Horns of Fate (Bleach oc Fanfic)

Part Three: More Vanish in the Rukongai

It's been three days since the Captain's meeting and not a single person who has gone missing has been found, only more have continued to go missing, their only evidence being their clothes laying on the ground. Given that how they seem to be only vanishing during the night, it seems logical to patrol while everyone else is asleep.

"If things weren't so dire right now, tonight would be a beautiful night for a walk." Keishin comments, Chikane yawning by his side.

"If you say so Captain." She says tiredly.

He looks over at her. "Hmm what's this, too tired to yell at me huh?" He shrugs, ignoring her half-hearted glare. "Still, you'd think by now we'd have found something, I don't like all this quiet."

Chikane huffs. "I thought you liked the peace."

He stops walking. "I do, but this is too quiet." He cups his ear. "See if you listen, there's nothing."

They waited, silence. No crickets chirped their usual songs in the dark, no light breeze shifted the leaves. It was if they were in a bubble that kept out all noise.

The silence is only broken when Chikane yawns loudly. "Ugh I'm so tired."

A soft smile crosses his face. "It's alright Chikane, go home." He briefly looks at her. "I can finish on my own."

"Thank the lord." She says as cheerfully as someone like her could get and she immediately turned around and vanished from sight.

"Yeah I'll be fine on my own thanks for offering." He grumbles to himself.

He sighs, continuing his self inflicted patrol. He knew there would be others out here doing the same, but if they were lower ranked squad members then they would be at risk of disappearing too. Hopefully whatever or whoever was doing this would have a more difficult time dealing with someone of a Captain's level. He could only hope that would be the case.

His hand tightened around the maroon grip of his zanpakuto, Taureus as he sensed somebody coming up behind him. They were hiding their spiritual pressure enough that he couldn't quite tell who it was but could still sense their presence.

"What're you doing out here you big dummy!" A loud voice shouted as they moved faster.

Keishin simply stepped out of the way and his assailant flew past where his head was and slammed into the ground, creating a loud burst of dirt. "And just what do you think you're doing?"

His attacker was a short soul reaper called Hiyori, the bad tempered lieutenant of squad twelve.

She scowls, jumping to her feet. "Why'd you move out the way like that huh? what's your problem?"

Keishin sighs. "You shouldn't have tried to kick me like that, I'm not Shinji you know." He turns around. "Anyway shouldn't you be with your Captain, it's not really safe for anyone to be out here alone."

Hiyori crosses her arms. "I ditched that loser hours ago, and I can take care of myself Keishin so just shut your big mouth."

She was probably right, she often gave Shinji a hard time, and rumours around the squads said she constantly beat up her captain too. Keishin was probably one of the small few who could actually control her, even just a little.

"So why're you out here anyway?" Hiyori grumbles, walking fast to keep up with Keishin's longer strides.

He looks down at her. "Surely you've heard about the disappearances that have been happening, didn't your Captain tell you?" He says frowning concerned at her.

She tightens her crossed arms. "Well yeah but I was so mad at him I kinda beat the loser up before coming out here."

He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Hiyori...... this has been going on for the last three days at least."