Never Die Alone
Chapter 1: Terrified
The day started out just fine, a bright sunny day with not a cloud in sight.
"Captain! Captain! It's a beautiful day outside you should come out and have some tea with all of us", Eli said as he knocked on the door. "Captain are you home?"
Eli noticed the door was unlocked so he reached for his Zanpaktou as he slowly opened the door. "Captain are you here?" again no one answered the 3rd seat's question, at that time Eli began to get worried so he started to search through the small apartment. He soon came upon the bedroom as he opened the door he stood in shock as he saw his Captain laying in bed surrounded by a puddle of blood, Eli quickly yelled for help as he ran towards his Captain. "RYO! FURIKI! HELP! The captain's down!". Eli noticed the blood wasn't coming from his mouth so he knew his Captain's sickness wasn't acting up again. He followed the blood back to the source there he saw a very deep wound draped across his Captain's chest. As Eli quickly applied pressure to the wound Ryo and Furiki entered the room as they did they froze in horror as they saw there Captain laying in a pool of blood. "Wha...wha..what happened!", Ryo said horrified. "Furiki quickly go get help get Captain Unohana and Shunsui hurry! Ryo come here I need your help applying pressure!", Eli said. As Ryo ran over to his Captain his knee's began to shake terrified he thought to himself, "How could this happen". Hearing Eli's voice again he quickly came too. "Eli how could this have happened?!", the 4th Seat asked. "I don't know Ryo, but whatever it is we will have to find out later right now we have to make sure we don't loose the Captain".
As soon as he finished his sentence Captain Kyoraku ran into the room, "Eli, Ryo what happened!". "Captain Kyoraku Sir I don't know I came in to see how the Captain was doing and I saw this". As Shunsui fell to his knee's in worry a whole group of Squad 4 members entered the room with Unohana Retsu not far behind, Isane Kotetsu Lieutenant of Squad 4 quickly ran to Ukitake's side. "Eli, Ryo I know this is hard to ask of you but I need you both to move aside I will take it from here", Isane said. A hand fell on Shunsui's shoulder as he looked up he saw Unohana. "Retsu..what can you do?", Shunsui asked.
"Well we cannot move him to the infirmary yet until we know his conditions are stabilized we will not move him, but do not worry Kyoraku I will make sure everything will be okay". Unohana moved past Shunsui and kneeled down beside Ukitake, then Unohana and Isane both proceeded with closing up the wound. No more than 20 minutes later a voice occurred over the speaker systems in Serietei, "All Captains and Lieutenants report to the Gala immediately with the exception of Captain Unohana Retsu and Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu, also all Squad 13 members report in to the Gala with the Captains".
When the announcement was over Captain Shunsui stood up, "All Squad 13 members come with me and Retsu keep me informed on his condition".
Captain Shunsui met up with his Lieutenant about half way to the Gala. "Captain is everything okay?", the Lieutenant asked. Shunsui just shook his head and continued walking with his lieutenant and the rest of Squad 13 following behind him. As they arrived at the Gala all of the Captain's where present with there lieutenants including the master of hooky Zaraki Kenpachi even the current acting Captains of Squad's 3, 5, and 9 Izuru Kira, Hinamori Momo, and Hisagi Shuhei where present. When everyone entered the meeting hall Captain of Squad 1 Commander-General Yamamoto Genryusai stood up from his lead chair. "Everyone listen carefully..I regret to inform you that one of our own has been attacked. Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the 13th Division is currently being treated by Squad 4 for a serious injury, we must find who has done this so I am assigning Division 12 to look into the case. Division 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11 I want you all to continue your posts around Serietei. Division 4 will continue to look after Captain Ukitake, the rest of Squad 13 I want all of you to return to your barracks and remain there. Squad 7 and 8 put up a patrol around Squad 13 barracks and Division 10 when Captain Ukitake becomes stable I want you to protect the transport from Squad 13 to the hospital. Now all Divisions report to your positions". As the Commander-General finished his announcement all the remaining Shinigami in the meeting hall left to report to there positions.
