Thunder, Save Me
Summary: Two years after nearly being executed, Riina Asuka feels the entire world has turned their back on her. Mislead, she keeps making the wrong decisions. Where will she turn when sympathy runs out? Will she be able to stand when the pressure crushes her? Will her life come crashing down after, yet another, shot in the dark?
Sequel to "Rain, Forgive Me" (a book about moving past guilt); "Thunder, Save Me" is about being your own hero and standing up when it all falls down.
Chapter Eleven: Betrayed
The white light surrounded her and she could feel its pressure around her. Unlike the human world, there was a physical pressure from spirits in the Soul Society. She could feel their spiritual energy start to weigh on her. Thousands of people's strengths could be felt as she entered into the gate.
The man beside her strode quietly without another word and she was fine with this. Her eyes remained forward through the sea of white. The pressure on her made her feel energized and awakened. It felt so real. Like waking up from a bad dream.
Her hands sweated uneasily at her sides. She was a little nervous to be going back to this place. It was her home and even without being in the Gotei 13, she had lived in the Soul Society for ten years. Most of her life was spent there and even with all the love and hatred for this place, it was no doubt, her home.
Her eyes strained as the thick fog began to clear and she saw a door open up before them. One exactly identical to the one they had entered into. It opened and she could see sunlight pouring in. Weird, how the day and times were slightly different from the human world.
It barely crept up. The light, the smell, the feeling from a distance. It was like the beginning of a song that faded into the intro. If it could be any song she would say it was a song of mixed intentions. It was both joyful and a little sad too.
She saw buildings getting closer as they reached out toward the door. She heard the sound of crowds in a busy place and also heard nature. The sound of the birds were crisper than on the human's side. And this sunlight was far more intense and pure.
Reishi. That must have been why she felt this lightness to her step and this strength rising in her. It was so refreshing that she swore she was at least fifty percent stronger here. The strength tingled up from her toes up her arms and to her fingertips.
They were now in the doorway and the feeling was overwhelming. She gasped and stuck out her hands to feel the air flow around her. Thick as water, the air flowed between her dainty finger tips.
Her lips curled as the two of them stepped out from the Senkaimone. They drifted about ten feet to the ground and landed effortlessly. The dirt barely skimmed up from the pressure of these two.
She looked over to Jun who met her gaze. His dark eyes slowly widened and a small cheerful smile came to his face as well, "Your spiritual pressure is doubling over and over. Looks like you found a place to let it out, eh?"
"I didn't know that it was but, the air does feel different here." Riina held out her hand and felt little rapids rush by just as if she was in water.
"Well you had a limiter on and the effects are just now coming off. Good that its going away too, I was afraid you might pass out." He nodded. "Shall we continue then?"
Riina nodded. She watched as children rushed past her, pushing her aside as they ran. Her eyes narrowed and a tick mark appeared on her forehead.
"Sorry about that, heh. You know how the districts are." He laughed which Riina only grunted as a response.
Riina didn't notice one thing that had changed about this place. She had passed through it many times before so she knew this district well. The girl was much more interested in the Seireitei and how it had changed.
"Can't we flash step?" The red head placed her hands into her jean pockets.
"Well we could. I'll try to go slow for you." Jun then took off in an instant.
Riina growled and took off almost as quickly, she could see his blurring image about ten feet ahead of her. Everything passed by so quick! She had to dodge over children and baskets. She frowned, flash stepping was never so fast or hard.
Her pulse quickened and she started to breath harder. Building passed after building all in a slur of color. It made her dizzy in fact and though she tried her best to run to keep up with Jun, she soon slowed to a stop and covered her forehead.
"Too fast?"
Riina moved her hands away and snapped back, "No! I'm just... a little dizzy is all." Her maroon eyes averted him. She rubbed her head again.
"If you want, I can carry you." The sweet man no longer seemed sweet but annoying and belittling.
"I'll be fine! I'm going to get there on my own." She huffed and forced spiritual energy into her feet once more. She jolted forward and the wind stung her face. Her eyes squinted in response, water streaming down them as she went as fast as she could. Not bothering to check where she was going, she was determined to run as fast as Jun could.
