Bleach Porn Story: Mine

Chapter 33

Three sets of eyes gaped at her with varying degrees of disbelief. “A-Alive?” Rukia finally asked.

Nel’s smile faltered suddenly as she looked down at the man in question, “Just barely.” Focusing solely on Ichigo, she dropped to her knees and whispered an incantation that the other demons knew held a great deal of power.

Grimm watched as a golden glow enveloped his best friend. “The fuck is that, Nel?”

Her face became a mask of serious intent, “I’m using my kidou to examine the extent of his injuries as well as try to stop any further blood loss.”

Biting her perfectly manicured nails, Ran could keep quiet no longer, “How bad is it?”

“Very,” Nel answered succinctly without looking up, “If he’d lain here any longer, there would have been no blood left in his body.” She laughed humorlessly, “Frankly, I don’t know how he’s still alive. By all rights, he should be dead already.” She frowned and glanced quickly at the tense onlookers, “Actually, his condition is still very…precarious and there’s no guarantee that he’ll make it.”

Rukia closed her eyes as anguish threatened to choke her, “But, you can save him…right?”

The green-haired woman sighed, “I honestly don’t know.” In a slightly more upbeat tone, Nel continued, “But as long as his heart beats, I will do everything in my power to save him.” No one said another word as they watched with baited breath.

A minute later, Nel’s astonished voice cut through the silence, “I think I figured it out.”

If their ears could have perked up, they would have. “The katana pierced his heart, but somehow, it didn’t tear. The damn thing is still lodged in there, probably keeping the hole closed just enough to stem the flow of blood and allow his heart to beat, even if it is weak and erratic.” Nel’s hazel eyes bored through the three of them, willing them to understand the seriousness of the situation. “In short…Zangetsu is probably the only thing keeping him alive.”

Everyone’s eyes widened as the implication of that statement washed over them. Grimm was the only one brave enough to ask the question on all their minds, “Then how the hell are we gonna get the mother fucker out of him?”

Nel looked into Grimm’s worried eyes and whispered, “I don’t know.”

Terror gripped him yet again, making the words harsher than he intended as he practically screamed at her, “Well then, who the fuck does know?”

That question gave Nel pause and her look became contemplative. Who would be strong enough to pull this off?

All at once, she seemed to settle on a course of action. “I know what we have to do, but it’s going to take all of us to make it work.” They stared, waiting for her to finish, willing to do anything to fix this man that meant so much to them all.

Nel’s eyes became focused as she began snapping out orders, “Rangiku, I need you to find Yoruichi and bring her here.” Rukia’s head shot up as Nel spoke, “If you can find Kisuke’s lazy ass, bring him too. As idiotic as he is, we need all the power we can get and that bastard has it in spades.” Ran nodded and took off as fast as her sonido would carry her.

“Rukia, I need your help here. I know Ran is older, but her kidou is childish compared to yours.”

Rukia appeared slightly taken aback, “B-But…I don’t know any healing kidou…” She stammered.

“That doesn’t matter. I can do the healing. I just don’t know if I have enough power to keep him going until they get back. If you recall, years ago I told you about the special ability that allows me to take someone else’s power and commandeer it for my own use.” As understanding dawned on the smaller demon’s face, Nel continued to lay out her plan. “I’ll need you to blast me with your strongest attack and then, I’ll use it to fuel my own magic. Hopefully, that will give me the strength I need to keep him alive until Yoruichi gets here.”

