Would you Love me if you knew what I was?
Chapter Twenty-Five: Out of Time
Listening to: New Divide (By: Linkin Park) lol I just watched Transformers 2 on June 27th and it was awesome. Long, but awesome… Although the fanboy service was a bit...much.
Disclaimer: I don't own bleach nor do I claim to. It pretty much sovereigns over meh, but I call dibs on Yumi, Archer, and my other OC's! So, ha!
And by the way, yes. Archer is based off Train Heartnet mainly b/c he's awesome. XD
Mana: So, it's number twenty-five! You know what that means?
Yumi: Uhm…it's a quarter of a century?
Hitsugaya: …What?
Mana: Bzzt! Wrong! Wanna know?
Yumi: Tell us!
Mana: Hitsumi scene… -grin-
Hitsugaya: …Honestly, where do writers come up with all these pairing names. IchiRuki, IshiHime…
Yumi: Ne, Mana, was it IchiHitsu or Hitsugo?
Hitsugaya: 0o NANI!?
Mana: I believe it was the former my dear OC
-ichigo randomly comes in-
Yumi: ICHIGO~ we were just talking about you
Hitsugaya: Sit upon the frosted heavens
Mana: RUN FOR IT!!!
Sorry if one part sounds weird. I was writing this when my dog was crying and trying to be a ninja. –sigh- (Before you ask, he likes to break out of his crate a lot. Somehow, he lifts the outside hatch from the inside and opens it…)
Now, a whopping 3000+ word count on this chapter! I'm so proud of myself...XD Yeah, the past chapters have been like, 1,500-1700 or so words. Gomen. But right now...-sigh- i'm going to savor this while it lasts. I know, 3000 might not mean a lot but I does to me, lol
And sorry if there's a little OOCness in this, just in case... T.T
The constant low hum of machinery filled the room and the light from the connected room illuminated two figures standing at the doorway. One of them was considerably shorter than the other and the green sash that once held his zanpakto was somewhat shorter than before. Thus, it had to be held a little tighter than normal, which was slightly uncomforting to its owner, but retained his poise regardless.
"If you hadn't come in time… I don't know what would have happened." Hitsugaya muttered as he stared down at the unconscious figure of on the hospital bed. "Arigato, Matsumoto."
"It was nothing, Taicho," she spoke softly. It took a lot for her captain to apologize so softly. Not only that, but she saw the true regret written in his eyes.
'He's still a boy,' she thought. Hitsugaya Toshiro may have been a child prodigy in his time, possibly one out of the small line of successful Shinigami that came every hundred years. However, that still didn't change the fact that he was still young despite his maturity. He was a captain on the outside but lost when it came to such things related to ties or bonds. She clearly remembered the day she met him and the day he came to her with resolve shining in those eyes, as well as something else that threatened to appear.
Matsumoto tenderly rubbed the areas on her arms that were afflicted by the previous night's activities and frowned deeply.
-Few hours ago-
"Ichimaru…" Hitsugaya hissed as he readied his sword once more for battle. Blood tricked down his brow, which he assumed was caused by the sudden thrust of Shinsou.
"Damn it, stop!" yelled Yumi as she used Shunpo to get beside him. Her hand rested on his before being slapped away harshly. She winced and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please,"
"Yeah Taicho. Instead of going after me, you should really look after her." Mocked Ichimaru but something strange was in his eyes. Only Yumi saw it since her captain was almost in a blind rage, but there was an emotion akin to a degree of relief. Before she could read further into it, he flash stepped away and Yumi raised a brow in curiosity. It didn't last long though because the familiar swish of another flash-step and the sound of a Haori snapped her back to the now. Immediately she heard the clanging of metal on metal and saw strawberry blonde locks in front, protecting her.
"Taicho, what are you doing!?" snapped Matsumoto in an authoritative tone, but it lost most of its power in fear. Hyourinmaru was pushing hard against her own zanpakto and her arms were shaking from the pressure. She wouldn't be able to hold her ground much longer.
