Chapter 14

by: WhiteGloves

Oh come on! Bring her out already!

Tite-sensei! :o

Enjoy Reading! Thank you for waiting ^^

Yoruichi the cat is seen licking her front paw while sitting by the table of Kisuke Uruhara's shop. The manager himself is seated by the front store with a very thoughtful look on his eyes.

"I wonder what it was about…" he muttered to himself, making the cat look at him oddly.

"What is?" it asked.

Uruhara glanced by the open door of his shop, then answered,

"Kurosaki-kun suddenly jumping out of my shop minutes after his howling rampage. Doesn't that strike you odd?"

The cat merely continued licking her front paw.

"You've done more odd things before so not really."

"Now, now, don't put it on me. What do you think happened to those two? D'you think Kuchiki-san broke up with him again?"

Yoruichi scratched her ears gently as if unburdened of Ichigo's matters before answering.

"I suppose. Otherwise Ichigo won't be acting as strange as that. It figures much. All strong men go down and bow to women after all."

Kisuke gave Yoruichi a look.

"I don't think we're on the same page here…"

"Well, no matter what happened between them," Yoruichi now looked up and gave the manager a straight look, "The fact that Ichigo went running down shouting he'll go meet someone in Tokyo means he has something on his mind. That kid never gives up that easily after all. You saw his eyes. It'll surprise me if by the end of this day he's still hasn't convince you to let him open the Senkaimon."

"That's very unlikely… haha…"

"You sound doubtful,"

"Am I?"

"You already allowed the kid to have a peek at his girl, what's stopping you not to let him go there?"

"Ah… stop the questions Yoruichi-san…" Uruhara looked away pointedly with the tip of his fan touching his lips, "You already know why I didn't allow him to go back there even before…"

Yoruichi's eyes flashed.

"Because you think he'd be blinded by his emotions?"

"…"

"Come now, Kisuke… I already told you Ichigo's capable of coping up with Rukia's matters."

"No he won't be," Kisuke closed his eyes, "Not when his emotions are too strong for her, he won't. Kurosaki-kun is and always has been motivated by his strong feelings for Kuchiki-san even before… so I was afraid this very same feelings would lead him to all sorts of difficult and unnecessary battle to the whole Soul Society… and I say unnecessary casualties for the whole Soul Society. Ichigo is not on the side of the greater good anymore."

"In other words you really don't trust him?" Yoruichi marked, making Uruhara gave her a very piercing look.

"I don't trust men when it comes to their strong feelings," he muttered seriously, "when a man falls in the depths of the heart then no one can stop him to do the impossible… even defying all rules be it justifiable or not, acceptable or not… dangerous or not… a man would risk everything… for the sake of that strong feeling… and that is what I call both greatness and foolishness."

Yoruichi returned the manager's piercing look.

"Are we talking about Kurosaki or a certain someone wearing a sandal?" she asked with a smirk.

Kisuke suddenly broke into a grin.

"What are you talking about, Yoruichi-san? Besides—I also know of one woman with a tail who went after that sandal man after his act of 'greatness and foolishness'!"

Yoruichi flexed her claws.

"Shut up, idiot."

Kisuke continued grinning.

"Dad, isn't the meal ready yet?" Karin asked looking bored as she entered the kitchen and sit down on her favourite spot in their table. "It's already past dinner time…and why are you cooking anyway?"

"I'm almost done, no worries," Isshin called back as he poured oil on the pan he was so busy on, "and I'm cooking coz' your sister's doing a project on her friend's house. And you don't have to panic, I've already check the house a minute ago and they're all girls!"

Karin shot her father a look.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

Isshin merely grinned manically as he set the rice on their plates.

"Your sister's friends are cute, do you know that?"

"Stop saying that dad. It's creeping me out."

"But they are! And they really seem like a bunch of nice girls too,"

Karin looked pointedly at their window to the downpour of rain outside.

"You checked on Yuzu in the middle of this rain?"

"Dinner's ready!" the enthusiastic father announced as he set plates on the table.

Karin sat down properly, but then looked up at her father again.

"Isn't Ichii-nee going to eat?"

"Huh?"

"I'm talking about my brother. Your son. He still exits, doesn't he?"

Isshin blinked, and then recognition for his eldest son appeared on his eyes.

"AH! No need to worry about him, his old enough to take care of himself and look for food when he's hungry."

"You're making it sound like he's a dog." Karin grabbed her chopsticks and started eating, "He's your son too, you know. Don't go forgetting you still have a first son, dad."

