I am sorry I took a lot of time to write this chapter which is the third and final chapter. I hope you enjoy it. The reason are this is my first fanfiction but mainly because I am a coward . I get very nervous while writting scenes with Ichigo and Rukia. If you noticed, I always try to avoid them meeting and talking to each other in the other 2 chapters. They have such a complex relationship. I always fear that I may write them too much OOC. Thanks for all your reviews, for favoring and following my story. :)
Ichigo was sitting in front of the 13th division barrack, watching from far young Shinigami fighting and training. However his mind was drifting away.
Early that morning, he heard Rukia scolding some Shinigami, they were the one in charge of protecting Karakura town, Shino and Yuki and from what he had understood, they were scared from facing a hollow and Ishida, Inoue and Chad defeated him instead.
"Why did you run? Aren't you members of the Gotei 13? Aren't you supposed to protect humans from hollows ?"
Shino said bowing:" We are very sorry Kuchiki Fukitaicho." Rukia looked exasperated by her behavior. Ichigo knows that she doesn't accept excuses from people who are not resolved to actually make a change.
Yuki answered while shutting his eyes and his hands shaking: "It's to escape ... to escape from the Rukongai". He opened his eyes and was staring back at Rukia. His eyes were filled with hesitation and broken resolve. Rukia stared at him with her calm haughty eyes then faced the horizon.
"And now what are going to do? You escaped the Rukongai and became a Shinigami not to die from hunger, to save yourself and now your duty is to put this own life on the line to protect the Gotei 13 so where does your heart lie ?…". She stared at Seireitei and with a somehow distant look, she gestured them to follow her.
She is always like that.
He remembered those 2 months when she stayed with him in the real world.
He could catch her spacing out just a few seconds when he was doing her homework, while he was doing a soul burial or when he was talking to his friends during lunch.
During those few seconds, her stare was always so haunting and he always thought that there must be a reason why she was acting like that.
However, he always tried to ignore those thoughts.
He thought maybe it was because she came from a world that he knew nothing about it. Maybe, it was just his imagination and her exotic nature that made her stare so intriguing.
But then, he discovered that she spent 2 months with him after she gave him her powers, while knowing it was crime.
He knew later about the bond that Shinigami shared with their zanpakto when meeting Zangestu, that bond that she gave up without any hesitation to save him and his family.
Then, when he met the other Shinigami, he knew that no one could ever gave up his Shinigami power for human like she did, no one could sacrifice himself for a human like she did, something he had already predicted.
And when seeing how Byakuya and Renji treated her at first, he found out that her weird acting towards his classmates was her way to distance herself from people because she never had one from a long time ago and because she knew she was going to leave that place.
Maybe, distancing herself is her way to shield her emotions so that leaving that place won't be hard for her. But now, things have changed : she can belong here. He sighted, the corner of his mouth softening a bit. She is weird. He knew right then that his early curiosity was valid.
And now he discovered that Rukia's pride as a Shinigami was not immediate, that she became a Shinigami, at first, for other reasons. Was it to escape from the Rukongai like Yuki ?
She has always that hidden side just like the moon. However, from her words, from her gaze in those last days, he felt like she was enough comfortable to tell him more about herself. Well, it was not like they were not that close before but it was just because it's the first time they didn't feel like they aren't going to be separated so soon.
oooooooooooooooooooooo
-"Rukia, you were suggested to take the seat of Juushiro Taicho in this captain meeting, knowing that you have achieved bankai".
"I am aware, nii sama, but I don't feel ready for this responsibility. I am still not worth this seat."
"….. I see do as you wish."
-"Yo, Rukia."
"Ah, Renji."
"You know, since you are the only one in the 13th division who achieved Bankai, maybe you should become the new captain."
"I am still not ready for this. I can't replace Ukitake Taicho that easily"
"Well… okay then wanna go to the party held by Matsumoto Fukitaicho this afternoon?"
But of course Ichigo has to be different. Rukia sighted.
Rukia followed his reatsu and found him in the 13th training camp, his back facing her.
