Author's note: Kay... spare me everyone... I'm soooo exhausted... spent like at least 8 hours on this chappie... = =... but thx for all the reviews! ^ ^ they really made me happy! ok! Without any further delay... allow me to present to you... the 7th chapter of 'To Follow her Fate'... oh yeah... just think of this as a christmas present from me to you all! Merry Christmas everyone! ^ ^
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Heartless Mercy
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Stealth was not something that one had to learn, Michiko decided as she walked silently down the lane. With the black cloak that she had decided to bring along, simply walking casually along the road was already sufficient for hiding herself.
Her footsteps made no sound as they moved lightly along the concrete ground. Knowing that she couldn't leap through the skies without being found out, she had opted for walking on the ground while following the two shinigami who were flying across the skies.
She slowed her footsteps further. Rukia was in a gigai. Without her shinigami powers, the two figures in the sky need not put much effort in chasing her. They moved at a leisurely pace. Michiko stopped in her tracks, turning away from the shinigami to go down a deserted alley.
It was impossible for her to continue following them without being found out. After turning a few more corners, she was still a few roads away from Rukia's position, so, she sat down in the branches of the tree to conceal herself.
Reaching out around her, she truly understood what Tsukihana had meant when she had stopped her from gaining Bankai. The spirit particles in the Real World were at minimum. Taking a deep breath, she slowly shaped her reiatsu into the shape of the particles that she felt around her, letting herself blend into her surroundings completely, before casting an extra barrier to conceal herself just in case.
Just as she had predicted, Rukia soon turned the corner, and was heading towards the tree that she was in. She watched as Rukia passed by the road below the fence that was in front of the tree that she was in. Looking up from the tree, she saw the two shinigami closing in. Putting more strength into the barrier, she waited to hear their verdict.
"YES! You do get it!" A figure had flown over her head to land on a pole at the side of the road. Abarai Renji crouched on the pole, sword half drawn, with a smirk on his face.
Rukia turned in shock.
"Well, to put it in another way… Since you've stayed on this side so long, basically, you get to live just a bit longer…Rukia!"
Death! The verdict… is death!
Michiko's eyes widened in shock and sudden fear for her friend's life as Abarai leapt off the pole straight at Rukia, sword raised over his head and she instinctively shifted into a crouch on the branch, hand on Tsukihana's hilt.
Michiko-sama! Restrain yourself! You cannot let these dogs of Soul Society discover your existence! You will not be accepted into their world, be deemed as a threat because of your inner hollow and sentenced to death! Not to mention, you're an unauthorized shinigami! They might just kill you upon sight! Tsukihana snapped at her; But even through the disguise of her anger, Michiko could tell the fear in Tsukihana's voice.
Michiko-sama… you are not powerful enough as of now… one day… when a common enemy rises, perhaps, then, Soul Society would be willing to form alliances with you. Sensing, Michiko's distress, Tsukihana soothed her.
Rukia instinctively jumped backwards, Renji's swipe narrowly missing her head by millimeters, the area resonating with the sudden explosion of reiatsu. Michiko's nails dug into her palms as she tightened her fists.
"You had a pursuer from Soul Society closing in on you… and you didn't realize it until I spoke? I don't care that you've been in a faux body for these past two or three months… you've gotten way too soft." Renji spoke with a slightly demoting tone to his voice as he slung his zanpakutou over his shoulder.
"Spit it out, Rukia. Where is he?" Renji demanded of her. Michiko's eyes widened as she heard him.
Ichigo! He's so rash! He will definitely come to find Rukia… he will… be killed!
No, he will not Michiko-sama… that is why you are here. With any luck… Ichigo-sama will not have died yet by the time these shinigami leave… we should take him to Urahara-sama. Tessai-sama will know what to do.
"You're Kuchiki Freakin' Rukia, Damn it! There's no way that its right for you to wear that human expression on your face! Ne, Kuchiki-taicho?" Renji pushed on, slightly sneering, and suddenly, Michiko became aware of a figure that stood directly below her tree. He had moved there without her even noticing.
Too… close… Michiko tensed even further.
