Chapter 2: Memories and Reverberations
"Mae! Sode no Shirayuki!"
"Hoeru! Zabimaru!"
Reiatsu flared as the sharp clang of two, released zanpakutou resonated into the tranquil forest, causing a flock of alarmed birds to take flight into the searing summer air. Two figures, blurred into a black mass from their rapid movement were vaguely visible as they flashed through the forest shadows.
The black mass tore apart when they reached a clearing, revealing a peculiar looking young man with spiked, shocking red hair and symmetrical tattoos etched across his forehead and chest. He smirked at his opponent who returned his mocking gaze with fierce violet eyes as she gripped the white hilt of her zanpakutou tightly, bracing for another attack.
He roared as he swung his snake-like blade forward, sending it hissing dangerously towards her. Instantly, she somersaulted backwards into the air and blocked the blade with practised ease.
"Not good enough!" She yelled, her lips curling.
"You think!" He retorted as he swung his arm forward. She gasped when the blade did not break contact and retreat. Instead, it shot towards her. Pushing her sword against the offensive blade, the impact forced her into the air once more before she could land and recover.
She cursed, forcing her blade against his as the sheer force of her opponent's onslaught pushed her backwards and higher. Riding upon it, she propelled herself upwards. As her foot landed lightly upon the contact point of the two swords, she thrust her palm towards him and yelled.
"Hadou no sanjuusan! Soukatsui!"
"Hey no ki-!" His eyes widened in shock as a massive ball of blazing blue flames burst forth from her palm, and came crashing down towards him in comet speed.
Rukia sighed in satisfaction as she flung her hands wide and fell backwards onto the soft grass next to Renji. She closed her eyes in pleasure as the evening air, cool and crisp, gently caressed her weary body. She chuckled softly when a loud lazy yawn erupted beside her as Renji languidly stretched and eased himself to a new comfortable position.
They laid in silence, quietly listening to the rustling of the trees and breathing in the rich earthy scent of the forest. Sode no Shirayuki and Zabimaru laid quietly beside each other, humming in contentment. Their wielders knew not the reason for their soul slayers' pleasant mood. Was it the satisfaction of a good battle? Or was it the satisfaction of each other's company? Rukia and Renji did not know and they did not care. They were savouring this moment. It had been a long fifty years since they could enjoy each other's presence with abandonment.
"Oei, Rukia…"
"Ah…"
"Your kidou is darn good, damn it…"
She smirked at his words.
"But your swordsmanship still sucks big time… Oof!" Renji grunted when Rukia jammed her elbow into his ribs. "What! You bi-"
"Oh shut up."
Her voice was surprisingly gentle. He turned towards her, his lips parting to speak but stopped when he saw her face. Her eyes were closed and a contented smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The setting sun was casting a warm hue upon her face and the wind gently caressed and played with her ebony hair. Renji stared, transfixed.
This was the Rukia that he knew in his childhood, the Rukia in her bright yellow yukata, standing knee-deep in the river. The Rukia with her soft and gentle eyes as she leaned forward and gently scooped a floating flower lantern into her hands. The Rukia who turned around, eyes glinting as her face lit up upon seeing his face.
"Hey Renji!"
"Renji… Renji… OI! REEEEEENJIIIIII!"
Renji jumped onto his feet in shock and glowered at the laughing shinigami. "What!"
"Are you deaf? What the hell were you doing?"
"What the hell am I doing!?" Renji retorted angrily.
Rukia grinned, "Staring at me, creepily."
"Don't be stupid! I wasn't staring at your damn face, you idiot! I was just-" Rukia eyed him curiously as he trailed off mumbling, colour rising to his cheeks. "…thinking… you know, thinking. Not staring… I was but not really…"
"Right…" Rukia frowned slightly, a little concerned with his flushed face. "Oei, Renji, you sure you're ok?"
The red head blinked, visibly confused.
"Your face, it looks really red."
Embarrassed, Renji quickly looked away. "I am fine, idiot!"
"Must be your hair." Rukia chuckled when Renji growled. "I was just worried that my kick ass kidou had actually blasted half of your brains off, not that you have much to begin with of course." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Precisely the point why I was worried. You're still in bandages and all-"
Renji growled, "Bitch, say that to yourself. Scaring all of us to death by getting yourself skewered to the brink of dea-" Renji stopped awkwardly when he saw her tensed at the mention of what happened in Hueco Mundo. "Sorry… I…"
"It is ok, Renji." Rukia smiled weakly and turned away.
