Warning for swearing.
Reiryoku is reiatsu held internally, inside the body. Once projected outward for any reason including casting kidō etc, we call it reiatsu instead. I hope my explanations are clear, but if you find anything difficult to follow or anything unclear, let me know. I'll do my best to clear up any issues. If you find mistakes, allowing for British English spelling, please point them out.
Code Blue does mean an adult is having a medical emergency, usually cardiac or respiratory arrest, but not necessarily.
Chapter 8 - The Flaws We Find
~ Day 3 - Early Morning ~
On the grounds of the Sixth Division, Third Seat, Suzuki Haru, stood before hundreds of men and women. The current atmosphere was one of uncertainty and fear. They had been living on a steady stream of gossip and hearsay for the last twenty-four hours, and they desperately awaited news of their Lieutenant, but most of all, their Captain. To them, he was infallible, a man they could emulate, and one of the fiercest Captains on the battlefield.
Suzuki cleared his throat to the congregation of neatly formed rows of soul reapers, and addressed them, "Good morning." A steady chorus replied to his greeting instantaneously. "Two nights ago, Kuchiki Taichou and Abarai Fukutaichou, encountered a dangerous unknown enemy while undertaking standard patrol duties. It is thanks to our Captain, that the other Divisions now have an arsenal of information to use against this new foe; the next time we face this enemy, we will hold the advantage." Cheers met his words.
"However, this did not come without its own costs. In a valiant attempt to regroup and re-engage them, the enemy was able to seriously wound our Captain instead. It is thanks to Abarai Fukutaichou, that our Captain made it safely to the care of the Fourth Division with his life." The crowd broke out into massive applause, causing Suzuki to smile broadly. Pulling a sheet of paper from his shihakushō, he waved his arms up to silence the throngs.
"I have a letter from Abarai Fukutaichou, which he gave me this morning." The Third Seat unfolded the letter, as silence fell over the squad, he began to read his Lieutenant's words aloud. "I regret not being able to address you all in person, but it's not all bad news. As of this morning, Unohana Taichou has informed me that our Captain's life is no longer in any danger, but he is not yet ready to leave her care.
"I will return to my duties tomorrow morning, and will dispense with our usual training in favour of techniques that are most devastating to our current enemy. This enemy is lightning fast, so we must be faster. They are coordinated and intelligent; we will become a unit, smarter than any enemy that stands in front of us. They have numbers on their side, but we have more. If we work on our shunpō, our kidō and our teamwork, we will emerge victorious in this conflict."
The sound of hundreds of shinigami cheering and clapping in unison was deafening, and Suzuki couldn't blame them. They finally had confirmation that both their Lieutenant and Captain were on the mend, and eager to return. Every reaper, in that moment, resolved to do whatever it took to ensure Kuchiki Taichou's vision and Abarai Fukutaichou's plan was realised. As Suzuki continued to observe the troops, he knew the Lieutenant would be greeted back with a hero's welcome.
With practised ease, Jūshirō sprayed his potted plants. Through the windows, the cool morning breeze whipped around him, causing the slender man to tighten his haori around himself. It was a beautiful morning, but the aged Captain couldn't bring himself to appreciate it or the plants. He moved slowly towards his chair, exhausted from the fitful amount of sleep he'd managed to snag. Guilt weighed heavily in his chest, and he had no feasible way to alleviate it.
He wanted to seek out his lover and apologise, but he knew he couldn't. It was his selfishness that had led directly to the present situation. If he had just held on another day, Byakuya Kuchiki would still be blissfully unaware of the relationship, and they wouldn't be facing a formal inquiry.
He sighed.
In a tiny rational part of his brain that remained unclouded by fatigue and regret, he told himself that he had been in a highly emotional state, and therefore couldn't possibly have made a better decision under the circumstances. He had been reacting, and it was his fear that had forced him to leave the way he had.
The Captain curled his lip in disgust; was an excuse the best he could come up with to explain how he had abandoned his lover to climb inside a bottle? Him, a man whose lover had always been there when he needed him? His disgust gave way to a cold, biting anger in the pit of his belly. He had probably never hated himself more in his life, than he did at this moment. His eyes burned furiously, while the sounds of arguing began to build in intensity on the other side of the rice paper doors.
"How could you put it there? Did you even consider how that might affect the Captain?" cried a shrill female voice.
"I didn't put it there; it must have been you, and now you're blaming me for it as usual. I'm getting really sick of you, Kiyone!" retorted a man gruffly.
"Me? Well, I'm sick of you messing everything up around here. What would happen if I wasn't around to fix your mistakes?" said Kiyone.
"If you want to talk about mistakes, I'd be happy to bring it up with the Captain. I'd love to hear what he thinks," threatened Sentarō.
"Like the Captain wants to hear the nonsense that comes out of your mouth; he has far more pressing concerns to worry about, like this new enemy I've been hearing about," she replied, while Sentarō gave a grunt of smug triumph.
"Admit it, you're scared of what he'd say. He'd have you out of here so fast, people will wonder what he ever needed you as a Third Seat anyway." The snide comment really seemed to sting Kiyone, if the anger in her voice was any indication.
"Yeah, well if you're so great, why aren't you a Lieutenant, then?" There was a brief lull in the conversation. "Exactly! When are you going to realise, he's keeping you on out of pity, because he's too nice to fire you. It's obvious he's grooming me to be his next Lieutenant."
Sentarō scoffed. "Keep dreaming, Kiyone. You think just because your sister is a Lieutenant, you're something special? You're nothing but a spoiled little girl compared to her. You're going nowhere fast, and we both know it."
"Right back at you, you damn hypocrite. The only reason you have a job is because of your dad. Let's see how long that lasts." She grinned, and crossed her arms.
"Whatever, Kiyone. Why don't you run along and make the Captain his tea? It's about all you're good for."
With alarming speed, Jūshirō rose from his chair and slid the door open with a jarring slam, causing the two Third Seats to freeze in place. Anger continued to burn on his normally kind and gentle face, and the initial shock on their faces turned to horror.
"Enough!"
"U-Ukitake Taichou…" stammered Kiyone, while Sentarō hastened to bow.
"If I had a Lieutenant, he or she would be outside forming the training groups. However, seeing as how neither of you are Lieutenants and are otherwise embroiled in yet another heated discussion, I'll do it myself. Forget the tea."
With that, Jūshirō strode past the two stunned Officers, and made his way down the corridor with long sweeping strides, his haori fluttering behind him.
"Should we follow him?" said Kiyone, in an almost whisper. Sentarō could only offer a shaky nod, too shocked to utter a single word. As they raced towards the garrison, both of them couldn't help but wonder what had prompted such an uncharacteristic outburst from their normally even-tempered Captain. Whatever the reason, neither of them wanted to provoke a repeat performance for something as trivial as tardiness. They left the corridor silent and desolate.
