Notailedbijuu Chpt 2

Chpt 2- Can You Hear Me…? Rukia stirred awake, tired violet eyes opened to faces of the two Fourth Squad members. “Thank god…” Isane sighed. “You’ve finally come to!” “Kotetsu-fukutaichou…Hanatarou?!” She was laying on a small blanket and a makeshift pillow supported her head. She pushed herself to sit up with one arm, the other clutched tightly to her aching body. “Where…when…why…how…?” Hanatarou was standing nervouly, wondering what to do, while Isane tried settle the stubborn girl back down. “Calm down…and remain still…” Isane said in an authorities tone. “I’m still in the process of treating your wounds…” Rukia’s eyes settled on the captain, still staring out in open space. “Byakuya… nii-sama!” she stuttered, shock evident in her face and voice. Byakuya didn’t turn to face her. “Lower your voice…” he said calmly. “Kotetsu- fukutaichou was crystal clear in her instructions to you…Try and remain motionless until she’s tended to your injuries…” Eyes widened at the torn white fabric with the Sixth Division symbol laying uselessly beside him. “Nii-sama…your haori…” “It is of no concern to you…” he answered quietly. Blood was flowing down his left arm. “Your arm…” Rukia’s voice trembled. “It’s bleeding…” ‘Oops!’ Hanatarou began to sweat. ‘I didn’t notice he was wounded like that!’ “Again…” he glanced back. “Do not concern yourself over such trivial matters…Now is not the time to lose your composure… You should be focused on renewing your strength…” His eyes looked back at the empty lands, as if he sensed something far away. “What awaits us down the road… will test every fiber of our being…” Rukia continued to stare at the back of her brother. Isane looked back and forth between the two siblings. There was an awkward silence. “U-um…” Hanatarou stuttered. “How about I-I go and take care of Kuchiki-taichou’s wounds?” “Yes,” Isane agreed, glad that the silence was broken, “please go and heal his wounds while I finish up with Rukia-san.” Rukia nodded in agreement, “Thank you.” Then, her sharp eyes noticed the slash on Hanatarou’s shihakusho. “Hanatarou…were you injured too?” Everyone froze. “Eh?” He looked. “A-ah! This…um…y-yes…I guess you could say that…” Her eyes narrowed. “Did…did I do that?” she asked slowly. “It’s vague…I was unconscious… but I remember something felt… like someone invaded my mind…” Her

fists clenched and her teeth gritted, frustrated that she was taken over easily enough to hurt a friend. She bowed as low as she could from her position. Isane jumped at the sudden motion and fussed, saying how she could open wounds. And Byakuya turned to watch the spectacle. “I’m sorry!” She whispered, her voice shaky. “I’m so sorry!” Hanatarou blinked in shock then frantically waved his arms out, shaking his head. “W-wait!” He panicked at the sudden mood change. ‘Oh no! Now she’s blaming herself!’ “Please, get up R-Rukia-san! It wasn’t your fault!” It didn’t work. He looked at Isane and Byakuya. His fuku-taichou too surprised to help while the captain frowned at Rukia’s distress. ‘Eep! If Rukia-san is troubled, Kuchikitaichou might get mad at me!’ He crouched down by Rukia and tentatively touched her shoulder. “P-please don’t blame yourself Rukia-san…It’s fine-” “It’s not fine!” Rukia cried in shock, her eyes faintly shining with unshed tears. “How can you say that it is fine? I hurt you, no, that wound could have killed you!” “Kekeke, got that one right.” a husky voice chirped. ‘Hush!’ Hanatarou thought. ‘What are you doing up anyways?’ “The…dramatic cries of distress woke me up. Now shut her up will you? I want to go back to sleep.” ‘Go get some earplugs then, or something! Quit talking like that about Rukia-san.’ A cackle. “Ahahahaha…alright, fine. Whatever.” Hanatarou shook his head and focused on the present situation. He smiled reassuringly “But…but I’m not d-dead am I?” He spread his arms out wide to prove his point. “See? I’m fine and alive Rukia-san. Please lie back down and let Kotetsu- fukutaichou take care of you. I’ll take care of Kuchiki-taichou.” Rukia calmed down, still shocked at how Hanatarou could brush off an incident like that so easily, even when he got wounded. “Alright…” she gave in and slowly laid back down. Isane went back to healing her patient while Hanatarou went to his own. “Ano…K-Kuchiki-taichou?” he asked as he reached the silent captain, the man always made Hanatarou nervous with that silence. “Please sit down and show me your wounds.” Byakuya looked at the small boy and kneeled down. ‘Even when he sits down all bloody he’s still got that noble aura around him…’ Hanatarou sweat-dropped. He focused his hands onto the wounds, fidgeting as he felt the cool eyes stare at him like a watchful hawk. “Yamada-nanaseki…” Hanatarou jumped and glanced up, his hands still working. “Y-yes?” He didn‘t

