1/N: Here's the chapter I said I would put up yesterday that I never did. Hangover... Thankfully, today I had a slow day at work so I was able to knock this chapter out in a couple of hours...really if I could keep that pace up this story would be over by the end of the month but that's not going to happen. Decent chapter...typical format. Insight into some of the other characters of Bleach, Rukia and Ichigo moments, and one very important piece of information. You'll know when you see it... Alright, hope you enjoy and thanks to those who have reviewed the last few days. Didn't think I'd make it over 100 reviews before I got this chapter up...didn't think I would make it over 100 reviews period for the whole story and here I am about halfway through already there. I'd say I'm amazed but then again, that seems like too much effort. There is one line in here that isn't repeated correctly from its actual phrase because I couldn't remember it exactly...it should be obvious.
Perpetual Twilight
Chapter 14: Creative Rhythm
By:Finalitylife
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Bleach or its characters. That's all I got...
"Goodnight Rangiku!"
The fairly inebriated blonde gave a parting wave to the bartender who had been tending to her drinks all night, stepping out in the cool yet comforting Soul Society air. She really wasn't sure how late it was, but the truth was it didn't really matter all that much at the moment. With her Captain gone and her being refused the chance to go with him, she really didn't have much to do. Of course she had thought about doing some of the paperwork that had been piling up in her Captain's office, but instead had decided to hide it around the room and go out for drinks.
It had been awhile since Matsumoto had actually wanted to drink to forget rather than to just enjoy herself, but when she had been refused permission to go to the living world, and they had told her the reason why, Rangiku really had no choice but to spend a few days drinking away memories. Stupid Gin...he still was affecting her life without even trying.
Matsumoto spent almost no time thinking about Gin for the sheer fact that she didn't want to dwell on the why of it all. She still watched Hisagi and Kira with there unending pursuit to know why their captain's had betrayed them as well as Soul Society. Poor Momori was the worst by far, but Matsumoto had decided she would not become like that and instead live on as strong as she had been before. The irony was not lost on her that this would have been exactly what Gin would have encouraged her to do...live like he had never been there in the first place. However, who could forget that incorrigible man...even if they wanted to...even if they tried their damn hardest to convince themselves they wanted to...
Rangiku also knew in her heart that perhaps the real reason she had been affected least by the betrayal of anyone else so closely tied to the traitors was that she had always known...known that one day Gin would be gone, leaving her behind even when he promised he never would. No matter what Gin promised, or swore, or whispered in her ear with his ever grinning face, she had always known it would never be true. Gin Ichimaru was just not the man to have anything absolute, more a ghost floating through the lives of those around him rather than anything solid. Perhaps at the end of the day, Matsumoto had been the only one keeping him from floating away completely all those years ago...the only one who actually could convince themselves they actually knew the man beneath the ever present grin. She still believed she knew the man who she cared for so much for so long.
Gin wasn't a monster like so many believed because a monster wouldn't have saved a starving girl on the street asking for nothing in return, only opening his arms and his life so easily without a single question. She wouldn't be here without him...
Perhaps the why of it all was simply that...she had been the only one holding him in this time and this place, and when she was no longer good enough for that, he was gone with only a few, very un-Gin-like words.
"It would have been nice if you could have held me a bit longer."
So very unlike him, yet it had not been the first time he had said such things to her though hearing them was almost as rare as seeing Gin's eyes. Perhaps that's why those moments were some of her most treasured memories.
Matsumoto shook her head laughing a bit as she stumbled forward, knowing that all this pointless, complex reasoning was useless when it came to Gin as his reasons were probably far more simpler in that he was simply bored and wanted to have fun again like they used to when they were kids...to be completely reckless and free once more. Perhaps that was all it had been...
Rangiku smiled as the two guards in front of her, realizing she had reacher her intended destination quickly and with almost no thought. It was becoming part of her routine as of late...even before the most recent events. The two guards quickly stepped aside giving a brief salute to the higher ranking officer in front of them, though they were obviously gazing at her assets for a prolonged period of time...not that Rangiku really minded all that much. They were her pride and joy after all, and every guy ogled them every so often except for her diminutive Captain...and Gin...
