Two Souls, One Story

Chapter25

"Captain Tosen...?" Renji muttered, taking a few steps away from the man. Sweat rolling down the side of his face. "What-? Damn... of all things... Izuru forgot to tell me about him."

Tosen turned towards them. Silent like the tick of a bomb before devastation.

Unease settled in the pit of Rukia's stomach. She looked up at Renji. "We should go." Her voice was the futile attempt to be quiet. "It's not safe here." She knew Tosen, both from the series and from her friendship with Kaien. She knew when Tosen went silent... It wasn't good.

"Right... We should find Captain Kenpachi," Renji backed away, inch by inch never taking his eyes off of the captain. "Or... Anyone for that matter"

"You're not going anywhere." Tosen's soft voice was the step of a giant. He shunpoed towards them and grabbed Renji by his collar. He took them to Sokyoku hill. Gin and Aizen stood there, waiting with greeting smiles.

"Why, Renji. What a surprise. I wasn't expecting you to be involved..." Aizen said in a smooth voice.

"Yeah, well, when the love of my life is involved..." Renji quipped, his grip on Rukia tightening. He made a quick scan of the area. It was open, but his adversaries were fast- really fast. If he was alone, Renji might have been able to escape... but he had Rukia.

Rukia opened her mouth to say something, when the spiritual energy of Isane smacked into her head. Based on Renji's expression, so was he.

"Those of captain and lieutenant rank, as well as the Ryoka, this is Squad 4's lieutenant Kotesu Isane. This is an emergency message from myself and Squad 4's captain Unohana. Please understand that everything I am saying is the truth. Squad 5's captain, Aizen Sosuke, faked his death using an illusion caused by his Zanpakuto..."

By some form of grace, Aizen waited for Isane's broadcast to finish. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back as if the message was the pitter patter of gentle rain. When the message ended, he tilted his head in.

"It appears our time is limited, Renji. A shame... to see you grow so much since your days in the academy, and you now wish to waste your life... over love. Foolish thoughts." Aizen took a step over, extending his hand. "There will be other women. Be a good boy, and give me Rukia."

Gin chuckled. "Best ta listen to yer superiors, Lieutenant Renji! Wouldn't want ta end up like Izuru~" At those words, he directed them to Rukia, full of teeth. As if Izuru wasn't a mere 50 meters away. In clear view.

Rukia shot the silver-haired man a glare. "If you do anything to Izuru!" She shouted, while also pointed over at Izuru, whose very presence almost made Gin deflate. "I'll rip your head off with my bare hands!" Her spirit energy seemed to snap between hot and cold once again, and it left her feeling feverish.

Renji frowned and looked down at the girl in his arms. Her spiritual energy was fluctuating between familiar and unfamiliar. He gulped as he looked back up at the trio in front of him. Despite that, his girlfriend was surprisingly hot when she was angry. Literally and figuratively.

"Aw, you wound me. I like Izuru too much ta hurt him! It was a little joke~!" Gin sang. "Now, Renji, do what ta Captain wants."

Renji's grip on Rukia tightened enough to cause her to flinch a bit. "No." He growled out. "I'll never hand her over to you."

Aizen's smile never wavered. "A shame..." And Rukia felt it. Aizen was about to move. Move towards them.

Except Aizen became preoccupied with Izuru, who was trying to slam Wabisuke over his head. The captain easily dodged, and Izuru joined Renji and Rukia's side. "Sorry. My leg fell asleep and Ichigo needed to convince Zangetsu to... ya know... do cool sword stuff."