Prospects - Chapter 6

[owned_by_a_cat]

Title:      Prospects
Series:   Bleach AU
Genre:   Drama/Romance/Humor
Rating:   Mature (eventually)
Pairing: Byakuya/Renji - with supporting cast of Shuuhei/Kensei and Yoruichi/Kisuke if I'm brave enough

Author's Note:  This chapter's been a while in coming. Admittedly, I've been distracted by Shuuhei & Kensei (severely distracted, really!), but I've also been doing battle with Byakuya, who is pulling more than one disappearing act.  I'm very grateful to ichibanseiken, without whom the mining tycoon would be even more elusive than he already is. I can't say how much I appreciate your help!

<< Previous Chapter

A Prelude to Games

"Someone's nosing around the crash site," Shūhei said softly.

"How do you know?" Byakuya had wondered about Shūhei's activities the previous night, but had not wanted to agitate the injured geologist by asking searching questions that required lengthy explanations. "I didn't realise you had brought any equipment."

"Only my field kit. And I used that last night to set beacons. Someone tripped the one near Renji's car."

"What do you recommend we do now?"

Instead of a reply, Shūhei leaned over the sleeping redhead and wrapped his hand around the man's throat, pressing down lightly with the edge of his palm. "Ren, wake up."

Abarai's body went tense and still, then the brown eyes blinked open. "What is it?"

"Take a few deep breaths," Shūhei instructed. "Then sit up, but move slowly."

"Got it." The geologist closed his eyes again and breathed as told.

Byakuya moved alongside to assist, but Renji shifted upright easily and seemed stable when he reached vertical. He was what Byakuya's grandfather would have called 'a sight.' Tangles of coppery hair framed a dust-smeared face with a prominent bruise around a blood-crusted gash. Byakuya's eyes dropped to check for equally bruised knuckles, before he caught himself and discarded the stray memory. Only for his gaze to land on dusty khakis with badly scraped knees and his mind to turn to a possible concussion and broken ribs.

"How do you feel, Dr. Abarai?"

"Okay, I 'spose," Renji huffed and raised both hands to push the hair out of his eyes while he took stock. He stretched until his back popped and twisted his torso from side to side, avoiding sudden movements. "Most of the headache is gone," he pronounced finally. "Starving, though."

"Are you fit to travel?"

"Sure." The redheaded geologist looked from Shūhei to Byakuya and back. "Now that we've established that I won't break, will you tell me what's going on?"

"Your Land Rover has visitors."

"That early in the morning? Sneaky bastards. Think they don't wanna be seen?"

The enthusiasm in Abarai's voice was as unexpected as Hisagi's smirk. Neither made much sense to Byakuya's tired mind. If the geologist was convinced that he'd been run off the road, shouldn't he be wary of anyone creeping around the wreck of his car? And what in that whole scenario could possibly amuse Hisagi? Byakuya scrubbed the heels of his hands across his gritty eyes when Hisagi's caustic response met his ears.

"Maybe they're sweet on your kit."

"There isn't much kit in the truck. Laptop's in the hotel safe, my gun and pack are here. They're welcome to a few crates of rock if they're that desperate."

"Your pack contains all the home comforts you take with you into the field?" The comment slipped out before Byakuya could censor himself. He found it hard to imagine that Renji Abarai spent six weeks mapping with little more than a sleeping bag, stove and a handful of tools. But he hadn't meant to say so. Fortunately, the redhead took the question in stride before Byakuya was required to compose an apology.

"Pretty much, yeah," he said. "I've got a tent and table and chair in the car, but most of the time, I don't use them. It's just as easy to stretch a tarp out from the back of the truck and use that for a makeshift tent. Only things I'd really hate to lose are my hammer and my maps. Oh, and the GPS... makes things so much easier."

The geologist truly was like an onion. Every time the Kuchiki thought he had the man's measure, Abarai opened his mouth and revealed another layer. An image of Shūhei Hisagi juggling swam through Byakuya's mind. There was clearly a reason why the two men were friends. The brunet security specialist was just as difficult to fathom. Layers upon layers, masks upon masks. Though given Shūhei Hisagi's background, training and experience, the inscrutable poker face was expected. Finding such depths in the expressive and apparently sociable geologist was not.