At the mention of her cousin, Nel saw Rukia’s face tighten unconsciously and refused to let it pass, “Listen to me, you spoiled little bitch,” She said harshly, “Yoruichi and Kisuke are the most powerful demons I know and I need them to save him. If you so much as blink wrong at them, I promise that when this is over with, I will destroy you.” Her frigid tone sliced Rukia to the bone, “Not that you don’t already deserve it for everything you’ve done this day, but Ichigo is all that matters right now and it’s going to take all of us to make this work. That is the only reason you are still fucking breathing. Don’t forget that, Rukia.“

She had no defense against the other’s words…Rukia knew she deserved every bit of Nel’s scorn. Self-deprecation dripped from her like sweat and the weary woman was surprised to feel tears pricking at her eyes. “You’re right, Nel…I do deserve that, and more. I swear I wasn’t going to do anything to interfere…I only want Ichigo to be alright and I don’t care who helps him. I just…” Her voice broke as emotion clogged her throat, “He is all that matters to me.”

Nel ignored her words and looked at Ichigo once more, “We’ve wasted enough time…he’s fading fast, so we need to act now.”

Rukia nodded, closed her eyes and began to whisper quietly. Her words slipped easily into the language of the ancients and Nel’s eyes widened when she recognized it. She didn’t think Rukia knew any of the old spells…certainly none this strong. Had she really become this powerful?

Rukia’s skin began to marble and her claws extended as she called forth her most elemental form. Drawing from a seemingly bottomless well of dark magic, black tendrils of power began to coalesce about the small demon like a shroud. Neliel watched, somewhat surprised, as the young woman prepared to imbue Nel with a great deal of her energy reserves.

As strong as this kidou was, Nel’s power was such that she could handle it…provided she was prepared. Her lips tightened as she remembered Rukia’s earlier surprise attack. If she had only been expecting such treachery, this day would have gone much differently. But she never expected the woman who had been such a good friend to turn on her like a vicious viper. Mentally shaking off those distracting thoughts, Nel began methodically gathering her defenses.

As Rukia raised her head and opened opaque eyes, Nel stood quickly and prepared to meet this force head on. She watched sharp teeth gleam in the twilight as the surprisingly strong demon finished intoning the words. Rukia raised her arm and pointed five wickedly sharp claws and uttered the final piece of her deadly puzzle,

“Dilacerationis.“*

As the attack slammed into her, Neliel gritted her teeth. It was much more difficult to accomplish than she thought it would be, but the ancient demon began systematically absorbing the vicious blast. When the transfer was complete, Rukia’s demon form melted away and the exhausted woman sank to the ground.

Nel absorbed every bit of Rukia’s attack, but she knew the temporary influx wouldn’t last very long and it worried her.

She tried to school her features before Grimm saw her, but it was no use…that man was too damned observant.

His anxious eyes met hers as he sank to his knees at Ichigo’s side. “Nel,” He spoke quietly for once, “What is it?”

Nel wasn’t too proud to admit her fears, but she was fucking terrified and knowing that wouldn’t do Grimm any good. “I’m just…anxious, I guess.” His azure eyes held her captive and forced her to be more honest, “If Yorui and Kisuke don’t hurry then we’ve only succeeded in delaying the inevitable…” She whispered the last, willing him not to hear, “Ichigo can’t last long.”

“That’s not good enough, Nel,” Her lover growled. “We have to think of something else!”

Rukia stirred from her spot on the ground. She pushed herself to a sitting position, but the other two could see how much the action cost her. Obviously annoyed by her weakness, Rukia spoke. “Human blood,” She gritted out, “It always aides in healing us-even a tiny bit. It seemed to stimulate his heart before, so maybe…”

The blue-haired human looked hopeful, “She’s right…you didn’t sense anything until my blood went inside him.”

Nel shook her head, “I thought of that, but for it to work, he’d have to take too much and I’m not willing to risk Grimmjow’s life like that.”

Said man seethed in outrage, “What the fuck! Ya know I’d give him every last drop, Nel…don’t fucking worry about me!”

Her eyes softened as she looked at her young, fierce lover, “I know you would, baby, but I can’t lose you.”

That calmed him down a bit, but he obstinately refused to yield, “I can’t let him die, Nel, knowing there was something I could’ve done. I couldn’t live with that shit and you know it!”

Once again, Rukia weighed in, “Blood rites.”

