(A/N) I have every intention of seeing this fanfic through so any reviews on how this story is going will greatly progress it. I must apologies my sis is now a tyrant of the computer, so I haven't had time to finish the chapter if it seems slightly rushed or seems wooden please inform me. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach

Shattered Façade

--

Isane Kotetsu's sleeping form was still in the gloom of dawn. Her breath came out in wisps of cool cloud that floated into the air around the room. No sound penetrated her room not the gasps or the screams of panic that would indicate the chaos outside nor any sound for that matter emitted from the assistant captain's room. Silence. Even her breath was mute. The cool cloud floated around her encircling her form in a light haze finally settling beside her bed in the shadows. It condensed and where it touched frost formed growing thicker and thicker solidifying into a humanoid form. Then from the shadows long pale spider-like fingers came fourth into the gray light and traced the hem of the bed coming to rest at the edge close to her face. The hand paused there as though deciding what to do next. Then slowly almost shyly they brushed the soft locks of hair from her brow tenderly.

A soft voice filled the room, "So…you have put your master in the confines of her mind, it will not help her escape Itegumo, the frozen snow…"

The hand quickly withdrew back into the mist and an angered rasp emitted from the shadows, "Show yourself Sode No Shirayuki."

A small white butterfly floated down into the shadows and as quick as lightning the hand closed around the butterfly caging it between it's pale fingers and bringing it closer the light emitting from it's wings brought Itegumo into the light. Itegumo's humanoid body was long, slender and pale at it's elbows three long thin spikes of ice curved into wicked points. On it's head instead of hair were large thick spikes of ice running in cascades like frozen water along it's back. Shards of deep blue ice stuck out like armored crystal scales running up to the sides of its thighs. Itegumo's pointed facial features jutted out as though carved by a knife, it's three white eyes barely tinted with purple the third sitting in the middle of it's brow narrowed as pale blue frosted lips thinned into a grimace. "So I should just stand by and watch as that thing devours her soul as well as my own? Is that what you would have me do Shirayuki?"

The butterfly floated through Itegumo's clutched fingers but Itegumo made no move to stop Shirayuki as she fluttered glowing bright and brighter, the glow thinned becoming feminine and the butterfly's image seemed to shatter till there was thousands covering the light spilling fourth forming something like a kimono around it's body the light formed a head and tinted purple eyes looked back at Itegumo narrowing sending it a wordless threat. Itegumo chuckled resting on its haunches, "So she is starting to devour you neh Shirayuki?"

The purple eyes blinked and the beating of the butterfly wings grew until they became a soft voice, "I see I am not the only one she has decided to devour Itegumo. You can feel her inside our realm again can't you?"

The crystal spikes along it's legs and elbows rose like hackles and a growl escaped it's lips, "Of course I can why do you think I placed my master so deep inside her mind for?"

Before Shirayuki could reply Itegumo tossed it's head dismissively to the side it's mane of crystal ice flying behind it, "We could always run away from her when she comes back. We don't even have to be here Shirayuki we could simply take our masters away and…"

Shirayuki shook her head sadly her voice faltering slightly, "It won't work that way now Itegumo have you not noticed? Hyourinmaru…she took Hyourinmaru's master when he was inside his mind. As a result Hyourinmaru's powers are her own now there will be no escape once she is set free."

Itegumo's eyes looked down at Isane sleeping form it's voice quiet and cold, "Is that why you sent Rukia Kuchiki into the boy's mind? You selfish woman do you know how much danger Isane is in because of what you have now done?"

Shirayuki tilted her head upwards looking at the ceiling, "I am well aware of what can result if Rukia can not find him. If you are unsure of her capabilities then I suggest you help her. Remember Itegumo if Rukia is devoured than she will fully awaken and when she does not even the Kurosaki child nor anyone for that matter will be enough to put her back to sleep again. All I can do is keep her reitsu from consuming Rukia. I am not allowed inside the boy's mind but you are you can help her."

Itegumo rose, the frosted mist swirling around it angrily, "I know the rules of her games Shirayuki only our masters aside from me may enter may enter another's realm. Manipulation is her tactic not yours so you best remember that next time you need my power. Aside from that if we get the boy there is no guarantee that Hyourinmaru will be recovered-"

Itegumo broke off at the sight of Shirayuki her pupil-less eyes widening growing a darker shade of purple. Her body started to shiver as the butterflies began to break apart with each convulsion her voice came out in a fading hiss. "S-she knows…Rukia is there. Itegumo I can't hold her off much longer please we have to act now!"

With that she dispersed, flying back into the mindscape, leaving Itegumo alone with Isane. It's fingers flexing Itegumo stared at Isane for a moment, "I am sorry child but my powers must awaken soon for both our sakes. If the Kuchiki is devoured than there will never be enough distance to put between us and her no matter how fast I run with you."

Itegumo placed it's fingers on her forehead slowly fading back into her, "There is no need to get you involved for now so continue to sleep and dream Isane. Sleep and let me run for you."

--

White…

The absence of all color was the first to greet her eyes that fluttered open examining her environment with a critical gaze. Her arms wrapped around her body tensed as Rukia came to the conclusion that she did not know where she was or even how she came to this place. Her fingernails dug into the floor as she sat up her body being extremely uncooperative to her demands. Rukia rested her brow against her open palm, blinking several times she tilted her head upwards and instantly regretted it as she felt an unwelcome head rush. Her lithe frame shivered slightly under light radiating from the walls surrounding her, "Where…am I?"

