I worth More than Gold
Disclaimer: I don't own BLEACH.
CHAPTER 1: Ichigo's Remorse
Sirens from the fire trucks disrupted the neighborhood of Natura Amichevole Subdivision in Mestre, Italy in the middle of the night. The two-storey modern house built in strong wooden materials is burning in the huge red fire, turning its modest form to ashes.
A car abruptly stops near the burning house. People gave way to the man whose amber eyes reflected the horrible fate of his own home. The same petrified amber eyes that is reflecting the grievous fire as sparks from his own burning house drift in the wind.
"No…NO…! Rukia, RUKIA!" He shouted. Shoving people away from his way as he run towards his house. "This can't be happening. Oh, God save her, save her. My son, my son. Please keep them safe." He pleads trying to shake the dreadful feeling of fear inside his heart.
Ichigo was about to cross the yellow strip that separates the bystanders from the unsafe area. But he was stopped by the police.
"Sorry Sir but we can't let you in. It's dangerous and you might interfere with our operations." The police said pushing Ichigo away. But he was bigger and stronger. He angrily shoves the cop away but was again met and pushed backed by the authorities.
"LET GO OF ME! LET GO OF ME! MY GIRLFRIEND SHE'S PREGNANT. SHE MIGHT BE IN THERE. I HAVE TO SAVE HER. LET GO OF ME! RUKIA!" Ichigo keep struggling. He pushes himself through the crowd with all the strength he have.
"Calm down Sir. We are trying our best. We can't let you in." The fireman said pushing Ichigo away.
"CALM DOWN? YOU WANT ME TO CALM DOWN AND STAY HERE WHILE MY GIRLFRIEND AND MY UNBORN SON MIGHT NEED MY HELP? FUCK YOU!" Ichigo cursed punching the guy in the gut. The two policemen who are holding his arm panic. They both take their stun guns and aim at him.
Ichigo is already prepared to fight but something hit his back. The last thing he saw is his house burning. He tried to fight the darkness but it's useless.
"Ru-rukia." He weakly called. Two strong arms hook in his shoulders before he fell on the ground.
"Chad, bring him back to the car and go." Ishida ordered. Chad nodded and slings Ichigo's unconscious body on his shoulders.
"What about you Ishida? You know we can't be out here for too long." Renji asked. He is very anxious. Ichigo's outburst will put them to greater troubles than what they already have.
"I'll try to look for Rukia-san. Get out of here and find Grimmjow some medications. He badly needs it." The red head hesitated for awhile but he knows that's the best decision for now.
"Come back we don't know how to deal with the carrot-head when he wakes up." Renji shouted. Ishida nodded and turn his back away from them.
The place is in chaos. People are rushing, cars and trucks are coming. The awful smell of burning woods and black smoke coming up the sky are a horrid sight.
"Just a moment ago the firemen had recovered a body. They had confirmed that the body found was a pregnant woman. Who is said to be sleeping when the house started to burn. As what you currently see burning down to ashes in the background. The cause of fire is still unknown." The reporter said. Ishidas steps came to a stop, clenching his fist as tight as he can. He felt nauseous. How can he tell this to Ichigo?
"How can they face tomorrow after this? This nightmare when will this end?"
"I'm fine, you worry too much. I'm just going to Venice for a maximum of three days after that we can finally go back to Japan."
"We've been here in Europe for almost 6 months now Ichigo. Tell me, what are you trying to find in here?"
"You think too much soon to be Mrs. Kurosaki. I'm taking back what is rightfully you wait for me?"
"I will, come back soon and take care."
"I love you so much Rukia."
"I love you too Ichigo."
"How dare you betray us?"
"You are so naïve Ichigo. You shouldn't trust people that easily. Now you will never have anything. Die in here Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Ichigo, nothing is left, nothing is left in Mestre. Rukia and your son had burned in that fire."
He… Ichigo Kurosaki had died at that very moment…
…
Ripples of water surrounded Ichigo's body as it falls into the dark blue water. His unmoving body is steadily sinking deeper into the darkness of the abyss. His eyes were closed, lips gently purse to each other. His orange locks and black jacket softly sway with the water as he goes down slowly, deeply into the void of nothingness. He didn't know where to go. He wasn't even sure if he will be able to see the light again.
"I want to disappear." His mind told him. He felt serene, the coldness of the water and the never ending silence felt reassuring. The reassurance of the end of all his adversity he had nothing left and nothing to return. "Where should I go?" He asked. But all he can hear is his own voice echoing then disappearing to oblivion.
Afterwards, he felt something above him. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw the pale, peaceful face of his beloved right above his face. It immediately awaken him and at that moment he realized he is drowning. Bubbles came out of his mouth as he released oxygen out of his lungs.
Then his hand voluntarily circled around his neck. Panic shook him when he becomes conscious how distant the surface of the water and how Rukia moved up too fast away from him. Ichigo fumbled his hand for a way out. He raises his hands and pushes his legs up as strong as he can to swim and reach his beloved. She's in a plain white dress. His eyes can't look away of her beautiful motionless body.
