Hey everyone, this is my first story for bleach and also my first story for fanfiction. So it will not be perfect.

Sorry if I made any mistakes in this chapter.

Please no Flames, but Constructive criticism, advice and ideas are accepted, as it will help me write this story and improve it.

I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo does, I only own the OCs, plotline and Ideas(some have been inspired though)

Word count: 6905 in 11 and a half pages.

Warning some course language, some sexual reference, and there is violence. Also there are some OCs but they only help the story work and the characters might be oocish but this an AU story.

6 reviews, yay I got more than my goal. So thanks to TAKCH1, Metafury, Hatake Tsughi, Slashvenom and Ruki09, for reading and reviewing last chapter. Thanx for your comments and criticisms and patience.

Remember if you have any questions about the fic just ask.

And Chapter 25 is here a bit later than usual sorry I got to get back into my habits after just breaking it. Okay on holidays so I hope to get my next chapter up bat saturday or Sundau but don't hold me to it.

Chapter 25: Traitor: Part 1: Inferno.

The were-dogs ran in sync with one another through the darkness. They were headed to the valley to join the resistance against Aizen. Their leader a German shepherd huffed in frustration, knowing that they'd have to meet with the wolves. 'Those imperious bastards.' He thought angrily. They continued to run across the jagged edge of a cliff face. The padding of their feet sounding like the constant beating of a drum.

They were close, they could feel it. They could taste it on their tongues and had the scent in their keen noses. They ran down the rocky face onto the more evened ground of a meadow. There was cheer among the group knowing they were going to stop soon. They had ran for days non-stop. Each of them was tired, the film of exhaustion beginning to cover their eyes.

An agonised yelp echoed in the lush field and the leader skidded to stop, the rest following obediently. He did a quick head count and found one of them was missing. The small kelpie female. She was young and speedy. So whatever was attacking was extremely fast. He growled unsure, he could feel the dark energy surrounding them, pressing down on them. His head whipped around from the right to the left as he heard a pain ridden snarl, recognising it as coming from one of his best dogs, his large Doberman friend.

He growled viciously daring the newcomer to come out and play. Chuckling was heard from right behind him. "Stupid dog. I'm already next to you." The German shepherd's eyes widened as he turned to their attacker. All he saw was the massive clawed wolf hand that came down upon him, and the slight red that glinted only a few inches away. As the strike hit he howled in suffering. Spasms taking his body. The dogs shook in fear as they felt their panic rise, some ran but they never got away.

Their attacker flashed in front of them, killing each and everyone. Blood spurted and splashed down to the ground layering it in the thick red substance. Their shrieks and yelps unheard by those who could help. The wolf grinned as it stalked stealthily away, satisfied with its job.

Ichigo's POV

I awoke to the silence of the clearing, it wasn't even dawn. I raised myself up, automatically looking for Rukia but she wasn't here. 'Oh right I forgot.' I thought sadly to myself. I whirled when I heard someone clear their throat, I relaxed when I saw it was Gabriel and Michael enter the patch as I'd come to call it. I hadn't seen Rukia for three days and I still felt like she should be lying right beside me. On top of it I'd had no distraction either, I'd been waiting for the start of my lessons and it seems they were finally about to.

"Get up and get your sword." Michael ordered, quietly. I stood and grabbed Zangetsu, I made to go put a shirt on but they simply shook their heads. I shrugged and followed them silently.

"Michael! Gabriel!" I heard the voice of Yoruichi shout from the left. They turned and looked at her expectantly. "We have a problem, the group of were-dogs that were supposed to have arrive hasn't. No one knows where they are." She exclaimed, her worry evident on her face.

"Yoruichi, they'll be here. If they're not here by nightfall get Urahara to contact us and we'll help search for them. She nodded mumbling a small thank you. She looked at me and smiled happily. As she walked passed me she whispered to me. "Have fun and good luck, you're going to need it." She grinned when I turned to face her and shunpoed away before I could articulate any kind of answer.

Michael tapped my shoulder getting me back on track. He started walking and so did I. Gabriel was few metres ahead of us but we soon caught up. We travelled upwards taking the same route Urahara had made us run for our first training session. We followed that path for an hour and then began deviating from it, soon we could hear the rushing of a river, and the thrumming of a whole lot of water falling from a great height and splashing against the rocks into water.

