sorry it's been so long i've been so busy!
Disclaimer: Iown nothing of Bleach only Aikio
She didn't know how many days were passing, she seemed to not care anymore, just letting the days go by. Everyone noticed the change, she started to burry herself in her work, and Jushiro knew the worst, she wasn't really eating, and that she seemed to disregard anything about her life, she would take that dangerous missions, and that she was pale. Her eyes seemed distant as well, and over all, she seemed withdrawn from everyone.
Renji kept by her side most of the time, trying to keep her from going off the deep end. He was there no matter how many times she told him to leave, or however many times she ignored him, yet in the end she would just give in and she would talk to him about everything.
It was one of those days that she had to go to a meeting, she hated them to no end because she had to see Shuuhei. Renji, walking next to her, glanced at her, "It shouldn't be a long meeting."
She sighed, "You always say that."
"Cause one time I might be right."
She only shook her head, and they walked in, noticing that they were one of the first ones, along with Nanao and Rangiku. Instantly Aikio found something wrong, since Rangiku was always with Shuuhei and vice versa. Yet because of Aikio's stubbornness or the fact that she didn't think it was any of her business to talk about their relationship, simply took a seat next to Nanao, and Renji sat next to her.
Not a second sooner, Rangiku hugged the girl, like usual, and squeezed the girl, "Aikio darling, how are you today?"
"Fine," She lied, "And you, Rangiku?"
She sighed, "I'd actually like to talk to you after meeting about that, if that's all right, Aikio."
Aikio noticed the sudden sadness in her voice, and didn't hesitate, "Sure, of course Rangiku, you know I'm always here."
Again, Rangiku hugged the girl, and then took her seat, this time, next to Nanao. Aikio realized that everyone else was coming in.
Taking a deep breath, Aikio tried to relax through the meeting, trying to focus on the topics and agenda's that everyone seemed to be in, and then Aikio realized that they were talking about the assassinations, that they finally realized where the person was at. 'This is good.' She thought, 'Now I'm fully cleared of committing them.'
"So we're going to need one more fukoutaichou's to take this on." Sasakibe spoke.
"I'll go." Aikio spoke, not even thinking.
"Aikio." Renji whispered, "Are you insane? You're not in the right physical condition, besides..."
"I'll go." Aikio repeated, "I want some payback for this person setting me up."
"Good, so 13th division's fukoutaichou Aikio Shiimakida and 9th division's fukoutaichou Shuuhei Hisagi will both head out to the spot tomorrow morning, you two will be briefed at 6 a.m." Sasakibe spoke, then moved on to the next topic.
Aikio's heart stopped, what. She glared at Renji, "Why didn't you tell me." She hissed quietly.
"I was trying to tell you but you ignored me!" He hissed back, looking back at her.
She softly growled and tried to more on to the next topic. Through the rest of the meeting, Aikio fumed in her head, this wasn't going to be good, it was going to be disastrous. And when the meeting finally ended, she was actually glad to see Rangiku drag the girl away.
Aikio looked around, then noticed that they were in the 10th barracks, "So what's going on Rangiku, we've been walking this whole time and you haven't said anything."
Rangiku sorta chuckled, "I could say the same Aikio," She then stopped within the office she shared with Hitsugaya, yet he was out, and she sat on the couch, and patted the spot next to her. Aikio followed, now a bit worried. Rangiku sighed, "We're through kid."
Aikio didn't understand, "Since when have we been a thing?" She spoke, honestly.
Rangiku sighed and shook her head, "No. I mean Shuuhei and I. We're through."
Aikio was taken back, wasn't Rangiku everything Shuuhei wanted? Why would he do something like that? She didn't understand it, "Rangiku… I'm sorry."
She shook her head, "I should be sorry."
That really took her back, "Wait, why?"
"You've like Shuuhei haven't you?" She paused seeing the girl turn away, "I knew you did. I didn't understand how you were always so friendly towards me, but would ignore Shuuhei, I'm sorry kid, it must have hurt you a lot, and.. You probably hated me."
Aikio looked right at the woman, "Rangiku, why would I hate you? You were one of the few people to actually take to me when I came, er, well, when I switched to the 9th division, I could never hate you. And besides, it was Shuuhei's choice, not mine, I don't have anything he's looking for in a girlfriend material, I shouldn't be surprised." She stood, but hugged the woman, "You're my best friend Rangiku, no guy would ever come between us, duh." She spoke waving to the girl, "So don't worry. I have to go off, early morning."
Rangiku waved to the girl, "Be careful Aikio."
Aikio seemed not to hear the warning, she didn't really want to go, she didn't know how to look at Shuuhei. Sure, don't get her wrong, she was still mad at what he had done; practically throwing her away when he found someone, ignoring her, then telling her to die for all he could care for, although she partial blamed herself. She had too also ignored him, and snapped at him.
