Blades of Resolve

Written by Scarredbyshallowness

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Devil May Cry or anything else that I use in my story.

Author Notes: A lot of explaining done in the last chapter. Action will makes it's triumphant return. That I assure you. Also, expect a weekly update I've decided to push myself to finish this project so I can go back to some other unfinished ones. I have also decided to include Kon's Plot Free Zone at the end of every chapter. Enjoy!

Note: This story takes place after the Bounto Arc.

Chapter 6

Broken

-Bleach World-

"So tell me, Inoue…" Ichigo lightly questioned the refreshingly optimistic girl who supported half of his weight. And yes. It was embarrassing. "What's with all of you? You guys aren't telling me something."

"Oh, don't be silly, Ichigo!" Orihime lied through a cute smile. Sadly, she wasn't the best at covering up the truth. "Um, did you ever get a chance to read that note I gave you?"

"Huh? Oh. No. I didn't get a chance last night. Rukia stayed up so freakin' late. I don't think she ever went - " he slapped his own mouth shut. Idiot! He almost revealed about their living 'situation'!

Puzzlement was written all over Inoue's face… and arms and legs and pretty much the rest of her body.

" I mean, Rukia never seemed to go home! I fell asleep and next thing I knew it was time for school!" Ichigo cringed a smile together. Crap. Crap. Crap.

"Oh, that's right! Where does Rukia stay when she's here in the real world?" Orihime asked aloud as she looked off into space.

Her imagination took off, picturing a homeless, and rather homely, Rukia living in a box in an abandoned alley, then another of her in an over crowded orphanage with a very 'Oliver Twist' looking Rukia. Then one of her as a monkey sleeping in a tree. Oooh! And another with Rukia as a robot resting in a garage!

Yeah…Inoue's mind has a habit of going slightly overboard.

"I have NO idea! None at all! It's not like she lives with me or anything! Ha! Ha!" Kurosaki screamed denial like bloody murder, laughing psychotically about the idea of living with the petite girl. Thank GOD Inoue is really, really dense.

"Yeah! Next time she comes back I'll invite her to live with me! It's lonely over at my place anyway." Orihime yelled with glee to him. She always wanted a roommate since Tatsuki couldn't because of her uptight parents. "Living with Rukia would be so much fun!"

"Yeah. I bet it would be."

Soul Society, Squad 13 Captain's Quarters

"Captain Ukitake!" Rukia bowed her head to the floor without hesitation. He was a man deserving of honor. "How may I be of service to you, sir?"

"Please, Rukia. You don't have to be so formal." the white haired Captain smiled earnestly. Rukia acted just like her brother when it came to missions. All work, no play. "I am only passing down an order. "

"Passing down, sir?" She blinked. That could only mean one thing…

"Yes. The Captain Commander wants to speak with you, Kuchiki. I don't know what it's about, but I am sure it's good. You've been a perfect soul reaper recently, Rukia." Ukitake complimented with a beam of warmth emitting from his smile. He wasn't just a commanding officer, Ukitake was more like the father Rukia never had.

(A/N: Since Soul Society's government has been slaughtered by Aizen, all of the political power falls to the Captain Commander. In a sense, he is the President right now.)

"T-Thank you, sir! I'll report to him immediately!"

"There is no need to rush." he spoke with a slight grunt. His sickness was getting the better of him today. "I would like to accompany you."

"Yeah. Me too." a notable voice flicked her ear. Not to mention a hint of unmistakable red hair.

"Renji…"

As the three journeyed to the omnipotent hall of captains, silence overtook them. A growing tension fed off their closing proximity. The more the walked, the more the questions in their minds beckoned for answers. Especially the moment they reached the towering sixty foot doorway.

With a unearthly creak, the door forced itself open. As creepy as that was, it took a steep second place to the looks given to Rukia by all of Gotei 13's captains. The worst of all being Byakuya's. It was a look of perplexing disappointment.

This was with the exception of Aizen, Tousen, and Gin of course (those traitorous dogs).