We entered a small glen where you could see the water swirl violently creating the white foam as it rushed passed jagged and deadly rocks in a fast paced and most likely fatal rapid. It headed down the side of a gigantic cliff, dropping into a large pool of virtually still water. I looked at the large willows growing on the bank. Their leaves danced quietly in the peaceful breeze. It seemed the angels wanted to meditate, this was completely disillusioned when Michael threw a dagger at me.

I dodged just in time, so the pristine silver blade whizzed passed my ear. I felt the static energy as it did. That blade was designed to hurt and kill demons. I'm lucky I've got good reflexes. I started thinking of the reaction I would have had if it had hit me. It's happy days when you've got everyone trying to kill you, when you can't be around your girlfriend without killing them. Life sucks!

I jerked back in surprise when Michael suddenly clicked his fingers in front of face to get my attention and I'd hit my head on something hard. I turned to see it was the hilt of the dagger that Michael had thrown sticking out of a tree trunk. I rubbed my head grumbling incoherently so Michael wouldn't understand.

He raised an eyebrow quizzically but said nothing. It was then I realised Gabriel wasn't here. "Michael where's Gabriel?" I asked stupefied. One second he was here the next he was gone. Come on I hadn't phased out that long, had I?

"He's gone to check on a few things. Now, you need to concentrate on you training not on anything else. Do not get distracted."He ordered sternly whilst reprimanding me for my mistake. I grumbled again but otherwise made no complaints.

"Now put Zangetsu down there for now, you don't need him yet. We are going to start with some warm ups." He stated quietly smirking. He reached behind a rock and grabbed two flexible staffs. He threw one to me and I caught it easily. He then proceeded to get a few buckets as well from his hidden stash. I wonder what else is hidden there. He headed to the river filling each of the four buckets with water. I tilted my head trying to figure out what kind of training lesson this was.

"Ichigo, see the cooks in the valley are quite far from the lake and they often need water. They send runners from their staff that they need for other things to get it and carry it back placing it in their reserve. I thought we might do them a favour by ferrying what they need for breakfast for each day as long as you are trained by me and Gabriel." He replied and indicated that I follow him in what he was doing. Great, I'd done this before and it's not easy. There would be at least thirteen people ferrying the water. And now there's only two. Oh one other thing there's more people staying at the valley which means more water to ferry. Damn asshole.

I growled as I threaded the staff through both buckets' handles. I evened them out on either end and then hoisted them onto my shoulders. Michael had already done it and was waiting patiently for me. He began walking and I walked beside him.

"Good now you're ready, we're going to do this with shunpo." He exclaimed cheerfully. I groaned, I'd tried that once before, it didn't end that well at all. "Now, now. No complaints, it'll make good practise." He replied. I huffed and did a flash step. Michael looked confused for a second and then flashed beside me. We continued doing it down and up the treacherous mountain paths. I bounded around a corner, my feet slipping from under me. I stopped skidding, some water splashed out from the wooden pails.

"Careful Ichigo we do need water in the buckets." Michael mocked lightly. I grimaced and apologised, ducking my head slightly. He nodded smiling, he shrugged his shoulders and continued on. I followed step for step taking it slower than before. We sped passed the lush greenery, heading for the cookery area. I felt my feet soak as we ran through a shallow creek. As we shunpoed along, I felt and heard the water squishing and splotching in our leather shoes.

I huffed it was getting annoying. We either shunpoed or ran at our top speed. I was panting slightly, my breathing relatively even and much to my chagrin Michael was breathing fine as if he'd been sitting down the entire time. I shook my head. Freak much. We slowed our speed entering the cookery area. Yuzu, Nel, Rangiku and Orihime were all there creating their own dishes. My father waiting beside them quite impatiently for some food. He was jumping up down whining like a child. Why am I not surprised?

I ducked away and walked to the large tub that held a small amount of water, hoping he didn't see me. We poured the contents of the pail into it. I waved a greeting to Orana who was there with Leyna. They were chatting and laughing. I was glad to see their relationship mended. They smiled and waved back.