Grimm’s gaze shot to her as Nel stiffened, “What do you mean?”

Rukia prepared to answer him, but Nel beat her to it. She’s saying that I should perform the rites on you if you lose too much blood.” Seeing his confusion, Nel explained, “You know that the blood rites will change you, but I never explained how.” Grimm cocked his head as she spoke. “It’s one of the reasons I haven’t changed you yet…I’ve been too afraid. You see, I’ve never performed them before. I mean, the methods are drilled into ours brains from an early age, but I’ve never had cause to change someone before, so I’ve never actually…”

“Well, if you know how it goes, then what’s the problem?” Grimm interrupted irritation evident in his tone.

“Because, you hard-headed human, it’s too fucking dangerous!” Her shout was met with a blank stare, which seemed to further enrage to demon, “You have to be drained almost completely of blood…almost completely…if too much is taken, then you can’t change and you die, Grimm!” Grimmjow shrugged nonchalantly and Nel prepared to argue further when she felt a noticeable shift in Ichigo…he was getting weaker.

With her attention diverted, Grimm took matters into his own hands. He took a deep breath and used Zangetsu to slit his left wrist. Nel’s horrified gasp echoed throughout the quiet room as blood gushed from the self-inflicted wound. Ignoring her, Grimmjow lowered his hand to the gash on Ichigo’s chest and watched as his blood seeped inside.

Nel was beside herself as she tried to think of options. She quickly realized that there weren’t any. At this rate, Grimm would be depleted quickly and she knew she couldn’t change him and keep Ichigo alive. It wasn’t possible. After he lost enough blood, Grimm would have to drink from her-quite a bit-as she spoke the rites. Nel could see no way to divide her attention between the two, but she had no choice. If she didn’t do it, then the two loves of her life would die right in front of her.

Un-fucking-acceptable.

“I can help you,” Rukia’s voice was still weak, but it was stronger than before. She stood on wobbly legs and made her way to Grimm’s side, “I still have enough power to perform the rites on Grimmjow.”

Neliel bared her fangs and hissed in outrage, “In your fucking dreams!” To perform the blood rites on someone meant to bind them to you until death. Hate or no hate, Grimm would be obligated to protect Rukia and she him. If she allowed this, they would always be inextricably entwined. On top of everything that had already occurred today, the thought of Rukia having him in that way made Nel physically ill. She wasn’t sure how much more she could possibly take from this horrendous day.

But as she watched the blood drain from her lover’s face, she could see the toll it was taking. At first his heart was beating hard and fast, his body’s last ditch effort to replace the lost fluids. Nel saw the moment that compensatory mechanism started to fail. His skin paled and he started sweating. His body, weakened from his losses, shook from the effort it took to hold him above his friend. When his strength finally failed him, Grimm laid his head on Ichigo’s chest, content to watch his life force drain away. She could feel Ichigo’s strength infinitesimally returning as Grimm’s seemed to wither away.

If they did nothing, he would die soon.

As much as she hated to admit it, there was no other choice. Her words were laced with hatred as Nel’s black eyes blazed into Rukia’s, “Have you ever even done this before?”

“No, but my father made sure I knew exactly how to perform them.”

Nel took a moment to squeeze her eyes shut and massage her temples. When she opened them again, they were deadly serious, “If you fuck this up, you cannot imagine the torture that you will experience at my hands.”

“I would expect nothing less,” Rukia said with a nod. “I would not let Ichigo’s best friend die, Nel. No matter what I’ve done and what you may think of me, you can be assured of that.” The older demon said nothing as she tried to refocus her energy on the still very critical Ichigo.

Thankfully, Rukia’s power was returning rather quickly. She watched anxiously as Grimm nearly passed out from his blood loss. Deciding she’d waited long enough, Rukia turned him on his back, his head and shoulders still propped on Ichigo’s bare chest.

