Well, this chapter is definitely longer than the last chapter, but I had a lot to fit in before the next one. I'm going to try wrapping this up in the next few chapters. Not that I want it to end. But if I keep dragging it out, I'll never be able to end it properly.

And it turns out that I've been spelling Mizu Yūwaka wrong all this time: it's actually Mizu Yūwaku. I'll go back and fix that in the other chapters, but from now on it will be right.

And since there were no reviews for the last chapter, all I can say is…let the story continue…

. . .

Chapter 17: You Or Me?

I made it to the house with a lot on my mind and a lot to apologize for. But…there was only one thing I needed to do.

Not wanting to wake my parents, I walked around the side of the house and found that my bedroom window was still open—thankfully. I just so happen to look across the way and see Hiroshi's window open, as well…

"Yui!" I whispered harshly. "Yui, are you there?"

After a second, the small green plushy appeared in the window. She wasn't sleepy looking like I thought she'd be. Instead, she had her hands on her hips, and looked mad.

"Where have you need, Nanami? Hanging on Hiroshi?"

She meant it as a joke, but it stung more than she knew.

I ignored her jab. "I need your help." I made the motion for her to jump down.

She shook her head in dismay. "When don't you need my help…?"

She leapt from the window sill and I caught her with ease. She was wearing one of the outfits I bought her.

Thinking on my feet, I grabbed Yui harshly and forced the pill from her. She made a noise of surprise, and before she knew it, the plushy version of her was limp and the green pill was in my hand. I felt bad for doing it, but I didn't have time to explain. I popped the pill in my mouth, and as soon as it made it's way down my throat, my soul ejected from my body.

Yui, now in my body, was the first to say something—she wasn't happy.

"What the hell, Nanami?! Was that really necessary? You know, I was going to do it willingly, right?"

I didn't turn to her—I couldn't look at her. My heart broke treating her like this, but I didn't have much of a choice.

"Yui, I need you to watch out for my family. Don't ask questions, okay? I…I don't have time to explain."

"'Watch out for them'? What does that mean? And I already know where you're going."

I flinched. Of course she knew. I had asked her since day one to keep and eye out for Sakura or Kaguya. Of course she would sense the Spiritual Pressure long before I did. But…did she know the whole story?

"You're going after Sakura, aren't you?" she questioned, her tone more serious than usual.

I nodded slowly. "I need to finish this, one way or another."

"Nanami…"

I shook my head to interrupt her. "Like I said I don't have time. I need to go. Just…keep my family safe. No matter, okay?"

She sounded angry again. "You don't get to say 'no matter what', understand? You're coming back, and you're going to deal with the conciseness of poor plushy handling! And…don't do anything stupid—that includes getting yourself killed. Your father would hate me for letting you go, so you have to come back to take the blame, do you understand?"

I almost smiled. "Just…watch them. I need to deal with this. I'll…be back when I can—probably going to be later for breakfast. Thanks, Yui." I started walking away and added as an after thought, "Oh, and I really liked the outfit you wore today. You should wear that one all the time."

And with that, I was gone and off to my next destination.

. . .

It took a lot more courage to walk up the steps to the Ishida house hold than I originally thought. I didn't really know what to say, but I knew I couldn't completely leave them in the dark.

I quickly rapped my knuckles on the door. As soon was my hand made contact, however, the door swung open and Orihime was standing there.

"Nanami, it's you! I expected Hiro to be standing there. He's always coming home late." She seemed to finally take in my appearance. "What's wrong? Going on a Hollow hunt?"

My heart squeezed. "S-Something like that, yeah." I gulped down my hesitation. "Actually, I was about to meet up with Hiroshi. He…went ahead to help take care of it."

I hated lying right to her face, but it's better that she knows he's out but not in danger.

She looked thoughtful for a moment, and then realization seemed to strike her. "Oh, that's right! Ichigo has the two of you teaming up to take care of Hollows! That's so cute— I mean, I know Hiroshi is helping you the best her can. He's always taking on Hollows, much to my dislike. But I can rest a little easier now that you're with him." She smiled widely at me, and my heart sank deeper into a black hole. "I know that Ichigo set this up so you would be safer, but I'm glad because I know that Hiro is safer with you."

