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Never Let Me Fall	By : shadoesong Category: Bleach > General Views: 1394 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters, nor do I profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Chapter 11

Rin leapt off the roof to the ground below, landing beside Shuken's body. She stalked past it without a second glance. Byakuya's gaze moved from his Lieutenant's body to her, then to Shuken. His eyes narrowed and returned to Rin.

"Who is that man?" he demanded to know.

He hadn't realized that his subordinate was fighting as well. But, from what he saw, she had dispatched him easily. And through methods he didn't recognize.

"A dead man," she told him as she passed him. She stopped a few steps away. "No one important. We're going to be late to the execution if you dawdle here any longer. Are we going or not?"

She glanced over her shoulder at him. He looked at Renji once more, and then turned to take the lead on the way to Soukyoku Hill.

The attendance at the execution was horrible. Besides Byakuya, only Squads 2, 4, and 8 had shown up. Aika was there, as well, standing on the far side of Shunsui, though her Captain and Lieutenant were oddly absent. She nodded grimly at her friend when she passed. Rin returned the nod.

The angry woman looked up at Byakuya when Rukia looked at her adopted brother, but the man turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze. The noble took his place, with his subordinate taking a place between him and Shunsui.

She closed her eyes against the wind when the Head-Captain requested that the seal be released. The ropes that were wrapped around the gigantic halberd unravelled slowly, whipping up dirt and dust. Rin opened one eye, not wanting to miss this display of power. Suddenly, the ropes flung off of the hilt, embedding themselves in the ground below.

"Are you ready, Rina-chan?" the Squad 8 Captain asked in a low tone.

She looked up questioningly, away from Rukia, who was being lifted into the air. He was holding his hat to stop it from blowing away in the wind. She blinked in surprise. Was he...? Taking the hint, she smirked and replied.

"When haven't I been ready, Shunsui?"

Dust swirled around the zanpakuto as it lifted into the air and pointed itself at Rukia. As it did, flame sprung up, engulfing it. It transformed, and a giant bird of fire spread its wings before them. The heat coming from it was intense. And then, it lunged forward for the killing blow.

It stopped short. The collision of power that resulted was enough to throw everyone off. It was Ichigo. His power had grown quickly, just as Yoruichi had promised. Past all the chaos, she felt Daisuke's reiatsu spike in alarm. She was surprised when she realized just how close he was to the hill.

He will come if you do not stop him, Rina, her male zanpakuto warned. Will we confront him?

I...I still don't know whose side I'm on at this point... Rin thought back. Would it be wise to stop this execution?

No matter whose side you are on, this execution will not happen in the end.

True. Let's see if we can compromise with Daisuke...

The woman drew her swords and disappeared, making her way to the bottom of Soukyoku. Rin looked back at her old friend and saw a look of determination on the small woman's face. She knew whatever Shunsui had planned, Aika would be helping.

Aika had been conflicted since she heard of Kuchiki Rukia's execution. Byakuya had ordered her not to get involved. He wasn't her Captain, though, and she no longer served the Kuchiki Clan. Captain Hitsugaya had spoken with her about it, as well. She would not go against her Captain's orders. Thankfully, he only advised her to not get involved. Though, it looked like he wasn't showing up to the execution, either.

When she realized that Shunsui had something planned she felt that conflict melt away. If he was involved then Ukitake was, too. Aika was slightly concerned that the sickly Captain had shown not up, yet. She hoped he hadn't had a sudden attack.

Aika watched as Captain Kuchiki showed up with Rin. She nodded to her friend as they took their places. The small woman heard Captain Kyouraku murmur quietly with Rin. When he was finished he caught Aika's eye and nodded.

When the phoenix was stopped short in its attack, Aika drew a breath in relief. That very breath was then released in shock when she realized it was the orange-haired Ryoka that had stopped it. She watched in horror as the phoenix flew back to make a second attack. That was when Jushiro, along with his 3rd Seats, Kotetsu Kiyone and Kotsubaki Sentaro, showed up with a shield with the Shihouin clan crest on it.