The guards closed the door behind Matsumoto though she paid very little notice, taking a seat she had been sitting in a lot recently, carefully observing the prone, unchanging form in front of her.
"Hey there Momo Just stopping in again to make sure everything was okay. With Toshiro still being a busy, stubborn pain in the ass and refusing to come see you, I'll have to keep visiting to make sure you're alright."
The only response was the beeping of machines, the broken girl almost always kept under heavy sedation because of her complete loss of her grip on reality. She was dangerous to herself as well as those around her. It was such a sad sight to see one so young so destroyed.
Matsumoto leaned back in the chair with a deep sigh.
"I understand you Momo...at least I think I do. Aizen fooled everyone, and when the guy was pretending, he had to be probably the most beloved and respected man in this entire place. I understand why it hurt so much...why the shock broke you so much...but Gin...he never really tried to fool anyone...only was himself the entire time, and it still shocked everyone...shocked me. I don't know the why, but really, why was I so stupid?"
This was Rangiku's final thought as she passed out in the chair, lightly snoring until the morning would come.
Unbeknownst to her, Gin Ichimaru stood at the very top of Las Noches, staring out into the endless whiteness that was his current residence but never his home. A smile was etched into his features, but rather than a grin of amusement, it was nothing more than a smirk filled with sadness. He knew he really should have been worrying about just what that strange Hollow and Aizen were discussing locked away in private and exactly what it would mean to him personally in the long run as well as the short, but sometimes it was simply okay to reminisce about strawberry blonde hair, icy blue eyes, and a smile that was perhaps the only real thing he had ever known in his life. Sometimes, that was enough to keep his wandering interest...sometimes...
--
Rukia quizzically watched Ichigo as he drank a large amount of water, a good portion of it landing on himself as well as the ground around him. He really could be a slob sometimes.
Rukia knew it had been a few days since they had started this training with almost no breaks in between, yet she was probably as frustrated as Ichigo at his truly amazing lack of progress. Now Rukia knew Kido wasn't exactly the easiest thing in the world to learn and a majority of shinigami had trouble learning it (herself not included of course), but Ichigo was supposed to be the genius shinigami who could master bankai in three days and had successfully stood again two Captains damn it!. It was just so hard to believe that...well he could suck this bad. At least he hadn't burned off his eyebrows because Rukia really didn't want to picture Ichigo trying to scowl without eyebrows. Of course trying not to think about the image caused it to pop in Rukia's head, and she had to cover her mouth to try and hold in the laughter.
"What's so funny Rukia? You better not be laughing at me."
Rukia looked up at Ichigo who was scowling as usual which made her laugh a bit more, though she did manage to fight it back down.
"Of course not Ichigo. It would be rude for a teacher to laugh at her student."
Ichigo only scowled deeper.
"So how about we get back to training then."
Rukia nodded as Ichigo grabbed for his zanpakuto which immediately caught Rukia's wrath.
"What did I say Ichigo? Touch that zanpakuto again, and I'll not only cut off your hand, but I'll beat you with the severed appendage."
Ichigo's hand retracted from the sword like it had been on fire, I sheepish grin on his face.
"Sorry Rukia...just out of habit I guess."
"I know Ichigo but that is part of the problem. The only thing you know about being a shinigami is using that sword...channeling your energy with that sword in hand. Its helped be a conduit for your power, but the problem is Kido needs to come only from within rather than through the zanpakuto. At least, at its most basic level which is what you are not even at."
"I know Rukia, I know, and let me tell you how much I love being reminded by you about it."
"Well I wouldn't have to keep reminding you about it, if you showed some type of improvement. I mean even Renji was better than this when he started, and he has all the subtly and precision of a falling tree."
"Please Rukia, do not compare me to Renji. For that matter, I don't even want to know why you were thinking about Renji."
Rukia detected the smallest bit of annoyance in Ichigo's voice, giving him a glare at his completely misguided words.