"Ichi-nii, did you have a nice run?" Yuzu shouted gleefully, smiling sweetly. Without realising I shook my head in answer and when Michael began turning to me I started nodding. He smiled approvingly and turned away the moment he did I started shaking my head again. 'No it was horrible.' I mouthed to the group. They giggled at my displeasure. Rangiku was sipping a clear liquid out of a full mug.

"My dear Matsumoto is that Sake?" Michael questioned seemingly shocked and offended.

She looked down and nodded embarrassed, her cheeks flushing a deep red at one of the Angels catching her. Michael grinned widely like a pauper child who was given a single ryo. "Awesome! Yoink!" Michael exclaimed stealing the cup out of Rangiku's hand and sculling every drop.

"Michael did you just yoink Sake from Matsumoto?" Nel asked utterly stunned.

"Don't be surprised. You've already seen Gabriel drink. Plus this is nothing, wait until you see them together." Dad stated excitedly. Bopping up and down even more. Michael simply grinned, proud he'd managed to shock even more people. I felt myself shaking my head until I felt the all too familiar rush of air and I lazily kicked in front of me sending my father flying backwards.

"Ichi-nii." Yuzu whined.

"What? He started it." I defended blaming it all on my father.

"Anyway we're going to get more water from the lake." Michael stated cheerfully. He gripped my shoulder and to my relief turned me to the direction of the lake inside the valley. That just made my job easier. We traversed the journey in a matter minutes and returned filling their small water reserve a bit more. We did it a further 23 times by the time the cooks had started to prepare their food, the water was ready for them. It had taken us an hour and 50 minutes, give or take a few minutes or maybe hours. I was always bad at measuring time.

We stopped and had a quick breakfast, during it Gabriel had arrived and taken the buckets but had left the poles. I looked quizzically at Michael but he didn't explain. We rose from our seats when we were finished and headed back toward the arduous track. We walked for a few minutes climbing the cliff wall and padded passed the large oak. As we did Michael suddenly lashed out with his staff. I immediately raised mine in defence.

"Good, nice reflexes. We've had our warm, now we begin some sparring as we make our back." He stated his voice detached, not a trace of cheer. I groaned, I had feeling this was going to be worse than with Yoruichi. At least it was a shorter run.

Michael flicked his sending mine in the air. He crouched and swung getting behind the knees, flinging my legs up so I fell to the ground on my back. I growled as I hit the compacted dirt ground. I looked up as Michael pointed his flimsy staff at my neck.

"Stop getting distracted with menial things. I'm surprised Alithra, or Yoruichi or Urahara allowed this behaviour." He asked standing straight as he removed his staff. He held a hand out and I took it. He pulled me up with unnatural ease.

"They didn't." I answered brushing myself off. "I guess it was the threat of dance lessons that kept me focused." I said shrugging. He frowned, I could tell he was trying to come up with a new punishment for me. He growled lowly so I missed what he'd said but I was sure he said something along the lines of I'll think of something later.

I shunpoed forward as he jabbed at me. He followed me tracing my steps and in reply I swung my own staff as he flashed near me. He blocked it with his own. I spun getting behind him and aimed a strike at his head, I found myself ducking as he blocked and then suddenly appeared behind me.

I rolled out of the way as he stabbed downward aiming at my chest, he crouched again and spun. I jumped over as the staff flew passed lowly. I brought my staff overhead and swung downwards using all my force. Michael just brought his rod up in time to block.

"Good." He confirmed smirking. With it he rose and shunpoed forward, I followed. Our little spars happened irregularly throughout our run back. In total there was about 5 or 6, some really short others quite lengthy.

I soon heard the familiar rushing river and entered the glen. Gabriel was already there and they converged to talk. They allowed me to have a break and I headed to the river, placing my hands in the water I splashed my face with water. I sat down on the bank watching the river surge passed me. It seemed to be such a simple thing that was unimportant and free, how I'd kill to be like that.

"Ichigo a river is not as simple as you think and it is most certainly not unimportant." Zangetsu refuted, his tone wise and knowing.

'What do you mean?' I asked annoyed at being contradicted.

"A river holds water and water is the lifeblood of the land it supports everything around it. The plants and animals all drink from it. But it is also a home for many creatures such as the fish and even some marked humans." Zangetsu replied steadily.

