Rukia sat against the wall, her thin white kimono the only thing in between the cool stone and her warm back. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on top. Her bare feet were cold against the stone floor that matched the walls, but she hardly noticed. The final rays of daylight were seeping in through the tall, thin window that was carved through the circular walls.

Tugging at the red collar around her neck, she sighed and crawled over to the window. It was positioned so that she could view the execution site and think about what she has done. She knew that death was inevitable for her now, but she still wanted to live and felt strong emotions of fear and panic rising when she gazed upon the enormous weapon poised to end her life.

She knew that she needed to accept her fate, but was not yet ready to do such a thing. So she watched the sky. A dark blue spread overhead then faded to a lighter shade as it drew closer to the horizon. The gentile light blue mixed with the pale pinks and created a wonderful purple. The sun then set the rest of the sky and the clouds ablaze with a perfect mixture of pinks, reds and oranges. Her eyes then traveled down to the ground, where the dry plateau reflected the scorching red. She forced herself to look at the Sōkyoku. Its sharpened blade reflecting the burning sky, red and orange glinting on the edge. It looked on almost beautiful; blazing with color that masked its cold steel, taunting her. Rukia sighed, her eyes catching the orange fire being mirrored in the gigantic execution blade once more. Orange... Rukia thought, as brief memories played through her head of an orange-haired human. She shook her head, snapping her attention back to the present and the prison she was being held in.

The moon was bright that night, despite being only half full, and the stars twinkled in the blue night. Staring at a bird that had taken refuge in her cell for the night, she whispered "What am I going to do?" Her voice echoed back to her, making her even more lonesome than ever. ...What can I do? She fell asleep on the cold stone with her head filled with questions.

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Rukia found herself in a forest filled with snow, but oddly it was not cold in any way. The trees all looked similar, but held small differences that made each special. As she walked through the forest she noted that patches the ground was not covered by snow, but by bunches of tiny white flowers. Occasionally the chirp of a bird or the rustle of a rabbit hopping away could be heard, but otherwise there was silence. Rukia walked through the forest, feeling a bit calmer but still worried, she wasn't even sure if she should be headed the way that she was going. She really wanted to lay down and sleep, but she trudged on. Stepping through another line of trees she arrived at the center of the forest. A mighty oak tree stood, green and still covered with leaves, the ground around it was also void of snow and flowers blossomed. She was, as always, transfixed by the sight, and was only snapped out of her trance when a hand was set lightly on her shoulder.

Sode no Shirayuki had watched her master, wielder and friend walk solemnly through the snow, heading for the tree that stood in the center of the forest. Rukia looked absolutely pitiful while moving, she was pale, thin, and weaker than Shirayuki had ever seen her. She followed her silently, never letting the small soul reaper out of her sight. As expected, Rukia stopped at the base of the tree, gazing at its magnificence. Placing a hand on Rukia's shoulder, she smiled at the girl. Rukia turned to face her, nodded wordlessly and then started to walk closer to the tree, leaving her zanpakutou spirit on the edge of the clearing.

The tree's great height could only truly be appreciated from two places; one being the ground where one had to practically lie flat on one's back to see any part of the tree; the other was from the very topmost branches, where the wind blew cold and harsh, but one could see the entire forest as a bird would see it. Rukia walked slowly to the base of the tree and leaped up to the the lowest branch, then again to a higher one, she continued until she was at the top. There, the only sound was the wind and her own, quickened heartbeat. She sat down on the thickest branch she could find, closed her eyes, and focused.

As the sound of her own heart beat grew louder, the previously howling wind made no sound in comparison, nor did it threaten to blow her out of the branches anymore. Rukia was too busy listening to the metronome ticking endlessly in her small chest. She felt warm sun on her face and an echo of a question asked to her long ago "Where is your heart located? Rukia? Where?"

"My heart is located here... Kaien-dono..." Rukia's words were a whisper, but they somehow rang out over the beating of her heart.

