Hmm...?

I hear a voice... so faint... And like the sound of the gusts of wind, it echoed... in my head...

I hear a call... the voice said, "Don't go." I hear cries, and then the clash of metals against metals repeatedly, the neigh and stomps of horses... I hear screams and battle cries. And then the voice again, "Please wake up..."

"My sister..."

I opened my eyes. Everything I heard had faded, instead, a bright white light blinded my eyes. It was rejuvenating, peaceful and warm. I remembered then what happened... did I die?

"Am I in Heaven?" I asked myself.

"Idiot..."

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

The Lifeblood Doctrine

Chapter Seven:

Reunion

You're never gonna be alone
From this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go
I won't let you fall
When all hope is gone
I know that you can carry on
We're gonna take the world along
I'll hold you until the hurt is gone

~ Never Gonna Be Alone by Nickelback

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Rukia's eyes widened at the sudden respondent. She then realized that the bright light was the sun that had already set high at noon, and that she was nowhere in Heaven. Birds chirped and flew passed her line of vision, as well as the light blue cloudy sky and the calming breeze that greeted her a good morning. But whose morning would be good after seeing her ghostly self. Anyone who would just pass her would mistake her as a zombie with all that blood painted on her upper body. She weakly sat up, feeling a bit light headed and aching on both sides of her neck. Damn, he bit her twice!

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not in Heaven."

Rukia turned to her right. The bonfire had been extinguished and Ichigo was sitting on the other side, looking straight at the sea. "If you're here, then that must only mean I'm in Hell."

He only chuckled.

Rukia touched her neck and the fresh wounds stung. "You didn't have to bite me twice…"

"I'm sorry. I felt like it."

Her anger arose. He felt like it? She picked a very tiny rock and threw it at his head. "Just because of that?"

The rock bounced back on the ground like it hit a sturdy wall. "I've told you before, that I might risk losing control and kill you one day. But I didn't kill you, did I? So what are you mad about?"

She sighed. She did remember him giving her all this talk about that. Well… she asked for it anyway… No use getting mad. She stood up, barely standing straight but coping with the little strength she regained.

"Don't move. You haven't fully recovered yet," said Ichigo who also stood to assist her when she looked like she was falling.

"I'm fine. Besides… I need to clean up 'cause you're messy!"

"I'm messy?"

"Any person who sees me would think I'm a walking corpse! You didn't even bother to clean up all the blood!"

C-clean up… like lick it all up? He was slightly embarrassed at the thought, but that was not what Rukia had in mind. "Alright! Next time I'll do that."

"Great. Thanks! Could you…" He assisted her to the water and she sat behind a boulder large enough to cover her from the other side. "could you leave and don't peek?"

"As if I'd –"

Rukia rolled her eyes - the as ifs again. "Just go."

"Going," and he left.

She took off her clothing and washed the blood away though it was harder without using detergent. When she successfully finished, she started washing her own body. The sea salt stung her wound but it was fine anyway. They'd better head off to a town soon and replenish their resources and stamina. But now she remembered that her bag - with all the money, credit card, phones, etc - was lost in that damn plane! She will be indebted to Ichigo again.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Meanwhile at Karakura…

News Flash:

Two passengers aboard Karakura Airways flight KT9821 was confirmed to be Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki. The manager, Han Johan, is now in question as to how or why these two were given privilege to ride the aircraft now that outgoing flights have been temporarily banned in the town. Both did not even have their passports when they aboard the ship.

The ship KT9821 however, was found to have been hijacked by a terrorist who implanted bombs and exploded midair, exactly northeast about 50 miles from the border of Korea.

This incident however, have stirred panic in the hearts of the Kuchiki Corporation. Search parties are now sent forth to investigate.

Meanwhile, there have been an increase in number of dead bodies salvaged by an unknown beast during the night. Officials are now in a meeting to address these issues as fast as possible. It is best to stay at home when darkness falls.

