AN: Hey everybody, here with another chap! Its got lots of stuff going on, so I hope you guys enjoy. I really liked writing this one, so let me know how it turned out.

Thanks to every one who has reviewed, liked, and followed this story so far, you're all amazing!

I'm a dying flower,

but I want to be in bloom

just one more time, just like before

Tonight, my heart and soul are blending

into the dark

Rapid steps echoed through the street as she ran. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, her breathing labored and quick. She continued to sprint forward, willing her already burning legs to go faster.

Please. Someone. Anyone!

She barreled around a corner, the yellow street light flickering in the starless night.

Why is there no one?!

She stumbled on the sidewalk, her momentum almost sending her sprawling, but she managed to keep her balance and continue running. She glanced behind her again, her eyes filling with dread.

They were catching up.

She rounded another corner, this time seeing a well-lit intersection ahead. Standing at the corner were two women talking animatedly, their arms waving about. Hope swelled in her chest as she tried to put on a burst of speed.

"Hel-"

Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, a hand clasping her mouth shut.

"M-mmm!"

Dread slammed down on her as she thrashed about, struggling to get free, but it was no use. She was being dragged back into the darkness. The women didn't turn, but continued to chat, walking across the street. She felt warm tears slide down her cheeks, stinging her eyes as she watched her freedom slowly slip away.

Please… help me…

Ichigo woke with a start, a cold sweat running down his spine. He peered around the room, searching for anything out of place, but nothing was awry. The silver light of the moon cast an unearthly glow in the room, illuminating Ichigo's orange spikes like silvery fire. He ran a hand through his hair, wiping the beads of sweat that had formed at his hair line.

This is the third night in a row that I've woken up like this, but I still can't remember the dream.

He sighed and rested his forearms on his knees, looking up at the silvery crescent that was now being covered by a thin blanket of clouds. Reaching over, he pulled the glass open, letting the soft breeze sweep through the room, ruffling his shirt and hair. He hadn't really slept well since the accident, but it wasn't until recently that he had started to have this dream. Every time it was the same: wake up sweating with no idea why.

Ichigo looked over at his desk where the moon pendant sat glinting in the silver light. He couldn't help but feel that maybe the dream had something to do with Rukia, even if he never could see the person's face. As he gazed at the pendant, something else on his desk caught his eye. An envelope lay in the perfect center of the polished surface, glowing in the light.

When did that get there? I don't think it was there when I went to bed…

He glanced around the room again, this time looking for the smallest changes in his environment. This time he saw that his door was slightly ajar.

Did goat face come in here and drop this off?

He stood and walked over to the envelope, slowly picking it up and flipping it over to see that there was no name or address on it. Apprehension welled up in his chest as he carefully opened the envelope. Inside were four slips of paper which, when he pulled them out, were revealed to be photos. He felt fear bubble up inside him as he looked through the first three.

The first was one of Karin playing soccer after school, her black hair billowing behind her as she ran. The second was a shot from further away, but Ichigo could see Yuzu's blonde hair as she walked up to the door of clinic. The third was one taken through the window of the clinic in which his dad stood in his white lab coat talking to a patient.

But it was the final picture that made the bubble of fear explode into a full blow storm inside him. It was a picture of him and Rukia walking down the road arguing, but over Rukia's small figure was a red X. On the white edge of the photograph, someone had scrawled a hasty note.

'One down, three to go. How many more will it take to break you?'

Dread slammed down on Ichigo's shoulders, and the fear in his chest felt like it would consume him any second.

This…

He sprint to his door and pulled it opened, running down the hall towards his sisters' room. He yanked the door and quickly entered the room.

"Karin! Yuzu!"

They lay asleep, the faint light filtering through the blinds casting stripes across their bodies. Yuzu stirred slightly, her eyes opening slightly, blurry with sleep.

"Ichi-nii?"

Relief washed over Ichigo as he saw they were safe, but it was short lived.

Dad!

He ran back down the hall, skidding at the door to his father's room. It was slightly ajar. Ichigo pushed it open and jumped in, panic swallowing him. The bed was empty.

Ichigo ran back out to the hall and sprinted down the stairs.

"Dad?!"

There was no answer. He quickly made his way to the kitchen. As he rounded the corner, he slammed into something soft and warm.

"Ichigo?"

He stepped back and was relieved to see his father looking back at him in confusion. But his relief soon turned to irritation.

"What the hell, goat face?! What are you doing down here in the middle of the night?!"

"I came to get water! I can still do that in my house, can't I?!"

"What's going on?" a new voice called from the bottom of the stairs.

The two men turned to see Karin and Yuzu looking at them in confusion. Isshin shrugged and shot a glare at his son.

"How should I know? Ask your delinquent brother."

Ichigo looked between his sisters and his father.

