disclaimer: I don't own bleach

Chapter 6: Poisonous

..

Renji smiled to himself; watching Rukia, it had been too long since they'd gone on a mission together.

He knew just how excited she was about this mission too, she had done nothing but complain about getting a real mission up until now. Yet here she was calm and collective, not one sign showing she was eager, till her shinning violet orbs turned towards his.

Those eyes, they told him everything. She lived for this, he knew that, it was in her blood. She couldn't breathe if she wasn't on the battlefield, and he couldn't breathe if she wasn't near him.. He felt he was suffocating when she wasn't around; being near her, he felt so light and alive.

"Renji, Renji, earth to Renji." Rukia repeated, glaring up at him in annoyance.

Renji flushed, averting his gaze from hers. "Are you ready to go?" He asked as casually as he could manage.

Rukia kicked him in the shin, Renji gasped, leaping back; lifting his knee up to grab his injured shin.

"I already told you I was ready. If you were listening you'd know that." Rukia snapped, pressing her hands to her hips, watching him hopping about in pain.

..

"Soo, this is it, this is their lair." Renji said looking over an old abandoned warehouse.

"Seems so," Rukia muttered softly.

Renji glanced down at the petite hunter standing at his side. She was bathed in soft moon light, which peeked out from behind fluffy gray clouds.

He didn't know why but suddenly he had to tell her; maybe it was the way the moon light highlighted her features, or made her skin glow. Maybe it was the scent of her new perfume, which carried on the wind.

Renji inhaled and slowly let it out, he was going to do it, he clenched his fists at his sides. "Rukia, I – you know, I mean I just wanna, I wanna.." Renji stammered.

"Geez, Renji, cat get your tongue?" Rukia teased.

"Of course not!" Renji snapped back.

"Okay out with it then," Rukia said crossing her arms, he had her complete attention now.

"You see, I..I-"

Rukia lifted a hand to silence him, "looks like the party's staring without us." Rukia said, turning her gaze towards the warehouse.

They could hear the screams of some poor innocent, even from here. "Lets gets this over with." Rukia said before he could go on, turning she rushed toward the warehouse.

"I love you, Rukia, I love you.." Renji whispered to the wind in defeat, before rushing after her.

..

Inside the warehouse, the air smelled of blood and moldy pipes. The ceiling busted in, in areas letting in rays of pale moonlight, lighting their way through the large metal box. The stench of blood worsening the further they walked, mixing with the foul stench of rotting flash.

Rukia gagged at the smell and focused on breathing through her mouth, she'd never get use to that smell.

"This really stinks; those filthy vampires, what are they doing?" Renji whispered beside Rukia.

The first thing Rukia noticed was the piles of decomposing bodies, which lay ahead of them. She had hopped all the missing people were still alive; though, she knew better than to hope for such an impossible thing. She clinched her jaw moving her hand to the hilt of her zanpakuto, as they walked around the piles of rotting bodies.

"What the hell is this, why isn't he turning them?" Rukia questioned turning her gaze away from the deceased

"Those vampires-they're all just monsters." Renji hissed under his breath in disgust.

"Agreed," Rukia remarked.

Rukia was relieved once they finally left that room, every step they took; the air seemed fresher, if only a little bit.

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in. It's two little hunters!" The gang boss called, sounding very much amusement. His crimson orbs lifting from the young girl he had just drank the life from. He knocked her limp, pale body down to the floor; where his minions finished what was left of her.

Rukia cursed under her breath; watching them fighting over the girl, she could sense Renji's anger rolling off him. At any minute, she was sure he'd rush head on into the horde and start slashing away.

There was no doubt, they'd enjoy killing these scum.

Rukia turned her gaze towards the boss; who sat in a rather large black and gold claw chair, his right leg crossed over his left. He wasn't bad looking; though, a little on the pale side, he looked nearly as white as paper. His hair a sandy blonde, which hung down just reaching his waist.

Behind him stood a boy with pale pink hair; his cold gaze locked on Rukia and Renji, a dark smile sliding over his full lips. "I think they've come to kill us, Mamushi." The boy said never turning his gaze from Rukia's.

"Sharp kid, I hope you've said you peace." Renji said pulling his zanpukuto out from its sheath.

The boy laughed softly beside his boss, "We will see who falls first." Mamushi remarked, smiling widely at the two, who readied themselves for battle. "Go and play my lovely children." Was all he said leaning forward in his chair. About twenty or more vampires turned, their red eyes glowing in the dimly lit warehouse. "You see, I've turned them all, and trained each one of them, they wont die so easily." He smirked leaning back in his chair.

"They're coming." Renji announced, pulling his zanpakuto from its sheath

"their skin- whats wrong with it?" Rukia thought a loud, noticing a strange pattern which seemed to repeat itself on every single vampire in the room. Their skin had been modified to look like snake-skin, it wasn't a tattoo it was much deeper than that and more realistic.

