Band of Horses

Orihime

Even though she was another chapter in my life that I ript out of my book of existence, I still cried for her as if she was a sister.

It wasn't too long ago that I got a call from Byakuya that Rukia's funeral would be tomorrow and that I shouldn't be late. I couldn't even offer my condolences to him...I felt so guilty. He sounded so desolate and lost, I couldn't imagine the stinging pain he must feel over his sister's death.

Sosuke didn't really know how to handle it, one of his students had committed suicide. She was smart, I knew that, and a star student in one of his classes. In the end, it pained him a little to know that she was gone and that her seat would always be missing.

"Hey, how you holding up?" He said wrapping his arms around me.

I was curled up on the couch wearing my fluffiest robe in my closet, my eyes and nose were still red from crying.

"As fine as I can be I guess" I said, my voice croaky from recent emotion.

His face softened as he pulled me into his lap and cradled me, this always calmed me for some reason.

He kissed the top of my head. "What's on your mind love?" He asked.

"Everything" I croaked. "I know none of this is my fault ,but...I have to take responsibility for something" I sniffled.

He sighed and hugged me tighter. "Your right on one thing: it's not your fault. But I can't change the way you feel, and it's only gonna be harder if you keep putting yourself through that feeling"

I looked away from him guiltily and didn't say anything in response. It was true that I make myself feel this way on purpose...for the sole reasoning of making myself feel better. Am I really that terrible?

"I'll buy you a dress for tomorrow ok?" Sosuke said standing up.

I nodded. I didn't really feel like going out in public right now anyway. "Thank you Sosuke" I muttered gratefully.

He caressed my cheek with the back of his hand and left out the door soon after. Dry, airy tears dripped down my face as I remembered all the times Rukia had been there for me. Her helpful advice, the short black hair that I felt jealous for when Ichigo started noticing her and not me, her sweet personality that even caught Renji by the heart...it had all seemed so forgettable up until now when one of my friends is gone. Maybe this was a message...I might need to bring my old friends back into my life.

Grimmjow

I'd never seen Nel so broken up in my life. She's been curled up in a fetal position in bed ever since yesterday and I'm beginning to worry, she still hasn't told me what it was that was bothering her.

All the scenarios going on in my mind about our encounter with Orihime and that bastard yesterday gave me something to stress about too. Her determined eyes when she basically told me I was standing in the way of her happiness, and the reason of her injury being shoved back in my face like a wet towel.

I could only remember the times when I would shamelessly flirt with her for the sole purpose of getting in her pants, but later on..I realized she was too delicate for that, she wasn't the type of girl I could do that to without feeling guilty about it. But now...I grew into the person that doesn't look back on decisions such as those, what we sort of had...if we had anything, is gone now.

My gaze fell on the slow up and down moving body of Nel as she cried herself to sleep. Sighing, I stood up and headed towards the door of my apartment. Maybe getting a drink will help.

Rangiku

She was surrounded by crying people. She was never use to such a sad and depressing atmosphere in her life, her hand flew up to her throat, she couldn't breathe. The pure agony in everyone's hearts plagued hers and troubled her beyond belief, the deafening ringing in her ears in the realization that one of her closest friends has left the world no later than twenty four hours ago.

A hand landed on her shoulder and she jumped, looking up to see who the culprit was.

"You don't look too good. Come on" Gin said leading her away.

She protested for a moment, dragging her feet back in the other direction where her friends were grieving knowing her heart would bleed in the process. Gin pulled on her hand more, knowing it was best if she was away for a moment.

"I understand what your going through but just come with me for a second" he persisted.

Rangiku's eyes fell on Byakuya's as he sat on his knees off to the side, his eyes met hers for a moment before nodding at her and letting her know it was okay to leave for a bit. Her eyes teared up for him before letting herself be led away by Gin who took her outside.

She shivered as soon as the brisk wind hit her full force, and her bright red hair whipped about her person.

Gin squinted against the cold before abruptly turning around and facing Rangiku.

"You can't be in there for too long" he told her. "She was a pleasant girl...but you can't stay"

Rangiku wanted to scream at him. "Why?! I'm suppose to be in there! I have to be strong for everyone especially Byakuya...he's hurting the most out of all of us, and I owe him" she looked away full of guilt. "Big time"

Gin's eyes softened towards her, he hated seeing her in such a crest-fallen state of mind. He would comfort her if he could, but it wasn't his place to do so anymore. They were still friends thank god, but they would never be the same with each other.