Renji had pushed himself slowly upright while he spoke, wincing just a tiny bit when his weight landed on his left knee. Once he was on his feet, he made a beeline for the cave's exit, only to have Hisagi block his way. The redhead looked incredulous. "What? You think I can't take a piss without you holding my hand?"

Shūhei smirked, but didn't move out of the way. "Remember Declan?"

"You crazy dipshit!" Renji exploded without warning and to Byakuya's complete consternation. "You're a few cogs short of a clockwork! What if I'd gone out at night?"

"Without me noticing? Right."

Having observed Shūhei at work, Byakuya had to agree with that assessment. Shūhei slept like a cat and as soon as his eyes opened he was totally alert – a trait Byakuya wished he could emulate. He'd had trouble settling when he wasn't on watch, laying awake and trying desperately not to fidget. This morning, his eyes felt gritty and his mind sluggish enough to–

"Coffee! I'd kill for coffee!"

"Quite," Byakuya agreed with the outburst, though it confused him to see Renji retreat from the glowering brunet, hands up and palms facing forward. What had he just missed? Hisagi ducked out of the cave with a curt "Stay inside!" when something else occurred to the Kuchiki. "Who is Declan?" he asked, only to have the redhead's face split into a grin.

"Irish goon who studied with us," Renji replied and sat down next to the mining tycoon, still grinning. "Loved to go drinking, but couldn't be bothered to get up to class in the morning. One day he decided to sneak into our rooms and copy Shūhei's notes. At least, I suppose he was planning to copy them."

"And?" the Kuchiki prompted when Renji leaned back against the wall, eyes distant and amusement plain, and didn't continue with the story.

"Oh, he was hanging upside down from the ceiling when we came home, covered in red and blue ink," Renji chuckled. "Swore a blue streak, but never once came within ten yards of Shūhei's stuff for the rest of our time."

Byakuya had no problems imagining the intruder's predicament. Hisagi was a dab hand at setting traps and it soothed the Kuchiki's ego that he wasn't the only one to be caught... even though Kensei had already made that point. Several times.

"Did you sleep at all last night?"

Byakuya Kuchiki jerked upright at the voice, to find a mug of steaming liquid thrust under his nose.

"Taste isn't much to write home about, I'm afraid, but it's got enough caffeine to wake a horse," Renji Abarai opined, taking a sip from his own mug.

"Did I fall asleep?" Byakuya asked.

"Looked like it. You were sharing watches with Shūhei, weren't you?"

"Hm."

"I can't do it either," the redhead confided. "Drop off to sleep like Shuu does. Bugged the hell out of me when I was younger. He could even sleep in class... and answer questions when the prof called him."

"Must be his army training," Byakuya surmised, glad when the caffeine started to clear his mind and the coffee's warmth chased the shivers from his frame. He had almost returned to his customary stoicism when Shūhei slipped back into the cave and came to stand beside the two men.

"It's Gin, alright." Shūhei's tone was all business. He placed the rifle on the ground and accepted the mug Renji filled and held out to him. "He's got two men with him, a jeep, a recovery truck and plenty of rope."

"They're not putting their dirty paws on my car!"

"Stop that!" The words were an order, reinforced by a hand pressed flat to Renji's chest. "Your crazy baboon routine won't get you anywhere but the local hospital... if there is such a thing. Now sit down and listen."

The brunet's voice was firm and level. A commander's voice. And just as he had the night before, the geologist did as he was told.

xxX oOo Xxx

Shūhei gulped the hot coffee, grateful Renji had remembered the three sugars he took in his first cup of the morning unless he was home. He hated sweet coffee, but since he often skipped breakfast the sugar kept him going. And after a night of little sleep, keeping watch and keeping an eye on his boss keeping watch, he needed the boost.

Not that he'd admit that under torture, of course. Or comment on the fact that said boss had done a surprisingly good job sharing watches throughout the night. Byakuya hadn't slept much, but he had been alert every time Shūhei checked, and it had surprised the brunet just a little.

Right now, though, the man looked like he could use a few hours of shut-eye. And that was exactly what Shūhei was planning to provide, right along with medical attention for Renji.

