Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Pairings: Ichigo/Rukia…Hitsugaya/Hinamori…
Raitings: T for language (severe swearing in this chappy)
Genre: Romance/General
Summary: a letter, a misunderstanding, an argument, a little fluff and Chaos ensues.
Hmm..seems like the curtains are gradually drawing to a close.. let's see what happens before they do…Confusion here and there… I hope you get by…..i really do….
Chapter 11+
Strife+
Can you see me at the end of the scarlet pathway? Did you run so hastily to reach me that you have lost breath? Paint me a smile, even just once; paint me a smile as vibrant as daybreak. My tears burn…. I am waiting, standing beyond the dyed horizon, can't you see me?
I am hurting, bleeding with tears….why do you break me ceaselessly?
Wont you just love me when all else fails….?
"Rukia! Tell me what's wrong?" The lieutenant of the 6th division asked heatedly while firmly grasping the girl's wrist, "naze?!"
She tried to remain calm despite the present circumstances. "It's nothing..." she shook her head, slightly bowing. "it's nothing, please let go of me…Renji." She flinched under his hold while hastily wiping the tears with her free hand.
He noticed this and his apprehension heightened, "Nothing? You're crying, damn it! Did he do this to you?" he pulled her closer to meet his gaze. "was it Ichigo?"
"I told you it's nothing..." She whispered avoiding contact with his dark orbs, fidgeting from his grasp. "hanaseo…onegai.." she added weakly, still in the attempt to contain the tears. Damn these emotions, since when did she become so attached to humanity?
"that's enough, Renji. Let's take her back.." Byakuya cut between them sensing the grave discomfort Rukia was currently in. they had been searching for a while now and finally found the said girl walking aimlessly not too long ago. He knew that he made a promise to her, a promise to not take her 'happiness' but this didn't look anything like happiness and he'd be more then willing to break his promise even if his pride was on the blade
…..
Ichigo ran through the streets, "Where the bloody hell did she run off to this time?" he cursed while panting; just as he was about to turn left to the next street he stopped dead in his tracks.
His eyes widened at the sight before him, but then sharpened in the recollection of animosity "so this is where you ran to…" his voice almost broke while still intently gazing at the scene before him. "in his arms…" there was a warning edge surfacing in his tone. Some how his senses confirmed to him that this was probably the 'right' time to vent all his remaining anger. He waited for her to speak while eyeing her intensely finding it hurtful to see how she was too close to that redheaded prick. Damn him and his emotions, why was he feeling excessively upset over all of this anyway? And as disillusioned as it is, he never did invite the fact of jealousy…transparency was either rejected or overlooked, at least that's what he assumed. But now everything was turning against him and he'd painfully receive an epiphany one way or another.
The two black-garbed spectators roughly scowled, where was this heading? Was there something they missed?
"Nani?" the crimson haired man bit back bluntly. There they were, Renji holding on to Rukia in an awfully close proximity and beside them was a stone-faced Byakuya. "what the hell are you babbling about?!" he barked. All confusion was now eminent...whatever happened to make everything so messed up? Why was all of this turning out wrong? Since when was a simple blasted letter that much of a fucking problem? The atmosphere was dramatically shifting to a frenzied one.
The captain turned to keenly glance at the newcomer's direction but remained silent. He only gazed at him piercingly as if waiting for something to materialize. "make a wrong move Kurosaki and I'd swear on my grave you will be destroyed." A drop of bitterness smelled like poison.
All threats were disregarded, "Speak Up…!" Ichigo raised his voice, nearly shaking in fury not lifting his gaze away from the petite girl. He didn't give a damn if everyone heard him, all he paid attention to was how he'd exclaim his rage.
Rukia only looked intently at the cemented ground. She found it pointless to explain to someone like Ichigo, besides, she was still broken from what he said earlier, whether he meant that or not, so for now she'd shut her mouth without a word to him. Her wrist was growing red from rigidity.
Tell me that letter's more important to you than I am!" Ichigo challenged her piercingly leaning forward in an attempt to somehow assault her, "Tell me right now!" Thunder roared in accordance to him as lightning briefly danced across the horizon signaling the looming plummet of rain.