"You may owe him, but you don't owe him your happiness" he found himself saying spitefully.

She gave him a serious and grave look. "I owe him way more than that"

They stood at a stalemate. The two wondering why their relationship just went left at the last minute, and exactly how it went downhill to begin with, but it was too late now since the two moved on from each other already. The thought of 'what-if's' plague their minds almost everyday, but now that they were finally face-to-face once again, the thought seemed to really disappear...it was completely and beyond over.

The door leading into Byakuya's home opened to reveal said man himself, Rangiku and Gin both turned to see him. Byakuya's eyes didn't even acknowledge nor see Gin, the least he could do was tolerate him being there..because he knew he was there to comfort Rangiku, and she would need more than Byakuya's shoulder to cry on. He coaxed Rangiku back inside with just a solemn look that hinted at sadness.

"The ceremony is officially starting tonight when the moon is out" Byakuya muttered. "It seems appropriate anyway...she liked to stare at it by herself sometimes" he said even more quietly.

Rangiku's eyes started to tear up for him, the pain was there in his voice. How much pain was he in just knowing that Rukia was going to buried near their backyard garden, where the only flowers that bloom at night grow? The tears flowed before she could stop them, and her arms were around his torso before she even knew it herself. He returned the embrace by locking his arms around her back and letting her long wavy hair brush along his hands.

She muttered sweet words into his neck and ear, small apologies and that she would never leave his side. Byakuya smiled gently into her hair and gently pulled away, tugging on her hand. After wiping her eyes, Rangiku let herself be led back inside with Byakuya and looked back to see Gin gone. She sighed lightly to herself and shook her head.

Back inside, her and Byakuya were met by Ikkaku, who hadn't shed a tear yet (at least not in front of them). Ikkaku looked at Byakuya and then at Rangiku, he had his phone in his hand.

Byakuya nodded at him to go on and say something.

"Ichigo wants to attend the ceremony" he muttered quietly to not upset anyone else.

Byakuya's fists balled up tightly. "I don't want him anywhere near here!" He yelled, startling everyone else including Rangiku.

Ikkaku scratched the back of his head awkwardly and silently looked to Rangiku for help. She smiled sadly at him and shook her head, grabbing Byakuya's hand gently, she led him into the back room specifically there for any grieving family members.

As soon as they got inside, Byakuya punched a deep hole in the wall. Rangiku closed the door behind them and rushed to his side and grabbing his fist in the same process.

"Byakuya stop! What is wrong with you? We're ALL sad that Rukia is gone, but you can't put it off on everyone else because of it...all of our hearts are heavy" she told him.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "No one's heart is as heavy as mine..."

She looked sadly at him. "Don't you think we know that? Who's heart would be heavier than yours? Please be considerate for everyone else for just this one time please" she begged.

He was clearly angry at her words, he understood where she was coming from but he couldn't find any type of pleasantness in himself knowing that Rukia is dead, there's no escaping that.

"Everyone just needs to stay out of my way" he said with a growl.

She sighed. "And Ichigo?"

"Especially him" he said even more deadly.

She stared at his back blankly as he walked out of the soundproof room. Grabbing for her purse lying in the corner, she found her phone and dialed Orihime's number. Was she still coming? Nightfall was on its way and she would understand if she didn't show up at all, after what they all did to her for over a year...she wouldn't show up either.

'Hello?'

Rangiku's mood lightened just from hearing her voice. "Orihime! I'm glad you picked up"

'Oh...well..I've been blowing off a lot of people because of..well you know but when I saw your caller I.D I figured something happened or it was something important'

Rangiku's gentle smile faltered at the disheartening news, if it wasn't important Orihime would've cast her aside.

"I just wanted to know if you were still coming or not...I know what we did as a whole was terrible but...could you come just this once? You don't have to stay long you know"

There was a slight pause at the end of the other line.

'Your right. What you guys did was terrible and ruined my friendship with you guys, but...I wouldn't miss out on this...I'll be there before everything starts'

Rangiku sighed with relief, she was glad she was able to even persuade Orhime to come to the funeral at all. It would help everyone else cheer up a bit by seeing her again, it helped her when she saw her again and leaned on her for support. The other line finally went dead and Rangiku shut her phone and put it back in her purse. After spending a small amount of time to herself, she went back out into the funeral room where everyone else was.

