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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
- 25
- 26
- 27
Chapter 26

Rin and Aika watched as the two Captains felled the Espada once more. The small woman stood, about to join them, but her friend called her back.

"Those wounds are nothing," she said. "The bastard will be up in a minute, just watch."

Just as she'd predicted, Yammy was only knocked out cold. When he came to, he came to screaming.

"Un-fucking-forgiveable!" he roared.

Byakuya and Kenpachi had to leap back when reiatsu exploded from the giant. His transformation resembled a large gorilla. He had four horns protruding from his head, two large spikes protruding from his shoulder blades, and his mask was now a part of his actual jaw. Bony ridges followed the length of his spine. Red fur covered the lower half of his body and his prehensile tale. He gave the Captains a toothy grin.

"You guys piss me off so good," he growled.

His previous wounds were now healed. Rin jumped to her feet and started yelling.

"Yammy, you fucking cheater! Stop getting fucking bigger!" she shouted. To herself, she grumbled, "If those two don't hurry up and kill him I'll just go and do it myself..."

Both Captains received their fair share of injuries in the fight with Yammy. Byakuya's left arm was cut up and covered in blood. His shihakusho had been torn badly, as well. Kenpachi was also covered in wounds and blood. He had entered the battle without the top of his shihakusho, but now his hakama were ripped up as well.

Aika was the only one who got by completely unscathed in the end. Her zanpakuto, Jinsoku Koshi, had healed all of her wounds after Isane had removed the dagger from her shoulder. Rin was still limping and sore from her fight with Aika, since Isane had only healed her enough so that she could rejoin the battle in the first place. Grumbling still, Rin seated herself down to watch the rest of the fight, which was, fortunately, not much longer.

They were greeted by a hoard of shinigami upon stepping through the garganta into fake Karakura Town. Rin immediately cast about for Daisuke, praying that Aizen hadn't gotten to him. She looked over when Aika took her hand.

"I can sense him. This way," she said.

Relief flooded the angry woman and she gave the small woman a tiny nod. Aika led her friend through the crowd, weaving skillfully among the shinigami that were rushing around with a slight bit of panic in the air around them. They came up behind Daisuke, who was busy being treated.

"You look terrible," Rin commented as they approached.

She couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face when he whipped around. The Squad 4 members told him to remain still, but he got up, and wrapped his arms around her.

"You need to stop scaring me like this, Rin," he murmured.

"Yeah... Sorry 'bout that..." she replied.

"Esaki-dono!" one of the healers spoke up. "We need to bandage your wounds, or they may get infected!"

Rin pulled away and nodded at the waiting Division 4 members. She knew there would be plenty of time to catch up with her old friend later. Right now, she just didn't want to see him bleed to death or, worse, get an infection and die like that. She could tell that he'd fought a tough battle with a strong opponent, but she could get that story later, as well.

"Get healed. We can talk later," she promised. He reluctantly agreed and turned away.

Since Rin's wounds were already bandaged and no more could be done for them short of a full out healing using kido, she and Aika sat on a piece of rubble where they were out of the way. They were quiet at first, watching the activity, but the angry woman was the first to break the silence. She wasn't quite ready to be left to her own thoughts, since she knew exactly where they would stray.

"Damn it, all this apologizing is going to make me soft," the tall woman muttered. Aika laughed.

"I'm just glad you're safe," she replied.

Out the corner of her eye, she saw Rin rubbing her mask. She easily read her distressed look.

"Yeah, but just what the fuck am I going to do about this...?" the angry woman murmured. "I can't make it go away like Kurosaki can..."

"Maybe Captain Kurotsuchi can do something about it?" Aika suggested. Rin paled and her eyes shot to her.

"Have you heard the rumours about that guy?!" she exclaimed. "I'd go in like this and come out looking like Yammy, for fuck's sake!"

"I don't think the Head-Captain would let that happen. He will most likely have another Captain there to watch over you," the small woman replied. Rin didn't look convinced.

"Maybe. I guess it'd be worth it if I wasn't half hollow anymore," she spat.

"You don't mind giving up the powers it gave you?" Aika queried. Her friend shrugged.

"Don't get me wrong, the ability to deflect shit that you're usually not able to deflect is really fucking cool. The cero and bala are like Kido without the incantation, which is useful when you want a powerful attack right away. Especially since the cero alone is more powerful than the Soren Sokatsui spell with the incantation. There's the Hierro, too, which helps against powerful attacks, but I didn't get that fully. At least not to the extent of the other Espada," Rin explained it to her. "But they're hollow powers. It feels wrong having them."

