~Burnt bridges~

"Here." Lilynette pushed open one of the many plain unmarked doors lining the hallway. Rukia, unaccustomed to the bleak chill of the other world, glanced about; nervous tension filling her body. From the sliver of the inside revealed by the opening of the door, she first caught a glimpse of all-consuming white and then a bed and a form heaped atop it; facing away from them.

"Stark?" the fraccion ventured to say, ushering Rukia in with a light push. When no answer came, Lilynette nodded toward the bed with a jerk of her head. Wake him. The message was clear but she hesitated to approach. What if he--

"Go on!" Lilynette hissed. Rukia glared back at the fraccion, irritated that she had dared to order her around. A slight rustling however soon turned her attention to the matter at hand and she sighed. Her eyes traveled over the the expanse of his back and unruly hair. She noticed it looked slightly matted as if he had been running his fingers through it--and pulling. Would this really be alright?

"Stark..." slowly she approached the side of the bed, stretching her hand out to his shoulder...nearly there. "Stark!" a little louder this time as her confidence increased. Lilynette watched on hopeful by the door. No response. She began to become annoyed.

"Stark, it's me--!"

"Rukia?!"

She jolted as he started up, grabbing her wrists tightly in a speed that she had only witnessed once much to the detriment of their...friendship? She felt strange admitting it. "Why the hell are you here?!" his voice was sharp in a way that she had never heard him speak in before. Rukia shook her arms trying to lessen his grip, her struggle only bringing them closer together. "What do you think, dumbass? To see you of course!" she muttered, averting her face from his; her cheeks were made warm in such proximity as he held her in. "You could let me go too..." she muttered quietly, not understanding the cause for her embarrassment.

He ignored her. "I'm not dreaming...am I?"

She instantly stopped trying to pull away and turned incredulous eyes that widened upon sighting his serious expression. He meant it. "D-did you think I..." she had a hard time continuing over the rising lump in her throat. Irritated, she opened and closed her mouth several times before hastily swallowing with difficulty again. His luminous gray eyes rested on her face. "What?" his voice had softened now and he no longer gripped her wrists with a desperation like that of wanting to hold onto something to keep it from disappearing.

"...couldn't forgive you--" she was surprised and more than a little startled as his arms went around her. Once I knew the truth. Rukia bit her lip, her body tensing in his embrace. When she realized nothing more would come, she settled against him almost complacently, her head resting on his shoulder.

"You wouldn't believe..." some emotion thickened his voice and her eyes closed. "How much I missed you." Her shock was great even more so with the innate belief that he had spoken no lie. "I--"

"My! Don't you two look cozy!" someone sneered from the doorway. Stark immediately bristled and stood to his full height, the weight of his hand protective against her back. Rukia turned; another Arrancar in white had joined them. His uniform formed a bowl-shaped hood framing his long oval face, an eyepatch covered one eye, a smirk curved his mouth while in one hand he held a struggling Lilynette. "You bastard!" the fraccion hissed. Rukia saw the flash of anger and rise of reiatsu wash over her.

"Nnoitora," Stark spat.

~Living world, Orihime's apartment~

"Cooerced? I think not, Kurosaki-san." The Captain General spoke gravely, surveying the stunned faces of the advance relief team and the deputy Soulreaper through the screen. "But, Rukia wouldn't--!" Ichigo started forward, his features ablaze with anger at the idea present in everyone's minds.

"Lieutenant of Sixth, Abarai, says different."

A wave of unease disturbed the group. Slowly amber eyes flickered over to the impassive redhead, standing silent at the fringes. "I saw her...she was leaving with one--" his voice was strained, on the point of breaking. Yamamoto raised his hand, halting the pained recollection of the Soulreaper.

"We can only assume both Rukia Kuchiki of Thirteenth and Orihime Inoue had defected. They are to be considered traitors from now on."

~To be continued~

AN: I wonder if everyone realizes the one month time jump was the training in Soul Society and in the manga there's a scene where Rukia's outside on the rooftop looking at the moon--enter Lilynette in CH.7. :) So I made it fit. ;) Thanks for reading--no flames or idiotic spammers! Other than that, reviews are always appreciated! :)