"Oi, pretty boy. You sure took your time!" Shunsui smirked at Jushiro

"It took longer than I thought to release the seal, but we can do it with this!" He indicated the shield on his arm.

"Stop them! They mean to destroy the Soukyoku!" Soi-Fon yelled.

"What?! Me?!" her Lieutenant, Omaeda Marechiyo, exclaimed in fear and surprise.

Ukitake planted the shield into the ground taking up a steel spike, while Shunsui took the other and looped the rope connecting them around the phoenix's neck. When they used their reiatsu to activate it, the phoenix was obliterated spectacularly. Everyone covered their heads as fire rained down upon them.

What happened next had everyone staring up at the execution pole, dumbfounded. Even the Head Captain was rooted in place with one eye open. The orange haired Ryoka destroyed the Soukyoku Pole, punching a hole through the rock spur it was standing on.

"That's impossible!" Aika muttered in awe.

"What is he?!" Soi-Fon cried.

A commotion behind them made everyone turn. Renji had arrived, his arms wrapped in bandages. He had taken out the honour guard. The Ryoka called out to him, then threw Rukia at him.

"Catch!"

The red-haired Lieutenant was bowled over when she hit him in the chest. Sitting up with the small woman in his arms he started yelling.

"Idiot! What if I didn't catch her in time!"

"Don't just stand there! Run! That's your job. Protect her with your life!" Without wasting anymore time Renji turned and did just that.

"Why are you fools just standing there! Catch them! All you Lieutenants, after them!" Soi-Fon ordered.

After Sasakibe Chojiro and Kotetsu Isane got permission from their Captains, they and Omaeda leapt after them. Aika did, as well, but she landed in front of them, preventing them from going any further. Ichigo was intercepted by Byakuya before he could head them off.

"Aika-san? What-?" Isane began to ask. Aika looked each in the eye.

"Please, forgive me," came the mournful response.

The small woman dropped into a battle stance. The Lieutenants immediately released their weapons.

"Crush, Gegetsuburi!" Omaeda cried. In his hands was the large metal ball, covered in spikes, of his flail.

"Pierce, Gonryomaru!" Sasakibe said, holding his sword in front of him. It transformed into a rapier, its hilt curving around to protect his hand.

"Run, Itegume!" Isane's sword had two smaller blades protruding from its hilt at 45 degree angles.

Without drawing her zanpakuto, Aika went for Omaeda first. He was in the middle. The force of her punch shattered the massive ball in the fat Lieutenant's hands, driving the air out of him, rendering him unconscious. She then turned her attention to Sasakibe. He was fast enough to attack, but Aika only dodged, catching his wrist in her left hand. Her right caught his jaw with an uppercut. As Isane rushed in, the small woman kicked her in the solar plexus.

"Nee-san!" Kiyone began to run to Isane's side.

"Wait, Kiyone! Captain Kuchiki is fighting! If you go near there, you'll be-" Sentaro was interrupted by Captain Soi-Fon, who sent him flying.

"Soi-Fon! Wait!" Ukitake was about to go to his subordinate's aide but was stopped by the Head Captain.

"Don't move! The one who took the criminal and escaped was a Lieutenant. That child will be apprehended and executed. You two, I can not forgive. You two have done what a Captain should never do! I know that you are not ignorant of the consequences," the Head Captain said, turning to the two. Shunsui put his hand on the shoulder of his old friend.

"Yare, yare. It seems that we should run, Ukitake!"

Kyouraku then disappeared with the white haired Captain. Nanao, his Lieutenant, followed close behind. The Head Captain seemed to take his time in his pursuit of his proteges.

Soi-Fon turned to the shocked 3rd Seat. Her foot kicked out catching the side of Kiyone's head, sending her to the ground. The Captain looked down at her opponent in disdain.

"Vermin! You're actions as an officer are a shameful betrayal of the Gotei 13!" She stomped her foot on the woman's chest. "I will bury you here!"

