jychan: I will never own Bleach! So, please don't sue me!!!

10. Gray as Ash

"Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu."

I said as I entered the apartment of Inoue Orihime-san.

It seems she's an acquaintance of Soul Society as Matsumoto-fukutaichou knows her, as well, as Hitsugaya-taichou. According from what Matsumoto-fukutaichou said while we were walking towards Inoue-san's place, she was with Kurosaki-san when they entered Soul Society in the past and also, in the past events. Nonetheless, I had no idea with what happened, except that she was part of the ryoka who helped Soul Society in killing Aizen.

"Anou, Yukinobu-san, I hope you don't mind of my place. It's quite small, though."

Inoue-san said as she gave a worrying smile while I gave her a reassuring smile,

"Nonetheless, I'd like to say thank you, Inoue-san, for keeping me here even if I didn't know you at all."

I said as she replied,

"Dou itashimashite, Yukinobu-san."

I turned to the door as I said,

"Nonetheless, I'll just stay at the rooftop. I'd like to keep my guard open especially since it seems we would be dealing with Arrancars."

"Eh? Nadeshiko-chan, are you sure?"

Matsumoto-fukutaichou asked as I turned to her and nodded,

"I am quite sure, nonetheless, Kuchiki-taichou is nearby, so I think that if ever an Arrancar is nearby, he could just go near."

I said as she gave a malicious smile,

"Kuchiki-taichou, eh? I thought that Nadeshiko-chan wouldn't be attracted to Kuchiki-taichou."

She said as I raised an eyebrow and sighed,

"Of course, I won't be attracted to the said taichou. He's just a person who I respect. We're simply acquaintances at the most."

I said as she rolled her eyes and said,

"Yah. Yah. Don't worry, Nadeshiko-chan, I understand how you feel. Go on now and have a date with Kuchiki-taichou at the rooftop!"

She shouted as I went out of my gigai while I sighed and went up to the rooftop.

Geesh... Matsumoto-fukutaichou is definitely wrong.

I just did want to take care of them and I really have to stay on guard all the time. I don't think that I should just rest.

Hell, I had to use my bankai against that Arrancar, and I'm pretty sure that that Arrancar had a lower rank.

I have to improve if I want to be of use to them. I seriously have to improve. I want to protect them. I want to keep the smiles on their faces.

Earlier, I saw children at the park. One was wearing different colors of shirts: Red, Blue, White, Yellow and Gray. The one wearing the Gray Shirt caught my attention. Not because of her shirt that was Gray as Ash, but because of the smile that was on her face. It was so gentle yet so bright and cheerful.

If the Arrancars win over us, then it would devastate humanity as well. I want to give them a bright future. I can't let their lives end right now. I mean, there is so much things that they have to enjoy and learn about. They haven't seen the world at a different view yet. And they haven't experience the things that life could offer. There are too much things in life that they haven't known.

I sighed as I looked at the dark sky when I recognized a familiar reiatsu. I turned around and greeted,

"Kombanwa nassai, Kuchiki-taichou."

He nodded and replied,

"Yukinobu. Kombanwa. What are you doing here all alone by yourself? It's quite cold."

I sighed and replied,

"I thought that I should guard outside. After all, I didn't want to burden everyone by staying inside."

He sighed and replied,

"You shouldn't underestimate them. They're capable of protecting themselves. Nonetheless, if you think that way, then do so."

I nodded as the cold sensation of the night has finally reached my body. I braced myself with my arms as I was making friction to somehow, warm my body. I felt something at my back as I took that certain something when I realized that it was a captain's haori.

"Eh? Kuchiki-taichou?"

I turned to him as I noticed that he wasn't wearing his haori.

"Somehow, it could make you warm. Although I think that I should keep my scarf, otherwise, I will be the one freezing to death."

"Fu."

I chuckled on his pun as he turned to me and smirked,

"Kuchiki-taichou,"

"Hm? Doushite Yukinobu?"

"Do you have someone special right now?"

Shit. Why did I have to ask that question? Where did that come from?

"Should I answer it?"

He asked as I shook my head in response,

"Sumimasen. That just came out from the blue."

