BLEACH: UNTIL THE DAY I DIE
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Dearest Readers…allow me to welcome you to yet another chapter of Bleach: Until the Day I Die. I thank you so much for your support! Thanks so much for your patience! Life is throwing curveball after curveball, and it's hard to deal with each one. But, I won't ever stop writing for this story! NOT TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS! *Hears fat lady with Viking horns singing in the Background* NOOOOOOO! *runs and dropkick's fat lady off the stage* HA! IT AIN'T OVER YET!
On a side note, I have had people point out a grievous Error on my part! I apologize for the misspelling of the Japanese word for 'Older Brother'! I didn't quite know how to spell it, so I went with what I thought it was. X_X I apparently failed. Greatly. I am SO SORRY! Thank you for pointing it out, and I will continue the story with the CORRECT spelling. Once again, so sorry!
Another note, I have had two people point out how the dislike, and believe me to be incorrect, in the way I label the DIVISIONS or SQUADS, as COMPANIES! I'm sorry if you don't like it, and if it defies the literal translation of the word. However, I'm simply using a synonym. I enjoy calling them Companies. Not as in corporations…but as a Squad. Company is just another word for a division or squad, guys. So, seeing as I, the AUTHOR OF THE STORY, enjoy the word…you'll just have to deal with it, lol. Sorry, but I'm not changing my labeling of the divisions of the Court Guard.
With all that Aside, let us now move on to the next chapter!
Chapter 5
PREVIOUSLY:
"Perhaps we should leave. Shirosaki must be eager to fight Nnoitra." Tousen rasped. There was a moment where no one spoke…where everyone watched Orihime crying…but then Aizen stood.
"Yes, you're right of course, Kaname." Aizen said, and then strode towards the door. Gin followed, and then Tousen, as Aizen opened the door and strode out ever so casually. Ichigo stayed there for a moment, staring at the distraught Orihime. Then…he turned and walked away.
'I swear to you, Inoue…I will save you.' He thought, as he shut the door behind him…fighting not to look back.
CONTINUATION:
The further Ishida went, the surer he got. The longer he searched, the more he realized it was truly pointless. He was not one to despair, never one to back down from a challenge. He never trembled in fear, openly at least, and he prided himself on his ability to be objective to any situation and keep his emotions in check. He was not as hotheaded as Ichigo Kurosaki, nor was he seemingly apathetic as his father.
He sped along, sweat dripping down his forehead slightly as he continued to move at high speeds. He didn't need to strain his eyes to glance at every little surrounding. After all…he wasn't looking for a thing. He was speeding between trees, jumping across streams, leaping over roads…all in a quest for a someone. Not just any person, however. The person, in his mind. Orihime Inoue.
He kept his senses open, searching for any trace of her spiritual pressure. He knew it so well. He was so keen at sensing it, he could feel her clear across Karakura Town. However, he hadn't been able to find a single trace of her in over a few hours. But…he still kept desperately searching. He couldn't give up on her. Wouldn't give up on her.
As the wind whipped his hair and clothing around him violently, wind created from using the Hirenkyaku high-speed movement technique, he thought back to that morning. Just a few hours of not detecting Orihime's spiritual pressure…and the moment he realized something was wrong.
(Flashback)
"Uryu!"
Uryu stopped in his tracks, standing in the middle of the crowded hallway. He recognized the voice easily. Tatsuki Arisawa, close friend of Ichigo's, was running towards him. She violently shoved aside anyone in her way, and Ishida became concerned. He immediately noticed the bags under her eyes, the sweat lining her forehead, and the panicked look in her eyes. She stopped a foot or so from him, panting but taking no time to take deep breaths. He frowned as she spoke.
"I…can't find Orihime…anywhere. Anywhere!" Tastuki panted, doubling over.
Uryu nodded. He often had that issue when Orihime went to that damn Shoten, Urahara's, and when she entered the building. He suspected the devious owner of the little candy shop had a device that hid spiritual pressure when in close proximity with it. He found it frustrating, because Orihime would drop suddenly from his senses…and she visited Urahara at least once a week. It often caused him to worry.
"Maybe you should swing by the little candy shop she likes to visit…Urahara's Shoten." Uryu suggested, preparing to turn and walk away.
"No! This isn't like when she goes in there!" Tatsuki yelled, grabbing his short shirt sleeve. He looked down at her in surprise. She explained. "I can always feel her…always! I've never been unable to feel her at all like now! Even when she's in that weird shop, though I can't feel her completely I can feel a trace of her presence…but not now! It's like she's completely and absolutely gone! Vanished, without a trace!"
Chills ran down Uryu's neck and back, and his stomach tightened. "What do you mean…?" He asked stiffly.
