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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.

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Chapter 9

"Sir, it's an emergency! Captain Aizen has been murdered!"

Both Rin and Byakuya were on their way to get breakfast the next morning. Her first night in the mansion had been spent awake, leaving her tired and irritable by the time Byakuya had come by the room to collect her. She made sure to fight the whole time. She wasn't pleased with the fact that she was forced to follow her Captain around like this.

Gilepsi, who had been sitting on her shoulder contentedly, growled darkly and leapt off her owner's shoulder before bolting. Rin frowned after her, wondering what was up and why the animal had reacted so curiously.

"Dismissed," the Captain said before continuing on his way.

"What, you aren't going to do anything?" she called after him.

"There is nothing that can be done at the moment. The Stealth Force and the Fourth Division will be left to discover the identity of the killer," he replied.

"We should do spy work, too," she said, quickening her pace to walk beside him. "We'd make a great team, don't you think? I'm really good at sneaking, you know."

When he ignored her, she rolled her eyes. She had gotten a lot of that since being stuck with him. It just made the whole ordeal all the worse. That's when Byakuya slowed to a stop, making her look back at him questioningly. The frown that had spread across her face deepened into a scowl when he turned and began walking the other way.

"The hell do you think you're doing? Food is that way. It's 10 o' clock and I still haven't eaten, I'm not waiting any longer," she snarled.

"Learn your place. I have no reason to explain myself to you," he retorted. Though he stopped when he realized that she wasn't going to follow.

"I will learn my place. Until you tell me what's 'oh so important' that it means we're skipping out on breakfast, this is the place I'll be learning," she snapped.

She pointed to the ground at her feet, one hand planted on her hip. The man glowered at her for a minute, weighing his options.

"We are going to Shishinrou to eliminate Ryoka," he finally answered.

"Hm..."

The woman pondered her next action. It was a good chance to see how things were going. She hadn't heard all that much, despite being attached to a Captain. She got most of her information from Daisuke, and she hadn't seen him since the day before. This could be beneficial.

"Fine," she agreed, beginning to follow him. She tied back her hair as she did. "But this better be worth it. I'm starved."

"I wouldn't dare pull you away from second breakfast if it wasn't important," the noble retorted.

The angry woman stared at him in shock before smirking at his back. Maybe there was some hope for him after all.

Time passed. They reached the great, white repentance tower around noon. When they arrived, the door to the cell had already been opened. Three people stood in the doorway. It was the green clad Ryoka, a small, fearful looking man, and a young woman with black hair and violet eyes.

"Ridiculous. We delayed second breakfast for weaklings like this. Well, I can at least to clean the rust off my swords," she scoffed.

"Do not bother drawing your weapon," the noble replied. "They are merely bugs. Do you draw your sword on an ant, when you are able to crush it beneath your foot?"

"Then let me stomp on these pests so we can get back to the food," she insisted.

The man did nothing to stop her as she began to walk forward. It was as good as being ordered to kill them. The green clad man stepped up as if he intended to protect them. Rin raised a questioning eyebrow.

"A pest and an idiot? I can't believe you actually think you can protect those two. It'll be your last mistake for you," she laughed.

Rin lunged, making her target gasp at her speed; faster than his. She slammed the heel of her hand into the middle of his chest, hearing the sound of his ribcage crack and begin to cave in a little. He doubled over, coughing up blood from his punctured lungs. When he began to fall, though, he caught himself on the rail, somehow still able to stand and even back away a few steps. The woman stepped backed out of the way of the blood that rained down onto the bridge.

"You're tougher to kill than you look. I see why those 11th Division fools failed to kill you. Stupid bastard, you should just get on the ground and die," she scoffed.

She shook her hand, which was a bit tingly from the blow.

"Ha...! People who fall after such a minor attack don't exist in the Shiba family!" he crowed proudly.

"Shiba?" she repeated, dumbfounded for a second. She then grabbed her sword, about to draw it. "To step foot here was a grave-" Byakuya cut her off, drawing his own sword.

"You are from the Shiba family? Then this kill shall be mine." His tone was hard, sending a shiver of fear down the Shiba man's spine. "I will ensure that you don't walk away from here alive."

"Eh?" His target blinked, bemused. "But what are you going to do from so far away?"

He's going Shikai on this guy? Isn't that a bit extreme? Rin thought as she stepped back out of range.

"Nii-sama!" the young woman cried out, speaking for the first time. Her voice was strained, and she was barely able to stand beneath the noble's crushing reiatsu. "Don't do it!"

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

Byakuya ignored her and held his sword in front of him. The blade disappeared. Even Rin's trained eyes were barely able to catch glimpses of the tiny blades it had turned into when the sunlight didn't reflect off them. They spiralled through the air, the sun setting them aflame with a brilliant, glowing pink. Down the bridge, the Shiba man was clueless to what his fate would be.

