Blind Eyes, Empty Head. Chapter 1
"Kurosaki-kun!" cried Inoue, excitement at the sudden flicker of the orange haired hero's eyelids. In an instant Ichigo shot up from the familiar blankets clothing him and turned to examine the figures standing around him.
"Where am I? Is this my house?" He questioned his eyes adjusting to the light allotting him the ability to take note of four figures standing at his bed side. Well, almost four. The big busted ditz was kneeling at his next to him, but as Orihime had screamed directly into his ear several moments ago her presence was clearly noted. The darkest of the figures placed a pale palm upon the now embarrassed Inoue before speaking. "Yeah, You slept for about a month…" mumbled Rukia. Chad and Ishida stared at the floor uncomfortably silent.
"A month?" Ichigo question his eyes widening with shock. His mind tried to make sense of said statement. Why had he needed to sleep for a month. He was training with Zangetsu and then…Aizen. "Oh right my powers!" Ichigo cried placing his palm to his chest instinctively trying to feel around for any remaining reiatsu.
"Ichigo…" Rukia mumbled waiting for Ichigo to look up at her before continuing. The violet eyed Shinigami instantly regretted this move. The orange haired boy raised his face innocently to meet her gaze, his palm still loosely placed over his heart. "Urahara told us everything…Youv'e lost your Shinigami powers…" Determining it was best to stay strong she met Ichigo's surprisingly lighthearted gaze. Several moments of silence passed in the room before she spoke again. "You, already know?" It was phrased as a question but didn't really require an answer. A deep breath of warm air escaped Ichigo's lips as he placed his forearms back on the mattress beneath him.
"It seems so. I guess I'll have to resign as a Shinigami." muttered Ichigo trying to sound as normal and apathetic as he could. Chad, Ishida, and Inoue subconsciously smiled feeling relieved that their friend was taking such a shocking announcement as well as he was. As well as they thought he was. Rukia knew better.
"The first stage brings intense pain, loss of consciousness, and a reversal of time in regards to whatever you experienced in the Dankai. Your hair's shorter isn't it? It's not cause we cut it…" Rukia placed her monologue on hold for two reasons. Yes, she wanted to give her injured companion a moment to inspect his body but primarily because she feared if she didn't take a deep breath her already dry mouth would no longer permit words to escape her lips. The breath didn't help much and though her voice appeared normal to the 'background characters', Ichigo knew something was up. He wasn't completely sure but he had spent enough time staring at his closet to tell when something was upsetting the petite Death-God. "In the second stage your remaining reiatsu stabilizes and you awaken. Soon your remaining Reiryoku will disappear as well. Ichigo's gaze stood stagnant for several moments on Rukia's pristine and pale facial features.
"Yeah, I figured It'd be something like that." Admitted Ichigo before coming to a personal conclusion of why Rukia seemed so upset. "I guess I'd be upset too if I put a bunch of work into training a dog only to have it hit by a truck…" Deduced the steadily waking, former, substitute Shinigami. "Can I go outside?" Rukia nodded as Ichigo stood and walked towards his home's exit the group following him slowly. As Ichigo stepped onto the concrete sidewalk the bite of a harsh reality sunk it's fangs into his neck. "I can't feel any spirits." maintained the youngest Kurosaki youth. Turning his head he looked down to see the girl who had given him his gift, in what seemed, such a short time ago. "Even Rukia…I can't even…" his thoughts bubbled and collided as he looked to see such anguish and apathy polluting her immaculate visage. "I wont be able to tell her…Tell her I can't even see her…I really Have lost my powers."
"This is goodbye Ichigo." noted Rukia her frame shaking whilst feigning control. His eyelids fell slightly noting her discomfort…
"She's been good to me…even when I'm no longer any use she has enough pity to try and look like she cares." thought Ichigo before returning her stoic comment as best he could. "It would seem so." The words rolled off of his lips in a fashion much less masculine than he had hoped. Her small arms folded over her even smaller chest, her dark robes fluttering in the depressed wind.
"I'll be strong. I can be strong for him…" Reflected Rukia before speaking. "What, Don't look so sad. Even if you can't see me I'll still be able to see you." Her words were normal yet her mind determined that repeating the mantra, "I don't need to burden him with my feelings. I can be strong for him this time.", was a good idea.
"What? That doesn't make me happy at all! Anyway, I wasn't looking sad." Returned Ichigo trying to sound harsh his head falling to the ground, his right hand clutching his orange hair harder than he intended. "I won't be able to tell her…" relayed his mind once more. Rukia's face fell to the asphalt as well and the two stood for several moments in silence. To anyone else it would seem as though the road beneath them held some deep significance but to the two opposing figures it was a simple way to deal with the misinterpreted emotions and physically drastic flux in feeling. Rocks don't hurt to look at. "Give everyone my regards." choked Ichigo not knowing what else he could say. "I want to see her looking at me one more time." screamed his increasingly desperate mind. Her face was fading fast and even with his raised head his eyes were strained to remain on the girl he loved so much.
"I will." She whimpered, her face raising to look into his eyes once more. Even if she couldn't tell him of her utter gratefulness and overall adoration, and…and love. She wanted to see him looking at her one more time.
"Bye Rukia…" uttered the orange haired high school student. He couldn't see anything. Several moments he stared into the air in front of him unable to see Rukia staring back with a wide eyed anguish filled face. Ichigo turned walked past his, still visible, friends and entered his house closing the door behind. Placing his back to the wooden frame his knees shook and his strength gave out. He could hear his friends banging on the door trying to console or check on him but Ichigo was less than interested. He couldn't see her and his head felt empty.
This will be a ten shot and by no means affect any other stories. If the people reading my SennaxIchigo story are upset I updated this before that, Well oh well. They haven't hit 60 reviews yet. I am a man of my word.