A/N: I know, I'm really late with this update. Sorry! I don't have any excuses...okay, maybe I do, but I will not bother you with it.
Anyway, this chapter... build up is finally over. I am sorry for any mistakes you might(will) find.
Thank you for your reviews and your support. Your words always make me smile, so... thank you! And I really hope you'll like this chapter too.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach!

Together Alone

I Can't Fail

"I should… leave." Toshiro said looking at the girl that sat beside him. He wasn't sure for how long he stayed, but seeing her tired face he knew it was his time to leave. "I think it's safe enough now." Rukia lifted her head to find teal eyes looking directly at her violets.

"A-Are you sure?" Her voice cracked a little. Violet eyes held a hint of disappointment, even though she tried her best not to look or sound that way, but failed terribly. Somehow her façade wasn't really working around that man. Why, she couldn't tell. Toshiro stood up and she followed.

"I already took too much of your time." He said softly. And the moment he finished his sentence he saw her shaking her head.

"Don't say that." Rukia's look fell to her dark wooden floor. "I'm glad you came." There was a small, almost non-existent smile on her face and when he saw that he wished he could've stayed longer. Toshiro then closed the distance between them, hearing the words that came out of her mouth, and that softness that she somehow always wore around him. Her eyes were slightly widened when he lifted her head. Their breath clashed since he came as closes as he could manage.

"Me too." She surrendered, feeling his lips touch her own. After few moments they broke the kiss and leaned so their foreheads were touching. He was running a hand through her raven locks but stopped after few moments, still looking at her eyes. She saw something flash through teal in front of her.

"Is…are you okay?" Her voice was a whisper, even though she tried to voice her question louder. Rukia saw a light frown on his face as he distanced himself a little. His hand was still in her hair, caressing her. Those teal eyes she knew well now wore a glimpse of strange feeling. Just seeing him like that was hard for her. She felt a light pain in her chest.

"I'm fine." He wasn't. "Tomorrow, I'll wait for you on the training grounds, so we can continue what we started this morning." Voice of a teal eyed Captain was much harsher then it was few moments ago. She wanted to rebel and ask him again what is going on in that head of his, but found herself nodding. He was definitely making her weak. "Good." He said and kissed her on her forehead lightly. "I'll see you tomorrow then." And he was gone. The air from his flash step startled her a little and she was left standing alone in her room looking at her already closed door.

"That was…fast." She frowned a little and tried to calm her raven locks that were messed up duo to that man flash step. "Damn it, he could have done that earlier. Nobody would even notice him outside." Her brows went up and her eyes widened for a second, before a small smile creped itself on her pale face after a sudden realization. But he didn't.

She turned around finally, looking away from her room door and took one distant glance over the papers on her table. Still, erasing that look from her mind was harder than it seemed. Something was bothering him. She found herself standing in her room, gripping the fabric on her chest. It was clear to her, she didn't like seeing him…the way she saw him, whatever that was. It wasn't good, that much she knew. No, no…if he wants to tell me, he'll tell me. I'll wait.

Toshiro stopped flash stepping as soon as he exited 13 division grounds and started walking slowly to his own quarters. Funny. He could not remember the last time he had this many emotions crammed inside of him. He wanted to say screw it all and return back from where he just came from. Just thinking about his room and that empty bed that awaited him stirred uneasiness in his stomach. Wasn't he already used to that? Hell, there wasn't anything else to get used to, except that.
The night was cold, and he welcomed the chilly wind that started around him. Except for light noises that came from trees around that moved on the wind, he was the only soul whose footsteps broke the calm surroundings. I guess I really stayed late.
Then again, he had to admit…he could not remember the last time he felt so relaxed with someone, even though that girl took over his mind. Was he even capable of doing anything else except think about her? So, not only did he think about her constantly, but he felt that he would relax only if she was near. It was evident, she was becoming someone very important to him and he frowned. Someone important to Hitsugaya Toshiro did not actually mean what it meant to other people. He was not capable of relaxing when he knew that that someone was somewhere else than beside him. Paranoid, call him that and see if he cares.

