Never Again? Part 10
"I'm done with you. It appears you're not strong enough to fight for me." Aizen Sōsuke to Tia Hariberu (in English Tia Harribel)
A/N: *glomps her Reviewer once more* xwhitemoonx, Allyieh (yeah, he is really an idiot and I love it :D), TAKCH1 (next time invite me to the party :D), Javane! Favorite Story: Javane, sodapopwinchester! Story Alert: xcHiiBii-RuKiiax!
Jū: Futatsu no Kodo to Akai Tsumi
"But it's strange… as long as I've lived I've never witnessed the shinjitsu no aikōshi manifests itself completely…"
Urahara gulped: "T-that may actually be my fault… Ichigo used… a Kidō of mine to travel back in time to where he first met little Kuchiki-san…"
Koika's eyes widened: "Are you serious? There's a reason why no one remembers his former lives! Because of you it could be that love dies forever, you lunatic!"
~*~
Urahara looked like he wanted the ground to tear apart and swallow him up just to escape the angry woman in front of him. A woman's wrath is more lethal than Hell's flames, definitely.
He gladly accepted the chance to answer the shop's door as well-known voices were heard.
"Oh~! Ishida-kun! Inoue-san! Sado-kun! What gives me the pleasure of your visit?"
"We sensed Kurosaki's Reiatsu but that's impossible… isn't it?"
Urahara gave them his biggest and creepiest 'I'm-a-mad-scientist-beware!'-smile: "Well, actually, he is downstairs with little Kuchiki-san. They are hold back by Tessai-san so they don't rip each other into pieces. Want to pay them a visit?"
"EEEEEH?!"
~*~
While heading towards the infamous basement, Urahara explained them the situation. Ishida snorted: "Typical Kurosaki. He always finds a way to get his head out of the mess. I can remember him in his fight with that black-haired Espada. He was clinical dead and still stood back up. That guy doesn't know what 'being dead' means."
"Ah, but that's what we all love about him, no?"
They looked at Urahara like he was insane… screw that comment.
~*~
Big manga sweat drops appeared at the side of their heads at the scene in front of them.
A knocked out Tessai.
A Kurosaki Ichigo who was supposed to be dead.
Said dead person shouted insults at Kuchiki Rukia like a pub full of drunken criminals. The Kuchiki replied with equal fervor. Their blades were crossed and threw sparks in every possible direction.
"Ano… since when are Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san so… well…"
"Mad at each other? Well, since that stupid idiot sent Ichigo back in time and gave the incarnation of rancor the chance to cut their bonds. Now their feelings for each other are reversed and you see what that means."
They turned around as the Shunshin came down the ladder and joined them.
"NANI?!"
Yoruichi sighed: "Well, then, here comes the second explanation for today…"
~*~
"NANI?!" Really, you would think they cut this crap already…
The Goddess of Flash didn't reply. Instead she looked at the two fighting Shinigami and sighed. She took a few steps forward and miraculously got a hold on the two.
"FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! GET A HOLD ON YOURSELVES! DON'T YOU GET THAT THE RANCOR YOU FEEL FOR EACH OTHER IS JUST AN ILLUSION A MAD MANIFESTATION OF A HUMAN FEELING FORCED UPON YOU? FOR ALL THAT'S HOLY AND SANE CALM DOWN, HAVE A NICE CHAT WITH EACH OTHER, KISS ONE ANOTHER AND LOVE THE OTHER AGAIN SO WE ALL CAN HAVE BACK OUR PEACE!"
They averted their gazes from one another and looked at the cat-like woman.
"What the Hell are you talking about? 'Manifestation of a human feeling'? That sounds ridiculous!"
Rukia put her 2 cents in as well: "Yeah, for once this asshole has a point. And that illusion scrap is an old hat since he killed off Aizen."
A vein popped at Yoruichi's right temple. With a lethal tone to her voice she replied: "Really? Then how are you two explaining to me the fact that you were head over heels for one another up until today?"
Their eyes widened. Slowly they looked back at the other, blinking a few times.
