Summary: If you could change your past, which had led to your futures demise, would you take the opportunity? -The one visible eye that belonged to Rukia darkened. "You don't exist in my world…not anymore"
Story roughly based after Aizen went to Hueco Mundo.
In this chapter:
Bold writing = Talking in unison.
-Saru = Monkey.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. That honor goes to Tite Kubo.
In all chapters:
'Thinking'
"Talking"
'Emphasis during flash backs or in general'
"Talking emphasis during flashbacks or in general"
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Small feet hurriedly shuffled towards the office of the 13th Division, dodging around other scattered pairs of feet that were far larger then its own.
Occasionally there would be a small "excuse me" or "sorry" here and there to accompany the hurried feet.
Ukitake Joushiro, the honorable and quiet captain of the thirteenth Division, sweat dropped as two large colorfully wrapped boxes obscured his view of his two third seat officers.
"MY GIFT IS FAR MORE BETTER THEN YOURS! BAKA SARU!"
"LIES! MY GIFT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT I LOVE TAICHOU MORE THAN YOU! KOTETSU!"
A trail of smoke started to appear between the frictions of two chafing foreheads.
Ukitake couldn't help but feel doomed at times like these.
"A-ano… you didn't have to bring-"
"UKITAKE TAICHOU! I LOVE-"
Their cries died down as the doors slid open with a bang. All three heads turned towards it to find-
"Sorry I was late Ukitake Taichou!"
The petit black-haired shinigami was propped on her knees, her cheeks had an adorable tinge of pink to them as she gasped for air; Ukitake gave a small smile, while secretly trying to telepathically convey his deep appreciation.
"It's quite alright Rukia, you didn't miss much"
Rukia sweat dropped as she looked at both Kotetsu and Sentaro, and the two, very large, colorfully wrapped boxes that were almost blocking Ukitake taichou's whole frame. Ukitake didn't have to explain, Rukia understood it all.
It was a very frequent routine, whenever Ukitake got hospitalized; Kotetsu and Sentaro would have a 'battle' of sorts to show their love for the captain, usually trying to show each other up by bringing the most gifts, running the most errands, shouting the loudest, the whole nine yards, much to the apprehension of the captain.
Rukia took a seat in between the two 3rd seated officers
"Good morning Sentaro-san, Kotetsu-mph-"
Her morning greeting was welcomed by Kotetsu's bosom,
"Moooorning~ Rukia-chan!"
Sentaro leapt from his kneeling position and took hold of Rukia's ankles
"LET HER GO YOU GRIZZLY BEAR!"
Rukia's face was now buried deep in the void, having no way out. She desperately tried pulling her head out by pushing against Kotetsu's shoulder; her muffled cries for help were long since ignored by the two raging officers.
Ukitake felt genuinely sorry for her, it sometimes mystified him how one woman's bosom was so statistically created so that not even one space of air was available for oxygen… not that he was contemplating on his subordinate's bosom, of course not. The thought just naturally came to him one day, when he was having a cup of tea –
"HE-MPHGM!"
Ukitake was brought back from his thoughts and gave a small cough; the two officers looked at him in silence.
"T-TAICHOU! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"
Kotetsu threw a very worn out Rukia out of her chest, Ukitake held his hands in front of him in a defensive, yet never effective, manner.
"I'm alright, now, on with Rukia's mission in Karakura" Rukia sat up, and ceased trying to tidy her hair again.
Ukitake gave a small frown.
"After Aizen had went to Hueco Mundo, a large number of hollows had started to appear in the real world. It unsettles Captain Commander so his sending you and the sixth Division captain to Karakura town."
Eyes widened. "Nii-sama?"
Ukitake nodded.
"The reason behind this is because the numbers of hollows that are showing up are very strong, definitely not like the average hollows that we've faced in the past." Ukitake furrowed his eyebrows, eyes unfocused in deep thought.
Rukia stared at her captain. "Do…you think that this is Aizen's doing?" Ukitake looked up at her. "I can't deny that I think so, but so far, we don't have much details on why their powers suddenly escalated."
