These Melodies
by Impervious Marr
xoxox
Summary: Companion piece to 'Written Notes'. In this place that is too white and much too silent, Kurosaki Ichigo finds solace in music and melodies as he loses the abilities to track time and to judge what is right and wrong. Set in the distant future.
Warnings: AizenIchigo, insanity, ramblings and sadness. D:
A/N: D:
Yep, all I can say for today's Author Notes. xD;
Enjoy the chapter; please read and review! :D
Edit (26-03-08) - Changed a bit of the first part for Ulquiorra's speech. Thanks again to Ice Silverwind! :D
xoxox
7
Princess
xoxox
Ulquiorra called Kurosaki as Ichigo, now. Aizen stared at him boredly as he gave today's reports, pausing when the Espada started on Ichigo's condition.
"He is fine, Aizen-sama."
"That's good." Aizen raised an eyebrow at Ulquiorra's quiet sigh, then immediately narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"
"I apologize, I should reword my sentence. He... Insists that he is fine. He barely touches his meals, and doesn't obsessively writes his melodies now - and there is that habit of staring blankly into the wall for hours at a time. He is only cheerful around that child Espada, the Sixth... Or me. But I am inclined to say that it is a poor ploy for a facade."
Aizen made a small sound of dissatisfaction at the back of his throat. Ungrateful child. Maybe it's time that I paid a visit to him. I should've never spoilt him in the first place, or else all of this wouldn't have happened.
His eyes looked at the file that was on the table. Inoue Orihime. The girl was dead to the world, for all he cared. Losing such a useful tool wasn't a part of his plans, but it was to be. Ichigo was in the same building, after all, they were bound to meet eventually. He didn't expect it for it to happen to soon, though.
That's what you get for slipping up, Sousuke.
He immediately blamed Ichigo for the cause, but in all honesty, he slightly, guility recalled that he hadn't asked for a proper explanation from the boy. Aizen was scared when Ichigo almost died, and he didn't want to go through that again. The gasping and the crying, when Ichigo couldn't respond to him even as he ordered him forcefully to snap out of it, the deadness in his eyes for the first few nights.
The feelings confused him, even as he was healing Ichigo throughout those sleepless nights, even as he was comforting Ichigo when he clutched to Aizen and cried at that one moment in time, even as he was telling off Ichigo, ruthlessly shoving aside the guilt at Ichigo's obvious, apparent hurt.
You're such a fool.
There wasn't any time to argue with himself. After this, he would make a quick stop at Ichigo's room to check up on him. He hadn't seen him since the time when he warned Ichigo not to step out of the room without company.
He dismissed Ulquiorra with a brief nod.
xoxox
Ichigo sighed, watching as Nel slept. He really must be bad at lying when he couldn't even fool a child Arrancar that he was fine. The girl kept on asking him repeatedly if he was alright, because he was out of it, and that he kept on having a morose expression when Ichigo thought no one was looking.
Ulquiorra and Grimmjow asked the same things. Ichigo waved it off, attributing it to still feeling weak.
That wasn't entirely a lie, after all. The incident was merely a few days behind him. Ichigo closed his eyes, willing himself not to sigh again. His Hollow was the one doing the most complaining, and he couldn't blame him much. The rain must be pouring relentlessly.
He wondered.
That girl who placed him in so much pain. She must've been important to him, somehow, because she was obsessed with the fact that he was going to save her.
Orihime.
Just who was she?
Closing his eyes, mind already made up, he stood up, kissing Nel lightly on her forehead and she giggled in her sleep, turning away - Ichigo sighed affectionately, walking towards the door.
He knew how much trouble it would cause him if he went out of it. The only person's opinion whom he cherished so much before meant little to him at the current moment, in all honesty. Aizen didn't want to listen to him.
So maybe he shouldn't listen to Aizen, either.
Grasping the door knob, he pushed it open, surprised to finding it unlocked again. Aizen must really believe that he would take the order without any rebellious actions.
He thought wrong.
