The rating has now gone up to "M" for obvious reasons…

Surprise, surprise! I know it's taken longer than my usual updates—so I put up two chapters to make up for it. Hope you like, worked extra hard on them. And to avoid populating the chapter updates with all this extra babble (like I'm doing right now) I put extra info on the updates, my commentary on this fanfic and others that I post on this site on my livejournal account (You can find the link on my profile page) It's optional, but you can check out what I have to say and possible hints of what's to come in future chapters! I do artwork too, so when I get around to sketch illustrations I'll post it up there as well.

Well, that being said…

Thank you for the reviews, they are a continuous drive for me to keep going. JollyBigSis, I often write with your comments in mind. Thank you for your thoughts and feelings. TDW, thanks for your advice and support—and to everyone else—thank you so much!

To Deirdre: Of course—crack is always love, so much love!

My my… I've created confusion with the preview and opening of the last chapter, I really didn't realize until the reviews came in… It'll all make sense now, don't worry.

And now I'll shut up and let you guys read the chapter… OxO

Chapter 10 – Cutting the Strings II

Sing to me,

Polish me,

Porcelain, ebony

Spotless and perfect

Take up my strings

Make sure they don't tangle,

Make sure they're all straight,

From there it causes my dance.

The Art of Manipulation

Know,

Must know,

The source of the Strings

My dear puppeteer

Is from my Heart

So pull gently,

Pull gently…

My Dear

Settling into the car, Ichimaru Gin received several surprises. His long lost partner Kira Izuru was driving—Grimmjow now knew about his incoming heist at the Kuchiki manor—and Rukia was there—and she knew—she knew a lot of things. Not everything, but a lot.

He looked over to her. They both sat at the back seat with Kira and Grimm at the front. Rukia quietly steamed.

She saw me talking to Ran, he thought. She might be collecting her thoughts to scold me. But how much does she know? Regardless if I hava ta, I'll tie her down to get what I want outta her… damn don't freak out, I wouldn't want to do that now… I don't need that kind of problem now…

"This your nine?" asked Grimm after he pulled Kira's gun from the glove compartment.

"Please put that back," he pleaded.

Grimm ignored him and opened it.

"Yo, this shit's loaded—coulda shot that fuckin blonde—she knows doesn't she?"

"No," replied Gin coldly.

"You're going to hurt Matsumoto, aren't you?"

Gin turned his head towards the petite woman who sat looking out the window. She sat with her back straight, her hand folded neatly at her lap. The large violet eyes steady, her visage reflected an unmoving pool of water, perfectly still, perfectly unwavering. Cold.

Gin's eyes widened a bit. He didn't expect that kind of reaction from her. It seemed she wasn't afraid at all. This took away the thought of threatening her. And suddenly somewhere deep inside, he imagined that she was understanding him. But from the way she spoke, he knew that it was nothing but a fancy playing in his mind.

"She made Renji call the police on you."

"She what?!" cried Grimmjow. He turned his head around in Gin's direction, "That's the fuckin bitch—right? You lying-ass fox! If I get caught by the pigs cuz of you, I'ma fuck—,"

"I erased all pass criminal records you had." Rukia cut in calmly, "Even that cold case that had your name tied to it as a prime suspect—all of it."

To this Gin could only utter, "Rukia…" it was something beyond him.

"I got caught in the end, but the changes had already been made."

Grimmjow, just zipped his mouth shut and settled back into his seat.

"So even if they receive a call, they can't look up his name in the records because it's gone right?" popped Kira who was slowly taking all this in, "You can't catch a criminal without the proper evidence, correct?"

"Correct. The judicial system is slow, unless Matsumoto had evidence to mobilize the police, all they can do is just snoop around," Rukia when she finished speaking turned her head in Gin's direction, "All I ask you—you can hurt and kill anybody you like, but please, the only person, the one I'd ask you to leave untouched—is Renji."

"Fine, I promise."

"Heh, stupid fox lies outta his ass," scoffed Grimm.

But Rukia caught that look in his eyes. A look she rarely got to see and she knew—that it was indeed promise.

She smiled a little.

Do I have an influence in his life? Am I able to tug him around or? Well, in spite of everything, I'm happy to see him. Happy to know that he's safe.

"That looks very cute on you."

"Huh?" Rukia's face went scarlet, as she suddenly remembered what she was wearing. She turned to see that he was looking down on her. His smile ever so playful and the sound of his voice warm, musical even, as he sang his words in that drawl he often carried.

