One Year Later
-One Year Ago
December 6
Kuchiki Rukia had just gotten home from the mall after hanging out with Ichigo, Sado and the others. They spent the whole afternoon walking around and stuffing their faces with cotton candy and dumplings.
She removed her shoes and ran to the balcony. Today went really well for her and her friends although she couldn't help but feel like there was something wrong. Not with her friends, not with her... But she could feel that something didn't feel right.
Before she could even put her finger on it, a black butterfly landed on her shoulder and from that very moment, she knew that she was right. There was something wrong. She gulped as a bead of sweat ran down the side of her forehead.
She headed to Urahara's shop that night to meet up with the person who had sent her that butterfly-Abarai Renji.
As she entered, Urahara seemed troubled. He wasn't as perky and as annoying like usual. Jinta and Ururu weren't fighting. Something felt wrong about this. Why was her heart beating so loud? Why did she feel so dizzy? Why did she feel like crying? What had happened?
Urahara led her to the room where they would usually meet but left her there alone with a red-haired shinigami across the room. He was wearing his shinigami outfit. It seemed like the news was urgent since he didn't have the time to change into something more comfortable.
"Rukia," Renji started. "Sit down. We've got a lot to talk about."
She did as she was told and sat across him. Seeing how serious he wasn didn't really help her feel better at all. Her palms were beginning to sweat as well. And her head began to pound when she heard Renji mention her brother's name. "Kuchiki Byakuya."
"What happened..?" Her voice was shaky yet it remained stern.
Renji looked away. He didn't know how to tell her. Should he have even told her in the first place after Byakuya had told him to wait for someone else to tell her? No. He had to be the one to break it to her. He had to be the one who would let her know. Not Toushiro, not Zaraki nor Urahara.
He sighed and looked at her in the eye. "Your brother... He died yesterday."
Rukia gasped. It couldn't be. Not anyone could defeat his brother. And though Ichigo did, he barely had any energy nor life left in him. Her brother was one of the impossible but it looks like someone found a way through him.
"He was working a mission... A dangerous one and it got out of control." He explained. "We didn't expect the opponent to do what he did. We didn't think Kamira would go to extremes as to kill her former captain. But she did..."
Her eyes widened. "Kamira? You're not talking about Korru Kamira, right? I mean, she wouldn't do that... Right?"
"But she did."
No. This was certainly not happening. Kamira loved him like she did. Kamira saw him not only as a brother but a father as well. How could this have happened?
"Kamira is now one of the most wanted criminals in Soul Society and we're doing our best to capture and restrain her." Said Renji although he doubted that Rukia understood anything after hearing about Byakuya's death. "Rukia, do you hear me?"
"I-I do... Just give me a moment to take all this in." Renji kept quiet and waited for her to speak first. It took forever before she began again. "He's... It can't be." Rukia just couldn't believe it. It was so hard to believe and she refused to believe it. It was insane. It was so insane it was driving her crazy-crazy enough to have her tears roll down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry..."
Renji remained quiet once more and listened to Rukia's sobs. Even though Rukia and Byakuya weren't really close enough to keep in touch once in a while, he knew Rukia cared about Byakuya and though he didn't look like it, Byakuya thought of her as well.
Her chest was painful and very heavy. She couldn't catch her breath. It was all too much. She buried her face into her hands and continued to sob.
They were joined by Urahara whow sat beside Renji. Now that Renji had told her the news, it was Urahara's turn to talk to her.
"Rukia," he said. "Now that things have happened, the 6th Division is now missing a captain. The Gotei 13 have talked about it last night and announced this morning to Soul Society that you will be the new captain of the 6th division."
She stopped and raised her head slowly. "Me? Replace my brother?" Renji and Urahara nodded. "I could never. Have you seen him? Have you seen me? Have you seen the difference between the two of us. I can't. I'm not qualified..." Tears still continued to fall as she spoke. "I am not going to be the captian of the 6th division. You might as well look for someone better. I'm not leaving this place, anyway. I don't plan to."
"But it's already been decided, Rukia. Kuchiki Byakuya also once stated that he wished for you to take his place if he ever resigned," Urahara further explained and convinced Rukia to replace him as captain. "They expect you back in Soul Society in a week."
