Chapter 36: Step Forward and Fight

*Hey, I said I'd post in April… just not when. Please review. Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, just the original characters.*

I wonder if all Westerners feel the need to gild everything to show their wealth or it's just these people. Setsuna mused as she sat waiting in the overly ornate parlor. The painting frames, furniture, and crown molding that lined the white walls were all a shiny gold. A powder blue plush Persian rug covered most of the polished wooden floor and matching gossamer curtains framed the large window. The townhouse she waited in was well kept inside and out, aside from the overabundance of gilt and antiques.

She shifted in her stiff chair and smoothed out her pale sage green blazer. The idea to wear conservative Western clothes was Seiichi's idea. 'The council members are conventional and traditional to a fault. It would be best to wear something they're familiar with seeing.' Setsuna did not want to fight with this council any more than she had to, it was that reason alone that she traded her kimono for a suit, blouse and low-heeled shoes.

Seiichi and his wife Fiona were council members along with three other people. 'You have Fiona and me and you might have a chance to sway the other two members. However, you won't have any chance with Philip Martin, be wary of him.' Her friend and his wife were meeting with the other members while she waited to be introduced. Looking out the window, she watched the scenery of the peaceful city. I do hope Mihana and the girls are enjoying themselves. The doctor and twins decided to tour the parks and scenic views outside the city.

It was lamentable for her to say, but she was glad to get away from the girls for a bit. They had become curious and questioning after Setsuna revealed the identity of her mother in one of the portraits. That was a story the Quincy dame couldn't bring herself to tell her own child and grandchildren, let alone a pair of near strangers.

Quietly slipping her hand into the inside breast pocket she pulled out a bracelet with a cross dangling from the chain. She held the bracelet up by its delicate chain, the cross swung gently in the air. The jewelry was made from platinum instead of the usual silver. Not only a rare metal to find and extraordinarily expensive, it was also difficult for a Quincy to use.

Many people used silver not only because it was more inexpensive and widely available. A small blue stone set in the center of the cross, a blue diamond her mother had said though Setsuna wasn't certain. She had never had it appraised and the stone looked like a plain sapphire to her.

Long buried memories of a life lived long ago resurfaced as she gazed at the heirloom.

The bracelet hung from her mother's thin fingers, glinting every time the polished metal caught the sunlight. "This is now yours."

She released the jewelry into Setsuna's smooth palms. Her brows furrowed in confusion, "A replica of your bracelet?"

Such an audacious question would have been met with a sharp look or veiled reprimand, but her mother's inner fire had cooled, perhaps even extinguished. Taking a long look at her parent, she saw how weary the older woman appeared and it was saddening and alarming.

"It is not a replica, it is my bracelet. I'm giving it to you, a wedding gift you could say."

Back in the present she lightly ran her wrinkled thumb over the still pristine metal, I always wondered if she knew she was going to die soon.

"Milady?"

She looked up to see Seiichi standing in the doorway. He looked less like her old friend and more like the bodyguard he used to be. Protective and wary at letting her near what he deemed a dangerous situation.

"They're ready for you." At that she rose from the chair and strode out the room when he stopped her with his hand gently on her shoulder. "You don't have to do this. You can let the past be buried."

She took a steadying breath, he meant well she knew. Resting her hand on his she said, "I tried that. It worked for sixty years, but now my grandchildren are fighting for their lives because I tried to bury the past. It doesn't work, someone or something always ends up rooting it out. I'm done hiding, I'm done pretending, this is a fight I will not walk away from."

'You are enjoying yourself way too much.' Naomi said dryly.

'Hey, I'm just trying to make the best of a bad situation,' Naoko argued as she sliced through another Arrancar minion with Seele Schneider. For a weapon that wasn't meant to be used as a sword, it made a pretty handy one. She and Rukia were currently engaged with Rudborn Chelute, an Arrancar with the ability to continuously spawn skull faced minions.

'By hacking and slashing them to pieces.'

'It's good exercise!'

And it was good, better than good even. Naoko's heart beat like a war drum, adrenaline flowed alongside her blood, and instincts crossed between warrior and animal overtook her senses. Aches and pains blurred away as the thrill of the fight grew within her. It was like a release she didn't know she needed.

Naoko looked up and noticed they were still surrounded. Renji and Chad could be heard fighting nearby. Rukia and Naoko stood back to back.

"How are you holding up, Rukia?"

"Fine, and you?" The small Soul Reaper panted.