I can't tell them about the photos. It would just worry them.

"I… I had a nightmare," Ichigo mumbled. A snicker released itself from Karin's mouth, making Ichigo glare at her. Next to her, Yuzu gave her brother a sympathetic look.

"What's wrong with you my son?! You're afraid of something like a nightmare?!" Isshin cried, lunging at Ichigo, who just planted a hand on his face and shoved him to the ground.

"Shut it, old man!"

"Well, now that we've established that Ichigo is a chicken, I'm going back to bed," Karin drawled, turning and heading back up the stairs. "Come on, Yuzu."

Yuzu cast one last sympathetic glance at Ichigo before turning around and walking up the stairs after her sister. Ichigo sighed and rubbed his face as his father stood back up.

"I guess I'll go back to bed too," Ichigo sighed, knowing that he would not be able to sleep anymore tonight.

"Wait, Ichigo."

He turned towards his father, whose expression had turned serious.

"It wasn't a nightmare, was it?"

Ichigo froze. It wasn't often his dad was serious, so it was almost surprising that he could be so intuitive when it came to the way Ichigo was acting. When Ichigo remained silent, his father continued.

"I won't ask what's going on, but I expect you to tell me if you are in trouble."

Ichigo nodded, his mouth dry. His father nodded back, but then the silly grin came back to his face.

"Now get back to bed! You're disturbing my beauty sleep!"

Isshin walked past him as he headed for the stairs, but as he reached them, Ichigo called out.

"Hey dad?"

"What is it?" Isshin asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Watch over Karin and Yuzu. Don't let them out of your sight."

Isshin gazed at his son, who was not looking at him, but instead gazing out of the window. He nodded slightly.

"Of course I will. That's the job of a father." With that, he turned and walked up the stairs.

Chapter Six: Breaking Point

Byakuya looked down at his phone as it began to ring and was surprised to see the number on the screen.

Kurosaki?

He picked the phone up and answered, unsure of what to expect from the orange haired nuisance.

"Yes?"

"Byakuya?" Ichigo's voice broke through from the other line.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes slightly at the lack of respect this kid showed.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, I would ask that you not address me in such a manner," he replied curtly.

"Uh, sure. Whatever. I have something I need to talk to you about."

Byakuya pinched the bridge of his nose. This kid honestly infuriated him.

"And what might that be?"

"I… received a call…" Ichigo replied, his voice hesitant.

"And this has what to do with me?"

"The voice on the other end was similar to Rukia's."

Byakuya sat in silence as that fact sunk in. Could it have been…

"When and where did you receive this call?"

"A few days ago in town."

"And you did not find it necessary to inform me of this until this moment?" Byakuya asked coldly. He should have been alerted of this long ago.

"Well, there's something else. Someone broke into my house last night and left an envelope full of pictures of my family. On one of them, Rukia was crossed out and they put something about how they had taken one down, and that they would keep going until I break."

Byakuya contemplated this for a second. While he had no connection to this boy, his sister had been friends with him, and he doubted she would forgive him if she was still alive and he did nothing to help.

"Shall I send someone to protect you and your family?"

"No, no. Thank you, but I just wanted you to know. I'm not sure what's going on, but it involves both of us, so it's only a matter of time before they come after you. I just wanted you to be aware."

Byakuya suppressed the small amount of surprise that sprung up in him. This kid was thinking of others, not himself. It seemed that he might have misjudged him slightly.

"I appreciate the warning, but my security is more than adequate."

"Yeah… I guess it would be. These people seemed to be good at getting in and out undetected. So be-"

The line went silent. Byakuya looked at his phone, but it said he was still connected.

"Hello?"

There was no reply.

"It is amazing what technology can do, is it not?" a feminine voice called from the doorway. Byakuya looked up at the petite figure that walked towards him, the barrel of a pistol trained on his chest. His normally steely eyes widened in shock as he saw who it was.

"Y-you…"

"The great Kuchiki Byakuya stuttering. That is something I never thought I would see." She stopped on the other side of his desk, still holding the gun pointed towards his torso. He continued to stare in disbelief.

"You… should be dead."

"Ahh, I should be? But I am here before you now. I see no proof that I am dead."

Byakuya could not reply. His usually stoic features were gone, replaced by shock and disbelief. It was as if someone had shattered the hard shell that covered him to reveal a soft interior.

"But enough of this talk, I thinks it's time o say goodbye, Kuchiki Byakuya." She squeezed the trigger slowly, enjoying the long wait.

"It really was nice to see you again."

With that, she pulled the trigger.

AN: Cliff hanger! Sorry about that, but I couldn't resist. So what did you guys think? Who do you think is the woman that shot Byakuya? Let me know in a review or just let me know what you think of the story so far. And helpful advise or suggestions are welcome!