"What are you talking about? How can I forget your brother? Ichigo is on his part time job; remember he told me that this morning. Said he'll be late too so it's fine."

"His shoes are already outside." Karin pointed out without looking up at her father.

Isshin gave Karin a dumbfounded look.

"Eh?"

"What the heck's with 'forgetting your son'? Of course I never forget a child," Isshin was muttering to himself as he climbed up their second landing toward Ichigo's room, "And what's with this brat not even telling me he's already home. That boy, really…"

He stopped outside Ichigo's room and knocked three times.

"Ichigo," he called loudly, "Come out here and eat dinner with us,"

Silence greeted his words.

"Ichigo,"

No answer.

An angry vein popped at the side of Isshin's head and his face contorted looking pissed.

"HEY BOY!" he growled as he forced Ichigo's room open, "What the heck's with this attitude!"

But he found the room dark. Isshin blinked to the room and then started to wonder if Karin really saw Ichigo's shoes when he noticed the familiar shadow of his eldest child seated on his bed with his arms wrapped around his knees, looking defeated.

Isshin frowned to himself as he took steps closer to the figure.

What the hell's going on? He wanted to ask, but then stopped himself as the familiar aura around his son surrounded the atmosphere. It was cold and dead, that was what Isshin felt.

In that instant, Isshin already knew what happened. This was not the first time that his eldest son fell into the depths of darkness like this, nor was it the second time.

The first time was when Ichigo's mother died. Isshin admittedly saw that dark aura emitting from his first child's very soul. It was sad and full of grief…

Then years ago, the aura was replaced, and it was no doubt because of one particular soul— a soul reaper, to be specific. It was a soul reaper with the name Rukia Kuchiki who pulled his son from his own darkness years ago. He saw Ichigo change. He saw his son get stronger ad found his purpose to live…

Then the second time of his dark days started yet again when it was Rukia Kuchiki who disappeared. Isshin could just remember how his son looked pathetic back then— 6 years ago. Truthfully speaking, he was afraid Ichigo wouldn't be able to pull himself together. He was so down you'd thought somebody died. Well, Rukia was actually dead by then. Anyway, that was why it was a miracle when Ichigo suddenly woke up one morning with determination to continue living. His resolve was not shattered as Isshin had thought… or probably it was because his son's own will… Isshin, who was already thinking of giving his son some fatherly adviced knew it was unneeded anymore.

He thought Ichigo would never fall on the pits of the same darkness again. Looking at his son now though, Isshin knew he was wrong.

Ichigo was definitely on one of his own self darkness again and looking at him like this makes Isshin want to pull him out of bed and tie him on the ceiling.

But that won't do.

If Ichigo was like this there can only be one reason.

That particular girl whom he was so in love with.

That Soul Reaper.

He wondered what happened this time. It's already been 6 years after all.

"Ichigo," he started quietly as he stood just at the foot of the bed of his son, "What's going on?"

"…"

Isshin frowned.

"You dare enter our humble abode looking like you've been rejected by a woman and you tell me nothing's wrong?"

Ichigo did not move, he barely even swallowed. This pissed the old man.

"Speak to me when I'm speaking to you dammit!"

He grabbed his son by the collar and threw him on the floor.

"OWwWWW! That hurts!"

Isshin blinked as the lights turned on and Ichigo faced him with a bleeding nose. The father wouldn't have notice anything different except that there was really something odd about his son's facial expression.

"What are you doing all of a sudden?" said the person in front of him who was no doubt in the boy of his son.

"Kon?" Isshin frowned.

"Hell yeah!" Kon answered inside Ichigo's body as he wiped the blood off his nose, "I wouldn't have any complaints if you wanna beat Ichigo to pulp but do it when his inside his own body, alright?"

"Where's Ichigo?"

"I don't know," Kon answered with cross arms as he put himself on the bed, "he just chucked me out of my stuffed body like the usual and then went out without saying a word… right after he… right after he…"

Ichigo's face turned teary. Isshin continued looking confused.

"I don't get it… then why are you so depressed here?"

"It's my nii-sama!" Kon answered sincerely as he turned an eager face to Isshin, "Before that bastard pulled me out of my body he was muttering about 'Renji and Rukia together my butt,' and then stalked off without another word!"

"Huh?"

Kon's face contorted in annoyance.

"Don't you get it?" he exclaimed, "he means that that good for nothing red-hair soul reaper is together with my nii-sama! Who cares about your son missing when my nii-sama is together with another man! I can't accept that! No—noooo!"