Exasperated, Tatsuki growled. "Damnit! Quit playing your games! We may not be close friends, but I know you at least were close with Ichigo! I saw when you guys would go traipsing around and destroying those weird monsters! I saw him wearing that black kimono and swinging that huge sword, and you using a glowing blue bow! I know you guys did some weird stuff with Rukia, and Orihime, and with Chad…but I've kept my mouth shut! She disappeared that one summer, when Rukia vanished, but that's the only time that's happened!"
She carried on, shocking Uryu, in complete disregard for the stares she was receiving from passing students. "Don't think you can hide things from me! I need to know! Where is she?!" Tatsuki roared.
Ishida thought quickly, debating between further lying to Tatsuki, or pulling her aside and threatening her. He realized that both of those options would only lead to violence towards him…so he pursed his lips and looked down at the desperate girl.
"I noticed she was missing as well. I often know where Orihime is too…but apparently you're much better at it than even I." He admitted cryptically. "I don't know where she is. I assumed she was safe…at the candy shop." He looked off to the left, towards the glass windows and looking out over Karakura Town. Then, he looked back at Tatsuki.
"I promise you, I will search for Inoue-san. I will do whatever it takes to find her." He vowed. Then, he turned and walked away.
(End Flashback)
Uryu quickly changed his course. He had wasted enough time, searching the remote edges of Karakura. He landed squarely on a tree-trunk, hanging horizontally for a split second before using it as a springboard to blast himself back towards Karakura Town.
He gathered the reishi from his surroundings, blessed by the particle-rich area of Karakura, and soared back the way he had come. However, before he had even gone five minutes…he felt a change in his environment. He stopped, and without hesitation, activated his Quincy Spirit Bow. He spun, facing the thing that he had felt disturb the spiritual current around him.
Standing before him, was none other than Urahara Kisuke, shopkeeper and dabbler in mischief. Uryu regarded the shopkeeper with a flinty gaze, before deactivating his Spirit Bow. "Mr. Urahara." He said, greeting the Getaboshi.
"Ah, Mr. Ishida! You've managed to cover the expanse of Karakura extremely quickly! It was such a hassle trying to keep up with you!" Urahara chirped airily, pulling out his fan and flapping it at his face.
Uryu, agitated by the shopkeeper, narrowed his eyes. "Orihime is missing." He said.
Urahara's fan stopped flapping, and the Shopkeeper's eyes narrowed to adopt a dangerously serious look. "Yes…I am aware. There are things we must discuss, Uryu. Come with me back to the shop. You are not the only one who has noticed or been informed of the disappearance of Ms. Inoue." He said, and put his fan away.
Uryu frowned, but nodded. "Of course." He said, and with a sharp nod, the two of them blurred away towards the Urahara Shoten.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Renji Abarai, Lieutenant of 6th Company, stared. This wasn't the first time he had, and it most certainly wouldn't be the last. Rukia seemed to notice, and turned and glared at him. She smacked him on the arm, and he yelped and held his arm. She had gotten stronger.
"Quit staring. It's rude." She scolded, and he winced.
"Sorry. It's just…so odd." He said, attempting to justify his actions.
They both looked down at the collar of her Shinigami Shihakusho, where the patch of Ichigo's Vaizard mask was located. It was indeed odd. She still felt her own gaze drawn to the foreign flash of red and white while she walked, but she was doing her best not to stare at it herself.
Rukai nodded, and then glanced around. She and Renji were walking around the 6th Company barracks, catching up on everything that had happened in the past few months they had been apart and out of contact. They were also waiting for Byakuya to be finished with his paperwork, so that they could go to the Kuchiki compound for the night.
Byakuya had hand-picked several high-ranked Kuchiki's to help guard the compound. He picked only those who he knew would be trustworthy…none having any qualities similar to the 'Kuchiki Rebellion' that had happened months ago. However, not even the troops he had picked were allowed to be alone with Rukia. That was reserved only for Renji and himself.
"So…" Renji said, as they resumed their walk.
"Don't say anything if you have nothing to say." Rukia said, smirking.
Renji grinned, and then nodded. "Okay. Ichigo's a bastard."
He received a sharp elbow to the ribs for the remark, and he laughed as he doubled over in pain. It was worth it, in his opinion. He straightened, grinning like an idiot, and looked down at his friend. Rukia smiled back up at him, and he wondered how it was that Ichigo could bring himself to leave her. Renji would have found it near-impossible.
Renji started to resume his walk, and Rukia quickly followed and walked up at his side. Renji nodded at a passing subordinate, watching him cautiously as the man stared at Rukia. The man passed without incident, and Renji sighed slightly. It would be a pain to be as vigilant as he needed to be…but he wouldn't let Ichigo or Rukia down. Especially Rukia.
