Never Again? 7
"It was clear that you were going to lose once you couldn't use even one of your wings. No matter how many times you get up to fight, a grounded bird is nothing more than dinner." Kira Izuru to Avirama Redder
A/N: Reviewer: TheLaughin9Man, Grimjaww, Allyieh KuroTsuki7, TAKCHI and Aizen-sama1977! Story Alert: ANIMEHOLIC52891, Grimmjaww, romancejunky and TAKCHI! Special Thanks to KuroTsuki7 for correcting me in the last chapter^^"
A/N2: Don't own the song 'Unchangeable Word' but I would LOVE to own the guy singing it *mischievous grin*
Shichi: That Unchangeable Word since the Beginning
"You don't know when to give up, do you, Akugen?"
"Oh! Koika, why are you here, sis'?"
"Answer the question."
"No, I don't, sis' and you of all should know that."
The woman sighed: "Why?"
"Why? Well, because you're my sister."
"Don't play dumb."
"You know my intentions."
"But what would you have from it? What's so important about this position?"
"It's not the position. It's just my hurt ego, Koika. I was banned because I'm the incarnation of Hatred, a 'bad' feeling. But what about our sister Envy? She's still there…"
"You weren't banned because of your Aspect, it was because you interfered my duties. You tried to cut a kōshi and that's against our rules."
"I know that."
"Then why?"
"Because I'm able to do it. If I'm able to cut a shinjitsu no aikōshi that will be your end and the beginning of my reign."
"You won't success."
"That, my dear sister, is still in question."
~*~
それでも
soredemo
(But even so)
Ichigo turned from side to side in his bed at Urahara's. He was covered in cold sweat and wore a deep scowl on his face.
全てに 陽が昇りだせばまた歩き始めて
subete ni hi ga noboridaseba mata aruki hajimete
(When the sun is climbing over everything, I will start walking again)
He wasn't having a nightmare… not really. But those shadows hunting his dreams were beginning to drive him insane. He saw them ever since his awakening in Rukongai but they were only shadows, he wasn't able to tell what exactly they were.
重なる 毎日 思い出になる
kasanaru mainichi omoide ni naru
(My everyday is piling up, becoming memories)
The more time passed the more clearly he could see them. And around the time he met Rukia low voices began to blur in his ears. With her recent confession that he actually knew her before the voices became more and more demanding – they seemed to want him to understand them. But there was just no progress. They were as indistinct as ever.
心に積もる
kokoro ni tsumoru
(Piling up in my heart)
He jerked in a sudden flash of pain and winced. He turned his head to the left and mumbled something under his breath when his right hand came up to grab onto his shirt where his heart beat in uneven pulsations against his chest.
明日が 来るたび 前のほうが見えて
asu ga kuru tabi mae no hou ga miete
(Every time morning comes, I look at what's right in front of me)
"Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light divide this into six! Bakudō 61: Rikujōkōrō!"
'What the Hell? That just now…'
All of a sudden the voices had cleared and even in his sleep he was aware of the words that just echoed in his head.
彩り始めてく
irodori hajimeteku
(The coloring begins)
Like someone pushed a switch the shadows began to clear up and the murmuring voices began to get louder and cleared themselves until he could clearly look at the face of a brown-haired man with a face slightly reminding him of a snake. He looked at Ichigo in disgust and spat: "Why are you doing this? Why are you capturing us into a Bakudō? That won't get you anywhere! Your Shinigami and Vaizado friends can't fight anymore! They're beaten up!" Ichigo's scowl deepened: 'Wait… I know that situation…'
薄れる 些細な 何かに気付き
usureru sasai na nani ka ni kizuki
(It's fading, slightly I sense something)
The scene changed and pain shot through every single nerve inside of his body and began to burn in agony. It felt like a billion swords pierced him at once. The blackness that he wasn't aware of up until now disintegrated and he felt the blood running from his wounds and unto the ground.
'Kurohitsugi…' it hit him. 'That just now… what pain…'
振り返るだろう
furikaeru darou
(I look over my shoulder)
He felt himself nearing the final nothingness of death when he looked over his shoulder with all strength left inside of him and his gaze kept glued to the shaking form of the girl he wanted to protect with his very soul. His eyes closed but he was still conscious when Rukia's arms grabbed onto his ripped Shihakusho and drop-by-drop tears fell on his bloodstained face.
思い出せないことが 一つ増えるたび 立ち止まって居ても
omoidasenai koto ga hitotsu furueru tabi tachidomatteitemo
(Every time things that you couldn't remember increase, even if you've stopped and even if you're standing there)
"Gimme your sword, Shinigami."
Ichigo opened his eyes and was met with Rukia's bloody but smiling face. She held her Zanpakutō in front of her it's tip pointing at him. He felt a smile on his face as well.
"I'm not 'Shinigami'. I'm Kuchiki Rukia."
"And I'm… Kurosaki Ichigo."
涙の後の名前 覚えているなら それが全てだろう
namida no ato no namae oboeteiru nara sore ga subete darou
(That "name" behind the tears, if you could remember it then nothing else would matter)
At this point scenes and phrases began to swirl around, fading into each other.
Rukia stood in front of him with a pained expression and asked him with a whisper: "Say it once more… your name…"
His heart clenched together when he was faced with something that resembled the Rukia he knew but he refused to believe it was actually she. The white she wore was ripped at the hems and the golden ribbon that held it had a dark touch to it. Her light lavender hair was the same color like her eyes with snake-like pupils and a hollow expression in them. Her voice was tripled, like more people were speaking at once.
