The Iced Moon Arc Bleach

by tending

Lieutenant Kuchiki has a secret. A variety of secrets that the Gotei 13 do not know until a figure of her past and present tips them off and then a story is told, a past. A past connected to the very creation of the Soul Society from the Soul King to zanpakutos. Soul reapers are not the utmost rulers after all.

21. Lies by the Hour

Pre-Note

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. This is for creative purposes. I do own this plot.

---

Lies by the Hour

"What?" Most of the Gotei 13 questioned at once.

"Grandfather.." Byakuya called, eyes filled with concern, "...that cannot be true."

Can it?

Rukia turned around. "Captain, if this is about you and Sensei Okasake then that doesn't count. All of us had our share in aggravating him, how could you think that was all you?"

Rukia's words immediately made Byakuya feel hopeful that they were not directly involved as his grandfather had said.

She continued. "We all are responsible if you're at fault. We all had our share in pestering him about Jushirmai, the heart's darkness isn't your fault. If you're at fault, I'm at fault, Sensei is at fault, Lieutenant Kuchiki is at fault, Major Shira, and anyone else who tried to convince him is at fault then. Whatever we inspired in Sensei is a joint issue, don't think like that."

Kla gasped. "RUKIA! Stop defending that family, what's wrong with you? Ohhh geez, you're still so brainwashed into thinking that—"

"No, Kla. Blaming him is the same as blaming us." Rukia cut her off. Kla was surprised at how quickly she had done it too. Jushirmai was right, they had corrupted her when she was young. "You can't possibly blame Captain for that."

Kla tried to respond but the younger Rukia wouldn't let her. "I know you and Jushirmai don't like the Kuchiki family a whole lot but blaming them for the heart's contamination is wrong, Kla. You even got me scared for a minute, I thought they actually did something that was yet to happen to me, whoo."

She put her hand on her heart, Kla had really scared her for a second. She was glad she didn't buy into it too quickly, following the Captain's words, she knew exactly what he felt bad about doing.

It was no one's fault and if there was fault to be bestowed, all of them were on that boat, not only him.

Byakuya, behind her, couldn't help but smirk. The entity remained silent, it seemed that she was rather shocked by Rukia's response to her accusations. He also felt glad that there was no direct fault on his clan either, he figured he would have to ask exactly why grandfather felt so directly responsible for something that couldn't be helped.

He and the others were just trying to help.

"Geez, I actually thought the Kuchiki clan had something to do with the heart being screwed up." Ichigo said with his eyes closed in agitation and his hand at the back of his neck.

"Yeah, can you believe I fell for that?" Captain Hirako grumbled beside him. "Was sorta expecting somethin' more ya know."

"Like the dramatic moment in a soap opera where the villain turns out to be the good guy?" Rose asked behind him.

"Think we already lived through that one once." Captain Kyōraku turned to him. "Don't think we got plans of going through that again."

"It's a relief that there's no one directly involved." Captain Ukitake felt lighter now. "Though, I do understand Ginrei-dono's feelings."

"You're not at fault for the heart darkening." Tōshirō ensured.

Captain Kyōraku agreed. "Right, it's the Okasake heir's fault. Nothing we did could ever help, the most Ginrei and the others tried to do was save him."

"He just didn't wanna listen." Lieutenant Hisagi added before Captain Unohana reworded his additional statement.

"He became corrupted by the love for his son." She said kindly. "It's as Lieutenant Kuchiki said, 'to feel is a gift yet a curse', his own feelings became his demise."

"And that's what ruined the guy." Ichigo concluded before turning to Byakuya.

Breathe, Byakuya. It's fine.

They said nothing to each other though, Ichigo hoped his stare translated into some reassurance. In one way, he was glad that Byakuya's grandfather had nothing to do with it directly, that would've been a lot to stomach, especially since part of Rukia's problem now was that she couldn't find a way to purify it.

It was crazy to think that so much was at stake. All their worlds depended on this heart and it was already so corrupted. To make it all worse, the guy just had to be the heir of it. It didn't help that they were still yet to train to understand how to counter the guy's power.

He didn't care what she said, he was helping—she had a tendency to reject help but he wasn't letting her off that easy. He'd find a way to beat it, he just needed to invest that time into doing it. Understanding his power was one thing but how long would it take him to counter it?

He barely managed to do anything to the first guy he met up with near the mountains. Three hits and he was already down. Yoruichi went down quickly too, even while having Sensei-leveled sheatsu and knowing Judan on top of hakuda. He needed to get out of here to train but he also didn't want to miss anything either.

Not that he had much of a choice anyways, they were still stuck here and clearly, touching Jushirmai hadn't changed anything. He didn't know how long they'd be stuck here or how long it would take for them to realize they were in here too. It made him wonder...

Would they ever get out?

---

"So, tell me, what's going on?" Rukia asked, sitting atop a small cabinet in front of her younger brother, waiting. With the same strawberry milk beverage the younger her had been drinking a lot lately, she watched him move back and forth in the 'lab' area he created while being down here.

Situated away from the stretchers, he had brought numerous things to help him figure out the Gotei 13's situation. By now, the red area was pretty much his new lab.

He frantically moved doing, who knows what, though he was obviously very motivated.

"Jushirmai?" She called though he was still moving.

"Jushirmai?"

"Idiot, are you going to pay attention to me? What's wrong?" She questioned as he walked past her yet again.

"I'm pretty sure I felt something." It seemed like he was muttering to himself as he moved. Rukia reminded herself that her brother was a very passionate scientist. Given that it wasn't his main occupation, he seemed to get a bit ahead of himself when it was involved. "I know I did, it was only for a second but...I did."

Rukia raised her left brow as he mixed two liquids together. She had no idea what he was doing or talking about.

"It's weird, I know. I don't know what it was and honestly, I tried thinking I was just confusing wind with something else but it's just too weird."

She wasn't following.

"I don't know how to describe it, it felt like a touch but not quite—maybe a poke or something like that? And it went on, for at least thirty seconds, recurring pokes at my back to my arms." He explained to himself which piqued her curiosity.

"Jushirmai, what are you talking about? Who touched you—or, sorry, poked you?" Rukia questioned him though, his mind was elsewhere.

Suddenly, he paused. He looked up, gazing at her as if he had just noticed she was there. "Sister, you're sure ghosts aren't real?"

Rukia stared at him blankly. What did he just ask?

"Um….of course not?" She responded, eyebrows still crumpled as he resumed back to work.

"Then I must find out what it is. I gotta know, there's something to the way it felt." He rubbed his thumb and his pointy finger together as he said it. "It was very sharp too."

"Do you mind telling me what you're talking about?" Rukia asked before clarifying. "Clearly."

Pulling out some wires from a box, he spoke. "I got touched."

"By?"

"Something."

"What something?"

"I don't know what something but it felt weird."

"When?"

"A few days ago? Maybe 2? I don't remember."

His eyes were still on the wires he was pulling out as she spoke. "And you didn't tell me?"

He looked up at her. "You're going through enough. Last thing I need to tell you is about a touch. Though, I'm telling you, it was weird."

"How so?" She inquired.

"It went on for about thirty seconds, it was like something was—I don't know—trying to get in touch with me? Though, I doubt it's anything related to the ryoka." He explained while moving the wires to the table.

"Are you sure you're not getting worked up over nothing?" She figured it might just be his scientist brain telling him otherwise.

He shook his head as he untangled the wires. "I tried to tell myself that but it just felt too weird. It was like some force, poking at me, there was nothing there—I know that for sure but, what I felt wasn't normal. It felt like a presence was on me or near me but nothing was there."

Rukia nodded her head in response, unsure of what to say. Certainly it couldn't have anything to do with Okasake Jūshirmai. He'd never come after her brother, if he wanted to tease something he'd do it with her, so what was it that her brother felt? She figured she'd leave him for a while to run whatever he was doing to figure it out.

What could it be? There's no way it had anything to do with him, right?

Though Rukia didn't want to, she did think it was right to ask him about it but going back there wasn't in her best interests. There was still his actress there that was causing her trouble and him.

The thought of going back was already making her skin squirm, she'd have to go back eventually but for now, though she was curious, she'd rely on her brother to figure it out. If anything, it could've been nothing and he was getting worked up over a feeling because of the situation they were in or it could be some random species they were yet to discover which lived down here.

It wasn't worth going all the way back to the Hell Palace for now.

She needed to focus on other things too. Other things being Sensei Okasake.

She needed to go, she had too, she just...didn't know how to face him after all these years.

---

Walking back to the stretchers, she noticed Kla on the ground, clearly recovering from something. Beside her was the Captain, her younger self, and the younger Byakuya.

What happened?

Leaning over an obvious stunned Kla, she looked to them for answers.

"What happened?" Rukia questioned while pointing at her.

"Do not care for her." The younger Byakuya ordered. "She tried to accuse grandfather of contaminating the Soul King heart."

Rukia blinked in confusion. "What?"

The younger version of herself approached her. "Why do we let her stay with us? Isn't she a part of Jūshirmai? That makes things ten times worse!"

"Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision." It was true. Accepting Kla inside the house had taken her a while to consider. She felt bad for her—but more importantly, she could never turn her back on someone who needed a home. For the longest time, she had kept her eyes open—afraid that she had some other intention but she was harmless. It was something the younger her would come to accept soon.

"She isn't Jūshirmai, she's pretty much her own person for the most part. Though, she started off acting really similar to the one we knew, she sort of developed her own kind of thing." Rukia assured with a smile. "She's safe to be around."

"Are you sure?" The younger her inquired, her eyes were big and filled with hidden fear. Even she couldn't believe that she'd let her guard down so easily.

She nodded her head. "Though, what did she say? That you," she looked up to the Captain, "had something to do with this?"

They locked eyes, an odd moment of silence went by—the younger her wasn't sure why the older her wasn't saying anything. Before she could question it, their eyes met again.

"Don't listen to her, she hates the Kuchiki family more than anything. Don't let it get to your brain."

"You too." Rukia said to the younger Byakuya who was back on his seat though, for some reason, he was staring at her quite oddly. Rukia didn't want to know what was bothering him now. She figured she'd change the subject though, the presence of Raiden coming through a formed portal in front of her, caught their attention.

"Rukia!" He stood in front of the portal, which for some reason stayed open even though he was out. His shoulders were up as he ran his fingers through his mohawk.

"What's wrong with you?" Rukia asked, he looked so...jittery.

When he didn't respond, she spoke again. "Did something happen to the Capital?"

"Nah, nah, nah…." he disregarded. "It's that motherfucking bitch again! That woman is more vile than a fucking—" noticing Roger glaring at him, he changed the word immediately "centipede, I'm telling you what the fuck is she? Are we sure she's a regular soul? Fucking woman's a soul eater, please."

Her brows furrowed. "Who?"

"Sensei…" he clenched his fist and pressed his teeth together, "...fucking Kyōraku."

"Sensei Kyōraku?!" Most Gotei 13 members resaid out loud. They looked to the Captain who just grinned at the mention of his great Aunt.

"Well, well, well, it seems like Aunt Eshima's still on her grind." He commented.

"You have a relative that's a Sensei too?" Tōshirō asked him.

"Ol'Aunt Eshima's the Sensei of the 8th." He casually informed. "Surprised to see her taste hasn't changed."

"The woman is fucking crazy!" Before Rukia could say anything else, he started to babble.

"Listen, we had an emergency meeting right and this fucking woman was after me the whole fucking meeting! I'm here tryna do my job and talk about the ice and shit and here she is trying to get a rise out of me throughout the whole fucking thing. Every time I open my mouth, 'but Secretary of State Arigawa', she's so fucking irritating. And...And do you know what she called me? Her dearest! Now who the mother fuck taught her that language? The entire meeting she was after my ass and then finally, after it was over, I had a little convo with Cang Du and the rest ya know, to catch up since I was fucking gone and then, I tried to leave but guess who decided to fucking show up just when I was about to leave? Sensei fucking Kyōraku! She started to pester me about how I was defending you during the meeting and how me being against researching the Lieutenant meant I knew something and I was hiding something like please fucking leave me alone. Now I can't be against something? And then….motherfucking then….the worst part is about to come, she fucking threatened to put that same red metal thing you were wearing at your execution on me for lying!"

Rukia couldn't hide her smile, Sensei Kyōraku had always been after him...for years.

He glared at her. "And please….for the love of fucking god don't tell me what the fuck she meant by that, I swear to the fucking Soul King if you utter a single word, I'll fling your ass back to the Capital so they can figure out who exactly the fucking Lieutenant is. Anyways, she says, YOUR FUCKING NAME. As in, KUCHIKI Rukia, turns out the bitch knew all along where you were! So then, I grab her into a room and obviously, I was fucking panicking ya know 'cause like, how the fuck did she know? And then she pulled out some fucking photograph of the Gotei 13 that apparently, some nephew of hers left behind? Like, how the fuck does he even have that? Anyways, she started threatening me and what not for lying and how I knew shit from your execution and what not. How did she know I was there? And after all of that, now I gotta fuckin—"

The woman suddenly walked straight out of the portal.

Rukia didn't even have time to react, she was still hooked on the fact that the Sensei of the 8th Division had known the truth.

It was Sensei Kyōraku for sure.

Straight, slicked back grey hair, emerald irises, gold jewelry, and a cane. She wore the standard assassin uniform and a white haori. The woman's face was always etched with the same devious grin, she had a reputation for her...behavior. Rukia remembered her distinctly for that and her aura, she was a very...laid-back woman much like her nephew. Her honeyed tone, one that always sounded so pleasing to hear but couldn't be trusted, was a sound memorized in her mind.

"Lieutenant." She greeted with her brow raised, Rukia mentally closed her own eyes. This was weird—this whole thing was weird. The fact that she was addressing her as Lieutenant was even weirder.

She changed her mind. She'd rather visit Sensei than this.

With her arms suddenly wide open, she stepped forward. "It's been awhile."

Rukia flashed a close-lipped smile, clearly uncomfortable. "Sensei Kyōraku….hello."

This was weird. Completely weird. Rukia begged that Jushirmai, as in Okasake Jushirmai, interfered. She hated to admit it but she needed him now to interfere.

Where was he?

"It's been so long. How've you been?" Her voice sounded so delicate and sweet. She was like that warm grandmother who baked her grandchildren cookies and took them out shopping. "We must have some tea together when you return to the Capital. It's been too long."

"Ah, and the younger Lieutenant, how have you been?" She addressed the younger her beside her. "Has the future been fun so far?"

"Um….sure?" Her younger self responded before the woman's attention diverted to the Captain near her.

Thank you.

"Ah—Ginrei-dono, you're here too. Hirosuke-dono informed me that you had returned to life." She greeted with a slight bow. "I can't say I'm surprised to see you both together."

"Where's my nephew?" She suddenly questioned. "I'm guessing he's here."

Rukia turned to point at Captain Kyōraku's body near Captain Ukitake's stretcher. She clapped her hands once, "ah, come on, Arigawa. Let's look at your future nephew."

Rukia looked to the Captain who was already staring at her.

"Lady, look—" Raiden tried to stop her but the woman kept coming for his right arm. "—woman, I'm telling you, I have no fucking interest—"

"Don't be silly." She cooed. "We have a secret to keep."

Raiden widened his eyes as the woman started to drag him to her nephew's stretcher, he looked to Rukia as he pulled her away. "Your motherfucking ass owes me a promotion."

Moving to the Captain, she whispered in distress. "What are we gonna do?"

"I am not sure. It seems that she knew from your execution." He responded.

"She's gonna milk him out like a cow until we figure out a way to keep her quiet." Rukia said before her eyes fell on his zanpakutō. It was a memory-based one.

"I know what you're thinking." He responded. "I do not think it will work."

"So then?" Rukia asked. "What do we do to keep her quiet?"

"There is a way and it involves Hirosuke." Rukia looked up at him, she knew what he was referring too. If she visited Sensei and explained her situation, Sensei Kyōraku wouldn't be able to say a thing.

Rukia sighed. "Any way but that."

"She is very familiar with my zanpakutō. She will close her mind." He reasoned.

She frowned immediately. "Then what do we do? I can't do that now but she also can't know this. She'll give him a hard time to keep it a secret."

