Chapter Forty-six
Leave Us…
A couple of months went by everyone settled in to their routines and the fighting diminished somewhat allowing Ichigo a break from his Shinigami duties in Karakura. Following a very good lead he made his way to an abandoned warehouse. This was the first real lead they had on the Keiei in months. Renji and Uryû went with Ichigo to this warehouse. Inside Athen greeted them. A smart move on the enemy's part because Ichigo did have more of a personal relationship with Mark and Pearl but never thought they would meet the leader straight away.
"You guys don't know what you have," Athen said pacing the floor of the dark warehouse.
Frozen in place Ichigo stopped struggling and scrutinized their surroundings. The warehouse was dark with tiny opaque windows lining the top of the walls. If he didn't rush in for the attack they could have planned better.
Renji glanced at Ichigo who calmed down and was also evaluating their options. Uryû had been evaluating things all along but something else was present in his glare. Perhaps this enemy that got the better of him three years ago presented an irresistible chance to redeem himself.
At their silence Athen whispered something to one of his recruits and waited with a self-satisfied grin on his face.
To no one's surprise the girls were dragged out to greet them. Their eyes were covered and their mouths gagged. Their arms tied together with what looked like dark gold light chains.
Tatsuki couldn't see or hear a thing but she was sure the only reason she was dragged out there was to rile up the guys. She hated feeling helpless and she was sure that if the other girls were there like she believed them to be they hated it just as much. Then she heard a voice.
"Take a look at these women," Athen said as if selling a circus, "Ichigo you have the most beautiful, adorably cute woman hanging on your every mood."
Athen stepped over to Rukia and began goading Ichigo on as he touched her hair and ran his hand down her back. Ichigo struggled but was still paralyzed unable to speak or move. Rukia seemed just as tormented.
Ichigo wanted to kill him rage started to blind him. Was it possible for him to lose control in this state, he wondered. Still unable to move…but he could move just not towards where he wanted to go.
"Renji you have the sexiest, most gorgeous bombshell standing before you…this shirt just doesn't cut it," Athen reached up and pulled the shirt the buttons popped and landed to the floor.
Rage boiled over Renji was sick with it. He couldn't concentrate on anything.
"The oldest tricks in the book kidnap the girlfriend. Works better than my doctor routine wouldn't you agree-no wait you did get far under my tutelage and experience as a doctor didn't you Ichigo," Athen grinned with glee.
Uryû was steps ahead of Ichigo's thoughts trying to test the boundaries of where he could move. If they couldn't stop this display Renji would…he couldn't finish his thoughts the little movement he did make was quickly taken away. The one thing he did manage to figure out was that someone watching them must have controlled their movements.
"Oh Quincy I save the best for last bet you didn't expect this luscious beauty," Athen's happily moved toward Orihime.
This wasn't right Orihime had gone to Australia. Uryû was silently glad that he could see no tears on her face. She was being strong and he was so proud of that. He would find a way out of this he vowed.
"This woman is a goddess just look at the bouncy hair and incredible assets," Athen stood purposefully in front of Orihime his actions not visible to anyone.
They were sickened.
Athen turned to them once more, "what the hell are you all doing spying on me and mine when you have this at home?"
"Hilarious," Mark said suddenly speaking up from the corner he stood. Ichigo had a hard time seeing that Mark was on this man's side and encouraged him on with his show. Ichigo had some belief that Mark and Pearl really only wanted to find more people like themselves.
"Why don't you guys just go on home now," Athen asked the three.
They were able to move suddenly. It took little time for Renji to rush up and punch Athen knocking him down cold. It was the only shot they got as they were once again rendered frozen.
"You didn't have to do that," Mark said, "you should have just walked away."
Pearl gave Athen something to revive him and the twosome stood him to his feet.
"I gave you the chance to go home," Athen said as he spat out blood.
Pearl looked uncomfortably at the women, "You didn't need to touch them. That's not what we-
"You better silence that," Athen said looking at Mark.
Athen waited as Mark whispered something to Pearl and lead her away.
"As I was saying I let you go and you want to fight. I guess I have no choice but to make sure you'll never attack me again. Please put them away," Athen said.
Ichigo, Uryû and Renji were led away by Athen's mechanical acting recruits. Ichigo wondered if these were the Gong-Si that Pearl and Mark told them about. They were a lot different from the zombie acting enemy in the Shinigami reports from the Sereitei thus far.
000
"You become too powerful they try to eliminate you. You aren't powerful enough you can't protect anyone. The dilemma…what to do what to do," Athen pondered outside Ichigo's cell.
"What should he do boss," one of Athen's guards asked jokingly.
"Indeed option a: sweet Rukia is mine," Athen said with his arm draped over her shoulder.
"Let her go," Ichigo ordered.
"Or what…we gave you everything and in return you're still coming after us. Those three years were a great gift anyone would wish for such luxury," he said.
"Ichigo don't move," she called out.
"Take her away. She's ruining my fun," Athen said to his guard.
"Keep your hands off her you rotten scum," Ichigo said.
"I thought I made it clear that you were to remain silent. Who should take the punishment for this insolent behavior," Athen asked.
Athen changed his mind swiftly about punishing his volunteer. He must have known the minute the cell was open Ichigo would try his worse. He was glad that he listened to Rukia for once. The cell he was in had a trap design. Get too close and fry.