The Quincy shrugged, "I'm still standing. We're not going to get anywhere by cutting these guys down. He'll just grow more of them, it'll never end."

Rudborn cackled, "I told you my powers are like that of a god! I can effortlessly spawn armies, you will never—Hmm?" He looked past them into the distance, "It seems Ulquiorra broke through the dome of Las Noches. I wonder why he would do a thing like that?"

Naoko chanced a look in that direction and saw a gaping black hole in the sky, a break in the illusion of it being a normal endless sky. So, this is just a giant building? The whole time we're outside, we were actually inside? This place keeps getting more messed up by the hour.

Rukia took advantage of the distraction and stabbed her sword in the ground, "Juhaku."

A trail of ice crackled as it slithered to Rudborn and quickly began encasing him in its chilly grip. Frost spread across his torso and along his branches. Ice built up around the skulls that hung off the branches rendering them useless.

Rukia looked at him, cool and calm, "You really shouldn't have shown us your power. If your power is to breed soldiers like fruit, then the answer is simple. A frozen branch can't bear fruit is self-evident."

"You vile little cur I will—" Rudborn's threat was cut off by the smashing entrance of Yammy Llargo.

"What the hell? !" Naoko yelped.

"Get back here! I'm just getting warmed up!" Naoko heard the familiar excited cackle of Captain Zaraki.

Well, at least I found the captain again. Naoko thought wryly. She looked down and spotted two figures both familiar and not. Is that… Grimmjow? He looks like an actual cat now. Is that his release form? And is that Neliel? She's a centaur now? ! She didn't gape at their new forms for long when a shimmering stream of pink petals swirled around her and Rukia, slicing up and killing the remaining subordinates. Captain Kuchiki appeared beside them. The wave of petals turned to him and coalesced together to reform the blade of his zanpakutuo.

"Brother," Rukia murmured.

The captain dipped his head to Rukia and then Naoko, "Rukia, Miss Ishida I apologize for my interference, but I thought you could use some assistance."

"Thank you, Brother we appreci—"

A dark, oppressive reiatsu washed over them, a mixture of different, powerful signatures. Naoko picked out an Arrancar, definitely an Espada. The other felt like Kurosaki, however there was an abundance of Hollow reiatsu intertwined with his. There were two other reiatsu she could pick out if she concentrated, her brother and Orihime. All of it was coming from the hole in the sky.

'I'm getting a bad feeling about this.'

'So am I. Do you think they need help?'

'I don't know, though I still want to keep my brother from falling into a trap.'

'And this just might be one,' Naomi grimly guessed.

'Well, that settles it then.' She turned to the Kuchikis, "I'm going to check out what the hell that was."

"Naoko, wait! It could be dangerous, we don't' know what is up there," Rukia reasoned.

"I know. But I also know Orihime and my brother are up there. It could be a trap, but I can't in good conscious turn my back and ignore them possibly being in danger. I'm not going to turn my back on my brother."

A brief flash of understanding crossed the eyes of both siblings and they shared a brief look with each other. As siblings themselves Naoko hoped they would understand her feelings.

Captain Kuchiki said, "You make a fair point; however, it would be foolish to go alone. You should have a lieutenant or captain accompany you."

She knew he was right, but who could go with her? Zaraki was busy fighting Yammy and greatly enjoying himself. Captain Kuchiki and Renji would want to stay near Rukia, Captain Unohana and her lieutenant were healers (and technically fighters) and needed to stay near the majority of the fighting was happening to tend to the wounded.

Naoko did not dare consider Captain Kurotsuchi, however…

"I'll meet up with you guys again soon, try and stay alive for me, huh?" She asked with a touch of humor.

Rukia gave her a small smile, "Only if you promise to do the same and be careful."

A quick nod and Naoko flew safely to the ground using hirenkyaku. The hours of playing tag with Yachiru had paid off splendidly. Nemu stood off to the side while her captain was busy gathering data with an odd device.

"Nemu! Did you feel that dark reiatsu? I'm going to check it out because my brother is there too." At the mention of him the lieutenant's eyes widened. "I might need backup; do you want to come?"

Conflicted, the lieutenant looked between the Quincy and her captain. Captain Kurotsuchi rolled his eyes, "Go and do something useful you worthless girl instead of just standing there."

