Author: Ichizawa Tomine
Disclaimer: Bleach and all its characters belong to Tite Kubo.
A/N: It's been a really long time since I last wrote a fic, so I'm going to apologize in advanced for work that might not seem too… well.
Nothing Hill
Written in memory of those distant afternoons
Where happiness and sadness reigned
Sereitei is finally peaceful.
Peace.
What exactly did it mean? Such a vague word, really.
It has been almost six years since the legendary winter battle that took place in the white nothingness of Hueco Mundo; and the world has been rather… … … quiet.
Silence.
Was that what peace meant? Silence?
It's disconcerting. No one is running around today; everyone is in commemoration of the epic that had placed those three foreboding pillars on that hill.
That hill. Ah, yes… that hill. Most would remember it as a reminder of everything that started it all. Funny, though, that its birthplace should also become its grave.
With eyes raised to the serene sky, I make my way to that hill. To that hill… where three white pillars stand. I find myself heaving a sigh as I take painful steps to its peak, and when I get there, a soft breeze dances past my face.
It was here.
It was here that we all fought, we all cried… where we all lived our lives' most defining moments. I could still hear it; the sound of our swords, the cries of those brave souls who fought for this "peace"… I could still see the shadows of those too fast to be seen.
Slowly, I make my way to the first pillar. I take out the dead lilies in the vase at its base and replace them with fresh ones. I lift my head to the name engraved on that pillar: Unohana Retsu, Shi Bantai no Taichou. She gave up her life to destroy the man she had once respected; and to protect a man she barely even knew. Such was the strong resolve of the gentle captain; to this strength, even the proudest and noblest of men bowed his head to her, in silent reverie and gratitude.
I move on to the second pillar, where I repeat my actions. The name on the pillar read: Urahara Kisuke. It would never be quite the same without him during the trips to the real world. Him, who taught us so many things without making it seem like he was teaching us anything at all and him, who taught us that life's greatest lessons can only be learned within life itself. The sorrow of the princess was great, but he died happy… to finally be able to return to his home, after centuries of being forbidden from it.
On my way to the third pillar I suddenly stopped; I saw him. He was there, near the tree, smiling at me. Looking beside me, I see him too; holding his zanpakuto ready for battle, charging with a cry, giving his all… he looks at me, telling me it's going to be alright.
I close my eyes for a moment; then he was gone. I continue on to the third pillar.
I don't know how many times I've been here, how many times I've looked at his name.
I don't know how many times I saw him there, smiling at me, smirking at me, trying to fight me.
I don't know why, no matter how many times I come here, everything comes back to me.
On the third pillar is a name… a name that will always make me cry each time I come… a name that I forever hold in my heart. And as the tears come falling down, despite all my efforts to hold it in, I see him in front of me, smiling, slowly fading away into the white stone.
The name on the third pillar read:
Kurosaki Ichigo, protector, and a friend.
Then…
There is peace.
Owari
Note: I'm sorry for killing them off…. I'll try to keep away from sad fics next time. Now… please don't kill me.