He was so weak that he really didn’t comprehend what was about to happen to him, but still he protested. “Whatha fuck? No…Ichi,” His words were slurred, but his intentions were clear as he weakly tried to turn back over to give his friend more blood.

“Grimm, you can’t,” Rukia said firmly but gently as she made him lie back again. “You don’t have anymore to give…Ichigo wouldn’t want you to die for him. Besides…it was enough, right Nel?”

Nel smiled bravely for him, “Yes, baby, you did it…he’s doing better.”

“S’good,” He sighed and relaxed against his friend.

Rukia had been taught from her father that the human body had to be almost completely drained because if it wasn’t, it would clash with the demon blood. The maker’s blood had to be able to take complete control of every cell within the body for the change to be effective…if the human’s blood resisted to much, then they would die. She ran through the ritual in her mind, unwilling to make a mistake and kill Grimm. Even if Ichigo did live, he would hate her forever.

She was actually required to take blood from Grimm, so Rukia took a deep breath and brought his wrist to her mouth, fangs bared. When Grimm opened his eyes and saw her there, he tried to struggle, but was too weak. In the end, his head lolled to the side and he stared at Ichigo while Rukia drank from him.

Nel had to look away, unable to watch her doing this to him, even if it was to save his life.

When she felt like she’d taken enough, Rukia then used her fangs on her wrist and held it to Grimm’s slightly open mouth. When the viscous liquid hit the back of the nearly senseless man’s throat, he coughed before swallowing reflexively. He tried to close his mouth, but Rukia would not allow it. She held his chin open and forced her blood down him. When she’d given him approximately half of her circulating volume, Rukia pulled away obviously weaker than before. As the blood began spreading through his system, Rukia chanted the ancient words that would forever bind their souls.

When the other had finished with the process, Nel took a moment away from Ichigo to make sure that Grimmjow was alright. Rukia saw her shoulders visibly relax when her perusal revealed that he was, indeed, still breathing. After she returned to Ichigo’s side, Nel spoke quietly, “Get him out of here, Rukia. He needs a calm environment to go through the change and this,” She gestured toward Ichigo and all the blood, “Is not the place for that.” Rukia nodded in understanding and used the last of her strength to carry him to a guest room at the other end of the hall.

As she settled him carefully under the covers, Rukia looked thoughtfully at his still form. Sleep well…while you can. She knew he would need all the rest he could get because all too soon, his painful transformation would begin. Rukia frowned as she remembered how excruciating that part was…she didn’t want this boy to go through that, but there was nothing she could do to stop it.

It suddenly occurred to her that this brave young man had been through just as much hell as Ichigo had in his short life, and thanks to her…he’d been through even more. Yet he still had the strength to offer his own life in place of his friend’s. Such strength, bravery, and utter selflessness confounded her. How could he, a mere human, have more fortitude within his youthful soul than a centuries old demon? He had given everything to try and fix what she’d broken and in the process, he’d earned Rukia’s respect and eternal gratitude. Then and there, Rukia swore to herself that she would make it up to him…even if he did hate her.

She’d make it up to all of them.

After making sure that Grimmjow was comfortable, Rukia returned to Ichigo’s side. She looked at him and perhaps it was wishful thinking, but it seemed as though his cheeks actually had a spot of color to them. It may have been barely noticeable, but anything was preferable to the deathly pallor he’d exhibited prior to that.

As the women settled in to keep watch over the man they both loved in their own way, neither one spoke to or even looked at the other. They sensed the arrival of the others at the same time, mere seconds before Yoruichi rushed through the busted entrance. Kisuke arrived soon after, followed by a very out of breath Matsumoto Rangiku.

Yoruichi stared, wide-eyed at the men, her breath hitching at the site of Ichigo’s heinous injuries. To know that the cause was the very blade she’d had forged specifically for him, made her nauseous. “What the hell happened to him?” She exclaimed loudly. “Who did this?” There had been no time for Ran to explain anything, so this was definitely a shock to Yoruichi and her husband.

