*Intro*

So If I were to write an arc for Bleach the opening would be Touched by Vast to which has inspired this fan-fic.

So as you listen to the song think of epic battles, romance, and whatever else is left.

Enjoy. :)

Chapter 1: Unknown Foe.

"Renji!"
Rukia awoke to the aching feeling of not sensing Renji's reiatsu. She stood and dressed, panicked. Sliding her door open she rushed down the hall to where her brother slept.
"Nii-Sama!" She yelled as she opened his door.
He jolted, sitting up when he saw her.
"Rukia..."
It didn't take him long to realize her current fear-driven state. He too couldn't feel his lieutenant's reiatsu. Throwing off his covers, he motioned to Rukia to hand him his sword. Once she grabbed it and turned to face him he was already tying his belt. They rushed out of his room and down the long halls of the Kuchiki home.
"Nii-Sama, please bring Ichigo and the others to the Soul Society."
"We won't need their-"
She stopped and took his arm.
"Please," she met his eyes, "Renji...I can't feel him. He may already be, no," she shuttered, "we'll need Orihime. And Ichigo...," she let go of his arm and walked passed Byakuya, "I'll need him here if Renji is...dead," she turned back to face him, "Please, Nii-Sama."
Byakuya held his sister's face, "I'll retrieve them. Find Arabai. But if an enemy is near by don't engage them. If Renji lost his battle to this new foe, you won't survive."
"Thank you, Nii-Sama."
With a flash step she was gone. Her search led her to Sokyoku hill where she sensed a strange reiatsu. At first she hoped it was Renji's, but the reiatsu turned dark, and once she was closer its immense evil shocked her. What was Renji doing? She asked herself.
Landing on top of the hill she searched for anyone. She looked left. No one. She looked right. No one. She looked ahead...someone was lying several dozen feet away from her. With a flash step she headed toward the near lifeless body.
"Renji!" She screamed.
Renji's clothes were nearly torn off his body. He laid in sea of his own blood. his wounds were deep in his chest, arms, legs, and the side of his neck. Yet, slightly, his chest rose up and down. He was still alive. Despite the first wave of rain falling, all she could see of him was his open flesh.
"Rukia..." he whispered.
"Baka, stop talking!" She knelt beside him, using her limited kido healing abilities. When she realized her efforts were wasted she put all of her reiatsu into her kido.
"Stop," he said, "don't waste your energy."
"What did I say? Shut up!"
"Rukia," he could barely lift his hand, much less firmly grip her arm, "let me go."
"Renji," she stared into his eyes, her own eyes swelling with tears.
"Baka..." he smiled, "you knew that one day this would happen. Either to you or me. I'm just glad it wasn't you."
"You selfish ass."
"I know. I always was..." he tried to breathe, "wasn't I? But not selfish enough..."
"What?"
"If I had been more selfish," his bloodied hand touched her face, "I would have told you that I loved you, before Byakuya adopted you. Actually,..." he breathed again, "I would told you that day. I would have made you choose, but then again, that wouldn't be love right?"
"Damn it Renji," she said as she laid over him. She still couldn't feel him. She had no idea how long he had.
"My only regret is that I told you now. At the end. Gomenesai."
Rukia held his face. All these long years she had watched him be there for her. What would she do if he wasn't there?
"That's my line," she tried to smile, but the tragic reality of losing him prevented her from doing so.
"No Rukia smile. It's the last thing I want to see as I depart this world."
Her face scrunched as she smiled, trying to hide her sadness. Renji's hand pressed as firmly as he could to her cheek. Her face relaxed and for a fleeting second her smile seemed as if it came from pure joy.
"I love you Renji," she cried, "you are my truest nakama. I-I need you."
"In my next life," he whispered, "I'll find you. I swear it...I..."
"Renji?"
His eyes closed and his chest stopped rising.
"RENJI!" She screamed.
In a frenzy she could only think one thing to do. Closing her eyes she visualized her reiatsu, seeing a light blue ball. As she thought about Renji it grew stronger and stronger, eventually looking like the surface of a blue star. When she opened her eyes she pulled herself away from that ball and gave it to Renji. With her splitting her reiatsu, she hoped it would keep him alive.
Thankfully, his chest rose and descended once more, but his eyes remained closed.
"I'll save you Renji," she said, "I promise."
Moment after moment passed and her energy soon drained. Was Nii-Sama near? She felt nothing, no one. If he had gone to retrieve the others how long until they would feel her?
"Inoue!" She called, hoping for someone, anyone to hear her.
Her reiatsu was fading. If she kept this up for too long, she too could die.
"Renji," she said, "I will always love you, no matter what happens tonight."
The rain was carried by a stale, bone-shattering, cold wind. Rukia's skin purpled before her eyes from the freeze. She didn't care. The only thing that mattered was Renji.
Soon her eyes blurred and her reiatsu nearly disappeared. She fell into Renji's chest, still trying to push out her reiatsu to keep him breathing. Suddenly she saw figures in the distance, coming toward her.
Before her eye lids fell she heard a woman's scream.
"Kuchiki-san!"