Upon entering the dark room, Nanao made her way towards the window to draw the drapes. She gasped sharply, almost spilling the cup of coffee she was holding, when her sandals approached something sharp, and she peered closer in the darkness to find the cause. The tinkling sound of shattered ceramics reached her ear, as she kicked at the offending objects, and she wondered what had caused the destruction of what was obviously a bottle of sake. She rolled her eyes with a quiet sigh, while a sarcastic voice in her head thought, 'Great…'.
As she pulled the curtains open, a groan reached her. Turning her head to locate the source, she finally noticed her Captain sprawled on the floor of his lounge trying to shield his eyes from the glare of the morning sun. Rather than berate him, she went through the motions of helping him to his feet, before pressing the cup of coffee under his nose.
"Drink," she said in her usual brisk manner. "You look like you need it." He murmured and unintelligible murmur of thanks, while she eyed him up and down. "Are you alright?" she asked, cautiously.
He glanced at her, meeting her raised eyebrows. He nodded wordlessly. She rolled her head in mild exasperation before sitting down. She patted the seat on the sofa beside her.
"Sit." As he looked at her over his cup, she closed her eyes in defeat, before adopting a kinder tone, "Please." For a moment, she wondered if he would just brush her off like he normally did, before he crossed the room and took the proffered seat, still hugging his coffee. He didn't meet her pinning gaze.
"Taichou, it's not my place and you can tell me off, but I'm only going to ask this because I'm worried about you." She paused before gathering her nerves. "Did you and Ukitake Taichou have a fight?"
Her concerned words had the opposite effect she had hoped for, and she watched his entire body tense. "What makes you think he was here, or had anything to do with this?" he said in a measured tone of voice.
Despite the tension, a chuckle escaped her lips. "Aside from the bento's, and the scent of green tea and fresh petunias, you mean?" He stared at her in shock. "When he visits, you're either ecstatic for days, or depressed to the point where drinking is the only thing that seems to help." Gesturing to the broken bottle on the floor, she returned her attention to her Captain. "Judging by this, it seems to have been a particularly upsetting meeting."
Her reply was so startling, it took him a while to respond. Her deductive reasoning made it seem like anyone could have discovered his and Ukitake's deepest secret with ease, but after his initial panic had left him, he realised that only a person with whom he shared a close proximity could ever hope to figure it out. Even then, the more logical conclusion was that they were simply old friends, and that's exactly what he wanted her and everyone else to continue to believe. Finally, he relaxed and allowed the stress visibly to leave him.
"No, I didn't argue with Captain Ukitake." It felt liberating to say it out loud to someone else. "Last night, I got upset because of something he told me. Knowing him as well as I do, he's just as angry and upset as I am." His cryptic answer failed to ease her growing confusion, but she took a guess anyway.
"No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, especially when it affects someone you care about," she replied softly.
"Right," said Kyouraku. He turned his head to face her, but his eyes remained fixed on the floor. He debated whether or not to tell her the truth, when she had been brave and honest with him. If it was his secret alone, he might have considered it, but it wasn't. Therefore, he opted for a kinder white lie to disguise the real issue plaguing himself and Ukitake Taichou.
"Ukitake Taichou just got told about a case of misconduct that happened on his training grounds two days ago. Kuchiki Taichou intends to carry out a full investigation." He chuckled mirthlessly, "As soon as he's released from hospital, that is."
"That's awful, no wonder he's so upset. His squad treats each other like family members, for someone there to be brought up on charges, they must all be as upset as he is." Shunsui nodded numbly.
"He hasn't told the squad. He didn't want everyone upset, only the people involved are aware, but the good news is, proceedings haven't actually started yet because both Kuchiki Taichou and Abarai Fukutaichou are still patients at Squad Four. They might start the paperwork, but I think it'll be some time before anything actually happens," said Shunsui. "Naturally, this conversation has to stay between us."
Nanao nodded as she mulled it over. "That sounds like him; he's so considerate to everyone around him. He must be beside himself because of the delay. He's lucky to have a friend like you that he can talk to about things like this, especially as he couldn't bring it up with anyone in his Division. I couldn't imagine not having someone to confide in. Don't worry, my lips are sealed. "
"It's a cruel type of torture; I wouldn't wish it on anyone." His cold words seemed to hold a second meaning and she looked at him sideways, choosing to address them more indirectly.
"Even if he only has you to talk to about the things that bothers him, it's better than having no one at all. Right now, he needs that and I think you should be with him at his Division. I can keep an eye on things here for most of the day." Seeing his look of surprise, she grinned at him.
"Don't worry, if anyone asks, I'll tell them you're hungover again, and they won't expect you any time soon. He needs you more than they do." Before he could refuse, she was already halfway out the door, leaving him to wonder how he'd gotten as lucky as he had to find a Lieutenant like Nanao. Maybe she had a point; Jūshirō needed him and there was nowhere he'd rather be.
At Squad Four, Zaraki Kenpachi flexed his injured hand; it was still a bit stiff. A groan escaped his mouth as he looked at his face in the bathroom mirror. Pink lines of new skin covered the more shallow lacerations, while the angry red lines had been much deeper. Claw prints marked his jaw, cheek and eye socket, reminding him of how far the enemy had gone in their attempt to end his life.
As he stared at his healing wounds, Kenpachi's mind was racing a mile a minute, because he couldn't decide how he felt about the previous evening. He had been exhilarated to begin with; this enemy was utterly ruthless and vicious. Their speed and ferocity had him living each blow as if it could be his last, and as his name suggested, he lived for a good fight.
His joy had soured the moment their true nature was revealed. Their switch to covert tactics betrayed an intelligence no mere beast should have possessed. Another example of this conniving calculation was apparent when they distracted him in order to target Yachiru, telling him their mental process defined her as the weaker target. In his opinion, they had reached this conclusion far too quickly. He would have expected such rapid decision making from a human opponent, not a creature.
Yachiru's scream still replayed in his mind and he didn't like it; it made him feel wrong and that wrongness made him angry. Something was very, very off about this mysterious enemy. If he got another chance to face them, he'd simultaneously make sure they paid for their mistake of targeting Yachiru, while unravelling their mysteries. He wouldn't give them another chance to hurt her, not if it killed him. That was about the only thing he was sure of.
Zaraki splashed water on his face, before patting himself dry with a towel and returning to his room. His mottled face broke onto a broad, genuine smile when he saw his daughter waiting for him in his bedside chair. Ikkaku stood by the door.
"Ken-chan!" Despite his face, which was substantially more intimidating than usual, she hugged him for all she was worth. As her arms reached around the back of his neck, her sleeves rode up to reveal small dressings along her tiny arms, a fact Kenpachi couldn't ignore.
"I missed you, sweetie," said Kenpachi as he released her from the hug. "How are you feeling?"
She covered her arms. "I'll be all better by tomorrow; Hana-chan said so."
"I'm glad to hear it," replied Zaraki, but the action of covering her bandages made him think her wounds were more than skin deep. "Did you have fun with Ikkaku?"
"Yep!" She bounced in the chair, making him smile. "We got bean buns, cookies, and ice cream. We got some for you too!"