Ichigo spoke first: "Now that you mention it… I don't even know why I hate her…"
"Here it's the same. I just feel the urge to rip off his worthless, ugly head."
The teen narrowed his eyes: "What did you just say you little bi-?"
"Focus!"
They jerked at the catwoman's sudden yelling and did as they were told.
After they looked at one another for several (unbloody) minutes Yoruichi spoke up again: "Think I can lose my hold on you?"
They slowly nodded and were true to their wordless agreement and didn't try to kill the other anymore.
"Well, then, we will treat you like little kindergarten kids, 'kay? Now shake hands or I will show you the reason why Byakuya is such a stiff idiot."
They gulped and hesitantly reached out their right hands, shaking them lightly.
"Good little kids. Now hug, kiss and love the other again, will you? I need my sleep, really."
They let go of the other's hand like they got burned and looked at the Shunshin like she was crazy: "WHAT?! THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL!"
Her yellow eyes flashed red: "I swear, if you don't quit that crap I will assure none of you will ever have kids."
"Even at the risk of being childless for all eternity. I won't kiss that midget! Never!"
"But you did only yesterday!"
"Yesterday is yesterday! That's why it's called yesterday, stupid!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING STUPID, YOU LITTLE-!"
"Yare, yare, Yoruichi-san, that won't bring us anywhere! Let me have a try, okay?"
She snorted: "Well, try it but you won't have much more luck than me, I promise."
Urahara walked towards them with an even creepier smile than before that clearly said 'Follow my will or die' but even the prospect of every single terrible thing Urahara could do to them wouldn't get them to kiss the other. They were stubborn asses and proud of it!
"I will clarify myself. You will NOW kiss each other or I will tell Kurotsuchi-taichõ you are volunteering as guinea pigs."
Rukia looked pretty unimpressed: "For your information. Kurotsuchi-taichõ is dead or have you already forgotten this fact?"
'Shit, and there I thought she forgot it.'
Ishida went forward: "Come with me you two."
They followed reluctantly.
When they returned the two looked still like they couldn't stand the other's presence and Ishida seemed pretty much like his confidence just went down the gutter.
"What happened," questioned Chad in his baritone voice.
"I tried to bribe them into kissing but they only said the only way to bring them to this would be to drug them into oblivion and I don't see a way to get enough rohiptnol."
"Pity," laughed Yoruichi and Kisuke.
Rancor: 3
Love: 0
Ichigo cocked an eyebrow in amusement: "Well, does somebody else want to try? I swear. The day I kiss this bitch will be the day the sun ceases to shine."
Wordlessly Inoue stepped forward, took the two by their hands and led them out of the Urahara Shõten. None of the remaining persons followed. They would get to know what happened anyways.
~*~
"What the Hell, Inoue? Where are you dragging us to?"
"You'll see," was her only reply as she forced them to follow. She may be a pacifist but her grip was as strong as a sumo ringer's. Drat.
~*~
"'Kurosaki Clinic'? Inoue why did you bring us here," asked Rukia while bringing as much distance between herself and the Deathberry as possible.
Inoue pointed at a lamppost, traces of spiritual blood were still visible at the concrete pavement.
The petite Shinigami's eyes flickered: "Why did you bring us here?"
Ichigo looked quite the same: "Yeah, I don't see a reason for bringing us back where this woman ruined my life."
They were unaware of a certain father watching them from the clinic and praying to whatever god was up there to make the plan Inoue had – if she even got a plan – worked out.
"Oh? So now she ruined your life, Kurosaki-kun? How comes? The last time I checked, you said she was the one who changed your world… for the better."
The strawberry in question looked to the side: "Well… what do you know anyways? She ruined my life and that's all I have to say."
"Any reasons?"
"Huh?" Startled he turned his gaze back to the healer.
"Do you have any reasons for saying she ruined your life? Or for hating her?"