She kept her eyes closed, even when a rough hand rested softly on her head, she knew who was there, but she didn't want to face him. "Rukia? Please open your eyes, they're so beautiful. I want to see them"

Rukia slowly opened her deep lavender eyes, and stared into the familiar face of her former fukutaichou. He was just as she remembered him, his light eyes twinkling playfully, his hair a black frizzy mess on his head. He was looking concerned at Rukia, trying to figure out why she was looking so scared and hesitant. But a relieved smile spread over her face as she spoke his name, "Kaien-dono."

"Hello Rukia." He was smiling now, but concern shone through his eyes, "I'm glad you've finally found your heart."

She was speechless for a few seconds, and felt herself holding back tears. In her opinion, it was still too soon to be facing the man that stood in front of her. She opened her mouth again "Kaien-dono... I-I'm sorry... Kaien...dono..." She had shut her eyes again and her words were choked as she was was fighting to breathe smoothly.

"Rukia!" Kaien's voice was stern. When she opened her eyes, he was kneeling down to look her in the face, grasping her thin shoulders firmly. He spoke again, but his voice was jokingly reprimanding. "How many times to I have to tell you to stop blaming yourself! You have enough to worry about without blaming the death of a friend on yourself. Now c'mon!" He stood up and smiled then jumped down to the nearest branch and continued to the ground.

Rukia sighed, remembering the first time she had found Kaien-dono here. It had been only a few days after his death. Sode no Shirayuki had watched her cry in the snowy forest before guiding her over to the oak tree. "Kaien spoke of the heart often" Just his name had been enough to send Rukia into tears, "He said he left his heart with you, this is where it rests. Look." Sure enough, at the base of the tree, Kaien was sleeping peacefully, his arms folded behind his head, a calm smile spread across his face. Since then, Rukia been able to 'enter into her own heart and visit those who shared their hearts' with her' as Shirayuki had put it.

Reaching the ground, Rukia looked around, she was standing on top of a grassy hill. The oak tree was the only tree that visible. Everything else was had vanished in a swirling white cloud. At the base of the tree were several people: her friends from Rukongai, a few division members that she had known and of course, Kaien. They were all huddled around the base of the tree looking at something on the ground. Kaien turned and started walking towards her.

"Rukia." He was serious again, "You do know why we all are here, right?"

She was startled by the question. Closing her eyes, she tried to speak with confidence, "O-of course, Kaien-dono... You are all here because you all gave a piece of your heart to me so that you would live on even after any of you... died..." She whispered the last word.

Sorrow shone in Kaien's eyes "That is correct, so please don't be alarmed, but... there's someone else here..."

Rukia's eyes snapped open, feeling nothing but cold shock and dread, her only thought; Who? Who now? She was gasping for breath and noticed that she was suddenly lying flat on her back, the concerned faces of her friends looking down at her. Who now? Why? How? Renji? He would be the most likely to charge headfirst into a battle, but he has experience... Byakuya? No... He would never. No one can beat Nii-sama. Could it be- no... no, no, not him! She sighed, knowing that her sorrow was meaningless at the moment. I guess it's not that surprising. He had been hit twice by Nii-sama.. She looked at Kaien, putting on her noble expression that she had perfected through being an adopted Kuchiki. "It's him isn't it." She didn't make it question.

Kaien sighed, his eyes full of sadmess, but trying so smile to cheer her up. "I can see why you liked him, he does resemble me..."

Rukia stood up without another word, the circle of people stepped away slowly, allowing her access to the tree. Lying curled up among the roots was a familiar orange-haired teen. Rukia noticed that, unlike Kaien and the other soul reapers in her heart, Ichigo was wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans instead of a black kimono. He really did lose his powers... and now he's gone... it's all my fault... Rukia lost her composure at this, she fell to knees and wept. She stopped when she heard her name being called.

"Rukia?" She gazed into his deep brown eyes and saw nothing but calm concern, "Why are you crying?" He reached up and brushed a tear softly from her cheek, but then kept his hand there, fingers barely touching her skin.