"Good thing too, cause I'm hungry for bean buns." Seeing no food on her person, meant it was waiting for him back at the lounge. "You gonna take me home so I can eat, or what?"
She giggled. "You hurt your head pretty bad, Ken-chan; that's why we're here, silly!"
He scratched his head sheepishly for her benefit, and because watching her antics cheered him up. "You know what, I might've. When it's all healed up, I'll be prettier than Yuumichika, so I wouldn't worry about my head, okay?"
With another adorable laugh, she nodded. "Okay, Ken-chan."
Turning to Ikkaku, Zaraki asked, "Speaking of Yuumichika, where is he? I thought he'd be with you guys."
"He's downstairs at the nurses station. There were a few minor injuries among the men that needed treatment; he's just finishing up the paperwork 'cause no one else wanted to do it," said Madarame.
Kenpachi shrugged, and returned his attention to his daughter. "Do you think you can go find him for me and keep him company 'til I get there? I won't be long."
She beamed at him and jumped off the chair. "You got it, Ken-chan!" She raced for the hallway leaving the door swaying on its hinges. Zaraki watched her progress down the corridor before closing the door and facing his Third Seat.
"How're the men?" asked Kenpachi, suddenly all business now that Yachiru had left the room. Ikkaku straightened his back, but couldn't fight the grin off his face.
"They're pumped as hell and ready to get back out there; they want another crack at the enemy," answered Ikkaku without a second's hesitation.
Kenpachi's face betrayed nothing, nor did his tone of voice change a fraction. "And you? You feel the same way?"
Slight confusion clouded the Third Seat's face as he wondered why his Captain would ask something so obvious. "Damn right! I don't know what they are, or where they came from, and I don't really care; I can't wait to face them again!"
"What's your impression of the enemy?" Ikkaku relaxed a little; this was a question that made sense. The Captain wanted to know if they were both on the same page regarding the strength of this particular opponent.
"They're really fast and agile; a pack of them surrounded me in seconds. As soon as I got one off my back, two more took their place. It was a hell of a workout, let me tell you. I can't wait for a rematch."
"Agility, speed and numbers." Again, Zaraki cut straight to the details he wanted, and Ikkaku nodded.
"Pretty much. It was a good fight, though. I was wearing them down and the other half of the pack stayed on the sidelines. Yuumichika killed the ones I batted his way; we were in a rhythm, and it was great. Then the one's on the sidelines got bored, I suppose, cause they started sneaking passed him towards the men."
Zaraki's gaze became a little more intense, and he began paying a little more attention. He was eager to understand how his men had dealt with the same switch in tactics he had faced. "From what I could see, the guys were holding their own, but Yuumichika disagreed because he bolted to defend them. That's when he decided to end the fight."
Zaraki pondered this. When his band of creatures had switched tactics, they had only two targets to focus on, whereas Ikkaku had had teams of men including the squadron belonging to Hisagi. Ending the fight didn't make sense due to being able to match the enemy's numbers. "Why did Yuumichika make this decision?"
Ikkaku shrugged. "Like I said, I thought the men were holding their own. You'd have to ask him."
Zaraki's scarred face twisted in annoyance. "I'm asking you; you're my Third Seat and you're responsible for the men when either myself or Yachiru isn't there, not him."
Ikkaku swallowed. He had a certain complacency regarding his Captain, preferring to view him as a sparring partner. It was odd for Kenpachi to pull rank, and when he did, Ikkaku was immediately reminded of his place. "He had more enemies than me, and more men to back him up. I was able to keep the enemy at a distance, but Yuumichika has a close-range weapon, same as the men; I think it got too hairy for them on the ground. He even used kidō."
"I see." The titanic Captain touched his lip in thought. "We had the numbers to match the enemy, but not the speed or the agility. Smart," he finished succinctly. "How did he end it?"
"He asked the Ninth Division to end it. They rained kidō down to help evacuate the men, and stop the creatures from moving. Then Hisagi told me to move out of the way so he could mow half them down with his shikai, while his guys picked the rest of with kidō. It was over in seconds." He made a disgusted face; it wasn't how Squad Eleven was supposed to operate.
Ikkaku's feelings aside, Kenpachi had gleaned a seemingly opposite impression of this enemy. Ikkaku hadn't picked up on their intelligence, allowing their covert tactics to negatively affect the fight in the same way as him, but he had a sneaking suspicion Yuumichika had. The smallest glimpse of this conniving nature was enough for his Fifth Seat to use the one weapon Squad Eleven did not have in their arsenal that could keep the enemy at a distance while matching their speed and agility: kidō. Yuumichika shut the enemy down before the rest of his men could see the creatures for what they really were. It made sense why Ikkaku had enjoyed his fight, while he himself hadn't.
Interesting.
Ikkaku watched as the Captain made his way to the bedside to grab his zanpakutō, before quickly placing it inside his obi. Ikkaku took that as his cue that he was eager to leave, and quickly opened the door, and fell into step beside his now silent Captain. All that was left, was to sign some discharge papers and they could both get back to the squad. It was time to prepare to re-engage their enemy.
Groaning from stiff joints and aching muscles, the red-haired Lieutenant managed to make it to his feet before reaching for a cane in favour of his crutches. His feet had healed relatively well, though the soles were a little bit tender. He could stand unaided, but walking still hurt. Unohana Taichou was pleased with his overall recovery and urged him to take it easy over the next few days.
It didn't take him long to reach Byakuya's room, and he was pleased to see Ginrei and Rukia chatting quietly. Byakuya was sleeping on his side, facing the group, while the many machines continued to beep at regular intervals. Renji smiled softly at the sight, taking solace in his steady recovery.
"Hi Renji, did you sleep well?" asked Rukia.
"Like a baby," said Renji with a grin. "I'm just so relieved that this nightmare will be over soon and we can get back to work. Our Third Seat has been doing a fantastic job holding down the fort, so to speak."
Ginrei smiled. "I'm delighted to hear how well my old Division is doing. Suzuki Haru was an excellent choice: he's quite level headed and dependable. If he didn't have such a good handle on things, I might have returned to lend support for a few days."
"You'd have been a familiar face at least, but yeah, Suzuki is excellent. He's hard at work drawing up new training regimes," replied Renji.
Ginrei nodded. "That's excellent news; it tells the squad that despite the absence of their Captain, the leadership is still strong. I daresay they'll be pleased to see you tomorrow. You'll make a fine leader."
Renji scratched his head, but looked more serious than nervous about his new role in the squad. "It was always a relief to have the Captain there if anything ever happened. I think I took it for granted that he provided that protection and direction, and therefore never really embraced that side of my job. Now though, I don't have much of a choice, but I can't see it as a bad thing. If the Captain returned to disfunction, where we were all running around directionless without him, he'd be angry and disappointed."
Ginrei smiled. "What is your vision for the Squad in his absence?"