Renji released her as she took some steps backward, initiating 'some' distance. 'gomen' she bit back her words, leaving them ultimately shackled only within her own awareness…. And at last she turned to leave them and ran.
Renji only tilted his head to the side to catch a glimpse that she was advancing.
It only made ichigo's blood boil to a new kind severity, neither any of them knew existed within him. He was preparing to run after her.
The lieutenant cut between him and the path to pursue her, snatching Ichigo by the collar. His dark pools steadfastly piercing through amber ones. "brat.." he hissed in suppressed wrath, it had been a long time since he'd been so infuriated to call him that. His glare would grow deeper if it was possible, "quit screwing with her." He warned, his tone proving the vindictiveness of its consequence.
The carrot-top gave him an evenly overwhelming gaze, "shut up and get out of my way." He scowled firmly clutching the hand that held him. So firmly he could've sworn he'd cut it off.
"No." Renji did not oblige ...instead he pushed Ichigo away and pulled out his soul slayer, "this is your chance to talk…" he pointed it towards the Substitute Death God. "Coz only Zabimaru would hear you…Howl…Zabimaru" he flicked it once and it was awakened to its serpent like contour; just like a white water snake that bore its fangs, ready to strike at the moon. "you'll regret this…"
Ichigo smirked while smoothing his shirt then pulled out the amulet Jushiro Ukitake gave; he pressed it against his chest and immediately, his soul was drawn out… "never get tired of getting the crap beaten out of you….?" He waved Zangetsu and the strip of fabric that bound it was undone to reveal a glimmering blade akin to the high radiant moon powerless of being touched by anything.
"that was a fluke…" renji bit back pertaining to the time he defeated him at the shrine of penitence. When it came to her, he'd be heartless to who ever dared hurt her.
"Let's just see about that…" Only Rukia could make them as mad as hell to butcher each other in a death game.
Byakuya rested his hand on his sword's hilt.
The three of them maintained their ground as fleeting silence engulfed them to what seemed like an ephemeral eternity.
Cold droplets of rain fell yet again, breaking the stillness that clutched them in a moment of loss,…
Echoing to the ground in their heavenly descent…
One swift move and the duel begins…
……………………
Momo hinamori opened her door in response to the light knocking, "eh? Toshiro-kun? What are you doing here?" she muttered while seeing the silver haired captain standing in her doorway, face slightly hidden in reticence.
He though twice before replying, "erm…can I come in?" he asked with a hint of uncertainty, seemingly contemplating the right timing. His head was filled with all the nonsense his lieutenant taught him.
Momo tensed a bit, it had been a long time since they both had a casual conversation; ever since she became lieutenant and he became captain. "hai, make yourself comfortable.." she gestured for him to enter, perhaps the familiarity between the two of them had drifted of to some plane, but she wished it hadn't been that far to reclaim; after all, they were friends from childhood and that bond wasn't easy to dissolve as it is.
"I came to tell you something…." He said unsteadily which was uncharacteristic of him it made her even nervous.
"is it urgent that you came personally?" she questioned, what could it have been? It must've been dire to deem his presence.
He shifted his gaze a way from her, trying to hide a minimal blush. "you can put it that way…" he almost squeaked in hesitation to make it audible for her. He weighed everything into perspective and thought of all those crap matsumoto told him.
"so..Toshiro-kun," she smiled to somehow ease the tension, "what do you have for me…?" she asked in sincere innocence..
He returned his cool gaze to the modest lieutenant, her smile could melt the ice that eternally bound his heart. He pulled her by the wrist clumsily…
She was shocked to have blurted out the name she called him too long ago, one they both thought she would never use to address him.
"Shiro-chan!".
Toshiro Hitsugaya gave her a confident grin then with out hesitations followed only what his heart beats for. "this.."
With a fluid movement he leaned into her lips.
Rangiku barely contained a melodious chuckle, she leaned back from peeping, unto the wall just beside the doorway…. "Now I didn't tell him to do that…" she grinned. "you surprise me…Taichou…" she made her way to leave them be, walking soundlessly across the corridor. "if only Ichigo was like that…" she said aimlessly while looking up at Soul Society's vivid sky…
A perfect irony of the Mortal world…
………………………………………..