With one click, the television had been turned off. The dead silence had ruled for a few minutes in the underground conference room before the Alliance had finally spoken with Renji's first outburst.

"Ichigo, that bastard…"

"As of now, we have not confirmed whether they are dead or alive. But we have to keep in mind that she is with Kurosaki," said Ukitake.

"Exactly! Maybe he forced her to elope or something! Maybe –"

"It is not best to assume at a time like this," said Unohana. "The boy have sided with us before, but we are unsure of his intentions now after his awakening."

Mayuri sneered. "Before? Before is a century ago. Before is when he had not been betrayed by the Alliance. I say, he is now on the road of revenge against us."

"If he is so, then he would have sided with his brother," interrupted Shunsui. "But according to Renji, Hisagi and Kira, they were on a death match at the back of the school."

"Renji," Ukitake called. "Do you know what Kurosaki's relationship with Kuchiki?"

"Hell no, they don't have any relationship!"

"I heard he is a student of your class, Ukitake," said Unohana.

"Really?" Ukitake frowned and thought deeply.

Shunsui just laughed. "You haven't been into any one of your classes, have you?"

"So…" Mayuri coughed. "We can do nothing about Kuchiki and Kurosaki since they are still missing. But right now, we have to address this issue the Shirosaki boy has caused."

Nemu approached the table and read out loud a report from a folder, "Last night, four bodies have been found dead on different streets. Three men, one woman. They were not fully drained though, but they were murdered in different ways. Snap of neck, holes in stomach or just simply the bite had cut their arteries on the neck. They all seemed to be in unbearable pain before they died. He attacks randomly though, wherever he finds a victim."

Shunsui took a sip from the tea cup and said, "Looks like he's getting desperate."

"Desperate?" asked Hisagi.

"He is trying to turn them. That would be our best guess, but they all end up dying."

"We better make a move now or this town will end up either with vampires or corpses."

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

It was already afternoon when they came at a small town, after kilometers of walking from the shore. Shirtless Ichigo carried Rukia whose clothes were somewhat torn on some part. They actually looked like street beggars now or some casualty of an unknown war. There was a bridge connecting the small isolated island to a town. After all, that island was still part of Korea. Ichigo had carried her on his back since she was still weak, thanks to him, but he didn't actually mind. He had a vast amount of energy to waste after all.

Upon reaching a small Inn, Rukia had quickly inquired about the location which her brother's plane had crashed. And of course, it was country-wide news so the locals were able to pinpoint the location in an instant. It was near and hadn't even gone out of Korea's jurisdiction yet when the explosion happened. It was on the mountain just next to the town. Ichigo had quickly followed the path to the location 'cause it would be impossible to search at night.

Following the road of trails of cars and shoe prints, they eventually came to the site though the surrounding was already barricaded with a Do Not Cross police tape and there were a lot of Korean Police in the area, inspecting and investigating every inch of the scrap. The surrounding area was in ashes; the trees that were ten feet near the plane have either been burned or deformed. And still there was the acrid smell of corpses as they decayed, and the greasy smell of gas and matters turned into charcoals. The heat was still emanating from the scene.

"You are not allowed to cross, please step aside," said the police guarding the entrance.

"Let us pass," commanded Ichigo and the guard had stepped aside.

Not long after, a female agent whose face was covered by a face mask had approached them. "I'm sorry but who gave you permission to enter?"

"I did," answered Ichigo which made the agent's eyebrow rise.

Rukia had immediately covered his mouth from behind and spoke to her, "I just want to know what happened to my brother… Have you found any survivors?"

"Unfortunately, we have found dead bodies only. No survivors. What would be the name of your brother?" the agent took a notebook which listed the victim's names.

"Kuchiki Byakuya…"

The agent momentarily halted before looking back at Rukia in shock. "Oh my God, you're his sister. You've come a long way…"

"Yes… please tell me good news…" she smiled bitter sweetly, hoping only for the best.

