Rukia sighs deeply, content at seeing Ichigo safely walk home. She conceals herself among the brush that encompasses the park. The remaining hues of orange from the sun disappear behind shades of violet and blue. Her ears perk at the sound of distant snapping of branches. Her fingers hover over the handle of the blade nestled into her garter. The rustling of leaves causes her to pop up the dagger and hurl it at a nearby tree.
"You missed." Says a voice from the shadows.
"Who says I missed?" Rukia props herself up from her crouched position. "It served as a warning shot." She dusts off her floral skirt.
The figure steps out of its cover of the surrounding trees, dusk revealing its secret. Rukia inadvertently covers her mouth as her eyes catch sight of the man's bright red long hair, pulled up in a ponytail. Tattoos decorate the corners of his hairline. "Renji." She whispers.
Renji braces himself against the tree Rukia plunged her blade in and carelessly peers upon his nails. "Why are you wearing civilian clothing? Aren't you supposed to be here on patrol?" He does not look up to face her, rather intent on counting the fine lines of his hand.
"I...I…"
"Spare me the lie, Rukia." The well dressed man interrupts, pulling at the collar of his button up. "I saw the guy. And there's been talk around Karukara Town of an orange haired hero in a tailored suit. No ordinary suit at that, a very distinguished one."
"He has nothing to do with this."
"He has EVERYTHING to do with this." Renji scoffs. "We are in the middle of war and you are over here running around with this guy."
"A war?" Rukia squeaks, the shock plainly worn on her face.
"The Seireitei is in shambles. Aizen has betrayed us in favor of Hueco Mundo, taking along two other captains. Tōsen and Gin. "
"Sosuke Aizen, captain of the 5th division?"
"Rukia," The tall, muscular built man walks over to her and puts a hand on her shoulder. She looks up to him. "It's time for you to come back. You know what must be done about the guy." He turns to the tree, pulling the dagger free and handing it to Rukia.
She bites at her nails, turning away from the knife and her once close friend. "No."
"Don't be stupid. It's you or him."
"Well it's not going to be him." She replies defiantly causing Renji to throw the weapon to the ground and grab Rukia, this time by both her shoulders.
He spins her over to face him, shaking her shoulders vigorously. "You're seriously going to give your life up for some nobody. Why would you waste your life like that!? How selfish can you be!? Think of your friends back home who are waiting for you. Matsumoto, Hinamori, the Shinigami Women's Association, and… me." Rukia begins to trail off, walking by the river bank. "Rukia!" Renji runs after her and grabs her arm, prying her back forcefully.
The rapid action forces Rukia to slash out another dagger from her grasp. It nicks Renji in the arm, a tear apparent in his suit. He flies back, pulling a revolver from his belt to aim at her.
"Don't make me do this Rukia. At least think of your brother."
Rukia stands still, her closed fists shaking at her sides before releasing them. "I'm not killing him. I can't and won't."
"Rukia." Calmly commands another voice.
Tears begin to gather at the corners of her eyes. She rotates her head to see another well dressed man standing at Renji's right. He is tall and slim with jet black hair, three strands of hair overshadowing his left eye. "N...nii-sam...a." She stutters, her now whole body shaking like a leaf.
After picking up a few things from the general store and stopping by Urahara's to see if Rukia had passed by, Ichigo finally arrives home, mentally and emotionally drained from the day. He plows through his bedroom door, beelining for the closet. He knocks a couple times at first, only getting silence in return, before he slowly slides the closet door open as he calls out to Rukia. Ichigo peaks in, seeing nothing but an empty closet and a rolled up cot. "Damn it!" He grumbles to himself, pounding his fist against the wall. He drags himself over toward his bed until a piece of paper at his desk catches his eye. He turns over the otherwise blank sheet of paper to find a small written note:
Ichigo,
I've enjoyed every moment I've spent with you but there are things that are beyond you and me that must cut things short. I'm terrible at goodbyes. I'm sorry… for everything… goodbye.
-Rukia
He notes the little bunny rabbit version of him and her at the end of her letter. "Her and them awful drawings." Ichigo crumbles the letter and tosses it into a nearby waste bin. He peers out his window into the darkness of night before running out of his room and through the front door, ignoring his sisters' cries. Isshin sits silently on the couch, his elbows perched on his thighs and his heart heavy.
