Catching Tales
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach nor Jamie Cullum's album of the same name.
A/N: well, I just felt a burning need to write a Bleach fanfiction on day, so here I am. My summaries are horrible, so I'm grateful to those of you who are already reading this. I think this would be one of my better romances, so please keep reading and review please.
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"See ya around Rukia, thanks for everything." He said with that same defiant grin on his face.
"Thank you too, Ichigo." She added pensively, just as the bunch stepped through the threshold of the Senkai Gate.
The wind carried her words away. It began nagging at her years later, did he ever know?
Ironically, even the farewell meant that they would meet once again, but it hung in the air like a broken promise.
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Time doesn't pass on the Soul Society as it does in the world of living, but it felt long enough. Months, years? Rukia wasn't sure, perhaps it was for the best to not meet again. A shinigami and human have no future together.
She was shocked at her obedience, Rukia's lips corked up slightly at thought of the orange head's reaction if he'd knew. Her heart swelled unexpectedly.
But fate had quite a sense of humour.
It was supposed to be a routine soul burial, but when she arrived she was greeted with a face that she never thought she'd see again.
It was Ichigo's sister, Karin.
Her soul stood on the side of the road, right beside the heap of twisted metal and shattered glass that was once the car. She had grown quite a bit since Rukia had last lived in Ichigo's closet, reminding her how much time had passed. Despite the fact that they had never spoken before, Rukia felt a shock and ache in her heart. It was the first time she had felt anything of the sort, what was it?
Attachment, affection, sorrow. The human sentiments felt alien to her, but heartwarming nevertheless.
Karin spoke up for the first time, confused, her usual persona reverting back to that of a little girl.
"What happened? Why am I here and lying there?" She pointed to a bloodied body lying beside the wreckage. Rukia remained silent, trying to be as she was always taught to be, calm and controlled.
Karin's brow slowly withdrew as the truth dawned upon her.
"You mean, I'm dead?" She asked Rukia, wide eyed.
She nodded silently, a grave look in her eyes just as she was about to raise the hilt of her Zanpakuto.
"Wait, where's Ichigo? I don't see him here, does that mean….?" Karin turned frantically to the wreckage as if trying to bore through the metal to see if her brother was inside.
The name knocked the air out of her. She just stood there, a barrage of thoughts assaulted her mind.
Ichigo… how long has it been?
I never thought that I'll see you again… Like this anyways.
Please, you were always fine before, stay alive this time too…I beg of you.
With that thought, her eyes stung for the first time in who knows how long. Shocked, Rukia found tears brimming over onto her face.
"Hey, why are you crying?" Karin asked the frozen shinigami. Rukia smiled, seeing that her bashful nature had returned a little, and stamped her forehead with the hilt of her sword.
"Have a safe trip." She silently prayed as Karin disappeared from sight.
Now, where is Ichigo? She mused, scanning the site.
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A/N: What do you think? If you're remotely interested, please review so that I have the motivation to keep going.