----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falling Together
Chapter Nine- Bitter Sweet
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was pouring outside now, Yoruichi stood on a cliff staring at the marching band of warriors. She let out a sigh, and combed her slick dark hair. "Yare, Yare…this is getting out of hand." She murmured with dissatisfaction.
The cold wind blew across her face, and she closed her eyes feeling some strange aura around the area "It seems…he has awakened." She muttered to herself, sighing a little more. Her heart pounded in an incredible rate, his riatsu was indeed powerful. Maybe, too powerful, for everyone to even stop him. "Hold on Ichigo…" The woman spoke to herself and quickly disappeared.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Kuukaku-sama! Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Hanatarou questioned his lady, as they sped through the crowds of warriors. The woman grunted, and ignored him. Kuukaku-sama… The small fragile boy murmured to himself, he rubbed his tired eyes and followed his leader.
He didn't get it. The fact that his lady was one of Rukia's closest friends. He didn't understand at all, why she was doing such a thing. Didn't she say she would help them? His heart raced as he pondered over his master's plans. "…Kuukaku-sama…what are you thinking…?" He whispered calmly, as he appeared to run beside her.
At that time, the wind stopped and the rain drops lessened. The eldest of the Shiba clan stared at him with such a piercing gaze. Such hatred shimmering in her eyes, yet she has not even spoken of her feelings to him.
"WHY I'm doing this?" She appeared to be even asking herself, her lips quivered and she calmed down a bit. Her riatsu at first rose, but then slowly simmered to a cool point. Hanatarou, was speechless. "Because…it's…"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rukia entered the room to find Ichigo collapsed on the bed. His body lie on top of the furniture like a dead being. At first, it was a calm expression but after realizing that she truly did like him she started screaming. "I-Ichigo?" She asked, creeping towards him. His eyes were clothes, and he seemed to have curled up in a defense stage. "I-Ichigo are you okay?" She asked. Of course, he wasn't. He wasn't responding, and how pathetic he looked in that state.
"KUCHIKI-SAMA!" A woman entered the area after hearing her lady's voice cry in such a high-pitched throne. "W-What's going on here?" The servant murmured in shock, and walked towards the petite lady. Rukia's lips were quivering and she seemed to be too afraid to speak. "…Kuchiki-sama, it's okay! I'll call the Unohana-san immediately!" And the woman left.
It seemed strange. It was, what? Two months. Two months of marriage…seven weeks of hatred, and only 1 week of true sweet happiness. And now she found herself, completely unstable. The person who had normally made fun of her, teased her around, and tried loving her as a wife was down. Out. Cold. "I-Ichigo?" She repeated his name, her hands shaking as she clutched onto his dark crimson fabric. Tears flowed down, unexpectedly. She couldn't explain why she was feeling so terrible.
Thirty minutes later, the same servant came with the family doctor. Unohana was staring calmly at the faint body. Her face in a softened expression as she walked towards the man. "…It's okay…Kuchiki-san." The woman smiled gently, and took out a medical kit from under her gigantic sleeve. Rukia watched intently at that woman. "I'm sorry…" The doctor replied sadly. Rukia stared at her. "Too see you so stressed out…over this." Unohana replied as her lady gazed at her with a strange look.
"Why is he like this?" Rukia asked, sitting down on the bedside. Unohana's eyes glittered with such sadness and a mix of excitement for unparticular reasons. "Unohana-san. Please…" The girl pleaded quietly, as she found Ichigo breathing softly, yet quickly.
"…He hasn't told you?" The doctor asked in a surprised tone. Rukia nodded, and Unohana sighed sadly. "…Due to his…alternate self…he's developed some strange fainting habits." The woman whispered, tending to the man's body. She applied some cool cream, and gave Ichigo a small drop of violet water. "These habits, are by far…one of the most abnormal behaviors I've ever seen…It's strange, really. I examined his body. Nothing wrong. He seems quite fine."
"But?" Rukia asked, as Unohana closed her eyes.
"But…his mind has some troubling things going on. It's quite complex. He's been like this ever since 2 years ago on April 5." Unohana murmured silently, and Rukia's eyes widened. "Yes. I know what you're probably thinking…" Rukia backed away and more tears glided down her pale cheeks. Unohana tried to reassure her that he wasn't part of what she thought.
"I assure you…he has nothing to do with it." Unohana smiled weakly. "…It wasn't Ichigo who had done that terrible thing. How could he? He can't control nature." Her smile faltered, as Rukia contemplated over what she had said. Tears continued to fall, she didn't know what to think. "Kuchiki-san? Are you alright?" The doctor asked.
