Chapter 7 - Help and Assistance

Minata's POV

A few days.

It has been a few days since the ryokas invaded the Soul Society. They've kept a low profile so far, staying hidden from the increased shinigami presence that's been posted in the streets since they first infiltrated the barrier. It's impressive that they've come so far, even evading some of the better trackers in the divisions. I've even went out myself with a few squads, but we still have yet to find any of them. Hmm, this means they're very much aware of who they could possibly face. Considering they were likely working with Urahara before coming here, I wouldn't put it past them.

Eventually though, they will come out of the woodwork. It's all a matter of when.

As I walk through my division's courtyard, many thoughts pass through my head, but one stands out more than all the others.

Why?

Why would these humans go this far for Rukia?

They've only known her for a few weeks, but they have come here to save her like they have known her for a lifetime, even the Quincy, one of our natural enemies.

In truth, it's actually quite touching to see this kind of determination, to see such willingness to put one's life on the line for someone they - very likely - care about. Those humans are doing something that I believe Byakuya wishes he could do.

Defy the customs and laws of the Soul Society for the sake of saving someone close to him.

With his status as both the head of the Kuchiki Clan and the Captain of the Sixth Division, it would be considered absolute blasphemy for someone like him to defy the Soul Society's long-standing rules.

I'm sure the elders in his family would all simultaneously have heart attacks if he did such a thing. It's also likely that the other families - beside my own, more or less - would have an absolute field day if this ever happened. The Kuchiki and Fukudome clans are two of the top families in the Seireitei for a reason, and the position comes with as many enemies as it does friends and allies.

But back to Byakuya, I know he is hurting inside. What's been happening in recent days is a problem that he can't simply solve with a yes or no answer. It has so many implications, and not all of them are good.

Now that I think about it, maybe it is a good thing that the ryokas have come to save Rukia from her fate. Better yet, I bet it somehow gives Byakuya hope, even if he won't admit it himself.

It would take a lot of arm twisting to get him to admit such a thing. Hell, it's hard enough to get him to admit that his Seaweed Ambassador isn't his best idea in the world.

How the hell he came up with such a thing is beyond me.

"Third Seat Fukudome! Lady Fukudome! Do you have a minute?!"

"Hm?!" I say, broken free from my thoughts by the sudden voice. I turn to see Lieutenant Kira of the Third Division and Lieutenant Hinamori of the Fifth Division running over, one looking slightly more out of breath than the other. Their zanpakutos, Wabisuke and Tobiume, were following right behind them, though Wabisuke - as always - doesn't look like he wanted to be here in the first place.

"Lieutenant Kira, Lieutenant Hinamori, what may I do for you two?"

"Do you know where Captain Kuchiki is?" Hinamori asks, taking in a few deep breaths.

"Captain Kuchiki is still in the emergency captains' meeting in the main hall. They probably won't be out for some time. . . Why do you ask?"

"Renji left the lieutenant's meeting in a hurry. After we found out that the ryoka boy took a hostage, he left without us noticing till it was too late. . . We believe he left to confront him."

"And knowing him, he'll confront the boy with his blade, not his words." I conclude as Kira pulls out a familiar object from his pocket. I originally thought it was Izuru's badge, but it was already tied around his left arm. Even though I had a feeling that I knew who the badge belonged to, I checked the insignia, just to make sure.

Of course, as soon as I got a good look at the badge, the camellia of the Sixth Division was staring me straight in the face.

"That is troubling to see," I say, crossing my arms. "From what you said earlier about Abarai's abrupt exit from your meeting, it's likely he's moving on his own accord. If Renji had taken his badge with him, he could at least get away with saying that he was acting under his authority as a lieutenant, but by abandoning it, he does put himself at a higher risk of legal backlash . . . Captain Kuchiki likely won't be happy with this once he hears about it."

"What do you suggest we should do Third Seat Fukudome?"

"Hinamori?" I ask, my voice matching how Kira look: confused, surprised, and a little unsure of the brunette's intentions.

"I know my question seems a little odd, but we are trying to keep Captain Kuchiki in mind in our decision, and since you are the one person active in the Gotei 13 that has known him long enough to have a good idea on what he may possibly decide, we thought you may have an idea on what we should do."

"So, to remedy your situation, you have decided to put me in Captain Kuchiki's shoes, hoping that I could come up with the answer that he would likely come up with himself. Pretty much: should you go assist him with his endeavor or let him do this on his own." I say as I weigh the options.

"Yeah, that's basically it," says Kira, a nervous laugh passing by his lips. ". . . I hope you don't mind us putting you in this position Fukudome-san."