Ukitake relaxed his eyes as he observed the troubled expression of his subordinates.
"You and Kuchiki Taichou are to leave this evening."
Rukia gave a small nod, stood up and bowed. "I'll be getting ready then, I'll see you soon Taichou."
Ukitake smiled and gave a small wave. "Take care Ru-
"BE CAREFUL, RUKIA-CH-!"
"OI! YOU BAKA SARU! DON'T INTERRUPT OUR TAICHOU!"
"EH! STOP INTERRUPTING ME! YOU BOAR!"
"NANIIII!"
Rukia gave a small smile before walking out of the office.
"Nee-san, nee-san, nee-san, nee-"
Orange eyebrows twitched in annoyance. "Oi…"
Well sculpted hands held on to a Karakura High 9th edition Math's text book.
Ready.
"Nee-san, nee-san, nee-san-"
Aim.
"Oi!"
FIRE.
"Nee-san, nee-san, nee-sa-GACK"
"SHUT UP YOU DAMN PLUSHIE! IM TRYING TO DO MY HOMEW-GAH"
The 9th edition math's book that was once planted deep in cheap material was now lodged in between skin.
"How dare you attack this Kon-sama!"
The book fell out, leaving a mark between where Ichigo's nose would have been. Ichigo fell back on to the floor in semi shock and pain.
"Why YOU-" As Ichigo reached out to strangle Kon, a mysterious force kicked his rear end violently, sending his body toppling forward. Eyes closed to mentally soften the impact, and surprisingly, it did. When Ichigo opened his eyes, a pair of black beads stared back at him.
"Baka Ichigo, stop kissing Kon, we have a mission to do."
Ichigo hurriedly got up in disgust. "BLAH! STUPID-"
Plushie hands slapped him squarely on the cheek, pivoting his head.
"HOW DARE YOU STEAL KON-SAMA'S FIRST…NEE-SAN!"
Iin an instant, Kon flew to his prime target.
"Nee-san, your lovely valley calls for-"
And in an instant, Rukia managed to throw him to the other side of the room.
Hands that were violently twitching, stopped, the carrot head turned his head to meet up with a very…tall looking midget and her self-centered, stick-up-the-ass brother looking down on him. He immediately stood up and restored nature back to normal again, where midgets stayed as midgets and he was on eye to eye level with egotistical bastards.
"R-RUKIA! Why did you bring Byakuya with you?"
Rukia's neat eyebrow gave a violent twitch.
"What kind of greeting was that, fool?"
Byakuya remained silent. In his mind, he was pondering; why did his little sister share a room with this idiotic buffoon of a man? A manner less man who frustratingly referred to him on such casual terms; not minding the fact that he was a couple of hundred years older than him, not minding the fact that he could very much senbonzakura his ass to all infinity.
He gave the room a quick glance, it was definitely not his manor, but it would have to do. He glided across the floor and sat down. "Rukia, Kurosaki Ichigo, sit down; there is much we must discuss."
"Hai, nii-sama."
Ichigo just gave a grunt while complying.
"Regarding the real world mission we are on, I believe you have already been informed Kurosaki Ichigo," Byakuya's steely grey eyes bore in to Ichigo's, who was completely oblivious.
"Ah, Toushiro told me a few days ago, but I don't understand," Ichigo frowned, "Is this Aizen's doing? Definitely the hollows have gotten stronger, I can feel it, but it's nothing I can't control."
Rukia sighed. "The captain commander was worried that you wouldn't be able to control it for long. The hollows obviously got stronger over a day, who knows what could happen tomorrow."
Ichigo stayed silent. "That aside, I didn't expect Byakuya to come as well. Where are you going to stay?"
"Soul society already made arrangements for us."
Ichigo turned to Rukia. "You're not going to stay here?"
She turned to face him. "Iie, as nii-sama said, soul society already arranged a place to stay over the period of time that we're going be here."
