A/N: Chapter 9…how exciting! I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. Thank you to all who reviewed!
The group sat down at the Kurosaki family table, Isshin looked tired and worn, very much unlike his usual crazy self. Rukia took her seat next to Ichigo and removed the maroon blanket that she had around her shoulders. 'Her arm.' It was in a sling.
Ichigo nudged Rukia in the side, "What happened?"
"Huh…oh this…yeah, its nothing."
"We need a plan." Hisagi said now standing at the head of the table next to Isshin. Ichigo made a mental note to ask Rukia about her arm later. "Aizen and his men will keep comin' even if my boys get here. So, any ideas?" Hisagi opened his arms to the table and the group just stared at one another. Isshin cleared his throat, "We must ensure Rukia's safety."
Hisagi took out a small notebook and wrote that down; "Okay, Rukia you're our top priority." Ichigo turned and looked at Rukia, her lips were drawn into a frown and her eyes looked glazed with worry. The voices were just a mummer in the background, his head was buzzing with thoughts. 'How did she hurt her arm? Fighting Aizens men? Did she fall? Did someone hurt her? If so…then who? It's my duty to protect her and—'
"Oy! Ichigo, stop lookin' so love struck and pay attention!" Hisagi yelled slamming his fist onto the table. Ichigo's eyes snapped up and looked at Hisagi.
"I'm not love struck." Ichigo said crossing his arms, he faintly heard Rukia chuckle beside him. 'Love struck…ha! She's nothing more than a friend.'
Isshin and Hisagi suddenly froze, the whole room went quiet even Yuzu and Karin turned off the TV. Rukia and Ichigo frowned and then they heard it too. Hisagi looked up and his eyes went wide; "Bells."
"Yuzu, Karin…go to your room." Isshin said in a commanding tone, without even protests the two twins bolted up the stairs and shut their door.
CRASHThe door of the Kurosaki household was knocked down; a man stood the tips of his spiky hair touched the top frame of where the door once stood. He wore a black cloak, opened and exposing his well-built chest with many scars. The man wore an eye patch and his grin was anything but friendly. "Ah…my sweet butterfly." He said looking at Rukia with his one eye. Ichigo stood immediately, "Don't touch her." He growled, his scowl looked so much more threatening now. "Ah…annoying orange-hair, loud mouth…you must be her guardian." The man cracked his knuckles and smiled devilishly, "Well then, lets get started!" he said taking a step back and turning to go outside. Ichigo looked back at Rukia before he left the house, this was his fight, to redeem his pride and prove that he was worthy of protecting Rukia.
"Ichigo…" Rukia whispered watching his figure fade into the darkness of the night. "Rukia, don't follow him." Hisagi ordered but Rukia said nothing and followed her guardian anyway. She stood outside the dim lights of street lights were their only source of light. Ichigo and the mystery man hadn't moved they stood a few feet from one another.
"Allow me to introduce my self." The man said pulling two gloves out of his cloak pocket. "My name is Zaraki Kenpachi." He slid the leather gloves on his hands and grinned. Ichigo raised his fists up to his chest and stood at the ready position.
'Ichigo…'.-.-.-.-..--.-.-.-.-..-.—
Shirayuki stood in front of the desk of another woman, her face was covered with shadow. "My old friend…" Shirayuki greeted, the other woman seemed to have smiled.
"Nice to see you again." The other woman said, her voice was smooth but had an edge to it.
"Aizen, he attacked. Somehow, Rukia's guardian was infected with the virus. I believe it involves this." Shirayuki tossed a pure white blade onto the table, it was wrapped in a thin brown cloth. The other woman carefully picked up the blade.
"I believe a good friend of mine can check this out." The woman exaimned the blade before she wrapped the blade in its cloth and placed it in a drawer.
"Will you help us?" Shirayuki asked turning around, she had other matters to attend to after all.
"I'll see if I can pull a few strings." The woman said standing, the moonlight from the window hitting her face but only enough to see two yellow eyes.
"Thanks." Shirayuki said before she disappeared in a swirl of snow, the snowflakes floated out the window and into the cool night.
-.-.-..-.-.-.--.
"Rukia…go inside." Ichigo said glancing over at the woman.
"No."
"What!?" Ichigo's head turned to stare, "What do you mean no? Go, run now!"
"…I'm staying by your side." Rukia took a step forward.
