"Get up" Sota said, roughly grabbing Kumikos arm and dragging her to her feet.
Kumikos head protested the rough movements, knees threatening to buckle under the sudden weight. The smooth steel of Sota's zanpakuto against her neck quickly pulled her attention. Trying to not breath to hard for fear of cutting herself on his blade, Kumiko couldn't stop the smirk appearing on her face.
Someone has found them.
Sota noticed the smile on her lips. Leaning into her, Sota tightened his grip on the rope securing kumikos arms,a painful hiss leaving her mouth
"they've not found us yet" he sneered into her ear "Kage. Find them and kill them" he directed to Kage. Kumiko watched horrified as Kage got to his feet. Eyes clouded over, movements stiffer than they should be. Hand taking hold of his zanpakuto, Kumiko cried out as Kage walked through the cabin door
"No! Kage, fight it!"
"Shut up" Sota growled into her ear, dragging her backwards through the cabin as she stumbled over her own feet, Kage disappeared into the darkness outside
"No! Kage!" Kumiko called after him again, struggling in Sotas hold. The cabins room span quickly as Kumiko was thrown against the wall roughly, hand squeezing her throat keeping her in place as she choked for breath
"Shut. Up" Sotas voice dropped dangerously, hot breath on kumikos face turning her stomach. Her eyes were wide as she fought for oxygen
"Kumiko!"
Renji! Kumiko thought desperately at hearing his voice, vision darkening around the edges at the tight grip on her throat
Renji followed near Captain Kuchiki, silently walking through the darkening forest, eyes scanning the trees for any sign of Kumiko . Guilt twisted painfully in his stomach, captain Kyorakus furious face flashing in his mind.
I'm surprised he didn't hit me Renji thought ruefully not like I didn't deserve it
His self deprecating thoughts plagued him as he reached out his spiritual pressure, hoping to feel Kumiko's back.
I shouldn't have let her come with us. I'm not worthy to wear this badge he thought bitterly, glancing at the lieutenant badge tied around his arm. Lost in thoughts, Renji didn't notice his captain stopping suddenly, nearly crashing into the back of him.
"captain?" Renji questioned quietly, Kuchiki's hand came up to stop him speaking, before pointing through the trees
"look" he spoke softly "there's a building" the flickering glow from the window had caught his attention in the dark
"Kumiko!" Renji called out without thinking, startling his captain. Whipping around to glare at the impatient man, stopping him from moving forward
"silence!" Kuchiki said through clenched teeth to reprimand his lieutenant, rightfully looking guilty "there goes the element of surprise" he uttered, turning back to the cabin
"keep your composure " the captain added, gripping the hilt of his zanpakuto "and follow me"
Kuchiki moved swiftly through the Forrest with an air of elegance, silent feet almost gliding across the leafy ground, trusting his lieutenant to follow. Easily unsheathing his zanpakuto, the captain gripped it firmly as the door to the cabin creaked open, shadowy silhouette appearing against the light flooding out.
"that's him" Renji said quietly, no mistaking him for the same man who had taken Kumiko
"Kage Akabane" Kuchiki's deep voice sounded out, as he came to a stop "we've come to return you to the soul society to stand trial for your crimes. Resistance is futile"
"Kumiko!" Renji called out desperately, hands wrapped around his own zanpakuto as he stood next to his captain, eyes fixed murderously on the stiff figure "where is she you bastard!"
Kages hand went for his own zanpakuto, bringing it up swiftly to point at the two shinigami. Muttering softly, the blade changed form. Midnight black, the blade almost seemed to be made out of smoke, twisting and manipulating around the shape of the zanpakuto.
Renji surged forward as the man darted down the few steps, rushing to meet eachother in a clash of weapons. Shadows cast on the ground contorted around them, raising up high to take on an almost human form. Lashing out to block captain Kuchiki from joining the fight.
Kuchiki easily sidestepped the swipe coming at him, speaking softly "scatter, Senbonzakura" the flutter of thousands of blade fragments, looking almost like cherry blossoms swirled around the area, waiting to be commanded
Renji growled as he pushed kage away, bringing his zanpakuto back down quickly. Kage brought his own weapon up, blocking the attack. Both men shaking with the force of the blows, Renji glared at his opponent, too angry to notice the swirling mist covering his eyes
"where is she?" He spat at him, zanpakuto running up the length of the other, sparks flying off the metal. Metallic clanging echoes around them as they traded blows. Renji, seeing an opening, darted forward. Smirking, satisfied as his zanpakuto sliced into the others chest, blood spraying out as he pulled it back.
