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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8

"What do you mean Abarai got beat up by the Ryoka?" Rin growled.
She had paused in her eating of breakfast long enough to narrow her eyes at her friend.
"What part of that don't you understand, exactly?" Daisuke asked, confused.
"I mean that the Ryoka that took him out would have been nothing for me to take care of," she shot back. "He shouldn't have fallen in battle. And even if he had, he would have taken the Ryoka with him. Either that Kurosaki guy is getting really powerful, really fast, Abarai's ridiculously weak, or the Ryoka has some healer or something helping him."
Daisuke took a sip of his tea, using it to take a second to think. When he placed it back on the table, he replied.
"It's entirely possible. We've been getting a lot of weird cases lately, almost all related to the Ryoka. This includes the defeat of several high ranking officers by their hands."
"How high ranking?" she questioned, mildly surprised.
"Besides Lieutenant Abarai, no higher than 3rd Seat. It's still quite impressive, though. I think they'll be mobilizing the Captains, soon. This whole invasion is starting to get out of hand." He sighed.
"Hm..."
She continued eating, her eyes narrowed with thought. She was about to say something, but was interrupted when a hell butterfly fluttered over and landed on the table in front of her. When it flew away, she slammed her hand down on the table and stood, making Daisuke glance up at her with a look of bemusement on his face.
"What was that about?" Knowing that her ire was caused by the message.
"Fucking Kuchiki wants to fucking see me," she snarled. "The hell did I do this time?! And during fucking breakfast, too! I swear, if he doesn't have a good reason, I'm going to..." She snorted with disgust and stomped away.
Having nothing to do now that Rin was gone, Daisuke finished his meal, paid for both it and Rin's, and left the restaurant. He didn't get two steps out of the door before someone jumped down onto his shoulders from above and began hugging his head.
"Daisuke!"
The man stumbled forward, caught off guard by the sudden sneak attack. What got him the most, though, was the fact that he recognized the voice.
"Aika?!" he said in disbelief.
"Daisuke!"
The woman yelled once more, before giving him a great, big kiss on the lips. They were drawing a lot of attention now, and a lot of people were staring. They gained even more curious looks when Daisuke started dancing around with the small woman in his arms.
"Where've you been?! And when did you get back? Yoruichi-dono wouldn't tell us anything except that you were fine!" he exclaimed.
"I've been back for a few years. I've been busy attending Shino Academy, though. I barely had any free time, being in the accelerated program. My duties as an officer have kept me quite busy, as well."
"Ah, you joined Gotei 13, finally. What squad? And you're an officer, you say, what's your rank?" the tall man asked.
"Yeah, my grandfather finally agreed... Well, actually, he didn't have a choice. I just joined." Daisuke chuckled, not surprised at all. "I'm in Squad 10, 5th Seat."
"Better than Rin and I. She's 7th Seat, and I don't have any rank yet. Speaking of Rin, have you seen her? Does she know you're back?"
"Yeah. And I saved her ass, too. She didn't tell you?" Aika smirked.
"Of course not. She wouldn't share anything that embarrassing. She told me that she got attacked, but I got the feeling that she was hiding something."
"Yeah, me!" Aika said, hugging him again.
"It's not only that. She was distracted. Whatever it was, it's serious." He frowned, looking concerned. Aika frowned as well, but her reply was interrupted.
"Kawasuzu, you do realize that you're making a scene...?"
Daisuke looked down, surprised to see Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro and his Lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku. He bowed the best he could with Aika still in his arms.
"Aika, are you going to introduce us to your handsome friend~?" Rangiku inquired, a cat like grin on her face. The question also earned her a scowl from her Captain, as well as a blush from Daisuke.
"Absolutely!" Aika replied. "Captain, this is Esaki Daisuke from squad... What squad are you from? You never told me!"
"Squad 2 with Captain Soi-Fon," he told her. "And Rin's in Squad 6 with Byakuya-sama, assuming that she didn't tell you."
"Ah, good luck with that, then. And no, she didn't tell me, but I guessed, since she was wandering around the division building... So how's it going with Captain Soi-Fon?"
"It's been good. I've gained a lot of favour with those of rank, even though I'm only a recruit."
