The Double Edged Sword

25

Recap: 

"What the hell is wrong with you!? Look! He's dead! There's no point getting into more trouble over a dead guy! Get it? If you go near him, another twenty years will be added to your sentence!" Renji tried to reason while pointing to where Ichigo and Izumi were. Izumi looked up at the two of them through her tears and locked eyes with Rukia who was looking on with nothing but desperation. A chocked cry came from Izumi's lips as she shook her head and went back to Ichigo before laying her head down on his back listening for a heart beat; she heard one, but it was faint. It was enough to give her hope.

"So what!? I was the one who dragged him into this! It's my fault he died! Since it's my fault he died! Is it so wrong to go to him!?" Rukia screamed stunning Renji who couldn't believe that his childhood friend would care so much for some random human.

"In other words, even if your punishment worsens you still want to be by the side of this boy?" Byakuya questioned while now standing just in front of Ichigo's head. Izumi leaned over his body as much as she could while pulling out her own Zanpaktou that rested on her left hip. She pointed the sword at the man's stomach daring him to come a step closer.

....

"I see now Rukia, this boy resembles him, a lot." Byakuya said while keeping his eyes locked with the dangerous girl in front of him; he was confused on where all of her mysterious power went. If she were so strong, then how had he not been told about such a woman existing. Suddenly Ichigo's hand shot out and grabbed tightly around his ankle making him stare down at the boy in question. He was surprised he was still moving. 

"What do you mean 'already dead'? And resembling somebody, don't talk about me without my say in it!" Ichigo said while breathing heavily, Izumi squeezed her hand hard on his wound as it continued to bleed. His mobility startled Renji as he wondered how the human was still alive, and how he was so strong. Byakuya stared down at the bloody hand pushed down on the boy's back before looking at the deadly daring look on Izumi's face. Looking away without wanting anymore confrontation. 

"Let go rookie." he said without looking towards the boy; he knew the boy would die soon enough, there was no reason for him to cause him more pain then what he deserved. 

"Can't hear you, look at me if you wan say something." Ichigo said confidently while smirking up at the long haired man. He couldn't feel his body, he couldn't feel how much pain he was really in; his whole being was numb. 

"You won't have that arm for long." Byakuya commented while glaring deeply at Ichigo instead of looking back to speak normally; he wasn't too happy about a mere mortal thinking they were allowed to touch him so easily. Before anyone could tell what was happening however, Ichigo's hand was suddenly kicked from it's place on his leg. 

"What the hell Rukia?" Ichigo huffed out trying his best to stay conscious. Izumi glared heatedly at the girl as she inspected the new bruises forming on Ichigo's hand from her sitting spot. Now instead of just holding her sword towards Byakuya, she also directed it towards Rukia daring her to come any closer. 

"You're a human! How dare you grab my brother's robe like that! Know your place rookie!!" Rukia declared while glaring hatefully down into Ichigo's eyes. Hatred sprouted in Izumi's heart as she witnessed the level of hurt that crossed her childhood friend's face. "Let's go Brother, after seeing such crude behavior, I've finally come to my senses. Please take me to the Soul Society! I humbly accept my sins and my punishment." she said loudly while turning away beginning to walk away with a different aura around her. 

"Hey, wait Rukia!" Ichigo called desperately trying to get to claw his way to his feet. "What are you talking about?" before he could even get an inch Izumi pushed down on his body hard enough to keep him in place without hurting him. 

"You're one deaf asshole. Stop making things worse and just die quietly." Renji pointed towards Ichigo before readying himself to attack which caught Rukia's attention. 

"There's no point in even killing this being deliberately. Even if you leave him like this, he'll stop breathing on his own. Even with her help there's no way he'll live." she commented while glancing back at the pure hatred one Izumi's face. "Let's go Brother." she said firmly before turning on her heel. 

"Stop right there Rukia! Is this some kind of joke!? You look at me properly!" Ichigo called before trying to push himself up in a push up position; Izumi obviously pushed him down harder before he could fully get himself up. 

"Don't move!" Rukia's voice boomed making him stop his struggling. "Don't even try to move one step form there! If you try to follow me!" she paused seeming to compose herself before she looked back towards him. "I'll never forgive you!" she finished with small tears in her eyes which shook Ichigo to his core. "You're going to die anyway, conserve your energy and try to linger on for a moment longer; spend your last few moments on earth with that girl behind you." 

A light rain began to drizzle down on the scene while Izumi watched everyone with a calculating look; Ichigo wasn't dead yet, if they left fast enough she would be able to save his life. She stared at Byakuya as he made eye contact with her and slowly pulled his hand from his Zanpaktou.

"Very well, I'll just leave him be then. Those two attacks were vital, his chest and collarbone have been thoroughly injured. He should die within a half hour. Even by chance if he does happen to live, not even a speck of Soul Reaper Powers will be left within him." Byakuya commented seeming to be talking more to himself then to anyone else around him. He wasn't too keen on letting him off but he knew the boy would die sooner than later. Looking towards his second in command he nodded his head. 

"Renji." The red haired man nodded his own head before stabbing his sword into the air and twisting it like a key; suddenly a white and black Japanese style door appeared with the opening wide. Black butterflies fluttered out of the opening as the three soul reapers made their way in; as soon as they were through the door slide shut. 

Izumi immediately sprang up onto her knees and shifted towards Ichigo's face trying to see if he was still conscious; she continued to push down on his wound while doing so. She was met with an anguished face before a pained scream left the boy's mouth. Tears poured from her eyes as she realized just how useless she was at that very moment. All she could do was cover his wound and hope that she could get him through the night.