Warning: Character Death, and other mature themes, please read with caution

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Chapter Nine: Blue Iris

Please Enjoy

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Ichigo bit his bottom lip hard, blood ran down his chin and he glared at Aizen who was staring at him. "You're handling this very well Ichigo, your family would be very proud of you," Aizen smiled running his fingers up the side of Ichigo's broken leg.

"Go to hell," Ichigo hissed.

"Don't be like that," Aizen said. "I'm being rather, nice," He said looking down at Ichigo's bloodstained pant leg.

" What do you get out of this?" Ichigo asked and Aizen chuckled.

"It's just for the hell of it. If your grandfather ever finds your body, he'll be crushed to know what I did to you," Aizen said and Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "It's been three days Ichigo. Do you really think that your grandfather's going to find you here of all places?"

"He'll find me," Ichigo said giving a blood stained grin. "And he'll give me the gun to put a bullet between your eyes,"

"Oh, don't be so mean," Aizen said patting Ichigo's cheek softly.

Ichigo jerked his head away and Aizen stood slowly. "What happened to Tousen?" He asked as Aizen stopped at the door.

Aizen turned and looked at Ichigo. "Well, as much as I'd love to tell you all the dirty little secrets of our family, but I'm not going to. Tousen is away from you," He said.

"What did you do to him?" Ichigo asked.

Aizen chuckled. "Nothing much, he's just spending some personal time with his family," Aizen said and left.

Ichigo let his head roll back and he shivered in pain.

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Byakuya looked over his gun carefully, then looked up at the house where Ichigo was being held. Others were already rushing around all sides of the large house, covering any possible exits; windows, doors, vents, anything. He narrowed his eyes hearing the voice on his ear piece saying everyone was in place. Having being trained in black operations he knew how to break into a house, how to make sure no one got out that wasn't supposed to, and everyone who was supposed to be unharmed was kept from harm.

"Move out," Byakuya ordered and headed through the side door with a few others. He gave a few signals, making the others break off in different directions. He headed down stairs, the basement was very cold, very dark. Even though the pipes were brand new, small holes were drilled into them making water drip very slowly on the floor. Byakuya kept his breathing very calm, his eyes scanning carefully. The basement was full of rooms, the doors all open, the rooms all empty, until he came to the end of the hall, the room couldn't be much bigger then a walk in closet, the door was steal. Byakuya exhaled slowly and shifted his gun to one hand and opened the door slowly. The first thing he noticed was the smell of blood and stale water. There was a soft groan and Byakuya stepped into the room, leaving the door wide open.

Ichigo was laying on the floor, and Byakuya went to him. The sound of guns going off above his head was the last thing on his mind as he knelt next to Ichigo to check his plus, it was slow but strong. Byakuya lifted Ichigo up carefully and started to leave.

"Going so soon?" The sound of gun fire rang in Byakuya's ears and he dropped to his knees, holding Ichigo tightly against his chest, blood running down his left leg from the wound in his thigh. Byakuya looked up, Aizen was standing at the other end of the hall, holding a gun of his own in his hands, pointed at Ichigo who was pressed against Byakuya's chest. "No one ever believed that the great Byakuya Kuchiki would drop to his knees before me, but look, here you are," Aizen smiled. "I knew you'd come straight to him. It wouldn't take long, with that handy little tracking device you implanted in his arm. That's your technology correct? You made it yourself? I'm impressed, someone of your intellect, wasted on old family values and traditions. Just think what you could do in the center of a modern mafia, the possibilities are endless," Aizen stepped closer. Byakuya began to lift the gun but Aizen shifted his gun slightly so it was pointed at the back of Ichigo's neck. "One wrong move, and I shoot through his neck, we both don't want that, now do we?"

Byakuya set the gun down carefully, and shifted Ichigo in his arms. "Why did you do this?" Byakuya asked. "Sure our families have been fighting for years, but to stage an all out war, it cost unnecessary damage for both sides, and I know you are a very reasonable man Aizen," Byakuya struggled with his words, something so unlike him, perhaps it was the fact that he was actually complimenting Aizen, or it was the fact that the bullet that had go into his thigh had been a very effective hollow point and had done more damage then a regular bullet that would've gone straight through. Byakuya could feel this bullet's claw like mushroomed head digging into the quivering muscle of his thigh, but no discomfort showed on his face. "We could've come to an agreement that would've satisfied both families," Byakuya said, he spoke slowly, agreeing with anything Aizen said was the last thing he wanted to do.