With all the stinging pain in her eyes though, she couldn't even tell where Jun was. Her feet pounded heavily against the ground and it felt unreal to have her legs pump that fast. She tried to slow just a bit so she could open her eyes but couldn't stop her legs!
She was out of control! Her hands went to her face, maybe she could wipe away the stinging pain? Then perhaps she could see and then stop herself! No amount of rubbing seemed to help as seconds later she felt her body running faster than she could handle.
Her legs felt like rubber and they moved faster than her stinging eyes could see. Suddenly, the girl felt a stabbing pain. The next thing she knew, she fell to the ground in a giant crash! Her back cracked as her collar bone was the first to hit the hard surface.
The pain made her eyes widen and her mouth opened to yell out but it was all happening so fast that she didn't have time to. Her back legs flung forward over her head. The position was extremely uncomfortable. Thankfully, the force made her legs continue to flip her forward. Causing her scorpion like position to flip her to her back.
She slid painfully, to a stop. Her stomach and back revealed and her skin on her back was damaged from the slide. The girl didn't bother to get up but cringed her jaw in pain. Her head pointed up at the sky as she heaved in deep breaths to stop herself from yelling.
Jun appeared above her his mouth opened, "I'm so sorry! Let me help you up!" He lifted her by her limp arms and let her lean against him. "Wow, that's pretty bad, I don't think your body is as resistant to damage yet."
Riina looked down and saw blood trickling from her back down her sides. The red rushing fluid was warm but not at all pleasant. She didn't recall ever feeling this much pain. Even in her worst memories, such as her arm being cut off, she remembered it being painful; but she didn't remember the pain itself.
Was it worse than this? Because this incident felt pretty bad. The red head tried to pull down her shirt but saw that most of it was torn, leaving her stomach completely exposed anyway.
She grunted as they limped forward.
"Asuka-san, I'm going to have to carry you. If we walk, ten miles to the Seireitei, it'll take us more than three hours to get there, and that's if we walk normally. You're kinda limping."
"Well if it takes us all day, I'll walk there on my own." Riina said and frowned from the pain of her back. "..fine. Do it." She sighed heavily.
Jun lifted her into his arms, even though he was very lean, he seemed to pick her up with relative ease. In a flash they were gone.
The world spun and Riina had to close her eyes. After a few minutes, she felt them both come to a stop. The girl opened her eyes to see squad 12. The squad where they would grant her access to Akahana's old room. Any belongings in there were hers to keep or throw away.
She was still surprised they had kept the room undisturbed that long or that they had even cared to inform her. It might have been less of a surprise if it was squad four, but squad twelve? That was down right suspicious.
She immediately got away from the man and walked forward, intending on going into squad 12. Jun stopped Riina by placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm not sure you should go in like that." He sweated with a nervous smile.
Riina remembered her scathed clothes. Walking into the squad with a half shirt and daisy dukes wasn't that good for reputation. Jun then took off his over coat, a black one, and handed it to her.
"Thanks." She threw it on and wrapped it around her tightly. She held the cloth in its place with her hand. "Well, lead the way." She pointed with her free hand.
Jun nodded and walked in first. The walls were the first thing that Riina noticed, purely white. White walls and white flooring. Looked like a mental hospital, little to no windows. The girl walked discreetly, trying to avoid the glances she got from some of the soul reapers she passed.
The room they entered was old. There was dirt gathered on the floor and fogged the window. There were a few small cobwebs. The dirt on the glass didn't block out all the light, and let in a warm golden glow. In the large beam of light there were floating particles of dust.
The air was dusty for sure and Riina coughed and waved her hand in front of her. She looked at Jun, "It's empty." She whispered and looked back. Besides the window and a mere broken bed frame, there was nothing in this room. The wood looked cracked and it creaked loudly when Riina stepped in.
Her eyes met his once again and he looked away.
"They... they must have thrown out the possessions while I was gone." He said lowly.
Riina frowned and touched the wooden broken bed frame. "Why would they do that?" Her only guess was that they just recently found the room and then decided they needed it, throwing away all the belongings in the process.
