Tairei9: Hey readers, Sorry It took me so long to finish, but there was a lot to write. Here is Chapter Thirty five.

Kon: A chapters full of battles, conflicts, and fury!

Chapter Thirty Five.

"Aren't you going to strike?" the woman asked.

They were silent.

"Very well then," the blond said, "THEN I'LL GO!!!"

The blond disappeared and reappeared behind Rukia and swung out a weapon that none of them noticed her having before.

A sword connected to a fan by a chain.

Rukia went wide eyed and then unsheathed her sword, blocking the blow. But the strong force sent her sliding back and the fact that it was a sleek floor didn't help. She crashed into the wall and Renji attacked. She smiled and blocked his attack with the sword and struck with the sharp fan, sending him flying right next to Rukia.

"Damn slippery floor," muttered Renji, getting up. The woman giggled and said, "Your turn!"

They looked at each other as she laughed and Rukia whispered, "This floor is a big disadvantage to us. She seems to skate on it, so she has no problem. So, should we do this up in the air?"

"Yeah," Renji said extremely quiet, "You try and seal her movements, and then we both attack."

"Right," Rukia agreed. They made it so they were barely off the ground and they attacked.

Binding art number one: Sai!!" Rukia shout and the woman stopped her laughing. Her wrists snapped behind her back and she bent over, struggling.

"Howl, Zabimaru!!" Renji said, and he struck her in the side and she hit the wall, screaming.

"Why you pain in the buttocks!!"

They were both kicked up ward and she jumped onto the stair case railing. Suddenly spikes appeared on the floor and they hit the ceiling. Rukia's arm began to bleed and so did Renji's leg. The woman's arm was cut and so was her side. Renji and Rukia found themselves unable to keep their footing on the air and Renji grabbed Rukia's kimono and a loose vine. Everyone bellow was tense but was afraid to do anything.

"AHHH!" Rukia said as they swung around to dodge the sword that was shot up at them. Renji felt the hand holding the vines bleed and he finally shouted, "SHUT UP ALREADY!!!"

"Easy for you to say," Rukia screamed, "You're not the one dangling for her life!!!"

"No, but I am the guy trying to save the girl and himself!!!"

"Shut up and don't you dare let go," Rukia said with narrowed eyes. She then pointed her shikai at the woman and shouted, "tsugi no mai, hakuren!"

A wave of ice crushed the woman causing her to scream. The ice broke and the stair well was no longer blocked.

"Great. Hey guys you can come down now!!" Zaraki shouted.

"Are you nuts?! The spikes are still there," Rukia said.

The vine then did something strange. It snapped and both Rukia and Renji crashed into the wall.

"Good, your down," Zaraki said, looking down at them and began to walk up the stairs. Rukia was on Renji's lap, her head on his chest and they both looked dazed. Ichigo then went up the stairs and the rest of them followed.

"So, Ichigo," Rukia asked going up the spiraling stairs, still flushed, "How's… your sister?"

A tense atmosphere came over the group and Rukia instantly became nervous.

"She's still shaky and terrified," Ichigo said shortly. They finally walked into a similar room as the second floor and first floor. "Just stay away."

"Serves you right for kidnapping my daughter," Byakuya said dangerously.

The next thing anyone saw was a blur and Ichigo was pinning Byakuya against the wall by the throat.

"Ichigo!!" Rukia said horrified and Renji and Rukia were about to intervene. But Zaraki stopped them.

"Kenpachi Taichou," Renji said.

"Let him clear this up," Zaraki said, "If he doesn't, it will blow up in our faces."

"You freaking bast-!" Suddenly Ichigo went flying back and he crashed into the wall by Zaraki and the others. Yoruichi was standing by Byakuya, pissed looking.

"Let it go already," Yoruichi said, irritated.

"Fine!" Ichigo said, storming back down the stairs, "You're on your own on this!!"

"Ichigo!!" Rukia shouted horrified.

"Ichigo, get back here!!" Yoruichi said furious, "ICHIGO!!!"

"Let him go," Byakuya hissed, straightening up.

Renji then began to walk up the other stairs and Yoruichi said, "Renji where are you-?"

"Heading up, unless you're going to gang up on me too," Renji said a little on the harsh side.

"What did your say?" Byakuya said narrowing his eyes.

"You heard me, and your statement was false by the way. He did not kidnap Kumiko," Renji said as Rukia slowly went up as well.

"He did not have my consent to hide her, so yes it was kidnap," Byakuya said coldly, "And watch how you speak to me. I am still your captain."

"Fine," Zaraki said fed up, "If that's the way you're going to be then I'll make a very strong point. I don't think you know, but Kumiko knew exactly who you were, according to Yachiru. So it would not be kidnap. It would be that she ran away. Now I wonder why she would do that? Did you scare her that much?"

Byakuya was about to kill him, but then Rukia said, "Now's not the time for this, we need to finish this stupid Nineteenth Tower. Then you all can yell at each other all you want."

Everyone nodded stiffly.

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Ichigo stormed down that dark damp tunnel back towards the entrance. He was still fuming. He stopped, his fist clenched.

