Super fast update--so much easier when I'm past the important parts, right?
I spent so much time on the last chapter, and would really really really appreciate any reviews if you haven't left one already! You don't have to critique it--I just want to know if I did a good job or not. Hell, put "good" or "bad"--I don't care. I won't be disappointed if you write "Wow, you are super awesome, marry me :)" Ok, I jest, I don't take marriage proposals online (again, joking...). But I would like to know if you think I did Rukia ANY justice. Thanks to those who did review "Shirahime"--I did make a change to her bankai after I posted the chapter the first time.
I heart all of you for reading and sticking with me. You are all very wonderful.
Enjoy the first chapter after Rukia's awakening ;)
Kisuke knew--from the way Yoruichi looked at him as she stepped out of the dark tunnel--that something had gone terribly wrong. It wasn't until he saw Ichigo tenderly carrying Rukia's body that he verified his previous assumption.
"She's badly injured," Yoruichi whispered as she walked past Kisuke. She momentarily placed her hand on his shoulder, as if comforting him. "She achieved her bankai," she whispered. She was met with his silent nod.
"Shit," he muttered as he saw Renji pulling up the rear of the group. He was half-carrying, half-dragging an unfamiliar man. From the looks of the tattered uniform, it was a shinigami. The face was recognizable, but he did not know the unfamiliar man.
"Well, do you think Tessai's healing kido would do the job? Or should I look for Hachigen?" Yoruichi softly whispered over his shoulder. "Or we could take them to Soul Society," she smiled already knowing that answer before he spoke it.
"NO!" He couldn't risk Byakuya's wrath if they barged into Seretei with an injured Rukia. How would he explain that? "Hey, I trained your sister. She wanted to go to Hueco Mundo, so I happily obliged. Oh, and she's hurt. Good day!" No, that would not be a brilliant idea. He sighed as he thougth about Yoruichi's question. "For Rukia, Tessai should suffice. But for the other…" his eyes fell on the kido box that contained something. He squinted, making out the shape of...an arm! "Oh.." he softly groaned.
Hachigen would be a good asset right now, he knew, but Shinji had told Urahara not to come looking for them. We will find you, as Shinji had cryptically told him before disappearing. "No. No Hachigen," he murmured. "Find Inoue," he quickly shot back, his eyes on the injured shingami.
"Right!" she murmured before the Flash Goddess disappeared in a blur of orange and purple.
"You need me, Yoruichi-sama?" Orihime asked, tearing her eyes from the cake she was mixing. She added a little more chocolate. The recipe needs sweetness, she told herself. It's a nice contrast to the eel I added, she cheerfully smiled as she mashed the softened chocolate with her spoon.
"Yes…uh," the former captain eyed Inoue's recipe cautiously, "Kisuke asked that I find you. There's someone he wanted you to…er, heal." She silently gagged from the smell of chocolatey fish. She hoped that Orihime couldn't see the tears that were running down her face as she tried not to retch.
"Oh, ok. Of course I'll come along," she smiled happily. "I'll just put this in the refrigerator until I can use it." She carefully covered the bowl, as Yoruichi sighed in relief--she could breath normally again! Orihime placed her latest concoction in the cold fridge, her eyes falling on a familiar sight. She pulled the container from the cold box, and turned toward her visitor. She swiftly removed the lid, "Before you go, would you like some pudding? I made it myself!" she sang happily.
It took everything that Yoruichi had not vomit on the young woman's floor.
"Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime smiled sweetly as she entered the Urahara Shop.
"Inoue," he nodded politely.
Her eyes fell onto the dressing that spanned his upper torso. She immediately knew something had happened. "You're injured?" she asked, her eyes showing their concern.
"Yeah, but I'm fine. It's Rukia and her friend that we are worried about," he gestured toward the spare bedroom. Renji entered the room, plopping down beside Ichigo. He, too was bandaged. His injur was lower, over his abdomen.
"Hey, Orihime!" he smiled and waved. His face became tense from too much movement as he grabbed his side in pain.
"Oh, no, you two!" the young woman tsk-ed, "This just will not do. You should have come to find me sooner." Both men avoided her eyes as they bowed their head in shame. She smiled at the sight, "Well, let me do something for those wounds. In return, you explain to me why I was left out this time. As well as Chad. And Ishida. " She stood with her hands on her hips, looking at her two friends like a stern mother.
Renji grunted his assent, as Ichigo slowly nodded. Perhaps a explanation couldn't hurt.
When Inoue had satisfactorily healed both Renji and Ichigo, she quickly walked to the back bedroom to find Urahara and Tessai frowning over Rukia. Her eyes fell on the young man that lay next to her. His dark locks were disheveled and wounds littered his body. His lower body was covered with a sheet, and she could see the terrible festering wound on his arm.
"Oh no! His arm.." she gasped as she quickly fell at his side.