She didn't expect to find much anyway. Her sister always traveled light. They had the chance to get toys and clothes but, her sister only kept the necessities for herself, and gave any fun things to Riina.
"I'm sorry, I thought that they wouldn't throw it away! I was wrong." He sounded really depressed about that fact. His voice perked up, "But I did hide one small object just in case this happened."
Riina watched the man walk to the bed post and get on his knees. He lifted up one of the old panels. On the ground in the dirt, was a small box.
Riina grabbed it as Jun handed it to her. The girl dusted it off, "What's this?"
"I don't know. I didn't really look." He smiled a little.
"You're hiding something, aren't you?" Riina placed the box under her right arm, "You wouldn't take me here just to clear out my sister's room."
Jun got up and brushed off his knees, "I knew you were smart." He laughed, "Well... truth be told, I was hoping for something in return."
"There's always a catch." She shook her head, "Alright, what is it?"
"The 12th squad is... terrible." Jun rubbed his arm. "I really would like to change squads."
Riina blinked with wide eyes. "...I'm not sure what this has to do with me."
Jun sighed with dismay and threw his hands into the air, "I-I can't switch! I'm too nervous to talk to any of my superiors!"
"You're talking to me just fine." Riina said unamused.
"You're not a superior, you're an ex soul reaper!" Jun nodded quickly.
"So... You want me to ask someone to change you to a different squad, even though I have nothing to do with the Soul Society." Riina rubbed the back of her neck, "Yeah, that makes sense." She said sarcastically.
"No, no. I wouldn't ask you to do that. Well, not exactly. I've been watching you for the past few days down in Karakura town."
"HUH?" The girl jumped back, "You some kinda freak?!" She pointed.
Jun waved his hands in front of him, "No! I just, well I was sent there to look out for hollows and I couldn't help but notice some spiritual energy coming from your direction. And that's when I saw you along with Abarai and Kuchiki Fuku-taichou."
"Let me give it to ya straight, I am not their friends. Period the end."
"B-but, you were walking with them and talking.." Jun said shyly.
"Okay, I kinda know Abarai, but not that well." She looked away. "Besides, what would I tell him? Ask him if some guy called Jun can join his squad?"
"Well, it would be nice of you. I mean.. you kind of owe me, Asuka-san."
"Are you blackmailing me?" Riina's eyes covered with shadows and she grimaced.
"NO!" Jun shook his head. "Please, I can't get myself to talk to any of my superiors but, I know I can do a better job there. I don't know anything about science."
"Look, Jun. Even if I was his friend, its not like my input would mean anything. I'm not even part of the Gotei 13 anymore."
Jun smiled, "You could be, if you asked. The gotei could use someone like you."
"No, I'm not even supposed to be here, let alone working here. Mod-" She stopped short, "I'm not allowed to be here."
"Why, what happened?"
Riina tucked the slipping box back under her arm, "Doesn't matter. Either way, there's no way I'd be allowed back again. Besides, I don't even really want back. I'm content in the human world." That was a half lie.
"I-I have an idea! If you get me to squad six, I'll make sure to tell someone about you. Say how good you'd be here."
"You said you were scared of talking." Riina reminded him.
"It won't be so scary in a good squad like the sixth one!"
Riina walked to the edge of the room and stepped into the door way, "Thanks for your help, Jun. I'll try to talk to him for you but there's no need to tell others about me. I'm fine where I'm at."
How was she supposed to talk to any of them? There was no way, but she couldn't just let Jun be left there. She needed to do this for him because a deal is a deal. She would at least try.
But not now. Maybe tomorrow. She had to get back to the world of the living. That was where her and Jun were heading, back to the Senkaimone.
"You're walking straighter." Jun pointed out.
Riina peaked down into her overcoat. Her skin was healed? It must have been the reishi. Of course, a mod soul can't absorb as much reishi as a regular soul reaper, but being around such affects can sometimes heal the fibers that made up her body. Urahara had told her that once, that's why Inoue-san's healing powers worked on her as well as humans and shinigami.