Warm light started passing through the water, Ichigo's mind begun to scream "a little more, a little more". With one strong rush he is about to reach his wife but all he grasps is the open air. The blue cloudless sky blinded his eyes for a second. He quickly looks around but all he can see is the vast clear sky and the ocean meeting at the horizon.
Ichigo is about to call his beloveds name but felt himself being lift up to the air. Strong arms hold him in place. He looks at his back to know who is restraining him and was surprised to see his own face with animalistic eyes, skin and hair as pale as snow.
"King." He said. Ichigo tried to free himself from him but was trap. He looks back once more to the water and is again surprise to see his wife slowly sinking down the water.
"No, no, Rukia!" He shouted struggling to be free from the albino at the back of him.
"King, you better stop and hear what the Queen is sayin'". He huskily said. But Ichigo is not listening he continued to struggle. The albino let go of him by roughly pulling his hair down a feet away from the water just above her face. He can't move they were suspended in the air. His eyes started to form tears as he watch her face, from her cheeks, then her closed eyes to her small nose slowly sinking into the water leaving gentle ripples on the surface. His heart yearn for her. His whole being desire for her.
"Rukia." He weakly called as a lone tear fall from his eyes. The tear drops on the water disrupting its calm state however when it started to clear again, he saw it the beautiful, crystal like violet orbs of his loved. She is telling him something. Ichigo's eyes focus on her lips. He read her lips and the words she silently say ripped his heart to thousands of pieces. His soul is pierce to death. He is not her saving grace.
"I LOVE YOU SO MUCH ICHIGO." She said. A sweet smile graces her beautiful face.
….
Ichigo choked in his own saliva. He coughed and coughed, big drops of sweat drip from his forehead to his neck then to his naked muscular chest and back. Ichigo frustrated, ram his hands on his damp orange mane breathing with difficulty. He angrily tossed his blankets away, taking bandages on his side table.
He had gotten used to this routine waking up in the middle of the night, disturbed and frustrated. His nightmares will never cease to distraught his conscience. He wraps the bandages on his knuckles, walking with heavy step to his mini-gym.
The first punch is so strong the heavy bag of sand enclosed by a smooth resilient rubber swing away from his abuser. The first punch is followed by another, then another and another accompanied by his heavy breathing and killing intent.
He is not seeing a punching bag, he is seeing himself. "How did everything turn out like that, like this?" He gravely thought.
The bandages are not able to withstand the pressure. It was torn to pieces leaving Ichigo's knuckles almost bare and vulnerable. But he did not stop his assault he keeps striking until his knuckles drew blood from the abused skin.
Renji is smoking his cigarette facing the elegant Japanese style garden. He can hear every blow his friend gives to the punching bag he just changed. That's the 3rd bag this month.
"He is up for it again." Ishida said joining Renji. He blow smoke in the air, seeing the stars in the dark sky. Renji sympathetically listen to every blow, every growl, heavy breathing and sometimes in all those nights he is doing this. He cut his cigarette with his own fangs when they hear his repress sob. He wakes him up; he wakes them up with never-ending shame and pity.
"We need to right things soon." Renji said looking up in the sky but he didn't seem to see anything.
"I'm afraid it will not change anything." Ishida respond eyes hidden under the shadow of his bangs.
…
Ichigo make his way to the brick barricade that's protecting the road from the dynamic waves of the ocean. He is wearing a black fitted elbow length polo shirt, a black watch, black belt with silver buckle, black pants and shiny Italian leather shoes. After the tragic death of his girlfriend and son who was not given a chance to see and explore the world. He never wears another color, it's just black. He is still mourning, everybody knows that.
His black sports car is just ten feet away from him, reflecting the rising sun in its shiny heavily tinted window. This time the ocean is calm, very calm that it looks like it is flawlessly ironed. Ichigo walk to the empty space between the brick barricades and settle down. He lean his back and head on the stone wall, taking out a box of expensive cigarettes. Ichigo quietly watch the rising sun as it lights the world.
He is not able to sleep. Ishida fixed his knuckles for him, redo the bandages. No matter how many times he hurt himself, he feels nothing. He got numb of pain.
Ichigo put a cigarette between his lips and light it up. He blows the smoke out and let the gentle wind carry its scent away. There is an empty expression in his face. He never knows where this hatred, emptiness and loneliness will carry him after he killed them. Killing them will never satisfy him, it's not enough. He will never be satisfied, not anymore, not forever. If he knows everything will turn out like this. The gold can kiss his ass goodbye. He won't even give a fuck. She is everything to him and now she's gone, she's gone forever.
He had planned to take back all but he end up losing everything. He didn't deserve this…
"It felt serene yet painful. I can only see you when I close my eyes."
"THANK YOU FOR READING"
-UNTIL NEXT TIME-
"SEMPER FI"