"Well, if you don't want Captain Kurotsuchi to do it, then perhaps Kisuke will be able to help," Aika offered. The angry woman noticed the fatigue in her friend's voice.

"I'd rather take my chances with that clown freak," the other hissed. Her eyes narrowed. "Shit, that reminds me of another person I have to fucking apologize to..."

"Rin."

Both women looked up when they heard Byakuya. Rin felt butterflies in her stomach when she saw him, still not completely over the awkwardness between them. His wounds had been cleaned and wrapped, now, but he still looked like he'd had better days. She rubbed her eyes and sighed.

"Yeah?" the brown-haired woman asked wearily.

"The Head-Captain wishes to see you," he replied. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Okay. I can't say I'm surprised," she moaned. "Let's go appease the geezer."

She blinked when he offered her his hand. Much to her horror, she felt a blush creeping up her neck. She took it and stood quickly, looking away to hide it. Aika smirked after her, having seen her friend turning red before she had been able to hide it. The dark skinned woman went in search of her Captain.

Rin did a double take when she saw the old Captain. He had lost his left arm in the fight. It sent shudders down her spine thinking that Aizen was so powerful that even the most powerful shinigami in Soul Society had suffered terrible injuries. He still had the energy to look at Rin with a grim look on his face, however. She stopped and bowed to him. Even she knew when not to disrespect someone.

"It seems you have returned to us, Asaje Rin," he said.

"It wasn't my choice that I left in the first place, Head-Captain," she replied. "But I'd like to think that you already knew that."

"I have read the reports claiming that you lost all your memories, yet you seem fine now."

"I got struck by lightning," she insisted. "That somehow made my memories come back. I really did forget everything because of fucking Aizen and his fucking scientist. I mean, who in the right mind would accept this?" She pointed at the mask.

"I see. Very well. However, you will remain under Captain Kuchiki's surveillance for the time being. When we return to Sereitei, I must ask that you allow Captain Kurotsuchi to look into your half shinigami half hollow state."

"I think I'd rather be locked up than let that guy experiment on me," she said dryly.

"These experiments will be closely monitored by two Captains of your choice," he informed her. "It is best that we return you to your former state."

She set her jaw stubbornly, about to argue with him, when she felt Byakuya's hand on her back. She knew without looking that he was gazing at her out the corner of his eye. She sighed in resignation, knowing that he wanted her to agree.

"Yeah, okay. Fine," she groaned.

"You are dismissed."

Since she was stuck with him again, Rin followed Byakuya when he walked away. He led her to an area with less people and turned to her. Her stomach roiled with anxiety as she wondered what he was going to say.

"I am glad that you are safe," he told her.

"Even if I came back half hollow?" she said bitterly, her fingers brushing the mask as she looked to the side. "I shouldn't have gone out."

"You brought Esaki with you and we were able to discover what happened because of that," he replied. "He was able to tell us why you were out at night. Your intent was noble."

She only shrugged. When he brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek, she looked at him. Realizing for the first time how close he was. Since she didn't flinch or pull away from the contact, he moved closer and embraced her. She returned it. When she drew back enough to bring her face closer to his, he pulled away slightly.

"Rin..."

"I'm not drunk this time," she said. "I know what I'm doing."

He let her close the distance and capture his lips with her own.

Aika became alarmed when she couldn't feel Toshiro. She was unable to locate her Lieutenant, either. The small woman found a team from 4th Division working on Momo. Seeing the extent of the woman's injuries had the small woman sending a small prayer for her survival. Her fear only grew when her Captain wasn't nearby his childhood friend.

After investigating two other teams attending the injured she was finally able to find him. She swallowed the lump in her throat at the sight of his wounds. He had lost both his left arm and leg. The team working on him were having a hard time keeping the white haired Captain still. The Captain insisted that he needed to see Hinamori.

"I'm the 3rd Seat of 10th Division, Kawasuzu Aika. Let me speak to him," Aika said tapping an attendant on the shoulder.

The nurse was about to protest when Toshiro began thrashing again. He nodded his head, making room for the short woman. Aika took his hand in hers. Putting her hand on her Captain's forehead she turned his head to look in his feverish eyes. The man immediately began to calm down.

"Kawasuzu... You're all right?" Toshiro murmured. Aika nodded.

"We just got back from Hueco Mundo," she told him.

"I can't sense Matsumoto," he said.