Division 7 and 8 escorted the rest of Squad 13 back to there barracks when they returned Captain Shunsui entered Ukitake's bedroom with Nanao, Sentaro, Kiyone, Eli, Ryo, and Furiki. "Retsu how is he?", the Captain asked. "Well we believe he is almost stabilized so soon we will be able to transport him to the Infirmary", Unohana said out of breathe. "Okay good well Yama-jii assigned Squad 10 to escort you to the Infirmary so you all should be safe I am also sending Eli, Ryo, and Furiki with him because I know if I don't they will just find a way to sneak out.", Shunsui said. The three Squad 13 members all looked down as though they where actually suggesting that they wouldn't do something like that. A little bit later in the day when Unohana had confirmed that Ukitake's condition was stabilized they began preparing for the transport to the Infirmary. Before Division 4 began to move Ukitake's unconscious body Shunsui met with Hitsugaya outside the barracks. "Nice to see you Kyoraku.", Hitsugaya said. "It's good to see you too Toshiro, If you don't mind I am going to send these three along with your Squad to transport Jushiro they need to stay with there Captain, even if I told them no they would just sneak out later in the night and go straight towards the infirmary anyways is that okay with you.?", Shunsui asked. Hitsugaya with almost a grin on his face looked up at Shunsui. "Yes tell them to go and meet up with Matsumoto and get prepared for the transport.", Hitsugaya stated. The three Squad members over heard the short white haired Captain and already set out to meet up with Rangiku. "Uhm..Matsumoto-san...we received orders from Captain Shunsui to follow along with the transport", Eli said. "Wow you three really are devoted to your Captain what about the lieutenants? Do they not want to come along as well?", Rangiku said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Ahh..well they both volunteered to act as the Captain while Captain Ukitake is away.", Furiki blurted out. As soon as Furiki finished Hitsugaya exited the barrack with a couple of Squad 4 members carrying Ukitake on a stretcher, Unohana and Isane where on both sides of the stretcher monitoring his condition. "Toshiro may we please have some sort of covering to protect Jushiro from the sharp winds?", Unohana asked kindly. With one simple question she received a couple of blankets to lay over Ukitake's body and one large transparent tarp to cover the whole stretcher. "Okay Squad 10 lets move out! Keep on the main road to the infirmary that is where the majority of the patrol Squads will be so that will have the least likely chance of an ambush", Hitsugaya announced to the rest of his Squad.
The convoy was just about to get on the main road when Hitsugaya felt a slight presence that wasn't supposed to be there, almost as if they where masking there rietsu. Hitsugaya immediately turned to Rangiku. "Matsumoto do sense that?", he asked in a whisper like voice. "Yes, what should we do?". Hitsugaya thought about the situation, then when he came up with a idea he turned to Unohana. "Restu..I need you to go into the caravan and put up a double wide Kakush!tsuijaku there is someone near by and we need to find them". Unohana listened to the request from Hitsugaya carefully, then instantaneously she stepped into the caravan to perform the kidou spell. Unohana carefully drew a circle on the floor and split the circle into 4 pieces drawing a elemental character in each, she then began to recite the incantation soon an invisible field spread across the whole convoy. Unohana quickly discovered the positions of the trespassers, when she did she called for Isane.
"Isane will you please come in here for a few moments?"
Isane crawled up into the caravan and receive orders from her Captain to go back outside as if she is worried about Ukitake's health and tell Captain Hitsugaya what she has found out. Isane quickly jumped out of the caravan, "Hitsugaya-taicho! Something has happened!", she ran towards Hitsugaya with tears in her eyes and went in for a hug. Startled Hitsugaya jumped as Isane threw her arms around him and placed her chin on his shoulder to whisper in his ear. "Unohana-taicho found something..she says there are a total of 5 people out there that have a very strange rietsu, but she cannot tell who or what they are exactly". Hitsugaya hugged her back and told her to go back and keep looking after him, he then went to Matsumoto and told her the information. "We will continue the coarse but I want you to be on your guard do not let anyone know, it will be noticeable to the enemy if you tell anyone else". The caravan continued there coarse for about another three quarters of a mile when Hitsugaya heard a yelp come from the caravan, that was the signal that they where closing in. Isane then started to put of a shield around the caravan to protect Ukitake as safely as possible.