Oh, how I wanted to cry. She was so far from the truth it was painful—Hiroshi obviously wasn't safe with me. I'm the one that got him in this twisted mess. And now…he was facing a death sentence because of me…

I came back to reality, shaking my head. "I…I'm gonna go. I just…thought you should know where Hiroshi was."

She waved as I walked away. "Be careful! Come home safe!"

She barely finished her sentence and I was already Flash Stepping away. I needed to hurry, or Hiroshi would be in more trouble than his mother would ever hope…

. . .

"Do you know the plan?" Captain Hitsugaya asked, and I nodded.

I had easily found Hitsugaya and the others a few minutes after talking to

"Yeah. But…"

Rangiku planted her hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry. We've got your back."

"We'll be in right behind you," Shinji assured me. "Just keep calm and stay in control."

I nodded again.

I would not lose control. Not after what happened in Soul Society. I promised Una…I promised myself. I also swore that no one else would get hurt— Hiroshi is already suffering that broken promise. I swore that no one else would get involved, the captains included. I didn't want them here. I mostly didn't want them to get in the line of fire, but also because they would stop me from killing Sakura.

"Don't do anything stupid, that includes getting yourself killed."

I heard Yui's words repeat in my head. I clenched my fist, trying to stay calm. This was all happening so fast—this is all happening because of me. I need to get through this; I need to finish this, for my family and for my friends.

"Nanami?"

I looked up at them. "Uh…yeah?"

"What is it?" my uncle asked, seeming concerned, but for what I wasn't sure.

I stuttered for words. "I…I was just thinking about the plan."

"What is it, Nanami?" he asked more sternly.

Everyone around us was listening: Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Matsumoto, Shinji and Hiyori. We were standing in the middle of Mr. Kisuke's home, talking about our next move. The whole time we stood there, I felt as though my skin was crawling with anticipation—I wanted to take action now! The plan was to catch Sakura in the training facility Kisuke had build below his home. They had evidently done that days ago.

. . .

I was speechless. And yet, I had so much I wanted to say them.

"Y-You're telling me…that you had her trapped in that place all that time and didn't say anything?!"

My father-figure nodded. "It was an efficient way to get her in one place. And one that we were familiar with."

"On top of that, she doesn't know that we know. She believes she's hiding right under our noses," Shinji added. "That gives us that surprise advantage."

"But now she was Hiroshi down there, and she can do whatever she pleases. All you're going to do is sit back and let her have her way?"

None of them had anything to say to that.

I looked at all of them credulously. "You're…using Hiroshi as a way in. You're…giving her the option of letting her kill him! You're going to let her kill another innocent person!"

I was furious by the end of my rant, and I could already feel Osorozu stirred with anticipation.

Shinji gave me a stern look. "Calm down, Nanami. We won't let anything happen to him. Just stick to the plan."

. . .

'Stick to the plan'. That's earlier said than done. They were all worried about letting me in on this so secretive plan of theirs. No one believed that I could handle this. But…I was going to prove them wrong.

I looked at them—all of them.

"This is wrong. Hiroshi shouldn't have to suffer for us to complete a mission. You're needlessly risking a life."

"We risk our lives every day," Byakuya cut in. "We risk our lives protecting the humans."

"So they need to the same?" i countered. "They aren't as strong as us. And Hiroshi's a human."

"He's a Quincy. They've proven on more than one occasion to be a lot stronger than we first thought. He will be fine."

I knew some things about the Quincy's—even Uryuu's profile was in their records. I knew about their pride, and I knew that they would do anything in order to protect it. They would protect everything they loved and put their lives on the line. So…Uncle Byakuya wasn't wrong.

"Do you doubt his abilities?" Rangiku asked. She was usually the more laid back one here, but now she was more serious. "I'm almost positive that's not the way Captain Byakuya raised you. Never doubt what you're up against—friend or foe."

