Through The Looking Glass Ch. 8
Author: Only_dani
Title: Though The Looking Glass Ch. 8
Rating: PG (for language)
Warnings: Spoilery abounds
Summary: Ed and Al just saved each other from the gate, but when they land in Karakura town and find that Shinigami are fighting Envy it turns their little world upside down. Rated M for adult situations and language but mostly will be PG. Possible het and Yaoi pairings in future chaps. WARNING: The pairings will be odd.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Fullmetal Alchemist and I dont make any money writing this, its simply the product of my over active imagination combined with my overwhelming urge to write.
Previous Chapters:
Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 Ch. 6 Ch. 7
Chapter 8 - Oh Captain, My Captain
Envy trudged the streets of Karakura trying to close in on the scream he felt reverberating through his skull earlier this afternoon. He thought his luck was going rather well until he heard that.
That same night he found the park with the Elric punks' energy in it he had felt another surge of power, another feeling of changing matter, and not just one but multiple pinpoints from across town. He had smiled to himself and strode towards the feeling, wanting to catch up with the boys and get his hands around their scrawny necks but the longer he walked the more he noticed the pinpoints of alchemy didn't grow stronger, and in fact started to dwindle over time. He eventually started running in order to get to his target before it was lost but no matter how he hastened his body to his target, the energy seemed to evaporate too quickly for him to keep up with.
Soon he had gotten lost in some residential maze-like area, each street looking exactly like the last with the same cookie cutter houses, multi level apartment buildings and potholed alleyways. but after a day or two he finally stumbled upon it.
He had found another area where alchemy had been used. The buzz was so minute that if he hadn't walked directly over the spot he probably wouldn't even have known it was there. The small alley was nondescript, flanked on both sides by the same random residential houses, criss-crossing power lines and neatly placed garbage bins he had been walking past for the last few days. He tried to make out some kind of pattern with these two locations but couldn't really make anything of it just yet. It didn't worry him overly, another one or two times of them using their alchemy and he would be able to hone in on them much more clearly.
He had stayed in the area and walked around a radius of three or four blocks, seeing if he could find another location where alchemy was used. Thankfully that had also brought him to a small two story building with a sign that said Kurosaki Family Clinic in neat letters over a small two story home. The building itself, just under one of the second story windows held the same buzz but it held a slightly different feeling, which could only mean one thing: both of them had been in this location, and recently too. When he had come across the clinic there was a person outside and he congratulated himself on finding one of the Elric brats, but upon looking closer he found that he wasn't the target he was looking for, just some dark haired man with a scruffy chin that had given him an uncomfortable piercing look, almost to say he knew what Envy was. He disliked the man immediately but he decided that at the moment discretion was better for his plan, then gave the man no attention, and nonchalantly turned the corner.
He had stayed watching for some time in the bushes across the street after the old guy went inside, deciding to camp out in order to get his hands on one of the boys as his patience was starting to wear thin. But after a few hours he heard it.
It was like a screaming sound inside his head, telling him in no uncertain terms that the gate he had travelled through in getting here had been opened. He swore loudly and sprinted in the direction of the sound but for some reason he couldn't pinpoint the location like before. It was as if the sound was more of an echo, ringing off unseen walls and confusing his senses as to the exact place.
It was well into night now, and he was no closer to finding the origin of the scream than he had been when he first heard it. He had a feeling he was in the correct part of town but damn it that wasn't good enough. Envy started to worry that his plan may be falling apart around his ears. There could only be two reasons that gate would open, human transmutation or those little shits leaving him here to go back to Amestris. Since the Elrics had a bit more intelligence than the average alchemist he knew they could do human transmutation, hell they had done it for Sloth so who's to say they wouldn't do it again? The problem was the latter possibility and Envy growled to himself in the darkness, hoping he might find a clue somewhere in the vicinity that may lead him to where the gate would have been.
"Fuck." He murmured under his breath. They were supposed to be his compass to Hoenheim! If they had left he would have to search for that bastard father of his without any help and who knows how long that would take. He had been here for a little over a week and still had not found hide or hair of that man.
"If you boys left…" He whispered dangerously into the darkness, eyes narrowing in hatred, "I'm going to make sure you regret it."
He wasn't sure quite yet how he would make them regret it though, homunculi couldn't do alchemy, which meant he would have to find another alchemist here with the smarts to open it for him, that or tell the idiot how to do it. Unfortunately this train of thought led him to another building issue: He still hadn't found another alchemist here. He could feel tension rippling across his shoulders; how could this place not have any alchemists? In a town this large there should at least be one or two.
He was shaken from his thoughts by a loud screech and trilling laughter. He looked from the roadway he was walking along, and with a few more paces an inconspicuous candy shop with a small girl in black clothing laughing on the roof came into view. He glared at the girl for interrupting his thoughts but kept his pace and walked on. There was nothing for it really. All he could do for now is wait and see if the Elric boys actually had left or not. This time he had more places to watch over which definitely helped in trying to find them.
Just a little more patience he reminded himself, just a little more patience and luck and everything should work out.
***
Hitsugaya Toshiro sat at his desk, his teal blue eyes trying to bore a hole through the innocent piece of paper held lightly between thumb and index finger.
"Matsumoto why is there a note in the petty cash box saying 'I.O.U. for three bottles of sake'?" He knew he was going to regret asking but posed the issue anyways. His fuku-taichou lifted her head from pretending to do paperwork, gazing at him with her ice blue eyes full of honest innocence.
"I thought it would be obvious Taichou, it was for division morale."
Hitsugaya scowled, eye twitching. "You used three bottles of sake for our division morale?"
"Oh not our division, I know how you feel about that." She nodded gravely towards him.
"Then who in the hell would you give it to?" He asked, brow furrowing in confusion. Didn't she have her own little stockpile hidden somewhere in this office? And if she did why the hell would she need to use division funds to buy booze?
Matsumoto gave him a bright smile and flipped her honey hair over her shoulder.
"Simple, third and ninth divisions are still without Taichous, so in order to bring up their spirits - I brought some."
