Chapter 2: Fallen Petals
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I know the protective forces around you, and one-by-one they will fall. They will fall until all has gone silent around you and the only voice that reaches you is mine.
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Byakuya knelt before the captain commander, his head slightly bowed as he gave his report.
"Kuchiki Byakuya, word has reached us about the attack on Urahara Kisuke. What is Kisuke's current condition?"
Byakuya's lips tightened slightly.
"He remains unconscious," the noble reported, "Although his reiatsu has been restored and his injuries have been healed, he continues to remain in a reduced state. I am of the opinion that my cousin and Inoue Orihime have counteracted what they can and that a different approach might be needed. Due to the severity of the attack and the power level of the victim, I suggest that Unohana taicho be sent to assist us in waking Urahara. Our investigation is incomplete without knowing what he knows."
"Very well, then," said Sotaicho, "I will see that she is dispatched at once to join you in Karakura Town. I want you to return there now. Continue your investigation and bring me regular reports."
"Hai, Sotaicho."
"And Byakuya…"
"Sir?"
"How is Abarai fukutaicho handling his part of the investigation?"
The hint of a smile touched the noble's lips.
"Flawlessly," he said quietly.
"That is good to hear," said the captain commander, "but it is hardly unexpected when considering his drive to succeed and your own commitment to his progress. It will be…gratifying, I think, when he is officially promoted."
"Yes. Both Renji and I are looking forward to that."
"And in the meantime," Sotaicho went on, "be mindful of the need for discretion. I do not take issue with your decision to see your fukutaicho romantically. Just, as always, see to it that the two of you are not distracted from your investigation. This enemy who you are tracking is dangerous. Anyone who can take down a taicho level…"
"I understand, sir," Byakuya said, nodding, "and both Renji and I will be mindful of your warning."
"Go then," Sotaicho said, sending the noble flash stepping away.
He looked down for a moment at the place where Byakuya had been.
"And be careful," he added softly.
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"This is definitely where it happened," Tetsuya concluded, dropping to one knee and gazing down at the large splashes of blood on the ground, "There's blood and disturbed reiatsu everywhere."
"It's clear that Urahara-san was taken completely by surprise," Rikichi added, shaking his head worriedly, "I can't even imagine how they did it."
"Well, we need to figure it out, and fast," Renji growled softly, looking around.
"We must search the area thoroughly," Yoruichi said in a deeply serious tone, "Tetsuya and Rikichi, you take the north side of the trail. Rukia and Ichigo can search the south. Renji and I will take the park around the crime scene and look for where Kisuke left the river."
She waited as the others moved slowly away, then motioned for Renji to join her. The two began by marking off the area around the scene of the attack and searching for any signs of the other being, who had attacked the shopkeeper.
"Odd," Yoruichi said, pausing to extend her senses and sweep the area around her.
The chirping of birds and people's laughter sounded softly, filling the void as she considered her words.
"Did you find something?" Renji asked.
"Maybe," the cat woman said, blinking, "It seems that there is reiatsu in the area. I can sense it, but I cannot hone in on the source, or really identify it."
"So, it has been masked?" Renji asked, "Taicho…Byakuya and I have been working on reiatsu masking recently. He's pretty much a master at it."
"He should be," Yoruichi said, smiling warmly, "I taught him everything he knows about it."
"Ah," said Renji, "that's right. He told me that you were made responsible for his training for a time."
Yoruichi laughed softly.
"True. I don't think Byakuya really enjoyed the training, but I must say that as an apprentice, he certainly did learn at a speed nearly faster than his flash step. Flash step, stealth training, investigative and battle strategies…Byakuya was driven to succeed. But then, he was well aware of the expectations the elders had for him…and not just the elders, but Kuchiki Ginrei. When Soujun did not achieve bankai, his hopes fell onto Byakuya to succeed him. He was never disappointed in his son, though. Power like Byakuya's doesn't manifest itself with every generation."
"No," agreed Renji, "Even among the noble class, it is rare."
"Where is Byakuya-bo, anyway?" Yoruichi asked, dropping to her knees to take some readings near the attack site, "I'd think he'd be out here with his nose to the ground, searching with us."
"Hey, don't insult my taicho," Renji said, shaking his head, "You know he hates it when you and Kisuke call him that."
He broke off, looking down at the blood and swallowing hard.
"Yoruichi-san," he said in a softer voice, "You think Kisuke will be all right? I mean…he's healed now. He should wake up soon, right?"
Yoruichi sighed.