The strawberry simply nodded and pondered at why his chest felt tight. Rukia's expression softened, "how's everyone?"
Ichigo stared at her. "Uh… the usual, Keigo constantly says that he misses you."
A trim eyebrow twitched. "Is that so…?"
The continuous twitching was followed by a crooked grin. "Guess I'll have to visit my friends, ne?"
Ichigo sweat dropped.
Tomorrow…would be a long day.
The following morning started off with the brightness of the sun leaking through fern green drapes that opened up to Ichigo's room. The light hit the delicate features of his youthful and chiseled face, illuminating it. The pupils dilated to let the light in as eyelids that hid golden brown eyes flickered open.
Ichigo sat up from bed with a small grunt; his long sun-kissed, well-built arms praised the ceiling in a stretch, pulling his shirt up enough to show a decent amount of his stomach. He gave a morning yawn and got ready to get out of bed before his door slammed open.
"MORNING! I-CHI-GOOOOOO!"
Said boy dodged a roundhouse kick aimed for his head, and watched as his father tried to untangle himself from his bed.
"It's too damn early in the morning dad! Go annoy Karin or something."
"MY FOOLISH SON! YUZU HAS PREPARED A SUPERB FAMILY BREAKFAST! DO NOT KEEP HER WAITING LONG!" With that, his nuisance of a father left the room. Ichigo gave a sigh before running a hand through his short orange locks which he remembered, had brought him much trouble in the past.
He paused and glanced sideways at his closet…
He tensed his body and gave a slight frown when the she-devil didn't jump out and attack him…
'Oh right…Rukia isn't here.'
His expression softened at the thought and stared at the closet, an unknown tightness seizing his heart uncomfortably. Even though there were periods of time where Rukia couldn't come over to Karakura, the fact that she was here…but just not here, under his watchful eye, made him feel restless.
Whenever she could come over to the living world, she would always stay at his house… with him, whether it was in his closet or in his sisters' room. It was just an alien feeling to him, waking up that morning without the greeting of her midget figure, her harmonious voice, which always left the impression of a broken record, which always managed to invent a new insult especially created for him.
And those overly large eyes that shimmered between the most breathtaking shades of amethyst, and electrifying violet, depending on her mood at the time. At this, Ichigo had come to the conclusion that no matter how stoic and aloof you seemed to be, your eyes were truly the windows to your souls. When angered, they would narrow and turn darker, when joyful, they would widen and sparkle. They were small differences, but differences nonetheless.
He stopped in the middle of getting changed into his school uniform and contemplated on his utterly, outrageously, ridiculous thoughts.
He had just thought of Rukia with a 'harmonious' voice, and the most 'breathtaking shades of amethyst'…just what the hell was he doing?
He gave a sigh and finished packing all his text books when the blinking of his clock caught his attention.
He was late.
All that ludicrous thinking of Rukia made him late!
He had thoughts about complaining to Rukia about this.
"Oi! Midget! You made me late for class!"
"Fool! I met you in class! What are you on about?"
"Yeah, well, I blame you for hypnotizing me into devoting all my morning thoughts on you!"
"What?"
"Uh…never mind."
'No… that wouldn't go too well…'
His long legs sprinted down the stairs, missing a few steps in the process, he briefed through the kitchen where Karin and Yuzu were already seated, with a piece of toast in front of them, though their father was nowhere to be seen.
"Ichi-nii!"
Ichigo grabbed a piece of toast from the larger plate in the middle, and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Horry Yuhu, I'm wate for hchool."
Yuzu tilted her head in confusion; Karin gave her brother a side glances as he struggled to put on his shoe and eat his breakfast at the same time.
"He said 'Sorry, Yuzu, I'm late for school because I was too busy thinking about someone."
The carrot top snapped his head at Karin 'ouch, whiplash', his black pupils that were nestled in a sea of golden brown dilated to nothing but a dot, and his eyes widened with astonishment, almost threatening to cover his face.