"You used the money to go out drinking with Kira and Hisagi." It was a statement, not a question and Hitsugaya raised one eyebrow at his subordinate.
"Not just Kira and Hisagi, Ikkaku and Yumichika were there too." She said defensively. "They tend to drink a little more than the usual shinigami." She said in an offhand manner before dipping her head back to the mess of forms laid haphazardly on her desk.
"So let me get this straight. They drank all your alcohol so you used our funds so you all could get more drunk?" He asked, trying to hold back the long-suffering sigh he felt tickling his insides whenever he talked about alcohol induced activities with Matsumoto.
"You know sir when you put it like that it sounds horrible. Like I said, it was for division morale, and I thought you might like to know that it definitely helped both divisions, why they were smiling all night!"
"I bet they were." Hitsugaya took a steadying breath and counted backwards from ten to stave off the urge to strangle his fuku-taichou. Before he reached four a hell butterfly came flapping through the window that was letting in the late afternoon air and landed on his outstretched fingers, which still held the note in question.
There is an emergency Taichou meeting at First Division Meeting Hall. Tenth Division Taichou presence requested immediately. The message rang out. Hitsugaya watched as the hell butterfly lifted from his fingers and glided back out the window.
"I wonder what the issue is at this time of day." Matsumoto mused.
"I don't know but I'm going to find out. This conversation isn't over though." He gave her a dark look before pushing out from behind his desk and dropped the note onto the centre of his near spotless surface.
"Of course not sir, I expect a full reprieve come morning." She nodded, eyes wide and understanding.
"That's good, and I expect you to replace the money you used to go drinking with." He said as he swept his small frame towards the door. "Oh and Matsumoto?"
"Sir?" Matsumoto asked as he reached the threshold.
"If I come back from this meeting and find you intoxicated on the couch again there is a very strong possibility that I will feed your drunken ass to a hollow."
"Love you too sir!" Her happy voice rang out as he closed the tenth division office door.
***
It didn't take long for Hitsugaya to get to First division and was surprisingly one of the first to arrive. He watched as the other Captains threaded their way to their usual places of dual lines in the First Division Meeting Hall. Since Third and Ninth divisions were still without Captains, Yamomoto had decided that the two acting Captains start coming to the meetings. It was nice having those empty spots filled but unfortunately the most ominous of all, the division 5 spot, still remained vacant. Momo was still recovering and it was very slow going so it was hard to say when, or if that spot would be filled any time soon, either by her or anyone else.
Once all the people were in their designated locations Yamomoto thumped his staff against the dark floors to bring everyone to order.
"I have brought you all here for a very serious situation." Yamomoto's voice rang off the high ceilings, adding an echoing reverberation to his already authoritative voice. "We are having a very old issue resurface in the world of the living."
"What issue would that be?" Ukitake asked, his kind eyes turning towards the older man.
"A dangerous gateway that seems to have been reopened. Kurotsuchi Taichou will explain the details." Yamomoto stated, lifting old, intelligent eyes to the black and white faced Captain. Kurotsuchi nodded and stepped forward.
"A little over a week ago our monitoring systems for the world of the living picked up the opening of a very unstable gate." Kurotsuchi addressed the captains.
"Have we discovered the origin and destination of where this gate opened up?" Hitsugaya asked. Kurotsuchi gave him a cold look.
"I do not like being interrupted Hitsugaya Taichou." He snapped. Hitsugaya held back the urge to roll his eyes. The man was always so damn touchy.
"Heh, that means he's not sure." Kyoraku drawled quietly from under the wide brim of his hat.
"As I was saying, it opened into the world of the living. We were unable to find the origin path, but the destination was Karakura town." Kurotsuchi said in his pinched voice.
"Is it possible Aizen has something to do with this?" Hisagi asked, arching his brows in curiosity.
"It's hard to say at this time but it should not be ruled out." Yamomoto's voice boomed, bringing the attention back to the older man seated at the front.
"The secondary issue," Kurotsuchi said, "is the fact that it was opened from the world of the living to an unknown destination yesterday."
"Do we know if anyone has travelled through this gate?" Kuchiki Taichou asked in his calm noble voice.
"Once again, that information can be neither confirmed, nor denied at this time." Yamomoto said, giving his head a small frustrated shake.
This is definitely interesting Hitsuagaya thought. As far as he knew the only gateway that Aizen had used was the Garganta tunnel, and that was still being studied in the research and development department so that they might find out how it could be used to their advantage. If Aizen had started using another entryway there was a possibility they could use that instead in order to storm Hueco Mundo, once a strong enough attack strategy was put in place that is.
"The first opening was only the briefest blip on our screens, barely anything and was unfortunately… overlooked." Kurotsuchi almost hissed the last word and his eyes narrowed upon something only he could see.
"That musta put a bunch in his panties." Zaraki Taichou said to no one in particular. Hitsugaya gave the briefest flash of a small smile. Sometimes standing next to the eleventh division had its advantages. Kurotsuchi gave Zaraki a dirty look but went on with his story.
"The second time was much stronger, and held for a longer period of time. After researching the phenomenon in our database I came upon some very interesting information-"
"Get to the point Mayuri." Soi Fon cut across him with a hard look.
"As I have stated before, I do not like being interrupted. And you should work on addressing me formally!" Kurotsuchi took a menacing step towards Soi Fon, gold eyes glittering.
"Kurotsuchi Taichou, please continue." Yamomoto said, bringing Kurotsuchi back to the matter at hand.
"Of course Sou-Taichou." Kurotsuchi said and gave Soi Fon one more flash of an angered eye before continuing. "This gate is the same that was locked down over four hundred years ago because of the reishi removal incident."
"That's the gate we're talking about?" Kyoraku lifted his hat, giving a surprised look to Yamomoto.
"Could someone please explain the reishi incident?" Hitsugaya asked, brow furrowing slightly. He disliked the fact that he had to ask as it tended to bring his age into light, which he didn't like to do, but in order to find out what the hell they were talking about he had no choice. Ukitake looked over and gave him a kind smile.
