I'm sorry my chapters are so short! Writing takes a lot longer than I had expected! I'll try my best to make my future chapters at least 1000 words.

The story's pace is going much slower than I had anticipated right now. While I'm writing, I find myself wanting to go into more and more depth! So, this might turn into a very long story. Don't worry though, once I'm done with all the intro stuff, the pace should pick up!

Reviews are appreciated, I absolutely love getting feedback!

Anyways, thanks for reading, hope you enjoy, and I do not own Bleach, Tite Kubo does.


In the distance, Ichigo could see that one of the tall white towers had broken open. There it is! I'm here, hold on Rukia! He flash stepped to the tower, leaving Orihime sprinting behind in his dust. Ichigo ran into the tower and his worst fear was confirmed: Rukia was lying face down on the ground in a pile of suspicious liquid. Off to the side, a broken Sode no Shirayuki lay close to a trident shaped sword that Ichigo had never seen before. However, these minor details escaped his notice: the only thing in the dark room that Ichigo could see was Rukia.

"Rukia, no!" he screamed as he ran towards her. He lifted up the top half of her body so that she was resting on his knees and began to examine her. Her skin was burning cold and she was not breathing. A horrifying amount of dry blood stained her clothes and the ground from which he lifted her. Ichigo felt his heart clench at the site. After all they've been through, he refused to lose her. His eyes began to water as he looked down at her face. She looks like she could be sleeping, she can't be dead! His thoughts shouted in his mind as tears began to well up in his eyes.

The sound of heels running towards him snapped Ichigo out of his thoughts.

"Inoue, quickly! She's not breathing, it looks as though she's been like this for awhile now!" Every word he spoke was tinted with his feelings of urgency and pain.

"Kurosaki-kun, please stand back."

Ichigo looked at Rukia's face one more time before resting her, once again, on the cold ground. Orihime observed his facial expressions as he did this; they caused her heart to tighten a tiny bit, but that wasn't important right now. I need to heal Kuchiki-san! I know I can do this. A large golden capsule was formed around Rukia. Orihime began to focus all her energy into the healing process.

"How come nothing's happening?" asked a worried Ichigo.

"It may take awhile, it took me a very long time to heal you, and it seems as though Kuchiki-san has been dead for even longer." A small voice of doubt was starting to fill Orihime's head, but she pushed it aside and continued—insisting that she could do it.

About a few steps behind Orihime, Ichigo watched in agony. What if this doesn't work? Don't worry it will. It has to. His thoughts only made him more nervous. She wouldn't be in this situation if I had been with her, if I had protected her like I'm supposed to. This is all my fault. Then Rukia's voice echoed through his head.

"Each of us should go down a different path" she had said. I disagreed, Rukia! I tried to keep us together! Ichigo wanted so much to go back to this moment to force her change her mind, to reject her opinions. Nothing would have worked though, she's too proud. "I've told you before Ichigo, I can handle myself. I didn't come here for you to protect me."



Ichigo's eyes stayed glued on Rukia. After what seemed like an eternity, something finally began to happen. However, it wasn't what either Orihime or Ichigo had expected.

Orihime's healing orb had not only surrounded Rukia, but the swords as well. The unfamiliar trident shaped one was beginning to shake and the liquid beneath Rukia was starting to condense around it. The liquid moved swiftly and before their eyes, the shape of man was formed. Orihime and Ichigo's eyes widened in shock.

Orihime could not understand what was happening. "Sh-sh-should I stop Ichigo?" Ichigo was so shocked and mesmerized that he couldn't form an answer. It soon became clear however, that the man appearing was dressed as a Shinigami. What is happening?! It doesn't matter! If I stop now, I may never be able to heal Kuchiki-san! I need to continue. Orihime's eyes narrowed in concentration, but they soon widened once again as the mysterious man's appearance became clearer. She gasped. He looks just like Kurosaki-kun! Only older and with black hair! I don't understand! What is going on?

"Keep healing Inoue, not matter what happens." Ichigo's voice broke her from her confusion. "I don't know who this guy is, but if he's the one who did this to Rukia, I'll take care of him and make him pay. Just keep healing, our first priority is getting her alive." Orihime nodded and began to focus her energy again. She glanced back at Ichigo, but she could not read his expression since his head was down again and his bangs covered the majority of his face.

Ichigo could not comprehend what was happening. All he knew was that he wanted, no, needed Rukia alive. All his worry was replaced by anger. If this is the guy who did this to her...

The thought was too much for him. Ichigo looked up and glared at the man just as Kaien Shiba was beginning to stir.

Kaien's eyes shot open.