Karin gave a lazy grin, but in Ichigo's eye, it held a much darker, much sinister meaning.
'Baka Karin.'
Ichigo had gotten into the classroom just as Ochi-sensei slammed the door with a slam, as Ichigo propped himself on his knees, he allowed himself to take breath before stopping. He felt killer intent radiating from behind him, swallowing, he turned to see light reflecting off of Ochi-sensei's glasses.
"Only this time Ichigo Kurosaki, next time you won't be so lucky."
Ichigo gave a sweat drop and couldn't help but feel that everyone was out to get him that day. First telepathically with Rukia and her stupid eyes, second with his sinister younger sister, and now with his own sensei. No one was giving him a break today. He went over to his friends to mentally stabilize himself for the long day ahead.
Orihime, who was chatting with Tatsuki, was the first to greet him, "Good morning, Kurosaki-kun!" she gave the small smile of hers, and sat in her seat like Ichigo had.
"Ah, morning Inoue, Chad, Ishida, Tatsuki."
He gave an approving nod as everyone around him started to settle down.
The teacher slammed her book down on the desk and was on her way in opening her mouth to say something, before the classroom door opened. The whisperings here and there came to a halt.
"Good morning, minna-san!"
Ichigo froze.
He knew this voice.
This horribly high-pitched voice, that was sugar-coated from beginning to the end, top to bottom, side to side, left to right.
This horribly mocking voice, that managed to somehow hypnotize him into thinking that is was 'harmonious'.
This horribly familiar voice, that oddly made his stomach feel 'fluttery', to the point where he thought he had gastric problems.
This horribly cringe-worthy voice, that in actual fact, made him feel much more relaxed, now that the owner of it was here, under his watchful eye.
Good Lord Almighty of the Heavens how the hell did she manage to do that.
Who knows?
That small midget stood front of the classroom, with her snow white skin that were so smooth and unscathed, her adorable button nose that were above her cute little lips, which were stretched out into a smile, and her breathtakingly stunning amethyst eyes that managed to illuminate her whole face, shining as if she had just saved the world from destruction.
Eyebrows twitched. He was doing it again, having utterly, outrageously, and ridiculous thoughts about that she-devil midget. He still watched her though, golden brown eyes picking up even the smallest movements from her.
"I apologize Ochi-sensei, but I found my long lost relative, and I've been staying with them for the whole of my absence. I just wanted to hang onto this bond so much that I couldn't bear to let it go. I finally worked up the courage to come back, because education is important after all and I couldn't forget my wonderful classmates and sensei"
Big sparkly eyes glossed over and started to form tears at its rims, giving the impression of a girl who had just found her long lost relative, and finally worked up the courage to come back to school, after all these months of absence.
Ichigo just stared helplessly around his class as some of them brought out handkerchiefs to cry into, one almost going as far as leaning on a friends shoulder and bawling. It was then and there, where he had truly felt it, his class was pathetic.
Absolutely pathetic.
Ochi-sensei tried calming the girl down, hands patting her shoulders "I-it's alright Rukia-chan, I'm so happy that you wanted to come back, to think that we held such an important place in your heart. It moves me to tears." Rukia wiped her tears and gave her teacher a small smile; she looked back to her class and made eye contact with golden brown orbs.
And he saw it, Ichigo saw a small devilish smirk, to the un-trained eye, it would seem as though she was really smiling, but he knew, he knew all too well.
'Demon.'
Amethyst shaded eyes closed into an Ichigo-mocking smile. The boy's eye brow twitched.
'She-demon.'
However, as the boy was too engaged in a staring contest, he didn't notice a pair of eyes identical to his; watching him.
Oh how sad those eyes were.
That night the luminescent moon blanketed the town with white light as the dark navy hue of the coming night swallowed the crimson glowing sun at the horizon. The silvery glow gave a tranquil feeling to those who were gazing at its mystifying beauty down on the streets, but to Ichigo, the only thing he felt was remorse, for he had had to paint it scarlet every night with the blood of former human spirits.