He turned to greet her:" Yo"
"Hey Ichigo, I think you are already why aware I am here. Ichigo you shouldn'-"
"No matter what you say, nothing will change my mind so from now on, all your opinions are rejected… taicho" he responded with a smirk.
"... huh? ..w-w-what kind of tyrannical appointment is this ?! I have the right to choose whether I want to be a captain or not. Also I have never heard that subordinates have the right to order their captain around ", she answered indignantly.
"Subordinate… so you mean you did agree on that ". he said in a mocking way.
She stared at him, suddenly conscious about what she had said then sighted :"Listen Ichigo. The seat of the vice captain was empty for over 40 years. I only decided to take the seat only after that long. Ukitake Taicho died only a week ago and his funeral was just 3 days ago. I saw him dying and heard his last words. I can't just accept to replace him so easily."
After calmly listening to her answer, he said :"It is not like I am telling you to be too difficult with yourself. It's alright to take some time to relax before moving forward. I am just saying that I won't accept this position"
"But-"
"Since we met, you were always there for me, watching my back. You didn't only gave the power to protect but it is all thanks to you that I could remember my vow to protect people. I tried so hard to forget because whenever I go back to that night ..."
Ichigo stopped a little gathering his thoughts and Rukia knew what he was referring to. She promised she would listen to him when he was ready to talk. She slowly sat down next to him. He was still looking at the grass beneath his feet, his hands slightly shaking. She gently put her right hand on them preventing them from shaking. He was surprised by her sudden contact as he was met by her gentle smile. He smiled back and looked upon the sky.
"You know if you are not ready-"
"No. It's all right I am fine. I want you to know….. Everytime I go back to the night when mum died, I can't help but feel like my soul is being torn apart." Rukia held Ichigo's hand a little more tightly before difting hers away." Mum was the first person that I wanted to protect. That night when I wished to help another person, the girl who was Grand Fisher's bait, I lost the first person who I wanted to protect no matter what. You helped me face those fears, that fear of losing those precious persons to me and it's thanks to you that I could surpass that despair. You were always there to help me. But this time, I want to stay back and want to do my best so I can help you surpass your inner conflicts."
Rukia was staring at him. When Ichigo turned to meet her gaze, he was hit by the richness of her violet eyes. that same gaze. So intriguing, so distant that he faced the other way to not be drawn to it again, feeling extremely flustered by his outspoken speech.
"And you know, white doesn't suit me. I prefer wearing black like the other fukitaicho" he continued while scratching his head
"…. Ah" she paused a little, " Thank you Ichigo for telling me about your mother. I am glad you are able to talk about her. But I don't feel that I am on a captain level to actually-
"It's alright. As I said you don't have to be a captain right now. You could train if you want but no matter what you say, I will gladly become your vice captain ."he replied with his trademark cocky grin.
He never changes. "Dummy"
He was going to retort back by saying that's the kind of compliment he could ever get from her, but that's when he was met by her soft gaze. Shit.. stop looking like that I mean it's not that I hate it but…
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Five days ago, the war was over, Juha Bach's corpse was used as the new soul king. Soul Society started being rebuilded mainly thanks to the zero division.
Rukia and Ichigo were invited along with Yuzu, Karin and Isshin to a party held by the Shiba family. They all had a great time but after the dinner, Ichigo excused himself and decided to sit outside alone. Rukia waited for him to come back but even after around a half an hour, he didn't so she went to see him.
"you're all right Ichigo ?"
"hmm... yeah, don't worry. I just wanted to breathe some fresh air."
She stared at him a few seconds ans sat next to him. "You have been acting weird those last days. I have noticed your wandering gaze during the vice captain ceremony and when nii sama invited you last night to the Kuchiki mansion. You don't have to talk about it now but you should go back : your family want to spend more time with you. When you are ready to talk about it, I will be here to listen."
That distance. He always felt it when he was with Rukia. It made him feel at ease since they were both reserved person, not willing to open their hearts to people that easily but it also excited him to know more about her, to be more outspoken with her because he trusted her like no one else, because she was the only person who would never judge him after being told about the turmoils he was facing.