“He tried to take his own life,” Nel explained quietly. The newcomers gasped at her abrupt announcement. “That’s all you need to know.”

Rukia’s eyes showed her confusion as Nel refused to elaborate on the circumstances of Ichigo’s situation. The older demon ignored her and focused on Yoruichi, “He needs all of our help, Yorui. We’ve got to get this thing out of him…and I have no fucking idea of how to go about it.”

Kisuke had been quiet up to this point, but the mercurial man finally spoke, his tone more serious than any of them had ever heard, “Well, there’s only one way to get this katana out of Kurosaki-san. It’s quite simple, really.” They all looked expectantly toward him, hoping that he held the answer to their dilemma.

“We have to pull it out.”

~X~

When the blonde idiot insisted that they had to pull the sword out, everyone stared at him as though he’d lost his mind. The man simply smiled and explained, “Of course, dear ones, we won’t do it all at once. The offensive device must be dealt with in a most delicate manner, after all, or Kurosaki-san definitely won’t survive.”

That bit of news earned him several hard glares. “However, if we remove it in an incremental fashion, bit by bit, and use some very strong kidou to heal his lovely body as we go,” He took a moment to glance down at Ichigo, “then he might just stand a chance.”

So, here she sat, watching, waiting, hoping…drowning in her own hypocrisy as she begged any and all gods who were listening to spare this young man that meant the world to her. To let him live in spite of the wounds that she might as well have inflicted herself.

Sitting in the corner of the room, knees drawn up as she chewed her nails to the quick, Rukia cringed as yet another scream of pain was ripped from her lover. She had always been under the impression that unconsciousness was nature’s way of freeing the body from pain, but Ichigo was in agony. She didn’t understand that at all and it frightened her.

The process actually went faster than any of them expected, their combined powers working at an unheard of pace. When it was finished, Kisuke and Yoruichi prepared to take their leave, “Rukia, Nel…the worst is over but, he still needs to rest.”

Kisuke nodded in agreement, “Yes, ladies, the kidou we imbued him with is not infallible. When he wakes up, he will need careful monitoring to keep from re-opening his wounds. If that happens…” No one had to tell them what would happen if that occurred. Their ashen faces were proof of that.

“Th-Then why are you leaving?” Rukia asked quietly. “Shouldn’t you stay and reinforce the spells?”

“Kuchiki-san, there is nothing more we can do for him. We’ve already used our strongest incantations, but they couldn’t heal him entirely. His injury was so severe that it’s really quite miraculous he survived at all. He’ll have to heal the rest of the way on his own…with your help, of course.” The ancient demon winked for effect, “I’m certain that you are up to the task, Kuchiki-san.” With that, the husband and their wife began walking out the door.

“Wait!” Rukia spoke up suddenly. When they turned in askance toward her, Rukia bowed deeply. As she straightened and looked at the pair of them, Rukia smiled slightly, “No matter what differences we may have had in the past, I will never forget what you’ve done this day and if there is ever anything you need, do not hesitate to ask.” Her dark blue eyes stared straight into Yoruichi’s yellow ones, “From the depths of my soul, I thank you both…so much.”

Yoruichi shook her head, denying Rukia’s vow, “Rukia, you don’t owe us any thanks. Saving Ichigo was the least we could do after everything…” Her weary eyes were rimmed in shadows as she spoke to the young demon, “I can see the guilt in your eyes, your body language…everything about you is screaming it, but you don’t deserve to shoulder that blame alone. I don’t know what happened here…what caused him to finally snap,” She took a deep, shuddering breath, “But I know that none of it would have happened if it wasn’t for me and everything I’ve done to him.”

Rukia looked taken aback by her admission, but Yoruichi continued, “I will forever regret the things that I did to him,” Her eyes slanted to her husband’s guilty face, “And those things I allowed to happen.” She looked back at Rukia, “I can’t undo the past…but I can sure as hell make sure his future is different. If he is ever in trouble, just say the word and I will be there for him. We will be there to help.”

