Hah! I made the deadline just in time! Hope everyone had a great Easter Sunday. I know I ate a lot of chocolate.

Here's the third chapter and tomorrow I shall reply to all the reviews. Thank you so much for leaving behind your thoughts, I seriously appreciate it. :D

Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo.

Chapter 35:

The toxicity of your fangs makes me quiver.

x.x.x.x.x.x.

TOUSHIRO

This is bad. Very bad. My hand which was encased in the steel grip of Momo Hinamori was close to breaking and I understood why as her hand continued to tighten. "Shiro, is there anything we can do?" she asked, her shaky voice below a whisper.

I kept my eyes trained ahead as Gin Ichimaru took his time, lifting Lady Rukia's chin up with his index finger, his grin couldn't possibly have been any wider. I was still in shock that the Triumvirate had not gone ahead with Sousuke Aizen, he was the better and more professional choice. And yet a part of me understood that this was the death of their esteemed partner in enforcement, Lord Ginrei Kuchiki. No. Death was putting it lightly, the correct term would be the obliteration of the souls of a whole family line of Kuchiki's. It did not matter who it was who was charged with this crime, the Triumvirate would cut them no deals or favours. It was preposterous that Lady Rukia was being charged with this heinous act now.

"Shiro…" Momo repeated desperately and I sighed.

"No. They have it out for her," I said quickly under my breath.

"He's right," Renji muttered bitterly. "And we just have to have faith that she's innocent."

"I don't understand." Lady Rukia 's lips were pursed in a thin line and I could see she was having a hard time keeping calm. Her lavender aura, usually calm and collected was flaring wildly, as if she was spiraling out of control just by being near Gin Ichimaru. "Can't Lord Kuchiki see that this isn't the way?"

"This isn't about compassion, Hinamori, this is about justice," I answered Momo. "And there's always someone hurt in the name of justice." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, searching the area for the faint pulse of Kon. He was nowhere near, not even with Renji. "The only thing the three of us can do right now is be silent, and show support for Lady Rukia."

It was painful to watch, as Gin Ichimaru slowly lowered his lips to her vein, before sinking his lengthy fangs into the pale column of her neck. Lady Rukia's eyes scrunched together but not a sound passed from her lips, only her hands flexed until she gripped the arms of the chair tightly with her dainty fingers. Ichimaru's intrusion was aggressive and immediately eyes flew to the screen where the mind of Rukia Kuchiki would be laid open for all to see.

I don't know how long she will be able to guard her thoughts without Kon nearby. The last time when it had been the Immortal Council who had broken through her barriers, it had taken three days. Then again, the one who broke her last time… was Gin.

x.x.x.x.x.x.

RUKIA

His fangs penetrated my skin and I shut my eyes, sucking in a breath I knew would have otherwise come out as a scream. My hands searched for something, anything to rip apart to distract myself, instead they found the arm rests of the chair I was handcuffed to. Already I could feel Gin's soul signature merging with mine as he stole sips of my blood, cold streams of energy wrapping around my aura, attacking my mind and I pushed back, forcing my aura to confront his own.

"Kon!" I screamed inside my mind to the dark abyss but I knew he was nowhere to be found. It had been my orders that he hide himself wherever Ichigo is. "Kon! If you can still feel me, I need you now!" Already I knew that Kon and I built a safe haven inside my mind, my secrets were locked away deep in that small crevice of space but I knew Gin Ichimaru would eventually find that spot and dig deep just out of sure sadism.

My body floated down from the darkness into the light blue sky, snow falling from the clouds with my body until we reached the white snow-covered hills. A mansion stood tall and proud among one of the hills with a wrought iron gate and carved statues of goddesses and gargoyles. This was one of the many estates owned by the Kuchiki clan before it was burned to the ground during my Coeur d'Acier. The night I was supposed to join the Kuchiki clan's ranks, to become a Mortal at the age of 16 by the blood of the new head, Lord Byakuya Kuchiki. My eyes drifted over to the right where the estate's barn was located, made with old wood from the forest. This is the place where everything went down, where the memories of that massacre are imbedded deep within the snow.

I closed my eyes and imagined shrinking the landscape, shrinking it down to a memory I could hold in my hands, surrounded by darkness. When I opened my eyes, the memory was but a snow globe held between my fingers. I must get this memory to safety for if it is found, who knows what will happen. I tucked it into my coat pocket willing it to disappear with the folds and took off running. It would not be long before Gin would manifest a projection of himself and attack my mental barriers head on.

