Beep beep bee…
Ichigo slammed down on the irritating "Chappy the Rabbit" alarm. What the hell is up with her and that fuckin' rabbit? He though in disgust.
10:00 a.m.
The night before had worn the young man out. Rukia didn't go to sleep until late that night. She refused until the rerun of the Chappy the Rabbit Movie was over.
Ichigo ran his hand through his orange bed head: he replayed the night's events through his mind over and over again.
"She's comin' back to the Soul Society with us Ichigo!" the redhead began in a harsh, but silent, tone. Rukia had been put to bed just minuets before. "She's a member of the Court Guard Squads, and with all the reitsu in the Soul Society, she'll heal much faster."
A vein appeared on Ichigo's forehead, obviously from the stress of the night's events. He fought back with a tone as equally harsh and silent as Renji's, "And why should she go back? You saw how she reacted to Byakuya and Toushiro at the hospital! What do you expect her to do if you take her to a whole another world?" Ichigo shot the deepest scowl he could construct at the officers. "She's staying here…"
Before Renji could argue, Hitsugaya stepped in, "Lieutenant Abarai… may have to stay in the World of the Living, regardless of what you say." The young captain rested himself on the open window ledge. "With her mental condition she won't be able to control the Hell Butterfly." His arctic eyes shot towards Ichigo. "Kurosaki is correct; she won't be able to adapt to our world."
The silence caught them; Renji stood lifeless at the words that erupted from the captain's lips.
Time was frozen around the foursome until Byakuya gave his first words. "She shall stay here with Kurosaki." Everyone wore shocked expressions on their faces. Byakuya never lets Rukia stay with Ichigo for long periods at a time.
Now standing, the noble Shinigami turned towards the door behind Ichigo. "Captain Hitsugaya… Lieutenant Abarai… we are departing." The two others exited the room with silence; Byakuya stopped and leaned into Ichigo's ear. "I'll be back to check on her development soon and send word of the Soul Society's decision." The final words that escaped the man's lips were hot with warning, "Don't get to comfortable Kurosaki." And once again, Ichigo was left standing alone.
Fighting his laziness, Ichigo struggles to sit up in his bed; then finding a pair of slender arms wrapped around his waist. Startled for a moment, Ichigo's eyes shoot down to find the owner of the mysterious limbs. Rukia. Her face was so composed that she seemed like a painting. It comforted Ichigo to see Rukia unfazed from her wounds.
Examining the small girl, he spotted the bandage still around her head; along with the many cuts and bruises on her body from the night before. Remembering his absence during Rukia's attack, pressure began to swell in Ichigo's chest.
Trying his hardest not to wake the girl, Ichigo holds her vulnerable body in his arms; embracing her tight as if protecting a precious treasure. "Hmm…?" The messy-haired girl groans. Forcibly, she pried her eyes open. Letting out a weak smile when she realized the first thing she saw was Ichigo.
Unable to resist the innocence in the violet orbs she used for eyes, Ichigo clings to Rukia even tighter. "It's alright Rukia… just sleep for a little while longer." Letting out a long sigh, Rukia nuzzled her nose into Ichigo's chest. Before either one of them knew it, the couple was engulfed in darkness.
Its face was ugly and its very presence sent shivers up Ichigo's spine. "Ichigo!" Rukia called after escaping from her Gegai. "Go for its head!"
Snapping out of his daze; Ichigo, Flashsteps towards the monster. He grasped Zangetsu in his hands tightly as he got ready for the kill. All he could see was the Hollow's massive white mask and muscular, dark body; it enraged him.
The substitute Shinigami's feet left the darkness that he stood upon; his Zanpakuto was lifted high above his head. Letting out a large roar, Ichigo swung his sword down where the monster's head lay. Nothing was there.
"Ichigo you idiot," called his tiny, Shinigami partner. "You let it get away!"
A vein appeared on the angered man's face, "I don't care you fucking midget! At least he's gone!" showing a deep, annoyed scowl, "At least I was- ACK!" taking his hand from his stomach, all Ichigo can see is red and white. Rukia's snow blade, Sode no Shirayuki, was pierced through his gut.
"R- Rukia?" he squeaked as his eyes guided themselves upward, but her eyes were cold and lifeless.
As if the wave of his voice itself was the trigger, the moment the sound left his now chapping lips Rukia's forehead split in two. The gap revealed a white skull-like surface. Her skin fell to the ground, like an empty sack, revealing a large colorful fishing lure.
The rainbow object shot away from the pile of skin with swift speed. Struggling to keep focus, Ichigo follows the disguise and sees him, The Grand Fisher.
He felt his body go cold and his knees give out from underneath him. The hairy, animal-like Hollow glowered over the now defenseless Shinigami. The beast produced a satisfied smirk and began to laugh deeply. "You really are hopeless little one. Here you are dying; unable to stop me again!" the monster took a large step to its left. Finishing his rant, "I almost feel sorry for killing your friend… almost."
There, lifeless in a dark pool of her own blood, was Rukia Kuchiki. Tears swelled in Ichigo's eyes and he fell to all fours. "You bastard…"
Everything was dark again. Dark and silent.
Its high-pitched voice broke through the barrier; a sound that made Ichigo's spine quiver.
"I told you not to keep me hidden." The voice broke into a cackle, "I could have saved her! I could have saved your precious Rukia! But you were stubborn and didn't trust in me…"
The snow-white sword vanished, leaving a gaping hole in Ichigo's stomach. A pure colorless, perfect copy of Ichigo appeared in front of his eyes. With a thin smile, the Hollow continued, "You are worthless…"
The Hollowfied Ichigo chortled once again, "You'll never survive! You'll die! You can't protect yourself, let alone the ones you care for!"
The Shinigami's blood was boiling. Swinging his sword above his head with all the strength he could muster, Ichigo screams, "YOU BASTARD!"
Nothing…
The Hollow was gone…
"Ichigo…" a weak voice breaks through his darkness. Ichigo spun around to find the owner of the sweet voice. It glowed…. She glowed…. Rukia… "Ichigo…" she repeated. Her clothes were now as white as Sode no Shirayuki herself.
He closes his eyes, ready to die.
"ICHIGO!"
Ichigo's golden-brown eyes snapped open, haziness still within them. All Ichigo can see is Rukia's confused face in front of his. They were in the same position as when they fell asleep; only Rukia had tears forming in the corners of her violet eyes.
That's when the teen realized his body drenched in his cold sweat; unable to recall the vision he'd just had.
A/N: I'm really sorry for not updating! I've had a lot of medical stuff going on right now… really complicated…
Please review!
 | Review this Chapter |
No comments:
Post a Comment