"This is farewell, Ichigo."

"…yeah"

"Your face tells me that you've got something to say."

I looked at her and I just wondered how these invisible strings just connect our thoughts. This woman who changed my world is starting to vanish. I don't know when I'll be able to see her again, and just thinking about that makes me feel useless. I couldn't save her. I couldn't save myself.

"Actually, Rukia, I do."

"Then say it," she bluntly said, and then her dark eyes changed. Her steely, authoritative stare became soft, "Hurry…"

I removed my hands from my pocket, and then I reached out to her before my body would back out. I could feel my arm fit around her waist just fine, and her hair against my palm just felt perfect. I could feel her breathe on my shoulder, which was weird because she couldn't be this tall. And then I realized that I made her step on my Chucks.

It's a strange, bittersweet feeling, how I could snugly fit my hands around her petite body, and despite her size, she's simply powerful and amazing in every way. If the people around me were bullets, then Rukia shot a hole through me—straight to the heart.

"I know you'll hate me for this," I said, "And I don't know why I'm doing this, too."

I waited for a smart comeback or for her to break free but nothing came. I gave her one last squeeze before finally letting her go.

She looked at me and I looked at her.

Her dark, intelligent eyes absorbed my brown, anxious ones.

"I'll get back to you," she said, smiling a little.

And with that, she completely vanished.

I'll get back to you.

Her last sentence played in my head.

"Hurry up, then," I whispered, as I looked up, "Thank you…"