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 15: Jailbirds

Ichigo was confused as he awoke slowly. The pain was gone. So he wondered…

Was he dead?

But, no. He wasn't cold anymore. In fact he was warm.

Warm?

Ichigo fully awoke seconds later with an alarmed shout. There was a dark skinned, mustachioed man lying on top of him. *"A quick response! Very good!" the man said before shouting for his boss.

As Ichigo pushed the strange man, who he recognized as one of Urahara's people, off him pain twinged in his shoulder. Confused, Ichigo sat up and found that his entire torso had been heavily bandaged. I'm not dead?, Ichigo thought. Surely he should have died…so why was he still alive? In fact where the hell was he? Wherever Ichigo was it clearly wasn't his house.

"No, no Mr. Kurosaki! Your wounds have barely closed. If you move around too much you'll die," a perky voice sang.

Ichigo whipped around. "Hat-and-clogs!" It was Urahara. "So this is your house?"

"Yes!"

"Did you…save me?" Ichigo asked lowly.

"What? You sound upset. Didn't you want to be saved?"

Ichigo didn't respond to that, instead fixing his gaze on the ground and laying a hand on his injured shoulder. Did he want to be saved? It was cowardly…but there was a part of him that didn't. That didn't want to face the fact the he had failed. Again.

Another thought struck Ichigo. "What about Uryuu?"

"Oh his wound wasn't that bad," Urahara replied, his tone unconcerned. "I patched him up then and there and he went home. But he did say…" Ichigo felt himself stiffen as something in Urahara's tone changed. Hardened. "That the only one who can save them is you."

Again Ichigo refused to look at Urahara. Self-loathing settled deep in the pit of Ichigo's stomach. He was the one who could save them? Yeah, right.

"Me huh?," Ichigo began quietly. "Heh…What am I supposed to do? Rukia went back to the Soul Society! And Taylor! They took her and I don't even know why! What the hell am I supposed to do about that?" Ichigo had stopped shouting but he sat there breathing hard.

Urahara gave a weary sigh and tilted his head, hiding his eyes behind his hat. "I'm afraid that for Taylor it was a case of mistaken identity."

Ichigo turned to Urahara, surprised. "Mistaken identity?"

"Yes. You see Taylor's powers actually belonged to another Soul Reaper who was condemned to death by the Soul Society a very long time ago. When she used her shikai…well every shikai is unique to the Soul Reaper that wields it. It was like she was flashing her fingerprints at them. And because there was someone there who recognized that sword release she was captured in the stead of the original Soul Reaper."

A heaviness that Urahara was all too familiar with settled over him in the brief silence that followed his explanation. He wouldn't tell Ichigo this, but what had happened the night before was partially- honestly, almost entirely- his fault. He was the one who had made sure that Rukia's powers wouldn't return. And he really should have done more to prevent Taylor from being out last night when Byakuya and Renji had made their move. He had gotten careless, Urahara thought sadly.

Ichigo stared at Urahara as he processed everything. What he said made sense…but it didn't change anything. "It doesn't matter," Ichigo said bitterly. "I can't get to the Soul Society anyways. I can't save them."

There was a long moment of silence. And then, "Do you really think there's no way to get to the Soul Society?" Urahara asked, his voice impassive.

A jolt of shock raced through Ichigo. There was a way to get there? If he could get there then there was the possibility that he could…

"How! How can I get there? Tell me!" Ichigo shouted rising quickly to his feet.

"I'll tell you," Urahara replied, holding up a finger. "Under one condition."

Ichigo listened, anger and disbelief churning inside him. Urahara wanted to train him? For ten days? They didn't have time for this! Who knew when Taylor and Rukia would be killed? Ichigo protested, shouting as much at Urahara.

"You don't understand." Urahara said quietly, effectively interrupting Ichigo's tirade. Suddenly the end of Urahara's cane was in Ichigo's face and before he had a chance to blink he was on the ground. "What I'm trying to tell you is they'll kill you."

Ichigo swallowed as instinctive fear rushed through him. The end of Urahara's cane now hovered over his neck, but it felt like the point of a blade was pressed against his throat. It was impossible for Ichigo to ignore Urahara's words like this.