Orihime

After hanging up with Rangiku, I set my phone down on the coffee table in front of my feet and stared at it for a while. My whole body was still numb from the most recent news, everything around me seemed more silent than usual and not in its calming way either, a cold silence.

I wondered aimlessly where Sosuke was. He hadn't come back yet from the store and night was starting to settle, the last thing I wanted to do was be late. My attention turned back to my phone and I considered calling him instead, no, I'll just wait...he'll be back soon.

Keys jingled in front of my front door and I stood up in preparation for Sosuke's return. The door opened and I smiled at him gently as he tugged bags behind him, he shut the door behind him with his foot and sat the bags down on the floor. He set his copy of my house key(s) on the counter and smiled sadly at me.

"What?" I asked him.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Nothing. It just pains me to see you this way, are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

I shook my head. "Please don't. It'll come out that we're involved some type of way and I don't want anything bothersome happening to you. Besides, this is something I have to face on my own"

He walked over to me and embraced me sweetly, a blush drifted across my cheeks as he did so.

"I'm worried about you" he murmured into my hair.

I smiled into his chest as I returned the hug. "I'm sure I'll...get over this somehow. The only thing I could possibly ask of you is to support me through it" I told him.

He chuckled slightly. "That won't ever be a problem"

We both pulled away after a couple of minutes and he went into the open kitchen to make himself something to eat. I bent over the black bag he set down in front of my feet and took out the dark dress covered in white pale paper. Lifting it up and into the light, I realized it was simple, stale black, and appropriate for the occasion. Smushing it into my side, I glanced at Sosuke with a grateful expression, he smiled back at me and gestured to the nearby bathroom for me to put it on.

Once inside the bathroom, I gently closed the door behind me and started to strip off my pajamas. The dress was simple enough for me to put on myself by stepping into it, pulling it up past my waist and bust, and putting my arms through the sleeves. It was a little tight fitting but it was still appropriate. High neck-line, straight sleeves that didn't go past my shoulders completely and ruffles at the end of the skirt that touched above my knees.

"It looks good" Sosuke said from the open bathroom door.

I glanced at him through the reflection of the mirror and smiled slightly, nodding my head at him in thanks. He walked behind me and took the un-zipped zipper and pulled it up my back, smoothing away the wrinkles as he did so. I sighed in relaxation as he rubbed small circles into the little stress knots...I knew where this was going.

A mischievous smile worked my way up to my mouth just a bit. "Sosuke..." I called.

"Hmmm..?" He crooned.

We stared at eachother's reflection in the mirror. "I have to go" I said.

He stopped his magic immediately with a childish, beach-boy smile. "I tried" he laughed.

I turned to face him. "Thank you for trying to take my mind off of it, but...it's a wee-bit too soon"

His smile faltered slightly. "Sorry"

I kissed him on the nose and smiled in his face. "I'll be back soon Sosuke, it'll be fine" I told him while walking out the bathroom to get my shoes.

He followed after me as I walked across the white carpet towards my strappy black heels, I sat on the couch and quickly put them on. I walked towards the door and Sosuke handed my small black purse to me, I thanked him and he bent down so I could kiss his cheek.

"Be careful, ok?" Sosuke told me.

I smiled at him. "You won't have to worry about a thing"

He returned the smile and saw me off to my car in the garage.

He checked off his imaginary list to make sure I had everything, after re-assuring him I would be fine by myself, I kissed him multiple times until we both started to giggle like small children. I turned away from him and sat in the front seat of my '05 hard top, white Mercedes and drove out of my home.

Grimmjow

"Your going to..a funeral?"

Nel nodded with red, bruised eyes. "Yeah..my mother's other son's cousin died two days ago. She was a sweet girl; almost like a sister to him, plus..Byakuya and I are on pretty good terms"

I rose an eyebrow at her, she had a pretty extensive family. "Does Aizen know about him?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "Even if he did I don't think they would get along, they have similar personalities"

"Then how do you deal with him?"

Nel smiled gently. "Byakuya is a bit more honest with himself than Sosuke is"

We fell silent and her solemn look returned. It killed me to see her so sad, but there was nothing I could say that would help...she had to get over it on her own.