He entered his room, leaving Hyorinmaru aside. His home was cold, as usual, since there was no way few sun rays could warm up the quarters of a man that was known for his icy demeanor. Not much personal stuff was exposed to a mere eye, since he really didn't care about that…gathering useless trash around was more of Matsumoto's thing. It didn't take long before he found himself aching for his bed, so he collapsed as soon as he took off his clothes. If he wanted to have a decent night of sleep he needs to put all his worry aside and think about everything tomorrow, when his head wasn't full of gibberish and when he wasn't washed with the scent of a certain raven-haired girl. Tomorrow, he'll organize everything tomorrow.

"Shiro-chan!" He heard male voice behind him. The grip on Hyorinmaru became even tighter and that vein found its way back on his forehead.

"Ukitake?" He turned around just enough to look at that older man over his shoulder, wearing a threatening expression. And that only made the smile on older Captain wider.

"Good, you're here." Ukitake said walking towards Toshiro. And Toshiro just sighed and turned his head back to look at the sword in his hands. Lately this man seemed to follow him everywhere.

"Is there something you need?" Toshiro's voice was tired. Ukitake stopped behind him and scratched his head.

"I saw you standing there so I assumed my lieutenant must be close by-"

"Why would you assume that?" Harsh voice left the teal eyed man.

"Well, she seems to always be near you lately." Ukitake said, carefully watching the back of that younger Captain.

"Why would-"

"Captain?" On the sound of that voice Toshiro turned around, as well as Captain Ukitake to find one raven-head girl standing near, looking at them slightly confused. Ukitake glanced back at Toshiro just enough so that that younger Captain would see a smile on his features. "Good morning sir." Rukia said bowing respectfully.

"Oh Rukia, we were just talking about you." He said and motioned for her to straighten herself up. Confusion was written on her face as she switched her gaze from her Captain to Toshiro behind him. Toshiro wore a heavy frown and she smiled.

"Is there something you need my assistance with sir?" Her voice was gentle as she returned to look at her good-natured Captain in front of her. Toshiro returned to his work…if work implied staring at the edge of his sword. Ukitake became slightly serious.

"I came to tell you I'll be absent for a while. I left Kiyone and Sentaro your schedule, but I wanted to see you before I leave. I will probably be absent the day your mission starts, but I want you to know that I entrusted you into care of Captain Hitsugaya." Toshiro twitched. Did this man come here just to say that? Because telling his lieutenant that he left her a schedule was not really a very good reason to come, at least not in Hitsugaya's book.

"Care?" Rukia said, her eyes widened. And Hitsugaya still wasn't turning around.

"Oh Rukia, don't take it as an insult. Captain Hitsugaya was just worried about you, since you were injured on that last mission." She glanced quickly at the man in question behind Ukitake, but failed to catch his eyes since he wasn't facing her. Rukia then forced a smile and nodded.

"I understand Captain." Her voice never gave away any emotion. Ukitake nodded too.

"Good. You can continue with your training. I have to leave now." He said and she bowed down muttering a low goodbye to her gentle Captain. He left the two alone on the training grounds.

Almost a minute passed in dead silence, neither of them moving, until Rukia broke it.

"Were you the one that asked my Captain to keep me here after I got injured?" Her voice was neutral, almost too neutral for his liking. He turned around, his eyes wider than usual.

"No. Why would you ask me something like that?" Her look fell down, her raven hair hiding violet in her eyes.

"I can take care of myself."

"I never said-"

"You don't trust my abilities?" She spitted out, painfully, looking at the ground.

"That's not it." He said, already losing his temper.

"Then why did you talk to my Captain about me and this mission?" She lifted her head and caught his look. Toshiro frowned.

"Just because I went to talk to Ukitake about you doesn't mean I don't trust your abilities." His voice was much harsher than the last time she heard it. Light sigh escaped his lips. "You can take it as you like, but understand one thing Rukia…" He said and his frown became even heavier. "…even if you get mad at me and never want to see me again, it won't stop me from trying to protect you. That night…" He stopped for a second, pain clearly written on his features. "…I won't let that happen again." Toshiro didn't move, didn't broke their look and Rukia knew exactly on what he was referring when he said that night. She was surprised hearing him say something like that. Her mouth was slightly open as she starred at a man before her. His silvery-white hair was dancing on morning breeze, as he kept that frown on his face, but was set on looking at violet eyes, even though he didn't even seemed interested in her answer.