I glared at her. "No, that's not the way he raised me. However, I'm starting to learn that he's not always right like he thinks he is."

I turned my glare on my uncle, all fired up now more than ever. "You were the one who raised me, not my father. You were the one who taught me right from wrong, not my father. Well, the things that were wrong in your eyes. 'Pride and honor is more important than family and caring.' That's what you taught me, but you planned to keep me from my parents forever, didn't you? You planned to keep me from them because they went against your wishes and morals. Where is the honor in that? What kind of pride would you feel knowing that your sister was to die thinking she would see her oldest daughter again?"

I recalled the day I watched my Uncle and lieutenant Abarai help me escape Soul Society. My heart ached, wondering if that loving look in his eyes was real.

He didn't answer, so I went on.

"You and Hisana were my life—you were my heroes, my everything. I was willing to give up a high ranking spot of the Squad in order to protect her—to please you. She would never tell me to risk my life, let alone risk the life of an innocent person. And now I know what my father really thinks of you. It's almost like…he doesn't trust you. So, then, where does that leave my trust?"

"You're overstepping your lines, Nanami Kuchiki."

I turned my glare on Kisuke, who was just entering the room.

"Don't ever call me that. I was never a Kuchiki. My name is Kurosaki, and no one will take that from me. Not you," I turned to my uncle again, "not you, and certainly not the Captain Commander."

My anger grew, and I felt as though I was going to explode. I didn't know where all of this anger was coming from, but it was scaring me. However, it was also…satisfying, in a way. I was finally let all of these bottled up emotions out. And if felt good to finally scream my heart out.

"Nanami…relax," Rangiku coaxed. "Let's just get this mission over with. Don't bring personal things to light when they shouldn't be. And we shouldn't fight amongst ourselves."

"You're acting like a child," Hitsugaya added, his brows furrowed.

I watched everyone in the room stand there, looking at me as if had loft my mind. And…maybe I was going a little over board. And I'm sure they felt my Spiritual Pressure building to worrying levels.

I sighed. I was being ridiculous. Maybe I should change my tactic…

"I…I want to apologize," I said hanging my head.

"It's okay, Nanami."

Hitsugaya made a noise that pearly indicated that he didn't agree with her.

"Keep it in until later, Nanami," Shinji instructed. "We'll give you a person to channel your anger at."

Forgive me…

"You'll have to excuse me," I said, looking each one of them in the eye.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hiyori asked, annoyed. "You're the one that wanted to be a part of this. Are you really going to back out of it now? Just because your feelings were hurt?"

I shook my head. "No, you've got it wrong. You all will be ones backing out of this mission."

Before any of them could react, I gathered the right about my concentration and spiritual energy needed to do what I intended. And I set a Barrier around them. The barrier itself was nearly transparent, having only a slight hue of purple. It appeared as thin as paper, but I was sure that even the captains couldn't break it.

They all looked at me in surprise.

After a long silence, Hitsugaya said in a voice of shock, "This…isn't like any barrier I've ever seen."

"It's just a barrier," Hiyori pointed out, gripping her Zanpakutou and approaching the wall closest to her. "It can't be that tough."

She took one swing at it…and was sent straight at Shinji, who was also knocked to the ground.

Kisuke looked thoughtful. "This is try craftsmanship." He looked at me from under his green and white striped hat. "You never cease to amaze me, Nanami. You created this barrier yourself, didn't you?"

I shrugged lightly. "You obviously already know the answer to that, Mr. Hat And Clogs."

Hiyori stood up and looked at me angrily. "What the hell is this?"

"It's a barrier she created herself, and it's truly something to be impressed about."

The smaller woman grabbed Kisuke by the neck of this loathes and brought him down to her level, face twisted in anger and annoyance. "This isn't the time to be impressed, idiot! Get us out of here, or I'll break your nose!"

"What is this, Kisuke?" Rangiku asked, and them looked at me. "Did you really create such a barrier, Nanami?"