Hitsugaya growled in a low voice. "Matsumoto, move." Just barely, she noticed that his eyes were duller, churning slate grey with green.
"I will not!" she refused but fell to one knee regardless and tried keeping his blade from his other subordinate.
In the midst of it all, small pale hands reached up and lightly grabbed Hyourinmaru. Both captain and vice-captain froze and saw Yumi take hold of the icy sword. In the process, frost slowly crept up her arms but her gaze was strong.
"Don't…" Yumi shook her head slowly and the pressure on the sword lessened. When Matsumoto felt it was safe enough, she carefully pulled her sword away to watch the events unfold. From the corner of her eye, she saw her zanpakto crack slightly in the middle and breathed a sigh of relief.
For some strange reason, Yumi's grip on the sword tightened and blood trickled down. The tenth division captain's gaze watched the crimson substance flow down her arm with an interest. Then, his eyes widened in something close to recognition and the swirling pools of anger in his eyes subsided, leaving behind its emerald luster.
"Yumiko…" he murmured and then nearly dropped his sword in shock. Hitsugaya saw the sad smile on her face and let his sword grip loosen. She took Hyourinmaru, still by the blade edge, and held it close to her chest with eyes closed. The blade ceased humming with anger and calmed. Matsumoto watched on in wonder and awe. It was one thing to withstand actually holding onto Hyourinmaru while its wielder was…off in some sorts, but another to quell its dragon rage with a simple touch.
"I'm sorry," she whispered and presented Hyourinmaru back to its owner. Still shaken up (Even though he tried to hide it), he reached for it with his hands when he got a closer inspection of Yumi's hands. The cuts weren't so deep, but a lot of blood still welled up from the wounds. "But I needed you to listen to me."
"Baka—"began Archer but Reisha held a hand in front of his to stop the movement he made towards the two.
"Leave her be. She knows what she's doing." She said and licked at the blood on her injured hand like a dog to a wound.
Archer sent her a look of surprise and frowned, "You're awfully quiet now. I didn't think you'd actually help that girl over there either. Why?"
"I don't know either," she shrugged and stared at both her bloodied hands and Hinamori's. "Maybe it's because we're both alike…"
Back in the present, his fists closed tightly on themselves and he clenched his teeth. This was how many times she had been in that hospital, hooked up to machinery? Thrice? How many times has he failed to even offer comfort to her? How many times had he made a promise that he couldn't even keep!?
Hitsugaya heaved a deep sigh and gave into his thoughts.
Mysterious occurrences in the human world
Unexplainable lab reports
Ichimaru Gin's more than suspicious behavior
At that last thought, he felt his nails digging even deeper into his skin, most likely leaving red marks on the soft tissue. Everything: the execution of Kuchiki Rukia, the Ryoka breaking into the Seireitei, the murder of captain Aizen, and also…
'Miyamoto…' he thought distantly, recalling the stupid act that brought him back into reality and the deep shame that he felt afterwards. He knew more than anyone else of her fear of blood, but she took the risk of grabbing hold of Hyourinmaru with her bare hands simply to calm the building rage.
Matsumoto on the other hand was thinking of something completely different. A childhood memory resurfaced. Back in the dangerous streets where any child could easily die in the winter months, the two only had each other. It's all they had to support each other in an unforgiving world. And then one day, he suddenly disappeared. He left without a single word to the girl he left behind as she slept. The next morn she wept, fruitlessly reaching out towards the back she would never reach and the warmth she fell into those cold nights in the run down shed.
Finally when that girl met the boy again, he remained unobtainable, unreachable. His back, now emblazoned with the black symbols that spoke his title as captain of the third division. Meanwhile, she was simply a vice-captain of the tenth division.
