A/N: Dearest followers, I am so very sorry for the extremely belated update. I've been having really bad wrist pains, I am a procrastinator and have not gone to the doctor at all, even though it's gotten to the point of being unable to draw/write. Shame on me. So yeah, I could hardly write much less type chapter seven of this fanfiction the past couple months. I've had this chapter floating around in my head, with no way to get it on paper or in type. Now I have pain pills, wonderful ones.

I thank all you who have stuck around despite my delay.

Also, since it took so long to get it typed, it might be crappy, but I don't care. It's here and that's all that matters!

And now, after a seven month (I hate myself DX) reprieve, I present to you Chapter Seven of Can't Be Broken.

~Eir Sensei

::Bows to the thunderous applause::

…

Chapter Seven: Rescue

Byakuya's fast pace didn't slow until he was deep into the surrounding forest and absolutely certain they had not been followed. He glanced around the area he had stopped in, the trees were tall and numerous and the bushy undergrowth remained undisturbed by human or spirit.

Satisfied that he had found safety for the moment, he gently lowered his cargo to the ground.

Ichigo had more or less returned to his normal appearance, his hair however, remained a few inches longer than normal. His many torture wounds and scars had also returned upon his hollow release.

Byakuya found himself clenching his fists as he once again took in the bruises littering Ichigo's sides. His wrists, too, were bloody and bruised. Probably from some kind of restraint, he thought as he lowered himself to the ground. He took a few steadying breaths as he settled next to Ichigo. His hands glowed as he hovered them over the teen's body, erasing first the angry, horrible bruises.

"I swear, Ichigo, those men will learn the meaning of despair. Even if I have to dirty my own hands to be sure of it." He promised in a whisper.

…

Toshiro Hitsugaya, Captain of Squad Ten, surveyed the destruction before him. Tiny wisps of red and black reiatsu still clung to the debris, evidence of a very powerful, and recent hollow attack. The ground still smoldered along with the debris, from what he guessed to be a cero.

The hollow's reiatsu had a very familiar taste to it, yet the small captain could not place the familiarity. He would have continue his inspection of the strange reiatsu, but a movement of reiatsu on the far side of the facility caught his attention.

"Lieutenant Abarai, take your men and investigate the reiatsu signature over there, it may be one of the men responsible for this situation. Be cautious though, if they were able to catch two of our strongest, then they must not be underestimated." Toshiro ordered quietly.

"Right away, Captain Hitsugaya. Squad Six, follow me!"

Toshiro couldn't help the rising tension as he once again eyed the blackened rubble before him. He ordered his men to fan out and stepped toward the opening in the wall.

A soft voice calmed his frazzled nerves every so slightly while he made his way through the rubble. "I'm sure they're alright Captain. They're the two of the most stubborn shinigami I know."

"Thanks Rangiku, I'm sure you're right."

…

Byakuya stood from his kneeling position and stretched his tired body. He had been busy healing for nearly and hour before he deemed the boy before him fit for further travel.

He let out a quiet sigh then removed his haori and covered Ichigo, hiding the remaining injuries from sight. Once he was certain the boy would not freeze to death, he settled against the base of a nearby tree, content to let Ichigo rest as well as himself.

…

Toshiro stepped around yet another mound of debris, the potency of the left over reiatsu that had destroyed the side of the building, had made it nearly impossible to detect anything else. He continued making his way through the rubble until he came to the beginning, or end, of the destruction path. The room had three of four walls still intact, and was littered with several bodies.

He quickly labeled them as dead when he saw the gaping holes in their chests, the hollow reiatsu rose in wisps from the fallen men.

"Take care of the bodies, we can't just let them be. Even if they were the enemy." Toshiro instructed his squad.

A broken chain and collar lay near the far wall, he studied the signature a moment before turning to his Lieutenant.

"Rangiku."

"Yes, sir?"

"Here. What do you think?" He handed her the collar.

A look of concentration settled upon her features as she, too, felt for reiatsu. "It's definitely Captain Kuchiki's, sir, but it's nearly over-powered by the hollow's reiatsu. Do you think -"

"Don't jump to conclusions, we still haven't found them. Now we have a trail to follow. You three -" he pointed to several squad members. "Go find Abarai, tell him that we found a trail and followed it. He is to keep searching for any surviving enemies and wait at the rendezvous point if he retains any."

"Yes, sir!"

"Come, Rangiku, before the trail gets cold."

…

Byakuya startled from his light doze as a wave of reiatsu flooded the area. He was on his feet in an instant with his sword drawn, placing himself defensively over the still unconscious teen.

Several tense seconds passed, before the owner of the reiatsu appeared in the clearing. Byakuya lowered his sword as he recognized the small white-haired captain, and his lieutenant.

"Oh, thank goodness we found you! We were so worried!" Exclaimed Rangiku as she appeared beside her captain. "What happened?"

"I'll explain it all at a more convenient time. Right now, I suggest we get Kurosaki to a medic as he is still in need of healing. I exhausted my limited reiatsu to heal the more threatening wounds, but there are still more that may become worse if untreated."

Only when Byakuya mentioned Ichigo, did they notice the unconscious teen lying behind the Squad Six Captain. Worry lined both officers faces as Byakuya knelt to check on the boy.

"Of course, Rangiku, call the Fourth Squad in. They should have a team on standby, it won't take them long to get here."

"Right away, sir."

…

A/N: That is all I have for now, and I don't like it very much. Anyway I will be working on the next chapter with more enthusiasm since I can use my hands again. See ya then!

Please remember to Review ^.^ And Favorite/Follow if you haven't yet.

~EirSensei