Before Aika could react to the Squad 2 Captain's retribution, Soi-Fon was tackled by an unknown assailant, bearing her away from the hill. Aika stood in shock when she recognized that it was Yoruichi. She then retreated a distance with the three Lieutenants. The small woman didn't want them and herself to be dragged into the fight between Byakuya and the Ryoka.

Aika looked up when a large shadow passed over her. It was Captain Unohana riding Minazuki, her zanpakuto. The Captain instructed the creature to gather up the male Lieutenants while she quickly looked over Isane. When she left, Aika stayed behind to watch the fight.

Rin landed right in front of Daisuke, making him leap back and draw his weapon in preparation for a fight. When he saw who it was, he relaxed, though he didn't sheath his weapon just yet.

"Rin? What are you doing here? Why are you here?" he asked, looking confused and suspicious of her actions. He flinched when she pointed one of her swords at him.

"That doesn't matter. What does matter is that I know why you're here. I can't let you go up there, Daisuke. I can't let you get involved with what's happening. I suggest you stand down and wait for this to blow over," she said in a warning tone.

You know this won't work, her female zanpakuto growled. Why bother? Just knock the dumb bastard out and get on with it.

Esaki-san may yet back down, the male retorted.

No, he won't, Rin thought, noticing her friend's expression harden into a grim look. Not this time. I hate to do this, but Daisuke is not on our side, this time. He's loyal to Soi-Fon, after all.

"What are you talking about?" Daisuke said with narrowed eyes.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about," she retorted.

"You would side with the Ryoka?" he said accusingly.

"I'm not on their side. Don't you see how wrong this execution is?" she tried to convince him. He merely shook his head.

"I can't disobey orders," he insisted. "And my orders were to eliminate the Ryoka. The very Ryoka who are going up those stairs as we speak. Maybe there is something bigger going on, but what proof do you have?" She sensed his distress. He was torn.

"I...have none," she admitted. "Nothing that is set in stone. I'm just as in the dark as you are. My Captain won't tell me anything, but I've chosen to trust my gut feeling. Why can't you?"

"You've seen what's happened when I've done that, Rin!" he cried. "The last time I did things without thinking it over, it almost got you killed! I won't make that mistake again!"

She stared at him with wide eyes. She could clearly see just how torn he really was. But rather than back down, she closed her eyes and looked away.

"Rain down the fire of hell, Futago Akuma." She clutched the pistols tightly when they manifested.

"So that's where this will go?" Daisuke murmured. "Very well. Bite, Dokuga!"

In his hands were two identical, curved daggers. The hilts curved downwards as well, ending with blue tassels. The blade itself seemed to shine in the sun. A clear liquid dripped off the tips every once in a while. Rin's eyes widened when she saw them.

"The poison..." she whispered. "Which each cut, more and more enters my bloodstream. I've felt its power before, it feels like weights are being added onto my arms and legs, slowing my movements until I'm helpless to do anything..."

"Yes. Even you haven't built an immunity to my poison yet, Rin," Daisuke growled.

He lunged forward, aiming for her arm. She immediately sidestepped, shooting a counter attack. He ducked, then came at her from below. She was unable to dodge completely, and received a shallow cut for her failure. Leaping away, she began shooting at him with one pistol and trying to keep him at a distance. He frowned as he swiftly dodged each shot, steadily drawing closer.

"I know your style of battle, Rin. You keep your opponents at a distance, rendering any melee weapons useless. You never were one for close combat if you could help it!" he yelled.

In response, she raised her second pistol and sent a shot directly at his chest. He gasped when it slammed into him, sending him flying back and knocking his weapons out of his grasp. Fortunately for him, it wasn't condensed and lacked the power to blow a hole through him. He struggled to stand, but Rin was in front of him as he was getting on his knees.

"That knowledge is useless if you can't exploit it," she growled.

He drew back his fist, aiming for her gut, but she dropped her pistol and caught his hand. When he drew back his other hand, she put the barrel of her pistol in front of his face. He grabbed her wrist and pushed it to the side, getting to his feet and lashing out with his foot. She stumbled back, winded.

