Chapter 6: Impossible

Finally a new chapter. I don't like it but I think I'll like the next chapter better. I'm sure you should too.

"What the hell was she thinking?"

Momo sat there while Renji continued to complain about Hitomi's unexpected departure.

"I'm worried. Especially about Izuru."

Renji calms down a bit and leans on a nearby wall.

"I know what you mean. I heard he and another soul reaper went to the world of the living before daybreak."

"But this doesn't make any sense. There must be a reason why she left so suddenly." Momo adds.

"Rumor has it that she went to see someone." Renji replies.

"I just hope everything would turn out all right."

~MEANWHILE...~

"I've got to find him! I must!" Hitomi thought to herself, running. Running nowhere. She had no idea where Keiichi would be and she was beginning to feel a bit tired. It's been 12 hours since she had left the soul society. Where was she running to? But suddenly, she pulls to a halt.

"What am I doing?.... Let's face it...... Keiichi might not be here......" Her mind began to wander. Back into the past.

~Flashback~

"Keiichi!" Hitomi happily runs down the hall, hoping that she would find Keiichi. She turns the corner and bumps into a few people.

"Hey, what's the rush, Misori?" One of the students questioned. But Hitomi continues to run. It took a while for Hitomi to realize that Keiichi would be outside. Probably training by himself or something. Making a quick run to the outside field, Keiichi appears.

"Keiichi! Guess what?!" Hitomi yells, Keiichi looking at her in slight puzzlement. She stops before him and a huge smile was planted on her face.

"Hey, Hitomi. Did something happen?" Keiichi asked.

"Yeah! I'm graduating early! Isn't that great?" Her eyes glowed in excitement and he couldn't help but to feel happy for her.

"That's great, Hitomi!" He grabs her into a hug. Her smile fades away but her cheeks flushed. It's been a while. That she had hidden feelings for her close friend. Those feelings were kept inside, afraid that they would ruin her friendship with Keiichi.

"Keiichi--"

"Hey, there's something I wanted to give you." He says, suddenly pulling her away and reaching for something around his neck. There was something resting on his neck. For a moment, he fumbles with the clasp of the necklace. Finally unclasping it, he puts it around her neck.

"What is it?" Misori questioned, examining at the symbol that hung at the end.

"It's the sign of infinity. Forever." He informed her. Again, she blushes.

"Forever? Forever what?" Before she got a chance to look up, he kisses her on her forehead.

"Keiichi!" The red on her face grew brighter.

"Forever meaning that our friendship would be forever."

Hitomi couldn't sleep. Just the thought of graduating early, made her more excited. But a sudden knock on her door caused her to jump. She hops out of her bed and opens the door. There stood Keiichi with a gentle smile on his face. Confused, Hitomi gives him an unsure look.

"What are you doing here, Keiichi? We have class in the morning---"

"It's all right. Besides, I know you can't sleep. You must be happy about graduating." Keiichi says, allowing himself in the room.

"Well... I am excited but.... when I hear you talking about it, it makes me feel bad. You wouldn't be graduating with me."

"I told you, it's all right. But... I am a little jealous." He admits, taking a seat on her bed.

"Don't say that. You're making me feel guilty."

But Keiichi laughs. "I'm kidding, Hitomi."

It might look like he was kidding, but Misori knew he wasn't. As a matter of fact, she felt uncomfortable mentioning it around him now. His smile quickly disappears and he stood to his feet once again.

"Hey, Hitomi." He says, walking before her. Instantly, her face turns red. Lucky for her, the room was very dim with light.

"Yeah, Keiichi? Is there something you want to say?" There was a look in his eyes. A serious look. The expression almost scared her.

"There was another reason why I gave you that necklace."

"Hm? Really? Why else did you give me this?"

"Because... we might not see each other again. Anything can happen, Hitomi. I.... I love you, Hitomi. I don't want you to forget about me."

The sound of a gasp passed Misori's lips. She was speechless. Not one word had escaped from her mouth. What is there to say?

"I..... Keiichi... I-I don't know what to say---"

"Say that you won't forget about me."His hands found hers and he held him tightly. There was the look of determination in his eyes. Like he was afraid of losing her.