He looked uncomfortable as he rubbed his hands together and casted down his gaze: "… well… she's the reason I'm dead, isn't she? If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have… have…"
"If it wasn't for Kuchiki-san you wouldn't have survived that night, as well as your sisters and your father. I wouldn't be alive anymore nor anyone else. Kuchiki-san would've died that night or at the execution and Aizen would've won that war. Without you none of us would be alive and without her you wouldn't have survived. She gave you the power to protect those precious to you, something you always wanted to. She changed your world in a way no one else could… I could've never changed your world like she did, as much as I wanted to. And I'm sure… you came back just because you wanted to see Kuchiki-san again."
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP! What do you know, huh, Inoue? Maybe she changed my world for the better, who cares? Fact is that in all the lives I lived so far she was always the cause for all my pain and sorrow! How do you want to know I came back for her? HOW THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? How can you have the arrogance to put up such claims without any proves? I don't care if she stopped the rain inside my soul! I don't care if I rescued her from that pointless execution because I had fallen for her! Fact is that I've a better life WITHOUT THAT STUPID BITCH AROUND!"
~*~
"It seems you really don't want to give the both of you another chance, right? Is the rancor you feel so much greater than anything else?"
Ichigo huffed deep breaths: "Yeah, sorry, Inoue but I just can't think of anything else."
Inoue had on a downcast gaze: "You know? I somehow hoped I would be able to bring the two of you back together. I lost track of how often I wished for this friendship of yours to break and vanish into nothingness. Aizen once said that my power violates divine law and I guess I somehow hoped that my powers go beyond that what I knew so far. I was wrong. The only persons who can overcome that hatred are the both of you. I'm sorry for being so rude and interfering in your private business."
She bowed her head slightly before turning to leave as she heard Rukia whisper: "Ichigo… that just now… sounded as if you could remember…"
Inoue stopped and turned back to witness their conversation.
The orange haired Shinigami looked aside: "Urahara-san gave me a Kidõ so I could travel back in time. I guess… somehow I regained my memories and all…"
"So… the reason… for your rescue really was…?"
"Ah, I guess the rumors were right. I really had a crush on you… you know what? That wasn't a crush… not anymore."
Was it her imagination or did the two of them really stand more closely together?
Rukia smiled lightly: "So… I guess you finally kept your promise, huh?"
Ichigo smiled back: "Yeah, seems so."
"Could you please… say it? Again? Just for old times?"
His smile brightened: "Kuchiki Rukia… the reason I rescued you from execution wasn't because I owed you my life… but because you owned my heart. Every fiber of my soul was in love with you."
"Thank you…"
"No problem…"
Inoue blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes. Were their fingertips playing with the others'?
"It is a rejection of phenomena. Her powers limit, reject and deny all phenomena that have affected her subject. She can make it as if the damage never happened. This is far more than temporal or spatial regression. In fact, it oversteps the limitations set by the gods. Her powers violate divine law."
'Isn't it a fact that a being's spiritual powers are also in their Reiatsu? So… doesn't that mean my Reiatsu alone can reject phenomena? Is that what happens over there? Or is it just… that even if they hate each other because of the influence that Akugen has on them… their souls still love each other?'
She watched in silence as they looked down at their hands and then back at the other. Small smiles crept upon their features as they finally entwined their fingers.
Inoue's eyes saddened and tears began to run down her cheeks: "Definitely the latter," she whispered as she walked away to let them sort everything out and balance their hearts.
