The Chemical Reaction

Atagoki: Mk...here we go. Time for a turning point. Hope you enjoy. And thanks to everyone for the positive reviews and reinforcements. Sorry for being on hiatus, but that was because of camp. I appreciate everyone for putting up with me. Arigatou.

Warnings: None at present moment.

Disclaimer: ...the marvelous ownership of Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite. :)

Chapter 10:

I still don't have a reason and you don't have the time. — Maroon 5 (Makes Me Wonder)

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"Tell me, Kurosaki, how much do you care about Kuchiki-san?" Urahara whispered in his ear from behind. "How far are you willing to go?"

Ichigo paused. How far would he go? A part of the way? Half the way? No. "I would die to save her life. She saved mine and has put her own life in danger's way to save mine."

"Oh, well that's good to hear because most likely, you will die."

Ichigo made a shocked face. "Oh, please, boy. You can't expect me to send you into there and let you think you'll be just fine and dandy. I'm not that cruel." Urahara grinned in amusement.

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"So, Inoue," Yoruichi asked, stepping up behind Orihime, "Why are you going back? You can't like Rukia that much. She was your co-worker. I heard a lot of your co-workers weren't kind in Seireitei."

"That's a lie! Kuchiki-san was one of the most kind and respectful people in Seireitei! I'm going to save her because she's my friend!"

"And because you couldn't stand being apart from Ichigo, either." Yoruichi finished. Orihime's cheeks turned crimson. "Whatever. Just come up with a better lie if he asks you why you're going."

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"Onii-chan! Aren't you excited to be home? You've been gone for almost a week!" Yuzu asked thoughtfully, gripping his hand tightly. Even at age seventeen, Yuzu was as childish as ever. Karin walked steadily beside the two and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms angrily.

"Yuzu, you're seventeen. Act your age." Karin spat.

"That's not very nice Karin!" Yuzu retorted, still clinging onto Ichigo.

"Can I have my hand back now, Yuzu? I need both hands to carry this picnic basket, which, may I remind, you packed." Ichigo asked.

Yuzu sighed and let go reluctantly. "So bitter these days..."

"Oh, my beloved, Yuzu! Don't let Ichigo's bitter attitude get you down! He is only missing the woman in his life! His true love! Come to Daddy! I will never turn you away! I will always be here—"

"Oh, my God! Do you ever shut up?" Karin spat, kneeing her father in the stomach. "Just shut up and help Ichi-nii open the gate to the graveyard!"

It was that time of year again. The time where they took the day off to go visit the grave of the late Kurosaki Masaki. Ichigo sighed. It was always peaceful here. Always quiet. Then his father spoke and it was all messed up. He eyed the sky. "What's the weather going to be, Yuzu?"

"Um...I think it's going to be clear and beautiful, but it might rain a little. Although the rain chances are little."

"Good to hear."

Yuzu nodded and smiled, kneeling at the gravestone of her late mother and beginning to pray.

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Ishida Uryu eyed the bow in his closet suspiciously. A hand reached out and touched his and he jumped a little bit. "Ishida-kun, the bow is not going to come out and attack you. Let's continue studying, ne?"

"Of course, Inoue-san. How silly of me." Ishida replied, pushing back his glasses.

"Ano...Ishida-kun, I wanted to thank you for telling me about what you heard about Kuchiki-san. She is a good friend of mine."

"You don't have to thank me every time we see each other, Inoue-san."

"You're right. It's just so troubling to hear that she's supposed to be...well...you know."

Ishida nodded and shrugged. "Sometimes, bad stuff happens."

"I suppose. Ano...Ishida-kun, I don't get this chemical equation. Can you explain?"

"Certainly. But, Inoue-san, will you answer this for me first?"

"You have to ask the question first though..."

"Right, but ano...you're not going back for this Kuchiki Rukia are you?"

"What do you mean 'going back'?"

"Are you going back to Seireitei to see her or try to help her?"

Orihime looked down at the ground and chewed on her lower lip, then fiddled with her fingers under the table on her lap. "Ano...Ishida-kun, why? Are you worried?"

"Actually, yes. She's a capital offender according to them and they're a government agency. She's getting the death penalty. I just don't want to see you getting mixed up in that sort of affair."

Orihime gave a fake laugh. "Ishida-kun, don't worry. I'll be fine. And is it wrong for me to want to help my friend?"

"No, but it is wrong for you to do something like that if you're going to get yourself in trouble with the law system. Whatever it is you're thinking, just don't do it. All right?"

"Ishida-kun, I appreciate your concern. But Kuchiki-san is my friend and I will help her." Orihime covered her mouth with her right hand. "I've said too much. I beseech that you do not breathe a word of this to anyone, especially Tatsuki-chan. Please."

Ishida nodded and sighed. But he couldn't put the thoughts of concern out of his mind.

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"Hello?" A deep voice asked.

"This is Sado Yasutora, correct?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"If you want to save the life of a woman who saved your own, come to the coffee shop in the center of Karakura Town tomorrow at eleven AM sharp."

The line clicked. The young man looked at the phone puzzled and then hung it up, still confused.

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"Where are the twins, Dad?" Ichigo asked contemplatively.

"They're asleep by the stairs. Yuzu and Karin stayed up late last night working on projects for school so they wouldn't have to play too much catch up tomorrow."

"Oh. It's raining..." Ichigo added thoughtfully, looking at the gravestone. He shifted the umbrella in his hand from his left to his right hand.

"Yeah. Just goes to show you that you can't trust those weathermen bastards."

"Dad..."

"Yeah. I know. Just gotta keep some humor, especially when your wife died almost twenty years ago."

"What the hell? Dad, Mom died twelve years ago! Can't you even remember the date of your wife's death?"

"Twenty, twelve...it's close."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless. Really, you are. And will you put out that cigarette? I know you do it for Mom, but I just don't want the cancer."

"Oh, come on Ichigo. One little cigarette won't make me kick over just yet. And it's so cute you're worried about me."

"I meant myself."

Isshin grinned and looked at the ground, then dropped the cigarette and squashed it with the heel of his foot. "Fair enough."

Ichigo's cell phone immediately went off and he picked it up, accepting the call. "Hello?"

"Ichigo, it's Urahara. Don't let your family or anyone with you know it's me."

"Yeah, Keigo."

"Good. Now, we need you to meet us tomorrow at the coffee shop in the center of town tomorrow."

"Why?" Ichigo asked.

"Just do it." Urahara instructed.

The line clicked.

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"Rukia, your time is running out." Byakuya said coldly. "Your execution has been scheduled for three weeks from now."

Rukia looked away and sighed. God, I hope you're all right, Ichigo...

Atagoki: Sorry for being on hiatus, but now I'm back. This chapter was surprisingly not too bad to write, but I'm just happy it's done with. :) Thanks for sticking with me through this story and for my on and off schedule. Many, many thanks.

Read and review, por favor. :3