Part One: Scars, Old and New
June 5, 1944
"Hiyori-chan, are you sure...?" Mitsuki looked uncertainly at the blond Vampire girl. She shrugged. "Hey, it's not my problem, Kuchiki. It's Kisuke's. Tell the moron I said don't die, when ya see him, kay?" She smirked, and walked back into her father's clinic.
Mitsuki looked at the train ticket in her hand. "Alright, Hiyori. I'll tell him."
Rukia blinked at Ukitake. "Show some new girls around? I don't know sensei. It's just..."
Ukitake chuckled. "Rukia. It's fine. These girls aren't armed and dangerous. I know you're on a maternity leave. But come on, one little tour won't kill you, will it?"
Rukia chuckled. "No... I guess not. Fine, then. I'll get Orihime. Can you have Amanda and Ritsuko meet us at the front gates?"
Ukitake nodded. "Of course!"
The rest of the day passed by without a problem.
Rukia and Orihime showed the two newbie girls around, although only Rukia noticed Ritsuko's extreme disinterest in the HQ, and more of an interest in her and her weapons. The only real problem throughout that activity was when Ritsuko tried to sneak out of the room with Rukia's dagger.
And there was one more, involving Yoruichi, Urahara, and a certain black-haired hybrid.
"Hiyori-chan wanted me to come back!" Mitsuki defended, her hands held up. "She said that you guys needed me here. Did you call her or something?"
Yoruichi sighed in exasperation. "If we called her, we wouldn't be so shocked. Well... this is a problem. Everyone in the HQ thinks you're dead. Even Rukia..." Urahara huffed from his desk. "Damn..."
"Hmmm..." Yoruichi started humming. "Mitsuki, didn't you say you lived in Hisakumori for a majority of your life?"
Mitsuki nodded. "Yeah. But what does that have to do with... oh no." Mitsuki looked in horror at her boss. "You actually think...?" Yoruichi shrugged. "Maybe, if we do it right." Kisuke was totally lost. "Alright, what are you two talking about?"
Yoruichi smiled wickedly. Mitsuki sighed, shaking her head.
"Damn..." Rukia cursed. "What the hell is with all the newbie's?" She was about an inch away from ripping her hair out of her skull. Yoruichi giggled. "Chill, Rukia! Scarlet isn't new, she's a transfer from the Kyoto division. Zaraki sent her out here."
Kenpachi Zaraki was the name of the commander of the Kyoto Slayer division. All divisions had there own commander, and all divisions had one specific skill. Karakura, for example, was more agility than force, which was Zaraki's division's skill.
"All you got to do is show her around!" Yoruichi winked at the woman, 'Scarlet'.
Said woman nodded.
"Alright, then. Let's get started. Okay, first of all, my name's Rukia Kuchiki. I'm in squad thirty-one on Karakura's Special Operations Force." She faked a smile. "And your name is...?"
The girl stuttered. "Uh... Scarlet... Scarlet Kimiyoshi!" She laughed awkwardly and Rukia blinked. "Fine. Let's go, Kimiyoshi."
Kisuke appeared behind Yoruichi when the two girls were gone. "Nice... Mitsuki doesn't even look like herself anymore! Then again, she didn't look the same when she came back, either." He added as an afterthought. "Her skin's paler, her black hair's turned a dark brown..."
"My doing," Yoruichi cut in, smiling proudly.
Kisuke continued. "Her hair's curly, now. Not to mention her sliver highlight's gone. It's red now." He shrugged. "Kind of fits with her new name, though. One more thing, Yoru... how in the world did you get her eyes that color? They're blue."
Yoruichi laughed. "Contacts, duh!" (A/N: I have no idea when the first colored contact lenses were created! I'm only saying this for the sake of the story!)
Kisuke stared blankly at his purple-haired friend, and then laughed.
Four months later...
Ichigo had spent the last four months thinking. Not training, not looking for Rukia, but thinking.
About what, you may ask?
Well, it varied. Sometimes, his thoughts shifted to Reiko and how guilty he felt about falling in love with someone else. Others, it was Senna, or rather, Temperance, and how he was so damn naïve. Occasionally, it was all the women he had forced himself to love, to care for.
