Author's notes: I recommend that you readers listen to the song "Magnet Freedom" first before reading this so you can understand the theme of the story more.
www . youtube . com / watch?v = LQTnuMCz_wo
Erm… It's also probably a bad idea for me to start the story with a *spoiler* angst/tragedy type, but hey, it couldn't get any worse than that after now, right? Right?
Disclaimer:
The title is based on a song of the same name (I love DasokuxClear version best! But if you're looking for crack, GeroxFaneru is simply epic! ;P).
The song excerpt is from "Magnet-Freedom" sung originally by YU & G-to, NicoNico Douga singers. (erm, not sure if I got all the titles down correctly, but that's the gist of it!)
Characters are all from Bleach by Tite Kubo.
Magnet
Chapter 0: Magnet (Freedom)
An introduction to the conclusion.
"Don't show me reality and don't show me the future.
If it's just the two of us, it's enough.
We drift further apart as we become closer
And yet I love you...
My heart bursts into fragments."
Blood.
There was so much blood everywhere.
Like the endless river, flowing, tumultuous, drowning him in shock.
A flash of lightning illuminated the dark room, soon followed by the harsh cracking of thunder, along with it brought an image- a memory he guessed, of the past 'or of a past life'. He didn't know anymore. Nothing else seemed to matter now but to stop the warm liquid from flowing out of the body.
"Bad things ALWAYS happen during rainy times like these, especially if there's thunder and lightning" the boy solemnly declared, eyes wide in fear and apprehension, clutching onto his safety blanket, further crawling inside his thick wardrobe to block out all the sounds and light on that stormy night.
"Dun ya worry king, imma stay right 'ere wit' ya, an' keep ya safe 'lways." Another boy solemnly swore, eyes sharp, usual devious grin replaced by a determined line, as he squeezed in together with the other in the wooden compartment.
Another flash of light, another memory, overlapping the other child's with an adult version of the same person. Everything the same, from the words to the facial expression.
"... keep ya safe 'lways..."
The following crack of thunder came more slowly, this time changing the grown-up version of the boy into another man. The words remaining similar.
"Always. I WILL keep you safe always. Will be with you always... I love you." Mouth set into a grim line. Eyes evocative, conveying the truth of the words.
"... and I love you too." Came the gentle reply from his own lips, head bowing in shy acknowledgement. No sooner after his soft declaration was his face was lifted up to the other's. Closing in together, lips meeting each other, touch soft and warm. Loving.
He cannot do anything else but unsuccessfully try to stifle his broken sobs and he rocked his beloved's body back and forth, tightly embracing as if doing so would keep the blood from flowing.
"No... No, no, no... Please, open your eyes!"
No, he did not want to keep his agony silent. Not anymore. Rage, despair, anguish- all the negative emotions piling up in him, tempestuous, threatening to break free from its already fragile walls.
"Don't! Don't do this to me! Dammit! Open your eyes! OPEN YOUR EYES!"
Roaring his command which went unheard by the person addressed made him even more aware of the reality of his situation.
"No, dammit! You said you'd always be with me! Open your eyes now!"
Clutching the cold, lifeless body closer to himself, he willed the other's eyes open. Fast losing its warmth, he tried to keep the other's body heat by further pressing up close, rubbing his free clammy hand on the shoulders, back, anywhere he could get his hands on in his frantic state, all other thoughts lost to providing warmth to the limp body- his other hand shaking excessively, trying to press down hard on the gaping wound, trying in vain to stop the precious blood from flowing out.
Blood-stained hand returning from ineffectively rubbing heat on the body and reaching out to stroke the other's pale face, holding it closely, looking- searching, observing for any signs of returning life, for even the smallest twitch. But none was to be seen- even as his tears fell on the handsome face, soaking it up fast. Even the usually vibrant hair seemed to have life fading out of it, lying flat on his head, messily framing his face.
"N...No..! Open your eyes! G-Gri...Grimm... GRIMMJOW!'"
