Only If It's For You

NekoWriter


Chapter 9: The Final Farewell

If I told you what I was,
Would you turn your back on me?
And if I seem dangerous,
Would you be scared? (Monster- Imagine Dragons)


At this point in my life nothing seemed to surprise me anymore. For instance, my Dad explaining he's heading the manhunt to capture me dead or alive? Not a surprise. I sat in the sand, watching it wash over my clothes in small waves of wind, listening to my Dad's voice. It was comforting to hear a familiar sound, even if the words stung like ice clung to my skin.

"They want you dead" Dad's voice shook slightly as he dealt the final blow. Previously, the conversation had consisted of tasteless jokes about how unmanly I had become, but that could only last so long.

"I know." I replied dryly. I didn't blame Soul Society for their decision; it was the only option. My powers could cause too much destruction.

"It's not too late to stop whatever this is son." I closed my eyes in frustration. My hands gripped at the dry sand in attempt to keep my composure. My resolve was set. I could not—would not—let Rukia die.

"But it is too late." I sighed while crushing the hell butterfly. The blue spirit particles floated in the air for mere seconds before disappearing into the sky.

Thinking about the human world was painful. There were too many good memories that reminded me of the life I once had—that would never be granted to me again. As painful as it was, I knew that I needed to go back to my old world for one last thing.

I walked through the halls at an even pace looking for the one man I wanted to see least: Aizen. The various hallways connected like a maze that I slowly began to grow accustomed to. At first, everything seemed so dirt covered and unorganized, but now it started to look like a home. I shook my head at the thought; this place wasn't my home nor will it ever be.

I arrived at Aizen's meeting room, on the off chance he'd be there, half expecting it to be empty. Aizen was, however, sitting at the end of a long table surrounded by various stacks of paper. "What can I do for you?" Aizen asked with a sly smile not bothering to glance in my direction.

"It's not for me, it's for Rukia." I said with gritted teeth. "She needs real food. Not this shit you have here. I need to go get some for her."

"You're free to do whatever you like Ichigo Kurosaki." Aizen glanced up at me with that same crooked smile on his face: "You aren't being held here against your will. You may come and go as you please… to an extent of course, unless you want Miss-" I slammed my fist down on the table.

"You don't have to threaten me, I understand the position I'm in." Heat was boiling up in my body; I was ready to explode. My insides burned with anger and outrage.

"Good. Now leave, I have things to attend to that are much more worth my time." He yawned drawing his attention back to the paper in front of him. I stormed out of the room before I could do something I would regret.

I made my way back to my room where Rukia sat waiting for me. She glanced in my general direction before ignoring me again. How naïve of me to think we had finished playing this childish game.

"Rukia I need your blood" I stated flatly glaring intently at her.

"What?" She squeaked back, obviously taken back by my abrupt and unorthodox request.

"I'm going to the human world. I need to ask Urahara if he can make a cure so I can get you out of here…. Before… Before I have to do something I can't take back." I looked at my feet while waiting for her answer.

"Ichigo stop saying such stupid—."

"Just shut up and do it!" I yelled taking my frustrations out on her. My recent conversation with Aizen made me outraged, and Rukia's objections didn't help. Why couldn't she just make this easy on me?

"I understand." She responded softly while unsheathing her zanpactou. She placed her hand gently on the blade. With ease it pierced her skin. A trickle of crimson liquid slide down the sharp surface and onto her lap. "What are you going to put it in?" She questioned holding her hand up.

Shit. I didn't think this far. She saw the panic in my face as I scanned the room with my eyes for any type of container. Rukia sighed picking up a small glass beaker from the table. "Here, this had water in it. That little arrancar… uhm… B? Had brought it here."

Thankful that the small arrancar actually seemed to care about the wellbeing of Rukia, I took the glass and held Rukia's dripping hand above it. Drip. Drip. Drip. The blood splashed at the bottom of the container until I felt there was enough for Urahara to test.

I got up to leave. The look of sadness that swept across Rukia's face was unbearable. "Don't worry, I'll definitely be back. Soon."