"I-I'm fine…I just need to think." Rukia whispered. Unohana's smile faltered.
"One more thing, Kuchiki-san…" She added as she left. "Please, don't be upset with Ichigo…his alternate constantly controls his emotions…so he acts in such strange manners. I only wish to tell you this, so you won't feel pain." She smiled, leaving. The servant left as well. Rukia stared at their backside and gazed at Ichigo's body.
She rubbed her eyes and walked towards him. Her shadow cascaded over his figure, and she quickly knelt down to take a closer look at him. "Ichigo…were you aware…that day?" Rukia asked, clenching her kimono as she sat beside his bedridden state. He did not reply. And she did not expect an answer. "…Where you there?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yoruichi ran as fast as she could, and reached the castle in a shocking speed. She requested for all the generals to take seat in the private meeting area. And all appeared.
"What's the issue?" Tousen questioned, as he stared blindly at the direction of the head female. Komamura nodded his head as well, as he stared at Yoruichi who seemed to be in a panic.
"…They are approaching in an average speed rate. But midnight…I'm sure they'll be at the front gates." Yoruichi replied looking sternly at the two. A man grunted, and the two stared at Kenpachi who twirled his sword like a small key. "You seem comfortable, Zaraki…any ideas of how to prevent their reach?" Yoruichi asked a little hot-headed.
"Yeah. Slaughter them, just like that we'll beat the shit out of them." The buffed man replied, laughing a little maniacal. Yoruichi and the others rolled their eyes. "What?" The clueless guy asked innocently, in a scary way.
Soi Fon rose her hands quickly and looked sheepishly at Yoruichi. She played with her index fingers as she explained her idea. "I think…that we should surround the castle. Kenpachi-san can go to the western gate, I to the Eastern, Tousen to the Northern, and Komamura to the Southern." She whispered. "But of course, our soldiers will be there as well. It will provide a some-what absolute defense." She smiled brightly. Yoruichi closed her eyes and nodded.
"That sounds reasonable…But, do you remember? They have Shiba Kuukaku." Yoruichi whispered dangerously. Soi Fon stared at her in a strange way. Asking why she was so dangerous. "Her self-made fireworks of course. They'll fire it in every direction…usually it will hit the tall towers of the kingdom…" The woman replied softly. The doors opened.
"NOT TO WORRY, YORUICHI dear!" Urahara entered with his small group. Two little children and a gigantic muscular man behind him. "We've come to help!" He let out a slick smile. Soi Fon darted her eyes at him, and Yoruichi walked towards Urahara with a why the hell are you here now gaze. "What…? I was preparing for battle!" The sandal-hat man gawked at her with such energetic emotion.
"Very well. Why are you here?" Yoruichi asked a little more gently. Urahara pushed up his hat and let out a smirk.
"I'm here to protect the towers. I've designed a few things that will be able to help." He, once again, smiled childishly. Yoruichi, knowing of his ingenious mind nodded, accepting his behavior. "Very well. I approve." She muttered.
"…Soi Fon…I'd like you to give Ichigo…or Kuchiki-sama notice of our plans. I'd like to start in fifteen minutes. Just to be sure." She announced, and the woman quickly disappeared. Urahara waved and vanished as well.
Seconds later, Tousen and Komamura were found walking out of the room. "…Why do you think Ukitate-san and Kyouraku-san aren't here?" Komamura asked the man beside him. Tousen took a while to reply, as he pondered too himself, why as well.
"…I think they're busy preparing as well…" The man muttered, taking his sword out of his sheath and touching the cool blade. "I never expected to use this again." He muttered bitterly. Komamura put his hands on his shoulder and reassured him that everything was fine. "Yes…you're right. It was along time ago. Time to forget the past." He muttered quietly, and they exited the kingdom to take their respective places.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ichigo…where you there when it happened?" Rukia cried, biting her lower lip. At that time Soi Fon appeared, carrying a message and a rather burdened heart since Urahara appeared.
"Milady…Yoruichi-sama has given me a message-" She paused finding Ichigo in a rather strange state. "…She has given me a message. And she would like you to read it." She muttered. Rukia took the scroll and read it carefully.
"Please…continue with the plans." She replied silently. Soi Fon nodded and disappeared.
"Ichigo…where you there when it happened?" Rukia asked.
"On April 5th?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Notes: Sorry. I know you guys have been waiting for the next chapter and all. I took my remaining time, thinking over the plot and writing it. So yeah…Um…Enjoy, and review please!
