A late Merry Christmas to all of you, and Happy New Year! I was going to update this chapter on New Year's Eve but I was out till very late and came back and slept off till the next day. ;) I hope all of you had a very good New Year.
Hope you enjoy this chapter, the first for year 2012.
NOTE: Due to the plot, there is something I'd like to clarify to readers. I should have done so in earlier chapters but did not foresee it. This concerns the mortality of demons... and it is very important in light of the battle that is about to start. So demons can die... either during their Purification period date (where they become mortals), performing Kokutai ritual (where they also share the mortal status of their leader) and by DECAPITATION. The third one is the thing I wanted to add on. I realized I couldn't picture how they could still be alive if they were decapitated... and this would help the story anyway. :)
"It is funny, Rukia did not call me yesterday night." Ukitake smiled as he brought two cups of coffee to the dinner table.
Byakuya looked up as he politely accepted the coffee. "Maybe you can try calling her, Otousan." He was about to offer his own mobile phone when he realized Rukia probably wasn't going to pick up the phone if it was his number listed.
Ukitake smiled as he sat down opposite Byakuya. "I guess she's having too much fun and forgot about calling. After all, she would be returning in a few days, if not tomorrow."
This time, the hope that was reflected in Byakuya's grey eyes was unmistakeable. He had missed her terribly. When he spoke, the simple words barely showed his overwhelming need to finally see Rukia again for the first time in days. "I look forward to seeing her again."
xXxXx
Pain…
That feeling of being carried…
Spirited away…
Abducted…
Rukia gasped and woke up with a start. She immediately noted that she was sitting straight in a chair, her arms behind her back. It was all dark around her, but Rukia could tell that she was in a small room. When she tried to move, she realized that her hands and feet were tied together. Not only that, her mouth was bound with a thick cloth.
It all came back to her in an instant.
She had been captured by the mysterious men in the alley and taken here somehow. And Ichigo…
'Ichigo!' Rukia realized with a start, as the panic overtook her heart. Was he okay? What did the men do to him?
'I have to move, I have to find a way out of here,' Rukia thought. But as she tried to move again, pain shot down the back of her head and she let out a little groan of pain.
"You shouldn't move so much. If you do, you run the risk of being paralysed down the neck."
Rukia looked up in shock as a figure moved in front of her in the dark. She heard the click before a bright light came on in the room. It was indeed a small room, something that looked like a storeroom of sorts. Rukia's quick eyes took in the file cabinet in the corner, the small table with several stools around it, the moth-eaten sofa… and the man now looming over her. "Hey bitch, it's me."
Rukia recognized this man. He was the one she had punched in the alley.
She watched as he took a swig of the beer bottle he was holding. "Not so defensive now, are we?"
Rukia felt the fury fill her veins. What did these people want? What were they going to do to her? Was Ichigo alright?
"Ordinarily, I would do a lot of things to you right now." Rukia's eyes filled with horror as the man moved in close. "Unfortunately for me though, it is Aizen's orders to treat you with as much politeness as I can manage. But then again, after the lovely jab he delivered to your neck, you probably aren't much of a fight anyway." He straightened up, but not before Rukia caught the smell of heavy alcohol on his breath. "You are our guest for now, so we have to treat you as such."
The man laughed again. "After all, we will all owe you a huge thanks when this is over. When we have killed him."
Rukia's violet eyes widened in shock and terror. Kill? Kill him? Kill… who?
xXxXx
Byakuya shifted the contracts over to one side of the table as he picked up a single sheet of paper. He looked at the document and pondered the contents for a few minutes, before scribbling something onto the paper.
Today, Byakuya had turned in early to office. He had made sure everything was going right, he had woken up early and eaten a proper breakfast and avoided any alcohol. Today, Rukia might be coming home.
"She's coming back today, isn't she?" Byakuya looked up at his assistant's question. Renji walked forward to the executive table and unceremoniously plunked himself onto the chair opposite Byakuya.
"It is a possibility." Byakuya turned his attention back to his work.
