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A Shadow of What Was	By : katami Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 49594 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 53
- 54
- 55
Author's notes: I hated to do it, but this chapter switches who we follow halfway through - for obvious reasons.

I would like to thank everyone who has read this story and especially those who've taken the time to review. It always makes me smile hearing what people have to say. Cheers!

* * *

She shouldn't have done it. It was against the rules. Hitsugaya-taichou would freeze her solid, Kurosaki Karin would snarl and kick her ass six ways to Sunday, and Ichigo would give her this weary, disappointed frown that made her think she had kicked a puppy. Tatsuki knew all the reasons she shouldn't have deviated from her patrol route, but she couldn't shake the one reason that always made her.

Orihime.

The other girl wouldn't speak to her of course. Inoue had refused to acknowledge all Shinigami since her break with Ichigo. In fact, Orihime had only spoken to her once after she'd died, to cry and beg Tatsuki not to join the Shinigami's war.

Tatsuki still remembered standing outside the Urahara shouten with Ichigo, Ishida, Abarai, Kuchiki and all the others, saying her goodbyes. Hitsugaya-taichou had personally sponsored her entrance to the Academy, a reward for sacrifice she had made and the courage she had shown. Ichigo had pulled strings to give her time to say goodbye and Urahara had loaned her a gigai so her parents and friends could be there. She had just been hugging Keigo goodbye, the big baby sobbing all over her, when Orihime had arrived.

The red-haired girl had pleaded with her not become a Shinigami, growing angry when Urahara had tried to intervene. Orihime had even tried to slap the older man, blaming him for her death - like it had been his fault she had leapt between an Arrancar and a group of children on a school trip. She had saved fifty-seven kids. One life against fifty-seven others had been a good trade in her opinion - especially since most of those kids still came to her grave each year to thank her. She had wanted to fight, to help, it didn't matter that doing so had cost her, her life. She had deemed her life worth the sacrifice.

And Orihime had never forgiven her that.

She sighed and checked her watch, she would be back on her route in time for her next check in. Even Kyouraku-taichou said she had a real gift for shunpo - and her brief visits to Orihime's neighborhood over the years had only sharpened her skills.

Tatsuki slowed as a figure moved from the shadows, starling her. Her hand flashed to her zanpakutou as she watched the dark figure moving quickly in the streets below. She knew that figure, but she couldn't think of a single reason Orihime would be sneaking around at nearly one in the morning. The other woman should have been tucked in bed with her mundane husband, pretending to be normal.

She wasn't though; she was skulking through the darkened streets in the early morning hours and Tatsuki wanted to know why. She frowned as Orihime turned the corner and quickly made the decision to follow her one-time friend. The path grew familiar and Tatsuki's unease grew. The dread she had been feeling solidified unto a leaden weight as they turned another corner and she recognized the neighborhood.

They were only three blocks from the Urahara Shouten.

Orihime had no reason to go there. In fact, as far as she knew, the redhead hadn't been to the shouten since the night Ichigo had cast her out. Tatsukui had been in training by then, so she had missed the actual event, but she had heard about Ichigo's explosion, it was wrapped in tightly with the story that had cemented Abarai-taichou and Ishida-san as a couple and everyone knew that tale. It was considered one of the great romantic stories of the Seireitei.

Abarai-taichou had been grievously injured while fighting alongside Orihime and Ishida had knelt by his lover, stemming the blood loss until Unohana-taichou had arrived. After that the Quincy had followed his lover back the Fourth and sat beside him until he�d awoken. Naturally, when he�d woken up Abarai had gone and said something stupid to his lover. There was some dispute as to exactly what he had said, and Abarai wouldn't tell; but whatever it was it had sent the Quincy storming off in a huff. It had taken Unohana-taichou pointing out that Ishida had been by his bedside since his injury to make Abarai understand that something was up and then he had stomped after his lover.

And from there the confrontation had become Soul Society legend. Abarai had tracked down his volatile mate only to have the Quincy try and shoot him. The two of them had had it out right there in the middle of the Seireitei, shouting and hitting each other, before they had finally snarled those all important three words that changed everything. Ishida had been the first to say it but Abarai had quickly snapped it back. Tatsuki privately suspected that only quick work on the part of Ukitake-taichou had kept the two from having sex right then and there, half the Seireitei watching.

Tatskui sighed, wondering how one of her friends could immerse himself so deeply in the matters of the Shinigami as to almost become one and another could turn her back on them so thoroughly as to deny any of the good they might have done.

