Twenty witches. Rukia glanced over the list of names Rangiku had procured for them. And all of them were well-known in society or at least their families were. How could the seeds have been sown so far? she wondered to herself, her body jostling abruptly as Kurosaki hit a speed bump.

"Sorry," he said, not looking her way.

In the backseat, Hitsugaya grumbled under his breath.

Dividing the team in such a way, hadn't met with his approval. For one thing, Jeagerjaques was still new at this to be sent in undercover; Abarai was a known idiot who had messed up many other times during hunts. Kurosaki had hmmed at this, but a faint smirk had played along his lips when his gaze rose from Hanataro's schematic of the forest area.

"And what do you propose we do to compensate for our lack of hunters?"

Hitsugaya had been silenced momentarily by this look and brooded for a time. He knew he was being played. "I'll go with you.." his voice sounded tight, strained at the smug air emanating from the lead hunter. "On tonight's hunt."

And that was how the three of them had ended up together in the black BMW snaking up the curvy road to the area up in the mountains where the witches had gathered.

The silence was heavy. Rukia had for a time watched the scenery go past, her face deliberately turned aside from the driver. Every once in a while the click and hammer sliding against the coiled spring sounded from the back. In his day, Hitsugaya had been considered one of the best, but time and the diminishment of his craft had rendered a lesser position in the SCG necessary.

The spoken word...she recalled his words from before and guessed the reason for his anger. Hitsugaya knew Kurosaki had done it on purpose, all to get him back on the field. But what was his intent? She couldn't begin to fathom it. Kurosaki's motives, as well as his mind were a mystery to her.

But then.. catching a glimpse of herself in the darkened rearview mirror; her puckered brow and pouting lips. She had to remind herself that she wasn't there to get close to anybody. If anything it was to make it easier to complete her mission. Byakuya and..Kaien were counting on her.

~*~

"Here..." Renji whispered, withdrawing from a bag stashed in the corner, a familiar item. Rangiku lifted her orbo gun, finger curling around the safety. With a wince, she gently released it, a soft click sounding. He did the same, slipping a navy T-shirt over his head then fitting together the leather thongs to the single shoulder holster.

Noticing her looking; he jerked his head to the door covering. Rangiku nodded, that she understood even though sparing another glance to her shoes. She regretted wearing heels now. Kurosaki had intimated that he had something planned, yet she hadn't expected it to be this. What was he thinking, preparing to storm into the darkness with only Rukia and himself?! Sure, she and Renji could provide cover being on the inside like this, although that would mean--her thoughts were momentarily halted. The beaded hanging swinging in suddenly.

Renji froze, his gun still in mid-air, the safety still on.

The doughy face of Fuu appeared, asking gently if anything was the matter. Perhaps in question of why there was no love-making sounds from the room.

Rangiku felt a dull flush creep into her cheeks; the nerve! Her partner was the last man on earth she would consider sleeping with-Kurosaki was a close second. But then they didn't know that.

She did feel a fleeting sense of guilt a moment later.

But their cover couldn't be blown so soon.

The sound of the gunshot still resounded in the air. Fuu collapsed in the doorway, the glass bullet entering her body on the left side between the ribs. Rangiku lowered her gun, the muzzle still smoking. Renji whistled low, "nice shot."

Scuffling sounds came from the other side of the fabric wall, a ripping noise followed. Grimmjow and Momo, their guns held at the ready, appeared. "Shit," Grimmjow swore, catching sight of Fuu's inert body. "Are you two alright?" Momo asked, concern in her voice as she gingerly stepped forward.

Renji shrugged, grinning slightly, "as well as--"

"Not good...not good." Grimmjow was still mumbling, his hands tugging at his teal-locks. Rangiku looked to him, rising slowly off the bed, "what is it?" she had a suspicion, but was afraid to voice it. Momo's expression as well, looked grim.

"Kurosaki.." Grimmjow began, his head turning toward the beaded door that hung slightly off kilter do to the hindrance of the body keeping it from closing. Beyond, the sound of footsteps and the crunching of fallen foliage broke the quiet of the evening.

"They're still about twenty minutes away."

~*~

Kurosaki calmly switched off the cell.

"Isn't talking while driving, banned?" Hitsugaya's voice heavy with disapproval, asked.

Rukia glanced quickly to see how he handled such a comment; but found his expression inscrutable. Just a faint smirk played on his lips. A moment later, she realized she had been staring, as his head had begun turning her way.

