Special Big Thanks to: Muerte-chan, darklori, Chrosis, bcsaturdai, MaesLawiet, camtrtl, omaomae, and anonymous reviewers Calvin and The Moogle Shinigami for your reviews! I'm very very happy to hear you enjoyment for the previous chapter! Even when some of you said I killed Rukia off! *Grins Brightly!* I don't know why, but reading those ones mad me feel strangely accomplished... and happy...which is weird... =D
Dislaimer: I do not own Bleach.
.:~.Dying Soul, Crimson Blade.~:.
.:~.Chapter IV.~:.
.:~.Sorry...Rukia.~:.
.:~.~.~:.
She knelt down, unable to move, a large cut across her torso was bleeding onto her hakama. She couldn't feel any pain from the wound, she continued to stare into the golden pupils behind the mask.
"Ha. You're weak, Shinigami, and you have the nerve to tell him to 'get stronger'...Pathetic..." he drew his sword up.
"Now..." he held the blade over her head.
"Die! Shinigami!"
The blade fell down.
She could see the black edge coming at her, she was too weak to think logically, instinct took over, as she reached her hand out to the blade as it dug deep into her shoulder. Her hand hadn't done much to stop it, but it did shallow the wound by a bit. Taking deep breaths, exhausted from blood loss and battles. She slowly reached her other hand to the hollows face, he moved his head out of the out, drawing the blade back. She grimaced as the hollow took the edge roughly from her shoulder, falling to the ground.
He looked to the unmoving Shinigami, "Pathetic..." he said as he moved away.
"S-sorry... Ichigo..."
He looked behind him, surprised to see the Shinigamiraising herself up slightly to meet his face. She smiled as death slowly approached.
"Looks like you'll...have to end this 'stupid fight' without me..." she said barely holding herself up.
The hollow was annoyed now. He looked at her with anger.
" Stupid. Don't you get it? He's not here anymore... what will it take to get that through your-"
Urrgh...
The hollow's eyes widened round.
"No..." he spoke out. Rukia looked confident.
"What's wrong, hollow?" she mocked, breathing hard from the wound.
"Hearing things now?" she smiled.
The hollow backed up,a wide expression went on his face as the mask broke all at once, shattering on the floor like cold ice. He gripped his face, looking scornfully at the Shinigami.
"Damn...it..."he spoke one last time before he moved back into the darkness of the inner mind. He eyes reverting back to their normal amber color as Ichigo focused on the new world around him. He gasped slightly as he saw the bloodied mass of black in front of him.
Her eyes held a dull look, like death. She leaned forward, collapsing to the ground. She could feel his arm grab her shoulders as she fell, he shifted her so her head laid on his lap. She could see his lips moving, she could tell he was shouting, but not angrily, more out of concern... his eyes were wide as he looked at her, regret shone out the brightest in them, and something else...
"I'm glad...you didn't lose, Ichigo" she rasped out, giving a faint smile before drifting into unconsciousness. Ichigo looked at her, unmoving grief filled him.
"Idiot...You're the one who did all the work..." he said regrettably. He moved to get up, but exhaustion swept through him as he fell to the side, Rukia sliding off his lap as he did. He looked at her as a different darkness clouded his eyes.
"Sorry Rukia..." he said softly to her, as he fell into unconsciousness.
.:~.Fin.~:.