So... i know there have already been tons of fanfics about chapter 423, but i couldn't resist adding another one so don't hate me too much, kay? thanks, and plz review.
:)
Disappearing… like a statue of ashes, blown away by the wind.
"I guess this is goodbye."
"Yeah…"
"Rukia…"
"Thank you."
They stood there, and gazed at each other. Her face was solemn, her outwardly placid eyes hiding a storm of emotions. For a moment, she looked down almost as it unable to meet his gaze. She could tell. The faint flicker of reiatsu that she had been able to feel within him was slowly disappearing. Fading into nothingness. And then she knew, soon. Soon, he would no longer even be able to see her.
Rukia held her head up, meeting his eyes once more. For the last time, she thought. She wanted him to be able to remember her as someone who would not cower in fear of the inevitable. Selfish though this may have been, she wanted to be strong in his eyes. Then again… she was not sure whether or not she even wanted him to remember her.
Truly, it would be the best if he forgot. This was what he had always longed for, the chance to live a normal life free of ghosts and hollows, of shinigami and masked arrancar. Free of the burdens, responsibilities and painful obligations which had been forced onto him following his change into a shinigami. Yes, she sighed inwardly. In the end, this is for the best.
As she continued to stare into his eyes, violet irises meeting brown, she noticed a change in his glance. He continued to look at the spot where she was, but there was no longer any recognition in those eyes. He couldn't see her anymore… as this thought dawned upon her, surprisingly, she felt something twinge inside of herself. Pain… longing… sadness. Maybe even a tiny hint of hope. But most of all, she felt an overwhelming sense of regret. And loss.
She felt numb inside. Some part of her wanted to rebel. Scream, and shout, and fight. Fight against this horrible unreality. But the logical, truthful part of her calmly accepted the facts. Meekly bowed her head to the inevitable. A small smile, full of the aching sorrow of the world graced her lips.
Seeing no reason for her to continue standing here before one who was blind to her presence, Rukia bid a quick farewell to her human nakama, whom had been watching the exchange between Ichigo and herself. Inoue, Chad, Ishida, their eyes were filled with a nameless emotion. Pity. Dreading the expressions shown by her nakama, Rukia quickly opened up the senkai gate with Sode no Shirayuki.
A feeling of icy calm blossomed within her. It was over. The days of running, and fighting, and shouting, and life. They were dead and gone. Never would they come again. Letting out a sigh, she stepped towards the gate. She had her whole life ahead of her. Ichigo, too. They both needed to move on, it was the best and only way. She could not take this, too, away from him.
She did not turn around, although a piece of her heart desperately desired for just one more look. She did not turn, for fear that she would lose herself and her resolve if she did.
Ahead of her, the brilliance of the light flowing from the senkai gate, leading back to the realm of the dead. Behind her, memories, friends, a hell butterfly dancing on the wind. Him. Her last thoughts as she stepped through the glowing chasm were; "Please… be able to forget about me, Ichigo. Live the life that you have always desired. Be happy."
And then, she was gone.