"I let you fight them this time," Urahara continued as if he hadn't just thrown Ichigo to the ground, his voice like cold steel. "In order to prove a point. If Taylor, who I have been training since she discovered her powers, couldn't defeat them here what makes you think that you would win in the Soul Society? Going there as you are now would be suicide Mr. Kurosaki."

Urahara stood up straight, moving his cane away and allowing Ichigo to sit up. Ichigo shot Urahara a glare as he spoke again. "The Soul Society generally waits a month to execute a capital offender. That should hold true for Miss Kuchiki as well."

"What about Taylor?" Ichigo asked looking at the ground again. He held his breath, both desperate and terrified to hear the answer.

"If she plays her cards right I doubt they'll kill her right away," Urahara answered quietly. "They'll want answers from her. Answers that she doesn't have. They'll keep her alive until they find out why."

There was another long moment of silence as Ichigo wrestled with himself. With the hope and hopelessness that swirled within him. With the part of him that would do whatever it took to protect those who cared about and the part that whispered he would never be strong enough. "Can I get strong enough?"

"Of course." Urahara replied firmly. "If you wish to save them with your whole heart. Then you have at your disposal a power stronger than iron. But if your resolve is half-hearted, forget it."

Ichigo wrestled with himself for another long moment until hope, and another feeling that made his heart race, lifted in his chest. He could do this. He had to do this. There wasn't anyone else, right?

Finally Ichigo turned to Urahara and looked him straight in the eye, his old determination returning. "All right! Let's do this!"

A slow grin spread across Urahara's face. For a long, long time Urahara had been doing the same thing- hoping for the best but preparing for this worst. But this kid…looking into Ichigo's eyes and seeing his stubborn resolve…for the first time in a long while Urahara felt something that seemed suspiciously like optimism.

…In the Soul Society…

The sound of hurried footsteps on the wooden floor is the only warning we have of his impending appearance. The Lieutenant of Squad Six of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Renji Abarai. Or, as I like to call him, the red-haired, pineapple-headed baboon. I sit up a little bit straighter in my chair.

Rukia and I have been detained by Squad Six for the past two days without hearing a damn thing about what's supposed to happen to us. There's nothing in our cells except for a straight-backed chair and a futon. Upon our arrival they took my zanpakuto from me, ordered me into a white robe that's identical to Rukia's, and sealed my spiritual pressure with wooden cuffs that prevent me from moving my hands independently. Not only is it uncomfortable, I feel…it just feels wrong having my powers suppressed. The only thing I can still do is sense spiritual pressures, which doesn't really help much as my senses are pretty much completely overwhelmed by being surrounded by Soul Reapers 24/7.

So Rukia and I have just been sitting in our cells and waiting. And let me tell you sitting in jail is boring. Rukia seems to be taking it pretty well, but I'm about to pull my hair out. So in order to entertain myself I've been tormenting Renji whenever he's come to "check on" (visit) the "prisoners" (Rukia).

The door to the cellblock bursts open and in comes Renji…wearing a white yukata covered in pink flower petals. It's all I can do not to burst out laughing. The pink clashes horribly with his hair.

Without so much as a glance at me Renji goes over to Rukia's cell and leans against the bars. **"How long are you going to sulk Rukia? You'd better eat something or you won't survive to be executed."

"I'm not sulking," Rukia answers him coolly. "I'm just not hungry…Mr. Lieutenant."

As Renji twitches I have to stuff my hand in my mouth to keep myself from laughing. As much as I like goading Renji, because it's incredibly easy to get him riled up, it's even funnier to see Rukia do it.

"Huh? Does my new rank bother you?" Renji growls.

"Not at all," Rukia replies carelessly. "You must have worked hard to get yourself promoted in the two months I was gone. I'm happy for you. Good luck, Mr. Lieutenant! You're strong, Mr. Lieutenant! What's with the funky eyebrows, Mr. Lieutenant?"

