- Chapter 22 -

The Final Battle II: Captain... We meet again

Miyori

It proved that the one who was following us all that time was Nel, running after Ichigo. Jeez, I swear this girl is more obsessed than me on the strawberry man! Even when we had taken completely different paths, Nel was lucky and had picked the one me and Ichigo had headed at. Though, Nel was making me laugh with her current obsession and sudden attractions towards Ichigo.

Although all that, I had still this bad feeling that someone was watching us. My yellowish orbs travelled left and right around the hallway, something seeming off. The completely surprising feeling of a spiritual pressure coming closer towards us was confirmed when Ichigo snapped his head towards the direction I was feeling the reiatsu too.

Nel stared at both of us confused and I took a step closer to her, making a protective movement and putting my hand on her shoulder. The little Hollow seemed scared but didn't move an inch away from my hand.

"Ichigo, we have company" I informed him, but it seemed that he already knew that from the hard glare he was shoting to a particular part of the room. I unseathed my sword, but not fully, just to make sure that Nel wouldn't get hurt.

As an answer, Ichigo shouted at the certain destination, "Get out!" he growled, his eyebrows furrowing in irritation. We both watched and heard for any suspicious move or sound but nothing was heard except Nel's heavy breathing.

"Whoever's hiding up there! I told you to COME OUT!!" Ichigo yelled again, more frustrated this time by the non-appearance of the mysterious admin of the reiatsu.

Suddenly, the polls which were holding the roof started grumbling down and it seemed clearly that the mysterious guest was getting away, escaping from our upcomming battle against him. I stayed close to Nel, afraid of leaving the small child on his own while Ichigo started chasing after the figure.

Though, Ichigo's words which came out of his mouth later made me stay dumbfounded in utter shock: "Miyori, take Nel and get the hell outta 'f here!" he yelled at use from behind his shoulder, the figure falling right in front of him.

"Ichigo, are you completely crazy?!" I asked him in complete irritation and growled warningly at him. He just shook his head and motioned at me to leave. I was ready to retort back at him but from the look he gave Nel, I understood that he was carrying for the small Arrancar, even if she was a bit annoying from time to time.

I nodded and grabbed Nel from her waist, pulling her along with me while she was whining and shouting that she wanted Ichigo. I felt sorry for her though; she was being torned away from the person she was trusting the most at the moment and I can imagine someone doing that to me with the person being Ikkaku or Toshiro.

I decided to stop in front of an empty room and set Nel down, though holding her hand to prevent her escape. The small Arrancar was crying endlessly and her cheeks were flushed from crying. I sweatdropped lightly and caressed her cheek so she would turn around and look at me.

When I managed to convince her look at me, I gave her a small smile of comfort. "Nel, I know how you feel now, but we can't do anything for that. Berry-ch-- I mean, Ichigo-kun is fighting over there now and he's doing it for us so we can be saved. He wanted me to take you away so you wouldn't get hurt. You know that Ichigo did this for your own good, right?"

Nel's big green orbs stared directly in my yellow ones and she nodded slowly, still not trusting me a bit. I patted her head sympathetically and took her hand, leading her away from the place Ichigo was fighting.

We continued walking for some minutes more until we get a bit exhausted from all those hallways that made us lost count of them and lead us in front of another portal. Me and Nel sat on the ground for a bit, resting our tired legs and trying to breathe. Ichigo must have won his fight; I could feel his spiritual pressure getting stronger. Though, the question was: Where was he? I couldn't tell where he was because a hundred of reiatsus were getting on the way and preventing me from finding out the true location of the strawberry.

I sighed defeated and I stood up, ready to continue our adventure through the hallways. But soon, two voices were heard from the room besides us. I motioned to Nel to make no noise and I got closer, putting my face close to the door so I could listen.

"... he shouldn't get on very well with me~!" a strange yet oh-so-familiar voice said, making my blood freeze. I knew this voice and I knew that the person who was sepereated from me because of a wall, was Gin Ichimaru, my ex-captain.

