Chapter Four

Into The Blinding White Light…

"Is it rain or are you crying," Rukia asked struggling to hold back the floodgates of her own tears.

"Rain," Ichigo answered.

He was literally covering her. A giant umbrella shield; only his tears moistened her face.

She laughed. So this is it, she thought to herself.

"I'm so tired…so cold," she said.

"Don't try to talk. You make me so angry. I told you-

"Unnecessary risks…never," she said. The memory of that time flashed before her. Without her powers, she focused on doing her best to help Ichigo fight the Hollows. How much they changed over time. To think of how inexperienced he was then. To contrast it with everything she knew him to be now.

"Just shut up. I'm not done yelling at you," he said holding back the chatter of his teeth. The freezing rain continued pouring from the sky. Relentless the sound alone brought back those memories she fought so hard against.

"You're yelling, I hadn't noticed," she answered.

The rain seemed to get stronger, colder. She'd say anything to distract from their hopeless situation. Ichigo kept his hand on the gaping wound in her abdomen. The free arm pulled her closer. Her shivering decreased somewhat to a manageable state.

"Rukia don't close your eyes. Just please look at me," Ichigo pleaded.

"All I see is an orange blur," Rukia said.

"How can you joke at a time like this," he asked. Something close to panic laced his voice.

"I'm sorry," she said her eyelids flickered. She heard the change in his tone but refused to acknowledge it. To acknowledge it would be to give up. Giving up was far too easy. To fight would be like pushing away the rain.

"No, don't you give up on me that easily."

"Rain huh?"

"Rukia," he said shaking her for a response.

Silence greeted him. Realization sunk in that she was fading. The sound of the relentless rain returned pounding in his head as he struggled to sense her Reiatsu, struggling to hold the thread that kept them together in this world.

His thoughts screamed questions to his self-conscience: What could they do? Where was anyone? She can't be gone?

It was the rain, the flood of memories, his mother and the rain. Rukia and the rain…ame…ame…ame…He couldn't make his legs work. His arm weakened as crimson stained water leaked between his fingers.

What can I do but lay here? Where was…anyone?

The screams caught in his throat useless he couldn't bring himself to even scream out.

Darkness turned bright. Suddenly he was in a place he didn't know. A familiar feeling washed over him.

It was cold here. Snowflakes landed on his eyelids as he blinked. He could move easily now. Rukia was gone….

This wasn't his inner world but he instinctively looked for Zangetsu. The soul he knew as his Zanpaku-tô another interwoven in the fabric of his existence. After all every time he'd been this injured in battle that is who appeared. They fought as a team and Zangetsu was there to give him guidance. Who else would appear?

"Zangetsu…Old Man…?"

So cold he shivered as he shook off the snow.

"I never get cold," a serene voice said. Ichigo turned looking for the source of the voice.

"Who are you?"

"I never get cold yet it is always cold," The woman in white said. She was sitting by a frozen pond twisting a flower in her hand. There was no trace of smile on her features but neither was there any sadness. She was completely calm. Meanwhile Ichigo was excitable.

"You're…Can you turn around…who the hell are you?"

"Why are you here Ichigo," the woman asked turning. The same even toned calm voice did nothing to quell the passionate response Ichigo gave.

"You know my name?"

The woman smiled. Ichigo struggled to see her so far away in the blinding white.

"Zangetsu wasn't kidding about you. I suppose my voice can reach your ear that is surprising," she said.

"Zangetsu…strange lady in white how do you know Zangetsu?"

"He's a great dance partner…that was a hint."

"What kind of hint is that? Can't anyone just come out and tell me the information straight away in these places?"

"I thought it would be obvious since we fought together side by side time and time again but I guess not," the woman said walking towards him.

"Oh, you're Rukia's Zanpaku-tô." Realization crossed Ichigo's features. Although he'd seen her before this was the first time he was visited by another Shinigami's Zanpaku-tô in this way.

"So you think I'm strange. Why are you here Ichigo," Sodenoshirayuki asked again.

Oh so this isn't my inner world, Ichigo thought.

"I already said I didn't know why I was here. I need to get out of wherever here is so I can help her…so I can help Rukia."

"Well if you're supposed to help her let's take a walk. We will find her together," Sodenoshirayuki said.

"Didn't you hear me? I don't have time to take a walk," Ichigo shouted angered.

She said noting as she continued to walk. This gave him no choice he could think of no other option but to follow calmly behind her.

This place was calm and soothing. Somehow he was put at ease as he walked beside the manifestation of Rukia's Zanpaku-tô. They walked for a good while suddenly the landscape changed. The climate and terrain were no longer cold and frozen but spring like. Ichigo laughed at the bunnies frolicking in the grassland.

Sodenoshirayuki trained questioning eyes on him but said nothing. The time went by and it seemed like they had talked and walking forever. Her stories gave him a bit more insight into the mind of Rukia and he listened intently to every word. He knew amongst Shinigami they regarded Sodenoshirayuki as one of the most beautiful swords. None of them had yet to meet her Zanpaku-tô spirit this close.

"You always wondered her true feelings but her actions speak volumes and as far as how you feel it's obvious and been so for some time now," Sodenoshirayuki said.

"You've noticed these things," Ichigo said.

"What do you think happened all the times you fought using her power," she asked.

"Well I think you're wrong," Ichigo said grinning at the look on Sodenoshirayuki's face.

"Wrong how," she asked suddenly straightening up.

"About wondering her true feelings," Ichigo said looking off into the distance.

"You must have-

"That is the problem; you two are a lot alike. Rukia thinks she right all the time and she's just too stubborn to admit her true feeling but I'm not wondering," Ichigo said grinning at her.

"I see," Sodenoshirayuki said grinning back, "we are similar in some ways and you really don't like to listen to us."

It was pointless for Ichigo to argue.

"What does Rukia call you," Ichigo asked suddenly as they walked through the grass.

"Such an odd question out of nowhere," she said.

"It just popped in my mind. Besides your name is long enough as it is…I'll just call you Sode," Ichigo said.

"Fine Ichigo. However we both know what you must do now. There is someone who needs you more. Rukia is fine it is what she wants. You know the reason you are here and the reason we walked all this way don't you now," Sodenoshirayuki asked.

"I will rescue Orihime but Rukia is-

"Look now," Sode said pausing on the small grassy knoll, "The rain stopped. She must be close by."

Ichigo spotted Rukia sleeping peacefully under a tree. He hurried to her side.

"Rukia wake up…can you hear me," Ichigo tried waking her.

She stirred and rolled over. Movement was good so he resisted being angered with her reaction.

"Rukia!" Ichigo called out shaking her shoulders.

"Well I guess I'm finished here. It was a pleasure to spend time with you Ichigo," Sodenoshirayuki said.

"Thanks for leading me to her," Ichigo said.

"No problem. I'll look forward to dancing with him again," Sodenoshirayuki said smiling as she disappeared.

"See ya," Ichigo said wondering just what was going on with his inner world that he didn't know about.

"Ichigo?"

He turned his attention back to Rukia who seemed to regain consciousness. She sat up focusing her eyes on him.

"What are you doing here," she asked.

"Why is everyone asking me that….how should I know," he said.

"I have a lot to tell you…Ichigo I-

"I'll say everything in my world let's go back now," Ichigo said.

"Right," she smiled at him. Her hand lingered on his cheek the tears were gone the rain was gone.