Walking with new purpose, he tried to remember where Orihime's room was; he wanted to know what happened to her. The curiosity drove him insane. As he turned a random corner, hoping that the winds would take him where he wanted to go, Aizen appeared on the other side of Ichigo's hallway, walking towards his room.
xoxox
Ichigo walked and walked and walked. He didn't know where he was, really. Maybe luck wasn't on his side today. He was about to sigh and turn around, when a silver-haired man appeared on the other side of the hallway.
He was wearing white clothes. Ichigo walked up to him. "Excuse me?"
The man turned his head slightly and Ichigo faltered in his steps. The man was smiling, with his eyes up in crescents, upturned - and Ichigo was unable to see his eyes. He shuddered.
He looked at Ichigo curiously, tilting his head. "Aren't you Kurosaki Ichigo? What are you doing here, Kurosaki-kun?"
The voice was polite, though Ichigo could detect the mocking and curiosity all at once. Ichigo considered his options.
"Who are you?"
Was it even possible for the man's grin to grow wider? He tilted his head in a quick bow.
"My name is Ichimaru Gin. You can call me Gin, Kurosaki-kun."
Ichigo was startled. He didn't have the same reaction as the others who knew him would. Usually they would start questioning, or at least look surprised that Ichigo didn't recognize them.
This man, on the other hand, smiled as if he knew what was to come. What happened to me.
Shaking his head of these thoughts, he looked up, wondering if Gin was able to help.
"You look lost, Kurosaki-kun. Finding your way back to your room?" Gin asked, before the boy could say anything. The mood in the air suddenly shifted. Ichigo wasn't given a chance to reply again. "Aren'tcha supposed to be in your room? You can't go out unless you have company, now, can you?"
How did he...
"Aizen-sama told me, of course!" Gin laughed, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, answering Ichigo's silent question. Ichigo blinked, before shrugging.
"Well... He didn't want to listen to me. So I decided, well..." Ichigo trailed, his cheeks blushing in embarassment.
"Mhmm, growing a backbone, now, are you? I like it." Gin grinned.
"You aren't gonna send me back?"
"I'm company, now, aren't I? And I'm curious. Where is it that you wanted to go? I'll bring you there. I'm bored anyway."
Ichigo looked at him thoughtfully, before sighing.
"Do you know where's Inoue Orihime's room?"
"The Princess?" Gin asked, but he didn't really need to. Of course he'll be looking for her. "Whatever for, may I ask?"
"I want to know what happened to her..."
Curiosity killed the cat, Kurosaki-kun.
"Well, sure. We're not too far away, actually. Come on, move it, move it," Gin said, clapping his hands, and Ichigo smiled for the first time in days. The man was fun, even if he was a bit creepy at times. "Kurosaki-kun -"
"Call me Ichigo."
"All right, Ichigo. The hallways get confusing, but you'll get used to it."
xoxox
They were in front of the same-but-different door Ichigo encountered when he was possessed by that woman before. "So, this is her room..." he murmured, noticing the cracks on the surface. He stared at them as Gin observed the boy in the background.
The boy is interesting. Strong yet fragile. Such a contradiction - I can see why Aizen-sama is attracted like a moth to a flame. The boy is beautiful, undoubtedly - but he has a spark, a sort of light nonexistent in anyone else.
Ichigo brushed his fingers against the cold surface of the door, and pushed it. It creaked - a sound that Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows at. None of the doors in Las Noches creaked.
He went inside, but immediately stopped, looking at the sight.
Flowers.
Everywhere at every corner. Every color imaginable.
So many flowers.
Gin, behind him, was also surprised. It was obvious this wasn't meant to be here.
"What is..." Ichigo started, entranced. He walked, eyes wide and looking at the beautifully shaped - something - in the middle of it all. Ichigo was mindful of the steps he took, looking at everything everywhere at every second. It was so beautiful that it was unnatural. He looked again to the middle, steps faltering.
That's a coffin.
Ichigo walked silently, mind blank.
A coffin for who?
He stopped right beside it, eyes looking at the body inside. His eyes widened.
Her.
Orihime.
She was like a carved statue, inanimate, eyes closed in a peaceful expression, two hands clutching each other as they lay on her abdomen. She was the perfect picture of a seemingly perfect angel where Decay's hands could not harm her. Her brown hair was spread everywhere, completed with a pin, and she wore a dress.
