Sorry for the late update, I wasn't able to get onto the computer yesterday. Anyway, here is the next chapter of "A Rose That Won't Bloom".
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters. I only have the OCs I throw into the mix.
Kagami was in shock, to say the least. Hell, that was an understatement. The last she'd heard of Rukia was when that ryoka kid, Kurosaki, had come to the Soul Society to save her. The fact she was alive was a miracle in and of itself. Kagami remembered that battle, when Aizen betrayed them all. There were a lot of casualties, and a lot of revelations. It was the day the man Kagami once looked up to had shown his true nature. Path of the least bloodshed, Kagami had sneered. She couldn't believe she'd actually listened to his words.
"What are you doing here?" Rukia asked, snapping Kagami out of her thoughts. The red-haired woman smiled and stepped forward.
"I could as you the same, Rukia. It's been a while," she answered. Rukia looked her over, a small smile on her lips. It had been forty years since they'd seen each other, far too long.
"Hey, what's going on here?" the brown-haired boy, Keigo, asked. "You guys know each other? And why are those two wearing such weird clothes. They're dressed like that Madarame guy my sister was crazy over." Kagami cocked an eyebrow at the boy, still unsure as to how he could have enough spiritual pressure to see Soul Reapers.
"We need to talk to Ichigo," Renji said, effectively ignoring Keigo as he continued to ask questions. Kagami figured he must have had practice with this. The orange-haired boy stood and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He and Rukia walked past Renji and Kagami, and entered the school building so they could speak more privately. Nobody questioned them, and Kagami wondered if they could all see Soul Reapers; the tall, dark skinned man, the girl with long orange hair, and the boy with dark hair and glasses.
"What's going on?" Ichigo asked once Renji and Kagami had joined him and Rukia.
"We're hunting a dead man."
"He's not dead," Kagami growled, wrapping her arm around her waist. Rukia glanced at her, noticing the lack of movement from her old friend's left arm. The sleeve hung limply, with no trace of a limb or its form. She said nothing on the subject.
"Give us the full story," Rukia ordered instead.
"Long story short, Kagami was attacked a few days ago, and the artifact she was guarding was stolen. We're after the thief. Kagami has reason to believe he'll be coming here," Renji explained.
"So, what, do you need my help?" Ichigo asked.
"You think we can't handle this?"
"We need a place to stay in case he takes more than a day to come," Kagami answered, cutting Renji off before he could start an argument.
"What? My house isn't a hotel!" Ichigo exclaimed. Kagami frowned and leaned against the wall of the stairway.
"It won't be for long, probably only a couple days."
"I don't see a problem with it," Rukia said easily. "With a good story, your family would probably let them stay."
"We don't have gigais. They probably won't see us."
"No, but my sister might," Ichigo muttered.
"Don't be heartless, Ichigo," Rukia reprimanded, though Kagami suspected it may have been in more of a joking manner. Ichigo sighed heavily and Rukia smirked, sure she'd get her way.
"One more thing," Kagami said. "The Soul Society can't know I'm here." Both Ichigo's and Rukia's eyes widened, surprised to hear this. Kagami had expected more, but felt it was only fair she told them.
"Why not? What happened, Kagami?"
"I'm supposed to be sitting in the Fourth Division right now, being treated. They're not going to be happy when I go back, but this is a fight I need to finish."
"For an artifact?" Ichigo asked skeptically. "Seems like a lot of trouble."
"Not only for the sword, but my lieutenant. I only ask that you don't report me to them, not yet," Kagami explained, pleading with her Rukia. Ichigo shrugged as the dark-haired woman put her hand on her chin in thought.
"Wouldn't be the first time we defied the Soul Society. It doesn't matter to me, as long as they don't go after my family."
"They don't know I'm here."
"Alright," Rukia said, "but Kagami, I want to know everything that happened." Kagami nodded, though she wasn't looking forward to the explanation of what had happened to her. It was a painful moment that she relived every night.
"Right. I'll tell you this evening," Kagami answered.
"You guys can't stay here. You might as well go to my house now. Just don't make a mess of the place," Ichigo said as he walked past the two Soul Reapers.