In a week? Her ears must be fooling her. If she were to become captain, she wouldn't be able to come back here. And she liked it here especially now that she's found a special place in someone's heart. This couldn't be happening, could it? This was all a dream. Kuchiki Byakuya wasn't dead. She needn't go back to Soul Society.
She shook her head with a forced smile. "No, you're kidding." She looked at Renji who was now looking at the wooden floor blankly. "I'm not leaving Ichigo or Inoue or anyone else."
"No matter how long a mother leaves her child at home, she's always going to come back." Said the eldest of the three. "Rukia, no matter how long you run away from it, it's now your duty and responsibility and you know you can't escape it thus, in the end you will have to do it."
She shook her head stubbornly. "I am not leaving this world! I finally found happiness and I..."
She paused, suddenly realizing something. What had she become? Since when had she been shameless enough to put her happiness before duty? It was the first time she realized that the reason she didn't want to go back is because everything she wanted was right here with Ichigo and the others. Since when was she one to put herself before duty?
Quickly, she got to her feet. "I'm leaving."
"But," Renji started. "What about the 6th-"
"I'll have to think about that, Renji." She said without even looking at him. Her voice was cold and stern. "I have a lot to think about."
She left the shop, slamming the door behind her.
The moon was high and the stars were clearly visible as she sat on one of the swings in the playground. It had been almost an hour since she arrived. She looked up, wishing the heavens could help her. She didn't want to go. What normal person would sacrifice their happiness? But the thing was she wasn't normal.
"Rukia," a familiar voice called from behind. "Inoue's been contacting you on your landline earlier and she was worried you weren't answering."
Footsteps. They grew louder and closer but it wasn't loud as her heartbeat which seemed to be beating right outside her ears. Her chest was heavy. Her face was flushed with tears and her eyes were probably sore.
"Rukia," he repeated.
She stood up before he could land a hand on her shoulder. She didn't want him to see her like this. If he did, then there would be a lot of questions ahead. "Ichigo, I'm fine." She started to walk away from him. "Go home. I still have some business to take care of. Alone." Though she tried her best not to let her voice crack, it did as she uttered the last word.
Something was wrong and Ichigo knew it. But he didn't bother asking since it was obvious that she was avoiding questions as she walked away from him.
Rukia then reached the front of a convinience store. She entered and browsed for a drink. She needed one. Her head was feeling light and she felt like passing out from dehydration. She paid for the juice box she picked and began drinking as she continued her walk.
A lot of questions were bothering her-questions that would take some time to find answers to. She only had one week and she didn't have time to answer them all. But one question kept bothering her through the night-was she going to let them know?
She had to. She knew it wouldn't be right if she just disappeared one day without a trace. She had to tell them about this. Uryuu wouldn't probably be as sad as the others. Sado wouldn't show any emotion, like usual. Inoue would be depressed, like usual... But Ichigo... What would Ichigo do?
She once told him that she didn't want to go back anymore, no matter what... And she could still remember the last time he handled the situation she didn't want to be in. That day she almost died... The first time he had been to Soul Society... To stop her from dying because he knew she didn't want to yet...
If Ichigo knew, for sure he'd follow her and take care of things his way again. She didn't want that. Last time he did that, it almost cost him his life. She didn't that to happen to him.
So it was decided. They weren't going to know.
It's been 6 days. Tomorrow, she would be leaving. She didn't attend school for the whole week. She either roamed the whole town or sat alone in her room with a juice box in her grasp for a whole day.
But today, she began packing up. She cleaned up her cabinet and placed all the clothes she bought during her stay in a donation box. She wouldn't be needing them in Soul Society. Not with all their old-fashion garments to wear.
She cleaned up her fridge and threw everything away. Tonight, she would be sleeping on the couch in front of the window which gave her a perfect view of the starry nights. Tonight, she would sleep under the comfort of the light of the moon and stars. She had to get used to it because she wouldn't have Inoue or Ichigo or anyone at all to be with in Soul Society. It would all just be business, business and business.
There was only half an hour left until tomorrow. She curled up on the couch with a small blanket. The lights were out and only the moonlight lit the living room. She was on her way to a deep slumber when someone had knocked on her door.