Don't move! Tsukihana snarled, stilling her. The two watched on in silence as Abarai attacked her yet again. Kuchiki Byakuya had not even blinked as his sister was attacked right in front of him. Michiko's fist clenched and she raised it, wondering exactly what would happen if she punched him.
"The transfer of shinigami powers to a human is felony, ya know? Leaving the execution to us instead of the Correction Corps was probably the Brass' version of kindness." Renji moved to where Rukia had fallen on the ground and raised his sword close to her neck.
"Now, spill the location, Rukia." He demanded harshly.
"We're here… to capture you… and to kill the guy who took your powers. Don't protect him." Renji moved into another stance as Rukia stood and backed away.
"You realize it don't you? You didn't dodge my first two attacks… I let you dodge them… and the next one… will kill you." Renji raised his zanpakutou again, crouching with one hand on the floor as he sized up his opponent.
Rukia moved back and Renji advanced…Much like a lion stalking its prey… Michiko mused.
Michiko-sama…! Tsukihana snarled again. Michiko immediately sighed as she watched Renji swipe. Rukia jumped, dodging his attack and flying over his head. Renji smirked, immediately swinging around to slash at her once more. Caught off balance, Rukia was flung down the sidewalk, rolling a few meters down.
…And her brother… Kuchiki Byakuya… looked on impassively. Suddenly, a blue bolt of light flew at Renji and he dodged.
"Two men with weapons attacking an unarmed girl… not a very pleasant thing to see." A new voice rang out in the night. Michiko's head snapped to the source.
"I don't really like that sort of thing." The figure said, stopping a ways away from Rukia and Renji.
Ishida… what the crap is he doing here…that fool…He's going to get himself killed… He couldn't have followed my reiatsu… I hid it…
"You can see us… who the hell are you?" Renji snarled. Ishida adjusted his glasses.
"Just a classmate." He replied coolly.
"Classmate?" Renji repeated the term as if slightly unfamiliar with it.
"…One that hates Death gods, that is…" Ishida continued to say.
Oh, gods… Ishida… you're going to get yourself killed… Michiko groaned into her brain.
"Ishida? Why are you here?" Rukia's inquisitive voice asked.
"Just a coincidence." He replied quickly.
"Its nothing for you to worry about. If you must know…" Ishida lifted up the white eco-friendly bag that he held in his hand.
"I suddenly wanted to go to this 24-hours-a-day seamster shop chain, Sunflower sewing… and was simply wandering around the neighborhood in the middle of the night." He continued.
Oh, heavens have mercy… what is he trying to do… he'll really kill himself…Michiko closed her eyes.
Ishida readjusted his glasses and continued on,
"Its not like I took off because I was concerned when I sensed Death god energy and brought this bag from home just for an excuse to be outside…" He said.
There was a moment of stillness as everyone in the area tried to comprehend what he said. Michiko opened her eyes and turned to look at him through her barrier of concealment. She blinked.
Well… that was… unexpected… I mean… I never knew that he was mentally challenged… Judging from the look on Rukia's face… she was having similar thoughts.
Michiko continued to watch as Renji proceded to attack Ishida and cut his arm, slicing his bag in half in the process. She breathed a sigh of relief as Rukia tried to intercede, but nearly cried out in fear as Ishida open goaded Renji again.
"Ishida Uryuu. Pleasure to meet you." He said after a brief pause.
"Eh? What's with you all of a sudden?" Renji muttered. Ishida readjusted his glasses again.
"It's nothing. I just thought that even a Death god would want to know… the name of the man who defeated him." Ishida taunted. Michiko bit her lip as a maniacal grin appeared on Renji's face.
"That's it! I'll kill you!" He growled. The veins in his neck and forehead throbbed in anger as his hand grasped his zanpakutou tightly.
Curse him! Damn the fool! Why can't he understand that he'll die and just back off! IhatehimIhatehimIhatehim! Michiko screamed in frustration at Tsukihana.
Michiko-sama, calm down before your reiatsu begins to flare. She didn't even bother to scold her wielder for improper language, knowing that it would only contribute to her frustration.
