Bleach: The End
Tales
Chapter I: Red
Her first memory was of blood.
She could see the bright crimson splash, a sharp contrast to the dull gray of their surroundings. It poured in rivulets down peach-colored skin that quickly dimmed in color. The red fell into patterns, little roses with thorns that decorated the ground.
She'd never seen a rose before. She didn't think she'd hate one so much.
The white creature reared up, roaring its triumph, letting the blood decorate it like little splashes of paint that a child threw on the wall.
It's eyes are that color too. she thought quietly I hate that color.
Yet that same color burned around her like something tangible, singed the air and took her breath away, charred the gray stone with black ash. Was she a pale creature too then? Was she a monster?
"Ruka!"
She didn't turn at her name, knew she didn't have to. That guardian voice came and swept her up into its embrace, she turned her head away as the pale creature was crushed beneath the fury of green. The scent of it rushed into her nose, filling her with the metal of blood and the breath of life. Were they the same?
She didn't have her answer. That guardian was running now, far away from the pale creatures and their home. Far away from the lifeless violet eyes of her mother, far from the green eyes she'd inherited from her father. All the brunette had to do was turn her head to see the mirror of her eyes reflecting back at her from a tear-stained face. Red trickled down from that same face and Ruka felt her self snarl inside. How she hated red.
But she never breathed a word of anger, only brushed away the red stain, held the hand of the person with a face so much like her own. Yuka smiled painfully at her twin and held on, she knew Ruka hated the color red.
The next time she saw red was when she was eight. She hadn't used that burning aura for a long time, she hated the color.
Ruka knelt over the bodies of her aunt and uncle. Watched the life fade from their eyes.
She bowed her head, a sign of respect and love. She didn't cry, Yuka did that for her.
They couldn't find any flowers, so instead they made their own. Yuka let her blue chilling light pool into the palms of her hands as the blue rose came into existence. Ruka looked on in awe, since that time she'd never seen a rose of a different color. Trying to help, she watched as her burning red light came into her hands. The two roses touched and shivered before staying in existence, for a moment Ruka didn't hate the color red.
Then she set her red rose down and screamed as it started burning. Yuka put it out, but she could never squash her twin's hatred of the color red.
Ruka looked up at this stranger guardedly, hiding Yuka behind her. When she spoke her voice was clear and demanding "Who are you?"
The stranger tilted their head, watching them from the shadows of the cloak. After a pause they pulled down the hood and Ruka sucked in a breath.
Red.
The boy's face was young and kind but hardened from battle. Ruka blinked as she saw his eyes.
Green.
The little girl stared in question at the man that held the colors that she at once hated and held dear. She couldn't wrap her mind around it, her brow furrowed as she glared at him.
"Are you lost?"
The glare darkened, the red burning came to life around her. Behind her she could feel the blue cold of her twin.
"Are you looking for the Underground?"
The glare eased, the aura melted away, and once more the brunette stared quizzically at the kind face and warm smile. How strange that there was someone kind with the colors she hated and loved.
The boy knelt, smile earnest, children couldn't be lied to "Are you looking for the Lady?"
A slow, cautious nod.
"I know the way. Will you come?"
A small movement and a head of gold peeked out from behind the brunette. The girl with brown hair looked back, exchanged a glance, and then turned back with a nod.
"This way."
They trudged along together, the little trio. The girl with brown hair kept staring at him while the blond started asking questions. They continued like this even as they found the way, stepped into the place of hope.
There was a celebration. Red lanterns hung from the houses, roses decorated a few bushes here and there.
The boy watched as the blonde turned nervously to the other. Watched as the girl with brown hair looked around and then closed her eyes with a sigh.
"You know. I think I like the color red."