"Ahem," Toshiro cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Oh, right. Sorry. Daisuke, this is Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro of Squad 10 and Lieutenant Matsumoto Rangiku." Rangiku giggled when Daisuke took her hand and kissed it.
"A pleasure, Lieutenant." He then turned to Toshiro and held out his hand. "And to you, as well, Captain."
The white haired Captain took his hand, shook it once, then turned his attention back to his officer.
"Is there a reason why you're sitting on this man's shoulders?" he asked.
"Well, Captain, when you're as short as we are, you find the tallest tree and you climb it! I can see the whole of Sereitei from up here!"
She grinned at him. Aika was the same height as her Captain. The small Captain rolled his eyes.
"Right, then you can tell me exactly where the Ryoka are," he retorted.
The small woman stood up on Daisuke's shoulders, shaded her eyes, and looked around.
"Sorry, Captain, they must be hiding. I can't see them," she announced. "Where are you going, if I may ask?"
"Smartass," Toshiro muttered, the edge of his mouth twitching. "Lieutenant Abarai has been badly wounded by the Ryoka. I'm on my way to go question him."
"What? Lieutenant Abarai? He's one of our best! I can't believe it!" Aika exclaimed, jumping down off of Daisuke's shoulders. "May I accompany you, Captain?"
"Ooh! If you're going to do that, then I had better stay and keep Daisuke-kun company!" Rangiku spoke up.
Before either could say anything, she grabbed the tall man's hand and ran off with him. Toshiro's hands clenched into fists.
"Matsumoto!" the white haired Captain yelled in frustration. Shaking his head in resignation, he glanced at his subordinate out of the corner of his eye. "Fine. Come along, Kawasuzu."
"Oh, just wait until she finds out that Daisuke doesn't drink," Aika said with a small smile.

Rin purposely took her time when going to the office. However, when she got there, she found the room empty. Her eyebrow twitched as she glared at the empty desk. She stepped back into the hallway, slamming the door shut. She felt a tiny bit better when it made a satisfying 'slam' noise.
"Fucking hell. Pulls me away from breakfast, only to not even be fucking here." She scratched her head, more than a little suspicious. Finally, she shrugged it off and sighed. "Whatever. I can go find him after second breakfast-"
"Find who? Are you looking for Captain Kuchiki?"
She jumped out of her skin when someone spoke from behind. She turned to see another member of her division, but it wasn't someone she knew. His appearance gave her the creeps, as well. He was a big, muscular man with a neck thicker than both her arms put together. He wasn't wearing one half of his shihakusho, it was instead tied around his waist and held with a chain belt.
He had a constant, toothy grin on his face that sent shivers up her spine. One of his dark eyes was squinted, and it had a relatively recent scar over it. Trailing from the corners of his eyes to his jawline were blood red teardrops. He was completely bald, save for two, long patches of hair, one at the front of his head and the other at the back, pulled into a ponytail that hung down to the small of his back. One of those patches of hair was died a dark green, the other red. He also had multitudes of piercings on his eyebrows, nose, and ears.
She opened her mouth to tell him to get lost, but he continued speaking before she could.
"I'm Kotomaru Shuken, by the way!" He closed his eyes and leaned in close, making her lean back while wrinkling her nose in disgust. "As for Captain Kuchiki, he went to go see Lieutenant Abarai. If you hurry, you could meet him there and give your best wishes to our Lieutenant! Now, I must be going, Asaje-san. Glad I could help!"
He walked past her, once again not letting her speak. He turned and waved happily as he went. Rather than return it, she glowered after him, debating on calling him back and giving him hell, but decided she didn't want to mingle with creeps like him. Instead, she shook her head and decided to go find Byakuya and sort things out.

When she arrived, there were two other Lieutenants there, along with the man she was looking for. One of them was Kira Izuru, the blond man who had given her directions the other day. The second she had never met, though she was pretty sure her name was Hinamori Momo, the Lieutenant of Squad 5. The latter was staring at the futon, her hands covering her mouth. She had a look of horror on her face. Rin bit her lip as her blue gaze drifted to her Lieutenant. His laboured breathing could be heard from her position outside the door.