"There was a gate that attached to a separate world of the living, similar to the living world here. It was not often that shinigami had to travel there as hollows were not highly attracted to that location. However some still did work their way there, usually by a failed experiment."
"That's a nice way of putting it." Kyoraku gave a slow smile towards the thirteenth division Taichou. "Hollows showed up because people on their side didn't know what they were doing and called them forth. To make it more complicated they were usually in human form so they were harder to track down."
"Hollows in human form? You mean like Visoreds?" Kira asked, his blue eyes full of concern.
"No he means actual hollows but their reaitsu's were hard to trace because they were somehow transferred into a human body. There were certain traits that they had which made them easier to find though. Like I said, the world is similar, but not the same." Ukitake nodded towards the blonde. "Once the person that brought the hollow forth realized what they had done they were usually quite apologetic, some even helped in tracking it down in order to purify the hollow."
"This is all well and interesting but what does this have to do with reishi removal?" Kuchiki Taichou asked, arching a single dark brow at Ukitake.
"Well, from what I can remember there was some sort of experiment in order to help boost spiritual powers in humans in that world. It backfired horribly and the gate showed up above Rukongai, then started sucking huge amounts of reishi through into their world.
"By the time we received the notification there was already much lost. There was nothing for it but to lock the doors down completely so that it could never happen again." Ukitake finished with a rare frown. "But why would it be showing up now, and especially in the world of the living?"
"Good question, it seems as though someone has learned how to bypass the lock." Kyoraku gave a small shrug.
"That is our main problem at this time." Yamomoto said with a small thump of his staff, making Komomura's ears twitch at the noise. "We will need someone to go to the world of the living for observational purposes in order to find out the situation there. We need to find out if anyone has travelled through this gate and whether Aizen is behind it."
"And if we find out he is?" Komomura asked.
"We would need to find out what he is using it for immediately. As well we would need to find out if it could be used to our advantage in the coming war." Yamomoto replied. "Hitsugaya Taichou, because of your previous experience in the living world I would like you to assemble a team of three for departure to Karakura town tomorrow at 0700. Once you have made your observations regarding this gate report back to me immediately."
"Of course sir." Hitsugaya nodded towards Sou Taichou.
"Kyoraku Taichou and Ukitake Taichou: since you both have had experience with this gate in the past, please remain on standby for travel to the living world with two battle-ready teams if anything goes amiss. Unohana Taichou, if the battle teams are called to the living world you will need to start preparations for possible incoming wounded. If Aizen is in fact behind this I would like to stop him before any other issues arise."
"Of course sir." Ukitake nodded.
Unohana gave a quiet serene smile and nodded in silence.
"No problem Yama-jii." Kyoraku gave a slow nod to the older man, then tipped the brim of his hat back over his eyes.
"In regards to my reconnaissance mission sir, if there's another high level reishi removal like last time do I have permission to lock the gate down?"
"The reishi in the living world is at a much lower density than it is here so the damage would be much less extensive. If you find that the gate appears and starts a reishi removal please contact first division immediately. If it's at a high enough level we may need to lock them down but I would like to be advised beforehand."
"Yes sir." Hitsugaya nodded again towards Sou Taichou.
"Are there any more concerns regarding this issue?" Yamomoto asked, rolling his eyes between each person in the ranks.
"Yeah I got one old man, why is sicky and the drunk guy over there gettin' all the fun if Aizen shows up?" Zaraki asked, jabbing a thumb towards Ukitake and Kyoraku.
"If the battle becomes large enough eleventh division may be called upon, but at this time it is not needed." Yamomoto glared at the eleventh division Taichou. Zaraki grumbled a little to himself where the words 'old fart' and 'senile' were rather prominent but on the whole he held his tongue.
"Very well. Meeting adjourned." Sou Taichou called out and banged his staff on the meeting floor, making Kira jump a little and Komamura's ears twitch again. Hitsugaya waited until Sou-Taichou had stood from his seat, then turned to the rest of the group. Most of the Captains were now meandering slowly towards the doors and talking in small groups together.
"Kira, Hisagi, a word please." Hitsugaya called out, bringing the attention of both acting Taichous towards him.
"Yes?" Kira asked, brows raised in question. Hisagi came up alongside the blonde, dark eyes serious.
"I would like to bring one of you with me to Karakura." Hitsugaya said, giving each a level look.
"Why us?" Kira asked in confusion.
"Both of you are good with Kidou and you both have been to the living world before so there would be no surprises as to how to dress and act." He replied. Hisagi was nodding his head in understanding but Kira looked somewhat apologetic.
"I would be honored Hitsugaya Taichou but the paperwork for squad 3 is simply too backed up at the moment." Kira said apologetically. Hitsugaya nodded in sympathy. Since the betrayal all three divisions had become extremely understaffed and he knew Kira's division in particular was suffering.
"I understand Kira. Hisagi, what about you?" He asked, looking to the tattooed man.
"I can handle the mission as long as it's not for more than a week. Any longer and I'll be in the same boat as Kira." Hisagi replied.
"Alright, then you're coming. It shouldn't take longer than a few days." Hitsugaya said with a nod. "Meet Matsumoto and I at Tenth Division at 0630 hours tomorrow and make sure you bring adequate clothing. Last time we had to use Urahara's clothing stockpile and it didn't go over well." There was no way he would be dressing like he was some American vintage folk art singer like Urahara had done with Abarai. He shuddered at the thought.
"Don't worry sir, Renji gave me some clothes from when he was there last. I should be fine." Hisagi gave an amused smile.
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow then. Now if you will both excuse me, I need to go break the news to my probably already drunk fuku-taichou." He said with a sigh and started walking towards the doorway.
Kira gave a nervous laugh and wished them luck as they reached the 1st division door, then headed in the direction of 3rd division.
***
"Why does it have to be raining?" Matsumoto whined as they walked towards the shoten on their way to pick up their gigais. "If I had known I would have brought an umbrella."