Voice breaking, he let the heart-wrenching sobs break free, along with his tears.
"Grimmjow, Grimmjow..."
Repeating the name over and over again, softly kissing his beloved's face as though it could wake him from the horrible nightmare. As though in doing so everything could be made alright. As though every bad thing could be undone. As though it could wake him from the nightmare of this reality and they could continue living their lives, unaware, in love.
Continue dreaming a sweet dream.
His iron grip on his lover tightening even further, if that could even be possible, as footsteps approached them, slowly but surely, until finally it stopped a few paces away from him, pausing as if in deep thought.
"I'm sorry." Came the silent apology from the newcomer.
Head jolting up at the declaration, he came face-to-face with his father. Both wearing a tired, broken expression on their face, one tear-streaked, the other as if unseeing and in a faraway place- as though he were trapped in this sort of living nightmare for quite some time already.
"... Father... How could you... Why?" Tears falling even more upon the sight of his father, the person who caused so much of this anguish. The man he had admired, had looked up to, aimed to be like. He didn't know what to believe in anymore.
"... Forgive me, Ichigo. It is not done yet." Shoulders slouched, shadow covering his face. The usual combed-back hair dropping to his shoulders messily.
Hearing such words struck him speechless. 'There's more to this nightmare?' Until he saw his father slowly lifting his arm, making him gasp. The cold, hard metal of the gun glinting in the harsh presence of the lightning.
"I... I'm sorry... I'm doing this for your own good."
He wanted to laugh, to scream in fear of the impending death, to attack in anger. If it was only possible for him to do any of those. But no, he was frozen in place. The desire to live, the desire to die and be with his beloved. Confusion bubbling up in him, making him unable to decide whether to continue treasuring and protecting his life, or be done with it and escape from all the pain he was experiencing.
As the finger moved to the trigger, he was desperately searching for an answer as to why this was happening. As to what he should do. As to what Grimmjow would have done in his place. What Grimmjow would have wanted him to do.
'No, I have to live. For not only my sake, but his as well. I have to live. He would want that as well. I have to live. I WILL live.'
Resolve formed, the will to live surged up in him. Gathering his strength, he tried to move, but it seems the strength was still lacking as he was rooted on the spot. Energy drained from his previous bout of adrenaline rush.
'I guess this is it then...?' Smiling forlornly at his lover, disappointed that he could not fulfil his beloved's wish, their promise to each other. He stroked his beloved's face tenderly, lovingly, as if imprinting the last memory before everything vanished into nothingness, and they would be left as nothing more but a terrible memory to the living.
Closing his eyes and whispering a final 'I love you', he once more hugged his lover to him, as though hoping that in death, they would be together once more, and he waited.
Waited for the seemingly inevitable end.
Peaceful in the arms of his beloved, he accepted his fate.
"I'm sorry... I cannot bear to let you go through such a pain of losing your loved one... The same pain which I had felt myself... I'm sorry... I love you, my son."
Eyes opening in shock at the confession, he witnessed the pain in his father's eyes. Of the regret and desperation. Of the determination to protect him from such pain, however twisted his methods might be.
"Who's the beautiful lady in the picture, father?" The boy sat on his father's lap, legs swinging as he pointed at the picture in the family album.
"That's your mother, Ichigo." The voice sounded wistful, but more so depressed that the boy could not help but turn to his father in worry.
"Tha's right, kingy. S' our ma there, Nemu-kaasan. Right, Mayuri-tousan?" Shiro quipped.
"Yes. That's right, that's your mother, Nemu." Voice patient and gentle, the older man gave a sad smile to the two children.
A final eye contact between father and son, now both crying in realization, then an awkward silence, and finally... Finally, a gunshot rang in the air.
And there was true silence.
some more A/N: Nyahahahaha! Bet ya didn't expect that at the end huh? *grins widely*
Well, this is my Chinese New Year present for you readers~ Hope ya enjoyed! ;D