Being outside the giant concrete castle made me uneasy. I didn't like the thought of leaving Rukia alone with all the arrancar and espada, but I had to. It was important that I made it to the human world. I decided to try creating a portal to the other world myself considering I had accomplished a similar feat only days prior. My zanpactou swung through the air in every direction possible, but no portal appeared. I was dumbfounded, how had I done it before?

"Let me give it a try." My inner hollow begged in a nonchalant voice. I didn't see the harm in it, so I agreed to let him help. After a few moments I felt a rush of energy fill my body; it felt fantastic. I could feel all my muscles tighten with newfound strength. This was the power of my hollow. With a swift slash through the air a wide strip of swirling energy appeared. I suddenly realized this wasn't a power I received from my Shinigami blood, but my hollow's. The power that brought me to Rukia; that helped me save Rukia… wasn't my own. I scoffed at my own thoughts before jumping through the portal.


The human world looked the same as when I left it a little over a week ago. Trees were just as green. The sky was the same shade of light blue. It was sad to realize the world didn't even notice my absence, but then again maybe it was better that way.

I jumped rooftop to rooftop trying to reach my destination as quickly as possible—Urahara's shop. I knew it was risky to show up at the first place soul society would think to look for me, but I needed to give him Rukia's blood. As I was nearing the shop, I felt a spike of energy behind me. I quickly jumped to the nearest roof to observe the source of power. To my relief, I found Urahara jumping along the roof tops as well several yards away. I started to call out his name, but got a sharp look before I could say a word. My confusion peaked, but before I could act on it I was pulled backwards with a hand over my mouth. This was it. Everything I worked for was gone. How could I be caught so easily? I struggled against the strong hold my captor had on me.

"Easy there son." I heard the man laugh behind me. Great, it was Dad. I wasn't sure if I should relax or tense up considering the earlier conversation we had. "Good thing I was heading this way. Urahara has been on constant surveillance since the war began. He wants to help you, but he wouldn't be able to do anything if you were caught." My muscles relaxed as Dad let me go. So this had escalated into a war? I gritted my teeth in a bittersweet mixture of anger and sadness.

"There's something he needs… It's really important." I urgently stated taking out the vile of blood, "Give this to him. Tell him it's important he finds a cure for this." Dad nodded as he took the vile. I didn't want him to know the situation so he could remain as unbiased as possible in the situation. He needed to stay safe for Yuzu and Karin. He could not be labeled a traitor. But leaving him in the dark seemed like an impossible task now, he needed to know so he could inform Urahara.

"Listen Dad… I—."

"Come eat! Yuzu is making a delicious meal tonight!" Dad laughed pulling me towards the house.

"I can't. Are you crazy! I'm a wanted man!" I shouted, breaking the hold he had on my arm.

"One last dinner Ichigo." Dad pleaded. "Just please… They miss you." The way he looked at me… I couldn't refuse.


All of us sat down for dinner as if it was normal for a Shinigami to be casually eating without any cares. Dinner progressed peacefully as we laughed and yelled at one another over stupid topics. This was the most human experience I had in a while.

"My three wonderful children are all growing up so fast!" Dad shouted into the air while staring at the three of us talking.

"Shut up Dad." Karin and I shouted in unison. Karin's punch threw Dad backwards into the wall knocking him out. The force of the hit was far above what a human could do.

"…Karin… Are you—" She changed the subject before I could finish. It wasn't possible right? She couldn't be a…

"Ichigo, where have you been?" Karin growled pulling me out of my dark thoughts.

"Just helping Rukia out a little bit," I responded rubbing her black hair out of place. "you know with the whole Shinigami thing." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth.

Sadness crossed her face for a second before recovering to her happy self. "Well don't leave for so long next time! Poor Yuzu makes enough dinner for you every night! Do you know how many leftovers we have piled in the fridge?" She argued.

"Stop it Karin!" Yuzu squeaked. "It's not his fault he isn't here!"

"Perfect! Can I bring those back with me?" Finally, Rukia would be able to eat real food again.

"Uh… Sure." Yuzu said questioningly. I could hear Dad moaning from the floor, he was coming around.