"I'm sorry. As of now, there are thirty seven unconfirmed dead bodies and forty nine which are missing. The odds are slim that we will still be able to find those missing bodies, but we will try our best." After all, with the explosion, the only reason those bodies could be missing was that they were fried to nothingness. "If you wish to look around, feel free but the unconfirmed bodies are really hardly recognizable."

Rukia gulped in sadness. No survivors… my brother… "I-I'll take my chances…"

The agent nodded and then noticed how they both were improperly dressed. "You two don't look so good. What have you been up to?"

"Been so God damn way up there you -" said Ichigo who was again silenced by Rukia's hand.

"We've just um… hiked all the way here…"

"We have a camp site nearby if you'd both like to stay."

"That would be very helpful. Thank you."

The agent had went back to whatever she was assigned to do, while they were free to look around and scan the collection of bodies for any sign of Byakuya. Ichigo was still carrying Rukia on the back, and not knowing where to go, he said, "So…"

"H mm?"

"How long do you plan on staying at my back?"

"Oh, right." Rukia jumped down. "Thanks for the ride."

"It's not free though." He smirked.

Rukia pouted knowing what he meant by that.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

A few minutes later, they have scanned each and every recovered body. However, as the former agent have said, they were barely recognizable. They were so toasted that they all looked the same, black burnt skin, no hair and some also have missing body parts. Each and every body bag they open, weakens Rukia's hope of ever finding her brother. They have worn face masks now to bear the smell.

"No..." she said as an agent opened the body bag for her. The agent zipped it quickly, moving on to the next body bag. Although they were barely recognizable, she wanted to see the bodies for herself. Somehow she thought that maybe she'd get that leap of blood, that instinct to know which was her brother. She didn't want to feel that on each bag ('cause she really didn't want to believe he was dead), and yes, she did not feel it until the last one.

He's not any one of them... I should feel it. I should know! He's my brother... She clutched on her clothes tightly. But... if he wasn't any one of the bodies, then... it must only mean he was one of the missing... one of those who burnt to ash... And that was worse than finding a body to mourn.

After checking, the agent had led them to the campsite to rest. Rukia was silent all the time, and Ichigo did not know what to do nor say. Before they rested in a tent though, as a last help for Rukia, the agent led them to one of the storage rooms. They have kept evidences and any items they could find at the aircraft. There they found various things - burnt, half burnt or miraculously did not burn things. There were not much items recovered: wallets, bags, some torn clothing part, some id, toys... and... she found the cellphone strap she gave Byakuya when she was still a kid. If hers was a rabbit, her brother's had that green thing, the seaweed ambassador. The strap was slightly burnt but it was enough confirmation that her brother was indeed in the plane. She kept the strap and left with Ichigo to rest at the tent the agent kindly lent them.

The tent was just ordinary, the small one, that could house two people. Rukia quickly went inside and laid on the floor sideways, still holding the strap tightly in her right hand. What did she expect to find anyway...? She closed her eyes, trying her best not to cry.

Ichigo had went in the tent with her. She was still silent and didn't want to talk, however, he just couldn't leave her alone like this. He sat next to her, knees bended upwards and arms crossed on them. He wasn't good at this, but he talked anyway. "'You okay?"

"No..." her voice quivered.

"I'm sorry."

"Not your fault."

"Do you want to talk?"

She stayed silent for a moment. She opened her eyes, opened her right hand, raised the item and stared at the dangling seaweed ambassador. Her eyes were watery and sad. "I... gave this to him... at his birthday... I didn't even know he used it..." She sat up so that they were sitting side by side. "He had always been distant to me. But deep down I knew he cared...

"I remember... when I was still a kid and someone bullied me at school, he secretly ordered his men to beat him up." She smiled at the memory and continued, "The next day, the bullies couldn't even get ten feet near me. And I wondered about that until Takamura-san told me what my brother had done."

"He sounds awesome."

"Yes, he is," she said. She then looked at Ichigo and asked, "Do you know why I came back?"

