Updated: 21st June 2019 (mainly cosmetic changes)
Um, yeah… I'm back…
I know, I know, took me long enough. I'm so sorry…
And of course I'm thrilled to have received so many reviews, thank you!
honey-vanilla11, SnowLion no Miko, Iana Sabelle, phoenix-aerith, eeza77, SoraXNamine, Lorraine C., Red Princess, Isolated Mind, Auel Nader, VampireCabbit, fantasy-realm, DarkMagic10, ColourPearl, Anjiska, Sweet Scrifice, deirdre's dreams, RollingStar -Miss Kuchiki-, white tiger
This chapter is different from the previous ones as it's neither from Rukia's nor Ulquiorra's point of view. Some of you wanted to know what happened on Ichigo, Byakuya and the others' side, so this is it. Initially I planned it to be a single chapter, but as I started writing, it reached quite a length and still wasn't in its half. Therefore I've decided to split it into two chapters.
So, do enjoy!
朝霧 -Asagiri-
The Frozen Whisper
by Asagiri
Chapter 5
The Loss
On the main square of the 12th Division's headquarters, in front of two inconspicuous wooden pillars, stood Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. His faithful lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe was at his side, as always. He was waiting impatiently for the return of the party he had sent to Hueco Mundo. They were a backup for those reckless youngsters who had acted out on their own without considering the situation and the good of Soul Society. He had sent more people than he could spare, including four captains, but with a bit of luck this mission would end without any casualties on their side.
They shouldn't be wasting the little time they had on this, but perhaps it would be good for the morale. Also they might gather some intelligence, too, which would help them prepare for the final battle. One of the basic keys to victory, as his long life had taught him, were preparations, after all.
Foolish brats. He would scold them when they came back. Although it was a noble deed to help their friend, still it was a selfish and irresponsible act. Soul Society needed their strength. They couldn't afford to lose them. He was already old, it were the youngsters like them who were the blood of this world. Only they could protect it from the destruction. It was their responsibility, they mustn't forget it!
Sighing tiredly, he prayed the good fortune was on their side and all of them would return safely.
Suddenly a fleeting purple flame appeared between the wooden pillars.
"We have a signal from the other side!" Akon of the 12th Division reported. "We are ready to take them in!" He turned to his younger colleague, "Rin, get to work! Help others secure the passageway!"
"Y-yes! Right away!" the boy replied and ran to his assigned seat in front of a gigantic computer, that had been dragged out from the depths of the Shinigami Research Institute, reassembled and remodelled, and now it kept the connection between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo safe and stable. "Everything's in check!"
The air rumbled and sizzled, and after a minute or so the Garganta gate appeared.
"They're coming!"
Indeed a group of twelve people emerged from the passageway.
・
On the lead were Captain Kurotsuchi and his lieutenant. He was carrying an enormous bag, filled with samples and records from Szayelaporro's laboratory he had found interesting. The said Arrancar was hoisted on Nemu's shoulder. He was in critical condition, but still breathing.
The president of the Shinigami Research Institute wouldn't let him die. Oh, no. At least not before he examined the subject very thoroughly, so his being didn't hold any secrets from him. He was already excited at the mere thought of getting his hands on every single cell of that Arrancar. What should he start with? Nervous system? Digesting system? Circulatory system? Reiatsu? Mind? Maybe he should start with checking the reactions to some of his special elixirs?
… Actually saying he was 'excited' was a huge understatement.
Mayuri was particularly interested in the difference between an Arrancar and an ordinary Hollow, and the difference between an Arrancar and a Shinigami. He wanted to know everything, even the most insignificant details. Also, how exactly did the release of their swords take their course? Was there only one stage? What was the connection between the unsealed powers and an Arrancar's previous Hollow form?
Oh, so many questions, but no answers… Not for long, hopefully.
If he researched every aspect of an Arrancar, then perhaps he would be able to grasp how the Hōgyoku worked. He was riveted by that remarkable jewel and its unimaginable power. After all, generations of Shinigamis feared reaching their limit. How dreaded was the moment when one's growth stopped! And with that tiny artefact this could be changed.
Absolutely fascinating!
The Shinigami-Hollow hybrid…
Oh yes. He couldn't wait to get down to work.
Mayuri didn't have time to waste for he just got his hands on a highly interesting subject. He would be the very first one to dissect an Arrancar. An Espada, too! He had to get to it straight away.
