Spoiler Alert! If you haven't read chapter 423 from the Bleach manga, you've been warned!

I don't own Bleach.


Say Goodbye…


"Can we go outside?"

What is that hollow feeling that comes initially when someone confronts you with a problem—denial, that it? When you, yourself, refuse to accept the inevitable. Strange, should I be feeling that way?

Because for once in my life everything around me appeared normal. Hold on, that's too vague right?

I mean the spirits. I can't see them. I can't sense them.

Except for one—Rukia Kuchiki.

I turned around to face her, with a look of confusion that I'm sure she noticed. There was a faint smile on her face now. An expression she hardly ever presented unless coupled with a blatant attitude.

"This is farewell Ichigo."

"…seems so."

I knew I should've said something cheesier rather than acting like I felt indifferent to the situation. I should've said the words in a memorable way. This was the last time, of course…

"What? Don't look so sad." Rukia crossed her arms against her chest, this time with a familiar smirk curled from the edges of her lips. "Even if you can no longer see me, I can still see you."

"What? That doesn't make me happy at all!" I guess we'd always revert back to this petty bickering. It's always been that way from the beginning after all. "And I wasn't making a sad face either!"

I guess I was too obvious. Rukia, she saw it didn't she?

How I felt at this very moment, she's right I am sad. But not just that, I also felt empty and bittersweet as I continued to stand beside her.

I wanted time to stop just a little bit longer.

Because I needed to tell her how much I appreciated everything she'd done for me. She was the one person I relied on these past couple of years—the one person I shared my doubts, my fears, and my regrets…

And she, even back then, stared at me with determination in her eyes and confidence in her body language. Is that corny? To admit to myself that I secretly admired Rukia.

I suppose, but it's the only solace I can grasp right now. Especially because her figure was slowly fading away…

I looked towards the ground and shoved my hands inside the pockets of my hoodie, "…Tell everyone I give them my best."

She was staring at the ground as well, "…Okay." Her voice remained soft.

Then she looked up and focused her sight solely on me. It made me even more sad when she'd done that, because there was nothing but vulnerability. For once I saw Rukia's emotions unguarded.

I wondered if I was seeing the real Rukia.

The girl behind the vanity and self-confidence stared at me in a longing expression. I could've laughed, but found it difficult towards the situation.

Instead I opted on a smile, a hopeless smile, which matched the intensity of her gaze. "Bye, Rukia."

Then she was gone.

I stared up at the clear sky, remembering it was in this very place I'd first set my eyes on her. I was human back then, powerless, when Rukia had unselfishly given her powers to me even though I'd been so weak.

Then I thought of the perfect words I should've said to her. "Thank you."

I smiled as the unfamiliar silence enveloped me.


. . .


Wahh! That chapter totally made me aggravated. In my head I kept thinking 'please Ichigo tell Rukia you love her!' (even though that something so far out of reach).

This can't be the last time they interact! Comment if you feel the same!

Roar!