"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate...leads to suffering." -Yoda, The Phantom Menace

Note: I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 21: Let It Die

Ichigo drifted on the fringe of sleep, Rukia tucked safely in his arms. The past day had been an ordeal, make no mistake. He thought he knew what Hell was before, but things just kept sinking lower and lower for them both. At this rate, he was destined to meet it face to face. That skeleton gate seemed to loom that much closer as time passed.

Rukia's thoughts were no different. She chewed her lower lip, contemplating everything she now knew. Aizen, Captain Sosuke Aizen, was the last person she would expect to do this. Okay, maybe not the last, but close to it. As far as she knew, he was one of the kindest people you would ever meet, almost even with Captain Ukitake in that regard. Then again, she wouldn't have guessed Captain Tosen was part of this either. It went to show just how little you could trust the people you saw every day.

Speaking of trust, Ichigo's current predicament came to the forefront of her mind. He had withheld his hearing an insane voice for quite a while. Why did he do it? She knew he was probably trying to protect her in some way. That was the typical Ichigo way of things, but the reasoning behind it still eluded her. He had trusted her enough to tell her about his feelings towards his mother's death. Why not this?

Her curiosity got the better of her. "Ichigo?"

"Hmmm?" he answered groggily.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He was nearly inclined to ask what she meant out of habit, but he already knew the answer. What else could she be asking about now? "I didn't want to worry you."

She knew he would say that, but the answer didn't satisfy her. "I don't believe you, Ichigo."

"Huh? What do you-"

"I mean…" She let out a heavy sigh before continuing. "I don't completely believe you. I'm sure that was part of it, but I can't believe that was all. Why didn't you tell me about this?"

He had to think it over a moment before answering her. "I…I didn't want to worry you, and that was the cause of the other reason. I…didn't want to lose you. Not so soon after I got you. I only just found you, and…I had to hold on as long as I could. I figured that if you found out, you'd think I was as crazy as I thought I was."

She stared up at him, mouth slightly ajar. Her shock quickly faded to anger, shown clearly in her eyes. Suddenly, Ichigo felt a hard smack across his cheek. It began to sting immediately as heat began to radiate through it. She had just slapped him…and hard.

"How dare you think that for even a second, you idiot" she said quietly, though the intensity of the words stung Ichigo more than her hand had. "I love you with all my heart. How dare you even think that I would leave for that? I care about you more than I can put into words, and the thought of leaving is even harder for me to describe."

She shut up after that, sliding back down in the cot and turning her back against his side. Ichigo was still stunned by the slap, let alone what she said. Rubbing his jaw ruefully, he stared down at the back of her raven-colored hair. He had realized just how stupid it was long before now, but why he hadn't resolved to tell her until this moment was out of his reach.

Ichigo turned to face her, trailing his hand down her arm. She flinched at his touch, drawing in tighter to herself.

"Hey, listen" he said softly. "That's not all there is to it. You see, I was afraid I'd do something to you to make you leave. If I went crazy, I was scared to death that I'd hurt you." That thought made him chuckle slightly. "Heh, come to think of it, I damn near did. That thing took over and nearly got to you before I could beat him back."

She remained quiet for a moment before reaching over to take his hand. "Exactly, Ichigo. You saved me, just like you did all those times before. It may have been from yourself, but still, you kept your promise all the same. You should believe in yourself more, Ichigo. God knows I do."

Ichigo smiled down at her. "Thank you, Rukia. I love you so much."

She pulled his hand to her face, kissing it lightly. "I love you, too," she answered before reaching up to give him a playful knock to his skull, "but you should have given me some more credit, too you know."

He laughed lightly to himself. "Yeah, I guess I should have. It's no wonder you call me an idiot all the time."

Ichigo snuggled in tighter behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, much to her delight.

"You know I'm still mad at you, don't you, Strawberry?" she said, light laughter shaking her voice.

He smiled into her hair. "I'd be worried if you weren't, Rukia. You're just stubborn that way, and that's one of the things I love most about you."

She giggled a little more before settling in to get some sleep. Ichigo continued to stare down at her while he waited for his own sleep to come, one thought still plaguing his mind.

