I don't own Bleach. I don't own Ellie.

Reminder: All the "talking" that's bold is a zanpakuto talking like at the very beginning with Rukia and everything in italics are thoughts or the wielder talking back.

The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it ok
I miss you

Rukia raised her sword and called, "Sode no Shirayuki!" Immediately, it turned white; the most beautiful sword in the Soul Society some called it. Rukia could do nothing more than agree. The spirit form of her zanpakuto was so beautiful it made her blade look old and dingy.

"What is the meaning of this?" Byakuya said calmly; he was always calm. "Why are you protecting someone who broke the rules?"

"Because I have to," Rukia answered. "I can't let you kill someone who didn't do anything wrong. He saved me, and that's his job. Ichigo didn't deserve this. No one deserves this…I don't deserve this." She disappeared then and tried to go in directly, maybe catching him off guard.

Not likely.

When you've been around for nearly two hundred years, nothing much fooled you. He blocked her easily, seeing her every move. How did she obtain flash step? Byakuya thought to himself. That's nearly impossible. She's not this strong. She's acting as if she's got something up her sleeve. But what could that be?

Rukia skidded away and stopped, breathing hard already. Okay, she thought. So, going in for any kind of attack is pointless. He knows all of Sode no Shirayuki's dances, it's not like I can use one of those. Maybe for a distraction…but he'd see through that.

It is time.

Rukia nodded. "Brother!" she called out to Byakuya. He stared her down with cold eyes. She continued, "Use your bankai on me! I promise you, I will defeat you!"

Byakuya's eyes widened slightly. My bankai? But…it would kill her.

"Now's the time, Byakuya Kuchiki," Rukia called, the moon running across her features. "A while back when I was put on trial, did you really want me to die? Well here I am, breaking the law. What are you gonna do about it, Brother?"

Byakuya stood up a little straighter and his eyes went back to normal. He regained his cold exterior and said, "If you so strongly wish to see my bankai, I can swear it will be the last thing you see."

Rukia nodded.

Byakuya unsheathed his sword and held it in front of his face. His attack is coming soon. Rukia nodded again at the unseen force. They were ready.

He dropped his sword.

Rukia had known what was going to happen. She had created his zanpakuto after all, she knew just about everything. When it hit the ground the surface rippled, like water. And then, the ground disappeared and everything turned blue.

Rukia stood there, Sode no Shirayuki in hand.

Then, large swords—almost like zanpakutoes—came out of the ground, two by two. There was a never ending line of them surrounding Byakuya. It almost looked like he was in a never ending hallway, his swords were the walls.

"Ban Kai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

And then, the swords disappeared. Rukia's eyes widened a bit. Though she had made this bankai and this character, it still surprised her how real this felt. How she couldn't just sit back in her chair when the story got too much. This time, there was no looking away; no sitting back. This was real.

The swords had dispersed into pink cherry tree petals.

Two fell in front of her face. It reminded her of the old days when she still lived with Byakuya. He had always gone out to sit by the cherry trees late at night. He never knew, but Rukia had watched him from her window. He always talked while he was out there and she never knew to whom. He was a strange man to say the least. But, she loved him for saving her all those years ago from the horrible orphanage she had been at. Rukia hadn't known why Byakuya had saved her. All she did know was that she was going to do anything she could to get him to love her back. There had to be a reason why he saved her after all.

The only time she ever saw him happy was when he was out there by those cherry trees. He looked so peaceful and calm. Like the cold that usually surrounded him melted. It was only later she learned that was where he had first kissed his former wife, Hisana.

Run.

Bringing herself back to reality, Rukia realized she was being attacked. She dodged all the petals she could. She knew those were fragments of his zanpakuto and if she didn't move quickly, she would be killed.

There was a huge cluster of them, not two feet from her face and she dodged, jumping up in the air. The petals followed and she turned around, Sode no Shirayuki crashed into the blossoms. Rukia was sent driving back. She felt a few cuts in her arm form as petals shot past.

She grunted and pushed forward. Byakuya must have let up; she split the petal group into two. It rushed passed her, cutting her arms and legs.

She fell to the ground and coughed. Her arms stung. She looked over and saw blood. There wasn't anything she could do in the sky…unless she used her bankai.

Anything on the ground would do. One of the dances could help.

She stood up again, too quickly. She put one of her hands to her head, steadying herself before she spoke. "I suppose that would be called a 'stupid go at it' at my level of ability."

