Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anything that has to do with Bleach.

Ch. 21

Rin wasn't sure of the time, though judging from her blurred vision she guess it was still night. She tried to get up, but the impact on the wall was too much. There was nothing like having a random explosion to get her out of bed, literally.

She flew across the room and hit the wall head first. She could hear yelling and the sound of swords clashing. From her blurred vision she made out a figure of a tall person. She hoped it was Byakuya.

"Stay away from her!" She heard her beloved sixth captain. So much for hoping.

The mystery person now had picked her up, throwing a small black bomb at Byakuya. Smoke quickly filled the room causing her to cough. She had no strength to fight off the stranger.

Byakuya did his best to follow after the capturer, but his body was slowly down. That bomb wasn't just a smoke screen, but a poison.

"Rin," he fell to his knees, watching her being carried off.

He failed her. He failed his sister. He collapsed onto the cold grass despite his will to go after her.

"Stay away from him!"

Ichigo came crashing down, swinging his zanpakuto at the man trying to grab the unconscious Kuchiki.

"Rin."

"Rin!"

"RIN!"

A small, protesting moan escaped her lips as she opened her eyes much to his relief.

"Byakuya?" She questioned. She looked across the room barley making out his face, though she was sure she was in the same position as him. Her wrists were chained above her head and her ankles chained to the floor.

"Yes."

She felt relieved. "This isn't how I pictured our first date," she laughed rattling the chains for effect.

She heard him snort.

"This isn't the time to be making jokes," he said seriously.

"Is there ever a proper time for you?"

"Yes."

"I doubt it," she mumbled under her breath. "So, what's plan?" She asked pulling at her chains.

"Save your strength," he advised. "And there is no plan…. yet."

Rin frowned. There was no way in hell she was going to stand here and wait to die. Pulling with all her strength she ignored the pain of the rusting metal cutting into her skin.

Giving up after a few minutes, she stood there defeated.

"I get why he wanted to kidnap me, but why you?" She asked, looking in his direction. "Not that I'm complaining. I'm a little glad that I'm not alone."

"I do not know, though I have a feeling we are going to find out soon."

"Sooner than you think," a silky voice stated amused.

Rin and Byakuya snapped their head at the sudden intruder pushing apart the green curtains to the only entrance in the room.

"I'm glad the two of you are awake."

A deep scowl found its way on the noblemen's face. "Megumi what's the meaning of this?" He eyed the woman as she walked over to Rin.

"Try not to be upset. It doesn't suit your handsome face," she smirked at him before casting her eyes on to Rin's face.

"So you and Daisuke are working together?" He questioned watching in disgust as Megumi ran her fingers through Rin's light-brown hair.

"Working together? Don't make me laugh," her voice was laced in anger. "That damn fool almost ruined my plan." She pulled on Rin's hair causing her to wince.

"Wait, you're one who killed all those women?" Rin asked frowning.

"Does that surprise you? Though I technically didn't do the killing. I hired some dumb, poor man from Rukongai. What people will do for money."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why kill?" Rin asked, her expression soften not understanding what could drove a lady of her status to do such a thing.

"You really what to know?" Megumi brushed her black hair over her shoulder staring at Rin's sickening face.

The young woman nodded.

"It was because her," Megumi's upper lip twisted in loathing. "Daisuke's stupid wife, Miyoko. That bitch had to take away my Hiroshi." Venom was laced her words as she pulled Rin's hair causing her let out a yell.

Sudden realization hit Byakuya as he connected everything together.

"I don't understand,"Rin managed to say despite the pain she in.

"Shouta isn't Daisuke's son, you dimwit. He's Hiroshi. My poor husband was seduced into falling in love with that lowlife Miyoko. For months they had an affair resulting in Shouta, luckily she died giving birth to that brat."

"Are you sure? They're brothers-" Her hair was tugged again. Tears blurred her version. Rin was sure she had a bald spot now.

"Brothers? They're half-brothers. Same father different mother. Noblemen are nothing but pigs." She spat, releasing Rin's hair as she turned to Byakuya. "None of this would have happened if that stupid mute didn't go and marry himself a servant - some disgusting piece of trash!"

Rin almost wanted to pity Megumi. She was no longer the beautiful, elegant woman she met at dinner, but a mad woman consumed by hatred.

The one once refined air that seemed to surround her was gone as she marched her way over and stood in front of Byakuya.