And then, there was Rukia. He thought of how she was doing. What would happen to them after the war was over.
And once in a blue moon, he thought of that dream, so many months ago. In the forest, with that girl...
Rika.
Who was she? And why did she seem so familiar? Ichigo was not ignorant towards his Han blood. He had visions occasionally, and he knew that that dream was one.
One, very scary one.
One that, would most likely, be the death of him.
I know you'll beat them. I just wish I could be there to see it.
'Scarlet' tossed.
Is this so wrong? For me to want to stay here, with you?
She turned.
No.
She mumbled in her sleep.
You promised you'd be strong for your dad.
Voices filled her head.
You promised you'd be strong for your mom.
She unconsciously gripped at her hair.
"Mom? Dad? What are you talking about? They both went away... a long, long time ago."
Mitsuki moaned softly as she was dragged further and further away from reality, and into her nightmares.
Dream
Mitsuki was seated in a large, empty, dining room. The calendar on the fridge had the date, December 19, 1950 circled in a red marker. "Happy birthday, Rika-chan!" She giggled, and pushed a slice of cake towards the little girl sitting across from her.
"Why is it always just the two of us?" The little girl, Rika, asked softly, picking at the frosting on her cake. Mitsuki blinked. "Ah... well... don't you like it being just us?" She asked, looking at the child sympathetically.
Rika looked up, her amber eyes downcast. "Well... I love you, auntie, I really do... but... why can't my mommy or daddy ever see me?" It was such an innocent question.
But Mitsuki didn't know how to answer it. "They want to, Rika! They really do! But don't you remember? You promised you'd be strong. For your mom, for your dad, and even for me." She smiled at the little girl. "So come on, how about we go to the park? We haven't done that in a while..."
Rika shook her head. "No... If we do, we'll get close, and you'll love me. And if you love me, then you'll go away... just like mom and dad..."
Mitsuki's eyes softened at the little girl. She ruffled Rika's ebony hair. "Rika... I'm not going to leave, okay? I already love you, anyways. And even if I do go away, I'll be happy! That'll mean that we've grown closer, right? Now come on, get dressed. We're going out today."
Rika looked up, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. Mitsuki raised a brow, smirking. "Rika. Cry, okay? I'm not going to tell anyone."
Rika shook her head. "Uh-uh. I want t-to be s-strong. For you, momma and papa." Mitsuki sighed. Rika Kurosaki was such a fighter. She was so much like her mother...
"So much like Rukia..."
Dream 2
1 year later...
Mikoto looked inside the room, Rika close behind her. "W-what's happening?" The eight-year old asked worriedly.
Mikoto bit her lip to keep from crying and screaming out curses. "Nothing, sweetheart. Auntie Mitsuki just has to leave... for a little bit. You're gonna be staying with me, okay?" The black haired fifteen-year old looked at her little cousin.
Rika looked down. It was happening again. Everyone close to her... was gone, now. "No... I don't want anybody else to go..." She looked at Mikoto with tear filled eyes. Miki saw this and quickly hugged the crying child, much like a sister would.
"Shhh... it's only for a little while... everything will be back to normal soon." She looked in the room, where a hysterical Mitsuki was screaming and trashing the white room. "...Very, very... soon..."
And then, she was crying, too.
Dream 3
Six and a half years before the last dream...
"I just wish I could be there to see it."
Mitsuki sighed. She was just making this harder for the both of them. They had to leave soon, and the little twerp in the other room just had to say goodbye to that... that...
Idiot.
Mitsuki blinked. Idiot. Dumbass. Baka. It was all the same. But Mitsuki could only say that. After all, she couldn't very well say 'Vampire', now could she? She sighed, and slowly started to open the door. She smiled as she looked through the crack in the door.
They were kissing.
"Ah..." She sighed. "Sweetie..." She whispered, directing it to the woman in the room. After all, only she could hear her. "You just made this twice as painful as it normally would."
The woman in the room was silent as she broke away from the taller man.
Dream 4
Seven months before the last dream...
"I'm so, so sorry..." She held Hitsugaya tighter.