He knew it was expected of him, but currently a mission report was the last thing he wanted to do. Besides, there were other captains who could fill in for him. He wasn't really needed now. At least not here. His presence was required in his laboratory and nothing would prevent him from getting there and obtaining the knowledge no-one before him had been able to obtain.
With urgency he swiftly passed Captain-Commander, giving him only a small nod of acknowledgement, and announcing, "There's a crucial research I must conduct, so we'll excuse ourselves for now."
・
Captain-Commander Yamamoto only nodded disgruntledly. He saw the maniac glint in the eyes of the captain of the 12th Division, stating clearly that he would not be stopped. He let it slide, though, fully aware how his research was important for Soul Society's preservation. There were others who could give a report on their mission in Hueco Mundo.
He turned back to the rest of the party, looking at them expectantly.
Captain Unohana and Captain Zaraki exchanged glances.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto frowned. That was rather… unexpected.
Only then did he notice something out of ordinary about the Hueco Mundo party. They were surrounded by a grim atmosphere. Kurosaki brat was holding Orihime Inoue, who was crying mournfully. He and the Quincy brat were trying to console her, but she seemed inconsolable.
Most of them had their heads lowered, and their gazes were unfocused, shifting from place to place, unwilling to accept something terrible that had happened.
Understanding came immediately.
"Who?" he asked, but he already knew. Not only she wasn't there with them, but just one glance at the usually composed and stoic Captain Byakuya Kuchiki told him everything. Even though he didn't let on much, his posture showed that something burdened him greatly. And probably the only thing that could affect him to this degree was something that concerned his family, especially his younger sister…
"Rukia Kuchiki," Captain Unohana answered softly, with a sad edge to her voice.
Byakuya didn't even spare a glance back at the enemy his Senbonzakura Kageyoshi had just sliced into bloody dust. Whatever was left of the dark-skinned Arrancar, no longer held any resemblance to who it was before. At the moment he didn't care that he had lost control of himself. In fact he found it very justifiable, unlike the situation that had caused him to give in to the primitive bloodlust.
Rukia was dead.
He couldn't believe it.
Yet, no matter how hard he concentrated, he couldn't find any traces of her reiatsu anywhere anymore. The only thing that bore witness of her presence in Las Noches was her ice. But soon it would melt away… It would disappear just like she, who had covered in it this hall. Looking at the transience of her ice made him even more aware that Rukia was no more in this world.
She was dead.
And he had failed.
He had been supposed to protect her, to take care of her so nothing bad would happen to her…
But he had failed. He had broken the promise he had made to Hisana as well as the promise he had made to himself after the whole execution incident. He had sworn that he would eliminate any danger that could harm her at any cost, even at the cost of his life.
But his promises hadn't been enough.
They meant nothing in the face of reality.
Byakuya felt powerless. He was unable to protect those who were most important to him. First his parents, then his wife, and finally his younger sister. Even though he had trained hard to obtain the power and wisdom that would enable him to reduce any threats to people close to him, in the end it always turned out to be insufficient.
What had he done wrong to be cursed like this?
When he had felt her weak reiatsu, he had rushed as fast as possible to her location, but he had been too late. She had already been devoured. Or so that Espada, he had run into, had said.
He hadn't waited for any more words from his enemy. He wouldn't have heard him anyway.
A blind rage had engulfed him and before he had noticed it, his opponent had turned into unrecognisable pieces of flesh, bones and blood. The fight had been over even before it had really begun.
Byakuya in his stupor didn't hear Hanatarō Yamada arrive, even though the 7th Seat of the 4th Division was loud as if they were on a summer festival instead of enemy's territory.
・
"I finally made it! That was so terrible of you to…" Hanatarō trailed off. He wanted to say that it was mean of Captain Kuchiki to leave him behind, when he had specifically asked him not to use Shunpo. However the scene that he stumbled upon effectively made his voice stuck in his throat. Wide-eyed, he had hard time taking in the ice and blood that covered the whole hall, and the lone figure, whose white haori was also stained with red blotches.
Hanatarō stared at the captain of the 6th Division, urging for some kind of explanation as to what on earth had happened here, but he might as well not be there. His superior didn't in the least acknowledge his presence.
Maybe he's wounded? he thought, his medical-self kicking in. He cautiously approached him, but even then nothing indicated that he was being noticed.
Captain Kuchiki was simply standing there with his head slightly bowed as if he was deep in thought. None of the bloodstains on his haori seemed to come from his own wounds, if he even had any.
