Where Life Takes You

Where Life Takes You

By: Raven612

Chapter 9: Hearts under Fire

A/N: Sorry this took a while to get out, but Monday was the worst day of my life. My little kitty Charlie died, and I tend to get very attached very easily and so her death took a lot out of me. I only had her for a week, but she totally had my heart. In her memory I'm going to put her in this story, not sure this chapter, but probably the next one. She didn't get a chance to grow up with me so she'll get the chance to grow in this story. Her short 7 weeks on this earth were made better by the love and affection I gave in the week she spent with me. Okay, so enough venting and on with the story!

Rukia had finally managed to catch up to Ichigo. He stormed in and raced to the phone. He dialedOrihime's number to see if maybe there was a possibility that the photo could have been a fake. No answer.

"Shit," Ichigo blurted out in anger as he slammed the receiver down in its cradle.

"Ichigo?" Rukia ventured quietly not wanting to upset him more.

"Sorry Rukia, but I just need a minute to think," he said as he sat down at the kitchen table and massaged his temples.

"Sure," Rukia breathed as she left the room.

She made her way to the clinic roof. She sat down on the edge of the roof and watched as life went on as usual for everyone else. Then she saw an old business partner of her father's walking along the sidewalk. He kept looking around as if hiding something. He then slipped a piece of paper under the clinic door and ran away. Rukia thought it was odd, but then realized it could possibly be a message from her brother, who was still in Tokyo.

She hurried from the roof and into the clinic. She ran to the door and grabbed the slip of paper from the floor. She hastily unfolded the paper and read the words scribbled on it:

If you want to see the girl alive ever again, come to this address:

765 Reed Ave N.

-Aizen

Rukia crumpled the note and grew furious. This was her battle, it was because of her that Orihime was in trouble and it was her fault she was hurt. She threw the note in a nearby wastebasket and left the clinic in search of North Reed ave.

She didn't tell Ichigo what she was doing or where she was going, this was her battle and she wasn't going to let anyone else fall victim to Aizen or anyone who might be working with or for him. She walked down to the gas station near Ichigo's house to look at the street map of Karakura and its streets. She found Reed Ave branching off of the main street that ran through Karakura. She made her way down the main street and then ran along Reed Ave. It looked like a nice street with manicured lawns and wealthy looking houses. Rukia watched as she raced by the addresses and she finally found the house with the number 765.

She stopped at the sidewalk leading to the door. She caught her breath and started to rethink this whole situation. She was about to take the first step forward when a hand clamped onto her shoulder.

"Hello Rukia, I was hoping it would be you who got the note, I really didn't need that medaling boy to cause trouble." A cold voice hissed into her ear.

She recognized the voice immediately, "What the hell are you doing working for Aizen, Kiego?"

"Simple, he made an offer I just couldn't resist, and let me tell you, the offer he made me easily killed any offer your father could've made me."

Rukia grew furious, "So you knew Aizen was responsible for the death of my family, my sister, my parents, and now an innocent girl," Rukia seethed.

"Well I knew about your parents, it wasn't until later that I found out what he did to your sister, and I must say that was a little cold hearted," Kiego admitted.

Rukia growled and turned on him, "And yet you still work for the bastard!"

"Settle down Rukia," Kiego laughed, "I think I've riled you up enough, actually my real job is with Tokyo police, I'm undercover and trying to link Aizen to one of the largest drug rings in Japan, but all he's been interested in lately is some stupid diamond."

Rukia let her breath out in one long whoosh; then she punched him hard in the shoulder and kicked him in the shin, "Bastard," she growled.

Kiego grabbed his leg and arm in pain, "You still know how to make a man writhe in pain," he hissed between his teeth.

"Don't ever trick me like that, I was very ready to kill you, and show no mercy," Rukia said as she turned back to the house.

It was three stories's high and painted an off white color. It had cherry blossom trees in bloom all around the front yard and Rose bushes in full bloom along the walkway.

"What's he doing in a house this nice, I'm guessing he's trying to live a lavish drug running lifestyle?" Rukia said with a bit of humor to Kiego.

"He's trying," Kiego answered as he returned his hand to Rukia's shoulder. She looked at him questioningly. "He sent me out here to get you, so I'm bringing you in. Oh and don't worry I'll try to get the girl out safely."

Rukia nodded and allowed herself to be escorted in by Kiego, "Just play along with me and pretend I didn't tell you anything," he hissed into her ear.

Rukia nodded. They walked into the front room which was lavishly decorated with exotic paintings and rare Persian rugs. The hard wood floors sparkled fancifully and large vases framed the door way. Kiego and Rukia removed their shoes and walked along the shinning wood floors and to a staircase leading to a basement. The sounds of classical music could be heard drifting up the stairs.

