Seireitai, Monday Evening

[incandescens]

Yumichika is waiting in Zaraki's office for his Captain to return.

He's got something to tell his Captain. He doesn't think his Captain is going to like it.

Comments

[physpreparation]

(OOC: Sorry for the delay, everyone. I just returned from a week-long vacation. Things should be back to normal for me now, though.)

He doesn't have long to wait before Zaraki actually comes striding in, reeking of alcohol. It's hard to tell whether he drank enough to smell like this or if it was spilled on him, but he has a sadistic grin on his face, along with a few smatterings of blood. It could easily be assumed that he busted some heads during his excursion to Rukongai.

Zaraki half-nodded to Yumichika and deposited his large frame into a chair behind his desk. The chair was worn, probably from being thrown around at times, but it held his weight, which was why he kept it around.

"Speak."

[incandescens]

Yumichika turns to close the office door firmly, then assumes a Posture of Manly Readiness (Theoretically Capable Of Dodging Yachiru At Short Notice) as perfected by most of the Eleventh Division.

"Um, taichou. We may have a problem."

[physpreparation]

"Another one?" Zaraki was angry, but it was resigned anger. He'd relieved some of his frustrations already, but this was starting to get on his nerves. He looked at the shinigami in front of him.

If this was something that could turn Yumichika serious, it was definitely something big. The large Captain leaned forward, actually paying attention. For all the primping and prancing, Yumichika was someone he relied on. Kenpachi calmed himself, something he very rarely did in public. Yumichika had probably only been witness to this a few times himself, usually after big fights. But all of the trusted officials in Eleventh knew that for all his lust for fighting, Zaraki was no idiot. He just chose to shun responsibility for the most part.

"Tell me, Yumichika. If it's important enough to be behind closed doors, tell me everything. Don't hesitate."

[incandescens]

Yumichika sighs. "Well, you see, Captain, it's like this. Like most of us, Ikkaku figured that those Holes were a gift from Heaven. Jump in, kill stuff, jump back out again."

He swallows. For a moment he looks very serious, before shifting back to his usual pretty-pretty air. "He went through one of those Holes about three days ago. It closed up an hour after he'd gone through. He hasn't got back yet. I've been covering for him on the duty rosters and everything, because I was hoping he could find his own way back and I wouldn't have to tell you this officially. But it's been three days now. I think he needs help."

[physpreparation]

Shit. And just after he'd told Soi Fong that none of his men were jumping through these things. Ikkaku

[incandescens]

"Yes, taichou!" Yumichika's back stiffens, as Zaraki's encouraging words put a bit of steel into him. The gratitude in his downcast eyes is obvious.

As Zaraki sets off towards 2nd Division, Yachiru is perched on his shoulder. She sounds unusually downcast. "Pachinko-dama shouldn't have got stuck."

[physpreparation]

"Yeah, I expect better from Ikkaku, honestly." Her sudden landing didn't surprise Kenpachi in the slightest. "Though, truth be told, I can also completely understand him. Getting caught up in a fight... that desire for victory. Sometimes I forget everything, too."

A smile, a real smile, flashed across his face for a moment. "The kid reminds me too much of myself. He's gonna get himself killed. And I won't have that. He still owes me a rematch."

The two head off quickly, counting on their combined blind luck to find their way.

[incandescens]

For once, blind luck is on Zaraki's side, and 2nd Division does not manage to get lost. (Zaraki and Yachiru do not get lost. Other places get lost.)

As usual, the 2nd Division compound is unnaturally silent. Black-clad figures lurk around corners and practice their flash stepping or their general ability to move silently and stealthily. (Or perhaps they just don't want to get in Zaraki's way.)

Conveniently, Soi Fong is in her office. She looks up from a stack of reports, turning the top one face down with what might be felt to be unnecessary caution.

[physpreparation]

Kenpachi noticed the slight movement and barked out a laugh. "No worries, Soi Fong. For once, you're with a Captain that doesn't have any sort of ulterior motives. All of mine are completely obvious."

The moment of levity passed quickly, though. He walked forward, now standing in front of her desk. His tone was serious, his hands resting at his side, thumbs hooked into belt.

"But I do have a reason for being here. Earlier, you'd asked me about any of my men being involved with the Holes and I said no. That wasn't entirely true. Eleventh has a not-clearly-stated rule against biting off more than they can chew, but apparently that was lost on my 3rd rank. Ikkaku wandered off into a Hole and it closed up on him. It's been 3 fucking days, now."

Zaraki sighed.

"I need some help on this one. Search & rescue's not exactly my forté."

[incandescens]

Soi Fong takes a deep breath. Her hands tighten on the lip of her desk, then she sighs and sits down again, waving Zaraki to the seat opposite.

"So, Zaraki-taichou. I take it you're planning to go rescue him?"

[physpreparation]

Kenpachi took the seat she indicated and moved his hands to a resting position on his knees.

"You call it rescue, I call it wreaking havoc until I find my man. It's the same fucking thing, I suppose." His words were more confidence and bluster than anything else. It was apparent, at least to Soi Fong, that he was upset at the loss of Ikkaku.

"The main thing is, I don't have time for organization and all this stuff. I need someone along who can handle everything that isn't the fighting and just leave that last part to me." The large captain leaned back into his chair, taking a more relaxed pose. "I came here, to you, rather than 12th. Kurotsuchi-taichou's gotten on my nerves lately. I figured you'd like the opportunity to one-up his scientists, too, by learning about the Holes first."

[incandescens]

Soi Fong's eyes glint. "Your strategy is excellent. I think I can persuade Kurotsuchi-taichou to hand over one of his bits of Hole-detecting technology. But you're right; you need backup on this." She nods to Yachiru. "Much as I appreciate your strength, Yachiru-fukutaichou, your Captain needs someone with capabilities other than yours. Besides, you can't both leave Eleventh without any leaders at the moment."

[physpreparation]

"She's right. I need you to boss the men around while I'm gone, Yachiru-chan." Kenpachi grinned evilly at his little Lieutenant. She was quite good at striking terror into the men, and would keep things in smooth running order.

...Come to think of it, Yachiru-chan did most of the paperwork and shit anyway, Kenpachi thought.

[incandescens]

Yachiru pouts, a little cheered by Zaraki's words, but depressed that she's not going to get to go along and kill shit. Still, she nods glumly.

Soi Fong frowns. "What you need, Zaraki-taichou, is someone who's got some kidou or who can handle 12th Division science. If I'm understanding you correctly, you plan to go through a Hole, find Madarame, and then get out again?"

[physpreparation]

Hmm... Seems like some bits had been left out, like the whole wreaking havoc thing. But... "Yeah, that. That's what the plan is."

Kidou? No one in Eleventh uses kidou. Why do you need magic to win a fight, anyway? You should just be strong enough yourself.

[incandescens]

Soi Fong folds her arms, with the air of one settling in for a long argument. "So, Zaraki-taichou, how do you plan to find Madarame?"