Ichigo traced the edge of the coffin lightly, pausing at some engravings. The first one was kanji that was obvious, meant to be seen. It said 'Princess'.
Below it were more carvings; it was in a language he could not read, but somehow could understand. The first sentence caught his attention.
these are words only you are meant to see
Curious, he read on.
ichigo-kun
when we were in that room, i knew it was you but i couldn't accept it. denial at its finest. so i rejected my existence.
i'm not strong like everybody thinks i am. it's too much to stand. maybe it's the white and the silence and you not remembering me but i couldn't take it anymore.
Ichigo ran his fingers multiple times at the white and at the silence. His eyes skipped 'you not remembering me', but her next words shouldn't have surprised him.
i don't blame you. i was too selfish to understand, and i am not sorry to lie in this coffin.
but i am sorry for hurting you, and i'm sorry for bringing you there, and i'm sorry for hurting you and expecting you.
i love you
please live happily, if not for me, then for whoever you love.
Ichigo stared wordlessly, before shaking his head, the sudden uncontrollable urge to laugh welling in him. He couldn't believe it. The underlying meaning was clear.
She still loved him. That was insane.
He closed his eyes, chuckling, sliding down to the floor and resting his head against the cold wood. Gin came up behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder, whistling when he saw Orihime.
"She was always a beautiful thing. Always talked about ya."
"I know."
Gin's smile twitched at the sight of the kanji 'Princess', but his fingers stopped at the unrecognizable carvings of words below it. He turned to Ichigo, pointing.
"Do you understand that?"
Ichigo looked up to the words, scribbled in strange curves and lines.
Why could he read it?
i love you
And he chuckled again, shaking his head as he looked down.
"I don't."
xoxox
They stayed there for a little while more, before the door behind them opened with a startling force. Gin stayed where he was, still smiling, while Ichigo scrambled, backing away slightly, tense.
Aizen stepped into the room, eyes immediately fixed on the orange-haired boy.
"Gin, out. Now."
"Of course, Aizen-sama."
Ichigo looked at Gin's retreating back, eyes carefully avoiding Aizen's piercing gaze. The man stepped up to him, looking around at the room filled with flowers, before it lay on the woman.
He stopped right before Ichigo and the orange-haired boy didn't feel any better. Ichigo started to cave in on himself again, pulling up his legs against his body and slowly placing his hands over his ears, putting his head down. Aizen remembered the pose from his last visit, and sighed.
"Ichigo."
The boy didn't respond, showed no outward reaction, didn't do anything.
"Ichigo, look at me."
Still no response. Aizen felt his temper flare.
"Ichigo!"
This time, the orange-haired boy flinched, whimpering. Aizen rarely got impatient, and berated at himself at his loss of control. The boy made him do things to he never thought was possible for someone like himself.
Sighing, he crouched down, gathering the boy into his arms. At the touch, Ichigo unconsciously moved closer, like what was usual before this whole calamity with that girl happened. He still kept his head down, still had his hands over his ears, and Aizen carried him all the way from Orihime's room to his own quarters.
"I'm sorry."
Ichigo didn't notice, still cowering and still hurt.
Neither of them said anything else until Ichigo was settled into bedsheets which weren't his. He raised his head slightly, looking at the dark room with dashes of red here and there. He frowned.
"We're in my room," Aizen said, sighing, as he ran a hand through his hair and mussed it, letting the tresses fall against his cheek and forehead.
Ichigo stared, entranced, because he never saw Aizen like this. It made him look softer while still retaining that edge. He didn't know how. It was just.
Aizen paced around the room, shrugging out of his clothes and putting on a yukata more suited to nightwear, for sleeping. Ichigo looked away, cheeks heating. He only looked back when he was sure Aizen was finally clothed.
"I'm going to finish some things up. You can sleep first if you want."
The silence that hung around after that wasn't comfortable. It was only when Aizen got the first paper out to start writing, was when the silence was broken.
"... Why?" Ichigo finally asked, voice small and Aizen hated the way how pitiful it was.
"There are so many 'why's. Take your pick."
