As I said, I tried to make this one over a thousand words! I hope you enjoy the long update, but to be honest, I don't know if I can keep it up, especially if I keep updating every night. Sorry!
Anyways, I also realized that I sort of ignored Nel's existance in the story. Sorry about that! I had wanted to continue my story from exactly where the anime left off, but I'm not sure what I would have done with Nel and her friends anyways right now. I may bring them in later in the storyline, but for now, please excuse their absense!
I hope you all enjoy the chapter, I tried really hard to keep the personalities of the characters. I'll update again soon! Also, thanks for all the reviews ) It's really motivating!
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo
Ichigo instinctively reached out to move Rukia away from harm, but his arm was stopped by Orihime's protective barrier.
"Kurosaki-kun! I don't think you can reach through my shields; I'd have to stop healing first. But if I stop healing her now, I don't know if I will be able to later!" Orihime blurted out. She could feel her energy draining away—she couldn't keep this up for much longer.
Ichigo could only grunt in reply, his eyes glued on Kaien. Orihime kept healing.
" Wha-what's going on here?" Kaien was beyond confused. While he was part of the hollow, he saw everything that was going on, but he couldn't control it's body or make the hollow feel any of his emotions. He had been screaming at Rukia to get up, to keep fighting, but it was to no avail—he had no voice to speak through.The last thing he could remember was skewering Rukia on his sword, then falling victim to Sode no Shirayuki's third dance. Now here he was, staring out from a golden sphere at a weird orange-haired shinigami and a young woman dressed like an espada. Suddenly his eyes glimpsed her.
"Kuchiki!" He lunged towards her body holding her upper body up with his knees, just as Ichigo had done earlier.
"Who the hell are you!? Don't you dare touch Rukia or I'm going to kill you!" Ichigo wanted so much to break through Orihime's orb, but he controlled himself and had to be satisfied with yelling.
"My name is Kaien Shiba lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, and I would never hurt Kuchiki. Please just stop shouting in my ear." Kaien spoke with the utmost seriousness. He knew that she had been dead, he had done it, but now, in his arms, he could feel her breathing. Wake up Kuchiki, I need to know that you're okay.
Orihime looked at the soft, caring expression on this mysterious man's face and knew right away that he wasn't lying. She continued healing and continued to feel her energy drain away with her efforts.
Ichigo didn't know what to think now. This man clearly knows who Rukia is, and from what Ichigo can see, he looks like he cares about her almost as much as Ichigo does. Who is he to hold Rukia like that—that's MY job.
"I thought the Thirteenth division's lieutenant was dead" Ichigo growled.
"I was." Was all the reply he got. Kaien was completely focused on Rukia. "I'll explain more later; for now, can we just make sure she's okay?"
Ichigo focused his attention back to Rukia, trying his best to ignore the arms that held her up. His stomach tied itself into knots. She still isn't awake! Rukia! Wake up! Please!
Then, as though she heard his thoughts, Rukia's eyelids began to flutter. In the silence of the room, the tiny whisper that escaped her lips was heard by each person present.
"Ichigo" it was soft, but distinct.
"Rukia!" Ichigo dove forward and kneeled directly next to the orb.
Rukia's eyes slowly began to open. The first image she was greeted with was that of Kaien Shiba, looking down at her and smiling an uncharacteristically timid smile.
"Hey, Kuchiki!" was all he could think of to say, but Kaien held her closer and tighter to express his relief.
Rukia could not believe her eyes.
"Kaien-dono? Kaien-dono! Is it really you?" Her voice quivered; a sign of her current emotional and physical weakness. She attempted to lift a shaking hand up to touch his face, make sure it was really him, but she didn't have the strength. Her heavy arm fell back to its place at her side.
"What are you doing Kuchiki? Don't try to move!" his words, and the characteristically bossy and arrogant tone of his voice, assured her. It really IS Kaien-dono! Rukia's eyes began to water. Tears escaped freely from Rukia's eyes as she buried her head into Kaien's arm before she fell unconscious once again.
Orihime then collapsed onto her knees.
"I'm sorry Kurosaki-kun, Kuchiki-san! I can't heal anymore right now; I don't have the energy left." Orihime's voice was filled with guilt and it sounded as though she was on the brink of tears.
"It's okay Orihime, you did it. She's alive." Ichigo looked back at her and smiled. "Thanks. You should just rest for a moment now, once we start moving again, we're going to have to move quickly." His voice was stony and distant despite the smile on his lips.
