~Plan of Desperation~
Urahara stepped through his senkai-mon. Tessai bowed, respectfully waiting for his master. "Did you acquire the medicine from Squad 4?" He held out the ex captain's green and white hat.
With a smile, Urahara replaced the hat on his head. "Yes I did. It wasn't really necessary but I know Miss Kuchiki will throw a fit if I told her the side effects of the antidote were extreme nausea and fever without getting Ichigo something to help that as well. The last time she kicked me, she aimed a little too low if you catch my meaning." Tessai nodded, respectfully following his boss silently. "Did anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
Both men now walked through the training grounds under Urahara's shop, stopping at the ladder. "There were several spikes of reistsu near a park some ways away sir." Tessai rubbed the back of his neck. "I would have gone to investigate, but several minor hollow appeared near the shop." Urahara nodded, flashstepping up the stairs with Tessai right behind him. "Let's go check it out then."
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"There appears to have been a battle here sir." Tessai pointed to several places where the dirt was turned over, particles of ice still clinging to the grass. "Doesn't Miss Kuchiki have an ice zanpakto?" He looked over at Kisuke. "What do you think, boss?"
"I have a very bad feeling about this. The residual reistsu is very strong. Definitely arrancar. Possibly espada. Miss Kuchiki's reistsu is mingled with it as well. " He stopped suddenly, gazing intently at the ground in front of him. A sideways glance confirmed his suspicion. "Alright Chappy…you can come out now. I've found the boy." He extending his right arm and released the kido in front of him. A shaking Ichigo lay curled up on the grass, his face smudged with dirt and tear stains as he looked up fearfully. Chappy walked slowly out of the trees. "Urahara-san." She bowed. "Rukia-sama wished me to relay the events that occurred here and to see to his safety." She indicated Ichigo who was standing upright. "I was afraid to approach him in case the espada came back and sensed me near him."
Urahara raised a hand. "It's alright. I need to know exactly what hap-"
"You stay away!" Ichigo shouted, shoving Urahara hard. "I bet you're with those monsters that took Rukia. Bring her back! Bring her back right now!" Tears slipped down his small cheek once more, mixing with the dirt on his face. "Please…please give her back…you can have me. Just don't hurt her. " He hiccupped, sobbing softly as he knelt on the ground. Chappy reached down and hugged him, gently cradling the boy in her arms. She smells just like Rukia. He thought, gripping her shirt and crying softly against her chest. "They hurt her Miss Chappy. She was bleeding. I didn't protect her." He sobbed harder as the girl shushed him gently.
"Urahara-san. May we continue inside? My first priority is the boy. Rukia-sama was very clear about that." She held him a bit tighter, knowing he had seen every bit of her mistress' pain. It must have hurt him as much as it hurt Chappy to watch. But orders were orders and she was not permitted to disobey.
The sandy haired soul reaper sighed, nodding his head. "Of course. Right this way."
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After the 9th attempt to put Ichigo to bed, Chappy gave up. She sat cross-legged in front of Urahara with Ichigo on her lap. He was curled up, his hand still gripping her shirt and his eyes closed. Moving back and forth slightly in a soothing rocking motion, the replacement soul looked back up at the shopkeeper. "That's everything that happened. " She finished.
"I see…" His fan waved back and forth slowly, a slight frown painted across his features.
"If we turn him back now, you-know-who will be at full strength again. He can defeat those espada and we can get Rukia-sama back." She didn't want to say his name. She knew Ichigo was listening and might try to go after Rukia on his own if he thought there was a chance he could save her. For now, he was trusting her and Urahara to do that job. The last thing Chappy needed was to chase after a stubborn child.
The shopkeeper sighed. "Therein lies our problem. You see, in order to complete the antidote, I need some of Rukia's reistsu. She was the one who awakened his soul reaper powers…I need to replicate that process so to speak. I didn't explain it to her earlier but I didn't anticipate this attack either. "
Chappy's frown deepened as she continued to rock Ichigo slowly as he sighed against her chest. "Can you use mine?"