"Why am I here? Why are you being so nice to me? Why can't you be consistent? Why did you get so angry?" Ichigo asked sleepily, lazily, but the worst of all - emotionlessly. Aizen's brush stopped right above the paper.
When the first drop of ink stained it, Aizen berated himself on the carelessness, and turned around. He suddenly wasn't in the mood.
Ichigo was staring at him, without any emotion. He half expected hate, not this type of dullness.
"I can't honestly answer those questions because I don't know the answers myself," Aizen said, indulging in a bit of honesty. Ichigo looked at him, before closing his eyes.
"Come here."
Aizen wordlessly followed the request, sitting beside Ichigo on the bed, and Ichigo got up, putting arms around the man's shoulders. Ichigo squeezed a bit, leaning his head against the crook of Aizen's neck.
Seconds passed.
"... I didn't go to Orihime by will. She controlled me somehow, I don't know how, but her voice plagued me. I was walking like a man possessed," Ichigo started, voice barely above a whisper. "When Grimmjow was with me at that one time that I had a major headache... She was the one causing it."
Ichigo sighed, moving closer when Aizen placed a hand on Ichigo's back.
"She said that I was there to save her, and was devastated when I told her no."
"Do you remember her?"
"I can't care for her anymore," was Ichigo's curt answer, and Aizen fell silent, waiting for Ichigo to finish.
"Then I remembered choking on the air itself, the silence and trying to scream. I remember feeling blind. Then... I woke up crying, and someone was calming me down."
Ichigo tightened his grip.
"You feel like him."
He looked to the side, voice coming close to cracking.
"And then a few days ago..."
"I know," Aizen said, when Ichigo's voice couldn't keep up, hiccuping everywhere and he started sobbing. He placed his two hands around Ichigo this time, rubbing one of them up and down, similar to what he did that one time.
"I hate you," Ichigo declared, between tears blurring his vision and the crying making him heave.
Aizen didn't falter in his comforting. "I know."
"You didn't give me a chance to explain."
"Yes."
"It really, really hurt."
"Mhmm." Aizen placed a stray kiss on Ichigo's wet cheek, sighing, hugging the boy closer. "I didn't like seeing you dying, and it made me overreact. I was being too callous in trying to not let it happen again. That, and Orihime's death was unexpected... Somewhat a hindrance to my plans, but, as I said - I overreacted. It's one of my faults when I panic," Aizen admitted, placing another kiss on Ichigo's other cheek,
"You matter to me, Ichigo. I really am sorry."
Ichigo smiled against his skin, and that was enough to make Aizen feel forgiven.
xoxox
Ichigo woke. He lay in the bed, disoriented, but happy nonetheless at what happened earlier. He couldn't believe it, but the growing affection for Aizen proved otherwise. Still muddled with sleep, his eyes looked around slowly, locking onto Aizen's back.
" - zen?" Ichigo asked sleepily, whispering. The man looked up, eyebrows furrowed.
"Hmm?"
There had been something bothering him all this while.
Inoue Orihime... Was she..
"... She's... Important...?"
Aizen looked confused for a while, before softly laughing, padding quietly to Ichigo and sitting down. The boy moved closer.
"Yes," was Aizen's answer as he threaded a hand through Ichigo's hair, leaning down to give him more kisses, still chaste, onto Ichigo's lips.
He was starting to get overly fond of kissing.
"She was?" Ichigo asked, looking borderline adorable. Aizen didn't show any reaction, but he could sense the jealousy that seeped into Ichigo's words.
"Yes," he repeated, smiling to cover up his chuckle, he was just too amusing, tracing a finger over Ichigo's lips. "She was important because she was useful. That was it."
Ichigo gave a brilliant smile at Aizen's next words, as he leaned down to touch Ichigo's lips again, voice dropping a few octaves lower when he murmured.
"She can never be as important as you."
xoxox
End Chapter Seven.
xoxox
A/N: D:
Yep, the D: saga still continues. Eh, I still think that Aizen should get a kick in the balls. (Or maybe me. o.o For making him do the whole hurting Ichigo thing. xD)
THE SAPPY BURNED MEH HANDS.
Well, next should be... Um. It's a secret!
Have a nice day everyone! :D