"Of course it is a possibility. For once, you are properly shaved and you don't look like a sorrowful dog, which I have to admit you have for the whole week."
Byakuya ignored his assistant.
"So what's the plan for Operation Win-The-No-Boobs-Girl-Back?" Renji leaned forward. "Need my assistance?"
"Abarai, I might appear to be in a placid mood but any more of your nonsense and you will not be liking it."
Renji gulped slightly. "It was a joke, the no boobs thing. You know I like her very much."
Byakuya kept silent as he scratched his pen across the paper.
"So how is it going to be? Are you going to turn up at her door with a hundred thousand roses? You know what, you should do a strip dance or something… those stunts always turns the women on! Of course, considering Rukia, she might kick you out and then you will stand outside in the cold and freeze your balls off but-
The sharp ring of the office phone succesfully cut Renji off, and a murderous glare by his superior.
"Hello?" Byakuya picked up the phone.
"Is this Kuchiki Byakuya?" A calm, male voice responded.
"Yes, Kuchiki Byakuya speaking."
"Kuchiki-san, I was wondering if I could have a really private talk with you tomorrow?"
Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "Who is this?"
"I am afraid that piece of information isn't important at present time."
Byakuya leaned back in his seat. "Then I am afraid that the said meeting would not be important for me as well at present time."
"Oh? Would it be important if I said Miss Ukitake would certainly be very appreciative of your presence?"
Byakuya's eyes widened in shock. Miss Ukitake? How could it-
Opposite him, Renji sat up a little straighter, the change in his superior's look and posture immediately alerting the Incubus.
"Who is this?" Byakuya's deep voice was deadly. "You have Rukia?"
Renji's eyes widened.
"I will keep her well-fed and entertained nicely until our meeting tomorrow. But by then, if you should fail to turn up or perhaps turn up with very ambitious reinforcements, I am afraid it would be her turn to entertain me."
For the first time in a very long time, Byakuya felt the panic fill every fiber of his being. The fury that someone could even attempt to do this, and expect to get away with it. And the fear, the horrible fear… that his one love was now in very grave danger.
"Where do we meet?"
xXxXx
Rukia stared at the man in front of her who bowed politely. He was handsome, with brown hair that seemed almost wavy and a kind face. As Rukia watched, her captor pulled forward a chair for the man to sit on, facing her.
"Ukitake Rukia, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Rukia's eyes widened as she recognized the smooth voice. It was the voice of the man who had cornered her and delivered the blow that made her pass out.
"YOU!" Rukia shouted but as her mouth was gagged, all she could manage was a muffled shout.
The man smiled serenely and waved his fingers. The other man grumbled and moved behind to untie the cloth gag. Slowly, Rukia felt the bindings loosen.
"What do you want?" Rukia immediately shouted when the cloth fell off, and her voice echoed in the small room.
The man only continued smiling as he observed her. "I believe I have not introduced myself properly. My name is Aizen Sosuke."
Nice to meet you, Miss Ukitake. My name is… Aizen Sosuke.
Rukia remembered this man. She thought it had been an illusion when he moved in front of her to the back in the blink of an eye. He was mysterious… and very, very frightening despite his calm façade.
"Why are you keeping me here?" Rukia tried to keep her voice calm. "This is a mistake, I don't know any of you and-
"Oh… but we do know you, Miss Ukitake." Aizen crossed his legs elegantly as Rukia looked at him in shock.
"In… what way?" Rukia asked, her tone apprehensive.
"In terms of your boyfriend, Miss Ukitake." Aizen smiled as he leaned forward in his seat, as if they were both sharing a small secret together. "I believe you do know this man… Kuchiki Byakuya."
Rukia's eyes widened. Byakuya? What did Byakuya have to do with this?
"H-He's not my boyfriend!" Rukia shouted.
"Oh? You do not know him?" Aizen smiled slightly.
"I do. But he's not my boyfriend… not anymore." Rukia looked away. The two men standing on either side of Aizen shouted in indignant surprise.
"Not her boyfriend!"
"So he dumped her alright!"