"It was awful!" she pouted, "At work, that sleazy doctor made me wear this—and well let's just say it was a huge mess…" she growled in the end.

"Aww… that must've been fun," he cooed leaning over towards her ear, "Had'ya been my nurse—I would of neva left."

"Do you mean that?" she countered starting straight at his face, which was quite close to hers. Her cheeks glowed in spite of the serious expression she kept.

"Course I do," he purred. His eyes drew attention to her lips, a temptation to finish the kiss from that time.

There was no doubt, he had a certain attachment to her. There was this something that kept her in the back of his mind, even when he had thoughts of Rangiku. It was her and then—what about Rukia? The name always surfaced in the end.

Rukia.

The woman that was fearless even when she rattled in fear.

Rukia.

With those large violet-blue eyes…

Rukia saw him part, just when he was inches away from her lips. Her heart still rattled madly in her chest, refusing to settle down. But eventually it did.

There were more things she had wanted to say, but, that moment distracted her completely. Her heart not wanting to care about the details anymore. Just and only wanted to feel those lips that hovered so close to finally press against her again, but to be real this time. As she looked out of the window, she felt his gaze on her. A common feeling, but somehow is brought her a feeling of pleasure.

She shook her head as she tried hard to dismiss that feeling.

Kira drove and drove and Rukia noticed that they left the city—he was heading for the countryside. Passing and watching the trees in green blurs, Rukia began to feel sleep creep up one her. She continued to stare out the window silently occasionally hearing bouts of conversation between Grimmjow and Kira.

She suddenly felt a warm hand rest over her head and then move slowly over her shoulders. Silently, silently her head drooped as it crashed softly against his chest and on his lap. The hands soothingly petted her as she drifted deeper in sleep.

Warm so warm.

He held her sweetly comfortably in silence.

It's strange for him to be this quiet. Or maybe it was strange for him to be such a chatty person? Whatever it may be, I like this better.

Kira looked towards the rearview mirror. Gin caught his gaze and smiled back. Grimmjow rested back on his seat, purring deeply in sleep. His cat rested peacefully at his lap.

A while later, Rukia felt something soft press at her forehead, feeling a warm breath blow seamlessly.

"Wake up, Hun, we're here."

She sat up bolted.

He kissed my forehead… She blushed.

She looked about, Gin smiled as he got out of the car—she was the only one in it. When she climbed out, she saw what looked like the forest, a shrine-house that was no longer in use standing before her. She looked around. The sun had set and the darkening sky was filled with the latent colors of the sunset.

Grimmjow was stretching his legs, Kira was sitting on a rock drinking off a water bottle and Gin looked off towards the shrine, both hands in his pockets.

"Meow."

Rukia looked down. The white cat from before was staring up at her. She carefully bent down and picked her up. She purred as she rubbed her face against Rukia's cheek. She chuckled.

"Be careful, she scratches real bad," Kira warned.

Grim turned and saw his feline cuddling up to her, "She likes her," he grumbled to himself, "Courora!" he called, "come' ere!"

The cat nimbly obeyed, jumping out of Rukia's arms. Grim looked at her with a cautious gaze.

"What was that all bout?" Rukia mumbled to herself.

"Now—let's talk business!" boomed Grimm towards Gin.

"Well, bout that…" he began with a smile.

"Ichimaru Gin."

Rukia looked towards the entrance of the shrine house. Four people walked out to meet them. The one who spoke was inhumanly pale, green eyes that bled its vivid color down his cheeks. He was stoic completely expressionless. The man next to him was unbelievably tall. Wearing an eye patch and a large annoyed smirk over his face. The other two was another man—and a woman. He appeared quite average in comparison to the other two with dark hair and trimmed facial hair. The woman was dark-skinned and blonde. She had a large bust and wore a jacket that covered the bottom half of her face.

"Who are they?" asked Rukia as she walked up to Kira.

"Oh right," Kira pointed to the pale-faced man, "That is Ulquiorra Schiffer," he then moved his finger towards the tall man, "Nnorita Jiruga," and towards the dark-haired man, "Stark, and Halibel."

Rukia nodded as she took all of this information in.

Grimmjow turned and saw them and then turned back to Gin's direction

"I'm the last to know?"

"I knew you were gonna—,"

"Look, I'll help you and then I've paid back—,"

"Kitty-kitty, you owe me half a million dollars, don think a lil favor's gonna cover everythin."

Grimmjow huffed and crossed his arms in frustration, "This is fucked up, I tell you, real fucked up."

Rukia nearly gagged. Half a million?

