Orz, I reallyreally wish this was in first person :\

I don't own bleach


Separated...

"I'm sorry…Rukia," Tsukiko mumbled to the darkness. The shadows were the only witness to the tears the mingled with the rain that cascaded down her face. Her hair stuck to her face in strands and her clothes had become a second skin.

"We should be leaving soon, Tsukiko," Urahara called and she nodded. They'd finished healing the Quincy boy and had healed most of Ichigo's wounds on the spot. She sighed, her breath laced with misery.

"I'm sorry..we couldn't go back together," she whispered and turned her back on the shadows.


"It's only a couple more days. Kisuke hasn't got the senkaimon set up yet," Yoruichi said and Tsukiko frowned. Her eyes never left the massive hole, not even when Jinta brought food over. She ate absentmindedly before getting fed up. They boy would probably turn into a hollow and they'd kill him, Tsukiko decided grumpily and returned upstairs to sleep. She didn't hear the shinigami escape.


"Are you sure it's okay to bring them with us?" Tsukiko asked again.

"Enough," Yoruichi growled. Nimbly, the black cat jumped up and settled on Tsukiko's head. Tsukiko attempted to glare at the cat without knocking her off but failed and decided to sulk instead. While holding her frown, she discreetly examined the people in front of her. A tall, bulky, massive guy, known as Chad who looked ridiculously strong but she wondered if he had any stealth ability. The Quincy, Ishika-ha-ma…something like that, who was wearing the stupidest outfit Tsukiko had ever seen. A weak looking orange-haired girl, Orihime, who looked like she couldn't hurt a fly without bawling but would be useful in terms of healing, and then there was Ichigo. At least he'd be of use.

Yoruichi explained their plan carefully and Tsukiko sighed. She'd already heard it and didn't bother to listen. After she was finished Yoruichi stood and landed nimbly beside Tsukiko's feet.

"Tsukiko-chan~!" She turned at the sound of Urahara's voice and felt something shoot through her gigai's head and connect with her soul forehead. She stumbled as her soul body and her gigai separated.

"OI!" She growled.

"YOU'RE A SHINIGAMI?!" Ichigo cried.

"Thanks for warning me," Tsukiko grumbled, completely ignoring Ichigo, and Urahara chuckled behind his open fan.

"You really are horrible at sensing people's reiatsu, Kurosaki-san," Quincy muttered. Tsukiko blocked out Ichigo's splutters. She really hated being in a gigai, especially one that contained and hid your reiatsu. She suddenly felt free and rolled her shoulders trying to loosen up her cramped muscles.

"Stretch out your reiatsu and make sure nothing went wrong with the gigai," Yoruichi said and Tsukiko let it leak out bit by bit. She didn't want to give away all her reiatsu, she wanted to keep her 'comrades' guessing her strength. Orihime gasped at the small amount of reiatsu nonetheless and Ichigo eyed her wearily. "Do you remember what I taught you?" Yoruichi asked and Tsukiko nodded.

"Everybody ready~?" Urahara called and they nodded. The senkaimon opened slowly and Tsukiko looked to the teens behind her.

"It was nice to meet you. Don't get killed and save Rukia," she said firmly.

"You're not helping us?" Quincy asked.

"Not directly. I have other matters to deal with," she muttered and leapt into the tunnel. Memories of the first time she used it flashed through her mind and a bitter smile twisted her lips. After so long, she'd finally be going home. There was a cry behind her and she turned to see the four teens, plus Yoruichi, scrambling after her…followed up by the cleaner. Tsukiko's eyes bugged.

"WHY THE FUCK DOES IT ALWAYS GO THROUGH WHEN I'M TRYING TO USE THE DAMN TUNNEL?!" Tsukiko shrieked and used shunpo. She turned slightly, to check their progress and muttered curses under her breath. At the rate they were moving at, they wouldn't make it through the tunnel. She appeared behind them and kicked them all, save Yoruichi, through the exit. Her feet touched solid ground and she launched through the opening just before the exit closed.