"So... You don't want me to go?" She finally asks, her hands still held in Keiichi's firm grasp.

"Yes... and no. I want you to be happy, Hitomi. But I don't want you to leave me.... But if this means a lot to you then you shouldn't worry about me and my feelings."

Misori's eyes shimmered with tears.

"Keiichi... I'm sorry..."

~Flashback Ends~

"I'm sorry, Keiichi... I'm so sorry... For leaving you..." Hitomi stood in place, letting the past of her old friend run through her mind. She found her body slightly trembling and her eyes sting. Her knees were beginning to buckle and there was this sharp pain of guilt stabbing her in the chest. It came down to the point when Misori's eyes couldn't stop flooding itself from tears.

"Keiichi... Forgive me." Her knees dropped and she buried her hands in her face. She wept loudly in her hands, not caring one bit.

But a slight touch to her shoulder caused her to jump in slight surprise. Turning her sparkling red-brown eyes to the figure standing beside her, there was a hint of relief in her eyes. She reaches her arms out to the figure and tears continued to stream down her face. The figure frowns a bit and slowly went down by her side.

"Oh c-captain......." Hitomi cried out, Izuru embracing her closely. He was angry at her for leaving so sudden but seeing her cry changed his attitude for the moment. At this point, Akira wondered what relationship did Misori and Kira had.

Collecting herself, she looks into her captain's face.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I should have told you everything..." Hitomi wipes her eyes a bit.

"You fool. What were you thinking? Do you know worried I was?"

"You were worried?"

Izuru doesn't answer. He stands up once again and he looks at Akira. "We're going back to the soul society immediately."

"No, we can't." Hitomi spoke up, rising to her feet as well. "Rin told me that Keiichi would be here."

Both Izuru and Akira had a puzzled look on their faces.

"Rin? Keiichi?" Akira repeats.

"Rin... is the girl that keeps appearing in my dreams... she's the intruder that came along with that creature... I should have told you that she was constantly in my dreams."

"You mean the intruders that entered the Seireitei a few weeks ago?" Akira asked, still confused.

"Yes. She told me that I would find someone here."

Izuru seemed bothered by the fact that she came all the way out here because an enemy told her to.

"How naive can you be? Believing someone like her?" Izuru complained, "At that, she was in your dreams---"

"You don't understand, Captain Kira.... Keiichi Obata was... special to me..."

The slightest hint of envy appears upon Izuru's face. But Akira has the look of surprise.

"Hold on. Keiichi Obata? The guy that committed suicide in his room? I've heard about him before.... Lieutenant Misori.... Did you know that guy?"

Her eyes lowered to the ground and she nods slowly. "He was my best friend....." The rim of her eyes were damp with tears again.

"You're not making any sense, Lieutenant. If your friend is dead, why are you looking for him?" Kira asked, his tone sounding a bit aggressive. None of this was making sense at all. Hitomi knew it didn't but she just wanted to believe that Keiichi was still alive somehow.

"Like I said, Captain. You don't understand. You don't know how close he was to me. I didn't want to leave him but... I did.... And he killed himself... because of me." Tears spilled over and her face flushed. Akira frowned. Although he was still confused about the whole situation, he still felt terrible about it.

"Let's go back to the soul society and we can talk---"

"No, Akira! Stop saying that, OK? Keiichi has to be here. Rin told me! She has to be---"

"That's enough!!" Izuru yells, grabbing and shaking her a bit. Immediately, she stops crying. "Now... I don't know what the hell is going on but you're taking advantage of your title. How could you act so carelessly and listen to the enemy? Understand this, Hitomi. Your friend is gone."

Misori didn't want to believe it but, her captain was right. It's impossible that Keiichi Obata could be living. Yet, there was still a feeling in her gut that he's still around. Then again, she has to remember her place.

"Fine... Then let's go back to the soul society." She finally answers with defeat. The disturbed expression on her captain's face slowly eases into a neutral. Izuru turns away from his lieutenant and he gives off a light sigh.

"Wait... Before we go... Am I going to get into trouble?"

"That's not up to me..."

The hot sticky air of the room was beginning to irritate Hitomi. Even the low buzzing sound that came from the ceiling light annoyed her. Although Misori's 'punishment' hasn't yet been announced, she must stay behind bars until then. So far, it's been three hours since Hitomi remained isolated from the others.