~*~
Akaku akaku akaku yurete
(Shaking in red, in red, in red)
Yume no yume no hate e
(To the edge of the dream, of the dream)
Hanarerarenai
(We can't be separated)
Mou nando mo akiramete wa oshikorosu tabi
(Already, every time when I'm stifled to death after I give up again and again)
Ikiba no nai kanjou ga me o samashiteku
(My emotions that have no place to go wake me up)
Kegare no nai sono hohoemi zankoku na hodo
(Your flawless smile knows it's an existence)
Tooi sonzai da to wakaru yo
(So distant that it's cruel)
Ienai kizu kokoro mushibamu dake na no ni
(Even though the incurable wound only eats away at my heart)
Yami no (naka ni) ima mo (yadoru) omoi o osaekirenai
(Even now I can't completely hold back my thoughts (that dwell) (within) the darkness)
Akaku akaku akaku yurete
(Shaking in red, in red, in red)
Yume no yume no hate e
(To the edge of the dream, of the dream)
Deatte shimatta unmei ga mawaridasu
(We met; destiny begins to turn)
Dare mo dare mo shiranai himitsu
(A secret that no one, no one knows about)
Ochite ochite ochite
(I fall, I fall, I fall)
Mou modorenai tsumi o kizande mo kitto
(I certainly can't return anymore, even if I carve out my my sins)
Kodoku no fuchi arukinagara sukuwarete ita
(While I was walking in the abyss of loneliness, I was saved)
Donna toki mo kawaranai riaru na hitomi
(By realistic eyes that never change)
Demo hikari ga mabushii hodo umareru kage wa
(But a shadow born as the light is bright)
Fukaku irokoku shinobiyoru yo
(Deeply and pronouncedly creeps up to me)
Futatsu no kodou maru de awase kagami no you ni
(The two heartbeats are exactly like mirrors facing each other)
Niteru (keredo) chigau (itami) mugen ni tsuzuite iku
(The (pains) are similar (but) different and continue infinitely)
Akaku akaku akaku moete
(Burning in red, in red, in red)
Subete subete keshite
(Erasing everything, everything)
Kanau koto no nai maboroshi ga ugokidasu
(An unfulfilled illusion begins to move)
Tsuyoku tsuyoku hakanai yoru o
(Strongly, strongly)
Koete koete koete
(Overcoming, overcoming, overcoming the fleeting night)
Nogarerarenai tsumi ni oborete mo kitto
(I certainly can't escape, even if I drown in my sins)
Akaku akaku akaku yurete
(Shaking in red, in red, in red)
Yume no yume no hate e
(To the edge of the dream, of the dream)
Deatte shimatta unmei ga mawaridasu
(We met; destiny begins to turn)
Dare mo dare mo shiranai himitsu
(A secret that no one, no one knows about)
Ochite ochite ochite
(I fall, I fall, I fall)
Mou modorenai tsumi o kizande mo kitto
(I certainly can't return anymore, even if I carve out my my sins)
~*~
"What do you think? Should we give it a try?"
Rukia smiled at him: "Even at the risk that the sun won't shine anymore?"
"Even at the risk that the world will fall into darkness. Well? What do you say?"
"I say… that we don't have anything to lose, do we?"
His face came a little bit closer to hers, his hand gave hers' a light squeeze: "Yeah… I guess," he whispered in a husky voice and then closed the gap between them.
Their grip on each other's hand tightened, Ichigo's unoccupied arm snaked around her waist and Rukia's free hand buried itself in his orange tresses.
They had closed their eyes like many other times before and their lips brushed lightly against the others' to an unknown melody only they could hear. Then they stopped and looked at the other through half closed eyelids. Ichigo smiled.
"I had completely forgotten how good that feels."
"Me too."
He took away his lips from hers and lightly kissed the corner of her mouth, then her cheek, and her neck. Against her skin he mumbled: "I would like to give it… no, us another chance. What about you?"
"I would love to."
The next moment his lips crushed against hers and he demanded entrance to her mouth.
She would've been stupid to decline.
Weeeell, I don't have a clue how I came up with the idea of Inoue hooking them back up… but I got the 27th Bleach Volume in English (a near miracle here in Germany… and it's much more expensive than the German versions T^T) and thought that that scene in Las Noches was just awesome. I may hate Aizen and Inoue but Hell! Even I have to agree that she has awesome powers and Aizen has awesome quotes! So, yeah, I myself don't know which one it was. Her powers or the fact they love the one they hate, dunno. What d'you guys think?
R&R because it makes my day^^~
jû – ten
Futatsu no Kodo to Akai Tsumi – Two Heartbeats and Red Sins (1st Opening of the anime 'Vampire Knight')
nani – what