Hey guys! Sorry about the delay, hehe. I've been busy for the past few weeks with people coming from out of town as well as some writer's block, but I hope that this chapter was worth the wait.

My friend, who created Jade and Ruby, succeeded in finding someone who draw Ruby and Jade for the video versions. Since he wants her to take her time on the pictures to make them look good, the video versions will be delayed. In the meantime, the trailer is slowly getting there. I just need to get the right clips for it. Believe me, finding several clips out of 283 episodes isn't easy, lol, especially when you want to make a 2-minute trailer. So I apologize for any inconvenience.

I'm also working on another story at the same time as this. It is a one-shot Hisagi x Matsumoto story entitled Every Rose Has Its Thorn. No, it's not a songfic based on the song of the same name by Poison, but it is sort of based on a couple of lines of the song. The plot goes like this: after a horrific encounter with her ex boyfriend (Gin), Matsumoto vows to never be involved with men again, even though her life was saved by Hisagi Shuheii. Hisagi, on the other hand, loves her and would do anything to prove to her that not all men are bad. By the way, this story is an AU.

Anyway, on with this current story!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Bleach or Ruby and Jade Carmine. Ruby and Jade are owned by Kung Man149 and the name of Tatsuki's zampakutou is also owned by him as well since that was an initial zampakutou name for the one owned by Ruby. However, I do own Aiko and Ryuichi Kurosaki.

Chapter 4: Family Torn Apart

The Carmine siblings were walking back towards home when Ruby suddenly spoke up in a seemingly sombre tone. "Do you think we did the right thing?"

Jade eyed her inquisitively. "What do you mean Ruby?"

Ruby sighed. "Well I mean we nearly killed him and I'm starting to feel bad. I mean, he may be an overzealous asshole at times, but he's still a part of our division...not to mention he is Kurosaki-Taichou and Kurosaki-Fukutaichou's son. I just can't help thinking about what Hinamori-san had yelled at us about how it was Kurosaki-Taichou's dream to create a better division for everyone. With that notion, I have feeling that we might have screwed up."

Jade sneered. "Don't tell me you have feelings for that weak idiot."

Ruby's eyes widened. "How dare you call him weak? And I'm not saying this because I have feelings for him. I'm saying this because I'm starting to feel bad about what we did."

"He attacked us, Ruby," Jade pointed out. "Also, he's an insignificant brat who should really know how to settle his temper."

"Well, maybe there were lots of things going on in his mind and we just had to provoke him to attack us like what he did!" Ruby shot back angrily. "Like his father for instance. I never meant what I said about the reason he left. I know the real reason why he left in the first place, and it was for an emergency meeting regarding an asshole who used to be this division's captain."

Jade rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Ruby. Like I even care anyway..."

Ruby stopped walking just enough for her brother to pass her and clenched her fists tightly. In fact, she could not understand her change of mind. Ever since she laid eyes on Ryuichi, she viewed him as someone who would always get in her way. But when she saw the fire in his eyes when he fought her and her brother and when he was determined to keep going in his training after he was knocked down by his father, her view changed. She saw a strong, resilient spirit within him that kept him going no matter what.

Her brother's voice broke her out of her thoughts. "You coming or what?"

She sighed and ran off to follow her brother, cursing herself for the wrong that she and her brother had done.

Elsewhere, Ryuichi was running through the streets, with so many thoughts going through his mind. What is going on? Why did he feel his parents and godparents' reiatsu at the Senkaimon? Where are they going?

He arrived at the spiritual gate just in time to see it close shut behind. However, there were a couple of guards stationed on either side of the gate. Maybe they would know what was going.

"Hey!" Ryuichi exclaimed, panting out of breath.

"You're a little late," one of the guards said, knowing fully well who he was. "Your parents just left in a matter of seconds."

"Where?" Ryuichi demanded.

"Karakura," the other guard replied.

"Why?"

"On a special mission to stop a couple of Aizen's espada from invading," the first guard that spoke replied.

