A/N: Whoa, what a coincidence. My last fic of the year…literally! It's nearly the end of December and 2008 is only a few days away, a day to be exact (or less than even). Well, it sort of depends on what particular day you're reading this. Probably about one or two days after I posted it I guess.
If you're reading this particular Author's Note right now then let me just say thanks. It means that you've stayed with me this far and sucked in my laziness and procrastination in hopes of just finishing this God-forsaken fic. Again, many thanks and of course if you've sent me reviews, thanks for that too.
In this final chapter, let's hallmark the events that's happened throughout this story and hopefully this ever warmth collections of comebacks and flashbacks will lead Ichigo's footsteps to this romance's conclusion.
Final Chapter
One More Chance
A man was streaking across the rain-scarred streets. It's been raining non-stop for a consecutive number of hours. And like the rain, the running man only seemed to push even further, even faster.
The map laid out for him by Kisuke Urahara embedded unto Ichigo's mind. He didn't even look twice at the brood piece of paper soaked under his rain dripping jacket. He couldn't care less, and only one single person occupied the cauldron that was his subconscious.
It was turning out like a grim fairytale, a pale gray layered over the emptied streets of Karakura. Ichigo's thoughts had rewind once more. Remembering how this all started, a comedic punch line off the face of a nearly cancelled Saturday cartoon.
"LOOK OUT!" cried a girl riding her bicycle.
Call it destiny, call it fate, it happened and so it did. An accident that caused him to know the name, Rukia Kuchiki, a name he's seeking to rejoin with each hard step right now.
His wet hair got in his eyes, but he just jolted his head and swung it out of the way. The scowl in his face was reanimated into that of determination. Nothing escaped the coldness of his lips but chilling breaths as the orange-haired boy only continued in his path.
He remembered, from that day forth him and her started in this complicated friendship. Friends in the sense that they projected as bitter rivals, and yet, there was nothing they were rivaling for.
"YOU CRAZY LITTLE BRAT TRYING TO RUN ME OVER!"
"YOU INCONSIDERATE, UNGRATEFUL IDIOT!"
"WHY YOU LITTLE?!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE!"
Coincidence wasn't enough to describe it as they found that the time they were spending with each other seemed to have no end. First at school, their friends always poked at them as a couple. Ichigo never listened; to him it always just your typical rude high school joke.
"HEY! SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND, DAD!" Ichigo yelled out after over-hearing.
"I'D RATHER DIE THAN TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS WEIRDO!" Rukia shouted out as well.
Ichigo made a sharp turn around a corner, as the map bolted in his noggin inscribed. He was still far from his destination. There were no busses in sight, not a taxi in view. Luck was against him for the past hours, even then he seemingly lost track of time itself since he slammed the door on his father's face. It didn't bother him, he'd run a thousand miles if he had to…just for her.
The flashbacks kept coming the more his heart and his breath raced on forward. He recalled that school soon followed them to work. All the years he's been working in the literally simple woodwork called the "Urahara Shop", things had never been more complicated since she came along. She needed money, he understood that, but she had a funny way of showing her sarcasm.
Ichigo slapped his hand against his face leaving an imprint on it, realizing what he just did. "This isn't what I meant you know…" he scowled.
"Well, you said I should get a job." Rukia pointed out.
"Why here of all places?!" The orange-haired 15-year old complained. "That's the last time I'm giving you advice on something."
He always used to think that their adventures wouldn't end. A fairytale as said earlier. And in time, Ichigo eventually grew fond of her, learning who she was, learning who himself is, and learning how to love.
For months he's denied it. Always felt it like a torn on his side that refuse to bleed out. His friends and family showered him with the signs like how the rain is doing so right now. But he didn't mind, blinded and oblivious.
Soon, the fairytale started to turn dark. Rukia's brother, Renji, and half the goons who were trying to deny her the life she always wanted. Rukia ran away from all that, and turned to the only sanctuary she has…him.
"ARGHHHHH!!!" Ichigo screamed when a girl suddenly popped out of his closet. The thrill expression seemed like he just saw a ghost. But he then stopped after getting a good look of who it was. "R-Rukia?" he asked unsurely.
"Ichigo, I can explain." Rukia said, hopping down from the roomy closet.
He thought it was fine at first, laughs and lies, jokes and cries, but she always feared the risk that they took. They'd find her eventually, both of them knew, still, Ichigo tried to keep a smile going on her bright face. She was drawing every step closer to him and him to her. Moment to moment grant them a quarter extension beats on their hearts.