'Marked humans?' I asked. There were humans who lived in water.

"Yes. Mermaids, sirens, water sprites and the list goes on. There are even normal humans who are chained to the river, surviving only because it does." He listed patient with my questions.

'I guess I took it for granted.'

"Yes you did. Rivers are part of a system, they are source of water for creatures to drink at, and because of that they provide excellent hunting ground for predators. They give homes to others. A place to clean and a place to enjoy oneself. And it's not that simple, it does all these things yet stays full. Rivers give water to the sky so it can rain in yet another constant cycle of life and death." He lectured gently, I nodded mentally. I felt pride come from Zangetsu as I understood and I'm sure I could sense relief there too.

I sighed and smiled as I remembered the memories involving me, Rukia and water.

END of Ichigo's POV

Rukia's POV

I stirred slightly as I felt the sun burn on my back. I sat up shakily, glancing around I saw no one in the clearing with me. Wow did Ichigo actually let me sleep in? Oh wait no, it was Kaien and Renji. The same as it had been for the last few days. I sighed and stood, quickly I changed into what I wore yesterday. I was missing him, it felt like a part of me was empty. I didn't have the strawberry's stupid antics to make me laugh nor the arguments that we had daily, plus the satisfaction I got from giving him a few hits when he was being irrational. Though I think if he tried to stop me he could have easily. Most of all I longed for the comfort his presence granted me, I was aching for his embrace, for his warm hug and his sweet lips on mine. I wanted him back but I steeled myself, I would not wallow in depression just because I hadn't seen him for a few days. Most of the time I managed to ignore the pains his absence gave me, it was just the mornings that were unbearable. I would expect him to be next to me but he wouldn't be anywhere in sight, he'd kept his distance like he said. Soon the pain would ebb as I realised being separated was necessary.

I sighed and walked out of the small field, stopping my angst filled thoughts and followed my nose to where the delectable aroma I could smell had originated from. I entered the area that had become designated as the cookery area. It was empty compared to usual. Some of the volunteers had gone to restock foods, we were running low. Yuzu ran up to me smiling she handed me a plate of food. I scoffed it down greedily, eager for the food.

I felt better today than I had in the last few days, the remnants of the pains were fading far faster now. Today I had yet another lesson on controlling my reiatsu, Yoruichi was going to instruct me again. She wanted to meet me in the central clearing from there we heading out of the valley, she said we'd train at the viewpoint again.

I stood and headed there to meet her, when I arrived in the large meadow she stood still in the centre waiting for me. She seemed tense and worried.

"Yoruichi is something wrong?" I asked, concerned. She looked older her face wrinkled with distress.

"The dog pack still hasn't come. I felt them early this morning when I was at the border, I was sure it was them but then it suddenly disappeared and I couldn't feel it anymore. I must be mistaken or did I really feel them?" Yoruichi murmured, she was alarmed, I could tell it and she rarely was.

"When are we checking for them?" I questioned. I'd have thought they'd already done it.

"The Shinigami said they do it tonight. At the moment we can't spare people. We need to prepare to help the Thirteenth Family." She answered solemnly but I could hear the frustration underlying it.

"We could go now." I supposed, I was happy to do it.

"No! You need to learn, we can't afford postponing it, after just starting so soon." She responded strongly but I could see the gratefulness in her eyes. I nodded and I trailed her out of the valley.

An hour later we were standing in the same opening Alithra had taken me to when I first got arrived then Orana afterwards. Where we'd practised for the previous three days with varying degrees of success. I stood for a few moments listening to the birds' songs. The whistling, the cawing and the tweeting a melodious symphony of nature. Some would find it annoying but I always enjoyed it, how nature had its own world of music.

"Rukia sit down in front of me please." Yoruichi requested politely. I did as she instructed and sat looking at her, smiling. She grinned back the same as yesterday and the day before and the day before that. "Rukia with your reiatsu I want you to make a ball, like this." She ordered kindly again. In her hand was small swirling grey mass, it condensed into a ball, a glowing grey ball.

"Are you a witch?" I asked Yoruichi this was the first time she'd given me an example.