"Kaien, may I have a minute?" She asked, still facing Ichigo. Kaien nodded to her, before turning and walking away, leaving her with the now ex-soul reaper.

Rukia would have slapped his hand away if she had felt better, but instead she just said simply "Because you are here. I don't want you to be here. I was hoping you would just forget about me." You had other people that you could have given your heart to. She thought the last part bitterly.

"What? Why would I ever forget about you?" Ichigo was just confused. He had felt like he was falling, then suddenly woke up to a man that resembled himself with black hair, then Rukia crying, and now she was telling him to forget about her? He pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked around, becoming aware of his surroundings for the first time. This was definitely not Urahara's basement. "Hey Rukia? Where am I?" Rukia took a while to answer, but slowly explained to Ichigo where he was. He was silent for a while before asking plainly, and in a slightly annoyed tone, "So... I'm dead now?" He cursed under his breath, "This can't be right, but at least you explained it without your horrible attempts at drawing..." This time, Rukia did slap him.

Rukia finally asked the question that had been gnawing at her, "Ichigo, do you remember exactly what happened after I left?"

He thought in silence for a few seconds. "Well, all I know is that if I ever get the chance, I am going to kill that Urahara!"

"Urahara?" Rukia was the confused one now, "But, what does he have to do with anything? Nii-sama was the one who cut you."

"Well, I guess, but I also need to get Urahara. I was... training with him." Ichigo talked slowly as the memory sharpened and the details came to him, "Hat 'n Clogs healed me first then said that he would help me regain my soul reaper powers. The big guy, Tessai I think? He cleaved my Chain of Fate, I fell down a deep pit, for a while I was just floating around in darkness, then I was in pain, then I woke up here."

Rukia was struggling to process it all "Urahara healed you? Then killed you?" she said slowly.

"Yep."

The pair sat in silence for a while, before Ichigo spoke, "Why am I here?"

"I already explained-"

"No, I know where this is, but why am I here? I'm not dead... at least, not entirely... I think..."

Rukia stared at him, he was gazing at the sky and scratching the back of his head, "H-how can you tell?"

He shrugged, "I just can. I'm not exactly sure what happened int hat pit, but somehow I know that part of me succeeded. If that's true, then there is still hope. Plus, there's still our other friends, Orihime, Chad and Ishida, they'll come for you. There's still hope." He smiled at her, still looking oddly calm.

Rukia continued staring, Renji had told me that a group of ryoka had crashed through Seireite, the description of them had matched her friends perfectly Ichigo included. Maybe he is still alive... somehow. She looked back at the boy in front of her, he was smiling. She had hardly ever seen him sincerely smile, but he seemed so at peace. This is all my fault. I don't deserve this! Why are people getting hurt, dying even, because of me... She glanced back at Ichigo, but he had closed his eyes and seemed to be sleeping, so she whispered, "Ichigo, if you are still alive, please just go home. If you are not alive... give your heart to someone else, I don't deserve it..."

Soft hands embraces her. She was once again int eh snowy forest, Sode no Shirayuki the only other person there. She was whispering kindly to her, like a mother comforting her child, "Please don't say that Rukia... Please don't ever believe that you are not wort anything, you are special. And please don't throw your life away carelessly, there is hope, the boy spoke true, he only lost a small fraction of his soul, he is coming to rescue you." There was a long pause of silence Rukia's ears strained to hear something in the silence, "If this is the path that you have set you heart on then so be it, but please make sure you know the cost, make sure you know how this will effect everyone. Make sure you know who you will give your heart to..." The spirit looked at the girl, but she had fallen asleep in the woman's delicate arms. "Goodnight then, Rukia. Think about it tomorrow. Rest now."

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Hello and thanks for reading! This is my first fanfic I've wrote and I hope you enjoyed it.

Please leave a review, comments and criticism are greatly appreciated!

I do not own Bleach.

~ Rorrim J. Tori