"Wait!" Tessai murmured, before laying the kido box with the severed limb at the unconscious shinigami's side. "They managed to save this. It should make your healing more effective," he explained before negating the kido spell. Orihime reached out to touch the pale limb, quickly drawing back from the cold skin that covered it.
"I-I think I should be able to heal this," she whispered. "He's…been through so much." She quickly placed her fingertips to her temples and called the command, "Soten Kisshun!"
Two tiny beings flew from the ornaments she wore in her hair; they circled above Ashido's limb. Her brow furrowed in concentration as Ayame and Shun-o worked their magic on the injured arm. Tessai and Urahara watched in silent wonder. Her power was amazing, neither could deny that much. It was that same power that Aizen wished to keep to himself. It was that same power that was used to destroy Hogyoku, eliminating any chance of using Urahara's invention for the wrong purpose ever again. It was Orihime who had truly saved the Gotei Thirteen from complete oblivion.
Too bad Old Man General didn't see it that way, Kisuke thought angrily. They had merely dismissed the young woman's bravery, insisting that it was was them--Soul Society—that had saved the day. Urahara smirked, They know damn well it was the Vizards and her! He knew that the First Division captain had too much pride to admit it.
"It's going to take a while," Orihime confessed. "It always does when healing a lost limb."
"H-how do you know?" Tessai asked. Had she done this before?
She did not meet the Kido Master's eyes as she spoke, "I healed Grimmjow's arm. Aizen commanded me to." She felt a slight pang of guilt for so easily succumbing to the evil man's desires. But, she had feared her life as well as those she cared for, and did not want to risk Aizen's wrath. Besides, it had helped her, really, at one point. Grimmjow had repaid the favor when she was being attacked by two female Arrancar. They would have killed her had he not intervened. She shuddered at the thought.
Tessai stood, "Boss! I have finished healing Rukia-san. Now all we have to do is wait for the fever to break."
"Very well, Tessai. Thank you," Kisuke murmured, his eyes falling on the dark haired shinigami. So, you achieved your bankai, he thought. He smiled slightly, it had been what she wanted. He looked toward the unconscious Ashido. Who is this man to you? he silently asked her.
More importantly, he wanted to know how Ichigo felt about all of this…
Rukia wandered through the snow-laden grounds. There was nothing in sight. No trees, no cats, no throne. Just desolation and loneliness.
"Hello?" she called out, her white kimono floating around her. She hugged it closer to her body. "Is anyone here?" She saw a dark shadow in her periphery. She turned in the direction of the movement, squinting against the pale moonlight that lit the snowy landscape. "Hello…" she called out, tentatively. Where am I?
The figure drew closer, glowing brighter. Pale hair, pale skin, pale clothing—Sode no Shirayuki! Rukia smiled in recognition, quickly frowning as she remembered the battle with the Arrancar.
"Rukia-hime!" came the melodical voice as the spirit woman smiled faintly, holding her hands out--toward Rukia.
Rukia reached her slender fingers toward the pale skin, brushing Shirayuki's palms. "Sode no Shirayuki…"
Her zanpakuto spirit interlaced her fingers with Rukia's. "Yukiko, please, my lady," she quietly replied, her pale eyes studying Rukia's face. "You..are displeased?"
Rukia frowned, shaking her head slightly. "With you? Oh no! I am merely disappointed that I let you down. You have been a great help to me all of these years…Yukiko," she said softly, bowing her head.
The Yuki-onna studied her master's face, as if trying to understand Rukia's reasoning. "You…let…me…down? I don't understand.." her voice trailed off.
Rukia raised her eyes to meet the beautiful spirit's pale blue eyes, tears glistening in her own violet orbs, "I failed you!"
The colorless Snow Queen understood Rukia's feelings, hugging the woman closely. "Of course you didn't, Rukia-hime! You could never let me down! I have been very fortunate in having you as my master. You are kind and caring—something that is not common between Master and Spirit. I owe everything to you," she held Rukia's pitiful gaze as she spoke softly to her wielder.
"But, I failed! I couldn't even do your ablities justice!" Rukia blurted, a new rush of tears falling down her face.
"How so?" Yukiko whispered. "Maybe you feel more like you failed yourself, my lady?"
Rukia chewed her lip, perhaps that was so. Maybe she did feel like she failed. Again. "I had…wanted to protect my friends for once. Maybe…" she trailed off as she wiped her eyes. "I don't know! I feel as if I still can't! Even with your help!"
She felt the soft hands on her shoulder as her zanpakuto's spirit spoke solemnly to her, "But you did protect them, Rukia-hime! You did! Just because you were injured does not mean you failed. It was you who ultimately defeated the Arrancar. It was your dedication and resilience that ended that battle."
"But Ichigo intervened! Again!" Rukia wailed. It was unlike her to be so hopelessly self-pitying.
"I know that you feel as if you are never able to help your friends when they, and you, need it most. But trust me when I tell you that you did it! I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. Despite Ichigo's interference, it was your determination that saved your friends. Ichigo may have dealt the last blow, but it was my ice—our ice—that stopped her heart. I promise you that, Mistress."
