"If you tell that girl anything, then I will have to tell everyone about your child."

Rukia's eyes widened. "What?" Her confusion was genuine. "W-What are you talking about?"

Ikue laughed. "Don't tell me you already forgot, Kuchiki. Tsk, tsk."

Rukia eyed the woman before her. She watched as Ikue jokingly scratched her head then tapped her chin.

"What was it? What was it?" Ikue mumbled. "Oh! I remember." A malevolent smile creeped onto the older woman's face. "Hiroyuki," she hissed.

For a second, Rukia just stared at Ikue, obviously puzzled. Then, a memory flashed through her head, and she gasped.

Ikue's sneer deepened. "Now do you remember?"

Rukia was speechless. She went to open her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

How does she know?

"How do I know? Is that what you're trying to say? To think I only remember because Miyako had been so mad. God, she was pissed!" she marveled. "I don't even think it was the fact that you and Kaien were going to be playing house with a little bastard child. She got herself all worked up imagining that Kaien had been the one to choose such a name."

Ikue turned to look at Rukia. She wanted to see the look on the girl's face.

"And you should have seen Miyako when she realized that Kaien was probably going to give it the Shiba name! Tell me something, Kuchiki, was it you or Kaien that picked out that name?"

All Rukia could do was stare at the woman.

"It was Kaien, wasn't it?" she said with a smirk.

Rukia nodded.

The older woman frowned and she scoffed. "I knew it. It's so sentimental. Kaien was always..."

As Ikue went on and on about Kaien, Rukia tried to slow her racing mind. She tried to ignore the all too familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach and the weight on her chest.

She internally yelled at herself to snap out of it. Say something!

"I-It was just a scare," she finally said. "I wasn't actually pregn-"

Ikue bursted out laughing. "You think anyone will care about that? Do you really think anyone will be paying attention to the fact that it was a pregnancy scare?" she ridiculed. "People are only going to care about that part that you and your bastard child broke up Miyako and Kaien, that you were sleeping around with a married man, that you ruined all three of your lives!"

Ikue's words rang endlessly in Rukia's head.

She tried to keep a straight face. She couldn't let Ikue know how badly she had hurt her. She couldn't!

But her own emotions betrayed her and, once again, boiling tears began to stream down her face.

Damn it! she cried.

When Ikue saw the tears going down Rukia's face, and the way the small girl was trembling, the smirk on her face disappeared. For a second, she actually felt remorse.

Ikue rolled her eyes at herself.

"Hiroyuki," she grumbled as she adjusted her watch. "A lot of snow? What kind of a name is that?"

Rukia blinked. Her tear-filled eyes shot up to look at Ikue. "A lot of happiness," she said through her grinding teeth.

Ikue couldn't believe the way Rukia was looking at her. Who did she think she was?! "What was that?" she taunted.

"A lot of happiness," Rukia repeated.

Ikue once again rolled her eyes. "Of course Kaien would name his child that. He must have been ecstatic," she said sarcastically. "He thought he had a bastard child on the way and he had a real one on the way that probably wasn't even his!" she spat. "He must have been so happy!"

Rukia's body now trembled out of anger. She had never been so mad! She glared at the laughing woman before her. "I can't believe you!" she began.

Ikue laughter stopped.

"Why, Ikue? Why do you hate me so much? Since the day I met you, you made it clear that something about me ticked you off. And as the years passed, it was as if your hatred towards me only got worse. You belittled me day after day when I was your subordinate. At first, I thought you were just like everyone else; I thought that you were just a bully who hated me and talked about me behind my back. But it wasn't that. You made it your goal to make my life miserable! What did I do to you? What did I do to make you hate me so much?"

The woman scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself, Kuchiki."

"So you're just not going to answer me?"

"Why would I tell you? That would just take all the fun out of it."

Rukia glared at the woman. She was unbelievable!

Ikue looked down from Rukia's glare and at her watch. "Ok, I've had my fun. But, I mean it, Kuchiki. Not a word to that girl. Not a word to anyone. If you tell anyone this truth you keep going on and on about, you'll just force me to let out all of the truth. Have I made myself clear?"

Rukia continued to glare at the woman in silence.

Ikue's frown deeped. She got up and walked over to where Rukia was standing.

Ikue stood up as straight as she could and towered over Rukia. "Do I make myself clear?" she repeated slowly.

"Crystal," Rukia spat.

"Good." With a smirk, Ikue placed her hand on top of Rukia's head and slowly rufflered the girl's black hair. Ikue knew exactly what she was doing. She knew that this was how Kaien would secretly show his affections towards the girl. "I'll be on my way then…lieutenant killer," she whispered evilly.

Ikue turned around and made her way to the door. "It was nice knowin' ya, Kuchiki." She slammed the door behind her, leaving Rukia alone.

Rukia's wide eyes began pooling with tears again. One by one, and then all at once, they started falling down her cheeks.