"I… will erase my memories of you destroying the bond we share."
"Dumbass! Memories aren't everything!"
'Now I remember… those words…'
The scene changed again but this time he didn't care about his surroundings. The only thing he could think of was Rukia's face…
'RUKIA!!!!!'
初めから変わらない言葉
hajime kara kawaranai 'kotoba'
(It's the unchangeable "word" since the beginning)
He breathed heavily and stared with wide eyes in front of him. He was soaked in his sweat and his lungs stung with pain when he tried to even his breathing. His heart beat fast and pumped against his ribs, making no intent to settle its rhythm.
今まで以上に心の声まで聴こえてしまいそうで
ima made ijou ni kokoro no koe made kikoeteshimaisou de
(More than ever I feel like I could even hear my heart's voice)
That moment the door to his room slid open revealing Urahara, Yoruichi and Rukia in their nightclothes and out of breath.
"You okay? Why did you scream?"
"Huh? Oh… well…" He looked to the side averting their gazes: "It's nothing… just a dream…"
"Well, that sounded like it wasn't just a dream. You were screaming your lungs dead!"
"I said it was nothing, Urahara-san!"
隠して 隠して 強がることが不自然になる
kakushite kakushite tsuyogaru koto ga fushizen ni naru
(I keep on hiding and hiding it but then it makes me unnatural to pretend to be tough)
He kept avoiding their gazes until Ichigo heard footsteps and his door closing. The Shinigami sighed but stiffened when he felt a petite figure sitting down on the edge of his bed: "What d'you want, Rukia? I said it was nothing."
"Liar."
"Yeah, I'm. So what?"
うまく言えないことがうまく頷けないことが続いたら
umaku ienai koto ga umaku unazukenai koto ga tsuzuitara
(I couldn't say things well; I couldn't nod in approval properly, if this continues)
"Why?"
"It's just none of your business, Rukia."
Ichigo felt her small hands taking his faces and turning him towards her. Even in the darkness of his bedroom he could see her violet orbs glaring at him.
He'd lost.
瞳をみつめたとき心のどこかで響かせればいい
hitomi wo mitsumeta toki kokoro no doko ka de hibikasereba ii
(The moment I gaze at your eyes let it echoes somewhere inside my heart)
With another sigh he began to tell her what he could remember – what was surprisingly everything and waiten for her reaction.
"Wow…"
He raised an eyebrow: "That's all?"
She shook her head: "No… but… it's just…"
Her hands had left his face and he couldn't help but miss this feeling. Without thinking he'd leaned over and brushed his lips against hers.
はじめから変わらない言葉
hajime kara kawaranai 'kotoba'
(That unchangeable "word" since the beginning)
Keeping his lips glued to hers he whispered her name before leaning into another kiss, this time making it more passionate. Rukia's armes snaked around his neck while his wrapped around her waist.
心に距離があるとしたなら
kokoro ni kyori ga aru to shitara
(If there is space between our hearts)
"I still can't really grab what happened even when I can see those scenes in front of me… it's like I saw it but from the sidelines without really knowing what exactly is happening."
"I wish I could-"
"You're helping me enough, already. And I'm really grateful for this."
He smiled at her reassuringly but her face remained in its sad expression.
意識しすぎた想いのせいだろう
ishikishisugita omoi no sei darou
(It must be the fault of this over conscious feeling)
"Please stop showing me that sad face, Rukia." He pecked her on the lips.
"But-"
"No 'but's." With that he kissed her again, this time not leaving her lips. Instead he tilted his head and tasted her with his tongue while demanding for entrance at the same time. She granted it to him. After a minute he broke away: "Think you can stop looking so sad?"
"Maybe…" She retorted breathless.
He smiled: "Stupid shortcake," while leaning down for another kiss.
いつもどおりが帰ってきたら
'itsumo doori' ga kaettekitara
(If we're back to "our usual selves")
What the two couldn't see was the red ribbon that was connecting them both. It glimmered and faded but came back again. This repeated itself over and over again making a certain person boiling in anger.
またひとつになる
mata hitotsu ni naru
(Again we'll become one)
"Why does this damn kōshi not materialize itself already? I can't do anything until then, damn!" And Akugen kept glaring at the two Shinigami in rancor.
思い出せないことで 自分を責めたり不器用になっても
omoidasenai koto de jibun wo semetari bukiyou ni natte mo
(Even if I blame myself or become clumsy because of a thing I couldn't remember)
Later that same night Ichigo stared at the ceiling recalling his dream over and over again.
'I know exactly why Rukia reacted so strange… I can't blame her… why couldn't I remember that damn reason?!'
笑顔の中の名前覚えているなら それが全てだろう
egao no naka no 'namae' oboeteiru nara sore ga subete darou
(That "name" inside that smile, if I could remember it then nothing else would matter)
'Just that one damn reason…'
はじめから変わらない言葉
hajime kara kawaranai 'kotoba'
(It's the unchangeable "word" since the beginning)
'I owe her at least this… I have to remember everything…'
変わらない言葉
kawaranai 'kotoba'
(Unchangeable "word")
And end XD LOL, sry I didn't upload sooner but my WLAN died in my arms… and I actually had that chapter finished… but then I listened to that song and got the sudden urge to re-write everything. Gomen ne…
You can tell by Ichigo's last thought that he's going to do something stupid… and if not you're dumb. JK, but trust me. I'm planning to let him do something stupid, don't know what yet, thou… if I can't think of something I'll have a big problem… because it needs to be done otherwise the plot will come to a halt… shit…
Exactly 7 pages… lol XD
koika – love song