Rukia simply stared as the husband and wife made a hasty retreat. When they were gone, she turned toward Nel, who had since gone back to check on Ichigo. “Nel, there are no words that will ever describe how deeply I regret this day.” The green-haired woman said nothing as Rukia continued, “But I have to try. I have no excuse for what I’ve done…for how I hurt you all, but I swear on everything I am that I will never betray you again.”

Nel looked up, her eyes hard and unforgiving, “No, you won’t…you’ll never have the chance.” Neliel stood, towering over the smaller woman, “I will never make the mistake of trusting you again, and of that you can be certain. None of what I did today was for your benefit and it changes nothing.” Her hazel eyes blazed at Rukia, “I will never forget your treachery and I will never forgive you.”

Having no defense against her words, Rukia dropped her head. Nel brushed past her, “I’m going to check on Grimm…see that you don’t let Ichigo die.”

“I won’t,” She whispered to an empty room. Rangiku, her only ally had left long ago to let Karin and Yuzu know that their brother had fallen ill and there would be no moving today. She wondered what lie the flamboyant woman had to use to keep those girls out of the house.

Rukia walked slowly to the bed, where they’d placed Ichigo when it was all over. He was still so pale, but he wasn’t deathly so. A bandage was wrapped tightly around his chest in an effort to keep his respirations shallow, thereby reducing movement in and around his heart. As she took his much warmer hand in her own, Rukia leaned down and kissed it reverently.

“Never again,” She swore quietly. “I will never hurt you again. No one will. I swear to you that I will stab myself through the heart before I’d let that happen.”

Rukia continued talking softly to him, telling him of her love, her sorrow. She told him of her hopes and dreams…mainly dreams of their life together.

That is, if he ever forgave her.

She implored him to stay strong and fight…

She begged him to fight for his life.

~X~

Pain. Blinding and excruciating. Intense and unforgiving. Ripping, tearing, burning every inch of me. Utter agony…it is all I know.

Is this hell?

Is this my punishment? But where is my fire? I can feel the heat, searing my very soul, but I can’t see the flames.

And then, I hear the voices…like ghosts from the past, they haunt me. Voices I never wanted to hear again. But it’s not just those voices… I remember one with fondness…I love that voice. But I don’t want to hear it. It speaks of love and strength.

As if love and strength are synonymous.

Ridiculous.

But the voices are relentless. They stalk me. I can’t turn them off and they torture me.

They make me cringe and hate and scream. If the flames stop licking at my soul, then their words attack me. Slice me. Destroy my peace. It’s my never ending battle for rest. That’s the real hell.

That’s my hell.

And then they speak of fighting. I know how to do that. I’ve fought my whole life. Why do they want me to do that? Don’t they know? Can’t they understand?

I am on the precipice of something dark and deep…something forever…and then I hear it. That voice…the one that seduces me with words of love and forgiveness. The voice that won’t let me fall. It begs me to return. Return to what, I do not know, but it begs me still. What is this voice? This one I know so well…it beckons me. This lovely voice that speaks to me in quiet words, its tone a balm to my battered spirit.

Is it false comfort?

Its tears join my own and I feel the unattainable at my fingertips. Is this some illusion to be easily dismissed? Or does fate speak to me with gentleness? What could it be?

It is her.

She’s calling me.

But I don’t want to go. Her voice joins in the call to arms. She wants me to fight. Must they all want that? Why can’t I rest? Why can’t they just let me go? I don’t want to fight. I’m tired.

I’d rather burn.

She won’t stop and it’s beautiful-so beautiful I want to cry for her-but in this place, there are no tears.

Leave me to my flames.

Her keening summons me and I am compelled. She is my siren. Her will is my own. Wherever she is…no matter what, I will return to her. I have no choice.

Falling…lost in a dream.

I cannot resist her.

I could never resist her.

She is my soul…