So far, the redhead appeared as belligerent as ever, moving with his usual fluid grace, imbibing coffee and complaining about the shocking lack of breakfast. Shūhei had seen too many head injuries to be complacent, though. Delayed reactions could lay waste to the most careful plans. And Shūhei hadn't forgotten the bruise across Renji's lower ribs.

"Earth to Shūhei, are you with us?"

"Perfectly, thank you," Shūhei drained the mug and twirled it in his fingers. He knew what needed to be done, but it didn't hurt to check once more. Patterns, motivations and timetables wound through his mind in a never ending stream. Gin with his helpers on the hillside, Renji injured, two rifles and a shotgun, Kensei in London, UPS delivery schedules, the dark circles under Byakuya's eyes and the tired slump to his shoulders, diplomatic pouches, mineral finds, Aizen, trip wires, deceptions and the need to delay...

"Right," he said finally and sat down. "First priority is to get the two of you out of here. Then I'll find out what we need to know."

Shūhei's neck grew uncomfortably hot at the mining tycoon's sudden glare. "We were not expecting a confrontation," he insisted, aware of how much Byakuya hated not being in control of a situation. The man was very much like Kensei that way. "We're not equipped for confrontation. Therefore, your safety is the first priority." Shūhei offered a shrug and a small grin. "I didn't make the orders."

"You just stick to them," Byakuya replied very quietly, but the stiff set of his shoulders eased a little. A few deep breaths seemed to get him over his aversion of being protected and he caught Shūhei's gaze and nodded. "Very well, Hisagi. Continue."

"Right, here's the script," Shūhei began. "Renji, you've had an accident. Some idiot ran you off the road. You were unconscious and when you woke you called me. We came to find you. You are concussed and we suspect you have some broken ribs. You can't move very well, you feel like shit and you're endlessly grateful for people coming to help."

Brown eyes snapped to his, bright with fury.

"Shut up," Shūhei ordered before the redhead had taken a good breath. "He wants you pinned, so we give him what he wants. And you will play along," Shūhei grinned into Renji's heated glare, "or I'll make sure your injuries are genuine. And then you will feel like shit."

The glare cooled to a sheepish grin and Shūhei turned his head to focus on Byakuya. "You, sir, are worried about Ren's injuries and want to get him medical attention as soon as possible. Hence, the two of you will take the Jeep and return to the hotel."

"Which leaves you to...?"

"Show our gratitude and help Gin recover Ren's Land Rover, of course," Shūhei stated bluntly.

"Do you think that's wise?"

"Very. As long as we don't know what we're facing, we're in danger. I have to find out who we're up against."

"Surely we know that," Renji disagreed. "We're up against Aizen."

"Not necessarily," Shūhei replied. "You said Gin's the local go to man. He could be acting on behalf of someone else you've pissed off."

He waited for shouts of hot denial, but Renji stayed quiet and considered Shūhei's words.

"I want you to keep out of Gin's way and let me do the talking." Shūhei turned to face Byakuya and ran down his mental checklist. "Make sure to act surprised when you catch sight of Gin's posse. I don't want them to think we kept eyes on the car. We'll pretend to consult about our options and then you'll get in the Jeep and drive back to the hotel. Make sure Renji is seen when you check in and ask reception to call the doctor rather than calling him yourself. Try to get rooms next to Renji's. Put your phones on charge as soon as you're in your room and check in with Kensei every hour, just to be safe. He's sending a courier down, due this afternoon. He's using UPS."

"Do we need more weapons?"

"They'll be in the diplomatic pouch and take a day or so longer. Right now, Kensei's restocking my field kit." Shūhei rose and wet his fingers in the little stream, before brushing them through the loose dust on the cave's floor. "Hold still," he instructed as he moved to Renji's side. Renji obediently raised his face and Shūhei wiped his wet, dust-covered hands down his cheeks, over his brow and down the long copper strands. He washed his hands clear of dust and repeated the procedure – until Renji looked as if a total amateur had made a stab at cleaning up his injuries.

"It will start to itch in a few, but keep with it until you're in the car and out of sight."

Renji just nodded and grabbed Shūhei's outstretched hand, letting himself be hauled to his feet. Shūhei watched closely, still concerned about the head injury, but Renji didn't exhibit any signs of nausea or lack of co-ordination.

"Seems we're in luck," Byakuya's quiet voice came from beside him and Shūhei nodded.

