SO THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER WHERE RUKIA WILL HAVE A MAJOR ROLE AND URYU TOO I GUESS. THE NEXT CHAPTERS ARE ALL HICHI/ICHI/HIME. YAY! THIS IS ALSO THE LAST REVEALING CHAPTER. (WELL AT LEAST FOR MAYBE 5 CHAPTERS...) I HAVE TO GET READY TO WRITE MY SEXY SCENES AGAIN! SO HOPE YOU GUYS LOVE IT! AND BEAR WITH ME... THEN NO MORE RUKIA! YAY! DOWN WITH ICHIRUKI! LOVE BLEACHEE!
p.s. If you find a typo, let me know. REVIEW! They make me happy... and I was sad because I only got 5 last time... :( This chapter came out fast because I already wrote it before I wrote chapter 10. Lol
Chapter 12: The Conspiracy
Rukia walked away from the decaying corpse of the hollow she slayed. Just as she turned the corner, another soul ran out of hiding towards her, with a mencaing hollow trailing behind her.
"Damn! What the hell is up with these hollows?" Rukia cursed as she lept foward, slicing the hollow in two.
The cowering spirit cried as she approached him.
"Don't hurt me! Please..." He screamed.
The skinny man held his bony arms up in fear, trying to protect himself from Rukia.
"Please, does it look like I would hurt you?" Rukia scoffed. She grabbed the skinny spirit by the collar, helping him stand.
"Have you been chased alot tonight?" Rukia asked him sternly. A crease formed between her eyebrows as she asked the question.
The spirit simply nodded weakfully in response.
"Where are the others... dressed like me? And the other souls as well-" Rukia asked.
Then, the spirit grabbed her, clutching onto her shihakusho. Forcefully pulling her down, she fell down in a heap. He pounced on top of her, and leaned in close to her ear.
"I saw him kill them a long time ago, shinigami... I met a shinigami a few weeks ago and he told me his mission. Your true mission..."
"Dead? Who killed them? That's not possible... don't play with me! There were 20 shinigami on this mission; myself included! How the fuck can they be dead-?"
"The shinigami told me your mission! He also told me that most of the shinigami on it believed they were here for Orihime Inoue's hollow. But I know very well that you are trying to capture two hollows. One of them, the girl's hollow, appeared very recently and that gave you shinigami an excuse to come here and take the boy's hollow as well."
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Rukia yelled, still pinned to the ground.
"I don't? You know Ichigo Kurosaki has a hollow. His hollow was actually the first large spiritual pressure that was sensed here. They sent you to investigate, knowing your relationship with him, so he wouldn't get suspicious. But guess what? I know something you don't!" The spirit laughed hysterically.
"What do you know, soul?" Rukia asked carefully.
"I can hear them, shinigami... they're said they are getting ready... trying to become as strong as they can. I can hear them. They're everywhere!" He rambled on.
Rukia clenched her fists in anger. The gravel from the ground pressed into Rukia's cheeks, rubbing and grinding with the weight of the soul on top of her.
"They say the King is coming... do you know the King? They said that soon the King will be born and bring destruction." The soul whispered in her ear.
"Wait. What King... what do you know, soul? Tell me!" Rukia asked. She relaxed, letting the creepy spirit speak his madness to her.
"They say the King will come, born from a human. But be the strongest hollow that ever lived! Do no let that doom bringer into this world. Or you'll regret it."
The hollow jumped off of her, and took off into the woods.
Rukia quickly shot up, trying to run ater him to perform a konso. But once he disappeared from sight, a problem began to irk at her inside.
"So... the shinigami have been killed and I'm all that's left. Hollows are wreaking havoc preparing for their so called King. It's all starting to make sense... I have to tell the Soul Society..."
Rukia looked around, making sure there were no hollows around. After making sure, she pulled out her cell phone, trying to contact the Soul Society.
Pulling it out of her pocket, she noticed the screen was broken.
"Fuck... it must've broken because of that soul on top of me. How am I supposed to call for help...?"
Rukia needed time to think. She needed to find the time to figure out what she was going to do. But all she could do was think about him... about Ichigo.
'Could he have been the one who killed the shinigami...? It couldn't have been Orihime because her hollow didn't exist yet. The soul told me it was Ichigo, but he was insane. I don't know what to think... I should check up on Ichigo.'
Rukia flashed home. Arriving through Ichigo's bedroom window, she jumped on the bed.