Lieutenant killer…

Rukia walked her trembling body over to her desk. Her clammy hands searched for the chair's arms to help her ease herself down. She tried sitting down slowly, but her shaky legs gave out and she fell into the chair. She felt weak. She felt nauseous. The wounds that she had been trying to heal with band-aids had just been ripped open.

Suddenly, she jerked forward as a loud sob escaped her lips. Rukia looked at her trembling hands and she let out a loud wail when she saw blood staining them. It had taken her so long to forgive herself enough to finally stop seeing his blood staining her hands. And with something as simple as two words, the blood was back.

Rukia put her hands on her head and shook her head vigorously. She gripped her hair tightly. She tried to think straight, but all she could focus on was her pounding, aching heart. She could feel it beating at 100 miles per hour. It resonated throughout her body.

Her beloved lieutenant's lifeless eyes flashed into her mind.

Rukia gritted her teeth and shut her eyes as tightly as she could. But no matter what she did, images from that night continued pouring into her head.

Breathe, she told herself. Calm down!

She knew she needed to calm down. She knew she had to. But she couldn't focus on that. All she could focus on was Ikue's words ringing in her head.

Rukia shook her throbbing head. No! I need to calm down!

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1," she uttered shakily to herself.

Why was it so hard to breathe?

With frantic eyes, she looked around her office. Focus. Focus!

"I see a couch, I see a bookshelf..." Her eyes shot side to side. "I see… I see a plant, I see my desk. I see the picture Renji brought me."

Rukia gulped. She forced her shaky hands to let go of her tangled hair.

"I feel warm. Really, really warm. I feel sweat on my hands." She brought her hands down heavily and clumsily onto her desk. "I feel the wood of my desk and I feel…I feel..."

Her hands roamed all over her desk. She became agitated. It felt like she couldn't get ahold of anything. Finally, she felt her hand knock something over. She hastily fumbled to grab hold of it. She looked down to see what she had picked up.

Rukia's teary eyes shut tightly and she felt tears continue to stream down her face.

"I feel the frame of the picture Renji gave me," she sobbed. Her shaky hands gripped the picture frame tighter.

"I hear myself speaking. I hear the vents blowing air. I hear people outside." She took several deep breaths. "I like the smell of the bakery I go to. I like the smell of the flowers Renji brought me. And I like the taste of the candies Rangiku always buys me."

Rukia took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She gripped the picture frame in her hands tighter before repeating everything she had just said.

Once Rukia finally felt a little calmer, she opened her eyes and looked down at the picture she was holding. She looked at the younger Renji. She looked at her younger self. They were both smiling. They were both so happy.

Rukia's train of thought was interrupted by pounding at her door. She quickly put the picture down and wiped her eyes.

The pounding continued.

"Kuchiki-dono?" came a panicked voice.

Her brows furrowed. She cleared her throat. "Yes? Who is it?"

"Kuchiki-dono! It-It's Haru!"

Haru? What brings him here? And what has him so worked up?

"Come in!" she called.

The boy swung the door open. Rukia watched as he looked frantically around the room for her.

Something was very wrong.

"Kuchiki-dono! Please, you have to help! Ran! A-And Aiko!"

Without another word, the boy turned to leave.

"Wait!" she called.

He turned around. "Please, Kuchiki-dono, we have to hurry!"

"Haru, slow down! What's wrong?"

"It's Aizen! Ran and Aiko…"

A-Aizen?

Rukia felt her heart start beating wildly.

Her wide eyes stared at the screaming boy before her, but she couldn't hear a word.

Aizen.

He said Aizen. Aizen is here. He's back? But why? Why? What does he want?

Ran. Aiko.

Haru said they're in danger.

Why is Aizen here?

They're in danger.

Aizen is here.

We're all in danger.

Rukia felt hands grip her shoulders. Haru had grabbed her and started to shake her.

"Kuchiki-dono, please! You have to help them! Aizen is here!"

"What?"

Haru and Rukia turned to see who had shouted. They found Renji and Rangiku at the door. Both stared at the boy who had just cried "Aizen."

"You," Renji said in a low growl. "What did you say?"

Haru turned to look at them. "Aizen is here!"

"That can't be," Matusmoto said. Was she stating a fact, or was she trying to reassure herself? She ran to Rukia's window and looked outside. "There's no alarms! Why aren't there any alarms?"

"Haru," said Rukia sternly. "Where is he?"

"I'll take you!"

"No! Haru, tell me where you saw him!"

"I can take you-"

"Haru!" she growled. "That's too dangerous, and there's no time to argue. Tell me where he is!"

"He's at the training grounds!"

Rukia nodded. "Go to the First Division as fast as you can, Haru! You tell the first person you see that Aizen is here and that they need to sound the alarms immediately! Understand?"

"Yes!"

Without another word, Rukia ran past Haru and out of the room. Renji and Rangiku quickly followed.

The three flash stepped with everything they had. There was no time to waste. Aizen was here.

They were nearing the 13th's training grounds. Rukia frantically scanned their surroundings.

"There!" she called when she saw Aiko and Ran. The two were lying on the ground.