Ryuichi froze. So this bastard has begun his move in Karakura? Why hasn't he been informed of this before?

"Your parents had to leave immediately," the second guard said as though he were reading the boy's thoughts. "That was why they couldn't tell you, but don't worry. They will come back soon."

Ryuichi sighed. "Alright. Thanks anyway."

Then he flash-stepped towards his uncle's to pick up his little sister before heading home.

A pair of large Japanese-style doors opened and four hell butterflies flew through, accompanied by Ichigo, Rukia, Tatsuki, and Renji. The doors disappeared as soon as they were completely in view.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed as he saw the heavy damage that had already been dealt. He hoped that no one, not even his friends or family, would have been hurt by the horrible destruction being caused by those monsters because if they were, then there would be even greater hell to pay.

Tatsuki was also hit hard by the shocking sight. Like her childhood friend, she also hoped that no one was hurt, and she was ready for any ambush that might happen in the next few moments.

Rukia was just as shocked as her husband and friend, even though this was not new to her. "I hope that Yuzu, Karin, Isshin, and the rest of our friends aren't affected by this..." she trailed off, already realizing that her husband and friend were thinking the same thing.

Renji was fully alert just in case if an espada would ambush them. "The espada are hiding somewhere," he pointed out, "nearby."

"Then we have to be ready when they do ambush us," Ichigo said, starting to slowly step through the ruins. Then he turned to face his group. "Rukia and I will search on the left side; you and Tatsuki will search on the right. As soon as you see them, start fighting right away. However, I do not want any casualties so try to survive."

Renji smirked and nodded. "Heh, you're not the only captain here, Ichigo."

"I'm serious," Ichigo said with a glare. "This is bad enough as it is."

Renji frowned, understanding where his friend was coming from on this. "Alright, don't worry. See you soon!" He and Tatsuki flash-stepped towards the right side of the town.

Ichigo turned towards his wife. "Let's go, Rukia."

Rukia nodded. "Ichigo, I just want to apologize..."

Ichigo smirked slightly and interrupted, "Don't. You were right to be worried. You're my wife, remember? Besides, even if they were to target me, I wouldn't let them capture me or worse. I'm better than that."

A new wave of hope washed over Rukia as she smiled. "You're right, hun."

"Let's go," Ichigo suggested and the two wandered through the wreckage, trying to find where the espada had hidden.

And that was when they were attacked by Gin Ichimaru's Shinsou. They dodged the attack within seconds.

Ichigo glared at Gin Ichimaru, who grinned his eerie grin right back at him. That smile always gave him the creeps, especially when he was planning on something malicious.

"I'm givin' ya a choice, Kurosaki-san," Gin said darkly, "either allow us to destroy this wonderful town of yers or allow us to escort ya to Aizen-sama."

Ichigo's eyes widened with fury. "NEVER!" He drew his zampakutou and charged towards his adversary head-on.

Darting through the rubble like a couple of ninjas, Tatsuki and Renji were on an alert for any espada that they might come across.

Sure enough, they spotted Yammy and Stark standing in the centre, ready to attack anything that came their way, and hid behind several buildings. A girl who looked no older than 13, despite being an arrancar, was standing with them.

They could not comprehend why such a young girl would be standing with them. Even Tatsuki was disgusted by the sight. "Okay, I hate this bastard more than anything now."

"Don't underestimate her," Renji advised, not taking his eyes off the group. "You would never know what she might be capable of. In fact, I heard from Shunsui that she and that lazy guy," he pointed towards Stark, "are quite a deadly duo. They almost killed him in the first war."

Tatsuki's eyes widened slightly. "You serious? That little girl? So powerful?"

Renji nodded. He narrowed his eyes at Yammy and remembered the first encounter he had with him. He, Rukia, Ishida, and Chad were no match for the giant espada's horrendously large size and were lucky to have been saved by Byakuya and Zaraki. Then again, he was more powerful than he was back then and he was now a captain. So nothing, not even an oversized espada, could defeat him that easily anymore.