"That's easy," Renji replied. "Using the knowledge of facing this enemy firsthand, I'm going to test the entire squad. I need people proficient in kidō, shunpō and anyone with a released shikai. I'll take those with years of experience using an unreleased blade if they show the right kind of potential, but for now, that's the plan. I have to assemble teams of people that work well together, with the right of skills, that have a good attitude. I'll work one on one with anyone who needs the extra help. I want those teams ready when the Captain returns, I can't accept anything less than the best both from myself and the men."
Rukia and Ginrei looked impressed, Rukia maybe more so. "Wow, Renji, look at you! That's so well thought out and mature, I didn't think you had it in you." She couldn't help but look embarrassed and sheepish. Renji raised an eyebrow.
"I know it seems strange to you, but when we hang out, you're with me and not Abarai Fukutaichou. Our Squads generally don't conduct a lot of side-by-side activity, so I understand if it's a bit of a surprise to see me this way." Rukia contemplated his words carefully, and realised she didn't distinguish between his personal and professional capacities.
Renji continued. "I also realise, I haven't been living up to my full capabilities as a Lieutenant. At the height of the Winter War, I had acquired the speed, strength and skill, but that was about all. Having a shikai, or in my case, a bankai, isn't enough to make you a good Lieutenant. It takes more than that, and only recently, I've begun to notice the areas I'm lacking in, and I've been trying to change them." He trailed off, and the other two could hear the regret in his voice."
"It takes a real man, Lieutenant or not, to own up to his shortcomings. That you have already begun to rectify the ones you've noticed is very telling." Renji gave Ginrei a slight smile, grateful for the support. Rukia was a little confused.
"I thought being Lieutenant meant you had to have shikai; what other skills are you talking about?"
Renji shot her a grin. "Thinking of becoming one?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"I'm pretty sure they want someone seated, which I am not. I think it'll be quite a while before my name comes up for the job."
"I know, I was just kidding. Don't sell yourself short, but there's a lot they look for. You have to achieve a certain level of kidō, shunpō speed, shikai is ideal, and proficiency with an unreleased blade and hand to hand combat. Aside from that, you need the leadership qualities. Hundreds of people have to rely on you for direction when the Captain isn't leading.
"Some Captains delegate the training to other Seated Officers, depending on who is considered the expert for a particular shinigami's needs or the needs of a group, or who has the most time to devote to training at any given time. It's good, because it allows all the Seated Officers to gain experience, but bad because the normal squad members keep seeing different faces every day.
"The other things would be a certain level of professionalism, being approachable by all members, to lead by example in all things. People need to look at you in that high rank and think, 'that could be me someday', or 'I'm sure glad the Lieutenant is here, or I would be really scared right now'. Things like that. It's certainly not an exhaustive list, but it does vary from person to person. We all have different fighting styles, strengths and weaknesses. Whatever they may be, you'd have to be the best Lieutenant you could be, if that makes any sense."
Ginrei cast a very admiring glance Renji's way, and Renji suddenly realised how long he'd rambled on for and it reflected on his face. Rukia was looking at him like she'd just met him for the first time. "That makes a lot of sense. I've never heard any of this stuff before."
Ginrei chuckled and Renji looked at him knowingly. "Ok, hypothetical scenario. You know those people that are apparent prodigies, even right out of the academy?" Rukia nodded. "Imagine that young shinigami had their hands on a list like that and they started to go down it, ticking off the boxes? The Gotei would put pressure of that persons Captain, would now be obliged to recognise that person's skills and bump them up the ranks of Seated Officers. This person is suddenly in a position of responsibility. With me so far?" Rukia made a sound of affirmation. "Put them in the same position as me the other night when an enemy they've never seen before popped up out of nowhere. How do you think they'd cope?"
Rukia felt put on the spot, but gave her best answer. "Badly?"
Renji nodded. "Theoretically, they've aced all their exams and passed all the proficiency tests for field training. However, that person hasn't led any missions before, not here and not in the living world. They've certainly never experienced bloodshed, death or war before. They don't know how to act under pressure, they haven't acquired judgement based on their years of experience and they don't know what their limits are. They would be killed outright without the protection of a more experienced Officer, rank aside.
"Take Ichigo for example; he doesn't hold a recognised rank in the Gotei, but the Gotei does acknowledge him. As a living human, he officially ranks as a substitute shinigami on par with a high level non-Seated Officer. Despite that, he has the skills to rival a lot of the Captains, though he's not ready to stand beside them yet. The question is, if they handed him control of a Division, would he play by the rules, be a team player, and follow orders given to him? Would his Squad members respect him and follow his direction? That is way more important to the Gotei, than what skills you've learned; Captains who flout the authority of the Soūtaichou don't last long, no matter what their skills are. The same is true for all the Seated Ranks.
"No one will tell you this. The Gotei would rather you spend as much time as you need to figure these things out about yourself, to come to terms with your capabilities, and all that. Getting bumped up isn't all it's cracked up to be, and just because someone has a high rank, doesn't make them qualified in all things. The more you train, the more experience you gain, the more you'll see these things. When the time is right, you'll see advancement if that's what you want, but my advice is to think about what you want. Choose the things that help you achieve those goals, but take your time."
With wide eyes, Rukia found herself nodding at her suddenly wise and unrecognisable best friend. "I will."
Ginrei gazed at his grandson fondly. 'How did you see his potential when he was nothing but a whelp from the Eleventh Division, rough around the edges, with no skills to speak of? What a fantastic Captain he will make, when the time comes.'
Byakuya woke slowly. Pain radiated from his back in pulsating waves, causing tremors to travel across his muscles. He tried to focus on something else, but he couldn't. He knew someone was talking, but it was like being under water, it sounded distorted to his ears. He opened and closed his eyes to try to see who was speaking, but his head was spinning with dizziness.
Another wave of agony hit him, causing him to grind his teeth and clench his eyes shut. He balled his hands in fistfuls of sheets trying to brace himself against the pain. A quiet moan unwittingly escaped his throat, causing his visitors to look in his direction.
He felt a calloused hand touch his shoulder gently, but he was so lost in the pain to respond to their touch or words. He just wanted the pain to stop. Black spots clouded his poor vision, and his head felt hot; he didn't register a person bending down to look him in the eye with concern. He didn't see them rise and punch the emergency button on the wall. He groaned as another wave of agony spread across his entire body, and the only coherent thought he could manage was, 'When would it end?'
"A medical mystery, you say?" said Kurotsuchi Taichou, shaking Unohana's hand. "I must admit, I am intrigued, though I don't consult on medical cases very often. Tell me everything."
"Certainly. It's very peculiar; after the surgery, we had a kidō therapy session and the reiatsu levels were low but steady. After checking last night, our records indicate that they are regenerating, and yet, the levels haven't changed. On top of that, the kidō isn't holding and appears as though we didn't perform it, as all the reduced inflammation around the wound has returned. I've never seen anything like it." Unohana sat back with a troubled expression.
Kurotsuchi was even more excited by this. "How curious; the reiatsu is regenerating and yet barely holding. When were the last lab results and physical examinations carried out?"