"Oh man, this turned out to be a waste of time! Aizen, you said-"
Aizen raised one hand, and both the men fell silent. He leaned closer to Rukia, who stiffened in her seat. "I presume… that you were the one who broke up with him?"
Rukia's eyes widened. 'Don't tell this man everything,' her inner voice warned her. "W-Who wants to know?" Rukia shot back.
Aizen smiled as if she had answered his question. "You must have broken his heart terribly by doing so, Miss Ukitake. After all, he loved you so very much."
Rukia looked up angrily. "No, he doesn't! Now, please untie me so I can leave. I don't know what this is all about, but you can settle your own matters with him!"
Aizen chuckled. "You will see that he does love you… when he comes to claim you tomorrow."
Rukia's eyes widened as the realization slowly began to sink in.
After all, we will all owe you a huge thanks when this is over. When we have killed him.
You will see that he does love you… when he comes to claim you tomorrow.
These men… these men had kidnapped her here, in order to make Byakuya come here so they could murder him! Who were they? Were they members of an underground triad? A business competitor maybe?
Rukia felt her heart begin to pound fast. She looked up as the man stood up from the chair and started to turn away.
"He won't come! He will never come!" Rukia shouted.
Aizen turned back to her with a smile, one that did not reach his eyes. "Oh he will, my little Rukia."
xXxXx
"Are we really going to do this?" Renji asked Byakuya worriedly as they walked next to each other down the marble hallway.
Byakuya kept silent, his eyes trained ahead in front of him.
"Byakuya, answer me! You are going to have to give them a viable reason anyway!" Renji stepped in front of his young superior.
"This is a threat which I want to have them wipe out, it is simple," Byakuya replied and he side-stepped his assistant, causing Renji to have to hurry after him again.
"A threat is fine, but you are mobilizing the entire demon squad… to rescue her!" Renji spoke in a furious whisper.
"The demon who spoke to me on the phone is not a trivial enemy, that much I could sense. He would have gone to great lengths to prepare an ambush and I do not wish to dance into it."
"But for the first time in decades, you are mobilizing the entire squad for Rukia's recue. That means leaving Azaris at a vulnerable state for several hours, or more, depending on the rescue! If this demon was so analytically clever as you told me he was, he would have planned a big ambush out for Azaris too, and Rukia might just be a diversion!"
Byakuya stopped and turned to look at his red-haired assistant. "I know. Which is why I won't be taking the entire squad with me." He stayed silent for a couple of seconds before continuing down the hallway. "Just most of it."
Renji jogged behind his superior. "That is ridiculous! Can you imagine what can happen? You and your squad turn up at a location far away from here only to find that Rukia is safe and alone, and in the meantime, an entire demon clan turns up on us and performs a massacre similar to what happened so many years ago!" He rushed forward and grabbed Byakuya's shoulders. "Like what happened to your parents!"
The icy glare did not make Renji falter this time, until Byakuya's hands reached out and flung his assistant's hands away from his shoulders. "Do not touch me like that ever again, Abarai. I did not land any punishment on you because you would be no good to the squad injured." He reached the oak double doors and reached out both hands to push them open. "And did you think I would be able to fight well, not knowing whether she was safe or not?"
The Incubus pushed the doors open, his eyes immediately narrowing at the sight in front of him.
"Welcome, Byakuya."
"Unohana-sensei." The Incubus walked forward to where the Succubus stood in the middle of the hall, in front of the hundreds of demon fighters of the Kuchiki clan.
Unohana looked at Byakuya seriously. "I heard that there might be possible movement of the squad today under your orders, so I decided I would come to see what it was all about." She lifted her dark blue eyes to the Kuchiki heir. "Especially when you are removing some of the best defences from Azaris today."
"It will be a simple mission." Byakuya made his voice ring out clear and loud, for the benefit of all the demons present. "There has been a threat imposed to our clan in a telephone call this morning to my office, and the caller number could not be tracked down. Therefore, I intend to go to the location of the said threat, and obliterate the entire group of demons."
"And what sort of threat did they impose?" Byakuya turned at the soft voice of Unohana. When he did not reply, she took a step forward. "Perhaps… kidnapping something of perceived value?"