"Why do you men pick poor piece of garbage as wives or mistresses? Huh! If you're going to cheat at least cheat with well bred, sophisticated women, you bastards!"

Byakuya didn't give a rebuttal. He remained quite knowing her anger wasn't direct so much at him personally than at the same status he shared with her husband.

"Did you ever cheat on your wife?"

He felt the need to answer.

"No." He glanced over at Rin who was looking at Megumi in confusion.

"Lair!" Megumi slapped his face, leaving his cheek a hand print though he seemed unfazed.

None of this made sense to Rin. Megumi was mad not because her husband cheated, but because he cheated on her with a servant.

"Did it matter who he cheated with?" Rin finally asked, earning the crazy noblewoman's attention.

"Of course it mattered, you idiot!" Megumi looked down at her hands as if she was holding her own pride. "Do you know what it is like having your husband fall in and is still in love with someone beneath you? To know that you are never going to be better than a PIECE OF TRASH!" Megumi let out a terrible scream causing Rin to flinch in surprise. There were tears in Megumi's eyes as she calmed herself down.

"Today is my final display and you, my dear Rin are the star. The second I laid eyes on you I knew you were going to be the last one," She casted he eyes on to the chained nobleman. "However, and I am sorry for this Lord Byakuya, but you will also be performing. I wouldn't have got you involved, but at dinner when I saw how you looked at her with those same eyes, Hiroshi had for Miyoko. I knew both of you had to die. Takano!"

A large man pushed past the curtains and stood behind Megumi. "Knock them out and get ready for the last show. I waited eighteen years to finally unleash my wrath."

Rin watched in fear as Megumi left the room and looked at the large man as he made his way over to her.

His clothes were plain colored but looked new. He had an ugly long scar starting from the top left of his face falling to his chin. This man was nothing but evil. His dark eyes matched his short dark hair and probably matched his soul.

"So, you're the last piece of meat I get to have fun with?" He smirked with bloodlust as he cupped her face with his rough, calloused hands. "Saving the best for last? Megumi has excellent taste."

Byakuya could only watch in loathing as the man bought his face onto Rin's. He knew saying anything would be pointless and would probably only entice the man more and cause Rin more harm.

Ignoring the pain radiating from his jaw as he clenched his teeth in fury; he only hoped that man wouldn't harm her.

Rin closed her eyes in disgust as she felt his warm breath against her cheek. "So sweet," the man whispered just before he licked her skin.

"Too bad for you we on a schedule," he said bringing his hand up and knocking her unconscious.

"What's the matter? Mad because I got a taste of your girlfriend?" Takano asked licking his lips for effect as Byakuya glared at him with the most detached look in his eyes Takano had ever seen on a man including him causing him to stop in his track in fear. He knew this man was capable of inflicting the worst possible death even allowed a chance, but he was chained and there was nothing he could do.

"Too good to answer me," Takano punched the sixth captain in the stomach and to his disappointment didn't even earn a groan from the soul reaper.

"Whatever, your ass is going to end up dead anyway," he chuckled malevolently as he knocked Byakuya unconscious.

There was no sound only the petrified look on her parents faces. It was so hard for her to keep her eyes open as she watched the scene unfold from across the room.

All control and feeling of her body was lost. She knew she had to be drug. Her eyes slowed blinked only to reopen seeing Byakuya and Renji standing behind her parents across a small field.

When did he get free? She wondered noting his equally frightened expression.

Her father opened his mouth yelling. Yelling what? Was he yelling at her?

She slowly closed her eyes again. How did she end up here? They were outside and the sky held a red tint.

She wanted to sleep, but she knew better. Her brown eyes met Byakuya's grey eyes filled with emotions she had never seen in them.

She could have smiled.

Everyone opened their mouth's shouting words deaf to her ears. Suddenly panic erupted, horrified expressions flashed as her saviors rushed towards her. Whatever was holding her up let go and her face met the cool grass. Someone picked her up facing her towards them.

It was her dad.

There were tears in red eyes.

Why?

They didn't suit his stupid face. He broke eye contact and yelled at whoever was on the other side of her out of view.

Staring back down at her she watched his mouth move. What was he saying?

She closed her eyes. She was losing strength to keep them open.

Her body shook forcefully. She barely managed to keep her eyes open. She knew the next time she closed them it was going to be her last.