"So what's your plan, Abarai-Taichou?" Tatsuki asked.

However, before Renji could speak, he could hear Yammy say, "Y'know, Stark? I could sense a couple of insects not far away. We should squish them." He rubbed his hands together in glee.

Stark rolled his eyes. "Could that be our target?"

Yammy frowned. "Nah, one's a captain no doubt and the other is a lieutenant, but they're weaker than the rat that we came here to flush out."

The smaller espada rolled his eyes again. He hated to waste his time on what Ulquiorra used to say, trash.

"Well, I think it's fun!" Lilinette piped in. "By the way, Ichimaru-sama is taking care of our target as we speak. So, at least we will get to fight something at least."

"Ah man!" Yammy complained. "I wanted to get the glory. Ah well, this shouldn't be too long, even though it is going to be so boring."

Since they overheard enough of the espadas' conversation, Tatsuki and Renji nodded towards each other and flash-stepped towards the group.

Yammy's frown turned into a giant grin as he recognized the intruders. "Well, well, well. Two familiar faces! Ya goin' to run away again, redhead?"

Renji sneered. "Not this time. As you can see, I'm a captain now and I am definitely stronger than I was the last time we fought." Then he smirked just as wide as the large espada's. "So I think I can defeat you now."

Yammy boomed with laughter. "Come and get it, you insect!"

Renji growled as he drew his zampakutou and yelled, "Howl, Zabimaru!" The blade detached itself into a whip-like formation, slicing through the air towards its opponent, who drew his unreleased zampakutou just in time to block the attack.

Tatsuki glared at the other espada, who was accompanied by a smirking Lilinette, and drew her zampakutou. "Separate, Hosigaki Hoshimotto!" The katana split into two razor-sharp, three-pronged Sai blades.

Lilinette was about to step in to fight until Stark held her back. "I'll take care of this one for now." The little girl pouted and stepped aside so that her companion could fight.

Stark drew his katana and stared coolly at his opponent in front of him. "You look like you're new to this business."

"Oh shut up!" Tatsuki snapped. "I don't care about introductions. Let's get this started!"

Stark sighed. "Very well then, but I thought I should let you know that I am the Primera Espada, the first and strongest espada that was ever created." He took off one of his gloves to show the large "1" tattooed on the back of his hand. "So your luck had ended when you decided to face me."

"Again," Tatsuki spat, "shut the fuck up and let's fight! I don't care about this whole rank crap!"

"Very well."

The two stared at each other for a moment before charging towards each other, swiftly attacking and blocking each other's movements. Tatsuki alternated each hand whenever she blocked and attacked with her blades, and Stark blocked and countered with as much speed and accuracy.

Lilinette was impressed by the speed they were going at. "You can beat her, Stark!" She cheered silently to herself. "I believe in you!"

Rukia stood off to the side as she watched her husband fight with Gin. Even though she was still worried deep inside, she knew she had a lot of faith for her husband. It was the fact that her husband's worries were confirmed that caused her worries to elevate as well. She prayed Ichigo would defeat his opponent so that they can return home.

Another thought entered her mind. She knew that they did not tell Ryuichi about what was going on, but whatever would happen, the boy should remain strong.

Ichigo dodged every extension before it reached him with perfect speed and attempted to counter with any attack possible. However, Gin kept on flash-stepping several paces away, frustrating the young captain to no end.

"Hold still, you cowardly asshole!" Ichigo yelled as he dodged another attack.

Gin's smile grew wider as he discretely took out a syringe from his robes. "You belong to Aizen-sama now, Kurosaki-Taichou," he said darkly to himself, "you had always been and always will belong to Aizen-sama. At first you were his research subject, now yer gonna be his weapon." He put the syringe in the palm of his sword-wielding hand – with the needle point facing outward - chuckling to himself as he watched his opponent attempt to attack him, zampakutou raised.

