AUTHOR'S NOTE: Chapter 2 and the final update of She, Rukia. As you can see, it has been a long time since I first published this story. However, I wanted to upload the last chapter I wrote years ago, despite it being incomplete. That means this fic is no longer being continued. This chapter is also incomplete, but feel free to leave a review if you like!
.:SHE, RUKIA:.
Chapter 2/2 – The Demon Way Part 2
"Rukia!"
A tall teenager boy with bright orange hair and an oversized zanpaku-to sheathed on his back shoved his way through the Soul Society residents to find an awful sight greeting him. Ukitake instantly recognized him as Ichigo Kurosaki, the Substitute Soul Reaper, the one who saved Rukia in her greatest time of need…and Aizen's most powerful enemy.
There were murmurs that followed in his wake, and several Soul Reapers even dared to try and hold him back, gripping his black shihakusho until the teenager angrily swept their hands away. Ukitake rose quickly and held his hands in front of Unohana's healing session, shielding Ichigo from something he wasn't quite sure the teenager could handle.
"Please, Ichigo, go back to Karakura Town."
Ichigo's brown eyes hardened, fists clenched at his sides. He glanced around at the people crowded together, staring at one thing behind Ukitake…what was it? A tall, black figure outlined by the moon's spotlight. And then he saw him.
Byakuya.
Standing alone outside of the circle and facing the moon, murmuring words Ichigo couldn't make out in the steady rumble of footsteps and whispered murmurs.
"Ukitake…?"
The silver-haired captain frowned and kept his position. Unohana needed to concentrate, he thought. Ichigo would only hurt the process to heal Rukia. He tried to change the subject, unsuccessfully.
"Who alerted you of the issue?" Ukitake asked, forcing a kind yet stern tone.
Ichigo crossed his arms and Ukitake could feel his spiritual pressure heighten, causing a slight disturbance in the air. "No one but myself. I know Rukia's hurt, Ukitake. I sensed it minutes ago. Renji felt it, too."
"I see…"
Ukitake continued to be resilient, holding his position. Ichigo could just spot the top of Rukia's head and Unohana's hands hovered all over her, as if she was trying to detect any other injuries.
"Ukitake, please," Ichigo pleaded urgently, "I'm her friend. Maybe I can help."
The white-haired man sighed in defeat. "Byakuya will not approve…but that is not for me to decide. Just stay quiet and allow Captain Unohana to do her work."
"Thank you."
Ichigo fell to his knees at Rukia's side, close to her head. Her eyes were shut tight and her face was contorted in pain, contrasted by the startling pale shade her face had taken on. Eventually he had to pry his eyes away and look…his head screamed for him to stop, for it was a sight that would stick in his mind for many nights.
Her stomach was torn to shreds, ribbons of blood trailed away and soaked the ground beneath her in crimson. Ichigo blanched as he noticed a small bit of white piercing through the mess of flesh and blood. It was much worse than he and Renji had originally thought back at Ichigo's house in Karakura. Rukia's breathe came infrequent and when they did, they were shallow and she seemed to tremble slightly when one shuddered through her lungs. It was at this point that Ichigo completely tossed aside all reason and reached inside the healing border, even as Unohana's eyes snapped open and she reached over to shove him backwards.
He ignored her efforts anyways and shook Rukia's shoulder hard. The raven-haired Soul Reaper stirred, but didn't wake.
A/N: Apologies for this incomplete chapter/story, but I have no desire to continue it! Still, I hope someone enjoyed!
FIN.