042209 - Bearer of Bad News
-=[Suburbia - Karakura]=--------------------------------------------------------
The residential area is a well-populated part of the city protected against the darkness of night by the tall street lamps that chase it away. More of the residents of the city live somewhere around here, whether in a busy apartment complex tucked toward the town square or an area not quite as crowded. Most of the houses are packed pretty tightly together and don't have much to speak of in terms of having a yard.
He hasn't stopped running since last he parted ways with Uryuu Ishida. The information he holds is important, and if he hasn't already been worried about that alone, then the realization of not knowing where he's supposed to be going quickly makes up for it. "Ah... I should have asked Ishida-san for directions..!" the little shinigami groans, looking around frantically as he runs along down the sidewalk. At least it seems like he's found the residential district, but who knows if it's even the right area??
Hanatarou squeezes his eyes shut, trying to focus better on the abnormally high reiatsu levels that are to be found, if any at all. It's the best thing he has to work with at this point, otherwise he's just hopelessly lost.
Chad strolls casually down the street headed for home from the library, a backpack slung over one shoulder that looks to be stuffed to the breaking point, but the weight doesn't seem to phase him at all. In fact he actually has a book out in his hands, glancing through it rather than actually reading when he feels the tingle of an oddly familiar reiatsu. It's enough of a sensation to get him to rumble a 'hmm' but then Shinigami had been all over the town as of late anyway and so he continues walking. It's the sound of running footsteps that finally get him to look up and turn around to see Hanatarou running down the street with his eyes shut. While it's not the smartest thing Chad has seen from the Shinigami, he decides not to voice his opinion and simply calls out with a wave of his book, "Hey Hanatarou, haven't seen ya in a while."
"Hu--AH!" Hanatarou jerks his head up, eyes flying open at the deep voice he hears calling his name. He goes sprawling head over heels not moments after, probably one of the only people that can manage to trip over a crack in a sidewalk. "Ow...." he cringes, rubbing his forehead as he sits there somewhat dazed. Abruptly he blinks and looks at the towering human that stands not too far off, and he scrambles to his feet.
"S-Sado-san!" he stammers, rushing over, narrowly avoiding another introduction to the pavement in the process. "...thank goodness...!" he sighs as he drops his hands on his knees to catch his breath once he's within two feet of the other.
Chad winces under the cover of his mop of hair as he watches Hanatarou's spill and starts to step forward to offer assistance, only for the Shinigami to leap to his feet again and cover the remaining distance even faster. "Hanatarou, careful man, you're really gonna hurt yourself. What's wrong, is there a Hollow or something?" he asks, knowing that Hanatarou is a bit excitable and not much of a fighter, showing no worry in his own voice as he stops looking down at the panting medic and instead raises his head up to stretch out his senses, trying to get a feel for any evil auras, but coming up empty. There's a futile attempt to brush his hair out of his eyes before he looks back down expecting an answer.
The shinigami medic shakes his head as he manages a few gulps of air so he can try to speak again. "No... it's... it's not that..." He straightens, looking... up at Chad with a grave expression on his face. "Inoue-san! She was taken by Aizen to Hueco Mundo!" he gasps, wringing his hands. "Ishida-san wanted me to inform you and Ichigo-san, and I still have to tell Kuchiki-taichou's team here so they can relay that information to Soul Society..."
There's a pause as Chad stares down in some apparent disbelief at the small Shinigami. The hand that had been holding up his backpack on its one strap falls away and the pack falls to the ground spilling out a few books, only to come forward and grab the front of Hanatarou's hakama, lifting him up by one hand and drawing him closer. Despite this reaction, his voice remains level as he asks, "Are you sure about this Hanatarou?" his fingers tightening up on the cloth in his fist resulting in the crack of a knuckle.
It's not quite the reaction that Hanatarou expects, and naturally, he does what anyone would do when they found themselves grabbed by a giant. "HY-aaah!" he yelps, instinctively throwing his arms up over his face as if expecting to be struck. Don't shoot the messenger! Don't shoot the messenger! "Y-yes! I wish I could say otherwise...!" He peers between his arms at Chad, finally slipping his hands to grasp at the large fist that holds his uniform so tightly, trembling in obvious fright. "I... I felt the residual presence when I found Ishida-san... He'd been badly injured trying to stop them!" The little shinigami looks imploringly at Chad as he says this. Why would he make something like this up??
Chad lets go without another word, the normally impassive giant even stunned by this kind of news, which doesn't do Hanatarou any favors being a few feet off the ground. Staring off into space again, Chad again feels out, this time searching specifically for Orihime, but coming up empty. "Where were they Hanatarou? I might still be able to stop them if we hurry," he offers, emotion finally leaking into his voice that sounds rather dangerous, convinced he can do something even with the news of Uryuu's injuries.
With another yelp, down Hanatarou goes, falling in a heap at Chad's feet. What a pitiful excuse for a shinigami he is. He picks himself up off the floor, dusting off his hakama as he glances back up at the tall human. "...a...at the park. They're gone already, and Ishida-san went somewhere as well... he said it has to do with his father and couldn't tell me anything more..." The medic looks down at his feet, folding and unfolding his hands. "...he said he wouldn't attempt to go to Hueco Mundo by himself though... especially not in his condition- I healed his injuries, but... he lost a lot of blood..."
Chad listens without any change in his face, just staring down at Hanatarou until he finishes. When he does, the giant seems to go strangely limp for him, leaning against the wall of a building with one shoulder. His fist pounds the wall but once, leaving a noticeable crack in the concrete but no severe damage. "I should've been there to do something. After all we went through to get Rukia back, we should've learned to keep tabs on each other. And now Aizen..." he trails off, leaning his head against the wall as well and taking a few deep breaths. Trying to focus on any sort of positive news he asks, "Ishida should be OK then?"
Likewise, the shinigami wishes there was more he could do. For now, conveying this news to the others is about all he can manage, but he knows it's important all the same. "Y-yes, Ishida-san should be all right with some rest." He steals a glance up at Chad again, recognizing that look of defeat. He tries very hard not to take a step back at the wall pounding.
"...I...wish that I could reassure you further..." Again Hanatarou looks towards the sidewalk. "I still need to inform Soul Society of this turn of events, but I don't know where Inoue-san's house is... and I'm sure that's where I was told some of our members were stationed..."
Chad pushes himself up straight again and throws back his shoulders into his usual correct posture. His nostrils flare and there's one last deep snort as he composes himself before nodding his head. "Right, of course Hanatarou. I'm, sorry for grabbing you there. Her house is two streets over, number 2156 on the mailbox out front. Go and tell them, we need to start getting a rescue party together as soon as possible. I'll start getting some stuff together back at my house," Chad explains, seeing no reason why they shouldn't launch within the hour, no matter how unlikely that was, to his mind at least it was the right thing to do. He bends down to gather his fallen books and gives Hanatarou a look that even through his hair seems to be rather imposing as he adds, "Hurry!"
Despite Chad's urgent addendum to his words, Hanatarou finds himself standing still. "Wh- wait, I don't even know how soon they would be able to get that sort of thing established- I mean, w-we'd have to inform Soul Society and even then, charging into enemy territory isn't a wise thing to do..!" Not without proper preparations, most certainly.
The shinigami takes a step back from Chad to give him space. "I'll go right now to tell them, but please don't do anything hasty, Sado-san. I... I want to help Inoue-san as soon as possible too, but...." He knows his limits. This he shoves from his mind, moving to bow politely. He knows what he has to do right now. Straightening, he takes a few steps backwards, watching Chad before he turns to start running in the direction he'd been told that would lead to Orihime's.