Before Ichigo could finalize his attack, his eyes widened and he froze as pain pierced his body. He looked down in shock, only to find the small zampakutou and the small syringe in his side. Gin had dodged the attack made on him and within a matter of seconds had stabbed both his sword and the syringe simultaneously into his opponent's side, smiling triumphantly.

Ichigo's hands shook and they loosened their grip on Zangetsu as he tried to fight off the darkness. "D-damn it!" he hissed.

Gin chuckled. "It's futile to fight off the effects. I just drugged you with a strong narcotic. You're coming with us, whether you like it or not."

True to Gin's words, Ichigo could not hold off the effects of the drug any longer. He fell unconsciousness in his opponent's arms and his zampakutou fell from his fingertips.

Down below, Rukia's eyes widened in horror from the sight. How could this be? What did Gin do? Was there some kind of drug involved? Her fists shook in anger as she tried to fight off her tears. Whatever she had to do, she had to do it now.

In a fit of rage, she wielded her zampakutou and flew up into the air, screaming Gin's name in a voice laced with more severity than fury. All she had to do was fight off Gin and get her husband back, but was it possible? She had to try.

Gin's smile remained unchanged on his face. Removing the small blade from the unconscious captain over his shoulders, he pointed it straight toward Rukia, whispering, "Shoot her to death, Shinsou!"

The blade extended towards her, intending to pierce her through, but Rukia dodged before that could happen. She countered with a slash of her katana, not caring that the shikai was not released yet.

Gin dodged the attack easily, but Rukia was not finished just yet. She made a circular motion with her blade in front of her, releasing the pristine white surface and ribbon, and touched the blade in several points on the ground in front of her. Her voice shaking with rage and tears threatening to spill out, she shouted, "Tsugi no Mai – Hakuren!"

Four powerful ice beams exploded outwards towards their target, which dematerialized before they could reach him. "Yer almost forgettin', dear Rukia," Gin shouted, "Yer precious husband is lyin' unconscious on my shoulders. In other words, any attack that ya try to put on me will affect yer dearest husband as well. Don't ya want that to happen? For all we care, I could just easily use him as a shield, if Aizen-sama wasn't still so dang interested in utilizin' him fer his own needs."

Rukia's eyes widened once again. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. If she tried to attack Gin with all she had, the attacks would affect her husband as well, increasing the damage that was already dealt. However, if she did nothing, then her husband would be taken from her. She could not think about the horrible things that Aizen would do to him.

"Well?" Gin asked, grinning maliciously with his verbal attacks on Rukia's only weakness. "What'cha gonna do, Rukia-chan? Stuck between a rock 'n a hard place, ain't ya? Too bad!" He laughed at Rukia's defeated look. "Since ya can't attack yer dearest husband, he will be taken back to Aizen-sama. That's another loss fer ya! Ha!"

The sky opened up overhead, releasing a golden beam of light on top of Gin. "Well, Rukia-chan, that's my cue to leave. Say bye-bye to yer dearest! Ha!"

Knowing there was nothing she could do, Rukia let the tears fall as she lowered herself to the ground, watching the horrible sight of her husband being dragged off into Hueco Mundo. She fell to her knees in despair, dropping her katana in front of her. All around her, rain pounded the ground. She screamed in agony, tears streaming down her cheeks and mixing with the rain. She pounded her fists against the cracked concrete, cursing herself with every breath she had in her body.

Meanwhile, Renji struggled to land attacks on his giant opponent and to dodge every heavy blow of Yammy's giant fists and the quick firings of Yammy's Bala technique. However, no matter what he did, he could not make a scratch. It was just as bad as his last encounter with the giant espada.

Yammy, on the other hand, kept enticing the red-haired captain, taunting him and laughing at him with every blow he tried to give his opponent.

With one giant swing of the large snake, Renji tried to target it towards Yammy's head, yelling, "Hikotsu Taiho!"