Rukia's last comment has me howling in mirth as Renji explodes. It's true that the pattern of tattoos on Renji's forehead does change the way his eyebrows look, but by the ways he's reacting I'm inclined to think Rukia was hitting below the belt. Oh well, at least it's entertaining for me.

A long moment of silence follows after Renji stops spitting curses at Rukia and stands there glowering at her. "Renji?" she asks quietly.

"What?" he snaps.

"Am I really…going to die?"

Rukia's question sobers me. It's something that I've been wondering too. Surely they're just going to kill us so why are they making us wait?

"Of course you are!" Renji shouts, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You're going to be executed any day!"

Irritation races through me. The pineapple is an idiot. Clearly he hasn't noticed the mood change.

"I see…Why wouldn't I be?" Rukia says softly.

Renji freezes for a moment. "C'mon I'm only kidding!" he shouts grabbing the bars of Rukia's cell and making them rattle loudly.

"Hey. Leave her alone," I say, my voice cold. I've had enough of this. My temper is frayed as it is right now and I'm not about to let Renji get away with being a jerk to Rukia. It's not funny anymore.

Renji turns on me scowling. "This isn't any of your business," he says as he stalks over to my cell.

"It's my business when you start harassing my friend, pineapple-head."

I feel a rush of satisfaction as a vein in Renji's forehead pops. "What did you call me?" he all but snarls.

"You heard me," I scoff dismissively. "Or are you too stupid to understand what I said?"

"You little-!" Renji explodes again. "Why don't you come and say that to my face?" he shouts through the bars of my cell, making an attempt to grab me as I dance just out of his reach laughing.

"No thanks. I don't want to smell like a baboon."

Renji is nearly incoherent with rage by now. "You little-!" he splutters at me. "How about we step outside and I'll show you who's the baboon!"

"Ooooh you're sure tough now that I'm locked in a cell with these on," I mock, waving my handcuffs in his face.

This really is too funny. And satisfying. I can't do much while I'm locked in this cell, but at least I can try and bring a little hell into my captor's life. Renji's face is turning purple, his eyebrow is twitching, and there are veins popping out all over his face. Before we can go any further, however, Rukia's voice rings wearily out. "Taylor…that's enough."

Renji turns away from me, his face slowly returning to its normal color. I don't particularly want to, because I'm inclined to think Renji deserves to be tormented for being such an ass, but I reluctantly relent and stay silent.

Renji suddenly sighs. "Captain Kuchiki is on his way to headquarters. He'll probably request a reduced sentence for you. He's your older brother. He won't stand by and let you be killed."

"You're right," Rukia replies quietly and I can hear the resignation in her voice. "He'll kill me himself."** Renji turns back to look at her, clearly startled. He tries to protest, arguing that Rukia can't be serious. Rukia doesn't respond.

Eventually Renji leaves, apparently unable to think of anything else to say. I can't think of anything to say either. In the two days that we've been hear the main thing Rukia and I have been doing to pass the time is talking. I've told her about my past and she's told me about hers. All I can say is that Rukia's had hard life. And she definitely doesn't deserve to be punished by being executed. I wish there's something that I could say to make her feel better. Perhaps the fact that we're both facing the same thing lends a little bit of comfort that words cannot.

These thoughts bring me back to Renji. According to Rukia they grew up together in the Rukon District. They were close until Rukia was taken in by the Kuchikis. This gives me an idea to distract her…

"So Rukia…you like Renji right?"

Rukia jumps and whips around to stare at me, dumbfounded. "Huh?"

I manage to resist the urge to slap my palm against my forehead. Rukia can be very dense about some things. "Well it's pretty obvious that he likes you that way. Don't you feel the same?" I ask slyly.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about," Rukia says evasively, quickly turning away but not before I catch the blush spreading across her cheeks.

I smirk lightly to myself, but don't say anything more. I don't need to. I'm pretty sure I've effectively distracted Rukia for the next several hours. Unfortunately our brief conversation brings up some things that I've been working very hard to avoid thinking about. Mainly Ichigo.

Worry and sadness settle in my stomach as my thoughts begin to whirl. The main one is about whether or not Ichigo survived. I hope he did but his wounds…they were so serious. The fear that Ichigo died catches me and I suddenly find I can't breath.

