"Dammit Ichigo!" Renji growled, "Your spiritual energy is attracting every hollow in this forest. It's only a matter of time until a Menos Grande finds us. Or an Arrancar!" Zabimaru whipped around them, slicing through the stray Hollows that had managed to wander upon them. He sheathed his zanpakuto, as Ichigo glared at him.
"Shut the hell up!" Ichigo yelled.
"What did you say?" Renji challenged, stepping closer to Ichigo.
"Be quiet, both of you!" Rukia warned. "Ichigo, Renji is right, your energy presence will attract the enemy. And, right now, we have limited time!" She cast a glance over her shoulder as they sped through the forest.
"I can't help it!" he yelped. He had always been unable to control his rietsu, which was obvious at the moment. Rukia quickly spun around, pointed her finger at him. He could see her lips moving wordlessly as she narrowed her violet eyes at him. "R-Rukia?" he stuttered. He didn't like where this was going. A light shot from her finger, as he attempted to dodge the attack.
"Quit moving, stupid!" she commanded, commanding the rietsu-hiding spell a second time. "I'm trying to hide your spiritual energy, since you obviously can't!"
"Oh," he said flatly. So that was what she was doing. "How was I supposed to know you weren't trying to kill me?" he furrowed his brow, pouting slightly.
"Because, I'd do much worse, ass," she replied smugly before nimbly turning on heel and continuing her pace.
"Nice job, Rukia!" Renji replied, "It's as if he isn't even here! I like it!"
"Go to hell!" Ichigo countered as they proceeded with their unspoken flash step race.
"How much farther?" Renji called, his breath becoming labored from the exertion. He sliced through a Menos Grande that had appeared from between two large trees. "Fuck!" he yelled.
"Way of Binding No. 21, Red Smoke Escape," Rukia called, as she blasted the area with a smoke bomb. "Keep running, this will buy us time," she explained as she attempted to mask the enemies' visibility. That should give us enough of a distraction to escape now that Ichigo's spiritual energy is hidden, she thought to herself.
"We are getting close!" she replied, adjusting their coordinates. She was almost certain that the coordinates from her Summoning of the Tracking Sparrows, or Way of Binding No. 58, would lead the trio to Ashido's hideout. It was a small, but safe cavern, she remembered. I hope he's safe! she told herself as the guilt began to creep into her consciousness.
Ichigo watched Rukia carefully as she internally battled whatever demons she was harboring. He wished that she would tell him what she was thinking—or how she was feeling. He was unsure of her relationship with Ashido, and he did not enjoy the unsettled feeling it was provoking in him. Why was he suddenly so interested in Rukia's emotional attachments to another? Perhaps it was because he felt so distant from her. She had disappeared for months, returning much stronger than when she had disappeared. He had never seen her use kido so effortlessly, though he was no expert with the spell casting skill. Her new shikai release was also an amazing sight to behold, as was her new shunpo ability. She had never been faster than him, though she could keep up with his pace for a short period of time. He knew it bothered her that he was a much stronger shinigami than she had been—especially because it was her power that he utilized to become one. He had felt guilty at absorbing all of her powers, instead of the half that they had both expected. He knew that she often felt inferior, as if he was constantly protecting her. And, the truth was, he had been. He was fiercely loyal and protective of those he cared about, couldn't she see that she was one of those closest to him?
He hadn't realized how much she meant to him until he returned for Seretei without her. He had accepted her reasoning for staying behind, expecting that he may never see her again. He was not expecting, however, to feel so empty without his new companion. When she had reappeared on the window ledge at school, he had been elated—though he tried very hard not to show it. When she was assigned to his home town after the invasion of Hueco Mundo, he had hoped she would stay for some time. At first, he thought he merely enjoyed the company of someone who had a similar personality as him. But, after her wordless disappearance, he had felt as if there was a void in his life. His father's constant teasing about Rukia's disappearance was annoying, though he realized his father had a valid point: he was lonely. He missed his best friend--the person with whom he was closest.
They had both blamed themselves for the loss of someone close to them, and could lean on each other for support. Each had grown to realize that they were not the cause of that person's death, and had changed from that realization. Ichigo, for one, had learned to value his friendships much more. He tried to be less pessimistic, and more friendly at school. With Rukia by his side, he felt like he could do anything. She was his better half, the one person he could trust. She was the person he…loved.