"You may try to reason with her." He proposed though the thought instantly turned her off. The Sensei wasn't the type of person she found herself reasoning with, their personalities were quite different and engaging in a conversation with her, longer than two minutes, stressed her out. Though, it did seem like the only option as of now.

"Well…." Lieutenant Hisagi started to say. "...she's something."

"Yeah, Captain Kyōraku, your aunt is…." Lieutenant Kira didn't know how to finish the 'compliment' he was trying to lie about.

"I love her." Rangiku commented before turning to the Captain. "Captain, when we have sake with the Head Commander, can she join too?"

"She's uh…." with her hand at the back of her head, Orihime put it kindly, "...very energetic?"

"And crazy." Uryū muttered right after. "Can't believe I'm saying this but poor Arigawa."

"Uhh….your aunt…" Ichigo started. "...she's...something."

"Glad he never introduced her to us." Kensei muttered. What a woman.

"Sensei Kyōraku is a very youthful woman." Captain Unohana complimented. "In spite of her age, she's very young at soul."

"It's been awhile since I've seen her." Captain Ukitake mentioned with slightly flushed cheeks though the Gotei 13 didn't know why.

"She mentioned you last dinner." Captain Kyōraku chipped in. "Forgot to tell you."

"O-Oh….well that's nice." He responded.

"N-Nice?" Lieutenant Hisagi asked, staring at him in confusion.

"Why's his face lighting up?" Kenpachi questioned from behind him.

He jumped to respond. "A-Ah! Well it's nothing!"

"Uh...Ukitake, you okay?" Ichigo asked the fidgety Captain who's cheeks were still stained.

"It's nothing, she just used to squish my cheeks a lot...when I was a kid." He responded with a nervous laughter following.

"It's weird." The voice of Rukia caught their attention, she was beside the Captain, now facing them. "Out of all her….'muses' Raiden being thrown in there is sort of...odd."

"I did not think that was her taste either." Ginrei blandly responded. "She was after Jūshiro for such a long while too."

"Aha!" Rangiku squealed before Captain Ukitake turned completely to both of them.

His two hands were up and moving. "A-Ah wait! Don't say that!"

"I know." Rukia responded. "Captain Ukitake and Raiden are two completely different people, I don't get the connection. It's funny that she was still seeing him while bothering Captain Ukitake too."

"K-Kuchiki, wait!" Captain Ukitake tried to stop her though, he knew it was no use. She couldn't see him.

"Awhhhhh, it looks like she was after you too." Lieutenant Hinamori said with a smile.

"I still remember the time the Captain came in from lunch one day and he was all blushy and smiling. I wanted to ask but at the same time, I didn't want to know." Rukia said to Ginrei with a reminiscent smile. "He probably wouldn't tell me the truth anyways but he was doused in her sheatsu and reiatsu."

"I-It wasn't like that Kuchiki I swear!" Captain Ukitake defended though, the Gotei 13 were already laughing. "She j-just hugged me, we didn't—"

"Might need to sit down and have a drink with Lieutenant Kuchiki too." Captain Kyōraku said with a smirk. "Seems like she's aware of all this too."

"Ah, my little Jūshii looks amazing." The voice of the Sensei complimented in the background.

"Can she...stop that?" Lieutenant Hisagi couldn't help but cringe.

"She's very...bold." Isane said right after.

"And's got serious issues." Ikkaku grumbled before Yumichika smirked.

"Remembering Mizuho, Ikkaku?" The rather violent woman who was the sister of Asano Keigo and had a thing for shaved heads.

"Don't remind me." He muttered as her image came back.

"It's like a love triangle, Izuru." Rose said to his Lieutenant. "I must write a song for them when this is over."

"Uhhh….pretty sure the quincy doesn't reciprocate her feelings...though," he leaned in, "can't say much about Captain Ukitake."

"It's so fun seeing the Gotei 13. It's been a while." Sensei Kyōraku said as she approached Rukia and Ginrei. "I can't believe you both were here having all the fun all along."

"Uh...yeah...about that—" Rukia began to say though the woman cut her off, having seen the younger Byakuya.

"You must be the younger Captain Kuchiki, hello." She greeted before she returned her gaze to Rukia.

"You know, I wouldn't have known that it was you if it wasn't for this photo." Rukia immediately scrunched her brows. She wasn't following.

It seemed like she had known about her existence ever since the execution, she didn't know why she was bringing up a photo. She rarely participated in photos prior to her promotion, she wasn't a high-ranking officer at the time nor was she a part of any clubs.

Holding the thin photograph in her hand, she turned to the younger Byakuya. "Would you like to see?"

The younger Byakuya didn't say anything in return, he just raised his brows. He didn't know why the woman was speaking to him in such a delightful tone.

"Now why you gotta bring that shit in?" Raiden grumbled behind her.

"Why not? If it wasn't for this photo my nephew left in the manor, I wouldn't have known that she or Abarai were even alive nor would I have been able to blackmail you." She kindly said though, Rukia still didn't understand what photo she could've possibly participated in with Renji prior to her promotion.

"Oops." Captain Kyōraku commented out loud. "Didn't think I left anything behind, sorry, Arigawa."

"Right, listen—Sensei Kyōraku? Do you have a minute? I want to talk to you...alone." Rukia said before the woman's eyes perked up in delight.

"Ah, yes! Let me just leave this with you—" she was referring to Byakuya as she put the photo faced down on his lap and walked past her. "—and we'll be on our way."

Rukia watched Sensei Kyōraku head to a really far corner before turning around. "What do I do?"

"That woman's a fucking parasite. Coaxing her ain't gonna work." Raiden said.

"She has a tendency to be drawn to things much like her aura." Ginrei informed.

"So?" Rukia asked while looking up.

"Speak to her in your soul reaper form if she does not budge."

Rukia was surprised. "My soul reaper form? You really think that'd work?"

"Captain, she looks so fucking small and frail and cutesy? I don't know how to fucking describe it but she looks so small like some plushie or somethin' but one of those pretty ones ya know that look soft n'stuff, how the fuck is the woman supposed to disagree with her when she looks so fucking—heyyyyy, Ruks this may work."

"I'll leave that as my last option." Rukia said with a smile before turning around to leave. She hadn't been in her soul reaper form in a while, she didn't know how'd she feel being in it again.

Especially with Sensei Kyōraku. Having her see her was already weird enough, going into full soul reaper mode in front of her was the last thing on her mind though, if she was unable to persuade her to keep quiet, she might just have too.

---

"That woman is supposed to be a noble?" Byakuya immediately questioned once the Sensei left the area.

"Yeah, Sensei Kyōraku is very….odd." Rukia said beside him, the younger one that is.

"Clearly." He responded before turning the photo the woman had thrown into his lap. It took several seconds for him to absorb what it was—it was a picture of the current Gotei 13. Running through the unfamiliar and familiar faces of the new Gotei 13, his eyes fell upon himself and her and just like that, the anger he had felt long before came back again.

She held both of her gloved hands in her lap, slightly leaning to the right. Behind her was the older him. He was not smiling but he was there behind her and that's what made him angry. How could he have adopted such a liar? The older version of him had no idea who this woman truly was. She was living as his sister when in truth, she had numerous things hidden from him, how dare she take advantage of his kindness? She was a member of another clan and yet here she was smiling with his clan's gloves, using their family name to conceal her identity.

He couldn't control it. Although it had subsided, this woman truly did irk him to no ends. He was trying to become immune to her surprises but she was a never ending enigma that he for some reason had to figure out.

He did not like this. He was back to not liking her again. How many times had he been lied to? What more was she keeping beyond this? He had been fooled, completely fooled by this woman in regards to her history and even something as simple as her appearance.

It bothered him to think that the older him had no clue.

"Grandfather, what is this?" He flipped the photo around and held it, pointing at the very woman who looked like her but not quite.

His grandfather's eyes lowered and looked at the image. "So she did cut it."

"Huh?" Byakuya had no idea what he was talking about.

"She informed me that she was to cut her hair; however, when I came back, it looked exactly the same. I figured she had just trimmed it then but I was sure she was interested in doing a different style in her words. I do not know what she was worried about. In this case, Sensei Kyōraku will not inform the Capital that she is alive." Ginrei explained though his short tale about her hair just infuriated him more.

He changed his mind. He did not like their relationship at all.

He was about to say something though the elbow of the younger version suddenly rested on his shoulder.

"Ooh, that's me? Wow, I never thought I'd look good with my hair as short as that." Rukia said. "Though," she tilted her head, "don't I look kinda small? Like really small?"

"It is your genetics." Ginrei responded to her.

She removed her elbow from his shoulder and stretched her arms. "Maybe I should stretch more."

"Or the fact that you hid even your own height." Byakuya harshly said to her before she dropped her arms and frowned.

He was always yelling at her for some reason. She didn't know how many times she'd have to explain that she wasn't responsible for what the older her did. She barely knew a thing.

"I swear we go through this every 3 days." Rukia responded. "I told you I don't know why I ended up here."

Closing her eyes, she moved away. "How can you be mad at me when I didn't do a thing to you?"

"But you did do a thing. Do you not realize that while you are aware of your wrongdoings, my present self has no clue what you are truly like?" His tone was filled with anger, Rukia couldn't take this anymore—why did she end up in his stupid clan? "Does it not concern you that my present self thinks you look like this and you're just some Rukongai peasant he adopted?"

"Byakuya, there isn't even much of a difference. You act like I changed my whole face, I still look the same minus the hair, a bit of my height, and a bit of my body—pretty sure my older self doesn't completely look that tiny though, I'll have to take a proper look. Anyways, if you remove the soul reaper uniform and replace it with my assassin one and remove your gloves and put mine on then, we pretty much look the same. What's the big deal?"

He crumpled the photo. "The big deal is that while to you, you may look the same, this appearance will not look the same to the present version of me. You are not the same, you changed your hair and body to sneak into my clan. I simply cannot believe your intentions were pure."

"Listen, I highly doubt my older self would enter any clan with the intention of harming them. Something went wrong and I've been trying to figure it out but for the 100th time, I am not a spy! You read through the family relations, how are you this difficult?" Rukia argued.

She was so frustrated. One minute it seemed like he understood, the other minute, it seemed like everything she had said went through one ear and came out the other.

His accusations were annoying enough.

"That does not matter. You are not their family." He argued. "I do not care for your stories of chance. It is obvious that you met my grandfather and them and me with other intentions. I've been with you for days and I still do not see what they saw."

"I…." she was speechless. How could she end up with such a horrible so-called family member? "...how could you think that I approached your grandfather intentionally? I didn't even speak to him after he saved me but he spoke to me, I never chased anyone here."

He scoffed. "Oh, please. It could've been a trick, you're a peasant."

"It's so funny how you look down upon us and then somehow end up praising us by believing we're smart enough to create some whole scheme to get ourselves into noble houses. I told you, I have no interest in being a noble!"

"That is a lie. A peasant would never deny the opportunity to be saved from poverty. Not only did you have my grandfather but you also had two other noble figures by your side. It is obvious you like the chase."

"Chase? What chase? I didn't want to get adopted into a clan and somehow saying 'no' implies that I wanted them to chase me? You really know nothing about anything and yet you pride yourself into thinking you know and understand the facts. You know nothing and rightfully so, the most you do is jump to conclusions."

"I do not care for your peasant speech. You're avoiding the subject. You approached my grandfather intentionally, you wanted the noble life but you did not want to make it seem suspicious so you pretended to not want an involvement so that they'd pity you."

"I got saved by someone and I said thank you, he continued speaking with me! I found it weird too, how'd you think I felt? You think I wanted anything from anybody? No, I wish I was privileged enough to have all the things you have on a silver platter! Even when the Captain tried to give me food, I refused! I never took anything."

She was furious. She had tried to make him grow on her but he was a noble and nobles would never understand anything in regards to her class. The fact that he had the nerve to insult her that way when she had never done a single thing wrong hurt her. What did she do so wrong to end up like this?

She should've ended up in the Okasake clan, legally.

"That was your scheme."

Her voice cracked though she hadn't intended it. "It was not a scheme, Byakuya!"

"You have nothing to offer."

"You're right, I don't. So, ask your grandfather," her arm swayed to Ginrei who was watching them, "why he kept on speaking with me when I tried to run away! Ask your grandfather why he even bothered to come back a second time to speak with me, ask him! Right now, go! I'm tired of these baseless accusations, I already feel terrible and you're not making anything better, you accused me of being a spy, of intentionally making your grandfather and the Senseis pity me so that they'd take me in, you're so disgusting, you have no right to speak of me like that. I'm tired of you pestering me over things I specifically have no control of though, I'll tell you this. I really, really, really, hope that my older self is a spy. That way, she can get out of your stupid clan and be set free. You say I'm your only family member left? Good! You don't deserve any! The fact that the older me even spared you some kindness is beyond me. You deserve to be alone, you'll probably die that way too. Die alone, I wouldn't spare you a single glance if I could." She spat.

Anger flared in her eyes as she clenched her fist. She didn't care anymore—she had tried to be considerate given that he was the Captain's grandson but she wanted some respect at least? To think that she even bothered to speak with him and to get to know him a bit made her so angry.

She had a brother, a younger brother, who was her blood. She didn't need him in her life, he was better off alone—he knew nothing of how to care or understand. She didn't even want to know how the older her had been living all these years.

Turning around, she walked past the Captain and headed down some random interconnected cave. She needed to be anywhere but here—she couldn't stand him, she couldn't stand what her life had become.

Captain Kuchiki, Lieutenant Kuchiki, and Lady Kuchiki had been nice to her, they were good people, the fact that the house was left to him made her feel for them.

Their so-called pride was a monster.

She needed to stay away from him, she couldn't be nice to someone who clearly had no interest in reciprocating her effort. He had shown that he clearly had no respect for her.

She didn't care if the older her tried to make her even understand him, he had no respect for them—she would argue even with herself to wake up and leave him.

Byakuya did not even watch her go. If he was to live alone, he'd live alone proudly without anyone if that was his fate. He did not need a companion, worrying himself over finding one wasn't necessary either.

He could not wait to set her free. He wished his present self would wake up so that he could inform him and they could go straight to the manor and officially terminate her adoption.

She was nothing more than a nuisance.

"Byakuya." His grandfather called him and he already knew he was going to reprimand him for his actions. He did not know what he saw in them, they were very rude and ungrateful.

He could not fathom how he fell so hard.

His eyes met his, though usually he would change his expression, he could not hide the annoyance with his grandfather's continuous defending of them nor could he hide his fury.

"Do you believe the words you said were right?" He asked him, there was nothing in his eyes that could indicate how he felt with his language but Byakuya already knew.

He did not like what he had said at all.

Byakuya didn't respond, he just stared at his grandfather letting silence swallow the moment. It didn't matter what he said, his grandfather would side with them.

It seemed that his grandfather figured he wasn't going to respond, scanning his face with no indication to speak until the silence became overbearing.

"I asked a question."

His voice was so rough and hostile.

"Yes." Byakuya simply answered.

"Why?" It was such a simple question though, Byakuya didn't know how to form a coherent response. There were many things he wanted to include though, his grandfather cared for the basics—he wanted to know a clear reason why.

"Well," he lowered his gaze. "...I do not have a reason. I just know that I do not trust them or like them. Regardless of their situation, they are skilled liars and I do not believe that they could meet all of us by chance. They have nothing and they are nothing."

He responded slowly. "If you were so sure of that, why did you run into the cleaner to find her when I had warned you to stay inside the barrier?"

Byakuya didn't respond, he just let the slow, gruff voice continue. "Why did you ask me why I had not forced them to stay with Hirosuke when I knew they were at risk in the Rukongai?"

Nothing. He said nothing in response.

"Why did you propose the idea of her staying with us if she refused Hirosuke when you found out about her situation?"

Byakuya still didn't answer. He knew the answers to all those questions but for the life of him, he would not admit to any of it. He did not like them—that was the only fact he'd let live in his brain.

"You are wrong in your judgement. You should reflect on your actions and understand why saying what you did was wrong."

Byakuya didn't know why but a string of questions left his mouth immediately.

"And what of her? Did you not hear what she said to me? Is she right in that behaviour too? Or is she excused from it?"

"She would have not said what she did if you did not provoke her." He blandly stated.

He could not believe this. Was grandfather really defending them like this? Did he not hear what the younger one had said to him? As if that is acceptable.

