Finally, after what felt like decades, it was over. Aizen had been defeated by the Final Getsuga Tenshou, his body slowly turning to dust as it blew away in the wind. I fell to my knees, my own body greatly weakened from using so much power.
"I did it. I actually did it," I said. "But now…"
I reached my hand out in front of me, my zanpakuto-to still clenched in my fist. I watched as it slowly began to fade, and before long, it was gone. I put my arm back own and lowered my head, a great sadness sweeping over my body.
"Thank you…Zangetsu…Tensa Zangetsu…" I whispered, a small tear streaming down my face.
"Ichigo? ICHIGO!" a familiar voice echoed, freezing every muscle in my body.
"R-Rukia?" I said, looking up to see the small, ebony haired Soul Reaper running towards me at full force.
"Ichigo, you're alright!" she exclaimed as she tackled me to the ground, her arms tightly wrapped around me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, returning the hug.
"That's a stupid question," she said with a smile. "I came to find you."
"But why?" I said, lifting her off of me and setting her down carefully beside me.
"Because I needed to know you were still alive. I couldn't feel your spiritual pressure, so I thought….I thought he killed you, Ichigo."
"You couldn't feel it because I've lost it." I said, gently caressing her face.
"You've lost it? What do you mean?"
I stared into her concerned eyes, burning with so much emotion; I felt heat radiating from them.
"Rukia…would you believe me if I said I've lost all my powers?" I said softly to her.
She stared at me intensely, her eyes shaking with anger and sadness.
"You've lost all your powers?" she said with a shaky voice.
I nodded. "This is the result of using the Final Getsuga Tenshou. I had to do it in order to defeat Aizen for good."
"Was there no other way?" She asked, reaching her hand up to mine, which was still on her cheek.
"No," I said with a sad smile. "There really wasn't."
Her hand tightened around mine as tears began spilling from her eyes.
"This isn't fair! You save us all, and in return, you become powerless!"
"Call it a heroic sacrifice," I said softly. "I gave up my powers to protect the people I care about."
"You can get them back, can't you? You've gotten them back before, you can do it again!" she cried.
I shook my head. "Not this time,"
She looked at me once more, so much despair on her face.
"Ichigo, I-"
"Stop crying," I said before pressing my lips onto hers. "I'm still alive, am I not?"
I wiped the tears off her cheeks.
"I may not be a soul reaper anymore, but I'm still a human, and I'm still alive. You'll still be able to see me, spend time with me, hold on to me, whatever you want."
"But Ichigo-"
"Promise me something. Promise me you'll never forget about me. Promise me that I still get to see you." I said to her. "Promise me that I'm not going to lose you now that this is all over."
Rukia smiled sweetly at me before lunging forward, embracing me once again.
"What are you, crazy? Of course you'll still see me. I'm not going to leave you now. Not after everything we've been through. I wouldn't do that do you. I couldn't."
I felt a tear escape from my eye as I wrapped my arms around her. I had lost all my powers, but I haven't, and will not, lose the person responsible for giving me those powers. My job was done; I saved the world and protected everyone who has a special place in my heart, so there was no reason to grieve. I did what I was meant to do; I stared down my destiny and came out the victor. I don't know what kind of life waits for me now, but I will face it without fear, knowing the person I care about the most will forever be by my side. And that's all I need to know to be happy.