Renji cocked his head slightly. The man hadn't reacted at all to the obviously painful wound. No cry of pain. Not a groan or intake of breath. It was like he didn't feel it at all. Confusion getting pushed away as akabane charged at him, zanpakuto being swiped quickly, Renji had to duck to avoid getting his head taken off.
Kuchiki flash stepped smoothly, gracefully, easily avoiding the shadows lurching for him. Senbonzakuras petals flying around him in controlled chaos, quickly cut through the air, ripping through his shadowy foes. Kuchikis eyes widened slightly at the shadows coming back together, undefeated by his attack. Eyes flicked to the man his lieutenant was currently fighting
the only way to take down these shadows is to take down the source he deduced easily, strategising a way to push past the vicious shadows blocking his path.
Kumikos legs kicked out as Sota, who has finally released his hold on her throat, began dragging her forcefully through the cabin, making their way to the back exit. The familiar sounds of battle getting quieter the further they entered the cabin
"you always were so stubborn" Sota remarked at kumikos struggle in his hold, easily dragging the small woman through the back door. "Quiet now Kumi, we wouldn't want to distract Kage now would we?"
Kumiko stopped her struggle as she was dragged out the cabin and over the forest floor. Sota had changed his hold from her arms to the scruff of her neck, easily dragging her behind him as the stones and sticks rubbed roughly at the back of her legs
The familiar sounds of a battle near by caught her attention. The clanging of swords coming together furiously. A hand suddenly covered kumikos mouth, she shouted in protest, sound muffled by the large hand
Sotas hot breath ghosted over her ear, whispering as he wrapped his arm around her chest, pulling her to a standing position "let's see who Kage is going to kill, shall we?"
Kumiko's eyes widened as she breathed heavily through her nose. Sota edged them around the side of the cabin hidden in the shadows, finally allowing them to see Kumikos would be rescuers.
In the flurry of what looked to be cherry blossoms surrounding the area, Kumiko spotted Renji battling a possessed kage, brutally swinging their zanpakuto together
Kumiko first felt relief at seeing her friend, seemingly uninjured. If Renji had made it out of that clearing then Kira probably had too. Desperation soon followed. Kumiko struggled in Sotas hold, desperately trying to stop the fight.
Kage doesn't know what he's doing she thought pained. Not wanting either to hurt the other. Sota tightened his hold on Kumiko, grinning next to her ear "a lieutenant and a captain? Someone is popular " he teased her quietly , enjoying the way she squirmed in his hold.
Captain?
Kumiko looked around the area, quickly spotting captain kuchiki in the centre of the vortex of blossoms. Twisted shadow figures, relentless in their attack easily slipping their way through the flurry. Their attacks missing as the captain flash stepped away, only to be met with the next wave of shadowy enemies.
Renjis shout of pain brought Kumikos eyes back to him, blood dripping down his arm. Kumikos cry to him was muffled by the hand pushing into her mouth, unheard over the metallic crash of zanpakuto clashing. Squirming desperately in Sotas hold, Kumiko pushed her head backwards enough to get some room between her face and his hand, using the opportunity to bite down harshly into the flesh, hot blood rushing into her mouth. Sotas pain filled grunt behind her made Kumiko finally let go, screaming out
"REN..." Kumiko managed to get out before a solid hit to her face silenced her, hitting the ground roughly with out the use of her arms to break her fall. Her cheek throbbed in burning pain, scenery before her tilting dizzily.
"Kumiko!"
Feeling a harsh tug at the back of her neck, Kumiko groaned as she was dragged backwards through the underbrush, legs painfully scratching against the rocky floor. Leafs blocking her view of Renji, panicked face locking eyes with her before a zanpakuto came swinging down at his head
"REN.."
Renjis head whipped up at the shout, eyes frantically looking for the familiar voice that had began calling his name. Spotting her face down hidden in the bushes beside the cabin
"Kumiko!" Renji called out, relief at seeing her pushed aside by the tall figure reaching down to grab her, quickly pulling her deeper into the Forrest. Move to follow blocked by a zanpakuto swinging quickly down to his head
Raising zabimaru with practiced ease, Renji blocked the attack, focusing once more on his opponent. There's two of them he thought bitterly, raising his spiritual pressure for his next attack.
"roar, zabimaru!" Renji shouted, his zanpakuto changing form. Expertly swinging the saw like weapon towards his foe, smirking as he felt it land. Renji watched in satisfaction as he ripped it back through the flesh on Kages shoulder, flooding the area with blood.
"Move" the cold voice from his captain surprised Renji, quickly he jumped out the way. Kuchiki raised his arm, an onslaught of Senbonzakura flew past them, swallowing Kage completely. As the shadow figures started to disperse and fade away, kuchiki lowered his hand, blossoms flying to return into a solid mass back at the hilt he held tightly.