"Now... I understand... why you did what you did... why you betrayed me... back in Hisakumori... it was to protect me, huh? If you didn't catch me, other Vampires would have..." Mitsuki sobbed into his shoulder. "Thank you... thank you so much... Shirou-chan..." She giggled. The name sounded foreign on her tongue.
Hitsugaya smiled. "Its fine, Mimi..."
'Scarlet' bolted up in bed as lightning flashed, illuminating the dark bedroom. "He did... he did it to protect me?" She looked outside, at the full moon. "Who was after me? Who... where is Rukia?" She asked herself these questions.
She growled, low in her throat, in frustration, and then got up, slipping on her shoes. She needed answers. And she needed them now, damn it. Mitsuki quickly sped out of the room, shedding her pajamas and pulling on a black dress, and trench coat.
But before she left, she quickly dropped something on her dresser.
Without any words, she leapt out of her window, and towards Hitsugaya's Estate.
The only place she could really call home, now.
The next Morning...
"Oh, 'Scarlet'!" Yoruichi sang out Mitsuki's incognito name. Noticing she wasn't in the living room, she called again, louder, this time. "Mitsuki?" She began walking around the large apartment, looking for her friend. "Mitsuki?" She called once more.
"Early morning training, maybe?" The Shihoin wondered out loud. Then, she noticed the locket on the oak desk. It was a silver, star shaped locket. It looked like white gold. "What the..." Yoruichi picked it up, and opened it. As soon as she did, a small, folded up piece of paper fell out.
"Huh?" She picked up the small piece of parchment, unfolded it, and read,
For my little sister-in-law, Rukia.
Just think of this as a combined final 'I'm sorry' and 'goodbye' gift. It was a birthday gift from my mother, and since you're about to become one, I thought it would be perfect for you. After all, it doesn't seem like I'm ever going to be one, huh?
P.S. Don't forget me, okay?
Yoruichi just stared at the paper, and sighed. "Mitsuki... what exactly are you planning?"
"Mitsuki... why are you here?" Hitsugaya asked, honestly confused. Even through her new look, he could smell her blood. He instinctually knew it was her.
Mitsuki's hair was sopping and now slightly wavy because of the pounding rain outside. "I... found something out... last night." Her voice was raspy and quiet. Hitsugaya raised a brow. "A vision?" He asked stoically. His face was devoid of any and all emotions, aside from a slight hopefulness in his eyes.
She nodded. "Yes. I... I know why. I know why you did what you did, all those years ago."
She did not need to say anymore. Without a word, he enveloped her into his arms, hugging the Slayer tightly. "Thank you..." He whispered. She embraced the white-haired Vampire back, sucking in a ragged breath, her posture rigid. But after about five seconds, she relaxed, and allowed herself to melt into his arms.
Then, she repeated the words and actions from her dream. "I'm so, so sorry..." She held Hitsugaya tighter.
"Now... I understand... why you did what you did... why you betrayed me... back in Hisakumori... it was to protect me, huh? If you didn't catch me, other Vampires would have..." Mitsuki sobbed into his shoulder. "Thank you... thank you so much... Shirou-chan..." She giggled through her sobs. The name sounded foreign on her tongue, even in this reality.
Hitsugaya smiled, understanding fully. "Its fine, Mimi..."
"What's this?" Rukia asked, looking at the locket.
Yoruichi, against her better judgment, had given the locket to Rukia. She had a right to know. The Shihoin woman smiled a sad smile, grasping the younger Slayer's hands. "Open it and find out. It's a gift... from someone very special." She winked at the Kuchiki.
Rukia raised a brow, carefully snapping the locket open. Her eyes fell on the small piece of paper sticking out of the white gold. She began to read it, and her brows knitted together. "Mitsuki... what do you have to be sorry for?"
"She knew she was dying." Yoruichi lied easily. "She was probably sorry for not telling you."
Rukia was going to cry. She could feel the impending wetness pool behind her eyes. It's the hormones... she tried to convince herself calmly. Then, something from the letter caught up with her.
'It was a birthday gift from my mother. And since you're about to become one, I thought it would be perfect!'
Rukia dropped the locket, her eyes blazing as she recalled something.
She never once told Mitsuki about the pregnancy.