"Rukia…" Ichigo frowned at her as she approached his side and stood there; staring at Kenpachi, like she was going to fight him.
"How sweet, now then!" Kenpachi lunged and slammed his fist into Ichigo's stomach before he could even react. Ichigo lifted his arms to block another blow as his back skidded against the streets asphalt. He could feel his shirt tear and pieces of rock dig into his skin. He stumbled to his feet and attacked Kenpachi, he threw a punch but his fist was caught by Kenpachi's much larger one.
"Too slow." Kenpachi said with a grin, throwing Ichigo into a nearby building.
"Ichigo!" Rukia gasped; 'my powers…where are they? Attack! Where's that shield I created before? And the shards? Why aren't they working!' Rukia's mind screamed as she tried to focus. She had to help Ichigo.
Ichigo coughed up blood as he was hunched over, "Come on kid. I thought you'd be a challenge." Kenpachi said with a sigh. Ichigo looked up, blood running down the side of his face and blocking sight from his left eye. He saw Rukia, her face was in a set frown, like she was trying to figure something out. 'Zangetsu…' Ichigo blinked and saw the man on the roof of his home. Watching him and silently scolding him for being so weak. 'Old man…what can I do?' Ichigo climbed to his feet.
"You just don't stay down…" Kenpachi chuckled before charging at Ichigo, connecting his fist with Ichigo's jaw and causing the young man to stumble back onto the ground.
Kenpachi lifted his foot, planning to crush the annoying kids skull, "No!" Rukia yelled before she tackled Kenpachi from behind.
"Ah! What the hell?" Kenpachi reached back and grabbed Rukia from the back of her neck, hoisted her over his head and then threw her to the ground, Rukia let out a painful groan when her back slammed into the pavement but she got back up.
"Ichigo, get up…" She told him and marvelously even though he felt like he had no strength…he stood. Kenpachi sighed; "My target is the kid, not you sweet butterfly." Kenpachi's fist drew back and headed straight for Ichigo.
Ichigo raised his arms to block, but the hit never came, he looked as Rukia stood in front of him at the last second. Rukia felt the blood rush up from her stomach and erupt from her mouth, the second thing she felt was two arms wrap around her stomach as she went backwards into the wall of another home. She could feel Ichigo behind her, breathing heavily, but breathing nonetheless. "What the hell…midget." Ichigo growled as he released her from his grasp. 'She protected me…again.' His head was killing him, his ribs ached, and honestly he had no idea how he was able to scowl through the pain.
"…She's just like her…." Kenpachi mumbled staring at the petite girl and replaying what had happened seconds earlier. He hadn't even seen her move and then she was there, taking the punch, how honorable.
(3 years ago)
"Its' my job to protect the president." A man said with bright red hair, sunglasses and a scowl. Kenpachi was watching the fight from the shadows, it was his job to make sure nothing went wrong.
Aizen's pawns were going to kill the president…even with this loud-mouthed guy in the way.
Kenpachi's eyes widened, as the girl with dark hair and two long braids, the current president jumped in front of her bodyguard and took the hit for him. His arms wrapped around her waist as they both went backwards, slamming into the ground.
Kenpachi took off his gloves and watched the two. "Idiot! This is why I told you to stay back!"
"Ichigo, I couldn't just stand there and watch your ass get kicked!" Rukia growled smacking him on the head. 'Did she take a punch…because she cares?' Kenpachi wondered as they fought. '…did he want her to stay back…because he cared?' Kenpachi raised his eyebrow, the kid was getting his ass kicked by some one half his size.
"Ow! Midget let go!" Ichigo yelled at the petite woman who had his ear and was dragging him towards Kenpachi. 'kids these days…' Kenpachi crossed his arms across his chest.
-.-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-
Zangetsu stood up from his spot on the roof, 'They still need to learn the meaning of partnership.' The older man turned his back on the scene and jumped down from the roof, he stood by a window at the Kurosaki house and listened.
"Isshin, you can't join in his fight."
"What? Why not?"
"It's his fight…for pride."
"Stop speaking mubo-jumbo! My son's grave will not be on this street!"
"Isshin. Do you trust Rukia."
"…Yes."
"She will protect him. He will protect her. That is the way of the guardian and butterfly." Hisagi crossed his arms and smiled. "Understand?"
"…fine." Isshin huffed and collapsed into his chair.
A/N: Gah! Kind of short chapter! Damn you writers block.
Anyway, Review and tell me what you thought.