'Let's just hope I can still keep that promise.'

It was the darkness just before dawn. The Seretei was beginning to stir with life, the earliest of Shinigami on duty only just making their way to their posts. Not even the strictest of Captains were slipping out of their quarters yet. No one could have guessed what pandemonium would follow on this day, a day beginning like any other before it.

In a sudden flash, the sun peaked over the horizon, bathing the area in its overwhelming radiance. That's the one flaw in a cat's night vision that everyone overlooks. The brightest lights were murder on nocturnal eyes. Still, Yoruichi couldn't resist the appeal of the sunrises. She had often watched them just after waking while enjoying her morning tea. It was a sight too beautiful to simply spell out, and if she had it her way, she wouldn't miss a single one.

The black cat sat atop one of the many walls that made up the maze of paths around the Seretei, letting the warmth of the awakening sun warm her fur. She had to squint as she always did while in this form, but she could never pass this up. Sure, she was doing some recon for Kisuke, but hey, why couldn't she enjoy herself while she was here, back in her home. She seldom had a chance to come back, and business wasn't going to spoil what little enjoyment she got out of it.

As she always did when watching the sun's march up the morning sky, Yoruichi sat still as a stone save for her tail swaying back and forth about her. You could almost see a smile covered in the ebony fur. Her golden eyes seemed liquid in the blaze of light and color. She could have stayed there all morning long…

…but fate, as it seemed, had to intervene at some point. A shrill scream erupted from the upper towers of the Seretei. Yoruichi's ears flattened to her skull, trying desperately to deaden the painful noise by a margin. She had almost forgotten the issue with her heightened hearing. The scream faded over the buildings, giving her a moment's reprieve to contemplate what the fuss was. Seeing no alternative, she headed for the epicenter, flashing across each shingle with nary a sound.

As she halted atop one of the high-arching roofs, the smell of blood filled her nose. Something was definitely wrong. She peered over the edge, and the sight nearly made the hardened assassin flinch. Blood covered almost every surface in the courtyard. The body was pinned to the wall opposite her by a Zanpakto. The body - that body - belonged to none other than Sosuke Aizen.

Below, Yoruichi could make out a weeping Momo Hinamori collapsed on the stone floors, and she immediately felt sorry for the poor girl. She knew full well how much the girl idolized that man (not knowing just how treacherous he had been). After all, she could clearly remember a time not much more than a century ago that she had a certain timid brunette doing the same thing. Of course, that girl had hardened up considerably since her departure.

The snowy-haired Captain of Squad 10 arrived not a moment later, stiffening immediately at the scene before him. Several others soon followed, including Gin Ichimaru. The snake of a man seemed almost amused down there, confirming Yoruichi's suspicions of deceit in the matter. Whatever smug comment he gave upon arriving set the poor Lieutenant over the edge. She released her Zanpakto without warning, turning on him. Luckily for him, his own Lieutenant, Izuru Kira, did the same to defend him.

'Wasted energy' she thought to herself. 'The world would be much better off without him.'

Seeing no need to stay further, she turned on her heels and began flashing her way out of the Seretei. The short treks back and forth gave her ample time to contemplate whatever occupied her mind, and at the moment, that was Aizen's "demise".

'The blood was real enough,' she thought, 'but something about the body was wrong. It sure looked like Aizen, but something just felt…off. Ichimaru's reaction seems to confirm that much. Then again, he was always an unbearable animal. Still, I can't let that go. Something tells me that wasn't Aizen up there.'

She chewed it over a moment longer before realization seemed to smack her in the face along with the wind whipping by.

'There's only one way everyone in that courtyard would see the same trick, and there's only one way a treachery such as that could've been set up so perfectly.'

She came to stop on the walls of the Seretei and turned to stare at the towers from whence she came.

"Kyoka Suigetsu…" she uttered aloud to no one in particular.

Ichigo's lungs burned, desperate for a reprieve to stabilize themselves. His arms were nearly numb from the exertion. They trembled almost uncontrollably now, Zangetsu nearly coming loose from his grip.

