Retribution

By

PND

Part 7

The distance between them was awkward at best and Lilinette was having difficulty trying to mend things between them. Neither wanted to talk and neither was willing to see the other. Yumichika wouldn't leave and Stark wouldn't make him.

They had been under siege of a group of intruders made up of shinigami and humans, most possessing a far amount of power.

Yumichika had woken in the night once, murmuring something about his captain's reiatsu, but never said another word about it. That had been days ago. The arrancar and espada had been in on and off battles since then and a number of their own had been killed. She couldn't say she honestly cared, but Stark's eyes seemed a bit dimmer than usual and although Yumichika didn't say anything at all when she told him about them.

The only outside news she heard was whispers of what was going on in the living world. Aizen and the other two ex-shinigami had taken a group of Espada and Arrancar to attack Karakura town and were met with unexpected resistance. There was talk of Stark being left behind because of disfavor or uselessness. No one was sure of which.

When she told Stark, he immediately demanded his zanpakuto and told Lilinette to get Yumichika ready to travel, zanpakuto included.

"Stark, he won't want to go," Lilinette said as she watched him slip his sheathed sword into his obi.

"Tell him it's an order, Lilinette. We will settle this problem of ours."

"Okay," she sighed and directly went to her room, pulling open the door and entering. "We're leaving world as soon as you get ready, Yumichika-san. Stark is prepared to leave."

"I don't want to go back," Yumichika said from his position on the bed, back turned away from her.

"You don't have a choice. Stark gave it as a direct order," Lilinette crawled up beside him and placed her hands on his chest. "Besides, we aren't going to the Soul Society."

"We're not?" Yumichika gripped her wrists gently and smiled. "I'll go."

"Thank you," Lilinette pulled her hands away. "I'll get your zanpakuto for you and we can leave. I think Stark's in a hurry."

"Why?" Yumichika sat up and smoothed his clothes down.

"Because there is a battle happening there right now."

"Against the shinigami?" Yumichika's brow furrowed and for a moment Lilinette thought he would change his mind about going, but he simply shook his head and took the sword she handed him. "Do you think he's going to die, Lilinette?"

"What?" Lilinette looked startled. "Stark's too powerful to die! He wouldn't allow it!"

"I see," Yumichika patted her gently on the head and turned for the door. Lilinette was confused by his aloof actions and the sad look on his face. What did he have to be so sad about anyway? They weren't making him return to the Soul Society against his will. Still, Lilinette found herself reaching forward to grab his hand and walk beside him. He may not have been Stark, but Yumichika had honestly treated her better than any man she had ever known and that was enough for her to care about him just as much.

Yumichika pulled her into a gentle hug, cradling her head against his chest. He may not have looked it, but his heart felt like it was trembling. Lilinette was stunned for a few seconds.

"What's wrong?" she murmured, turning her head to gaze up at him.

"I don't want him to be there. I don't know how I'll react. I know I'll be angry, but I don't know what else I'll feel. I don't want hurt you and I don't want to hurt Stark, but I might not be able to help it."

"Yumichika..."

"It's okay," Yumichika let go of her and clasped his hand around hers. "I won't do anything to hurt either of you. "

She didn't want him to say anything like that. It wasn't like him to look so solemn.

He held her hand the entire time.

The were traveling through the thick, pressing darkness of a hastily opened Garganta several minutes later, the only thing they could see was the flowing white of Stark's clothing setting pace several steps ahead. His hand was resting casually on the hilt of his sword, but Lilinette could tell he was nervous or worried. She wondered why.

Yumichika looked calmer than she'd seen him in days. He'd told her of the Soul Society during his stay. How strong they were and some ridiculous stories he'd had. He'd told her about his captain and his thirst for blood, of Yachiru and her strange sense of adventure, and he'd told her of Ikkaku. He'd shared with her every detail he could remember from the day they'd met to the day they'd been separated.

Not all of the stories were funny, not all were serious, and very few of them were sad, but Lilinette couldn't help but feel jealousy over a man she'd never met. She knew he had Yumichika happy for a time, but he'd also made him sad and lonely.

He'd smile and be lovely for her sake, but he didn't always mean it. It seemed like the tiniest things were triggering frequent creases in his brow and unconscious movements. Right now...

Right now he was staring ahead at Stark, eyes very placid as he thought over things. Lilinette swallowed back a lump in her throat. What was he thinking about? Why? Was he planning on leaving them?

Her eyes widened suddenly. What if the shinigami saw him as a traitor and killed him? Would they even care? She'd always thought that the shinigami were cruel until she met Yumichika and he hadn't told her much about how they acted outside of his small group of friends. He'd made them sound so full of life, but she began to wonder about those who weren't his friends. Those captains and lieutenants that weren't like him.

Would they take pity on him? Or would he die like the rest of them?

Lilinette's eyes widened at the revelation. Is that what Yumichika had meant earlier? She'd never taken into consideration to possibility of Aizen winning. The intruders had seemed impossibly strong, beating several arrancar and espada with only a few. This large group in the living world would probably massacre them. Aizen had brought nearly all of his strongest...

Was this supposed to be the final battle?

Stark must have realized this and Yumichika obviously knew.

He always knew a lot more than she let on, she realized, quickening her pace as they neared the end of the passage way. Stark was already creating a way out. She could see flames flickering ahead and a strangling amount of spiritual pressure gushing into the Garganta.

They all stopped, pausing to stare at the sight in front of them. There were many shinigami there...mostly waiting to the side as Barragan's fraccion were slaughtered. Lilinette hated the looks on their faces. So stern and cold...not at all like Yumichika had told her.

She felt Yumichika's hand tighten impossibly hard around hers and his face paled a bit as they stepped out of the opening, settling themselves in the sky near the other espada present.

Every eye seemed to settle on the trio, automatically gauging them as the enemy, though she did notice several of their eyes widen and a familiar name spread across lips.

Yumichika didn't notice any of that. His eyes were trained somewhere else...on a still body in the rubble.

"Ikkaku."

She almost missed the strangled whisper that rushed forth from his mouth. Stark turned to look at the shinigami, but he disappeared from her side so quickly she almost didn't feel him drop her hand.

Almost.

End Chapter Seven.

AN: Sorry if I'm totally just throwing all of this in here. It seems kind of random, but I kind of liked the idea. Don't worry, there's still a bit more to come, but I'm almost done. Please consider this story completely AU...it doesn't really matter what I change, does it?

Oh well, hope you enjoy...and sorry it's so short. I wrote it in one sitting for the most part and this is mostly just a transition.