"I knew it! It wasn't only Matsumoto who bugs the phone lines!" Renji's furious shocked whisper came out behind Byakuya, whose face in contrary was the calmest of calm.
"It is not of perceived value, Unohana-sensei… but something priceless."
Unohana shook her head slightly and moved to address the crowd. She did not look at Byakuya but spoke the words addressed to him. "I did not wish to do this, Byakuya, but I think it is time that the entire clan gets to hear from you about the real details of the company of the human girl you have been keeping for months now… and the association with today's… rescue mission. Rumours have been flying around for a while now… but I think you owe them the truth."
Shouts rang out in the huge hall as the demons started bantering among themselves.
"What is this?"
"What truth? And what exactly is the mission today about?"
Byakuya looked out over the crowd of demons before stepping forward, Renji watching him worriedly from behind. "My finest and respected fighters… members of the Kuchiki clan." The Incubus looked straight in front of him with misty grey eyes. "It is true, as Unohana-sensei has so subtly put it… a real rescue mission."
More shouts rang out.
"I want to mobilize three-quarters of the squad today in order to head to a field warehouse on the outskirts, where I believe them to hold Rukia, the human girl whose company you would have surely noted on the night of my celebratory dinner some time back. She has remained in my company for a very long time now, romantically in nature."
A stilled silence followed the revelation.
"If you question me whether this is a come-and-go relationship as all my others, I will honestly answer you that as far as my feelings are concerned, it is not like that in the slightest. I do intend to make her… my lifetime partner."
Shouts and gasps echoed in the hall. Unohana watched Byakuya with sad eyes.
"Lifetime partner? How is that possible when she can't even live to our lifetime?"
"Human? Really?"
Renji covered his face with his hand.
"Therefore, her recent kidnapping impacts deeply on myself, and I do intend to go the whole length to ensure her safety back home. In the past, I have mobilized the squad for rescue missions upon request by many of you, and I pray that you extend the same courtesy to me now." Byakuya looked out over the incredulous crowd, most now standing on their feet.
"I do not know how to impress upon all of you the importance this woman holds for me… but do find it similar to the feelings that you all would have if your loved one has been kidnapped on this day. And it is particularly intense for me… having never loved once in my life before until I met her."
A shocked silence followed the statement.
"Certainly you would all have commented on my prior lifestyle before, be it bad or good. Lust and food… that is all I look for in any woman that I take out with me, a different one each day. That is… until I made her acquaintance. At first sight, she might seem very plain to most of you, nothing in particular stands out. But with time, if you ever get to know her, you will find her a very special individual with contrasting differences from all of us… and that has made me love her deeply to this day. She has made me different… that I begin to appreciate life as a whole, Azaris as a whole."
Byakuya stopped slightly, before nodding. "That being said, those who wish to pull out and stay in Azaris, it is your immediate right to do so and nothing that I may force upon you. Those who wish to come with me, please do indicate to me your honourable intention."
In the next second, no demon moved. Byakuya's expression remained calm, almost serene.
Suddenly, the doors behind them banged open.
"You leave me out of the meeting, you won't be leaving me out of the mission!" The loud voice of the woman echoed in the hall.
"Matsumoto!" Renji's eyes were wide as she walked up to him and poked him in the chest. "And you! How come you never told me there was going to be a meeting? I will deal with you later!" Flipping her long hair slightly, Matsumoto walked up to Byakuya and stood next to him. He did not look at her, and neither did she.
"It will be dangerous."
"Pfftt, I have been through worse, and I never remember you leaving me out of your team each time there is a mission."
"This is a rescue… of a human."
"Again, pfffttt. Rukia is a rare little jewel, so I will help you out there."
"And me too." Byakuya and Matsumoto turned as they heard the gruff voice. Avoiding Unohana's eyes, Renji walked up to Byakuya. "If your grandfather ever hears of this, he will strip me off my right-hand man role to his grandson."
A ghost of a smile crossed Byakuya's lips. "I will not let him do so."
The three demons turned to face the rest of the clan.