They walked out into a courtyard, and Rukia took a deep, contented breath as she stared up at the fading sun. It was red. Rukia froze, which Renji saw easily. She put on the show of acting normal, though it was TOO normal. Renji narrowed his eyes as he watched her, and Rukia glanced at him. He stuck his tongue out at her, a childish display, but one he knew that would snap her out of whatever funk she was in.
She stuck her tongue out right back at him, and they blew raspberry's at each other. Then, they both straightened, and grinned. They were about to resume their walk, when Renji and Rukia felt a strong spiritual pressure appear behind them. Instinctively, Renji pulled out Zabimaru and released its shikai state without the verbal command. At the same time, he shoved Rukia protectively behind him, ignoring her squawking protest.
He looked around, feeling the presence, but he couldn't spot anything. He became agitated quickly, alarmed at how quickly the presence had appeared out of nowhere. They had to have been extremely adept at Shunpo.
"Show yourself!" He yelled, and he gripped Zabimaru's hilt tight in his fist.
"My, my…settle down, Lieutenant Abarai."
The voice had come from in front of him, but he couldn't see a thing. Tersely, he spoke. "Rukia…can you see them?"
He heard a soft laugh, and turned. Dumbfounded, he stared at a laughing Rukia. "Rukia?" He asked, uncertain. He didn't know whether to keep his attention on Rukia, or at the invisible presence.
"Oh, you fool!" Rukia laughed, and pointed. Renji looked where she was pointing. Forward, back the way he had been facing, then down….down…
"AUGH!" Renji yelped, jumping back at the cat that stared at him with massive yellow eyes and a mischievous grin.
Yoruichi, the black cat, laughed. "Ah, Abarai…you are too funny!"
Flushing red in embarrassment, he roared, "That's not funny! You shouldn't sneak up on someone when things are so tense!" He waved Zabimaru around energetically.
Yoruichi's playful demeanor disappeared suddenly, the yellow cat eyes boring deep into each of the Shinigami. "Kisuke has found out something alarming…and he believes you should know about it, Rukia." Yoruichi said.
Rukai glanced at Renji, then back at Yoruichi. "I…can't leave. Not without Byakuya. That was a part of Ichigo's deal…"
Yoruichi sighed, and then nodded. "Then stay here. I will return with Byakuya in a moment."
Then, Yoruichi was gone. Renji sighed in relief and sheathed Zabimaru, scratching at the top of his forehead in slight embarrassment. Rukia would have laughed at him, he was sure, if she hadn't just been delivered the news from Yoruichi. He knew she immediately suspected there was something wrong with Ichigo's mission. He was sure there wasn't…but he knew it was in her nature to worry. He sighed and down at the short raven-haired woman.
"Rukia…" He murmured.
She looked up at him, and the words he was about to say, caught in his throat. He had been about to say, 'Ichigo's fine.' But then he saw the determined gleam in her eye and he knew he didn't even have to say it. She knew it as well as he did. They both believed in Ichigo. They both knew he would come back.
'Just…don't do anything too stupid, Ichigo.' Renji thought.
"Seeing as Shirosaki-kun's power levels are that of an Espada…we'll hold the fight outside Las Noches. That, and Nnoitra-kun's powers are very destructive." Aizen had said, his sickly smile still plastered on his face.
Ichigo stood atop a white sand dune, staring at the Espada Nnoitra who was standing atop the same dune…just with a good distance between them. The wind gently tousled their hair and clothes, and Ichigo shifted his footing slightly. All around them, though at a far distance, Aizen's Espada stood around them to watch the match. Grimmjow stood the closest, almost as if he wished he would get pulled into the combat.
Ichigo felt...unsettled. Something inside of him was off. He could feel that his power was fluctuating. Gaining strength, then waning, then returning, then leaving. He was puzzled. He had never stayed this long in Hueco Mundo…he had thought it was only increase his strength, not play tricks with his power.
"Hey, quit spacin' out ya prick!" Nnoitra yelled, waving around his massive weapon. Ichigo glanced at the Hollow, not even sure what to call the weapon. It was like an axe, but extremely long and on the end it had two circles that were bladed. He had no idea what it was called…but it was a formidable weapon. It was at least as big as he was, and he was sure it was heavy as hell. Nnoitra must have an extreme amount of strength, to be able to wield the weapon and still hold the rank of '5'.
"Prick?" Ichigo called, amused and slightly ticked at the same time. "You sure like to talk smack."
"Fuck you!" Nnoitra yelled, and he raised his axe. "Let's get this done with already!"
Ichigo glanced off to the left, where Aizen and his Captains stood. Aizen smirked, and inclined his head. Ichigo wondered if he could Shunpo in front of the ex-Captain and kill him right then. 'Probably not.' Ichigo admitted, then he raised his blade and pointed it straight at Nnoitra. He gathered his fluctuating power as much as he could, preparing for the fight. He was sure it wouldn't be easy.
