A/N: This is rough, and just popped into my head as my iTunes ambushed. I do not own God's Gonna Cut you down, Johnny cash, or bleach and any related characters.
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
She stares at him impassively from floor, blood seeping slowly out of her frozen wound. There is no fear in her violet eyes as she stares at his grinning mask, his silver hair dancing merrily around his face.
Neither of them speak.
Go tell that long tongued liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
She can't, and he won't. It's a waiting game, one they've played before. He grins down at her, crouched by her side with hands hanging between his legs.
His zanpakutou peeks dangerously from his robes.
Her eyes close.
Tell the rambler
the gambler
the backbiter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
It stung, when he betrayed them, much more than she thought it might, and much more than she'd like to admit.
She should have seen it sooner.
The secret smiles, the voice that strangled her and set her nerves on edge, the grining fox mask that haunted her dreams
In this tale, she played the Fool well. They all did.
And she wasn't the only one broken.
Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the news
My head's been wet with the midnight dew
I've been down on bended knee talkin' to the man from Galilee
He spoke to me in the voice so sweet
I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel's feet
"It wasn't your fault. Who knows why he took an interest in you?" Naive Ichigo, so gruff and sweet, trying in his own way to reassure her.
"Next I see him, I'll kill him. And he'll feel everything he did to you." Renji. So predictable, in his rage and protective nature.
"Don't be a fool. The man was a snake. Scum." Byakuya. His opinion should have mattered most of all. It didn't.
"It shouldn't have been a surprise. I doubt anyone ever knew him...don't beat yourself up, girl" Rukia didn't cry until the warm hand landed on her shoulder and soft golden hair brushed her cheek in a tight embrace.
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
The bed isn't hard and spartan, like she expected. It's soft and cool, refreshing against her sweat slick and fevered skin. The fox hovers in the corner with his master, speaking under his breath quickly as healer after healer fuss around her.
"It'd be cruel to deny you your toy, Gin."
The traitor smiles at her, his brown eyes gleaming as he walks out.
In her fevered mind, the fox's eyes open and glow red.
Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin' in the dark against your fellow man
She's cradled against his cool robes, the two of them facing the rolling sands of Hueco Mundo, both silent. Her face is pale and she's sweating from the fever; she shivers, and his arms tighten around her.
"Cold, Rukia-chan?"
"Hai, Ichimaru-sama."
His grin dips a bit.
"So formal, Rukia-chan! Aren't we friends?"
She doesn't pause this time.
"I'm not in the habit of making friends with monsters."
He chuckles.
But as sure as God made black and white
What's done in the dark will be brought to the light
"Why?" Her voice is stronger now, nursed by days of warm tea and soft foods.
"Hm?" He heard her, she knows it.
They're sitting at the table, supper spread before them with exotic and familiar foods tempting her weak stomach.
"Why did you do it?"
"I'm 'fraid you'll have to be more specific, Rukia-chan. I've done lotsa things."
This is another game, and she'll have to have patience and play by the rules. Or she'll lose. Again.
"Why did you betray the Soul Society?"
"Ah. It's a secret. Promise not to tell, Rukia-chan?"
She paused. "Yes, I promise. "
His grin grew wider and he leaned forward on the table, his chin resting atop his folded hands.
"It wasn't home."
Tell the rambler
the gambler
the backbiter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down
They aren't coming for her, she knows this. There are more important things to worry about than one sole shinigami who fell behind. For all she knows, they think her dead.
She knows she may never return home, may never see the Soul Society ever again.
And as a chin rests atop her head and strong arms wrap around her, she finds she doesn't mind so much.