Rukia allowed the words to sink in, sobbing once more. "I-I'm sorry! I'm such a baby!" she confessed.
"It's understandable," Yukiko sang. She studied her master with worried eyes.
"So…we did it?" Rukia sheepishly asked, her head lowered in shame.
"You did it, Rukia-hime. Believe in yourself more, my lady!" the spirit whispered.
Rukia looked up, a new light shining in her eyes. She noticed the faint translucency of Yukiko's frame. "Where…where are you going? Are you leaving?" Rukia asked frantically.
"No. I'll never leave you. This," she gestured aroudn them, "is a dream. You have to return to your friends, now." She smiled sadly. Her eyes misted with frosty tears.
"Thank you!" Rukia smiled. "I owe everything to you!"
The spirit could see that her wielder meant it with every fiber of her being. "No, Young Master. You have been kind to me—it's more than I could ever ask for. Have faith in yourself, Rukia-hime. You are stronger than you'll ever know…," she whispered as she faded away into the darkness.
Rukia stood alone. For the first time since she could remember, she felt wanted.
She felt hopeful.
She felt confident.
She felt strong.
Ichigo stood outside of the half-closed door. He watched Rukia's deep breathing as she slept. Her face was still pale from the blood loss. His eyes wandered along her hairline, stopping on her rose-colored lips. He had almost believed that she was lost to them. His eyes fell on the shinigami next to her. He remembered the man from their first visit to Hueco Mundo--the unfamiliar man had warded off various hollow so that Ichigo and company could escape to find Orihime.
He faintly recalled Rukia promising to come back for him. Was this why she was so adamant about going back? Purely for a promise?
Ichigo studied the young man's face. He was good-looking, that much he would admit. Perhaps something had happened between during the time Rukia spent with Ashido in the forest? No, Ichigo told himself, Rukia wouldn't do something like that! Would she? He had seen the look of relief on her face when they had discovered his body. He wasn't entirely convinced it was void of attraction or tenderness. It was something more than a promise, surely?
Why do you care so much? She can like anyone she wants! he argued with himself. Yes, he was aware that she could care about anyone she wanted. But why was it upsetting him so much to not know the status of this long-lost shinigami's relationship with his friend?
He felt Urahara approach him. "She's still unconscious?"
"Yes," Ichigo scowled.
"I can see you are worried, Ichigo. You obviously worry a lot about Rukia-chan," the smile tugged at his lips. Ichigo avoided the older man's gaze, his face burning with understanding. Kisuke continued, "I don't think she was hiding from you, per se…I think it was more of her own desire to become stronger."
"But why? Why would she not tell me this?" Ichigo spat, his fists balled at his sides.
Urahara's eyes grew large under his hat. He hadn't expected such a fervent response without more prodding. Success! He thought about his answer, "I think she feels as if she's the weakest one…the weakest link."
"But she's not," he argued.
"You know that. I know that. But she doesn't. Have you ever told her that before? Has anyone? She's constantly being held in high regard due to her noble name, but everyone is afraid to tell her how they feel. How would you like it, living every day, not knowing if you are progressing? Feeling as if you are dragging everyone down around you?" He carefully watched Ichigo's reaction.
So that was it! Was this how she felt? Truly? He had not known she was in such pain."No…I haven't said any like that to her," he admitted. "But…" he hesitated, "I can understand why she chose to do what she did. Training that is." He didn't understand her determination to find Ashido, but he wouldn't admit it.
"I can only tell you my observations, Ichigo. It's up to you to find out how she feels. I'm an old man, no one wants to share their feelings with an old man," he smiled shrewdly. Except a certain former captain.
"Yeah, you are pretty old," Ichigo agreed.
"I'm glad we agree on something, Kurosaki," Urahara said flatly. He did dig that ditch, he supposed.
"What can I do to keep this from happening again?" Ichigo asked, looking at the unshaven shopkeeper. His eyes showed his determination.
"You mean allowing her to feel comfortable enough to talk to you? Or keep her from venturing into some unknown land to find a young, handsome man to save?" he teased.
"You're not funny!" Ichigo growled. Deep down, however, he knew he was curious about both.
"Talk to her. Tell her how you feel. Ask her how she feels," Kisuke shrugged. "That's how it works, you know. Try it sometime. Keeping everything inside doesn't work well for either of you." He turned, slowly unlocking his fan. "My, my…kids these days," he muttered.
"Kisuke!" Ichigo yelled down the hall. "How…how did you help her become stronger?" It was a question that piqued his curiosity. He had to know the answer....
Urahara studied the young man's face for some time. He had long suspected Ichigo's feelings toward the young Kuchiki heir. He also suspected she returned those feelings. A sly smile spread across his face as he formed his answer. "I merely spoke about you."
With that, he turned--his clogs clicking as he walked into the main building. Behind him, Ichigo's mouth dropped to the floor.