"Um, excuse me, sir, but… are you all right?" Hanatarō asked nervously, not really knowing what to do. Everything seemed too bizarre to him, as if it had been taken from some gory nightmare.
・
Byakuya nodded, assuming that Yamada was inquiring about his physical wounds. Getting a grip on himself, he forced himself to move. He couldn't stay in this room for eternity, after all. He had to accept that Rukia was dead. That he had failed once again.
But could he still move on after another excruciating blow from the fate?
Numb to the core, like in a trance, he started heading towards the meeting place.
・
Hanatarō observed in puzzlement as Captain Kuchiki slowly made his way in the very same direction they had come from. Something was definitely off. Weren't they supposed to aid Rukia-san? Where was she? Looking around he couldn't spot her anywhere. Yet, her ice was covering the hall… On top of that, the unusual behaviour of his superior… What had happened? What wasn't he noticing?
Needing the answers, he tried to speak to Captain Kuchiki once again, "E-excuse me, sir… b-but… where is Rukia-san…?"
His superior stopped in his tracks and for the first time looked directly at him. After a long pause, when Hanatarō was thinking he would remain silent, he quietly uttered words that he wasn't sure he heard correctly. Or perhaps he just didn't want to hear them. Later he would think it was the latter. But as he was now a sentence along lines "Rukia is dead" – short, cruel, and definitive – seemed unreal, so he reasoned that he must have misheard… Yes, that was it! Because such a thing would have never ever happened… would it?
Yet, that indescribable feeling of affliction and regret, which filled him for a flick of second when he locked his eyes with his superior's, was too real…
But… but Rukia-san couldn't be dead! She just couldn't!
"She's… dead," Captain Kuchiki repeated, and resumed his step.
In denial, Hanatarō ran and stopped just before him, blocking his path.
"She isn't dead! It's impossible! We must find her!" he shouted with pleading look in his eyes, for a moment forgetting himself and the difference in ranks between them. He desperately needed to hear reassuring words that she was sound and fine or slightly injured at the most, nothing too serious. That she had already gone ahead and was waiting for them at the rendezvous.
But deep inside the realisation that he wouldn't be hearing anything like that, slowly but undeniably started to sink in.
・
Byakuya couldn't find a voice in his throat to repeat the brutal truth, so he merely shook his head.
"N-no… Ru-Rukia-san can't be…" Yamada stammered. However, it seemed the harsh facts were finally getting through to him and his eyes began to fill with tears. "Wh-where is she?" he blubbered, choking on the words. "I-I'd like t-to say g-good-b-bye… And… and w-we need t-to take her w-with us…"
Byakuya turned in the direction of the battlefield. "She was devoured by that Arrancar," he said gently, pointing to a grotesque lump of flesh around dozen yards away. He tried to suppress the sorrow in his voice, but to no avail. "There are no remains of her left. I cannot even give her a proper burial."
Yamada looked at him, his eyes filled with despair. "H-have we… have we ar-arrived t-too late?"
Unable to answer that question, Byakuya once again started to walk towards their meeting place, soon followed by crying Yamada.
Most of the Hueco Mundo party had already gathered. The only ones left were Captain Kuchiki with Hanatarō Yamada, who had gone to help Rukia Kuchiki, and Captain Kurotsuchi with Lieutenant Nemu, who were still exploring the laboratory of the 8th Espada – it must have been like a goldmine for them.
Retsu was in the middle of patching up Captain Zaraki, who was complaining that it was nothing, he had been through worse and her treatment was unnecessary and annoying. Of course she pretended not to hear him and was healing him anyway with a gentle smile on her face. She didn't bother explaining how vital it should be for him to have those wounds treated in order to recover as soon as possible.
Even a fight-loving man like him used to injuries in any shape and form possible wouldn't be able to return back to his top shape if not healed. So she continued her duty in silence. Even though Captain Zaraki was complaining, he wasn't resisting at all. It was probably a pose, so he would appear tough. She sighed. Men and their pride…
・
The five of them were quietly sitting in a circle, waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, so they could finally depart for Soul Society. Ichigo had already been healed with Inoue's Sōten Kisshun. Chad, too, was in good shape thanks to Captain Unohana. Luckily for Ishida and Renji the treatment they had received from the madman scientist hadn't resulted in any side effects, at least in any they were aware of. Hopefully the 'yet' issue wouldn't come into play later.
Ichigo spotted approaching Byakuya and Hanatarō, but, oddly enough, there was no third person accompanying them.