"Grandfather, please stop defending them. Why is it that I am the only one at fault?"

His silence only made Byakuya want to question him further.

"Was she the only one who got offended? Why is it that you can't see that there's an obvious intention here?"

"There is not."

He stood up from his chair, his fist clenched. "Why are you so sure of them?"

Envy was swallowing him whole though he did not care.

When he didn't respond, Byakuya felt all his frustration burn inside of him.

"Both of you keep saying you mean me no harm but…" he could not stay here any longer. He needed some air—he needed to get away. "...you are the ones harming me the most."

Byakuya walked away, moving himself past his grandfather, he made a sharp turn to the right into a different opening and disappeared.

Ginrei stayed in the same place, staring at his grandson lying on the stretcher calmly.

If not for the presence he felt behind him, he would not have moved. Turning around, he already knew she had been there—she had heard his words quite clearly. Knowing her, she would pretend it didn't bother her and excuse it.

"Don't." Rukia stopped him before he could open his mouth. "I heard."

Rukia didn't really expect much from him but it seemed that he really didn't like her, she figured that perhaps she had misread him. It was only a day ago where she thought he was finally warming up to her a bit and coming to understand some of her decisions.

Seeing how angry he was, Rukia felt that their visit to the County of Reincarnate Souls was quite literally a dream. He had seemed so understanding then and yet...all it took was one other photograph of herself to completely destroy him.

There was no coming back from what he just said.

It was clear to her that those had been his raw feelings. She understood if the younger her didn't wish to speak with him again. Rukia couldn't lie, she felt a bit offended too. Though, she would never think that Byakuya—the present one—would ever have such thoughts against her, his younger self having them made her wonder.

Was that what he'd think too? That she purposely met all of them and lured them into pitying her and helping her?

Just the thought of it made her second-guess even explaining to the present version of the past. She selfishly wanted the Captain to do it on his own and then just...disappear. To hear it from the younger version was one thing though, if she ever figured out through his silence that he felt similar, she didn't like how she'd feel.

"Sensei Kyōraku agreed to keep it a secret." Rukia said with a close-lipped smile, attempting to change the gloomy aura. "Surprisingly, I didn't need to change into my soul reaper form to convince her. Though, that's not to say I got out of there as easily."

"Please for the love of fucking chicken don't tell me you offered me?!" Raiden said, sitting aside.

He had moved away when they started arguing. Hearing the argument only pissed him off more. The fact that Rukia ended up in that household was sick. How the hell did she live there for that long with someone like that? Raiden had no clue.

He was glad the younger one, being the one he knew best, stood up for herself and walked the fuck off. He really hoped the older one would remember to do that soon enough instead of taking his bullcrap.

He also really hoped she didn't fucking give him up like that or he really was going to drag her there in front of everybody.

"Rukia, I'm about to fling your fucking ass to the Capital right now with express packaging. Do not make me stamp your fucking ass right now and mail you."

"No, you idiot."

She smirked as she looked to Captain Ukitake's body on the stretcher. She figured she would have to thank him over a million times for this but it was just one night...what harm could that do?

Following her gaze, he looked to the Captain.

"You offered Jūshiro."

"Ohhhhh great! Mr. Long Hair over there. As long as it isn't fucking me." Raiden said, relieved.

"K-Kuchiki!" Captain Ukitake's body jolted awake. His Lieutenant really offered him up to the lady that had been after him since he was a teen.

"I owe him one." She said with a giggle. "I'm really gonna have to thank him after this. She isn't an easy person to be around."

Rangiku winked. "Guess you've got a date, Captain!"

"Yeah! Once this is over, we'll support you all the way!" Momo said right after with a 'fighting' pose.

"It's been awhile since you've been in the limelight, Ukitake." Captain Kyōraku said beside him. "Enjoy it."

Yes but not with her.

"Well," Raiden hopped off the stretcher before stretching his arms out. "...now that that shit is cleared up, gotta head back to the Capital, your ol'Oky struck but not much. 16 casualties so far, you were right about him doing something different, he's injecting some odd illness into us or something. 16 casualties died in the ER for internal bleeding in the brain. Anyways, besides that he's been pretty quiet 'cause of you but it still ain't safe to leave everyone behind there. Sensei banned anyone from going outside in the meanwhile, we're on lockdown until necessary."

"Illness?"

"Yeah, the ones who survived are chillin' in bed though they're having a fucking hard time staying alive. Apparently, no member of the 4th can leave them for a minute. The shit's nasty, from migraines they go to vomiting to coughing to high fevers, it's fucking crazy down there in the 4th."

"I see." Rukia said while nodding her head. "You should go back. They need you."

Turning to face the Captain, she met his eyes. "You too. Might as well tell everyone else you're here so you can aid with their lockdown."

He grunted in response before he walked past her. She figured he was not in the mood given the events that had just occurred.

"Wait—you sure you're gonna be fine here by yourself?" Raiden asked her as she attempted to turn around.

"Yeah why?" Rukia asked him though she knew why he was questioning her.

No one who she could speak to was here. It seemed that Roger slithered away while she was gone to speak with Sensei Kyōraku and Yoruichi, Yūshirō, Kisuke, and the rest were still back in Urahara's Shoten trying to figure out a way to train everyone to fight him. Her younger brother must've left to go home given that she couldn't detect his reiatsu and by the absence of their zanpakutōs, Rukia figured that Senbonzakura was back to being a sword while Sode No Shirayuki and Zabimaru were off somewhere else.

Though, she needed this peace and quiet to figure out what she was going to do about Sensei. She had to meet him—delaying it, as the Captain said, would not make things easier.

Raiden observed the area. "I mean, you're kinda a loner now."

"It's okay, I'll be fine, go." She reassured with a smile before turning around. She headed towards her spot near Ichigo's stretcher and stayed there. Being next to the present Byakuya right now rubbed her off in a weird way. She didn't want to argue with the younger Byakuya whenever he came back.

She just wanted peace and tranquility. Nothing more than that. Just a few moments to close her eyes and feel nothing at all, so much that she was dead.

---

After walking out the portal, both him and the Captain had gone their separate ways. Him to the 1st and well him to his division, number twelve. The place was a ghost town now, everybody was inside—the fact that just a few hours ago, there were people still out and running was crazy.

Turning into the dark interconnected bridge to his division, the last thing he expected to see was a familiar flash of red and an assassin mask covering the face of—"FUCKING RENJI?"

Pulling him into the dark murk, the lanterns inside were flickering on and off. It was Renji alright, he was wearing a black cloak and an assassin mask all the way past his nose but Raiden knew.

What the fuck was he doing here now?

"Shut up, you dumbass—don't think you want people hearing my name." He said to him though Raiden couldn't process the fact that he was on assassin land. Assassin land that Wildfire was currently fucking on.

"The fuck you doin' here? Are you trying to cause another fucking mess?"

"No, I'm not, listen—"

"Get your fucking ass outta here before Wildfire fucking sees you." He spat close to his face. Not fucking now, why did he have to show up now?

He was waiting for an answer but instead, he just looked down. Moving slightly away from his face, Raiden fucking hoped for the love of chicken his expression wasn't implying that him and Wildfire had already fucking m—

"We already did...meet." He said slowly, he didn't meet his stare.

Raiden grabbed his collar and pulled him closer. "The fuck you just say?"

Moving his hand up, Renji loosened his grip on him and finally looked at him away. "We already did meet. Back in the Seireitei when...the Captain left me behind we...met by chance—"

Raiden removed his hands from his collar and flung them in the air in frustration. His gaze shifted from the ground to the sky to fucking everywhere.

Wildfire and Renji met.

Wildfire and Renji met.

Wildfire and Renji met.

Wildfire and fucking Renji met.

Renji just stared at him while he leaned back, he was glad he was silent, he didn't know what the fuck would come flying out of his mouth if he said a word.

Moments passed by and suddenly Raiden grew anxious. He wanted to know.

What happened?

Tapping his foot impatiently, he glared at Renji. "So?"

"'So' what?"

"What the fuck happened?" Raiden questioned.

Renji stepped back. "Relax, we didn't say much, at least I didn't. She released her anger and then walked away, I didn't go after her. After a while, I saw her with Major Haru, she looked fine—she was smiling. It didn't hurt her that much, you can relax."

Well that's a fucking relief.

"Don't tell her." Renji suddenly said, Raiden didn't know what the fuck he was talking about.

"Don't tell her about what?"

"That you knew." Raiden's shoulders rose. "She doesn't know that you knew all along. Now that, that would fucking destroy her. You're probably the closest person to her now besides Major Haru. It isn't worth fucking that up."

Raiden was surprised the thought even crossed his mind, at least he was being considerate though, what the fuck was he doing here?

"Great, now what the fuck is your stupid ass doing here then?"

Renji sighed. "Listen, I'm gonna have to do this eventually, I don't want it to be a surprise times two if I do it with Rukia. Besides, I'm not that important round' here, eventually, the 'why did you do that?' will end, I just wanna get it over with early."

"So basically you came here to confess you fucking dumbass."

"Yeah, now I need your help—we can do it either way, up to you."

"I'm listening, go."

"You either drag me up here and tell everyone you found me as a soul reaper or I can silently go by myself to everywhere since we're all on lockdown."

Raiden sluggishly stared at him, considering both. In one way, he turned out to be the hero but in another way, he wasn't about to have them shit on his friend like that.

"Can I hit you if I take the first one?" He questioned.

Renji smirked. "You can do whatever you want you fucking chicken."

He returned the expression. "I'm likin' this, Abarai."

He raised his hand to punch him before swerving and putting his hand on his shoulder. "But not fucking today."

"C'mon, I'm givin' you a chance to beat the shit outta me and you won't even do that?"

Renji stepped forward, gesturing him to hit him but he wasn't doing it.

"Oh, and who said I ain't getting the fucking chance later on? Once you're done with your champagne bottle shit of celebration and tears, I'll be ready." He smirked before leading him down the bridge.

"Might as well meet our division first, Secretary of State Abarai." He said with a grin before pulling out his SOS badge from his pocket. "Here."

Renji grabbed it—a bit stunned at the fact that he had kept it with him for so long.

"Now don't fucking get excited, Abarai." Raiden saw his expression soften, he wasn't having his mushiness today. He was smirking though, seeing him all happy while staring at the badge erupted a feeling, he couldn't lie. "Brought you back your badge to welcome ya back to da club."

Renji looked up at him. "Now drop the Lieutenant shit and start acting like a mother fucking assassin or I'll beat your ass and…"

He didn't want to get too mushy with him but his expression while staring at his old badge was a killer.

"...my friend."

---

The younger Rukia walked through the red rocked dimension, trying to suppress her tears. She sniffled a few times with her head lowered, she didn't know where she was going nor did she care.

She hated this feeling inside her chest, how could he make her feel so worthless? She had been so considerate of his feelings however, it was clear that through his eyes, she was still just a street rat.

She wasn't ashamed of it, it was who she was and would always be where she belonged though, what made her skin any different from his? To even accuse her of intentionally meeting his grandfather was way over the line.

She would never, ever, approach anyone with such an ill intent. She wanted to make her own money, she wanted to rely on herself, if she would have to steal she would, but going after others because she was hungry? To 'trick them into pitying her?' as he had worded it was insulting.

While she understood how a majority of nobles thought, including their very discernible distaste for those below their ranks, she would've never thought that someone like him, having a father like the Lieutenant and a grandfather like Captain Kuchiki could turn into such a horrible thing.

She felt so stripped of her dignity when he had so passionately accused her of 'liking the chase', it was brazen of him to think that she used her stubbornness as a tool to lure people. He had accused her of something unforgivable.

She had pride.

The thought disgusted her to no ends. Why would she do that? Why would she want them to chase her? She refused because she didn't want to, why was that so hard to believe?

By now, the tears had fallen and her eyes were red.

Captain Kuchiki continued speaking with her, in no way did she make that effort nor could she have imagined that he would even speak to her again. The most she had said that day was 'thank you' and if he had asked a question, she would respond.

How could he think of her in that light? It made her reflect on all her actions that were solely 'cause of her feelings, he didn't get that. He thought all her actions had been deliberate, he would never understand.

If she had it her way, she would've had a family. Blood family members who lived with her and who she could rely on completely without having to worry.

His seething remarks only made her cry more but there was a very strong anger which followed it.

She clenched her fist. "You think...I wanted to end up with you?"

She sniffled in between some of her words, water still sliding down her cheeks.

"No, I didn't. This is why I don't trust any of you.." she barked. "Not a single one."

She squeezed her fist tighter as she sobbed.

"I'm just a peasant, yes….but do you think I'm that desperate? I have dignity, I have pride, I have no interest in you or your noble clan."

Her chest heated up as she fiercely wiped away her tears though, more dwindled down.

"Disgusting."

"You think I would intentionally approach Captain Kuchiki? The Sensei Okasakes? Have them pity me? How disgusting. You have no shame, I'm innocent, completely innocent and you think….you think you have the right to…"

She couldn't finish her sentence as she was now trembling. It only took a few words to hurt her this much. She was so frustrated and angry, all she could do was cry and clench her fist.

"I'm innocent…" she pleaded, her face was wet.

"You think I wanted to end up like this? No. If I had it my way, I would've never met you! I would be happy and with a family of my own, I could care less about your nobility. You think you have a right to downgrade me? I don't want your family, I never wanted anything….they offered friendship so I took their friendship otherwise, I never took anything."

"I'm so disgusted by your thoughts that I can't s-stop…" crying. "I'm that worthless to you, huh? But you know? It works out for the better that I know you're this disgusting now. I even tried to be friends with you 'cause of Captain Kuchiki and look where it got me. Stupid nobles, they think they're the gems of this world….I've lived through nobility once, there's nothing special to it except the riches. You were lucky enough to have such kind people as your family, they were so nice to me."

"But you? No….you're so far gone. To disrespect me like that...it's so gross. Something as innocent as a friendship with your grandfather irked you to this extent? He can't have friends now? Did that piss you off so much? Take him, he's yours."

Wiping away some of her tears, she thought of her last words in detail.

Captain Kuchiki was her friend, a very close friend—he knew so much about her and had his influence on her because they spoke so much. She was comfortable around him and because of that they were able to share such a wonderful friendship with so many memories she cherished.

What right did he have to tell her that she had been fake? That she deliberately approached him for luxury when all she ever accepted was his friendship? He had no right.

She really hoped he never spoke to her again, that would make things easier. She was lucky enough to find one blood family member left, that was all she needed. Jushirmai was her only brother, whomever that person was wasn't—he was just a phase in her life that she could hopefully get over with.

"If I had it my way, I would have a mother who would cook me food, a father who would joke with me, and now that I know I have a younger brother, we'd play all day and rely on each other while growing up. We'd be each other's support and when things were down, our little family would get together and make each other happy."

"I wouldn't rely on stealing for food or working for money, I'd have a mother who would cook for me and teach me. I'd probably love her cooking too, it would be nice to have a meal from her and to have a father who was my best friend, someone I could talk to about anything and who would support me also!"

This was a dream, a beautiful dream. One she'd like to live through at least once. She had no interest in sneaking herself into the family of another, she wanted her own.

Coming to stop, she saw a very familiar figure not too far away from her. The view of the woman had been the reason she stopped—she was surprised by the rather odd presence.

You're still here?

This woman had been someone she first met in the Rukongai. She was rather odd, there was a very...ominous semblance to her. For some reason, she was just always there—they didn't talk, they often had just silent engagement through gazes and that was it.

There was always something very eerie about the woman to Rukia. She walked around with a black dress, much like the standard assassin uniform being a black hanfu. The sleeves were wide and the skirt portion was carpeted with lace.

She covered herself with a long black-laced veil on her face and an overpiece. She barely saw her face, the only noticeable feature amongst all the black and lace that she had layered on, were her bright red eyes.

The same red eyes Rukia had seen in the library in Karakura's high school (AN: Rid Emotions).

Though the younger Rukia hadn't experienced that yet of course.

The younger Rukia didn't think this woman would still be around let alone, somehow still be involved in her life? Enough for her to be standing there in front of her, here in this dimension of all things.

Rukia approached her back. "You...You're still here?"