000
Uryû lamented the fact he was caught. He should have been smarter about it. Concentrating he focused on who was where.
Orihime obviously shown to him a psychological trick was promptly led away out of the east facing door. Rukia for sure because Ichigo was loud had to be toward the east of the building. Tatsuki must be lead in the same general place as Rukia and Orihime.
All the girls for that matter must have been kept together he reasoned because Orihime carefully flaunted Tatsuki's bracelet. The enemy didn't have the smarts to recognize such a small but important detail. He was delighted that she thought to give him a message.
He was almost sure that all the guys were being kept separate. Holding in laughter he figured the girls would most definitely work together and surprise the hell out of the enemy before any of the guys could do a thing.
Underestimated, Renji was used to it as he crawled through the escape route. Their traps were obvious and it didn't hurt to have a partner like Tatsuki who gracefully pointed out the anomaly in the cell he sat in.
Her defiant look while the leader made a show of her capture made him feel overjoyed. Before long he figured she would be the one to defend her honor before he had the chance.
Mark's ability was the reason they were in this situation. He knew about the women in their lives and where they would be. Rukia must have returned from the Sereitei because of something the enemy did. Orihime should have been in Australia but the leader had groups of followers all over the world. The same applied to Tatsuki.
000
Tatsuki, Rukia and Orihime were together in a cell.
"This is ridiculous I refused to sit here and play the damsel in distress. Just who do they think they are messing with," Tatsuki said.
"Agreed but we need to focus on getting out of these traps," Rukia said.
"Yes we'll rescue them this time," Orihime said.
"Renji can get out of his cell I'm certain because of the place," Tatsuki said.
"What about the place," Rukia asked.
"We watched this show about prison breaks one time and this same type of building was featured before. This place must have been an old police station just like the one on that TV show," Tatsuki said.
"So Renji would know how to get out because of the TV show," Orihime asked.
"More important if we can get away from this area we should be able to make our own escape," Tatsuki suggested.
"Uryû should be able to free himself," Orihime said.
She handed Tatsuki back her bracelet.
"He knows we are being held together that's a start," Tatsuki said.
"Well he probably figured he'd be alright as long as you were alright Orihime," Rukia said.
"What about Ichigo," Orihime asked.
"They aren't taking him lightly for sure. None of you have mentioned electric gating or any type of cell like the one he is in," Rukia said.
"No he was touching the bars," Tatsuki said.
"I held onto the bars," Orihime said.
"We can assume that Ichigo is their target everyone else is being used as psychological tools or just getting in their way. They can't let him go but they had no time to properly scope out a place to keep everyone. This place was for Ichigo alone," Rukia said.
"They need the guys to be separated and we are being used simply because our relationships to them," Tatsuki said.
"How do they know so much about us," Orihime asked.
"The guy with the long hair is Mark and he can read minds. They already knew about us and if they were still watching they would have known about you guys as well," Rukia said.
"There was a guy that came to my apartment once that left as soon as Renji showed up. He didn't do a think they just exchanged words and he left. I don't even know what the guy looked like," Tatsuki said.
"None of it matters now we need to get out of here," Rukia said.
It was difficult to think of away to escape without thinking about it. Rukia remembered how they got away from Mark and Pearl in the past by not thinking and just acting on instinct.
000
Time ticked on no sign of a guard or anyone for that matter.
"There is no exit from this room. The door won't budge and I don't see any way out," Tatsuki said.
"You're tired you should sleep," Rukia said.
"I can't sleep when my mind is constantly going," Tatsuki said.
"It probably just seems like a longer time than it actually is because we haven't seen the sky in so long," Rukia said.
"I'm so upset with myself for falling into this trap," Tatsuki said.
"They know what they were doing. It is Valentine's Day and I fell for it too," Rukia said.
Rukia wondered just what brought Orihime all the way from Australia. Orihime slept mercifully on the floor so they would have to wait to find out her side of things.
"You probably wonder all this time why Renji never said anything to you about us in the past," Tatsuki said.
"He didn't have to," Rukia said.
"When did you figure it out," Tatsuki asked.
"My assignment was Karakura. I was told a long time ago now it seems," Rukia said.
"Told by whom," Tatsuki asked astonished.
"My superiors," Rukia said.
Tatsuki figured she must look so ridiculous sitting there with her mouth gaping open in shock.
"Oh," was all Tatsuki could manage to say.
"They didn't mention a relationship. I just found that out. Renji is a private guy with his feelings…I guess we both are so it was easy to respect that if he didn't say anything I should leave him alone about it.
I never asked why he came here so often. We were just told to protect you. I figured it out just by his presence here alone. He didn't come here to back me up and those were never his orders," Rukia said.
"Just like Ichigo didn't disappear that summer on vacation," Tatsuki said.
"Yeah," Rukia said.
"I figured it out before then remember we all asked you before you left," Tatsuki said.
"Yeah I remember," Rukia said.
Orihime sat up suddenly.
The door to their cell opened.
"Good you're all alright," Ichigo said looking in at the group.
"Ichigo where-
"Can't talk now we have to find out where they went," Ichigo said shutting the door to their cell.
"Did they just lock us in here," Orihime asked standing up.
Orihime couldn't tell which one of them looked the most dangerous now. Left out of the fight the three of them waited unable to escape the cell for the moment.