However, Yammy swatted it away as though it were nothing. "C'mon, you little insect!" He roared, booming with laughter. "You can do better than that! I'll just squish you like the little bug you are! Hahaha!"

Before he could make his words a reality, a golden beam of light separated him from his opponent. Yammy looked up with annoyance. "Aw man! Already? I was about to squish ya!" Then he averted his gaze towards a growling Renji and snickered. "Oh well," he said, "at least we managed to capture yer friend. The next time ya see him, he'll be under Aizen-sama's control!"

The espada's words made Renji's eyes widen. Was he talking about Ichigo? If that were true, then Ichigo's predictions were correct. He remembered what he had promised his friend and he was more than determined to make that promise a reality, but he would not like breaking the news to his friend's son. His hands clenched into fists and he clenched his teeth tightly.

He also thought about Rukia, probably crying in agony. Renji cursed silently to himself at this thought. He knew his childhood friend loved Ichigo, and he knew how disheartened she would be when anything would happen to those she loved. Her heart broke when Aizen had Yuzu take her son away 15 years ago, and now, 15 years later, her husband had been taken away from her. Renji knew that that would be an even worse pain for his friend.

He continued to growl as he saw his adversary rise up into the air. "Don't worry, Ichigo,"He whispered, tightening his fists even more, "I'll do what I can to train Ryuichi, and then we're taking you back!"

Tatsuki aggressively twisted and turned as she blocked and countered Stark's movements. Something about the way he attacked just seemed lazy to her and lacked energy, but why couldn't she land a critical hit? She managed to land several shallow cuts on her opponent's body, and two sai were enough to fully defend herself from any attack dealt to her.

She also could not fathom why that little girl was there, watching them fight one another. Renji had told her that she and her opponent were a deadly duo when fighting each other, and yet here she was fighting Stark when his fraccion just watched from a distance. Was that because her opponent wanted to handle things on his own? Or was there a different reason?

Stark attempted to sweep his katana across his opponent's stomach with the hope of slicing her in two, but with perfect reactivity, Tatsuki managed to dodge the attack and tried to counter with a slice across the espada's chest. However, Stark used sonido to dodge the technique and attempted to swipe his katana through Tatsuki's head.

The lieutenant thought fast. Putting her sai in a crisscross formation, she blocked the katana, placing it neatly between two prongs of the weapons. She twisted her body clockwise, managing to loosen her opponent's grip on his sword and kicking his body outward to complete the disarm. She flicked the katana away and pointed one of her sai in a threatening motion towards her unarmed adversary, smirking in triumph.

Stark just stared at her without any emotion whatsoever, as though he did not care that he had just been disarmed.

Lilinette raised an eyebrow at the lieutenant's actions. "She's good," she whispered to herself, "but she won't be good enough when I'm fighting with Stark." Then she elevated her tone to a shout. "Hey Stark!"

Both Stark and Tatsuki turned around to face her. "I'm busy, Lilinette," Stark said in a cold, monotone voice."

"Um...actually no," Lilinette contradicted, her hands on her hips. "She just disarmed you. Let's join forces for your resurreccion! Together we can beat her and..."

"Didn't I fucking tell you to stay out of this and let me handle it?" Stark snapped, spitting to the side. Just before his fraccion could protest, he continued, "Don't you think I know that this bitch had disarmed me? Mind your own business, Lilinette!"

"Meanie!" Lilinette childishly stuck out her tongue. Stark ignored her actions, focusing entirely on his opponent who was about to make her move.

"Too bad," Tatsuki said as she started to break off into a run, sai held out on either side of her. "You should have listened to your little friend when you had the chance!"

"Stark! You idiot! Get your katana before it's too late!" Lilinette called.

However, before she and Stark could realize it, two beams of light shot down on them, enveloping each of them with their golden walls. Lilinette breathed a sigh of relief.