But he wasn't there. Gone.
A sick feeling fell down to her stomach as he eyes rested on the empty bed she stood on.
'H-he's gone...' Rukia thought to herself. Things could not go worse at this moment.
Forgetting all about her cellphone, Rukia ran out the house, looking for the one person who could help her.
Rukia was alone in her mission. But not for long.
Later...
Wind blew through the city, ruslting leaves and stirring debris all over Karakura Town.
Uryu Ishida stared up at the sky, his eyes scanning the heavens for answers; the answers that would tell him the truth about Orihime Inoue. He was taking his midnight stroll, trying to discover what she was hiding.
"Why is her reaitsu so dark and heavy, like a hollow's? Is it even possible? She's only a human..." He whispered to himself in the dark of night.
In his mind, he knew that Orihime could never have a hollow because she was only a human... but his gut never let him let go of his suspicions.
Uryu found a nearby bench and rested. He stared down at the ground in sudden anger.
"What the hell am I missing?" He snapped.
His friends, Orihime and Ichigo have been hiding something. It pained him to have to think of them as enemies...
But he was a Quincy. And his main goal was to kill hollows. No matter who it lived in...
"If it comes down to it, I will have to treat Orihime and Ichigo as enemies entirely-"
A twig broke suddenly behind him, startling the intelligent man. Uryu's head whipped to his left, trying to identify who was sneaking around at this hour.
More specifically, who was following him.
He cautiously lifted from his bench, and placed his hands out in front of him. A blue illuminated light formed his bow and arrow. He aimed for the sound, waiting for the unknown person to reveal themselves.
"Show yourself..." He called out in anticipation. A small drop of sweat rolled down his temple.
Then she stepped out, wearing her black shinigami's shihakusho. Rukia's zanpakutou gleamed in the streetlights.
"So you figure everything out. And without help... I'm impressed." She stated.
"W-what...?" Uryu mumbled. His hands relaxed as his bow disappeared.
Rukia made her way to the bench.
"Explain to me Rukia. Why does Orihime have a hollow?" Uryu asked without looking at her.
Rukia gave him a half-smile. "You're a smart guy, Uryu. You always were-"
"Explain. Please..." Uryu interrupted.
"I need you help. And I don't know why she has a hollow. The reason as to why the hollow showed up is unclear, but what's important is that it's there and it must be dealt with before something bad happens."
"So I was right..." Uryu confirmed. He knew all along; ever since he felt that small dark reaitsu mixed with Orihime's...
Rukia nodded. "Yes... although I'm not happy about being right. I just wish it was all a mistake." Sorrow and remorse covered her face.
"Does that mean you confirmed her hollow?" Uryu inquired.
"Yes. Orihime... sh-she... that demon came out and nearly killed her." Rukia told him.
"Killed who?" Uryu asked. Rukia didn't say anything.
He grabbed her by her shoulders hard, and yelled out. "WHO?"
"Tatsuki... she attacked Tatsuki..." Rukia said silently.
Then Uryu began to go ballistic. He seized Rukia's arms again and began to press down.
"Tatsuki? Please... tell me it's not true!" Uryu began to shout.
"Let go, Uryu!" Rukia yelled back. She released herself from his grip. He fell to the ground in heap.
Rukia watched him try to control his breathing. 'Why is he like this... was Tatsuki something special to him?'
"Why did... she try to kill Tatsuki?" His deep long breaths making him pause between words.
"She told her that Ichigo and I kissed. It probably triggered her anger." Rukia told him.
Uryu remained silent. His breathing had stabalized and Rukia began to grow uncomfortable. She'd never seen Uryu react this way... it was beginning to scare her.
'Maybe asking Uryu for help was a bad idea... maybe I should've just performed my duties and left them out of it... but waiting for the Soul Society would take so long.' Rukia began to debate with herself.
Then Uryu stood up suddenly, brushing the dirt off his pants. He had a calm and scary demeanor to him now.
"If that's true... then the hollow feels something for Ichigo just like Orihime. If we plan to kill it, then maybe we could use this as an advantage..." He mumbled.
"Wait! Uryu, who said anything about killing? Who said you were even involved?" Rukia gave him an incredulous look.
Uryu returned her look with a hard, cold one. Wind blew harder, warning them of a storm.
"You involved me, Rukia. You asked for my help, remember. And I still started to figure things out without your help. So if you want my help to bring that demon inside of them down... then you have to let me help you." He lied to her.