"Rukia," she heard his soft voice. Byakuya held her by his fireplace, pressing a hot towel against her forehead. Her eyes flickered open. She smiled when she saw how relieved he was.
"Nii-Sama," she said, then the memories flowed back to her. She jolted upwards, "Renji! Where is he?"
"Lay still," Byakuya commanded, pushing her gently back into his arms, "Arabai is being taken cared of by the Inoue girl. We would of had Unohana heal him, but since Inoue started first it would be illogical to interrupt her."
"I see. Will he live? Can I see him?"
"We don't know yet. And soon. Once you've regained your strength."
"I'm ready now-"
"No. Stay still."
"I must see him Nii-Sama."
"You will, now obey. You're much too weak to see him."
Rukia leaned against his chest and sighed, wanting desperately to be by Renji's side. She closed her eyes, wanting to go along with Byakuya's wishes.
A knock on the door disrupted her. She opened her eyes to see captain Unohana walk in.
"Glad to see you awake, Kuchuki-san," she said with a pleasant smile.
"Have you seen Renji?" Rukia asked.
Unohana frowned.
"Yes," she said quickly returning to her smile, "Get some rest young Kuchuki. I'll evaluate you in the morning to see if you are ready to see him."
"I'm ready now," Rukia insisted.
"Hphm, not hardly, so please stay still," Unohana intensely smiled
"Ah ha ha ok," Rukia leaned further into Byakuya's chest.
"I brought some of my special tea. Heals the body and soul. For the both of you."
"Thank you," Byakuya said as Unohana left.
He poured them both a cup of Unohana's tea. On the silver tray that she had brought was a bowl of sugar spheres. He remembered she liked three in her green ginseng tea and promptly did the same for his tea.
He lifted the cup to her lips like a mother to her toddler.
"Nii-sama I can drink it myself," she said taking the cup and sipping the tea.
It tasted well enough, but what surprised her was that she truly did feel at ease. Her nerves had been frenzied by not knowing Renji's condition. But Unohana's tea really did help healing her soul.
"Nii-sama, why are you drinking it? Are you hurt?"
"Partly."
"Where, I'll lay over there-"
"No, not like that."
"I don't understand."
"I told you not to engage an enemy. It also meant not to put yourself in harm's way. I know you have strong feelings for Arabai, but-" He turned his head.
"Oh. Nii-sama," Rukia said, taking his hand.
"Losing Hisana was the most sorrow my heart has ever felt. I don't wish to return to that state. Promise me Rukia, if Arabai dies you will not follow him. It may take several decades, or centuries for you to feel peace, but I promise I will dedicate myself to your happiness."
"Byakuya," she stared into his eyes, and smiled slightly.
Placing her tea on the floor, she stretched her arms around his neck. She could tell he wasn't expecting her embrace. For a moment it seemed he held his breath, but soon his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I won't follow him..."
As she said this her heart ached. Nothing would have made her more happy, if Renji died, then to have followed Renji into a new life, leaving her sorrow behind. But she had never seen Byakuya like this. Sentimental, worried, practically tortured, and she was the cause. Their relationship had never been ideal, but that would be no excuse for leaving him, to have him relive the death of someone he cared about.
He pulled her away and handed her back her tea.
"Drink, then I'll take you to your room. You must get rest if you are to see Arabai in the morning."
"Thank you."
She finished her tea moments later. Despite being unconscious for a day and a half she was rather tired. She figured it was the tea. Byakuya laid her in her bed, pulling the silk-mink covers over her. Once she closed her eyes he lightly kissed her forehead. Rukia noted that it was the only time he had ever kissed her.
He must truly have been worried about me, she thought to herself. Moments later she fell asleep, a bit happier than when she had awoke.