Clinking of the metal as steel violently clashed with steel. Swift and thoughtless they dance to slay; to dance so that blood shall provide the tracks to tread on, to slay so that resentment must be desperately subdued….
And the emperor who merely stands with shattered cherry blossoms below his feet will only cease to be when the whirlwind harkens to seize the broken petals...
"I left her to you so that you could make her happy!" Renji yelled while swinging zabimaru, "I disregarded everything else just so she could be beside you!!" he said in another fit of anger, gritting his teeth severely he could almost taste blood. "I ignored even my own feelings!!" he barely missed Ichigo's throat. "And now you fuck up!!!"
Ichigo countered Zabimaru with Zangetsu, shaking from the intensity of the swipe, "shut up fucking bastard! Don't try to play dumb with me!" he retorted while forcing away the sword of his adversary and sprinting backward. "you say all this bullshit as if you're no the one who gave her that piece of crap..! a fucking excuse of a letter!!!"
And as if an epiphany silently dawned to the noble at the mention of the letter, 'letter? I see…' he could've smirked on how trivial they were arguing for if not only it would mar his semblance. So still he did not interfere….it was a fight between two men….two men and their angst-ridden affection. He will only draw his sword from its sheathe once the direst hour falls.
"I've had it with your shit talks!" Renji made a stance to release his bankai. "don't go dragging me into the mess you made!"
"Urusai!!" Ichigo shouted with his own urgency, the urgency to make clear everything that was indistinct, his feelings for her, his uncertainties, his passion. The urgency created by the seeping fury within his veins…the urgency to get the answers he wanted to hear only from her lips…the urgency to make everything right again. And as if all these inside him threatened to explode; pumping, pounding, beating…. Loudly… as if swallowing his own self. What did he want anyway? What was his purpose for doing this? What is it that tugs the inner lining of his conscience so strongly that it hurt to admit his emotions were actually winning…that his own frantic tempest would engulf him whole? What?
Ire…..
Guilt……
Affection…..
And as if the clashing of their blades would offer them composure to make still their disquieted hearts, that with all their might they permitted their hands to strike without mercy…so thoughtless…they lifted it against each other to slay; while only the beads of rain echoed within their hollowed consciousness. The coldness that they could no longer discern as the droplets danced across their heated skin.
Empty shells with rusted blades to become instruments of their own grief….here beneath the sheaths of cold remorse.
Dawning, dawning they come for each other, forthcoming they come to destroy themselves….
So the emperor must carry out the interlude...
……………………………
She was running again aimlessly, like what she was doing before….she had no idea why…
With out a hint of direction….
With nothing else….
She was pissed to see him now…too pissed to stand being in the same world with that idiot.
She'd run to the ends of the earth even if its existence was questionable….
Run just so she won't be hurting….
Run…….
…So He won't be foolishly hurting….
…………………
Kuchiki Byakuya who stood amidst them, caught the two swords that furiously razed each other with his own soul slayer, stopping both dead from a violent collision.
"enough of this nonsense…" with a fierce glare,
Came an equally frosted interjection…
The two swords broke off; their masters withdrew, still severely scowling….
"both of you are fighting in vain…" Byakuya stated putting back Senbonzakura in its sheathe. "do you wish me to tell you the nature of that letter you argue so profoundly about?"
The slight shifting of his voice did many wonders…as they both turned to him in tamed countenance at long last.
Their silence acknowledged his remark, their remaining so hinted him to continue to what seemed like a piece of the truth they were dying to know...who would've expected Kuchiki Byakuya was their ticket to the last full show of veracity?
"That letter was from the hands of the 10th division's captain," Byakuya spoke too gradually they both wished he would hasten. "Hitsugaya Toshiro." The name set them shocks of awe.
"Toshiro?" Ichigo blurted with a disbelieved face, he was unsure of what to deem next. Here he was primed to massacre Renji and now he finds out it was the short captain.