Ichigo, Rukia and Byakuya were lead to the western part of Karakura town, having their hollow detectors go haywire.
It was supposed to be the usual patrol.
He'd spot a bunch of hollows trying to feed on human souls.
They would mock him.
He would kill them.
Then he would stare at the moon, his robes splattered with blood, his lips held in a thin line and something akin to angst would be swimming in his golden brown orbs as they silently promised a more peaceful night in the future.
But tonight, he had just proven his earlier hypothesis, whenever that she-demon midget came around; his usually calm and scheduled life was thrown off course. Now he was facing a small number of troublesome white skull-like masks, all bearing a smirk or… what seemed like a smirk anyway…
There were only so many, that Ichigo could count them down using his fingers. But he had learnt from numerous nights of patrolling, that the fewer hollows there were the more effort it took to take them down.
Ichigo turned to his two companions, Rukia only had to handle one, while Byakuya had roughly the same number of soul-deprived-maniacally-smirking hollows as Ichigo.
Despite the arrival of Rukia, and her schedule bending ways, he had still hoped for a quiet night, the thought flew out of the window as he dodged a massive fist that was aiming for his head.
They had eventually agreed to split up, but it didn't mean that Ichigo had liked the idea. Sure that egotistical, follow-the-rule-at-all-costs, no-nonsense of a brother was here, but it didn't stop him from worrying over the midget. Killing the hollow that hurt Rukia was not a problem, taking back that inflicted pain was.
It always was.
Unyielding determination and persistence swam in those intense honey-golden orbs, his handsomely sculpted face went rigid and a thin line was formed by his lips. He observed the hollows and couldn't help but think back to Orihime's brother, when he had actually seen his face. He was a wise young man about the world, and he knew and came to terms that even though those hollows that were sneering back at him seemed like monsters, they were still once humans. Humans that had the same flesh and bones as him, had thoughts and feelings like him and had cried and laughed like him. In his mind, he recited a prayer, something that, over time, had become a habit of his.
'Please, never forgive me…if you do, I'm scared that I'll want to repent, scared that the reason I've given myself to kill you, is just an excuse. Never forget me, for I shall not forget you either.'
"Getsuga Tenshō."
Rukia tensed, she didn't think it possible that one hollow could radiate such a toxic air. She observed its mask, the smallest of details penetrating under her skin and entering her blood stream, never to leave her body. She had a foreboding feeling that she'd have to remember those features tonight.
His white, skull-like mask was in the shape of a feline's; the 'ears' of it pointing rigidly north, gleaming in the moonlight like sharp daggers ready to pierce themselves into her; ready to shred at her every fiber of being. The jaw line sharply jutted out and slanted back in to form the chin; she noticed that nothing seemed smooth about this hollow. The mouth portion was stretched into an ear-to-ear grin that seemed to mock her and the eye slot was positioned into horizontal slits where its beady red eyes bore into her violet irises. All the pointed corners of its mask were poised to inflict pain.
Its build was bony and purple toned, large white talons protruded out from its hands; set to hack at her heart; the place where the soul of every living thing dwelled. The feet were equally large and dagger tipped. Rukia trailed her irises slowly up his chest, and gazed at the gaping hole. Empty and denied of a heart and soul.
She dodged right as his talons made a swoop at her head, tensing her body as she got ready to fight; feeling a bead of sweat travel down her unblemished forehead and down to her chin, the dull sound of her pounding heart in her ears were deafened by his hysterical cackle.
"You think you can defeat me shinigami? Or are you frozen in fear?"
Rukia frowned, "don't be foolish hollow, we have defeated you."
She had said in such a sure and loud voice; but she knew, and she felt that the hollow also knew, that the volume of her voice was to cover for the small uncertainty behind them. She put up a strong façade while secretly hiding behind it, anxious of how much this ominous hollow could hack at her being.
Clenching her hands tightly around the hilt of her sword, she flash stepped towards the eye of the poisonous storm, bringing her sword above her head to deal a downwards strike over its head.
