Haruto and Chōjirō moved at full speed through the pale light of dawn. By the time the sun broke the horizon, they reached Kirinji Tenjirō's location.
The moment they met eyes, Haruto couldn't help himself.
"You can't even keep track of a kid?"
Tenjirō bristled.
"The opponent wasn't some street-level thug! And I'm a doctor, not a duelist—how much do you expect me to fight?"
Still, he didn't meet Haruto's gaze. Whatever the excuse, he bore the blame.
"When did she go missing?" Haruto asked.
"Around noon yesterday."
That long? If the kidnapper wanted distance, they could be a district away by now.
Haruto sighed. "If only we had some pint-sized detective running around Seireitei…"
They began questioning locals. The first door they knocked on opened to reveal a nervous young couple. At the sight of two armed Shinigami, they trembled and offered up what little money they had.
Haruto blinked. "Do I look like a robber? I'm practically sunshine itself!"
"Relax," he said aloud. "We're looking for a missing child. Have you heard of anyone in the area taking children? I can pay for the information—" He patted his sleeve. Empty. He'd left in such a hurry he hadn't brought his coin purse. Or maybe… he'd just been broke in the first place.
"Tenjirō, you lost her—give me money."
"Why me? Do I look like I'm rolling in kan?"
Two exchanges later, they were in a ridiculous scuffle—hair pulling, nose flicking, absurd grapples, "monkey stealing peaches," "ants climbing trees," and a vicious "double wind-piercing ears."
"I knew I shouldn't have joined the Gotei 13!"
"Oh? Want to quit? Too late—I welded the door shut!"
Under Tenjirō's withering glare, Haruto finally snatched the wallet and tossed it to the couple.
"…Actually," the young woman said timidly, "children have been disappearing here for two years now. Always around ten years old—boys and girls. They say a madman tortures and kills them…"
Haruto's hands clenched. Rei had been gone for nearly a full day. That was more than enough time for the worst to happen.
"Do you know where this lunatic operates?" he asked, voice low.
The woman pointed toward a distant ridge. "They say he lives up there. No one dares approach. And—please, take the money back."
Tenjirō didn't even glance at it. He turned and broke into a Shunpo, heading for the mountain. Haruto grabbed Chōjirō and followed—only to realize, with a twitch of surprise, that Tenjirō's step was faster than his.
So the "healing specialist" had speed to rival his own. Haruto smirked. Fourth Division… not a bad place to slack off in the future.
Meanwhile, Hanazuki Rei swayed in and out of consciousness, bouncing painfully on someone's back.
She remembered collecting herbs… and then darkness. Now she was being carried by a gaunt man in tattered black armor, barefoot, a small braid trailing behind his head, a knife at his hip, and a jagged scar bisecting his scalp.
He kept glancing behind him, eyes darting with fear.
"You're awake, little sister? Don't be afraid," he crooned, voice dripping filth. "Uncle will play some fun games with you later…"
Rei's stomach turned. She didn't know what "game" he meant, but every instinct screamed danger.
"Let me go!" she shouted.
"Judging from your clothes, your family's got money. After we play, they can buy you back!"
Rustling in the forest made him stiffen. He bolted, zigzagging through the underbrush until he reached a narrow cave.
Inside, he gestured to a piece of dried meat. "Hungry? I've got plenty."
Rei's breath caught—her brief medical training told her the truth instantly. That wasn't pork. Or venison.
It was human.
"Don't worry. You're too cute for uncle to kill… I'll ransom you instead!" His laugh echoed against the stone.
And then—
"After running so long," a calm voice rang from the mouth of the cave, "I've finally found your lair."