A/N: sorry for the late update, I guess I should post the next chapter since I just received a couple of alerts on my story…Anyway, this would be the result of all the things that had happen on the previous chapters and the after this, ByarRuki interactions shall be back once more…Enjoy reading!

Chapter 7

Grievous

It's dark. What? Oh, my eyes are closed. Hisana, is that you?Wait , I– Byakya, you son of a –

Aozu rose up with sweat covering his forehead. It's only been a few minutes that he rested and now he is having nightmares already.

"Why did you take me? What do you want?" A small voice but a cold one came from his right shoulder. The girl was at his side; she had been blindfolded a moment ago and was tied up. Tanizaki, put a knife on her throat, "Why you –"

"Stop it. What would be the benefit if you killed her just like that?" *** spout out at him bluntly. "Hmph. Whatever."

"It's alright. Put it down. It's not yet time." He did what Aozu had told him to with a grunt.

"Sorry, you were saying? Ah, yes, the question. I'm sure you know the emotion behind all this, you never heard me from your brother?"

"No, he's the silent type." Her cold voice strokes him.

"And you're the opposite,"

"What do you want with Nii-sama?"

Still calm to the conversation, Aozu moved closer to her and held her chin firmly. "His life in exchange for everything."

Rukia was disgusted to this man. It's not the time for panicking or crying. She should worry more about Byakuya even if it means losing her life. He had given her the things she needed to say the least and she wanted to return all the favor to him.

When he had let go of her chin, he also untied her blindfold. She could see clearly now. She didn't even how she was blindfolded. Did she pass out? Or… ah, never mind. It was the same place as before; darkest part of the forest where were right now and the bonfire built around them provided more light aside from the full moon itself. Rukia didn't care about the two people resting peacefully on each side; she cared about seeing the mastermind up close. Aozu looked at her and she looked back. Even if she furrowed her eyebrows and glared at him, he, in turn, is like looking at her in a much deeper way. Her eyes were mixed with remembering something in the past that made his look go soft.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You two look similar. Are you her younger sister?"

Rukia let out a breath of shock, "How did you know about Hisana-san?"

He gave a sign language to his comrades and in an instant; he was gripping her wrists securely.

"You'll soon know enough. He's coming."

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Byakuya made his last shunpo to the last tree before finally heading to the captor's whereabouts. He had scanned each of them and looked at Rukia and lastly, to the man from before.

"It's been a while, Byakuya."

"Yes, Aozu."

He looked at Rukia who was trying to let go from ____'s grasp, "Why drag Rukia into this? If you wanted to settle things because of what happen, you could've just confronted me and nobody else."

He moved one step while Aozu replied, "I know that, but that would ruin the fun. Everyone has a weakness, including you, the great Byakuya Kuchiki. Moreover, it's just fair if I take something from you like what you did to me, long time ago."

"Even so, you cannot defeat me."

"Can't? Heh! I trained half of y life to be in the same level as you. Do you know who it was for? It was for Hisana! I know that I could've protected her more than you have ever done to her. You let her die –"

"Aozu-sama," Tanizuki sensed his boss's mind becoming insane.

"Shut up!" He was too late, Aozu had lost himself. Byakuya was still noble as he spoke, "We will not going to talk about this anymore. This would be the last time you're going to mention her name." he shunpo-ed in front of him to cut or stab him but Aozu managed to dodged it. He also shunpo-ed himself back at him but he missed him just the same. "Not bad for you."

"Tch, you haven't seen anything yet." He let out a sword and released a command, "Weave, Arachnia!" The sword changed in the form of three, long, sharp claws. "Oh? You had gained a zanpakuto?" Byakuya calmly stated in a proper manner.

"I have. I told you, I trained a lot." Aozu suddenly fired a web from the claws at him. He missed but the next one landed on his hand and feet.

"Now, you can't release yours properly. That web wouldn't let you move unless I told them to do so. Even if you stuggle, there's no way you could get out of it so give up!" Byakuya tried to escape a bit but gave up afterwards. Aozu could tell that it was a sign of defeat when he had slipped his sword to the ground.

Rukia, on the other hand, used his kido to defeat the two people and it was just as easy as killing low-class hollows (She would've defeated them before if it wasn't for Aouzu). She made sure that the binding spell would hold them off before they become conscious. She called out to his brother, "Byakuya nii-sama!"

For the first time, he yelled at his heart's content when Aouzu was about to attack directly at him, "Rukia, stay back!"

Then, blood splattered out. Both of the men couldn't believe what they had just witnessed for it happen in seconds. Rukia shielded herself for Byakuya form Aozu's final attack. Three claws slowly pierced through her body and she looked at each of them before passing out.

"I'm glad you're fine, Byakuya… Aouzu-san, I'm sorry…"

Aozu took his weapon out of her with ease before she landed. He stared at her and his zanpakuto in agony. From an instant, he felt that she was in the same state as Hisana. He was so carried away that he just did this to her sister. He couldn't think anymore, did he just kill the one whom Hisana had searched on what seemed like ages? Ho could he?

Just then, Byakuya glowered more than ever. Watching Rukia like that, it was worst for him. No more fooling around, he's going to pay. "Hisana…you said it was me who killed her. Still, you even have the guts to actually thrust your weapon through her younger sister shad been looking forever. I will show you real power that's even far greater that what you called 'same level'. You cannot, defeat me, Aozu."

Aozu just stared blankly at his bloodshot eyes and then, petals came floating around him with a powerful reiatsu that made him kneel on his knees. "Chire, Senbonsakura."

Afterwards, every part of his body was slashed and before his end, he whispered in his final breath, Hi-sa-na…"

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Because of a prevailing reiatsu released by the 6th captain and Rukia's reiatsu slowly fading away, Abarai Renji and the others had located them easily. He couldn't believe what just happened to his childhood friend and was also concerned for his captain. He came as fast as he could and approached Rukia with no hesitation. The redhead guy understood how his captain felt when he saw him holding her hand that like if he didn't, she would just disappear. Renji just sat beside him and watched her being healed on the spot before returning back with two criminals tied up and a dead guy.

A/N: that was a bit long (but not as long as the previous one, LOL), but I hope you enjoyed the chapter especially the last part…I'll update as soon as I can or if there would be more alerts on my story aside from the fact that I'll be having my exams. *cries*

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!!