The fight didn't last long. Michiko had already resigned herself to Ishida's death and the pain of loosing yet another close one. She closed her eyes as Renji prepared to deal the final blow.
Suddenly a new reiatsu flared.
Oh Kamis have mercy… its all over. The other fool has given himself out… oh kami-sama…!
"Who the hell're you!" Renji demanded as he skid back to land on the fence at the side of the road.
"Kurosaki Ichigo. The man who's gonna take you down." The stupidity of all this…
"Death god clothes? Which squad are you with? What the hell is up with the huge soul slayer?" Renji asked.
Oh kami… here it comes… he's such a fool… he's gonna give himself away… totally…
"What?" The dumb look on his face was really getting old.
"So this is big then, huh? I thought it was pretty big compared to Rukia's."
Rule no.1: Never let your enemies find out about your ignorance in any area…Michiko muttered in her brain. Broken… and it's all out and we'll all die… and it'll be the end of the world.
"Anyway, till now, I haven't had anyone to compare with." Michiko propped an elbow up on her knee and massaged her forehead.
Totally… ignorance of skills when faced with an enemy… gosh does he not even know the most basic things? It's like walking up to a bandit's face in the middle of a deserted alley and saying 'oh, hey! I have a million bucks on me!'
Michiko sighed as Ichigo quickly received his first wound in the shoulder. This was completely hopeless.
Rukia was about to run to Ichigo, but was stopped by Ishida.
Well, at least they haven't killed him…hopefully they'll forget about him…
"…You'll die… and the powers will go back to Rukia. Then, Rukia will die in the Soul Society." There it was again. A sure and positive sentence to the death…
It doesn't really make sense. Michiko thought as she watched the two battle.
Rukia-dono is a noble… yes… she is … and nobles are the ones who must set a good example to others… but the only crime that she has committed is only a simple crime of felony… they can easily rid Ichigo of his powers without killing him and erase his memories. Michiko frowned.
"You relaxed too much, Renji." Kuchiki Byakuya stated calmly. Renji turned.
"Kuchiki Taicho!"
"That child, 'Kurosaki Ichigo'… I thought that I had seen his face before. The other day, we had a report from the Secret Mobile Corps… that he inflicted a sword wound on a Menos Grande… and sent it back to Hueco Mundo." The noble continued to speak.
That's right. Ichigo is an unauthorized shinigami… like I am… especially since Ishida used the bait and caused a lot of havoc and abnormal hollow activity… thus resulting in a rare appearance of a Menos Grande… Soul Society must have noticed… Michiko bit her lip. Renji burst into laughter.
"I can't take it." He blatantly stated after his outburst of laughter ended.
"The quality of the S.M.C.'s been sliding lately." He pointed at Ichigo.
"This kid… wounded a Menos Grande?" He asked incredulously. Michiko groaned internally again, seeing Ichigo's annoyed look. Ichigo was probably going to get riled up over it…
"I couldn't believe that story even if I wanted to! I mean, just look, Captain! His zanpakutou… its huge… but otherwise, it's a total disgrace! Its obvious that he can't control is reiatsu. What's your zanpakutou's name?" Renji ranted. The aristocrat behind him looked on calmly, keeping on his emotionless mask throughout it all.
"Huh? Name?" Ichigo replied dumbly. Michiko sighed.
There he is again… going on and on and on… letting others know that he actually knows nothing at all… his weakness… he probably can't make himself look more stupid than now…
"Did you even ask?" Renji's tone was degrading.
"You mean, ask Rukia?" Ichigo continued.
I take that back… he's sounding even worse right now… I wonder if he's worth keeping alive… Michiko continued. Even if he lives through this…I might kill him myself… I refuse to be acquainted with such an idiot. See, there's a reason why I tell you not to call him Ichigo-SAMA. Tsukihana gave a light chuckle at this.
Don't relax too much, Michiko-sama… they might sense you. She said to her weilder.
"You name every one of these things?" Ichigo asked incredulously.