"Don't worry. I don't mind it one bit. I'm actually surprised that this doesn't happen to me more often, if you can believe that . . . Anyway, Captain Kuchiki is a man known for abiding the law in any way he can. However, he believes that if someone is going to willingly take on a task, that person should not hesitate to do it, even if they decide to go through with it alone."

"So, he would probably just let Renji go on and face the ryoka by himself?" Tobiume asked from her master's side, hiding her mouth behind her sleeve.

"Indeed. If Renji succeeds, I can't see Captain Kuchiki disciplining him too harshly for his actions. It will be an entirely different story if he ends up failing though." I say, actually fearing for Renji if the second scenario does happen. "I think you two should go and observe him though, just in case he may actually need some assistance. . . Plus, I have a good feeling Renji's not going to leave that battle unscathed."

"Knowing that idiot, it's a guarantee that he'll get himself hurt."

"Wabisuke, you didn't need to say that!" says Kira, surprisingly loud with his outburst.

"It's okay. Considering his name literally means 'The Wretched One', I'm not even remotely surprised by his comment." I tell him, adding a small smile just in case my words were not enough to reassure him.

"We'll just be on our way then," he mumbles as he stretches Renji's badge out to me. "Do you mind giving Captain Kuchiki his lieutenant's badge for us? The quicker we leave, the quicker we can get to Renji after all."

"I'll make sure he gets it once his meeting is over." I say as I take the badge.

"Thank you, Mina-chan. Oh, and see you at the next SWA meeting!" Momo exclaims before flash stepping away, Tobiume, Wabisuke, and Izuru following right behind her.

After watching them leave, I make my way toward the main hall. By the time I reached the captains' meeting room, most of the captains were already leaving. When I looked into the room, only Byakuya, Captain Hitsugaya, Captain Ukitake, and strangely enough, Captain Zaraki were the only ones remaining inside. Fortunately for me, Captain Ukitake was the first to notice my presence.

"Ahh Minata-chan, how are you today?" the white-haired man says in greeting as I step into the room.

"I'm doing fine Captain Ukitake. How is your health by the way?"

"It's quite stable. I've been feeling very well these past few days," he says with his charming grin, which becomes a puzzled look once he sees what I hold in my hands. "Mina, why do you have Lieutenant Abarai's badge in your hands?"

"Lieutenants Kira and Hinamori stopped by earlier and asked if I could pass it on to Captain Kuchiki. Apparently, Lieutenant Abarai abruptly left the lieutenants' meeting without it after he heard that one of the ryokas took a hostage. . . If I must be frank, considering it's Abarai, I'm not surprised that he acted like he did."

"He, I see he still has some of that 11th Division fighting spirit in him!" exclaims Kenpachi with a happy sneer. "Looks like you strict stuck ups in the Sixth still can't snuff that out of him just yet!"

His eye finds its way to the man whose division he was calling out. Byakuya doesn't bother to entertain Kenpachi with a response, ignoring him in favor of making his way over to me. He doesn't speak as he holds his hand out, wordlessly asking for his subordinate's badge. His face doesn't give much away, but his eyes are a sea of frustration and annoyance.

Yeah, he was not too pleased about Abarai moving to handle things on his own.

"Did any of the other lieutenants move to follow him?" he quietly asks as I place the badge into his hand.

"Lieutenants Kira and Hinamori should be following after him, after I gave them a little nudge in the right direction." I quietly add the last part, hoping that he would catch the hint. I'm not sure that he did, but he does give me a small nod before moving on to the exit.

"HEY! Aren't you going to say something Princess. . !? OI! Where the hell are you going?! You don't want to talk!? Got your panties in a twist?!"

If Kenpachi was a normal man, he would have left Byakuya alone to leave without a word. Unfortunately, Kenpachi was not a normal man. He was a fight-loving maniac that itched for battle, and it looked like he was sniffing one out right now.

"I have nothing to say to you Captain Zaraki. I have other matters to attend to."

"Byakuya, are you planning to look for your lieutenant?" Captain Ukitake is quick to ask as he turns to look at Byakuya's back. "If you are, the ryoka will likely not be too far away."

"If Abarai has decided to face the intruder by himself, then so be it. As lieutenant, he does hold enough authority to confront the ryokas as he sees fit. However, if he falls in battle, that would be inexcusable."

Before anyone could say something in response to that, Byakuya disappears, vanishing in a flash step so quick, untrained eyes would have sworn that he hadn't been there to begin with. It was impressive, both his exit and his words before said exit, though the latter was also a little unsettling, especially in the cold tone that he used.