"Rukia Kuchiki! Step forward!" Captain Commander Yamamoto demanded with steel enforced words. Though old, easily over 4000 years old, his authority has not lost it's effect.

"S-sir!" Rukia responded immediately, dropping to the floor before the elder at record speed. This was practically the CREATOR of Soul Society after all. Respect was expected.

"There is no easy way to say this, Rukia. So I will get straight to the point." The Commander spoke with a hint of a tension.

Rukia could feel her heart pulse. It's sprinting pace accelerated her to the point that her nerves stood on end. She was about to have a heart attack. Even IF it was good news!

"You are being issued new orders in the real world. I am removing you from Japan."

Karakura Town

"Kurosaki-kun… Would you mind if I asked you something personal?" Orihime asked with a ruby red blush in her cheeks. ANYTHING to avoid the horrific truth she would have to tell him.

"Sure, Inoue. What's on your mind?" Ichigo replied thoughtlessly, losing himself to the grandeur of the natural world as little rays of sunlight lightly kissed his face.

The two decided to take a break from the norm and rest in the park nearby. Lying a top of a perfectly shaded hill, the day proved to be absolutely gorgeous. The clouds danced for a harmonious blue sky as birds chirped a deliciously peaceful melody. Every Sunday should be like this…

"Um. Remember back in middle school when you and Tatsuki dated?" Orihime brought up with slight dismay. That was when she found out that she had feelings for a certain bleach head.

"It was only for two weeks. What's to ask about?" Ichigo blinked. This was one of the LAST things on his mind.

The wind gusted through their moment of silence.

"Well, why did you break up? She won't tell me…" Inoue sighed, futilely trying to keep her hair from blowing in her face. Tatsuki refused to give any details. At ALL.

"I wasn't good enough for her freakin' strict parents." Kurosaki replied with a wince. A cold shiver found it's way down his spine. Some memories are better left forgotten. "They called me a 'good for nothing punk' that would 'corrupt' their daughter. Jerks…"

"Oh…" It wasn't quite the response she was expecting. Taking in a deep breath, Orihime rolled herself in front of the clenching teen. "Please don't hate me for what I'm about to tell you…"

"W-What? Don't be ridiculous, Orihime! I could never hate you." Ichigo rose a little smile. It was the truth. She was just too flippin' cute.

"Ok…" She took in a deep breath to calm herself once more. "Cloud told us that you have a strong case of something called Geosigma." Tears began to form in her eyes. " And…because you have such a large amount in you…" Her voice cracked. Emotional breakdown was eminent.

"Orihime… If it's that bad don't tell me." Ichigo sighed with stern look upon his face. The same one he used for school.

"But you have…"

"Inoue! Look at yourself! You're about to snap! I'm not worth that kind of pain."

"You are to ME!" Inoue screamed with a heartfelt cry.

Ichigo was stopped in his tracks. Inoue never cut him off like that. That look. Those tears. Was she…

"4 days." She managed to say through her overpowering sobs.

"What?"

"That's all…-sniff-… you …have… left." Orihime spoke while covering her eyes with her hands futilely. "After that…"

"Your body and soul will cease to exist." Chad finished for Inoue, appearing from the far end of the surprisingly vacant playground. He wasn't going to leave the burden solely on the poor girl.

"Y-You mean I…" Ichigo stammered. At this point, even the hollow in his mind shut up. If his soul was destroyed, he wouldn't even go to Soul Society. He would just…

"You'll cease to exist, Ichigo."

Soul Society, Hall of Captains

"But Sir!" Ukitake yelled in defense to the nonsensical order. "Rukia knows Kurosaki the best! He has become a powerful ally!"

"It is BECAUSE of that troublesome ryoka that I am assign her these orders!"

Rukia lifted her head slowly from her lowly position, eyes filled with torn emotion." I have no right to question your judgment, sir. But why, Commander Yamamoto?"