"Ok... but we can't kill the hollows. We don't know how that will affect Orihime and Ichigo. I was instructed to take Ichigo and Orihime into custody, so we can observe them. And so we can discover a way to seperate their souls." Rukia warned Uryu.
"And what if the hollow's attack us..." Uryu questioned.
"Then we'll have to use force." Rukia solemnly said.
"That's fine." Uryu stated, without emotion. Rukia gave him a look a disbelief from the corner of her eyes.
Uryu turned to look at Rukia.
"Alright. I'll do anything to get rid of those hollows." Uryu said. He held out his hand.
Rukia clasped her small hand around his, shaking hands.
"We should go now... before she has a chance to do anything else-"
"Ichigo might be with her... so we have to hurry. Who knows what'll happen with the strange things happening lately." Rukia explained.
"That's fine. It'll be easier to capture both of them. But... Ichigo and Orihime are the enemies for now."He snapped back.
Rukia could detect the impatience in him. The wind began to blow furiously, threatening to knock the petite girl off her feet.
A sudden gust pushed her foward, making her gasp and almost trip.
After managing to regain her balance, she stared at Uryu's retreating back.
"Where are you going?" Rukia called out.
"I have something I need to do before we do this. Then meet me at Orihime's ready for an arrest" He simply informed her.
Rukia watched as he gave her a small wave, not bothering to look at her. He disappeared, leaving Rukia alone with the agitated breeze.
She smirked. "Why am I so surprised? Uryu's always like this when he has something set on his mind."
But Rukia couldn't help but wonder about his reasons for being so set on capturing the hollows.
She leaped into the night sky. She began to soar in the air with the wind.
'It's not my place to wonder...'
Rukia left, goin to slay more hollows and fufill her duties as a shinigami. Gliding through the air, Rukia said five words she would have to carry as a burden for the rest of her life.
"Forgive me... Orihime and Ichigo."
Meanwhile...
Uryu Ishida walked as fast as he could down a lonely street in Karakura Town. He held his cell phone to his ear.
"Mrs. Arisawa, I heard Tatsuki was hurt, is she alright?" He said.
"My baby girl... Uryu. My baby g-girl... someone tried to kill her. Who would do that...? Why? My baby's so tough... why, Lord?" Uryu could hear her cries and how distressed she sounded.
Uryu's grip on his cellphone hardened, turning his knuckles white.
"Do you know where she was hospitalized?" Uryu rushed, anxiously waiting for an answer.
"Y-yes. She was hospitalized at the General Hospital at Osaka for intensive ca-"
-BEEP-
Uryu hung up and made his way to the hospital.
The sterile clinic smelled of alcohol and disease. Uryu walked past the receptionist to avoid being questioned. Just as he was homefree, someone stopped him.
"Uryu? What're you doing here so late...?" Mizuiro asked behind him.
"Oh, I was just going to visit Tatsuki..."
"I see... I know that you and Tatsuki had something, but I don't think you should see her. She's in a really bad condition-"
"Mizuiro. It's ok, I can find out for myself what that bitch did to her..."
"You too, huh?" Mizuiro asked, biting his lip in shame.
"Me too what?" Uryu asked with slight intruige. Uryu fully turned to face him.
"You think Orihime is a bitch for doing what she did to Tatsuki. But I don't believe it was her... I mean, how could she? It's her best friend. And this is Tatsuki we're talking about. She's the junior league champion fighter of Japan... and Orihime isn't. I don't see how Orihime could have done that-"
"How do you know it was Orihime?"
"Well, Tatsuki's pretty bad right now. But the doctor said she kept mubmling Orihime's name over and over while they tried stabalizing her-" Mizuiro explained.
'So he doesn't know about the hollow... good.'
"Go home, Mizuiro. I got this. And don't stop by Ichigo's later... just go straight home and don't stop. Ok?" Uryu walked away.
Mizuiro watched as Uryu disappeared around the corner, leaving him perplexed.
Uryu walked up to room 203. Exhaling a long deep breath, he summed up the courage to knock on the fateful door.
He could hear the ventilator beeping along with the heart monitor.
'She's on a ventilator... what the fuck happened to her?' Uryu thought angrily.
Tatsuki laid in a bed, immobilized.
He strided over to the bed, and dropped down onto his knees. He took her hand in his, caressing it gently. His lips carefully pecked her cheek as a lonely tear fell down his face.
