I Never Knew: Chapter 5: An Unlikely Alliance
As squad 6 exited the 6th division, Kenpachi walked up to Byakuya with his usual stance of swinging his zanpaktou over his right shoulder.
"I thought you were going to let me know if you needed help?" Kenpachi said as he kept tapping his zanpaktou on his shoulder.
"As you can see, I already have help." Byakuya replied as he wondered if the barbarian really could see or was he just plain stupid.
"Tsh, well where are you going noble captain of the 6th division?" Kenpachi asked diverting away from the insulting question.
Renji interjected and said, "We found Rukia's clothing in the West Rukonga District, so we are going to go there and check it out."
"West Rukonga District, why would Hollows be there?" Kenpachi questioned. These nobles say I am dumb—they are the ones that's an idiot, if you asked me, he thought to himself. "Don't you guys know anything? Hollows won't be there in West Rukonga, they would be in HM."
"You don't know that they aren't there," hissed Byakuya.
"Well I know that they aren't in the Rukonga District and it doesn't take a genius to know that," Kenpachi said as he stopped and starred at Byakuya.
"Captain, suppose Captain Zaraki is right? Do you think we should at least follow-up on what he said? Do you think that they are trying to throw us off?" Renji nervously asked. Renji could see that both Byakuya and Kenpachi were getting annoyed at one another and he tried to avert the attention where it should be focused on and that was finding Rukia; however, he was losing ground quickly.
Byakuya stopped and closed his eyes, and sighed as he tried to regain composure. Why am I being questioned at every turn? Yes, it's true that I didn't think this out as I should have, but why am I being surrounded by complete idiots who know nothing at all. And why am I being made to look like an idiot in front of my men? Byakuya asked himself these nagging questions without any answer to them. Byakuya had had enough of Kenpachi's annoyance and his foolishness. But something kept nagging at him that perhaps Kenpachi was correct about the Hollows being in HM; and he didn't want to admit that there was a possibility that Kenpachi could be right-at least not in front of his men.
"Renji, take some men and go to the West Rukonga District and re-search that area entirely, afterwards join us in HM. I guess you do as you like Kenpachi."
"Tsh, I don't need your permission to do anything." Kenpachi said as he lowered his zanpaktou off of his right shoulder which was now hanging down by his side.
"If there's a problem, perhaps we need to set it straight right now, as I do not have time for your foolishness." Byakuya said as he rested his left hand on his zanpaktou.
"Well if it's a fight you want, why not say so? We can have a go at it right here and now captain of the 6th division." Kenpachi said as he pointed his zanpaktou in Byakuya's face as it was met his Byakuya's own zanpaktou.
Renji turned around and was going to try to stop the two captains, but decided he would be better off to continue on his mission. He learned long time ago not to interfere in a fight; especially not one that involved these two. Strangely, Renji didn't have to say a word.
"This is not solving anything," Byakuya said lowering and sheathing his zanpaktou. "I do appreciate your help Kenpachi."
"What's wrong with you, are you going all soft and crap?" Kenpachi sighed and shrugged his shoulders as he replaced his zanpaktou over his right shoulder. "Perhaps, but next time there will be no sudden changing of the mind."
"Kenpachi, my I ask why you must try out your strength on me, as you know you will never win."
"Oh, I don't know about that noble captain, it's in my blood you know-to make a mess of things; and I fight because I enjoy fighting-that's all to it."
"You enjoy it? That makes no sense at all. One should fight because they have to or perhaps have no other choice to. I see no reason why one must put their life on the line just because they love to battle."
"Well, it provides a certain rush for me, it excites me knowing that there could possibly be someone stronger than me, it's like testing there measure."
"Oh I see, well as you know very well, I am capable of testing that measure against you, maybe one day we will have the match of strength and see who really is the victor."
Byakuya knew one day that Kenpachi and him would lock zanpaktous again, but right now, for the sake of finding Rukia, he decided it wasn't going to be this day. Byakuya wondered why the previous Captain Commander would always pair him with Zaraki; surely he knew the two didn't get along. The first time was when they went to retrieve Renji and Rukia from the world of the living and the second time was in HM during the FKT invasion. Maybe the former Captain Commander saw something that both Zaraki and him didn't see. Surely, this didn't mean that they were meant to be friends just because they were considered two of the strongest captains in the Gotei 13; Byakuya looked at Zaraki and turn his head as he closed his eyes thinking…not in a million years.
Meanwhile back at squad 5 barracks….
Ichigo laid in bed thinking about his life without Rukia, it would be about as bad or worse as during the 17 months he had gone without being able to see her when he had lost his powers. This cannot be happening, he thought to himself as he rolled over on his stomach and plunged his face down in the pillow, what will I do now?, he asked himself. One thing he couldn't afford was to let his anger overcome his senses, even though that is exactly what he wanted to do. Ichigo also knew that he couldn't just continue to mope around as if nothing happened; and eventually he would have to go back to the world of the living. However, he wasn't going anywhere until he knew for sure about whether or not Rukia was alive or not; and this time when he find her, she would not be out of his sight-ever again.
Shinji had looked in on Ichigo who was lying there motionless in bed; and thought that he should tell him about what he had just learned about squad 6 finding Rukia's clothes. However, he left the room without disturbing Ichigo and went and perched himself on the top of squad 5 barrack's roof to think. It wasn't so much of telling Ichigo as it was about how he would react to the news. Shinji also knew that if he didn't tell Ichigo, it might have the same outcome. Shinji removed himself from the roof and noticed Ichigo exiting the barracks.
"So you're finally up, eh, Ichigo?"
"What? Uhmmm yes, not that it really matters." Ichigo said gloomily.
"Well, I just overheard some news from squad 6 that they found Rukia's clothes in the West Rukonga District. Renji and his squad went there to check things out while Byakuya and Kenpachi went to HM. I thought I would tell you that; and you can do whatever you want to with this information." Shinji responded as he held out both arms as he stretched. "Well, I am going back in for another nap, I will talk to you later-I-c-h-i-g-o." Shinji said waving his hand as he reentered squad 5 barracks.
"Hey, wait up!" Ichigo said, but it was too late as Shinji had already left to go back inside. Damn it, which way do I go? It doesn't make sense to go to the Rukonga District, why would Hollows even be there? I can't just sit here and do nothing. Hold up, how am I even going to get into HM? I can't open up a Garganta, only Urahara knows how to do that. Well, that's not true, the other captains might know, but would they open up one for me-I seriously doubt it. What should I do? Well, I guess I could go to the Rukonga District, at least Renji will be there and maybe he will be going to HM afterwards-sounds like a plan, Ichigo told himself as he flash-stepped to the Rukonga District.
Ichigo arrived at the Rukonga District and immediately he didn't like what he saw, or what he didn't see was actually the problem. Normally people would be walking or sitting about on the streets on the Rukonga District, but it was as if before when he and his friends arrived in Soul Society to save Rukia. Where is everyone at? Ichigo questioned. It was way too quiet in the Rukonga district and Ichigo rested his right hand on Zangetsu just in case he needed it. He continued walking down the deserted street, still with no signs of life. He knew something wasn't right and the feeling of unsettledness was getting clearer as he reached a fork in the road. He didn't have to wonder where to go next as he had reached that uneasy feeling he was having; as he gazed upon several slain Soul Reapers lying on the street. In fact, he didn't have time to wonder about those slain Soul Reapers as he felt his flesh being ripped apart in his upper back.