In a way, he gave Renji his blessing to confront the intruders from the Living World. However, it seemed the redhead's actions would be excusable as long as he was successful in the confrontation. Officially, failure was not an option for Renji, and when it came to Byakuya, it was something that he undoubtedly would like to avoid.

However, if things were different, I'm sure Byakuya wouldn't mind it if Abarai failed his task, and without the need of any repercussions to occur. Sheesh, if that was the case, Byakuya may have acted himself, and wouldn't that be quite a sight.

Unfortunately, his position as a noble lord, division captain, and by default, a defender of the Soul Society's law and order, required him to pursue justice against those that deserve it and punish those that fail to seek it, especially those that do it without his command, which Renji technically did.

Things are going to get quite tense between the Sixth Division's higher ups in the coming days, I just know it.

"Pfft, typical princess with his flashy exits . . ." Kenpachi sneers with grinding teeth before finally leaving, moving at a much slower pace than Byakuya's shunpo.

"Hmm, that's Captain Kuchiki for you, as stalwart as ever. . . The next few days will be quite the trying time for him."

"You have no idea Ukitake-san." I think to myself as I watch him leave, soon followed by Captain Hitsugaya, who had simply watched the exchange in silent interest before moving to the exit.

Trying times indeed . . .

Byakuya's POV

I did not go to my division once I left the First Division barracks.

Instead, I find myself moving from rooftop to rooftop, extending my spiritual senses to keep track of any sign of Abarai's presence. Already in the past few minutes, his spiritual pressure has both spiked and lessened, an obvious sign that he was engaged in battle.

Judging by how frequently his power seems to rise and fall, Renji's opponent must have really improved his game since the last time we've faced him. He may actually prove a challenge this time around.

After a few more minutes of traveling, I realize that I haven't felt Renji's spiritual pressure rise for a while now. It's not even at its usual level. Instead, it has flatlined, not to the point where I would consider him deceased, but enough to know that he is at least battle weary and injured.

So, will I find him standing triumphantly over his downed opponent, or just the opposite?

Travelling to his current location, I stop in the middle of a fairly empty plaza, save for the corner on the right, where a group of shinigami stood hovering over my fallen lieutenant. Two of them were the Third and Fifth Divisions, just as Minata had mentioned to me earlier

"We need to get Renji to the 4th Division. We can't leave him untreated like this," cries the 5th Division lieutenant, looking rather resolute despite the timidity in her eyes.

"You're right Momo. We gotta get him medical attention, and quick," the Third's lieutenant adds as he looked around the group. "Someone call it in. Let them know down in the Fourth that they should be prepared to take in another body."

"That won't be necessary." I say, deciding it was time to finally make my presence known.

Their backs stiffen as soon as they heard my voice, their heads all turning to look at me with surprise, awe, and fear lining their faces.

"My lieutenant went out on his own accord to face the intruder. He knew the consequences of his decision, regardless of if he won or lost."

"So, what about it? So, what if he won or lost? Renji still needs medical attention! Are you planning to deny him that much?!"

I never expected that response, especially not from the likes of the Fifth Division lieutenant. She didn't seem like someone that carried enough backbone for such an outburst, unless it was to come to her captain's defense that is. It was obvious she adored the man, even if she vainly tried to dismiss it.

Now that I think about it, Abarai had mentioned the he went to the Academy alongside the girl and the blonde man that was advising her to show some more respect. Maybe that's why she's suddenly so defensive on his behalf.

"Eh, what's going on over here?!"

I didn't need to turn my head like the rest of the group to see where the new voice was coming from. It had that familiar teasing lilt to it that only belonged to one man, one who always seemed to find himself in the mix of everything at times, even when he had no business being a part of it.

"Captain Ichimaru! What are you doing here?"

"Oh Kira, I was just passing through when I sensed you all here . . . Don't worry, I heard enough to understand the situation, so you don't really have to explain anything to me."

"And since you understand the situation, what is your view on it?" his lieutenant asks, already bracing himself for his superior's response.

"Abarai still needs to face the music. However, he does need medical attention," His voice is somber for once, but I could hear the challenge in his tone, and I knew it was directed at me. "If you don't mind Captain Kuchiki, I'll oversee your lieutenant's medical treatment. Once the medics decide that Abarai is stable enough, I'll have him transferred to one of your division's cell blocks."

"Very well then . . ." I decide, turning my back before taking my leave. It wasn't the result I was expecting, but when I think about it, it was probably the best result to get either way.

Gin may be a thorn in my side at times, but he knows when to be helpful when the situation calls for it.

I don't know if I should be thankful or suspicious of his intentions, but for now, I think I will let this one slide.

A/N: Leave a comment if you like!