"Rukia, it is time for your return." Her older brother states firmly.
"Y...yes nii-sama."
"Have you considered Renji's words?"
"I have heard them, brother." Rukia bows before her superior, her hair disguising the tears falling down her cheeks.
"Will you not concede?"
"No." She closes her eyes.
"Disgraceful." He strolls up to her in his well-pressed suit and raises his backhand as if to almost strike her but gradually lowers it. "You bring dishonor to the Kuchiki name. You shall be shunned and executed, whether on Sōkyoku Hill… or by my own doing."
…
"Where the hell are you?" Ichigo cries out into the night desperately searching throughout Karakura Town for any signs of Rukia. His phone lights up in his pocket and he rapidly pulls it out, finding a received message from an anonymous user.
Check the river channel.
He has his questions but thinks it best to put them behind him for the time being. Worth a shot. Ichigo reckons as he dashes over not too far from the park.
…
"Come." Her brother commands to which she nods her head. He turns from her till his subordinate calls out to him.
"Kuchiki-taicho." Renji tenses up, clicking the safety before pulling back the hammer of the revolver in his hand. "I think someone's coming."
"We have a guest." He simply states turning his head aside.
Rukia holds her breath. Please don't be him. Please don't be him. She begs. Anyone but him.
"Rukia!"
She recognizes his voice and her shoulders slump downward. You stupid, stupid boy!
Renji releases a round not too far from Ichigo, stopping him in his tracks. Renji's jaw drops as he studies Ichigo's features, mainly his bright orange mop of hair. "It's… it's the guy, taicho!" He points his finger at Ichigo. "You must have some big balls to show your face here."
"Rukia." Ichigo calls out once more, ignoring the red-haired man. Rukia's eyes remain on the ground, not daring to meet Ichigo's. She turns her back to him, following her brother's suit. "You said you'd be back. You lied."
This gets a reaction out of Rukia as she turns suddenly to face him. "Why did you come here? Why didn't you just stay at home?" Her throat was closing up on her and she could barely squeeze her words out. I was trying to protect you.
"I'm here for you. You may be bad at goodbyes but I'm not."
"Then, say your goodbye and get out of here." She desperately demands, pointing away.
Ichigo clears his throat, peering down to his shoes and kicking at the dirt. "That's the thing Rukia… I… I don't want to say goodbye." He looks up to meet her eyes and catches her glare. He catches her glossy eyes and raised eyebrows. He catches her surprise and her grief.
"Haven't you caused enough problems for her!?" Renji hollars as he throws himself at Ichigo, slamming his fists at him. Ichigo is able to avoid some of the impacts but one lands at his gut winding him.
"Renji! Stop!" Rukia cries out to him. She rushes Renji, kicking at his shins to unsteady him and distract him from Ichigo. Renji, in response, punches at her. She blocks some of his blows with her forearm all the while utilizing her legs to get a good kick at Renji. Renji tugs the revolver that he returned to its holster and holds it from its barrel to pistol whip Rukia's temple. The actions stuns her, grabbing her head and tumbles to the ground.
"Rukia!" Ichigo angrily screams out as he rains a frenzy of jabs, uppercuts, and kicks at Renji. Renji, likewise, is able to block some of Ichigo's hits but not all. He gets an elbow to his face that slices Renji's inner cheek, causing blood to seep down the corner of his mouth.
"You hit pretty hard, I'll give you that. But how would you do against some real weapons?" He pulls two hawkbill knives from his back and spins them around his hand by their handles. Renji slices toward Ichigo, throwing down one arm to which he repels by grabbing at the dominant arm with the knife and using all his force to push it into Renji. This causes Ichigo to go side by side to Renji. Renji once more goes in for another slice using his other hand to which Ichigo does the same, pushing that arm towards Renji's body. He continues to parry Renji's slices like this till Renji gets fed up that while being side by side, he shoves into Ichigo's body. Ichigo falls to the ground and Renji takes advantage of the high ground, stabbing into the ground, barely missing Ichigo. Ichigo, using his legs, slides about, disarming one of Renji's weapons and wraps himself around the arm. This causes Renji to furiously try to stab using his other hand, but Ichigo would yank at the arm within his grasp in various positions. Renji could feel the arm pulling tightly as if almost ready to snap. Renji pummels his fist into the ground, the force and sudden jerking motion causing Ichigo to lose grip on his arm, falling onto his back. Renji straddles over Ichigo's body, parading the remaining knife within his hand. "You know what? You're not even worth killing with any of our weapons." He tosses the hawkbill aside. Renji begins to pound at Ichigo's face.