Ichigo stayed still, having woken the second Byakuya had fallen to his knees. He stared up at his older brother's face carefully, watching for the signs he needed. Byakuya was taking his time, making sure Ichigo would be able to fire a perfect one shot kill, that Aizen would be close enough so that Ichigo would have the upper hand, but it was taking to damn long, Ichigo wanted to grab the gun and pull the trigger.

"No dear Byakuya, there can't be any negotiations, I'm a very picky man and if things take to long or aren't the way I want, I will not agree to them," Aizen stepped closer and Ichigo fought the urge to twitch. Byakuya pulled Ichigo tighter for a second then relaxed his grip just enough so that Ichigo would be able to move fast enough to grab the gun, aim a shot, and pull the trigger, for most people, trained or not it takes five seconds to line up a shot, but Byakuya had trained Ichigo to do it in less then one second. And even though Ichigo hated it, he knew he was damn good with a gun, almost better then Byakuya now, he'd gotten it from his father.

"You know Aizen, even the most stubborn of us can adjust," Byakuya said rubbing his thumb over Ichigo's neck, telling him to get ready as Aizen stepped closer.

"I'm a very unchanging man," Aizen said.

Byakuya shifted slightly back and Ichigo made his move, pulling away, grabbing the gun, aiming his shot and pulling the trigger so fast Aizen barely had time to blink. Ichigo exhaled the breath he'd been holding in as he watched blood pour from the hole in Aizen's neck, before Aizen fell over.

"Finished," Byakuya said leaning back against the wall.

"We just have to wait for the others because neither one of us can fucking walk," Ichigo added bitterly and Byakuya looked at him with a rare grin. Ichigo grinned himself and leaned back against the wall next to Byakuya. "It took you long enough damnit,"

"Traffic," Byakuya joked and Ichigo snorted.

"You lost to much blood, just relax," Ichigo said.

"I'm glad you're okay," Byakuya said after they'd been sitting for a few seconds, Byakuya listened on his ear piece as the teams gave their reports, having swept the house completely.

"Yea, me too," Ichigo leaned his head against Byakuya's shoulder and closed his eyes, a few minutes later a team came down the stairs and moved towards them, the leader, Renji stopped long enough to pull Aizen's gun away from his body then move towards Ichigo again.

"Sorry Byakuya, there were safe rooms that I had to unlock, took a little longer then I thought," Renji looked over Byakuya's wound carefully and sighed. "I fucking hate hollow points," He growled then looked at Byakuya. "Can't you ever be shot by a normal bullet? Tracer rounds and hollow points suck ass,"

Byakuya chuckled, confusing the red head. Ichigo smiled still resting his head on Byakuya's shoulder. "He lost some blood, I think it's affecting his brain," Ichigo said and Renji looked at him.

"You just have to get into trouble as well don't you," Renji growled, turning his anger on Ichigo. "When we get home I'm locking you in your room and throwing away the key,"

"Stop preaching and get us to the hospital," Byakuya said.

Renji rolled his eyes and motioned to the others who came over and lifted Byakuya and Ichigo up carefully. "You should be happy that I came to save your ass," He said.

"Tell me about it," Ichigo sighed.

He was put into an ambulance and Renji got in and sat next to him. "How do you feel?" Ichigo looked at the paramedic.

"Pretty good considering," Ichigo closed his eyes and yawned.

"I'm going to start you on an i.v. for fluids and to give you some pain medication,"

"I'm not in any pain," Ichigo said.

"That's not good," The paramedic said cutting Ichigo's pant leg. "Compound fracture that's been open to air.... When was your leg broken?"

"A few days ago," Ichigo said.

"It's infected," The paramedic said.

Ichigo looked at Renji. "Did you guys find Tousen?" Ichigo asked.

Renji sighed. "Let's worry about getting you taken care of," He said and Ichigo's brow furrowed.

"Renji," Ichigo gritted his teeth. "Did you find Tousen?"

"Ichigo we s-"

"Answer me damnit!" Ichigo snapped.

"No," Renji said and Ichigo closed his eyes.

"You have to find him," Ichigo said.

"You're first priority Ichigo," Renji said.

