Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Things Never Spoken ❯ Chains of Abandonment ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7

“Alive? What are you talking about?”

“The Shinigami vice captain from 2 months ago. He’s been scheduled for execution next week on accusation of being a Vizard.” The scrawny man smiled to his superior as the taller man eyed him in disbelief.

“How can this be… He was dead! The body was dumped… and the C-16 solution was scrapped... how is it possible?”

The smaller man shook his head, “I can only account that he somehow was mistaken for dead when he was dumped-- but that aside, the C-16 solution worked!”

“Yes it would seem, but now our subject is about to be executed… It would be most displeasing to finally have a success only to have the Gotei 13 trample over the fruits of our labor. He must be retrieved. There are still many things to do.”

The scrawny man nodded, “Indeed. I’ll get on it immediately, sir.”

“Please do… and don’t alert the rest of them. The last thing we need is a throng of captains banging at our front door.” the taller man growled as he snatched a file folder up from the table and slinked away.

* * *

“Nii-Sama!” came Rukia’s urgent voice, “I just heard.” She came to a startling halt as she panted outside the doorway.

Byakuya was sitting calm and poised as ever at his desk. His eyes were weary despite his flawless demeanor. “It’s fine. Don’t concern yourself.” he said softly as he elegantly moved the pen over the sheet of paper in front of him.

Rukia’s eyes were wide and her brow was drawn, “You… Did you hurt him?” she asked almost fearfully as she knelt down politely. She was afraid, not of her brother, but of what he could do to someone like Renji. She knew her friend was injured, but she didn’t know the extent, and she still couldn’t get in to see him, although she had tried desperately.

The sixth captain remained quiet for a long moment and Rukia opened her mouth to speak again when he slammed his hand down on the desk, “I did! He‘s not your friend anymore, Rukia. I forbid you to have anything more to do with him.” He roared as he stood up and stormed up to her. The deep purple on his neck was evident as the traditional shawl hung low. He grabbed her by the upper arm and lifted her to a standing position, before he spoke, low and dangerous, to her face, “That man is a Hallow now. Renji is dead to you from hence forth. Is that understood? I‘ll not have you in danger on his account.”

The petite girl’s eyes were wide and afraid, she wanted to object. She wanted to scream back at him, ‘No! He’s not a lost cause! You are wrong!’ but the words would not form on her tongue as he glared daggers into her night-blue eyes. She finally tore her eyes away and nodded in obediently, feeling an acidic taste rise to the back of her tongue.

Her arm was suddenly released and she looked up to see the back of her brother’s flowing cloak, “You may leave.” he said sounding as if he had regained his composure.

* * *

A hallowfied Shinigami, sentenced to death, locked up and shut off from the world for the few remaining days of his life… yet Rukia couldn’t smother the dimly light flicker of hope in her small chest. She couldn’t give up. She didn’t want to feel that way again… when she’d thought he was dead.

Renji was hard to label. He was her friend, and as she thought over it, her want to save him only grew stronger. They had grown up together, and gone through countless hardships. She’d always been a bit selfish, but Renji had always been willing to let her have her way, even if he acted angry about it. He had always been selfless where she was concerned. Perhaps in the past she hadn’t noticed it as much, but as the events played out recently, she had thought about it more and more. They’d had their rough patches… She’d thought she hated him at one point, but in the end, he’d weaseled his way back into her life, and to her disbelief, she’d been happy he had. So many memories; happy ones, sad ones, bitter ones, funny ones… Renji… no matter how hopeless it all seemed, how could she give up, when he was still right there at the edge of her fingers.

Forbidden from him…Byakuya was just bitter Renji had got his licks in, she scoffed. She didn’t like going behind his back… but desperate times called for desperate measures. She didn’t have much time to set this up, but damn it all, he’d risked his life for her when she’d been in his shoes. They all had. There was no other choice in her eyes. She was going to save him one way or another… She’d need help though…

* * *

The scream of a metal door swinging open stirred him from his dreamless sleep. Voices whispering at the edge of his hearing made his head pound. The chill that settled deep into his bones swiftly reminded him where he was as he felt the painful throb against his wrists where the shackles bound him. Waking up from his first nightmare barely alive, he realized he hadn’t woken up at all. He was still shackled beaten and tired in the dark confines of a cell… maybe everything in between had been a dream and he’d never left the first cell at all… Over the course of his stay in this new cell, he had finally recognized his mistake… the dire mistake that had driven him down the miserable, desolate road he now stood on. He had lived. When he should have let go… when he was ready to let go, her voice had reached him, and he had come back. He had fought to stay alive when he was on the brink. Fate had let him choose his poison… and he had picked the wrong one… Rukia was not his angel, he cringed bitterly.

Four days, they’d told him this morning… Had the day already past, and they returned to tell him it was now three? He no longer cared. He closed his eyes. Sleep would ebb his pain.