Don't take it the wrong way. With her abilities, the captain she was previously under had offered her a captain's position. Her zanpakto, Haineko, was well controlled and with a little effort into a final release she could have made it. Without a second thought, she declined the thought. Even though it would take her one step closer to that goal, to that hand, she would decline it. When she finally grasps that hand of his, she wants it to be on the same level. No titles, no battlegrounds… Just in the mysterious silver light he gives off. She wanted those crimson eyes to look at her for…well, her; just Matsumoto Rangiku. His little Ran…
She shook her head furiously, willing the memories away and stuck to the here and now. Ironically at that moment, a hell butterfly decided to make its appearance and landed on her finger, flapping its wings experimentally.
"A hell butterfly?" questioned Matsumoto as she began to relay the message, "Reporting to all captains and vice-captains. There has been a change regarding the date of the execution of death row inmate Kuchiki Rukia. Enforcement of sentence will be twenty-nine hours from now." Hitsugaya's eyes widened ever so slightly and Matsumoto knew this was the equivalent of a shout of astonishment for her captain, "This is the final judgment. There will be no further change in date. That is all." The butterfly then gracefully flew off her finger and fluttered elsewhere.
After a seconds pause, Hitsugaya turned and walked out of the room, a strange gleam in his eyes.
"Taicho!" the concerned voice of his vice-captain rang out.
"The execution and the associated release of the Soukyoku… If that is Ichimaru's aim, then I can't sit by and let this execution go on." As if sensing her surprise, he added, "Follow me, Matsumoto."
Remembering something else, he pressed his lips into a thin frown and let his heartbeat settle.
"We're going to put a stop to this execution."
"Hurry up! We don't have all day!" yelled Reisha with an irritated tone of voice. The three of them were still escaping through the blackness of the night to where they could get to some shelter. Only this time, Yumi's trusty zanpakto was strapped to her back with a white sash, much like her own captain's sea-green one. Speaking of which, a similar cloth was wrapped around her injured hands.
Reisha's was, reluctantly enough, bandaged roughly with some ripped cloth from Archer's trench coat. At first she denied his help with venom but soon gave in when he pulled out another encyclopedia from seemingly nowhere.
Suddenly, Reisha's ears pricked and came to attention as she stopped in her tracks. The other two followed suit and sent her a questioning glance.
"Hear that?" she asked.
"Hear what?" Archer asked almost sarcastically.
"Wait, shh, Archer!" scolded Yumi as she listened in and ignored his pout. Indeed she heard something strange in the air, "Wings?"
No sooner had a black raven come, flying straight at them from the dark and perched right on Reisha's shoulders. Reisha nodded slowly as if she could understand it through its eyes and frowned.
"Tch, figures as much."
"What happened?" asked Yumi and Reisha turned to her, face serious.
"That Kuchiki girl. Her execution has been moved again. Apparently…" she paused and looked on at the horizon, "It's been moved to noon tomorrow."
Both Archer and Yumi gasped loudly at the information and then cursed at the same time.
"Tomorrow!? God damn it… It's almost sunrise now, too" murmured Yumi and tried to think of a battle plan. Already, the dark blue sky was being painted red and orange in the eastern sky and the moon was starting to dip low and out of sight. Reisha shrugged in response and placed her hands on her hips casually.
"We didn't come here to save the pale-skinned nobles. We came here for you."
"If it was for me then why are you here?" asked Yumi with her eyes narrowed, "If memory serves, you were going to kill me not too long ago!"
"Well I'm sorry that I was just following orders, unlike a certain someone who just up and—"
"Reisha!" a shout exploded from the male brunette in the party and she stopped, eyes wide. For a moment they seemed to waver but then they turned hard as she turned away from Yumi swiftly. At first, Yumi thought that she saw her cold amethyst eyes, the ones that matched hers almost perfectly, glisten suspiciously. She shook the thought aside. It must have been a trick in the light. Yes, the moon since the sun was not yet up. Yumi looked up to the heavens to affirm her suspicions but…
There was no moon in the early morning sky.
"Byakuya!"