Kaien-dono's spirit is safe now… She breathed heavily, her body trembling as she desperately reaffirmed Kaien's salvation to herself. Kaien-dono is all right now… Everyone is…
The long and painful Winter War had left Soul Society and its inhabitants in shambles but the bitter victory was worthy of its sacrifice. Aizen was finally defeated and killed in battle, and Touzen, refusing to return, died defending him. Gin, however was since then missing but the Second and Twelfth division were working on recovering his tracks. Without Aizen leading, he was deemed to pose no threat toSeireitei for the time being. The Espada were rounded up and Hueco Mundo, razed to the ground. The Hougyoku was retrieved and returned to its creator, Kisuke Urahara, who was granted amnesty and permission to return to Soul Society on the condition that he would find a way to destroy the cursed object. Of course, wherever the hat-man went, Shihouin Yoruichi followed as well, much to the delight of the captain of the Second Division.
It was an agonizing process, but Soul Society was struggling to recover. Its inhabitants were attempting, slowly but surely, to mend the wounds of war. Hinamori Momo was starting to smile now, though her eyes remained glazed and haunted. Her relationship with the Tenth Division Captain remained estranged, with Hitsugaya Taichou curtly nodding with pursed lips whenever Hinamori fuku-taichou greeted him politely as "Hitsugaya Taichou".
But he would sit on the roof at night, waiting for Hinamori to blow off her candle and to be safely in bed. And she would call him "Shiro-chan", in her dreams.
Shuuhei Hisagi's reaction to his captain's death was seemingly calm. The efficiency of his division tripled as he plunged himself blindly into the pile of presswork. He only allowed the slightest of emotions to surface when he went drinking with Kira. That was only because he knew that Kira, would be too drunk to remember that he, Shuuhei Hisagi, actually cried.
A single tear however, he realised, was not shed last night.
The focus of everyone's worry, Izuru Kira, became the resident phantom ofSeireitei. He was nowhere to be seen in the day but often spotted drinking with Shuuhei Hisagi into the wee hours of the night. He laughed a lot whenever he drank, and often seemed to be absolutely and unnaturally elated with joy. He would laugh when Hisagi gets emotional. He would laugh whenever he thought he heard someone mentioned his taichou's name. He would laugh at everything and at nothing.
Last night, he couldn't bring himself to laugh. No, not even a smile. He was not drunk; Matsumoto had served him and Hisagi nothing but water. She watched with gentle eyes as Kira sobbed for the first time since his captain's departure and Hisagi sat silently, with a hand firmly upon Kira's shoulder.
It was a painful recovery process, but…
Everybody is recovering.
Everybody is safe.
Orihime is safe. So is Chado, Ishida and… Ichigo. They are all safe. Safely back to where they should belong… away from us.
"Rukia…" Worried, Renji laid a hand on her shoulder and gave a slight squeeze of assurance.
"I am fine, Renji." She turned and flashed him a bright, awkward smile. Grabbing his hand, she hauled herself off the ground and brushed grass bits off her black robe. "C'mon, its getting dark, let's go home."
Renji grunted his agreement, and smiled uneasily back at her. He knew Rukia would prefer him to leave it at that and he would do just that.
For now.
For her.
Having their zanpakutou sealed and sheathed, they turned towards Seireitei but were stopped in their tracks when they spotted a distant figure approaching them.
As the figure came closer, they recognised his identity from his appearance.
A Kuchiki council elder.
Renji took a hasty step back to stand behind Rukia, suddenly mindful of their difference in status. She, a noble and he, a Rukongai stray. His fists clenched when the elder's eyes drifted towards him, contemptuous and aloof.
"Council Elder, greetings." Rukia greeted respectfully and bowed, but Renji could tell that she was unnerved by this Kuchiki's presence.
"Rukia." His voice was distant and cold. "I bring a message for you from the Council."
Chapter two! A celebration of the fact that my exams are finally over! Liberation! Moksha! Zen!
And thanks to everyone who reviewed and to everyone who read this fanfic. I was pleasantly surprised to receive 8 reviews for the first chapter! Thank you!
Oh and I've received some comments that I should make this a ByaRuk. Noted but no promises. ) I really want to explore the relationships between Rukia and the three important (living) men in her life, and we all know how complicating relationships, be it love, friendship, family ties and whatever that lies in between can get. Next chapter will be up next week.
