Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach bleh

A/N: Hi there first attempt at a Bleach fic so go easy on me! LOl I've had this idea going on for a little while plus with the recent (Yet few) IchiRukiKai fics going on it inspired me more to give it a shot. I'll just have the first chapter out for now dunno if I'll update right away. I hope you enjoy it! Oh yeah and no flames! But constructive criticism is allowed.

Summary: He couldn't pursue his feelings for her but as long as she was by his side was suffice, until a certain carrot top comes along.

Chapter 1: Rainfall

Rain fell silently enveloping three figures that stood in the middle of a forest. The raven haired man clutched onto a petite woman, desperately screaming her name to open her beautiful amethyst eyes. His captain stood off to the side, left arm wrapping around his chest while the right held his Zanpakuto loosely, watching the scene silently. In Kaien's request, the small group had gone to look for the hollow that had annihilated Miyako's squad. If he had known that he would lose his other precious person in the process he'd never had suggested it. Now there he was, the strong-willed Vice-Captain of the 13th division, reduced to his knees and crying, holding onto the cold wet body of Rukia Kuchiki. Despite Ukitake's better judgment to let his vice-captain be and keep his mouth shut, he spoke.

"Kaien, we have to take her to Byakuya,"

The said man did not remove his face from his subordinate's neck; rather he stopped rocking her body and brought her closer to his chest.

"He doesn't care," he whispered harshly, his voice raw from all of the fruitless pleas he gave to the lifeless body he held.

"He never did,"

"We don't know that!" countered Ukitake, having seen the look on his comrade's face when Hisana died.

"Besides if he cares or not is irrelevant, as Rukia's older brother he has every right to know of her…outcome in battle," Something about the way Ukitake tried to evade saying the real situation struck a chord inside Kaien. He whipped his head around to face the higher ranking male and managed to snarl furiously,

"SHE'S DEAD UKITAKE! DEAD! AS IN NEVER COMING BACK! DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO AVOID THIS!" For the first time the Captain of the 13th Division saw the mourning man's face. His Caribbean blue eyes shined fiercely, the rain now mixing with his tears. The wild look almost appeared animalistic, up to the point that he honestly thought he was going to release Nejibana on him, but Ukitake knew better. Ironically, Kaien had the same expression as Byakuya did so many years ago.

"Kaien…," But he did not hear his captain's plea, his eyes lowered onto the wielder of Sode no shirayuki, running his callous fingers through her hair.

"You damn idiot…this fight had nothing to do with you," he murmured softly, his hand now cupping the right side of her face, caressing the pale skin gently. Kaien refused to look at the white-haired man as he directed his next words to him.

"Why didn't you stop her Ukitake?" anger once again rising inside him.

"I had left her in your care and you knew as much as I did that this was my battle!" Ukitake glanced sideways as a sign of guilt and weakness. Despite not being able to see Kaien's eyes he could feel every ounce of rage that emitted from him. They hardly ever raised their voices to each other, with Kaien a playful man and he himself preferred peace and tranquility. But the death of his Vice-Captain's favorite subordinate can twist that all around. He took in a breath, trying to remain calm; yelling will only bring further difficulty.

"I did at first, I even explained to her that this was battle was about honor than victory," he took a small pause, earning a pair of eyes focusing on him, and continued, "but it was only a little after that my coughing spells took effect. She took full advantage of it and ran away from my protection." Kaien didn't question him further. His anger left as quickly as it came, knowing he could not blame Ukitake for being ill.

"I'm sorry Ukitake, I shouldn't use you as a scapegoat when it was me who actually caused this--,"

"No Kaien it was nobody's fault but that hollow's," Ukitake stated firmly.

"Now let's go back," Kaien once again ignored his captain's consoling words, completely unconvinced that he had nothing to do with Rukia's death. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to keep in the rest of the tears that threatened to come out, only to fail miserably.

"I'm sorry Kuchiki…," he whispered hoarsely. Then he lifted her up gently bridal style, keeping her close to his chest. He kept his head slightly bowed to shield the offending rain from her face. Despite no longer living Kaien carried her all the way back to the Kuchiki mansion as if she would break any second, with his captain closely at his heels.

