Chapter 25

The kiss they shared was simple, but filled with love. Their lips pressed together, moving gently against one another. Byakuya gave her one last loving press before he pulled his lips away. He removed his hand from her lower back, but took her right hand in his. His eyes never left her, afraid she would disappear. His normal indifferent mask returning.

"I'm sorry." He finally spoke.

Rin frowned in confusion. "For?"

Byakuya's tried to remain apathetic, but his heart was filled with too much regret and pain and this reflected in his expression.

"I should have not done that." The words left a bitter, yet truthful taste in his mouth. That kiss was a mistake. A wonderful, yet terrible mistake. It was selfish and wrong, but he could not live the rest of his life without knowing how her tempting lips felt.

His words pierced her heart. If it was not for his hand holding hers then she was sure would have sunk into a pit of disappear.

"What-I'm not understanding," she swallowed her sadness, hoping this conversation was not heading where she thought it was going. She could feel heart cracking.

He squeezed her hand. "Rin, I do not want to hurt you, but we can never be."

This was the cold, hard, and awful truth. His heart breaking at hearing his own words and judging by the anguish in Rin's eyes; her heart as well.

She yanked her had free from his. "Why!" She yelled at him. "Why kiss me and then break my heart? What's wrong with you?"

He wanted nothing more at moment for a hallow to appear and swallow him whole. The look of betrayal and grief in her brown eyes was too much for him.

"Please, try to understand." He knew asking her to calm down was unreasonable. "I love you, but I cannot be with you."

"Bullshit!" She stood up, looking down at him. "Bullshit! You love me, but can't be with me! What?!"

"It is true. I have come to love you deeply, but I have responsibilities that I am not willing to give up. A relationship between us is impossible."

"Impossible?" She wiped her tears. She was not sure when she started to cry, but the tears were there and had no intention of stopping. There was a ball of hurt exploding within her chest and she felt like she was dying.

"I'm would never ask you to give up your responsibilities and I know I'm probably never coming back here, but you can always come to me, can't you?" She asked. Her voice filled with agony as she did her best not trying to break down into a puddle of sorrow.

He shook his head. "That is not a life you deserve."

"But what if it's the life I want!"

"Then I do not want you to have it!" His deep voice raised with angry. It was not directed at her, but at himself. If he only kept his feelings in check from the beginning he would not have to watch her suffer now.

"That's not your choice," she cried before wiping her eyes on her left sleeve.

"That's where you are wrong." His voice lowered with ache. "I will not put in that kind of relationship. Where I can only visit a few times a year, where you are waiting for me, where you will age and spend many of your nights and days alone. How can I want that kind of life for you?" His hands clenched into fists. For the first time in years he felt like crying.

She stared at him trying to find something to say, but all she felt was pain. Was there anything she could say? She knew nothing would change his mind and at that moment she felt so defeated knowing he was right deep down.

"But I love you," she sobbed into her hands as she collapsed onto her knees. "Is that not enough?"

Byakuya made his way over to her, pulling her to him, embracing her as he hide his face in her hair. The approaching cool night's air breezed past them, contrasting their body heat.

"I know. I know you do." He felt her hands clench the back of his shirt as she buried herself deeper into his body. He felt so helpless as he held her, knowing he was the cause of her pain.

"I love you," Byakuya whispered in her light brown, gently stroking her back. "I promise you, you will find love again and even greater love." His deep voice whispered. "But I'm not the one for you."

Rin sobbed harder into him. She could not breathe and it felt like her heart was collapsing. She hated him, but she hated herself even more for falling in love with him. How could life be so unfair? They loved each other, so why couldn't they be together?

They sat there in heart break, loving one another. One wept loudly, while the other wept in silence. Neither one willing or wanting to let go. This was their time and space, if only for a moment.

It was not long before Rin fell asleep listening to the heart beat of the man she loved, feeling his warmth surround, comforting despite the pain he inflicted on her. Byakuya continued to hold her, afraid of losing her, knowing this would be the last time he would embraced her.

A/N: Okay, Okay I know I haven't update in forever and its a short update, but its something, right? So for anyone who is still following the story just thank you for your support and any one new, well thank you for reading. This isn't the last chapter. There is going to be one more to which I have already started. Save the eye rolls because I'm sure you guys are like "oh, great I have to wait until I'm 70 now" lol Thank you for your support!

Disclaimer: Dont' own Bleach or anything related to Bleach.