A/N: Please tell me you're still into this fic. I've been caught up with stuff but I hope you forgive me for the late update. This may be the last chapter before a fast forward in timeline. Fingers crossed that you enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: Just borrowing Kubo's Bleach characters.

Heroes Come Back

Chapter 6

Scene 1

"To war we must. With the lock and key, we are formidable. Victory is ours!"

Her fiery red eyes bore into his dark ones as she reached her fingers to the nape of his neck, tugging at his long dark hair. Tracing the jaw line of her newly wedded husband, over his sexy mustache and lingering till her fingers rested on his lips.

"Senna, take care while I'm gone."

The tall muscular new leader pulled her small frame to his and gave her a quick hard kiss, leaving her breathless before turning to leave.

The troops led by Aizen's new leader had left the country for more than three months. The young mistress of Aizen was on the carriage ride back to the Kuchiki home.

"I'm not sure if Sousuke really has the Red Scarlet… Nobody has seen it yet. Stark didn't tell me what it was. I went into Sousuke's room but I couldn't find-"

"You what?" Her raven haired sister shot her a look of mortification.

"Don't worry Nee-san, I know how to take care of myself. If everything goes according to plan, the troops won't be back till next year." The younger Kuchiki sister answered plainly.

"You should watch out for your safety. I know you love adventure but this is too dangerous. Besides, the real scroll is with us. There's no way it'd work even if he found the Red Scarlet."

Nodding at her sister's words, a mischievous grin tugged her lips as she formulated another plan to break into Sousuke's study room.

"So how was he?" the voice interrupted her plan.

"Eh?" she blinked at the large raven eyes staring at her with curiousity.

"Silly, your husband of course!"

She blushed at the memory of their last love making. It wasn't romantic love - but she would fulfill her duties as his wife. The physical attraction was definitely present as evidenced by her mad lover of her husband and her equally eager self. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined Stark as her husband.

After all, they had always thought it would be Aizen Ichigo.

"Well, although he is ten years older than me, he knows how to take good care of me... and he's very very experienced." Her eyes sparkled with a flash of darkness.

"You are incorrigible!"

"I can say the same about you and Abarai-san."

Suppressing her blush, Rukia changed her tone to a louder, more masculine one, the voice she used when she was serious, but her sister knew she was just embarrassed.

"Stark has always been one of Aizen's strongest warrior. All the strong men in the country were recruited for the war."

"I wonder if Kaien-sempai did go?"

"I don't know. I'm just glad Dad didn't send Renji."

"Yeah," red eyes blurred for a second while thinking of her own husband at war.

"Senna? You alright?"

The younger sister nodded with a look a new found determination in her eyes.

"I'll continue to look for the Red Scarlet. If Aizen Sousuke really has it, it will definitely be hidden in the manor."

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Scene 2

He eagerly sucked on her lower lip, begging for entry. Cupping her generous mounds, she moaned, giving him the chance to slip his tongue into her warm cavern. Their tongues battled each others, mixing their saliva while he continued to squeeze and mold her mounds.

She ran her slender fingers in his dark blue bedhair as she moved her position so that she was straddling his waist, while grinding their hips ferociously.

"Ah, ahhh-"

"Mmh Nemu…"

Orihime's hand was frozen by the harsh breath and moaning coming from the other side of the room before she could knock on the door. Realizing the scenario, she took a left turn but paused in her tracks when she heard some footsteps of some brave souls knocking on the door and proceeding to enter the room.

"…Were we interrupting?"

"No!" Nemu blushed at the same time her lover responded.

"Yeah," Uryuu reached for his glasses and put them on while sitting up in bed.

"I-I'll p-pour some tea." the black haired beauty proceeded to serve tea to their friends.

"Well your body must be well enough to do that." Tatsuki smirked as Chad pulled her to sit on his lap seeing there was only one chair in the room.

"Thanks," Uryuu replied dryly. "...What are the plans?"

