Never Again?
"I have no interest and you have no talent." Ishida Ryūken to Ishida Uryū in the beginnings of the Arrancar Arc
A/N: Surprisingly much people have added this story to their Story Alerts. Wow. They're Jasaiya Hawkins, darkroydante, darthtater76, LaZyAzN T, kurosaki-taichou, Allyieh and BobsRules. Thanks a lot guys! I want to give the reviewers cookies!! Means ChibiKitty 14 and Sammiefly should go get some milk XD
A/N2: Today's my B-Day^^~ I'm 15 now, yay~ (written at the 27th of August 2009)
Ni: Just to see you again …
There wasn't anything around him, just plain blackness.
His breath was even now, no longer unsteady and rushed, his wounds had vanished.
Although the nothingness surrounding him should put him on the edge he was all calm feeling he wasn't anywhere dangerous.
Ichigo felt the presence of… something. Not human nor a spiritual being he was met with before.
"Who are you?" His voice echoed in the black nothing around him.
"Can't you think of something?"
"Well, since I just died… I would guess you're Death?"
"Wow, you're smarter than most other guys coming along."
"Thanks for the flowers. So, what's coming next? A tea party with Santa Clause?"
"Well, at least you kept your humor."
"Answer. Please", he added as an afterthought.
"Well, you died."
"Tell me something new."
"Somehow I've got the feeling my nerves and patience'll need vacations after that."
"Yeah, most likely."
"Well, I was surprised by your actions. Actually I thought one of the Kuchiki would kill you… or this crazy Zaraki Kenpachi. Never would I've thought you would kill yourself. That was unexpected, really."
"Yeah, nobody ever thinks people that committed suicide would've ever done this but they all did. Wow, where's NBC? We have to tell them!"
"Kurosaki Ichigo…" Ichigo could tell the voice got annoyed and decided to shut his mouth up for good.
"However… I thought after you gave up so much, your life, your future… your **** it would be only fair… to give you a new chance."
Ichigo's jaw dropped ten feet underneath the underworld: "What the? Since when is Death all mercifully?"
"Hey, can't Death be cruel and mercifully at once?"
"No."
The discarnate voice sighed: "Well, what d'you say? I would give you a new chance to live. You would have to live in Soul Society however…"
Ichigo didn't have to think about it. If he would be alive again… he could see her again… and keep his promise…
Flashback
It was back then, when they were about to join the theater of war, when Rukia held Ichigo back and asked what he wanted her to not ask ever.
"Ichigo… back then… in Soul Society… why did you rescue me?"
'Crap', he thought.
"Rukia, this isn't the time to-"
"But maybe we won't survive this war! I want to know it NOW!"
He looked away, let his gaze fall onto the black sky of Hueco Mundo and sighed. Ichigo closed his eyes: "Rukia, if you promise me to survive this… the first thing I'll say to you after the war will be the reason why I rescued you from execution, 'kay?"
"But what if YOU don't survive?"
His right eyebrow twitched and he looked at her annoyed while a vein popped at the side of his head: "Eeeeh? As if I would die. I'm like weed – you won't ever get rid of me, midget. So, do you promise me to survive? If not don't think I'll ever tell y-!"
"I promise", she said and went after the others to join the battle in the fake Karakura Town.
Ichigo looked after her and thought with sad eyes: 'Just to see your annoying face again is a reason for me to survive, stupid shorty…'
Flashback
"Of course!"
"Well, you know there's a condition to this…"
"Why did I know this was coming?"
"I have to take away your memories, Ichigo."
"Eh?"
"You won't remember anything about your past. You won't remember anyone from when you were still alive. It's as if you'd never lived before…"
The voice put special emphasis on the words 'anything' and 'anyone'. Ichigo knew what he was playing at. Ichigo wouldn't remember his promise; he wouldn't remember the person he gave this promise to. It was just loosing something new for the gift of a new chance to live…
'But like I said… just to see this annoying face of hers again is a reason for me to live…'
"I don't care! If this is the price to live then you can have my memories! Just give me a second chance!"
There was a silence… then…
"Then I may do as you wish, Kurosaki Ichigo…"
Back in the present…
Ichigo…?
Eh? Yeah, that's my name but… do I know you?
'What did he… just say? That isn't happening!'
Her body began to shake uncontrollably and Ukitake knew what would come next. At his totally confused Fukutaichō he said: "I'm sorry, Ichigo-kun. She never really recovered from the war. Maybe you two should meet some other time."
Ichigo was still totally shocked of the sudden shaking of the petite Shinigami but nodded: "Yeah, maybe. Please tell her I wish her a quick recovery."
"Of course."
With that Ichigo left but not without a quick last glance at the raven-haired girl that had fell to her knees by now. He couldn't help but worry about her in some place inside his heart.
'It's strange', he thought while heading for his room in the division buildings: 'I can't get rid of this strange Déjà Vu-like feeling…'
Meanwhile Ukitake tried his best to calm Rukia down but failed miserably.