Kami-sama… he really was BORN stupid… I really feel sorry for his zanpakutou… Michiko muttered to Tsukihana as Renji gloated victoriously and Kuchiki Byakuya stood silently behind them. Michiko watched as Renji quickly released Zabimaru and dealt a harsh blow to Ichigo's shoulder and continued to thing.
Rukia-dono's punishment should not be death. It is too harsh… Rukia-dono is not even of captain class… if a captain is the one who breaks the rules… they must be punished… of course… they are the examples to all shinigami… but Rukia-dono is… an unseated member…Death? Michiko was brought out of her thoughts by an enormous reiatsu. She looked up in shock, straining herself slightly as Ichigo's reiatsu threatened to tear down her barrier.
Just like with the Menos Grande… Ichigo's true strength… and of course… the emotionless bastard isn't surprised at all… again… Michiko noted, casting a glance at Kuchiki Byakuya. Tsukihana muttered something about respect and Michiko ignored her, turning back to the fight.
Ichigo stood with a self-satisfied grin on his face as he threw Renji off balance.
"What's wrong? Your movements have gotten hella slow all of a sudden!" Ichigo taunted.
"I dunno what this is… but it feels good! Right now, my wounds don't hurt… and I'm not even a tiny bit worried about losing to you!" Michiko had had enough of him.
Doesn't he even understand the word 'subtle'?
Michiko-sama… Tsukihana whispered.
Hn?
You're getting that black atmosphere about you again… like the time when you found out that Ishida ranked first in the finals of the year… and like whenever you get pissed…
Whatever… Michiko muttered as she strengthened her barrier while crossing her arms with her back straight and sitting Indian style. A chilling expression came over her face as she continued to watch.
"You're good at scurrying around like a rat aren't you?" Ichigo smirked.
"But that's enough of that." His spirit pressure sky-rocketed. He leapt at Renji to deliver the final blow.
It was all a blur. She could not see clearly when he took one step of shunpo towards Ichigo and snapped his zanpakutou in half before taking another step back to where he was standing before.
Indeed… if I cannot see clearly this man's movements, then… I still have a long way to go before I can catch up to Yoruichi-sensei. I still have a long way to go before I can avenge my family's death. It is easy to follow Kuchiki-sama's movements… but the movements are not clear… it is blurred… like a car when it whizzes by you… you can see it easily… but not very clearly… you will not be able to match it's speed.
It is the same with fighting… if you cannot follow your opponent's moves clearly… then they will surely best you… and you will be defeated. Michiko's eyes softened as she looked at Ichigo.
He… probably didn't even know what had happened… even as he looked across the street to where Kuchiki Byakuya was standing with his broken blade… he probably did not understand.
Kuchiki Byakuya lifted the metal and dropped it, letting it fall unceremoniously onto the ground. He then, slowly grasped the hilt of his own zanpakutou.
Senbonzakura… Ichigo will die…surely… Michiko remembered his zanpakutou's name from one of the books that she had read… Kuchiki Byakuya… he was one of the most powerful captains… excluding the Soutaicho.
Michiko saw the blur of his shunpo again as he drew his sword quickly to plunge it into Ichigo's chest and turned to stab him once more. She saw the shocked and uncomprehending expression on Ichigo's face as she pitched forward. Fear for her foster brother's life sudden froze her body.
No kidding… they really are gonna kill him…
What… you realized that just now…? Came Tsukihana's sarcastic reply.
Well, when I followed them… I really had no idea… I mean I knew that they would… but I never really thought about it…
What is there to think about? You really are slow some of the time… The retort stung a bit.
"How slow… even in defeat." Kuchiki Byakuya's voice rang out coldly. Suddenly, Michiko hated him… for being such a cold unfeeling person… He was despicable.
"Byakuya-nii-sama!" Rukia's eyes were filled with what was undoubtedly fear as she cried out. Her brother turned to look at her.
Michiko cast her gaze on Abarai. He looked… astonished.
Souka… the gap between the captain and the lieutenant… is this great… at least… I am more powerful than he… it is a great consolation. She smiled bitterly.
"Ichigo!" All heads turned to Rukia as she jump over the fence and ran across the road, trying to reach Ichigo.