"Why?" he looked back at her, and it was her who looked straight into the opening of the tent.

"Him," she answered, her gaze lowered to the ground. "Because I missed him... I missed him... so much..." Tears ran down from her eyes as the aching in her heart strengthened. She bowed her head on her bended knees to hide the tears away. "I've been far away far too long... I never want to leave his side again..."

Ichigo held her shoulders for support. He really wasn't good at this. He didn't know what to say, how to say it, and what would make things better. But he knew he just had to listen. He knew she needed someone right now and he won't leave her side.

"It's been years since I've last seen him, I have no idea what he looked like." Rukia raised her head a bit, her eyes swelled and tears still continued to flow from them slowly. "I just wanted to see him again... even for the last time... why couldn't I even see his face... why couldn't I even hear his voice... why couldn't I even embrace him... why... why did he have to disappear... why did he have to die like this..." She couldn't hold her tears anymore that she bowed her head again and held her bended knees closer. "Why did he have to leave me...?"

Ichigo patted her shoulders again. He had to say something. "I know this is a little overrated, but... he will always live on in your heart."

"I know."

"What does he look like?"

"He is the most handsome brother ever," she answered. Ichigo just smiled. "I wonder if he've become more handsome or gotten a facelift."

Ichigo scratched his head. "What's a face lift?"

Rukia laughed. "Seriously? Oh, right. You're from stone age. Well... you just look up at the ceiling and lift your face. Do it."

"You're kidding me."

"Yeah I am," she laughed. Ichigo was glad she somehow cheered up.

"Your brother is lucky, to have a sibling like you," Ichigo started to open up. "My brother would have rejoiced if I died."

Rukia was startled that he mentioned his brother. Often times he would avoid talking about him. "Why are you two fighting? But... if you don't feel like talking about it, it's okay..."

"No. I want to talk," he said. "We are on opposite sides. He was the Lord of all vampires while I was one of the hunters."

"Did you ever think about siding with him and your kin?"

"No. There can only be one Lord. It was either him or me."

"Why wasn't it you?"

"Because of some stupid prophecy," he answered and recalled a painful memory his human family have told him. "I was supposed to be killed off by my own family. The prophecy said that on a black moon, there will be born a twin. One of which will become a ruler and the other one, a savior. The savior part was vague, because he could have been a savior of his own race, or the savior of mankind. They cannot take the risk of having a savior for mankind because they were at war for years already. So they've decided to dispose of me, because I was more humane than Hichigo."

"Wow..." Rukia was rather speechless. That was a really heart wrenching story. To have your own family kill you. It was sad. She immediately felt sad for him.

Ichigo had looked down on the ground, and it was Rukia who was listening intently. "And everything just fell into place..." he continued. "I was saved and adopted by the Kurosaki family. They've taught me everything I know now and I'm very thankful for that. I've decided then that they were my family. They've given me something more than what my real family would have given me. A warm heart..."

Rukia never thought she'd hear this much and the more he spoke, the more she understood him.

"Hichigo lost his. He... even... killed and consumed our mother..."

Rukia gasped. How could a son kill his own mother? "Oh my God..."

Ichigo clenched his own fist in suppressed anger. "That's why I've decided to confront him. To stop the endless war, I was asked to steal the throne from him. It was a death match between us. Until the unthinkable happened... we were both imprisoned in stone by magic. I... felt betrayed."

"Ichigo..."

"But it doesn't matter anymore... Because as long as I have this..." Ichigo took her hand and placed it on his naked chest. Her fingers sprawled as she felt the beating of his heart. She looked up to see him looking at her and said this with a smile, "I'll always be on your side."

She smiled. He opened up to her and trusted her. She was happy to see this sincere and honest side of him. Now she had no doubt of him. And she was thankful that he was here, he listened and made her feel alright. "I'm sorry, about your family and all..."

"That's life. Shit happens. We just have to keep moving on no matter what."

"You're right."

