Mimic

Part XII

Author's Note : As said, I'm working on finishing the rest of the story. Last chapter was short, but then again, I haven't written in a year, so forgive me if the next few chappies are a wee bit ooc. I am trying though. Read and review please ^_^


Rikichi awoke in the dark the next morning to a loud banging on Byakuya's heavy bedroom door. Unfurling himself from the grasp of the lightly snoring captain next to him, he struggled to come to terms with where he was an why he was there. He snapped back into reality when Byakuya mumbled for him to get the door. Rikichi obediently wrapped a sheet around himself and stumbled towards the door. Yanking it open, he was surprised to see one of the younger members of the 6th division staring up at him, looking like he had just crawled out of bed as well.

“Rikichi-san! I have news from the Living World. Its about Renji and Ichigo... and its not good...”

A firm voice sounded from the futon behind him.

“let him in Rikichi. Lets see what he has to say.”

Several minutes later bith Byakuya and Rikichi were fully dressed and were heading at break-neck speed for the 1st Division building. Since receiving the news that his idol lay dying in Urahara's house, his lover fading quickly beside him, Rikichi was nothing but a bundle of shocked nerves. It was in times like these that Rikichi admired Byakuya the most. The man was icily calm and thinking incredibly clear from someone whose immediate subordinate had just been mercilessly burnt to a corpse-like state.

Flinging the thick wooden doors open would normally have angered the elderly 1st division captain, but this morning the old man didn't even flinch. Instead, immediate banter regarding Renji and Ichigo's current state insued. Rikichi vaguely realized that there were other people present in the room. The tall 13th division captain looked down at him grimly, and the abnormally quiet 8th division captain peered out curiously from underneath his over-sized straw hat. No one's gaze met Rikichi's eyes , and he began to wonder if they knew he was there at all. Rikichi found himself quickly lost in his own thoughts, re-enacting what little they understood about what had happened to the two fallen men. Brutal images of cero and gigantic hollows played behind his eyes, torturing him into a trance-like state. It wasn't until several minutes later, when Byakuya spoke sharply to him, that he was able to escape the dark depths of his mind.

“Did you hear me, fukutaicho? We are leaving at once. Make the necessary preparations. Now.”

Rikichi shook the stunned look from his face and bowed towards his taicho before racing out of the dimly lit hall.

*We're going to the living world? He can't be serious... *

Rikichi swallowed hard and ran even faster towards their main office building. He had to complete the neccesary paper-work as soon as he possibly could so that they could go and do what they could for Renji. The sooner he got it finished, the sooner he would be able to bring help to his fallen idol. With such reasoning in mind, Rikichi found the proper documents and began to write as fast as his throbbing hand would let him.

Byakuya entered the office a short time later and was surprised to see the required paperwork in a neat pile on his desk, his Senbonzakura laid out carefully next to it. Securing it in his belt, he called for another member to go and deliver the work to the 1st division and peered around the corner into the adjoining office room. Rikichi had his arm badge and zanpakuto on already, and was doing his best to re-lace his straw sandals to his feet. Byakuya bit back a smirk. Evidently the boy had not been listening to the details of the mission.

“Rikichi. Take off your arm badge. Yamamoto-taicho made it very clear that we are not to have any form of division or rank markings on this mission.”

Rikichi looked at him with a confused face for a second before reaching up and pulling loose the knot binding his badge to his arm. Byakuya removed his own taicho robe and set it carefully aside. He felt oddly light without the garment. His eyes met Rikichi's own coal black ones and signified that they both understood. It had been years since a captain was requested to go on a mission without a marking of their rank. This mission was truly a matter of life and death.

Silently, they turned and left the office without looking back. The 12th division headquarters where they would be departing from were not far, lights could already be seen breaking through the misty dawn from the building's few windows. A small squad of the division's elite stood by the door waiting.

Within minutes a portal was opened between Seireitei and the Urahara Shoten. The Captain and Vice Captain of the 6th division, along with a small squad of healers from the 4th division stepped inside. Rikichi glanced between the closing portal doors, craning his neck to get one last glimpse of the home he feared he may never see again. A semi-gloved hand squeezed his own and Rikichi closed his eyes.


Author's Note : Im working on Part XIII but it may be a week or two before I post it. Dont forget to R&R !! ^_^