"Ichigo!"
"Forget it!" Renji muttered as he jumped up, Zabimaru in hand and ran at Rukia, grabbing her neck and pushing her against a sign post.
"Let me go, Renji! Ichigo's-" She was cut off by Renji who growled.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Look closer!" He snarled.
"The brat's dead!" Michiko watched as Rukia's expression changed into one of shock and hopelessness.
"Don't you get it? Just touching him right now will add another 20 years to your sentence!" Renji continued on relentlessly.
"What the hell reason is there, to worsen your crimes for a dead guy!" Rukia looked down, ashamed.
"I…involved Ichigo…It's MY fault that he's dead! What's wrong with me running to him?" Rukia shouted, nearly crying.
"Even though your crimes may worsen… You cannot bear not to go to him?... To this child's side?" Kuchiki Byakuya asked.
"Nii-sama…"
"I understand Rukia. I see." Even from across the road, Michiko could clearly see his cold eyes, boring into Rukia.
"The child does closely resemble him." Michiko had no idea what he was talking about, but she could see the obvious pain that they brought Rukia. Then, Ichigo grabbed the pant leg of his hakamas.
"'He's dead.' 'He closely resembles that guy.'" Ichigo's smirk was in place even though his voice was laced with pain.
"Don't be moving the conversation ahead of me!" Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes narrowed.
"Let go." It was an order, a calm one, even though one could hear the underlying threat in his tone. Michiko hoped that her foster brother was smart enough to leave it as it is.
"I can't hear you. Look at me when you talk." Well actually, his snarky tone and his snarky self was a rather expected comeback. He really had been born stupid. It was not as if Michiko could hope that for once he would think.
"Oh? I can see that you don't much want to keep that arm." He really was a fool who didn't the limits. He was definitely pushing it.
"Filthy human!" Rukia thrown Renji off to run and kick Ichigo's hand off of her brother's hakamas.
"How dare a filthy human seize Nii-sama's leg!" She continued.
"Know your place boy!" She raised her voice. She turned back.
"Let us go, Nii-sama. Kuchiki Rukia's eyes have been opened by this human's action. Please, take me to Soul Society. I shall humbly atone for my crimes."
Rukia is trying… to save him. She …must really love Ichi-nii… Michiko thought as Ichigo protested loudly and was kicked by Renji.
"I doubt we will have to trouble ourselves with dealing the final blow. If we leave him so, he will eventually breathe his last. Let us go, Nii-sama." The noble looked at his sister over his shoulder as she walked to stand behind him. Ichigo tried to get up.
"Wait, Rukia! What kind of joke is this?! Look at me dammit!"
"DON'T MOVE!" Rukia shouted.
"You just try moving one step, just try coming after me! I… I will NOT forgive you!" Rukia turned, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Eventually you will die! So lay there, and live as long as you will!"
"Very well." Kuchiki Byakuya released the hilt of his zanpakutou.
"I shall not finish him." Michiko was suddenly thankful towards the stoic man who appeared uncaring, but would allow his sister the slightest bit of mercy…
"With my two attacks, I have completely shattered the soul's two fatal areas: The Chain Link and The Soul Sleep. That boy will probably die under one hour. Even if he lives, he won't have a shred of spirit power left within him, let alone Death god powers." The noble barely spared the dying boy one last glance.
"Renji."
"Yes, sir." Abarai got up and lifted his zanpakutou, stabbing it's released form into the air, he cried out,
"Unlock!" A shouji door began to appear and open in front of them and 3 black butterflies flew out.
They're going back… Ichigo must have luck…or good karma or something.
Abarai walked into the senkai gate, followed by Kuchiki Byakuya. Suddenly, the noble stopped to turn and look across the road at her. She froze. He looked directly at her for a few moments before turning to go into the gate. She gave a sigh of relief.
I think he saw me… but I don't think he'll tell, ne Tsukihana? The spirit muttered. Quickly taking down the barrier, Michiko grabbed Ishida and somersaulted across the road to land next to Ichigo.
"Rukia-dono." Rukia turned.
"Shirakawa-dono!" She gave a shocked look before bowing in return.