Kage fell to his knees, covered in cuts as he oozed blood. Eyes lifting of the grey mist, Pain filled mahogany watched the two standing men as he fell to the floor, raspy gasps in his throat.
Renji stepped forward, hand tightening on his weapon ready to deliver the final blow when a Senkaimon appeared to their right, illuminating the area. Captain and lieutenant twisted to face it, zanpakuto raised ready for the unexpected guest.
Renji was the first to lower his weapon at seeing who had run through it
"captain Kyoraku" he said softly, zanpakuto lowering to his side "captain Urahara, Ukitake" he addressed as they ran through the gate.
"where is she?" Kyoraku demanded as the Senkaimon closed shut and disappeared behind them
"is this him?" Urahara asked softly. Walking towards the prone figure on the floor, head aching with phantom pain.
"there appears to be another" Kuchiki told them, voice void of any emotion
"what?"Ukitake asked him, hand reaching out to grab his friend, fingers slipping though Kyorakus Kumiko as he ran towards the cabin, door hitting the wall loudly as he pushed his way through to look for Kumiko
"he's not working alone" Kuchiki repeated "another took her when we were fighting"
"where the hell is she?" Kyoraku demanded of them as he came back out, unsuccessful in his search. Marching up to Kuchiki, Shunsui fisted his captains coat, pulling him up slightly to look him in the face "what happened?"
"remove your hands Kyoraku" Kuchiki said dangerously, fixing him with a steely gaze
"Shunsui" Jushiro said softly, pulling his friends crazed eyes " let him go and listen"
Shunsui reluctantly released his fellow captain, ignoring the indignant glare
"there's another guy" Renji offered the trio "I saw him drag Kumiko through there." He pointed to where he had last seen her, almost jumping as Kyoraku suddenly turned and headed in that direction, passing renji as he went . The captains angry spiritual pressure sending a shiver up his spine
A weak hand shot out, grabbing hold of Kyoraku's ankle as he passed the bloody man on the floor. Stopping to look down at the man weakly holding him, Kyoraku's lip turned up, as a zanpakuto suddenly appeared at the down man's throat
Shunsui followed the blade up to the wielder, a murderous look on Uraharas usual composed face , unwavering in his stare at the man on the floor
"save... her" Kage grunted out, blood bubbling up his throat to trickle down his mouth, the blade pushing threateningly into his wind pipe. Drawing the attention to all the men standing around him " save...Kumiko" he rasped, finishing around a painful cough as blood filled his lungs. No longer having the strength, his hand fell from Kyoraku back to the floor
A pale hand came out to gently push away the zanpakuto at his throat, sending Urahara a reassuring look, Ukitake knelt down next to him.
"who has her?" ukitake asked him gently, the gurgling breaths sounding all to familiar to the sick captain.
"Sota" he gasped weakly, forcing his voice to reach their ears, blurry eyes staring up to the tree tops
"Sota is dead" Urahara spat at him, pointing his zanpakuto at kages face threateningly, unsure what game he was playing "Kumiko told me. She saw him dead"
"no" Kage pulled all his energy to tell them "tricked. Sota ... possessed. Killed"
"this Sota can possess others? With his zanpakuto?" Ukitake asked him, piecing together what he was saying. Kage nodded feebly, eyes closing with exhaustion "hey now, stay awake" Ukitake told him, tapping his face to re open his eyes
"Sota killed the others, and possessed you?" He asked, the injured man nodded "why?"
"needed... shadows. He wants... control soul society " Kage managed before coughing up blood, sticky fluid covering his face. A warm orange glow covered his body, opening his eyes kage saw the white haired man begin healing kido on him, before he slipped unconscious
"what are you doing Ukitake" Kuchiki demanded of him, Urahara and Kyoraku staring confused at their friend
"there's more to this than we understand." He started to explain "I don't think he was in control of his body when he attacked you. At the very least, he may be needed for questioning Lieutenant, take over please"
"sir?"Renji asked him confused, coming down to kneel next to the captain
"continue healing." He instructed, getting to his feet as Renji began his own healing " Byakuya, please send word to the 4th, get them here as soon as you can"
Kuchiki clearly wasn't thrilled with another captain ordering him about, but Ukitake had seniority over him, by a few hundred years. Without uttering a word, Kuchiki turned to walk further away
"Ukitake" Kyoraku said, trying not to snap at his friend with his growing impatience
"we need to be careful " Ukitake seriously told Kyoraku and Urahara. "Let us waste no more time"
Without a backwards glance Urahara and Kyoraku darted into the trees in the direction Renji had pointed out, Ukitake swiftly on their heels. Renji looked down to the man he was healing, eye brows furrowed in concentration. Kido was never a strong point of his.