She never really talked to the woman, she just accepted her into her space—enough for them to share gazes from far but that was it. She only ever heard her speak once and that was the day they met.

"I didn't think that you would." Rukia admitted. "Though, it is kind of weird. I've left the Rukongai, how…."

Did you still find me?

Rukia almost found herself tripping back because she was absolutely not expecting her to speak.

"Let's go." She ordered coldly.

"Go? Go where?" Rukia asked. "And...you speak now?"

She slightly turned to her, a silent gesture which translated into 'follow me'.

As the woman began to walk away, Rukia found herself following her without question while wiping her tears. This woman was still here, why was she still a part of her life?

Rukia figured she'd have to ask her how she got out of the Rukongai to end up here whenever they reached their destination.

---

"Yoruichi, you doin' alright?" Kisuke asked as he backed up from her. They were in the training grounds of his shop, Yoruichi was pretty much back to normal though, her kicks were less powerful due to her waist.

"Bring it on." She challenged before dashing towards him yet again.

"Nee-san, please be careful!" Yūshirō called from the ground.

"She looks like she's in good shape!" Kurōdo commented.

"Yeah, she does." Ririn agreed before asking. "Do you think Noba will get up soon too?"

"Well I hope so, I sort of miss him!"

"Dr. Oswald is pretty talented, don't you think? Even after all her injuries, in a week's time, Yoruichi-san is fine. It just means that Noba will get up soon enough. He's really smart." Ririn commented.

"He's been working tirelessly every day." Kurōdo mentioned. "I wonder where he is now?"

"We should treat him to some snacks." Ririn suggested before turning to Ururu. "Do you know where Kuchiki-san's younger brother is?"

"He went back home." She answered softly.

"Can we make cookies?" Kurōdo asked Ririn.

"Oooh, yes!" Ririn said before running out with the other plushie.

---

Hell

House of Evil

Citrine / None

Deep into the land known to be the House of Evil under the Court of Assassins, a strange but somewhat regular type of occurrence was beginning to incite.

The vast land boldly consisting of bright rose reds, dandelion yellows, and purples, began to release its compellingly negative aura through an area that it was not supposed to reach.

The barrier. Guardian of the birthright that Okasake Jushirmai had been promised by his late father.

The yellow rectangle shielded the beating heart by cornering it near a rocky ledge, the exit of a high cave. Placed slightly into it, the yellow barrier formed a thin rectangle to protect it, attaching its sides to the rock which made up the cave. That was the sole protector of the Soul King's heart.

It was that one wall which shielded the heart, purifying the air that dawdled in Hell's environment so that it wouldn't magnify the current darkness which existed in the heart. And it would do so admirably without a single inconvenience until the barrier thinned and it was reminded that the barrier came from a source that was dead, it was prone to sudden failures but that in turn, threatened the heart.

By now, the sinister forces had entered the organ—intensifying the darkness, causing distress as the Soul King's heart quite literally fought the invasion with great hardship.

With wandering negativity already governing so much, there wasn't much to fight except a single spark which incited so much burning, so much pain, just to eradicate that last shard of hope.

A single spark.

###

Putting down the tea in his hand, he felt a sudden tug on his heart—the twinge almost making him grunt as the pain lingered. His chest was heating up, eventually the recurring tug on it made his two hands touch the ground to brace himself from it, tendrils of his hair falling by the sides of his face.

It was happening again.

He'd have to endure it for a while.

The heart was being agitated again, he figured the barrier had slightly thinned inviting the unwelcoming, dark air which roamed in Hell. It was poisoning it even more though, the poison Hell brought to the heart was beyond him.

Aggravating the heart's spirit born from purity was working against him when the presence of Hell was involved.

It brought the heart pain, a lot of it—enough to affect him. The strain beneath his skin continued to pain him, the thought of his own heart working against him like this was dissatisfying.

Sweat leaked down his skin, he slightly clutched his right hand as the pain became unbearable. His chest was burning—it was like the heart had leaked gasoline inside of him and brought the flame. It was becoming too strong—the heat of it all, the pain of it all—he had no choice but to wince before gently rubbing his left side.

He didn't even need to look in the mirror to know that his moon face was filled with a splatter of pasty dark spots. His entire face probably looked as if someone had lightly shaded some parts of it with a pencil or black crayon. It was starting to grip his heart forcibly, he couldn't help but release a few more winces in pain.

The barrier had gotten way too thin if it was hurting this much.

By now, the tea was spilled all over the floor as his body jolted in pain. The shatter of the teacup was the last sound he remembered hearing before both his hands rested on the sides of his head, closing his eyes, he attempted to ignore it.

Several coughs came out of his mouth, dry coughs turning into wet coughs accompanied by blood rather quickly. It was like an abstract painting on the ground with blood drooling out the sides of his mouth to the random splotches of red blood.

He couldn't stop coughing and with each cough, his heart burned hotly—if he wasn't so resilient to express verbal reactions to pain, he would've probably yelled by now. From the rising heat to the aggressive tugs on the organ to the uncontrollable coughs to his inability to move.

Closing his eyes tightly, he clenched his fist and bowed his head down, trying to hold it in, he would not give in.

---

Rukia was bored.

What was initially meant to be a peaceful moment quickly became rather humdrum after not speaking for a while. Though she had gone through books, played a bit with the games on her soul phone, and even dozed off for a few hours, she missed having people around her who could speak to her.

She had thought of visiting her brother though, she didn't want to leave the Gotei 13 unattended for a minute and although she was here alone by the stretchers, the younger her and the younger Byakuya were still down here, wandering wherever.

With that thought in mind, she couldn't leave though, she needed something more to do. It was hard to constantly read with one hand—she wondered when it would grow back, living with one arm was no easy task. To play games was even harder, to draw was a bit easier but she had no motivation, the only thing left was to sleep.

She had done that way too much. Besides, she still had dreams to worry about and people she didn't want to see. If she had to relive any memory in regards to Jūshirmai, she would eat her own gloves.

These memories were too real—the way they felt, even when she was just viewing them, was insane. It didn't feel like a replay, it felt like the moment was being experienced, the wind in the background, the feeling in her chest, the goosebumps that rose when his hand touched her skin, it was all too real.

She didn't need to feel it again. Remembering it was enough.

Standing up, she figured she'd try drawing again, finding some inspiration once the moonstone crossed her mind. It would only take several steps to reach the box at Ichigo's foot side where she kept a bunch of books and empty sketchbooks in but Rukia never reached.

Instead, upon taking several steps, she suddenly felt dizzy. Her vision became distorted as her hand flew to her chest. It was burning—a lot, the heat was insane, she couldn't help but wince silently.

Closing her eyes tightly, her right hand touched the side of Ichigo's stretcher, trying to maintain her balance though she could barely find the strength to hold herself up.

"Uh….I think something's wrong with Lieutenant Kuchiki." Momo observed with uneasiness.

The Gotei 13 looked to her.

Rukia began to cough violently, from dry coughs to coughs spitting blood. She found her only hand flying to her chest again as the pain began to burn her, it was initiating hot tears to form in her eyes but none of them fell out.

"Fuck, she's coughing blood!" Ichigo said as he ran towards her.

Byakuya's eyes slightly widened at the sight, not liking the feeling that was already developing in his chest. He followed behind the human as he moved.

Weakly scrambling to find the pills in her pocket to stop it, she barely managed to snatch the small cylinder container and open the top of the cover. She was so close to taking one pill with her mouth but her body gave up.

Before she knew it, she could no longer tell where she was, her entire body was swallowed with fragility—her strength sucked out of her in an instant. Her eyes flickered a few times before they gently closed and she collapsed to the ground.

The pills spilling beneath her while the heart that pounded so wildly in her chest, stopped.

She was gone.

Ichigo rushed over to her. "What the hell happened?"

"Kuchiki-san!" Orihime called before kneeling down.

"She was coughing a lot just now." Lieutenant Hinamori said before turning to Captain Ukitake. "I-I don't know what happened, she looked a bit dizzy and then…."

Momo didn't finish her retelling.

Her body was face front into the ground, she was no longer moving. She just laid there straight and he wasn't even able to touch her. Surrounding the area where she fell, splotches of her own blood looked like splattered raindrops.

Kon looked around in panic. "There's no one here to help her!"

Ichigo attempted to pull her himself but nothing was working. His hand felt nothing—it wasn't moving anything. Byakuya attempted only once to do the same, but nothing.

"Could it be the flu?" Lieutenant Hisagi asked, though the coughing blood part wouldn't add up.

"No, that isn't the flu." Captain Unohana said while staring at the Lieutenant's head. It's much more than that, she thought to herself.

---

It seemed that he had finally found his way back. The walls surrounding him looked quite familiar, he was sure he was back to the area where the Gotei 13 were resting though, he could not detect any reiatsu presence from the group he was with. He did not wish to think they left the bodies unguarded though, there was nothing coming from there.

Entering the opening, he scanned his surroundings. He was back in the right area though, he had been correct in his observation, no one was here. How could they leave the bodies unprotected?

Curving to the right, he stopped.

There even was a body on the ground, why'd they leave? The body laid face front with the person's hair sprawling like a fan ahead of their head. He did not know how it got off the stretcher but he went to lift it either way.

They were careless to leave everything behind like this. The Okasake heir could easily use this opportunity to his advantage, Byakuya was glad he came back.

Approaching it, he found himself stopping yet again as the person looked quite...familiar. He knew the Gotei 13's faces fairly well and although the body was laying frontwards, they did not look like anybody he had seen in that picture. It was only when he was several metres away when the familiarity started to sink in.

"Rukia?" He voiced before taking several quick strides to the body. What had happened? He lifted her body, enough to turn her around, her skin was covered with random splashes of a faded grey-purple colour and was ice cold.

"A-At least he's here!" Kon said worriedly, his eyes never leaving the petite woman in front of him.

"Her face…" Ichigo began before clenching his fist.

Please fucking no, midget.

Please fucking no.

Uryū didn't want to say anything out loud, but given his father's medical background, he was well aware of what that greying indicated though, he couldn't believe it.

How?

"Kuchiki!" Captain Ukitake called, falling to her right side. The greying indicated something Jūshiro refused to believe, he could not believe that she was...she was...he looked up to Byakuya who's eyes never left her face.

...not again.

With his arms holding her head above his lap, he called for her. "Rukia?"

She didn't answer, her eyes perfectly shut and lips closed.

He shook her. "Rukia?...What happened? Why are you like this?"

She looked so still, it was as if he was holding a rock. The cold skin had nothing to do with her reiatsu, she wasn't even emitting any reiatsu. He did not know what was wrong.

"Rukia?" For the first time, he touched her face to feel. "Your skin is so cold…"

"And…" his eyes fell on the red pills and the now empty cylindrical container. He reached out and grabbed the empty container, staring at it out of curiosity. "...pills? Are you ill?"

"Pills?" Ichigo asked before looking to the ground. "What pills? Byakuya she's taking pills? What pills?"

He looked up to him, the Interioreum World one that is, though, their immediate eye contact told him he didn't know either.

Fuck.

What pills?

Uryū tried to read the prescription though there wasn't anything there. Just a name he had never heard of in black marker. He couldn't say he knew what she was taking.

Captain Ukitake immediately turned to Captain Unohana. "What type of pills was my Lieutenant taking?"

The Interioreum World Byakuya looked to her too. Captain Unohana didn't know how to explain, it was not her place to disclose such information. She wasn't the one who had given her those pills, she was only aware of why she was taking it. Though, seeing that she had a younger brother in the medicinal field, she concluded that he had been the one to prescribe them to her.

"I do not know. I didn't give them to her." Captain Unohana responded honestly. It only made them worry even more.

Kon's voice was coated in distress. "I've never seen Nee-san take any pills."

"Me neither." Ichigo's gaze remained fixed on her face. "You, Inoue?"

"N-No, Kurosaki-kun. Never." Sorrow engulfed her greys.

"Ishida?"

"No, never."

"How about you all?" They looked to the Gotei 13 crowding around her body. A string of responses muttering 'no' and 'never' came out too.

His questions were followed with no answers, he did not know what to do. She looked so lifeless in his arms, her skin slowly becoming greyer, by now there were just random dots of ivory left on her skin.

Biting his lip nervously, his hand went to her heart.

It wasn't beating.

His eyes widened as a wave of panic engulfed him. He hastily put his ear to her heart to make sure however, it was evident….she was….dead.

"R-Rukia?" He called. "Why aren't you breathing?"

"What?!" Ichigo yelled right after before putting his own hand on her heart to check though, he felt nothing. He reminded himself that he couldn't feel a thing from her.

Fucking hell midget, don't die on me here.

"Kuchiki…" Tōshirō muttered in a low tone, it had been obvious to him from the start though, he had not wanted to say anything. She was...dead.

"Captain…" Rangiku called quietly beside him. "...you don't think she's…."

Tōshirō said nothing in response, figuring that it confirmed it once her words died out. Although he would not like to believe it, she was...dead.

His ear flew to her heart again and back. "Y-You aren't breathing...why aren't you breathing?"

"You're not breathing, why...why aren't you breathing?" He did it again. "Breathe...w-why….aren't you…"

The Interioreum World Byakuya eyed her chest, it wasn't moving—it was still, she wasn't breathing, he could tell. He released a quiet breath upon his discovery. Though, to accept that also meant to accept something else.

He did not want to believe it as well.

"Rukia, wake the fuck up, midget!" Ichigo yelled to her face as that feeling...that feeling he had felt a whole time ago welled up in his chest. "Fucking Rukia, wake up!"

Captain Ukitake stared at her wistfully. Come on, Kuchiki, please.

"Lieutenant…" Momo called out though the words following her call just stopped.

The Interioreum World Byakuya stepped closer to peer at her face.

Please, Kuchiki, Captain Ukitake pleaded.

In spite of his shaking, she would not wake up. His brows furrowed in panic, she couldn't be dead. He refused to believe that she was dead.

"Rukia? Rukia. Rukia, wake up." By now he had lost it, she really wasn't breathing, she really was….dead. "G-Get up, what are you doing? What about the O-Okasake heir?"

"Rukia!" Ichigo called, though that one call didn't end there. He repeated her name as his face grew hot and tears were on their way out.

Kon's bead eyes were shedding tears. He called her by 'Nee-san' over and over until all he could do was sob.

"K-Kuchiki-san…" Orihime called, she was already crying, her hands intertwined with each other near her chest.

Uryū closed his eyes. He couldn't believe it either but...she was actually...gone.

Staring at her shut eyes, it only drove him mad.

"Rukia, I-I demand you to wake up. You can't…." he started to breathe heavily, "...you can't be dead. You can't be...I..."

Captain Ukitake felt his heart drop as the realization sunk through. Captain Kyōraku putting his hand on his shoulder indicated that he had accepted it too.

"But…" Lieutenant Hisagi started. "...what happened?"

He didn't get it. She'd been fine all along only to suddenly start having strange symptoms and collapse to the ground in under a minute.

No one responded.

The desperate calls of Ichigo to her, followed by the tears, and the general overall of the moment was enough. They'd figure it out later.

'You can't be dead' became a mantra as he held her head close to his chest, his chin resting on her forehead as he rocked back and forth.

"You can't be dead, you can't be dead, you can't be dead, you can't be dead…" his voice was shaky as he continued. He closed his eyes tightly as he repeated it to himself all over again.

The intense stare of the Interioreum World Byakuya made Captain Ukitake close his eyes. It never left her face which was now covered by his younger self holding her.

Not again….Captain Ukitake thought. Not again…

Though he didn't understand what happened, the cause of death was the least important part right now. He couldn't bother to hurt his head over it. His Lieutenant was dead, he had lost another yet again.

"You can't be…" he bit back the sob. She couldn't be dead, it didn't make sense. He held her tightly as she grew colder and the feeling of her dead heart not responding to him came back.

The Interioreum Byakuya did not hide his emotions this time. The way his shoulders rose and his eyes, giving off quite a lot though he was serious, stared at her, it made Captain Ukitake realize…

The wave of loss had hit.

"Wake up…..Please….Wake up…" tears were clouding his vision, an act he swore he would never do again after his father died. Burying his head in her hair, he refused to believe she was gone just like that, what had happened?

Had she been ill and hadn't told him? Was that what his medication was for? Did she...die like that...was she unable to control her symptoms?