"Damn him," he growled, "Damn it!!!" He pounded the wall, his fist bleeding when it hit the thorns. He swore and then held his fist.

Suddenly he felt a presence behind him. He swung around his eyes flaming and his hand on Zangetsu.

Only to see a horrifying shock.

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"Yoruichi…"

Yoruichi looked at Byakuya and asked, "What?"

"Did you know… that she knew?"

"Not really, she was always hard to figure out. Please don't take that statement so hard. She still young and she didn't know you very well," Yoruichi whispered back.

Byakuya was silent. It bothered him.

Did Kumiko really want to know him? She seemed to be running away a lot. Did she run away this time as well? Or was she kidnapped? He wasn't so sure now.

Yoruichi gently kissed his cheek in reassurance and squeezed his hand ever so gently. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and would have smiled, but choice not to. She seemed satisfied and they walked out onto the floor with the rest of the group.

Suddenly there was a silly express of amusement coming out of nowhere. A silly express of amusement that made Renji seize up.

"So you all made it to the next round!! Eh, wait a minute. There is someone missing. Of course, it's the spiky haired kid!!"

"Who are you?" Zaraki shouted.

"Now, now. Shouting is what lost you spiky haired kid. It's such a shame, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but he's dead."

Everyone froze.

"You liar!!!" Renji shouted, grabbing the hilt of Zabimaru.

"Nope, I'm not lying! We found him trying to leave. Shame, his sisters will be so upset, now that they lost both a brother and a mother."

"Mother…" Byakuya muttered.

"Oh that's right, not all of you know," the voice said again. "Well, let's watch shall we."

"Watch?" Rukia said confused and suddenly the scenery changed.

"Hey this is-!" Renji said shocked.

"Ichigo's house," Rukia finished.

"Goodbye, Karin, Yuzu."

They all turned and saw a woman bending over to kiss to little girls coloring.

"Bye okaa-san," the both girls said, happily.

"Is that… Karin?" Rukia said walking over to where the dark hair girl sat. "My gosh she looks-."

"Not… depressed," Renji said. "She actually looks happy. So then she must be-."

"Yuzu," Rukia said, looking over at the light brown hair girl. The mother kissed Yuzu's cheek and said, "Isshin, I'm going to pick up Ichigo."

"Alright!!"

Everyone winced as the goofy man came pouncing into the room.

"Alright, my little darlings, come play with daddy!!!"

The girls toppled out of the chairs and launched themselves at him, giggling.

"Hey, doesn't Karin usually hit him when he does that?" Renji questioned.

"Yeah," Rukia said, "Come on, we need to follow her."

They followed the pretty woman out into the rain and watched her walk along the streets under her umbrella.

"So this must be Ichigo's mom," Renji said, and Rukia nodded. She had a lump in her throat; she knew perfectly well what day this was. She didn't want to see it, after seeing the girls smiling faces. Know that they would never again see their mother again, that that was the last time they would ever be kissed by her or tucked in by her.

"Hello, little one, what's your name?"

Byakuya looked down at the child whom she was talking to. There was a chain on her chest. A spirit?

"Sana," the little girl whispered her brown eyes fearful.

"Why are you out here in the rain?" the woman whispered.

"Because I'm waiting for my daddy," she whispered, "We were going to the doujou one day and then I blacked out. Then I was here," Sana whispered, tearfully. The woman shushed the child and said, "Who is your daddy?"

"He's a trainer at a doujou," she whispered. The woman smiled and said, "I'm on my way there now. Come with me."

The child's eyes filled with hope and they both continued to walk. Byakuya looked over the woman. He could understand why her family was so happy. She was so full of happiness and love. So why was Kurosaki Ichigo such a scowling, stubborn, anger filled brat?

"Hey there he is! There's my daddy!!" Sana said, pointing at a man out front. The spirit then looked content at seeing her dad safe and sound and began to glow a warm color.

"Arigato, miss," whispered Sana and she disappeared.

"You're welcome Sana," the woman said continuing towards the doujou.

"Ha, hello Masaki," the man said, smiling.

"Hello," she said smiling, "Is he done yet?"

"Yep, he's been waiting for you," the man said pointing inside.

"Okaa-san!!"

A little orange spiky haired boy launched himself into his mother's arms and Masaki laughed.

"Hello, Ichigo! How was today?" she said as the boy pulled away.

This was not the Ichigo they knew. He was all smiles and his eyes were shining with happiness.

"It was good!! I was able to beat Tatsuki today!!" Ichigo said, smiling.

"Yeah, but I'll beat you next week!!!" a short black haired girl said, shaking her fist. But she had playfulness in her eyes.

"No you won't!!!" Ichigo said defensively and Zaraki smirked.

"So he was always a fighter eh?" Zaraki said, smirking.

Byakuya stared down at the little boy and so did the rest of them.

"Man, he such a mommy's boy," Renji said, "But then again, I wouldn't have minded being her momma's boy."

"Renji!!"

"What? Can't I dream?"

"No," Rukia muttered. Byakuya paid no attention to the argument but continued to look at the little boy. This Kurosaki Ichigo was… almost nothing like the one he knew. This one was a cheerful and had the radiance atmosphere around him. He seemed to love his mother dearly. His smile was so ridiculously happy; there were no traces of a negative emotion. No scowl, no frustrative face, just happiness.