"Shirosaki…Nnoitra…" Aizen said, speaking in a soft monotone that carried along the entire distance of the Espada spread out. Ichigo was surprised. The man could project his voice pretty far. "This fight is for the rank of my Fifth Espada. Defend your title, Nnoitra, as best you can. Fight to the death if you wish…but do not hold back and expect mercy from Shirosaki, as we know you will offer none."
Aizen looked at Ichigo directly. "Shirosaki-kun…do not treat this lightly. Go at it with all you have, please. I am confident that my Espada will give you a difficult time." Aizen said, smiling gently.
Ichigo nodded, and looked over at Nnoitra. They locked gazes, blazing yellow glaring at black, and their grips on their weapons tightened. This was it. The calm right before the storm. The gentle wind in Hueco mundo died, and Ichigo swallowed. Here he was…ready to fight for a position at Aizen's side. Ready to enact his ultimate plan, and ready to kill for it. He had no qualms about killing Nnoitra, however. He was sure this Arrancar would have ended up fighting and killing several Shinigami if Ichigo wasn't here to put him down now.
"Nnoitra…" Ichigo said softly.
"What?" Nnoitra spat.
"I promise you one thing…" Ichigo said, earning all of the Espada's attention. They stared, surprised at his words.
"And what's that, prick?" Nnoitra growled, narrowing his one eye. He crouched slightly, brandishing his massive axe-weapon.
"I will kill you." Ichigo said firmly, and he resolved in his heart that he was serious. He would attack, and he would cut…and he would kill.
Nnoitra's only reply was to spit, launching his saliva in Ichigo's direction. It landed on the sand between them, and was absorbed quickly into the parched desert ground. Ichigo closed his eyes, and thought to himself one last thing before the fight. 'This is for you…for us…Rukia…'
"Enough waiting!" Nnoitra yelled, his wide mouth wide as he screamed at Ichigo. The tall, lanky Espada charged. Ichigo blinked, surprised at how fast he was. However, he wasn't near Grimmjow's speed. Ichigo could remember the Sexta Espada's speed quite vividly. Ichigo had plenty of time to predict the arc of the swing of the axe-weapon Nnoitra wielded.
Ichigo brought his blade up, switching his grip to a two-handed grip, and blocked the bladed weapon. However, the power behind the axe-swing was more than Ichigo expected. He grunted, as he attempted to keep it from slicing him in half. He stopped it an inch from his left shoulder, and he glared up at the Espada, who leered down at him.
"Kill me, eh? You can hardly block me!" Nnoitra yelled, and then he spun, swinging his axe up and around to swipe at Ichigo horizontally. The weight and momentum of the blade increased the speed of the heavy weapon, and Ichigo knew he couldn't block. He had to dodge. Something that he was quite good at.
He leapt high, bringing his legs up to his chest, and allowed the weapon to pass underneath him, and he saw Nnoitra's good eye open in surprise. Ichigo landed, and then leaned in as he thrust his blade at Nnoitra's chest.
"It's over!" Ichigo yelled, his eyes blazing.
Tensa Zangetsu stopped, it's point buried in Nnoitra's clothing…but it's tip did not pierce the Arrancar's skin. Ichigo froze, shocked and confounded. He glanced at his hands, and saw no blood. 'It's not Spiritual Feedback…meaning I'm at least at his level of reiatsu. Then…is this his Hierro, his Iron Skin?' Ichigo thought desperately.
"Che!" Nnoitra spat, and swung his blade down towards Ichigo's head to cleave him in half.
Ichigo twisted his body aside easily, making the blade miss him and lodge into the ground right beside him. Ichigo pulled back Tensa Zangestu, and side-stepped a clumsy kick from the Fifth Espada. He slashed at Nnoitra's side, looking for a weak spot, but his blade refused to penetrate Nnoitra's skin.
Nnoitra yanked his blade from the ground, and swung it sideways at Ichigo, who Shunpo'd to Nnoitra's backside. However, Nnoitra spun like a top and Ichigo sprang back to get out of Nnoitra's range. Nnoitra stilled his blade and grinned, glanced at his cut uniform, but unblemished skin.
"You ain't nothin special!" Nnoitra laughed. "I'm the Fifth Espada…the Espada with the thickest Hierro! Nothin' can cut me!"
Ichigo panted slightly. He had put a lot of strength behind his blows, only to jar his arm upon impact with Nnoitra's hardened skin. 'Think! How can you cut it?' Ichigo thought desperately. 'I can cut Grimmjow…and I'm sure I can cut the others…but how am I supposed to cut this guy? How can I overpower his Hierro? I'm already in Bankai!'
He could feel the gazes of the Espada on him, clearly wondering the same thing he was, and he growled in frustration. He had to try at least one Getsuga, to see how well a direct hit would affect the Espada's Hierro. He launched at himself at the Espada and swung his blade as fast as he could to make contact with the Espada's skin.