Slowly she stood up running her hands through her hair probing her throbbing head for any signs of damage. None. She ran her hands over her pink Chappy print sleeves lifting one she exposed the pale flesh beneath, grasping onto the skin she pinched it hard. Ow. Okay… So she wasn't dreaming that much was for certain. But wait…if she wasn't dreaming than where was she?

Rukia closed her eyes for a moment to recompose herself she mustn't lose what little nerve she had right now. She opened her eyes and sighed rubbing her temple she walked over to a wall. Walls…How she had grown to hate walls. Any confinement that she was in made her head swim causing her anxiety to build. They made her feel trapped and helpless the two things Rukia despised the most. Shaking her head free of those thoughts now Rukia turned her full attention to the wall. It glowed giving off a slight sensation of coldness that seemed to gravitate towards her; slowly she placed her fingers onto the surface. It rippled as though not made of solid stone, it was more like water to the feel of it. She slowly pushed her hand through the material feeling cool air rushing past her fingertips, something else brushed past her fingers and before Rukia could let out a cry of panic she was pulled violently in.

Rukia nearly stumbled as she took another step, the light in this room was brighter now and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. This room was not like the one that she had awoken to no it was far different. It was like a broken shell of stark white suspended against what she supposed was the sky. It boiled like some unfathomable monster it's dark gray clouds rolled around the room's outer interior like a restless viper. The wind hissed until it roared against her ears wiping her hair around her face as though to uproot her from the spot and cast her into the raging sky. Her eyes focused at the edge of the room overlooking the drop sat two people in a single chair their backs turned to her. But of the two there was only one person she knew of that had hair the color of snow, Rukia's voice was an inaudible mumble, "T-Toshiro Hitsugaya?"

Whether he was Hitsugaya or not he made no response but the other lifted their head from his shoulder to look back at her and Rukia could only stare. Hinamori Momo smiled up at her innocently and her voice cut through the air and wrapped itself into the Kuchiki's mind until even after the words were spoken they echoed inside of her like a sick mantra, "Hello…R..u..k..i..a…"

--

Captain Unohanna's voice for the first time was raised to that of a full blown yell, "HOLD HER DOWN. HOLD HER DOWN!"

Several medical leaders of the relief squads tried to hold the thrashing little Kuchiki Rukia but to no avail. She was screaming now as bursts of powerful spiritual pressure exploded from her body, several of the medical assistants had to stay out of the room because the pressure that she was emitting had become unstable and too great to withstand. The ice that had started to cover her body before had now encased her entirely and like vines possessed they danced around her form as the bursts of spiritual pressure intensified. Through the chaos this left only Bayakuya and Unohanna herself alone in the room with Rukia and Toshiro Hitsugaya.

One of the assistants managed to shout above the din, "CAPTAIN UNOHANNA, CAPTAIN HITSUGAYA IS AA-!!"

Unohanna turned around too late as a powerful burst of spiritual pressure knocked her down throwing her small form to the wall or what was left of it. With half of the ceiling exposed Unohanna saw thousands of hell butterflies in volatile swarms above the room snow swirling around them but they made no move to decend as tough waiting for something to happen. For a moment Unohanna was completely lost for any thought. Her mind was frantic, what was happening? Why was this happening?

Unohanna gritted her teeth and turned around both Rukia Kuchiki and Toshiro Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure had taken physical forms now lashing at the walls their pressure combined started to take a more violent dance entwining the two in a circle of frozen destruction. Hitsugaya's pressure was so great it had him physically suspended above the floor but he was watching Rukia on the ground never taking his clouded gaze from her body for a second. It seemed as though he was having a conversation with her and he was becoming angry.

Unohanna felt a jolt go through her body and turned her head slightly to the side watching Bayakuya try to get closer to his sister as much as possible. But than Rukia's body shot up with another burst of energy knocking Bayakuya to the floor and he did not get up. The screaming and thrashing ceased. Slowly Rukia's eyes opened to meet Toshiro's but something was wrong. In her eyes were rolling orbs of purple light, and her voice was not one Unohanna had ever heard before like it was two talking at the same time. "STOP IT! STOP IT! STAY AWAY! Ah-AAAAHHHHHHH! "

Rukia continued to cry out as her hands flew towards the sky wanting to grasp the very heavens above to tear apart and destroy. From the gray sky the hell butterflies descended upon her engulfing her in their swarms. Than another voice could be heard yelling across the hall, "NO! AIKU!"

The sound of feet running past Unohanna caught her attention and in the destruction she saw a creature run in the middle of the two ice warriors, and a great flash of light fell on all and than there was nothing. Only silence.

No butterflies. No light. Neither Rukia Kuchiki nor the Captain Hitsugaya was there. But Unohanna was more concerned about the creature, for a moment she had seen the creature's image flicker if only for a brief second. Unohanna passed out before the question had even left her lips, "Isane…?

(A/N) Well what do you think stiil too short or what? What do you think of the descriptions of Itegumo and Shirayuki? Should I make Itegumo a boy or girl or let it remain an "it"? Review please I will really appreciate your feedback.