"Come now" Urahara said smugly, Benihime resting lightly on his shoulder. "This can't be all you have, Ichigo. What happened to all that fight I saw before?"

"Quite, Old Man!" Ichigo spat between pants. "I'm not that dumb. I can tell you were holding back before. You've stepped it up."

Urahara leveled his eyes at his quarry. "Not completely true, my boy. I have exerted a little more, like I've been doing progressively since you started training, but I'm not the problem."

"What?"

"You're the one holding out this time, though I doubt you see it" he stated bluntly as he strolled ever closer. "Now that just won't do!"

Urahara swiped at the ground at Ichigo's feet, catching him off guard. The blast sent him sailing into the nearest mountain, shattering it completely.

"Ichigo, no!" Rukia screamed. She could take no more of this. She had to stop this now before...

'No! Don't even think it' she commanded herself.

Sprinting at full speed, she nearly reached the rubble before Urahara flashed right into her path.

"Not yet, Rukia."

"You have to stop! You're gonna kill him at this rate, you bastard!"

Urahara's gaze remained stoic, shocking her into silence. "He won't die, not yet" he answered calmly. "Besides, how is he going to improve if you interrupt his training at every near-death experience?" With that, he flashed across the heap of dust and debris.

Ichigo was barely able to stand back up. He could now feel a warm trickle down his face. Blood, no doubt. He could taste it from his busted lip.

"It's pathetic, really."

His head whipped up just in time to see Urahara swinging down again. He was sent tumbling across the dirt, rolling to his feet by sheer dumb luck.

"What are you so afraid of, Ichigo?"

"Who says…I'm…afraid" he stuttered back, fighting through the pain.

"Your sword. It reeks of fear."

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"Don't pretend you don't know" he answered pointedly. "You can't tell me you don't read the intent from my blade. You can sense the pure killing instinct, can't you?"

As he stared, Ichigo could see the waves of power from Benihime, and there was no denying it. It harbored only murderous intent.

"So tell me, what is it you fear? Do you fear killing?" he asked with a swipe of his sword.

Ichigo could only just step to the side to miss the edge.

"Do you fear being killed?"

Another swipe, another dodge, only this one ended with Ichigo flat on his back. He opened his eyes to find Urahara's blade staring him in the face.

"Is it failure?"

"H-huh?"

"Do you fear failing to protect those you treasure?" he asked, motioning his sword at Rukia standing across the field.

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock and realization.

"I thought so. And what do you think this fear will get you?"

Ichigo could make no reply.

"It will only get you dead, Ichigo. Dead as a doornail. What good will your promises be then, boy?" Urahara lowered his sword and turned away. Shaking his head, he began walking toward the others.

Ichigo watched him leave, the disgust at himself setting in. He slammed his head back down, cursing himself with everything he had left. Urahara was right.

'Self-loathing does you no better, Ichigo' came the melancholy voice of his Zanpakto.

'Zan…Zangetsu…'

'Yes, he is right' he continued. 'Your fears weaken you, as I have said. Your fear is the only thing stopping you from reaching the power you so desire, the power you so desperately need. This fear will make you fail if you fight with it. It will break down your spirit until there is nothing stopping that beast within you.'

'What? You mean…'

'Yes, Ichigo. Your fear is what allows him to take over. You feared for your lover's life, for your inability to save her, and the beast was able to break loose of the prison that is your soul.'

'So, what do I do?' Ichigo asked in desperation.

'Cast you fear away. Let your fear die. You have the power within you already. It is your fear that stops you from seeing it. There is a name for this power, and you know that as well.'

'What good is a name if I can't even use the power?'

'A name is powerful in and of itself' Zangetsu answered almost irritatedly. 'Knowing the name of an ability, of a power, increases that power tenfold.'

'What is the name, then?'

'You know it. It is only your fear that is blocking it from your ears.'

'Then how do I-'

'Stop stalling, boy!' the Zanpakto yelled, making Ichigo flinch. 'Have faith in yourself! That is how you defeat your fear! Believe in your ability, Ichigo. Rukia does whole-heartedly. Why do you not?'