"You really need to stop saying stupid things Ichigo. It only makes you have more in common with Renji."
The two stared at each other before busting out in laughter.
"Alright, alright. Enough of this. Its time to get back to your lessons. Get over here Ichigo."
"Yes ma'am."
Ichigo gave Rukia a mock salute, walking over to where she was standing, only receiving another strong glare from Rukia as she processed her next course of action in Ichigo's training. She had tried the most tried and tested methods she had learned and knew, but all had failed. Then again, Ichigo wasn't exactly a normal shinigami in almost every way, and Rukia had spent a lot of time trying to develop more unorthodox method to get him on track. She though she might have one this time, but was a little scared to enact it. It was after all very, very forward and slightly over the student-teacher dynamic line, but she knew it might be the only way to force Ichigo to focus rather than being his normal adrenaline fueled ball of emotion when he channeled spiritual power.
"Alright Ichigo, as effective as yelling at you to do things is for a great many things, it seems we might need to take a more cerebral approach to this."
"Wow, that a pretty impressive word there Rukia...OWW! Sorry..."
"That's better. The goal here is for you to find the focus you have when you fight with your zanpakuto, but your weapon will not be a blade, but rather your own spiritual energy deep within."
Ichigo nodded, realizing quickly that Rukia was serious at this moment.
"Alright...drop to one knee."
"What? Why?"
Ichigo watched as Rukia let out a small sigh, looking down slightly.
"Because...because this will be easier if you and me are remotely the same height."
Ichigo's eyes bugged out of his head at Rukia's admission, far beyond amazed that she would say something like that. Did Rukia just...just swallow some of her pride in front of him? Ignoring the hundreds and hundreds of jokes running through his head at the moment, and holding in his laughter out of respect for what Rukia just did all in the name of helping him, Ichigo stayed silent, and dropped to one knee as Rukia had asked.
"Alright then, arms out, eyes closed."
Ichigo complied though not before giving Rukia a strange look which she promptly dismissed with an even stare, unaware that Rukia's heart had just sped up at the realization of exactly what she was going to do.
Ichigo stretched out his arms to his sides as he closed his eyes, waiting for something to happen, only hearing Rukia slowly move around him in a circle, feeling her eyes on him.
"When you fight Ichigo, you fight with all your emotion, all your heart, and all your determination to drive you forward, your mind and body acting on raw strength of will to act. This simply is too much going on all at once in you to effectively use Kido as well as an opening for the monster within. Rather than becoming the relentless storm pushing against the obstacle in front of you, you must instead become the eye of the storm, the perfect calm center as the winds rage around you."
Ichigo listened to Rukia's calm, gentle voice, it taking on a more mature edge to it as she continued to move slowly around him, this being one of those moments where he was reminded that was indeed much, much older than him.
"The enemy in front of you does not matter, only the shaping and flow of the energy. If this is done, the rest will take care of itself."
Rukia finally stopped her moving and her musings, stopping behind Ichigo and gently placed her hands on his shoulders, the sudden warmth causing Ichigo to tense up and almost shiver at all the same time.
"I need you to forget Ichigo...forget everything for a moment. I need you to forget about your reasons for fighting...for being here. I need you to forget about war, hollows, and blood... about your friends, your father, your sisters...and your mother."
Rukia felt Ichigo instantly tighten up again, gently trying to calm him with her touch.
"I...I don't know if I can do that Rukia."
When Ichigo spoke, his voice was quiet and uncertain, sounding almost like a little kid. It was slightly heartbreaking for Rukia to hear.
"I know its hard Ichigo, but you need to. You have to clear your head and heart of everything you can. I...I will help you focus."
Ichigo could hear the uncertainty in Rukia's voice that had probably mirrored his own only a few moments ago, and was completely surprised when for only the second time in his life, he felt Rukia hug him. Sure she had held on to him dozens of time when they were traveling across the rooftops all those months ago, and he had held her when he rescued her from execution, but this was only the second time their contact had been this...this intimate. The first of course had been a few days ago when she had also unexpectedly hugged him to prove that she could be near him.
