Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Thanks to IntertwinedRoses for beta-reading.

Short fic to introduce myself. Enjoy.

Darkness

"Be honest," she whispered.

But how?

"Don't be afraid."

But how?

"Be strong."

But how?!

"Ichigo," she breathed. He shivered.

"Look at me."

He did. She was nothing more than silver of a dream.

"Why?" he whispered, reaching a hand out, wanting to cup her near-invisible, porcelain face, but ended up hitting cold air.

She gazed at him steadily.

"Why?" he said again, louder.

Her violet orbs watched him, her gaze never faltering.

"Why?!" he yelled, eyes suddenly blazing with unmasked fury.

She smiled.

"I'm sorry, Ichigo. Goodbye."

"No!" he screamed after her as she disappeared, her eyes never leaving him even as her body faded and she was nothing more than a distant memory.

He banged against the tall, flat barricade that was used as a barrier from him entering the realm of the undead.

"Come back!" he shouted, fist punching the wall, knuckles cracking as he slid to the ground, sobbing and cradling his broken hand.

"Come back," he whispered.

Rain began to fall, steadily soaking his standard black Shinigami uniform that he knew he no longer deserved to don.

"Why?!" he yelled up at the open sky. "Why, Kami-sama?" he slumped on the cold, hard ground, his formerly blazing mane of orange knocking against the wall and he tilting his head, welcoming the numbing feeling that came along with it. His tears, mixed with the drops of rain that dripped down his face.

He no longer felt anything.

Beside him sat his previous glory—his Zangetsu. Long and sharp as always.

His lips twitched. Touching the hilt and tracing the blade almost lovingly, he murmured,

"I'm coming, Rukia. Wait for me."

He raised his arm and—

There was silence.

Should anyone ever cross paths that stormy night, they would've noticed the crimson blood that streaked across the ground where a dissembled body lay.

And yet, the most disturbing part … was his smile.

Death was not his enemy. It was where she was, and for that, he would die a thousand times more … just to see her again.