"Well, lets go home shall we," Masaki said, holding her hand out to her son. He took it eagerly and they began to walk home. Masaki told him what she did during the day.

Suddenly, a truck whizzed by and splashed dirty water on Ichigo.

"Oh my, what a bad truck," Masaki said, frowning. She pulled out a hanky and wiped her sons face asking gently, "Are you okay? I'm sorry. Let's switch. Let mommy walk by the road."

"No, it's okay! I'm the one wearing the raincoat; I can't let you get wet!" Ichigo said, protectively. Yoruichi scoffed and said, "Ha, he really is a mommy's boy!"

"What a generous offer, but no deal. I can't let my son catch a cold, so please let mommy walk on the road side."

"You could catch one too," Ichigo said picking up his umbrella.

"Alright all clean," Masaki said, "Let's go."

She began to walk but Ichigo didn't follow.

"Hm?"

"Okaa-san, can I hold your hand?" Ichigo asked, timidly.

"Of course!" she said smiling. Zaraki snorted.

"Jeez, I'm going to barf," Zaraki said, "But I will have to admit, he's a lucky kid to have a mom like that."

"Yeah, but I have never seen her when we go to his house," Renji said frowning, "What was she working late? Rukia, is something wrong?"

Rukia was following them but was depressed and unhappy about something.

"Rukia, what-?"

"Isn't it obvious what happens?"

"What?" Renji asked. But she simply pointed at Masaki and Ichigo. They looked and noticed that Ichigo had stopped and was looking at a boy near the river. A spirit from what he could tell.

"Hey, wait a sec!!" Ichigo said dropping his umbrella.

"Ichigo?" Masaki said watching her son run toward the spirit. Her eyes widened and shouted, "No! Ichigo!!" She dropped her umbrella as well and ran off after her son. Suddenly they could feel something dangerous above them and Zaraki shouted, "Damn it what is he doing!!!"

Ichigo went to grab the boy to prevent him from falling in but the boy disappeared.

"ICHIGO!!!"

Something shot at Ichigo, about to kill him.

But… Masaki jumped over him …………………and took the hit.

Byakuya was wide eyed as Masaki's soul was separated and she tumbled on the ground. Her chain connecting her to her body was broken.

She was dead.

"Hehehe," the dark looming creature went towards her, "I was going for the boy, but I'll settle for you."

Suddenly, it was grabbed by something and they heard a voice.

"Really, I'm afraid you're going to have to reconsider."

They all look behind the creature and saw a familiar figure.

"Ku-Kumiko!!" Rukia shouted.

"You again!! How many times are you going to interrupt my meals!!!!"

"Until you die," growled Kumiko. He growled and the fight began.

Masaki had gotten up and whispered, "K-Ku-Kumiko…"

"She-she knew her?" Rukia said, shocked.

Kumiko flashed stepped and continuously wounding the monster. But in return she had a couple of nasty wounds her self.

"DAMN YOU SHINIGAMI BRAT!!! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO ZAP YOU OF YOUR STENGTH BEFORE YOU REALISE YOU CAN NOT KILL ME!!!!!" It roared and faced Masaki charging a bright red ball.

"Ce-Cero!!" Rukia said.

Kumiko swung out her sword, about to strike the back of his head from behind.

Suddenly he spun around and Kumiko looked shocked. The red light engulfed her and she screamed.

"KUMIKO!!!" Masaki shouted and ran forward. The light disappeared and Kumiko had reverted to her little size, unconscious. She fell and Masaki caught her.

"I will have to come back and get you all, the brat has practically no power left. But I have to recover, so sayonara!"

The monster disappeared and Masaki looked down at Kumiko, who seemed to have awoken.

"O-Owww," Kumiko whimpered and sat up in Masaki's arm.

"You shouldn't move," Masaki said, "You'll-!"

"I'm fine."

"But-!"

"I'm fine, just drained some."

Kumiko had stood up and looked at Masaki's dead body.

"You have to go on," Kumiko whispered, Masaki looking at her.

"But can you-?"

"Yeah, don't worry about me, I'll be fine. So will Ichigo."

"Will… you keep an eye on him?"

"As best as I can," Kumiko whispered. She pressed the end of her hilt to Masaki's forehead and she began to glow.

"Sayonara, Kumiko, Ichigo," Masaki whispered and she disappeared. Kumiko then sheathed her sword collapsing to her knees. She coughed violently and ran off.

"K-Kaa-san."

Byakuya's attention was shifted back to the boy, who was wide eyed.

"OKAA-SAN!!"

They watched Ichigo try to save his mothers life, even though she was already gone. He was crying obviously. He then collapsed on his mother's dead body, sobbing over the loss of his beloved mother. The circular room returned and there was silence.

"My…" Yoruichi started but didn't finish. Byakuya fist was clenched and Zaraki was just plain quiet.

"Renji? RENJI!!!"

They all looked around to see Rukia looking around.

But Renji… wasn't there.

Tairei9: Long, I know. Review!! Please!!!