Moving faster than Ichigo had thought he could move, Nnoitra brought his hand up and caught the blade in his hand. Sparks flew from his hand, as the white Tensa Zangetsu failed to pierce the Espada's skin. Nnoitra glared at him, and was about to make a comment, when Ichigo pushed his body weight against the Espada and placed his left hand against the back of the blade. Nnoitra blinked, as Ichigo growled out, "Getsuga…" Interrupting him, he heard Grimmjow bark out a wild laugh in anticipation. "Tenshou!"
Ichigo poured as much power as he could into the Getsuga, and the blast blinded him. He heard a surprised yell from Nnoitra, just barely, over the roar of the energy attack. The blast caused a massive explosion, causing sand and wind and dust to be kicked up in a massive cloud. Surrounding the match, the Espada shielded themselves until the wind died down, and then they examined the cloud.
Yammy, standing next to Ulquiorra, growled, "Did it work?"
Ulquiorra's green eyes examined the area without visible emotion. "Use your Pesquisa, Yammy." Ulquiorra replied. "Nnoitra is still alive."
Yammy 'humphed', then crossed his arms and looked at the cloud of dust. It was quickly cleared as the wind coming off Nnoitra's swung axe blasted it away. Ichigo saw it cutting through the smoke a split second before it was on him, and he quickly moved his own blade to intercept it. The force of the blow knocked Ichigo backwards and into the air. Ichigo skidded on the air, stopping up above Grimmjow, and shook his right arm. It was numb from the force of Nnoitra's blow.
The smoke cleared all the way, and Ichigo surveyed the damage a point-blank Getsuga had done to Nnoitra. The Espada's clothing on the left side of his body was mostly burned away, revealing scuffed skin but no blood. Ichigo then looked at Nnoitra's left hand, the hand that had caught his blade and took the brunt of the Getsuga, and smirked behind his mask. Blood dripped from his fingers, and his arm was held limply at his side. Nnoitra's face was contorted in rage at the fact he was bleeding.
"Bastard!" Nnoitra yelled, and Ichigo glanced down at Grimmjow. His blue eyes were wide with excitement, as he watched Nnoitra.
Ichigo didn't reply with words, but raised his right hand holding Tensa Zangetsu out and turned his blade horizontal. He pulled on his energy, and a red glow enveloped his hand. Red energy coalesced around his fist, and Nnoitra's eye opened in surprise. Ichigo pulled on his energy, but then the red Cero winked out from around his fist. His energy levels dropped suddenly, leaving him weak-kneed and vulnerable. He sunk through the air till his legs touched sand.
"What…?" Ichigo panted, his vision going hazy.
Grimmjow, standing behind him, spoke up. "What's the matter, Shirosaki? C'mon…it's just getting good!"
Ichigo weakly brought his sword up in a guard, as Nnoitra took advantage of his momentary weakness. Nnoitra charged at him, his left arm flying behind him limply, and swung his axe with his right hand as he got in range to attack Ichigo. Ichigo was so drained of energy, so suddenly, that he couldn't even hold a decent guard. He couldn't Shunpo out of the way, either.
Nnoitra's axe hammered Tensa Zangetsu from Ichig's grip, causing it to go flying off to the side, and sliced into Ichigo's chest. A long horizontal gash cut through Ichigo's skin, sending blood spraying across the sand.
"Gah!" Ichigo yelled, staggering backwards. He placed a hand over his chest, and tried to ignore the pain. But, he fell to his knees.
"What's…happening?" Ichigo slurred, looking up at Nnoitra.
"Like I care?" Nnoitra spat, looking down at Ichigo and raising his axe. "Your Spiritual Pressure dropped so fast, I betcha it's because you ain't used to fighting here in Hueco Mundo. Fighting in the Human world is different than here. Here, your power will fluctuate until it finds its fixed level. Sucks for you. You got in a good hit. First time I've bled in a while, Shirosaki. Too bad, though. Shortest match in the history of all my battles."
Ichigo watched as the Axe flew down at him. 'Shit.' Ichigo thought. 'Shit. C'mon..' He thought frantically. He did the only thing he could with so little energy: he fell backwards onto his bottom. The axe cut open the front of his Bankai Shihakusho, but lodged into the sand. Ichigo pushed himself backwards, scooting across the sand, and he rolled away. He didn't care that he got sand in his cut, or even that the sand was stained red, or that Aizen watched him with an amused glance.
He staggered to his feet, cursing under his breath, and watched as Nnoitra raised his blade. With a sudden rush of power, Ichigo's Spiritual Pressure rocketed back up to its natural level, and Ichigo straightened. He no longer felt the pain of his cut, and he was reminded of the time that he had first experienced such a rush of power: back when he first met and fought Renji Abarai. Ichigo quickly reigned in his power, due to the fact it blasted sand and wind out from his body.