At, what Naoko thought was a harsh dismissal, Nemu nodded and the two women took off across the snowy sands. Naoko honed her sense on her brother's reiatsu, the feeling was faint, but steady which gave her some hope. The trail led them to a tower and Naoko craned her neck up to see a sizeable hole in one side of the tower and farther up in the sky a massive black hole.

"Shall we?" Nemu inquired.

With a nod the pair entered the tower. Looking up, Naoko saw nearly all the floors had been demolished as though something very large had plummeted through them. Near what she assumed was the top of the tower the floor was mostly intact. With hirenkyaku and shunpo they made their way to the mostly intact level which was also the same level as the gaping hole Naoko saw from the outside. Piles of rubble and rock littered the area and the air laden with scents of blood and Hollow. Nemu stood at the edge of the hole, her head tilted upward towards the damaged sky.

Naoko joined her, "Shall we?"

The lieutenant lightly touched her sword and nodded. Again, hirenkyaku and shunpo came in handy though Naoko began to feel herself lag. Sensing this, Nemu gathered the Quincy in her arms and traveled the rest of the way. As they grew closer Naoko felt dark, chilling energy in the air. Her animal instincts whined at the malevolent presence and urged her to turn back, even Naomi seemed to shrink back.

Naoko tightened her hold on Nemu as a way to tighten her hold on every feeling that was telling her to turn back. I will not leave my brother with whatever is up there. I will not.

Finally, they reached the dark outside and the scene they entered tested that resolve. There was her brother, bleeding and missing half his arm. Orihime standing near him, but with her horror-stricken eyes trained on the beast in front of them, its back to the girls.

It was a Hollow, that much was obvious. And so was the rest of it.

A long mane of spiky, bright orange hair streamed down from its head. Its skin white with red fur around its wrists and ankles. Large, white horns protruded from its head and a tattered black hakama garbed its lower half. The black sword in its hand was the biggest giveaway of them all.

"Kuro… saki?" Naoko whispered in disbelief. No… no way. How… how is he…?

An animal like growl coming from Kurosaki interrupted her thinking and she watched with numb horror as a glowing ball of red energy began to form between the points of his horns.

'Naoko do something! Shoot an arrow, distract him! He's going to kill them!' Naomi shrieked. But the Quincy couldn't move. However, someone else did.

A being with massive black bat wings swooped in and swung his sword down upon the Hollow Reaper. Kurosaki roared and aimed his cero at the flying being, but missed. The person (Arrancar, Naoko now realized) struck again, this time with enough force to send Kurosaki flying into a wall.

"Naoko!"

She was not sure who called her name, though the sharp tone snapped her out of her numb state. Nemu was running towards Uryu and Orihime, Naoko followed suit. Uryu appeared worse upon closer inspection, his skin had taken a worrying pale shade and blood quickly pooled around him from his missing limb. He lost his arm; how did he lose his arm? A sense of hysterical panic crept in. How… he could've been… he...

Naomi took charge, 'Naoko, stop. Stop and breathe. I promise you can panic later, but right now you need to stay focused.'

Her knees hit the ground beside him and they both stared at each other. The teen felt her lips tremble and her eyes grow uncomfortably warm and damp. Concern colored his eyes and she wanted to laugh. He's lying here bleeding out and yet he's concerned about me.

Uryu rested his hand on her shoulder, "Naoko, I…"

That did it. The touch, his care, his voice broke her strained restraint and threw herself at him. She buried her face in the crook of his neck. Blood, dust, sweat, and the underlying scent that was specifically him flooded her nose. Her hands fisted his uniform, I should've stayed with him. I almost lost and over what? Some petty argument. Uryu wrapped his arm around her and held her tightly.

An almighty crash and the echoing howl of an animal tore through the air. Ulquiorra's crumpled body lay unmoving on the ground surrounded by rubble. Hollow Ichigo loomed over him and then turned his attention to them.

"Miss Inoue can you heal Ishida and maintain a shield?" Nemu asked, hand on her sword and eyes on Ichigo.

"Uh, yes, yes I can," the red-head stuttered.

"Do so then." She turned to look at the group, though her eyes were directed at Uryu. "You must promise me that you will remain exactly where you are. No matter what, you are not to help me."

"Nemu… what are you…?"

"Promise me," she said with unexpected firmness.

He nodded, "I-We promise."

Emerald eyes softened, and a faint smile appeared, "Thank you."

Orihime pulled up a shield and a healing shield over Uryu. Nemu walked out towards Ichigo who stood, head canted as if curious.