Ichigo dodges one his fist, using the opportunity to wrap his arms around Renji and pull his body closer to his. Ichigo then proceeds to wrap his foot around Renji's as well as hooking his arm underneath his. He drives his other foot down with all the might he could muster, picks up his hips, and flings his free arm under his arm enabling him to generate enough force to rotate Renji underneath him instead. Ichigo likewise thrashes down on Renji's head. Ichigo puts everything on the line. His anger, his sadness, his care for Rukia in each one of his punches and finds his emotions fuels each jab. He gets hazy from it all.
"Ichigo!"
He hears Rukia cry out to him, distracting him from Renji which allows Renji to deliver a mean punch to the face. The punch drops him to the ground and both men lay still for a few moments. Ichigo is the first to slowly perk himself up from the dirt road. His cheek swollen with a busted lip, but he brushes it off in search of Rukia. He finds her struggling to push past the other apparent Shinigami. His appearance is striking, a little taller than himself with grey dead eyes and ivory skin much akin to Rukia. His hair midnight black mirroring her own.
The sound of a gun being loaded behind him does not deter Ichigo rather he focuses on the expression of fear painted across her face. He hears her refer to the man in front of her as her brother as she pleads with him. He sees her reach out to him. He raises his fingers up as if to reach them. His heart stops. Is this how I'm going to die?
"I'm not surprised to find a 'dignified' Shinigami playing dirty." Inserts a different but recognizable voice to Ichigo. His head rotates aside to get a glimpse at Uryū Ishida with a silver chain whip around Renji's neck, the excess chain wrapped around his wrist garnished with a small blue cross almost resembling a star. "Hardly a fair fight. Two against one."
Renji snickers. "You think this could stop me from killing your friend?"
Uryū slides his hands slightly, tightening the chain whip's grip around Renji. The action causes Renji to wince as he gasps for air. "For starters, who says that bumbling fool is my friend? And secondly, kill him for all I care but just know after you do... I will kill you."
"Renji." Rukia's brother begins. "The Quincy is correct. Quite undignified of you to point your gun to a man with his back turn when he cannot defend himself."
Renji blinks, at first at his superior, before lowering his head. "Yes taicho."
Byakuya Kuchiki strolls toward Ichigo with a blank expression. He continues till he stands beside him momentarily, closing his eyes. He then turns his back to Ichigo. Suddenly, Ichigo's legs go numb underneath him and give on him. He tumbles to the floor, his face crashing into the ground. Then he feels it, whether it's the first few drops of rain from the clouds above him or the blood oozing from his abdomen, he can't tell which. But he feels cold.
Byakuya begins to stroll away from the injured man until he feels a tug to his custom Dormeuil Vanquish II suit. He peers down to see Ichigo clinging to the fabric.
"I'm not done for yet." Ichigo coughs out.
Suddenly Rukia appears, kicking his grip from her brother's leg. "How dare you put your hands on my brother." She gnashes her teeth at him. "Have you no idea who this man is? He is Kuchiki Byakuya, esteemed head of the one of the three royal families of the Seireitei and captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13. You are not worthy of his time, let alone his presence. I'm sorry I've ever doubted you, Nii-sama. Let this filth die of its injuries on this cold and raining night. She turns from Ichigo and saunters away, her brother trailing behind her.
"Quincy, we bid you a good night." Byakuya adds, turning his head to spy at his subordinate.
Uryū eases his grip of his silver chain, resting it around his waist, and watching as Renji follows their lead. As Renji passes Ichigo, he glances at his riddled body and his somber expression before returning his eyes to his superior.
Rukia stops momentarily, letting the others surpass her. She raises her head to numerous gloomy clouds above her and lets the rain run down her face. "And Ichigo…" She remains with her face to the night sky. "If you ever try to follow me… I…" Rukia chokes slightly on her words at first but clears her throat. "I will never forgive you." She then continues forward, never letting him see her sorrow.