"What the...? The blade just...disappeared?" he muttered in confusion.

"Run!" the violet eyed woman screamed, but it was far too late.

Cuts appeared all over the Shiba man's body. So fine, that it took a second for the blood to burst from them. The man's clothing was quickly blood soaked. He fell forward, still unable to comprehend what had happened. Rin watched impassively. Sure, her attack had been brutal, but he was finished after that. Her Captain had gone too far with a man already dead.

Her superior turned his sights on the other man, who was too shocked to move. When the Captain drew the hilt of his sword back, preparing to eliminate the traitor, the black haired woman jumped in front of him. Rin was taken aback by the extremes Byakuya was going to.

"Please stop! Nii-sama!" she pleaded. "Don't do this!"

They were lucky. Both Ukitake and Rin grabbed Byakuya's wrist, preventing him from executing the attack. The sickly Captain sighed with relief, while Rin released her Captain, eyes wide.

"Ho... That was scary," the white haired Captain said, giving a shaking smile. "I think that's enough. Don't you agree, Captain Kuchiki?"

Rin was relieved that he was there. Could she have stopped him on her own, otherwise?

"C-Captain Ukitake!" the young woman exclaimed.

When she spoke, the man half-waved half-saluted at her with a grin.

"Ah, Kuchiki! You've lost weight," he remarked. "How have you been feeling?"

The noble broke in before she could respond. He had sheathed and sealed his sword.

"What is the meaning of this, Ukitake?"

The man's grin faded and he gave his fellow Captain a grim look.

"Isn't that what I'm supposed to say? Releasing a zanpakuto in Konnatokoru is a first class offence, even if you're fighting drifters. What were you thinking?"

"You didn't hear, Jushiro?" Rin spoke up. "The ban's been lifted for War Time. Everyone, even Captains, are allowed to released their zanpakuto anywhere, now." His eyes widened.

"Is that so, Rina-chan? War Time Situation... How can an invasion of a few drifters end up like this? Does this...have anything to do with the murder of Captain Aizen?" he murmured.

Suddenly, Captain level reiatsu settled heavily on their shoulders. Worse yet, it was not from any of the Gotei 13 Captains. However, Ukitake was the only one who didn't recognize it.

"W-what is this?" he exclaimed. "Such strong reiatsu, it is nearly Captain level! I don't know this person, though... Who is he? Where did he come from?"

The producer of the reiatsu landed on the bridge. At the same time, Rin drew both her weapons, and jumped in front of the Captains. Before them was the orange haired teen she had tested before. He had an odd shaped wing with him as well. She was surprised to see it in his possession. Only one person could have that type of equipment.

"Rukia..." he spoke, though his eyes were trained on Rin and the Captains. "I came to save you."

But, despite his words, Ichigo and Rukia were arguing furiously with each other no less then a few seconds later. Like an old married couple, in fact. Rin watched, not sure whether or not she should take the opportunity to attack.

What had the rumours said? Something about these two being in love? Or something like that, power transfer or whatever. She didn't really care for that. All she wanted to know was whether she would be given the order to eliminate them. Though maybe, if it was bugging her later, she would ask her Captain. That is, if he wasn't being grumpy.

Making a decision, Rin relaxed and allowed the tips of her swords to rest on the ground. She decided to let them have their fun before she was given orders to, most likely, kill them. Or at least the Ryoka. She glanced behind her towards the Captains, frowning when she saw the shocked expression on Ukitake's face.

"Byakuya, who is that?" he murmured.

She stole a glance at Ichigo once more, confused. Did he find the teen familiar?

"He is a nobody," the noble Captain replied, his countenance indifferent. "Compared to the person you are thinking of, he is not important. He is merely a pest, come to disrupt the balance of the Soul Society. I will destroy him. This is the end of this meaningless skirmish."

"Screw it!" Rin exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "You're way too damn dramatic. It just draws things out. I'm too hungry to wait for you to finish it!"

"You are not to attack, Asaje," he ordered harshly.

The woman ignored him and got into a fighting stance when Ichigo drew his weapon.

"Look at you guys... You just stand there, so carefree. You didn't even attack while I was talking with Rukia," the man drawled. He began to stalk down the bridge towards them.

"Who do you think you are talking to?" Byakuya growled before Rin could snap at the teen. "Why would I need to sneak up on the likes of you. Do not think so highly of yourself, insignificant scum."

With a loud yell, Ichigo leapt forward. He was met by Rin, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks. She took note of the wound in his gut as a weakness she could exploit as she slipped in behind him. Abruptly, she was forced out of her sense of focus when he slammed his foot into her, causing her to stumble back. He had grown even more powerful, she realized, and was faster than before. Faster than her, in the least.

She ducked low, narrowly missing the giant weapon aimed at her head. She aimed for the wound in his stomach, but he sidestepped. Just as she was about to whip around and hit him once more, Byakuya's harsh orders cut through the air.