"Neither can I." The attendants looked at Aika in gratitude. They were finally able to seriously work on the small Captain. The dark skinned woman decided to change the subject when he became agitated about his Lieutenant's whereabouts. "What happened? Was Aizen defeated?"

"No. He easily cut down the remaining Captains." Aika gasped at that news. It meant the traitor was probably in Soul Society. "Kurosaki went after him. ...Hinamori?"

"Shhh... Captain Unohana is treating her. She's in capable hands," she reassured him. He nodded his head, calming down again.

"Kawasuzu-san, we're ready to transfer him to Sereitei," one of the nurses said. "Thank you for your help."

"May I accompany him?" she questioned the nurse.

There was no hesitation when the attendant answered affirmatively. The small Captain had a death grip on her hand, refusing to let her go. Aika walked beside the stretcher as they headed for the Senkai Gate.

The Captain was sent immediately into surgery to restore his arm and leg. Division 12 was involved, promising that it could be done. Aika was able to, eventually, convince the short Captain to let go of her hand. She wasn't allowed into the Operating Room. The small woman found a chair in the waiting room. Once seated she fell into a deep sleep.

"Aika, wake up."

Rangiku shook the woman's shoulder trying to wake her. Slowly, Aika began to wake. She winced when she straightened out. She had developed a crick in her neck from sleeping in the chair. The dark woman began to stretch out the stiffness in her limbs.

"Rangiku. I was worried about you. What happened to you?"

Aika wrapped her friend in a hug. When the blonde began to cry, she patted her back trying to soothe her. She quickly regained her composure, sniffling.

"A-another time, perhaps," she promised. "They transferred the Captain to a room hours ago. I guess nobody noticed you sleeping here. I only caught sight of you when I went to go get some tea."

"Hours? I feel like I haven't gotten any rest," the small woman murmured.

Aika's stomach growled. Hunger hit her like a punch to the gut.

"By the sounds of it, I bet you haven't eaten. Let's go eat."

"The Captain-?" the small woman began to protest, but was cut off by her Lieutenant.

"Is sleeping. We can visit after we eat."

Aika didn't put up much of a fight. She was famished. The two women made their way to the hospital's cafeteria. Once seated with their food, Aika gave the buxom blonde a scrutinizing look. Rangiku looked like she should be admitted to a recovery room.

"Has anyone seen to your injuries, Lieutenant?" Aika asked in concern. Rangiku refused to meet her gaze, shaking her head. The small woman gave her a hard look. "We'll take care of that when we finish our food."

The busty blonde gave a resigned nod. Despite getting a double order, Aika finished off the rest of Rangiku's meal, as well. The Lieutenant was too tired to comment on it. Rangiku was admitted to her own room once a nurse assessed her. The blonde woman was more injured than Aika had thought. She would only need to stay the night, though. Leaving her Lieutenant to be treated, Aika went to check in with Toshiro.

She quietly opened the door, not wanting to disturb her Captain. She need not have worried, he was awake. The white haired man was propped up with a couple pillows, staring out the window into the night. He didn't stir when the dark skinned woman slipped inside, softly closing the door behind her. Only when she sat on the edge of the bed, did he glance at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Matsumoto is finally getting treatment?" Toshiro asked, his tone subdued. It made her wonder if they had argued about it earlier.

"I almost had to bully her into it, but yes, she is."

The small Captain sighed in relief. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. It didn't stop him from giving her the once over from head to toe.

"Your reiatsu is too low. Have you eaten? You should go get some rest, too." He frowned when the small woman chuckled.

"I'm fine, Captain. I'm more worried about you. I haven't heard anything in regards to Hinamori-san. Is there anything I can do?" Aika was confused when he flinched at what she said. He turned his head away, deliberately closing his eyes.

"I don't deserve sympathy or comfort from anyone," he mumbled.

"Captain-"

"Not now, Kawasuzu," he interrupted her. The white haired man looked so exhausted, Aika decided not to press the issue.

"I'll be right here when you need me," she stated, giving his hand a squeeze.

The small woman got up to sit in the chair beside his bed. It was much more comfortable than the chairs in the waiting room. This one even reclined. Curling up on her side, she was soon fast asleep.

A/N: Just a reminder that I mixed up Chapters 24 and 25. If you haven't noticed please take another look. I've fixed them. One more chapter until the end. Please don't make me beg for reviews. I've only had one reviewer, so far. The virtual cookie goes to Raymy. Thanks again for being so loyal. ;)
- 25
- 26
- 27
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Never Let Me Fall