Suddenly everything became one giant blur. She could no longer distinguish what was what except the determine expression on her dad's face.

Her body convulsed involuntarily. A rough cough escaped her throat and to her horror she saw blood fly in the air before staining a spot on her dad's top causing her dad to hold her tighter. She was sure he was whispering words of encouragement to stay alive, but it was harder for her to remain conscious.

Before she knew it they had come to a stop and where now standing in the fourth's division white hospital hallway with her dad yelling for help judging his fanatic face.

At that moment she wished she could have told him this wasn't his fault that he was a good father, but she couldn't.

He snapped his head downwards, meeting Rin's light brown eyes - those big innocent eyes that first greeted him when she was born. It was those same eyes that reminded him so much of his mother.

"Rin!"

Her eyes finally closed.

"Put her on the table," Unohana ordered quickly examining the damage of the young girl.

"She was drug," he blurted out but did as he was instructed.

Unohana said nothing as he watched her and two other people roll Rin away disappearing behind a door.

He dropped to his knees in despair. This was his entire fault. He should have been there for her. This was the second time this summer he had to wait and find out if his only child would make it to morning. He must be the worse father alive.

"Ichigo!"

He glanced over his shoulder not caring about his tears.

"Rukia," he choked back a sob pulling her tiny body into his. His ears caught her soft sobs and his skin felt her warms tears.

From a distance Byakuya and Renji stood watching the two parents weep.

"Captain," Renji wiped his eyes with his sleeves. "Rin's going to make it…..right?"

Byakuya looked at his vice-captain from the corner of his eyes. "….I do not know." The words came out quite, but had a coldness that could kill.

"I know she's going to make it," the red head said trying hard not to sound sad.

Byakuya slowly closed his eyes burying every emotion he had deep down as if a black hole was compressing and trapping his guilt, sadness and heartache in a tiny piece of mass.

He almost wanted to deny the fact that he watched Rin being stabbed straight through the chest. He and Renji had taken care of her idiot henchmen Takano and caught up to Rukia and Ichigo, finding Rin with a blade press to her neck.

But when the blade passed through her chest everyone knew this was their chance to get Megumi. While Ichigo took care of Rin; he, Renji and Rukia surrounded Megumi.

"Give up now!" He commanded angrily.

"Never!"

Before he could open his mouth he watched his sister in one fluid motion cut off Megumi's head.

Tears poured out of her dark eyes as she turned back to face him.

"I will never forgive her." His sister's words were filled with malice. It was probably the only time in his life he thought his sister frightening as she stood like a warrior blood thirsty for war.

"Captain?"

Byakuya let out a slow breath before opening his eyes, turning his head enough to meet Renji's eyes.

"Do not burden yourself. If Rin is anything like her hard headed father then she will prevail."

He casted his eyes on his sister as she clung to her husband for hope and comfort.

It was only two hours later when Unohana stepped out of the room which held Rin.

Ichigo's patience had reached its limits. "Well?" His tone filled with urgency.

The fourth Capitan had no trace of the faint smile that always played on her lips as she spoke.

"It's difficult to say if she will make it. Even if she were a soul and not human her recovery would be challenging. She was stabbed near the heart. It was a miracle that she was even alive when you bought her here," she paused meeting all eight pairs of eyes staring at her. "We did all we could and if she makes it past tomorrow night then she should be in the clear…however..."

"However what?" Ichigo spoke firmly. He had no more tears to cry. He knew he had to be strong for Rukia no matter the outcome.

"She probably will not make it to morning."

A gasped of despair was heard from the smallest Kuchiki as she clung to her husband's frame and cried his clothes.

Ichigo simply thanked Unohana and held his wife securely.

"You two may stay the night in her room if you wish," Unohana stated before leaving them alone. Her heart wept for the couple. After all the good Ichigo had done it did not seem fair for him to suffer so.

"Ichigo," Renji was the first to speak. He couldn't look the young father in the face. "She will make it. I know it."

Ichigo only nodded his head.

A/N: I know, I know, this chapter might have been too dramatic and not enough laughs, but I thought it was needed. So, was the chapter sad? Or was it lame and way too melodramatic? Lol Feedback would be great. I'm always worried that I never convey the right sadness needed for the chapter to work. Anyway hoped you enjoyed the update. And a big thank you to the people who have kept up with the story.