"he…he…" Renji lost track of what to say of they knew well what he was trying to relay. Though he did not wholly identify the course of the letter he did unmistakably comprehend its severity and based on how the orange haired buffoon was reacting, it would've been more or less one of those shitty love letters from the mortal world he was once blabbed about.
Their prized confusion gave the proof, "it is not like what you simple-minded idiots are thinking…" his captain disagreed with a shake of the head still in a leveled bearing. "he did give it, but….." he stopped shortly in what seemed like admirable pleasure in their torment.
The two listened eagerly with out a blink…this would just about determine everything.
"it was never addressed to Rukia." he finally said, face with no other hint of emotion but jurisdiction and he could clap at himself for such display of remoteness.
Drenched wet, they were slowly emerging from the haze of confusion.
"You've been trailing insensitively….Kurosaki Ichigo…"
………………………………
Isshin stared at the ashen horizon outside, he watched quietly as the rain fell from the wisps of clouds upon the empty streets..
Slowly they slid down the window, like crystal diamonds slipping away…
His gaze not leaving its subject, as if knowledgeable of every circumstance. "this rain will end soon…" he spoke only to himself and perhaps to those who are nameless.
…………….
Falling to the ground with a spatter; on her knees, crashing to the puddles, soaked wet her whole body was shivering, hands curling to fists though shaking…
Crimson liquid tinting the pavement blending with water, she did not rise while beads dripped from the ends of her ebony tresses.
Rukia winced in pain as she held on to her abdomen, the gash had reopened, staining the bandages scarlet…incessant that there was a cascade of blood. The throbbing reminded her of the events last night, a vivid excruciating pain that tore her apart. She continued to hold on to it in the attempt to stop the bleeding but her efforts were all the while useless.
She tried to compose herself beneath the endless downpour but the sharp pangs made it utterly impossible.
Looming footsteps coming towards her, squeaking as they hit the wet ground, slowly nearing her with the gentle caresses of the once turbulent wind.
A towering figure stood behind her fragile body, looking down straightly at her.
The said person did not create the slightest sound, he only remained in his place, quietly gazing.
She turned her head to finally acknowledge his presence, though there was no real need for it to recognize him.
She was expecting a hard cold glare to pierce through her but all she found was a subtle façade considerately staring at her frail form. She removed the hand that clutched her abdomen, fingers still tainted red. Gradually she tried to lift herself up to stand in the same bearing as his. With luck, she did.
"I'm sorry…" soft words came steadily from his broad built that could easily overwhelm her if he wished. He looked unfalteringly at her waiting for a reply.
Upon hearing his words she shifted slightly, yet she did not return his gaze. Instead she shook her head as if dismissively.
He could understand if she felt that way after everything that happened so he reached for her hand to alleviate her emotions and perhaps an excuse for his own as well. "Rukia…" he mumbled while gradually pulling her closer to him. He very well noticed the red blotches that stained her dress even; he also understood clearly his faults.
She struggled unwillingly in his hold, not wanting his invitation. "don't touch me…" she warned him in a guarding tone, avoiding contact with his amber pools. She'd easily drown in them if she was caught unguarded..
He did not heed her command, in the contrary he wrapped his arms tightly around her, not welcoming any protest. "just once," he whispered in her ear, too daintily as the leveled whistle of the breeze.
She was utterly surprised of his uncharacteristic reactions as she tried to get loose from his hold. "s…stop it…" however, as reckless as he was, he disregarded her complaint.
In turn, he embraced her tightly as he could, as if fearing she would disappear once he let go. "just once…let's stay like this…" his words sounded almost as if he was pleading silently, so desperate that he'd lose himself.
She still stirred in his embrace, though as painstaking it was for her condition…this shouldn't happen…
Still stubborn…stubborn to melt in his warmth.
He rested his chin on the top of her ebony head. "Even just this once…." He calmly repeated and with his words she was rendered motionless; somehow moved of his actions and all the more with the ardent lexis...
Raindrops drizzled toward the earth as if following in a conducted melody. Now with little acquiescence she allowed herself to bury herself deeper in his chest, hearing his heart beating rhythmically in accordance to his peaceful breathing. She could feel his warmth even against the wet dripping shirt he wore and underneath the forebodingly gloomy weather.