"He's down there, I'll escort you down, don't get in any trouble because he has ordered me to see that a shipment of jewels from west Africa get in alright and I can't be here to see that your safe, I did prefer if that boy your constantly with would've come with you, just don't do anything stupid," Kiego warned before they descended the stairs.

Rukia rolled her eyes, "I'll behave," she said as she allowed herself to be led down the stairs.

Kiego led her to where the music was coming from and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Aizen shouted as he turned off the music.

Kiego led Rukia in and as he turned to leave he gave her one last warning look.

"Ah, Rukia dear so I see you got my note; I suppose you want to know about the girl?" Aizen asked with a bit of ice in his words.

"She is not a part of this and neither is Ichigo's family, this is between you and me only, do not drag anyone else into it," Rukia bravely said as she stepped closer to the man.

Aizen chuckled, "Rukia, everyone is involved, and will stay involved until you give up the damned diamond."

"How many times must I tell you, I have no idea what you're talking about," she growled at him.

"Until you decide to know what I'm talking about, then I can't leave you alone," he said as he stepped closer to her.

Rukia took an instinctive step back and ran into the door. She looked Aizen straight in the eye.

"Braver, are we?" he asked with a slight chuckle as he readjusted his glasses.

"Let Orihime go, you said it yourself all you wanted was me," Rukia said as she bravely stepped forward.

"True, but I also want the diamond, and it's not like I sell you and make a fortune off of you," Aizen chuckled as he reached out and ran a hand down her cheek.

Rukia shivered and slit her eyes while she watched him. "Don't touch me, as soon as I find the stupid diamond I'll give it to you, but you need to let Orihime go now," she said as evenly as she could.

"Rukia, I'd like to believe that, but I can't and if I let the girl go, I need someone to take her place," Aizen smiled cruelly as he watched her eyes.

"'Let her go," a voice boomed as the door behind Rukia burst open and forced her into Aizen who promptly grabbed her and held her against him.

"Look at the hero bursting in and look what I get," Aizen chuckled as he ran a hand up and down Rukia's arm. She shivered and stomped on his foot, he yelped and pushed her away.

Ichigo quickly grabbed her, "You okay?" he asked as he checked her over in a worried manner.

"I'm fine, how did you find this place?" she asked him as they both now stood facing Aizen.

"I went looking for you, and found the note in a trash can," he admitted with a cocky smile.

"Bravo," Aizen said with a slight grin.

"Now let Orihime go, and I guess I'll spare you for now," Ichigo demanded.

"What an offer, too bad I refuse," Aizen chuckled.

"You let her go you sadistic bastard," Ichigo seethed as he placed himself between Rukia and Aizen.

Aizen again chuckled, "I suppose I can take you to see her."

Aizen then turned to another door neither Rukia nor Ichigo had seen in the room. Ichigo and Rukia cautiously followed Aizen into the room. A strange looking man with white hair greeted Aizen and stepped aside to show an unconscious girl slumped and tied to a wooden chair.

"Thank you Ichimaru, leave us now," Aizen ordered, as the strange man passed Rukia shivered and felt a little creped out.

"Orihime," Ichigo breathed as he took in the sight of her.

"Orihime?" Rukia questioned as she followed Ichigo to examine the unconscious girl.

Ichigo knelt in front of her and Rukia stood behind him. She watched over his shoulder as he examined her face. Suddenly Ichigo rose and knocked Rukia off balance and so she stumbled to the side and fell painfully on her rear.

"You sick bastard, you let her go now," Ichigo threatened as he stepped up to Aizen and challenged him.

"Settle down, it's not like I intend to kill the girl that is unless I don't get the diamond from you two."

"Like we've been telling ya, we have no idea what the hell you're talking about, now you let her go, this is my last warning," Ichigo got even closer to Aizen trying to intimidate him.

"Not until the diamond is in my possession," Aizen chuckled as he sized up Ichigo.

Ichigo had enough and punched Aizen square in the jaw. This sent Aizen a few steps back and a bit confused. He wasted no time in rushing Ichigo. While the two men fought Rukia quickly untied Orihime and tried to get her to wake up.

"Orihime, wake up, can you hear me?" Rukia questioned as she shook the girl.

Orihime began to stir and she sat up. She blinked her eyes a few times and then became rigid as she remembered were she was, but through the fog she heard two people fighting and the soft voice of a girl telling her not to worry, she'll be fine. Orihime shook her aching head trying to clear the fog in it and looked to her left where Rukia was kneeling.

"Ru...Rukia?" she managed to choke out.

"Yeah it's me, Ichigo and I came to get you out of here," Rukia said in a soothing manner as she helped Orihime to her feet.

"I don't remember what happened, I was at home making supper and some tea when someone knocked on the door, and then all I remember after that is waking up here," she recounted her kidnapping story and put an arm on Rukia's shoulders for support. She limped along with Rukia past Aizen and Ichigo fighting.