"Have no worries and return to accept your sentence with not a heavy heart. I believe that I will be able to take care of Ichigo." She knelt to examine the unconscious body of her foster brother. Rukia nodded, tears overflowing as she bowed in gratitude.
"Go now, we wouldn't want to risk Kuchiki-sama's wrath, ne?" She stood again and Rukia turned and walked into the gate, sparing the 3 people one last glance before she disappeared from their world.
Michiko looked down at her foster brother's body, examining the two sword wounds and flinching.
Mou… what to do… can't take them to the clinic… oh well… guess they'll go to Urahara's for the time being. Easily shouldering the two teenage boys, she leapt across the street again, shunpo-ing to the Urahara Shoten.
* * *
"I'm really fine! Take care of Kurosaki. If anyone can save Kuchiki-san, it's him" Ishida said to Urahara while preparing to leave, trying to escape his lady's death glare which promised death once he was healed.
They sat in one of the rooms in the Urahara Shoten. Urahara calmly sipped tea while Yoruichi wrapped Ichigo's wounds after Tessai had fixed them. Michiko sat Indian style in the corner of the room
"Kuchiki Byakuya-sama." she suddenly spoke. All heads turned to her.
"He is not Rukia's blood brother." Yoruichi gave her a cat like grin.
"So you've met him, Michi-chan. He is very handsome, ne? Did he spark your interest?" Michiko's expression didn't even change one bit.
"Why should I be interested in him of all people?" She retorted without even blushing.
"Awwwwww! You're no fun, Michi-chan." Yoruichi teased as she turned back to Ichigo.
"He would not even blink although his lieutenant was about to kill his sister only inches away from him, yet he would spare Ichigo just to keep her from the pain of seeing him die. He is heartless and yet can show mercy." No one replied to this and there was silence until Yoruichi confirmed that Ichigo was stable and Michiko left for the clinic once more.
"You won't stay until he wakes?" Urahara asked. She glared at him, annoyed at the fact that he had been smirking behind his fan the whole night.
"When Ichigo wakes, he will decided to go to the Soul Society. If I let him see me in my shinigami form, he will not let me go no matter what. But if I come here at the last moment, then he can have no say, ne?"
Her face broke out into a childish smile and her eyes closed into slits as she laughed.
Urahara blanched and jumped back. She was even scarier when she smiled.
* * *
Michiko lay in bed, unable to sleep. It had really been a long night. Dawn was already breaking. Michiko glanced at her clock.
It was 5 am. She still had one last day of school in 3 hours.
I suppose I'll take a break from training today and sleep it all off. Two and a half hours till I need to get up…
Thinking about something? ... Perhaps about somebody? Tsukihana teased.
I have no idea what you are talking about. Michiko retorted.
Then I shall give you a hint then… Kuchiki Byakuya-sama, ne? He is very handsome, ne? Michiko rolled her eyes.
I will admit that he is rather good looking, but someone of his character would never attract my attentions. She stated. Tsukihana whined.
You really are no fun at all! Can't you at least give me a blush? Michiko rolled her eyes and shut her out, turning over to the side, she smile softly before closing her deep blue eyes.
He really is handsome though… very handsome… She drifted off to sleep, ignoring Tsukihana's giggles.
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Author's note: oh yeah... I forgot to apologise for not updating for so long... see I needed the lines for the little thing btween Renji, Ichigo and Byakuya... so I was watching ep 16 for them... but I got caught up and just continued rewatching and forgot to do the writing O_o... ^ ^... on the other hand... Michiko thought he was handsome!!!!!! Actually that's what I first thought when I saw him too... I was like gosh I hate him he's so cold... but then again he's hot... ^ ^.... I'll try to update soon... once more before my exams start in Jan. maybe = =... gosh I hate them...
PS. Does anyone download the bleach eps. or do they watch on youtube or veoh or wteva? Could you guys let me know like maybe in a review or something ^ ^ ... ahem ahem... review... ^ ^... or your can pm me... but review seems much faster right ^ ^ (gosh I needta stop using the slit-eyed smile thingy)