Disclaimer: Bleach is owned Kubo Tite and to those whose right to publication it had been sold. This written fan fiction is purely for entertainment purposes. No part of this written work is for monetary gain. The writing and subsequent posting of this work is just for the homage of the great and inspiring work of art , "Bleach".
Death
It had not been the first time
that she had fallen in love.
However,
this is the first time
the love has been reciprocated.
.
The first was the man who made me feel that I belong
But he had a wife so dearly loved.
And thus, unspoken for.
In the end, her death became his death in my hands.
.
But that love though true had never
entered the deepest recesses of my soul.
Because in the end
the first man I loved
gave me grief and guilt instead.
.
And I became a continued existence of sorrow till he and I met.
He who welcomed me
Housed me
Saved me
And had unknowingly became the pillar of my being.
.
He and I fought alongside through many battles
Had grievous wounds
Both deep and shallow.
They became the scars where memories of us together are etched.
.
The words of love for each other never went passed our lips.
Both of us know that it is not just centuries between us there is.
But even though I am dead and he is living
Love has many forms and many phases
for those who are willing to seek.
.
For many years this went on
Seventy years has passed and the cycle goes on
Battling enemies left and right
Lamenting defeats and savouring triumphs.
.
He is now just biding his time.
His body weak with old bones and old wounds.
But the spirit inside the body still goes strong
Even if we both don't know where and when his soul may pass on.
.
It was I that performed the soul burial.
He died a warrior's death
Living up to his name till the end.
But before he went he said to me, "Midget, wait for me."
.
And with those words I hold to life
I got the position I long desired
The station my first love have had.
The station my brother long from me denied.
.
Countless years had passed.
Even his sisters are now one of us.
Still he has not come.
Not a single whisper, not a single trail.
.
I retired from my position.
I bade goodbye to my brother
I bade goodbye to my peers.
Everyone had already given up and forgotten
But with him only my soul can find peace.
.
I went on the journey with only the clothes on my back
And the sword that is a part of my being.
And through many years my search went on.
Never yielding, never failing.
.
I found him.
At last I see him.
I touched him.
I feel him.
.
He is weak and bedridden.
Having the same illness as my sister had
Rukongai had not been kind to his body
And the illness had progressed.
.
He tried to stand from the bed he is lying
Thick blankets pooling to his waist
Eyes widening every second of my pace
Hands shaking , skin paling.
.
He calls my name with a voice hoarse from coughing
And with that my slow steps
became of lightning speed
In no time at all
In his frail arms,
there is me.
.
We tell our stories over a cup of bitter tea
The only tea he had.
But the taste is still sweet to me
As it is made by his hands.
.
His soul he tell
arrived at the farthermost district
Full of monsters
Full of dangers
Many people needed saving
Many children need protecting.
.
He cannot leave them on their own
Not with the power he had then
So for a long time he stayed there
Before then, the coughs of blood is still of air.
.
That is when he knew it is time to leave.
But sadly, his body fast deteriorated.
The people he had protected then tried to help his quest
But with no power nor money returned empty-handed.
.
And so he had then waited.
Holding faith to the woman he trusted.
And he is glad it was rewarded.
Her presence a testament to the love founded.
.
And there in the simple hut both weary warriors stayed.
Tales of the protector and his lady became myths.
Unknown to this, a son and daughter was born to them.
Words of love finally freely exchanged.
.
But the clock had always been
ticking for this small family.
And on his last breath, Ichigo said to her,
"Till my next life, my lady."
.
A/N: To those who might ask why Ichigo survived far longer than Hisana have had, the answer to that would be that Ichigo have reiatsu enough to rival and even surpass a captain-level shinigami. Heck, Ukitake survived being sick for hundreds of years just because his reiatsu is strong enough for his body to put what is ailing him to at least a standstill. :)