Halibel sighed and then walked in followed by Stark.

"So is ol'Gimmy gonna help us now?" Nnorita asked sarcastically.

Let's take this inside, shall we?" Gin suggested.

Rukia was led to a room where she wasn't allowed to leave with Kira being the only one inside to accompany her. She saw that he was sitting at small round table scribbling something in a notebook. Rukia pulled up a chair next to him.

"What's that?" she asked curiously. She tried to stick her nose a little over his shoulder. Kira immediately snapped it shut, his face flushing a furious red color.

"N-nothing. Just writings."

"A diary?" she cooed deviously.

"N-no. I write poems. At least I try to."

"Poems? Really can you read me one?"

"Um… I'm working on one right now. But when I finished with it—I'll read it to you—promise."

"Okay," Rukia smiled, "I'll wait on it."

There was a period of silence before Kira himself, broke it.

"I used to be a journalist. You know, write articles on the newspapers and such."

Rukia looked up.

"I was always known for writing those unspeakable horrific murder cases. I myself was fascinated with it, always wondering what kind of mind would commit it," Kira sighed as he leaned back on his chair. "I wanted to expose the entire world with my writing. Show those blissful white-collar workers living at the top layer of society—the misery, the sorrow that raced rampant across the streets. To waked them up from their fantasy…but…. My columns where nothing but sensational blockbusters that seems straight out of horror movies.. A story that people picked up, read and tossed aside."

"I think I read one of your articles a long time ago," said Rukia remembering the time she lived with her brother. He was always reading the morning paper, and on day, Kira's story had caught her eye.

"I eventually quit my job, and started to write stories. I felt lost, I didn't know what to do. All around me, I saw constant misery, suffering, pain and sorrow. I eventually managed to publish a couple of books," Kira paused to look at her. "They were all horror stories, it sold many copies," he looked back down towards his notebook.

"I never saw your name," Rukia piped up, "I read horror novels all the time."

"I wrote under a penname."

Rukia's eyes widened a bit.

"W-wabisuke?"

"K. I. Wabisuke—yes it's a very awkward name, but I felt it was appropriate. I did so to preserve the little privacy I had."

"Oh god, I love you!" she wailed, flinging herself at him.

Kira blinking in surprise.

"You should see my bookcase at home—it's filled with your works! My favorite was, Crimson Bride—that was beautiful, I've must of read it like a thousand times!" she finished as she settled back in her chair.

"Thank you," he replied smiling a bit, "There is something about you, that's different in anyone that I have ever met. I hope Ichimaru doesn't kill you."

To this Rukia froze. Kill? Kill me? Yeah, I understand using me and all, but kill me? Was I really just a stepping stone? For him? For Kira? For everyone else?

She remembered Grimmjow's wild grin.

"Kuchiki?!"

Kira Izuru stood and picked up his notebook from the table.

"I'll be bringing you something to eat," he walked towards the door. He slid it open and stepped out and began to close it. It was reduced to only a crack in which his face showed.

"Please stay in your room, Kuchiki-san, for your own safety." The door slid shut.

"That's how we're gonna work everythin out," clarified Ichimaru as he finalized the meeting.

"Hol' on!" cried Nnorita—this bastard is gonna get a share of the loot?" he scoffed pointing at Grimmjow.

"Put that finger down, or I'ma break it!"

"I wanna see ya try it Kitty-bitch!"

"Fuck you!"

"We need to give this time," Gin began to speak over their voices. A week would be nice."

"Are you leaving?" Ulquiorra asked calmly.

"Yeah, gotta take care of a coupla jobs—need to be up to date. Just stock up on whateva ya need."

"Don't worry we'll just do what needs to be done," replied Stark in a relaxed tone, "What of the little lady?"

"Kira will take care of her—I don't want any of ya laying a finger on her—if you know what I'm saying," with this he cocked his head in Grimm's direction.

"Fuck you," he simply replied.

"Don't complain," answered Gin, as he made his way to the screen door, "I'm paying you for this."

"What?!" Nnorita barked, "You better give me the same amount you promised me!"

The door slid open and Gin left.

"Bastard!" growled Nnorita as his fist hit the table.

"Heh, heh…" Grimmjow just cheesed, "I knew he'd give in the end..."

Gin walked down the hall and met with Kira who just walked out of Rukia's room.

"Are you leaving now?" the blond asked.

"Yeah, gimme Shinso."

He whirled around and went to his room where he kept his things. Gin stood at the doorway waiting. Kira went through his stuff and pulled out a small katana that was wrapped up in cloth. He turned and walked towards him.

