looked back to the intrusive guard and bowed her head.

"I accept." She muttered timidly.

Kariya clapped his hands. "Wonderful! I shall brief you on your task...In private!" He added with a snarl. The others took the hint and fled the room leaving Rukia alone with the madman...Or at least one of the many which roamed this desolate little town.

"What must I do?" Rukia asked, trying so hard to appear calm and reserved. She folded her arms to try and hide their uncontrollable shaking.

Kariya took no notice and answered her question. "You shall do as asked from him. At nightfall you will go unescorted to the meeting place. We shall have guards posted all over the town to be on strong alert for that pale demon."

"But how will you know when I find him?" Rukia queried.

"Ah, you will be wearing a locator and a microphone, that way we will know everything that goes on between you and Ulquiorra. If you can, ask him what his plans were. Taped evidence is better than my word."

"I doubt you need evidence for what you're going to do..." Rukia growled under her breath. Kariya shot her a glare but pretended to not take notice.

"Once we find him it will be the end of this sorry mess. Those of you that were not killed will be set free and you shall never have to deal with us again."

Rukia scowled. "I was promised that a year ago but you came and framed me again."

Kariya played dumb but Rukia wasn't going to be fooled again.

"You planted bodies in my yard and then used it as evidence against me to warrant an unlawful arrest. I don't know what it is about me that you like so much, but you've been constantly after me from the very beginning."

"Clever." Kariya mock clapped. "No wonder Kaien is so keen on you."

Rukia's eyes narrowed at the mention of his name. There were only fragments of memories attached to that name, yet a foreboding feeling went hand in hand with it also. Something terrible happened involving that man...But what?

"Who is Kaien Shiba?" Rukia asked bluntly.

Kariya stared at her wordlessly, unsure what to say.

"Who is Kaien Shiba?" Rukia repeated. "And what happened between us?"

Kaien closed his eyes and sighed deeply. His whole body lurched forward as he did so as if he was dropping a heavy burden from his shoulders in revealing the secret. He glanced sideways at Rukia and his menacing grin returned. "I never would have thought you'd have forgotten something so important. Things like that don't disappear from memory so easily."

"Tell me!" Rukia cried, tears streaming from her eyes. She was desperate to know why her mind was plagued with the same visions of her cradling his body, a blade embedded in his stomach, his warm blood streaming down her hands, only to be washed away in the driving rain. The memory haunted her, yet she couldn't remember what happened. It was torturing her and she had to find out.

Kariya chuckled and grinned like the devil himself. "Alright. I guess you have a right to know." He gave another agonising pause before ending her misery. "Kaien Shiba...Is your husband."

The shocking truth about Kaien Shiba is about to be revealed! And soon Ulquiorra will be faced with an enemy that even he may have trouble to defeat. Also, our courageous police women are on their way to No Man's Land! So much is happening, you cannot miss the next chapter!

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