He refused to acknowledge the last thought, shaking his head furiously as he rushed past Renji. His sudden burst of speed caught the redheaded shinigami off-guard. "Hey! Ichigo!" he called. Ichigo did not hear him, he was too lost in his own thoughts. Soon, he had reached Rukia's side. She reached out and grabbed his wrist as he ran past her.
He turned his head sharply as he was ripped from his selfish thoughts. "What?" he asked, his tone harsher than he would like. His wrist tingled from her tender contact.
She immediately let go of his arm, taken aback by the sharpness of his question. "We are here," she whispered, her eyes studying the rocky exterior Ashido's dwelling while avoiding his stare.
"Where?" he asked, turning toward her?
"Ashido's…" she replied. This had been where he had lived for years, she told herself. She concentrated on the injured shinigami's rietsu. It was a hazy blip in a field of stronger energy ribbons. She had to focus on the gauzy energy. "He's weak."
"Rukia," Ichigo began, his trademark scowl marring his features, "what is he to you?"
"What do you mean by that?" Rukia asked, her tone defensive. What was he inferring? He couldn't possibly be asking...that!
Before either could reply, a breathless Renji reached them. "Guys…need…break!" he said, before collapsing to the ground.
Rukia glowered at him, lightly kicked his side, "Get up, you lazy bastard!" She kept her hands on her hips as she frowned at Renji's sudden lacksadasical attitude.
"Ow, Rukia! Stop it! Have mercy on a weak shinigami like me!" he said mockingly as he rubbed where her heel had connected with his ribs. "I'm carrying some guy's arm!" he said, holding up the kido box that Rukia had made him hold.
The sight of the box sobered her. "I'm going to tie you up and leave you here!" she threatened, pointing her index finger at him.
"You wouldn't!" he said, his tone unsure.
"Try me!" she promised.
Renji was immediately standing, his left hand held above his brow, as if saluting. "Yes, Captain!" he smirked as she reddened from his address.
"If she's a Captain, then I'm the King of Soul Society," Ichigo grumbled.
"What was that?" Rukia asked, slamming her fist into his stomach. Ichigo doubled over from the impact. Renji howled with laughter as the orange-haired student retched.
"I'm going to kill you, you midget!" Ichigo threatened between gasps.
"I'd like to see you try, you moron!" Rukia responded, her eyes flashing. She raised her foot to kick him in the back as he leaned over. Renji wiped the tears away as Ichigo fell to the ground. He immediately rolled into the fetal position as Rukia continued to curse at him.
"Stop!" Ichigo whined.
"Then apologize!" Rukia commanded.
"I'm not apologizing to you—oof!" he said, as Rukia kicked him in the stomach. She turned and stalked off into the darkness as Renji helped Ichigo to his feet.
"Damn, she's gotten stronger," Ichigo mumbled, brushing the dirt off of his uniform.
"You just noticed?" Renji retorted as they followed the glowing light from the orb that Rukia had summoned.
"Hmmph," was all Ichigo could reply as he limped alongside Renji. He looked around the earthen walls as they delved deeper into the cavern.
"Where are we?" Renji called softly as he tucked the kido box under his arm. He could feel its warmth. It was almost sickening.
"Just follow me," Rukia responded, her tone hesitant. She could feel that they were getting closer to Ashido. The hazy ribbon of spiritual energy was pulsating weakly. It should be right around here! she thought furiously. She squinted at the rock walls, something was painted on them. She approached, running her finger along its form. She gasped: it was blood! "Ashido, hold on!" she murmured as she weaved through the granite maze. She followed the blood drops as they led her through the cavern.
She could see the dimly lit room that he had taken her to after he had rescued her from the forest's Hollows months earlier. She forced the glowing orb to brighten the room as her eyes fell over the chaotic mess before her. Blood was everywhere! She could hear Renji and Ichigo shuffling in behind her.
"Is that blood?" Ichigo whispered. She licked her lips, not trusting herself to speak. She nodded, looking at him with worried eyes. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the familiar nest of reddish brown hair. She gasped as she flash stepped to his side, a move that was not missed by Ichigo. Ashido was lying face down, his fur coat matted with blood. She could see his makeshift attempt to staunch the blood loss from his right arm. His skin was cool and clammy to the touch, his breathing shallow and rapid. He was alive, but he needed medical attention.
"We have to get him back to the Urahara Shop," she spoke quickly, as she attempted to roll him onto his back. "Ashido!" she pleaded. Please be alright!
Renji stooped to help, as Ichigo watched quietly. He didn't know what to do or how to be of help. "Orihime," he murmured absent-mindedly.