The Interioreum World Byakuya wondered the same thing as he stared at her. Had she been ill all along and hadn't mentioned a word?

He couldn't stop the shudders, he clenched his teeth together to avoid any sound from leaving his mouth that were not words.

"H-How can you…" he couldn't find the means to continue.

He held her so tightly, her bones could easily crush from his grip. Biting his bottom lip with his face buried into her hair, he took one last chance to inhale the sweet scent he had liked ever since meeting her.

How...can you be gone just like that?

He would not cry. He made a promise to himself he would not after his father passed though it was grudgingly hard with her hair in his face and the wave of realization hitting him repeatedly.

Why did she die?

How dare she die?

Out of all things, why did she have to die?

Ichigo's face was wet, tears leaked from his eyes. He called out her name until his voice cracked. He couldn't stop his sobs, they were starting to hurt his chest as his lips quivered.

"Rukia….fucking…" he didn't know how to continue. Every time he tried to speak, his words barely came out due to his trembling lips. He didn't know what the fuck to do.

He wanted her back.

She had to come back.

This made no fucking sense.

He didn't even get to see her.

When was the last time they had met face to face with her knowing that he was there?

Fuck, it had been the day after she had woken up in Byakuya's place. It had probably been over a month now.

He clenched his fist and slammed it into the ground over and over again. Fuck, she couldn't be dead.

She couldn't...he sobbed all over again, he couldn't control the expression on his face as hot tears slid down as he cried.

"Wake up…" he tiredly pleaded, his voice was scratchy, the lump in his throat getting in the way. "...wake the fuck up."

The younger Byakuya could feel it, one tear wanted to come out from his left eye though he would not let it fall. He would do everything he could to resist it as she rested his chin on her head.

He stared into some void, lost. His eyes felt sticky on the corners, he sniffed his nose repeatedly though he would not let it through.

She was gone...just like that...and...what had he done to tell her how much he…

The thought cut itself off as the empty space he was gazing at was filled with a presence.

He slowly looked up, still cradling her head near his chest.

He felt so empty, his eyes probably looked as dead as her.

How could he say this?

Grandfather raised both of them.

How could he tell her that she was dead?

"Grandfather….she's…" his chest heaved, he did not know how to say it though, his grandfather's eyes falling on the back of her head told him he already knew.

He tried not to tremble as he looked down to her head and back up. "She—"

"She will be fine."

Byakuya couldn't even properly react, letting his response settle in his mind a bit before responding.

Was he in denial of her death? That was the only explanation as to how calmly he cut him off though, Byakuya could not be reassured by his grandfather if that was what he was trying to do. He had felt it, she was dead.

"Grandfather, she is d—"

He cut him off yet again. "She will be fine, Byakuya."

The Interioreum World Byakuya stared at him, confusion slightly emitting from his eyes.

"F-Fine?" Byakuya asked. "She is not...fine, grandfather. She is not breathing, she is de—"

"She will be fine." He restated again.

Byakuya blinked in response, he didn't understand why his grandfather was so determined to believe she was fine. Perhaps he was in denial.

"Grandfathe—"

"How long have you been here with her?" Ginrei questioned him. The question caught him off guard, he didn't know why he was interested in knowing. "Were you here when she fell or did you come after?"

"What the hell are you talkin' about?!" Ichigo angrily questioned him though he could not hear him. More tears fell, he didn't have time to make sense of any fucking thing now.

Byakuya stared at him a bit before responding. "I...came and she was already...on the floor."

He lowered his eyes to look at her face. She was dead, he couldn't believe she was gone just like that. How long had she been dead for? He had been gone for a long while and although there should be others with her, no one else was here.

"Why does that matter?" Uryū questioned out loud.

Captain Kyōraku lowered his eyes to Captain Ukitake who was still kneeling on the floor.

Ol'Ginrei's got something he isn't telling us.

Before Byakuya could question why he would even ask, the doctor suddenly appeared out of nowhere, his eyes falling on Rukia in his arms.

"Move." His grandfather suddenly ordered. Byakuya did not know what was happening, the Gotei 13 were perplexed too. "Dr. Oswald will help her."

"What's he talking about?" Lieutenant Kira asked.

"Isn't she already well….dead?" Kensei asked in a low tone, he didn't want her close friends to hear him given that they were still grieving.

The Interioreum World Byakuya had come to conclude that most of his grandfather's actions while being down here made no sense. He was also aware that his grandfather's actions never came without reason. He did not know if he was just trying to comfort the younger him in the way he had done to him when his father had died though, handing Rukia off to the doctor didn't sit well with him either.

Ichigo stared at Byakuya's grandfather with a thin slice of hope. He didn't know him too well but he did know that he and Rukia were close. If she was really gone, he wouldn't have reacted like this, right? He didn't know whether he was trying to calm the younger Byakuya down by ignoring it or if there was something more to this.

The tears still trickled down his cheek, she wasn't breathing for sure and although her brother was very smart, he didn't think something like a revival was possible unless….

His eyes followed Rukia's brother as he approached the younger Byakuya.

Could he really save her?

The younger Byakuya stared at his grandfather in utter confusion, he did not know why he was handing her off to him. He opened his mouth to question but the doctor had already lifted Rukia from his hands and walked off as if it was nothing, he immediately stood up.

The doctor simply took her to the empty stretcher beside the human and began to hook wires onto her.

Byakuya really did not understand. That was supposed to be her so-called biological brother and yet he did not look the least bit affected by her death. Byakuya did not make a mistake—her skin was enough to indicate that she had passed. Checking if she was still breathing now was an insult.

"Grandfather, what are y—"

He stopped speaking once he looked down at him.

"She will be fine." He said once again before shifting his eyes to the back of the doctor.

"Set the time to 8 minutes." He said before meeting his eyes again. "I presume you were with her for at least four."

"Is he trying to say…" Uryū didn't finish his sentence. That in a certain time she can come back?

Ichigo scrunched his forehead looking to Uryū for answers though, his midnight blues were fixed on Byakuya's grandfather. When he didn't return his gaze, he looked to Byakuya who was also staring at his grandfather.

What did he mean?

Captain Kyōraku spoke for the first time in a while. "Think ol'Ginrei has something to tell us."

###

00:07:12

Everyone crowded the stretcher Rukia was laying on as a big, black timer was attached on top of the medical equipment Jūshirmai had set up for her earlier, counted down.

The line on the monitor was straight.

She was dead.

What were they waiting for?

Ichigo was still grieving, the water on his face was slightly becoming dry and sticky though a part of him wanted to believe that she wasn't dead. If Byakuya's grandfather was depending on time then….could she come back? He didn't understand the whole purpose with it to begin with.

Though needless to say, Byakuya's grandfather gave him hope.

And he prayed that using him a symbol of hope didn't backfire on him. He was going through way too much right now for this to be senseless.

He didn't know much about his intention but he had to believe him. If he was this calm and her brother of all people was this calm, there had to be something. Her 'death' didn't make much sense either, Ichigo couldn't accept it. He wouldn't accept it until she was in his arms and he felt it.

It was so abrupt.

How could she have left that easily?

By now, Yoruichi, Kisuke, and the others were all back too—even Renji, waiting on the right side of the stretcher. They were confused as fuck too, Byakuya's grandfather wasn't making any sense to them either with the exception of Yoruichi and Kisuke. Though he couldn't say that for sure, they hadn't said anything, he was just guessing by their reactions.

The timer counting down wasn't helping either, he felt even more anxious with the numbers moving down. He didn't want to expect anything when it finally reached 0 though Byakuya's grandfather standing near her feet in the middle seemed so sure of it. Her brother didn't look bothered either, it was as if it was a regular thing but how could her dying be a regular thing?

He had expected her brother to do at least something after but all he did was set the time and stood beside her. He hated that this was bringing him too much hope 'cause if he got excited and the purpose of this backfired it'd kill him for sure.

###

00:06:21

"Captain, you gotta explain somethin' here." Raiden said while looking at her. When he first heard it he almost lost his shit but the Captain being so calm told him to wait. "I don't get it, what the fuck does the timer got to do with anything?"

Ichigo silently thanked the quincy for bringing it up. He needed to know what the hell Byakuya's grandfather was thinking for once.

"Yeah, Captain….this isn't a good feelin', you gotta explain." Renji's voice was low, he didn't like this feeling...Rukia couldn't be dead, Rukia out of all people couldn't be dead.

She laid straight, greying spots on her face and from what he could see, the shade was splattered on her right hand too. Her lids and lips closed with her body stiff, it really felt like she was gone but, the Captain restored some light within him.

What did this all mean?

"The heart." He began, two words that caught everyone's attention. The younger Byakuya sitting on the chair next to her body turned to him along with everyone else, awaiting his explanation.

"The Soul King heart is connected to two people. One being the thing and one being her." He infomed.

"What?" The word was said several times in response to the elder Captain's words from both the Gotei 13 and the group next to her.

"Connected?" Uryū questioned. "But how?"

"Maybe by his own heart." Captain Kyōraku said. "Shima-jii, I mean."

"Thus the heart's corruption affects both of them." He finished though, a majority of them weren't following. Ginrei was a man of very few words, finding a detailed explanation from him wasn't normal but they needed a clear one more than ever.

"Captain, that doesn't explain shit." Raiden said to him, he didn't understand what he was getting at except the fact that Rukia was dead because of the Soul King heart being poisoned. That didn't even make sense either.

"C'mon Captain…" Renji wailed. "...explain clearly, we're kinda on the flip side over here."

A moment of silence passed as they waited for him to continue.

He spoke slowly as he always did. "The heart is being protected by the influences of the area by a barrier created by a person who is no longer among the living."

The Gotei 13 were about to open their mouths to react however, the quincy cut them all off.

"Captain, we already know this shit, ya mind speeding the fuck over that?" Raiden asked though, the younger Byakuya on the chair, didn't.

He was explaining that for him.

He now knew that the barrier had been established by a person no longer among the living. That meant that their barrier had been able to prevent the Okasake heir from detecting the heart and reaching the heart. It also meant that for some reason that barrier was something the Okasake heir couldn't touch.

Who was it?

He looked as his grandfather as he continued.

"Given that the person who forged it is no longer among the living, the barrier is occasionally prone to thinning, which as a result allows the influences which prowl in Hell to affect it negatively. The contact with the negative influences agitates the spirit and augments the poison already within the heart, thus directly affecting those connected to it."

"So that means the Okasake heir goes through this too?" Uryū asked. "Does he...end up like this too?"

"Ginrei seems to be implying that both of them go through this however…" Jūshiro's eyes shifted from the elder Captain to Rukia lying on the stretcher.

She is dead…

Ichigo's eyes never left Rukia's face. "I don't get it."

Raiden crossed his arms. "So you're tryna tell me that her ol'Oky also goes through this shit too? He dies like this?"

"Ishida-kun, that means...he's dead right now too, right?" Orihime asked him, trying to understand.

"It seems so." He responded.

"But how the hell can they be dead and come back to life?" Kensei questioned. "If the barrier stops working randomly then obviously the poison becomes overbearing enough to kill them."

"There must be a way if they both can die and come back from it." Tōshirō responded, eyes still focused on the elder Kuchiki.

Ichigo felt even more hopeful now, for the first time he removed his eyes from her face and looked up to Byakuya, his eyes shifted from his grandfather's and met his.

She was going to be okay.

Though, it only took one word in response to the quincy to change their mood entirely. "No."

Ichigo snapped his head to his left where he was standing. "What?!"

"The thing does not die, it endures pain though, it survives it. She does not."

"So if she doesn't fucking survive it, that means….that means...she's actually dead?!" Renji asked, he really hoped the Captain started speaking quicker instead of spreading false hope.

Ichigo was pissed. "Then what the fuck was the whole point of giving us hope?!"

The younger Byakuya looked to his grandfather. "So then….she is actually…" he couldn't finish his sentence.

"Yes." He mundanely responded.

The Interioreum World Byakuya and his younger self coincidentally both closed their eyes at the same time.

Ichigo let the tears fall, he couldn't believe he fucking held onto that.

She was actually...dead.

"Although," he began, the one word incited so much hope in everyone, Ichigo hoped it didn't disappoint him. "...she can come back."

"B-But how?" Orihime asked, looking to her body.

Both Byakuyas opened their eyes.

"My dear cannot complete her death. She will be fine."

"Grandfather, what does that mean?" Byakuya asked, he didn't understand how she could revive herself like that. If there was a chance of her returning, did that not mean they should be doing something?

"Captain, bullshit." Raiden already lost hope, he didn't want to cry though so he replaced it with anger. "Rukia may be stubborn as fuck but to come back? From death?"

"She will." Ginrei ensured. "And you will see, when the timer is done."

This time, nobody said anything. They just watched him, unsure of it all.

"Kuchiki is really sure of this…" Tōshirō acknowledged quietly.

"If he thinks she can come back, shouldn't you all have hope?" Lieutenant Hisagi asked and for the first time, everyone looked to him at once though, they said nothing.

Ichigo looked to her, face still wet.

###

00:04:52

Raiden tapped his foot impatiently, he couldn't stand this.

They all were silently staring and waiting.

If that fucking clock got to zero and she didn't get up, he was going to lose it.

He really hoped this wasn't for nothing though, the Captain saying it changed a lot of things. The man was giving them too much hope but for the life of him, he couldn't doubt it.

If he believed it, he would too.

The younger Byakuya staring lifelessly at her face remembered the pills he found next to her. If this had happened before, then that implied she came back from all those times though, what were these pills for?

"Grandfather." He called monotonously.

He still did not want to depend on her waking up again, if she didn't when the timer was over, he did not know what he would do. Staring at her now, part of him clenched onto the hope that she would though, feeling her skin and body turn cold and stiff, the feeling of her heart not beating was still imprinted in his mind.

She was dead.

He had been right.

She was dead.

But…

"Do you know what those pills were for?" His gaze never left her face.

It brought him the utmost displeasure when a voice behind him answered his question instead.

"I gave them to her. The pills are supposed to suppress the pain she typically feels when the Soul King heart is being agitated. The burning, the coughs, the migraines etc. The pills reduce it since the feeling is pretty strong. They're harmless, they're supposed to help her since she feels them more strongly than the Okasake heir." Jushirmai informed.

"But why?" Uryū questioned out loud to him.

"Maybe Shima-sensei felt strongly for her too. He liked her a lot as well." Captain Ukitake reminded.

"Maybe that's why she dies and he doesn't." Kensei guessed.

"That's still risky, innit?" Captain Hirako asked. "I mean, she knows the most about his birthright so having her die and him live is sorta crazy 'cause he's the heir."

"It's not by choice though." Tōshirō said. "Having a stronger connection to the heart is working against her, clearly. If the heart belongs to Okasake but she is also going through what he goes through but worse, the heart itself could kill her for good."

"Though, if Hell's influences enhance the poison to cause this much damage to both of them, what's going to happen to both of them if those soul emotions get to it?" Rangiku asked, bringing up a fair point.

There was already darkness in the heart and both of them could withstand it, why was Hell's presence enough to make them crumble like this? And wouldn't inputting darker emotions into the heart work against the Okasake heir's favor?

"There's something about Hell n'him." Ichigo said, now on his knees, still looking at Rukia. "For some reason it's a place he can't go or can't fight against. The worst part is, it's messing with the heart too and that affects Rukia."

"The Soul King's heart was born pure so it makes sense why Hell would agitate it enough to hurt it but since it already has its problems, Hell just intensifies it I'm guessing." Captain Kyōraku said. "Enough to pain the people connected to it."

"Does it hurt that much 'cause it was born pure?" Captain Hirako asked.

"Can't say for sure." Tōshirō responded.

The younger Byakuya did not look at him once though, he wanted an answer.

"Does this happen regularly?"

The Gotei 13 looked to the doctor behind him.

"No, it's random." Jushirmai answered.

Byakuya internally scowled, that was not the answer to his question.

"If your question is whether she dies each time it happens then the answer is yes." He added, Ichigo felt his heart spark with hope. That meant she had come back before, that meant she could...no, she would come back.

"He is implying that Kuchiki has come back from all her deaths in relation to this." Tōshirō said with his eyes slightly sparking wide.

He looked up to Byakuya. "That means she will return."

"Not that I'm not happy about it but how?" Rangiku asked.