"After the first round of therapy. We've been monitoring his vitals, of course, the wound looks like it is fresh, but clean. The only thing bothering me is the reiatsu levels; they should be ten times what they are at minimum. I've discontinued the therapy until they return to normal."
Mayuri processed her words with alacrity, and began shaking his head. "We'll need all new lab tests, a list of all the medications he has had and is currently receiving, as well as a physical inspection of his injuries. I won't be satisfied until I have all the latest information at my disposal. Working from dated material leads to false conclusions."
Unohana smiled, "Naturally, I expect no less." Knowing him as well as she did, she knew better than to take it personally. She was almost surprised he hadn't used shunpō to begin investigating the moment he had arrived. She almost admired his restraint.
"Also," began Kurotsuchi, "With the nature of the injury, as well as the rapid deterioration you've described, we'll have to work quickly to understand what's causing the low reiatsu levels. Has someone been monitoring his condition through the night?"
Unohana nodded. "My Lieutenant, as well as my Third Seat, in alternating shifts. I've been on call; there were no disturbances last night. His dressings have been changed every six hours and he was given pain medications and something to help him sleep; he should be waking up soon."
At the moment Kurotsuchi Taichou chose to respond, an emergency alarm began beeping on her desk. She grabbed it, and read it quickly, before racing towards the door. Mayuri followed her at a run, with an expression demanding an explanation.
"Code Blue."
"Byakuya, what's wrong? Tell me where it hurts," Renji urged, but was met with unseeing eyes, no verbal response, and a building sense of helplessness. He stared intently at the muscle tremors.
'He's in so much pain, he can't see or hear me?'
Renji punched the emergency button beside the bed, and continued to try to get a response from his Captain. The Kuchiki's were alarmed, and Rukia appeared as if she was about to start hyperventilating.
Moments later, Isane burst into the room and approached the bed. Renji moved away to give her space. She threw a quick glance at the machines, but ultimately turned her attention to the prone form of Captain Kuchiki. She leaned over a little, and touched his clenched arm.
"Captain Kuchiki? Can you hear me?" When no response was forthcoming aside from incoherent moans of pain, she took another look at his vitals. His heart was beating rapidly, his breathing was laboured and his reiatsu was dangerously low. On a hunch, she removed the blanket and lifted his kimono to expose his wounds.
She gasped.
At that moment, Unohana Taichou and Kurotsuchi Taichou burst into the room. Upon seeing Isane's horrified expression, both Captain's leaned over to see what had caused her reaction.
The corners of the wound dressings had begun to lift away from the skin, and blood had poured from the site, covering the skin and staining the nearby textiles. Unohana could see the minute muscle spasms and frowned heavily as she lifted the larger dressing off. A terrible smell of decay hit them, and Mayuri's eyes lit up.
"Fascinating!" he murmured to himself. He prodded the flesh underneath the sutures and watched it give way under his touch. The sutures fell off the rotting edges of the wound, and blood seeped from the wound worse than before. Black clots of blood coloured the fresh red on a macabre display. Byakuya's groans of pain became longer and more pronounced as he curled in on himself, while burying his face in the pillow.
"We need to take him to the operating room, now. Isane, run ahead, and inform the staff of our arrival." Her rapid, insistent words, had an immediate effect. Isane left the room, Ginrei and Rukia followed the scene with tears and nervousness. Renji stood motionless, but watched them wheel the bed towards the door. He found himself following them, each step allowing him to witness his Captain's progress, but his movements were unconscious as the tendrils of shock began to slowly affect him.
"Do you think Abarai-kun will be angry with us for not coming to see him sooner?" asked Matsumoto, closing the hospital door behind her.
"Course not," said Hisagi. "He wouldn't want us to see him when he's down, and yesterday must have been pretty tough for him."
"That's a good point. The nurses are still talking about how he burst through the doors with Captain Kuchiki covered in blood; they're lucky to be alive," added Yuumichika, who had finally finished his paperwork. Ikkaku wasn't due to arrive until later, and it was still early.
"It could have been a much uglier ending, right Yuumichika-kun?" said Kira, winking at only non-Lieutenant in the small group. Said man, made a disgusted face in response.
"Do you have to be so morbid, Kira-kun?" asked Matsumoto with a slight shudder.
Hisagi fought the urge to roll his eyes at their light-hearted antics as he approached the receptionists desk. "Good morning, could you tell us where to find Abarai Fukutaichou, please."
The tired looking nurse glanced warily at the many Lieutenant badges and wondered if they were visiting in a work-related capacity. Normally she wouldn't allow this large of a group to visit a patient for fear of causing noise complaints as well as possibly hindering the recovery of said patients, but three Lieutenants were beyond her. No way was she interfering with Squad business. "Down the hall towards the elevators and take a right. His name is on the door." She breathed a sigh of relief the moment they left.
The group found their way pretty quickly only to find the room empty. Sheets of paper littered the desk causing Shūhei to lean over with curiosity. Rangiku glared at the offending articles knowing stacks awaited her in her Captain's office. She was purposely avoiding the place, after all.
"What is it?" asked Kira.
"Seems like a rough draft of the preliminaries for an investigation. There's a witness report but it's … patchy," said Hisagi mildly. He picked up a second leaf of paper and compared the two. "Yeah, this is a list of items required to file an actual case against the offender. Statements required, there's a list of ranks but no names."
"Ooh, let me read it!" Rangiku almost grabbed it out of his hands making the ninth division Lieutenant snicker. Women and their incessant need to gossip.
"Misconduct… evidence, Captain eyewitness account, hmm," said Rangiku, scanning the document, before gasping. "Two high ranking offenders. Squad 13? No way!"
Hisagi cocked his head. "How do you know that? It's not written anywhere."
"Duh, Third Seat interviews required, plural. It's underlined for some reason." Rangiku grinned and Hisagi conceded he probably should have made the connection.
"I know you're thinking how fast you can get this news out there, but you know the rules, Rangiku; wait until the investigation is concluded or you could forewarn whoever broke the law." She sighed for dramatic effect, before responding.
"You do realise, while I do love my fair share of gossip, I never discuss work outside of work unless those people already know. I like to stick to the personal things." She laughed, and Kira broke the silence from his position beside Yuumichika.
"There's more over here, but it's about something else. It looks like rough drafts of a training regime."
Yuumichika raised his eyebrows in a very chuffed and impressed manner. "A very serious training regime; this is hardcore. Kidō aside, my Captain would love this!"
Naturally Shūhei's interest was aroused and he wandered over to take a look. "Damn! This is serious, he can't expect the entire Squad to be able to pull this off." He went quiet as he continued to read down the list of techniques.
"He's forming a strike team, designed to match our current enemy. Advanced techniques, released blades, kidō." Yuumichika's conclusion stunned everyone in the room. Matsumoto scrunched her face in a frown.
