a/n: This is well supposed to be a Valentine fic but school launched full attack with homework and exams. They are such sadists. Anyway, I put this one up because I had fun writing it. I hope you understand it. I apologize for typographical errors and grammar lapses. Beta was busy with her own fic. I beta-ed it myself..
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach! I just own a few copies of the manga.
Let Bygones be Bygones
"Are you some kind of confessor?" the prisoner asked rhetorically. "Unless you are, which I know you are not, I will not answer your impertinent questions." He growled his answer hinting that he was irritated with his guest. "You have no business here." He continued. "I told you that many times. I don't need some witch to talk to or to lighten my burden. I don't need your pity or any crap like that. Just freaking, leave me alone."
"Is that the proper way to treat you only visitor?" replied a woman standing across the prisoner. "And honestly, why would I pity a scumbag prisoner like you. Let's just say I have my own reasons." She smirked and continued talking. "A hundred and fifty years, that's a pretty long time, don't you think so? How does it feel to be stuck here for that long?" The prisoner did not respond. "You must have forgotten how it was like to be free, to see the sun, and all that crap. You have even forgotten why you are trapped in this wretched cell in the first place. Tell me. Do you remember your crime?"
"None of your business." Replied the prisoner sternly. "The vice captain of the Thirteenth Squad had nothing to gain by knowing what I have done wrong. I did not answer it fifty years ago. I won't answer it today. And even if I did tell you, could you bring back the time that I lost while rotting in this hell. Why do you even bother asking that every time you visit."
"I just wanted to make sure—" The vice captain cut short her reply. Her eyes wondered through the poorly lit prison cell. She squinted to see the convict she was speaking with. She cleared her throat and led the light of the torch she was holding to the corner where the man was sitting. She sighed and continued talking. "Tell me prisoner. Do you still have any idea what your name is or should I just call you prisoner 015?"
"It's none of your business." The convict replied. "Would the world be a better place if I tell you? And judging by the look on you face, I can tell that you know my name." He chuckled. "As I have told you the first time you came fifty years ago, I have no intention or whatsoever of telling you information regarding myself." He looked away from the woman and pushed himself further into the corner.
"Ichigo Kurosaki," the woman stated. "He was a great captain or so they say. He achieved bankai in less than year after he gained his shikai. He defeated Aizen Sousuke and retrieved the Orb of Destruction. And rumours even say that he saved a noble from execution. Tell me, prisoner. Do you know a man as great as him?"
"Get out of my sight." He hissed. His eyes suddenly flashed a frightening look. He stood up. The woman stepped back. The man stepped closer. He forced the woman into a corner and conquered her with his height. "I don't have anything to do with this Ichigo Kurosaki and this noble you speak of." He grinned. "I killed him, Lady. I killed Ichigo Kurosaki." He backed off. "I suggest you leave now and never show yourself ever again. I can kill you when I can't take it anymore. Now leave."
"Very well." The woman replied dusting her hakama. "I won't bother you ever again given the condition that you answer my question." She smiled and looked directly into the eyes of the man.
"Really?" the prisoner rolled his eyes. "It's really hard to believe you." He smirked. "Fine then, anything to shut the woman up." He ran his hand through his hair and walked opposite the direction of the woman. "Ask away."
"Shihouin Jiman—" she began. But before she could finish her sentence, the prisoner grabbed her by the neck and pinned her to the wall. His eyes burned with rage and anger. He felt his blood boil. The torch fell from her hand. The cell was engulfed by darkness. However, it was the only then that she was able to verify that the man had deep amber eyes and fiery (though dirty and messy) yellow hair. She gulped. She reminded herself that her life was in danger, but she didn't resist. She forced her sapphire eyes to look straight at the man.
"Don't you even dare mention that bastard's name." He hissed into her ear. After five seconds or so, he finally calmed down and let go of the woman. "What do I know about him?" He answered hiding some sort of hatred in his voice. "They say he is a person of high regard; a well-respected noble if I do say so myself. He—"
"He is dead. He was murdered two months ago." She cut short his lies.
"So, what does that coward's widow want with me?" He smirked. "So you think I killed him. I wish I did but trust me lady a million and one people out there wanted to kill him. You have no proof that I did it. Did it ever occur to you that I was in prison the entire time and I was for the past one hundred and fifty years?"