"Hurry and contact Fourth Division," Izuru urged Momo, his voice calm. "Ask for a higher official's assistance-" The noble Captain cut him off.
"There will be no need for that," he said, staring at his dying Lieutenant impassively. "Put him in jail."
Rin was caught off guard by this. Her eyes shot to him, narrowing in anger at the callous comment.
"N-no... Abarai-kun faced the Ryoka alone..." Momo protested weakly. "And now you-" Her pleas were cut short.
"I don't want excuses," he said in a callous tone. "There was no reason for him to lose. He fought alone, suggesting that he was confidant of his abilities. I don't want an idiot who is unable to see the extent of his own skill. He is merely a burden, now. A waste of space. Move him elsewhere immediately."
"Please..." Hinamori whispered.
Byakuya didn't stay to let her finish. He turned and began walking away. Rin's eyes were wide with shock at his callous decision.
"Please wait!" Hinamori said, louder this time. Izuru grabbed her shoulder. "How could you-"
"Never mind!" he said.
He then bowed to the Captain, who had stopped at the doorway, and apologized. Hinamori quickly followed suit, and the Squad 6 Captain left. When the man came through the door, Rin flattened herself to the wall. He was so distracted, that he didn't even notice her presence. She watched him go with narrowed eyes, wondering why he had made that decision so hastily. Just as she was about to leave, another man left the room. It was Ichimaru Gin, the Captain of the 3rd Division. Unlike Byakuya, he did see her. He stopped, turning his head to grin at her.
"Ah~! You were the little infiltrator at the Cap'n's Meetin', is that right? Quite bold of ya t' reveal yourself. And right in front of the Head-Cap'n, as well!" He leaned closer, his grin widening. It was all the young woman could do to not pull away. He was almost as bad as Shuken, though his breath didn't smell nearly so awful. "Aw, why do ya look so serious? Don't ya like me? Am I really that bad?"
"I can't see how you could know what I look like, with you squinting your eyes like that," she shot back.
"Hm." His grin faltered slightly, but he recovered so fast she thought that it might have been her imagination. The silver haired man chuckled and turned. "I'll be seein' ya soon, Asaje-san."
He walked away. His Lieutenant came out of the room a second later, nodded at Rin, then quickened his pace to follow his Captain. She stared after the silver haired man with wide eyes, wondering how he knew her name. She didn't like his implication, that he would see her soon, either. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion as she watched him turn a corner.
She was about to follow, when she thought she heard Aika's voice inside the room. She turned and peeked her head inside once more. She saw another Captain, but this one was much shorter. Aika was crouched by Renji while the Captain was whispering with Hinamori.
Is that her Captain? Jeez, he's no taller than she is! I'm surrounded by midgets! she thought, stifling an exasperated huff.
Deciding that she could talk to Aika later, she turned away and went down the path that Gin had taken.
Gin was making his way to the 1st Division, probably having been called for a Captain's Meeting. It was located in the Head-Captain's office, so Rin had no way of listening in. She instead leaned against the wall just outside the door. She would wait until the meeting ended and then give Kuchiki hell for his pointless message.
The meeting was longer than she anticipated. She was literally falling asleep on her feet when the door suddenly opened, startling her awake. Her eyes widened when the first Captain out was Aizen. His head turned and their gazes met. Surprised, she began to pull back, but it was too late to look away.
The scenery around her changed abruptly. She was in a dead forest, ravaged by flames and darkened by heavy, overcast clouds. It was a lonely place. Before her was a single pool of water. Perfectly round, perfectly clear, and devoid of life. The world was colourless. There was no scent, no sound. She couldn't even feel. She crouched, her hand reaching out to touch the pool. It rippled out, completely unobstructed. She was surprised to find that she had no reflection in the water. It gave her the shivers.
What is this place? she asked herself.
His zanpakuto... It has no feeling. I can not feel anything, Rina... Futago whispered, as if he felt the need to be quiet.
What a shit hole. Our world is a lot better... Warmer, too. It's so cold here... Akuma sneered, not wanting to be left out.
I can't feel anything... There aren't any senses! I can only see! What's wrong with his zanpakuto?! Rin thought, horrified.