"I guess so, huh." Riina shrugged. The box that she had under her arm was still there, unopened. She'd open it whenever she got back to the human world.
Suddenly, she saw something flash ahead of her. Two swords shone brightly in the afternoon sun. More than that there were two men standing ahead of them.
"You." The shorter male looked at Jun, "Why are you escorting a traitor around the Soul Society? Are you that stupid?"
Riina's eyes were wide, "Traitor?"
"You've been called in. You're coming with us." the other one, Riina didn't notice till just now. His red flaming hair blew in the breeze and he had a serious look on his face. His features covered by standing in front of the sun.
"Abarai F-fuku-taichou " Riina and Jun said at the same time.
"You shouldn't have come here, Riina." Renji gripped his sword tighter. "Come with us, or we'll be forced to drag you in."
"...What? Why?! What did I do?!" Riina made fists at her sides. The sunlight was bright against her cheek. Her brows furrowed to a sneer. "You don't know what you're saying, Jun invited me to get some of my sister's things, that was it!"
"You know why we have to bring you in." Renji sighed lightly. "Don't make us use force."
Riina had forgotten her zanpakuto in the other world. She was defenseless! Not only that but, she was still regaining her powers, she didn't stand a chance.
Her brow furrowed more, "Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to kill me again! Wasn't once enough?!" The girl took a step forward.
Renji didn't lower his sword, "Get going. It's my orders to take you directly to prison."
"I'm not going anywhere till you answer my questions! What did I do?!" Riina grimaced her uneven teeth glinted in the light.
His eyes lowered for only a moment and he spoke quietly after a long pause. "Please, Riina. I don't want to hurt you."
Her eyes widened. That was when reality hit her. She was indeed in the Soul Society, the place she was almost killed in. And yet she came back? How stupid was that? Riina looked down to her feet. How could she make such an easy mistake, she thought they wouldn't notice.
She thought maybe, just maybe it was all some sort of mistake. She wasn't supposed to be killed off. It was all just some accident. They didn't want to kill her, was what she had falsely hoped, but she was wrong.
They did want her dead. They hadn't come searching for her, probably just thinking she had died or not wanting to bother but, she went right into the palms of their hands. How could she have thought any differently?
She was too trusting! Dang it, she thought it was all just some mistake, that she would be fine. That they had hearts. That someone in this city had some soul to them. Riina looked over at Jun who looked down as well.
"Don't take him in, He didn't do anything." Riina said quickly.
"We won't." Abarai said much to the surprise of the other guard. Then he revealed why, "He was the one who told us where you were."
Riina's eyes widened, "Jun?"
Jun sighed, "I'm sorry Asuka-san. One of the members in squad 12 ratted me out. I had no choice but, to tell them what we were doing. They said they needed to know who you were and that they'd imprison me if I didn't tell."
Riina frowned, "How long did you know about this?!"
"As soon as you left squad 12 to look around. That's when they caught me. I- I didn't think you were a traitor. I just thought you quit! I didn't know they would... I'm sorry." He walked the other way slowly. "I'm so sorry."
Riina tisked, "You're a traitor too, Jun!" She turned back toward the more immediate problem.
Her strands of red hair blew into her face and in that instant she saw the old Renji standing ahead of her. The one she used to know, with shorter hair and a smile on his face.
"Why... Renji?" She swallowed. "Why did you pretend to be my friend?" Her eyes watered. "Why did you let them kill me?" She didn't even bother saying 'almost kill me' because since that day, she felt dead inside anyway.
He didn't move his eyes still wide. "I-" He grunted a little, "Take her to prison. I'm not here to answer your questions, Riina."
"Why did you betray me?!" Riina screamed as the other guard took her arms and held them behind her back. The shiny wooden box fell from her grip as he dragged her backwards forcefully. Riina struggled hard though, to look at the Fuku-taichou.
Renji walked far behind them, carrying the small box. "Stay quiet." His eyes closed.
"Just tell me dammit!" her voice only left silence. She felt the strong arms of the person dragging her away, her feet slid against the dirt in protest. "COWARD!" She screamed as loudly as she could before she felt the guard cover her mouth.