"Where's Rukia?" he asked curiously, when they came close enough to hear him.
The captain of the 6th Division ignored him and sat on a rock some distance away from the group.
Seeing no point in trying to force the answer out of him, the redhead turned to Hanatarō, who would without doubt be more willing to cooperate.
"So Hanatarō, where did you lose Rukia?" he asked jokingly.
To his surprise no reply came. The Shinigami's head was bowed and his face covered by his hair. Frowning, Ichigo looked closely at him and saw something distressing – small, transparent droplets were falling on his chest and on the ground.
"Hey, what's wrong?!" he stood up and approached him. He was getting more and more anxious. "Hanatarō, tell me what's going on!"
"Yamada-kun, tell us what has happened," Inoue cut in softly, but undeniable worry could be heard in her voice. "Where's Kuchiki-san?"
"Rukia-san…" Hanatarō dropped to his knees and a heart-breaking wail escaped his lips.
Renji, unable to stand the tension, jumped to the 7th Seat, grabbed his shoulders and started shaking him. "Get a grip!" he yelled.
"W-we… were t-too… late," he blubbered out, the truth too painful for him to say it straightforwardly.
Everyone froze in place, and it felt as if the time stopped. Only Hanatarō's weeps continued, but they were eerily detached from reality. The five friends were shifting their wide-eyed gazes from the boy to Byakuya and to each other. What was he saying? It couldn't be that… could it?
"What do you mean?" Ichigo whispered shakily, but the 7th Seat couldn't utter any more words. Inoue kneeled next to him, trying to console him a bit, but he hid his face in his hands and repeatedly shook his head. She looked in the direction of Las Noches, and her eyes, too, began rapidly filling with tears.
Pushing away the fear that was starting to grow in his gut, the redhead ran to Byakuya, with Renji at his heels.
"What did he mean?!" he demanded harshly, pointing at the bawling mess in the form of Hanatarō.
"Captain! What is going on?"
・
"It is exactly as Hanatarō Yamada said," Byakuya answered, his voice hollow. He didn't look at the Kurosaki boy. He couldn't find the strength to face anyone now. He felt drained, so very drained…
"That can't be true!" his lieutenant shouted, completely forgetting about the respectful title.
Honorifics were the last thing he cared about at the moment. Disheartened, he shook his head and put it in his hands. He didn't even care when Kurosaki grabbed him by his collar and set him to his feet. The youngster even had the audacity to shake him, despite Renji's protests. Yet, he felt nothing but numbing grief.
"Where is Rukia?" Kurosaki asked slowly in a manner saying he wouldn't leave him alone until he received an answer.
Byakuya looked at him with heavy eyes. It was difficult for him to once again voice those three horribly sounding words. They were like a lie – he would give anything for them to be a lie! – yet, it was the truth, and they needed to know it.
"She is dead."
・
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. Even though he wanted an answer, he hadn't said he would like it. Or accept it meekly, for that matter.
"How come?" he questioned quietly, in a dangerous tone, still holding Byakuya by his collar.
The captain of the 6th Division remained silent, his gaze wandering over the Hueco Mundo's sand, but as if he wasn't seeing it. His body stood straight, but clearly there was a burden on his shoulders. All this, but also the signs of remorse Ichigo had once seen in this man not that long time ago on Sōkyoku Hill, made him not only angrier, but also very suspicious.
"Answer me!" he demanded.
Byakuya exhaled heavily. "And what else do you want me to tell you, Ichigo Kurosaki? We were simply too late."
He still was consciously refusing to look for Rukia's reiatsu, but against his own will a part of him was reaching out towards Las Noches, searching for her and finding… nothing. Sharply rejecting that notion, he again turned to Byakuya.
"You said that she died… but maybe you allowed her to die?!" he asked vehemently.
"Oi, Ichigo! You're overdoing it!" Renji cut in angrily, pushing him away from his superior, and standing between them. "Captain would never do such a thing!"
"Stay out of it!" Ichigo yelled at his friend, and then glowered at Byakuya, "Well?"
・
Byakuya didn't hold it against the boy that he still harboured hard feelings after the execution incident. But the insinuation that he would allow Rukia to die was outrageous. He would have given his life away to protect her! He sent the brat a cold glare, "I've made mistakes in the past, true, but now you're just insulting me and my pride."
"Then tell us what happened," Kurosaki growled in return.