Renji led the way to the Kurosaki home and entered Ichigo's room through the window. The room was very well-kept, which Kagami was thankful for. As the two Soul Reapers entered the room, a small stuffed lion crawled out from under the bed and stared up at them. It then frowned and pointed an accusing paw at Renji.
"What're you doing here?" he demanded. Kagami stared at the stuffed animal in shock.
"What the hell is that thing?" she asked, dropping to the floor and picking it up by one ear. The toy started flailing around, screaming for her to put him down.
"He's a Modsoul. They named him Kon," Renji answered.
"A Modsoul? In a stuffed cat?"
"I'm a lion!" Kon yelled. "And put me down! Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Big talk for a little toy."
"Put him down before he makes too much noise," Renji said and Kagami dropped Kon to the ground with little disregard. He bounced on the wooden floor before standing with an angry expression directed at Kagami.
"Why're you here, Abarai? And who's she?" Kon demanded, waving a paw at Kagami.
"Ichigo said we could come here. She's Kagami Okasawa."
"Fine, but don't make a lot of noise. Ichigo's dad is downstairs."
"You're the one who was yelling," Kagami muttered, earning another glare from the stuffed animal.
Later that day, Ichigo and Rukia came home to find Renji and Kagami leaning over Ichigo's desk. There was a red marker in Kagami's hand as she drew circles over the map of Karakura Town spread out in front of them. Other markers were spread out across the desk. Both Renji and Kagami were marking possible locations where Tousen would attack. The map was covered with stars, circles and lines in blue, black, orange or red. Ichigo dropped his bookbag on the floor beside his desk and glanced at the map. He shook his head with a sigh, not bothering to ask what in the hell they were doing.
"Where's Kon?" he asked.
"We tied him up after an hour," Renji answered, pointing to the closet.
"You know he's a little pervert, right?" Kagami asked, scowling as she thought back to how the stuffed animal had tried to bury himself in her breasts. Ichigo scratched the back of his head with a heavy sigh.
"Yeah, sorry about that. We can't really stop him. Rukia usually just kicks him," he answered.
Rukia opened the closet door to reveal Kon wrapped in duct tap with it covering his mouth. She chuckled softly and shut the door again, turning to face Renji and Kagami. Muffled screams came from Kon as the door closed completely. Kagami stared back at Rukia, remembering their time together in the Academy. They'd met through Renji and had become relatively close, before Rukia had been adopted into the Kuchiki family. It seemed like she'd been doing well in the past forty years. Kagami couldn't help but wonder why Rukia was still in the Living World. Was it because of this human? Renji had told Kagami the story of how Ichigo had become a Substitute Soul Reaper, but why would Rukia continue to stay? Kagami shook her head, figuring it wasn't any of her business what Rukia chose to do.
"Kagami, what happened to your arm?" Rukia asked. Kagami sat up on the bed and crossed her legs, allowing Rukia to sit next to her. Ichigo took a seat in another chair, curious to hear the story.
"We were attacked while guarding the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi by Kaname Tousen. He's the reason my arm is gone," Kagami answered.
"But I thought he was killed." Kagami then proceeded to retell what had happened to her, before Renji could interrupt. As her story came to a close, Rukia's and Ichigo's expressions softened to those resembling pity. It was something Kagami didn't want.
"Shuhei died, and he's the reason I'm here now," she concluded.
"I'm sorry. Were you two close?"
"Very. That's why I'm hunting down Tousen, to make sure Shuhei's death wasn't in vain."
"It wasn't, though," Ichigo said, bringing their attention to him. "He wanted to keep you alive, and he did. His death wasn't in vain."
"But what good will it be if Tousen kills me later? He'll be back. I plan to stop him before it can happen."
"I'll help," Rukia said firmly and Kagami smiled.
"You don't believe Tousen's back, do you?" Renji asked incredulously.
"None of us actually saw his death. We can't be sure if he's back or not. For now, we have to assume Kagami's story is accurate because she's the only one who saw him and survived the attack." Kagami nodded with a smirk, thankful there was someone who didn't think she was crazy.
'Keep strong, Kagami.'
I thought I'd add a bit of humor with that bit about Kon. I hope you enjoyed. Please R&R.