"Rukia?"
"Don't say anything Ichigo. Just listen, and focus. Focus on me and nothing else right now."
Ichigo nodded and gulped nervously as Rukia clung to him tightly, her chest pushed up against his back, her head resting right next to his ear, her breath tingling the skin. The only reason some type of perverted thought wasn't creeping into his head at the moment was because he was very actively fighting those back down.
"Nothing else Ichigo...just me...just me. Forget everything else right now...just focus on me."
Truthfully, Ichigo had absolutely no trouble thinking about nothing but Rukia at the moment, her scent as well as her warmth overtaking every one of this thoughts and senses. She had engulfed him with her presence.
"Now Ichigo...listen...listen to the sound of my heartbeat. Listen to its rhythm."
Ichigo closed his eyes tighter as he tried to focus harder, but also because again Rukia's breath on his neck caused him to heat up in a way he never thought possible. Resisting losing himself in the sensation Ichigo was slowly drawn into the heartbeat he could feel from the young woman pressed so tightly against his back. It was beating rapidly at the moment, but still steady, the unwavering beat drawing him in.
"Do you feel it Ichigo?"
Ichigo nodded in confirmation, feeling almost a bit drowsy as the soothing, steady beat had all of his attention. The adrenal and raw emotions that always coursed through him when he was fighting or training were fading completely away, replaced by something else...something he wasn't exactly sure what it was.
"Look for your own heart beat now Ichigo...feel both of them. Can you?"
Again Ichigo nodded, the two beats and Rukia's gentle voice creating a dreamlike atmosphere for him...was this a dream?
"Now Ichigo...focus...let's bring the two beats together...let them beat as one rhythm...one sound. Relax and focus completely on this."
Ichigo felt a twinge of something in his chest as he felt his heart skip slightly, which was followed by Rukia's doing the same, him forcing his eyes tighter together to try and gain more control of everything within him at the moment. As the two breathed, they began breathing together, both their heartbeats slowly getting in rhythm..forming into less rapid, more relaxed beats.
"Ye Lord. Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man. Inferno and pandemonium, The sea barrier surges, March on to the south."
The chant hypnotized Ichigo in a way he never thought possibly, always thinking the words were stupid and such a waste of time, but at this moment, coming from Rukia, he finally understood how the words could easily allow you to focus your mind...draw you in.
"Say them with me this time Ichigo."
Ichigo's masculine tone blended seamlessly in with Rukia's as they spoke the chant together, their words and hearts as one.
"Now just you Ichigo. Focus...feel the power deep inside you flowing...flowing into your hands...nothing else is there but your power to shape and control."
It started as a tingle that slowly became like a gentle breeze, very unlike the raging hurricane that the flow of his power usually felt like. This was focus...this was control. Each word flowed with the next perfectly, the power not becoming greater but faster, more refined.
"One power...one heartbeat...one being...this is you Ichigo."
"Demon Arts # 31...Shot of Red Fire."
Ichigo's hands had moved of their own accord, the energy forming perfectly at its point, releasing in perfect form and perfect direction as if he knew exactly where the target was without even opening his eyes. The energy went out with a shot, passing right through the dead center of the bullseye with absolute accuracy and precision, not engulfing any more than necessary. It was Kido of absolute perfection. Ichigo's flickered open, a completely surreal sensation continuing to absorb him, his heartbeat sill thumping steadily in his mind. So focused was that he hadn't even realized Rukia had let go of him before he had even shot the blast. Looking at the target in front of him, then slowly looking over his shoulder at Rukia's standing form, Ichigo couldn't help but ask one question.
"Did that really just happen?"
He watched as Rukia looked away from his intense eyes, a flush of color going to her face in an instant.
"Yes it did Ichigo. You have for the first time achieved the proper mind set as well as control to use Kido almost as well as I can. Congratulations Ichigo...I'm proud of you."
Ichigo stood back to his feet, now looking down on Rukia as he normally did.
"Proud of me? That was all you Rukia. What you just did to help me focus like that...that was...was..."