“R… Renji…” came a sweet, familiar voice that made the darkness around him slink back, if only for a brief moment. He lifted his head and his weary, crimson eyes found her. Standing against the bars, hands clasping the cold steel as she peered through them, looking at him with obvious concern.

He was a mess. They hadn’t done much to clean him up since his escape. The wounds on his torso were bandaged, though the bandages were bloody, and ill kept. His hakama were tattered and ragged, and much of his fiery red locks spilled messily around his neck and face, escaped from the grasp of his sagging ponytail. Around his neck a spirit suppression collar fit snugly, accompanied by the shackles that pinned him up against the wall, he was completely subdued.

His voice was dry and painfully hoarse as he spoke, “I was told I wasn’t allowed visitors…”

Rukia glanced to the side where Ukitake was waiting with the guard, “I’m not supposed to be here…”

Renji winced, “Then… you should go.”

The small girl frowned. He was giving up. He had resigned himself to die… she knew that look. She had felt the same once in the not too distant past. “Renji.”

His broken eyes looked up from the dusty floor to meet her lovely violet pools.

“I’ll save you.” she whispered before she turned and left, feeling her insides screaming.

* * *

Rukia sat huddled to herself in the swiftly fading light of the day. She’d been wracking her brain, but always she was drawn back to a feeling of inadequacy. What was she going to do?

“Yo.” came the familiar voice as Ichigo appeared beside her. “What are you doing up here?” he said as he settled down beside her, scanning the cityscape from the vantage of the roof, she’d perched herself on.

“I don’t know what to do…” she said, her voice soft and lost sounding. “They’re going to kill him, and I don’t know how to save him.” she bit her lip as if to keep from crying.

The spiky-haired boy frowned and put his arm around her, pulling her against his side. She was limp as she allowed herself to be comforted.

“Whatever the odds, you know he’d do the same for either of us. I’ve got no qualms busting him out, if I have to fight tooth and nail. I just…. wonder about his own resolve… after.”

Rukia nuzzled into his clothes as she felt his hand rub her shoulder soothingly. She felt her worries ebb away as Ichigo’s warmth surrounded her. Slowly she raised her head up to look at the youth. His chocolate eyes returned her gaze and he gave an awkward half-smirk, “Don’t look so pitiful, It’s not like you.”

She lowered her gaze and let a tiny smile escape her lips, “Thanks Ichigo.”

He smiled as he continued to watch her, “You don’ have to thank me. You know you can trust me to always do what needs to be done.”

The small shinigami reached up and turned his face toward her own, “I know. I trust you with that.” she leaned in and kissed his lips softly.

Ichigo went rigid. A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind in that instant, but they melted away as he slowly remembered to breathe, and parted his lips to return her kiss. Bringing his hand up to cradle the back of her head, he felt her small warm hands circle his neck as she pressed herself against him. He was young and inexperienced, but she directed him well as the pair indulged in a desperate need for someone to hold on to.

As the boy laid back against the roof tiles, Rukia slid her leg over his lap. Ichigo gasped against her lips as he felt the small weight of her on top of him, “Is this…. such a good idea, Rukia?” he found himself asking while she placed his hands around her.

Rukia paused, “Do you not want to?” she seemed to withdraw at the possibility.

Ichigo shook his head, “No, it’s not that… but right here?… We‘re on a roof.” He’d admit it was kind of hot to think about, but he was a bit shy, as he was… mostly… inexperienced with this aspect of a woman.

She leaned back down on him, “It’s already dark, no one will see us. I just… I need this right now, please, Ichigo…” she whispered to him as her hands snaked under his collar and splayed over his firm chest. It was so easy to forget how young he truly was sometimes.

* * *

“Hello, Abarai-kun.” whispered a malicious sounding voice against the darkness.

Red eyes shot open only to find a pungent rag pressed over his mouth and nose. He gave a muffled cry as he saw the wickedly smiling men that had surely come from his nightmares. He strained against his bonds, but suddenly found himself going limp… All was black again.

* * *

Ichigo sighed as he walked leisurely through the hazy morning air. It was so quiet at this hour. Light was barely breaking over the horizon and the shadows were long like lanky giants across the pavement. He stopped and turned toward the brightening horizon. Rukia had seemed so desperate last night. Desperate and afraid. She was usually a bit harder to read, but he could see through her last night as if she were made of glass. Fear of being alone? He honestly didn’t know the depths of her relationship with Renji, and somewhere inside the selfish part of him didn’t want to know. She’d sworn up and down that she and Renji were nothing more than good friends, and with her behavior toward himself last night, he would accept that. However, he was sure Renji didn’t feel the same way about her. Whatever the red-head felt towards the petite girl, he obviously didn’t want her to know about it. Ichigo had gotten that message just fine the first time he‘d brought it up...