The younger Byakuya felt a little different after hearing that. If this had happened before, that meant she would return.

He wanted to ask 'and did she return?' though that was already a senseless question. She did. And that was how he was even able to meet her.

She would wake up.

Raiden turned to Jushirmai. "You mean this whole fucking time she's been dying every time that barrier got fucked up?"

Jushirmai nodded his head. "She'd experience pain, strong pain—burning of her chest, blood coughs, migraines, her heart would burn due to her connection until she'd collapse. Her face would start greying too, ahead of her time. The change in a dead body's skin tone usually occurs about a week after however, hers changes immediately."

"How long does it take for her to come back from it then?" Renji asked.

"Sister timed it herself, 12 minutes usually." He responded.

"12 minutes?" Ichigo asked up at him before looking at her.

Raiden addressed Rukia's body. "Alright then, so you're gonna be up in 2 mins or so, right?"

"The timer will not be entirely accurate." Ginrei said. "I do not know how long she was on the ground for."

"So she'll get up either before that or a bit, after?" Raiden asked to clarify, the grunt right after indicated that was a yes.

"How does she do it though?" Yūshirō asked, speaking for the first time. He looked to Jushirmai for an answer but he just grinned for a while while staring at her.

"She just does." The smile never left his face.

"She is very stubborn." Ginrei added, much to their surprise.

"Listen, if her stubborn ass is stubborn enough to resist fucking death then I'm never doubting this shit or her ever again." Raiden said.

With his eyes never leaving her face, the younger Byakuya spoke again. "So it is guaranteed she will return."

"No." Ginrei responded as he met the eyes of his grandson.

Byakuya was starting to hate the one thing he did not want to rely on or believe in at all. "It depends on her."

Chance.

"The heart can very much kill her, it has killed her. She is dead as of now, her return to life depends solely on her own soul, it is not guaranteed that she will survive it."

Ichigo felt his rising hope leave him again.

Please Rukia, come back.

You can do it.

I'm here for you.

Please fucking come back.

The younger Byakuya slowly turned back to look at her. Her entire face was practically light greyish-purple by now. Her eyes looked so tightly shut, he was not sure anymore if she'd...come back.

The Interioreum Byakuya's face was settled on her eyes. It had not moved ever since he heard it would take 12 minutes.

"Nee-san will come back then….right, Ichigo?" Kon asked quietly, his voice still laced with sadness.

She has too, Kon.

She will.

Those words never left his mouth.

###

00:02:43

This was taking too long.

Raiden liked it better when everyone was talking. The silence was irritating, it was like they were hoping for something that would never come. The silence somehow just intensified the hopelessness, her body was still stiff and the spots on her face hadn't faded even a little.

He turned to Jushirmai, hoping to get a conversation going again.

"Hey, Jushirmai?"

"Mind explainin' how she and Oky both go through this shit but she suffers more than him? How the fuck did this all even start?" Raiden asked him.

He knew for a fact that Rukia had never gone through something like this before. Something had happened—there was no way the heart was suddenly working against her somehow.

"Sister and the Okasake heir share the same heart since they're both connected to the Soul King's heart. Now, you already know why Sister's connected to the heart, so I can scratch over that and tell you that both of their hearts still have an influence on the Soul King's heart even though it's sealed." Jūshirmai explained. "Now, because there's a somewhat equal connection between them, the heart's dominant connector shifts from side to side. It either falls close to Sister Rukia or to the Okasake heir, sometimes both and it's not a good thing 'cause it's constantly shifting between two emotional states."

"Okay, I get it now." Lieutenant Kira said. "That's probably why the heart hurts in the first place, it's still got a pure connection being Lieutenant Kuchiki, no?"

"You may be right, Kira." Tōshirō responded. "Though again, that means her own heart is working against her, even when it is the only thing forcing light into it, she's suffering because of it."

"Now, just 'cause Sister also shares a connection, doesn't mean she has ownership of it. The Okasake heir has ownership of the heart, he has more of a domineering control over it however, Sister Rukia's often tends to challenge it in spite of his complete ownership."

"Don't think the Okasake heir likes that." Captain Kyōraku commented.

Captain Ukitake agreed. "I agree. He must not like the fact that she is still having and challenging his control over it."

"He's compatible with the heart's darkness. It doesn't affect him, he did have his role in creating it so injecting more darkness into it doesn't affect him. The reason why Hell bothers the heart so much is because of Nee-san. There's still two emotional states it's following, even though it's dominated by darkness, it's still fighting something small that prevents it from completely following one intuition being dark. So, when Hell's influence leaks through the barrier, the heart fights between two hearts and that in turn causes pain to both of them—one more than the other."

"Now when did it start? It didn't start happening until about 2 years ago." Jushirmai said.

00:01:13

"2 years ago?" Uryū asked in surprise. "Is that supposed to mean that up until then there was nothing for the heart to fight against or—"

He turned to Captain Ukitake who just stared at his Lieutenant. There was a very melancholic aura that lingered in the air so he didn't bother to question him further.

C'mon Rukia….The words of everyone around him didn't matter, he wasn't listening. Drowning them out, Ichigo's gaze was only focused on one person until...she woke up.

"Well, at least she hasn't been dying on her own all these years." Raiden responded.

"Though, are you sure it's only been two years?" Renji asked seriously. Rukia was stubborn and selfless, she wouldn't say anything if she was hurting because she didn't want other people to worry about her.

It could've been longer.

"I'm sure." He responded while staring at his older sister. "She has been visiting me for 20 years, I would've noticed."

For the first time, the Interioreum Byakuya's head shot up and glanced at the doctor in front of him, the stretcher being the only thing to separate them.

"Kuchiki-san's been doing a good job at reviving the heart's pureness, even if it's just a speck, it's a good speck—it's our only hope." Kisuke spoke for the first time. "Now I don't know how exactly those soul emotions would affect that, if they were to enter the Soul King's body but, given that there's a connection to her heart too, it'll take a lot to try and get rid of that speck."

"I know." Yoruichi said with a rather solemn tone. "He'll do anything to get rid of it too."

"We gotta preserve that shit, quick." Raiden added. "We're already hanging over the line here a bit. There's still a lot of shit we need done, Rukia is the biggest fucking key here and not even we can help her with anything 'cause it all depends on her fucking heart too."

He turned to Renji. "Ren, we gotta do something about the Capital right now. Last thing we need is her feelin' any negative."

"But what can we do? Bringing back her is gonna be a big fucking deal. We barely managed to get through me, especially with Secretary of State Ume and Cang Du, the whole quincy and assassin race if I'm being fucking honest, is gonna lung at her if they find out she's a soul reaper." Renji said honestly.

"Don't let them know she's the Lieutenant." Yoruichi said with her arms crossed. "It'll only cause trouble if they figure out it's her. If you're able to mention that she's back, their attention will shift from the Lieutenant."

"We got that, Yoruichi-san but that ain't gonna be fucking easy." Renji said.

"He's right, the whole fucking emergency meeting began with us fighting over investigating her. Majority agreed and even when Sensei turned the investigation proposal down, Major Shira told me that Major Imamura was trying to hack into the Seireitei database because she still found it suspicious. Sensei temporarily blocked online access but somehow they're still going to try to find somethin'. Doesn't help that fucking evil bitch knows the truth."

00:00:00

By now the time had been long over, over a 1:19 seconds had passed since the conversation started and she still wasn't up. Ichigo bowed his head with his eyes closed.

C'mon…..

If you've done this before, you can do it again.

C'mon…..

Come on….

The Gotei 13 stared at her silently waiting for the Lieutenant's eyes to open. Even Renji and Raiden stopped talking once they realized the timer was long over.

The younger Byakuya kept on staring wistfully. The monitor next to him kept on making the same noise, indicating that her heart was no longer beating. If she was to come back, that monitor should be the first thing they heard.

This empty feeling wasn't a good thing. The longer time passed and that noise kept on going, the sooner he lost hope. In spite of his grandfather's words and even the doctor's words of her coming back, he couldn't continue to believe in something that solely relied on chance.

And yet, the more he stared at her closed eyes, he wanted to try it for himself.

The Interioreum Byakuya already closed his eyes. If this depended on chance and she was not up by now, he wanted to accept it sooner than cling onto false hope.

But then...the monitor made a sound.

His eyes opened and stared at it. With slightly widened eyes, he looked to see the straight line change.

There was a heartbeat.

The sound alone made Ichigo raise his head and stare at her, hopeful gazes were on the one body on the stretcher as the heartbeat grew more steady and her chest began to rise and fall.

Seeing a revival like that in front of their eyes was unbelievable. To think that she had died a little over ten minutes ago, only to start breathing yet again on her own accord was quite a sight to see. She revived herself and although many questions followed with how she could do that, the group surrounding her gasped in relief as she slowly...opened her eyes.

The younger Byakuya gulped as the Interioreum World Byakuya's shoulders rose.

There was a bit of a stunned feeling that lingered within them as her eyes opened again and the sound of her heartbeat coming from the monitor remained. It was so odd to see yet it was so refreshing that her life had not ended just like that.

"Nee-san!" Kon yelled in tears of joy with arms wide open to hug her side though, he couldn't feel anything. "Nee-san! What would we do without you?!"

"Thank goodness!" Orihime said right after.

Uryū grinned.

A small smile formed on Ichigo's lips in reassurance and happiness, thank you fucking midget. Thank you.

"I'm glad you're alright." Captain Ukitake said slowly, staring at her as she familiarized herself with her surroundings.

"Hey, Rukia." Renji called softly, leaning a bit over her as he spoke. "You alright?"

"Fucking fantastic, your ass is stubborn enough to reject death." Raiden said right after.

The younger Byakuya did not know what to say, the fact that she had opened her eyes was enough to silence him. The most he could do was stare.

She was awake...she really, really, was awake.

She closed her eyes a bit before reopening to look directly at Ginrei.

"Welcome back."

Rukia gently nodded her head in response before turning to her left where everyone was staring at her with glee. It only took a few seconds for her brain to puzzle what had happened. She had died again.

The thought of them witnessing that immediately made her regret not disclosing it sooner. The memory of her coughing rapidly and then attempting to swallow her pills returned rather quickly.

She had lost the battle again.

She opened her mouth to ensure them. "I'm alright."

Her eyes met the younger Byakuya who sat next to her and had not said a word. He was only staring at her. "Sorry...for making you all worry."

"I'm alright."

"Fucking Rukia, next time," Raiden made sure to stress the importance "tell us this shit, okay? You can't rely on fucking Captain over there, he's terrible at explaining!"

"I said she would be fine." Ginrei responded impassively.

Renji turned to him. "Captain, that doesn't explain shit."

"I'm glad you're alright, Kuchiki-san!" Ririn said, hopping onto the stretcher.

"Me too!" Kurōdo added. "It would be so tragic if we had lost you!"

Using her two arms to push herself up, the younger Byakuya's arms rushed to help her sit up but that's when she realized something. She was using two arms to sit up, her arm grew back, she immediately looked to her left arm with a smile.

"And your fucking arm grew back? Well, hello miss fucking invincible." Raiden said.

"W-Wait," Ikkaku paused. "...it literally grew back?"

"We didn't notice that either?" Lieutenant Kira added.

"Yeah, when we get outta here I have to ask Lieutenant Kuchiki for her conditioner, to touch her pretty necklace, and how she gets her arms to grow back." Rangiku said. "Oh! And the former Captain Kuchiki, where can I get one of those necklaces."

Tōshirō looked up to her in irritation. "Matsumoto, give up. It was probably custom-made anyways."

"Are you sure you don't want to trade Lieutenants?" Mayuri asked Captain Ukitake from behind. "Lieutenant Kuchiki is quite a spectrum of things. She is more suited to be in mine than yours."

"I'm sure." Captain Ukitake responded before Kensei intervened.

"She can't just be a living soul." Kensei said. "It's obvious that she's something else, there's no way in hell anybody can come back from that."

Lieutenant Hisagi addressed him. "But what could that be, Captain?"

"Hollow, quincy, arrancar, visored, espada nobody falls in that line." Captain Hirako said.

Momo glanced at him. "W-Well we discovered the assassins, Captain! There's a chance there are other kinds we're still unaware about."

"Think you make a point, Momo but what?" Rangiku asked. "What other kind would be able to come back from death?"

"No kind." Tōshirō answered while staring at the Lieutenant.

"Huh?"

"Believe it or not, I truthfully believe that Kuchiki's will made her survive this. I do not think she's anything else but a soul."

"But…." Rangiku's words faded away.

"That doesn't make sense." Kensei argued.

Captain Kyōraku stared at him from the corner of his right eye. "Well, there's a lot of things that don't make sense now, Captain but we're slowly getting our way back on track. Enough for it to make sense."

"You're right." Captain Ukitake said. "We're getting there, just be patient."

"I agree with Shiro-chan." He added. "I think Kuchiki came back on her own accord like Ginrei mentioned, it has nothing to do with any other power."

"No one is strong enough to resist death." Captain Komamura stated.

"Well clearly we don't know that yet, our 13th Division's Lieutenant was able to do it in 12 minutes." Captain Kyōraku responded.

"It's Rukia." Ichigo said, finally speaking though his gaze was still on her. "Doesn't surprise me that she can."

Kuchiki-san...really is incredible, Orihime thought in her head though her eyes weren't on her, her eyes were on him.

The younger Byakuya looked at her left arm before looking to her, voicing his first question. "How...did that occur?"

"Her fucking ass is that stubborn." Raiden responded.

"Leave her you dumbass." Renji said to him. "It's a good thing, you want her walkin' around with just one arm?"

Raiden turned to him. "Did I fucking say that, Abarai? Please fucking listen when I speak."

Rukia looked to them in displeasure. "I just woke up….from the dead, please shut up."

"You are alright." The younger Byakuya stated as she sat on the side of the stretcher, ready to hop off.

Rukia met his eyes with a warm smile. "I'm fine. Really."

"You will have to explain this later." He warned.

She hopped off the stretcher. "I know."

As she passed him, Byakuya found himself staring at his grandfather at the end of the stretcher.

You were right.

---

The younger Byakuya returned to the chair beside his present body, he did not wish to sit with the others and watch them eat their peasant food. He had much more pressing matters to think over, one being how he ended up with such luck.

With crossed arms, he addressed our body. "I do not believe our luck. I do not know why we are so cursed."

The Interioreum Byakuya had not left his own body either. He needed time to think about what he just saw.

Although there was no logic to it, she had come back from death...she could come back from death.

The younger Byakuya turned to his body. "Grandmother and Grandfather may have died a natural death however, mother was sick, father had an abundance of health issues (AN: this is canon), our aunt who had been healthy became sick shortly after father's death and passed, our wife was sick and passed, and now, our sister, even though she's healthy, gets arbitrarily sick and dies with only a slight chance of revival, I do not know what we did to be so cursed."

It was baffling. His entire, immediate family line was ridden by illnesses followed by his wife and now even his un-biological sister was now battling one that wasn't seemingly just her own.

He could not believe how cursed he truly was. He had one family member left and she was battling a randomly-summoned illness which could quite literally kill her. Out of all things, she just had to be connected to the Soul King heart and have to fight the darkness imprisoned in it which in turn, killed her through poison.

Her revival was not guaranteed either, it depended on chance. There was only a 50/50 chance of her getting up and although his grandfather had kept reassuring him that she would be fine as if it was just a natural thing for her to return, he could not accept that as a concrete fact.

There would come a time when she couldn't. He didn't understand how she was able to do it in the first place however, he did not wish to complain. The fact that she had woken up was a miracle itself, he was glad that she did…

He was really glad that she had woken up again.

---

"Fucking midget you gotta explain all of this when I get outta here." Ichigo said to her while she moved around. He was so happy to see her back, the amount of emotions he went through in less than ten minutes was too much.

To see her walking, breathing, that was enough to make him smile, he didn't understand a whole lot but he knew that Rukia had been going through way too much if she had to randomly die 'cause of this and depend on her will to come back.

What type of responsibility was that?

This wasn't a task Ichigo saw any noble giving to just anybody. And besides, it wasn't like it was any noble, it was the whole Head Commander of the Soul Society who entrusted her to protect this. She was risking her life to restore some light and keep it away from the Okasake heir.

