Aizen's Betrayal

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

A/N: There had been some minor revisions to the previous chapter: Regrets. I hope you can check it out again. Sorry for the inconvenience as I had not been able to do it before posting the chapter. Hello Beloved Daughter, thank you for reading this story and I'm always open to suggestions and comments. Hi boomkarakaraka05, I hope you also enjoy this chapter. Hi BrownEyesAngel and Guest reviewer, thanks for your comments. Hello Rei Eien, we'll see about that in this chapter, shall we?


Perhaps to future generations of shinigamis, this day would be something out of their history books and its events would be the subject of history examinations. Rukia had always been interested in history and current events. But if you asked her right at that moment, exactly how things happened, she would not be able to give you a good answer. In fact, what she knew of what happened during that time came from second-hand perspectives. Despite the fact that she had been right at the center of it all. At that moment, however, all she knew was that the second strike of the furious Sokyoku would have killed Ichigo. She screamed at him to get away. As usual, he was stubborn and pig-headed in his refusal. What did surprise her was her captain's timely interference. She really did not expect he'll go against his mentor. 'So that's what he and otou-sama planned...' She noted almost absent-mindedly as her captain held the shield while her father pulled at the ropes and quickly destroyed the Sokyoku. Yamamoto Sou-taichou was naturally furious and moved to attack the two at sight, untroubled by those who might be hurt in the way, but Byakuya intervened, he sent off a mid-level sealing spell which the Sou-taichou brushed away with some difficulty. He turned his anger to what his eyes see as an impudent youngster. Byakuya's hand moved to the hilt of Senbonzakura.

"Byakuya, you are still not fully recovered from poisoning, it would not be wise to do this right now. This isn't the right place either." Shunsui said to the younger man. Byakuya did not visibly react, almost ignoring what his former sensei said for he did not want to leave Rukia's side, seeing how Rukia would be left alone. But before he could protest, his former sensei grabbed him by his collar, after seeing killing intent in Yamamoto Sou-taichou's eyes. 'Rukia can wait a bit, the Ryoka will be able to watch out for her, but Yama-jii will really kill Byakuya for what he just did.' Shunsui thought to himself worriedly. Jushiro and Nanao also took off in Shunsui's wake while Yamamoto gave chase. Meanwhile, Ichigo effortlessly deflected the attacks of most of the lieutenants of the Gotei 13 only to be stopped by the lieutenant of the 1st Squad Sasakibe Fukotaichou whom rumors had to be as strong as any of the other captains*. Sui-feng was almost purple in anger but before she could join in the fight against Ichigo, Yoruichi fought her off.

Rukia felt exhausted at the strength of reiatsu flowing around her, almost choking with their intensity and feeling naked and helpless because of her lack of reiatsu. It was at that moment, that Renji came to cut her off from the gallows.


It was at the point that everything became muddled to Rukia. She later on supposed that it was the effect of the strength of Aizen's reiatsu and powers as a hollow combined together, though nobody except the three knew it at the time. Aizen Taichou, the kindly captain of the 5th Squad ordered Renji to hand her over. Her first thought was, 'Isn't he supposed to be dead? Is he some kind of zombie?' It had been no match, Renji was tired, battered and wounded and had no fighting chance when Aizen grabbed her. The first to come to arrive amongst the captains is Komamura Taichou. But Aizen easily defeated Komamura Taichou as well. She probably lost focus around the time Ichimaru taichou let out his reiatsu, stifling almost everyone in the area.

Aizen Taichou, no Aizen started talking about the Hogyoku, it was then that Rukia realized that Urahara placed something inside of her that Aizen desperately wants. The Sokyoku had been a good way of retrieving it but since Rukia's execution did not go on as planned, Aizen found another device capable of doing the same. Once he removed it from Rukia's body he ordered Ichimaru Gin to dispose of her. But before anybody could react, Byakuya shielded her body with his, deflecting Gin Ichimaru's attack but was mortally wounded in the process.

Rukia's eyes grew in shock as Byakuya held her in one arm. "Nii-sama…" Rukia was only able to gasp before Byakuya's grasp slowly weakened as he started to lose consciousness. He fell to his knees and Rukia catched his fall. "Nii-sama!" Rukia exclaimed. "Why? Why did you save me?" She asked as the man slowly sunk. He was grasping for breath and there was blood all over. Rukia felt sick. He was dying in her arms. She doesn't even know what to do given her very minimal healing training.

The tide turned to their favor as she saw the other captains and lieutenants arrive. Unfortunately, they were not able to apprehend the three. But all of Rukia's attention was on Byakuya who laid dying in her arms. He was taken away by the fourth division members to be healed. Rukia protested, wanting to stay by his side. But as Unohana Taichou approached him to treat him, he started calling for Rukia. Unohana Taichou motioned for the girl to come near. "There is something I want to tell you…" Byakuya began.

A/N: Yamamoto once noted that his shikai and bankai were really strong, so how was Ichigo able to defeat him so easily during the earlier arc?