Nnoitra brandished his axe, taking it in both hands. Aparently he now had enough strength to use both of his hands again. Shit.
Ichigo raised his right hand, and growled as he summoned Zangetsu into his hand. With a surge of white energy, the white Tensa Zangetsu appeared in his hand, and Nnoitra licked his lips. "So maybe it won't be as short as I thought." Nnoitra admitted. "But all I gotta do is wait for your power to drop again…and then I'll finish ya!"
Ichigo raised his blade, glaring at Nnoitra. The Espada was right. Ichigo would be nothing but a sitting duck if it happened again, and Ichigo couldn't have that happen. He charged at Nnoitra, quickly locking blades with the lanky Arrancar. "Well, then that means I just have to beat you before that happens again!" Ichigo growled.
He placed his palm on the back of his sword blade and pushed against Nnoitra's axe. Nnoitra's lone eye widened in surprise, and surprise. "Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo roared.
Rukia and Renji were sitting on a bench together, staring out into the courtyard of the 6th Division. They were alone, save for the occasional squad member that would pass by, and they were quiet. Not in an awkward silence kind of way…but a comfortable silence. It had been a long time since they had ever had time to just sit and enjoy each other's company.
"Rukia…" Renji said softly, breaking the comfortable silence.
Rukia looked to her left, to the tall red-headed man she had known most of her life. "What is it?" She asked, her violet orbs resting on her long-time friend.
"Will you…promise me something?" Renji murmured, looking down at her. She saw the serious look on his face, and her brows furrowed slightly in concern.
"Of course, Renji. Anything." She said, shifting in her seat to be able to see him better.
"Promise me…no matter what happens…we won't ever let as much time go by as before. Promise me we'll be friends no matter what, no matter how much time passes." Renji said, his eyes locked with hers.
Rukia smiled softly. "That's two promises, fool." She murmured. Then, she reached up and put her hand on his shoulder. "But…I do promise those things to you. With all my soul."
Renji smirked down at her, returning back to his normal mood. "Good. Cuz I'd hate to have to track you down like I did the last time." He jibed.
She scoffed at him. "And I'd hate to have Ichigo kick your ass again."
Hitting a sore spot, he growled. "That was a low blow Rukia! You know full well it's unfair now!"
Rukai blew a raspberry at him. "Well, was it unfair when you had your Shikai released, and he didn't even know what Shikai was…and he still kicked your butt?" She teased.
A vein throbbed in Renji's forehead, and he jumped up and pointed down at her. "That's only 'cuz the bastard paralyzed me with his Spiritual Pressure! And I was going easy on the human, and I had a power restrictor on!" Rukia only crossed her arms and smirked, looking away.
"Renji…while you are Rukia's guard, you are still a member of the 6th Squad of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Try to conduct yourself with a little more…dignity." Byakuya said, standing solemnly across from Rukia and Renji. Yoruichi stood next to him, although she was significantly shorter in her cat form, and she seemed to be smirking. Though telling what a cat was feeling or doing was very difficult to do.
Renji coughed, and stiffly bowed to his Captain. "Y-yes, Taichou. My apologies."
Byakuya inclined his head ever so slightly, and stepped towards Rukia, the perfect picture of composure and grace. Rukia felt a stab of envy, before she remembered that she too was a Kuchiki. She rose from her bench, gracefully, and took two steps towards her brother before bowing.
"Nii-sama." Rukia adressed him formally, her posture perfect as she waited for his acknowledgement.
"Rukia." Byakuya said softly, and she raised from her bow.
"The Captain-General has agreed to let me accompany you to the Exile, Kisuke Urahara's. However…anything said is to be reported to him." Byakuya warned sternly.
Yoruichi scoffed. "Believe me, Byakuya Boy…Soul Society will want to know of this development, and Kisuke was already counting on the fact you'd be brought along."
Byakuya arched an eyebrow, but before anything could be said, Rukia spoke up. "Nii-sama…will we use the Senkaimon or…?"
Byakuya glanced at Rukia, with almost a hint of a smile. The Senkaimon preparations could be quick, but getting to it would be a hassle. "Of course not." Byakuya replied. He raised his hand, and with a clicking sound a private gate opened. Three Hell Butterflies fluttered from the white glowing doorway, and Byakuya stepped up to the doorway. "A quick-use gate was granted." Byakuya said, and then with a small gesture telling her to follow him, he stepped into the gate.
Rukia stepped into the white glowing tunnel, looking back at Renji as Yoruichi stepped in as well. He raised a hand, grinning, and she smiled in return at him.
"See you soon, Renji." Rukia promised, and then the gateway doors closed behind them.