She expected it to be the people from the Donation Center who were going to pick up the boxes she packed up. She slipped on her bunny slippers and walked to the front door.
Before she could even realize that she forgot to call the Donation Center to pick up her clothes, she had already opened the door.
"Ichigo," she murmured under her breath. "What are you doing here..?"
He looked furious. "I heard, Rukia." His eyes wandered around the dark room behind her. Even though the lights weren't on, his eyes could still make out the box near the door. He knew what it was. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want you to know!" She yelled.
He pulled her by the wrist as he entered her apartment. "WHY?"
"I didn't want you to know! You were going to stop me from leaving!"
"So do you want to leave this life? Huh? You want to trade in the life you have right now for the stressful duties waiting for you in Soul Society?" He was yelling at her. He knew it was wrong but he knew she didn't want this. "Urahara told me what happened... Not about Byakuya! He told me what happened and exactly what you said when he told you that you were the next Captain!" He grasped her shoulders tightly, trying to shake some sense into her. "He told me. And he knew very well you wanted to turn it down."
She pulled herself out of his grasp. "But I have no choice, Ichigo! It's not my decision! Whether I want to do this or not, I can't really turn my back on it! If I do, there will be consequences."
"So answer my question-do you want this or not?" He was practically yelling at her now like a father. "There's always a way, Rukia. We can fight this." No. She didn't want that... She didn't want him involved. She didn't want to be the reason behind his battles. She didn't want to be a burden. "You have a choice, Rukia. We can face this together. And we'll have Uryuu and the others! All you have to do is tell me you don't want this.. Please don't leave us behind."
She remained still and quiet while her tears formed. "But..." She started. "I want this." She wanted him out of it. She wanted him living a peaceful life. "I don't need you to take care of anything, Kurosaki. I'm..." She forced a smile and looked at him. "I'm happy that I'm going back."
Lies. Ichigo knew they were lies. He knew she didn't want to go back anymore. She told him, not only once, but a thousand times already.
The clock struck 12 and a portal appeared in the living room.
"If you leave, then I will have to give up my position as a Substitute Shinigami." He said sternly. "If you step in that portal, Rukia... Then I will give up my happiness as well."
"How is being a shinigami the same as finding happiness, Kurosaki?"
He looked a her straight in the eye. "If I never became a shinigami, then I never would have spent those days with you. Rukia... Please... I know if you leave, you won't be able to come back soon. If you leave me for that long, I'm going to have forget you. If you turn your back on the happiness you've found then I'll have to do the same."
Her eyes widened but the tears didn't stop falling.
"If you go back to the life you once had without me, then I'm going back to the life I once had without you.." He knew he sounded like such a jerk... But this was his last hope. If she was going to force herself to do something she didn't want then he'd have to do the same... He'd have to go through the same pain.
He pulled his badge out of his back pocket and stretched his arm to Rukia.
"I'm sorry, Ichigo." She accepted the badge as a sign of him surrendering his duty as a shinigami. "This is probably better for the both of us."
He shook his head. "Trust me, Rukia... It will hurt... For the both of us." He knelt down. "If you go through pain, then I have to feel pain too. If you cry, I have to cry too." His eyes were tearing up. He was suppressing his sobs. "If you die, then should die too." He hugged her legs, not wanting her to take a step into the portal. "That's the kind of bond we have, Kuchiki Rukia."
Her tears rolled down her face faster than usual. She hugged his orange-head against her chest as tight as she could, not wanting to let go as well. "I'm sorry. I don't want to do this, Ichigo. But I have no choice... You have to stay here. I don't want you fighting anymore... I want you to live the peaceful life you once had." She formed a hand seal with one hand and restrained Ichigo's body with a spell to make it easier for her to slip out of his arms.
"Goodbye, Kurosaki." She uttered. With one step into the dark swirling air, she disappeared and so did the portal.
The spell she had cast on him wore off the second she was gone but he still didn't get up on his feet. "Rukia..." He sobbed.
She was gone. She returned to where she once was... What should he do with his life now that he didn't have her and now that he wasn't a shinigami anymore?
What did he use to do before she came in his life?
He could hardly remember...
With all their memories flooding his mind, he couldn't remember anything from before the night they first met.
"I love you, Kuchiki Rukia..." He sobbed.