"You act as if you have a higher level," Byakuya responded calmly. Does this mean that she's achieved bankai? He thought. That's impossible. She's no where strong enough.

He found out not two seconds later.

"Call to the winter!" Rukia called, holding her sword above her head. She smirked when she saw the shocked look on Byakuya's face. "Ban—kai."

In the distance there was a rumble of thunder. The sky turned grey suddenly, covering up the stars, and there were a few sparks of lightning. And then, it started to snow. Rukia dropped her sword to her side, closed her eyes, and felt a short gust of wind in her hair.

And then she started to change as well.

Byakuya watched in amazement. Her hair turned completely white and her robes became white too. She looked very different to say the least. She looked—like the snow. And when she opened her eyes they were the brightest blue the Captain had ever seen. His eyes widened.

The snow picked up. Besides her physical appearance her bankai wasn't much. What was snow going to do to him anyway? It was like, a distraction. Maybe? He didn't think so. His mind was racing, trying to figure out the bankai. He did this often with a calm and serious look on his face. His façade dropped a bit when he couldn't figure out the answer.

What is it, damn it!

He's getting frustrated, Rukia thought, smirking. He can't figure it out. I bet no one can. That's good. The element of surprise is on my side.

It's time, Rukia.

Okay.

"Call from Winter, Sode no Shirayuki! Suno—aki Keta!!"

"Damn it," Ellie cursed, blowing a piece of hair out of her face. Fighting two captains was a lot harder than Rukia's book made it appear; even though Ichigo had never done that. He would probably kick ass though, not get his ass kicked, like she was.

Captain Soifon flash stepped into another attack and Ellie blocked, barely. The captain disappeared. And then, Fox-Man—as Ellie called him—or Captain Sajin as most people called him. He went next, diving in for an attack.

Ellie blocked him as well, shoved up his right elbow, and skidded to the other side of him. She cut his arm with her zanpakuto and grinned a bit when she heard the loud pain.

The grin didn't last long when she felt cool metal pressed up against her neck. She gasped and held her breath. "Got ya," Soifon whispered in her ear.

Ellie was breathing hard, which wasn't helping her death experience at all. Warm liquid ran down her neck as the blade was driven a little deeper. Ellie bit her tongue. It hurt a lot.

"You're dead."

Then, there was a faint yell. Ellie couldn't make it out…but it sounded like someone had just called bankai. She held her breath.

Whoosh!

Soifon was gone. Ellie looked in front of her, past the smoke and pas the long dragon looking thing. Soifon was done there…not dead, but pretty bruised up. Who would do that? Not that Ellie was complaining. It did seem a little over the top though.

"Hey!" someone called from behind.

Hearing the familiar voice, she turned her head and gasped. Her features were glowing from sweat. A raw blush was plastered on her cheeks and her eyes were wide. Relief was bubbling with her stomach, along with anticipation and a loneliness she had felt ever since she had decided to go with Rukia to save Ichigo.

Renji came running up, a grin on his face.

"Hey," she replied. "What are you doing here? I thought you were trying to kill us?" She used the words so easily, it was almost scary. Her heart was going a million miles an hour just seeing him grin like that again.

It was in that moment she realized this was the Renji she had dated in the real world. Sure, he didn't remember her now but she still had the power to see the real him. It was in that moment she realized that when she went back to the real world she could trust him and could tell him everything, because he would always come back.

It was in that moment that she realized how much she loved him.

And it took a near death experience to figure that out. Rukia was really good at keeping her characters, in character to say the least. She almost felt as if her Renji was the one standing in front of her. If Renji had come with us, she thought suddenly. It would be. It's just like Rukia and the book Rukia.

She kept saying she had dreams and space outs while she was in the tower. Also during that time she was Rukia Kuchiki, the book character. But that wasn't it…she was Rukia Kuchiki, the book character. She was having dreams and flashbacks of her own life while in that tower. She was reliving everything that had happened to her.

"What's wrong?" the voice brought her back to reality.

She looked up and saw Renji looking to the two captains ready to fight again. "That was a little harsh," Ellie mumbled looking over to Soifon and then back up at him.

"Harsh?!" he stumbled backward a bit.

Ellie crossed her arms. "Yes, harsh. You didn't need to practically rip her head off with that attack, I had everything handled perfectly."

He crossed his arms as well. "Tsk, yeah right. You were about to ready to die! You call that handling it?!"