Orihime then felt horrible for Ichigo. How must he be feeling right now? Oh Kurosaki-kun...
Ichigo had seen every detail of Rukia's reunion with Kaien. He had never seen her cry so freely before. She usually tried so hard to hold back her tears. The orb was now broken and he reached down to touch Rukia's tear-streaked face.
"Has she just passed out? I mean, she's not..." Ichigo asked.
"Her reiatsu is really low right now. It's understandable. What we need to do is get her back to Soul Society quickly." To Kaien, it felt as though it was only yesterday that he was in Soul Society carrying out his lieutenant duties. He knew that he should be nervous about going back to Soul Society after more than 50 years had passed, but right now, all he could think about was Rukia's well-being. "She may die at this rate if we don't return immediately."
Kaien stood up and lifted Rukia in his arms. "C'mon, I think I know the way out."
Ichigo checked his temper. I should be carrying Rukia.
"Are you sure you're okay to carry her Shiba-kun? You were just healed from the dead too..." Orihime looked hesitantly at the man who had just scooped up her friend.
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Thank you so much..." he trailed off, obviously not wanting to offend the woman who had just brought him back to life.
"Orihime Inoue. Nice to meet you!" Orihime responded happily
"...Inoue. Nice to meet you too!" Kaien replied equally as jovially then he became very serious once again. "I'm afraid that most of the healing was performed on my behalf, which is why Kuchiki is still so weak. Thank you again for what you've done, don't worry, I'll take care of Kuchiki from here on out." Ichigo growled in his throat at this comment, but neither Kaien nor Orihime noticed. Kaien was momentarily absorbed in making sure Rukia was comfortable in his arms and Orihime was too busy scolding herself for sounding so happy—now is not the time to act happy.
"Are you okay to travel now Inoue?" Ichigo chose to ignore what Kaien had said. There will be plenty of time for explanations later. Now, let's just get out of here.
"Thank you Kurosaki-kun, I think so. I'm actually feeling much better, but I don't think I can heal Kuchiki-san anymore. Not yet, at least." She replied apologetically.
"That's alright." He responded.
"Now c'mon, let's get a move on! We need to get back to Soul Society!" Kaien was about to flash step towards the exit, or what he remembered the Ninth Espada knew as an exit.
"Wait! We have three more friends in Hueco Mundo; we need to find them too! Chad first, I know he's hurt. This way! Orihime, hold on to me, we need to move quickly. It'll be faster if I flash step us both."
Orihime hid a blush and walked into Ichigo's open arm. He closed his arm around her and took off. Kaien followed easily behind.
I can't believe I can still flash step so easily! I mean, I haven't done it in over fifty years! But I guess I was just THAT great of a shinigami! Kaien smiled to himself, at his own cockiness then he looked down at an unconscious Rukia. My God Rukia, what you must have been through in these last fifty years. Aizen had told all of the espada how he had almost killed Rukia with his intricate plans. Don't worry, you won't ever have to face anything like that again, especially now that I'm back. In her sleeping state, Rukia clung on tighter to Kaien's robes.
Ichigo glanced behind him to see Kaien looking down at Rukia, eyes full of determination. He turned back and faced the front. Rukia, thank God you're okay! But I still don't trust this guy. How does he know you, and is he the one who killed you in the first place? Rukia, we need to get to Soul Society, you need to wake up. I need to talk to you! He flash stepped even faster now, Kaien sped up behind him as well, in order to keep up.
Orihime was watching Ichigo's face the entire time they were moving. After he had looked back at Kaien and Rukia, he turned back with a mixture of anger and worry showing on his face. He had unconsciously tightened his grip around Orihime as well. She understood how he felt. The worry, obviously over Rukia, and the anger, brought on by jealousy of this new stranger. She empathized with his both of his feelings from personal experience. Kurosaki-kun don't worry, everything will clear itself out so that it was just like before. Kuchiki-san will get better and we will all go back to being normal friends, fighting hollows and going to school. Orihime pushed a thought out of her mind and looked determinedly ahead. Don't think about the Hougyoku right now. She thought to herself. I know I have the power to destroy it, but the time for that will come later. For now, I need to conserve my energy so that I can heal Sado-kun.
The two blurs sped towards a large patch of blood on the ground. In the middle of the blood, lay Chad Sado: eyes wide open and body barely breathing.