"He should," she answered softly, "and as soon as he does, we need to find out what he might have seen."
She looked up as a flash step sounded nearby and Byakuya suddenly appeared in front of them. Yoruichi smiled.
"I was just asking Renji where you were," she said, standing.
"I was called to the first division to make a direct report to Sotaicho," said Byakuya, joining the two and blushing slightly as Renji slipped an arm around him and gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek.
"Welcome back, Taicho."
"Renji, it's…"
"Byakuya," the redhead laughed.
"You know you shouldn't do that," Byakuya said as Yoruichi giggled, "We are on duty."
"Yeah, I know. Sorry," Renji said, sounding somewhat less than penitent, "You know I just can't resist. Besides, who's around to see? Yoruichi doesn't mind, right?"
"Of course not," the cat woman said, nearly purring, "It's good to see Byakuya-bo looking so content."
"Will you please desist?" Byakuya asked in an annoyed tone.
Yoruichi laughed again, then sobered.
"So, what did Sotaicho have to say about all of this?" she asked.
"He said little," Byakuya reported, "but I sense that he is deeply concerned. Kisuke was a taicho, and he remains a taicho level shinigami with excellent skills. The one who did this is very powerful, very dangerous."
"Do you have any ideas as to why Kisuke was targeted?"
"I have a suspicion."
"And?"
"This one has been sensed around the shop and in the area of Ichigo's home. The occurrences started a few months ago, but at first, they were fleeting and hard to trace. More recently, the reiatsu has become more trackable, suggesting that the perpetrator may have been weaker at first, but is growing in strength."
"That doesn't bode well," Renji said, frowning, "If the person is already taicho level…"
"Then we need to find and stop him before he grows any more powerful."
Yoruichi sighed.
"It's going to be difficult," she said resignedly, "Whoever did this knew just how to clean up the crime scene. None of us has found anything useful. And we can't ask Kisuke any questions until he wakes. But no one knows when that will be."
"It may be soon," Byakuya told her, "When I met with Sotaicho, I requested that Unohana taicho be assigned to assist with Kisuke."
Yoruichi gave him a look of surprise and gratitude.
"You did that?" she mused.
"Are you surprised, Senpai?" Byakuya said quietly, "For all that Kisuke and I clash verbally, I do not wish him ill. After all, if not for him, Aizen Sousuke might have succeeded in wiping out this city and creating the king's key. I respect Urahara-san's resourcefulness…and I do hope he wakes soon. Not only for the purpose of explaining what happened, but because my Senpai is so distressed over his injury.
"Arigato, Byakuya," she said softly.
"All right, you two," Renji chuckled, "Enough with the mushy stuff. I think I'll be sick. I think I like it better when you two don't get along!"
"Hmmm…" said Byakuya, "This from the man who couldn't keep his hands…erm…lips off of me as soon as I appeared."
"That's different," Renji objected.
"I see," said the noble.
"Well," said Yoruichi, "We have done all we can for now. Is Unohana taicho going to arrive soon?"
"She should have arrived at the shop already."
Yoruichi nodded and looked off in the direction that Ichigo and Rukia had gone.
"Then since there's nothing more we can do here, we should see how Kisuke is doing."
"I'll go find Ichigo and Rukia," offered Renji.
"And I'll find Tetsuya and Rikichi," said Yoruichi.
They disappeared in flash steps, leaving Byakuya alone at the site of the attack. The noble walked slowly around the area, his senses extended. He was able to sense right away the presence of suspicious reiatsu in the area, but despite his abilities and experience, he seemed unable to shatter whatever force was protecting it. Frowning, he turned to look in the direction Renji had gone. He caught his breath softly as he suddenly realized someone was standing in front of him.
It was impossible that he wouldn't have sensed something. With his training, he should not have been taken by surprise. And with his speed, he should also have been able to draw his weapon, but the other slashed at him so swiftly, it was almost as though time had been oddly altered.
Blood exploded around the two, staining their clothes and raining down on the place where Kisuke had fallen. Byakuya's shocked eyes registered a tall, pale man with black hair and green eyes. The last thing he glimpsed was a zanpakuto. Then everything darkened around him and he dropped to the ground.
The other man stood over the fallen taicho, gazing down at him solemnly. He raised his zanpakuto again.
"Perhaps this is not the most honorable way for you to die, Kuchiki taicho," the other said softly, "But I cannot have you interfering in my plans. You must be eliminated."