She looked away. "Thanks then. You know, for saving me."

"You're damn welcome. Now, come on. We have some major captain ass to kick."

There he was, old Renji; her Renji.

"Let's do it."

When Ichigo awoke, it nearly dawn. His head hurt; and his stomach. Slowly, he sat up and looked in his surroundings. He remembered this place; he had been here before. When was it? Oh! The time before he went to save Rukia the first time!

He looked around and noticed Yoruichi sitting in the corner, watching him with her cat-like eyes. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Reality hit him then, and he realized that she was watching to see what he would do. He remembered suddenly…being saved by Rukia, Ellie, and the cat woman, and then he remembered being thrown—well, kicked and he remembered flying.

Then, he remembered nothing.

There had been so many captains there…

He stood up so fast; he was on his feet before his head had time to process what exactly he was going to do. He put his hands to his and tried to regain his balance before he said anything.

"Where's Rukia!?" he yelled as soon as his voice came back to him. "Why are we up here? I have to help her! She's gonna get herself killed!"

"Shut up!" Yoruichi yelled from her corner. "Rukia's handling it. She's fighting Byakuya. Ellie and Renji are fighting Soifon and Fox-man."

Ichigo was too stunned that Rukia was fighting her own brother to even hear what Ellie and Renji were doing or the fact that Renji was even helping Ellie.

"Rukia's fighting Byakuya?"

She nodded once.

"Damn it, I have to save her! She's gonna get herself killed!"

He started to head to the entrance of the cave. He put one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace which surprised him considering the fact that his hands were trembling and his mind was going a million miles per hour.

"Stop!" Yoruichi called. "If you go down there and try to protect Rukia, you'll destroy her pride forever." Ichigo whirled around about ready to ask what the hell that had to do with anything. But Yoruichi was too quick. "When fighting there are two types of battle: A battle to protect someone and the battle for someone's honor.

"If you go and save Rukia, you'll save her life but will destroy her pride forever. Do you remember Kaien, the boy that died?"—Ichigo nodded—"Well, here that boy was fighting a hollow, even though he, Rukia, and Ukitake knew he had no chance of defeating him, he still fought. He was trying to avenge his wife in which the hollow ate.

"Rukia wanted to save him but Ukitake explained those two battles to her. She let Kaien fight. In the end, the hollow took over his body—just like what he had done to Kaien's wife—and when he attacked Rukia, she thrust her blade into his chest. He died in her arms but not before saying that he was happy to leave his heart with her."

Ichigo looked away and his fists were balled up, ready to fight. He needed to help her so badly. But, he shouldn't. He couldn't. That battle between her and Byakuya was deeper than just Ichigo himself. It was for Renji and whatever other crap she had been through at her many years at the brother's estate.

"Who was Kaien's wife?" Ichigo asked Yoruichi.

Yoruichi crossed her arms and broke the gaze that Ichigo was giving her. "Her name was—Miyako." So honorable, Ichigo thought. Even though Rukia loved him, she made Miyako Kaien's wife in her book. That's so—well, just honorable of someone who had passed.

"One more question, before I go," he said. "Is that Rukia didn't help me, when I was fighting Grand Fisher? I told her to stay out of it…is that true? Did she stay out of it because she was trying to protect my honor?"

Yoruichi's eyes locked with his. "Yes."

He looked behind him to the cave entrance and in front of him to Yoruichi. "I have to go," he said. "But I'll stay out of her fight. I'll let her deal with her brother. It's her honor on the line."

Yoruichi nodded but frowned. "Rukia won't like it."

"And what will she do to me?"

Yoruichi shrugged. "She could kick you off the Sokyoku again."

His hand went to his butt. "Yeah, that might hurt a bit." And then he turned around to the entrance, gave a wave to Yoruichi and jumped out, flash stepping to the battle scene.

When Byakuya met Rukia, she had been young—only fourteen. She had been nervous when she entered the Kuchiki estate, avoiding his stare and only speaking when asked to speak. He had honestly thought she had been more—perky than this. Weren't fourteen-year-olds happy and giggly and at the age to want to touch everything and ask too many questions.

But she hadn't been. Instead, she had been quiet and shy and never rude. She had been grateful to live with Byakuya Kuchiki, he knew that. She probably also thought it was strange that a widow and cold man like Byakuya would even care about a girl like her.