It gave him the time he needed to recover and press the offensive. All her focus went into dodging the attacks, but she wasn't nearly as fast as he was. His fist skimmed her cheek, making her eyes widen. He was aiming to knock her unconscious, it seemed.

What the man didn't expect was for her to use shunpo. She almost never used it in battle due to her lack of skill with it. She reappeared behind him and slammed her foot into his back, sending him flying into the cliff of Soukyoku. She wasted no time in gloating her minor victory and took the chance to take the offensive once more.

Daisuke sprang from the dust, his right eye closed because of the blood flowing into it from his head wound. Rin redirected his punch and backhanded him hard enough to break his nose. She then slammed the butt of her pistol into the side of his head when he fell to his knees, knocking him out cold. She caught him as he fell forward and lowered him to the ground slowly.

"You should've realized that you wouldn't leave a victor, dumbass. In all the times we've sparred like this, have you ever beaten me?" She sealed her weapon and sheathed it. She could already feel the effects of the poison on her, but she knew it would take a bit before it totally set in. "Now, stay out of my way. I wouldn't want you getting killed."

She retrieved her other weapon before turning and running up the stairway.

By the time she reached the top, she was completely exhausted. Her arms and legs felt like they weighed more than a hundred pounds. She leaned against a tree, sending a glare at the staircase.

Gravity and stairs just don't mix, she thought irritably. And neither does Daisuke's stupid ass poison...

Despite her exhaustion, she only gave herself a little time to rest before pushing herself off the tree to follow the large collisions of reiatsu that were closer to the tip of Soukyoku and out of the forest she was in now.

Suddenly, something landed on her shoulders and she fell to the ground with a surprised yelp. Rin twisted her head around to see what was on her, only to be surprised when she saw the pink haired Lieutenant of Squad 11, Kusajishi Yachiru. She stared back with wide, pink eyes.

"Hello! Are you here to help Ichi?" she asked brightly.

"Yachiru-chan!"

Rin's answer was interrupted when a young, ginger haired woman appeared along with a large, Hispanic man, a shorter man with glasses, and a shinigami that looked rather useless. From behind them came another, this one she recognized. It was the man Byakuya had nearly killed at the repentance tower. And he clearly recognized her, as well.

"O-oi! I know you!" he yelled, pointing accusingly at her. "You're the one-"

"It's not polite to point," Rin growled, interrupting him. "Kusajishi, get the hell off my back. ...Please," she added when she remembered that she was technically talking to a Lieutenant. Once she was on her feet, she spoke to the newcomers.

"You're the Ryoka that everyone's been in an uproar over? You don't look all that troublesome... You're just a bunch of kids. I can't believe I chose to be on a child's side over that of my Captain," she muttered.

"Y-you're on our side?!" the girl said, her hands clasped together as she looked at Rin excitedly.

"For now." She turned and began walking away. "I know where you're going. I won't stop you from going to the Ryoka fighting with Kuchiki, but I won't help you if you get into the middle of it, either. Just stay out of my way, and theirs'."

She then took off running when she felt a huge collision coming from the direction of the fighting, the Ryoka following at her heels. She found the men standing a few feet from each other, their backs to one another. Ichigo was leaning heavily on his black katana. Byakuya had no sword at all. Both sides had received grievous wounds. And it seemed that she had just missed the final, deciding blow.

While the Ryoka ran out onto the battleground towards Ichigo, Rin lingered, watching as Byakuya left the area. Yachiru was sitting in a tree above her. She looked over when Aika approached from behind, meeting her gaze briefly. She then looked back to the Ryoka. They were starting to leave along with Ichigo.

"Where did you go?" the shorter woman finally asked.

"To take care of Daisuke. He's not so keen to break the law like we are. Assuming you sided with the Ryoka on that one," she added.

"I felt I had an obligation to Hisana-sama," Aika murmured. "I couldn't let it go, especially when I found out that Captain Kyouraku was against it, as well. When everything went to hell, I jumped in, too. And Daisuke..." She trailed off, her violet gaze shifting to her friend.