"Do you need me to come with you?" I asked her.

She shook her head again. "I don't think Byakuya would like that very much...maybe if it was another family member's but in terms of Rukia...he would want his closest friends and family around" she told me.

I could agree with that. "Okay. Just keep your head up alright? And stop ya' crying..your killing me" I told her.

She giggled as a small tear fell out the corner of her eye and I wiped it away with my thumb.

"Go get ready and I'll drop you off okay?"

She nodded and left towards another spare room in my apartment where she kept her stuff, I grabbed my black leather jacket laying on a chair and left out the door. My boots clacked on the ground as I walked through the hallways and towards the garages.

"I have what you asked of me" someone said.

I stopped abruptly, hearing that the voice came from behind me, after analyzing it slightly it didn't take me long to figure out who it was. "Sung-sun"

Her eyes remained un-wavering and calculating. "It hasn't been that long Grimmjow..you can call me by my other name"

"Fine. Cyan..are you happy now?" I said narrowing my eyes.

Something about her aura flared about and crushed mine to dust. "Quite. Anyway just take this so I can go about my business" she slightly hissed.

She dug in her black pants pocket and tossed a wad of cash at me, which I caught. I counted every single bill as she stood there watching me, I chuckled when I finished.

"You must be mistaken..this is your cut" I reminded her.

She shook her head, an evil glint in her deep green eyes. "No. That's your cut..mine is much larger than that. You were lazy on the last job and I had to clean up after you"

I growled. "Yylfordt is god annoying"

"That's one thing we can agree on ,but no matter...I'm leaving" she said turning away.

"Good fucking riddance" I cursed.

Her black heels clacked all the way down the hallway opposite from me, that is, until she ran into Nel. They looked at each other with dangerously slitted eyes.

"Nel" Sung-sun mused. "And here I thought you were on your back somewhere"

I was behind her in a mili-second, her arm in my iron gripped possession. "Why haven't you left yet?" I hissed as I shoved her hard in the other direction.

She sneered at me ,but calmed herself and her face settled to a sly grin. "What? You thought I wasn't gonna bring up how your girlfriend use to be a little whore?"

That was it, a vein in my neck burst as I launched my fist towards the side of Cyan's head. Her palm rushed under my wrist and thrusted it upwards, in my slow reaction time she kicked me straight in the face. My ears rung as I grunted in pain and fell limply to my knees, the world was spinning. Multiple Cyan's were smirking down at me.

"You could never beat me in a fight Grimmjow" she turned her attention to a steaming Nel. "Have fun with him" she said gesturing to me.

Her heels clacked towards the near elevator and it dinged as soon as she pressed the button, she stepped inside and pressed a button to make her way further down to the lobby.

Nel came to my side and helped me up, the earth was still spinning and I needed to support myself off the wall for a moment. Damn Sung-sun had a mean kick, why didn't I see that coming?

"You know how I feel about you messing around with them Grimmjow" she muttered.

I nodded hearing her same words telling me the same thing some years ago. "It's good easy money, I rarely do anything anyway"

Her eyes narrowed. "It's illegal Grimmjow"

I wanted to take a jab at her too ,but I couldn't bring myself to do it. She was right anyway so there really wasn't any point, even if she didn't approve I would keep doing it anyway.

"Just come on" I told her.

She followed behind me without a word towards my mustang and sat in the passenger seat without a word towards me. Nel was insatiable when she got like this, I can't see why though...it wasn't like Sung-sun was lying about what she said back there.

Nel sighed as I drove out of the garage and looked at me from the corner of her eyes.

"What?" I asked rudely.

We arrived thirty minutes or so before the funeral officially started. The atmosphere after our argument on the way here was deafening, no one was speaking.

Nel, clad in black, looked at me one last time before getting out of my car and walking towards the small crowd gathered outside the house. Sighing to myself, a bright flash of red hair caught my eye and my head snapped to its source.

A woman, tall and on the lean side, stood next to another man with long black hair. Her hair fell down her back in soft waves like the sea, there was an air of maturity about her so it couldn't have been who I thought it was. Strangely enough, they could easily pass off as sisters. Shaking my head, I gathered up my pride and erased all thoughts and minor hopes of Orihime being at this event. Going back home and waiting for Nel to get back was the best course of action, I should really learn to get that woman out of my head.

