Title: The Last Morning
Characters: Abarai Renji & Kuchiki Rukia
Prompt: 038. Leave
Word Count: 513
Rating: PG+/T
Summary: Renji makes a decision
Warnings: I guess the only spoilers would be if you haven't finished the rescue arc and therefore have no clue about Renji and Rukia's past together. And this is more of a note than a warning I suppose but I had the song "Winter" by Bayside on repeat while writing this. Hello inspiration.
Disclaimer: The only Bleach related things that belong to me are the 8' Kisuke and Byakuya plushies beautifully adorning my room.
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"Arigato"
And just like that she was gone..in every sense of the word. Gone from the room, his life, his level. Kuchiki Rukia was now unreachable but the one place she would never disappear from was his heart. As he felt her reiatsu getting fainter by the second, it took all he had not to chase after her. This is for the best. She has a family now. Words he kept repeating to himself in his mind yet didn't really mean shit. Renji couldn't convince himself that this was it.
"This is for the best...she has a family now...she'll be happier than she's ever been..."
His words were uttered barely above a whisper as he stood frozen in the same exact spot she had left him. Perhaps if he said it outloud it would have a better effect. Not exactly. Fists clenched at his side while he pleaded quietly with his heart to stop fighting his brain for the power over his limbs.
"This...is for...the best...don't interfere."
This time he was louder. Loud enough for him to not notice that his feet had turned somehow so now he was facing the door, unable to break his eyes away from her small form retreating further and further down the long hallway. Further and further out of his reach.
"Don't..."
Against his words his feet started to once again move on their own. Ever so slowly taking him down the hallway. And they wouldn't stop. One foot in front of the other, in front of the other, in front of the other. Until his dragging feet turned into a walk, his walk into a brisk stride, and his brisk stride into a full out run.
"Please..."
No matter how fast he ran it seemed like he just couldn't catch up despite the fact that she was still going the same speed as before. It was as if the distance between them was increasing instead of decreasing. Now he was running even faster, his usual look of determination returning to his face until finally it seemed like she was within his grasp.
"Don't! Don't leave me...please...don't leave."
He reached out for her hand, her fingers grazed his lightly but he had failed to get her. Her hand slid out of his grasp and he fell to his knees, his fists pounding the floor angrily before he reached out once more.
"DAMNIT. DON'T LEAVE, RUKIA!"
His eyes fell shut once more only this time when they opened he was alone. Glancing around at his surroundings with a look of confusion until he realized where he really was. This had somehow become a routine. Sitting up, he stared longingly out of the window at the midnight sky. A hand reached up to capture the brightest shining star, and he had no intentions of opening his hand anytime soon because at least this way he could pretend he had finally grabbed it.
"Don't leave me..."
Another cold night. Another lonely dream. He was sure the next night would be no different.
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Author Notes: This is a one-shot written for the ~50scenes community on LJ for the prompt 'Leave' Hope you enjoyed. R&R please!