"When my human side evolved I did get witch characteristics but this has nothing to do with it. Anyone with enough reiatsu can do it you just need to focus." She replied casually and calmly. I nodded and focused trying to form the ball. The past days I'd failed just barely, each time coming closer to grasping it. Yesterday I'd manage to form the beginnings of the orb. I felt for my reiatsu and tried pulling at it. On the third mental tug some of it came loose, quite violently too. It lashed out at Yoruichi, she leaned to the side just in time as it lashed passed. Oops I still hadn't learned to prevent that.

"Rukia stop forcing it. Close your eyes and see the ball in your hand. It might help to think of a reason why you need to do this." Yoruichi advised as she straightened.

'To see Ichigo again.' I thought, with it I felt more confident. Wait I can do this. I've used my reiatsu before, Hisana taught me. I did it when I calmed Ichigo while he slept. I grinned proud of the connection I'd just made. Wait how come I didn't think of that before? I calmed myself and felt my reiatsu as it pulsed, opening a small hole to let it out. I imagined the ball glowing and floating in the palm of my hand. My reiatsu surged forward and I quickly tempered it before I lost control. Little by little I sensed the energy come to my hand and it began swirling. As I sensed the movement slow, I opened my eyes to the glowing white ball floating above my hand.

"Well done. You got it faster than most." Yoruichi praised genuinely. I smiled brightly at it. "Now manipulate it. Make it fly, change its size, shape, anything."

I did as she instructed, I made the reiatsu ball whizz around our heads. I made it larger, smaller, made it a square then a triangle. Then a Bird which morphed into a cat and then a wolf. I laughed in glee at how easy it all was. After days of fruitless tries it truly was easy if one cleared there mind and focused. Yoruichi nodded in approval, her eyes twinkled in mischief. Oh the pranks I could pull now on Ichigo.

"Good. Rukia, with my reiatsu I'm going to lash out. I won't harm you but it will get you reiatsu to react, when it does I need you to put it under control. Normally I would not do it this so soon, but you have wonderful control over it, just do what you've been doing." She advised smiling reassuringly.

I nodded anxiously then I felt it. Her reiatsu washed over me like a huge wave crashing down onto rocks. Immediately I felt my reiatsu rise to fend off hers as it surrounded me, clouding me. Then it flooded through connecting with my abilities, I glimpsed the reaction just as I shut my eyes. I groped around momentarily before finding my source, feeling the pulses and getting in time with its rhythm. I gently gripped the threads inside my spirit and mind, pulling them back. At first it fought causing the reaction outside my inner self to become even more violent.

Still I persisted dragging them back, separating them from my powers. Binding the reiatsu, I forced it back and patched the wall, fixing my spiritual pressure behind it so it could do no damage. My eyes fluttered open as I succeeded. Yoruichi reiatsu rapidly disappeared. She patted my shoulder, silently congratulating me.

With my victory I felt some questions nag at the back of my mind. I found myself asking, desiring the answers. "Yoruichi if Ichigo has no control over his spiritual pressure than why is he not constantly out of control?" I questioned raising an eyebrow.

"Ichigo is a bit more complicated. He is able to control his powers but not his reiatsu. We have many theories on it. One, we believe it's to do with the fact of how much he despises being a demon, how much he abhors Hichigo so he suppresses his abilities. Two the reiatsu is his, while the powers aren't and for some reason Hichigo hasn't let them spiral out of control. Three, he has way too much reiatsu for such a youth and as such can't physically control, so he subconsciously focuses on disconnecting the powers from his reiatsu. Four, Ichigo is actually controlling his reiatsu but because of its vast amounts can't stop it from leaking out. Five, Demon powers are an enigma. For some reason when combining his reiatsu with their techniques he doesn't have much problem but when he uses it for Kido he can't control it at all, from that we gather demon powers don't latch onto reiatsu like the abilities of those who wield the arts. Why it may be like that we have no idea? And there are so many more." She explained.

"Maybe he can't do Kido because he is a demon. After all Kido are spells witches and warlocks do." I suggested. I felt rude and stupid but Rangiku had explained to me a basic witches' and warlocks' abilities: Kido.

"True but Kido means demon arts. It came from demons, hence why Ichigo can do it." She countered.