"We're almost there, quit complaining." Hitsugaya replied, hoping but not expecting for silence on the walk. Usually when they used the senkaimon it dropped them off right at the doorway of the Urahara shoten but this time - probably because he annoyed Kurotsuchi at the meeting, he thought in annoyance - they were dropped off quite some distance away from the shop. They had been walking in the rain for a good ten minutes now and his clothes were well on their way to being soaked through.
"You know what we need sir?" Matsumoto asked, a thoughtful look on her damp face. "A weather monitor for the world of the living, that way we can dress appropriately."
"You should talk to Kurotsuchi Taichou about that then." Hisagi put in with a wry smile. Matsumoto looked apprehensive for a moment before a bright smile took over and she looked to Hitsugaya.
"Taichou do you think you could talk to him? You're so good at that stuff!" Matsumoto asked hopefully.
"I'm not talking to Kurotsuchi just so you can bring another suitcase of clothing. Why do you even have that much stuff with you anyways? We're only going to be here for a few days." He looked to the huge item in question trolling behind his lieutenant. It was so large he could probably fit easily within it and still have room to spare.
"A girl never knows what she might need. Besides it's only half full." She added with a sniff and wiped a bead of moisture from her cheek.
"Why would you bring a half full suitcase?" Hisagi asked with a quizzical look, the spikes of his hair starting to droop.
"Shopping of course! It's one of my favorite pastimes in the world of the living."
"I told you before we left; you're not here to shop. We're here strictly on reconnaissance, and on Yamomoto's orders." Hitsugaya gave her a level look and turned into the shoten yard.
"But you said that last time." She mourned, a small frown turning the corners of her mouth down.
"Yes I did, and you went anyways if I so remember."
"It was on my off time so it was completely ok." Matsumoto gave a quick nod and a flash of a smile to Hitsugaya.
"I don't remember giving you time off at 3pm on a Wednesday." He retorted.
"Oh Captain you have such a good memory! Doesn't he Hisagi?" Matsumoto rang out happily, then grabbed Hitsugaya, pulling him into a hug and pressing his face into her chest.
"Let me go! Damn it Matsumoto I need air to breathe and smashing my face into your heaving bosom restricts that ability greatly." He growled, pulling his body away from his Lieutenant.
"Sir!" She cried in surprise, her bright eyes wide with shock and a blush staining her cheeks.
By this time they were almost at the door to the shoten, and a familiar hat-clad blonde was in the entryway with an amused smile, probably from overhearing their conversation.
"Ah good morning Hitsugaya Taichou, Matsumoto and Hisagi. I have your gigai's ready. Would you like to come in?" He asked kindly, waiving a fan towards the darkened interior.
Hitsugaya nodded at the man and stepped out of the rain and into the dry warmth of the candy shop. He never understood how the man was always able to know they were coming and in some ways didn't really want to know. Honestly it unnerved him sometimes just thinking about it.
"How does he always do that?" Matsumoto murmured quietly to Hisagi, only a few steps behind the Captain. Hisagi looked confused.
"Do what?" He asked just as quietly as they stepped over the threshold.
"He always knows we're coming no matter what." She replied, echoing Hitsugaya's thoughts. Hisagi watched Urahara walk down the hall and rifle through a small linen closet. Once Hisagi decided that Urahara was out of earshot he shrugged towards the tenth division fuku-taichou.
"My guess would be spies all over Seireitei that work only for Urahara." He whispered with a smile.
"That's a little over the top… Or at least the 'all over' part." Hitsugaya replied, making both shinigami snap their eyes towards him.
"You'd think so but it makes sense, I mean no one can know as much as he does without having someone spying for him." Matsumoto said nodding conspiratorially towards Hisagi.
"So who do you think is spying for him?" Hisagi asked with a quirk of his brow. Hitsugaya folded his arms across his chest and looked at his fuku-taichou. This was something he wouldn't mind hearing as well.
"Oh I don't need spies, I'm simply that intelligent. I did work for twelfth division you know. Now before I get your gigai's would you like to dry off and maybe have a cup of tea?" Urahara had returned from the closet with three towels in hand and passed one to each dripping shinigami.
Hitsugaya took the offered towel but shook his head a little. "Just the towels will suffice for now, thanks. There's no need for the-"
"Oh definitely Urahara! I'm soaked to the bone and freezing cold. I know that Taichou and Hisagi aren't much better either, some hot tea would be perfect!" Matsumoto cut him off, then walked right past him with a bright smile and a flip of wet hair that whipped water droplets onto his face.
"Matsumoto!" He barked, eye twitching and shoulders riding up around his ears.
"You know sir you should go easy on Urahara, why he's been nothing but pleasant since we've been here." She chided and gave another smile to the shopkeeper before he disappeared down the same hallway, possibly to return with tea.
"We've barely gotten through the door." Hisagi said, ruffling the towel against his dark hair.
"And he's already offered us warm towels, hot tea and assistance in finding out about this gate." Matsumoto replied, ringing her hair with the fluffy towel she was given.
"No he hasn't." Histugaya said and dried himself off as best he could before taking a seat at the table.
"Well he knows we need gigais so he probably knows something about it." Hisagi mused as he came to sit alongside the young Taichou.
"hmm. Good point Hisagi." He replied after a short pause. He had to admit it was true, the man was definitely nothing short of polite whenever he had to make a trip to the world of the living.
"Here we are, a pot of tea and four cups. Would you care to sit?" Urahara had returned, taking a seat at the table and offering a seat to Matsumoto who was still drying her long hair.
"Thank you Urahara." She smiled and took a seat between Hitsugaya and The shopkeeper.
"You're welcome." Urahara gave a bright smile, pouring the steaming liquid into each cup before handing it off to each person with a nod. Once the formalities were over with Hitsugaya turned to face Urahara.
"I'm not going to make any pretenses about our mission. Urahara do you know why we're here?" He asked. The shopkeeper gave one of his I-know-more-than-you-but-I'll-never-tell-you-how smiles.
"Ah Hitsugaya, always to the point. Are you three comfortable? The story might take a little bit."
Hitsugaya sighed and took up a more comfortable seat, he had a feeling this story was going to take longer than 'a little bit'.
