Chapter 5: Determine

You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

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One Month Later

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It had been one month since the time of the trial and Rukia had spent the past month in the jail cell of the 6th Division. She had just recently been released into the care of Kuchiki Byakuya. The said woman was now sitting within her room within the Kuchiki Manor. She was dressed in a white and blue kimono with cranes upon it and her hair pulled back to one side. She sat at the table in the middle of the floor and just stared off into space.

A message had reached her; the time, date and the type of execution had been sat for Kurosaki Ichigo. He was sentenced to death by decapitation; this action would be carried out in a month's time.

In one month's time, Ichigo would die and she would be alone. Word had spread through out Seireitei of the event that was soon to come. She had also heard that Ichigo was still loosing his inner battle. Slowly, he was becoming a hollow little by little. He would mumble in his sleep and while he was awake, he would glare at his guard and lash out when someone had gotten to close.

She did not understand why Ichigo would refuse to fight for his life, or against his hollow. The time he had spent in Hueco Mundo was never discussed. All that she knew was that Ishida, Chad and Orihime had died at that time. She did not know the connections on how they died or if it was due to Ichigo. However, she did know that Ichigo took their deaths hard, very, very hard.

She lowered her gaze to stare at her small pale hands. If Ichigo would not save himself, then just maybe she could. However, how would she save him, she knew very well she could not do it by herself. She was not strong enough to take on the captains. Her mind raced for what she should do, whom she should ask, how much time it would take to plan everything.

Nevertheless, she was getting a head of herself; she would have to ask his remaining friends. She would ask the 11th Division and then she would go to the mortal world. Urahara would help her; he always helped them when they where in need and so would Yourichi!

Yes, that is whom she would seek out for aid! But she would have to do it carefully. She would not allow Ichigo to die! He had saved her so many times before, it was only right for her to save him! Her lips came to form a thin straight line; it was time to repay the boy for always saving her…and giving her his love. She would not let him die!

She slammed her hands upon the table and stood sharply.

Fuck Seireitei and their rules!

She was going to save him, even if she had to do it herself! Quickly she crossed the room and went to her wardrobe. She flung open the doors and pulled the ribbon around her waist. She allowed the ribbon to fall with her obi. Her kimono fell and then the white under layer, it all drifted downwards and rested about her feet.

She reached into her wardrobe, pulled out her white knee high kimono, and dawned it quickly tying it off hardly about her waist. Next, she grabbed her black hakama's, she slide her kimono in place as she pulled the pants on. Realizing she put the attire on wrong, she growled and yanked out the black robe and threw it on, fixed it shut, then fixed her hakama's to her body.

Grabbing her socks, she hopped across the room as she put them on her small feet. Snatching her sandals, she ran out the Manor as she dawned her sandals at the same time, she had a lot of work to do in a very short amount of time.

She moved through Seireitei, ignoring the people around her, she was on a mission and she would not fail! She weaseled her way through a crowd, shouldered through the groups that dare to walk in her path. She wished the 11th Squad were not stationed so far away, but within three hours she reaches the Squad. She stands before the great doors of unit, and then with a deep breath she pushed the doors open.

It was almost an instant reaction as the individual that where lodging or in their words, practicing diligently on their swordsmen ship and kido, these men and women looked at the little Kuchiki woman with surprise. Some did not even bother to look at her, as they knew the story behind her and Ichigo.

Rukia's blue-gray eyes combed through the area and it was not difficult to locate Zaraki Kenpachi. He was the tallest and scariest person of all, but she would not let him scare her away. She approached him when she had spotted him resting on the porch of the Squad house. Yachiru, who was always at Kenpachi' side was kicking her feet idly and looked up at Rukia as Kenpachi ignored her presence. The little pink hair girl smiled eagerly. Ikkaku and Yumichika rested on the other side of the little girl and snored heavily.

Kenpachi rose his head to look at her as Yachiru giggled. The older man studied her carefully, taking in her small figure and how fragile she looked. She would not due to have a proper battle with at all. So, once he scratched out the reason he wished she was here for he spoke at last.

"What do you want, girl?" Kenpachi's rough voice made the small woman shudder. She normally would of avoided Kenpachi but she could not do that, not today. Her hands came together to form a fist. She looked straight at Kenpachi and did her best to look very much like her older brother as she spoke. "I want you to help me save Ichigo." She declared to the man who now looked at her oddly. The scary man offered her a sly smile as Yachiru leaned forward to try to mimic her captain. "If that is all you want of me, then you best go back to your sweet bed and keep dreaming."

Rukia looked at him with some shock, she would of figured Kenpachi out of all people would be willing to help! He enjoyed fighting Ichigo, he loved it so why would he not put his neck on the line to save the boy that he loved to battle. She opened her mouth to speak but another joined he conversation.

"You best listen to our Captain," said Ikkaku lazily. "As much as we like Ichigo we will not help him. The man is already on death row for a reason, you have seen him, Kuchiki. You know that he is changing. It is more merciful to allow him to die then save him and let him roam the world in search of souls to feast on."

"You are condemning him already? He is Ichigo! He would never let himself be taken over and lose! There is still hope for him."

"Then why does he carry the traits of a hollow? The boy is dead and though he is a shinigami, he carries the curse of the Vizard. He is forever doomed to fight his hollow until his dying day. How long do you really think he can fight, Rukia? Do you think he can do this for the rest of his life?" Ikkaku asked as Yumichika yawned.

"As ugly as this appears, we will not lift a hand to aid Kurosaki Ichigo. It is best to let him die then roam as a hollow, as Ikkaku has stated."

"But!" Rukia started with wide eyes and full of rage, but Yachiru spoke this time, the young girl bowed her head to Rukia. "Forgive us, Funny-Hair, but if Kenpachi says that we must not intervene then we will not. Ichigo is on his own, it is best if you just forget him."

Rukia lowered her eyes and nibbled on her lip for a moment as she tried to suppress her rage. "Then you did you not cast your swords to vote on his death?"

No one answered her.

A/N : Sorry for taking so long to update, I had some family things come up and work hasn't been helping much either. I hope you will enjoy this chapter.