"Witches use demon magic?" I asked slightly surprised and afraid.

"Yes. The first witches, sorcerers and warlocks were touched by demons and so were given Kido. Mages, prophets and wizards were touched by angels and hence given the divine arts." Yoruichi replied evenly.

"So technically witches and warlocks are supposed to be evil because we use demon magic?" I asked saddened, tears stinging my eyes.

"No. The arts you use does not determine what side you're on nor whether you're evil or good. Magic whether given by demon or angel is benevolent, it is the user that decides its ultimate use. Originally the giving of arts to humans was designed so each side could have an army. But it did not work out like that. Some Kido users joined the other side, while some of the divinity fell and joined the darkness." She refuted explaining everything a little more.

"So if you use magic than you only use one of two types of magic?" I questioned feeling better.

Yoruichi chuckled. "Don't be daft. There are more than two magic arts. It's just all magic users started from those points. No one is absolutely sure which magic fits under which category anymore. And a magic user can use any type, they just need training, some abilities are more specialised so they are easier for that type of user. You've got your basic crafts that are labelled as either Kido or Divine spells, then there's elemental, alchemy, voodoo, witchcraft, nature, animal, spirits, necromancy, exorcism, fortunetelling, healing and so many others. Then the actual terms for wielders is even more numerous." She exclaimed, running through the names, she was now panting. The words were whirling around in my brain as I tried to understand it all.

She laughed as I shook my head that when another question popped in my head. "What about shunpo?" I quizzed.

She frowned for a second before speaking steadily yet prideful. "Ah, Shunpo the art of movement. Yes it is."

"You're a were-cat and you said you had witch characteristics."

"Not exactly a witch but a wielder. My human side is now a distorter. I specialise in physical phenomena, shunpo is a version of that. It's the phenomena of going at a speed far beyond the norm." She answered smiling wide.

"So what about Alithra or Orana or Shota? Can't they use shunpo?" I asked again.

"Orana can and so too Shota or at least something similar but what they have transformed into they have kept to themselves. As for Alithra she doesn't use it." Yoruichi stated sternly.

"Then how can she move so fast?" I whined confused.

"Alithra was born Ethereal she has no idea what her human side is, hence we can't be sure. She may be using a movement art or..." She paused and looked nervously to the side. I'd never seen Yoruichi anxious.

"Or what?" I prodded.

"Or her human side just became more wolf amplifying her fighting ability and instincts." She stated it quietly so I strained to hear. The silence was heavy and it weighed down all the more. Yoruichi stood and motioned for me to follow. I looked up to the sky the sun was setting, meaning the food gathers would return soon.

My stomach grumbled loudly making Yoruichi raise an eyebrow and chuckle slightly. She lead me toward the cookery area, I walked impatiently beside her, starving for food. I practised as I trotted beside her slowly and carefully I linked it to my elemental ability. Ice covered my fingers and I moulded it into dagger. Slowly I tried doing something larger, I concentrated calling up my reiatsu and power together I thrusted forward sending ice barrelling into a tree. The moment it hit I coerced into covering the tree instantly. I paused momentarily smiling at my execution, I took a deep breath before dispelling the ice with a flick of my wrist.

Yoruichi eyed me her brow raised a smile on her face despite her shocked state. "Well done Rukia your quick to access your abilities without instruction." She commended solemnly.

"How?" Was the word that popped into my mind and I immediately voiced.

"I think because your mother was one. Many of us believe if you were born into it and not changed then it is simpler for one to use their power." She answered her eyes shadowed slightly.

"But I did go through the changing." I countered her theory.

"But not because you were changed." She argued back calmly.

"What does that mean?" I asked my face and tone stoic not showing a symptom of my frustration.

"It means you were born with the power but it was hidden by your mother to protect you. So it means Yoshino interfered and reactivated your power. Just like Rangiku's mother did to her and undid after the royal family fell." She enlightened looking me dead in the eyes.

"Protect me? Protect me from whom ? And Rangiku why did her mother do it to her?" I grilled hungry for the answers that had been denied to me for so long.