"This is Abarai we're talking about. He's led a lot of missions and ran training before, but this isn't what I'd expect him to do. The Renji I know would wait until his Captain returned to tell him what to do."
The group became speculative. "No. This is an unprecedented situation for Abarai. I've never heard of Kuchiki Taichou being absent for any reason during a conflict before. This is probably the first time Abarai has ever actually held the reins of his division. This," Kira gestured to the training list, "is his response to the reason for his Captain's absence."
"What makes you say that? For all you know, this could be orders from his Captain," said Yuumichika.
"Kuchiki Taichou is in no condition to be giving orders. He's off active duty, meaning the responsibility of command now falls to Abarai-kun. While he's also in hospital, he's been working with the Seated Officers to continue to provide direction to the Squad. Also, think about it," replied Kira. "No one else was with them, and no one else has any idea how they acquired their injuries beyond the facts. I mean his personal reaction to the actual assault, the violence, the life-threatening injuries, all of that is driving him to ensure it can't happen again. Especially as he is the one making the decisions; who's going to argue with him?"
Yuumichika smiled in an almost sadistic way. "He's taking the next fight to the enemy. I can appreciate that, despite the promise that when he does face them, it'll get really ugly."
"For the enemy, right?" said Matsumoto. "I'd say we should probably make copies, but I'm allergic to writing…" The group laughed heartily. Yuumichika glanced at Shūhei, who pocketed the list.
"Doesn't look like he'll be back any time soon. Should we wait here?" asked Rangiku.
The general consensus was for the canteen to grab lunch. They could always try again in an hour. The group exited the room and closed the door behind them.
As they strolled down the corridor, the group became aware of a team of nurses running down the adjacent corridor. Rangiku raised her eyebrows.
"What's that all about?" She turned away from the group heading towards the direction of the canteen, in favour of following the nurses. The equally curious men found themselves following her. The detour led them towards the nurses station in the centre of a large open area where Zaraki Taichou was hunched over the desk signing forms, with Ikkaku and Yachiru standing off to the side. Yuumichika winced knowing he was supposed to meet his Captain here, but assumed he'd have more time. He approached his fellow squad member.
"Zaraki Taichou." He bowed. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I didn't expect you to be released this early." Zaraki merely grunted at his Fifth Seat, but didn't turn away from what he was doing.
"Yun-Yun! And Hisa-Hisa, and Izurun!" Yachiru raced to the small group, proceeding to hug the stuffing out of Yuumichika.
"Hey, how come Rangiku doesn't have a nickname?" asked Yuumichika.
"I think she ran out of original names to describe a woman with a well-endowed chest. She does call Inoue and Shihoin-sama 'Boobies', so it's possible she might start calling you something along those lines if you remind her," replied Izuru.
"No! I refuse to be lumped in with an existing nickname. I deserve something unique!" said Matsumoto.
"Chesticles!" came a very suspicious cough from within the group, causing them all to break down into a fit of giggles. Yachiru, who had her finger on her bottom lip in serious thought, perked up.
"I love it! That should definitely be your nickname," cried the little girl. Rangiku's face fell and the chuckling increased.
"What about Matsu-Matsu or Matsu-chan? I think they're much better names." Rangiku tried to reason, but Yachiru was shaking her head. "I can't change it now."
Rangiku lowered her face in dismay. There really was no reasoning with the child. The mood was crushed when they heard commotion at the far end of one of the adjoining hallways.
"Clear the way! Emergency!"
The group focused on the voice, and saw Captains Unohana and Kurotsuchi wheeling a hospital bed towards the lifts. They couldn't make out the patient, however, as they had their face buried in their pillow. As the bed moved closer, the stunned group stared, noticing the patient's lower back was covered in fresh blood, as well as dark clots where it had begun to coagulate. The men frowned, Rangiku's hand flew to her mouth and Yachiru hid behind Kenpachi. As they watched, the Captains reached the lift, and silence descended on the stunned group as the metal doors closed with a soft ringing sound. It was at that moment, they finally noticed Ginrei and Rukia Kuchiki sinking into chairs lined up along the corridor. Renji remained standing, but in an obvious state of shock. Whispers rose amongst the group, as they approached their fellow Lieutenant and the Kuchiki's, leaving Kenpachi and Yachiru at the desk, now that the identity of the patient was glaringly obvious.
Rangiku hurried over to Rukia, and threw her arms around the younger shinigami. Rukia immediately lost the will to remain stoic, and burst into tears. "They said h-he would be ok. I don't understand… why…"
Rangiku shushed her soothingly. "He'll be fine. There's no way Unohana Taichou, or even Kurotsuchi Taichou, would ever let anything happen to him. He's a fellow Captain, and they'll do their best. You'll see." The blonde fully believed those words, but understood that certain things are beyond the control of even the best Captains. Still, if it was her brother suffering, that's what she'd want to hear. Kira followed her example, and placed a hand on Ginrei's shoulder. He didn't need to say anything.
As Shūhei approached Renji, Ikkaku scoffed. He muttered under his breath for Yuumichika's benefit, but in the silent corridor, his words carried clearly. "What kind of man or Captain can't stomach a little pain?"
"Ikkaku!" Yuumichika shot him a look filled with disbelief. Ikkaku appeared extremely unapologetic, despite the nearby presence of his own Captain.
"Third Seat, Madarame. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't have you court martialled for disrespecting a Superior Officer?" The group winced as Renji seemed to shake off his state of shock. Renji stood, silent and furious.
"Abarai Fukutaichou, please reconsider." Yuumichika was so embarrassed. He didn't want his best friend arrested, even though he was clearly guilty. Renji's expression didn't change, and he could see the Kuchiki's were similarly outraged. If Renji failed to address the remark, then the noble family would. The Fifth Seat didn't know which was worse.
"This is not the first instance of Madarame disrespecting a higher-ranking Officer. I, quite frankly, have had enough." Ikkaku paled at Renji's words, but held his ground. "Since you seem to focus your disrespect on my Division, let's address this particular remark. What do you know about being a man, Madarame? When was the last time you put the needs and considerations of another soul above your own? When was the last time, if ever, you sacrificed your energy, time, or safety for anyone? That is why Kuchiki Taichou is injured; he put himself in front of a deadly attack to protect someone else. How dare you stand there and disrespect him."
Renji stood shaking with anger as he continued. "You are not a man. Your only concern is to yourself and your own goals. All you want to do is follow Captain Zaraki; while that is admirable, it says a lot about you. You are so committed to this, that you've avoided drawing the attention of the higher ups, even going as far as hiding your bankai." Ikkaku visibly faltered when no one in the group appeared surprised by Renji's revelation.
"It's the worst kept secret in the Seireitei. All the Captain's know. When you were tasked with protecting that tower, and you failed to use all your strength, resulting in the failure of the mission, you lost the respect of every Captain in the Gotei. That is why Kuchiki Taichou treats you with disdain, and why you treat him with contempt."