"Small mercies and a very hard head," Renji quipped. "What do you want me to do with my pack and shotgun? If I'm all pathetic an' shit?"

"Give 'em to me." Shūhei slung Renji's backpack over his shoulders, keeping his own, smaller pack in front of him. The shotgun went over his left shoulder and his right hand gripped the rifle. "Give me five to dismantle the trap outside and then follow me. Remember, you're hurt and moving is difficult and painful."

The light was steadily improving when Shūhei emerged from the cave. He kept quiet for a few heartbeats, simply breathing and letting his ears and eyes adjust. The rising sun bathed the hillside in a soft pink glow. The air was still and fresh and without the edge of heat it would acquire later.

The clear wire stretched in an invisible line across the approach to the cave. Shūhei bent and unhooked the makeshift trigger, carefully gathering up the small collection of razorblades and paintballs. While the beacons he'd set around Renji's car were electronic, the trap at the entrance of the cave was mechanical and designed to make any would-be intruder look as if he'd been attacked by a malevolent rainbow or a psychotic clown. And while the garish colours appeared to wash off, they left a stain that was brightly visible under ultraviolet light, marking the perpetrator for several weeks.

Kensei called Shūhei's traps juvenile, and the brunet never argued. After all, most of his non-lethal traps dated from a time when humiliating an opponent had been just as important as incapacitating him. The morale boost alone had been worth the effort, and Shūhei had designed and tested diligently until his traps fulfilled both tasks with ruthless efficiency.

He coiled the wire carefully, remembering some of his more spectacular results, when Renji and Byakuya slipped from the cave and approached carefully.

"All set?" Shūhei asked rhetorically as the two men drew alongside. "Don't forget, we're mostly harmless. So keep it down and don't react to any provocation."

Heads turned as soon as they came into view, Byakuya supporting a stumbling Renji and Shūhei on point. The pale-haired man who was Shūhei's primary target straightened up from his perusal of the ground near the Land Rover's final resting place. He was slight, to the point of qualifying for skinny, but he moved with a fluidity Shūhei recognised. Combat trained. Shūhei made a hand sign urging utmost caution, knowing that Byakuya would take note, and continued to move uphill, shoulders forward and boots scuffing the rock in apparent eagerness.

"And aren' you a sight to behold!" Gin exclaimed as soon as Shūhei was close enough to hear. The man smiled, but he kept his lashes lowered, veiling his eyes from Shūhei's scrutiny. "We were wonderin' what had happened to our Dr. Abarai."

"Kind of you to come and check," Shūhei deadpanned, faking a grin of his own. "We were waiting to meet with him when he called to say there'd been a problem."

"That sounds like the good doctor, doesn' it? Revealin' bare bones, concealin' details and stubbornly refusin' help."

"He's hardly in a position to refuse help."

Gin's gaze slipped from Shūhei's and focussed on a point behind him. "Is he badly hurt?"

"Dunno." Shūhei turned and watched Byakuya help Renji up the slope, Gin's face just at the edge of his peripheral vision. The two men made a striking picture: backlit by the rising sun, the geologist's lanky frame draped over the slighter Kuchiki, crimson hair mingling with raven black. Neither man was a particularly good actor, but Shūhei had to concede that they looked convincing enough. And by the smug smirk on his face, Gin thought so, too.

"He's conscious," Shūhei resumed the conversation and turned back to face the silver haired man. "Says he feels sick and headachy, so maybe he's concussed. The boss wants to get him to town and a doctor asap. Were you planning on hauling the car up? I could stay help."

"No love for hospitals, Mr..?"

"Hisagi. Shūhei Hisagi. And no – none at all. I prefer my friends vertical."

"Then I'll be grateful for your assistance."

"Excellent." Shūhei span and scrambled back down the hill to intercept Byakuya and Renji. "Let's get you to the Jeep and out of here," he said very quietly when he reached them.

"I really wanna smash.."

"Shh. Keep your hat on. He's watching," Shūhei cautioned, though Renji had kept his growl firmly in the back of his throat. "I'm staying to help recover the Land Rover, sir," he continued in a normal tone. "I will meet you at the hotel."

"Very well," Byakuya agreed. "Take Dr. Abarai's other arm."

