Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anyone or anything from Bleach. It's as simple as that. Everything else, however, is mine. :D

Chapter 14: For Whom the Bell Tolls

I am running. There are tears flowing freely down my face and my breath comes in ragged sobs. I skid to a stop next to Ichigo's body and collapse onto my knees, his blood splashing as my knees make contact with the pavement.

The whirl of emotions within in me is too much. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to think. Please don't be dead. Please don't be dead. It's my only conscious thought and it repeats over and over again in my head like a prayer. I want to reach out and shake Ichigo until he jumps up and yells at me to stop. But I don't because I don't know if it's the right thing to do or not.

I hear someone screaming his name again and again. "Ichigo! Ichigo!" It's me. It's me that's screaming his name, desperation making my voice crack.

Suddenly he stirs and I freeze. He turns his face slightly and cracks open an eye clouded with pain. "Taylor…" He murmurs my name and a fresh wave of tears come. He's alive, but the fear that he might not live much longer and I'll have to face him being dead again surfaces.

"You've got to get out of here."

"What?" Surprise breaks through my emotions and I'm mystified that he thinks I could possibly leave him right now.

"You're in danger if you stay here." Ichigo has turned his face to me fully now and he seems much more awake. Desperation is in his eyes as he speaks again. "Taylor…You have to leave!"

I look away from Ichigo for a moment. Rukia looks like an emotional mess. There is surprise, relief, and fear all mixed together in her eyes. The red-haired Soul Reaper has relaxed his grip on Rukia and confusion and irritation are on his face. The black-haired Soul Reaper has rejoined his companion, but has yet to sheath his sword. His face is completely and utterly blank. Coldly bored.

The anger from early this evening stirs inside me again. It enrages me that he could cut down Ichigo without so much as a flicker of emotion. The anger in me flares and becomes first a flaming rage and then a burning hate.

It's too much. Today has just been too much. And I'm not just gonna sit around and do nothing anymore.

I stand and turn to face the Soul Reapers and Rukia. I reach into my pocket and close my fingers around my gikongan. Ichigo and Rukia both realize what I'm doing at the same time.

"No Taylor, don't!" Rukia screams, struggling in the red-haired Soul Reaper's hold again. "Run, please!" she begs.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ichigo yells at the same time, rising halfway off the ground. "Get the hell out of here before they get you too!"

"No!" I shout, the force in my voice silencing Ichigo and Rukia. "I've had enough of this shit today," I say lowly. I pull the gikongan from my pocket and raise it to my lips. The red-haired Soul Reaper drops Rukia and puts a hand to the hilt of his sword while the black-haired one does nothing.

"I'm not going to sit around and do nothing anymore." My voice is rising now. "Do you really think I could leave and let them take Rukia? That I could leave and let them get away with cutting you down?"

I'm yelling now, hate and defiance in my voice. "Hell no! I'm going to fight these bastards and make them pay for what they've done!"

I pop the gikongan in my mouth and as my soul bursts from my body I unleash my anger fuelled spiritual pressure and sending it in a whirl around me.

…

Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of Squad Six of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, had moved back when the girl appeared over the crest of the hill. Not because she was likely to be a threat, but because he had already had one surprise in the form of the boy tonight and he didn't really need another. So it's easy to imagine his consternation when, after yelling and screaming, the girl had pulled a gikongan from her pocket and transformed into a Soul Reaper.

Renji Abarai, Lieutenant of Squad Six of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, was angry and worried. There was another human who had Soul Reaper powers here? What the hell had Rukia been thinking? Was she trying to get herself killed? Renji knew Rukia was in trouble for giving her powers to one human, but he didn't know if he would be able to help her with two of them. Plus what the hell was a human thinking taking on real Soul Reapers? This girl would get beat just like the boy did.