A navy pants suddenly emerged in front of the opening of the tent. The man kneeled down to see them and waved. "Kuchiki? Please come with me, you have a phone call."

"I... better go." Rukia looked at her hand which was still in Ichigo's grasp and on his chest. She pulled it away as soon as Ichigo let go of it.

"Right," he said.

Rukia followed the police officer to the clinic.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Inside a large tent were a few people who were wounded trying to get and find bodies out of the rubble. There was an office just to the right and about five nurses who extracted blood samples on the burnt bodies just so they could identify who the person was. On the desk was a wired telephone and a doctor who was busy taking notes on his patients.

She picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Rukia? Oh God!" It was Renji. "What on earth are you doing there?"

He sounded hysterical and mad but relieved also, to know that she was alive and well. "I..." she paused, she had enough talking. "I've decided Renji... I'm done here. I'm ready to fulfill my brother's wishes."

Renji sighed. "You really got us worried."

"I know..."

"I've already talked to the one in charge there, they should be sending you here in a helicopter soon."

"Okay."

"Are you okay?"

Rukia was silent. She was not okay. She was miserable. But she have to stay strong and move on... "I have a favor, Renji."

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Ichigo chilled inside the tent. He can't believe he just told her his life. He had no one to share it with, until now. It actually felt good to let it out and talk about it. He felt better, though those scars were forever carved in him. He really won't forgive Hichigo for what he had done. Consuming their mother made him that much stronger. She was a direct descendant, unlike their father.

"... Kuchiki..." He heard from a far. It was faint as a whisper, but he listened to the voices.

"Oh yeah? Really?"

"Yeah dude. The Kuchiki heiress is here. They are sending her back to Karakura now."

"So what was she doing here?"

"Looking for her brother of course."

"Are you bros thinking what I'm thinking?" asked the third guy.

"No bro. What are you thinking?"

"Money!"

"What the hell bro?"

"It's still a few minutes until the helicopter arrives here. We still have time to kidnap her."

"In fifteen minutes, can you come up with a plan to kidnap her in fifteen fucking minutes?"

"That's so heartless bro, she just lost her brother," said the more sympathetic guy.

By then, the tent where Ichigo and Rukia rested was already empty. Ichigo was already just a few feet near the talking guys. They were resting and eating snacks. They wore police officer clothes. Police officers their ass. To think they were planning to do criminal acts. They had better be in jail.

He came in front of them, which stopped their conversation.

"Hey dude, wha -" Ichigo instantly recognized the voice. He was the man who introduced the idea of kidnapping Rukia. He quickly grabbed his jaws with his right hand and threw him at the tree. He hit it with a thud, and leaves started to fall on the ground.

The other two police "officers" attacked him. But he kicked one at the abdomen making him crouch on the ground and punched the other one on the face knocking him unconscious.

"Don't even dare..." he said threateningly. He was about to leave when he looked at the one crouching on the ground. "Hey you!"

"The hell?"

"Give me your shirt." Of course police uniforms got undershirt.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Rukia dropped the phone after finishing her talk with Renji. When she gets back to their tent, the helicopter should be there. She was about to leave when the doctor called her back.

"Hey miss!"

"Yes?" she inquired.

"Your wounds look deep. Can you let me take a look?"

"I have no -" she then realized that he was referring to her bite marks. "Oh this..." she covered the other neck. "It's just an insect bite... nothing deep or serious..."

The doctor looked skeptical. "It looked so deep to me."

"Can I just get a band aid?" She have totally forgotten to cover the wound up.

"Alright," the doctor had given her band aids, which she immediately placed on her wounds.

"Thanks," she said and turned to leave.

"Oh and Kuchiki-san right?"

She turned to him again and nodded. He stood and whispered, "Don't let the insects bite you too much."

It was quite cryptic for her. But he probably just really referred to insect bites. After all, there was no way he would refer to vampires right?

"Thanks for the advice," she answered and turned to leave.