But where to hide it, these memories I hold...

"Lady Rukia~" that southern voice sung into the darkness and I froze. My eyes scanned the black area searching for the source of that voice. I sighed in relief when I realized he was only reaching the first barrier now.

I still have time!

"Ya there doll face?" Gin's voice shook the invisible floor but I didn't falter in my steps raising walls as I fled. "Ya can't run Rukia. I told ya didn't I? Ya would be found out eventually," Gin crooned, his voice getting quieter as I increased the distance between us.

"No need to run!" That demon chuckled and a pulse of his energy boomed inside the darkness. Damn it, I can feel him approaching! I flew faster, harder, pumping my legs as fast as I could until his mocking tone died from my ears.

Hope filled my chest when I saw the gate before my eyes, even in the distance Kon had heard my plea. The gate was unlocked and I burst through it desperately slamming the gates closed behind me. They rattled in my ears and when I looked up Kaien was there.

He didn't have his usual smile. No. His eyes were dull and solemn and I knew in my heart of hearts his presence wasn't real and yet it still eased my anxiety.

"Squirt, he's coming at you hard." Kaien took my hand in his and led me through to the crystal lake where light shone from below.

"Your hand is cold," I said looking into his aquamarine eyes. His smile was thin.

"So is yours, it's an Immortal thing." I shivered at his cryptic words. He stood beside me looking down into the lake. I knew I was running out of time but I couldn't help myself.

"I always remembered your hands being warm..." I trailed off at the memory. It wasn't only his hands though, Kaien had always been warm, just like his personality. Just being near him, was like lying outside on a hot summer's day, it was filled with life and strong waves of energy but now, I only felt cool pulses of energy in his touch. "White moon," I commanded looking away from his probing eyes, embarrassed by my confession. The icy area in front of us opened up, a circle of blinding light emanating from the depths below.

"Maybe it was your heart, Rukia." His hand clapped down on my shoulder. "Maybe your heart allowed you to feel that way."

I blinked away the tears that began to fill around the rims of my eyes. "My heart?"

"Yeah. Your heart." Kaien always had a habit of stating things like they were so easy to understand. Like everything could be oversimplified. "You know we may be Immortal," Kaien shrugged. "And years of experience is supposed to give us wisdom and control. But it's important to remember that a part of us will always remain human."

I glanced up at him but he was looking away, holding a hand to his heart. "It's easy to think you're heartless. It's easier to say you don't care. But the heart will still burn, no matter what the mind says. It's thoughtless and stupid like that. Isn't it Rukia?" Kaien grinned as he questioned me and I could feel my cheeks burn at his words. "See, your heart is burning right now isn't it?"

An explosion resonated in the distance, the icy surface of the lake quaking from the intrusion. Gin Ichimaru broke through the first barrier. Panic rose in my throat, and both Kaien's hands squeezed my shoulders. "You are stronger than you know Rukia Kuchiki." His right hand dropped from my shoulder and slowly reached into my coat pocket. Calmly, I observed as he picked the snow globe out, holding it in his tan hand. "And knowing that, kick fox-face's ass around for a bit will you."

"I'll try," I took a step back out of reach. "Take care of it."

Kaien nodded with a smirk. "He can say what he wants all he likes but he won't get any traces where I'm putting this. Be warned though, you may think it's safe but once that can is opened... everything will spill forth."

"Everything?"

"Everything," he confirmed darkly. "You can only bury things for so long. Everything has a price to pay."

I can only bury things so deep, before everything I hide will come loose from the thaw. "Do it. I understand the risks."

Kaien nodded, stepping into the light. "Then good luck, Rukia."

He fell through the light into the watery trench below before the ice froze over anew. I turned around knowing eventually I will come face to face with that snake Gin. Without Kon I know the odds are not in my favour but I am ready.

x.x.x.x.x.x.

RENJI

My eyes were transfixed on the screen, I felt the aura of Master Tousen pulsate as he placed his hand on Rukia's forehead. Her eyes shot open, wide but unaware of her surroundings. She was locked inside her mind, putting up defences. I tried to level my breathing but it wasn't working because all I could do was sit here idly by as her testimony along with her privacy got thrown onto the ground for everyone to watch. It sickened me to my stomach, the dread of not knowing what was going to happen next, and like the rest of the people here my curiosity got the best of me and I couldn't pry my own eyes from the screen.