"Hey. You're back." The sound of a woman's voice had entered into the room. Hitomi's eyes turned and sees Rangiku on the other side of the bars. In a way, Hitomi felt a bit embarrassed. In a way, Misori thought she deserved to be in here. Just running off so carelessly. Not even having ONE thought of consequences. "Go ahead and laugh. Rangiku."

"I'm not going to laugh at you, Hitomi. It's been a while since we talked." Rangiku stepped closer to the bars. It wouldn't hurt to talk to someone. Hitomi sighs deeply and rises from the bed. "Then that means you don't know why I left, right?"

"I sure do. I think everybody knows." Gossip always got around the seireitei pretty quickly. But there was no surprise there.

"So... Do you think I'm going to lose my position?"

"I don't think so. I'm sure your captain is talking on your behalf." The eyes of Hitomi dulled a bit. The look of doubt. "Hm? What's the look?"

A weak smile appears on Hitomi's face. "You see.... I've been having dreams... about the intruders that attacked me..... They're so vivid, you would think they're real. That's when the girl in my dreams told me that my friend was in the world of the living....."

"A friend? And you believed some enemy in your dream? I'm not going to lie to you, Hitomi. That sounds rather stupid."

"I know... But I was hoping that he was there......"

Rangiku gives Hitomi a look. "Do you... like this guy?"

"Well....... Not anymore, that is. Besides, he's dead."

Yet another look appeared on Matsumoto's face. But before she could comment on Hitomi's response, the presence of someone else entered the room.

"Oh, Captain Kira." Misori says out loud. Rangiku turns her head and sees Izuru standing not too far from the gate. "Rangiku... Can you please excuse us for a moment?"

Gladly, she nods anode exits the room without another word. As Hitomi stood in the same room with her captain, she grew uncomfortable. She wasn't exactly sure why but it didn't matter. Izuru slowly stepped closer to the gate, his eyes not showing any sign of happiness or joy. "Come here. Lieutenant."

His voice had a hint of anger and it scared Hitomi a bit. Probably because she hasn't seen this kind of look in his eyes before. And so, she stepped closer to her captain, silently praying that she wouldn't get a scolding. But instead, as she got closer, he reaches for her hand.

His ivory hands held her hand tightly. And his pale blue eyes gazed upon her face. It was like his attitude changed within the blink of an eye.

"Captain... I don't understand." Well, this was a surprise. To her especially. She kind of expected to get an earful of how stupid she was.

"I want you to talk to me. Tell me something, Hitomi.... I feel that you aren't comfortable being around me....... Do I make you feel uncomfortable?"

For a moment, Hitomi didn't hear one word Izuru had said. She was so fixed on the fact that Izuru was being so.......

"No. I'm comfortable around you. You should know that alread---"

"Then act like it!"

Misori jumps and yanks her hand away from Izuru. "I guess he is angry at me."

"I-I'm sorry, Captain Kira. I should have told you everything. I was stupid. I still am... Everything happened so suddenly and I was simply acting on my emotions...... Please...... don't hate me."

Izuru closed his eyes and heaves a sigh. "Are you going run off again? To find your former lover?"

Her red-brown eyes widened in disbelief. Never she had thought of her captain saying such a thing to her.

"Former lover? I have no former lover... I left because I thought I could see Keiichi one more time---"

"If he was alive... would you have forgotten about me?"

Hitomi's heart began pounding like crazy. Was this some sort of way to show his feelings?

"Captain....... are you saying that.... you......."

"It has been decided that you receive a warning for your actions, Lieutenant Hitomi Misori." He says suddenly. From that moment, Hitomi felt relieved. A little smile appeared on her face.

"You talked on my behalf, right? Did you, captain?"

"Of course, I did. As a result, you got by. But if you ever run away again....... It will be the day you lose your name as a lieutenant. Do you understand me?"

Once again, his tone of voice was unsteady. Anger struck his voice. It was side that Hitomi never wanted to see again. Not ever.

A/N: Okay, I'm back on track (I think). I'm officially off of my writer's block and my computers are up and running smoothly once again! This calls for a quick update! Yay! R&R!