Now sure, she was his granddaughter but this was still a lot of trust, it made Ichigo figure that he must've really liked her and besides, if her willpower was what brought her back to life then, Ichigo didn't see any other person but Rukia to be fit so in short, he saw why she was chosen but he still didn't get why she wasn't protected.

Not that she would accept it but one person handling all that, even if it was Rukia, wasn't easy. The heart was also her responsibility too, whatever she felt, affected it too.

It was like her whole life, mood, and emotions had to cater to the remaining purity of the heart. It wasn't fair to her to have her shield her emotions to avoid agitating the spirit but then again, shielding did nothing as Ichigo had previously learned. Their bodies gave up a specific type of reiatsu when they felt negative emotions, therefore, even if she avoided them, it didn't change a thing.

It was a whole lot to bear. It made Ichigo partly realize why she had told the younger Byakuya that she wished to be free.

While it was an honor, sacrificing herself that way wasn't normal. To top it all off, she was also the guardian of the moonstone and the Okasake heir had an obsession with her ever since she was a child.

There was too much sacrificing on her part for just a regular soul. She was just his granddaughter at the time and only a soul and yet, all of this had been entrusted into her hands as the Okasake vessel. She knew a lot at a young age but at what cost?

Her entire life force was being driven by everything but her.

The fact that she could just so easily die like that because of the heart was unnerving. He didn't doubt her but to fight death to come back? Something that completely relied on her willpower and soul with absolutely no guarantee? He would like a life without that instead of having to worry.

He knew the next time she dropped, he would still be anxiously waiting and looking at the time.

Death was death. Something like a revival the way Rukia did it wasn't normal at all and just 'cause it appeared normal to someone like Byakuya's grandfather, that didn't mean he could always act as normal when it happened.

What if one day she didn't wake up?

What if one day, he became so used to the 12 minutes that when it failed on him, he'd ruin himself over the fact that he had treated it like every other 'death' she experienced?

In short, it wasn't something he could solely rely on or get used too 'cause one day it may not happen and growing attached to that consistency would ruin him for sure.

He couldn't rely on the 12 minutes exactly but that didn't mean he wasn't gonna use it as a beacon of hope. Her response to the issue as well told him that she believed in herself to come back each time too so he'd place his bets on her and chance.

She'd come back when she needed too—he believed that fully.

---

5 days later

Byakuya wanted to apologize, having now reflected over his behavior however, the younger Rukia had not returned for days. He had waited for her to come back from her many walks but it seemed like she wasn't going to return from them at all.

Her younger brother even brought more of that human beverage she liked so much and it was just sitting there in some cooler and she was nowhere to be found.

It partly made him want to go out looking for her but he decided otherwise, his grandfather's words from earlier still echoed in his mind.

It had only been a few hours ago when he had noticed Byakuya's concerned aura as the younger version had been nowhere to be found.

Byakuya had taken the time to apologize then. "I have reflected over my actions. I wish to apologize."

His grandfather had grunted in approval as a response before turning around though, Byakuya wanted to ask how. It was clear to him that the things he said were over the line and had insulted her greatly.

He was not used to apologizing to anyone, he rarely made errors though, his words to her had been errors. He didn't mean the things he said though, he understood why they would've made her upset.

"But grandfather." Byakuya called. How?

Small passages of time passed before he received an answer.

"I do not know." That was the least expected answer from his grandfather, he knew her too well to not know how to appeal to her. "I do not believe she will forgive you."

What did he mean?

Sure, she was stubborn though, she had kindly asked him for forgiveness before and he had accepted it, what was so different from him asking for forgiveness now?

"While you have now reflected on your actions and have concluded that you were wrong, that does not mean you should expect forgiveness from her." Ginrei said, his back to him as he spoke. "You insulted something she deeply values, her pride. She will not forgive someone who easily looked down upon her because she was from the Rukongai. She has always carried that spirit ever since I met her. You accused her of many things in relation to her status which in turn, disrespected and devalued her. The child I know doesn't forgive anyone who does that."

Byakuya's lips were pressed into a straight line.

So then what can he do?

His grandfather never gave him an answer for that. He had just walked away, leaving Byakuya to think of ways to make her forgive him though it didn't help that the present Rukia kept on 'dying' and essentially severed that thinking process.

In the past five days, she had done nothing but randomly fall and….die. It was very clear that the barrier was starting to thin regularly onwards and it therefore put Rukia at a higher risk of danger.

With that thought in mind, he had been unable to completely focus. Though she kept on ensuring him that she would be fine and that he didn't need to leave his present body's side, it was still a legitimate concern. He did not want to rely on chance with her, she was falling too much now for him to not be concerned.

A day after the first incident, she died two times.

A day after that incident, she died four times.

A day after that, she died three times.

A day after that, she died five consecutive times.

The concerns about the barrier troubled him too. If the barrier continued to thin like this, she'd be bound to her bed forever. She was no longer permitted to be anywhere alone given how frequently she was prone to falling.

While the quincy, the feline, the shopkeeper and grandfather did not express concern, there was still the remainder of them that did. It could backfire and given how recurring these deaths were, there was a possibility that she would not wake up from any one of them.

Safe to say, there was a lot on his mind. He wanted to go looking for the younger her to apologize but he did not want to leave the present version's side.

---

"Lieutenant Kuchiki is really something, isn't she?" Rangiku said while staring at her from afar. "She died so many times and still came back in exactly 12 minutes and she can even grow her arms back. Captain, are you really sure about this?"

Tōshirō didn't look at her. "I am. I do not think she's anything but a regular soul."

"Growing hands isn't a normal thing." Kensei argued. "She grew back her arm like she could just regenerate herself whenever she lost something."

"Usually I'd find something like that unusual too however, Captain Kurotsuchi was able to replicate all his organs when he came into Hueco Mundo, so anything's possible." Uryū said.

"She's been dying a lot recently." Kon acknowledged.

"Yeah, I know." Ichigo acknowledged, this was way too much. Jushirmai said it was a random thing but for the past five days, she was falling as if it was a regular thing. Even Kisuke had concerns about the barrier now that it kept on thinning to kill her.

Though he had been by her side each time she fell, the timer still made him anxious. Even though every time, a few seconds past twelve, she'd open her eyes, Ichigo still didn't want to rely on it.

There was obviously a problem that everyone had been trying to figure out, he just hoped that the barrier didn't break in Hell or else, Rukia was going to go through hell.

The fact that she couldn't even leave or go anywhere now without a chance of falling now meant that it was bad, really bad.

Even though she would hopefully wake up wherever she fell, that still left her in a very vulnerable position. He was more worried about that then how she grew back her arm.

"Strange how we've never seen it happen, huh Kurosaki." Uryū said in front of him.

"I know, the only explanation I have is that her friend Roger over there was around her the whole time." Ichigo's gaze was still on her. "Probably took her to their sheatsu world so we wouldn't see, ya know."

"Maybe." He responded though, the orange-haired girl beside him was sure that they had seen it before. It was like a distant memory to her, though it felt very unfamiliar when it had first occurred, seeing Rukia fall numerous times aroused a memory that wasn't quite a memory but was at the same time.

Had they seen this before?

She couldn't tell whether she was imagining a moment where they did or if it had actually occurred.

"Kurosaki-kun….Ishida-kun, Sado-kun are you sure we haven't seen this happen to Kuchiki-san before?" She asked, she didn't know if she was 100% correct but the more she thought of it, where would that creation even come from?

Uryū glanced at her. "Do you remember something?"

Orihime nodded her head. "I'm not sure why but...I feel like we have seen her like this before."

"But wouldn't we have remembered that?" Ichigo asked.

"I've never seen Nee-san fall like that."

"What do you see?" Sado asked.

"I feel like it happened at school once." Orihime informed though she had nothing to back it up but the videos playing in her head.

"School?" Uryū asked.

She nodded her head. "Yup, it's...no, wait. It happened at the back entrance of school, sometime around...the evening. There were a bunch of students walking in the building, I think we were preparing for something that's why we were all still at school. Anyways, I don't remember seeing how she fell but I do remember seeing her on the ground from somewhere far and moving to her. Kurosaki-kun was already there too, he was hovering over her for a bit before lifting her."

Ichigo, Uryu, Kon, and Chad stared at her oddly, neither had any recollection of this happening or in Kon's case, remembered being told about it happening either.

Orihime still didn't feel it was exactly real until she said it out loud. She now had memories of being in a hospital with her, Uryu's dad had been the one to evaluate her. She didn't know where this was all coming from now but it had to be real. Her instinct was telling her to trust it.

"I don't remember this happening." Ichigo honestly said.

"Me neither, we were all there Inoue-san?"

"Yeah, we even went to the hospital together. We went to your father's hospital, Ishida-kun."

His eyebrows rose. "Ryūken?"

"I don't remember anyone telling me about this." Kon said.

"Not that it really matters, Kon, you're not really important." Ichigo said to him.

Kon flared with anger. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

"You heard me."

"IF IT WASN'T FOR ME, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN KNOWN NEE-SAN RAN AWAY!"

"That's the only thing you did right."

"AND WHAT ABOUT YOU? IT ONLY TOOK YOU THREE HITS TO GO DOWN BACK AT THE MOUNTAINS AND NOW YOU CAN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT NEE-SAN!"

"I would be able to do something if we weren't stuck in here, you idiot!"

"WHAT'S THE POINT OF BEING THE HERO IF YOU CAN'T EVEN GET US OUT OF THIS MESS?! NEE-SAN NEEDS OUR HELP!"

"Don't you think I know that?! Geez, did you forget we tried touching Jushirmai earlier and he felt nothing?!"

"COULD'VE TRIED HARDER! But there's nothing to fear, once I get outta here I'll protect Nee-san from her evil stalker!—WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!"

"What the hell are you gonna do?"

"I—"

"Kurosaki." Uryū called in an ominous tone. He didn't know how they didn't realize it but Orihime, Sado, and him sure did it.

The world around them was changing, beneath their feet, the familiar red-rocked surface was now carpeted with grass and weeds. Around them, the Gotei 13 who were next to them began to fade away leaving the empty spaces to be filled with students clad in school uniforms and lush trees.

The sky above them tinged a warm pink and orange, indicating it was sundown as Karakura students headed into the high school as if it was a regular day.

They were no longer in the red-rocked dimension they were stuck in before, now they had been transported or rather, the location had changed although they never left.

It seemed like a regular day, they were home—in the human world.

Karakura Town.

---

Rukia turned to her right, she was still on the stretcher but sitting upwards now and for some reason, the younger Byakuya was by her side, again...on her right.

Recently, he would not leave her.

He was being worse than Roger was when she didn't accept his dinner dates because she was busy.

After that argument with the younger her, Rukia had planned on distancing herself for a bit; however, he was making that plan more than impossible.

No matter where she went, there he was.

And here he was again, beside her on the stretcher—Rukia didn't even think she saw him sit on a stretcher once.

"She is really not coming." He stated while looking at the area where she had left. That she being the younger her.

"She'll be fine." Rukia guaranteed before taking a sip of some can beverage she had been wanting to try from the human world.

His eyes didn't move from that spot. "It has been almost a week."

"So?"

He finally shifted his focus to her. "You are that confident in yourself?"

"Byakuya, she'll be fine. And yes I have that much faith in her or—myself?"

"That is not enough." His gaze went back to the same spot. "There is nothing down here but rock. She did not bring anything with her."

"She still has her quotebook from her time and I'm pretty sure she isn't in here anyways." Rukia responded, she had tried before to detect her own presence but she felt nothing.

"Though where would she go? There is no place where she could disappear too, unless…"

"I don't know where she went but I know she's fine." Rukia assured. "She'll come back eventually. Jushirmai's here."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Did grandfather not inform you?"

Rukia moved her head to the right again. "About?"

Byakuya internally groaned, he did not want to admit this more than once but it seems that his grandfather didn't tell her that he felt...sorry about his words.

He only let her see the side of his face as he spoke, "...I wish to apologize for my words."

She was a bit stunned by his confession, the younger Byakuya now wanting to apologize sort of kindled that feeling she felt on Sōkyoku Hill.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Huh? He broke her thoughts.

"What?"

"It will not be easy for her to forgive me." He responded, the words of his grandfather replaying once again in his mind.

"I honestly...don't see the younger me being able to forgive you."

"But you are not offended?"

"I don't expect you to understand those types of things so no."

"Do you sincerely believe she will not forgive?" His head was still down.

Rukia shrugged, "well, from my standpoint I don't think so but it's not like you're lonely, I'm still here and I'm the same thing as the younger me and Captain is here too. In the end, neither of you are ever going to remember your experiences here anyways so if you ask me, it doesn't really matter what happens to you both here."

"I suppose." He muttered before that irritable sound came back again.

It was the cleaner.

"Rogerrrrrr." Rukia called before a white barrier formed around them and a swarm of bats suddenly entered the area.

They both silently watched the clutter of bats fly past the barrier in speed before Rukia felt it happen again.

Though this time, she was prepared. She threw a pill in her mouth and swallowed it though, the pill which was instantly supposed to take effect, didn't do as much as it usually did—her chest was really starting to burn.

She winced, her right hand flying to her heart again as she closed her eyes. The action caught Byakuya's left eye and before she knew it, she was coughing up blood again.

She didn't remember who helped her move down further to lie down nor did she remember anything that was said to her as she went through the process all over again.

From her scalding chest to the recurring coughs which prevented her from breathing, the feeling of her body shutting down and the energy being sucked out so quickly she could not even comprehend how—the last thing she remembered was the red rocked ceiling above and a very last glimpse of light.

She was gone.

---

"How the hell did we end up here?" Ichigo asked as he made a full 360 to look around. They were no longer in that dimension for sure but how did they get here? Who brought them here?

They were back on the grass belonging to Karakura's high school grounds and as of now, in spite of the fact it was already sundown, students were still around outside or going inside.

It was so calm. Ichigo was sure they'd have a heat warning announced or something to keep everyone inside but it seemed fine, though he couldn't feel it, some students were still walking around with the long-sleeved version of their uniforms so it couldn't be that bad.

But that was strange too—how could the heat be gone already? If the Soul Society was still freezing, it didn't make sense.

"They're preparing for Karakura's annual summer festival." Uryū acknowledged, noticing a few students working on the large sign.

"But…" Orihime stared in confusion. "...didn't that already happen a few months ago? Last time we left, it was autumn. We should be working on the autumn festival, no?"

"The number is wrong." Sado stated, noticing the sign stated the following:

Welcome to Karakura's 110th Annual Summer Fest!

"You're right, didn't we celebrate the 110th summer fest like two years ago? This year should be the 112th." Ichigo said.

The only reason he remembered it was because it was Rukia's first time ever participating in it.

"Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime's voice called though it wasn't coming from the Orihime standing beside him.

Uryū followed the voice to see Orihime with her old hairdo and her school uniform back on.

"What the…"

"Did you finish looking through the photos I sent you? I think this design would be really great for our flower booth." She said to Tatsuki.

Orihime from afar stared intensely, this was just like her 'memory' but how?

"Yeah, I did. They look pretty great, we should head inside and start working. The festival's only in 2 days."

"Right!" Orihime said to her as they began to walk.

Uryū's eyes widened. "Are we...back in time?"

He turned to Orihime. "Was this in your memory, Inoue-san?"

Orihime who was slightly staggered by the sight of it all, just nodded her head. This was exactly it, it was as if they had somehow gotten into her head.

"What the hell?" Ichigo said right after.

"ARE WE BACK IN TIME, ICHIGO?! HOW ARE WE GONNA SAVE NEE-SAN NOW?!"

"C'mon midget." Ichigo's voice slurred though it wasn't coming from him exactly, looking ahead he saw himself, somehow, back into his uniform.

The gang walked up to him, only to see...Rukia.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She said from behind him, also back into her school uniform. "Quit nagging me."

"Listen, you're the one who said you wanted to manage the bunny booth, I'm just tryna help. You gotta sign up for it, if the sign up sheet's full, you're gonna have to choose another one."

"What other booth could be as cute as bunnies?"

"Rukia, you know you're not there to hold em' right? You gotta let people pet them and take pics, that's all."

"R-Right, I can do that but we get to touch them too, right?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah, yeah but only when a visitor wants to hold one or take pics with one."