Everything flashed in her eyes. The past memories.
[Riina swatted her hand away, "Hey!"
Rangiku only giggled, "I'm trying to fix it Riina-chan!"
Riina rolled her eyes."Since when did she start calling me 'chan' anyway?" She sighed. Then she took a step closer to the taller woman and turned around. "Alright fine." Riina pouted but then smiled a little,"Rangiku, the woman tends to be able to do whatever she wants."
Rangiku patted down the small girl's hair until it looked just right.
"Thank you, Matsu… Rangiku-san."]
"Rangiku..."
["OW! ME?! You landed on top of me!" Riina growled and threw his body off in anger, her white spiritual pressure flaring. She was standing up now and looked to her right. There was the Taichou alright, and another being. Riina guessed his zanpakuto by the feel of his spiritual pressure. He wore a mask but his fists were clearly visible. They were clenched tightly.
Her Taichou had black clouds floating above his head and his eyes couldn't be seen by the shadows that casted over them. It was an overall horrifying face to say the least.
"T-T-Tai…" Riina's eyes widened. Her teeth trembled. "GENKAKU NEW PLAN, GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!"]
"Kuchiki Taichou.."
["Hitsugaya Taichou?" Riina questioned. She was on her knees when Hitsugaya's arms unwrapped around her, letting her sit up by herself. Riina felt a strange heat on her body. She couldn't look away from him. "What's going on?" She peeked down at herself to see that she was not injured but some of the blood from Hitsugaya's wounds was on her now.
Hitsugaya looked out the boarded window and squinted because of the bright light outside. "The reinforcements are here." He grunted a little and held unto his chest. He bent down.
"W-" Riina began to say. "Why?"
"The reinforcements saw that you were the only one left standing. There's no doubt they would have thought you were conspiring with me. So I made it look like I captured you, maybe they'll think I'm holding you hostage." Hitsugaya breathed out heavily and clenched his wound.]
"Toshiro..."
[But, she couldn't stay mad at him forever. She smiled as she turned as a good gesture. "Yeah, surprising eh?"
"Hey, you have tattoos!" He was surprised.
Riina looked at him. She's never seen him with his arms exposed. He had a great deal of tattoos. Far more than hers. "You do too." She said casually, almost sarcastically.
"Don't tell me you're still upset about…" He sighed.
"No, I'm not upset for your information!" Riina was slightly offended he would think so. She pointed her finger at him.
He slapped it away. "Any way, let's get this party started!"
Riina was outraged. "You can't just slap my finger away like that!" Riina poked him angrily in the stomach. That's all that she could bring herself to do. She had no intention of hurting him however her finger did crumble for some reason.
She retrieved her finger. "Ow, what you got under there, a steel plate?" Renji had on a white sleeveless shirt and black flaming shorts so she couldn't really tell. But that's what she assumed.
Renji laughed. "You're kind of dim huh?"
Riina furrowed her brow, "Is that another word for dumb, cuz I am not!" She crossed her arms as well.
Renji laughed again. Then just to prove his point he lifted up the bottom of his shirt to reveal his mid-section. "See, no metal plate. Nothing. Just like what's in your head."]
"Renji..."
"All of them..." Riina thought in her head. She frowned more. Her eyes watering but also raging with anger. She glared into his eyes as if she could somehow transfer her anger at him. Sure enough, he looked away from her eyes.
She bit the man's hand who was holding her.
"Gah!" He dropped her.
Riina hit hard against the ground and thought maybe she'd escape but suddenly felt something hard jab her back. She gasped and cringed against the ground. She looked up to see the back of Renji's sword pushing her heavily against the ground.
A little drop of blood oozed from the corner of her mouth.
"Please..." She closed her eyes for just a moment to let the tears slip. She could finally see him clearly. His eyes were dark and looked almost angry. Though, his face, on the other hand, showed no expression. Still, as angry as she was, as betrayed as she felt, she just wanted to know..."Please just tell me... di-did any of you ever c-care?" Her voice cracked at the end.
His eyes averted away. "...I'm sorry, Riina."
And like that, the lights went out.