A Saviour's Shame
Inoue stepped into a pale grey room similar to her former prison, except without a window or furniture and slightly smaller. Just a boxed shape lit by a couple of pale white rectangular lamps embedded into the walls to the left and right.
Sado lay spread out on a futon on the right, shirtless and with a very hastily applied wrap around bandage that concertinaed crazily over where she assumed his wound was.
Rukia lay at the back in the center, propped up against the wall with eyes open and watching silently. She quickly glanced away from Rukia to where Harribel was setting down Ichigo and Nel to her the left.
Turning Harribel locked eyes with her and she stood to attention.
"I have a few things to sort out, so in the meantime finish healing them. However take no longer than is necessary and ensure they are secured here. When you're done go left and head up the first staircase you come to until you reach the top. We may need to move swiftly depending on the circumstances so hurry."
She nodded, aware Ishida's pressure had dropped a little towards normal but knowing things could go wrong at any moment. She'd already seen that.
The images of them dying aren't ones I'll easily forget.
She turned and watched Harribel stride out of the room and head left. Then realised that Rukia was awake and would want answers. Answers she wasn't sure she could give. Stiffness tightened her chest and back and she forced herself to head over to Sado to heal him; not wanting to make eye contact with Rukia.
There I'm facing Sado and away from Kuchki-san. She knelt. "Soten Kisshun". The light spread out quickly as usual and like usual it felt like a simple function now. She hadn't spoken with the personalities behind her technique since she'd hurt Tsubaki one too many times. And she'd been so focused on getting stronger at all costs she'd more or less tuned them out. Maybe a mistake? But for now lets heal Sado.
Sado had lost a lot of blood but his condition was not critical although his breathing was shallow. Quickly her healing spread into him and she felt him coming back to life.
"Inoue..." Rukia's tone was low, concerned and questioning.
She flinched, although she'd been expecting it.
"Yes?" She managed with her back to Rukia.
"What's going on?"
"Ah. Ahaha, well I'm healing Sado currently." It wasn't really an answer, she knew she was stalling.
"I mean...why are you with an Espada? Why is she letting you heal us? Why are we bound here? It doesn't make sense..."
She felt Sado's wound finish closing up. She knew Rukia and Ichigo both could use a final boost as well. She moved the golden glow from Sado and directed it across to Rukia, turning to her before answering as she moved over to the glow enveloping the black haired Soul Reaper; unable to look Rukia in the eyes.
"I'm healing you because you're injured. I was allowed to do so because I struck a deal with Harribel, the Espada." At the end she managed to look at Rukia's face and saw what she expected, wide eyes holding a stirring of comprehension and sadness.
"This deal..." They were interrupted by Nel, who had been staring intently at Ichigo, shouting suddenly in a peal of delight,
"Ichigo's awake!"
They both glanced across to see Ichigo levering himself up and struggling against the cuffs binding his arms in front of him; Rukia and Sado's arms pinned behind their backs.
"Yeah, I'm awake Nel," Ichigo said as he glanced anxiously about the room and asked.
"Rukia, Inoue, Sado, are you all right?"
Rukia and herself nodded. Ichigo glanced at Sado, sensed his spiritual pressure was okay and relaxed. Then tensed.
"What about Ishida? And Renji?"
"Still alive," she stated, briefly happy to see Ichigo's mind set at ease. She transferred her healing barrier across from Rukia to Ichigo and moved over to where he was sitting up, kneeling by her barrier to complete the healing.
"Ah thanks..." Ichigo said, but out of the corner of her eye she could see his mind was quickly catching up to the current situation.
"Say who was it that blocked Grimmjow? Why are we cuffed?" His eyes narrowed as he realised that she clearly wasn't a prisoner and yet they all were.
"It was Tres Espada Harribel. You're cuffed because you're her prisoners." That part at least was straightforward.
"But then why...?" It was really the same question that Rukia had been formulating. She remained staring at the floor as she finished the healing, hating the undercurrent of distrust in his tone, the more so that it was in some way vindicated.
"Because I'm hers!"
She could almost feel the shock waves that produced.
"Why?" Ichigo managed.
She had to explain if only a bit. What else could I have done?
"I had to! You were...it was..." But if I say I did it because he was too weak to save me he'll only blame himself more...
I'm truly grateful they all came after all and the choice to serve Harribel was mine alone. Let them think what they want now, it's too late for me.
The healing was only a top up on what she had done earlier and she closed it off, rising and walking away from the three of them quickly.
"Inoue.." now Ichigo's tone was confused and hurt, as though he couldn't quite grasp the situation. It was mixed with a similar plea from Rukia although hers was more compassionate but as tears ran freely down her cheeks she felt she needed to get away and clear her head for now. She slipped through the door, hearing Ichigo struggling to his feet to try and come after her.
"Inoue!" Now his tone was louder and more pleading, but she had orders to be quick and secure them. She pushed the door firmly shut behind her. The door locked.
I'm running but what can I say? I really can't face them properly right now. I'm a mess.
"Inoue!"
He threw himself sideways at the door but it was already closed.
"Damn!" He slumped to the floor but tried shouting again,
"Inoue! Inoue!"
He couldn't even hear her steps and he let out a deep sigh.
"Don't tell me she's joined them. I don't believe it! They're forcing her!" He muttered angrily.
Rukia's face was more thoughtful and somber.
"It's that Tres Espada! All I need to do is beat her and then she'll be free. I'll..."
It struck him suddenly that he had lost his Shinigami powers and he battered his fist against the floor,
"Damn!"
Sado stirred and slowly sat up, looking around.
"Ah Ichigo, Kuchiki-san, you're okay."
Rukia nodded and Ichigo looked across at him and feigned a smile.
"Yeah, glad to see you are too."
Sado nodded and looked about,
"So what's up? I was taken out in a single blow and now I'm healed and cuffed?"
"Inoue and some Espada healed us and are keeping us captive. We have to find someway to free her and get out of here. Ishida and Renji are still okay so we can win!"
Sado nodded and focused on testing the cuffs strength.
As usual Ichigo's words and passion stirred a belief that anything was possible. But Rukia remained concerned. It might just be the cuffs but something was off with Ichigo's spiritual pressure. And she was deeply concerned about Inoue. She probably understood her the best and she knew she was hiding something. Something so terrible she was scared to face them.
What have you done Inoue? Or what have they done to you, my friend? She didn't have too many people she'd consider close friends. Inoue was one of the best who had saved her life in the past and had again just now.
I don't want to lose someone so important again, but I sense the worst is yet to come. How can we help when we were so outclassed? Maybe this plan was just too reckless...No even so I must focus on how we can save her now however hopeless it seems. That's what she has always done for me.