"From the betrayal of three Captains and the recent attack from the Bounto, Soul Society is in a weakened state." The Captain Commander wheezed. 'Twas a dark day for the Gotei 13. "If that ryoka should decide to attack us now - "

"But Ichigo WOULDN'T do that!" Renji roared in defense. He would of said more if Ukitake hadn't placed a hand over his mouth.

"He ALREADY has! Do not forget the damage he caused during his first trip here, Abarai!" The old man leered with cold eyes. "On top of that, the ryoka is nothing but a despicable vaizard."

"A vaizard?" Renji questioned aloud. He wasn't one for formality. Nor for keeping up with things that didn't concern him.

"A Soul Reaper who has illegally gained the powers of a hollow, idiot." 12th squad Captain Kurotshuchi (the skull faced weirdo) clenched his visible choppers. Facts were his territory.

Lightly touching her neck, Rukia knew the truth behind that fact. That thing inside of Ichigo…. It was like another person entirely. But the Ichigo that she watched over the past day and a half, clinging on to life in Urahara's recovery room. The one that she met that night so many months ago…

She looked deeply into Yamamoto's aged eyes with plea.

"Is there any way that I can stay?"

"What was that, Kuchiki?" The commander's voice, and spirit energy, elevated. So much so that the air thickened. Breathing suddenly became a chore.

"She hasn't had much sleep Commander, sir! She speaks nonsense!" Renji hurriedly defended. Feeling a shove from behind, he was chucked out of the picture. Quite literally.

"I am begging to stay at my post, sir!" Rukia continued to plea. Although, with the rapidly increasing spirit pressure, it was ALL she could do.

"RUKIA! Don't be an idi-!" Abarai tried to plant some sense into the girl. But with his Captain kicking him back into the ground, logical took a back seat.

"No." He answered quite hastily. "With that meddling Urahara now unable to pass through to Soul Society, you are the only way that boy can still enter." The commander explained. The Secret Mobile Forces did a clean sweep of the west district of Rukongai. With the flaw in the system taken care of, Urahara could no longer make a portal.

"Then take that ability away from me!" Rukia screamed with desperation. Her friends. Her life. Her… She was NOT going to lose them all for such a pitiful reason! For a moment, her very own words shocked herself. Just under a year ago, rank in Soul Society meant EVERYTHING to her. Now look at her…

The Captains stood in awe of her request. They normally don't get to watch someone commit suicide in front of them.

"Do you understand what you are saying, Rukia?" Byakuya demanded in an icy tone. The only way to do that was through…

"I do." She replied in the same cold demeanor, staring directly into her brother's unwavering eyes. It's a good thing no one could see what was going on inside her mind. Complete, and continuing, chaos. "That ryoka is the only reason I exist today! If it weren't for him…"

This was a fact, yes, but it was not necessarily true. Captains Ukitake and Kyouraku never intended for the execution to proceed. The kid just beat them to the punch.

"I see. So your loyalty lies strongly with him. You've become far too close. " The commander stated simply with closed eyes. "Then you leave me no choice."

The Captain Commander's power surged. The pressure was so intense that Rukia was instantly forced to the ground. There was no escape. And there certain was no going back now.

"For act of treason, Rukia Kuchiki, I label you as an EXILE!"

"COMMANDER!" Renji roared from beneath Byakuya's foot.

"Shut UP, Renji!" Rukia bit back. "This is the way it has to be…"

In her eyes, he could see the truth of her words. She held no regret for what was about to transpire.

"Bakudou 101: SOUL SEAL!" the elder chanted, lifting an ancient hand toward Rukia's immobile body.

Light emitted from her back, forming itself into a light blue rimmed, transparent Hell Butterfly. It swelled over the square of her back, growing four times the size of the normal butterfly, as it seamlessly breathed to life. It started slowly at first, but quickly became a flood of raw spirit energy forcefully eaten by the illuminating being. Rukia's screams were dulled by the sounds of ripping fabric. Anything that blocked the growth of the complex being was torn apart like rice paper. With her energy constantly being ripped out of her, exhaustion was beginning to take over.