Rukia was heartsick with regret. She had left in order to protect everyone, but first Ichigo and now Taylor were in danger. How had she screwed up things so badly? She desperately wanted to do something, anything to stop what was happening. "No don't!" Rukia had cried as Taylor had used her gikongan, but it was already too late. As soon as Taylor's soul had emerged from her body she was just as dead as Ichigo.

Ichigo…well he didn't know what to think. He wanted her to leave because she was in danger by staying. At the same time though her presence was a comfort as his life bled out of him. He liked the way she now stood protectively in front of him. Her spiritual pressure that swirled around her, lifting her hair and moving the folds of his shihakusho, made him feel safe.

The girl had drawn her sword and stared towards them with defiance. Byakuya had to admit he was mildly impressed. While she didn't have the raw power of the boy, the girl's spiritual pressure was far more controlled. Her control was especially unusual for a human who had no right to the abilities she was wielding.

"Renji," Byakuya said over his shoulder, his tone emotionless. "I trust you can take care of this one?"

Renji flushed, humiliated, at the implication. "Of course sir!" he replied, stepping forwards.

Behind him Rukia slumped against the light pole. This was all wrong! "Run Taylor! While you can still get away!" she shouted, desperate and pleading.

"Like hell," Taylor snorted.

"Hmph!" Renji scoffed. "You're awfully cocky for a human with stolen powers."

Taylor scowled deeply at this. "Stolen? That's what you think? That's why you hurt Ichigo isn't it."

"Yep. And that's what's going to happen to you."

They were both shifting slowly around now, sizing each other up.

"Oh really? Well it looks like Ichigo managed to bloody you up before you got him. You can't be that tough."

Renji flushed again, angry. "Don't be so damn arrogant!"

"Well come at me then if you're so strong. Or are you scared?" Taylor sneered.

Renji snapped. "You asked for it, you stupid human!" he roared as he charged.

Their swords met with the sound of clashing steel and the dangerous dance began. The girl was good, Renji had to grudgingly admit. While she wasn't as strong as the boy had been, she was more technically skilled and could meet Renji blow for blow.

Their fight was a blur of shining steel. Ichigo and Rukia were both amazed. They had seen Taylor fight plenty of times, but never like this. Ichigo allowed a tiny bud of hope to blossom in his chest as he watched Taylor fight. Maybe she could do this after all.

Rukia had no such hope. Taylor might be giving Renji a workout now, but if he decided to get serious there was no way that she'd be able to handle him. And she didn't even want to think about what would happen if her brother got involved again.

Taylor and Renji finally sprang apart, both panting hard. This had taken quite long enough, Byakuya decided. "Renji."

"Yes sir," Renji growled. Damn it what the hell was up with these humans? First the boy and now this stupid girl had both put up decent fights. He was putting himself and his Squad to shame. But he knew what that tone of voice meant coming from his Captain and he couldn't agree more. It was time to get serious.

No longer cocky and eyes hard, Renji laid his palm along the flat side of his blade. "Howl! Zabimaru!" Spiritual pressure exploded around Renji as his zanpakuto transformed, turning from all silver to black and white, smaller blades extending along its length like fangs. Taylor visibly shifted backwards, her eyes wary.

Alarm flooded Ichigo as he watched the red-haired Soul Reaper release his zanpakuto again. "Taylor run!" he shouted, trying to raise himself off the ground. "You can't handle this, get out of here!"

"Ichigo…" she said her voice perfectly calm. Ichigo froze, unsure and surprised. "It'll be alright."

And Ichigo watched, completely shocked, as Taylor raised her sword directly out in front of her. She then opened her hand, and let the hilt go. But instead of falling it swung, as if in slow motion, in a graceful arc beneath her hand. "Sing, Tennyo," she said softly.

Everyone one was stunned as spiritual pressure exploded around Taylor. Her zanpakuto changed as well, the blade turning from silver to black and white. Instead of its form changing, however, a small golden bell on a short cord woven of gold and silver thread dropped from where the blade met the hilt. It chimed lightly in the wind created from Taylor's release to shikai.