He brought the weapon down swiftly, aiming to separate the noble's head from his body, but as he did, found his sword crossed by another. His eyes met the dark, determined eyes of a masked warrior.
"Senbonzakura," the green-eyed man said, "I should have suspected. But you will not be able to save him. He is already nearly gone. And you are about to join him!"
Senbonzakura raised his blade and turned it point down. But as he started to release it, the man before him disappeared. The zanpakuto spirit looked around in confusion.
"Where are you, you stealthy bastard?" he hissed, "Come out and fight!"
He sensed an attack coming, but unable to see his opponent, he couldn't defend properly. And he didn't know if the other was attacking him or if he was going to give Byakuya the finishing blow. He threw himself down on Byakuya's body, shielding the two of them with all of his strength. The next moment, something struck the shield and shattered it, then Senbonzakura cried out in pain as the other's blade slashed him. Power exploded around them and the green-eyed man stepped back and disappeared.
A moment later, the search team burst out of the trees and flash stepped to the fallen noble's side. Stunned eyes took in the unbelievable sight of Kuchiki Byakuya lying facedown in a widening pool of blood with half of his blade on the ground on one side of him, and the hilt and remaining portion on the other.
"Byakuya-sama!" Tetsuya gasped, hurriedly rushing to his cousin's side and activating his healing ability.
"Kuchiki taicho," Rikichi whispered, pale-faced as he joined Tetsuya.
"Byakuya!" cried Renji, dropping to his knees next to his injured taicho, "Byakuya!"
As the others watched in horror, he turned the noble over and gathered him in his arms. He said his taicho's name more softly and touched his unnaturally white face. Byakuya's dark eyes opened for a moment, and a pale, bloodied hand reached up to brush Renji's cheek. He tried to speak, but then his eyelids fluttered and he lost consciousness. The hand on Renji's cheek slid slowly downward and fell away.
"B-Byakuya," Renji whispered, his eyes widening.
"Nii-sama…" Rukia managed, her hands gripping Ichigo, as though to hold her up.
The next moment, Renji swept the injured taicho into his arms and flash stepped away with Tetsuya, Rukia and Ichigo on his heels. Yoruichi and the others cast worried gazes in the direction they had gone but didn't follow.
"We need to carefully examine this area," Yoruichi said in a low voice, "Whoever did this, just managed to take down Kuchiki Byakuya in one hit. It looks to me as though he wasn't even able to draw his weapon."
"But his weapon is out," objected Rikichi.
"Yes," acknowledged Yoruichi, picking up the pieces of Senbonzakura, "but did you notice the position? If he was holding his blade and fell facedown, it wouldn't have fallen that way. This suggests that Senbonzakura had manifested and was trying to protect Byakuya, probably from a finishing blow."
"It could do that on its own?" mused Rikichi, "I thought that…"
"Usually, the shinigami must be holding the weapon to make the spirit manifest, but after the appearance of the zanpakuto, Muramasa, and his use of powers on the other zanpakutos, some retained the ability to occasionally manifest upon their masters' need. Likely, Senbonzakura sensed the sudden injury to Byakuya, and manifested to protect him."
Yoruichi frowned, staring down at the pieces of the weapon in her hands.
"Kami…" she whispered, "I don't feel his reiatsu."
Gripping the pieces of Senbonzakura, Yoruichi flash stepped away in the direction Renji had gone with Rikichi a step behind her.
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Orihime and Unohana taicho turned in surprise as Renji suddenly flash stepped into the room, carrying Byakuya over his shoulder, and followed by Tetsuya, Rukia and Ichigo. Orihime gasped in dismay at the amount of blood that coated Renji and the man he held.
"Orihime, Unohana taicho!" Renji cried, "Taicho's been hurt badly. He needs healing, fast."
He set the noble carefully on the floor in front of them and the two women dropped down at his side. The healer's face paled.
"I did what I could as we made our way here," Tetsuya reported, "but it seemed to have little effect."
"There are no life signs," Unohana taicho said quietly, "He will require your reject power to be saved, Orihime. Hurry."
"Nii-sama," Rukia whispered shakily.
"He'll be okay now," Ichigo said, wrapping an arm around the distraught shinigami, "Orihime has brought me back from death more than once. Hang in there."
Orihime leaned forward and started to activate her healing power but stopped and stared as Yoruichi flash stepped into the room, carrying Byakuya's broken zanpakuto. She quickly set the pieces at the noble's side and turned to the frozen girl.
"Raise your power now!" she cried, "Hurry, or we'll lose both of them!"