Ikkaku glared at Renji. "Choosing when to use my bankai doesn't make me less of a man; neither does my goal of following Captain Zaraki. Yes, I was defeated at the tower, but my bankai had nothing to do with it. Every Officer faces defeat at some point or another; it's part of the job."
"Your bankai had everything to do with it, but not using it not only cost you the fight, it also told the upper echelons of the Gotei that you will not give your all to achieve your orders unless it suits you. It also told them that you have no interest in being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant or Captain. The only thing that remains clouded, is why? Is it because you don't want to be responsible for hundreds of souls under your care, or because it would conflict with your personal goals? Either way, it reflected poorly on your Captain who is an exceptional member of the Gotei. Unlike you, he takes his responsibilities very seriously, he gives everything he has to achieving his orders, despite his limitations. When he fails, it is not because he didn't utilise every talent in his arsenal, but because his opponent gave him the runaround. He never disrespects other Officers, and never seeks out a fight for any reason not related to combat or training. For someone set on emulating him, you have a lot to learn."
Ikkaku frowned. The rest of the group continued to listen avidly. Kenpachi approached, and Ikkaku's frown deepened. He saw no hint of disapproval or anger in his Captain's eyes, but he didn't want to press the matter.
"Abarai Fukutaichou," greeted Kenpachi.
"Zaraki Taichou," said Renji.
"Give my best to Kuchiki when he gets back up. Tell him to find me if he needs any help getting back in shape after his injury; I'll give him a good sparring session, day or night." He nodded, his sincerity clear on his freshly scarred face. He wasn't one to mince words.
"Thank you, Zaraki Taichou. He'll be delighted to hear that. He considers your sparring sessions to be quite the challenge." He shook Zaraki's hand, and the Captain grinned.
"Same. Don't worry about him, he's a tough son of a bitch; it'll take a lot more than that to take him out of the game. Look after yourself, Abarai; I'll take care of this," he said, nodding his head towards Ikkaku. Ikkaku looked up, and Yuumichika held his breath. Renji hesitated, but ultimately relented.
"This once, I will not pursue the matter, in respect to you, Zaraki Taichou. But if I become aware of any further instances, I will have no choice but to reverse my decision." He nodded to the Captain, who returned the favour. The Kuchiki's looked mollified by the decision, knowing Kenpachi would handle any issues inside his Division.
"Agreed."
As the colossal Captain turned to leave, Yuumichika shot a grateful glance towards Renji, and an apologetic one towards his friends, before falling in line with his Captain and Squad members.
As soon as Ikkaku rounded the corner, Renji seemed to slump over a little, and sighed heavily. His thoughts returned to the fate of his Captain, and his worry was plain to see. Ginrei patted his shoulder once, in silent gratitude for protecting the dignity of their family member. Rukia remained shaken and distracted, and when Renji caught her eye, she turned away.
"I'm going to go get some tea." Renji nodded and Ginrei caught the multiple looks of sympathy on the Lieutenants faces. She wanted to be alone.
A few moments later, Renji found himself alone with the other three Lieutenants.
"That was kind of you, considering," said Kira.
Renji looked up and saw the varying degrees of awkwardness on the faces of the other three Lieutenants. "It wouldn't have been fair to Zaraki. He and my Captain get on well together, and if anyone could handle it, I'd trust it to be him."
Rangiku sat languidly. "I get it, hun, why invite more paperwork, right? Seriously though, I had no idea things were that bad between Ikkaku and your squad. I mean, I always thought that talking about him having a bankai was nothing more than a rumour, since we've never actually seen it. If he'd said anything like that about my Captain, I'd have gone ballistic."
Renji chuckled. "Oh, believe me, it crossed my mind. I wanted to pin his throat to the wall under my shikai, but let's face it; I'd be up on charges as well." The group murmured their agreement with that statement. "He trains his bankai up on Sougyoku Hill when he thinks no one's watching. It made the rounds through the grapevine, and soon it was an open secret. We know he could have used it in that fight and he didn't. I suppose he thought that if the Captains had seen it that day, they'd have pulled him out of his squad and promoted him to Lieutenant, or something. That would take him away from Kenpachi, and well, he couldn't have that now, could he?"
Shūhei followed up the point. "So, when your Captain put two and two together, he started being dismissive towards Ikkaku?"
Rangiku laughed again. "Captain Kuchiki has no respect for half measures, slackers and rule breakers. Even if the Captains decided not to address the bankai, I still can't see him holding back his disdain knowing what he knew. Honestly, what did Ikkaku expect?"
"Obviously, he didn't think it through," said Kira. "Don't get this confused; Ikkaku is one of us, and I like the guy, but he needs to acknowledge how the rest of the Gotei perceive his actions."
"He needs to grow up," chuckled Rangiku. Renji sighed.
"His overconfidence will cost him if he doesn't change his attitude fast. The only thing keeping him in line is Kenpachi, but the Gotei will eventually see his behaviour for what it is. He plays on his own team, by his own rules, with no thought or care for this organisation and what it stands for. When that day comes, bankai or not, they'll discharge him in a heartbeat." The other Lieutenants nodded in a sombre manner.
"It's a shame, though. He's got a good attitude when it comes to enemies in the Soul Society. He's tenacious and he's got the stamina to keep up with them. His bankai is powerful; when he masters it, he'll put Komamura to shame." Renji spoke, but shook his head, showing the group how futile he thought that outcome was.
"It's big of you to say that. He's been goading you for a while," said Kira.
"Yeah, and I was an idiot beside a bigger idiot. I barked and growled like a mutt every time he came along with a dumb remark, and I didn't see it until my Captain pointed it out. I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed."
Rangiku became thoughtful. "That's what led to your newfound maturity." The four laughed. "I'm just teasing. It's a good improvement, and this business of you being in charge, suits you."
Renji frowned at the implications. None of it would have been necessary if his Captain wasn't fighting for his life. What if he lost the fight? What if he doesn't make it?
"Don't," said Shūhei. Renji looked up in surprise. "Don't think about it. Worry when you know you have to, and not a second sooner. Trust me."
"What should I do instead?"
Shūhei reached into his pocket, and pulled out the sheet of paper from earlier. Recognition flooded Renji's face at the sight of the list. "Do what needs to be done. You already know what that is," said the spikey haired Lieutenant.
"I'm tempted to follow your example," said Kira. He gestured to the list. "Perhaps not this training regime, but something more my style. I'll have to give it some thought." He chuckled.
"I assumed this list was a draft, and not the only copy you have, so I took it. I wanted to see if there was anything my squad could be improving on," said Hisagi.
Renji nodded. "Suzuki has the plans too, so you're free to keep that one. In fact, I might head back and talk to him about it, see how it's coming along."
Rangiku nodded. "Exactly, stay busy." She stood and gave him a quick hug. "I'm going to head back too; maybe I can be useful as well." The group laughed as they said their goodbyes. As Renji watched them go, he could help but feel the same way they did - motivated.
"What could possibly have caused this?"
