Chapter 21- Detainment
A couple days after the incident with Grand Fisher a new conflict arises. One night we found a note in Ichigo's room from Rukia. We found it shortly after Ichigo had discovered Kon tied up to the toilet in his bathroom. We couldn't understand what it said because it made no sense. Then we realized it must've been some sort of code. Ichigo crossed out all the words necessary and read the rest of it aloud. Rukia was leaving and she must be in danger. Then I felt two recognizable spiritual pressures nearby. I stood up after laying down on Ichigo's bed.
"I'm going after Rukia. Stay here and try to keep yourself hidden. This is a dangerous situation for you," I popped a soul candy into my mouth and dropped the container on his bed. I turned to face the window and was about to jump out when I saw Ichigo take Kon and use him to substitute his own body. "What are you doing? If you're caught they'll kill you!"
"Rukia is my friend. I have to help save her," he said as he jumped out his window.
I jumped out after him. "Ichigo wa-," I cut myself off.
We rushed off to the scene where we found Rukia, Renji, and Captain Kuchiki. I instantly knew that she was going to be arrested.
"Rukia!" I jumped over to her and placed a hand on my zanpakutou.
"Izume? What are you doing here? And why is Ichigo here?" she was shocked.
"I tried to keep him from coming here," I whispered. "And we're here to save you."
Ichigo jumped over to stand next to us, his sword already drawn from off his back. I drew mine as well.
"Lieutenant Shiba, I never expected you to betray us," Renji said. "Step aside and no one will get hurt."
"Sorry Renji, but we can't let that happen," an evil grin appeared on my face. I took a step forward only to see Ichigo charge in and attack Renji. "No Ichigo! He'll kill you!"
They started to fight and I tried to go stop him, only to have Captain Kuchiki grab the sheath of my zanpakutou that I slung over my back like Ichigo's. I immediately stopped to struggle for it was no use against a Captain, especially since I used to be his subordinate.
"You've never changed," Captain Kuchiki told me. "You never really liked to obey orders or follow the rules. Now you've decided to side with a soul reaper who committed an unforgivable crime. You should be ashamed of yourself, Lieutenant."
His spiritual pressure overwhelmed me and I fell to my knees with nothing to say. What should I do? If I fought back against Captain Kuchiki he is likely to kill me for all I've done. But he's talking about his sister like she's a bad person. I can't let him do this to her!
I got up with false bravery, and I knew that this may be the worst and best choice I was going to make today. I wasn't so sure it would work, but it was the best I could do. I turned around and tried to grab Captain Kuchiki's shihakuso only to have him pin me up against a brick wall with so much force that I dropped my zanpakutou. I felt a bit of blood trickle down my chin and drip onto the ground. I understood that he wasn't going to show any pity towards me.
"R-Rukia…you have to run! Go now while you can!" I yelled. I tried to move forward, but I couldn't because Captain Kuchiki held me back. I watched Rukia as she looked at me apologetically and stood her ground. "Rukia please!"
I started to struggle to break free of Captain Kuchiki's grasp, but I was thrown to ground unable to get up. I believe that Captain Kuchiki has no intention of actually killing me, because his true goal was to capture Rukia and leave.
I lie there on the ground, with possible broken bones. I leaned on my elbow to look up, seeing that Renji has badly wounded Ichigo's shoulder with his shikai. I urged myself to get up and help him, but I felt like I lost all control of my body. The next moment I saw Ichigo make a comeback and nearly almost defeat Renji in one blow. Renji was brought down to his knees and Ichigo moved in for a final attack. At the last second I saw Captain Kuchiki flash-step over to Ichigo and slice nearly 75 percent off of his zanpakutou. Ichigo was confused, and that is what brought him to what I thought was his death. Captain Kuchiki had stabbed his soul chain and cancelled his soul sleep. He would no longer have the source of his spiritual pressure.
"Ichigo!" I screamed as he fell to the ground, blood spreading across the pavement. I was practically paralyzed.
Ichigo grabbed Captain Kuchiki's shihakuso from where he lay. Moments later Rukia ran up and kicked his hand off and started yelling at him for grabbing Captain Kuchiki. She told him he should lie there and live a little longer. She said that she would never forgive him if he went after her.
Captain Kuchiki walked up next to me. "Get up Lieutenant," he demanded. "We're leaving.'
"Y-yes Captain," I tried to do as he said, but I was fairly too weakened to get up completely. "I-I'm sorry I c-." he grabbed my shihakuso and pulled me up to my feet.
"Renji open the senkaimon then take this traitor with us," Captain Kuchiki ordered.
"Yes sir," Renji opened the senkaimon and then came to grab me from Captain Kuchiki. Four hell butterflies flew out to accompany us.
I looked back at Ichigo, worried about him as me and Rukia were brought back to the Soul Society. I mouthed a couple words to him as we got farther and farther apart. This is what I mouthed: Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I promise that I'll save Rukia, no matter what it takes. Farewell…Ichigo.