"Story of my life," Ichigo said hollowly, the very idea that Tousen was harmed made Ichigo sick.

"Don't worry, we'll send teams out to search for him," Renji said.

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Tousen closed his blind eyes, the gun fire above him had stopped over an hour ago. No one knew where he was, they weren't coming for him, why should they anyways, they were here for Ichigo, and Tousen had put Ichigo in this situation, they'd want him to suffer for what he'd done. Tousen took a deep calm breath and put his hands over his stomach. He didn't know how long he could live locked under the floor of the basement. He had air, there were hole drilled so he could breath, but he had no food, and no water. He'd gone days without food and water before, because of training, but with his injuries, they'd probably weaken him to an early death.

Tousen just prayed that they had gotten to Ichigo in time, had pulled him from his hell hole and taken him somewhere far away and safe.

He wasn't afraid of death, he'd faced it many times, coming to the very edge several times. The only thing he would miss in this life was Ichigo, he hated to know what would happen to Ichigo when he was gone.

Tousen sighed, shifting on the thin mat beneath him and willed himself to sleep.

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Ichigo was sitting in the hospital, staring at a cup of jell-o that was sitting on the tray over his bed. He reached forward and picked it up, but he didn't start to eat it, only stared into the shiny surface.

"What are you doing?" Renji asked walking into the room.

"Nothing," Ichigo said and looked up at the red head. "How's Byakuya?"

"They are stitching him up as we speak," Renji said sitting on the edge of Ichigo's bed. "How's your leg?"

"Numb," Ichigo said leaning back after setting the jell-o back on the tray. "Have any teams returned to the house yet?"

"There are a few cleaning things up. I told them to keep there eyes open for anything that seems strange. But there's no telling what Aizen did," Renji said.

"I know," Ichigo said and yawned.

"We're going to find him Ichigo, don't worry," Renji said and Ichigo nodded and gave a soft smile.

"Can't wait to be home," Ichigo said crossing his arms over his chest. "I just want to sleep in my own bed,"

"I can't believe my ears,"

Ichigo looked at the door. "Should you be walking?" Ichigo said to Byakuya who walked into the room, and he noticed a wheelchair just outside the door. Leave it to Byakuya to try and save face.

"I'm fine," Byakuya said. "Now is it true?"

Ichigo looked up at the ceiling. " I shouldn't run from what I am right? I can still be a lawyer, but I'll just represent family. I'm part of this family if I like it or not and after all I put you guys through trying to run away. I owe it to you to stop being so damn childish and step up, make my parents proud,"

"I don't think that they could ever not be proud of you Ichigo," Byakuya said and Ichigo looked at him. "I'm glad you're going to stay home with the family, I can rest a little easier now,"

"Only a little? Aizen's dead. I shot him in the neck and watched him bleed out. You guys took out the majority of the Espada at the house this afternoon. I think it's safe to say, it's going to take them a very long time to pull anything from the mess you left," Ichigo said.

"We still have other enemies," Byakuya said.

"Yes, I know. But you don't have to worry about me any more, I promise I'm not going to let you down Byakuya," Ichigo said. "I'm going to act like I belong to this family, like I should've from the start,"

Byakuya sighed. "I don't know what you mean, you've always acted just as stubborn as every other member of the family, you fit right in," He said and Ichigo smiled.

"Don't be a smart ass," Ichigo said.

Renji's phone started to ring and he swore as he dug it from his jacket pocket. "I'll be back," He said flipping his phone open and leaving the room.

"Are you alright?" Ichigo asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Byakuya asked.

"You got shot," Ichigo reminded.

"It's not the first time," Byakuya said. "And it wasn't a bad wound, just annoying,"

"You're not as young as you used to be," Ichigo said.

"I'm only seven years older then you," Byakuya said.

"Thirty-three," Ichigo said and Byakuya frowned.

"That's not old," Byakuya said and Ichigo chuckled tiredly.

"I know, I just like messing with you," Ichigo admitted.

"I know," Byakuya leaned back and closed his eyes.

"When can I leave?" Ichigo asked after a while.

"Morning, no sooner," Byakuya said strictly and Ichigo smiled again shifting carefully to get more comfortable.

"Alright," Ichigo said.

Renji rushed back in. "I have to return to Aizen's place, are you two okay here?" He asked grabbing his gun holster and put it on his hip.

"What's going on?" Byakuya asked.