With a final pulse of punishment, the butterfly then evaporated itself into Rukia's exposed skin. Burn marks from what was once wings protruded themselves from the kanji seal left from what was once the body of the creature. If it weren't a seal, it'd easily pass as a pretty sexy tattoo.

The seal was complete.

"Rukia…" Renji lightly gasped aloud as Byakuya finally released his hold on him.

"Rukia Kuchiki." The old man said sternly. Although, a sliver of regret was beginning to show itself. "You are hereby forbidden to set foot into soul society from this moment on."

She couldn't reply. She couldn't even breathe without clawing for air.

"However, I am not a heartless man. Abarai!" Yamamoto ordered with a clack of his staff upon the sacred ground.

"Yes, Commander!" Renji replied immediately, instantly leaping off the ground with a salute.

"I order you to escort this exile to the real world in a gigai. A point like Karakura Town would be most fitting."

"T-Thank you, sir." Rukia sputtered from the ground as Renji helped her to her shaky feet. She would rather rip her eyes out of her sockets than go through that process again.

"It's not being done for you, Rukia." The Captain Commander said with familiar sternness. "I am repaying my debt to the ryoka for saving soul society from the bounto threat."

"A gift to a potential enemy, sir?" Soi Fong rose a brow. This was making little strategic sense.

"I am a man of my word, Fong." The Commander explained stoically. Rukia had paid her price.

Being followed by several sets of piercing stares, Renji carried the weary little soul reaper on his back with ease. As the massive, omnipotent, doors closed slowly behind the two, a relaxing vibe returned to the Captains. This was the first time that they had witnessed something so…

"What an idiot." Kenpachi scoffed abrasively. Who the hell would want to lose strength willingly?

"I found it quite inspirational." Unohana, captain of the 4th squad, spoke with little grin. It had ages since someone had stood up to the old man. More importantly, she was just glad Rukia wasn't killed on the spot.

"SILENCE!" Yamamoto roared in disbelief. This was a MEETING after all. "The Gotei 13's captain meeting shall commence."

Plot Free Zone

Kon: YO, HOT BABES! And everyone else. Kon here again! That idiot Scar won't be showing his ugly mug this time! …Still can't believe that I'm not included in the story…

Scar: Watch it, fluff boy. (Pulls up a seat).

Kon: S-Scar! You're here! …How?

Scar: You mean after you slashed the tires of my car? Why don't we try a more entertaining question. (Pulls out a BMW lighter) Like, 'How fast can your plushy body catch on fire'?

Kon: -Ahem- Our guest today is none other than that emo dude, Cloud! Get'em, Scar!

Scar: Yeah. Yeah.

POP!

Cloud: What the? Where am I? (Looks around room in a daze).

Scar: Welcome to the plot free zone! The place where… the crap? I'm not saying this. (Burns cue card with lit lighter. Tosses over shoulder).

Kon: Wussy.

Scar: That's it. I'm out of here. You got the guest. You do the interview. See ya'll next week. (Gets out of seat. Slams door. Squeals out of parking lot on 4 very expensive new tires).

Kon: What a loser.

Cloud: …

Kon: Well, I'm supposed to ask you about your past travels to other planets. Yadda yadda. I only have one thing to ask you, Cloud.

Cloud: Is this a joke? Reeves, is that you?

Kon: Who the crap is 'Reeves'? All I want to know is if you know any hot chicks!

Cloud: Would she count? (Pulls out a picture of Tifa. A really, really, uh, flattering picture).

Kon: OH GOOD GOD! (Snatches picture from Cloud's hand). LOOK AT THE SIZE OF HER RACK! WH-SQUEAK!

Cloud: Watch it, Reeves. You know what's going on between me and her.

Kon: Who the HELL is 'REEVES'?

POP!

Kon: HEY! WHERE DID HE GO? Oh. I guess time is up. Well… I'll be back next week! Don't forget to tell me how much you LOVE ME! Later!

(A/N: 'Reeves' refers to the mind controller behind Cait Sith in FFVII. Cloud thinks this just another prank of his.)