I do not own Bleach!
The Unknown Child -10-
Just like what Ichigo told the twins, Yuki looked much better when the next day comes. Yuki seemed to feel more at ease and started to smile a lot more, and even though Karin still has her suspicions, both twins couldn't be happier when their cousin started to turn back to normal.
"So, Yuki-chan, what do you want to do today?" The said person then frowned and looked confusedly towards Yuzu who had asked her the question.
"I thought I was supposed to stay at home?"
"Oyaji told us that you needed to go outside too." Karin said as Yuzu nodded in agreement. Yuki then looked around and turned towards the twin, who seemed to understand whom the girl was looking for.
"Ichi nii said he needed to go out to tell his friends that you're alright."
"Oh… Yuzu-chan, Karin-chan, I'm so sorry for worrying both of you…" Yuzu and Karin looked at each other for a moment before hugging their cousin.
"As long as Yuki-chan won't hurt herself again…" Inside, Yuki felt guilty, since she is now a shinigami who has a zanpakuto, she'll get hurt more often, and she will have to disappear more often, just like Ichigo does. Does this mean she will have to hurt both of cousins again and again?
"I'll try…" Yuki decided she won't lie, she will try her best not to be injured by rogue hollow. She will grow stronger so she will be able to protect herself, her family, as well as her friends.
"Yuzu-chan… I think I'm hungry… Can we eat now?" Yuzu then smiled brightly and quickly walked towards the kitchen, busy preparing lunch for all three of them.
"Hey, Yuki-chan…" Yuki then turned towards Karin and found the other girl staring worriedly at her.
"Yes, Karin-chan?" She knew what's coming, Karin has always been a better person at seeing spirits than Yuzu after all.
"Are you… involved with what Ichi nii is in…?" Karin hesitantly said as Yuki turned to look towards Yuzu who is still busy cooking in the kitchen. Karin noticed her cousin's eyes seemed distant for a second before she turned back at her already knew her answers before Yuki said anything. Yuki's eyes have always been the most transparent part out of her.
"I'm sorry, Karin-chan… I don't want to lie to you…"
"… Are you telling me the truth now?" Yuki then hesitantly, but surely, nodded at Karin whose shoulder slumped as a sigh escaped her lips.
"Then… yesterday… were you fighting those monsters until…"
"No… I was fighting myself, Karin-chan…" Yuki then left the conversation there since Yuzu had called both Karin and Yuki out for lunch.
"What do you mean by that… Yuki-chan?" Karin said as she watched as her cousin walked towards Yuzu, asking what is for lunch today as Yuzu replied excitedly. Karin was about to stood up from the sofa before her eyes widened when she saw Yuki's hand started to disappear upward. Karin then quickly grabbed Yuki's disappearing hand, only to see it nothing wrong with it.
"K-Karin-chan, what's wrong?"
"I-It's nothing… I just thought I saw something on Yuki-chan's hand, maybe it was just me…" Karin then looked up only to meet Yuki's apologetic eyes as the other mouthed 'I'm sorry' to Karin who froze on her feet, eyes full of fear. Yuki then pulled her hand back and sat down on one of the chairs.
"Come on Karin-chan, we can't let Yuzu-chan's food be wasted right?" Karin then snapped out from her daze and tried to smile as Yuki smiled softly at her.
"You're right… come on, let's eat!"
That night, after Yuki had left Yuzu and Karin earlier for her designated to rest, Yuki is staring up on the ceiling, feeling her body getting lighter and lighter by the second. She lifted up her arm, to see it growing transparent to her human eyes, so this is it, what her zanpakuto had mentioned earlier at dinner.
'Your human life is ending, Yuki'
Yuki felt her eyes closing, she had bid Yuzu and Karin farewell to sleep, and tomorrow, she will be gone. She just hoped, that both Karin and Yuzu would forgive her for disappearing again, but now, she can't return, not until she became stronger.
"Kazeyomi, let's get to know each other better after this…" Yuki said faintly.
'Of course, Yuki. I will always stay by your side.'
Yuki then closed her eyes, her body started to change, as her human body dissipates. For a moment, Yuki's breath stopped, until she opened her eyes and sat up to see that now she is clad in her shihakushou, proof that now she is a shinigami, no longer a human. A tear escaped her eye, as she looked towards the door, whispering apologies to her two cousins before shunpo-ing out from the window, going to find her oldest cousin to bid him farewell.
/
Ichigo was walking back home after meeting with his friends to tell them about Yuki's condition after her sudden disappearance. Ichigo was thinking that Yuki might be resting in her room right now before a familiar voice called out to him.
"Ichi nii…"
"Is that you, Yuki?" Ichigo's eyes then widened when Yuki stepped up to him, clad in her shihakushou and zanpakuto.
"Yuki, why are you in…" Yuki then looked behind Ichigo and the orange-haired boy turned around only to see Byakuya there with Renji and Rukia.
"Rukia! Renji! Byakuya! W-What are you doing here? Since when?"
"Uruhara-san called us, saying that there's someone we need to pick up…" Rukia said as she glanced towards Yuki who walked pass Ichigo and then stood at Byakuya's side.
"Yuki… you…"
"Ichi nii… my human body is no more… just now, I died." Yuki said, as Ichigo's breath hitched and his throat all clogged up from shock.
"… I am no longer human. Now I am a shinigami… a shinigami that is going to defend Soul Society."
"No, Yuki…" Yuki then looked up to Byakuya who nodded at her and she ran to hug Ichigo one last time. The orange haired boy quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and burying his face in her hair.
"Goodbye, Ichi nii… tell Yuzu-chan and Karin-chan that I'm sorry… I promise I'll come and visit again, in time. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll grow stronger, so I can help you and protect Isshin ji-chan, Yuzu-chan and Karin-chan." Yuki said before she pulled back from Ichigo's arms with tear-stained face.
"I…"
"Thank you for being you, Ichi nii… I love you." Yuki said, turning her back to Ichigo before taking Byakuya's hand as the gate to Seiteirei opened. Yuki took one last glance behind to the frozen Ichigo as tears fell from her eyes. As the gate started to close, Yuki gripped onto Byakuya's hand tighter and opened her mouth and said something to Ichigo before the gate closed fully behind her and disappeared. Ichigo then fell unto his knees, tears falling down from his eyes. He felt a sense of déjà vu, only this time his cousin was not taken away from him by force. Ichigo then closed his eyes before screaming in anguish into the silent night.
'Thank you, Ichi nii, for everything you have done. Goodbye… and I'm sorry."
From this day onward, I will become stronger. Stronger so I can protect those that I love.
Is this the last chapter of this story?
it might be, and it might be not
time shall tell the continuation to this story
~angel's angel
And last but not least... review~ xD
Update: I have a sequel up right now, it's called 'The Shinigami Child' ! Go to my profile to read it!