The final word did not escape Ichigo, but rather found himself unable to find the right one. Amazing? Incredible? Erotic? Ichigo internally slapped himself as the last word slipped into his mind, doing his best to find the focus that so easily had come to him when Rukia had been clinging to him...whispering to him.
"Thank you Rukia."
At the words of gratitude, Rukia looked up at Ichigo finally, meeting his serious gaze, still unsure of what actually had just happened a few moments ago. It had helped him with Kido, but why was her entire body engulfed in a perfect sensation even as she knew she was horribly embarrassed about just how close and intimate they had just been. It had been...been...so many things, all of them very good.
"You are welcome Ichigo, though this is only the first step in your training. There is much more to go until you can enter that state of being at will even under enormous duress, but I have no doubt you will be able to do it."
"Good to hear."
Ichigo walked over and grabbed his zanpakuto, hefting it to its place at his back.
"I think we should call it day Rukia, and get some rest. We've barely taken a break in days, and I think its best we stop after...after all that."
Rukia smirked at Ichigo as he walked over to her.
"You do one thing right, and suddenly you just declare a break. Well I'm in charge here Ichigo, and I'll say when I'm ..."
Rukia trailed off a she stumbled slightly, her hand rising to her head as she tried to steady herself. Ichigo was instantly at her side, helping prop her up.
"I'm not trying to take charge Rukia, and I mean absolutely no disrespect, but I do have a lot greater endurance than you, so its best if we just both rest."
Rukia's gaze flickered up at Ichigo smiling down at her as her thoughts blurred a bit, suddenly feeling the exhaustion full force that she had been forcing down in order to keep training Ichigo.
"Alright...I've decided we can take a break."
Ichigo smiled a bit wider.
"Good."
"Ichigo! What the hell are you doing?"
Ichigo smiled as he picked up Rukia none to gracefully, putting her over his shoulder. It's a lot of work to get back to the surface, and you are very tired Rukia so I decided I would carry you.
"I didn't give you permission to carry me!"
"I'm just trying to help Rukia. You should look at it as my showing my gratitude for all th help."
"Well if you insist on carrying me then at least you could not carry me around like a heavy sack of potatoes...Its degrading...and embarrassing."
Ichigo couldn't see Rukia's face, but he was sure she was blushing again.
"Alright, alright, how's this?"
Ichigo shifted Rukia's light form around until he was holding her in front of him bridal style, now seeing her blushing face turning even more crimson. It was rather cute.
"Its better...but..."
Ichigo locked eyes with Rukia, a shiver traveling through both of them for some unseen reason.
"But?"
Rukia smirked.
"I really don't think you will be able to get up the ladder holding me like this."
Ichigo looked over at the very lengthy ladder back to the surface, sweating dropping slightly.
"Well...I'll think of something."
--
Several minutes later, Ichigo emerged from the ground with Rukia still in his arms, her arms locked around his neck so that he had been able to free a hand to get up the ladder. It had been a joint effort. Ichigo looked around the shop, finding it unusually quiet, getting the impression that it was late in the night. He himself was winded at the moment, but completely repressed the urge to show it lest Rukia think he was implying she was heavy. She was very far from it after all.
"You hungry Rukia?"
Ichigo tensed up at Rukia' response as she snuggled into him slightly, though realized he wasn't as tense as he usually was from her contact. Perhaps it was because it wasn't violent...or because she had been touching him a lot lately...or that it just made him happy she was able to freely touch him without any horrified reaction. It was probably a little of each.
"I think I just want to sleep. I'll eat in the morning."
Ichigo nodded as he started walking toward the room Rukia had been sleeping in, unaware someone watched the two as they emerged from underground. Fate remained cruel to Orihime Inoue...
Ichigo finally made it to the bedroom, sliding the door open with his foot, stopping for a second to admire the way the moonlight was streaming into the room through the windows. It was a rather pleasant sight.
Eventually setting Rukia's lithe form on to the bed, he watched her seem to pout for a second as he let her go though he was sure it was a trick of the lighting, her arms quickly circling a nearby pillow. Smiling at the young woman, Ichigo gently pulled the sheet up to cover her, giving her one last look before heading toward the door.