"Rangiku's mother did to her for the same yours did. To protect her. You must understand something Rukia, Rangiku's father never knew his wife was a witch or his daughter that his daughter was. So her mother continued facade. To save her from the ridicule and hate from her father and the other families. After her father died and they separated from the rest her mother reactivated her abilities so she could better protect herself. Your mother did for that reason alone." Yoruichi explained blandly and distastefully. But right as she said alone her voice cracked slightly, barely just, barely enough for me to have heard it had I not been listening so intently. I knew she was hiding something.

"You're lying." I stated, I narrowed my eyes accusingly at her, furious to be denied another answer any longer. My brother had done it for so god damn long. He was my brother and I loved him but he was so detached and distant that I barely knew him. I gave a pointed glare at Yoruichi. She sighed.

"You're not entirely right, I'm just with holding part of the truth." She stated defensively.

"Please Yoruichi just tell me. I don't want to be constantly coddled and protected from it any longer. I have to know sometime." I asked my voice pleading her.

"Alright. We aren't positive if it was one of her reasons but we do believe it to be practical." She paused momentarily observing me cautiously. "But I personally believe and so do the others, that she wanted you away from the widows, unknown to them." She stated her eyes hard.

"Why? There must be some reason." I implored.

"Rukia she was running from them. They sent her after Alithra with faux information, to kill her." I interrupted her there. "But that was because she took in Zangetsu." I started before she overtook me.

"Rukia they wouldn't kill someone of her station just like that, it would be wasting resources they could not afford to lose. Even Zangetsu thinks so. Something happened within the widow witch society, something that put her on odds with her sisters. Something of which she never spoke to any of us about." Her voice was low, thoughtful and guarded. I understood then, that something could be a key to the war, I prayed it wouldn't turn out bad for us.

We remained quiet, slowly we resumed walking to our destination and our forgotten quest for food. My stomach growled viciously about so I wouldn't forget about it again. I flushed in embarrassment as it rumbled loudly, Yoruichi laughed at me and I joined her quickly. As we walked and laughed we passed Nero. He grinned predatorily at me. I stopped giggling and cringed involuntarily toward Yoruichi. She looked up and scowled at Nero. He raised his hands posing innocence and kept walking. I met eyes with Yoruichi she looked uneasy and I'm sure I did too.

We continued walking, when a sudden surge of energy began building and building. I immediately tempered mine from reacting. The surge hit its pinnacle and raged forward in flash of light. I closed my eyes and covered my ears as the explosion rocked the valley. I felt the ground shake, heard the leaves rustle restlessly. And I heard trees falling and the roaring of a wild fire. I smelt the smoke as it reached me, stinging my eyes, throat and lungs.

I glanced up shell shocked to see the glow of fire, I felt spiritual pressures swirl, some elevating, others dropping dangerously low and some being extinguished completely. Through the smoky haze I saw Hyorinmaru fly overhead roaring. As he flew he breathed Ice down onto the fires staunching the spread.

An idea struck, now was the time to truly test myself. I leapt up and ran forward ignoring Yoruichi orders for me to stay. I sprinted, my feet pounding on the ground. I skidded to a stop as I saw the threat to two water elementalists. The fire raged closer, sweat beaded on their foreheads from the heat and the pressure it exuded.

As the fire nearly licked the skin of the water benders, I shut my eyes and opened my reiatsu, my brow furrowed as I concentrated in safely connecting my powers. I felt my hands raise themselves and with it an ice wall a metre thick between them and the inferno. The fire sizzled held back for a moment before raging forward once again melting the ice I'd conjured.

They glanced at me and smiled in thanks. They summoned water and at that moment I saw what they were doing. I ran forward building the ice in front of the fire. It wouldn't stop it but it would hold it until we got help.

I felt myself lag as I tried to keep the ice wall strong. With it the fire broke through 10 metres on my right. As it ran up the trees burning above us, our help finally arrived. Tatsuki and six others ran in. From their clothing I could tell one was a fire elementalist, another was water and the third ice, the fourth was wind. The last two were no elementalists.