"A man named Nozomuni Mirai killed my husband." She answered. "Did you know that this Nozomuni was once a prisoner here? Furthermore, his cell was 014; coincidentally beside this cell, 015. Tell me, how did he conspire to kill my husband flawlessly? He was never convicted of murder. Why did he kill my husband?"
"He's dead. Why would it matter? The bastard's dead. You caught the culprit. Start a new life or whatever. What else do you want from me?" He answered and looked at the woman. He could tell that she was really bothered by something; not about her husband's death but something else. And somehow, it pained him to see the widow like. "Nozomuni-san," the tone of his voice changed. It became soothing rather than angry. "He is an elder brother of that noble. He was supposed to the true heir of the clan but things got a bit dirty."
And finally she broke down. "I was about to accept fate, to give up hoping, but then he died. And now, I don't where to start or how to start all over again. I didn't love him not once. I knew that. But now, everythi—"
"It's all right." The man replied. "It's going to be all right." Unable to stop himself, he comforted the woman by hugging her tightly. He rubbed her back. And then he whispered to her, "Get out of here. Start a new life. Find someone who'd love you and care for you. You won't find it here; you can't. Don't ever show yourself here. Don't come back. Don't ever come back."
"But, I thought." She pulled away from him.
"I answered your stupid question." His kind nature withdrew. "Now, get out of here! Don't you dare you show yourself ever again. Do you hear me? I want you out of here!"
"No," the woman replied. "That was not even my question." She smiled. "I knew that Nozomuni Mirai was imprisoned a year after you. During that time while you were with him, you told him the truth of his brother's betrayal and everything. And as soon as he got out, he initiated the intricate plot to kill his brother and you told him how." The woman sank to the floor and began to weep again. "At first, I didn't understand why, but now I have hunch. It was all you doing. You did all this. You plotted my husband's murder. You—"
"So what if I killed him, are you going to send me to jail?" the man replied. "And I have intention of apologizing if that's what you want."
"Would you let me finish for once?" she replied. "I came here to prove my hunch. I want to make sure. I want to know if I was right. Do you still intend to keep the promise you made to you a hundred and fifty years ago?"
"Do you think I'd still love you?" The man said enraged. "Do you think after all that you've done I would still love you? You left me for another just after a month I was sent to prison and not just any man but the very man who sentence me to hell. And suddenly, you just visit me like nothing happened? Just get out of here. I can rot in here for all you care. If it hurts you so much, let me tell you that I didn't kill the bastard for you. I killed him just to get revenge." He stood up and pushed the woman out of the cell. He alerted the guards that she was about to leave. And she was speechless.
"Yeah sure, I love you some damn bad." He smirked. "But it looks like you don't love me anymore. "I don't deserve you, bitch. My life's wasted. You got your whole life ahead of you. Start a new life. And come back for me. Don't ever do that. I don't even want you thinking about me. I don't want you to have anything to do with me. I don't want explanations or excuses. Just leave."
"Just this once Ichigo," she begged. "Listen to what I have to say. I was carrying a baby…our child. We had a son for goodness sake I didn't know what to do. Not only that my clan was forcing me to marry the noble and I had no other option. Please listen."
"Rukia, you listen." He reached for her locks across the bars. "It pains me to see you like this. I know you love me but I'm a criminal for heaven's sake. I can't love you anymore and you can't too. My life is here. My future is here. I cannot provide for you and your child. Don't you see? I love you so much that I want you to hate so that you could start a better life than I can give you. Just go. Please. And let bygones be bygones."
a/n: It turned out sad. It was supposed to have a happy ending. I don't know what I did. I'm still revising my other fic and I can't seem to bring the chapters together. Hopefully, I find out what wrong with it soon. And kempachi rocks I chp311. Read it!
Rants: I just had an argument with my friend on the more probable pair. IchiRuki or IchiHime. I am so frustrated that he thought Inoue( -hate her) looked better with Ichigo, which is completely not true. What's the point of Ichigo meeting Rukia in Vol1 if there not destined to be together? Enough ranting.
Love lots,
Moon-chan
P.S. I almost forgot! PLEASE REVIEW!