Yet it still wasn't making any sense to her, how could he give up the girl he always spoke about, how he bothered Aikio in the past how he wanted to date her, so why, when he finally got the girl of his dreams, would he give her up? She had that thought on her mind while she came into 13th divisions barracks and to her own quarters and began packing. She seemed that the necessities, such as extra clothing and bandages, would be the only things she would need.
So, sighing, she got changed and slipped in her bed, and actually found herself asleep in no time.
Aikio's hardest part was waking up. The more she thought about it, the less she wanted to go. Yet, because she had volunteered herself, she got up and went to the first division's barracks to get informed about where to go to find this assassin. She was almost to the meeting when Sasakibe greeted her, calmly asking for her to follow, which she did, and was in front of Yamamoto in no time.
Aikio gave her respect by bowing to the higher up, "Ohiyo, General Yamamoto-taichou," She paused, noticing Shuuhei was there, "I'm sorry if I've kept you and Hisagi-fukoutaichou waiting." She added quickly, yet smoothly, and stood up straight, walking next to the fukoutaichou.
"You are fine, Shiimakida-fukoutaichou, you both are pretty early." Yamamoto spoke, voice ragged from age, "You two will be heading to the 45th district of the Rukongai, the assassin is said to be there, residing with in a cave near the north end of the district. Take the assassin out as quickly as you can, we don't need any more casualties."
Both fukoutaichou's nodded, and the minute they were dismissed, they left quickly and silently.
The Rukongai was quiet, it being the morning, the sun was barely rising, and Aikio loved it, this was usually the time she thought or trained, but now, she was on edge. Once they hit the 44th district, they now walked normally, not wanting to waste too much of their strength against an enemy they knew nothing much about.
Aikio sighed a bit, she hadn't flash stepped in a long time, not for a long period of time at least, she must have been letting herself go.
"Aikio?" Shuuhei's voice rung in her ears.
"What." She spoke, not meaning for it to sound as harsh as she had meant then sighed, "What?"
He didn't know what to say, well, honestly, he wanted to say sorry. He never meant for anything he said, well, yelled at her to offend her, hell he didn't even want to say those things because he never meant it, he would certainly NEVER want her to die, never. "Aikio.. I.. look, I didn't mean anything I said." He spoke, barely being able to say it.
Why did it take her back when she heard him speak the words, but she shook her head, "I know you didn't." She lied, she really had thought he meant it. But it still wouldn't explain how she was so.. "I've been real busy with catch up work." She spoke, trying to make him feel better.
He didn't take it, "Aikio, I mean it, I didn't mean what I said-"
She put her hand up, "Shuuhei, I know you didn't mean it, now let it go." She spoke, keeping her eyes off in the distant. Something wasn't right, and in the middle of the clearing, she just stopped.
Shuuhei stopped as well, just missing the collision course he almost had with the girl, but it was also when he noticed it too, something was different, something in the air.
Aikio laid her hand on her hilt, "Something's…"
"Not right." Shuuhei whispered, turning to the side, his hand also on his hilt.
"So they sent two out." A male voice spoke behind them.
Shuuhei was the first to turn, seeing the man with black shaggy hair and blue eyes, he seemed to wear Rukongai clothing, yet he held a sword, he seemed to be in his middle aged state, his hair not yet ready to turn gray, but his face showed his age..
Aikio turned around, and she froze, that wasn't the man she thought it was, the man that.. "You.." She whispered.
The man smiled, "So you remember me?" He spoke then drew his sword pointing it at the two, "Sleep, Yume."
Shuuhei and Aikio braced themselves, it had to be flames.. And they saw him disappear.
Shuuhei's grip on his hilt tighten, "Aikio, watch yourself." He spoke, slightly drawing his sword, looking around, he turned his back for a second, and he instantly heard her voice. Her voice screaming. He turned around and almost froze, she was on her knees, hunched over, "Ai… Aikio!" He yelled, running and dropping to his knees, holding the girl by her shoulders, "Aikio?! Aikio wake up! Don't die! Don't die on me, Ai-" He felt pain in his chest, and looked down.
Her kodachi was in his chest, and he could feel his heart start to slow, "Ai… Aikio…" He managed out as the blood poured not only from his wound, but his mouth.
"You did this.." She whispered, "You.. You threw me away Shuuhei. You left me. You hurt me. I LOVED you, and you threw me away. How could you Shuuhei? How could you do that after everything we've been through!" She started to scream and looked up at him, "How could you!?!"
He just stared at her, "Aikio…" He whispered, and fell to the ground, his breathing slowing down, how had he not known? His eyes closed, 'Forgive me Aikio…'
Yume means Dream