Again, I continued listening to his conversation with the other person. "They've split into five" a deep voice said and Gin seemed surprised and confused.

I huffed and turned around the corner of the room, looking at the backs of the ex-captain of the 3rd Division and the back of a black person; I immediately recognised captain Tousen. "Or should I say six" the black-haired captain said and snapped his head towards my current destination.

I narrowed my eyes at him and placed my hand on my sword, ready for a battle against them. I may not be as strong as they are but I have a Bankai too... I will try. Before Tousen could make a move, Gin placed his hand on his shoulder and smirked slightly, "Ah, Miyori, long time no see, ne?"

I didn't answer to his statement; he was too calm for the current situation we were in. Gin whispered something to Tousen which made him leave us alone. Now, only me and my ex-captain were in the room. I was ready to charge at him when he suddenly appeared in front of me, holding me from my shoulders and staring at me.

My faze fell upon him dumbfounded; I didn't know what he was doing and what I was supposed to do now. Though, I felt his cold and slim fingers carresing my cheek softly and that brought an imediate blush on my face. "I-Ichimaru..."

"Miyori... We have to exchange a word long time now, ne? What daya think?" the taller male asked in a cheerful tone, chuckling softly. I grabbed his hand and pushed it away, taking a step back and keeping a defensive state towards him.

He suddenly pouted slightly, though he regained his old and sneaky smile again in a matter of seconds. I undeathed my sword slowly and held it with one hand, pointing it at his heart. "Ichimaru... Leave right now or I'll have to make you by force" I stated casually, my voice not even cracking although my heart was aching from the need of talking to him.

Ichimaru chuckled again, his smile saddening and his hands dropping to his sides. "Ichimaru? Where did tha honorific go? I guess ya see me as an enemy now, ain't I right?". I bit my lower lip as a reply and kept my head lowered down. The thing I didn't exepct was the next movement he did; he passed by me and whispered something to my ear, making my eyes go wide. I turned around to reply him but he was already gone.

I rushed out of the room and looked for Nel. Luckily, she was still sitting like a good girl in the corner. I grabbed her hand and started running towards the direction Ichigo was, my heart racing every moment I was taking a step. But the thing that was replaying in my mind was my captain's words.

"Take care, Miyori"

...

I finally spotted Ichigo. He was standing a few meters away, a strange Arrancar with raven black hair and gorgeous emerald eyes was approaching him slowly. Ichigo seemed to be in a daze and didn't notice the slow unseathing of the Arrancar's sword the said Hollow made.

I ran as fast as I could and jumped right in front of Ichigo, pointing my hand towards the male Arrancar. "Make another step and you'll get burned" I warned him, my glare hardening when I saw his emotionless face.

"Rukia is... dead?" I heard Ichigo utter from behind me, making my eyes go wide and my hands drop to my sides. "What..." I mumbled, a stab on the heart being the words that had just hit me with full force. Rukia Kuchiki... Rukia is... I thought in utter surprise but what surprised me the most was the words that came out of the Arrancar's mouth.

"Cielo?" he asked, his face remaining emotionless but a small glimpse of surprise could be seen in his green orbs.

"Ulquiorra? .... wait, how do I know your name?". What is happening to me? What... From where do I know this guy?

The male took a step front, his face being inches closer away from mine. Suddenly, Ichigo grabbed me by my waist and dragged me with him towards an unknown direction.

"Where are you going, Shinigamis?" Ulquiorra- is he named like that? - asked and turned his face towards us. His emotionless mascade had started cracking a bit, showing off some emotion. But they were negative again; despair and sadness.

Ichigo retorted back at him, his eyes being fired up from the anger, "To save Rukia"

Ulquiorra waited for a little until Ichigo (and me together, of course) took some steps towards that destination and then talked. "Then, Cielo, the red haired shinigami next to you, will never learn the truth about her past, Shinigami"