Rukia and Renji were both shocked. Rukia knew that Taylor had gotten stronger from training with Urahara, but she never would have believed that she had managed to achieve shikai in the short amount of time that she'd had her powers.

Renji didn't know what to think. Were the surprises ever going to end tonight?

Byakuya was surprised as well. The human girl had achieved shikai? Something wasn't right here. He had heard the name of that shikai somewhere…and now that he looked more closely at the girl he did think that she looked vaguely familiar, her face half forgotten. Suddenly it hit Byakuya and he drew a sharp intake of breath, as close as he would ever get to gasping. It couldn't be…could it?

Ichigo felt strangely dazzled. It was probably from the blood loss, but Taylor seemed to glow in a soft golden light. The wind stirred the bell hanging from her zanpakuto and the soft tones it emitted made Ichigo feel secure as Taylor's spiritual pressure wrapped protectively around him. He was still worried and still slowly dying, but somehow he felt at peace.

"So I bet you think you've got me beat just because you have shikai too," Renji growled.

"Don't take me lightly just because I'm human," Taylor warned, her voice hard.

"Ha!" Renji replied, scornfully. "Don't underestimate a Lieutenant of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads!" Renji charged, his zanpakuto held high.

Taylor swung her sword upward, but it wasn't to attack. There was something measured about the movement, the goal of which quickly became apparent as the bell dangling from Taylor's sword emitted a sweet, high-pitched peel. Renji suddenly felt drowsy, his steps slowing and his sword arm coming down.

Blinking blearily, Renji wondered what was going on. Adrenaline flooded through him as Taylor's zanpakuto seemed to swing out of nowhere towards him and he ducked just in time, her blade slicing a few hairs from his ponytail instead of his neck. Renji leapt away and sent Zabimaru flying towards Taylor, the blade stretching out and out. Taylor countered, Zabimaru bunching up against her blade as she skidded backwards.

Finally Taylor managed to deflect Renji's sword sideways. She swung her sword again, sideways this time, and the bell let out not a tone, but a horrible screeching racket. Renji clapped his hands over his ears to try and block out the noise, but it reverberated through his bones. He felt cold steel bite into his side and it was only Renji's quick reflexes that stopped Taylor form making a lethal cut.

Renji leapt away again, pulling Zabimaru back towards him, one hand over the wound now dripping blood from his side. "Damn it!" Renji roared, raising his arm to send Zabimaru after the girl again when Byakuya laid a hand on his wrist.

"That's enough Renji."

"But Captain!" Renji protested. "Please let me handle her sir, I can-!"

"I said that's enough Renji," Byakuya replied, his voice like ice. Renji was silenced instantly. "We need to capture her alive," Byakuya continued, striding forwards.

"Capture her?" Renji asked, perplexed.

"Brother don't!" Rukia shouted. "She doesn't have anything to do with me losing my powers!"

"I realize that. There are long-standing orders from Central 46 to capture and detain this woman and those like her."

Orders to capture her? Neither Rukia nor Renji had any idea what Byakuya was talking about. Ichigo watched as Taylor slowly backed away from the advancing man, her sword up in a guard position. "You've got to get out of here now!" Ichigo hissed at her, willing with all his might that she would just leave and escape.

"Do you really think I'd do that?" she hissed back, looking back over her shoulder at him and piercing him with her blue gaze.

No. He didn't think she'd do that. And that was exactly the problem.

"Don't be an idiot!" Ichigo continued, desperate to convince Taylor to run. "He's the one who cut me down. He was so fast I didn't even see it! We both know that no one here is a match for him."

"That's exactly why I can't leave," Taylor answered softly, a tenderness in her voice that Ichigo had never heard before. His heart ached as he realized that his attempts at convincing her were useless.

Ichigo opened his mouth to speak again, because he refused to give up, but Byakuya spoke before he could. "Girl." He had stopped about a hundred feet away from Taylor where she stood protectively in front of Ichigo's prone form. "Do you recognize me?"