"What?" Rukia replied her eyes showing her confusion. Why would he be mentioning her name at this moment?
"Orihime," he repeated. "She can fix his arm, right? She has the ability to reject events, so she could help him. She healed Grimmjow," he reasoned.
Suddenly, Rukia's eyes lit up, "You're right! Oh, thank you Ichigo!" He nodded, his eyes studying her face as her attention was once again on the missing Shinigami. They had successfully rolled him over, his ragged uniform poorly covering his wasted body. He had been unconscious for some time, Rukia supposed.
"Ashido," she whispered lightly. "Ashido, it's Rukia! I've come to take you home!"
He moaned weakly; the sweat matting his hair to his forehead. His face was dirty from where he had been laying on the dirt. Blood was crusted along the hand-made sling he had crafted for his decapitated upper extremity. His skin was pale and clammy from the loss of blood. His eyes fluttered briefly, as he looked toward the sound of the voice. "Rukia?" he whispered. "You kept your promise…"
"Yes," she replied, tears in her eyes. Ichigo wanted to hold her and comfort her, though he knew this was no time for that. Part of him felt jealous that this filthy, weakened man before her could elicit such an emotional response. Was it possible that Rukia harbored some feelings toward Ashido?
"We are taking you out of here," she replied. "Just hang on. Stay with us!"
He nodded weakly, his eyes still closed. "Home," he murmured. "Sounds nice."
"It will be," she promised as she attempted to lift him off of the ground. Renji helped her, looking at Ichigo for assistance.
The orange haired shinigami quickly pushed Rukia out from under Ashido's good arm. "I've got him," he said curtly.
Rukia studied him for a moment, pushing her hair from her eyes. She nodded, "Thank you, Ichigo." Suddenly her hand glowed blue as she tried to quickly heal Ashido's minor wounds. "Hold still,"she grumbled.
"Quit being so bossy," Ichigo shot back. She didn't respond, her brow furrowed in concentration. Ichigo watched the blue light reflect off of her face. "How are we going to get back to Urahara's?"
"We need to get back to where we arrived. From there, we just wait," she said, meeting his eyes. She smiled slightly. "Thanks."
"For what?" he asked, confused by her sudden change in tone.
"For this," she gestured. "You too, Renji," she added. He grunted in response. "Now, let's go," she said, picking up the kido box that Renji had gladly left on the floor. She glanced at the watch that Urahara had given her before she left. "We have a few hours until he will open the portal. Once we get to our destination, I'll try to set up a barrier to shield our energies from any nearby Hollow that may wish to fight. This will also ensure that we won't bring any unwanted visitors into Karakura," she informed her companions.
"Right!" Renji replied, as he hoisted Ashido onto his shoulder for better leverage. "Damn, he's a deadweight," he complained. Rukia shot him a murderous glare. "I'm not complaining!" he said, waving his free arm.
"Hmmph!" Rukia replied, using her glowing orb to lead them out of the cavern. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light outside the cave. She turned to watch her two friends carry Ashido's weakened body from the cave. He was frail, but she knew that he would survive the trip. He had made it thus far, even after centuries of living in Hueco Mundo alone. She knew that he will be happy to return home to Seretei.
Yes, she thought, I kept my promise. She smiled at the three men, as she waved them away from the cavern, and toward the forest. "We have to be careful. Ichigo, your rietsu shield is still surrounding you, so that takes some worry away from us, but we shouldn't let our guard down."
"Who died and made you boss?" Ichigo challenged her.
"You two have your hands full!" she hissed, "I'm just trying to help, ass! Keep your mouth shut and do your job!" Ichigo smirked at his ability to elicit such a violent reaction from the peace-keeping woman.
"And wipe that smile off of your face," she warned, her violet eyes flashing their annoyance as she turned and headed in their intended direction. Urahara would open the gate, leading them back to the real world in a few hours' time.
"Don't you ever learn?" Renji muttered as they followed the petite Shinigami to their destination.
The trio hoped that their return would go more smoothly than their arrival.
Somehow, Ichigo thought, that won't be the case. He could feel it.
Hopefully that wasn't too boring. Please leave me feedback on how I'm doing or the story is going. It's how I decide to keep the story going (I do have an end planned, so I won't leave it incomplete unless it really really stinks!)
I'm having a difficult time making my thoughts into words at the moment and do not want this story to majorly start sucking! I'm taking my time for the next chapter ;) It shouldn't disappoint!
Thanks for the lovely reviews! Enjoy!