Only a few minutes had passed, and I heard the alarm go off in the Seireitei again. And, even though I was still crying, begging them not to help me, Yoruichi, Renji, and Byakuya forced me through the gate, and the next thing I knew, I was standing alone in an empty street in Karakura Town.

With no idea as to what I was supposed to do!

But, as I stood there, trying to dry my eyes with my hands, I heard a familiar voice behind me shout my name. And when I looked around, I saw that it was Ichigo.
He was running up to me, waving. "You're okay?!" He smiled.
I nodded at him sadly. "Y-Yes...I am."
He heard how my voice was shaking, and stopped running. Staring at me, he blinked. "You don't sound okay..." He mumbled. "What happened?"
I turned my head away and frowned, my eyes half-open now...which only made me look more upset. "My brother and a few other soul reapers...they're risking everything to save me, and I'm afraid they might end up dying..." I said softly. Tears rushed down my cheeks as I added, "And I can't stand to lose them!!"

Ichigo gave me a serious look, and told me, "I'm going."
"Wh-What?!" I looked back at him, eyes wide, and stared.
He repeated what he said, and told me, "I'll stop them. If you can't bear the pain of losing them, then I'll make sure they won't die."
"But Ichigo, you can't-!!" I gasped. "What if you end up dying in the process of doing that?!"
"Don't you think it's better if only one life is lost, not three?"
I couldn't believe he'd just said that! What was with everyone these past few days?!

"You're not going alone!" I snapped. "I'm coming with you!!"
At first, he didn't like the idea of me returning to the Soul Society, but after A LOT of arguing, he gave in and let me go back with him.
Urahara provided the transportation; well, the gate; and Ichigo took care of the fighting. I was just there to help convince everyone to stop fighting for me, and hopefully, they'd listen.
But when I was talking to my brother, we were attacked by Kenpachi. Well, more so him than me.
He had picked me up in one arm, and turned slightly away so that I was farther from the blade than he was; and when it stabbed him almost in the heart, I literally shrieked so loud, I almost made my own ears bleed!
Brother was soaked in so much blood, I was shaking from the fear of seeing it! But he didn't even seem like he was in pain; not even a little bit! He just calmly stared at the man, and ripped the sword out of his chest. Not even one groan of pain!

I could only stare at him; wide-eyed; as he put me down and told me to run. But I refused to listen to him; there was no way I was going to let him stay there and fight unless I was there to make sure he was okay. I couldn't leave him.
"Rukia, get out of here!!" He tried again to get me to leave, but I still wouldn't go. So he turned to look at Ichigo, and glared as he told him, "If Rukia refuses to leave, then you are to stay here and protect her. If I see ONE WOUND on her, you'll be punished; do you hear me?!!"
Ichigo gulped, but nodded. "Yes, Byakuya!" He said, taking out his sword in case he needed to fight.
I was still staring at my brother, but this time, out of amazement and curiosity. He had become so protective since I was brought to the Soul Society the first time, I noticed. But what I didn't get was...what brought that on? Did he really care for me, and was now finding a reason to show it? ...But if he did, he should have showed it in the first place!
But...why now? Was it because now, there was a chance he could lose me? Had he thought that before, I would have been fine...that I'd live through my battles? Did he believe in me then?
I had so many unanswered questions swirling around inside my mind. And I began to wonder if any of them would get their answers.

And then, I saw something so horrifying, I was brought back to the Soul Society in my mind; I stopped thinking about all those questions I had, because soon, they might not have a reason to be asked.
I saw him; the man my brother had been fighting; shove his sword through my brother's chest. I could see the tip of the blade stick out from Byakuya's back. And all I could do was stand there and scream.
That is, until Ichigo cupped his hand over my mouth. He held me back, as well. He must have known that I wanted to run out to my brother, to make sure he was okay, but he wasn't allowed to do that...for I could get hurt, too. So he pulled me close to him, making sure I couldn't run. And he whispered to me to close my eyes; not to watch Kenpachi attack my brother.
"He'll be okay..." He told me softly. "Believe me." He said this as if he knew something I didn't, and I began to think he was hiding it from me; but I wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing, what he didn't tell me.
But I did as he said, and I squinted my eyes shut as hard as I could; I tried to picture something nice; something to distract my thoughts from the fight.

And before I knew it, everything was silent. A creepy calm. It freaked me out!! But what was worse...was what I saw when I finally opened my eyes.
Byakuya collapsed on the ground, Kenpachi roughly ripping his sword from my brother's body, smirking at his victory.
I WANTED TO KILL HIM!
But all I was able to do was glare at him and cry.
And as I did so, I barely noticed Orihime walk passed Ichigo and I, over to Byakuya, who she was about to heal. I guess her appearance must have been what Ichigo didn't tell me about, but I was just happy that it was about her, rather than something else. At least she could help my brother!

I watched as Orihime knelt down beside Byakuya, and heard her say, "Soten Kisshun, I reject!" A glowing yellow barrier surrounded him, and slowly, his wounds faded away. I was like he had never gotten hurt; like he never almost died. But I knew that he had...I knew that I almost lost him. And when Orihime finished healing him, after Kenpachi was long gone, Ichigo let go of me and allowed me to run over to my brother, watching me, as I fell to my knees at his side.

I leaned over my brother, as if I was about to hug him, and cried. "Are you alright, Byakuya?!" I said, my voice shaking once again.
"I'm okay..." He said weakly, even though he'd just been healed. I figured he might have still been in a bit of pain, and was probably tired from fighting.
I hugged him close, but gently, then sat up straight. "Thank goodness!!"
I looked at Orihime and told her how thankful I was for her help, and she nodded, then left.

And as I sat there alone with Byakuya, who still laid on the ground, I had to ask him about the fight he'd gotten himself into before Kenpachi attacked. And I was surprised to hear him say what he did!
"I had gone to talk to Head Captain Yamamoto," He began, his voice soft, as he looked at me. "To try to get him to set you free...but he got a bit angry, and we ended up fighting over the situation. Though, we did make a deal..." He stopped, and I asked, "What was the deal?"
"We agreed that if I won, you wouldn't be executed...but if I had lost, your execution would be today, instead of thirty days from now."
"And...?" I gulped. "Who won?!"
He stared at me for a minute, then said, "I did."
I sighed with relief, then smiled at him. "You really are amazing, Brother, y'know that?! To beat the Head Captain to save my life- I don't think anyone but you could have done it!"
He smiled slightly, and nodded. "I had to save you...no matter what it took. I told you, didn't I? I already lost one important person to me; I wasn't about to let myself lose another."
My cheeks turned a bit pink at his words, but I still continued to smile at him. "You won't lose me, Byakuya..." I whispered, kissing his forehead. "I won't let you..."

(End.)