"Listen, I have to leave again. So be good and give Dad a tough time for me." I smiled placing a hand on both their heads.

"Jeez, don't say it like you'll never be back." Karin sighed, but gave me a thumbs up in response.

"Alright, alright, I just don't know when I'll be back." I knew the answer, but I couldn't tell them how permanent this last visit would be.

"I'll walk you out Ichigo." The newly conscious man spoke leading me toward the door.

"Don't forget these!" Yuzu shouted hurrying over with plastic containers filled with food.

"Thanks Yuzu." I smiled giving her a hug. I took one last look at my sisters before leaving. They would grow up well in the world of humans. Hopefully, they'll never have a need to join the world of the Shinigami.

Once outside, we sat on the roof with a beautiful view of the sinking sun. I began to tell him about the situation and how I needed to stay with Rukia. I explained that Rukia had to be blame free and it should all be put on me. I was ready to bear this for her.

"Dad, what do I do?" I sighed folding my head into my hands. Rukia hated me for putting myself into this situation, but how could she think I would just leave her? Did she not realize how important she was to me? She saved my life; gave it meaning. I looked up at Dad who kept quiet while staring towards the fading sun. My lengthy story about the current situation didn't come as a shock to him surprisingly. It was as if he knew all along things were turn out this way.

"You give it your all; then you give some more after that. It's the Kurosaki way." He leaned back exhaling. I always thought Dad was easy to read, but after discovering his past I wasn't sure who he actually was.

"I wouldn't do anything less for her." I grinned at him, in turn he grinned back. My time here was coming to an end; if I stayed any longer I would put Dad, Karin, and Yuzu in danger. Soul Society may have given Dad the task of hunting me down, but there was no way they believed he would whole heartedly do just that.

"Ichigo… just come out of this alive." He placed his hand on my shoulder; the look in his eyes pierced mine. He was serious.

"Who do you think I am? Of course." I laughed shrugging off his concern. My heart felt heavy with the weight of my lie. The way Dad continued to stare showed his concern. I sighed again. I would accept my fate for her…only for her.


Leaving the house was sad, but I knew it brought me closer to Rukia with every step. My thoughts began to converge to: "when can I be with Rukia again?" The anticipation made me uneasy. Constant thoughts of the unthinkable crossed my mind. She would be safe, right? I was promised that much. I picked up the pace trying to find a place I could safely cross into the other world. If I opened a portal near my old house it would let all the Shinigami in the area know I was here.

It happened quickly after that. I was almost far enough. If I had only opened the portal seconds earlier everything would have been okay.

A neon blue light shot like lightening behind me tangling around my arms and legs. My body fell like a rock into a large grassy field on the outskirts of town. Dust, dirt and rock debris cluttered the air making it hard to breath. I squinted trying to figure out what hit me. A tall figure strutted out of the blurred air.

"I knew if I waited around here long enough I would find you." The deep voice made my heart sink.

"How smart of you Byakuya." I grinned at him. This was not good. I couldn't move; whatever kido he used was too overwhelming.

"Don't bother struggling, Soul Society designed this kido to contain your specific spirit signature." He stated flatly,

"I'm honored" I sighed rolling on my back. What should I do?

"Bring Rukia back." The tone in his voice grew more sinister.

"Like hell I will." I stated pretending not to care. Of course I would love to bring Rukia back.

"I know this isn't you Kurosaki, yet you won't tell us why. This is your last chance; Soul Society won't be lenient on you." I stayed silent. "Fine." He made a hand motion. Of course he wasn't alone. Within seconds I felt something sharp prick my skin. I only got a quick glance of the syringe sticking into my skin; green liquid being forced into my system.

"I'm not going like this!" I shouted struggling against the kido. I could feel the foreign liquid taking over my muscles. "I can't! I need to go back!" I yelled into the air. My muscles relaxed uncontrollably as my body fell limp.

I needed to go back to Rukia. If I don't come back what will happen to her? An image of her sitting alone in our room surrounded by espada appeared as the world started fading to black.

"Rukia…" I whispered to myself as I felt a tear escape my eye.


A/N: One day I'll be timely with my releases... promise! And that day is soon!