"Weird," Renji murmured, as they fought back to back as the horde tried to overwhelm them. "Roar Zabimaru!" Renji called running his hand down the thin blade, releasing it. He swung his jagged sword back and slung it across the horde. Letting it slice through the on coming vampires, ripping through their flesh as he pulled back.

Rukia dodged as a vampire rushed at her, her clawed hands out ready to rip Rukia's throat out. Turning she sliced the vampires head clear off, and turned as another rushed at her. They weren't difficult to kill, which made Rukia wonder why Mamushi had brag about training them. They were no harder than any other vampire she came across.

Rukia looked up as a vampire came at her, she kicked him in the stomach mid-air, making him fall painfully on his face. She was really tired of them leaping at her like that, what did they think they were, flying squirrels? Rukia quickly ran her sward through him, before he could move.

"RUKIA, BEHIND YOU!" She heard Renji screaming.

She spun around lifting her sword in defense as another vampire came at her, he repeatedly hit her sword with his bare hands. His strength, though, nearly brought her to her knees.

She quickly leapt, back taken aback by his power.

"I see,"Rukia muttered, he was the needle in haystack, the hidden weapon. No one would expect him when the rest were so weak.

"Renji, take care of the rest!"

"Right!" Renji, called back slicing another vampire apart. "Not so fast!" Renji called swinging his zanpakuto into the shoulder of a vampire rushing towards Rukia, who was occupied with another.

"Where do you think you're going?" Renji hissed pulling his sword back, letting his blade ripped through his flesh. He screamed turning on Renji, his left hand clasping over his wounded shoulder.

Rukia had to admit it, this guy was good. He was challenging her; making it hard to beat him, and she liked that. She leapt aside as his clawed hand came down just slicing the sleeve of her rob. His sharp, knife like nails just scraping her skin, leaving a thin line of blood. Nothing to worry about.

She glanced over to where the boss sat and found him and the boy escaping.

"Renji, he's getting away!" Rukia hissed as she sliced at her opponent again. He was laughing as he danced around; this was all a game to him, she realized.

"He wont get far!" Renji called back as he finished off another vampire.

"Coward, where are going?" Rukia hissed at the boss, as he faded into the darkness.

"Pay attention, hunter, I'm you opponent!" The young vampire barked, striking her with one of his powerful punch. Rukia only barely managed to avert his punch, his fist just grazing the side of her face.

Something was off; she felt heavy, like weights were tied to her ankles and wrists. She was starting to feel dizzy the room almost seemed to spin around her, "not good.." she muttered a loud.

"I really hate it when people stop paying attention to me.." the vampire whined again, racking his hand through his messy black hair. "It's all about me now; you see, turn away from me and you'll die." He stated oddly, his voice holding a strange and alarming tone.

He was crazy, Rukia noted, watching him run his tongue along his upper lip. His red orbs watching her strangely, and in one second he was on her ripping at her with his cowed hands.

Rukia struggling to keep up with his speed and strength. His attacks were wild and unpredictable; she couldn't fallow his attack to predict what he'd do next.

Rukia cursed under breath, she couldn't get a single hit on him, yet she kept getting nicked by him. Her body was running with lines of blood from where his claws had just grazed her skin.

You're getting slower, little hunter," He laughed, leaning towards her, Rukia quickly blocked and he smiled slyly. "Wanna know why your feel so heavy, and sluggish ?" he snickered.

Rukia gritted her teeth swinging her zanpukto across his midsection, leaving a deep bleeding gash across his flesh.

"Aw, you actually got me that time." he giggled, looking over himself.

Rukia lifted her hand, "Hado 33: Sōkatsui!"Rukia shouted. Shooting a blue flame from the palm of her hand, sending it towards the vampire. He quickly jumped a side, "Hado 33: Sōkatsui, Rukia repeated following in him with her hand, as he leapt about.

Her blue flame missing him each time, till finally she landed a hit. She watched it engulfed him but only a moment, before he burst forth from the flame. The flame dancing below his feet as he escaped, his clothes singe and just hanging on his bloody body in shreds.

"You know your rude, attacking me when I'm talking." He said looking more than a little pissed off.

"Some no mai-

"Too slow," the vampire whispered into Rukia's right ear, his hand grasping her right hand, which grasped her zanpakuto.

Rukia gasped jerking from his grasp. She spun around leaping back, stumbling on her landing, falling on one knee. She was really starting to feel light-headed now, her heart palpitating rapidly in her chest.

"You're going to die soon, my nails are laced with poison. And too think your death was caused by me; the great Sklyer Winter, remember that name, hunter." He said, as Renji's zanpakuto sliced into his neck, taking him completely off guard.

"TCH! No, you remember my name, Renji Abarai, remember it!" He snarled, pulling his massive sword back, letting each notch tear into Skyler's neck.

