Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any of the Bleach characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo: the genius behind the captivating manga that started it all. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.
Piece of You
Prompt: Change...
A/N: For "Kill Your OTP" on LJ.
"This is stupid."
Retsu turned away from the mirror, daggers in her eyes. She hated how, every time she asked for something he didn't like, she ended up with this. Countless protests in regards to how idiotic the event in question was. Frankly, she was sick of it. Retsu only dared to put up with before it because she knew it would be worth her while later. Had there been nothing to look forward to, she would have easily broken her own code and slapped him.
But not even that would have been enough to seriously bruise his ego.
All she wanted was to discuss how things had gone so wrong, and he was acting as though she were asking for a heart transplant while he was on speed. An amusing mental image, but not one she wanted to dwell on. Her focus was set upon correcting all these mistakes, tearing down the wall that had been built between them. She wouldn't deny that she was to blame for their decline as well, but that wasn't the problem. She needed to get him to open up, or at least say something.
Mayuri was glowering at her now, curiosity and disdain brimming in his eyes. It bothered her, his sudden lack of interest in their crumbling relationship. Had his arms not been streaked with fresh wounds, Retsu never would have guessed that he actually gave a damn. She shook her head, hand closing around his wrist. If she could change one thing, it would be his lack of disregard, not for her, but for himself. He was a coward, the way she saw it, focusing solely upon pain and the lingering threat of damnation.
Her touch alone seemed to dull the color of his eyes, leaving a sour taste in her mouth in exchange. He wasn't nearly as empty as he pretended to be. She'd learned to read him, weeding out all the stupid little secrets he used to play his wicked games. And yet she loved it.
But now, it had all turned into a patchwork dream, the edges frayed and charred, blurred and faded in some places. Just a reflection of the memory she cherished, nothing more. There was an end to everything good, and this seemed to be just that. Her life would grow quiet without his presence. It would all return to what she'd known before, the same gentle routine that circled about day by day. She allowed her hand to stroke his face, the corners of her mouth turning down slightly. She'd miss seeing him like this, free from the mask he'd held to for so long.
Retsu sighed quietly, their mouths meeting for what she knew to be the last. She wanted this moment to stay as long as possible, long enough for it to be burned into her memory.
It was an end, but she still felt hope.