'Rukia…'

Ichigo turned his head to the side to stare at Rukia, his raven angel of death. He could clearly see her pleading eyes from here. She was begging him not to give in. She was counting on him to fight, and what kind of a man would he be to just lie there like a total bitch?

A sudden explosion of spiritual pressure stopped Urahara dead in his tracks. He knew this feeling. If he hadn't known better, he'd have sworn Isshin was standing behind him. He turned to see Ichigo standing tall, pure power erupting from him, Zangetsu held high in one hand above his head. His eyes showed absolutely no fear, only pure killing intent.

"Now that's more like it" Urahara mumbled amusedly.

The shop keep mimicked Ichigo's stance, letting his own spiritual pressure flow out around him. Now it was time to put the boy's resolve to the test.

Ichigo could feel the source of his power now, could see the name clearly in his mind. It was like a white wildfire burning intensely in the depths of his soul, and at its center, he could make out a pair of eyes staring back at him. He knew these eyes so well, these violet eyes that could penetrate him to the core, the eyes of his love.

'You know the source of it now, don't you Ichigo?' Zangetsu asked.

'Yes.'

'And you knew it all along, didn't you?'

'Yeah, I guess. And you were right. I was just too scared to see it after all.'

'Now that you know it, use it. That name is yours to use. Do it, Ichigo. Show them your resolve.'

Ichigo tilted his arm back to give his swing that much more power, and with that, he closed his eyes.

"Getsuga…"

Urahara's eyes widened. This wasn't good. He had to shoot first, else he'd probably lose a limb or two.

"Now, Benihime!" He launched his attack, putting more into it than he thought he should. Still, he'd rather scorch the boy a little than die himself. As the crimson blast raced toward its target, Ichigo showed no signs of noticing.

Suddenly, Ichigo's eyes shot open as he swung his arm with all his might. "TENSHOU!"

It took all of a second for the two attacks to connect. Urahara's timing in his attack managed to bend the trajectory of crescent-shaped wave of pure spiritual pressure, but only just. It sailed by him by a few meters, exploding against the reinforced walls of the chamber. The resulting blast nearly covered the entire room with a cloud of dust.

Ichigo stared dumbfounded at the trench he had dug into the ground. He couldn't believe that had come from his sword. Sure, the attack had seemed impressive before, but…damn. His attention quickly shifted to the laughter rising out of the dust before him.

"Well done, Ichigo" Urahara called as he appeared through the haze. "You never cease to amaze."

"You're telling me" he said in return, still in awe of it all.

As the dust settled, Ichigo could see Rukia standing where she had been before, though a little shaken up. From where he stood, she appeared to be just as shocked as he was. All he could think to do was smile at her, running a hand through his untamable hair.

Seeing him unharmed, smiling at her no less, Rukia put her own smile in place. She couldn't believe his power now. He could probably put hers to shame in a one-on-one fight. Still, she was happy for him, unreservedly happy.

The pride in her eyes reminded Ichigo of the eyes he saw not five minutes before, the ones deep at the center of his soul, the very source of his strength. There was no mistaking who they belonged to.

'Thank you, Rukia.'

Aside from the slight tremor from below Urahara's, all was peaceful in Karakura Town. The crescent moon illuminated the sleeping city, making it easy for the figure in the sky to make out the shop.

"How long do you think you can keep this up, Kisuke?" he asked aloud, though no one was within earshot. "He's gonna need our help very soon."

The man shook his head, waving his uneven bangs slightly. Satisfied by the current state of things, he replaced his hat atop his blonde locks, ready for his return to the hideout. As he turned to leave, an impossibly-wide grin appeared on his face. "Won't be long now, Ichigo Kurosaki."

And that's a wrap. Thanks for reading, guys. As always, feedback is much appreciated.

Some have wondered as to why Rukia is interfering so much, and I do have my reasons. She knows the pain of losing a loved one, and she also knows that losing Ichigo would be that much worse. She loves him with all her heart, and as much as she has faith in him and wants him to succeed, she can't bear the thought of letting him die. What would you do if the person you loved most was on the verge of dying right in front of you?

Next time: An unexpected visitor, and some play time for Ichigo and Rukia. ;)