Hey there, everyone! It's me, evenstar, again with a brand-new update for the Demons fic! :D I just decided to sit down and do some writing this evening and decided to update this one short chapter. Hope you will like it. :) In case I don't update until after Christmas, an early Merry Christmas to all of you out there, hope you have enjoyable holidays! I will be too... with my night shifts in the hospital, I believe. T.T XD

Thank you so much for the reviews for the previous chapter, I read each and every single one of them! :D And appreciate them very much. :)

Other than Demons, I published a brand-new ByaRuki fic last week or so, it's my newest fic on FF titled "The Emperor's Last Consort". It is ByaRuki, AU set in the feudal era of possible Chinese or Japanese origin. It was a on-the-spot sort of spur writing (the usual that I always do after watching something interesting), but I really loved the premise story so if you have not read it yet and do enjoy stories like that, do check it out on my profile! :) It's just on the first chapter, so it might take a bit. ;) There will be no Hisana as per the majority vote.

On a sadder note, I have deleted two of my stories on FF, that is, the Rukia harem fic and the IchiRuki fic "Fated to Be". I sincerely apologize to readers for deleting them but they have been sitting there for 2 years without an update, which I probably will be unable to give them at all. I thought it would be unfair to have stories out which I don't intend to update anymore so I took them down. The current stories on my profile all have potential to be updated at some point. Once again, I thank you all for the wonderful reviews and feedback, and hope I will be able to offer better works in future. :)

Hope you enjoy this chapter, even though it's so short.


An abyss.

The long, pale fingers slid along the granite tabletop before retrieving the flute glass containing blood-red wine. The figure drank quietly by the huge stained-glass window, lost in thought.

How ironic. The demon world stands once again at the revolution of change, and their pioneering clans are about to be affected.

War.

It is the only way resources are re-distributed among populations that have grown too much out of control. Too many, so they have to fight amongst themselves for the stronger to kill, covet and take what was previously another's. And the Kuchiki clan now stands at the edge of yet another battle.

The last time something like this happened… you, Kuchiki Ginrei, lost your precious son and daughter-in-law. You arrived too late, almost at the end of the massacre… but just in time to prevent the deadly strike to your only grandson, Kuchiki Byakuya.

You killed the remaining opposing enemies, with so much ease and hatred. And then, you locked yourself up in the room for three days, refusing to believe that your only son had died. You blamed yourself… for even allowing Kuchiki Soujun to go ahead with the Kokutai ritual, believing that nobody knew of his Purification Period and that the power recharge would allow his relatively weaker body to grow stronger. In the end, you lost your family.

But then, as the years turned out… your grandson grew up into a powerful demon, much more powerful than his late father and with an obnoxious air to rival your own.

But just as that fateful time hundreds of years back… he now stands at the same abyss his very father stood on, with the same ignorance that death is at hand.

The figure hunched slightly in the armchair, before putting the champagne glass back on the table.

Decisions, decisions. So what do I do?

xXxXx


Byakuya closed his tired eyes for a moment, allowing his head to lean back against his chair.

Is this what torture feels like?

Today was one of the few days in the week that Byakuya had entered his office for work. On the other days when he was not here, he was to be found lying on his bed or couch at home, with no particular will for work. On other days, he drank more alcohol and being an Incubus, he needed particularly large batches of high-quality spirit to become drunk (which were now shipped to his apartment suite almost daily), in doses that would have killed a normal human of intoxication in one day.

Byakuya had never drank so much in a single period of time throughout his life, but this was the only way. This was the only way he could see a happy Rukia in his dreams, a smiling Rukia as she curled up next to him. This was the only way he could hear her voice resound in his ears as if from far away, it was the only way he could make believe that she was still around. It was the only way he could believe that he had not caused her to break up with him.

And when he slowly got up from his stupor (with a huge headache the following morning), the pain of reality hit home and the Incubus would then repeat the same ritual all over again.

He missed her… he missed her so much. Renji kept pointing out that it would all be okay when Rukia returned (though Byakuya doubted that was true, his assistant was only trying to herd him into office), that Byakuya would be able to talk it through with her face-to-face.

He was lacking sleep, he could not even be bothered to groom himself, his appetite had long died down. The only time that he took care in preparing himself was every evening, when he went down to the Ukitake residence to see if Rukia had come home and to talk to her father. Sometimes, Rukia even called during his visit but Byakuya only stood silent as he listened to Ukitake talking to her on the line. She seemed happy, she was spending so much time with Ichigo. Byakuya often felt the fury shoot through his body at the mere thought, but it would soon be replaced by helpless sadness.

It was no one else's fault, save for his.