"Rukia, please, calm down."
"How the Hell could I calm down?! What's going on?" Her voice was high-pitched and tears ran down her red cheeks.
"Follow me. I'll tell you everything I know…"
Meanwhile in Ichigo's room…
He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling.
How long has it been I last saw you smile?
A day? A month? Half a year?
Yeah, half a year has passed since your last smile.
But I can't miss it for some reason…
'Cause my memory of your smile already faded to black…
'Why am I going all emo and depressive anyway? I don't know her damn! Why am I caring then? Geez…'
'I need to walk', he decided and headed outside to try to clear his mind and – more importantly – his raging heart.
~*~
Rukia sat on the grass while a light breeze blew and made the surface of the river cringle, the grass waved and the leaves on the trees rustled. The whispering of the world around her calmed her down a little bit but couldn't do something against her tears falling free.
"I don't know how or why… but somehow he managed to come here. But… it seems as if he doesn't have any memories of his past life. Rukia, it might be Ichigo's soul but the man you once knew isn't alive anymore. He's someone completely new. Heck, he can even control his Reiatsu. You knew him the best. Isn't that prove enough he isn't the same anymore?"
"'Memories aren't everything.'"
"What?"
"He once said this to me… and it's true. His mind might have forgotten everything… but there's no way in Hell his heart can't remember."
"Only when he didn't make his heart forget."
"He would never do such a thing, Ukitake-taichō. Trust me."
"I hope you're right. You know, I miss him, too."
'I'm right. He would never forget everything he went through. Never!'
He wanted to go to his favorite place and relax. He wanted to be alone. But there already was someone.
'It's this girl. What the? She's crying…'
Something snapped in his mind. His usually well hidden Reiatsu leaked out. But not in every direction just in hers. It was as if it wanted to come near her, wanted to touch her own energy.
He didn't brought his spiritual power back to him. Something inside him told him there wasn't a point in hiding himself from her.
Her head jerked around and her violet orbs pierced into his amber ones.
'She has Hell of a scary look', he thought and gulped.
Slowly the orange-haired Shinigami approached her while her head turned away from him.
"Eh… hello… well… I guess Ukitake-taichō hadn't got the chance to introduce the both of us properly… my name's-"
"I already know your name", Rukia interrupted him but didn't face him. She feared she would cry again: "Kurosaki Ichigo, I'm pleased. It's Kuchiki Rukia."
Ichigo sighed and sat down beside her: "Well, you don't sound all to pleased… eh, how can I call you?"
"Don't care."
He thought a bit: "Well… Rukia, why are you so pissed off?"
Her heart skipped some beats when he called her by her first name. 'Why? Why did he call me Rukia? It's just weird to call a girl by its first name! But… back then we used the other's first name like it was the most natural thing on earth… maybe Ukitake-taichō's wrong at all… maybe he's still the same old moron…'
"Oi! Am I getting an answer sometime soon?"
"E-eh? Sorry, I was in thought."
"Geez, was it always this difficult to have a conversation with you?"
"I… I don't think it was… but…"
"'But'?"
"In this war… a person that was very precious to me sacrificed himself to end all this… and I just can't believe he broke his promise! This stupid moron!"
Why did she tell him? She hadn't got a clue.
Why did she cry? Rukia didn't have an answer.
But more important. Was Ichigo hugging her? Was she dreaming or what???
He didn't just hug her. His left arm was wrapped around her shoulders while his right hand stroke her hair, his chin rested on top of her head.
"Please, don't cry just because I asked you something stupid and remembered you in such things. And for what this guy did. I think you're right; he's a moron (lol, he's insulting himself rofl) for hurting you this much. But… maybe he had his reasons…"
Rukia's hands grabbed the fabric of his Shihakusho while she continued crying at his chest: "Screw his reasons, damn it! Everytime it's about his reasons! Even his promise was about a reason!"
"Eh?"
"He promised me… he promised me the first thing he would say to me after the war would be the reason why he rescued me from execution! And what did he do? Dying in my arms! I hate this idiot!"
Something behind his eyes began to pulsate while his surroundings began to dye red. But this sensation only lasted 3 mere seconds before everything was back to 'normal'. He shook his head.
Ichigo smiled: "He rescued you from execution? Heck you let it sound as if this guy would've moved Heaven and Hell to save your life."
"'Bably…" she mumbled barely audible. Rukia'd stopped crying and now rested her face on his chest. He blushed slightly: 'Why is she holding on to me like this? If she calmed down why isn't she backing away then?'
"Well, if he did so much just to save you… I would say he must've been in love with you. Otherwise it would be strange…"
Her heart stopped beating for half a minute: 'WHAT??'
Hehe, another cliffy. I love writing them XD
In the poem I actually wrote 'kiss' instead of 'miss' when I first typed it, lol, I'm stupid. Yeah, I wrote the poem.
R&R, please?
ni - two