His blood spewing everywhere as Renji's blade finally ripped free from his neck.

Skyler was done for; he fell forward hitting the floor, is body scattering into bits of ash.

Rukia let out a tired sigh, wiping the blood from her cheek with the back of her hand.

"Rukia, are you okay?" Renji called racing towards her.

"I'm fine Renji," Rukia muttered standing to her feet. She swayed slightly as she stepped towards him; nauseousness washing over her. She leaned forward losing all the contents in her stomach, wiping her mouth, she wished she had water to wash the nasty taste from her mouth.

"Your not okay.." Renji uttered as he slowed his pace to a walk.

"I'm fine," Rukia protested, as Renji reached out to feel her forehead.

"Do you have a cold?" He muttered more to himself then to her.

Rukia squinted up at him, his worried expression fading into darkness, Renji's worried cries seeming to drift further away as the darkness engulfed her.

..

Rukia opened her eyes, the bright morning light blinding her, she groaned shielding her eyes, turning from the glare of the sun. "where am I?" Rukia muttered aloud sitting up in the futon.

"Your safe, I'm glad your awake. You really had me scared there for a second." Renji said from her right.

Rukia turned to see him on his knees beside her, his hands clenched against his legs. His head bowed down in shame, hiding his expression. He was pale, his forehead and left arm wrapped in bandages. "Renji, I'm alright, your overreacting." Rukia said, touching the bandage on her cheek.

"You didn't see you last night, I did.. I saw it all- you nearly died, Rukia." He stated, his voice cracking at the word died.

"He's right you know, you were close to deaths doors last night." A familiar voice spoke softly.

Rukia lifted her gaze to the door where Kisuke Urahara stood, he quickly snapped his fan shot slapping it softly against the palm of his hand.

He was a tall, pale man with curious gray eyes and messy blonde hair which was hidden beneath his green and white bucket hat. Kisuke was a former Captain of the 12th division , but after his exile he settled here, in Karakura town. He now owned a convenience store, where he also sold items for vampire hunters, conveniently enough.

"What happen, I don't remember?" Rukia muttered.

"You passed out, and lucky for you I just happened to be in the area." Kisuke remarked a serious look taking his features.

FLASH BACK

"Damn it, Rukia, you said you were fine." Renji uttered as she fell unconscious; his body automatically moving to catch her fall. He adjusted her in his arms; looking her over, he didn't see any serous injuries, just a few scraps and cuts.

She was surely sick, her body shook, like she was freezing, her temperature clearly was through the roof, cause her body was way too warm. A light sweat glistening over her pale skin, "idiot, going on a mission when your sick." Renji said, pulling her closer to his body.

"Shes not sick, she's been poisoned!" Someone called from the shadows, "and if you don't let me treat her soon, she'll die. It's already spread through her body a great deal." He added.

"Whose there?" Renji hissed leering into the darkness.

"Relax, its only me, Renji.. Its been a while," he smiled stepping into a ribbon of pale moonlight.

"Kisuke?" Renji uttered, surprised to see the former Captain of division twelve. "What do you mean she's poisoned?" Renji asked not sure he should believe the former Captain, he was an exile after all.

"We don't have time for this Renji, shes dying." Kisuke said stepping closer.

Suddenly Rukia started shaking violently in Renji's arms, foam bubbling out from between his bluing lips. Renji's eyes widened in alarm as he tightened his hold on her jerking body.

"Tessai, you know what to do." Kisuke muttered simply.

"'I'll be taking her now." Tessai said stepping out from behind Kisuke, he was a tall, muscular man, with rectangular glasses and lightly tanned skin.

He appeared in-front of Renji within seconds pulling Rukia's jerking body from his arms, then he was gone.

"Renji, why don't you come along, we have a lot to discuss you and I. And it looks like you need a bit of first aid yourself." Kiskue remarked, noticing the blood streaming down Renji's face and arm.

Renji nodded in response, his hands still out as if Rukia were still in his arms. He clutched his hands tightly before finally letting his hands drop to his sides.

END OF FLASH BACK

..

"That's right, Skyler said his nails were laced with poison," Rukia muttered recalling that fact.

"Yes, Mamushi's gang is known for using poison, they're an extremely dangerous gang, or so I've heard." Kisuke uttered, rubbing the stubs on his chin.

"We have to find them, they escaped. We have to find them an eliminate them, before they kill again!" Rukia gasped leaping to her feet.

She suddenly felt light-headed, and so tired, she fell back against the futon with a sigh.

"Easy now, you were poisoned after all. Just take it easy for a while, or you'll only end up getting yourself killed." Kisuke said

Rukia clenched her hands, averting her gaze from both Renji and Kisuke.

"Alright, I'll rest but tomorrow night were going on a man hunt." Rukia stated sharply lifting her gaze.