"You guys are pains in the ass," Tsukiko grumbled and rubbed the spot on her back where she'd landed. With a sigh she stood up and glanced around. She was Rukongai and she huffed. She should've known there'd be no chance of appearing inside Seireitei.

"Oh! That's where it is!" Tsukiko heard Ichigo call before a blur passed her. Her eyes widened when she realized that Ichigo was running directly towards the gate.

"IDIOT!" Yoruichi and Tsukiko roared. But it was to late. The wall came crashing down, blocking off the entrance.

"Who has tried to enter Seireitei without a pass?" a voice rumbled and Tsukiko sighed.

"Great. Wonderful. FUCK."

No need to be irritable. Just let the kid take care of it. Mugetsu yawned and Tsukiko rubbed her temples.

"Way to draw attention," Tsukiko muttered but decided it would be the best time to transform. When no one was looking she let the spirit particles of her body reform themselves and her clothes fell to the ground. In her cat mouth she dragged them off to an alleyway before prancing back to Yoruichi's side.

"We need to think of a plan," Yoruichi was saying before noticing that all three teens had run off to Ichigo's aide.

"LISTEN TO ME!" she roared but was ignored.

"Teens, what can you do with them?" Tsukiko muttered and Yoruichi sighed. Tsukiko watched as two massive plates of earth rose to block off any help. Tsukiko could hear Ichigo and Jidanbou fighting and she scratched the back of her ear. "Well, at least he seems to be winning," she murmured and Yoruichi glared at her.

"I assume you're splitting up with us as soon as the gate is opened?" Yoruichi said grimly and Tsukiko nodded.

"Remember, Gin could've changed completely since the last time you saw him. Forty years is a long time to think you've been betrayed by the one you love," Yoruichi said softly and Tsukiko flinched.

"I know," she said defensively.

"I'm just making sure you don't rush in, only to be betrayed yourself," Yoruichi sighed and Tsukiko nodded.

"Thank you," she said finally and turned to look at the black cat, "I owe you a lot."

"Of course! You'll pay it back bit by bit," Yoruichi said evilly and Tsukiko cringed. There was a crash and it drew both felines' attention. The rock walls were blown away but a cloud of dust prevented them from seeing anything. It cleared, abruptly, and Tsukiko grinned when she saw Jidanbou on his backside, looking thoroughly confused.

"The kid's got talent," Tsukiko mused.

"Let's just hope he doesn't get killed trying to use it," Yoruichi grumbled and Tsukiko heard Jidanbou jump to his feet.

"That was close," Jidanbou chuckled before ranting about letting his guard down and slipping. Apparently there was no way that a 'country hick' like Ichigo could've thrown him through the air and Tsukiko sighed. It took the giant a few minutes but eventually his eyes landed on his broken axes. His hands began to tremble and sweat trickled down his face, narrowly missing his wide eyes.

"Heh, so Jidanbou's axes shattered from one attack," Yoruichi mused and leapt up onto a large piece of rock so she could get a better view.

"Oi, say something," Ichigo called and rested his sword on his shoulder. There was a second of silence before massive tears began to cascade down Jidabou's cheeks and he began to wail over the loss of his axes.

"O-oi!" Ichigo called, startled by the sudden change in attitude.

"They're broken, they're all broken!" the giant wailed, hitting the earth with the hilts and Tsukiko's paws left the ground which each thud. Ichigo tried to calm him down by saying,

"I'm sorry, I really shouldn't have broken both of them."

"You're sucha good guy," the gatekeeper wailed and Tsukiko sighed.

"Could we just get this over with?"

Jidanbou stood up suddenly, ranting about how he was a disgrace to all men before deciding that as a reward for defeating him, he'd open the gate. Tsukiko's heart skipped a beat. This was it! This was her return! The gate slowly rose and Tsukiko wasted no chance, darting underneath to the other side. But she stopped, dead in her tracks, when she felt the familiar heavy reiatsu. Her heart started to beat wildly in her chest and every hair was on edge.