"I will join." Unohana's eyes widened as a male demon stepped out from the crowd. "I do not know if you remember, my Lord, but you once used the squad to rescue my two daughters when they were caught by another clan. I cannot live to be a proper father if I do not join you today."
Byakuya stared straight at his fourth team member. "I do remember you, Yagami-san. And I appreciate you doing so."
After several murmurs, a group of seven came out to join Byakuya, citing their dedication to the young leader to lead the Kuchiki clan to greater heights.
Three more followed, for whom Byakuya had also used the squad for before, and wanted to repay him as their benefactor.
Two more.
Four.
Then a young male demon joined the squad, requesting that Rukia get to know him after the rescue.
Two.
Another three.
With each addition of the numbers, Unohana grew paler. Matsumoto even nudged Renji in the side and shot the older Succubus a satisfied look. And after half of the squad were standing on Byakuya's side and there were no more movements to be made, the young Incubus stepped out to thank his team members and also those who chose to stay in Azaris.
"I know you all will protect the headquarters well, under the leadership of Unohana-sensei. I leave Azaris in your hands for now. The rest, please follow me for battle arrangements."
"Hai!"
Byakuya nodded and turned to sweep out of the hall.
"Byakuya."
Byakuya stopped as he heard Unohana's soft voice, but did not turn to the older demon. He reached out and removed his executive access card and hung it up on the key rack. "Sensei, I know you will guard Azaris well. Please watch out for this, my card number four-seven-eight."
The grey eyes were emotionless "And maybe if you have loved once before, Sensei, you would feel exactly what it is like to have that love yanked away from you."
Unohana turned to the younger demon in shock but Byakuya walked easily out of the hall.
xXxXx
"You have got the wrong person!" Rukia shouted angrily, and her voice echoed in the huge warehouse. "Byakuya is never coming here!"
"What makes you think so?" Aizen asked softly.
"I…!" Rukia looked up at him, before looking down at her feet. "I am not his family… or one of…" She looked down miserably. "… his loved ones! I'm not important, I'm already his ex-girlfriend!"
Rukia did not remember how long it had been after she had the last conversation with Aizen. He had left her easily and then that other stupid man was left to guard her. While Rukia prided herself on being able to overcome tricky knots easily, she found herself unable to do so this time. The knots that tied her hands together behind her back were a curious complex she had never encountered before, no matter how many maneuvers she tried behind her back. And the rope was not of a normal type, they were stiff like wire and cut into her skin quite painfully.
She had been trying to escape for a couple of hours now. The man brought her lunch but she had refused to be fed. Furious, the man had walked off and brought in something utterly shocking…
Rukia stared at the newcomer who loomed over her. She did not like his face, nor his slit-like eyes. He gave her an impression of a sneaky fox, and his light grey hair did nothing to help the image.
"Rukia, you must eat." The man spoke with a light tone as he bent in front of her, holding the bit of pastry.
"Who are you?" Rukia shot back at him, suspicious.
"Me?" The man smiled. "I am Ichimaru… Ichimaru Gin."
Something clicked in Rukia's head at that moment… she had heard this name before somewhere… someone had mentioned this name to her over lunch or something… somewhere, in a park…
I already have a partner…
I should meet your boyfriend sometime then…
You are right! We can double-date or something, you and Byakuya and me and Gin!
So Gin's his name?
Ichimaru Gin. But Byakuya doesn't really like him much…
Rukia's eyes widened. "You are GIN!" The man looked at her in puzzlement.
"Ichimaru Gin! Rangiku-san's boyfriend!"
For a moment, the man's eyes widened more than slits. Then his lips spread into a smile. "I believe I am, Rukia-chan."
"Ohh." Rukia's eyes were round. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Are you a double agent here? Can you let me out, these knots are very hard. And we can escape from the warehouse through that little door I think-
"Let you out, Rukia-chan? I don't think so."
Rukia felt confused in that moment. "W-Why not?"
"Because I never worked for the boss in Azaris, my dear Rukia-chan." Gin smiled at her. "I never worked for Byakuya."