…

I frown at the black-haired Soul Reaper's question. What the hell? Of course I don't recognize him. I've never seen these bastards before in my life!

And yet…there is something familiar about him. The way his dark hair falls across his face and in the proud look in his eye. I definitely know him from somewhere if only from the memories that aren't mine.

As if my pondering has triggered it my vision spins and blurs and a new memory appears before my eyes. The dark skinned, purple haired woman from one of the previous memories is running at a ridiculous speed along a roof. She is gone in a flash, but a dark haired boy, his face contorted with concentration and his eyes flashing with irritation, follows her appearance, chasing her.

I blink, my vision clears, and I see the dark haired Soul Reaper standing before me. This man is the same as the boy, I'm sure of it. The name falls unbidden from my lip as the realization that I know him hits me. "Little Byakuya …"

Surprise flashes so quickly through the Soul Reaper's- Byakuya's, though he clearly isn't little anymore- eyes that if I hadn't been staring at him so hard I would have missed it. He school's his expression back to cold blankness just as quickly before stepping forward.

And suddenly he is moving fast, so ridiculously fast, that it's all I can do to follow him with my eyes. Time seems to slow as he approaches me, drawing a fist back by his side. At a speed at odds with the world around me my vision begins to spin and another memory takes hold.

It is dark out, but the moon is shining high above casting the world around me into sharp relief. I seem to be kneeling on the ground hacking something thick and white out my throat. My head turns upward and I see the brown-haired man with glasses from my previous visions standing before me. He has his sword in his hand and is raising it high above his head, the moonlight reflecting off the blade. But, this isn't what horrifies me- it's his expression. He has that same mild expression, the faint smile that he has worn in all the memories I've seen of him. But his eyes are cold, so cold. Like killing me holds no more importance to him than squashing an irritating insect.

My mouth opens, to scream I expect, when the sudden blossoming of pain from my stomach violently wrenches me back to reality. Byakuya has punched me in the gut. He draws his fist back and steps away and I fall to my knees in an eerie reproduction of the vision. I can tell from the way the pain is spreading and the way the edges of my vision are turning black that I'm going to pass out.

I manage to look up. I see that Rukia is screaming fighting the other Soul Reaper- Renji, my brain supplies- again. I look to my left and see Ichigo halfway off the ground, blood still pouring from his wound. He is screaming too, desperation written all over his face, but I can't hear anything anymore.

As I begin to fall I try to speak, to tell Ichigo that it's ok. As long as he's still alive everything's ok. I can feel my mouth moving, but I can't tell if I'm making any sound or not.

Darkness reaches out to embrace me as my body collapses to the ground. My final thought is of Ichigo. I attempt to say his name one more time as unconsciousness finally finds me.

…

"Ichi…go…"

The way she said his name was like a peaceful sigh, but it only made Ichigo more frantic. The spell that had been created by the comfort of Taylor's spiritual pressure had disappeared. They had really lost. He had really failed.

"Taylor! Taylor!" Ichigo yelled, trying to stand, to go to her. There was no way he could though. The blood loss was catching up to him.

Byakuya turned back towards Renji and Rukia. "Renji."

"Yes sir." Renji jogged over to his Captain leaving Rukia to slump against the light post again, defeated and in despair. Renji leaned down once he had reached Taylor, grabbed her, and threw her over his shoulder like she was a sack of rice.

Rage course through Ichigo. "Put her down damn it!" But they were ignoring him. Renji turned and walked back to Rukia with Taylor, but as Byakuya made to follow Ichigo grabbed his hakama.

"Let go," Byakuya ordered coolly without looking at Ichigo.

"Like hell," Ichigo replied, panting. He was fighting to stay conscious now. "You really think I'm just going to let you walk away?" Ichigo's fist tightened convulsively around the fabric.