The Incubus opened his eyes as he reached into his pocket for his wallet. He opened it and took out the small folded picture which had long been inserted there, and became a permanent keepsake. Byakuya's eyes took in her happy smile, the small dimple in her cheek as the breeze blew her hair around her beautiful face. The grey eyes softened slowly in sad longing.

I miss you… Rukia.

Byakuya looked up as he heard his office door open. The long fingers easily slid the picture back into his wallet as he looked up at the woman dressed in an expensive pleated skirt and office blouse as she walked slowly to his table.

"What may bring you here today, Unohana-sensei?"

Unohana sat herself elegantly in the chair opposite Byakuya. "There are two things of importance which I wanted to discuss with you today, Byakuya."

Byakuya looked back at the older Succubus.

Unohana fixed her eyes on the young executive. "I heard about Rukia."

The Incubus stiffened slightly at the words, but his face remained expressionless.

When he did not reply, Unohana continued. "I heard that the both of you have broken up. And I want you to know that while I know it is difficult, this was inevitable given the nature of your relationship with her."

"Is this what we are going to be discussing about?" Byakuya's cold tone gave way to one of silent menace. Unohana, however, remained unperturbed on her side.

"I will tell you now that my impression of her was of a very nice woman… but there are many others besides her, Byakuya, many other better ones. And I have recently procured information to one you might be particularly interested in-

"What is the second important matter, Sensei?" Byakuya effectively cut the Succubus off. "I do not mean to be impolite, but the time for the contracts are dwindling as we speak."

"Of course." Unohana let out a soft sigh as she looked at the young Kuchiki but her blue eyes slowly hardened. "This one, I believe, is very important."

xXxXx


"Gin?" Matsumoto mumbled as she blearily opened her eyes. She had detected some movements from her lover on the bed, as she drifted in between consciousness and sleep.

Once again, there was no reply. Matsumoto felt the mattress depress slightly, before feeling his lips kiss her on the forehead.

"Gin…" Matsumoto tried again, as she reached out to him. She was going to fall asleep soon, but she wanted to know where he was going. Gin had been involved in some business these last few weeks and she hadn't seen him all that much. But as she reached out to him now, he effectively pulled back and gently pressed her shoulders back onto the bed. And then, Matsumoto could only discern the slight movement as her lover walked out of their bedroom, quiet like a fox.

That was Gin… always walking mysteriously away from her… but always coming back.

He left easily, without telling her of his intentions and destinations… but he had always returned. He did not like questions, and Matsumoto understood him enough to not ask too many. He had always left… to bring home something good. Be it a new job or good money, he had always returned. Matsumoto never told him that what made her happiest was seeing him come through the door, and not the luxuries in his hand.

Come back… safe.

Matsumoto experienced a fleeting moment of discomfort before sleep finally overtook her.

xXxXx


Rukia did not what to do when she went home. She spoke to Otousan everyday over the phone, and there was no longer any Byakuya on the line. Otousan himself did not mention the name anymore or even tell her if Byakuya came around to their house. If Rukia had not spoken to Hanataro just yesterday, she would have thought that Byakuya had left for good.

He had not.

Because Hanataro had talked curiously of a handsome, tall man who came to the house at six on the dot every evening, and who sometimes cooked and ate dinner with Otousan at night. This man also apparently took nighttime walks with Otousan to the park nearby, or sometimes just leaned against his Porsche alone staring up at her bedroom window.

Byakuya had not left.

And it looked like Otousan allowed him not to. Rukia was half-angry, half frustrated that this was happening. Why did he stay around? What was his intention? And once again, she could not read him.

Sometimes, her pathetic heart would whisper to her that maybe, maybe he had really truly loved her and hence did not want to let her go. But if he had really loved her, why did he have another in his arms, kissing another so passionately? There were no reasons except for one, and that she had just been another woman of his at hand.

Rukia looked out at the picture-perfect scenery from her room window. It all looked so beautiful, the morning rays making the green appear fresher green… and yet, she could not stop the sadness that clutched at her heart.

Why… why do you torture me so, Byakuya?

xXxXx


"Otousan, I am really sorry for taking your time again."

Ukitake laughed as he breathed in the night air. The older man coughed slightly and Byakuya immediately took out his expensive handkerchief but Ukitake waved it away. "It is nothing. Why should you apologize for being my companion every evening? You cook, and even walk me out for air every night. It is like having a son around." Ukitake smiled.

The two men arrived at the empty playground in the park. It was dark as Byakuya guided Ukitake over to a bench to sit down. The two sat in silence for a while before the younger man broke the silence.

"Do you not blame me, Otousan?"

Ukitake turned to look at Byakuya. "And what would I obtain if I do?"