Unwrapping it carefully, it exposed a wakizashi sealed within it's scabbard. Gin reached his hand to grab it.

For some strange reason it felt light in his hands. The scabbard clattered to the ground as the boy's inexperienced hands grabbed it the blade at the handle. It was small, sharp. The Japanese steel glinted beautifully in the dark.

"But Ma, I don wanna, I don wanna,"

"Swing your blade boy."

Hoisting it around his waist Gin turned to leave.

"Kira, treat her well, keep her safe."

"You can count on me," he replied with a slight bow.

And with that, he walked off.

The moon rose high in the horizon and Matsumoto was restless in sleep. She had called Renji several times and when he finally picked up he had told her that he was desperately searching for Rukia.

Rukia? She thought, I saw her in that black car that pulled up at the park. When Gin opened the door… I thought I saw her… Just for a moment. No, it can't be… but it's true she, she might be dead already.

"Matsu?"

"N-no, it's nothing." She close the cell phone afterwards

Matsumoto sat on the sofa with the TV on. She dropped her head to her drawn up knees and shuddered several times.

Rukia, oh god, Rukia. You had nothing to do with him. And he just found her and used her to his bidding.

She remembered the call to the police.

"Just call us when something comes up."

In the end, I'm all alone—oh Renji, Renji forget her for once. Come here, come here. She's dead already, please. Yeah right, I can't tell him that, but still.

She reached for her cell phone that was next to her on the sofa and began to dial Renji's number. As the phone began to ring, she walked towards the window and pulled back the drapes. It was very dark and it was raining.

"Matsu!"

"Renji, come here, please!"

"Matsu," she could hear his heavy breathing, "I've looked everywhere... it's all my fault. I should've"

"Are you outside? It's raining like crazy!"

"Forget that, Rukia ran off hours ago, without anything on her—Matsu, and I called Ichigo, he knows nothing, neither Chad or Ishida—nobody, nobody has seen her anywhere! It's like she just, just—,"

"Renji, relax, come to my place. I'll make you something warm to drink and we'll talk about what we can do."

"Talking ain't gonna help, Matsu. Rukia could—,"

"For God's sake! Is that all you talk about?! Rukia! Rukia! Rukia!" she closed the call abruptly and settled on a chair that was next to the window where she stood.

The house was silent except for the babbling emanating from the television.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Matsumoto jerked her head toward the direction of her front door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

She rapidly stood and went to her room. At her drawer she pulled out one of the compartments to access another one that was behind it. Within it was a .24 caliber handgun. She took it and reached for her cell phone again.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

She slowly walked towards the door.

"Hello?" she asked as calmly as she could. She crept slowly towards the front door.

"Matsu, it's me, Matsu!"

Her heart lifted in relief and she quickly placed the loaded gun down on a small lamp stand that happened to be near the door.

"Oh god, Renji!" she called as she removed the locks on her door, "I thought you woul—,"

As soon as the locks were undone, the door swung open. Gin rushed in muffling her with his hand and closing the door with his foot.

"Pretty neat trick eh?"

Her scream was stifled as her clear eyes shook with fear. Her hand was reaching for the lamp stand and Gin seeing that her fingers wrapped around the gun, he let her go. She backed up lifting the gun and holding it with her two hands.

"How did you do that—was that really your voice?" she asked nervously not once lowering the gun from its aim.

Ichimaru tilted his head a bit with a slight frown. His pose was relaxed, calm. It was as if his life wasn't threatened at all.

"You totally forgot Rangiku? Really? When we were kids, we'd be sitting at the park an' I copied all the sounds the birds be makin,"

After he said this, he whistled the sounds of a blue jay, cardinal, and several different calls of a house finch.

Her eyes widened. She remembered. How she'd laugh and laugh. How she'd beg for him to do it again.

"I copy all kinds of sounds, Ran, even the sounds people make," he took a step and grabbed at a long wrapped katana he had bought along the way there.

"Don't move!" she cried, "I'll shoot you, Gin, I swear, I'll shoot you dead."

"Really?" he replied his eyes widening, revealing a sickly crimson color.

He swung the wrapped blade before her fingers would press the trigger, knocking the gun out of her hands. It fell to the floor with a heavy thud.

BANG!

The gun shot out once, the bullet whizzing straight towards the television. It short circuited, making a loud popping sound before smoking in the end.

Matsumoto looked straight at him, shaking involuntarily.