"Ichigo…" Kon called on his shoulder. "...do you remember this?"

"No." What the hell?

"But, we get to take pics with them in the end right? And play with them? And hug them right?" Rukia asked quickly.

"...yeah...you can do that when no one's around...just make sure no one's watching."

"So, what booth are you gonna do, Ichigo?" She asked beside him.

"Doesn't really matter, as long as I don't gotta do detention again 'cause of Ishida." He grumbled.

"What did you two circus clowns do again?" Rukia asked before Ichigo proceeded to relay the whole story again.

"Listen, there was a hollow alright but I was in gym class doin' my exam and Ishida was in one of his AP bio classes. So, naturally I thought Ishida would take care of it 'cause I was in the middle of an exam and he was just chillin' in his class."

The other Ichigo watched as Rukia quietly listened to him speak before she came to a stop, though he kept on going.

He knew what was happening the moment her hand flew to her chest. And then just like that, the same procedure he had watched her follow in the past five days had occurred again.

She threw pills in her mouth and swallowed, she held in her coughs through the blood and pressure.

"But even when doing the whole exam, the hollow's reiatsu didn't disappear so then I thought 'he needs my help' so I ran out in the middle of my exam only to see Ishida in the hallway. He thought I went to handle it 'cause he was in the middle of dissecting some rare beetle, so naturally we ended up arguing about it in the hall and we both got detention."

Ichigo had kept on walking then, too indulged in the story to realize that Rukia was no longer by his side. The other Ichigo watched as she struggled to hold in her coughs before her skin was covered yet again with grey splotches.

And just like that, she collapsed.

Orihime gasped, this was exactly like her memory.

"In detention we ended up arguing even more so instead of sitting there, the principal asked us to help out with this festival." He explained before turning to his right.

"Rukia?"

He made a 180. "Rukia?"

He then saw her body on the ground and dropped his bag as he ran to her. "Hey!"

"Rukia?" He turned her body just to make sure he wasn't getting all worked up over a gigai but something was really wrong.

With her head in his arms, he called for her again. "Rukia?"

Her face was dotted with greyish-purple shapes looking the way paint did when it bled through paper. Her spirit was in there, she hadn't left it. She wasn't breathing either—why the fuck wasn't she breathing?!

"Rukia?!" He shook her. "Rukia?!"

Her gigai was getting stiff or maybe it was actually her getting stiff, Ichigo couldn't tell, he wasn't processing anything right now except the fact that she wasn't breathing.

"Rukia?!"

His yelling drew a crowd and before he knew it, he was lifting her with his arms and running towards the nearest hospital. He had to go to Uryū's father, maybe he would know what was wrong with her—she wasn't a regular human, no human doctor would know what was going on but him.

If her gigai wasn't showing her breathing and she wasn't in shinigami form, did that mean...did that mean she was dead?

Coincidentally, he dashed past Uryū and Chad who followed him. He didn't know what was going on anymore, how could she not be breathing? He really hoped that Kisuke had just given her a defective gigai by accident and somehow her spirit wasn't able to come out or something like that.

She had to be alive in there, right?

The other Ichigo, Uryū, Chad, and Orihime in addition to Kon watched the scene unfold before their setting changed into a next one, the same setting Orihime had seen in her memory.

The hospital.

---

00:00:00

The timer was done and naturally, he waited a few more seconds for her to start breathing again since the timing wasn't exactly perfect.

It took 12 minutes for her to come back but another extra 30 seconds for her to settle in.

Looking at the monitor, he waited for the straight line to jump up and down like it usually did.

###

1:37 later

He tapped his foot impatiently, he did not know why she was taking so long. The irritating sound of the line continued to go on like the broken record it had been during those 12 minutes, when was he going to hear her heartbeat?

He wanted to ask her more questions about their current relationship given that was the subject they were on earlier before she 'passed away'.

###

5:12 later

This was becoming annoying.

He was not a person built by patience.

He did not know why she was being so difficult and had not woken up yet.

Every time before that she had her heart beating shortly after the 12 minutes, what was taking her stubbornness so long?

###

30:23

Urahara and the feline now stood by his side.

Something was wrong, very wrong.

It had been over half an hour and she still wasn't awake. The doctor had shared that she timed it herself, so why was this particular case taking longer?

She had endured the exact same symptoms from before, there was nothing different from how she had fallen before.

###

01:40:36

The group was surrounding her again.

She had not gotten up yet, her heart was still not beating.

Usually, there'd still be some ivory patches left on her skin after the greying but this time her skin colour was completely gone and replaced by this very pale grey shade.

This was not good. He did not like the feeling that was assembling in his chest. She had gotten up so easily before, so much that a part of him sort of grew accustomed to it though, he still slightly doubted it.

Now, when he had some sort of faith in her stubbornness in spite of his initial doubts, she was failing him.

Why wasn't she waking up? She had so much confidence in herself and yet her body was failing her like this.

He was starting to feel much like he did the first time he found her dead. This was troubling him too much, he did not wish to relive that experience.

---

The Interioreum World versions watched Ichigo, carrying Rukia in bridal style, approach Uryū father before running into the room beside him.

Uryū, Orihime, and Sado came after him and entered the room. The Interioreum World versions followed them and entered the room too, they moved to stand at the end of the stretcher to see all their faces.

Uryū's father had her hooked up to a monitor just like the ones attached to their physical bodies down in the red-rocked dimension. The line was straight—she wasn't breathing.

She was dead.

The Interioreum World Ichigo watched his other self begin to panic after Uryū's father's dull conclusion.

"She's dead." Ryūken stated, hands in his pocket, he turned to leave.

Ichigo stopped him.

"What the hell do you mean by dead?!" Ichigo angrily questioned him.

"How can Kuchiki-san be dead?" Orihime questioned behind Uryū. Her eyes scanned the petite woman in her uniform, Kuchiki-san can't really be…

She looked at the back of Ichigo.

Ryūken just pointed at the line on the monitor before attempting to leave yet again though Kurosaki Isshin's son was just too persistent.

"She was fine…" his voice cracked, it didn't make any sense, "...we were just walking and she...she collapsed."

Uryū stayed silent in the presence of his father though, he was curious too.

"You gotta help us!" Ichigo yelled, water was building up too soon.

How could she be dead?

"What are the chances it's just her gigai?" Uryū asked in a low tone.

"Maybe we should call Urahara-san too!" Orihime said before pulling out her phone. "Maybe he'll know. And Yoruichi-san too!"

"She didn't leave." Ichigo responded before staring at her.

"Maybe it's her gigai. Urahara-san must've given her a defective one." Uryū said. "Her spirit's probably still stuck in there."

Ichigo hoped what Uryū was saying was true. This was all happening too quickly, Ichigo didn't understand.

He stared at the now lifeless body again. Her eyes were perfectly shut, her skin now a very pale grey with only a few ivory patches left. Her spirit was still in there, he was sure.

"It's not the gigai." Ryūken stated behind them, his back facing them. "She is dead."

Ichigo's eyes widened before looking to her.

"...But how?" Orihime asked the doctor, he didn't move.

Though the attention of Ichigo and Uryū were on Rukia, Orihime's grey eyes bore into the back of the cold doctor, awaiting a response.

"Rukia?!" Ichigo called, holding onto her shoulders to shake her. "Rukia! Wake up! Rukia!"

The Interioreum World Uryū looked to the version of Ichigo beside him. "Got any ideas why we don't remember this happening, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo drowned out the yelling of his own self to respond. "No idea, though how the hell did Inoue remember it?"

They looked to the orange-haired girl standing beside them.

"I don't know…" she responded honestly. "It's just...after seeing Kuchiki-san fall so many times these past few days, something like this suddenly came back to me."

"It's pretty strange that we don't remember this happening." Uryū said. "Given the circumstances, it should've been an easy thing to remember."

Ryūken slightly turned to his right to stare at the grey eyes of the teenager. Orihime was convinced he would answer her but instead, he just walked out of the room.

"Rukia!" Ichigo called over and over again. "This can't be fucking happening! We gotta go to the Soul Society or something! Inoue, can you try healing her?"

Orihime quickly turned around and nodded her head though she was unsuccessful. The yellow-orange healing technique proved itself to be helpless after two minutes of trying.

"Fuck…" tears were building up but he desperately wanted to force them away because she couldn't be dead. None of this made sense—she was fine, how could she suddenly stop breathing?

Fucking midget, wake up!

Rukia….please fucking wake up.

You were okay...

He dipped his hands beneath her body to lift her up. He couldn't just accept this—he needed someone to actually evaluate her properly, he needed to see her spirit form. How could she have fallen so quickly and just...die?

Captain Unohana would be able to tell him, there was no way she was dead—it was just her gigai being weird.

"We gotta get to the Soul Society, Inoue can you text Urahara to let him know we're coming?" Ichigo asked.

"Sure!"

Ichigo could've had her in his arms right now if not for a white circle forming on the other side of the stretcher. The sudden appearance caught all their attention, leaving Rukia to remain on the hospital bed.

With a quick ring of mint outlining the perimeter, an old man stepped out of it.

It was a soul reaper.

"Captain Kuchiki?" The Interioreum World Uryū was surprised by his appearance.

"Byakuya's grandfather?" Ichigo said right after in confusion. He had met Byakuya's grandfather before? How the hell didn't he know this?

The Interioreum World versions watched as they questioned who the man was in confusion. Ichigo couldn't believe that Byakuya's grandfather and him had met before and he had no memory of it ever occurring.

"Stay." Ginrei's grey eyes fell on Rukia's face. "She will be fine."

"Fine?" Ichigo asked, he had no idea who the hell the guy was but….his aura...the way he dressed and that scarf told him something he didn't want to believe. A Kuchiki clan member? "She's not breathing!"

Ginrei didn't answer.

"Hey! I'm talkin' to you goddamnit. How the hell am I supposed to leave her here? The doctors won't be able to figure this out!"

He went to put his hands underneath her again though he stopped following a cold glare. Those grey eyes….

Was he—"who the hell are you anyways?"

The old man just stared at him before shifting his eyes back to Rukia. Ichigo didn't ask again—his aura was enough but, he thought the only Kuchiki clan members left were Byakuya and Rukia? The Elders didn't count. He couldn't be one of them right? He thought the Elders of that house despised Rukia more than anything so, how could he…

"At what time did she fall?" He suddenly questioned, Ichigo scrunched his eyebrows. Why did that even matter?

When Ichigo didn't answer, Uryū did it for him.

"I think about 6:07 PM." Uryū answered. "I was checking my phone around the time I saw her and Kurosaki walking together. When I looked up, she was on the ground though, Kurosaki kept on walking."

"I didn't know." Ichigo sneered right after. "We were walking and talking. She was fine, and then she asked me about what happened between us with detention n'stuff and I was explaining the story, I had no idea when she fell."

His eyes softened, looking at her in remorse.

I'm sorry, Rukia….I should've...I should've paid more attention. I'm sorry….

Tears wanted to form again though Ichigo couldn't let them because he didn't believe she was dead. There was no way her life was ending this easily, nothing made sense.

He clenched his right fist.

"She will be awake by 6:19." Ginrei said, eyes still on her.

Ichigo's head snapped up. "What?"

Orihime already had her phone out from earlier, she checked the time. "It's 6:16 PM right now."

Ichigo tried to catch the eyes of the elder but he wouldn't spare him a glance. He just looked down at Rukia, Ichigo didn't know what the hell was going on anymore.

What did time have to do with anything?

And…

Why are you...even here?

###

Ichigo's eyes widened as the clock hit 6:19 PM and at least 20 seconds later, her heartbeat resumed on the monitor and her eyes were open.

"Kuchiki-san's awake!" Orihime announced immediately.

"Rukia!" He called, he couldn't believe it. His head moved from the elder across from him and then to her.

"Quit yelling, you fool, I'm alright." She chided immediately as she pushed herself up, Ichigo rushed to help her properly sit up.

Uryū waited for her to sit up properly before asking. "Was it your gigai?"

"Huh?" She responded immediately, her purple eyes met his before shifting to the elder on the right. "Oh…."

"Very well." Ginrei responded to her before making eye contact with all of them again.

"Wait—what the hell happened? And…" he said the next part with a lower tone. "...you're friends with a Kuchiki elder?"

"How were you able to start breathing again?" Uryū questioned right after. "Was it just the gigai or was it you?"

"No." Ginrei responded, all their eyes finally locked with his and before they knew it, the elder man was suddenly outlined with a bright mint green.

"You will forget everything that has occurred in the past 14 minutes and return to your academy. She will join you later, having returned to the Soul Society to fulfill her duties. Your last memory will belong to the lawn of your academy. You will all be with your usual company." Ginrei said.

"He erased our memory!" Ichigo exclaimed before looking to Uryū.

The Interioreum World versions watched as their eyes suddenly glowed with a spark of mint green and obediently walked away under his influence.

"Though how did Inoue-san remember it so clearly?" Sado questioned shortly after.

Orihime looked to them. "I don't know...it just came back."

"Thanks." Rukia said to him with a smile. "Guess Roger didn't make it in time."

"I was around." He responded. "Though...if these collapses are becoming more frequent, Roger should stay by your side regularly."

"I knowww." She said. "I just didn't want to bother him 24/7. He's got his own life too."

"I will give you mine then." He offered.

Rukia shook her head before kindly rejecting his offer. "No, too powerful."

"You are just escaping to a different world."

"Still, nope." She said before hopping off the stretcher. She then proceeded to transform into her now usual look with her doctor's coat on and the Okasake gloves before leaving with him through the portal.

And with that, their world suddenly changed to end up in the red-rocked dimension.

---

"Kuchiki really isn't waking up." Tōshirō observed, it had been a long while now.

Captain Ukitake wanted to say something too though, his chest was consumed with anguish. He had watched her get up every time she fell in 12 minutes over the past few days, the sight had restored more hope in him each time that she would but now, here they were again—he couldn't continue the feeling anymore.

His Lieutenant was really...dead.

"If she woke up all those times before, won't she…" Rangiku stopped. Do it again?

"The time she calculated seemed to be pretty consistent if she and the former Captain Kuchiki said it takes 12 minutes." Kensei said.

"B-But, that doesn't mean something like this can't happen occasionally, right?" Momo said to her.

"Eh, I'm not gonna be doubtful yet." Captain Hirako said right after.

"That's the spirit." Captain Unohana commended.

"We still got Ichigo n'the others to worry about too." He added. "They just disappeared outta nowhere."

"Someone's fucking with us a lot." Kenpachi said.

Ikkaku agreed. "We ain't puppets."

"I wonder where they disappeared too." Tōshirō said beside Byakuya. "Who took them there?"

"Whomever fucked with the generator to begin with, I guess." Kensei responded.

"Captain…" Isane called.

"Yes, Isane?"

"Do you think Lieutenant Kuchiki will wake up from this again?" She asked, a bit nervous.

Lieutenant Kira spoke before Captain Unohana could answer. "If she doesn't we're screwed, unless the former Captain Kuchiki knows enough about it to help us."

"Speaking of ol'Ginrei, wonder where he is." Captain Kyōraku said to Jūshiro beside him.

"I don't know, I didn't see when he left."

"If he's not worried, you should all quit being so emotional." Mayuri said from behind them.

"We don't know that just yet." Captain Ukitake said while staring at his Lieutenant's body. He slightly looked to Byakuya to his left before resuming his stare to the body. "If he's not worried then it will restore some faith."

Byakuya knew Jūshiro's words were directed to him. He was waiting on his grandfather's opinion on this before he jumped to conclusions again.

"Where's her brother?" Lieutenant Kira asked. "If he's not worried, then she should be fine, right?"

"It seems like Oswald has departed again, he will be back soon." Tōshirō said. "Or maybe, Kuchiki will wake up before his return."

It seemed more than fitting when a white portal formed again with a ring of mint before the former 6th Division Captain stepped out again.

The younger Byakuya sitting on the chair, quickly shifted his head to him. "Grandfather."

Yoruichi, with crossed arms, popped out of the line they had formed alongside the stretcher. "Ginrei, what's wrong?"

He looked to her, the Gotei 13 waited for his response.

"Hell has burnt down."

The younger Byakuya's eyes widened before turning to her body again.

Are you really...gone?

---

End Note

byaruki / tumblr