Rukia's eyes widened in shock.
"Here, eat. You will need your strength." Gin brought the bread closer to Rukia's mouth but she did not open her mouth.
"What about Rangiku-san?"
Ignoring the question, Gin pressed the bread to her lips. "Eat."
"Are you betraying her? She loves Azaris, why are you helping Byakuya's competitors?"
"You should eat." Gin's voice turned cold. "Or else, that man outside will force it down your throat with his own hands, believe me."
After a few minutes, Rukia opened her mouth and allowed Gin to feed her the bread. But her eyes were hard with anger, even as she chewed.
I will eat… so I can fight with full energy when my hands are free…
xXxXx
After what seemed like hours, Rukia was blindfolded and brought to a different location. When her eyes were finally free from the cloth, she had to take time to adjust to her new environment, noting that she was in an enormous warehouse of sorts, with two levels above the ground she was on.
Where is this place?
"Welcome… to our humble abode. This is where we will meet Byakuya today."
Rukia's eyes widened in shock as Aizen smiled down at her.
This is where you plan to kill him…?
"You need not resort to this, Aizen. I'm sure there is some other way, some mutual agreement to allow mutual benefits for both your companies-"
"Mutual benefits? For our companies?" Aizen smiled fondly at Rukia as if she was nothing but his own little girl. "There is only one clan to rule the world, Rukia. It will be a bloodbath today, what remains to be seen is who walks out… alive."
Rukia suddenly heard the sound of so many footsteps… too many. Her eyes widened as she watched the figures emerge from every dark corner of the warehouse, figures she had not realized were there. They swept out from behind the pillars, from behind boxes, everywhere… on all three levels of the warehouse.
It was an ambush.
Rukia felt the fear freeze in her blood like ice water. Byakuya…
Rukia raised her eyes to Aizen. "He won't come."
Aizen cocked his head to one side and smiled at Rukia. "Oh?"
Rukia allowed the confidence to seep into her voice. "He won't come… because I am not important to him. And now, he knows there will be an ambush waiting for him… and you will never, ever get another chance to lay your hands on him again."
Aizen chuckled. He stepped forward before producing a roll of tape from his pocket. Swiftly, he taped her mouth shut.
Just as Aizen stepped back, the light overhead flickered slightly.
Aizen turned slowly to the lights at the ceiling… just as all of them blacked out, shrouding the entire place in darkness with only a very dim light from the small emergency lamp.
The crowd shouted in shock, as Rukia stiffened. Only Aizen remained silent, before he spoke again in his smooth, calm voice. "He's here." She heard a pair of footsteps move forward, towards her. "Boys, you all know the plan."
"Hai, Aizen!"
And then Rukia felt Aizen bend low towards her, felt his cold breath on her face. "Now, what was that about not being important?"
Byakuya leapt easily into the compound of the warehouse, over the barbed wires lining the high wall of the perimeter. The power supply had been cut, a slight move not so to disable the enemy, but more to grant a smoother access into the area. Byakuya did not feel like dealing with hidden sensors, cameras and sudden-moving elevators. Now he stared at the huge, ominous building with a high tower-like structure on the western side of the warehouse.
It was a huge abandoned estate area, with a warehouse in the middle of it all. The warehouse probably used to serve as a distribution center for metal parts or raw processed wood, but had been out of business for a long, long time. That much was obvious from the guardhouse that was almost falling apart, and the slowly-decaying wooden planks that lined the steps up to the building.
And yet Byakuya had noted that the dust-less power panel box was turned on and running for the entire building.
The abandoned building wasn't as abandoned as it appeared to be…
The black shoes contacted the cemented floor, with no telltale sounds coming from the footsteps. Byakuya moved slowly through a small side door into the warehouse, stopping only to kill two demons on guard just outside the door.
He slipped in easily through the side entrance and walked into the main hall of the warehouse. And up ahead, right in the middle of the hall… he saw her.
She was sitting in a chair, bound with her mouth taped shut. Her eyes were wide with fear, and still Byakuya could not help noticing how beautiful they were when they were so big like that.