Rukia was silent for few moments, before her look fell to the ground again.

"From the way you just said that it seemed as if you blame yourself for what happened to me on that mission." His eyes widened once again as he kept staring at the girl, surprised at her words. "Don't." Rukia said boldly lifting her head to look at him, raven locks dancing on the wind, light frown decorating her pale face. "I told you already, and I am going to repeat it…I can take care of myself." He heard determination in her voice and failed to wipe surprised look on his face. It was already natural to her to read him like that. How she managed it, he couldn't tell. Was he that transparent? Maybe it was his fault. But then again, nobody ever… Was she even aware that she was doing it… constantly? Light sigh escaped his lips again as he closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again, now completely in control of his emotions.

"And I told you…I don't care." Her face showed surprise as she watched teal eyed man, not believing what she just heard.

"W-Wha-"

"Didn't you just hear me, Kuchiki? Tsk, I always have to repeat everything to you." Corner of his lips went upward as he almost knocked down the girl before him from the look he gave her. "I said…I'll protect you even if that results in you never wanting to see me again. That means that you can, as far as I'm concerned, act like that all you want, but it won't stop me from doing what I said I would." Now he looked away, running a hand through his hair, somewhat uncomfortable from the words that just left his mouth.

She finally snapped back and smiled shyly. There was a mild blush on her face as she felt something pulling at her heart. He was different from all the men she knew…at least to her.

"MATSUMOTO!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Blonde woman said entering her Captain office. He was standing impatiently near his table and she saw that he was barely restraining himself from snapping. "I just had to get some things-"

"We don't have time for that." Hitsugaya took his sword and placed it in its holder, waving for her to follow him and she did. They walked in silence and hurry. Usually Matsumoto would tease him right about now, but seeing his rigid composure she decided it was best to keep quiet. She wasn't really in the mood anyway, since she had to get up early in the morning.

"Did you read the schedule?" Strict voice of her Captain snapped her back to reality.

"I did sir." Their steps echoed through the almost empty halls of 10th division. It really was too early for anyone to be awake, even the sun was lazy and barely decorated the sky. She was walking behind him, but even though she couldn't see his face, heavy air around him told her that he was worried about something…or maybe pissed off, she didn't really know.

"Good. Follow it. I don't want anything to go bad this time. Do not act on your own. Is that clear?" Matsumoto still couldn't see his face, since he was determined to walk ahead of her in hurry.

"Got it, Captain." She said cheerfully, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere around them and that stopped him.

"Matsumoto, I am serious. If you don't follow the orders I'll make sure your paperwork is doubled when we come back." He glanced back over his shoulder and abruptly grimaced and that startled her. Black circles around his eyes became evident because of the sun rays and she could clearly see and hear determination.

"Yes sir." She said more seriously. "I'll follow your instructions."

"Good." He nodded and continued walking to their desired destination. Matsumoto wanted to say something else, but saw it was better not to. Whatever she said she already could see he knew, so she kept quiet. It was better to do that than to experience Hitsugaya Toshiro's anger. Or worse…be returned to office to work on remaining papers. Hell, any kind of mission was better than that.

"Captain Hitsugaya." Black-haired man said in acknowledgment of her Captain presence and Matsumoto finally snapped back to reality and scanned the area, while her Captain nodded to people around them. Before them stood Kuchiki Byakuya with his nervous-looking lieutenant Abarai Renji and younger Kuchiki behind. Matsumoto saw the looks her Captain and that raven-haired girl exchanged so she smiled. Still, the atmosphere didn't change at all. Guess even Kuchiki girl wasn't enough to take away all that tension her Captain carried.

"So you woke up on time after all, ha?" Renji said coming to Matsumoto's side. Kuchiki girl stayed still behind her older brother.

"I had to. Captain would tear me alive if I didn't." She said lazily, massaging her head with one hand, desperately trying to remove her alcohol-related headache. "What's up with you? You look like you have a stick in your ass." She said and grinned, while Renji just glanced back at three persons behind them. Matsumoto followed his look and saw that her Captain was still, looking somewhere, as well as Kuchiki Byakuya, while his sister tried her best to remain calm…at least that was the way she looked to Matsumoto. Renji turned again and came a little closer to Matsumoto.