A familiar way of knocking on his door led Byakuya to open it personally.
"Soi Fon."
"Byakuya," she said as she walked in, "How's Rukia-san?"
"She's still weak, but doing better."
"Good, hopefully she'll be well enough for our next Hakuda lesson. She's getting quite good. Soon she'll be an expert. Unlike yourself."
Byakuya said nothing. he returned to his seat by his fireplace drinking Unohana's tea. Soi Fon sensed he was uneasy. Ever since they were at the academy together, she could look beyond the stoic expression and sense his true feelings. She found a cushion by the door and plopped it by his. She took her seat.
"I suppose I'm not wanted for tea?"
Byakuya looked at her and then poured her a cup.
"I didn't think you wanted any of Unohana's tea," he said as he handed her a cup.
"How do you think I'm able to function in the morning?"
"It does not stimulate."
"But it helps to forget," she quipped.
"I see."
They sipped their tea in silence for a long while. Byakuya often had visits like this from Soi Fon. Ever since they both became captains their friendship from years past had rekindled. When Youruchi was out of the picture, Soi Fon seemed like her normal self. Thankfully these days Soi Fon kept her composure around her. It wasn't like before, when even the mention of the crazy woman's name Soi Fon flipped into a rabid idol worshipper. He was glad that Yoruchi's presence didn't have that effect on Soi Fon anymore.
"Tell me," Byakuya said, "what is the meaning of your visit?"
"It seemed to me you didn't want to be alone. That's all."
"What would make you think such a thing?" He smiled, "I'm typically alone."
"I know. If it's not Rukia-san or Arabai it's me who keeps you company. Speaking of Arabai, how is he?"
"He's not doing well."
"I see. Well if he doesn't make it I am willing to give you Sarrah Yuki of my division. He's like you, quiet and composed. He's excellent at Hakuda, decent in Kido, and above standards in Zanjustu. If I could I'd make him my lieutenant."
"Then why don't you?" Byakuya sneered.
"Politics. Why are you angry?"
"I do not wish to replace my lieutenant so quickly."
"My apologies," Soi Fon looked away, "I thought you didn't like Arabai? He's your opposite."
"That is why we work well together. He's a rash fool, uncouth and stupid. But he has something I have not."
"What?"
"A heart."
"Shut up," Soi Fon smiled as she stared into the fire, "you have a heart. It's just luke warm. Not many see it. You don't want many to see it. But just because that dolt has his boiling, doesn't mean yours is any less there. But I do see how he can mean something to you. Though you were less of an idiot, he's kind of like you were back then. Before-"
"What?"
"Never mind," Soi Fon said turning to him. She never could bring herself to encourage him to talk about Hisana. To mention her now would have been an insult.
"Before I lost Hisana."
"B-Byakuya."
"You don't have to look shocked. I know I've changed."
"You grew up, that's all. Tragedy does that."
"Yes, well. I don't wish it for Nii-san. She's had enough tragedy. Arabai's death will ruin her."
"Yes," she met his eyes, "I can tell it will hurt you as well. I sincerely apologize for being so rude. I'll take my leave." She said as she stood.
"No," he grabbed her arm and pulled her down gently, "stay. The company is...nice."
She smiled.
"Alright."
She grabbed her empty cup and handed it to Byakuya who filled it up again. The two sat in silence once more. After a while Soi Fon looked over at him seeing that he stared into the fire. He looked mesmerized, but Soi Fon knew better. He was deep in thought.
"If all comes to the worst," she said placing her hand on his shoulder, "I hope you know you have a friend to rely on."
Byakuya turned toward her. He met her eyes and nodded. He turned back to stare at the fire.
"I know. Thank you, Soi Fon."
"Yeah," she said as she filled his empty cup, "I'm always here for you."