I drove away from the curb and looked back in my rear view mirror, Nel's body outline disappearing as I gained more distance. We made eye contact.

Rangiku

"It's great to see you again Byakuya" she said while nuzzling softly in his cheek. "I just wish...it was under better circumstances"

Rangiku couldn't deny that the unknown woman was stunning, though colored, her green hair fit her perfectly and accentuated every part of her. She stood perfectly still behind Byakuya with her hands clasped gently in front of her, and made every note in her mind to remain as serene as she appeared to be.

The unknown woman unwrapped her arms from around Byakuya and glanced at Rangiku briefly, a crease above her nose appeared before she walked inside without another look. Rangiku watched her leave inside and glanced at Byakuya who shrugged lightly.

"She's not in the best of moods...Rukia was like a little sister to her as well" his face grew stern. "I haven't seen Nel in such a long time..."

Rangiku said nothing in response to him and just the situation as is, there wasn't enough room for more sadness or anger than there already was. Her mind wandered a bit, she wondered if Orihime was really coming like she said, she would understand if she bailed out at the last minute, she would do the same...it would just be nice to see her again.

A Mercedes..low and sleek pulled up in front of the house, the lights blinding Rangiku for a moment. She shielded her face with her hand for a moment before looking at the person that arrived, then Byakuya spoke.

"I thought everyone was here...did you invite extra that I didn't know about?"

His tone was even ,but there was the slightest bit of anger in it. He couldn't find it in himself to ever be angry with Rangiku, but some of the things she did was just infuriating. Red hair, almost identical to Rangiku's struck him hard somewhere in his chest, he didn't know whether to be happy or angry enough to punch someone.

She tucked some of her hair neatly behind her ear as it was pinned up on her head. Her emerald eyes landed on a tearful Rangiku who was happy she came, and on Byakuya whos hair grew past his shoulders and further down his back than she remembered. He was still as handsome as ever.

"Byakuya" Orihime bowed respectfully. "I hope you won't deny me of seeing Rukia one last time" she muttered.

He shook his head. "That much is fine"

Orihime nodded and turned her attention towards Rangiku who was still crying over her arrival. She smiled at her long lost best friend.

"Why are you crying? Aren't you happy I'm here?" Orihime teased.

Rangiku laughed through her tears. "I'm extremely happy, it helps my mood a little bit more but...I'm not ready..." She cried into Byakuya's chest. "I'm not ready to say goodbye to her yet"

Byakuya held her affectionately in his arms, he didn't want to say goodbye to Rukia either. He empathized with her greatly and held her tighter in his grasp.

Seeing the moment the two were having, Orihime nodded courtly at them before walking into the large house and into the fairly large crowd of people ready to give Rukia away to the ground.

People, familiar people, spotted Orihime as soon as she walked into the door. Almost all were surprised to see her again, so surprised that anger and rage flooded their very being.

Renji was the first to approach her.

"What are you doing here?! Haven't you caused enough trouble already?!" He hissed.

Orihime grew stiff, she didn't think Renji would be the person saying this to her. "I'm here to say goodbye to Rukia, the same thing everyone else is trying to do"

"Didn't you read the atmosphere the last time we saw you? He growled.

Orihime couldn't believe it, normally this would make her cry, break her down and cause her to re-think ever having a relationship with her so called friends again, but this time...it just made her mad.

She was going to respond with as much venom as she could muster until Ikkaku stepped in between the two, glaring at Renji who's face was as red as his hair.

"Look man" Ikkaku growled. "You do realize that Orihime being here is good for all of us right?!...she's that one person that we didn't want to lose but we did...lets at least hold on to the friends we have now and try not to lose anymore" he reasoned.

Renji looked at him, then at her, and stalked away angrily. Ikkaku sighed and turned around to face her, bags of stress under his eyes. He put a hand on top of Orihime's head without smushing her up-do.

"He's just upset about Rukia, he did love her at one point" he said.

Orihime smiled sadly up at him. "Yeah I could tell. Your dying too I can see"

Ikkaku returned her smile and embraced her gently. "We missed you"

A/N: well, sorry for the wait...AGAIN. I just can't help myself can I? I know I'm really sorry for ending it here I just ran out of ideas...forgive me ^^"