"This is bad. If Captain Kuchiki founds out, he'll…" Whisper came out of red-headed mouth, while he tried his best not to panic. "Oh I can't even imagine what he'll do, but it won't be good, I can tell you that much."

"What the hell are you talking about Abarai?" Matsumoto said louder than that red-head would like.

"Damn it Matsumoto, lower your voice." Renji said, now on the very verge of panic. "I'm talking about Rukia and Captain Hitsugaya. If Captain Kuchiki founds out about them and then that I knew…we are all doomed."

"Oh that!" Blond woman said, now completely understanding his behavior. "First of all, calm down. He will definitely know something is going on if you continue acting like that. And second, if we don't tell him then I don't see how he will know. I'm pretty sure my Captain is careful enough, so we don't have to worry about them." Matsumoto said casually. "Did you tell her?"

"That I know?" She nodded. "No. I didn't. I don't know what to say anyway. I never expected this. To be honest, I always thought she liked Kurosaki." Matsumoto just shrugged her shoulders in response. She didn't even thought about Kuchiki Rukia before this, but if she had to she would probably assume the same thing as Renji. Not that that mattered anymore, since her Captain had marked his territory already and that meant only one thing: no trespassing. "I guess you're right, I have to get my act together, or else…"

"Good morning." Black-haired lieutenant said, approaching the two. Matsumoto shifted her gaze toward him and saw his Captain in the background, near her Captain and Kuchiki Byakuya.

"Hi Hisagi." Renji responded, while she just grinned. "Are we all here now?"

"No, fifth division is still on their way." Hisagi said.

"Fifth? Momo's division? She's coming?" Matsumoto snapped back into reality and reacted too impulsively and loudly to their liking. Too loudly indeed, and she saw her Captain turn to look at her at the mention of that name. Damn it!

"Did you even read the list Matsumoto? We all got it yesterday." Renji asked confused at her response.

"I didn't have the time for that." She said more calmly. "Now answer me, is she coming or not?"

Was it just her, or the atmosphere was too heavy to handle? They were all now in human world, in Urahara's shop. She decided to stand outside; fresh air would do her good, while the Captain discussed something with blond-hair shop keeper. Renji was nowhere to be seen, so she sat down on the sidewalk and watched the cars and people moving around. Maybe she was the one carrying the heavy air around her? What the hell happened to her? She was happy enough this morning when she woke up. But now… And Hitsugaya was acting strange too. That she saw. Except for few exchanged looks, they never communicated the whole morning.

"Ichigo!" She said more happily, seeing orange-top coming her way.

"Hey Rukia." He said, scratching his head.

"Where are the others?"

"They are coming. At least Chad and Inoue…I don't know about Ishida though." He said turning his head and glancing behind his back, as if they would appear that instant. "So midget, they gave you another mission, ha?" And of course, he was hit. Rukia hit him in the knee from her sitting position. He should have seen that coming. Ichigo let out a few painful noises, while she stood up and grinned.

"I told you not to call me that… strawberry." She responded and saw him frown.

"And I told you not to call me that!"

"What? Strawberry? But that's your name!" She said, acting out confusion.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I guess you didn't hear me from down there. It's Ich-" Another hit came, now in his stomach. "Damn it, Rukia!"

"Serves you right!"

"U-um, Kuchiki-san, Kurosaki-kun? Hello?" Inoue Orihime said, smiling nervously, as if she was interrupting something. Rukia turned and smiled seeing orange-hair woman and peaceful giant beside her.

"Oh Inoue! Hello! Nice to see you again!" Rukia's smile widened. "Hello Sado!" Chad just nodded, small smile appearing on his face. "And Inoue, I'm really grateful for your healing help last time." Orange-haired girl quickly looked at the man besides Rukia and saw him narrow his brows, turning his head at the other side, before she smiled weakly.

"N-No, no, I told you already, you don't need to thank me." Inoue said waving her hands defensively.