No, no! Stop being stupid. Ichigo is tough and stubborn. He wouldn't just give up. He wouldn't just roll over and die! There's no way he'd die right? Right? I can't stand it anymore and I voice the question that won't stop plaguing me.

"Hey Rukia," I say. She turns to look at me expectantly. "Do you think…" the words are getting stuck in my throat because I'm so afraid to ask them. Afraid that I'll hear the answer I dread most. "Do you think Ichigo…?" I find I can't finish my sentence.

"Hmph!" Rukia snorts. "Of course not. That idiot's too stupid to die." She gives me a confident smile.

It's slow, but I manage to smile in return, some of my fears assuaged. "Thanks, Rukia."

Rukia's smile gentles. "You're welcome Taylor."

…

As I stand before the tall double doors it's impossible to stop my knees from shaking. Slowly they creak open revealing a long, dimly lit room. The guard on my left shoves my shoulder and I stumble forward.

A few hours after Renji's visit Byakuya had appeared and stated that I was to be questioned during a Captain's meeting so that the Captain-Commander could make a recommendation to Central 46 before my sentencing. Byakuya had brought along two other officers from Squad Six who had promptly tied me up with kido-enforced ropes effectively preventing me from doing anything besides walking. They had then marched me (and it was a long march) from the Squad Six compound to Squad One.

And now I'm stumbling into a meeting of the most powerful Soul Reapers in the Soul Society.

Their spiritual pressure alone is astonishing, and with my own sealed away the air around me feels so thick that I can barely stay upright. They are standing in two lines of six on either side of the room. As I pass them, glancing at them surreptitiously out of the corner of my eyes, something in those memories triggers and names come into my mind as they did when I recognized Byakuya.

Jushiro Ukitake. Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Shunsui Kyroraku. Retsu Unohana. Soi Fon. And Byakuya of course. I recognize the faces of these people from the memories, but beyond that I know absolutely nothing about them. But there are three that as soon as their names come into my mind an added thrill of fear runs down my spine. Kaname Tosen. Gin Ichimaru. And Sosuke Aizen. These three…somehow I know there's a good reason to be afraid of them.

That Aizen guy…he's the one from some of the previous memories, I realize, as I examine him more closely. He's watching me with the same expression as he had in my dreams and visions. A faintly pleasant smile on his face and cold, cold eyes. I quickly turn my gaze away from him unwilling to risk making eye contact.

The other captains, both the ones I recognize and the ones I don't, all have their eyes on me. Some look curious, others look completely disinterested, and a couple even look rather sad. But it's clear they're all waiting for something. It must be…

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto taps the end of his cane on the floor and calls the meeting to order. He cracks one wizened eye open to look at me and says, "I take it you know why you've been summoned here, Wakana Tsukino."

My brain grinds to a stop for a moment in surprise. Huh? Who the hell is Wakana Tsukino? Before I can even begin to sort through my confusion Yamamoto speaks again. "Well?" Apparently he's not a patient man.

I swallow hard. "I…I'm not…My name isn't Wakana Tsukino and I have no idea who that is," I finally manage to say, though my voice is far from steady.

Surprised murmuring spreads along the lines of captains on either side of me. Yamamoto opens his other eye and seems to examine me more carefully. I keep my gazed focused on my feet.

"What is your name then, girl?" Yamamoto asks gruffly.

"Taylor Smithson. And I'm human."

"Human?" Yamamoto's voice is harsh and I can't help but flinch away from it. "Human even though you wield Wakana Tsukino's zanpakuto Tennyo?"

Suddenly all the pieces seem to fall into place. Tennyo is this Wakana woman's zanpaktuo? So the Soul Reaper who gave me their powers was her? This certainly seems to fit with what Urahara told me, but it really raises more questions than it answers. And if they find out that know that Wakana somehow gave me her powers I'm screwed. Shit. I've gotta play this carefully.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say, trying to meet Yamamoto's eye. It's impossible though. He's just too intimidating. "Tennyo is my zanpakuto. And I am human. Ask him." I shoot a look a Byakuya who looks as emotionless as ever. "He saw me leave my body."