She didn't want to be there. She wanted out. She looked around frantically, trying to find a way to escape.
"Wake up, Rina-chan," Kyouraku murmured, tapping her cheek gently. She snapped back to reality. She blinked, confused. He smiled when he saw that she was awake. "Good, good. Come on, get up now."
The angry woman looked up from the floor, surprised to find most of the Captains crowded around her. Shunsui was crouched down in front of her. The woman let the lazy Captain help her to her feet.
"What has happened?" the Head-Captain demanded to know. Rin shook her head, pulling away from Shunsui's grasp.
"It's not something that everyone should hear," she replied, her eyes narrowing.
The old man nodded and led the way into the office, motioning for Shunsui and her Captain to accompany him.
Are you okay, Rina? Futago asked.
Stop fussing over me, she snapped inwardly.
Exactly. She doesn't need to be taken care of like some child. Don't be such a pussy! Akuma agreed.
"Explain what has happened," the Head-Captain ordered.
"I have the Sword Sense. I got caught in someone's gaze and it activated," the angry woman looked away and muttered. The old man's eyes widened.
"Two generations in a row?" Yamamoto said in disbelief.
"Mm-hm." Her eyes narrowed.
"What is the Sword Sense?" Shunsui spoke up. "And by two generations, I assume you mean Hana-chan has this ability, too, hm?" Rin nodded.
"Technically, I shouldn't be telling you this, but seeing that I'm not a part of the Asaje clan anymore, keeping their secrets isn't as much of a concern to me any longer," she replied.
"The Sword Sense is something that only the women in my family have. It skips generations, most of the time. My mother has it, too, which is the first time we can remember it not skipping. The last before her was my five greats grandmother.
"Basically, this ability allows me to experience what someone's zanpakuto spirit feels. It's like I am...actually them for a brief period of time. I see everything from their perspective. I feel their normal senses, as well as their emotions...
"The Sword Sense is activated automatically if I look into someone's eyes for too long. I can't stop it. That's what happened with Captain Aizen."
The 8th Captain was nodding in understanding.
"Hm, Hana-chan never told me of an ability like that, though it does explain a few things. What did you see with Sosuke-kun, Rina-chan?" Shunsui asked.
"Stop calling me that," she snapped, glaring at him for using her old nickname. Her ire was short lived, though, and her gaze turned downcast. "Captain Aizen's inner world... It was dead. Colourless. No smell, no sound, no touch... Nothing. And lonely. His zanpakuto... What the hell's wrong with it?"
A plaintive meow came from nearby. It was Gilepsi. The black cat dashed towards Rin and leapt into her arms, wrapping her paws around her owner's neck and nuzzling her. The woman smiled and scratched the animal's ear.
"I'm fine, you wimp," she hissed.
Gilepsi growled in reply. Seeing that the blue eyed woman was done talking, the Head-Captain frowned.
"Due to the nature of this ability, we cannot allow you to go unprotected." Rin looked up questioningly when he spoke. "Therefore, you will not leave Captain Kuchiki's side. If your ability falls into the enemy's hands, we cannot be sure what will happen."
"What?!" Rin dropped Gilepsi as she cried in outrage. She pointed angrily at her Captain. "With him?! I refuse! You couldn't make me stay with this fucking stick in the mud bastard even if you paid me to fucking do it! It's bad enough that I'm in his goddamn division, but now you're trying to stick me with him 24/7?! Well, good luck with that!"
"You have no choice in the matter, Asaje. It is for your safety," he insisted.
"Bullshit, you don't care about me! You're just afraid that they'll take me and make me into some fucking weapon that'll fucking destroy Soul Society! Well, let me tell you, I can take care of myself!" Shunsui rested a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"Rina-chan, this is for the best," he tried to convince her. She bit her tongue to stop herself from making a nasty comment.
"And I assume that means I'll be staying in his fucking mansion, too, huh?" she snarled.
"I will have the servants prepare a room immediately," Byakuya spoke for the first time.
She wasn't sure if it was her imagination or not, but she was sure that she heard irritation in his tone. She snorted and shook her head.
"Fucking bullshit," she snarled beneath her breath before turning and stalking out of the office without waiting to be dismissed.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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Never Let Me Fall