"I barely landed a scratch on him. Knocked him out, though. Not sure how long that'll last," Rin answered her unspoken question. "He got me, though. With Dokuga. I'm barely standing as it is." Aika nodded, her eyes going downcast now.

"I'm surprised you're against the execution, though. You have no reason to betray the Gotei 13."

"I've no reason to side with them either, really. I didn't join so I could be their bitch waiting for their orders. After all the weird stuff that's happened, I figured the execution might be part of something bigger. I chose what side I was on the moment I realized that Kuchiki Rukia wasn't going to be eliminated by the Soukyoku."

Which had been obliterated, Rin noted. She had no idea how, but she wasn't really inclined to ask. Nor did she have the energy. Suddenly, Aika and Rin's eyes widened when heavy reiatsu weighed on their shoulders.

"C-Captain Aizen?!" Aika spoke first, shocked.

But Aizen wasn't the only one on the hill. Tosen Kaname, Ichimaru Gin, and Renji and Rukia, who had made their escape not a minute after the attack by Ichigo, had appeared there as well.

"Shit... This...makes sense..." Rin hissed through gritted teeth when it suddenly hit her.

Daisuke had been right to be suspicious of a conspiracy going on. It seemed Aizen had faked his death, and Gin and Tosen were accomplices. What Shuken had said about Aizen no longer sounded like the ramblings of the mentally insane. The brown haired woman stepped forward, as if she was going to attack. Aika caught her arm in a tight grip.

"Don't you see what he's doing?!" she whispered harshly as the men made quick work of Renji and Ichigo, who had returned to Soukyoku in order to save Rukia. "He just sliced a Captain level shinigami that defeated your own Captain in half, Rin! You can't just leap without thinking, this time!"

"I can't very well just fucking stand here, either!" Rin snapped.

"At least wait until the other Captains realize what's going on and come to help!" Aika pleaded.

Rin snorted, but didn't try and leave again. That is, until another man entered the fray. Both women recognized his reiatsu immediately. It was Daisuke. The man had appeared on the hill. He had awakened and sensed the new threat and, without another to stop him, went to confront it without hesitation.

Rin's eyes widened when Aizen swiftly cut the man open without even looking away from Rukia, who he held in his grasp. The blow completely destroyed Daisuke's right eye and left a deep cut which, if the man were to live, would heal into an ugly scar. Daisuke cried out in pain and surprise. He fell to the ground, clutching his face, trying to stop the blood that pooled on the ground.

The tall woman was across the battlefield in a second, her swords clutched in her hands. She lunged for her target's exposed back, but suddenly, he was facing her. He held out his bloody sword casually, easily blocking what would have been a devastating blow. Still holding Rukia by the red collar around her neck. Rin stared at him in shock.

"Asaje Rin..." he tested her name on his tongue. She was frozen by his voice. Though warm on the surface, the callous nature beneath sent a cold shiver crawling up her spine. A fear she hadn't felt in decades gripped her now. "I knew you would come. You truly are troublesome, just like Abarai-kun. A problem child, in other words."

"You...know me?" She was barely able to get the words out. His reiatsu enveloped her. It was enough to nearly suffocate her.

"I know of you," he corrected.

He swung his sword to the side, easily knocking her weapons out of her grip. She watched as they clattered to the ground just out of reach. But she was forced to look back at Aizen when he placed the tip of his zanpakuto beneath her chin.

"You have caused enough trouble, problem child." Her eyes widened when he moved to cut her open.

"Sokatsui!"

She threw off the Kido without the incantation, not considering the danger she put Rukia in as well in her desperation to get him away from her. The speed and power of the attack clearly surprised the brown haired man. Using shunpo, he avoided a direct hit that surely would have caused damage.

Rin immediately lunged for her weapons, released one, and shot at Aizen. He deflected the shot, but she was prevented from attacking once more when Tosen came from behind and cut open her back. She was about to turned and counter, but Gin took advantage of her brief distraction and appeared in front of her, about to slice her open. Before they could go further, Aika appeared with her own zanpakuto unsheathed and blocked the attack. The two Captains leapt away, leaving the short woman to stand in front of her friend.