"Here," he said plainly as he threw the wrapped blade to her.

Her trembling hands took it and slowly unraveling it she was it was indeed a katana. Polished sharpened, unused, still stored in it's sheath. Looking up she saw that his own hands reached for his own that rested at his waist.

"Let's play one last time Ran, for ol' time's sake."

The boy rushed out of the room with Shinso in hand. The woman let the boy run, following soon after closing the door behind her.

"Ma," the boy cried weakly.

She dashed towards him suddenly swinging the bloodied knife. As a reflex the child blocked it with his blade.

"Listen to him, listen to his voice,"

The child's eyes widened.

"We exist to feed his thirst for blood, his thirst to kill."

The clash of blade on blade rang throughout the house, cutting up the furniture, knocking down vases and picture frames, slashing the wallpaper walls…

"It's in our existence to fulfill that need, that thirst."

Matsumoto backed up into the kitchen. One of her free hands grabbed a bag of flour and flung it in his direction.

His blade cut it right down the middle, filling the air with its white powder.

"Following this instinct should be stronger than your love for me, your love for your friends—above everyone—above everything. Because this is our pleasure, our joy. Our ecstasy the thrill of the hunt—this act of killing."

Matsumoto stumbled back to the refrigerator the magnets and the sticky notes scattering to the floor. His blade unnaturally stretched pinning itself right next to her neck.

The crimson eyes glided from the waist towards the large bosom to meet her eyes. The bloody color paralyzed her, numbing her arms, her legs. The blade she held clattered to the floor. She tried to speak but not a word formed at her lips, she tried to cry but no tears collected at the edge of her eyes.

"I don wanna do this," he whispered as if forbidden to say, "I don wanna kill you…"

Shocked, stunned she was to see a single tear spill from his left eye.

"But I must."

"Multiple stab wounds to the chest and lower abdomen. Apparently the killer was aiming for the vital organs. Both ankles were slit. The victims most likely bled to death before being decapitated. We'll have an autopsy performed on the body to confirm anything else." Concluded the detective as he spoke into his tape recorder.

The police chief made his way carefully around the house.

"It looks like she tried to defend herself."

The investigators went silent when they heard what sounded like a cell phone ringing.

The police chief answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Err, hello, who's this?"

"Chief of Karkura Police department."

"Officer! Is Mastumoto Rangiku, there?"

"What's your name?"

"Abarai Renji."

"Abarai? Where you the young man who called earlier?"

"Yeah…"

"Is Matsumoto-san your girlfriend?"

"Yeah?"

"Oh God…"

"Shoot—shoot to kill, Shinso."

He stabbed her. Right through her body it sent her flying to the wall. She gagged and coughed as the blood bubbled up seeping through her teeth, dribbling between her ruby red lips, and down her chin.

"Ahh, that's it my child. My beautiful boy."

The blade retracted and the boy stumbled back from the recoil.

Come, come, stab her, stab her more.

More deeper—harder faster…

The boy's eyes which were wide by now—threw Shinso aside and raced towards his mother.

"My child. My baby boy," she cooed weakly, "You can't ignore it for long, it's been calling you this whole time."

"Why you? Why you, Mama?"

"It's our curse. Shinso has called now, luv, you must obey. Our eyes are stained by the blood of our victims, generation, by generation."

"But I'm sad Mama, I don wan you to go, Mama"

"Smile, Gin, smile—that's the only reason you'll do so, to hide our cursed sadness,

My dear, dear child."

Gin stood under a bridge at the Karasu River, holding in his hands a wrapped up bundle soaked in blood.

"Sorry Rangiku—sorry. I know ya didn't hafta love me, I just hope ya could take me as I am. I hoped I could of show ya the real me, and ya can take me as I am," he placed the bundle into the flowing river.

"But I told ya, and cuz of that, I killed ya. It's all my fault Ran. I'm sorry."

I foolishly thought I could be happy.

Pull gently,

It hurts when you tug so hard.

It pains me so,

I feel to die.

Cut my strings,

Cut them all,

The honeyed venom is,

Killing me now,

The venom is,

Killing me now…

The Art of Manipulation,

The Art of—

Handling the strings,

That handle you.

END CHAPTER

Notes: Gin isn't someone who constantly holds regrets. He feels them and lets them go… So dropping her face into the river is saying, "Your image is out of my memory. I won't let it drag me down anymore. Goodbye."

Preview:

He stabbed him again and again and again and again and again.

"Hello! Hello?!"

The door behind him rattled.

"Professor?! Professor, what's going on?"