"Ichigo?"
Rukia's have dazed voice stopped him, looking back at her half-opened violet eye looking at him.
"Can you stay until I fall asleep?"
This was another unexpected occurrence, catching Ichigo off guard again yet kept his composure for whatever bit of pride he was still holding together.
"I guess I can do another favor."
Ichigo walked over and took a seat by the window.
"So do you want to talk or just have me sit over here until your snoring lets me know your asleep."
Rukia didn't move.
"I don't snore."
Ichigo chuckled slightly.
"Just keep telling yourself that Rukia."
A silence overtook the room for a few seconds, Ichigo fidgeting slightly.
"Rukia...I just want to thank you again for training me. It makes me happy that you are still willing to help me and...and that we can still hang out together. Even after everything that's happened...me and you always go back to the way it started out as. I think that's why me and you work together...together as friends I mean."
Ichigo quickly clarified his point, though Rukia didn't even move at what he said.
"I mean its great that our friendship can be so strong even if I sometimes am not the best friend...or person...I'm really glad your around to help me to hold it all together...to help make me be okay again. Thanks Rukia...thanks so much..."
Ichigo's quiet words received the start of very quiet snoring as the response. Ichigo only smiled at the now sleeping young woman whom he knew would soon be much louder than she was. Best for him to leave...
Standing up, Ichigo went to leave but stopped, unable to help himself as his attention drifted to Rukia's small, sleeping form, his eyes settling on her peaceful face looking all the more beautiful bathed in the moonlight that covered the bed, her porcelain skin having almost a glowing quality at the moment. In truth, this was the first time he had ever seen her actually asleep, though its not that he had never thought about what she would look like when her guard was completely let down. These thoughts quickly brought him back to that scene where Rukia had admitted to watching him while he slept, feeling the smallest of blushes creep to his face that was concealed by the low light of the room...not there would be anyone around to see it.
In truth had it not been for the omnipresent door to his closet, he was sure he would have already spent more than a single night watching Rukia in such a peaceful state, and even though he knew that thought sounded rather creepy, something about it didn't seem all that wrong to him. He had always worried about Rukia since she had come into his life, and there were always those nights where he was worried that she was hiding injuries, pretending to be fine when she secretly was in pain just so she could act tough and brave. There were those nights when that concealing door drove him nuts because of his worry for her, but in the end there was nothing he really could do about it. Ichigo couldn't help but wonder if it was those thoughts that had also kept Rukia awake at night to watch him sleep...
Ichigo shook his head with a smile, finding that thought too far fetched to believe. Such things couldn't possibly have any basis in reality.
Finally able to pull his sight away from Rukia's moonlight blanketed angelic-looking body, Ichigo himself turned toward the window, staring up at the full moon, unconsciously reaching for his zanpakuto that hung on his back...Zangetsu...the cutting moon. For whatever reason, Ichigo felt at ease bathed in the moonlight, almost swearing he could hear Zangetsu's voice for the first time since the failed battle against the Hollow within Ichigo's mind. Everything just felt right...
"So this is where you ended up after all. I guess you sensed the coming storm before even I. It has been a very, very long time hasn't it?"
Ichigo's eyes went completely wide as his grip on his sword instantly tightened as he swung around, suddenly finding the source of the ancient sounding yet slightly whimsical voice. As if appearing completely out of thin air, standing out blatantly in the darkness stood a white-cloaked figure. Had Ichigo's ability to sense spiritual power been even remotely useful, he would have realized that he wouldn't have sensed the being anyway because of its lack of spiritual presence. Raising his zanpakuto defensively, Ichigo eyed up the intruder.
"I really don't know how the hell you got in here, but I think you might be mistaking me for someone else. I would definitely remember meeting something like you."
Ichigo felt his body involuntarily grow cold as he received a strong impression that whatever was standing before him had just smiled.
"It is true that we haven't met before boy, but the simple truth is I wasn't talking to you. Isn't that right, Zangetsu?"