Title: Though The Looking Glass Ch. 8
Rating: PG (for language)
Warnings: Spoilery abounds
Summary: Ed and Al just saved each other from the gate, but when they land in Karakura town and find that Shinigami are fighting Envy it turns their little world upside down. Rated M for adult situations and language but mostly will be PG. Possible het and Yaoi pairings in future chaps. WARNING: The pairings will be odd.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Fullmetal Alchemist and I dont make any money writing this, its simply the product of my over active imagination combined with my overwhelming urge to write.
Previous Chapters:
Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 Ch. 6 Ch. 7
Chapter 8 - Oh Captain, My Captain
Envy trudged the streets of Karakura trying to close in on the scream he felt reverberating through his skull earlier this afternoon. He thought his luck was going rather well until he heard that.
That same night he found the park with the Elric punks' energy in it he had felt another surge of power, another feeling of changing matter, and not just one but multiple pinpoints from across town. He had smiled to himself and strode towards the feeling, wanting to catch up with the boys and get his hands around their scrawny necks but the longer he walked the more he noticed the pinpoints of alchemy didn't grow stronger, and in fact started to dwindle over time. He eventually started running in order to get to his target before it was lost but no matter how he hastened his body to his target, the energy seemed to evaporate too quickly for him to keep up with.
Soon he had gotten lost in some residential maze-like area, each street looking exactly like the last with the same cookie cutter houses, multi level apartment buildings and potholed alleyways. but after a day or two he finally stumbled upon it.
He had found another area where alchemy had been used. The buzz was so minute that if he hadn't walked directly over the spot he probably wouldn't even have known it was there. The small alley was nondescript, flanked on both sides by the same random residential houses, criss-crossing power lines and neatly placed garbage bins he had been walking past for the last few days. He tried to make out some kind of pattern with these two locations but couldn't really make anything of it just yet. It didn't worry him overly, another one or two times of them using their alchemy and he would be able to hone in on them much more clearly.
He had stayed in the area and walked around a radius of three or four blocks, seeing if he could find another location where alchemy was used. Thankfully that had also brought him to a small two story building with a sign that said Kurosaki Family Clinic in neat letters over a small two story home. The building itself, just under one of the second story windows held the same buzz but it held a slightly different feeling, which could only mean one thing: both of them had been in this location, and recently too. When he had come across the clinic there was a person outside and he congratulated himself on finding one of the Elric brats, but upon looking closer he found that he wasn't the target he was looking for, just some dark haired man with a scruffy chin that had given him an uncomfortable piercing look, almost to say he knew what Envy was. He disliked the man immediately but he decided that at the moment discretion was better for his plan, then gave the man no attention, and nonchalantly turned the corner.
He had stayed watching for some time in the bushes across the street after the old guy went inside, deciding to camp out in order to get his hands on one of the boys as his patience was starting to wear thin. But after a few hours he heard it.
It was like a screaming sound inside his head, telling him in no uncertain terms that the gate he had travelled through in getting here had been opened. He swore loudly and sprinted in the direction of the sound but for some reason he couldn't pinpoint the location like before. It was as if the sound was more of an echo, ringing off unseen walls and confusing his senses as to the exact place.
It was well into night now, and he was no closer to finding the origin of the scream than he had been when he first heard it. He had a feeling he was in the correct part of town but damn it that wasn't good enough. Envy started to worry that his plan may be falling apart around his ears. There could only be two reasons that gate would open, human transmutation or those little shits leaving him here to go back to Amestris. Since the Elrics had a bit more intelligence than the average alchemist he knew they could do human transmutation, hell they had done it for Sloth so who's to say they wouldn't do it again? The problem was the latter possibility and Envy growled to himself in the darkness, hoping he might find a clue somewhere in the vicinity that may lead him to where the gate would have been.
"Fuck." He murmured under his breath. They were supposed to be his compass to Hoenheim! If they had left he would have to search for that bastard father of his without any help and who knows how long that would take. He had been here for a little over a week and still had not found hide or hair of that man.
"If you boys left…" He whispered dangerously into the darkness, eyes narrowing in hatred, "I'm going to make sure you regret it."
He wasn't sure quite yet how he would make them regret it though, homunculi couldn't do alchemy, which meant he would have to find another alchemist here with the smarts to open it for him, that or tell the idiot how to do it. Unfortunately this train of thought led him to another building issue: He still hadn't found another alchemist here. He could feel tension rippling across his shoulders; how could this place not have any alchemists? In a town this large there should at least be one or two.
He was shaken from his thoughts by a loud screech and trilling laughter. He looked from the roadway he was walking along, and with a few more paces an inconspicuous candy shop with a small girl in black clothing laughing on the roof came into view. He glared at the girl for interrupting his thoughts but kept his pace and walked on. There was nothing for it really. All he could do for now is wait and see if the Elric boys actually had left or not. This time he had more places to watch over which definitely helped in trying to find them.
Just a little more patience he reminded himself, just a little more patience and luck and everything should work out.
***
Hitsugaya Toshiro sat at his desk, his teal blue eyes trying to bore a hole through the innocent piece of paper held lightly between thumb and index finger.
"Matsumoto why is there a note in the petty cash box saying 'I.O.U. for three bottles of sake'?" He knew he was going to regret asking but posed the issue anyways. His fuku-taichou lifted her head from pretending to do paperwork, gazing at him with her ice blue eyes full of honest innocence.
"I thought it would be obvious Taichou, it was for division morale."
Hitsugaya scowled, eye twitching. "You used three bottles of sake for our division morale?"
"Oh not our division, I know how you feel about that." She nodded gravely towards him.
"Then who in the hell would you give it to?" He asked, brow furrowing in confusion. Didn't she have her own little stockpile hidden somewhere in this office? And if she did why the hell would she need to use division funds to buy booze?
Matsumoto gave him a bright smile and flipped her honey hair over her shoulder.
"Simple, third and ninth divisions are still without Taichous, so in order to bring up their spirits - I brought some."