Separating his emotions from facts, he said, "When we arrived in Hueco Mundo, I sensed Rukia's diminishing reiatsu and made my way towards her. But when I got to the place, she was already gone… devoured by an Arrancar."
"Devoured? Are you sure, Captain?" Renji asked, puzzled.
Byakuya sighed heavily. "Yes."
"Was it the 9th Espada?"
"That I don't know," he replied, never having learned the name nor the rank of the one who took Rukia's life.
"So, what did you do with him?" the redhead pressed for the rest of the story.
"There was nothing much I could do, for he was already dead." Not only he couldn't give his sister a proper burial, he couldn't even avenge her. He didn't even know the name he should be cursing for taking her away from him.
・
"What are you saying, Captain?" Renji asked, utterly confused. "Then why are you covered in blood?"
He didn't know what to think, what to feel. He just learned that one of the dearest people in his life was dead. Sure, Szayelaporro had taunted him with such possibility before, but he had taken it as an enemy's ruse. After all, she couldn't have been dead. It was Rukia after all, she wouldn't go down easily, he believed in her.
And yet, she really was dead.
His childhood friend, the first girl he had a crush on, irreplaceable partner, that annoying midget who he had thought would always be by his side…
He suddenly felt that something started dying in him, leaving only emptiness behind.
NO! STOP IT, you idiot! he reprimanded himself. Rukia's death might have not been determined yet; couldn't be determined just with the words of one person, even if it was Byakuya Kuchiki. Or maybe because it was Byakuya Kuchiki.
He respected his captain like no-one else and looked up to him, but he was he.
In his eyes, Byakuya Kuchiki was a highly intelligent man, but it wasn't as if there was nothing that could delude him. His fault was that he too often believed his own eyes, not diving deeper into the subject, taking for granted the reality he was presented with.
Just like the time when Rukia had been sentenced to death… Her punishment had been without a doubt incommensurate with her crime. For an extended stay in Human World and giving her Shinigami powers to a Human she had been treated like a captain who committed high treason. Yet Captain Kuchiki hadn't questioned her sentence, hadn't voiced that there was something wrong with it; hadn't even looked perturbed with the injustice of it. He had just accepted it.
He was that kind of a man.
That was why Renji couldn't completely trust Byakuya Kuchiki's judgment.
"Captain, can you please tell us everything that has happened there?" he continued, desperation echoing in his voice. He couldn't let Rukia die so easily.
"There was another Espada, Séptima Espada, though I don't remember his name. He was the one who killed the other Arrancar," Captain Kuchiki said. "I… obliterated him."
・
Ichigo furrowed his brows. Something was off with the whole story, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was… Though he didn't think Byakuya was lying.
"Did he say something?" he asked impatiently. "Anything?"
"Only that Rukia was devoured by the already dead Arrancar and that he was the one who finished him off."
After a brief mental overview of what he had just heard, Ichigo summed up, "So you're saying that when you arrived at the scene, there was no Rukia anywhere, the Arrancar that devoured her have already been dead, and there was an Espada claiming to kill his comrade, right?"
"Yes, that is correct," Byakuya confirmed.
"But why would he do that?" Renji wondered out loud. "I mean killing his comrade… That's stupid."
"I don't know," the captain of the 6th division said. "At the time it didn't occur to me to question him, all I was focused on was eliminating him."
Ichigo looked at him weirdly. Could it be that the great Byakuya Kuchiki had lost it, because someone had killed Rukia? Did it mean that he really cared about her? After all he was the type to ask questions first then attack, not the other way around.
Brushing that aside, Ichigo started putting puzzles together, the wheels in his head turning at rapid speed, processing information he had just received, comparing it with what he knew. Something was definitely odd… Not all pieces fitted together. He would have to find out which exactly!
・
"We're back!" Mayuri announced his and Nemu's arrival. "Sorry to have kept you waiting. We can return to Soul Society now."
Noticing the gloomy atmosphere surrounding the rest of the party he asked, "Have someone died?"
Immediately he found himself on the receiving end of their outraged glares, but he shrugged them off, not really caring. The most important thing right now was to take the spoils they collected and study them. He was particularly interested in the still living Espada specimen, so he needed to be in his laboratory as soon as possible to start dissecting it.
"Nemu, help me activate the Garganta gate."
・
Ichigo didn't want to return, but right now he had no choice. They couldn't stay in Hueco Mundo for any longer in fear of a counter-attack from Las Noches. They had come here on a rescue mission; they weren't prepared for seizing the castle. And although it was hard to admit, they hadn't been prepared for the rescue in the first place. Hadn't it been for Soul Society's back up, they would have failed miserably.