expect the captain to say anything to him. Byakuya’s eyes seemed to analyze him. “You…forgive people easily…do you not?” Hanatarou got confused then looked down. “I-I…I guess? But…” His eyes narrowed as he shuffled through his memories. “N-not…everyone…” The man stared curiously at the young boy beside him. He’s strange, he thought, like that Kurosaki boy. Then he gave a barely visible smile. “Thank you,” he said. The seventh seat fumbled and looked up, shocked. ‘Did I hear that right? Or was that just my imagination?’ “E-excuse me?” “Thank you,” Byakuya repeated. “For not blaming Rukia.” Hanatarou took a while to comprehend, too focused on that tiny smile on the quiet man’s face. ‘Whoa! He’s actually smiling!’ He blushed, not used to being thanked, and grinned. He scratched the back of his head. “N-no! No need to thank me. I just didn’t like how R-Rukia-san was blaming herself… over that…” He healed the last wound on Byakuya’s arm. “There! Finished!” The captain stood up, slowly moving his arms. “Th-there weren’t any…serious wounds so I was able to heal them faster than I thought.” Byakuya nodded his thanks. Isane was also finished with healing Rukia’s wounds. “But I don’t think you should fight yet,” she instructed, “not until you’ve had a good rest. Although, because of the current situation I don’t think you’ll get a good rest until we get back to Soul Society.” “Ah,” Rukia nodded. “Thank you.” Byakuya walked over, followed by Hanatarou. “Are you alright now, Rukia?” he asked in a soft voice. “Y-yes, nii-sama! I’m fine!” she stuttered an answer. Just then, a huge shadow floated overhead. A large, one-eyed, pale green manta ray landed on the ground letting down two passengers. “Ah, Unohana-taichou! Chad!” Rukia smiled, glad to see that the Mexican was fine. He nodded. “Rukia-san.” A soft-faced woman with her long black hair braided out in front also came down. “Return, Minazuki.” the one-eyed ray let out a low groan, turned to mist, flowed into the sheath by the woman’s side, and turned back into a sword. “Unohana-taichou!” Isane and Hanatarou bowed to their captain. She smiled gently. “Isane-fukutaichou…” she acknowledged, then turned to the boy next to the vice captain. “And Hanatarou-nanaseki. I am glad that you are alright.” She turned to the Sixth Division captain. “Kuchiki-taichou…” Byakuya gave a short nod. “Well, now that we’re here,” she smiled. “I think it would be best to meet up with the others--” Unohana cut short, she felt a static-like shock in her head. Everyone froze and looked about, feeling the same shock. “….Can you hear me?…My dear invaders…” “…This voice…”Rukia muttered. She didn’t need to say anymore, everyone immediately recognized the voice of the traitor, Aizen. “It’s Tentei-kuura…” said Isane.

“For your continued success against my espada… allow me to express my deepest respect.” “As of now….we are commencing our invasion of the human world…” Everyone stood silent, shocked except for the two captains. “Inoue Orihime, I am leaving in the fifth tower. If you wish to retrieve her, you may come and make your attempt. I no longer have…any use for her.” “What?!” gasped Chad. They all listened as Aizen told more details of his plan: kidnapping Orihime to create a disturbance, turning attention of the defence system away from the human world and onto Soul Society, luring the “ryoka” and others to Hueco Mundo. “Furthermore, four of Soul Society’s captains…were sent to Hueco Mundo as reinforcements… and as such I have succeeded… …In imprisoning them, as well.” There were echoes, like metal doors closing shut, as the shinigamis felt the portals connecting this world to their world close. Isane quickly hit the ground with the palm of her hand, the sand rippled from the wave of energy. She focused, trying to feel the energies of the portals. “…!!…The four Garganta that we used to reach Hueco Mundo…” her voice shook, “…have all…been sealed off!” ‘Oh no…’ thought Hanatarou, “with three of Soul Society’s captains deserted and four imprisoned…that means that Soul Society’s military force is pretty much cut in half!’ Aizen went on, “We shall proceed to erase Karakura Town…generate the oaken…and finally, defeat Soul Society. As for you…Once this is over, we’ll deal with you at our leisure. ” With that, Aizen’s voice faded. “What do we do now?!” Rukia asked. “Urahara-san was given the task to create a path for the captains to Hueco Mundo, and to make sure that every Gotei 13 captain would be ready for battle in Karakura Town…” replied Byakuya. “That is too rash…!” Rukia sputtered. Chad sweated nervously. “Battle in Karakura Town?! …With the power of the Gotei 13 captains, what will happen to the town battling there…? It will totally be destroyed and then void to exist!” Byakuya’s voice remained calm. “Like what I’ve said, the commander’s order is to ensure the captains “are ready to battle.”” Unohana looked at Chad, nervousness still evident on his face. “The town will be alright.” Everyone turned to look at her. “We are going to use Tenkai-kezzu. It will transfer Karakura Town into a place for battlefield. The Shinigami Research Institute was also ordered to create a perfect mold of the town in the far border area of Rukongai. Karakura Town will be completely transferred to the far far border area of Rukongai.”

“The civilians…what happen them…?” asked Chad. “We put them to sleep, and then moved them together with the town. So currently, in Karakura Town, it is just an empty assembled town. Therefore, even with the damages caused by the power of the captains, it would not be any troubles.” Chad relaxed, relieved to hear that the townspeople would be alright. “So…so…” attention fixed to Hanatarou, who was momentarily forgotten. “Are we going to meet up with I-Ichigo-san and others now?” Everyone nodded in agreement. “I think it would be best if we ride on Minazuki,” Unohana suggested, “With Rukiasan still coping with her injuries, and it would just be better for everyone to go together.” She unsheathed her sword, which let out a bright green glow and turned back into the moss-colored ray. Everyone climbed on its back; Hanatarou having a bit of trouble before the ray decided to help him up with one of its fins. “So to the fifth tower?” Isane looked at her captain. “Yes,” Unohana confirmed, then gently gave a small pat to the ray’s smooth skin. “Minazuki, please take us to the fifth tower.” Everyone held on as the giant ray gave a small whine and lifted off, gracefully skimming through the air above the white sands.