Byakuya's eyes widened slightly but Ukitake only smiled. "Of course, I feel angry, Byakuya-san. Rukia is my daughter, my one and only beloved daughter. She has been forced to be strong because she started to face hardships ever since she was a little child. No child should ever have to go through that, but she turned out like the remarkable woman she is. I, as her father, can only provide my best and then hope that she lives a life filled with love and happiness for always." Ukitake looked out over the park. "And of course, I feel only anger to those who dare hurt her."

Byakuya looked out into the night and then spoke, "I did, Otousan."

"You did." Ukitake nodded, not looking at Byakuya this time. "It is worse for someone to fall from a place where they have been lifted at such a high level, than falling from a lower place, from the place they originally started from."

Byakuya nodded.

"I do not get anything from blaming you, Byakuya-san. It will not change anything for Rukia and right now, my only primary concern is my daughter. I just want her to be happy."

Ukitake took a breath of the peaceful night air. "I know you are different, Byakuya. And love… well, let us just say that it is a complex thing, probably the most complex abstract thing on Earth. It may be the best thing to grace your life till you die with a smile at your oldest age… it may also be fleeting, come and gone. I do not know for sure which of it is for both you and Rukia at this point in time. But if she will be happy with you, I will certainly give my blessings as a happy father."

A breeze blew gently across the park as Ukitake spoke the next few words. "But if she will be happier without you, I will have to turn you away sooner or later."

xXxXx


Things were awkward with Ichigo, to say the least.

Both had not spoken on that particular evening, where Rukia had subtly turned down his confession. Rukia found it all ironic that months back, she would have killed to hear those words from Ichigo's mouth addressed directly to her. But that was no longer the case. Her heart did not beat faster at the sight of him, and she did not feel the butterflies in her stomach anymore when she spoke to him. She found his presence comforting though, but as that of a very close friend.

Somewhere in the process of falling in love with Byakuya, she had learned that her little puppy love for her close classmate was really just that… puppy love. Because in the midst of the intense passion and yet wonderfully gentle feelings with Byakuya, she found out that there was really nothing in the world like it.

And now, while she picked up the pieces of her life and learned to cope with herself, she would not be unfair to Ichigo. Love could be nurtured, it certainly could. But when her heart was still healing, she did not want to commit to another, not when it was still fragile and wary of the hurt.

And not when it felt like the last thing she wanted to do.

"So, er, what are the projects back at the campus?" It was a horrible attempt at conversation, but it would have to do. Rukia and Ichigo had been walking back from the grocery store, which had been located on the other side of the world from the chalet. Nel's aunt had ran out of supplies and Rukia felt like it was their obligation to assist her given that they were staying at the chalet at her expenses. In spite of her protests, Nel's aunt had pushed Ichigo in Rukia's direction, saying that there were thugs around the area especially at nightfall.

The walk there had been forty-five minutes of awkward silence, with half-baked attempts at small talk. And now, Rukia was dreading the awkwardness for another hour.

"Uh, good. They are very good." Ichigo seemed to be almost robotic in his reply.

"Okay."

Their steps were in sync to each other as they walked down the street.

"Um… so we will be heading back to town in two days," Ichigo spoke. "Excited?"

"Ah?" Rukia looked up at him in surprise. "Oh... yeah." She looked back down at the ground. "It will be nice to see Otousan back again, I do miss him."

"Then do you miss him? The other him?"

Rukia looked up in shock. Ichigo was now looking back at her steadily.

"Ichigo, I-"

"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Ichigo looked away. "Sometimes, I just can't help it."

"It's alright," Rukia replied and she stopped walking. "Ichigo, I..." She took a slow, deep breath. "I just really want you to know that we are really, really good friends."

Ichigo nodded slowly as he turned to her, his own steps stopping.

"I am not ready for a relationship with anyone right now, and it would be very unfair if I forced myself to. Someday, I think I will be ready again… but I don't think it will be anytime soon." Rukia smiled uncertainly.

Ichigo smiled back at the petite girl. "I understand. I'm sorry for frightening you."

"No, it wasn't anything like that!" Rukia socked his arm lightly, and the both of them resumed walking.

"So… where shall we go tomorrow?"

"I was thinking of a barbeque tomorrow…" Rukia smiled. "And maybe-"

The words died on her lips as she noticed that Ichigo had stopped walking. "Ichi-"

"Shhh!" Rukia's eyes widened at Ichigo's warning and they immediately darted to the front, where three figures were standing some distance in front of them.

"Let's head back." Ichigo's voice was firm and he reached out and took Rukia's hand in his.

"O-Okay." Both of them turned and started to walk back. Behind them, Rukia heard footsteps start to move as well.

They are following us.

A chill ran down Rukia's back and she quickened her pace. Two alleys down, Ichigo and Rukia were already running. The footsteps stayed behind them, and seemed to be getting closer and closer. Rukia chanced one look over her shoulder as she ran and noticed two men gaining up on them.