Twilight had to be Orihime's favorite time of day. Everything was still, even the sun seemed to have been frozen in time's cycle. It was when the highest stars shone the brightest, and the when the moon faded nicely into a pinking sky. But this twilight she hated. For two days with little rest, despite the concerns and orders from Ichigo and Ishida as well as Chad, she continued to try to heal Renji. She managed to return a couple of his serious wounds back to health, but he was still in danger of losing his life. Once he was gone, she had little hope she could bring him back. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility, but she knew she was not at that level yet with her powers.
"Inoue," Ichigo said, placing his hand on her arm, "you should rest again."
"I'm fine," she said with a determined look, "I need to do this."
Ichigo said nothing more. He knew that when Orihime was determined to do something there was no talking her out of it. He was concerned for all three of them, Renji, Rukia, and Orihime. Orihime looked more drained by the moment, Rukia had looked like corpse when he saw her in the rain, and Renji...
He had never seen him like this, this bad. Ichigo had always kept male friendships at arms length save for Chad. He only recently considered Ishida as a close friend, but Renji was different. Somehow that punk of a guy wormed his way into Ichigo's life and made it better somehow. Ichigo remembered back to a conversation he once had with him.
"Ichigo," Renji had said, "promise to help me get stronger."
"Yeah, no problem, you're weak as hell compared to me," Ichigo had laughed, but then stopped when he saw Renji's face, "Hey Arabai it was a joke."
"Oh yeah, ha ha."
"What's with you today?"
Renji looked to the Kuchiki's yard, watching her pick sakura blossoms, "I just have to get stronger. I have to fully master my bankai. I know if I did it would be enough."
"Enough for what?"
"To finally catch a star. Heh, this yelping dog has had enough being trampled on by the knights of the sky," he met Ichigo's eyes, "I must prove that I'm worth something. Not just a stray dog with no home, no purpose, no honor."
"Alright, but Renji you're strong as it is. Just how much stronger do you plan to get?"
"Strong enough to cause falling stars."
"Right like I know what that means."
"Baka," he said aloud as he looked at Renji, "you are already strong enough. I swear," he stood, "I'll find who did this to you. I'll kill them," he clended his fist.
"Ichigo?" Both Ishida and Chad asked.
"Renji has been looked down upon all his life. He lost to an unknown enemy. This is just another thing for his doubters to criticize him for. I swear I won't let this go. No one does this to my friend."
Both Ishida and Chad nodded. Chad even smiled. He would love to see Ichigo rip this enemy to shreds, especially since it was for one of his comrades. Chad didn't know Renji as well as the others, but it was clear he meant a great deal to Ichigo. Ichigo, very rarely, held someone in such high esteem.

Rukia awoke, dread spreading through her. The sun had yet to fully rise over the horizen. The stars still shone. She stood and dressed in her yellow satin dress, not caring that the morning chill made goose bumps on her knees.
"Nii-sama?" She said as she realized he had been sleeping in the corner of her room. Captain Soi Fon was also right outside her room, leaning against the open door.
Byakuya and Soi Fon awoke and quickly came to their feet when they saw Rukia.
"Rukia," Byakuya said, "go lay back down I'll get Unohana."
"No, where is Renji?"
"Go, that's an order."
"Seriously Byakuya, she's fine. She's standing and has her color back," Soi Fon argued, "Tell her."
"Don't question my decisions for my Nii-san."
"Ass," she shook her head and lifted Rukia in her arms, "Get Unohana if you want to, but I'm taking her to him." And with a flash step she was gone.
Byakuya had no choice but to find Unohana. Despite having an amazing speed it was nothing like Soi Fon's. Partly, though, he did want to thank her for trying to appease his sister. He knew that nothing would have eased Rukia's mind than to see Renji, no matter what state he was in.
Once Soi Fon was in the room where Orihime and the others were, watching over Renji, Soi Fon released Rukia, gasping only slightly at the sight of Renji.
"Rukia!" Orihime cried, standing up letting Ayame and Shuno take care of Renji. She hugged her friend tightly, wanting to feel that she was alright.
"I'm sorry," Orihime said as she quickly turned to heal Renji again, "I just had to hug you."
"Thank you Ino-" Rukia gaped at Renji's torn body. He didn't look any better from last night.
"She's been putting all her strength into healing him," Ichigo said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "It's his lack of reiastu that prevents her from healing him fast enough. She has restore it as well as his wounds."
"I see," Rukia said then dropped to her knees. She crawled to Renji's side, taking his hand and entwining her fingers with his.
"Baka," she called him, then leaned over him.
She stared into his unresponsive face, pushing aside the hair in his face. She kissed his forehead as she held his face. Moments later she rested her forehead against his, letting her tears drip on his face.
"Renji, what were you doing there?" She asked him.
"No one found an enemy," Ishida said.
"However," Soi Fon said, "many of us felt a terrible reiastu. But it was only a shadow. The enemy is gone."
Rukia paid no attention to them. Her whole self was fixed on Renji.
"I'm sorry," she told him as she laid down, the side of her face pressed up against his, "all you've ever done was be by my side. You're like that stupid dog that follows his master no matter how shitty that master is."
Everyone in the room was taken back. They had never heard Rukia use such language, but for once in such a long time, Rukia felt like her old self. The self before she was adopted by the Kuchiki clan.
"If you just open your eyes, I'll- damn you Renji!" She screamed, "you know I can't lose any else! Renji! Open your eyes...! Please..."
She pressed her whole self against his body as she sobbed. Her body ached. Her bones felt as if they were turning to ash, and her muscles tightened so hard that moving would cause her to scream. If he were to die, she realized, it wouldn't take centuries or a millennia to ease her heart. Her heart would die along with him. She would live as empty as a hollow. Her soul would always search for him.
"Rukia," Ichigo said as he held her shoulders.
"Orihime," Rukia said, meeting her friend's eyes, "save him."
"I promise," Orihime said, creasing her brows, "you need not worry, Rukia. I now have the confidence to know that he'll be by your side again," she smiled down at Rukia as the glow around Renji brightened. Orihime was now at the max of her power.
Ichigo and the others dared not to interfere.