Tatsuki explained their plans to the Southern village since Chad and Uryuu were given the resources and control over the reconstruction. They would continue with the building of a school, a hospital and the housing while living there. They would live normal daily lives running business, until further notice from the council.

"When do we leave?"

"We were waiting for you and Orihime to recuperate. Seeing that you're both well enough, I'd say we move by next week."

The other three persons in the room nodded their consent.

"…He doesn't know that they are alive?"

"We doubt it. Everything went according to the council's plan. Aizen's have launched the attack against the neighboring countries."

"As soon as we're settled down in Southern, we need to find Kurosaki before they do."

"To only person that can lead us to Ichigo is…" Chad's voice trailed off as he looked at his nakamas. They nodded with a silent whisper.

"Gin!"

Orihime stood outside Uryuu's room for minutes that seemed like hours. She shouldn't have been eavesdropping like she was. But her head was spinning from the muffled voices and the conversation she was able to make out.

Who are the they that are alive?

Kurosaki… Ichigo…?

In the dungeon… Uryuu had yelled Kurosaki…

Is the council good or bad?

And Gin… didn't he betray Ichigo?

Furrowing her brows, she began to wonder who are these people really? Are they really her nakama? Friends or foes, she had to be with Ichigo. That's where she wanted to be. She had to run.

As fate allowed it, she tripped on the hem of her shawl. She gasped as her gaze met the eyes of an unexpected figure.

"Inoue Orihime?"

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Scene 3

Stretching his legs, he got on his feet lazily as his nakamas put out the fire before heading over to his black horse, Zangetsu. Successfully crossing the Aizen's border without meeting the special police, they were on their last pit stop before their destination.

The team of four had been on the run for months, stopping over in caves or alcove for hiding; feeding on any rare occasion of fruits or better luck any animals the boys hunted.

As the horses galloped along a stream, they knew the destination was near. At the end of the stream, a shire came to view.

They entered a small pub at the corner, it wasn't busy but they tried their best to ignore and avoid any eye contact with the townsmen.

"Four beer please,"

"Good heavens!" the stout man whirled around, blinking a few times before lowering his voice, "Little Ichigo? You've grown my boy!"

"Not too loud Uncle Ganju." Ichigo smirked.

"Don't call me uncle, I'm only 10 years older you punk."

"These are my friends." Ichigo briefly introduced his friends while they exchanged pleasantries.

Holding four mugs of ice cold beer, the stout man led the orange head and his friends to a corner booth.

"To what do we owe your mighty presence?"

"I'll tell you more later, now we need a place to stay." As soon as Ichigo spoke, Grimmjow placed a bag of coins on the table.

They were oblivious to the adjacent booth, where a seemingly drunk figure, covered in a black hood, was watching their movement closely.

Not long after, Ganju brought them to the next alley through to an underground pathway, which led to a large compound where a mansion stood.

Ran and Nel shared a room, while Grimm and Ichigo had their own individual rooms. As there was only one communal bathroom, Ichigo went first before they were to meet Ganju and his siblings for dinner.

"It's been months and he has not transformed – we can safely say he is cured."

"…He doesn't know that they are alive?"

"I doubt it. We did as the he instructed the last time."

"As soon as we're settled down in the shire, we need to find a way to get in touch with the council before they do."

"To only person that can lead us to the Council is-" Nel was interrupted by Ran as the latter whispered her lover's name.

"Gin."

Fresh out of bath, Ichigo passed by the girls' bedroom to get the next person to use the shower before they were to proceed for dinner. Not believing his ears, he froze in his tracks on the corridor.

Who did they mean were alive?

They had confirmed that Uryuu was still alive and managed to escape the fire. The only person dead was Orihime, there's no way they'd lie to him about that knowing how much she meant to him. So they can't be referring to either of them.

Is the council good or bad?

And Gin… didn't he betrayed all of them?