I nodded. "It's not just a barrier—it also has the properties of a binding. Which is what caused Hiyori to be thrown back just now. It's infused with a Spiritual Pressure. Whenever you release any amount of Spiritual Pressure, the walls will repel you with ten-fold the force you put out."

Said Vizard turned her furry on me. "That's impossible."

"So was being half Soul Reaper, half Hollow," I countered.

She didn't have a come back.

"Why, Nanami?" Rangiku asked. "You can't possibly be thinking about going in there on your own. That's suicide!"

I shook my head. "No, it's what I'm meant to do. It's not fair to you for me to put you in harms way. you have nothing to do with this."

"It was our mission in the first place," Hitsugaya added. "This is a violation of—"

"It doesn't matter," I cut in. "Sakura isn't after you. She wants me. I'll give her what she wants."

Rangiku's eyes widened. "Y—You're turning yourself over to her?"

"No, I'm not so weak that I would just give up," I stated simply, as if it was just that—simple. "A life for a life."

"This can't still be about Una," Shinji spoke up, looking desperate. "Listen, Nanami. She wouldn't want this for you, you have to know that. She was a sweet girl—revenge was never what she would have wanted for you."

I took a calming breath. "Una…has nothing to do with this either. Sakura took something else from me, and it's her fault that I can't look at myself in a mirror without out seeing those yellow eyes, without feeling as though I could lose control and kill everyone I love. She…needs to die."

I looked at my uncle, waiting for him to say something—anything. He almost seemed to accept my personal goal. Either that, or he just didn't care and figured who ever didn't die down there he would take back to Soul Society and look that person up in Central 46.

I turned away from them, but was stopped away.

"She'll kill you, Nanami. You have to know that."

Rangiku seemed determined to get me to stop—same as Shinji.

I gripped and drew my Zanpakutou, getting ready to approach Sakura and Kaguya. Whatever I was going to face, I was more than ready.

"I'll say it again: forgive me for betraying you. But I can't let her get away again. This will be over soon."

I Flash Stepped away with a heavy heart and a worried soul, heading straight for Sakura and Kaguya's Spiritual Pressures.

This was it. Sakura was going to die, and I could have my revenge for what she'd done to me.

"Don't worry, Queeny. We'll kill her together. Letting me out to play is the perfect way to exact your revenge, isn't it?"

I ignored Osorozu, and pressed on toward my target.

. . .

I was in what looked like a completely different world. Was this really under the Urahara shop? It was huge!

There seemed to be and endless amount of cliffs and hills, and it was disorienting. The ceiling—if it really was a ceiling—was blue and clear like the sky above ground. It looked like the place stretched on forever. I couldn't decide if it was an illusion, or it it really did continue for a lot longer than I imagined.

With Mizu Yūwaku still drawn, I started walking, following Sakura's Spiritual Pressure. If she had laid any traps for me, I was ready.

"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?"

The voice surprised me, but I wasn't shocked out who it was.

Sakura stood at the top of a cliff near me, her own Zanpakutou already drawn. She wasn't wearing traditional Soul Reaper clothes, which is what I was expecting. But she didn't wear a Kimono like Kaguya, either. She was wearing everyday clothes…like the ones I wear at home: blue jeans, a fitted t-shirt that barely held her bust, and sneakers. Her sheath hung at her waist from a black trap. Her expression was smug like Kaguya's, but I wasn't smiling.

"Long time no see, Nanami, my dear," she greeted, offering me a smile. "I haven't seen you since you tried to kill me back in Soul Society. Surprised to know that I'm alive?"

"No, I knew they locked you up in Central 46. Not killing you is a mistake I won't be repeating." My grip on Mizu Yūwaku tightened, ready for battle.

I hadn't forgotten the real reason I was here.

"First thing's first: where's Hiroshi?"

"Looking for this handsome guy?"

. . .

As always, let me know what you think. If it sucks, it sucks. But I'm going to finish no matter what!

Thanks For Reading And Reviewing!

—Romni