The sixth division captain turned slightly to acknowledge the other captain running towards him in haste. It was Ukitake of the Thirteenth division and from the looks of it he looked like he had run around with a fearful look. However, the Kuchiki had an idea of what was plaguing his mind.
"We have a problem!" he stopped in front of him, "Rukia's execution…!"
"I've heard," Replied Byakuya.
"Oh, then I don't need to tell you then," Said the sickly captain as felt like sighing in relief. The next statement from the Kuchiki quickly dispelled that though.
"What does it matter?"
Ukitake's eyes widened and his body tensed, "What!?"
"The execution is tomorrow." The man spoke calmly, "If that is the final decision, then I will simply obey it. So do not stop me for unnecessary reasons such as this. Now if you'll excuse me."
"H-hey!" Ukitake grabbed hold of Kuchiki's Haori with a tight grip and forced him to turn around His eyes were filled with anger which was backed up with his harsh cadence, "This is not a time for joking around Byakuya! God damnit! At noon tomorrow, your sister will be—" From the sudden adrenaline rush and stress in his body, his chest began to hurt. Thusly, he coughed in his hands, quickly backing away from the noble bent over double.
"Don't get so excited." Said Byakuya, voice low and this time held an edge to it, "You'll shorten your lifespan even more, Ukitake. You've already let one of your men die, haven't you?" The white haired captain froze at this and caught the noble's cold gaze. Byakuya then decided to turn fully and began to walk away. "In any case, she is a member of my house. Whether she dies or is killed, it is none of your concern."
Once more, he cursed his body for retaining this weakness of his: Tuberculosis. Because of this, he isn't able to do his captain duties. Because of his TB, he can't enjoy the sheer satisfaction of not holding back in a duel because of strain.
Because of this weakness, he wasn't strong enough to save his Fukutaicho or the young Kuchiki from a horrible fate that dreaded night so many years ago.
Renji finally sheathed his sword and wiped the sweat from his brow. All the training, all the hardship, and all of his dreams were coming together. If everything went well, then he would be able to save Rukia in a few hours time.
From the corner of his eye, he studied to figure on the ground. His orange hair was matted with blood, both dry and new. The robes he had were all worn and had multiple tears. However, there was no doubt that this boy had great potential. Renji had no complaint with admitting that. The only thing he had to fight about was himself.
There was no doubt that if he left the place right then and just go to save her, he would be labeled as a traitor and killed. Slowly and excruciatingly he might add, depending on who got to him first
And the possibility of his own captain doing the job was high.
"Are you sure?" he asked the goddess of flash who was beside him, watching his training continue to unfold. "Do you really think he can pull off Bankai today?"
"He'll have to." She said and crossed her arms. Golden eyes hardened in concentration and a lack of patience. "Because we have no time left."
Omake Theatre
Mana: Whew –cracks neck- ahhh, my neck… I've been Pulling all-nighters on these since my writers block has been cured for the time being
Hitsu: you got a knot, don't' you
Mana: 'think so…Damn
Yumi: Ooh, lemme give you a massage!
Mana: Arigat-, ow holy— What the!? Yumi you don't massage using a hammer!
Yumi: Mmm, OH! I know how to get those knots out! –grabs scissors-
Mana: …I'm just gonna go…NOW!
Hitsu: Feel my pain you damn author
Yumi: Hitsugaya-kun! Wanna try my new microplane exfoliation? It uses huge microplane on your back!
Hitsu: N-No thank you, Miyamoto. I still have scars from your last attempt at stress removal.
Yumi: Hey! How was I supposed to know that too much ginseng could render the body totally paralyzed? Plus, you didn't tell me that you were going to have a training bout with someone the same day!
Hitsu: …
A/N: By the way. The next chapter or so are going to be chock full of fights. Well, I'm hoping at least. With this chapter, we're almost done with the rescue arc….which then means…-sniff sniff- the possible end of WYLM… WAHHHHH!!!
But there's still the sequel… -grin-