Rukia.
Their eyes locked, and the emotions exchanged in that second were emotions of a century. Rukia moved her body slightly as if trying to dislodge herself from the chair. She shook her head furiously at Byakuya.
Byakuya read her emotions easily, even as he surveyed the darkened corners around the wide, vast warehouse. With a determined expression, he took one step slowly toward her across the dusty floor.
Rukia watched as the figure emerge from the shadows, and felt the happiness and fear mingle together in her heart in a horrible, painful knot. She hated the hope that blossomed in her heart when she saw him, she hated the warm feeling as she caught sight of his beautiful eyes, she hated the fear in her heart for his safety, fears that were real and very justified. She hated herself… for bringing him here.
Why did you come? You know they want to kill you!
The gentleness in his eyes was still the same, he still gave her the same soft look, even as he watched her from the door of the warehouse. Rukia felt something bitter start to tickle her throat. Why? She had already broken up with him, what was he doing, coming here? Did he not know that there were people out to kill him?
Why won't you let me go? Why do you… care?
For the first time in her life, Rukia hoped Byakuya had been nothing but a heartless jerk. That he could not have cared less for her, and not turn up for this meeting, to throw away his life. That he could forget her in the blink of an eye and continue kissing another woman happily. She would find a way out of this herself and even if she died in the process… at least he would still be alive.
Please… don't come!
She watched as he started to approach her slowly, his grey eyes sharp and careful. Rukia started to move in her seat, physically protesting to him what her mouth could not.
Don't come! Please don't come here!
She moved her eyes to the left and right, trying to signal to him that there were so many people gathered in this warehouse today… and their intentions were the opposite of good.
Please… just leave.
Yet, he still took the steps forward, careful. Then, Rukia heard the gunshots echo around the warehouse.
Byakuya heard the whiz of the bullet through the air long before it reached him. The Incubus moved his head slightly to the left as the shot rang out, and the lethal bullet missed his right eye by a second. Three simultaneous shots rang out and Byakuya easily jumped backward, landing on his feet with an easy somersault, the three offending bullets embedded into the pillar behind him.
The sound of a pair of hands clapping resounded in the hall. Byakuya looked up as a figure walked out from the right and stood behind Rukia's chair. "Marvelous acrobatics, as expected from the leader of the Kuchiki clan."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he took in the appearance of the stranger, the demon whose voice he recognized as the one who had called him in the office to demand the meeting today.
"Release her." Byakuya's voice was cold as he addressed the other Incubus.
The demon smiled. "Not so fast, Kuchiki-san. You have come a long way here, haven't you? We should chat."
"I only feel comfortable talking if she stands on my side."
The brown-haired Incubus clucked his tongue. "I'm afraid you are in no position to negotiate with us, Kuchiki-san."
"I see. In that case, I will just have to get her out with my own two hands."
The Incubus bowed. "But of course, Kuchiki-san. Oh, I forgot my manners. My name is Aizen Sosuke, it is an absolute honour to meet you finally."
"Aizen Sosuke?" Byakuya's eyes narrowed slightly. After a while, he spoke again, "What do you want?"
Aizen smiled. "We all know what I want, Kuchiki-san. Definitely not a mutual agreement between two business companies, as what little Rukia here seems to think."
Rukia looked confusedly at Byakuya but he was not looking at her. Suddenly, Rukia's eyes started to widen in shock.
"Now, perhaps it is my turn to ask you a question, Kuchiki-san. Is today…"
Byakuya turned to Rukia, who was desperately gesturing at her own chest now.
"… your Purification Period date?"
Byakuya looked down in time to see a bright red laser dot on his chest… just as a bullet shot its way into his heart.
Yes, yes, it is a cliffhanger... and pardon me for it. I just thought it would end the chapter pretty nicely.
2012 will be very busy for me, as was 2011. I can only hope it is a better year than the previous one. :) Happy new year again, guys! :D
p/s: If you haven't watched the 4th Mission Impossible movie titled Ghost Protocol, get the next cinema ticket in! It's fantastic, in my humble opinion. ;)