"I'm afraid not. It won't work unless its hers."
" So we can't turn him back to normal without Rukia-sama and we can't rescue Rukia-sama without him being back to normal." Could this possibly be any worse for her mistress?
"Yes, that seems to be our dilemma." He snapped the fan shut. "Unless…we bring the antidote and little one here to her. If we can manage to sneak in, I can take some of her reistsu, mix it in and give the boy the antidote. Normal Ichi can come out and we can escape or we can fight. I have a feeling when he finds out what happened, our boy will be pretty ticked off."
"Do we have a chance?" Chappy asked, tightening her hold on the boy. "Rukia-sama's orders were very clear. He must be kept safe at all costs."
"He'll be safer when he has his powers restored and can fight back." Urahara pointed out. "Besides, if Ichigo finds out we let his precious Rukia die at their hands, it's us he'll murder. " He opened the fan, covering most of his face except for his eyes. "Do you really want to take that chance?"
With a sigh, Chappy shook her head. "No…that's our only option then. How soon will we leave?"
"Just give me an hour to gather supplies. " He stood up, about to turn away when something caught his clothing.
"Please….please mister…save my princess? Save Rukia?" Amber eyes shone with desperation as Ichigo looked up into Urahara's eyes.
"Of course…I will do everything in my power to save her." He reached out and gently tapped the orange-haired boy's head. "You just go back to sleep now, okay?"
Chappy kissed his forehead, laying down on the makeshift bed and holding Ichigo as he slept."Mm…Rukia…I'll save you. Just wait." He murmured softly, his brow furrowed. Chappy let out a soft sigh. Please Rukia-sama. Stay alive. He needs you.
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Drip. Drip. Drip. Rukia finally started to wake up. Her eyes were heavy as feeling returned to the rest of her body. Drip. Drip. Drip. Pain. The first thing Rukia felt was pain. A soft groan escaped her lips as pain pulsed through her body with each breath. Her arms…they were pulled above her and bound. Her left arm seemed to be at a weird angle. She tried to move it and instantly gasped in pain. Violet eyes opened slowly, blinking as she tried to clear her blurred vision. Drip. Drip. Drip. Rukia could hardly see anything. It was dark. A deep darkness that made her question her own sanity. That sound…is so annoying…where's that water coming from?/i There were restraints around her shoulders and waist, keeping her in an almost upright position, slightly leaned forward toward the ground. She looked down, barely able to make out the floor beneath her. Drip. Drip There was a pool of blood near her. Something was dripping into it. Drip Rukia blinked again and realized where the blood was coming from. Her bangs that usually sat against her face were leaning away from her now. There was blood dripping down the strands of hair and falling into the small puddle in front of her. Oh …I see. This is my blood. My head is bleeding. That's right. I was attacked. Ichigo. Where is Ichigo? Slight panic filled her as she looked around, the movement causing sharp stabs of pain all through her body. "Ah!" She bit her lip, stifling her scream of pain. Her memory came rushing back. I hid him from the espada. That's right. They couldn't find him. He's safe. Ichigo is safe. She relaxed against her restraints again, the rhythmic dripping continuing. "That's all that matters. My sun… is safe." The darkness of sleep called her name, lulling her back to unconsciousness. Rukia could resist no longer. She relaxed even more, welcoming the numbing of her pain when she heard a familiar voice. No Rukia. You can't give up. That's not who you are. I'm coming for you. You swore to me that you wouldn't die, midget. Don't give in. Fight. Fight for me, Rukia. "Ichi..go.." She groaned, unable to sleep with his voice whispering in her ear. I'm coming for you Rukia. Don't let those bastards win. Don't leave me. You promised. "Am I going crazy?" She whispered. She heard no answer. "Well then…just hurry up baka…I don't know how long I can keep my promise."