Gin's men didn't come near them on their way up the slope, but Gin tracked their progress from a distance. Shūhei filed his observations and focussed on the redhead between them. Renji's temper was sizzling and Shūhei couldn't blame him. Ren hated showing weakness. And having to look badly shaken and barely able to walk in front of the man who had run him off the road was not sitting well with him. Still, the redhead stuck doggedly to the script, even though he mumbled a near constant stream of profanities under his breath[KP1] .

Shūhei slowed a little and managed a stumble, as if he wasn't used to carrying weights or dragging incapacitated friends around, while remembering chilly autumn nights when he and Renji had returned home from parties much less stable on their feet.

"'s not funny," Renji snapped when one recollection managed to evoke a chuckle.

"Remember that costume party at the medical school?"

The redhead snorted. "Yeah. You were almost arrested for soliciting and I had to save your ass."

"Because you were in so much better shape, of course. You couldn't walk in a straight line if your life depended on it."

"Oh, and you could? In those heels?"

"Children." Byakuya's voice cut across their bickering, loud enough to carry, and Shūhei shot him an approving grin.

"Keep your laptop and notes in sight at all times and pack a bag," Shūhei reminded as he opened the passenger door of the Jeep for Renji to climb in. He handed the shotgun over, then shrugged Renji's pack off his shoulders and slung it into the back seat. "Make sure you drink. Water, not beer. And get as much rest as you can."

"Yes, Mother. No, Mother. I got it the first time," Renji grumbled. "Can I get that crap off my face now?"

Byakuya pulled a box of wipes from the glove box and held it out to the redhead. "Watch out for yourself, Hisagi. Don't underestimate the man. And call if anything happens."

"Will do." Shūhei slammed the passenger door and walked around the Jeep to stand beside Byakuya's open window. "Make sure the doctor checks for broken ribs as well as concussion," he reminded in a low voice. "Stay together and check in with Kensei every hour."

He raised a hand in a short salute, and watched until the Jeep's tail lights disappeared in the distance.

xxX oOo Xxx

Gin was back in his crouch, eyes on the ground when Shūhei rejoined him. "Watcha reckon he wants with all this stuff?" he asked, indicating the carpet of plastic sampling bags.

Shūhei knelt and randomly selected one of the small bags. It contained a flattish piece of dark grey rock the size of his thumb that didn't look any different from the small pieces of rock in the other sample bags. A code of letters and numbers scrawled in biro was the only thing distinguishing the sample in Shūhei's hand from the collection on the ground.

"No idea. For all I know, he boils them for soup." His hand riffled through the layer of bags. "They look all the same to me."

"You're no geologist?"

"Me? Sorry, but rocks just don't do it for me."

"What does?"

"Finance." Shūhei was familiar with the dance. No, scratch that. He was an expert. He planned more often than he improvised. But when intuition prodded him, he played. Even if he had no idea why posing as Byakuya Kuchiki's PA might be a good idea.

"You're an accountant."

"Accountants do taxes," Shūhei said dismissively as he rose. He stretched, aware of Gin's eyes on him, and played it up. "I'm in acquisitions. I buy."

"Minerals?"

"Nah," even Kensei couldn't have found fault with the sincerity of Shūhei's soft, indulgent chuckle. "This is pleasure, not business. The boss wanted to get in some hunting."

"I wasn' aware that redheads were in season."

"Wrong again. The redhead's my treat. I went to school with Ren and haven't seen him in years."

Together, the two started to collect the sample bags and replace them in the open crate they had spilled from. There were a lot more than Shūhei had first thought, and handling the evidence of Renji's industriousness amused him. He had no real idea what he was looking at, and only a vague idea of Renji's plans for the samples, but he liked the idea of keeping at least some of his friend's labours from going to waste.

"Your meetin' must have been fate, seein' that you rescued him," Gin resumed the conversation when the crate was almost filled.

"Hm. How did you come to be here?"

Gin sat back on his heels, smirk still firmly in place. "Ya know, I'm a man who listens to rumours. An' in a little town like ours, rumours run fast."

"There was a rumour about the crash?"

"One of the truckers said he saw skid marks like a car had gone off the road, ya know? Then I heard that Dr. Abarai hadn' returned to the hotel... and he doesn' do that when he's jus' back from a trip. So we came up to have a look-see."