March 3, 2009
Unknown POV
"In our fam-ily portrait, we look pretty happy. Let's play pretend now, act like it comes naturally... we look pretty normal, let's go back to that." I hummed the song I taught myself to sing, from one of my old songbooks. "I promise I'll be better, daddy please don't leave..." Those lyrics I added myself. "Momma please stop crying, because I can't stand the sound, your pain is painful and it's tearing me down..."
I remember singing this song all the time, when I was a kid. It was so true, back then. "Can we work it out? Can we be a family? I promise I'll be better, mommy I'll do anything."
It's even true, now.
"Can we work it out?" I can only imagine the sweet face of that little girl asking that question.
"Can we be a family?" No. It's too late for that.
"Daddy please don't leave..." Too late.
"Can we work it out?"
"Maybe..." I answered out loud.
"Oi!" I turned slowly and gave the man calling half a smile. "Hello." I answered calmly, looking at the young man. He had messy orange hair, and warm brown eyes. "Can I help you, young man?" I looked at him expectantly, my blue eyes passive.
He stuttered slightly. "N-never mind. I thought..." He kept looking at me. "I thought you were somebody else." And then, he was gone.
My fists clenched. Damn him. Damn all of them. Damn her.
I hate everyone.
I hate Karin.
Kohaku.
Hitsugaya.
I even hate myself.
But most of all, I hate Ichigo Kurosaki.
Five months later
November 29, 1944
"Kisuke, we've been searching for months now. We're never gonna find Scarlet." Yoruichi sighed. Rukia glared at her boss. "Shut the hell up, Shihoin. I've known for a while now about Mitsuki's new identity." Kisuke and Yoruichi looked at the petite pregnant woman. "You... knew?" Kisuke asked uncertainly.
"Mmhm." Rukia nodded. "Ever since Yoruichi gave me her stupid locket."
Something seemed to dawn on Yoruichi. "Say... Rukia, should you really be out in your... condition?" She asked, pointing to the Kuchiki woman's distended belly. Rukia looked at her bosses distastefully. "Ah, don't worry. I'm still looking at another month and a half of swollen ankles and icky hormones." She waved the both of them off.
But the bad thing about that was, Rukia was almost always wrong about these things.
And that made Yoruichi and Kisuke worry.
Mitsuki's POV
2009
I was silent. So silent, even Hiyori, the owner of this damned hospital was worrying. And she never worries.
How long had I been out of it?
Exactly how long?
"Toshirou, make me a promise. Promise me that no matter how bad things get, we won't hide anything from each other, even if it might hurt one of us, okay?"
I was so young when I said that. Probably no older than eight. And now, I realize, he was such a liar.
"I promise."
Damn him. Damn him straight to hell. "Liar." I mutter, and wonder if I'm still crazy. They haven't released me, even though I keep insisting I'm fine. So, I most likely still am. This... world, all feels too dream-like. It's terrifying, and twisted, even. It's slowly killing me.
"Auntie?" It's Mikoto again. She lied, too. They all lied. "Liar..." I mutter again, my breaths becoming quick and I'm soon panting like I had just run a marathon. My heart is racing, and adrenaline is pumping, like I'm anticipating that I'll do something awful.
I do.
"Liar, liar... LIAR!" I start screaming suddenly, like I did the other week. I'm not thrashing about though, instead I'm gripping the white cotton sheets like a lifeline, and I can hear the fabric tearing under my touch. "Liar..." I start whimpering, and I can feel more than one pair of eyes staring at me. I already knew who it was.
"Rika..." I whisper, not even looking at her. The edges of my vision are blurred, like I'm living out a dream.
She clears her throat softly. "Auntie."
"Ritsuko-san," Amanda looked at her counterpart. "Do you think we'll get caught? After your little scene with Kuchiki, I think we're being kept under a watchful eye." The brown-haired Brachen Demon looked at her friend, who shrugged nonchalantly.
"It doesn't matter to me. They'll all end up dead by the end of this year." She let her spell drop, the blonde's pretty face melting off slowly. Her silky blond hair bristled, and turned dark and dirty-looking. Her green eyes darkened as well, turning a sickening mud-brown shade. They became hazy and cold, too. Amanda cringed slightly, for this was the Turok Han's most beautiful female.