With another sigh, she wondered if it was time to notify one of her superiors. She hated the idea of doing so; there were very few in the Gotei Thirteen with any fondness for Orihime. Most would assume her guilty simply because of who she was, holding her past failures against her. Instinct warred with her feelings for the other girl and Tatsuki wavered. Her duty was to call in the suspicious behavior and ask for permission to investigate; but the part of her that still loved the other women knew that if she reported this Orihime could have her memory wiped, or perhaps even be taken into custody.

She closed her eyes and drew a shuddering breath. There could be a perfectly innocent reason for Orihime to be out...Tatsuki just wished she could think of one.

The other woman circled to the back of the shop and there was a brief flash of light before she shimmied in a window. All too soon Orihime was slipping out the door, the book bag she had been carrying now full. Tatsuki cursed softly, hating the girl she had once loved for doing this to her, putting her in this position. "Goddamn you, Hime," she whispered, brushing at her eyes before drawing a steadying breath and following the other woman.

She was going to save her friend whether Orihime liked it or not.

Orihime led her through the darkness, quickly making her way to a nearby park. The other woman would occasionally glance back, but she never looked up. Tatsuki wondered when Orihime had forgotten that Shinigami moved in and thought in all three dimensions. When the other woman paused Tatsuki leapt down in front of her. "What are you doing, Hime?" she demanded.

"Tatsuki?! What are... You have to go!" breathed Orihime, panic filling her eyes.

"Well, well, looky what we found ," came a mocking voice as cold, chaotic power washed over them. Tatsuki slowly turned, not able to believe what her senses were telling her. Aizen Sousuke could not be standing there in the middle of the park meeting her once best friend. It wasn't possible.

Orihime might not have agreed with their war, but she wouldn't betray them.

Her eyes widened and her hand dropped to push the panic button on her link before everyone disappeared and Tatsuki was standing alone in an empty park, her sword and communicator gone.

* * *

"Don't hurt her!" screamed Inoue, throwing herself between Aizen-sama and the Shinigami girl. It was a rather stupid thing to do in Gin's opinion. It wasn't like she could slow a Shinigami or an Arrancar down - not with the way her powers had atrophied - and if Aizen had wanted the girl dead the Arrancar at his back would have no qualms about cutting through a human to get to their target. Grimmjow and Ulquiorra might have found free will somewhere along the way, but all of the current Espada were loyal - or loyal enough.

"We are not here to deal with the Shinigami. Did you get the data I requested," demanded Aizen smoothly, although Gin knew he wouldn't let the little Shinigami girl go. It was a pity, she was a pretty little mouse and just a baby really - no more than fifty.

"Promise you won't hurt Tatsuki," stammered Inoue, and Gin felt another wave of contempt roll through him. He might have betrayed his oaths, his ideals and the people he loved but he was at least willing to fight for the things he believed in - not cower and beg.

"The Shinigami is of no interest to us," purred Aizen, the lie smooth and nearly undetectable. He could spot it though, in the subtle twist of the other man's lips and the amusement in his voice. There was no question the girl would die. "The same can not be said for the material I requested."

Inoue gave a jerky nod, handing over a bag to Virtu. "Excellent. You should return home though, it's late and you no doubt need your beauty rest," murmured Aizen, his tone mild and charming. Aizen-sama at his worst.

"You...you won't hurt her?" demanded Orihime, making Gin want to hit her and shout, 'How stupid are you! Of course he's going to hurt her! He's going to kill her!' Aizen murmured benign pleasantries and assurances though, and the stupid little fool lapped them up, retreating slowly, but retreating.

"Tousen, if you could see to our friend," announced Aizen, earning a nod from the other man.

Gin felt his hand shoot out as Tousen's slipped to his sword and the former captain of the Ninth began to move toward the girl. "I'll handle the little mouse, Aizen-sama," he said brightly. Brown eyes turned to regard him and Gin felt a flicker of unease, as if those eyes could read his every thought.

"Don't strain yourself, Gin. Let Tousen handle the girl."

He should let it go. He knew that. He didn't want to let it go though. "No strain. I want to," he chuckled, hating the feeling of those warm brown eyes sliding over him. A hand reached out to caress his cheek and for a moment he wondered how such skilled hands could wreak such havoc. Aizen had the longest, most beautiful fingers he'd ever seen, but all the other man seemed to do with those amazing fingers was destroy.

"Alright. Have your fun," murmured Aizen, turning and leaving him to dealing with the girl.

Gin stepped from the rift, circling behind the still dazed Shinigami. His right hand stole down to hers and the link she held. He took it, fingers brushing it before crushing it underfoot. His right arm went around her neck and his left drew his sword. "Tell her I'm sorry," he whispered to the girl as he stabbed her through the chest.

He watched her fall to the ground and moved back toward the rift, hating himself and Aizen - and not really sure which one he hated more.
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- 55
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A Shadow of What Was