“I don’t know! I had to fight myself for control. You… You did it too when we were fighting. You pulled the mask off of your own will when I said Ru….kia’s… name…” Ichigo seemed to have a realization, and Renji knew it, “It’s her. I never even saw it before!”

“It’s not important, Ichigo! Stop dissecting me like it makes a god damn difference!” Renji hissed as he slammed his fist on the table.

‘He didn’t want me to know either.’ Ichigo surmised. It hadn’t been that important to him before, just surprising, but now… now it was like a bad conscience hanging over his shoulder. How could he be with Rukia knowing Renji was rotting in a cell waiting to be executed? He damned his conscience sometimes…

“Help!” came a frantic sounding voice, “Help! Someone!”

Ichigo’s ears perked up and he dashed toward the sound of the distressed voice. “What is it!?” He said as he slid to a halt in front of a young female squad member kneeling next to an unconscious man. “I think something terrible has happened! Look!” she said pointing down the hall at a trail of dead or unconscious squad members. Ichigo scowled as he observed the direction of the trail. “Go get the forth squad. Hurry.” he said as she whimpered and nodded in confirmation before she took off as fast as she could. The orange-haired boy drew his sword as he began to follow the trail, cautious of what he may find at the end.

“Ichigo!” called a stern voice. He spun to see Ukitake trotting up.

“Ukitake.” the boy nodded.

“It would appear they’ve come and gone without alerting anyone.”

“Where does this lead?” Ichigo asked as the pair walked in stride.

The older captain narrowed his eyes, “The high security prison block.” he said calmly. “I fear it may relate to Abarai-san in some way…”

Ichigo swallowed as they descended the steps and found the steel door to the cell open wide, and empty of life. “Renji…”

Ukitake scowled as he touched the melted door lock, “They took him… or he went with them…”

* * *

“Fuck You, You Son of Bitch! I’ll Kill you! I‘ll kill you all!!!” Renji screamed as he writhed and bucked against his bonds like a mad man.

“Now now, Abarai-kun. Behave. You do remember what happened last time you acted up.” the man cackled as he paced in front of the riled shinigami.

“Aaaah!!!” Renji screamed as the hallow mask rapidly overtook his face and his reiatsu flared the deepest of crimson around him.

“Still so easy to anger…” the man smiled. “You really are an awesome specimen though. With this we’ll finally be able to move forward with Aizen-sama’s instructions.”

The hallow roared and all but incinerated the bonds from himself. Even the spirit suppression collar warped and cowered against the upsurge of power that singed the very walls of the room. “You will all die.” came the distorted voice of the hallow as he grinned smugly, before he rammed the glass that was now the only protection the scientists had from his awesome wrath.

“Do it.” the cocky scientist said to his underling as he calmly observed the psychotic hallow just on the other side of the glass.

Renji was suddenly struck with an incredible heaviness that pierced through his body as if he were made of water. A horrid low vibration radiated through his chest as his vision grew warped and muddled with dancing lights. His chest felt so tight, he couldn’t even muster the strength to scream as the devastating sensation continued to hammer through his body for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only a matter of minutes.

“…And off.”

Renji collapsed as the vibration dissipated. Laying on the floor his mask crumbled away and he was left shivering in a pool of his own vomit as blood slowly dripped from his nose and ears.

“That was setting 1. Quite an effect, it would appear. Shall we take it up to 2?”

“Let us access him first.”

Renji saw boots approach in front of his face, before he was rolled onto his back and a small light was shined into his eyes as he was examined like a frog on a dissection table.

“Hn. That’s not desirable is it? This won‘t due.”

“Should we adjust the settings or…?”

“Yes. I will do it momentarily. Abarai-kun, lets talk. How do you feel? Do you feel angry?”

Renji whimpered. He didn’t want to think. He felt cold… so cold.

“…Rukia…” he heard the simple name escape his lips as he abandoned the grip on his own mind. ‘You can have it… I don’t want to be here anymore…’

The hallow didn’t answer. He was greeted by silence, and for once he felt saddened for that… So he was alone now… Truly alone.

“Rukia…” he repeated absently.

“Who is he asking for?”

“Rukia… Kuchiki? I know who she is. The adopted sister of Kuchiki Byakuya.”

“Ah. It would seem our little hallow has a soft spot then.” The scientists chuckled at this and Renji vaguely felt himself being shuffled around and again placed in chains. He didn’t struggle. He barely even blinked. He felt empty… and so cold.

“Lets go for lunch shall we? About that time.”

“It’s been an overall good day.”

“Yes yes!”

The fading footsteps of his captors was little consolation to the overwhelming loss of purpose that was encompassing his insides like a rampant virus. He felt like something great was lost. It was as if he had lost what he believed in… what he stood for… who he was… Abarai Renji. Who was that man? Did he ever really know to begin with? He felt… hallow…