A/N: I am so sorry guys. It's literally been over a year since I've updated. I TOTALLY GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO FORM AN ANGRY MOB AND SKEWER ME TO DEATH! I am sooooo sorry!
Kaien's POV:
I felt something tickle my nose. It started to itch and I started to get aggravated. I started to wiggle my nose to get the feeling away. Damn itch! I lifted my hand and slapped my nose...and then yelped in pain. I opened my eyes to see a bird, now sitting on my chest. I smiled and laughed, "Well good morning, not the wake up call I expected." I said to it. I sat up and it started to fly in front of my face.
"Run along now," I said. The bird flew away, into the trees where it belonged.
I looked around seeing Eiri-sensei.
"Good morning, Kaien. Having fun with the bird?" He said.
I laughed, "No not really. So, when are we leaving?" I asked him,
"When everyone is ready..." Was his reply. That could be never. I don't think it would be amusing to walk into your deaths; no one is ready for that.
Rukia awoke and yawned. "Good morning sensei's!" She cheerfully said.
Rukia walked over and put both of her hands on our shoulders, "So, when are we leavin'?"
"Do you like death?" I asked. She laughed, "No, but I'm not going to run away from it."
Eiri-sensei smiled, "You've taught a smart girl."
A smirk appeared on my face, "I did."
An hour passed, and we were all standing in silence. We were about to head for Hueco Mundo. Hitsugaya broke the silence with a battle cry, "HUECO MUNDO, HERE WE COME!" And with that he started running. We all exchanged glances—confused glances.
"Do you think he knows where he's going?" I asked.
"Not a chance," Ichigo replied. We all started laughing and raced after the deranged idiot. And with that, that's how we started our journey ahead of us.
We ran through the trees blocking our path, as fast as we could. The wind was stinging my eyes. "Do you know where to go?" I asked Eiri-sensei.
"Yes, I know where it is. Just follow me!"
I stopped running, in return everyone else did, too. "Why're you stopping?" Rukia snapped.
"Let's do it the easier way," I smirked. Everyone exchanged confused glances. I winked and jumped high in the sky, out of their vision.
~Rukia's POV~
I didn't see where he went. It seemed as though he flew away! "Sensei?" I called out.
I looked over to see Eiri-sensei smiling, and he jumped up as well. "Where'd they go, Ichigo-sensei?" I asked.
"They're up in the trees," was his reply. I looked confused.
"Do ya know how to jump from tree to tree?" Ichigo asked.
"Er, I don't think so..."
He took my hand, along with Histugaya's, and jumped into the trees, where everyone else was.
Kaien-sensei started first and started jumping tree branch to tree branch, like a monkey.
"I can't do that!" I whined. They ignored my cry, and took my hand, jumping from tree to tree, like something you'd see in movies.
"We will get out of the forest and onto plains soon!" Eiri-sensei said.
We all exchanged glances and nodded.
As small as a spec, out in the distance, I saw a patch of light, which would be our exit out of the forest and onto flat land. Absolute flat land would greet us, and we would have to run past it all to get to Hueco Mundo.
I didn't have much balance on these trees, although it seemed as though no one cared. With every branch we were jumping toward, the trees got higher and higher until it was as though we were on mountains. Maybe it was my imagination and my fear of hights...most probably.
"Looks like little Rukia's afraid!" Hitsugaya teased.
Everyone snapped their heads back to look at me, with a smirk on Kaien-sensei's face...I despise it when he teases me.
"Am not!" I cried back.
"Then let go of Ichigo's hand," Kaien-sensei said. I glared at him and he chuckled.
"Fine, I will!" I said, knowing I would regret what i just did .
So i did just that, I let go of Ichigo's hand. I continued to jump, realizing I was actually doing it! But then, I slipped. Yes, I landed on a branch, and twisted my ankle, making me slip off the branch and I began falling downward. A cry left my mouth, "Help me!"