Shūhei pondered the fact that Gin had bothered to bring men and a recovery truck on his 'look-see' while they wedged the lid back on the crate and started to fill the next one. The man whistled slightly off-key while he worked, asking the odd question every now and then. Shūhei answered each one, quietly impressed. Gin might look like a skinny runt and grin like a demented fox, but his intuition was as keen as a steel trap. Shūhei hadn't enjoyed himself so much in years.

After only a couple of hours they had the samples crated and the Land Rover upright, returned to the side of the road and loaded onto the recovery truck. Renji's car looked rather battered around the edges, but one of the men with Gin – owner of the local garage and the recovery truck – was adamant that the car would be good as new in no time at all.

Shūhei's intuition prodded him once more as they drove into town and passed the small park.

"Does the town have a camping store?" he asked and answered Gin's raised eyebrow with a story he'd known nothing about two minutes earlier. "We spent the last week at a conference and the hunting trip was a spur of the moment thing. I could really do with a few provisions."

To his quiet delight, Gin went with the program. Instead of taking Shūhei to the hotel, he turned off the main road and into a side street. "Let me take you shoppin' Hisagi."

xxX oOo Xxx

Renji hadn't realised he'd fallen asleep until the touch of cool hands – one on his forehead and one on his cheek – returned him to the present. He recognised the hotel's courtyard car park, the empty space to his left where he usually parked his Land Rover.

"How do you feel, Dr. Abarai?" Byakuya Kuchiki had driven them back to town, gotten out of the driver's seat, walked around the Jeep and opened the passenger door... all without Renji being aware. The redhead supposed the man had a right to ask.

"Must be tired," he conceded with a small grin.

"Can you keep to the plan for just a few more minutes?"

"Sure." The geologist climbed out of the car while the Kuchiki pulled Renji's pack from the backseat and slung it over one shoulder.

Renji hadn't planned on providing the same performance he'd given on the hillside. He straightened up and used his shotgun as a makeshift crutch, pleased when his companion didn't complain. The hotel staff clucked over him as expected, but between Renji's bedraggled look and Byakuya Kuchiki's quiet requests, they secured rooms either side of Renji's without any problems.

"And I don't need a doctor!" Renji groused, as soon as Byakuya ended his second call to his security chief.

"I'm with Hisagi on that one, Dr. Abarai," the mining tycoon stated in an even voice. "Head injuries are no laughing matter."

"I'm not laughing. I just don't see why you can't accept that I'm fine."

"Has it occurred to you that calling the doctor will add credibility to our story?"

Renji stopped mid-rant and stared. Shūhei believed that Gin had merely wanted to pin him down. Calling the doctor to the hotel would confirm Renji's injuries. It might even get Gin off their backs.

"Fine," he slumped in defeat. "You're right. Call the doctor. But can I at least take a shower?"

Byakuya Kuchiki didn't laugh at Renji's whiny tone the way Shūhei would have. But his lips curled up at the corners in what had to pass for amusement. "I'm sure the doctor will be able to assess your injuries even if they're not covered by dust."

xxX oOo Xxx

The doctor had pronounced Renji mildly concussed and bruised but otherwise undamaged and had ordered rest and a mild sedative. While Renji slept, the Kuchiki had been busy. He had recharged every electrical item they carried and had retrieved Renji's laptop and notes from the hotel safe. He had taken delivery of the articles sent by Kensei and conferred with the pilot of the Kuchiki company jet. He'd helped Renji pack a bag, fed him lunch and was currently seated on Renji's sofa reading a stratigraphy of the area that he'd found in Renji's bookshelf, while the geologist had armed himself with a map and coloured pens and sat at his desk, transferring data from his field book.

Work progressed slowly as Renji's every nerve was singing with tension. The moment he'd caught himself pacing and checking the clock for the umpteenth time he had sat down to work, hoping it would calm his mind. But Shūhei was out there tangling with Gin... and Renji was worried.

Byakuya Kuchiki's quiet, undemanding presence was an unexpected boon. The man didn't fidget or pace. He didn't make meaningless conversation to pass the time. And he didn't berate Renji for his ill-hidden agitation. Instead he sat there reading, serene and unruffled, helping Renji to focus on his work rather than the butterflies playing hockey in his guts.