"Aizen Sosuke, Tosen Kaname, Ichimaru Gin, you're under arrest for treason against Soul Society!" she said. Aizen's cocky smile disappeared, but only for a split second.

"Kawasuzu Aika. Though my timing was off, you have arrived as well. I was sure you would attack earlier upon realizing Asaje Rin's attacker was right before you. Unless, of course, you don't recognize him?"

His gaze shifted to Gin, but his grinning expression did not change. Aika's stance never wavered.

"What..." Rin began, interrupting Aika's response. "What do you want from us, you fucking bastard?" she snarled.

"Perhaps I underestimated your knowledge of my plan. Unfortunately, I don't have time to explain it to you." He looked at Rukia, who was limp in his grasp. "I was explaining it to your Ryoka friend before this...interruption. Shall I tell you in short? The Hougyoku, the tool I need in order to dissolve the boundaries between shinigami and hollow, has been hidden within you, Kuchiki Rukia. All because of that man... Urahara Kisuke."

"Kisuke?!" Rin and Aika said in unison.

Suddenly, a huge shadow fell across Aizen and the two women. The man looked behind him, not surprised at all to see the huge wolf man, Komamura Sajin, as he swung down his larger than average zanpakuto.

"Aizen!" he roared as the sword came crashing down on the man.

Dust was sent flying everywhere. Aika quickly grabbed Rin and took her out of range. Aizen had caught the huge weapon with only a thumb and a finger. The two women didn't know what surprised them more. The fact that he had caught it so easily, or seeing Komamura's face for the first time.

"I haven't seen your face in a while... Did you have a change of heart, Komamura-kun?" Aizen said to the Captain, chuckling.

"How can you still laugh, Aizen?!" he roared angrily. A huge arm from his Shikai smashed into the traitorous man, throwing up more dust. "For your lies and betrayal of all of us, I shall give you no mercy!" Aizen had dodged easily, and was now standing near his blind subordinate. "And you, Tosen! Do you have anything to say for yourself?!"

The man didn't move a muscle, his lips remained closed. Komamura's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Nothing...at all?! How disappointing, Tosen! Bankai-"

Suddenly, Aizen was right in front of him, smiling his cocky smile. Komamura widened his eyes in shock and disbelief. Even Aika and Rin's eyes widened as he seemed to disappear from Tosen's side. And without the use of shunpo. He held up his hand, and they could see the black reiatsu swirling around his fingers.

"Hado # 90: Kurohitsugi," he spoke.

A huge, black box sprung up around the 7th Captain. Black reiatsu spears materialized and slammed into the box. When it dissipated, Komamura fell to his knees, literally riddled with holes. Rin was shocked by the amount of power in such a high spell.

"Holy fuck-!" she said in astonishment.

Aika knew that, if Rin was surprised by the Kido's power, then she had good reason to be concerned. Her friend was a powerful practitioner, and was familiar with mostly all the spells. Aizen then turned his attentions back to Rukia once the problem of Komamura had been dealt with. He grasped her collar, dragging her to her feet.

"My apologies... I was in the middle of talking to you, wasn't I? Let me continue. As soon as I found out you were in the World of the Living, I assassinated the Central 46. With the power of my zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, I was able to create the illusion that Central 46 was still alive and well.

"When, in actuality, Gin, Kaname, and I were the ones controlling everything from there. From there, I sent Captain Kuchiki and Abarai-kun to ensure your capture. Once you were retrieved, I ordered the destruction of your gigai, to prevent you from becoming completely human. Then, with the Soukyoku, I planned to evaporate your soul and retrieve the Hougyoku.

"There were only two times when we left the conference room unguarded, and that was the few hours before and after the Captain's Meetings."

Rina, the Sword Sense! Did he activate it on purpose?! Futago cried. It was a stupid question, Rin thought, but she knew he was panicking over her safety at that moment and wasn't thinking straight.