I replied as I shook my hand as well, while he stared at the sky and said,

"They say that when you ask something out of the blue, it is something that you are either worried about or wondering."

"Kuchiki-taichou really knows a lot of things, right? Unlike I, I'm not really that good with life. Sometime in my life, I failed protecting the very people who were the most important for me and my existance. Despite the small time that I spent with them in Rukongai, I suppose those were the times that I felt happiest."

I mused as he nodded and replied,

"Sometimes, I did get angry at myself for not being able to protect my pride. I was torn between two sides. I was helpless."

I turned to him as I widened my eyes,

"Eh?"

He nodded at this as I bit my lower lip,

"Kuchiki-taichou..."

I mumbled as I felt a sudden reiatsu.

"Arrancar..."

I murmured as I looked at Kuchiki-taichou,

"I'll take care of it."

He said as I looked at him, while he shunpo-d away.

Where is he going? Is he going alone? I mean, shouldn't I help him? After all, there are two Arrancars again this time. I looked at the haori that was draping on my shoulders. I could help him. I could prove my use this time. I mean, like in every story, the protagonists get better every after fight. Right? So, I hope that there was something in me that improved. I want to help him.

'Nadeshiko.'

I grinned upon the voice,

'Kurohime.'

'I guess I could confirm your thoughts that you definitely improved on some parts. And, this time. your Shikaiki might be of use.'

'Iaadayo. I don't wanna use Shikaiki. After all, I have no Gokaiki.'

'Who told you that you didn't have a Gokaiki?'

'Eh?'

I widened my eyes upon what Kurohime said. I have a Gokaiki? When? How? I always thought that I could only have a Shikaiki, but not more than that.

'I never said that my capabilities are up to Shikaiki only. Unlike other zanpakutous, Nadeshiko, the domain and range of my skills are limitless.'

I rolled my eyes as I shunpo-d to the area where I felt the two Arrancars, where Kuchiki-taichou was,

'Yah, right. So, I will be using my Gokaiki. I will not waste my Shikaiki on some petty low-level Arrancar.'

'Nadeshiko, you do realize that the Gokaiki is more stronger than the Shikaiki, neh?'

'But Shikaiki is my favorite move, Kurohime.'

I stopped as I arrived at the location where I detected Kuchiki-taichou and the two Arrancars,

"Kuchiki-taichou,"

I called as he turned to me and nodded,

"Yukinobu, will you be able to handle one of them?"

He asked as I smirked in confidence,

"I am able to do so. I did it the last time."

I replied as he looked at me, raising an eyebrow,

"This time, it is an Espada-level Arrancar."

Eh?

I looked at him as I felt a chill on my back. What he said was true. The level of these Arrancars are different from the one last time. It's on a higher level. The last time that I fought with an Arrancar, I was already beaten up. But then, I didn't use my bankai right away. And I still didn't use my Shikaiki nor did I have my Gokaiki that time. But those moves, they're all Shikai type. I mean, when fighting with this type of Arrancars, as what I learned in Shinoreijutsuin, one should use bankai already.

I bit my lower lip as I looked at Kuchiki-taichou. I mean, I don't wanna be called a coward and at the same time, I don't want to be scolded and insulted once again by Kuchiki-taichou. I just can't bear the pain and humiliation that I would be recieving from him.

"Yukinobu."

"Kuchiki-taichou?"

"If you know that you can't handle them, you should say no. But if you want to fight them and see the limit of your capabilities, then do so."

He said as I looked at him while the two Arrancars looked at us,

"Sumimasen. Are we going to fight or not?"

One of them asked as I bit my lower lip and turned to Kuchiki-taichou,

"How about you, Kuchiki-taichou? What would you want me to do?"

I asked as he smirked and replied,

"I would want you to fight."

jychan: Hmmm... Wonder what will happen at Inoue's place... Hmmmmm... :) I would like to thank the ones who added my story to their Favorite Story List and also to those who placed it on Story Alert! I am very much thankful! By the way, Merry Christmas Guys!

Jimmy: I didn't notice that.. LOL.. thank you for pointing out the correction... :) Merry Christmas!