Red Lilies

Part 25

Chapter 25

-"Ichigo!"- the pinkette rushed. The vast planes around her were covered in swords and rubble. Stone spikes and walls in different tones of sand and rock covered every inch of the massive... cave?

She wondered how this place even existed, but those questions were irrelevant when she finally saw his spikey orange hair. – "Sakura?" – his voice echoed with confusion, had he forgotten about her – again?

Leaving her companions behind, she rounded and dodged the swords and... sword shards? Shaking her thoughts onto what the hell had he been doing in this place. Her hand reached for him at the same time he turned in stunned silence with a welcoming smirk on his face.

- "You idiot!"- her small fist met his chin, erasing the smirk as he tumbled like a log. – "What were you thinking!? Rushing in like that when you're injured! Are you trying to get yourself killed!? Who do you think you are?" – she ranted. Her fist hitting the air as the orange haired boy laid on the ground. Eyes spinning from the punch.

He will be fine; she can just heal him... and punch some sense into him – again.

- "I didn't heal and patch you up so you can steal an artifact and fly into the sky like an idiot with a death wish!" – she shouted. – "And for what!? To look cool or something!?" – she elongated the word "cool" dramatically in a mocking recreation of their friend Asano. – "Look at you! Covered in bandages! Are you trying to look like a mummy!?" – she heaved. Catching her breath after finishing her rant. A vein popping on her forehead at the sight of him.

Before arriving, Renji filled her into the plan mis cat-lady had forced onto Ichigo before he tried to get himself caught...

Renji spoke quickly, basically demanding she followed him through the woods into this cave, or he would leave her behind. Something about Ichigo needing to heal quickly before battle, "It's going to get worse" he mentioned. Worry had speed her pace as she followed the redhead with tattoos and listened. Who knew the Gotei 13 had many nooks and crannies for hiding?

According to Renji, they needed to train, become stronger in just a few days before the rescue, and somehow get everyone else out of prison... what the hell where they all thinking? The pinkette blamed the poor planning and lack of communication to their young naivety... and lack of trust.

She trusted her friends enough to know they can fend for themselves, even if she worried – this is all new to them after all. There is no way to tell what kind of evil they could find and what exactly those reapers can do to them.

What's worse, after talking with Sado... she noticed how badly they trained as a unit, as a team. They had different skills and vastly different body typed. Training on your own skill is not enough when you're entering a situation with others who you care about... they never trained to fight together – or even took the time to learn each other's limits.

Even she can understand the hesitation they must experience over their own skills, understanding your limitations and being open about them.

Will they turn their backs to you and leave you behind if you showed your weakness? Those worries hit the pinkette deeper than she could express. She wanted – needed her friends to trust her, and now was the time to prove herself as someone they can rely on, not just a burden. Knowing they all covered their tracks and stayed away from her to avoid involving her in what would be a reckless rescue mission... unnerved her.

She had secrets, they all did "Should I stay back and let them execute her?" Ichigo finally spoke up from the rocky ground, eyes lost on the distance above them. Avoiding her critical gaze "You know... it's my fault... I" his voice cracking just barely at the end. His eyes glazed over with the memories of his friends, his experiences with the many souls he's met, becoming a substitute soul reaper had been difficult at times and fulfilling at the same time. However, at the end of the day, nothing would have been what it was without those who walked with him. "They all followed me here..."