"You used the money to go out drinking with Kira and Hisagi." It was a statement, not a question and Hitsugaya raised one eyebrow at his subordinate.
"Not just Kira and Hisagi, Ikkaku and Yumichika were there too." She said defensively. "They tend to drink a little more than the usual shinigami." She said in an offhand manner before dipping her head back to the mess of forms laid haphazardly on her desk.
"So let me get this straight. They drank all your alcohol so you used our funds so you all could get more drunk?" He asked, trying to hold back the long-suffering sigh he felt tickling his insides whenever he talked about alcohol induced activities with Matsumoto.
"You know sir when you put it like that it sounds horrible. Like I said, it was for division morale, and I thought you might like to know that it definitely helped both divisions, why they were smiling all night!"
"I bet they were." Hitsugaya took a steadying breath and counted backwards from ten to stave off the urge to strangle his fuku-taichou. Before he reached four a hell butterfly came flapping through the window that was letting in the late afternoon air and landed on his outstretched fingers, which still held the note in question.
There is an emergency Taichou meeting at First Division Meeting Hall. Tenth Division Taichou presence requested immediately. The message rang out. Hitsugaya watched as the hell butterfly lifted from his fingers and glided back out the window.
"I wonder what the issue is at this time of day." Matsumoto mused.
"I don't know but I'm going to find out. This conversation isn't over though." He gave her a dark look before pushing out from behind his desk and dropped the note onto the centre of his near spotless surface.
"Of course not sir, I expect a full reprieve come morning." She nodded, eyes wide and understanding.
"That's good, and I expect you to replace the money you used to go drinking with." He said as he swept his small frame towards the door. "Oh and Matsumoto?"
"Sir?" Matsumoto asked as he reached the threshold.
"If I come back from this meeting and find you intoxicated on the couch again there is a very strong possibility that I will feed your drunken ass to a hollow."
"Love you too sir!" Her happy voice rang out as he closed the tenth division office door.
***
It didn't take long for Hitsugaya to get to First division and was surprisingly one of the first to arrive. He watched as the other Captains threaded their way to their usual places of dual lines in the First Division Meeting Hall. Since Third and Ninth divisions were still without Captains, Yamomoto had decided that the two acting Captains start coming to the meetings. It was nice having those empty spots filled but unfortunately the most ominous of all, the division 5 spot, still remained vacant. Momo was still recovering and it was very slow going so it was hard to say when, or if that spot would be filled any time soon, either by her or anyone else.
Once all the people were in their designated locations Yamomoto thumped his staff against the dark floors to bring everyone to order.
"I have brought you all here for a very serious situation." Yamomoto's voice rang off the high ceilings, adding an echoing reverberation to his already authoritative voice. "We are having a very old issue resurface in the world of the living."
"What issue would that be?" Ukitake asked, his kind eyes turning towards the older man.
"A dangerous gateway that seems to have been reopened. Kurotsuchi Taichou will explain the details." Yamomoto stated, lifting old, intelligent eyes to the black and white faced Captain. Kurotsuchi nodded and stepped forward.
"A little over a week ago our monitoring systems for the world of the living picked up the opening of a very unstable gate." Kurotsuchi addressed the captains.
"Have we discovered the origin and destination of where this gate opened up?" Hitsugaya asked. Kurotsuchi gave him a cold look.
"I do not like being interrupted Hitsugaya Taichou." He snapped. Hitsugaya held back the urge to roll his eyes. The man was always so damn touchy.
"Heh, that means he's not sure." Kyoraku drawled quietly from under the wide brim of his hat.
"As I was saying, it opened into the world of the living. We were unable to find the origin path, but the destination was Karakura town." Kurotsuchi said in his pinched voice.
"Is it possible Aizen has something to do with this?" Hisagi asked, arching his brows in curiosity.
"It's hard to say at this time but it should not be ruled out." Yamomoto's voice boomed, bringing the attention back to the older man seated at the front.
"The secondary issue," Kurotsuchi said, "is the fact that it was opened from the world of the living to an unknown destination yesterday."
"Do we know if anyone has travelled through this gate?" Kuchiki Taichou asked in his calm noble voice.
"Once again, that information can be neither confirmed, nor denied at this time." Yamomoto said, giving his head a small frustrated shake.
This is definitely interesting Hitsuagaya thought. As far as he knew the only gateway that Aizen had used was the Garganta tunnel, and that was still being studied in the research and development department so that they might find out how it could be used to their advantage. If Aizen had started using another entryway there was a possibility they could use that instead in order to storm Hueco Mundo, once a strong enough attack strategy was put in place that is.
"The first opening was only the briefest blip on our screens, barely anything and was unfortunately… overlooked." Kurotsuchi almost hissed the last word and his eyes narrowed upon something only he could see.
"That musta put a bunch in his panties." Zaraki Taichou said to no one in particular. Hitsugaya gave the briefest flash of a small smile. Sometimes standing next to the eleventh division had its advantages. Kurotsuchi gave Zaraki a dirty look but went on with his story.
"The second time was much stronger, and held for a longer period of time. After researching the phenomenon in our database I came upon some very interesting information-"
"Get to the point Mayuri." Soi Fon cut across him with a hard look.
"As I have stated before, I do not like being interrupted. And you should work on addressing me formally!" Kurotsuchi took a menacing step towards Soi Fon, gold eyes glittering.
"Kurotsuchi Taichou, please continue." Yamomoto said, bringing Kurotsuchi back to the matter at hand.
"Of course Sou-Taichou." Kurotsuchi said and gave Soi Fon one more flash of an angered eye before continuing. "This gate is the same that was locked down over four hundred years ago because of the reishi removal incident."
"That's the gate we're talking about?" Kyoraku lifted his hat, giving a surprised look to Yamomoto.
"Could someone please explain the reishi incident?" Hitsugaya asked, brow furrowing slightly. He disliked the fact that he had to ask as it tended to bring his age into light, which he didn't like to do, but in order to find out what the hell they were talking about he had no choice. Ukitake looked over and gave him a kind smile.