Isshin gave the mod soul an ugly look as he allowed it to make ruckus inside Ichigo's room. He would have also allowed the rampage to continue if not for something that crossed his mind.

If Ichigo has said something about Kuchiki Rukia again, and then he went out without another word… could it mean that his son finally found out about Rukia's fate?

"Wait, Kon! What did Ichigo say again?"

Ichigo is seen standing next to Yamada Hanatarou on the top of a high building that evening.

"K-Kurosaki-kun…" Hanatarou murmured with a pleading note, "Please… don't make me do this…"

"Open it," Ichigo, who was in his Soul Reaper form, said without a hint of hesitation, "Go on and get it over with."

"But you're getting me into a lot of trouble!"

"I don't care!" Ichigo shouted, "Just open it and get out of my way!"

Hanatarou bit his lip and then pulled out his zanpakuto.

"Don't expect Kuchiki-san to be happy about this…" he muttered before plunging his sword into an invincible door.

"I don't expect her to," Ichigo muttered as his eyes reflected the blinding light from inside the Senkaimon, "I'm sorry about this, Hanatarou… and thank you."

Renji just couldn't sleep. He had been pacing inside his room for more than an hour now and thinking about Rukia.

Since when did he stop thinking about her, anyway?

The next thing this red head lieutenant knew, he was already on his way toward Rukia again.

It was no good. He really couldn't sleep bearing the idea that Rukia would reject him the second time. Of course, he had already perceive the idea of rejection… but the slight hope in his heart that somehow Rukia would suddenly realize that they were meant together kept on nudging him.

And so he went toward the 2nd Division's barracks without ado.

If only Rukia would say yes… then he was willing to give up everything.

Even his power itself.

"Lieutenant Abarai?" said the guard as he Renji called from the gate. "Ah-open the gate!"

Renji strode toward the cold walls of the prison and went pass its all-too-familiar hallway.

When he reached Rukia's cell, he immediately had it opened and went towards the evening garden where the moon was already high up the sky.

"Rukia!" he called urgently and with eagerness.

Only to be surprised to see her slumped by the wall looking defeated.

"Hey," he muttered and then headed to where she was, "Rukia!"

In a step or two he was able to reach her and pull her to his arms.

"Rukia, are you alright? What happened to you?"

Rukia opened her eyes and stared back weakly at the person in front of her.

"Renji?"

The red head's frown could not be more apparent.

Few minutes later, the two friends are seen seated by the garden table again. Renji poured some hot tea on Rukia's cup before filling his own cup, all the while his eyes were transfixed on her.

Rukia had her head on her right hand as if her head was in pain. She had that lost look on her eyes as if she was miles away and not really in her own body. Renji couldn't help but worry at her present state that he did not hesitate to reach and touch her left hand which was resting on the table.

"Hey…" he whispered more softly, "What's going on?"

Rukia closed her eyes and then sighed.

"It's nothing…" she answered, "don't worry about it…"

"But you look as if someone just died!"

Rukia smiled weakly at this.

"You're exxaerating," she whispered back, and then attempting to pull herself together, she removed her hand on the table and sat up straight. Her shoulders however couldn't deceive Renji as how it sagged in a defeated way.

"Don't make out a fool of me, Rukia," Renji said more firmly as he saw her friend falling down on her own sadness that he rarely see on her—or more like—she never allowed him to see before.

Rukia looked up at him with her sad eyes, and then smiled again.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Renji suddenly blinked at the question.

"Oh—I was… I was just wondering outside that's all!" he blabbed all of a sudden, "I mean, I couldn't sleep while thinking about you, see, so I decided to accompany you here… seeing as you really do need a company right now, haha…"

"I see," Rukia muttered but Renji could tell she was not herself.

Frowning, Renji bit his lip. He stood up slowly and then went beside her where he knelt on the ground and held her hands. Rukia, for the first time, looked at him with her focused eyes.

"Renji…?"

"I'm here because I want to make sure that you accept me," Renji said without any hesitation, his red, determined eyes piercing through her soul, "I want you to give me a yes, Rukia, that's why I'm here!"

Rukia stared, her eyes rounding. Renji gritted his teeth.

"I really couldn't find peace within me tonight without your favourable response... no… not only tonight—for the rest of my life since I've met you!"

He held on Rukia's soft hands.