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Once reaching the mansion, Ukitake attentively knocked on the mahogany doors, afraid to see the look on childhood friend's face. A servant opened the door noiselessly and was about to inform them that her master was busy only to cut herself off to see the lifeless form of her other master.

"M-miss Kuchiki?" she rasped loudly as she tried reaching for her, only to have Kaien pull back before her hand made contact.

"We need to speak with Byakuya," Ukitake winced at Kaien's hollowed tone. He never imagined what his voice would sound like without the joking ring he always uses. The man with long silver hair only bowed respectfully at the servant before making his way inside the mansion. They trotted silently through the hallway that led to Byakuya's office, no words spoken between the two men. Ukitake tilted his head slightly to give a backwards glance toward Kaien to see how he was fairing. He quickly looked away, unable to stand the dead look of his vice-captain's eyes. No longer did he have the lively tan skin, only to be replaced with a sickly pale color. Ukitake wasn't even sure if the man was breathing anymore. The excruciating quiet walk ended and without hesitation Ukitake opened the sliding door forcefully. Byakuya who was currently in a conversation with Unohana glared at the person who disrupted him.

"What is it Ukitake?" he voiced calmly while he wasn't anywhere near it. However, at the sight of Shiba Kaien entering the room carrying his motionless adoptive sister all thoughts of Ukitake barging in flew out the window. His eyes widened and quickly spat out,

"What happened here Ukitake?!" He sighed sadly. He desperately did not want to believe the next words that were going to come out of his mouth but he knew there was no way around it.

"Your sister…was killed during battle Byakuya, I'm sorry I did not do everything in my ability to save her," The noble could tell he was truly sorry by his body gestures and tone, but the only thing that ran through his head was, 'How can I face Hisana now? I couldn't protect her sister…Rukia,' His face was somber, not able to take that the little Shinigami was gone. Unohana who had been completely ignored watched intensely, her eyes straying toward the limp body. Slowly, she walked to where Kaien stood, everybody's eyes quickly looking her way.

"May I have a closer look of her Shiba-san?" A flash of doubt passed through his blue eyes but as he locked eyes with the healer he reluctantly agreed.

"Ah…," with that much said he placed her on the couch that lay off in the corner of Byakuya's office. With a final brush off her cheek with the pad of his thumb he stood up and walked away slightly to give Unohana space. Her gentle eyes hardened as she searched for something that would prove the diagnosis she had made earlier was true. She opened the top of Rukia's robe, yet still covering her breasts, to inspect the large gash on her stomach. A small smile escaped her lips, finally assured that she had been correct.

"She is not dead," everyone's eyes in the room widened. Kaien could feel his heart beat erratically at the news. New hope filled him as he impatiently awaited her next sentence. Byakuya listened intently, but he was just as anxious as Kaien to know what was wrong with Rukia.

"The hollow simply injected her with a chemical that causes the bodies to appear dead."

"Then you mean," started Kaien, he couldn't believe it, he had to bite his lip hard to realize this was real, "she's alright?" Unohana frowned slightly, discouraging all three men.

"Not precisely,"

"Explain," Byakuya demanded curtly.

"You see," she began, already accustomed to the Byakuya's aloofness, "because it makes the appearance of death it slows down the body's internal function, unable to make her brain respond to something as simple as to wake up." Kaien felt like he had been punched in the gut several times. His once regained hope broke into a million pieces.

"So she'll never…open her eyes?" he stated breathlessly. His stomach twisted at the thought to never see her gorgeous purple eyes ever again.

"I didn't say that," she said softly.

"What I meant was that it could take years before she wakes up again," Kaien sucked in a breath as Ukitake asked the next question that played in everybody's mind.

"About how many years would you say Unohana?" She turned to look at the three standing shinigami around her and answered truthfully.

"From forty to a hundred years..,"

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TBC….

A/N: Haha Loved it? Hated it? I know I did LOL Tell me what you guys think pweaze! –puts a puppy dog face- and I'll give you Ichigo shaped cookies :D Speaking of Ichigo He'll pop up around chapter 3 so don't worry. I wasn't really satisfied with this but I do hope you guys enjoyed it. :3

Ps- sorry the ending was kind of rushed but I have to get ready for this party spare me!