~Kaien's POV~
Oh crap! I knew I shouldn't have provoked her. I dived after, "Rukia, don't worry, I'm coming!" I shouted after. Diving, I saw her in my vision. I got closer and closer until I grabbed her, holding her. With her in my arms I grabbed a low branch and flipped us around until we were sitting atop of it. I exhaled, "Wow..."
I thought we might've been a goner, but, that was silly...
"Wow...thanks sensei..." she said, a blush residing on her cheek.
"Yeah, keep your hand locked with someone else's, ok?" It was not a question, it was a demand, and she saw that.
"Yes, sensei..." Rukia said, shifting her pupils downward.
I chuckled, "Call me by my name, please. I wasn't born with the title 'sensei'. "
A grin crossed Rukia's face and she said, "Okay!"
Grabbing her hand, we jumped upward until we reached everyone else, and without another word, we jumped toward the exit.
Closer and closer came the shining light leading us outward into what leads beyond these trees. Adrenaline rushed through my veins. How exciting it was to not know what leads in front of us! To go on this adventure to save Victoria, my sensei's wife! A smile was plastered on my face and all of us together jumped out into the opening, falling, and seeing what lies ahead of us.
We all landed and looked around. It was all grass and it lead forward. What a weird place! I met everyone else's eyes and nodded at Eiri. He nodded back and once more we started running.
"Sensei, is all we're gonna do is run?" Rukia asked confused.
I chuckled, "Of course not! The people of Hueco Muno aren't idiots! They set up obstacles," I replied.
Rukia raised one eyebrow, "Obsticles?" She looked up at me, "What kind?"
"You'll see..."
The running continued till nightfall came.
We were all sitting in a circle around a campfire. Without the trees blocking the night sky, every star was visible.
"Hey, look! I see the milky way!" Rukia pointed toward the sky.
I laughed, "Yeah, its beautiful, isnt it?"
"It is," She agreed.
Everyone was asleep except for Me, Rukia, and Eiri-sensei. But he was off looking for some fresh water to drink. Up until now, I, and everyone else, was drinking from a stream I found in the forest.
"Sensei, I need to tell ya something..." Rukia said, looking everywhere she could but me.
"Yes?"
"Um, I'm worried..." She said, not meeting my eyes.
"Worried? About what?" I asked her. This is why I wanted to leave her home. But, something in my gut made me take her. It was like I was being forced, forced to bring her everywhere with me.
I tried to meet her eyes.
"Well, Hueco Mundo seems really dangereous...what if...what if they kill us?"
I chuckled, "Kill? Wow, is someone thinking negative or what?"
She smiled shyly and playfully hit my arm. We laughed.
"But sensei! I'm serious, it seems dangerous, does it not?"
"Look, Rukia, in life there's always going to be something that will block our path. Life isn't a fairy tale, not always does it have a happy ending. Life is reality. And the truth of the matter is that we might or might not die. Only God can tell what lies ahead. All we have to do is face it head on and hope for the best. Our objective is to save Victoria, and that is what we plan on doing." I told her, softly, trying not to wake the others.
Her eyes sparkled at me and smile grew on her face.
Rukia looked down and then back at me, "Sensei that was beautiful."
I leaned back on my hands with a smirk on my face, "I have my moments."
She looked at me and giggled.
"But...what about you? I don't want you to go," Rukia said, suddenly her smile fading.
"What did I just tell you? Rukia, even the strongest of fighters have their weakness."
"And yours is?" A smug smirk was planted on her face as she looked up at me.
A chuckle left my mouth, "Maybe I haven't found it, or maybe I have. My weakness, I'm pretty sure... has nothing to do with my body." I left her confused.
A/N: OHHMYYGOSSHHH I can't believe it's been so long until I've updated. You guys haven't all left me have you? *musical outburst* BABY COME BACK!...and press that review button ;D if you do, maybe I'll bring back the rabid squirrel…;D