"I've really liked you since the very beginning… the moment I saw you I knew you were special… My eyes have always been after you wherever you go… I was this kid who fell in love over heels over this particular girl… a very special little girl…"

"Renji…" Rukia whispered as Renji reached a hand and touched her cheek.

"I love you," he whispered, "and I don't care how many times I say it!"

And he kissed her.

Rukia's eyes widened. She even tried to pull away from him but he resisted and kissed her more.

Well, maybe it was about time, said a voice in Rukia's head. And maybe, it was also time to be true to her words when she encountered Ichigo a few moments ago…

The memory of Ichigo's face six years after they last saw each other flash before his eyes. Even his voice seemed to be shouting for her name…

Ichigo…!

"Renji—!" Rukia pushed him away, making the red hair Soul Reaper look at her in surprise.

"Rukia…" he croaked in despair as she looked away from him.

"I'm really sorry…" she muttered, "but I just couldn't bring myself…"

"You couldn't bring yourself to love me?" Renji finished for her with a croaky voice, "I get it… you really still love him, don't you?"

Rukia didn't answer but her silence was enough.

"You're a fool," Renji injected as he got up and stood there on the spot with his hands forming fist, "To love a human like him… but then I guess that makes two of us…"

Rukia looked up at her friend with her trembling lips.

"Renji…"

"Don't say anything anymore," Renji continued as he turned his back on him, "I…"

His words were drowned by his tears and silently, Renji Abarai cried with his back on the very special person who has captured his heart since they were both little.

Rukia saw his shoulder shook and knew what her friend was going through. She was once again struck by guilt. Can't she do anything except for hurting those people who were very dear to her?

"Renji!" she called out, moving forward and embracing her friend's broad back.

Renji Abarai— the person who has looked after her since their days in Rukongai District. The person who had never let her down no matter what… The person who loved her more than what she was capable of returning… Renji Abarai, the very best friend she could ever ask for.

"I love you," Renji whispered after a few more moments.

"That's enough," Rukia answered gently.

"Idiot…" Renji continued as he gripped her hands holding his waist, "You can never stop me from saying that…. You're really an idiot…"

Rukia nearly smiled at her friend's retort, but then something shook her very soul as a familiar spiritual energy flowed into her like blades of knife.

Renji also felt the familiar spiritual energy that made him look up into the night sky.

"What the hell…" he muttered with eyes full of confusion, "this spiritual pressure…?"

"No…" Rukia whispered looking as if she was electrified a thousand times as the spiritual energy moved around her, "it can't be…"

"Lieutenant Abarai!" shouted a guard as he dashed toward the cell followed by another Soul Reaper. The two bowed at Renji and then—

"Reporting," said different messengers in all direction to where the Captains and Lieutenants are, "the Spiritual Pressure of none other than the ex-Substitute Shinigami Ichigo Kurosaki has been detected together with Yamada Hanatarou of the 4th Squad Division 420 kilometers away and 120 degree from the 4th Squad Barracks! All Captains and Lieutenants are ordered to meet at the said location!"

"What an idiot," Renji murmured as he jumped from roof to roof using flash steps, "Why can't he stay in his stupid world?"

And there was Ichigo standing bold as brass on top of a roof.

"What are you planning to do now, Kurosaki-kun?" Hanatarou murmured as they stared at Sereitei, "Are you going to fight your way to Rukia again?"

Ichigo silently watched as shadows from every corner started appearing one by one.

"Hanatarou," he said quietly as different spiritual pressures from different Captains and Lieutenants started to appear, "Thank you for getting me here… you can go now. I can manage it from here on."

"Kurosaki…kun?" Hanatarou blinked but then was interrupted by a person with a huge amount of spiritual pressure that made the 4th Squad tremble in fear. The person with spiky hair appeared in front of Ichigo.

"You know what'll happen when you appear here all of a sudden don't you?" hissed the eye patched guy with a devil grin on his face, "Kurosaki Ichigo."

Ichigo's eyes gleamed.

"Kenpachi."

"It's been a long while, Ichigo!" said Yachiru as she popped from Kenpachi's back. Ichigo merely gave her a small smile.

"Yeah."

"You moron," Ikkaku Madarame shouted as he appeared on another roof top with Ayasegawa right behind him, "You're really declaring war, are you?"

"Ikkaku," Ichigo whispered again as he looked at the 11th Squad Officer.

Ikkaku leaned on his bend knee, "Well, it doesn't matter since you're an opponent that must be defeated."

"Yeah," Ichigo muttered.

