My world was empty. The hopes and dreams of myself and those I loved had been crushed. Though I knew my actions had been for the greater good, I knew their deaths were on me. Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, Gin.
It was a terrible thing to see the world go on without a murmur of mourning. I was not allowed to express my sadness, my anger. I had been the death of them, and as friends to enemies go, it had been hard. I had let love trump love, "good" trump "evil". So why did it feel so wrong?
At the moment, I stood watching with a sense of longing as Rukia stole Ichigo's last goodbye. If only I had been fast enough, his sacrifice would not have been needed. My efforts had brought me little but pain. Rukia had walked off quickly when she realized he could see no longer. Not for the first time I wondered if she felt a thing for him at all.
Ichigo had watched her go with a look of accepted fate. It was a painful thing to see. "Ichigo," I whispered, by his ear now. "I gave my world for you. Don't let me down." There was a puzzled frown upon his face and I wondered how much he had heard. "Goodbye," I threw my arms around his neck and felt the goose bumps rise. If only it all hadn't come so late. Releasing him from my unearthly grasp I checked his face for any signs of recognition. It was there, like a word on the tip of your tongue.
Someday he would put it together. I just hoped it would be in time.