Without further notice the bridge that the head patrol of Squad 10 members where crossing suddenly began to crack and broke inwards causing dozens of Squad 10 shinigami to fall into a small trench, one of the guards stood up. "Captain we're all okay just let us get out of he..", before the guard could even finish a surge of electricity charged through the water electrifying all the guards in the water till there was nothing left. "Isane now!", Hitsugaya yelled. A orb suddenly surrounded the caravan protecting it from any harm. "Matsumoto come with me the rest of you protect that caravan!", Hitsugaya ordered. With that said Hitsugaya and Rangiku both walked closer to the destroyed bridge drawing there zanpaktou's. "Captain what was that?", Rangiku asked. A streak of lightning flew towards Rangiku at the same time she asked the question, Hitsugaya then jumped in the way and parried the lightning bolt away with his Zanpaktou. "Be quite Matsumoto, don't give away our position", as soon as Hitsugaya said this a very thick fog fell over the whole surrounding area. Both Lieutenant and Captain where in a defensive stance ready for anything. Suddenly a cloaked being jumped through the fog straight towards Rangiku, but Hitsugaya quickly intercepted and parried his attack again. When Hitsugaya deflected the attack he noticed that the weapon the assailant was using was not a Katana but a Kama, a small hand weapon that has the shape of a small scythe, when realizing this he felt the presence coming again for another attack he quickly brought up his blade. "Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyourinmaru!", the Captain yelled. When he brought the blade down towards the ground a long half frozen dragon appeared out of the top of the sword hitting the enemy head on blowing him out of the way. Hitsugaya's zanpaktou then grew a long chain out of the hilt of his sword that he grasped in his other hand waiting for a sign of anything else. The Captain didn't have to wait long as he heard a couple of yells come from the direction of the caravan he then yelled for Rangiku to go and help out. "Matsumoto go help them I can handle this", as Hitsugaya said this he heard a voice come from the fog. "I wouldn't be so confident!", the voice said. Hitsugaya then looked around him seeing two more cloaked figures dashing towards him, but before Hitsugaya could even make his move two other voices occurred from behind him. "Spread your wings, Hishoutakai!", one of the voices said as the person appeared in front of the cloaked figure and kicked him square in the stomach knocking him back. Hitsugaya quickly turned to meet the others attack, but that was also interrupted by a figure appearing in front of him that fired a huge arc of lightning throwing the cloaked figure into the broken bridge. Hitsugaya noticed the two people that intervened where Furiki and Eli. "Sorry Hitsugaya-taicho we couldn't stand hearing all this commotion and not do anything about it.", Eli had said to the Captain. With that said two of the cloaked figures quickly jumped in and where to close to Eli for him to counter, but Eli suddenly heard something come from the fog. "Howl Hai Neko!", before Eli could even blink a huge amount of ash flew around Eli knocking back the cloaked beings. When they stood back up both of the there cloaks fell too pieces leaving the two people standing there in full tactical robes with masks around there faces. "What in the world was that!", the frantic 3rd seat asked. "That is the power of Hai Neko my blade turns into ash and allows me to cut anything the ash touches.", Rangiku stated.
As soon as the the 4 Shinigami looked up two more cloaked people leaped over the other two flying straight towards them, one of the intruders started to chant, "Enkai Nami!".
The intruder put his left hand in the shape of a fist towards the four shinigami, then a huge amount of water blasted out of his fist at a very high pressure. Noticing this high pressure Hitsugaya jumped in the way releasing yet another Ice Dragon towards the large amount of water instantly freezing it, stopping it in mid air. "It seems these people have powers similar to kidou", Ryo said to the other shinigami. Within the blink of an eye the fog started to clear leaving the 4 intruders standing in a line, noticing something was wrong Hitsugaya and the other 3 went into a defensive stance ready for the next wave of attacks. " Be ready Isane said there where five of them but there are only fou.." Hitsugaya tried to finish but was interrupted by the ground starting to shake violently and crack right in front of the four intruders. A fist then busted through the ground and a rather large cloaked person pulled himself out of the ground and stood in front of him.