She took a few steps forward, and a set of doors opened up for her, revealing Urahara's back room. Yoruichi jumped over onto Urahara's shoulder, covering quite a distance, where Urahara lazily scratched behind her ears.
Rukai blinked in surprise as she noticed everyone at the small table with Urahara. Chad, Ishida, the staff of the Urahara Shoten…and two people she never would have guessed. Isshin Kurosaki, standing in his Shinigami Shihakusho, leaning on a wall next to Shinji Hirako. Everyone looked up at Rukia and Byakuya, and Shinji smirked at Rukia. She smiled back, nodding at the leader of the Vaizard.
Isshin reacted in his typical, over-the-top fashion. "Rukai-chan! My third daughter! I've missed you so!" He cried, and tried to leap at her and hug her. He froze, however, just as Shinji did, when he noticed Byakuya Kuchiki. Byakuya's eyes widened in shock as he saw the man garbed in Shinigami clothing with a captain's Haori tied over his left shoulder. The room's atmosphere thickened with tension, until Urahara broke the uncomfortable silence.
"Well, well, I should have anticipated Captain Kuchiki being the one sent…but I had hoped that it would Lieutenant Abarai.." Urahara chuckled nervously. "Um…perhaps introductions are in order?"
Isshin became unusually serious and looked at Rukia. "So this is your older brother, eh, Rukia-chan?" He asked.
She nodded. "Yes…um…Nii-sama…this is…" She took long pauses, trying to figure out just how much to say.
Isshin broke in for her, taking the burden from her, and stepped close to Byakuya. Byakuya, unacustomed to people approaching him so boldly, stiffened. Isshin stopped until he was almost nose to nose with Byakuya, and his face held no hint of the joviality he was capable of.
"I'm Isshin Kurosaki...Ichigo's father." Isshin said, raising his chin defiantly. Rukia, standing at the side and watching the two, held her breath. She could see where Ichigo got his attitude, and his mannerisms from. Isshin looked exactly like Ichigo would, jutting out his lower jaw and almost frowning. "Nice to meet you, Byakuya Kuchiki."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed, but he didn't react for the longest time. Rukia released her pent up breath, and watched carefully for her older brother's reaction.
"I see…this explains much about Kurosaki Ichigo." Byakuya said, his face emotionless. "An ex-Captain, father of three human children. What one would call 'purebloods'."
Isshin's stance dared Byakuya to make a move, as his duty as a Captain of Soul Society that had just discovered a deserter. Byakuya's hand moved to rest on the hilt of Senbonzakura, and Rukia yelled in distress.
"Nii-sama!! No, please!" she yelled, and she shoved her way in-between the two men.
"Rukia-chan, move." Isshin warned, trying to keep her from any harm that Byakuya might accidentally inflict on her.
Byakuya looked down at Rukia in surprise. Then, he lowered his head ever so slightly, and closed his eyes. He pulled Senbonzakura from his side, the sheath with the blade still inside of it, and raised it towards Isshin.
"While I am here, I am here only to protect Rukia. I will only report what has been said at this meeting…not who attended. You may take my sword, if you wish to test the truth of my words." Byakuya said. Rukia flushed in embarassment, and stepped aside as Isshin smirked.
"Nah, I trust ya now. Keep your sword…and sit down, Byakuya. We need to get this meeting underway." Isshin said, and went to stand by Shinji once more. Byakuya obviously was irked by the formality that both the father and son of the Kurosaki family adressed him with, but nodded for Rukia to sit at the round table with her friends. He stood behind her as she sat on her knees.
"Well, that's so good to see the tender side of you Byakuya!" Urahara teased. Before Byakuya could make a retort, however, he continued. "Now, we progress onto the reason I called all of you here. Each of us trust Ichigo, and are aware of his current plan. However…something has come up that may very well jeopardize Ichigo's mission…and life." Urahara said, his joviality disappearing completely.
That's when Rukia noticed something that should have been immediately noticeable. She stood, her eyes wide. "Where's Orihime?"
Urahara's eyes regarded her solemnly from under the shadow of his hat. She looked at Uryu, and just realized the Quincy's worry that he was trying to hide. Even Chad was easier to read. His left eye was showing through his curls, betraying his deep concern for his ditsy friend.
Urahara sighed, and took off his hat. He set it on the table, and looked down at his hands, clearly feeling guilty of something. Yoruichi, perched on his shoulder, nuzzled his cheek.
"Kisuke…it was not something you could have foreseen. You did your best." Yoruichi's scratchy voice said, coming from the mouth of the cat.
Urahara sighed. "It wasn't enough, however." He looked up at the summoned allies.
"Orihime Inoue has left the World of the Living. She has been kidnapped by Aizen, though it was done personally by an Espada Arrancar." Urahara said solemnly. Instantly, everyone sucked in a breath of shock.