She would hate to see their ugliest.
"After all, Aizen-sama's plan is sure-fire." Her voice was high, and filled with malice. It almost made Amanda throw up from her fear and uneasiness. The brunette Demon nodded warily as Ritsuko kept laughing to herself. The Brachen slowly lay down, and closed her eyes.
She didn't fall asleep for a long time.
Part Two: Myself; Yourself
Mitsuki's POV
"I was a fool, Karin. A fool to actually believe that I was safe. No matter where I am, no matter who I'm with, I will always be a step away from death."
Karin sighed heavily, but still managed to hold a smile. "You're right about that, Mitsuki-san. But do not worry yourself, Hitsugaya will help you no matter what. He's like your brother, you know. He would do anything to protect you.
I glared at the floor below me. "He would. But he could never, in a million years hope to stop Aizen. He is too powerful, too wise." I stood up from my place on the couch. "Aizen posses enough power to wipe any and every trace of human blood off this world. Aizen... has arrived, here, in Karakura, no?" I had sensed his presence less than a week ago.
Karin was silent. Finally, she sighed heavily, nodding. "Yes. Do you wish to start a new world?*"
I nodded, barely thinking. I had the power. I had the will. I could start over... in a new reality. I had pure, Han blood running through my veins, mixing viciously with whatever was left of my Human half. I was purely... Ancient. Purely spiritual. A being that existed among few.
"I wish it more than anything, but I will not. Rukia is happy, despite the war. She'll be a mother, soon. You are happy here, with Hitsugaya. Matsumoto is..." Matsumoto will die by the end of the year, I reminded myself, pausing suddenly. "Just Matsumoto."
We laughed at that. "You have a very compassionate soul, Kuchiki-kun." Karin managed through laughs. "That is rare for Vampires, even if they are hybrids." I looked out the window, the first traces of December showing in the form of falling snow.
"I guess I'm just special, ne, Kurosaki-chan?"
Mikoto's POV
Inoue-san and auntie Rukia always ask me, "Mikoto, sweetheart, do you feel like you've been forced to grow up too fast?" Truthfully, I'm getting sick of hearing that. It's just... infuriating, having to hear that meaningless sentence day after day. I always answer back, in a squeaky child-like voice, "No, of course not!"
I'm lying, and I think they know it, too. But they don't push me. They just answer me back with an "Oh, okay," or "That's great, Miki.".
I do feel like I'm growing up too fast. I'm seven. I feel wiser, though... around the age of fifty, maybe. But I'm merely seven. And I've already killed. Okay, sure, it was just a stupid bird I hit when I was with Ukitake doing target practice with my bow and arrow, but it was still something. Something that could once fly, eat, drink, and breathe.
And I took that all away with one accidental strike. I had been aiming for the branch. I didn't even see the nest until the bird was dead. It had once been a royal blue color, with a dark black beak. It had a sky blue belly, stained crimson from its blood. I wondered, just briefly, if it had kids. If there were eggs or even baby blue jays in that nest.
My heart clenches at the thought of those poor little babies, starving to death or being eaten by some stray cat, all because I took away their mother. I hadn't cried when I saw the bird, no, I cried too much in my life, and I had thought I cried myself out when grandfather was admitted to Kyoto's psych ward. Why should I start again? Ukitake had quickly covered it up with leaves, and I felt something in my stomach. Empathy? Pity? Something else? I couldn't tell.
All I knew was, I changed, inside and a little bit outside, when Ukitake covered up the blue jay, and led me out of the training fields.
I had changed.
How, though, I did not know.
"You have good aim, Mikoto. You'll be a strong Slayer someday." Ukitake smiled, albeit sadly, ruffling my hair. It was in that one moment I understood.
It had not been an accident.
I intentionally shot that bird, because I loved the smell, the look, the feel of blood.
I had ripped its wings off, just to watch it fall, just to hear the crack of its small head against the ground.
I had killed it, for amusement.
For myself.
December 12, 1944
"Even angels fall from Grace." Yoruichi murmured ruefully. "How many more days, Kisuke? How many more until the Eclipse?" She looked at the white moon, which shown brightly overhead, contrasting greatly with the dark night sky. Kisuke shook his head, handing her a cup of tea. "About a week, tops."