"There's a room that they found, I have to open the locks," Renji said looking at Ichigo. "There's someone inside, the dogs found it.

Ichigo opened his eyes and looked at Renji hopefully.

"They can't tell if the person's alive or not, but it's optimistic," Renji said.

"Go," Ichigo said. Renji nodded and was gone. Ichigo swallowed, his mouth had suddenly gone dry.

"Get some rest," Byakuya said.

"You too," Ichigo said.

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Renji stared at the lock on the door that was built into the floor. It should've been ease for him to open, but it was attached to a a trap, what the trap did, Renji didn't know, but he had the idea that both the people outside the small room and the one inside it would be subject to it,

Renji took a deep breath and pulled his lock picks from the small case he had set on the ground and began to pick the lock carefully.

"I want all of you upstairs," Renji said glancing around the room at the four others that were in the room.

"Are you sure? Toshiro is working on disabling the trap, it could help," Rangiku said glancing at the small boy who was inside a small set of panles in the wall.

"It's less dangerous this way," Renji said. "Just do it,"

"Don't be stupid Renji," Rangiku said.

"I've almost got it," Toshiro called from the wall. There was a fizzing sound and Toshiro scurried from the hole in the wall and looked at Renji with a smug smile. "You can break it, no problem," He said.

" Show off," Renji said pulling his lock picks away and moved back. "Hit it Ikkaku," He said.

The bald man grinned toothily and grabbed a large hammer and smashed the lock. Renji moved back and pulled the broken lock away quickly and opened the door and sighed.

"Tousen?" Renji reached down and put his hand to Tousen's neck. "Faint pulse,"

"Do you really think I would die so easily?"

Renji looked back down at Tousen. "Shit you had me worried you bastard,"

"It's not that hard to slow your heart rate," Tousen said. "It takes a few minutes to recover it,"

"Right," Renji said helping Tousen from the hole.

"How is Ichigo?" Tousen asked.

"He's fine," Renji said. "He's in the hospital, I'm sure he'd love to see you,"

"Right," Tousen said calmly.

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Tousen took a deep breath and put his hand on Ichigo's sleeping face.

"He was worried about you,"

Tousen looked over his shoulder.

"He wanted to make sure we found you," Byakuya said.

"Thank you," Tousen said.

Byakuya walked over to the other side of the bed and looked at Tousen. "I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to think about it carefully,"

Tousen raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Alright,"

"Ichigo is very important to a lot of people, his happiness is very important as well," Byakuya looked down at Ichigo's face. "You have made him happy, but your love comes with a very dark cloud over it. I want Ichigo to be happy, and he needs you to be happy, but you have yet to prove yourself to me. I don't care if you told me that Aizen was after him, I've known that for years,"

Tousen stayed silent, knowing that Byakuya didn't want him to say anything.

"You hurt Ichigo too, and it pisses me off that he'd still want to be with you," Byakuya looked up at Tousen. " In order for you to continue to be at Ichigo's side, I'm going to require that you become a member of my family, and that means you cut off any remaining ties with your old life, all of it burnt to the ground,"

"You make it seem like a difficult task," Tousen said and Byakuya straigtened himself.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Byakuya asked.

"You're right when you said that Ichigo was very important to a lot of people," Tousen said. " I'm in that group. Ichigo is very important to me, and I'd do anything to be by his side,"

"Then it's settled," Byakuya said. "You become a member of my family, you've got to go through the training just like any other member. I will not go easy on you because you are blind or that you are Ichigo's lover. If anything I'm going to be harsher on you. I will not tolerate failure, if you cannot protect Ichigo, I won't let you be with him,"

Ichigo opened his eyes. "Stop being so damn dramatic," He said and turned to look up at Tousen. " I'm glad you're alright," Ichigo reached up and put a hand on Tousen's cheek.

"I love you," Tousen said and Ichigo smiled tiredly resting his hand back on his chest.

"You two play nice," Ichigo said shifting to get more comfortable.

" Just rest," Tousen said.

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End of Chapter 9

Tada! Finally another chapter, for a while I thought that this story would be dead, but I saved it from the pits of hell! Anyways, I'm glad that I could finish another chapter, there aren't many more chapters left in this story. Please I would love a lot of reviews, I haven't been getting many lately and it's very sad.

Please Review and Comment, Thanks for Reading.

ConstantSnow