"Hurry!" Both of them ducked down one more alley. The plastic bags containing their purchases split but neither of them stopped to retrieve the food.

"Rukia, we should – UGHHH!"

Rukia's eyes widened as she watched a hand wrap itself around Ichigo's arm and tug him backward. Ichigo twisted back and aimed a punch at his assailant, only to have the man duck his advance. But Rukia was watching, and she quickly threw a simultaneous punch to the man's face. This time, the punch connected but the man only staggered back a little.

The man spat at the ground. "How dare you humans try your little hands on us!" He started to advance forward.

"Ichigo, watch out!" Rukia shouted as the man brought his fist in a speedy swing toward the orange-haired boy. Ichigo dodged the offending blow and the man's fist landed in the pipes on the wall right where his head would have been. Both Rukia and Ichigo's eyes widened as they heard the sickening twisting of the pipe before a stream of water shot forth. The man had punched the water pipe. Not only did it bend, but the man's fist had put a hole right through the thick pipe.

"Relax, Maki. What are you doing? We just need the girl." The second man came up to his partner.

Rukia's horrified mind registered the words. We just need the girl. These men... they wanted... her?

"Then you will have to go through me." Ichigo spoke up as he walked forward and planted himself in between Rukia and the men.

"Ichigo, what are you doing?" Rukia shouted. "Come on!" Her voice came out slightly panicked.

"Rukia."

The purple eyes widened. Ichigo turned to her and Rukia easily read the message in those amber eyes, as she had always done for years now.

You know they will catch us, however we run. I will stall them here. Run, and find help. Then come back to me. Run. Run.

No.

Run…

How do I leave you to face them all alone?

Run… then come back.

Run… run…

"RUN!" Ichigo shouted and threw himself forward. Giving Ichigo one last look, Rukia tore off down a smaller alley, the angered shouts from the men following in the wake of her steps.


Rukia ran as fast she could, her heart pumping wildly. She dodged around one corner, trying to keep her steps as quiet as possible. As she ran, she weighed her options. Should she make to some housing areas, where there would definitely be more people around? Should she double back to the grocery shop that was still open? But as she ran through the alley, Rukia felt her heart sink.

It all looked foreign to her. Rukia hadn't bothered knowing her way around this area, as she was too caught up in her sadness when they arrived. The buildings here were all dark, it seemed as if there was no one around. Was Nel's aunt's warning actually true?

We have local gangsters around here, so everyone bars their doors early before nightfall.

Rukia cursed inwardly as she ran. What should she do?

"Good evening."

Rukia's steps died as she heard the male voice, noticing for the first time the shadowy figure who now stood in front of her. In a sickening moment, Rukia realized that there were initially three men in the alley when they first confronted Ichigo and herself.

This must be the third one.

"What do you want?" Rukia asked as the figure stepped forward.

The man did not answer her but merely replied, "I am impressed. You landed a single punch on Maki's face when no human had ever done so. Let alone, a human girl. And now you stand alone in this alley, choosing to fight me."

"Who are you?"

"You are a courageous little one." The shadowy figure spoke. "Maybe it is your feistiness that first attracted him?"

Huh?

Rukia's mind reeled from the confusion and shock. What was happening? What was this man talking about?

But whatever it was, this man was ruthless… and dangerous. Rukia assumed a defensive stance as she faced him, even as her heart thudded fast and the adrenaline pumped through her blood, reminding her of the lethal enemy. But for the first time, she knew she was rattled. These men… one of them had punched a hole through a metal pipe with just a single fist.

Was it even humanly possible?

But whatever it was, she was going to have to fight, and beat this man down. And then she would have to find a way back to Ichigo to help him. Rukia shook the images flitting through her head, images of a fallen Ichigo on the ground. She was going to have to-

The violet eyes widened.

Rukia could barely register in time that someone had moved in front of her eyes to a position behind her, all in the impossible period of less than a second. Then she heard the scary whisper in her ear.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Ukitake. My name is… Aizen Sosuke."

There was no time at all, as she felt the horrible pain shoot down her body from the back of her skull. Rukia's consciousness was gone even before she hit the floor.

xXxXx


And so the chapter ends. It's a lot shorter than the previous chapters but very much needed for the build-up. Who's the person in the start of the chapter? What is with Gin? And what is going to happen to Byakuya and Rukia? And finally Aizen makes an appearance in the story - I think this is my first time including Aizen in my fic, hope it goes well. :) On an unrelated note, I've always found Aizen a brilliant character with such a wasted plot in the manga. (if that was the last we saw of him)

Well, I guess that's it for now. :)

And do review this chapter for me, opinions/comments/feedback/critiques/corrections are all welcomed. :D

-evenstar lady-