"Yeah, so, anyway, where's the rest? Ikkaku and Yumichika told us about the team organization and Urahara called me yesterday, telling me to come here." Ichigo interrupted, scratching his head as always, looking down at Rukia. At the mention of their mission she became more serious.

"They are inside. The team is bigger this time and they only told me the basics, the rest…well, only captains know that. But my guess would be that we're splitting in teams again, since I don't believe they know the current location of those hollows."

"Then, why are you standing here?" Ichigo said confused, while Rukia frowned, obviously irritated at that question.

"I just needed some fresh air. You go inside, and I'll try to find Renji. I can feel his reiatsu, so he must be close by." Ichigo just nodded and he, Chad and Inoue went towards the shop entrance, while Rukia unknowingly took a deep breath and went down the street to search for her childhood friend. Still, she felt uneasy. Why? Maybe she knew why, but hell if she would admit it to herself, let alone at loud.

"There is no news about any of that. There were no any appearances or unusual reiatsu. I tried to track down those few remaining Captain Hitsugaya and his team fought the last time, but failed to find them. I must say, if they are planning something I sure don't know what…or why." Urahara said, his fan closed and his hat slightly pulled up so they could see his face. The room was silent for few moments, all of the captains in deep thought, or lack of words to say.

"I see." Finally, someone decided to speak and it was none other than noble man, Kuchiki Byakuya. Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes, and prepared himself for any strict preposition this man was bound to give. "Then we should continue according to our given schedule and act as soon as possible." Luckily with that Hitsugaya could not argue. There was probably no one in that room that wanted this over with more that white-haired Captain of 10th division. Hell, not probably, it was certainly so.

"We need to arrange groups first." Hitsugaya said dryly. Black-haired Captain just glanced in his direction and Hitsugaya felt his body stiffen. This man was always judging or to put it better, evaluating every person that his eyes fell on and Hitsugaya hated it. Still, he ignored the older Kuchiki and looked back at Urahara, as if that blonde-haired man had any say in the matter. "There are too many of us here, so teams are inevitable."

"Yes, yes! You are quite correct Captain Hitsugaya!" The man, however, switched back to his cheerful behavior and Hitsugaya fought the urge to sigh in annoyance.

A minute more and he would probably resort to freezing them all together with that shop. An hour later as he went outside, he felt a light pain hugging his temples, so he stopped and leaned with his back on the shop wall. This was too much…he overstrained himself, it was obvious. But, it would be foolish of him to quit before he even properly started. Last night he finally finished everything about the schedule he knew he had to prepare this time. It was around 3 o'clock when he heard Matsumoto's happy-drunk voice pass his quarters and he allowed his head to fall on the cold pillow, knowing she was at least back home and if he had to he would drag her from her room tomorrow morning. It's better than pointlessly searching around Soul Society for her drunken ass. His hand went up and he started massaging the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes, trying desperately not to fall down from exhaustion. He wouldn't though. He would never allow himself to fail…not when he had an important task. But guess everything didn't went according to plan and he unwillingly remembered the name of the girl he saw yesterday on that piece of paper in his office, the very face of the girl he saw this morning. Why now?

Feeling the familiar reiatsu near him, his eyes bolted open as he slowly raised his head to find pair of beautiful violet eyes looking at him. He was an asshole, he concluded.

"A-Are you alright…Captain?" She said in a slow-easy-to-follow tone as if she was afraid he would break. Toshiro's eyes softened.

"I am…Kuchiki." He responded calmly, adding her last name to that sentence in case…well, in case.

"You seem tired. Did you sleep at all last night?" Rukia didn't move. She knew better than to come any nearer that she already was. This was a mission. There was no place for all those things here. Her words were much quieter, though. Toshiro cleared his already dried throat.

"Kuchiki…" He said stricter and locked their gazes. "I am fine. There is no need for concern." He knew she read even past those lines. "We had just organized teams. It'll be alright." He said as if he was reassuring her. But he knew, it was more for himself. He saw her narrowing her brows a little, probably not really contended with his answer, still…he knew she would accept it.

"Alright sir." She said, turning on her heel…leaving.

There was no way he would allow himself to collapse now. It was enough everything else was a mess…