The truth was Byakuya didn't show his emotions very well. The only person who had ever been able to read him had been Hisana; and she had read him like a book. When he was upset, she knew, when he was pleased about something, she knew. She had known everything about him. Every family story—though there weren't that many—every aspect, every part of him, Hisana knew. She had been a peasant, but she had been so much more. She had been everything to him. And when she died, his openness had snapped shut.

He had tried to be intimidating. He had tried to be a good brother. But being a kind, loving brother like the kinds he used to see within other people, like Kurosaki for instance, looked so hard. He just wasn't like that. So, after a while, he stopped trying. (If you call the first day actually trying)

He had watched Rukia grow up into a woman. He had seen a huge increase in her maturity when her Kaien died. He had seen the rebellious look in her eye when he would scowl at her for something or he would frown at one of her mistakes.

And now, he realized she wasn't a fourteen-year-old girl anymore. She was a woman, capable of taking care of herself. She wasn't a child that needed to be slapped on the hand every time she stepped out of line.

The unfortunate timing of Byakuya's logical side of his brain was irritating though. As he realized this, Rukia's bankai was about ready to release full force on him.

The snow coming down suddenly stopped falling. It was still. Byakuya looked at the snow around him and it was unmoving. Something bad was about to happen. He gathered started gathering the petals around him, hoping to make a shield.

"Call from Winter, Sode no Shirayuki! Suno—aki Keta!!"

And then, the snow petals turned into beams. Wherever there was a fragment of snow, there came a small, light blue beam. One shot down and it burned the ground. Byakuya released the petals to stop the beams.

When the petals and the beams made contact the beam was stopped and the petal shriveled. Soon, there were hundreds of petals on the ground.

Byakuya was hurt, that was for sure. Parts of his captain's robe and even his shinigami's robe were burnt, holes now forming. He had tiny circles on his arms and wherever he got hurt. They stung and burned.

Rukia wasn't doing much better. The bankai attack had taken the rest of her energy. She stumbled forward, her vision blurry. She raised her hand out of the image that looked a lot like Byakuya. Behind her, there was Sode no Shirayuki, floating above her. She looked down on the girl and her face was full of pride; a sad pride but pride nonetheless.

The girl was beat up, bruised, cut. Her hair was black again and her eyes went back to violet with just the tint of blue it usually had.

Sode no Shirayuki glided down until she was next to Rukia. She touched the girl on the shoulder. Rukia stopped stumbling forward, and looked over her left shoulder, up at the spirit.

You did it.

I know.

You did very well, Rukia. I'm glad you know your true power now. Sode no Shirayuki smiled. Even when you go to the mortal world and even when you lose your shinigami powers, know that I'll always be there. And, know that there is such thing as an afterlife. I'll be waiting there Until then, fight well, live well, and start smiling. The sun needs to come after a snowstorm eventually, right?

Rukia nodded and smiled. Yes. Thank you, master. I hope to see you soon.

Sode no Shirayuki nodded and then she was gone.

Rukia, feeling a whole lot weaker—if that was even possible, fell to the ground and started breathing. She felt so weak…so tired. As quick as the battle began, it ended.

Kiss-ass bankai, she thought to herself, amused. For a few seconds she was on the ground, curled up, blood seeping from her body. Death was licking at her life, just about ready to take it in its mouth.

And then, to make matters worse, Byakuya appeared above her. He looked her over and she looked him over.

"I told you," he said. "That my bankai would be the last thing you saw. So…"

He held up his sword.

Blood was everywhere. She looked up, straining her eyes to lock with his. When they did, she whispered, "Brother…what about—her? What about Hisana?"

"BANKAI!" Ellie yelled holding her sword out. So far, Renji had her had been up and then down. When Renji had come, they had surprise on their side.

Then, they had started losing. Renji had blood from a cut on his forehead thanks to Soifon. And Ellie was even more beat up than she had been before.

It had been their last resort, using Ellie's bankai, but now, they had to use it. She knew it would drain a lot out of her, but they had no choice. They had to use it.

Myu-jikaru-kouu, he zanpakuto's spirit appeared beside her. Since achieving bankai, the girl had changed drastically. Now, she talked to Ellie was a comrade, a partner rather than some piece of trash that could be kicked around. Now, she never brought up Ellie's weakness and now, she smiled when Ellie did something right.

Myu-jikaru-kouu I need to use bankai.

Her zanpakuto smirked. Do you want to protect your boy friend from this?

