I'm so sorry for taking so long! I couldn't figure out how to write it until a burst of inspiration hit me allowing me to create this chapter. So I'm splitting Chapter 9 into two part because it was getting way too long. So thank you for sticking with me and please review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Not in Time?

The galloping of horse hooves filled the quiet nighttime as a man, hidden by the shadows, rode in on a horse, lathered in sweat. Flashes of his face could be seen when he passed through the dim streetlights, these flashes allowed eyes filled with determination, clothes blown askew by the wind, and a piece of paper fluttering in his tight grasp to be seen in the dark night.

Kyouraku gave a quick glance down at the piece of paper, checking the numbers as he reined in his horse, slowing it to a walk and finally stopping it in front of a dilapidated building. Swinging off his horse, he tied its reins to the branch of a tree, finally allowing the stolen horse to rest as he picked his way towards the doorway, which was half hidden in shadows. A glint of silver winked at him as he neared the door. His eyes adjusting to the dark and he could see a silver padlock chaining the door tightly shut.

Walking around the building, he tested the windows, he tested for weaknesses in the building, a mistake that would allow him in. There was not a single one.

"Someone's been fixing the place up." Kyouraku muttered under his breath as he hesitated at a window, debating the advantages and disadvantages to breaking a window. Shaking his head, he turned a corner, finishing his full circuit of the building and allowing him to see a carriage waiting on the side of the road.

Four dark figures were stepping off an unknown carriage as Kyouraku rounded the bend. One of the figures-a taller then average, slender male-was talking to the driver. The driver nodded before snapping his reins and driving off into the dark. The four figures approached the door, quietly talking as they encountered the chains and lock.

Creeping up on the group, Kyouraku watched as the same male as before knelt down before the door. Grabbing hold of the nearest person, he thrust his sword against her neck as she stiffened, unmoving. "Do not move." Kyouraku growled in the woman's ear before speaking louder for the rest to hear his proposition,

"I am not a violent person and I do not wish to harm any of you but I must get in that building and will harm you if necessary." He threatened, his eyes were serious yet anxiety tinged his eyes, as he stood aside to allow the three to step past him into the pallid moonlight.

Resigned to their fate, the three stepped into the revealing moonlight. Kyouraku's eyes grew large as his sword fell to his side limply,

"I'm so sorry." He whispered, his head hanging as his eyes were thrown in shadow. Before him stood Unohana, her hand rubbing at her throat; Ukitake, his face paler then normal as a sigh of relief came from his lips; Gin, his ever present smile on his face; and Rangiku, her face indignant as she crossed her arms and glared at him.

Gin crouched down in front of the lock his probing fingers examined every facet of the lock and chain before turning back to the group,

"I think I can pick it," Gin drawled as he nodded to himself, "in fact I know I can. I just need a pin or something." He said, his ice blue eyes flashing open for a brief moment before shutting once again as he waited.

Kyouraku quickly reached back to his messy, wind-blown hair as his hands hesitated for a brief moment, hovering above his head, before pulling the two pinwheel pins from his hair. "Will these work?" He asked, the deceptively expensive pins lying in the center of his palm. Nodding, Gin took the two pins with pale fingers and delicately inserted them into the lock.

A hiss of frustration and pain filled the room as Nanao pulled at the enchanted ropes once more, the rough rope chafing her wrists as blood trickled down her pale skin. The sound of the crimson blood hitting the floor was hidden by the footsteps of a man as he entered the room, his smug attitude palpable in the thickening air.

"The ship that will take you to your buyer is about to arrive." Aizen stated in a chilly, triumphant voice as he mocked her, thinking of the money he would make off her as soon as she got on the boat. Yes, he would make quite a profit off this mage.

"My father will search for me throughout all the world, he will never stop until he finds me!" Nanao snarled with conviction, though she wondered, why hadn't anyone come for her yet? As if sensing her thoughts, Aizen smirked,

"So why haven't you been rescued yet?" He taunted, chuckling as he walked behind her, slicing through the magic bonds with a knife, purposely nicking her already damaged hands.

He clucked his tongue, examining the wounds as he blocked the ball of flames that was thrown at him with two very familiar silver bracelets. A trace of fear ran through her uncovered eyes before she hid behind her cold, emotionless mask…yet she couldn't get rid of a barely noticeable trace of fear and resentment. As Aizen clasped the confining silver bracelets on her bleeding hands, Nanao could feel her magic getting sucked into the charmed silver.

"Come on, we need to get you to the ship!" Aizen said with a falsely cheery voice while brutally pushing her out the door as he pressed his knife to the back of her neck. Suddenly, a blaring siren filled the hallways. Aizen smirked,

"Ah it looks like your saviors are here, this should get interesting."

Kyouraku cursed under his breath as the alarm began to sound, he thought they had missed one! A horrible, familiar coughing entered his range of hearing as he spun around to see Ukitake on the ground, blood seeping between his paling fingers and the coughs wracking his frail body.

"Jyuu are you alright?" Kyouraku asked, quickly kneeling beside the sick man as he handed him a handkerchief, knowing from painful experience that he could do nothing. Giving a small smile, Ukitake accepted the handkerchief, cleaning his hands,

"I'm fine Shun, you-" He managed before a cough interrupted his words,

"-go on ahead." Ukitake gasped before coughing into the handkerchief, turning the white fabric red.

With sorrow filled eyes, Unohana knelt beside the coughing man as she examined his gaunt face, normally no man could take him down yet it wouldn't be a man who took him down but an illness. Looking back up, she spoke quietly, her voice even and steady even as her eyes spoke of the thinly veiled havoc being wrought upon her,

"You three go ahead, I'll take care of Jyuushirou, no need to worry. You need to find Nanao-San or you might lose her forever." Gin and Rangiku nodded and rushed forward to dispatch the last group of guards that were heading their way, knowing Ukitake was in good hands. Kyouraku hesitated, his worried eyes focusing on his best friend before he was waved on by both Ukitake and Unohana. Finally, he hurried ahead to catch up with Gin and Rangiku as the two went on ahead.

Neither of them were breathing hard, they neatly dispatched the guards with hits over the head or the mere pinches of a pressure point. They were faring quite well and were having a breather before the next wave of guards came for them when two figures approached from the shadows. Rangiku and Gin tensed as the two stepped forward into the light.

Rangiku cried out with rage at the sight of Nanao's battered frame and the man that held her captive while Gin's smile twisted with anger at the familiar face. Silently the two charged forward with no warning, their swords held aloft as they attacked.

Watching with a cold smile, Aizen slammed the hilt of his knife into the back of Nanao's head, allowing her inert body to slip to the ground before turning to face his attackers, the handle of the knife splattered with Nanao's blood as the clash of metal resounded through the hallway.