"There was a gate that attached to a separate world of the living, similar to the living world here. It was not often that shinigami had to travel there as hollows were not highly attracted to that location. However some still did work their way there, usually by a failed experiment."
"That's a nice way of putting it." Kyoraku gave a slow smile towards the thirteenth division Taichou. "Hollows showed up because people on their side didn't know what they were doing and called them forth. To make it more complicated they were usually in human form so they were harder to track down."
"Hollows in human form? You mean like Visoreds?" Kira asked, his blue eyes full of concern.
"No he means actual hollows but their reaitsu's were hard to trace because they were somehow transferred into a human body. There were certain traits that they had which made them easier to find though. Like I said, the world is similar, but not the same." Ukitake nodded towards the blonde. "Once the person that brought the hollow forth realized what they had done they were usually quite apologetic, some even helped in tracking it down in order to purify the hollow."
"This is all well and interesting but what does this have to do with reishi removal?" Kuchiki Taichou asked, arching a single dark brow at Ukitake.
"Well, from what I can remember there was some sort of experiment in order to help boost spiritual powers in humans in that world. It backfired horribly and the gate showed up above Rukongai, then started sucking huge amounts of reishi through into their world.
"By the time we received the notification there was already much lost. There was nothing for it but to lock the doors down completely so that it could never happen again." Ukitake finished with a rare frown. "But why would it be showing up now, and especially in the world of the living?"
"Good question, it seems as though someone has learned how to bypass the lock." Kyoraku gave a small shrug.
"That is our main problem at this time." Yamomoto said with a small thump of his staff, making Komomura's ears twitch at the noise. "We will need someone to go to the world of the living for observational purposes in order to find out the situation there. We need to find out if anyone has travelled through this gate and whether Aizen is behind it."
"And if we find out he is?" Komomura asked.
"We would need to find out what he is using it for immediately. As well we would need to find out if it could be used to our advantage in the coming war." Yamomoto replied. "Hitsugaya Taichou, because of your previous experience in the living world I would like you to assemble a team of three for departure to Karakura town tomorrow at 0700. Once you have made your observations regarding this gate report back to me immediately."
"Of course sir." Hitsugaya nodded towards Sou Taichou.
"Kyoraku Taichou and Ukitake Taichou: since you both have had experience with this gate in the past, please remain on standby for travel to the living world with two battle-ready teams if anything goes amiss. Unohana Taichou, if the battle teams are called to the living world you will need to start preparations for possible incoming wounded. If Aizen is in fact behind this I would like to stop him before any other issues arise."
"Of course sir." Ukitake nodded.
Unohana gave a quiet serene smile and nodded in silence.
"No problem Yama-jii." Kyoraku gave a slow nod to the older man, then tipped the brim of his hat back over his eyes.
"In regards to my reconnaissance mission sir, if there's another high level reishi removal like last time do I have permission to lock the gate down?"
"The reishi in the living world is at a much lower density than it is here so the damage would be much less extensive. If you find that the gate appears and starts a reishi removal please contact first division immediately. If it's at a high enough level we may need to lock them down but I would like to be advised beforehand."
"Yes sir." Hitsugaya nodded again towards Sou Taichou.
"Are there any more concerns regarding this issue?" Yamomoto asked, rolling his eyes between each person in the ranks.
"Yeah I got one old man, why is sicky and the drunk guy over there gettin' all the fun if Aizen shows up?" Zaraki asked, jabbing a thumb towards Ukitake and Kyoraku.
"If the battle becomes large enough eleventh division may be called upon, but at this time it is not needed." Yamomoto glared at the eleventh division Taichou. Zaraki grumbled a little to himself where the words 'old fart' and 'senile' were rather prominent but on the whole he held his tongue.
"Very well. Meeting adjourned." Sou Taichou called out and banged his staff on the meeting floor, making Kira jump a little and Komamura's ears twitch again. Hitsugaya waited until Sou-Taichou had stood from his seat, then turned to the rest of the group. Most of the Captains were now meandering slowly towards the doors and talking in small groups together.
"Kira, Hisagi, a word please." Hitsugaya called out, bringing the attention of both acting Taichous towards him.
"Yes?" Kira asked, brows raised in question. Hisagi came up alongside the blonde, dark eyes serious.
"I would like to bring one of you with me to Karakura." Hitsugaya said, giving each a level look.
"Why us?" Kira asked in confusion.
"Both of you are good with Kidou and you both have been to the living world before so there would be no surprises as to how to dress and act." He replied. Hisagi was nodding his head in understanding but Kira looked somewhat apologetic.
"I would be honored Hitsugaya Taichou but the paperwork for squad 3 is simply too backed up at the moment." Kira said apologetically. Hitsugaya nodded in sympathy. Since the betrayal all three divisions had become extremely understaffed and he knew Kira's division in particular was suffering.
"I understand Kira. Hisagi, what about you?" He asked, looking to the tattooed man.
"I can handle the mission as long as it's not for more than a week. Any longer and I'll be in the same boat as Kira." Hisagi replied.
"Alright, then you're coming. It shouldn't take longer than a few days." Hitsugaya said with a nod. "Meet Matsumoto and I at Tenth Division at 0630 hours tomorrow and make sure you bring adequate clothing. Last time we had to use Urahara's clothing stockpile and it didn't go over well." There was no way he would be dressing like he was some American vintage folk art singer like Urahara had done with Abarai. He shuddered at the thought.
"Don't worry sir, Renji gave me some clothes from when he was there last. I should be fine." Hisagi gave an amused smile.
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow then. Now if you will both excuse me, I need to go break the news to my probably already drunk fuku-taichou." He said with a sigh and started walking towards the doorway.
Kira gave a nervous laugh and wished them luck as they reached the 1st division door, then headed in the direction of 3rd division.
***
"Why does it have to be raining?" Matsumoto whined as they walked towards the shoten on their way to pick up their gigais. "If I had known I would have brought an umbrella."