He could speak about his suspicions to everyone. He knew that Chad, Ishida and Inoue would stay with him, but the captains and their lieutenants (and that included Renji) got orders to follow, so whether they would believe him was meaningless – they had to return to Soul Society. And without their aid, the four of them wouldn't be able to do much. They would just get themselves killed. Not to mention, though healed, they were all worn out from the battles they had fought.
Besides, his theory wasn't certain at all. Ichigo just had this gut feeling telling him that something wasn't right. It might be simply his unwillingness to accept the death of a friend, a stubborn hold on everything that suggested she might be alive. Even if it was the case of a mere wishful thinking, he decided to indulge himself in it, until proven otherwise.
Now wasn't the time nor place to raise his own hopes, though. This was Hueco Mundo. Miracles were scarce here and they had already been blessed with one.
They needed to go back to Soul Society, come up with a plan, and prepare.
He hoped that, if she really was alive, Rukia was fine and nothing bad would happen to her. And that she would forgive him. He vowed to come back for her as soon as possible.
Just… just wait for me, Rukia…
Ichigo approached Nel, who sat and observed everything from the side with Dondochakka and Pesche. He was very grateful for meeting the trio; they had helped him a lot even though they were supposed to be natural enemies. He owed them a big time. But now came the time to part ways.
"Itsygo is leaving, right?" Nel asked, before he got the chance to say anything.
"Yeah." He smiled gently, and crouched in front of the girl.
"Why won't you stay with us and play some more?" she asked, her big eyes starting to well with tears. "It was so fun to be with Itsygo!"
The redhead sighed. "I have to. It's not safe for me to stick around in Hueco Mundo any longer."
"Nel will protect Itsygo! So stay!" she pleaded, tears now cascading down her cheeks resembled small waterfalls.
"I can't. But what about you? Maybe you'll go with me to Soul Society? You aren't safe here, are you?" he asked concerned. Who knew what could happen to her now. She had been forgot for some time, but today a few people found out that the previous 3rd Espada was alive. What would Aizen do? And there was also that Nnoitra guy…
"Nel is fine, she has Dondochakka and Pesche with her!" she said, smiling through her tears. "And he needs her!" the small girl pointed vaguely to a place nearby, where she hid the lanky Arrancar, now covered from head to toe in her healing saliva.
Ichigo worried about Nel, and that man was the main cause of it. It was true that as an adult she was very powerful, but as a child she was basically defenceless. Nnoitra was unpredictable and dangerous; he might hurt her in her vulnerable state. The redhead was sure she was well aware of that possibility, but then why had she helped him? His wounds had been grave, and if not tended, he would have died soon. He suspected that there must have been some history between the two. As much as he might not like it, he respected her decision.
She had also used her Nel Shower on Grimmjow, who now lay unconscious next to Nnoitra, but somehow this didn't worry Ichigo at all. In fact, he looked forward to their rematch in the near future.
"So this is goodbye," he smiled softly. "Take care, Nel."
"But Nel doesn't want Itsygo go!" she cried once again and jumped on him, hugging him tightly. "Stay!"
He felt a little bit uncomfortable, but hugged her back. "I already told you that I can't," he stated with a deep sigh, prying her off of himself and putting her down on the ground. Then he turned to her best friends, "Take care of her and yourselves!"
"Of course!" Dondochakka assured him.
"We'll protect her no matter what," Pesche added.
"Thanks," Ichigo said. "And good-bye. I hope we'll meet again soon."
"Bye, Itsygo!" Nel cried, waving her small hand energetically. She was making one of the unhappiest faces in the world.
Shaking his head in amusement at the strange trio they made, he returned back to the party, just in time for the Garganta gate to appear.
He approached Inoue. "Come on, Inoue, we've got to go back," he said and with Ishida they helped her to her feet. She had problems standing on her own and was still crying silently, so he wrapped his arm around her to comfort her and support her from falling over.
At the Garganta gate he turned to Byakuya, "I'm sorry for that accusation, I wasn't thinking straight."
The man nodded, acknowledging the apology.
"And…" Ichigo started but stopped, shaking his head. He couldn't say anything about Rukia, not before he talked this over with his closest friends. "Sorry, it's nothing… Just… never mind."
A/N:
More in the next chapter! ;D
朝霧 -Asagiri-