As soon as Shūhei put in an appearance, Renji knew that all the worry had been for nought. The brunet looked as smug as the cat who'd won the lock pick to the aviary. And the diabolical gleam in the eucalyptus eyes cheered Renji no end.

They ordered room service and shared updates along with an early dinner before Shūhei sat down in the middle of the floor to examine his purchases while Byakuya and Renji watched him in confusion.

For reasons known only to himself Shūhei had bought two backpacks – larger than the one he was travelling with – plus a cami jacket, a dun-coloured vest and a hat. Shūhei went through his new gear with an attention to detail that baffled his friend. Surely Shūhei knew what he'd bought and had checked out each item before parting with his hard-earned?

It wasn't until the brunet started to chuckle, that Renji got a clue. "He put something in the gear you bought?"

"Oh, he's a sneaky bugger," Shūhei grinned. "But he didn't learn from the masters, so..."

Renji watched as Shūhei removed a toggle from each of the packs, one from the jacket's waist adjustment tab and one from the zip that kept the vest's hidden hood out of the way. He slipped them into the breast pocket of his shirt and leaned his back against the coffee table like a man who'd done a good day's work and was pleased with his efforts.

"What are you planning to use these for, Hisagi?" Byakuya asked when it became obvious that Shūhei wasn't going to explain matters anytime soon.

"Misdirection," Shūhei replied promptly. "Though I still have hope that we'll get out of here tomorrow without any further excitement."

"And what is the likelihood of that happening?"

Shūhei rose and stretched before gathering up his things. "Not quite the same as a snowstorm hitting the hotel tonight, but not far off," he acknowledged the thread of sarcasm in Byakuya's voice. "Gin was... rather complacent."

"You think he'll try to keep us here?"

"Probably. I've tried to insinuate that that would be a bad mistake. Let's see if he can take a hint. We should get some sleep – just in case."

The men turned in and Renji was grateful when he had his rooms to himself once more. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but the crash had rattled his cage. The thought that someone wanted him dead... His back itched as if he wore a target painted on his shirt and he instinctively stayed well away from the windows.

He got ready for bed, but sleep eluded him. The day had been so full of conflicting emotions that his mind was reeling. Anger and confusion mixed with worry until his fingers tingled and his skin felt too tight. Earlier, Byakuya's presence had calmed him and watching Hisagi at work had been an excellent distraction, but now his mind wouldn't focus on anything but a pale face with a close-fitting cap of silver hair leaning out of a truck window.

Music wasn't helping. Reading wasn't helping. Not even a cold shower could erase that image from Renji's inner eye. Was Gin working for Aizen and had gotten wind of Renji's find? Or had the man acted for someone else? Someone Renji didn't even know about? And most of all... what, if anything, could he do about it?

They were planning to leave the town after breakfast, ostensibly to visit a local tracker to discuss a hunting trip. The Kuchiki company jet would be waiting for them at the airport. Would Gin guess their plans and come after them?

It was past midnight when Renji's brain was exhausted enough veer away from the never ending circles of speculation. And like a child clutching a toy for comfort, Renji focussed on images of a slim man with inky hair and amethyst eyes, a man who looked as out of place in this small town as a giraffe at a petrol station, but whose presence and poise had dominated the bar, a man who could sound cruel and heartless, yet came to his aid without hesitation.

Renji drifted on the cusp of sleep, lulled into security by the memory of Byakuya's cool touch on his forehead, when screams intruded into the quiet of the night. Heart hammering wildly he shot up in bed, hands clutching the sheets, ears straining to catch sounds until the sounds suddenly made sense:

"Fire!"

Comments

[lightechos.livejournal.com]

Yay! I am loving this AU, great chapter! Can't wait for more.

[lucymonster.livejournal.com]

Shuu really is one crazy fucker. Anyone who can make paintballs seem so sinister is pretty damn badass, in my book.

Love the tension build-up in this chapter, capped off by such a merciless cliffhanger...really nice work, and I can't wait to read more! :)

[owned-by-a-cat.livejournal.com]

I hadn't considered the paintballs to be sinister, but I definitely like my men competent and inventive. The badass bit is bonus.

Glad you like.. it's all set to go a bit crazy.