With the stab wound reopened, the right kidney and surrounding tissues were exposed under the bright fluorescent lights of the operating room. Unohana appeared beyond baffled by what she was looking at. Mayuri inspected the area with a gaze so intense, he looked like the only person in the room that was pleased with the findings.
The surface membrane of the kidney showed remnants of stitches from the previous surgery. The previous perfect straight line of thread had unravelled when the surface of the organ lost its integrity to keep them in place. Thick blood, ranging from fresh red to black in the late clotting stages, oozed from the weakening wall of the kidney. The surrounding tissue muscles showed the same level of necrotic activity; parts of some muscle strands had liquified completely, while others hung on by literal threads. It was a gory, gooey mess.
"Perhaps these enemies contain a cytotoxic venom in their talons? It would certainly explain the cell damage, if not the necrosis, and even the pain?" Kurotsuchi mused aloud as he prodded the area with a gloved finger.
"I can't imagine so," replied the female Captain. "We would have seen evidence of this damage in every laceration, and every scratch, of every patient affected by this enemy, unless you're suggesting that they reserve their venom for stab wounds?"
Kurotsuchi quirked his lips in a wry smirk, as he conceded her well-reasoned words. "There are animals that choose when or when not to release their venom. Certain cobras in the living world give what is known as a dry bite, when warning off threats that they have no intention to kill or consume."
She shook her head. "I'm not convinced; from what I heard, these creatures aimed to kill with every swipe of their talons. Of course, I could be wrong, but it seems unlikely."
He glanced at her from the other side of the operating table. "I suppose, your theory is a lack of reiatsu to facilitate the healing process?"
The demure Captain managed a small smile, despite the tense situation, before it faded. "I think so. Not half as exciting as cytotoxic venom, I know."
Kurotsuchi laughed quietly to himself. "Not to worry. Between the two of us, I'm convinced we can discover the source of this damage, as well as undo its effects. May I take some samples of the affected tissues, before they are removed or cleansed?" She looked at him critically. "For research. If this damage is not caused by lowered reiatsu levels, then this could be our only opportunity to discover alternative causes. I simply do not wish to take any chances guessing, when laboratory analysis could provide conclusive proof." His succinct argument was met with approval, however begrudging. He quickly got to work.
The research Captain nodded to one of the nurses, who pulled over a trolley prepared with everything he could possibly need. Twistable capsules containing a single swab, a capsule rack to place them in after they had been used, sealable bags, and sample bottles with caps.
With a practiced hand, he began swabbing the muscles that had not disintegrated, as well as the kidney, placing each individual swab in its own slot on the rack. He then swabbed the unaffected areas, and using a sample bottle, collected a small amount of liquid tissue. Unohana watched as he took specimens of fresh blood, and a large clot, before handing them to the thoroughly disgusted Fourth Division shinigami. After he had double checked the collected samples were both secure and accounted for, he gave Unohana a quick nod; it was time to clean the wound.
One pair of gloved hands made quick work of suctioning out the blood and destroyed tissue, while the other drizzled sterile water over the wounds. Very gently, the muscles and tissues that remained intact were exposed to their attentive eyes. Unohana grimaced, and released a breath. "Alright, Captain Kurotsuchi. I'm going to restore his reiatsu levels, before I can attempt to heal the damage. Is there anything else you need to help you with your analysis?"
He met her eyes. "I will need a sample of his reiatsu when you are finished. Other than that, I require nothing further for my research; you've been most helpful."
Unohana gave him a simple nod, and began the kaidō treatment. The treatment was both normal and unusual; any kidō based treatment required the patient to have full reserves of reiatsu in order to aid in the healing process. Kaido was used routinely for that purpose, but in this case, the reserves were close to depleted, adding huge stress on his ability to regenerate his reiatsu and on the healer who had to concentrate for a much longer period of time.
Kaido was invisible, unlike normal kidō treatments, which were green. Mayuri watched the indicator monitoring the reiatsu levels. After five minutes of intense treatment, he tilted his head at the screen.
"Did you see that?" he asked, and Unohana paused. She followed his finger which pointed to the monitor. It showed an increase in the reiatsu levels, but nothing unusual, so she shook her head. "Continue the kaidō, but look at the screen."
She did as he instructed, managing to do what he asked despite the split in her concentration. The numbers rose, before they dropped ever so slightly.
"What?" She turned in complete disbelief. "How can the levels drop while I'm regenerating them?" With the treatment momentarily paused, the two Captains continued to watch the levels drop minutely.
"It's just as you described, Unohana Taichou." He looked up with a hint of a grin. "He is regenerating his reiatsu, as any reaper normally would, and yet his levels remain low." She urged him with her eyes to tell what was causing it. "Something in his body, something I believe he alone encountered during his run in with this enemy, is eating it!"
"Nothing eats reiatsu." Her eyes darted back and forth in very deep thought, but the numbers continued to drop on the monitor, and with the insult of the fact that time was running out, she couldn't find an alternative explanation.
"Nothing that we know of, but we know nothing about these creatures." Mayuri didn't sound pleased with his admission.
"If we can't restore his reiatsu, then he can't be healed. Captain Kuchiki will die." He could hear the hint of frantic helplessness creep into the voice.
"Not necessarily." He indicated for her to restart the kaidō treatment for the third time. He placed his hands above hers and cast the normal kidō spell with the green colour glow. She quirked an eyebrow at him wordlessly, as that part of the process usually happened after the reiatsu had been restored, but she didn't stop him. Instead of holding his hands above the affected area, he began to lower them, until his green glowing reiatsu began to blend with that of the patient's. Soon, Captain Kuchiki's body was swirling in a soft green glow, and Kurotsuchi concentrated with everything he had.
"There!" He pointed his extra-long fingernail at a specific spot nestled beside the damaged kidney, while he waved at a nurse to get their attention without removing his gaze from the area. "A large syringe, now!" His hands were a blur, as he leaned right over the body of their fellow Captain. He drew the green tinged reiatsu into the large syringe carefully, before he held it up to Retsu.
"I can't believe it… you were right?" As she gazed at the spiralling contents of the syringe, she noticed small flecks of pure white reiatsu floating amidst Captain Kuchiki's.
"Again, until we can be sure the contaminant is completely removed." The nurse brought several more large syringes, and Retsu continued the kaidō. They worked in perfect tandem; Unohana cast kaidō while Mayuri watched the monitor for any indication that the levels were still dropping. Every time Kuchiki Taichou's levels dipped, he recast the green healing kidō to provide a colour contrast to identify the flecks that remained white. After ten minutes, and several syringes, the reiatsu levels remained steady without dipping. The now exhausted Captains looked at each other.
"He can be healed normally now; I don't foresee any problems or lasting damage," said Kurotsuchi. "I need to take this back to my laboratory for testing." His voice was laced with heavy fatigue, but his eyes were alight with a fire that only a researcher could empathise with. She nodded simply, but gazed one final time to the syringe he was holding up. The white spots continued to dance with the green reiatsu.
"What is it?" she asked.
Their eyes met. "I have no idea."