"We're almost there, quit complaining." Hitsugaya replied, hoping but not expecting for silence on the walk. Usually when they used the senkaimon it dropped them off right at the doorway of the Urahara shoten but this time - probably because he annoyed Kurotsuchi at the meeting, he thought in annoyance - they were dropped off quite some distance away from the shop. They had been walking in the rain for a good ten minutes now and his clothes were well on their way to being soaked through.
"You know what we need sir?" Matsumoto asked, a thoughtful look on her damp face. "A weather monitor for the world of the living, that way we can dress appropriately."
"You should talk to Kurotsuchi Taichou about that then." Hisagi put in with a wry smile. Matsumoto looked apprehensive for a moment before a bright smile took over and she looked to Hitsugaya.
"Taichou do you think you could talk to him? You're so good at that stuff!" Matsumoto asked hopefully.
"I'm not talking to Kurotsuchi just so you can bring another suitcase of clothing. Why do you even have that much stuff with you anyways? We're only going to be here for a few days." He looked to the huge item in question trolling behind his lieutenant. It was so large he could probably fit easily within it and still have room to spare.
"A girl never knows what she might need. Besides it's only half full." She added with a sniff and wiped a bead of moisture from her cheek.
"Why would you bring a half full suitcase?" Hisagi asked with a quizzical look, the spikes of his hair starting to droop.
"Shopping of course! It's one of my favorite pastimes in the world of the living."
"I told you before we left; you're not here to shop. We're here strictly on reconnaissance, and on Yamomoto's orders." Hitsugaya gave her a level look and turned into the shoten yard.
"But you said that last time." She mourned, a small frown turning the corners of her mouth down.
"Yes I did, and you went anyways if I so remember."
"It was on my off time so it was completely ok." Matsumoto gave a quick nod and a flash of a smile to Hitsugaya.
"I don't remember giving you time off at 3pm on a Wednesday." He retorted.
"Oh Captain you have such a good memory! Doesn't he Hisagi?" Matsumoto rang out happily, then grabbed Hitsugaya, pulling him into a hug and pressing his face into her chest.
"Let me go! Damn it Matsumoto I need air to breathe and smashing my face into your heaving bosom restricts that ability greatly." He growled, pulling his body away from his Lieutenant.
"Sir!" She cried in surprise, her bright eyes wide with shock and a blush staining her cheeks.
By this time they were almost at the door to the shoten, and a familiar hat-clad blonde was in the entryway with an amused smile, probably from overhearing their conversation.
"Ah good morning Hitsugaya Taichou, Matsumoto and Hisagi. I have your gigai's ready. Would you like to come in?" He asked kindly, waiving a fan towards the darkened interior.
Hitsugaya nodded at the man and stepped out of the rain and into the dry warmth of the candy shop. He never understood how the man was always able to know they were coming and in some ways didn't really want to know. Honestly it unnerved him sometimes just thinking about it.
"How does he always do that?" Matsumoto murmured quietly to Hisagi, only a few steps behind the Captain. Hisagi looked confused.
"Do what?" He asked just as quietly as they stepped over the threshold.
"He always knows we're coming no matter what." She replied, echoing Hitsugaya's thoughts. Hisagi watched Urahara walk down the hall and rifle through a small linen closet. Once Hisagi decided that Urahara was out of earshot he shrugged towards the tenth division fuku-taichou.
"My guess would be spies all over Seireitei that work only for Urahara." He whispered with a smile.
"That's a little over the top… Or at least the 'all over' part." Hitsugaya replied, making both shinigami snap their eyes towards him.
"You'd think so but it makes sense, I mean no one can know as much as he does without having someone spying for him." Matsumoto said nodding conspiratorially towards Hisagi.
"So who do you think is spying for him?" Hisagi asked with a quirk of his brow. Hitsugaya folded his arms across his chest and looked at his fuku-taichou. This was something he wouldn't mind hearing as well.
"Oh I don't need spies, I'm simply that intelligent. I did work for twelfth division you know. Now before I get your gigai's would you like to dry off and maybe have a cup of tea?" Urahara had returned from the closet with three towels in hand and passed one to each dripping shinigami.
Hitsugaya took the offered towel but shook his head a little. "Just the towels will suffice for now, thanks. There's no need for the-"
"Oh definitely Urahara! I'm soaked to the bone and freezing cold. I know that Taichou and Hisagi aren't much better either, some hot tea would be perfect!" Matsumoto cut him off, then walked right past him with a bright smile and a flip of wet hair that whipped water droplets onto his face.
"Matsumoto!" He barked, eye twitching and shoulders riding up around his ears.
"You know sir you should go easy on Urahara, why he's been nothing but pleasant since we've been here." She chided and gave another smile to the shopkeeper before he disappeared down the same hallway, possibly to return with tea.
"We've barely gotten through the door." Hisagi said, ruffling the towel against his dark hair.
"And he's already offered us warm towels, hot tea and assistance in finding out about this gate." Matsumoto replied, ringing her hair with the fluffy towel she was given.
"No he hasn't." Histugaya said and dried himself off as best he could before taking a seat at the table.
"Well he knows we need gigais so he probably knows something about it." Hisagi mused as he came to sit alongside the young Taichou.
"hmm. Good point Hisagi." He replied after a short pause. He had to admit it was true, the man was definitely nothing short of polite whenever he had to make a trip to the world of the living.
"Here we are, a pot of tea and four cups. Would you care to sit?" Urahara had returned, taking a seat at the table and offering a seat to Matsumoto who was still drying her long hair.
"Thank you Urahara." She smiled and took a seat between Hitsugaya and The shopkeeper.
"You're welcome." Urahara gave a bright smile, pouring the steaming liquid into each cup before handing it off to each person with a nod. Once the formalities were over with Hitsugaya turned to face Urahara.
"I'm not going to make any pretenses about our mission. Urahara do you know why we're here?" He asked. The shopkeeper gave one of his I-know-more-than-you-but-I'll-never-tell-you-how smiles.
"Ah Hitsugaya, always to the point. Are you three comfortable? The story might take a little bit."
Hitsugaya sighed and took up a more comfortable seat, he had a feeling this story was going to take longer than 'a little bit'.