The wind elementalist was a black haired girl with orange eyes, she sprinted forward calling a wall of wind to keep the blaze at bay. The ice elementalist joined me strengthening the wall I'd created, while the three water benders called more water. Tatsuki and the man, who I assumed was her mentor, forced the fire to die down. They did little by little and the water benders soon combined their efforts with them. They bended water onto the flames Tatsuki forced to become smaller. The two magic users held hands and chanted together. "Bakudo 81 Danku!" The fire stopped short hitting a solid wall. I squinted to see the flickering wall, it was almost entirely transparent.

We trudged forward steadily, forcing the fire to back, vanquishing it. Through the infernos raging flames, I could hear screams of terror and pain. It hit me then where the fire had erupted from, the cookery area. Oh my God Yuzu and Nel would've been there. Maybe Rangiku or Orihime or Toshiro or Karin or Issin. My heart sank at the chance of their deaths.

"Rukia focus." I heard Tatsuki shout. Right! I shook my head concentrating on the task ahead.

I could hear crackling and more screams, I could hear the burning and I felt myself being choked by the smoke. My eyes stung from it all and I sweltered from the heat as the inferno raged on. I glanced up and saw the fire burning above us and watched for a second as the air elementalist tried pushing it back.

It was getting harder to breathe and I found it more difficult to form the ice. I looked around and saw the ice and water benders had the same problem. We were groping for water that was no longer there.

My head jerked upwards as I heard the snapping of tree branches, suddenly I was flung back by a huge gust of wind. As I tumbled to the ground I saw as to why. There where I and the other 3 had stood was a large burning branch. The sound I had heard was that! I yelled thanks to the wind elementalist and she smiled sweetly in return.

"We need to fall back. It's getting too dangerous." Tatsuki's master shouted above the blaze.

"We can't. There are people still alive. Those holding out against the fire aren't going to last much longer." The mandarin eyed girl countered.

"Senna don't be stupid, we can't help them if we're dead." He argued back. It was then I noticed that no one was defending against the fire and it was beginning to surround us. Damn it! Yet they were still arguing.

"Stop it. The fire is still burning, if we don't stop being distracted WE WILL DIE." I growled and then finally yelled at them. They glanced at me surprised and saw what I meant. I shrugged and ran forward trying to force a way through. I could hear the cry for help, it was close.

Tatsuki saw what I was doing and followed, then Senna and the water benders. The rest trailed almost immediately their reluctance dissipating. I looked at Tatsuki's mentor and the witch and warlock and an idea struck me. "Hey you three keep the fire from encircling us." I ordered and pointed to the point that was still open. They nodded and did as I instructed.

We finally succeeded in opening a path with much effort. Tatsuki held on wall of fire back by herself and with the support of one of the water benders. While I, the other ice bender, the other to water benders and wind bender held back the other.

Three soot covered people ran forward. One was Nel she had burns across her arms and a few elsewhere. Another was Grimmjow in his arms was... Caleb. Grimmjow was burned badly but they were healing. Caleb was unconscious with a large burn mark on his face but otherwise he was fine. He was healing too. The last I saw was the fire bender who had been performing at the celebration. He took up positions with us forcing the fire back.

When I saw Caleb I felt something in myself becoming angry, my energy surged anew and the air began turning frigid. Up from the ground ice formed it hissed as the fire neared and still I persisted. The air became colder and snow somehow formed, the air whipped around holding the fire back for the present moment.

"Go. I'll hold it for now." I ordered loudly. They looked at me concerned but never the less listened to me. A huge ice wall was manifesting in front of the out of control fire, stopping it. Then I felt the lag, as quick as the energy burst was, the sudden fall was even more rapid. I fell to my knees as my vitality was sucked out of me. I could barely breathe and more, barely hear, feel or smell. Someone shouted for me in the distance but it sounded so far away.

End of Rukia's POV

Okay Cliffy. Sorry I know you guys probably wanna kill me. Anyway Rukia's powers are coming along quickly, but there is more to come. And Senna is here, I've been toying with bringing her in or not so I have yet to decide if she'll have a major impact on the story.

So what did you all think? I hope you liked it.

Next Chapter: Traitor part 2: Survival: Disaster has struck what will be the consquence of this as the fires rages forward? Can they stop it or will it consume the entire valley? Will they survive or perish in the flames of the inferno?

Note:So far I've written up about 27 chapters, I think.

Remember review this chapter and read the next. Screw goals. I'll be happy with whatever I get.