It seemed as if they were bound in a timeless continuum and neither of them could notice the eternal binding. "I never accepted to myself that you're more than what I believed you were…" he explained carefully, "I thought you'd just always be beside me…I thought you'd always stay…" he continued. "so I was contented by saying you were my nakama…but when I found the letter the first time…I realized just how much I could lose…" his voice drifted off.
"Ichigo…" she couldn't believe how hastily he was talking, or how unchecked his emotions were flowing that with each word he uttered lingered in her conscience acridly. But despite all those truths that struck her, she couldn't will herself to stop him.
He breathed deeply, inhaling her intoxicating scent, since when did she smell like strawberry champagne? "it made me mad…I just couldn't bear losing you…" he finally confessed disregarding everything else but this moment. He didn't care if he didn't sound a bit like himself or if all he said was irresolute, the only thing important was her...no more…
She finally returned the embrace, gradually tightening her hold on him, utterly moved by him solely. "I thought you didn't give a damn about me…" she barely whispered, sinking in him, he could scarcely hear her muffled voice. But he could distinctly feel her cold skin….why was she always so deathly freezing? If that was another metaphor of their unfeasible passion then let everything become a deadly delusion…
He slightly pushed her from him and rested his hands on her pale cheeks to provide them a clear view of each other's faces. He searched her mauve eyes before replying. They just had too many uncertainties within them and beyond their grasp…there'd always been.
"I'm a mess without you…" the simple chime of his words mingled seamlessly with the concurring ambiance. He'd pour his heart out now if she asked him to. Without second thoughts he would…he had kept it for a long time and a trice more he'd go senseless.
She could feel cold moisture falling from the side of her eyes and she was more than sure it wasn't the rain. Slowly, his figure became blurry in her vision…
Her voice trembled, "But you…" she lost track of her sentence when he instinctively pulled her back in his arms, as possessive as he could become.
"I don't care…" he said with fingers tangled in her ebony tresses, the other hand stroking her back as she shuddered into him. " I don't care…as long as you're here..."
And she gave herself away, completely sinking into him, shoulders shaking as she cried. Whether it was for happiness or sorrow he didn't mind...he only offered the most tender comfort he had ever given anyone and he'd do so over and over again only for her…
"Rukia…" he patted her head caringly. The dark heavens were steadily replaced to an even hue as the rain began to subside dramatically from its optimally misunderstood melancholy.
Dusk was a moment to convene, in the sheer purple sheets, the sun sinks into the pool of blood and the moon rises from it to watch over the lands beyond.
True enough, if the hours could stretch ceaselessly even the silver goddess would allow them a fracture of eternity.
Ichigo pressed his cheek deeper on the side of her head, feeling the velvety silkiness of her hair.
"let's go home…"
If he was the sun and she was the moon he'd die again and again even if it was forever…
Only to be revived by her…
And this plane of existence wouldn't stop him…
Not anything…
Not anyone…
Onwards…onwards….to the vivid twilight of a clandestine painted reverie of their own.
And so comes to pass another eclipse.
…………………………………
author's notes: hello there…here's the eleventh chapter of himegoto…I'm sorry for the wait as usual….but this wont be the last chapter still…there are issues to be cleared let's all be happy! I didn't end with a cliffhanger..!hehe…oh how fast the winds have passed…himegoto's nearing its end…was it too fluffy? Or perhaps it was lacking that romantic atmosphere? I don't really know…was it good or bad? Did I fail your expectations?
after everything has been settled what do you think would happen??
This is currently the longest chapter I've written..
no unfamiliar Japanese terms this time..
I didn't give you a kissing scene...hehe..
Perhaps in the next chapter! (wink)
Thank you very much for reading!
Reviews are strongly appreciated,…I really want to know what you think…
Charming Murdress- I'm sorry for late replies…I really have my hands tied up this week…you could post your 3rd chapter and I'll edit it shortly, it's just that I don't want you to wait for me too much…I'm really sorry…
Now I will check out the latest manga chapter of bleach..it would be probably out by now you guys check it too!
Take care
Love,
Amerie