The phone rang again and the doctor answered, "This is doctor Urahara Kisuke, how may I help you?"

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

The woods were getting darker and darker as the day turns to night. When she arrived at the tent, Ichigo was already leaning on a tree wearing a white shirt who knows where he got. The helicopter was already stationed near them, the pilots and the agent had approached her and wished her a safe trip back home.

She came to Ichigo. "Let's go home, Ichigo," she said tiredly.

"Yeah. Let's go."

They boarded the helicopter. What Rukia brought back was only a tiny fragment of memory and a promise of a new start. She was now ready to go on.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

The helicopter landed on one of the airport's helipad. Renji, Ukitake and Kyouraku was there to see them. Both Ukitake and Shunsui was staring at Ichigo in disbelief. It was the first time they've seen him in person.

"So you are Kurosaki..." said Shunsui. He offered his hand for a handshake and he accepted. "We have a lot to talk about."

Ukitake also shook his other hand and smiled. "Thanks for taking care of our Kuchiki."

They sounded like her godfathers.

"She was a total pain in the -" Rukia stomped on his foot. "... foot! Damn."

Renji only gave Ichigo a glare and talked to Rukia. "It's done. Go!"

"Thanks Renji."

Rukia held Ichigo's wrist and took him away. "Let's go..."

"See you both at school!" yelled Ukitake.

"He doesn't seem bad..." commented Shunsui.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

They came in the airport's lobby. The airport was already closed but there were still a few people there, about three only. Two children and a man who was smoking inside although it was illegal. There were no receptionists, janitors, flight attendants and even guards.

"Rukia..." he muttered while looking at the back of the man smoking his cigarette. He knew this man, his back, his stance, his black hair that somehow spiked upwards. The way he held the cigarette.

"Your family... Ichigo..." she smiled and said. Her grasp loosened and Ichigo stepped closer to the three.

The blond girl had approached Ichigo and asked, "Are you our new brother?"

He smiled, it was genuine and happy. She have never seen him smile like that and it made her smile as well.

"I'm Yuzu... and this is Karin-chan!" she said, hugging him with joy. "We finally have a big brother, Karin-chan!" Ichigo remembered his previous sister in Yuzu, only his sister was older as he remembered. She was fragile unlike the other sister but she had the kindest of heart.

"What's your name?" asked Karin. She have always been the one who was tough. And he'd remember the older sister as a warrior. Black long hair tied in a pony tail, wielding swords and kicking ass. That was her.

"Ichigo..." he said.

"Ichi-nii..." said Karin just to let him know she acknowledges him in their family.

The man whose back was turned, turned to face him. "We've come to take you back home, son." He was not his previous foster father, but of course they still looked alike. He finally returned... the missing part of our family... He's finally come back to us... He said over his dead ancestors. Their ancestors have always regretted what happened to him. That was why they separated from the Alliance. This time though... this time was the time to correct the past. This family won't leave him again. "Call me dad..."

Ichigo was happy, so damn happy if you ask him. He was quite speechless but Isshin had embraced him, and so they had that family group hug.

Rukia had left the airport by then. A black limousine was waiting for her at the entrance. The driver opened the door. "Kuchiki-sama, shall we go?"

"Yes. Let's go."

Ichigo watched her enter the limousine. He gratefully smiled.

Thanks, Rukia.

Rukia looked back at Ichigo and his family. She smiled, recalling everything and all the pain he'd experienced for her. She thought her blood was not enough payment.

Thank you, Ichigo.

The limousine drove away as has the night and the pain and loneliness that lingered on in their hearts.

.


A/N: So sorry for the late update as usual. It's kinda hard to write but rest assured I haven't abandon my writing career here in fanfiction (whatever! lol) Been busy with personal stuff, lazy ass and annoying work stuff lately.

Anyway, yay for Ichiruki developmental chapters! Next goes the bloody thing. XD

For those who reviewed previous chap, many thanks! ;)

'Til next chap, ciao~