It didn't show, but Rukia could feel his beady red eyes mocking her.
"You are the only foolish one here shinigami."
The hollow blocked her swing and in one strike, its overly large claws ripped at Rukia's soul.
With her head thrown back and her mouth agape; screaming in silent pain, blood spurted out like waterfalls, gushing out large amounts from the petite body.
Ichigo looked at her direction, golden brown orbs seized in panic.
"Rukia!"
Unexpectedly the gaping wounds in her chest began to glow brightly.
The golden glow soon flared brightly into an eye blinding flash.
And just as fast as it had come, it had gone.
There, where Rukia Kuchiki had stood not too long ago, the substitute shinigami saw someone else, someone that wasn't her.
The stranger was a tall and well-endowed figure whose raven hair, tied down lowly by a silver hair piece, blew with the night wind like water currents.
From behind, Ichigo saw that she wore the standard sleeveless captain's uniform; only inverted, a black haori over a white shihakushou. The faint white stitching of the Division of the Sixth Squad was evident as it fluttered in the night wind with her katana nestled at her left.
The hollow that stood in front of her took a step back. It was now her aura that was consuming him; suffocating him as it dangerously swirled around her being.
It felt like a battered fox running away in the midst of a barrage of bullets, its animalistic instincts screaming at its already worn out body to run; run and hide from hands that would bring down torture if it didn't fight. And right now, his instincts told him to run, for whoever this person was, she was obviously far stronger then the former shinigami and posed more danger.
Much more danger.
"Who are you, girl?"
Her amethyst eye focused in front of her, making the hollow cringe. The unusual mix of steel gray and violet gave off an eerie atmosphere. Without uttering a sound, she slowly closed her eye. The hollow growled and got ready to lunge at her.
"Answer m-"
"What is your name, hollow."
The hollow froze.
"Your name, hollow."
"Garra Felino."
Her amethyst eye snapped open and without even blinking, she drew her sword in blinding speed.
All Ichigo witnessed was a hollow leaping at her one second, and then getting split in half the next. If he wasn't looking keenly at her, he would of have missed her quick drawing.
As the night was overcome in silence, the stranger slowly turned to face him and when she did, he froze, trying to make sense of what he was looking at.
"R-Rukia…"
The lone visible eye that held solidity, was flooded with confusion as it stared at deep brown orbs; she searched into them almost as if she was trying to get an answer out of them, and as Ichigo stared into hers, he couldn't help but feel sick when he couldn't see into the other one.
"I-Ichigo?"
But soon, eyebrows furrowed into a scowl, mouth gritted to bite back a growl and the lone amethyst eye was now overflowing with rage.
"Che. You've gone too far Aizen."
The stranger charged at Ichigo, her sword drawn in the intention of cutting anything and everything down. Ichigo hastily brought up his sword in defense, as blades clashed; the face of their wielders drew close in a silent show down.
"You're…Rukia…right?"
The unresponsive lady clenched her teeth and gave a deep growl, her eye narrowed as she pushed him away with a vicious force of power, sending him hurtling through a building.
Ichigo could feel the wind split over his back as he was sent crashing into a building, he quickly caught himself on the ground and leapt to the closest roof to him.
He hadn't mistaken his eyes; it was Rukia, with her one strand of hair that ridiculously managed to stay in its place between her eyes, no matter what she did. And her amethyst eye… Ichigo thought back to those numerous times where he would stare into those orbs without even noticing that he was doing it.
His train of thoughts came to an abrupt halt when he was staring into that familiar amethyst again, before he could register what was happening, all he saw were an entity of wrath, bringing down her sword to deal the finishing blow.
His eyes followed the glistening blade making its way to his heart, his forehead furrowed and his mouth agape in surprise.
"Bakudo no rokujuichi: Rikujokoro."
Six beams of bright light lodged themselves in the girl's midsection, trapping both of her arms, immobilizing her. She fell to the concrete ground with a dull thud, and her expression stiffened; she slowly turned to the noble.