There wasn't much the transport squad could do against these enemies, for they knew nothing about them but before Hitsugaya could even come up with a alternate plan he heard yet another voice near the giant wall to enter the city. "Howl! Zabimaru!", the voice said right as a long spiked blade flew directly towards the cloaked intruders.
The whole group quickly jumped out of the way to avoid the whip like blade, each of the intruders noticed two men standing atop the wall to enter the city. Confused to as why one of the men dropped his blade one of the assailants took this time to attack little did he know that it was going to be the last one he would ever make, right as the cloaked assailant got close enough to hear him the man said, "Scatter Senbonzakura". The assailant didn't even get a chance to process what the man said before a wave of pink flower pedals engulfed his body leaving nothing in it's wake. When the rest of the assailants witnessed this gruesome attack they each fled in a different direction in order to avoid anymore casualties. When the pedals cleared the transport squad saw both men walking towards them knowing who they where the convoy thanked them for there help, "Thanks for the help Byakuya, Renji I don't know if we could have made it with out you". "Lets hurry and get Ukitake to the infirmary", Byakuya said.
Soon the convoy got to the infirmary, they quickly got Ukitake into a room and started to treat him for his injury. Waiting outside the room Ryo, Furiki, and Eli where anxious to see there Captain, coming around the corner to check on the three Squad 13 members was non other than Captain Kyoraku. "Hey you three how are you? Have you eaten anything?", the captain said. All three in a row said no to his question, "We're just to worried about the Captain to eat anything right now", Ryo said. They all looked down patiently waiting for Captain Unohana to come out of the room so maybe they can hear some good news. "Now really do you think Jushiro would want to worry you all to the point of not eating? Now go go go, I want you all to go to the mess hall and eat you something. If you don't I will make sure to tell Jushiro when he wakes up!", the sly Captain said. All three of them all looked up with a glare, "You wouldn't.." Eli said with a grin on his face. "Oh but I would and I would enjoy it at that", Shunsui said with a devilish look. So the three worried shinigami quickly ran off to the mess hall so they could get back. When the three where almost to the mess hall they saw Zaraki Kenpachi covered in blood walking with some of his own Squad members, "Kenpachi-taicho please tell us what happened out there?!", one of the division 11 members asked. "I ran into some over grown chicken sh!t that thought he could fight so I killed him thats it, so go!", Zaraki said. The three Squad 13 members knew exactly who he ran into. "It was the one guy who came out of the ground it had to be!", Eli thought to himself. Soon after the three left Unohana came out to talk to Shunsui. "Oh Kyoraku there you are, well it seems that we have got him stabilized again and the wound is closed..", Unohana told the worried Captain. Shunsui looked up in amazement, "Thats great! When can we see him"? Unohana looked at Shunsui with a disappointed look, "I'm sorry Kyoraku...for some reason Jushiro will not wake up all his vitals are perfectly normal, there is no bleeding outside or inside the body, but he just will not wake up. We are going to talk to Kurotsuchi about what it could be if maybe he's seen this type of thing before..", Unohana told Shunsui with tears in her eyes. Shunsui put his arms around her to comfort her, he knew she cared for Ukitake and that she was just holding in all her emotions until now. "Retsu we will find who did this and they will be punished, we are not going to loose another. I promise you that.", when Shunsui finished he looked up towards the doors to see the three Division 13 members walking back towards the room. "Okay Retsu cheer up we can't let them see us like this.", Shunsui looked down at Unohana as she nodded and walked back into the recovery room. Eli noticed Unohana walking back in the room so he ran towards Shunsui bombarding him with questions. "Taicho..how is the Captain?!", "Is he going to be okay?!", "When can we see him?!". Shunsui sat down and told them the news, worried Eli stood up and walked into the recovery room and sat down on the couch next to his bed waiting, soon after the other two waited by his bed, waiting for the chance too speak to there Captain again.
End Chapter 1
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