*"So…you must not want that hand." Byakuya's voice was as cold as his eyes as he stared down at Ichigo, the threat clear in his tone.

Rukia panicked. She wouldn't be able to stand it if any more blood was spilled tonight. She raced forward and kicked Ichigo's hand away from Byakuya's hakama.

"You're a mere human! How dare you touch my brother's shihakusho! Know your place boy!" Ichigo stared up at Rukia, flabbergasted. "Let us go brother,"* she continued her voice as coldly emotionless as Byakuya's had been.

They all turned to leave. "Rukia! What the hell are you doing?" Ichigo shouted. "Rukia! Tell me what's going on!"

**"Be still!" Rukia turned back towards Ichigo suddenly and he was shocked to see her holding back tears. "Move one inch from there, try coming after us, and I will never forgive you!"** This was all that Rukia could do. Her fate and Taylor's were already sealed. But she could stop her brother from finishing Ichigo off and give him the chance to live. Rukia was sure that Taylor would agree that this was the right thing to do if she knew.

Renji used Zabimaru to open the gate to the Soul Society and Ichigo watched, helpless, as all four of them disappeared. It began to rain. Failure bit his heart like cold steel.

He had practically floated home after school in a haze of happiness and had stayed there all night until he had discovered Kon in the bathroom. Kon's warning of Rukia's disappearance, which Ichigo had been chagrined to realize that he hadn't notice until Kon told him, had brought him back to earth and he had set out to bring her back.

But his rescue attempt had failed and his was cut down by Rukia's brother. Taylor had appeared and fought to save both him and Rukia.

She had been taken too.

And he had been unable to do anything.

Pain, despair, and guilt ripped through him like they hadn't done since they night he had fought Grand Fisher.

Would he ever be strong enough to keep hold of those he loved?

The rain poured down around Ichigo as his anguished scream echoed through the night.

…

For what seemed like a long time Ichigo faded in and out of consciousness. The only thing he could think of was how cold he was.

How painful his wounds were.

How wet the rain was.

He wondered how much longer it was going to take him to die.

Abruptly the rain stopped. Ichigo managed to crack one eye open. Urahara stood above him, an umbrella in his hand, wearing the most remorseful face Ichigo had ever seen.

-End of Agent of the Shinigami Arc-

Author's Note:

And that's Chapter 14 and the end of the first section of this story. I really hope I surprised everyone with the ending. I'm so happy I finally got to write this chapter!

So next chapter we begin the Soul Society Arc (I got the Agent of the Shinigami thing from the Bleach wiki in case you were wondering). I suspect that no one's really going to be able to guess where it's going and it may seem kind of slow at first, but it will pick up the farther I get into it. Also don't get too excited about Taylor's shikai because it's not actually that important to the story…right now.

Don't worry too much though. I have the basic outline of a plot for Taylor's story through the Hueco Mundo Arc and I've been brainstorming a sort-of far in the future continuation for afterwards. Once this story ends there will be a sequel with the Hueco Mundo Arc and then another sequel that will be the far-into-the-future thing.

Citations:

Between the *English language version, Vol. 7, Ch. 56, by Viz

Between the ** English language version, Vol. 7, Ch. 56, by Viz (except the 'us' is 'I')

Nine reviews this time and we're up to 70 total! Freaking awesome! I feel a lot better about the whole review thing now and thank you for all the love. Many thanks to my reviewers for Chapter 13: ComicXArena, MikaBee2434LOVE, zipscool, Babbit2, an anonymous reader, indescribable music, Shannyrox101, Shaybo27, and bored411!

And thank you to everyone who has ever read this story. I started working on this story right out of high school and now it's like 4 or 5 years later. I know it's taken me way too long to get this far, but I really appreciate the support of everyone who reviews and puts this story on alert. THANK YOU!

Look out for the beginning of the Soul Society Arc and the next chapter, Jailbirds!

Thanks for reading!

imagination junkie