When they arrived, Rukia rushed to see what was wrong. Renji and Rangiku stood on either side of Rukia, scanning the area around them.

Rukia gasped. The two young girls were bloody and beaten up. "Ran! Aiko!"

Aiko's eyes flickered open. "Kuchiki-dono," she said in a weak whisper.

"Aiko! What happened?"

"We were on patrol. Everything was normal. We were just canvassing the area when Haru spotted something. We chased him down and...he attacked us!" the girl squeaked. "He just attacked us!"

Suddenly, maniacal laughter echoed throughout the training grounds.

In less than a tenth of a second, Rukia had turned around and pulled out her zanpakuto.

Rukia, Renji, and Rangiku stood ready to fight, their zanpakutos already in their shikai forms.

They couldn't believe their eyes.

A few meters away stood the man who had betrayed the Seireitei. Before them stood Gin Ichimaru.

Rangiku's grip on her sword tightened. "Gin! What are you doing here?" she called.

"Rangiku! Long time no see! I just came for a little visit is all. I ran into those kids though. They weren't so welcoming."

Through gritted teeth, Rukia growled, "Gin! You bastard! Did you do this?"

He continued to laugh. "Well, what a surprise! Kuchiki, you look so different since the last time we met. Did you do something with your hair? Lost some weight?"

"Quit messing around! Why are you here? Why have you attacked these trainees?"

"I wanted to test a theory."

Rukia's teeth gritted tighter and tighter.

"It was really more of a game actually. Those two are your trainees, correct?" He chuckled. "I wanted to see just how devoted they were to you, Kuchiki. I told them to bring me to you or I'd kill them." He sneered from ear to ear. "Congratulations, Kuchiki! You have such devoted subordinates. So devoted that they would rather die than betray you."

"You'll pay for this!" she screamed. But before she could move a muscle, Renji grabbed her wrist.

"Rukia, wait! Don't fall for his tricks. Stay calm!"

She glared at her friend. She was furious that Renji had stopped her. But he was right.

"Huh. I swear there was a third one. Now where did he run off to?"

"That's enough, Gin!" Rangiku cried. "Why are you here?"

Gin's smirk was gone. "'That's enough'?" he repeated. "I guess playtime's over. You want to know why I'm here? Well, it's very simple, really."

Suddenly, Gin disappeared.

The three anxiously looked around. But before any of them had realized, Gin reappeared right behind Rukia.

Rukia stiffened up. She could feel his breath on her neck.

"I'm here for Kuchiki," he hissed.

Me?

With wide eyes, Rukia jumped forward as far as she could. She quickly turned around and brought her sword up defensively.

Renji had instantly turned around and brought his sword down. Gin, though, as if already knowing what Renji would do, jumped back.

Horrified, Rangiku turned to look at her former friend. "Rukia-chan? Why are you here for Rukia-chan?"

"Now, Rangiku, you know I can't answer-"

Gin was cut off when Rangiku flash stepped right in front of him and started attacking him. Her demeanor was completely different.

"You will not lay a hand on her!" she growled.

Rukia and Renji watched as Rangiku and Gin fought against each other.

Suddenly, someone zoomed past Rukia and made their way to Renji.

Renji quickly put his sword up to defend himself from the new attacker. Their two swords clashed and they pushed against each other.

Renji looked up to see Kaname Tosen. He gritted his teeth. With all his might, Renji pushed Tosen back and immediately lunged forward. He jabbed at Tosen nonstop.

Rukia marvelled at how expertelly Renji fought against such a skilled opponent. He was fighting with everything he had.

Rukia's heart suddenly clenched. It clenched so tight that it made her cry out. Suddenly, it became difficult to breathe. Her head began to spin, and her vision was becoming blurry. She dropped to her knees and gripped her chest.

This pain…

It was just like the pain she had felt before she had passed out and nearly died.

"Rukia?" she heard Renji call out. "Rukia, what's wr- Agh!"

She fought against the pain and tried to find Renji. She gasped. Tosen had landed a blow on her friend. She saw blood. But her vision was so blurry that she couldn't tell how badly Renji had been hurt.

Rukia yelled at herself to get it together! They were in the middle of the battle. She couldn't afford to let her guard down for any reason. Not right now.

With blurry eyes, she quickly looked around for where she had dropped Shirayuki. How lucky was she that her zanpakuto was white. Once she had her zanpakuto in her hand, she took a deep breath and forced herself to stand up.

A hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder. "Hello, Kuchiki."

Rukia gasped. She knew she had to act fast. There was no time to hesitate, no time to be scared. She jumped forward and swung herself around. She brought Shirayuki up, ready to defend herself.

Her sudden movements made her even dizzier. She fought past the pain, past the dizziness, and past the fear.

She knew she couldn't be scared, but her own hands betrayed her. She could see Shirayuki vibrating because of her quivering hands. She tightened her grip in an attempt to steady her shaky hands. She couldn't afford to let her fear take over. Not when she had to face him. Not when she had to face Aizen.