"Hollows…don't use kido…"
She stared at the man's features and got thrown into a world that she did not know anymore.
The gray eyes that had once stared at her lifelessly was now staring down at her in all of its noble glory, long black tresses that had been stained by his blood and her tears were flowing gracefully behind his back, the symbol of the Kuchiki Clan that had once been broken just like it's clan, the white kenseikan, was placed proudly on top of his head, the white haori that had once been shredded to all but nothing, was now over the shoulder of its wearer.
Byakuya Kuchiki was standing beside her.
"Impossible…"
She shifted so that she was kneeling in front of him; immobile arms struggled to reach out for him, but hovering in hesitation, "B-Byakuya? You… can't be here…"
Ichigo reached out a hand to touch her shoulder, but felt a cold chill stir through his body when she flinched at his touch, her now horrified eye bore into his painfully.
"Why…WHY ARE YOU ALIVE?"
And his world stopped.
Byakuya was forced to arrange an early departure on the spot due to the events that had occurred, and had requested for a hell butterfly to accompany them through the Senkaimon.
The whole time of doing so, Ichigo stood face to face with the newcomer; unyielding golden brown eyes looked at her and her lone orb that was stationed solely on the ground, refusing to make eye contact with him. Taking in her facial features, it seemed as if the more he gazed at her, the more she looked like Rukia…but at the same time, didn't.
The stranger in front of him was no midget and was definitely not small; she easily seemed to be able to stand eye to eye to him; hadn't hers being so fixated on the ground, and her figure could easily make the most famous of models run for their money, her curves being visible by the tightly bound black obi that held together her white shihakushou. And unlike Rukia, who had an air of warmth and affection around her, the one in front of him seemed colder; giving off the feeling of authority and indifference.
The one thing that had pained him to see was her eyes, the lack of it. The moon light bounced off of her pale white skin and revealed an all-too familiar strand of hair hanging in between her one visible amethyst orb, narrowed and alert. The right was covered by a large, black leather eye patch, held firmly by two straps extending across her fact. One that extended up her forehead and one down across her nose and to the back of her head, almost covering the entire right side of her face.
And despite her clearly not fitting into his Rukia criteria, this lady; who had neither agreed to nor disagreed to being Rukia Kuchiki, still made his heart beat faster.
When Byakuya was about to make his way into Senkaimon, with the lady…Rukia trailing behind him, still immobilized in Rikujokoro. Ichigo hesitated before calling out, "I want to go with you." The Sixth Division Captain turned to him, "Karakura Town will still be overrun by hollows; it needs someone here, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Said boy frowned in discomfort. "There's still Chad and Ishi-"
"Rukia would of have wanted you to stay."
Ichigo took a step back in slight bewilderment; he clenched his jaw in silent defeat and glanced to the side.
"I'll be there later then…"
Byakuya turned back to the gates, he gave no reply, but Ichigo already knew his answer, he stared at the retreating backs of the two who bore the same titles; one in unsullied white, the other in tainted black.
As they slowly walked through the elegantly formed gates that lead to Soul Society, Ichigo's golden brown orbs made contact with a single amethyst depth for a split second, and when they did, Ichigo felt something grip at his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.
Staring deeper into that pool of amethyst, he was over flooded with a sense of angst and vulnerability; feeling as if it was reaching deeply into his soul, rattling at all his chains of self control and digging up all the secrets and feelings that he didn't want it to.
With every passing second, he seemed to find it harder to breathe, everything moving slowly as if he was in a trance. The moment she turned to face the front, Ichigo felt the air getting lighter and his short breaths become more regular.
The last thing Ichigo saw of the newcomer that night was her lengthy black tresses vanishing into the bright light, and the wave of her identically colored haori, which bore the white stitching of the sixth Division, flapping behind her.
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To be continued
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I was wondering if I should refer to her one eye as just eyes, because I keep using the same group of words to describe them over and over again.
~Peace, M