Kurosaki observed her for some seconds. She could feel his gaze on her profile, but refused to meet it; instinctively resting her chin in her cupped palm, her face toward the darkness lurking outside the lit interior.

"Put the radio on or something!" Hitsugaya's grumpy demand broke through the tension that was slowly building. Smiling unpleasantly now, Kurosaki punched in the first button on the side of the steering wheel. Almost instantaneously the player came on, the lights whirring to life on the front dashboard. A song began playing.

".. Hontou ni taisetsu na mono igai subete sutete/shimaetara ii no ni ne/genjitsu wa tada zankoku de..."

"Wow, Kurosaki," Hitsugaya's voice floated again to the front, "I didn't know you liked this kind of music."

"Oh?" Rukia watched his hands tighten slightly around the steering wheel, "and just what kind of music did you think I liked?"

Uncomfortably she was aware of his glance to her. The gentle strains of the song continued playing around them. " Sonna toki itsu datte/me o tojireba/waratteru kimi ga iru.."

She knew what the lyrics meant. There was a frown in the chief's tone, "I don't know. Maybe rock like Gackt or High and Mighty Colors." Kurosaki said nothing, but his grip relaxed on the steering wheel. "No, I'm not too fond of Screamo. Never have been." Deliberately she felt his gaze slide to her face again. "What about you, Kuchiki?"

Aware. Oh, so painfully aware of her heart increasing its beat due to his look. Rukia answered with as bland a tone as she could muster. Not wanting to seem out of breath. "Enka. Ballad type. Nothing modern much for me either."

"I see..." his smile never wavered, rather grew slightly on the edge of a sneer.

" Aisubeki mono no tame/ai o kureru mono no tame dekiru koto.."

"Then what do you think of this song?" He pressed the volume higher until the singer's voice filled the car. Rukia bit the inside of her mouth, his eyes were fully on her now. "I g-guess it's alright."

"Deatta ano koro wa/subete ga bukiyou de/toomawari shita yo ne/kizutsuke atta yo ne!"

For some reason she found herself unable to resist meeting his gaze. Back then, when we met,
it was all awkward. He wasn't watching the road. "Kuchiki, that's not what I--" he began softly.

"KUROSAKI!!!! WATCH OU--" Hitsugaya's yell brought him back, slamming on the brakes, the car skid. Rukia grasped her seatbelt, her wide eyes taking in the sight of what had caused Hitsugaya's warning.

A wolf-no--

A witch.

Ayako Matsumura stood in place of the creature.

The car struck the guardrail on his side.

The impact jarred her spine and made her head spin. A moment later she realized he must've stepped on the gas pedal by accident for the next second, the sound of screeching metal tore through the air and she flew forward, the seatbelt cruelly yanking on her body. Her head collided with the dashboard and she saw blackness.

Her last conscious thought was whether or not Kurosaki was still alive.

~To be continued~

AN: sorry for the wait. :) I hope to conclude this arc next time :)

Thanks for reading

No flames-haters-stupid comments!

Reviews appreciated! :)

Lyrics: Dearest-Ayumi Hamasaki

hontou ni taisetsu na mono igai subete sutete
shimaetara ii no ni ne
genjitsu wa tada zankoku de

sonna toki itsu datte
me o tojireba
waratteru kimi ga iru

itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made
dou ka sono egao ga
taema naku aru you ni

hito wa minna kanashii kara
wasurete yuku ikimono dakedo

aisubeki mono no tame
ai o kureru mono no tame dekiru koto

deatta ano koro wa
subete ga bukiyou de
toomawari shita yo ne
kizutsuke atta yo ne

itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made
dou ka sono egao ga
taema naku aru you ni

deatta ano koro wa
subete ga bukiyou de
toomawari shita yo ne
tadoritsuitan da ne

---------------------------

It would be nice if we could put away and throw out
everything except what really mattered, but
reality is just cruel.

In such times,
I see you laughing
whenever I close my eyes.

Until the day I reach eternal sleep,
that smiling face will
have to stay with me without fail.

People are all sad, so
they go and forget, but--

For that which I should love,
For that which gives me love, I will do what I can.

Back then, when we met,
it was all awkward.
We went the long way, didn't we?
We got hurt, didn't we?

Until the day I reach eternal sleep,
that smiling face will
have to stay with me without fail.

Back then, when we met,
it was all awkward.
We went the long way, didn't we?
We got there in the end.