Yes, please. Ellie hadn't even realized that she had 'forgotten' to deny the fact that this Renji was not her boyfriend. The girl spirit didn't bring it up.

Ellie's eyes glassed over. Renji stood halfway behind her, ready to fight if necessary even though his head hurt like crazy.

Ellie held up her sword. "Music direct!" she yelled.

Suddenly there was a huge gust of wind. Ripples formed in thin air and when the gust passed Renji, it was harder to breathe. He watched the two captains.

When the gust of air hit them, Ellie dropped her sword and then swung it; the air followed. Renji watched as Soifon and the other captain's hands went to their ears. Soifon screamed out in pain and Sajin fell to the ground, grunting.

Renji watched, stunned. What was Ellie doing to them? Renji didn't want to know.

And then, it stopped. The rippling in the sky stopped and everything went back to normal. Renji saw that both captains were passed out cold.

In front of him, Ellie wobbled a bit and dropped her sword. And then, she fell.

"Ellie!"

He rushed over to her and put his hand under her head. "Ellie? Ellie, are you alright?" he asked.

Her eyes shut and opened several times before she answered. She laughed unsteadily, unconsciousness about ready to take over. "I think I just defied gravity a little."

"What did you do?" Renji asked.

"The ripple in the sky?" she asked. He nodded. "Those were sound waves. I made it loud and screechy and it finally knocked the two captains out."

Renji shook his head. "Wow, really, you really are something else."

She grinned goofily and then she was out.

Byakuya stiffened.

Rukia tried again. "Hisana, my sister. You loved her. She loved you. Before she died—she asked you to find me…why would you kill me?"

She wasn't making much sense. Byakuya didn't really care. "Don't you care, Brother?"

He knelt down next to her and stared at her straight in the eye. "I loved your sister with all my heart," he told her sharply. "But after she died, I promised myself I wouldn't break another law. Not one. You broke the law, Rukia. I…"

Rukia could feel tears. One fell down her cheek and Byakuya pulled the scarf that was around his neck, off and he examined it for a while. Then, he reached down and wrapped it around Rukia's neck.

Then, he stood up and was gone.

Above her, the sky was turning blue. She hoped that she didn't have to go back in the tower today. Maybe not, Rukia thought, not feeling anything coming. Maybe since she saved Ichigo, she wouldn't have to go back.

And she didn't.

The sun was in the sky had it was blinding her. The only thing she could see was the trees from a nearby forest and the pink sky, a sign of morning.

And then, it was shady.

No, she hadn't passed out; not yet anyway. She strained her eyes to focus. In front of her, she saw—orange. And not just any orange. His orange.

"… Ichigo?"

He smiled, shaking his head. Brushing back the hair that had fallen in her face, he smiled. "Wow, you really are an idiot."

Usually, Rukia would have retorted but right now, she was just too tired. Instead she gave him a thumbs up—well, one that she could manage—and then she slipped into darkness.

Three hours later — Emergency Captain/Vice-Captain Meeting

"All crimes put against Ichigo Kurosaki will be dropped," Yamamoto said to the captains surrounding him. "He won't be executed or punished. He saved a human—and the author of our story—something he was supposed to do."

The captains exchanged glances and then looked at the back of the room to the defendant. Ichigo Kurosaki looked up with shock.

After storming the Soul Society, destroying the execution, and hurting three captains, Ichigo, Ellie, and Rukia decided to accept any punishments that went their way.

"And what about Rukia and Ellie?" Ichigo asked, all serious. Obviously having his own life spared wasn't as important as the two girls who had saved him.

"They will be sent out of the book as soon as their injuries are healed. Dismissed."

Captains and vice-captains rose, stretching and leaving ready to eat lunch, and some—like Soifon and Sajin—head back to the Fourth Division. Ichigo rose was well, a grin plastered on his face.

He couldn't wait to tell Rukia.

She would be going home! That was going to be great! She would go home and back to the bookstore. And then, a frown formed.

There was only thing left to decide: Would Ichigo even go with her? Sure he wanted too—really, really badly, but the people here needed him.

What was he going to do?

A/N: That's it!! How was it?!

I tried REALLY hard to make the battle scenes good. How did I do? Well, I don't really have much to say … how about that bankai? Huh? (wink)

Have a great week! Please review!!

Chapter Preview:

They could feel each other's breath on their skin. And then, Ichigo leaned in and captured her lips with his.