"And if the Soukyoku failed, like it has now? How else will you retrieve the Hougyoku?" the tall woman spoke up.

He turned his smile on her, now. She noticed that he was pulling what looked like a metal tube out of his pocket.

"Then I will extract it through other means," he said.

The tube began to morph and grow to cover his whole right forearm like a glove. Everyone's eyes widened when he slammed that arm into Rukia's chest. He withdrew it, pulling a small sphere out of her chest and leaving a gaping hole behind. He let her fall to the ground in favour of studying this treasure. He looked slightly disappointed.

"I never thought it'd be so small..." He tucked it into his robes and looked at Rukia. The hole in her chest was closing, until it looked like it had never been there at all. "And no harm to the recipient at all. But, that's to be expected of one of Urahara Kisuke's inventions. Unfortunately, you are no longer of any use to me..." He grabbed Rukia's collar once more and held her up to the silver haired Captain. "Kill her, Gin."

"No!" Aika yelled, gripping her zanpakuto she attacked the Captain when he drew his wakizashi.

"Shoot 'em, Shinsou," he released his weapon. The sword extended, hurtling towards Rukia.

Aika's lunge to stop him was cut short when the other woman was suddenly gone. Someone else had saved her, taking the blow for her. It was Byakuya, who was crouched behind Aizen with his adopted sister in his arms. He had Shinsou in a death grip, barely stopping it from piercing through him. Gin withdrew his sword, frowning a little. Byakuya fell forward. The only thing stopping him from hitting the ground was Rukia, who was calling out to him.

With an enraged cry, Aika lunged at Gin, her sword meeting his. Aizen turned on Rukia and Byakuya, drawing his own sword. Rin disappeared, barely blocking the killing blow aimed for them. He drew back, not wanting to kill her unless it was necessary, but any further action was stopped when Soi-Fon and Yoruichi appeared. Restraining him with a sword to his throat and a firm hand wrapped around his right wrist.

"Yoruichi!" Rin exclaimed. She grinned at the sight of the woman as she fell forward, leaning heavily on her zanpakuto. Her confidence was banished when, suddenly, the three gate guardians, minus Jidanbo, landed on the hill. Aizen chuckled.

"You can't hold me and fight them at the same time. Even Asaje Rin is on the verge of collapse," he said confidently.

A loud battle cry interrupted him, and the fourth gate guardian landed on the hill with the Shiba family head, Shiba Kukaku, on his shoulder. They quickly took the battle off the hill. By now, Aika had Gin restrained with the help of her Lieutenant, Rangiku. Tosen had been trapped by his Lieutenant, Hisagi Shuuhei. Now, the three traitors had been surrounded by all the available Captains and Lieutenants.

"It's over, Aizen," Yoruichi growled. "You're completely surrounded!" The man simply began to chuckle. The dark skinned woman glared and demanded, "What's so funny, Aizen?"

"Sorry, but... It's time." Her eyes widened.

"Rina, Soi-Fon, get away!"

All three women leapt away just in time as a yellow beam of light surrounded Aizen. The sky above cracked and ripped as Menos Grande forced their way through. It was also the source of the light. Behind them in the rip was what looked to be a crescent moon. Two more beams burst through the sky to surround Gin and Tosen, forcing their captors away from them. They were then lifted into the sky along with a small island of rock. Some of the Lieutenants grabbed their swords, about to attack.

"Stop!" The Head-Captain's harsh order made them all stop in their tracks. "That is a Negacion beam! There is nothing we can do, now."

A huge uproar came from some of those gathered, but Aizen merely smiled down at them. He removed his glasses and pushed back his hair out of his face.

"I will sit at the top, now. Goodbye, shinigami. And goodbye, young drifter," he spoke as the Menos gathered him into their hands. His gaze rested on Rin. "Asaje Rin, we will be seeing each other soon."

Some of the Captains turned to stare at her, but she was barely paying attention. Her legs buckled beneath her, and everything went black.
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Never Let Me Fall