"Tatsuki... sweetheart. I promise you that I'll get revenge for whoever did this to you. Whoever destroyed your dreams of become a trainer... Whoever caused you so much unbearable pain. I promise I will kill her for what she did to you." Uryu said sweetly.
Uryu let out a few tears of despair as he held her hand in his.
Tatsuki's eyes began to flutter as she woke up, her hands twitching. Uryu gasped, looking up at her.
He smiled. "Hello, beautiful." He whispered to her.
Beneath the clear face mask she wore, a slight smile appeared on her face. A small tear rolled out her eye but Uryu wiped it away.
"H... h-h... hol-h... hollow..." Tatsuki struggled to say.
Uryu's attention focused on her words. He held her hand in a strong grasp. "Tatsuki... it was a hollow, wasn't it?"
Tatsuki's head weakfully nodded.
"Was it Orihime's hollow?" His voice was stone cold.
Tatsuki nodded again, but sadly.
A tear trembled as it rolled down her face. Uryu immediatly stopped the tear with his thumb.
"Shh... don't cry, baby. It's ok... I promise you. I will get my revenge for you-"
"N-no... please. Uryu, don't do anything."
"Why are you still protecting her? Look at what she did to you! You're so close to dying... if you don't recover... I don't know what I'll do..."
Tatsuki's fingers grazed his cheek as he dropped his head to cry for her.
"I'm not protecting her... I'm protecting you. I felt what she is... it's something terrible. Something so dark and evil, it just can't be real... I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
"I won't, Tatsuki. Nothing you say will change my mind, babe. I'm doing this; that bitch has to pay-"
A knock at the door interrupted them. A nurse wearing all white walked in with a metal tray decorated with medicine and equipment.
"I'm sorry, sir. You can't be here. Visiting hours are over..." She softly said.
Uryu let out a breath of annoyance. He gave a quick glance to Tatsuki, squeezed her hand and kissed her before leaving.
"I love you, Tatsuki..." He whispered to her.
"I-I love you too..." She whispered back. The nurse moved out the way as he walked past her and down the hall. Uryu could feel his eyes wet with tears that were made of anger and frustration.
Uryu pulled out his phone as he stepped into the elevator alone. He dialed Rukia.
"Hello..." Rukia said on the other line.
"Are you ready?" Uryu asked with a determined tone.
He could hear her exhale into the phone.
"Yes. I'll meet you there. We'll surround them, then take them down."
"Fine." Uryu replied. Just as he was about to hang up, Rukia called his name.
"Uryu! Wait..." Rukia yelled.
"What is it...?" Uryu asked her.
"Can you believe this is happening... my friends. I-I can't believe I'm doing this to them. To Ichigo..." Rukia cried.
A pang of guilt hit Uryu. They were his friends. Uryu wanted revenge for Tatsuki and the pain Orihime caused her. He wanted revenge for all the dead shinigami... for everything bad that was happening. But they were still his friends..
"I know. But it's what's right. When those hollows are gone, they'll thank us. You'll see." Uryu reassured her.
"Yeah... I hope you're right."
And even though they were still friends, Uryu and Rukia began their attack. The calamity was rising.
Maybe everyone just wanted someone to blame, so friends fought friends. The war began.
FINALLY, RUKIA IS NO LONGER MAJOR. WELL... I GUESS YOU COULD SAY RUKIA AND URYU ARE THE ANTAGONISTS BUT THAT WOULD BE INCORRECT. THE HOLLOWS ARE. SO I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT. AND THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE DONE WHEN I ACTUALLY WRITE IT LOL.
So to clarify: Rukia was on her way check up on Ichigo after the crime scene. But a bunch of hollows are out so she has to stop and fight them. The shinigami are missing and Rukia asks a soul who says Ichigo's hollow killed them. (Remember back in chapter 2, after he raped orihime he woke up in a warehouse... that's where he ended up after slaughtering them.)
The soul also reveals the original motive for Rukia coming back was to get Ichigo's hollow, too. She goes home and sees he's gone. Rukia get's scared and believes he left to see Orihime. (Rukia wants to protect Ichigo from Orihime, but she also needs to capture him and keep the world safe from him.) She then asks Uryu to help her capture both of them because she has no help. She tells him about Tatsuki getting hurt, making him want revenge for Tatsuki. Uryu says he'll meet up with Rukia near Orihime's house, since they believe Ichigo will be there too. Uryu later reveals he and Tatsuki were in love. Rukia and Uryu make the final plan.)