"Oh for the love of-! Of all times for you to show up!" Tsukiko wanted to run towards him, but she knew in the back of her mind, the sane, not lovesick and Gin-deprived part of her mind, that it was really bad for Yoruichi and the others. She willed herself to do something but she couldn't think of anything. She heard, faintly, Ichigo ask Jidanbou what was wrong as the giant blubbered and trembled, but there was nothing she could do.

"Who's that?" Ichigo asked suspiciously, finally noticing Gin's presence.

"T-third Squad Captain…I-ichimaru Gin," Jidanbou managed to stammer. Just the sound of his name made her heart lurch happily. He was there. Right in front of her, alive, healthy, the infamous, sly, smile pulling at his lips…all of it was him. It was Gin. Her Gin!

"Hey, that ain't right," he said, still smiling and his voice made her knees weak. Was forty years all it took to make her forget what he could do to her? There was a flash of movement that Tsukiko saw, but was unable to stop, and she heard Jidanbou's blood splatter against the ground. She heard him crumple and just barely catch the gate. His knees hit the ground as he struggled to keep the gate open.

"Jidanbou!" Ichigo cried and alarm was clear in his voice.

"That ain't right," Gin repeated, still in the position of sheathing Shinsou. "The Gatekeeper ain't there to open the gate," he said as he straightened.

Tsukiko's heart froze. The smile on his lips had never faltered, not once, and she realized the situation they were in.

"I lost," she heard Jidanbou argue and her pulse quickened. She knew it didn't matter. Gin wouldn't care whether he'd lost or won. "A defeated gatekeeper opening the gate makes perfect sense!"

"What're ya talkin' 'bout?" Gin asked casually and began to walk towards Jidanbou, "A defeated gatekeeper don' open no gate." Tsukiko willed her body to move but as Gin neared her she wondered if he actually noticed her at all. Her reiatsu had been contorted to fit in the small cat body till it wasn't recognizable but she was actually starting to think he hadn't even noticed the cat lingering by the gate, paralyzed by uncertainty. "When a gatekeeper's defeated," he carried on, still approaching the giant, and a dangerous grin took over his lips, "it means death."

There was sudden movement as Ichigo rushed forward, bringing his zanpakutou down on Gin. Her first instinct was to attack Ichigo, to stop him from lunging at Gin, and not because she wanted to protect him from Gin. She wanted to protect Gin from Ichigo. But just as she knew he would, Gin effortlessly blocked Ichigo's blade and both males jumped away from each other.

"What the hell are you doing, you asshole?" Ichigo growled and held his sword out in Gin's direction. "Don't come out afterwards and expect to give orders! You fox-faced bastard." Ichigo stated and Tsukiko hissed in anger.

"Just who does he think he's talking to?" Tsukiko wondered furiously.

Calm down. Mugetsu ordered and Tsukiko whined. She wanted to be by Gin's side, even if they were fighting for different things.

"Any piece of shit that attacks an unarmed man without a second thought…is mine to kill," Ichigo continued. Tsukiko scoffed. Even if he managed to push Gin into a corner, he'd be hers to kill.

Ya'd better hope that cat, Akatora, hasn't died yet. Chi commented randomly. Tsukiko faltered, trying to figure out what she meant by that before Chi reminded her that her cat body was modeled to look like one that's been adopted into the house. She cursed under her breath. She hadn't thought of that.

Gin chuckled and Tsukiko felt her knees wobble slightly, drawing her from her inner conversation. Just his laugh washed away her anxiety and she vaguely heard Chi scoff somewhere in her mind. "What a funny kid," he mused, "ain't ya scared o' me?"

"Not one bit," Ichigo replied haughtily.

"Hey!" Yoruichi called angrily. "Quit that Ichigo! We have to retreat for the moment!"

Tsukiko ignored Yoruichi and Ichigo's bickering and focused on Gin's face. He seemed to have just realized something and she wondered what he was thinking about.

"Yer Kurosaki Ichigo?" Gin asked curiously. Ichigo paused, surprise imminent on his features, before turning to Gin.

"You know about me?"

"Oya, so it really is you," Gin said in his cheery voice. Tsukiko's eyes widened as Gin turned around and began to walk away. Dread knotted in her stomach and she turned, prepared to scream for Ichigo to run but she forced herself to stop. She couldn't lose her disguise. Not yet.