Yamamoto's gaze shifts to Byakuya. "Is that true Captain Kuchiki?"

"I did see her leave a body, but at that distance it was impossible to tell if it was human or a gigai," Byakuya replies, sounding bored.

I bite my lip. That lying bastard. I'm human and he knows it. Yamamoto's turns back to me and I shrink back under his scrutinizing gaze. He has brought some of the force of his massive spiritual pressure down on me, probably trying to intimidate me into talking, and I'm starting to feel woozy.

"Excuse me, Captain-Commander Yamamoto."

Yamamoto's attention snaps away from me and I nearly fall as I am released from his spiritual pressure. Recovering my balance I turn to look at who spoke and nearly fall over again. It's Aizen.

"What is it Captain Aizen?" Yamamoto asks. He seems irritated now.

Aizen smiles at me briefly before looking back at Yamamoto. It's a physical effort for me not to flinch because of his gaze. I wish I had more ready access to those memories. Why is he so frightening?

"Perhaps Ms. Smithson here is telling the truth. While she may wield Third-seat Tsukino's zanpakuto she truly doesn't seem to have any idea who she is. And while she certainly resembles Third-seat Tsukino physically they are not identical."

"Get to your point Aizen," Yamamoto commands brusquely.

"Of course, sir." Aizen gives Yamamoto a little bow. "I'm proposing that we send her to Central 46 for questioning. Clearly there is more to this than we previously thought. Central 46 will have better resources and more time to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Muttering breaks out around me again as Yamamoto closes his eyes to think about it. I wait, heart in my throat. Will going to Central 46 be better? I honestly have no idea. Central 46 sounds familiar, but there are no forthcoming memories to tell me what exactly it is.

Yamamoto finally opens his eyes again. "Does anyone object to Aizen's suggestion?" His only answer is silence. "Very well. Taylor Smithson, suspected as Wakana Tsukino, will be sent to Central 46 for further questioning." Yamamoto pounds his cane twice more against the floor.

Author's Note:

This chapter is eeeeh. Definitely not my favorite or my best, but it works as a transition chapter between arcs. I apologize for the two long quoted sections. The first one with Ichigo was one that I felt I had to put into the story and it was one that I wasn't about to mess with very much because it's so important. The one with Renji and Rukia I didn't necessarily need to use, but there aren't very many canon scenes with Rukia imprisoned and honestly that scene amuses me so I decided to use it. But don't worry because I probably won't do very many of those from here on out. They're a pain…

As a note for future chapters, most of the story is now going to be focused on Taylor. I've been jumping a lot between Taylor and third person POVs, but I'm going to stop doing that so much because everyone already know what happens to Ichigo. So other than for a few scenes I'm not going to be following Ichigo around a lot. Also since Ichigo is already taken in this story I'm going to lean in a RenRuki direction for those two characters. There will probably be some other pairings in the sequels as well.

Just a reminder for the next chapter…in canon Aizen took out Central 46 right after they figured out where Rukia was in the World of the Living. This will be important.

Citations:

Between the *English language version, Vol. 7, Ch. 57, by Viz- minus the sections about Uryuu and all mentions of Taylor (though I did leave some parts out).

Between the **English language version, Vol. 7, Ch. 59, by Viz- minus Taylor's interlude with Renji and in the actual chapter Renji's rank is referred to as "Assistant Captain". I like Lieutenant better so that's what I used (it also keeps continuity with last chapter).

Seven more reviews! Yay! Thank you to my reviewers Nemo-chan, Princess-Lazy-Chan, MikeBee2434LOVE, Shannyrox101, indescribable music, bored411, and Shatter the Heavens!

I'm sorry, but my updating pace is probably going to slow down from what it's been the past couple weeks. I was in the country taking care of my aunt and uncle's animals while they were on vacation and there wasn't a lot to do so I spent a lot of time writing. However, I'm back home now and have more diversions…like high speed Internet. So I've been spending more time doing other things like watching anime on Netflix and using the Viz manga app. Don't worry, I'll still keep updating though!

Thanks for reading!

imagination junkie