The screen was empty, dark with nothing to show and the stress only pushed harder on my chest. My own hands were gripping the fabric of my jeans as I waited for something, anything to show on the screen when finally it came. The screen went white, a blizzard. Rukia stood there with a violet scarf and Gin Ichimaru his back faced to us. An icicle formed in Rukia's hands and her eyes burned an icy blue, her skin pale. I held my breath, afraid to even breath and break the silence between the two of them.

Gin Ichimaru took a step forward and I saw the twitch in Rukia's spear hand. No. No. No. "I take it ya don't plan on bein' cooperative Lady Rukia," Gin Ichimaru remarked with hands in his pockets.

Rukia was silent but I could see the defiance plain as day in her expression, I grew up with that haughty stuck-up stubborn expression. I knew where this was going and I couldn't stop the trajectory. There was no Immortal Rukia despised more than Gin Ichimaru and he had pushed her buttons. She held the icicle in her hand with a death grip and slowly raised it up.

"And so it begins," Komamura announced gruffly.

x.x.x.x.x.x.

ICHIGO

"Pussy," he sneered looking right back at me with a smirk so twisted I could barely recognize it as my own. "Back so soon are ya?"

I was silent, my legs still knee deep in water. The skyscrapers loomed overhead and the clouds were moving fast over our heads. The winds picked up velocity and I pointed a finger at him. "I'm here for one reason so you better cough up."

His laughter was maniacal and I recoiled at the bitter twangs. "Ya think ya can just barge in here and ask for power? Who the hell do ya think y'are?" My shadow smirked. "Ya think ya rule this place?" he said twirling in a circle gesturing to the cluster of buildings under the stormy sky. His golden-ringed eyes pierced me with mirth. "Well yer dead wrong," he spat and it was the first time I saw his bleached face slip into a scowl identical to my own since our vicious conversations in the barren desert.

Lightning struck and thunder boomed. I clenched my fists at my sides unsure of what I could actually do to force him. "This is my mind, my body. I don't give a shit what you think and I don't have time for your fucking nonsense."

"But Ichigo, ya do care," he crooned in a warped voice. "That's why ya sought me out. 'Cuz ya don't know much yerself, ya crawl back here with yer tail between yer legs beggin' for me to give ya a chance. That's what this really is, ya need ME!"

"Like hell I do!" I yelled back at him but a part of me acknowledged that maybe he was speaking the truth. "Last time I checked you're nothing but a free-loader with a God complex. An ugly one too."

"Ya really think we're so different don't ya?" he shrugged. "Yer a comedian."

"And you're just some annoying voice that popped up when I was unlucky enough to get bit," I shot back feeling my temper flare. He cackled and held his sides, the voice was eerie and I flinched when he took one look at me and erupted into another fit of giggles. "What's got you so giggly?" I barked angrily. He was infuriating.

"Ya think I just appeared then? Outta the blue?" he said with a hand still holding his side. "Yer kidding right?"

My breath quickened. What the heck is he talking about?

"Ichigo, I've been here since the start. Yer shadow since day one, the part of yer existence ya like to hide away, pretend doesn't exist." He placed a hand over his chest and when he removed it, there was a hole where his heart should have been. "But I do exist, I'm alive and fucking breathing!" he screeched.

"I'm the voice underneath yer skin, the part ya deny," he said. "But ya know what? That weak-ass Ken-doll flesh ya call yer body, by all means take it!" I was confused and I didn't like where this was heading, his smile only got wider. "But this! Ya see this!" he said and white fur sprouted from his chest and I swallowed back a lump. "This body here, this perfect little killing machine." He was going through the transformation without a hitch and my mouth dropped in horror. "This body ya hate and treat like shit, this strength, this control, it belongs to me!"

I took a step back as he descended into a bleached-white beast, landing on four large paws. His eyes were a crazy gold and his voice rumbled low in laughter as he showed off canines of his own. "This is mine! And if ya think I'll let ya take what's mine with yer pansy little attitude that'll get us both killed, I'll make ya my bitch and take this whole place for my own."

xxxxxx

Edit: Thanks KitElizaKing for pointing out the "rot iron" bit. My phone loves correcting things. XP