"Asaje, stand down!"

The woman blocked a blow from Ichigo before leaping back. She scowled at her Captain.

"I almost had him and you just messed me up!" she snarled. "And why can't I fight him?! All I got to do was hit that Shiba guy once!"

She grunted when Ichigo's weapon slammed into hers.

"You did that to Ganju?!" he snarled, his brown eyes alight with fury. She smirked mockingly.

"Some of it. You got a problem with that?" she purred.

"Asaje, follow your orders!" Byakuya actually raised his voice.

The woman snorted and disappeared to go stand behind her Captain. She was in enough trouble as it was, already. The noble's reiatsu had been rising steadily in warning, letting her know that he was very serious and majorly overstepping the line. So instead she watched as Ichigo stood against the spiritual pressure, like a tree holding strong during a wind storm. This surprised Byakuya.

"Not even a step back in the face of my reiatsu. It seems that you have gained in strength. I don't know how you reacquired the power of a shinigami, but you should have returned to your normal human existence instead of throwing away that life you so fortunately kept. How foolish of you."

"Don't worry, I'm not throwing my life away," Ichigo insisted. "I'm going to defeat you. Then, I'll go home after saving Rukia."

"Don't think so highly of yourself, insignificant scum!" Byakuya yelled before disappearing.

Rin was shocked to see that Ichigo had blocked her Captain's blow. Even the man himself was surprised.

"You said I think too highly of myself?" Ichigo grinned smugly at his enemy over his shoulder. "I saw your every move, Kuchiki Byakuya!" The pair separated.

"I see," Byakuya spoke. "You have improved more than I thought. In that case," he held out his sword in from of him, "before you can become too full of yourself, I will show you what you cannot compensate for with a thousand years of training. This is the decisive difference in strength between you and I... Scatter-"

All of the sudden, a white ribbon was wrapped tightly around his zanpakuto, cutting him off. A dark skinned woman crouched on the bridge before him, the other end of the ribbon held tightly in her hand. She had dark purple, almost black, hair pulled into a high ponytail and, when her gaze lifted to take in Rin, Ukitake, and Ichigo, they could see that she had amber eyes. Rin raised an eyebrow curiously.

"Yoruichi? The hell are you doing here?" she growled.

Byakuya was giving the newcomer a look of pure disdain.

"Shihouin Yoruichi... I haven't seen your face in a while. It has been nearly a century since your disappearance. Everyone believed that you had died."

Rather than answer, Yoruichi turned and spoke quietly with Ichigo. Whatever she said, they were unable to hear, it was something the teen didn't like. He began to protest, until the dark skinned woman slammed her hand into the teen's gut wound. A look of betrayal and confusion crossed his face. He began to stutter out her name, but passed out.

As he began to fall, Yoruichi took back her hand. She caught him, holding him gently in her arms. Rin bristled with anger. How dare she!

"You would help the enemy, Yoruichi?!" she snarled accusingly.

"Ah, Rina-chan, it's sure been a while, hasn't it? I haven't seen you and Esaki-kun since I introduced you to Aika-chan!" the woman purred. "I'd stay and chat, but I have things to tend to. We'll meet again, I promise, but I must go now."

She slung the teen over her should and leapt onto the rail. Byakuya stepped forward, swinging his weapon to rid it of the white ribbon.

"You will not be allowed to leave!"

"Ho...! When did you learn to talk big, Byakuya-bo? It's all bluff, though, I'm sure. Have you ever once won against me in a game of tag...?" she purred.

"Shall we try again?" Byakuya challenged.

Suddenly, both disappeared, appearing farther down the bridge. Yoruichi was behind the noble Captain, but the man was ready. He whipped around, swinging his sword. He expected to hit flesh, but the blade's path was unobstructed as its target leapt atop the rail once more. About to flee the scene, the woman couldn't help but smile cockily.

"Not this time, Byakuya-bo!"

But her victory was fleeting when he was suddenly behind her.

"You can't escape me with that level of shunpo," Byakuya growled as she turned to face him. He slashed her across the stomach, causing blood to fly everywhere. She disappeared, landing on his outstretched arm completely unharmed. Only her cloak was left behind, impaled on the man's zanpakuto.

"Ha, you can't catch me with that level of shunpo!" she mocked, her amber eyes shining with amusement.

She appeared atop the building across from the tower, taking the time to readjust the teen on her shoulder.

"Three days!" she announced. "Within that time, I will make him stronger! Until then, this fight has been postponed. If you wish to follow, you may, but Goddess of Flash Yoruichi is not so easily caught!"

And then she was gone.

A/N

@Raymy: My co-author and I would like to thank you for your thoughtful review. We wrote this story to establish our characters and their back story. I hope we don't disappoint you with future chapters. Though you are 'cautiously optimistic', I did do a happy dance when I read your review. It's nice to know that someone out there is reading our story. ;)
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