Stark held out his hand and his katana came flying past Tatsuki and through a gap in the negacion beam. He sheathed his sword and stared at Tatsuki, who stared back at him with shocked eyes. "You could have had me when you had the chance, lieutenant!" Stark shouted, "But maybe next time!"

Tatsuki remembered Renji telling her that a golden beam of light, called a negacion beam, would shoot down from Hueco Mundo to pick up its inhabitants – usually to either rescue them or retrieve them upon completion of a mission. The latter option widened her eyes further. Mission? What mission?

Then it hit her. Ichigo? They were after Ichigo all along?

She tried to pick up his reiatsu, secretly praying that she was wrong. However, all what she could pick up were Rukia's reiatsu and Renji's, but not Ichigo. Chest heaving with stress of the situation, Tatsuki shook her eyes vigorously – memories of her friend flowing through her mind. No! She struggled to keep her tears from flowing as her hands tightened on her sai in frustration.

Renji rushed up to her, knowing fully well on how this situation would also affect her. "Tatsuki!"

Tatsuki snapped back to reality and turned to her boyfriend, holding her sai in one hand so that they could revert to her katana. She sheathed it immediately. "Renji! Is it true?"

Knowing what his girlfriend was asking, Renji shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Tatsuki, but...they've captured him."

Her tears slipped from her eyes as she threw her arms around her boyfriend's neck, sobbing into his shoulders. Renji sighed as he affectionately caressed her back. "Don't worry," he assured her, "We will get him back. For now, however," he parted slightly from her so that he could gaze into his eyes, "let's get Rukia and head home. At least...his sisters and Jinta are all right."

Tatsuki nodded as her boyfriend gently wiped her tears away. "I just don't want to imagine how the kids will react when they find out that their father has been..." She did not want to say the word. It was too painful for both of them already.

Renji nodded. "I know, but I had promised him that I would train Ryuichi...and I plan to live up to that promise."

Tatsuki stopped her crying and gazed at her boyfriend with determination in her eyes and a smile on her face. Even in her vulnerable times, she was thankful for Renji to be there with her. He was her beacon of hope, and that notion was all she needed in this dark time.

Renji held her close to his chest and kissed her lips gently, caressing her back with all the affection he could muster. Tatsuki returned the kiss, ignoring the cold rain that splashed mercilessly against their skin. For a time, she could forget everything that had happened around her; it was only she and Renji that mattered in that one short minute of bliss.

Slowly, they parted lips and gazed into each other's eyes for a moment. Then they took each other's hands and flash-stepped towards Rukia, eager to comfort her in her time of agonizing torment. After all, she was the one that needed it the most.

Next time on Inherited Nightmares...

Rukia stared at her subordinates for a moment, gathering her words together for what she was about to say. She had done something like this a million times before, so why was she having a hard time doing this? The answer was simple: her husband; one of the few people who mattered most to her, who completed her in every way; was locked away in some cell in Hueco Mundo right now, and she knew that her subordinates – especially Ryuichi – would not take too kindly to this.

However, Tatsuki, Renji, and Hinamori were beside her for emotional support, ready to comfort her just in case.

Poor Rukia and Tatsuki! Don't worry, guys, they'll get Ichigo back...one way or another. It won't happen for a while though, so you guys just have to wait and see!

Next chapter, however, I'm going to bring back Neliel and Grimmjow. Although they won't have as big of a role as they had in Incomplete Sorrows, they will still be important assets to the story. Since they are rogue espada now, they will do what they can to help the good guys get their hero back. Definitely sounds exciting.

As for the trailer, it is out and you will see it here:

youtube(dot)com/watch?v=E6v5_P_HkI

Sorry about my voice being a bit too loud in the intro though, hehe. I'm used to speaking really close to the microphone; it's a habit .

I will also have the Hisagi x Matsumoto story done hopefully this week as well. It's a pretty dark story, but I'm sure you'll love it (hopefully anyway).

In the meantime, however, please review and let me know what you think of this chapter!

Until next time, people, take care! :D