"It's is not that I don't know that he is the enemy and it's not that I have forgotten that he was the main reason why mum is dead and why all my family has mourned her loss. I didn't forget anything and if I could go back to the past I would have defeat him again with any second thought but still... he was someone close to me. He helped me discover my own powers, he used his powers to save me. I despise him but still … I don't know if I can face my family, all the other shinigami while holding an opinion that is at the very least treacherous."
After listening to him, she said with her usual calm tone:
"Don't ignore those troubled emotions you are facing. If you are feeling that way then there must be a reason why. The Ichigo I know would never turn against his friends. It is normal to feel that things could have turned better when the person you have killed is a close person to you..." She stopped a bit before continuing.
"You have a place to belong here. You can count on me on that. You don't have mourn over it and blame yourself if you desire to belong here then that's where your heart is. The only thing you have to find an answer to is where does your heart lies, that thing that must be protected. That's where your heart is."
As she saying those lines, her back facing him, he was staring at her. Her words echoed deep down within his soul "what must be protected no matter what". He recalled when he heard his father saying that his name means the one who protects. At that time, he thought that what he wanted to protect was his mother but now…
"However, it's difficult for people to pinpoint what it's exactly. Some think that it is pride, for others, that's the precious belongings that were left by theirs loved ones, for some people, it's justice and others who has the same will to go against all the odds and sacrifice themselves for their friends..."She continued talking about the different things that people may want to protect no matter what. However, Ichigo didn't focus on the second part of her speech. He was staring at her attentionally. When she was done, he said :
"Thank you, Rukia." She looked at him confused to see him smile warmly.
"I think I know where my heart belong". She gave him a soft smile.
And I already knew it from a long time ago.
ooooooooooooooooooo
"What's with that look? I already know that this speech about the heart is corny. It is borrowed from our late vice-captain, Kaien dono. He liked saying embarrassing things like that."
"… Huh? …stupid, I was not mocking you, I just figured out that I-… you know what… I give up. You are so dense and that was not that cheesy. You should read more Shakespeare !"
"What do you mean I am dense !… You are always interrupting me with your stupid look… You are the one to blame !"
Of course, no matter how much I try, they always seem OOC compared to how sensei write them.
This story was my own point of view of the different matters that should be dealt with to make ichiruki "canon"( even though I already consider them canon since the fullbring arc). That's why I don't feel insulted by the ending. I would feel insulted if Kubo concluded their relationship in one chapter. It's a really beautiful relationship that has so much potentials. I am glad it was not used to save the serie when Jump made the ending so rushed and shitty.
I think the theme of "the one that should be protected" was the main theme of this last arc.
When everything is in chaos, when everyone could die at any given moment, there is no fight for pride or for life but a fight to protect like Kaien said. It was also mentioned during the fight of Mayuri and Uryu in the Soul society arc. In a flashback, Souken told Ishida that when he will know what his father wanted to protect, he will know what he wanted to put his life on the line for. In that chapter, in a subtle way, Kubo made us realise that Ryuken wanted to protect his son.
In this final arc, when he was in danger of death, the first thing that Mayuri wanted to protect was Nemu, his creation, his masterpiece, what truly can make him an equal to Urahara, according to him. Shunsui wanted to protect Nanao, what his brother and his wife left him to protect, it was not the Seireitei that Yammamato left its responsability to him but it was Nanao and that says a lot, Shunsui was not a typical soldier. What Byakuya feared was Rukia's death. What Kumamra put his life on for was his respects to Yammamato. What Unohana died for was the title of the Kenpachi so that Zaraki could held it with pride.
I think the other main characters were going to discover what they wanted to protect during the true ending that Kubo intended to do. I think it is a very fundamental matter for each human's life, what makes one's life worth living (I invite you to read the poem in volume 25 about death, life and wisdom that was told by hollow Ichigo aka Zangetsu aka the sadistic yaoi material Bleach character and that says a lot about how the majority of the fandom has so little understanding about the characters...)
But then again, you all know how Bleach was concluded. I could never blame Kubo. He gave me so much to be inspired, so much to dream of, so much to write about, so much to draw. He is not the best mangaka but he is one the best artists in history, according to me. So here I am, ready to say it again : thank you Kubo Sensei for creating Bleach.