The other Captains and Lieutenants all appeared in front of him and Ichigo could just scan them all with his eyes but the person he was looking for was not there.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," Toushiro's eyes narrowed.

"Took you long enough," Kyouraku muttered to himself that made his Lieutenant to give him a look.

"Kurosaki-kun…" Jyuushiro Ukitake whispered with disbelief on his eyes as he looked at the orange haired guy, "don't tell me you'll… against all of us…"

"He should be aware of what he's going against," Soifon muttered as she flexed her fingers, "don't get too cocky again, ex-Soul Reaper."

Ichigo eyed them all but still the person he was looking for was not there.

"Don't get ahead of yourselves," he shouted to everybody who stared back at him in surprise, "I'm here to talk to Commander Yamamoto!"

"Eh…?" Ikkaku and the rest blinked.

"Commander…?" Jyuushiro muttered wide eyed,

"This kid's got some nerves," Toushiro muttered quietly.

"And what would you want to talk with me about?"

Everybody's head turned as General Yamamoto emerge from the shadows followed closely by Byakuya Kuchiki.

Ichigo's eyes lingered on Byakuya's profile, before turning his attention to the Commander of Gotei 13.

"Commander Yamamoto…" Ichigo started, and then pulled out his sword.

"Oi—!" Renji appeared beside Ikkaku, "What the hell are you doing here!"

"He's not planning to ask the Commander to fight him, right?" Yumichika wondered aloud as they all watched Ichigo's actions.

Byakuya's eyes narrowed while Genryuusai gave Ichigo a piercing look.

"Hear me out," Ichigo continued as he threw his sword on the ground that nearly shocked everybody in the vicinity, "As a former comrade! Please Commander—hear me out!"

"This brat…" Genryuusai muttered to himself, with his eyes transfixed at Ichigo who was looking at him with the same intensity in his eyes. "What do you want?"

Ichigo gripped his fists.

"Kuchiki Rukia…" he started on, "I want you to release her earlier than what is on her sentence!"

Everybody gave Ichigo that fast, head breaking look.

"Is he really insane?"

"What a fool…"

"I see…"

"There's no way to that…"

Ichigo looked at the Commander determinedly.

"And what gave you the impression that I would allow such bend to a rule?" the Commander asked testily to the ex-Substitute Shinigami, "For all I am concerned you are now someone who is once again trying our law."

"I promise you," Ichigo shouted above the heads, "That I won't do anything anymore… unlike the last time I will back off and leave this place at peace!"

"What the… are you saying you can take us all out?" Renji shouted through gritted teeth, "Stop being cocky you bastard!"

"Shut up!" Ichigo turned his seething gaze at Renji, "If I fight with all of you there's no doubt this place will be in pieces… that's why to avoid that happening… I came to ask you this! Release Rukia and I promise I won't linger in this place anymore! Commander Yamamoto!"

Yamamoto gave Ichigo a deadly stare.

"You dare pose threat to Gotei 13?" he growled.

"I am," Ichigo glared back, "Rukia isn't the only one who committed a crime… I was involved so why are you only punishing her? For six years she has endured the sentence that we both committed…. Isn't it only righteous that we both serve that sentence?"

"Fool. You are forgetting that you are a live human, Ichigo Kurosaki," Commander Yamamoto said quietly, "If we were to punish you that would be to strip you of your duties as a Soul Reaper even as a substitute."

"Which you already did!" Ichigo shouted, "I've been disconnected with this world for six whole years! But then—I was your comrade! I've been fighting for this world more than mine alongside everybody else! So please—release Rukia! It's not her fault! Commander!"

The Commander gave Ichigo a long, calculating look.

The rest of the Captains and Lieutenants all watched the exchange between the two quietly.

"All for that Kuchiki again, huh?" Toushiro whispered after a few moments.

"Don't be rude, Captain," Matsumoto whispered as she smiled at him, "That is what the power of those who love truly can do…"

Toushiro looked sideways at her, and then back at the Commander.

"But it doesn't change the fact," the 10th Squad Captain muttered on, "that they both broke the law. Kuchiki knows of it. I don't think the Commander will be that lenient to Kurosaki's wish."

Matsumoto's eyebrows creased, but then she pressed her lips in silent agreement.

"All right," Commander Yamamoto said after a few moments, "I've come to a decision."

Ichigo and the rest of the people there waited in anticipation.

What is the Commander's decision?

~TBC~

Thanks for reading and supporting! :)

The Quincy's Uproar on current manga- shucks!