The lieutenant pulled out her sword and murmured, "Bankai, Hakumei Kurai Chō."

Her sword emitted a violet glow and then her whole body and the glow disappeared. Nemu stood sill as a statue with her head angled downward. Seconds ticked by and nothing happened.

"Come on Nemu do something," Naoko quietly fretted, but her friend remained motionless.

Hollow Ichigo brought his sword down on her, striking across her body.

"Nemu!" Uryu cried.

Still no movement, Ichigo may as well have hit a statue with a stick. He tried again. Violet glowing cracks appeared on her body at impact.

Another strike. More cracks broke through, jagged lines connecting and spreading. Seeing his strikes were ineffectual the beast thrust his blade through her chest.

The cracks pulsated once, and their light grew into a blinding sheen. When the light died away Nemu stood unharmed. Massive black butterfly wings waved gently behind her and a dark violet katana in her hand. A butterfly kanzashi sat on one side of her head. Her uniform shifted to a kimono the swished around her knees. The garment was in ombre shades of violet to white.

She lifted her sword and dove towards the Hollow. He gave a roar and charged a cero between his horns. Nemu took to the air and swooped to the right to avoid the blast. She swung her blade and a double-crescent wave of amethyst energy shot forth. The smoke cleared, and the beast stood relatively unscathed. Nemu narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips in a tight line. She dove towards him with zanpakutuo raised, he blocked her attack.

Their hollowifed friend shoved her off and left a deep gash across her chest. Nemu skidded back and stayed upright though she bent over, bleeding and panting.

Without thinking Naoko was up on her feet and about to run to her friend, "Nemu!"

"Naoko, stop! Stay behind the shield!" The lieutenant warned.

But the Quincy had inadvertently drawn the Hollow's attention to her. Empty black eyes in a skull face stared at her and Naoko froze like a mouse caught in the gaze of a snake. He was (is) their friend. How can she fight one of her own friends, even if they are trying to kill her? It's indecision and reluctance that freezes her, not fear even when a glowing cero begins to take shape.

A lance of green energy shoots through the air and slices one of the creature's horns.

Behind Ichigo stands the black winged Ulquiorra. The mask on Ichigo's face began to crack and break away. He fell to his knees and then to the ground. No one moved, waiting with bated breath what would happen next or who would move first. Suddenly Ichigo sat up, gasping for air and looking completely normal.

What… the fuck? Naoko thinks and her eye twitches. She can feel Naomi is just as dumbfounded.

In shock Ichigo touches his chest, "Wha… I'm alive? But…"

"Interesting," Ulquiorra murmurs. "Destroying a component of your mask rendered you normal… and even healed your wound."

"Did you know that would happen?" Nemu asked the Espada.

"No, I did not. My intent was to aim for his head and I must have miscalculated my throw and missed."

Ichigo picked up his sword, "If you're still intent on killing me, will we finish this?"

Ulquiorra did not immediately reply. His jade eyes moved to his opponent's sword, then up to Orihime. The pair seemed to be sharing some silent message, one no one else was privy to. To everyone's surprise, he sheathed his sword.

"No, we will not. A compromised warrior is of no use in battle. I will not risk failure because I could not… maintain my resolve."

Uryu rose to his feet, "What will you do now? Will you fight with us or against us?"

Ulquiorra beheld Orihime again and he seemed to be weighing his options. "Neither. A compromised warrior with a wavering resolve is of no use to anyone. I need to reaffirm my resolve and find…" He looked at Orihime, "a heart."

She nodded and appeared to be the only one who understood what he was saying. To Naoko, the teen looked both relieved and sad and the Quincy wondered why.

'Maybe she befriended him like you befriended Stark and Lilynette,' Naomi suggested.

'I will take my leave of you Ichigo Kurosaki, unless you wish to continue our fight."

The teen Reaper shook his head, "No, I'm not one for senseless killing. I'm not going to fight someone who doesn't want to fight me. I can't say the same for any other Soul Reaper though, so be careful."

A faint look of surprise skirted across his face at the advice, "Thank you, I shall remember that."

*This was a long chapter, but we got through a lot. School is done for now, so I should have more time to write and I'm hoping to finish this story by the end of summer. I'm also thinking of starting a collection of one-shots, AUs, deleted scenes, and scenes done through different character POVs. Something you guys might be interested in?

Nemu's Bankai is called Twilight Black Butterfly.

I'll post again in (early?) May.*