A few days went by and slowly Renji was healing. Rukia rarely left his side. She slept, ate, and stayed by his side the entire time. Orihime took short breaks. Her naps consisted of four thirty minute sessions, and her meals were scarce. However, despite this, she made great efforts in his recovery.
"Inoue-san," Unohana said as she and Isane entered the room, "something has just occurred to me. If it's Arabai's loss of reaistu that is preventing a quick healing, then I and Isane will give you ours while someone," she looked around the room, "should split their own reiastu with Renji. This way you'll be stronger with our healing reiatsu, and Renji can have enough reiastu to accept her regeneration. Who will volunteer?"
Before Rukia or Ichigo could utter a word Byakuya raised his hand, "I will."
He walked from the corner of the room to Renji's side. He looked into Rukia's shocked eyes and nodded.
"Very good then," Unohana smiled, "Alright, everyone out. We need concentration. This is a delicate matter."
Hesitantly, Rukia followed Ichigo and the others out of the room. She took one last moment to look at Renji. This was not how she wanted to see him if he were to depart from this life. She looked to Orihime, who met her eyes and smiled.
Ishida led them to the Kuchiki's yard where the five of them, Rukia, Ishida, Ichigo, Chad and Soi Fon sat under the largest sakura tree. The moon shone brilliantly in the sky, despite being a waning gibbous. The group sat in anticipating silence, hoping that Unohana's theory proved successful.
"Kuchiki-san," Ishida said, "Renij will live," he said as he gripped her shoulder, "believe in your brother, in Unohana-san, and in Renji."
She turned to face him taking his hand, "Thank you, Ishida." She looked over at Ichigo who's face she couldn't read. It was a first. Normally he was the easiest to read out of their group. Now he seemed like he was lost.
He took off his Ekam leather jacket and threw it across the yard.
"Ichigo?" Rukia said.
"I want to hate him," Ichigo admitted, "what was he doing at Sokuoku hill at that time of night? What was that baka up to?"
"That is a serious question," Soi Fon pointed out, "but the investigation will start after Arabai regains his strength. Worrying about it now is not helping," she said as she walked to Rukia's side, "besides," she said as she sat and rested her arm on her knee, "he could have been lured by the enemy. For someone to leave such an incredible dark reiatsu after they left must be very powerful. Enough to control minds."
"Control minds?" Chad said.
"Yes, leaving such a shadow of reiastu means this foe has the capability to force someone to do their bidding despite their will. Such powers have not been around for a mili-"
Soi Fon gasped. Her face went white.
"Captain Soi Fon?" Rukia asked, "what is it?"
"I'm going to find Yoruichi. If it's what I think is, we are all doomed. Rukia," Soi Fon stood and crouched down to touch Rukia's face, "Byakuya won't let Renji die. Take ease, while the days are still peaceful," and with a flash step she was gone.
Everyone stared at where she had been.
"What was she about to say?" Ishida asked.
"A millennium," Rukia said, "I don't know what she's talking about though."
"Whatever it is," Ichigo said, staring back at Rukia, "we better prepare for it."