Rukia and Orihime made it to the door undetected by Aizen. They slipped through only to be caught by Ichimaru.

"Going somewhere ladies?" he asked with a weird grin.

Rukia didn't even answer; she leaned Orihime against the wall and rushed Ichimaru. He wasn't expecting to fight a girl and so he allowed himself to be thrown off balance. Orihime had no idea what was going on and so when Rukia signaled for her to go, she went.

"Big mistake little girl," Ichimaru muttered, still with the silly grin, and then he threw a fist towards Rukia, who dodged it just in time.

Ichigo managed to shove Aizen off of him and so he ran towards the door to find Rukia and Ichimaru engaged in a fight. Ichigo grabbed Rukia around the waist as he ran through and followed the stairs up to the main floor. He and Rukia met Orihime at the front door. He picked up Orihime with his free hand and rushed out the door and onto the safety of the sidewalk. He set both of the girls down and checked them both over carefully.

He took Orihime's face gently in his hands and studied it, "Does your head hurt?" he asked her as he gingerly fingered the lumps forming on her temple.

"A little," she admitted as she winced when he pressed on a particularly painful spot.

"We should get you to a hospital, they should probably check you out," Ichigo suggested.

"Well, what if we just go to your father's clinic, I'm just a little beat up and I'll be fine if you just give some bandages, I'm sure Uuryu is worried sick," Orihime rambled as they stared the trek back to the clinic.

"You sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Ichigo asked once again as he wrapped gauze around a deep cut on her forehead.

"Oh yes, I'm feeling better already," she chirped.

Rukia felt horrible for dragging a sweet innocent girl like Orihime into her mess so as soon as they arrived home Rukia gave Orihime her sincerest apologies and excused herself to bed. Ichigo took Orihime to the clinic to be patched up.

"Orihime, this may be an uncomfortable question for you, but I have to ask it, is there any possibility you could've been raped?" Ichigo blushed madly as he said it and finished dressing and cleaning all of Orihime's wounds.

"Oh no Ichigo, that didn't happen, shouldn't we report him to the police, what if he kidnaps another girl, what if his next victim will be Rukia, he did talk about her a lot," she said as she drifted off in thought.

"I think if we reported him now and he found out, he'd probably try to kill us," Ichigo said with a sight chuckle so that he wouldn't upset Orihime too much.

"Thanks so much for helping me Ichigo, Uuryu is on his way, if you would wait with me for him, I'd like that," Orihime suggested with a smile as she walked with Ichigo to his front door. Uuryu happened to be the only friend of their's home and he immediately said yes to escorting Orihime home.

"I guess I could wait with ya," he said with a humph as they took a seat on the front step.

"Thank you Ichigo, I'm afraid he could be after me again," Orihime confessed with a shiver. Ichigo hugged her close.

"Don't worry Orihime I don't think he'll be coming after you," he reassured her.

Orihime and Ichigo sat and talked on the step until Uuryu showed up to take Orihime home. They figured it'd be best to tell Uuryu that she had gotten into a biking accident, since she was a born klutz. Uuryu reprimanded her for not being careful and also being thankful that Ichigo and Rukia happened to be in that very park that very day. Orihime could only smile and feel better as he fussed over her. Ichigo watched them go and then realized Rukia was no where in sight. He grew worried and went back inside.

"Rukia!" he screamed as he went from room to room looking for the tiny raven haired girl. He was getting worried because he couldn't find her, he then decided to try to the roof. Sure enough he found her sitting on the edge dangling her feet over. "Hey," he greeted.

Rukia jumped at the sudden sound and almost lost her balance. She slowly turned towards Ichigo and glared at him, "You almost killed me," she said menacingly as she stepped back onto the roof.

Ichigo grinned and walked the rest of the way to her. He put his arms around her small frame and pulled her in close for an intimate hug. "You okay?" he asked as he put her at arms length to examine her.

"I'm fine," she said with a sigh as she leaned back into him trying to steal the warmth from his limbs.

"Crazy day?" he stated rhetorically.

Rukia nodded into his chest and let herself fall completely against him. Ichigo petted the top of her head, "You sure do move fast for a midget," he joked and promptly got a kick to the shin.

"Ichigo I just want to find this diamond and get that bastard Aizen off of our tails, and I want him put away so he can't ruin anyone else's life." Rukia sighed as Ichigo began to rub her back and hug her closer to him.

"Rukia I'm always going to be here for you and I will always love you," he said with a cocky smile as he looked down into her shinning violet eyes.

"I know, and thank you," she whispered with a smile as she drug his head down for a long and hard earned kiss, which Ichigo eagerly accepted. He then scooped her up into his arms and kissed her again. They, for one fleeting moment, forgot the turmoil in their lives and only believed in each other.

A/N: So what did you guys think of this chapter? Review please!!