"And how can you know it was an Espada?" Byakuya asked, surprising all of them with his sudden interruption.
Urahara sent Byakuya an amused glance. "Because. I personally fought against the Espada myself."
Byakuya's eyes widened ever so slightly, showing his surprise, and he murmured, "I see."
Urahara continued, as if he had not been interrupted. "I've managed to pinpoint around the time she was taken, and it was just last night that this happened. After the clash with the Espada, but before Ichigo left. You can all see how this can seriously jeopardize everything, yes?" He asked, looking at them all.
"Of course. Kurosaki believes," Uryu started to say,
"That he has to save any and everyone at the expense of his own life." Rukia finished quietly. Everyone looked at her, knowing that she was reliving the rescue that Ichigo successfully pulled off to save her. Byakuya, as well, seemed to stare off into the distance.
"Exactly. Knowing Aizen, he will attempt to discern whether or not Ichigo is who he is pretending to be, and he will use Orihime to that purpose. Ichigo will now be made aware of Orihime's presence…and that will alter his plan. He will not be able to fight Aizen while protecting Orihime and trying to help her escape. We all know that Mr. Kurosaki is unable to put the mission first, when the life of a friend is in danger." Urahara said, sighing at the end.
"Very admirable…but foolhardy considering his mission is to kill Aizen." Byakuya said, his tone betraying no emotion. "Aizen will not likely stand by and let Ichigo take the Ryoka girl. She has powers, as I've heard, and Aizen most likely has plans for those powers. He will not let Ichigo Kurosaki steal away something that is important to his plans."
Isshin nodded slightly to himself, and stepped forward slightly. "I believe Ichigo is the only one who stands a chance to actually rescue his friend Orihime."
Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to explain. Isshin grinned. "Who is the only one strong enough to stop a Captain's blade with a single hand? And who is the only high-powered Shinigami to not have seen Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu released?"
Urahara smirked. "Why of course, our Mr. Kurosaki. Brilliant, Isshin. Aizen's Shikai is his trump card…and without it Ichigo will be on a more level playing field."
"But Aizen's strength is not his Shikai alone." Yoruichi murmured, and Byakuya nodded.
"He did, after all, perform the Black Coffin Kido without an incantation." Byakuya pointed out.
"But how can we get all of this information to Ichigo?" Urahara asked, glancing around the table. "We would need to sneak someone into Las Noches, and have them sneak past Espada and Numeros alike…just to give Ichigo this information. But even getting the information to him puts him at risk."
Everyone was silent, until Uryu stood up suddenly. The look on his face was fierce, his eyes drawn almost into a glare. "I will go." He said loudly. "I'm the best at sensing Kurosaki's reiatsu, especially from a distance. I am also one of the fastest here, and the Arrancar would not be prepared to track someone not using Flash Step. I'm the best candidate."
Everyone stared in surprise at the young Quincy, though Rukia understood why he volunteered: because of Orihime. While Rukia sympathized with the Quincy, she wouldn't let him risk his life for nothing.
"I can communicate with him, without the risk of sending anyone in after him." Rukia said, speaking up. "Our Zanpakuto can act as a relay, as they are in each of our inner worlds…"
Urahara grinned. "Interesting. I had no idea that yours and Mr. Kurosaki's relationship had progressed that far yet."
Byakuya shot the man a cold glare, obviously disturbed by the new revelation. Urahara merely shrugged it off, and put a hand on Uryu's shoulder. "Sit down." He said softly to the young Quincy. Uryu seemed about to argue, but with how intelligent he was…he knew it would do no good. He sat, attempting to not look as though he was angry at the news.
"Please, Rukia…contact Ichigo as soon as possible. Tell him about Orihime…and his new mission: to rescue her without being caught by Aizen or the Espada. We have to foil whatever plan Aizen has." Urahara said, turning to Rukia.
Then he turned to Byakuya. "Soul Society should be prepared for retaliation. Aizen will not let her slip through his fingers easily as it is. But if Ichigo succeeds in rescuing her, Aizen may try to retrieve her and start a war earlier than we anticipated."
Urahara clapped his hands. "Now…let's get to work! I have things to do, now that we know the situation. Let's get to work, people!" He stood, smiling widely, and Rukia closed her eyes. 'Ichigo…' She thought, desperate for her love. 'Please…be careful.'
AAAND THAT'S A WRAP! :D To find out the conclusion of the Ichigo and Nnoitra fight, you have to wait for next chap. Don't worry. It won't be almost a year like last time. Once again…thanks for your patience guys. BTW…what do you all think of the latest Bleach Chapter's that Kubo-sensei has released? I'm SO EXCITED! Lol. Aizen is amazing, for a bad guy, and I'm on the edge of my seat for Gin's Bankai! As well as the fact that I'm so glad Kubo brought in Isshin! WOOT!