Scowling, he began to question if these three were his nakamas. Could he really trust them to be on his side? He contemplated barging in for answers but decided against it and returned to his room.

Amber eyes widened when he saw the unexpected guests in his bedroom.

"Kurosaki Ichigo?"

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Scene 4

The lock was a clear white map made from the finest animal skin. It was as thin as paper yet as durable as diamond, one that would survive the test of fire and water. The descendants of the Kuchiki kingdom held it, but it was known as The Scroll, and only few knew about its existence and even fewer knew about its power.

The key was a red ink made from the most complicated of minerals. It was as solid as steel, one that would survive hot and cold. But a specific temperature of 352 Fahrenheit would liquefy it in order to be used on the Scroll, thereafter freezing it, in order for the map leading to the hidden national treasures to be revealed.

Before the key was passed on to the descendants of the Shinounin kingdom, who had the right to it, the heiress was sent into exile. As such, the red scarlet was given to the neutral and peace-loving Inoue Clan for safekeeping. Sora Inoue might have disguise it into a jewellery or even a pen.

After explaining the history of the lock and key, the woman with luscious purple hair and golden brown skin turned to the auburn haired girl.

"Shinounin and Inoues are allies. So we should co-operate. Did you late brother give you anything like a necklace or ring?"

Reaching for her shiny flower hairclips, she slowly removed them from her auburn strands and placed them on the table.

"No… the only jewellery Sora-nii-sama gave me were these hairclips."

Shinounin Yoruichi didn't bother to look at the hairclips. She had them inspected while the auburn haired girl was unconscious weeks ago.

"I see. Let me know if you recall anything Orihime."

"Hai."

"How would you like to give birth to your child in your hometown? Tatsuki, Chad, Uryuu and Nemu will be going with you... but the journey to the South will take days."

"I don't mind, my body can manage." The auburn haired girl bowed to the Council's female head as she turned to leave.

So the only person who knew its form was Sora Inoue. To ensure further protection, it was disguised... but what was it?

Ashen eyes widened as an image came to mind...

Red and oval shaped, covered in a glass casing, with white gold framing it, looking nothing more than an exquisite and expensive amulet. The amulet was a pendant to a long necklace, and given to his precious little sister.

The red scarlet... Could it be?

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Scene 5

Isshin Kurosaki had not one, not two, but three siblings. They were triplets much younger than himself.

When Isshin and his wife Masaki were assassinated under the orders of Aizen Sousuke, the Kurosaki triplets, Kaien, Kukaku and Ganju fled to the Kuchiki village to seek refuge. Aizen Sousuke only kept the life of his nephew – Ichigo.

The triplets worked in Kuchiki's Byakuya's well known martial arts school. That's where Kaien met Rukia and Senna, and also where he fell in love with Miyako. He married her a year ago and they all moved back to the shire across the borders.

"All these years, I have been under the wing of my parents' murderer." the orange haired muttered in disgust.

"Don't worry bout the past. At least the Kurosaki's are reunited now. We're one step nearer to revenge against Aizen Sousuke." Kaien placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder and gave it an assuring grip.

This gave Ichigo something to look forward to and he felt his spirits lightening for the first time in four months since that incident. He had no tears left for the death of his beloved, nor energy to mourn. He had moved on.

That was, until he met Kaien's wife and Grimm bluntly commented how Kaien resembled him and Miyako resembled Orihime. Excusing himself from the dinner table, Ichigo's appetite was all but lost when he had saw how affectionate Kaien was behaving around Miyako. They were like a constant reminder of what he'll never experience with Orihime because the ugly reality was that she was gone, forever.

Slumping heavily onto his bed, he let tears roll down his cheek to his pillow as his lids gave in to exhaustion, murmuring her name in his slumber.

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End.

Love,

Blitch out (21.09.09)

Souvenir Red Scarlet Amulet goes to my lovely reviewers who greatly inspire me:

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