"H-hey! Where're you going?" Ichigo called, thinking that the captain was leaving. "Hey, wait!"

"Then all the more reason I can't let you through here," Tsukiko heard Gin say and he pulled out his sword, holding it perpendicular from his side.

"Why'd you go so far away? You gonna throw that wakizashi?"

"You wish."

"It ain't a wakizashi," Gin said calmly and looked back over his shoulder casually, "this here's my zanpakutou." Even after all this time, Tsukiko was amazed to find she was still familiar with the movements that followed a Gin turned and released a large amount of reiatsu. "Shoot 'im dead," he said, smirking, "Shinsou." Gin's blade shot forward and Ichigo was just barely able to pull his own sword in front of him, blocking most of the damage, but the force sent both him and Jidanbou backwards.

Tsukiko watched as Gin passed her, walking towards the gate that was closing and bent over with a wave.

"Bye-bye~!" he said, smiling cheerily. Tsukiko caught one last glance at Yoruichi and their eyes met. The gate slammed down.

"Oya~?" Gin exclaimed suddenly and she felt his eyes land on her. Her heart quickened and she wondered if Soul Society cats could last for forty years. "What'cha doin' out here, Akatora-chan~?" he asked as he walked towards her. She didn't move but she felt a bit of her panic reside. She struggled to think of how the cat had acted around him before but she couldn't remember. She hadn't paid much attention but she wished she did. So she did what every other cat did…walk away dignified. She yelped when she felt his spidery hand slide under her tummy and lift her effortlessly off the ground. She was thankful that her shock had sounded like a cat. She doubted that he would've missed a human yelp coming from a cat.

"We should git home, don'cha think?" he purred and his fingers rubbed behind her ears affectionately. She was too overwhelmed by his touch to do anything and she heard him chuckle. "Did tha' Ryoka scare ya?" he chuckled and he shifted her so she was cradled in his arms. "Don' worry, Tora-chan. I'll protect ya," he sang happily. Despite the warnings in the back of her mind that told her to play scared and stupid, she snuggled into his chest, relishing in his touch, and intoxicated herself on his scent. She was so happy, so indescribably ecstatic, but part of her wondered if he'd accept her back when she returned to her normal body.

"Wha'sa matter?" he crooned when she whimpered. She scrambled and stretched till she could brush her nose against his cheek. She nuzzled her face into the side of his neck and her paws curled into his clothes. "Yer actin' strange, Akatora-chan," Gin mused and she felt his lips touch the side of her face in a light kiss. She felt a purr bloom in her stomach and Gin chuckled. He lifted her, just on the first day he'd done to the real Akatora, and smiled up at her. "And here we thought you'd run off on us," he said and Tsukiko tilted her head to the side, slightly confused. "Leavin' in the middle o' tha' night! How mean," he said and frowned playfully. Tsukiko felt a fluttering in her chest. He was talking about the cat…right? She felt another familiar reiatsu and she turned to look at the newcomer, as did Gin.

"Oh, Izuru-kun! Look who I found!" Gin said and pulled her close to his chest again. Kira stared at Tsukiko for a moment before turning and looking to Gin with a look of mild confusion.

"Ah, oh- there's a Captain's meeting," Kira said and Gin tilted his head to the side cutely.

"'Sat so?" he asked before turning and looking down at Tsukiko. "Well, we don' want ya ta run off again, so I'll drop ya off on tha' way," he said and his smile stretched slightly.

"B-but Taicho!" Kira stammered.

"We don' wan' Tsukiko's cat runnin' off again," Gin said and turned his gaze to Kira who wavered slightly.

"…Tsukiko..-san's cat?" he murmured as if it were a tender subject.

"It won' take long," Gin said and Tsukiko felt a sudden rush of air as he used shunpo. She wondered what'd changed, since she'd last been there and glanced around.

"I hope Kouhei's doing alright."

As if reading her thoughts, Gin's smile widened into a grin, "well won' Kouhei-kun be happy ta see ya!"