Yoruichi clicked her tongue. "I see."
The two were silent for a long while.
"When I die, I'll miss you so much, Shihoin." Kisuke murmured, the ghost of a smile tugging on his lips.
Yoruichi laughed humorlessly. "And I, you, Urahara."
And then, all was silent.
"Only seven more days..." Sakura sighed as she covered a sleeping Ichigo with a green, wool blanket. Karin was staying at Toshirou's again. Senna had yet to be seen. Sakura smiled as she looked at her 'big brother Ichi's' sleeping form.
He looked so peaceful.
The demon looked outside. The moon was waning, yet again. Soon, it would be gone.
And she would be dead.
Sakura sighed once more, from exhaustion. I should enjoy this peace while it lasts. I should enjoy the feeling of the people I love being here, with me. She swallowed the lump in her throat, and slowly kissed Ichigo's forehead like a mother or sister would, a gesture she had done quite often to show she was proud of him, or when he needed comfort.
But this time, it represented an early goodbye.
"I will be gone, by this time next week." She looked at the moon with blank, stoic, and cold eyes. Her voice had lost its breeziness, and had been replaced with the iciness of a blizzard, and the wise tone of a mountain sage. "And you, Kurosaki Ichigo, will be all alone."
She started to pace around.
"Senna will be killed. Karin will wed Hitsugaya-kun. I will be long dead. And Rukia Kuchiki... will no longer represent this world." Her voice was monotone.
"Will you even remember us, Ichigo?"
Underworld
"Momo, it's time." Aizen grinned sinisterly.
The Hinamori laughed, clapping her hands together. "Finally! Oh, Aizen-sama! Your dream! It is finally coming true!" Aizen nodded. "It is. After so many years, it is coming true. I have one last, very important job for you, Momo. Now, as you well know, there are people who appose this dream of mine... ours." He turned to look at her.
Momo stood straight, waiting for orders.
"I need you to kill Toshirou Hitsugaya."
Momo suddenly felt her heart pang.
She blinked.
Five days later, December 17, 1944
8:01 AM
"Mitsuki."
Mitsuki blinked. "Rukia? Rukia... oh my,"
"God?" Rukia finished her sister in law's sentence. "I didn't know Vampires had them." She spat. "All I know is that..." She suddenly stopped, her eyes widening.
Mitsuki took a step forward, wondering what was happening, and then she saw it.
The small pool of liquid at Rukia's feet.
"Damn it!"
Meanwhile...
Hitsugaya was walking aimlessly around Karakura Town, Karin at his side. Suddenly, a small giggle was heard.
"Hitsugaya-san! Kurosaki-chan! Over here!"
The couple turned, and Karin looked oddly at Toshirou, who gasped. "H-Hinamori?" He stuttered, stepping forward. Karin had a look of confusion etched across her features. "Hinamori? As in Momo Hinamori? As in your ex- fiancé Momo Hinamori?"
Momo stood, clutching an iron katana tightly in her hands. "I can't tell you how long I've waited for this day," She growled as she lunged forward, drawing the sword. Hitsugaya ducked quickly, narrowly avoiding the blade.
"Come, Hyourinmaru*!" Hitsugaya called, holding up his hand, and then an ice-blue sword materialized in his hand.
"Shirou!" Karin called desperately at her lover. The white-haired vampire looked over his shoulder, a warning look in his now blood-red eyes. "GO! This is my battle, Karin! Alert your brother, Sakura, and the Slayers!"
Karin didn't know what it was, but something in his eyes made her listen. She ran off in the other direction.
"The war has begun."
Momo smirked.
Hitsugaya growled.
Swords clashed.
A/N: Next chapter: Thou Shall Not Fade
* A command that vampires (usually Turok-Han descendents) use to call their swords. Their swords are generally there Zanpakto, as they are part of the vampire's hearts.
Pretty long, ne? The next chap's gonna b pretty short, tho. Sorry, but writer's block is eating away at my brain slowly, ever so slowly...
Anyways, please review and tell me ALL about it!
-TMU (Gawd I miss saying that!)
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