Every dream has its own nightmares, like opposite sides of the coin. This one had its own too. They all saw it coming. Byakuya was garnering closer and closer, slowly following Rukia's runaway footsteps. Her cautious words ran through his ears.
"Look, it's not that…" Rukia protested. "We can't hide from my brother forever, he's going to find me, and when he does…I just…I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU GET HURT!" her voice suddenly raised, the look on her face seem like she was fighting herself from shedding a tear.
These past couple of hours had nothing but been painful he thought. Ichigo still reckoned the bandages that were that's keeping him together in one piece. But he didn't care, he just wants to reach the Kuchiki estate, to him, it's all that matters now.
Ichigo was getting closer. The road on the map was already coming to a close. As he kept running further, the memories rattling in his mind of discontent only tangled itself even more. Shards of everlasting thoughts weaving together as the pieces start connecting. All these memories of her, slowly coming together and giving him strength to push on forward without hesitation…
He remembered the fragile day he ran into her.
He remembered the near bedside moment he found out her name.
He remembered meeting with her in school for the first time.
He remembered going to work with her for the first time.
He remembered her visiting over to his house.
He remembered her stowing away in his closet.
He remembered the night she ran away.
He remembered how he found her once more in the park.
He remembered fighting just to stay with her.
He remembered all the memories they shared.
He remembered loving her forever more.
And then everything stopped for one second. And only simple thought remained in the orange-haired boy's mind.
I love her. It's all there is to it. He thought solemnly.
All I ask now…
is one more chance…
just one…
one last chance to be with her…
A draft iron gate met the hasting Ichigo. He looked beyond the bars and saw a high-class mansion, its outer walls glowing white under the gritting gray rain. This was it, everything comes down to this.
Ichigo heard the gate rattle about as somebody turned it open. Coincidentally, a guard was just leaving the estate. Sunglasses and a black suit, the guard cursed under his breath due to the fact that bad weather accompanied him. The guard then noticed Ichigo was standing right in front of him and the gate he had laid open.
"Hey, you're not supposed to be here, ki—"He didn't finish his threat as in a flash, he was sent to the cold hard ground unconscious. Ichigo shook and gripped his right hand after the quick swing he made before passing through the gates.
Meanwhile, inside…
Rukia sat silent around the long rectangular dinning table that centered the large room she was in, her head down in shame and dismay. Like a typical setting of a rich family, the classy lights lit the walls as if it was gold. There was nobody else on the table, say for her and her cold and quiet brother.
This is was how dinner was to her every night. The plates may be upper class and socially over-done, the food may be made to the fine, but she never really enjoyed it. To be honest, the only real family dinner she had was the time she was with Ichigo and his family. Sure, the plates may be plain white and scratched, the food may be moderately simple and sufficient quantity, but it had what this didn't…the "family" part.
"Something wrong?" Rukia heard her brother ask in a tone more stale than a biscuit left out for hours. She just looked down on her plate, couldn't match the right words in her mouth to form the reply.
Byakuya pictured the trouble demur on his younger sister. He knew the problem, yet he didn't bother to seek a solution…at least not now. "We'll deal with your punishment tomorrow." He followed his earlier question.
The quiet dinner was suddenly broken when the double doors from behind Byakuya's chair swung open and a random guard walked in with a slight bad news. "Sir, we have a problem." The guard reported, garnering the attention of the stern head of the household.
"Speak of it then." Byakuya remarked.
"There's this young man who trespassed into our property. He attacked some of our men and is refusing to leave." He explained distressingly, fearing both the presence of his boss and his own incompetence in front of him.
"Ichigo." Rukia muttered upon overhearing from the side of the table as she stood from her seat in surprise, knowing all too well who else would have the guts to break in to their home.
Byakuya then rose from his seat but not after giving the raven-haired girl a darting look. He straightened his high class dark coat and jacket before having the same guard lead him to the entrance grounds. "No matter, I'll handle him myself." He remarked darkly.
Back outside…
Ichigo stood firmly outside the freezing cold rain shower as his feet were planted solid down in the middle of the front entrance. The decorative plants and flowers bordering his surroundings were flustered and soaked under the heavy unforgiving rain.
The front double doors opened creaking, revealing non other than Byakuya Kuchiki, a cold yet vigilant glare aimed straight at the orange-haired boy abiding his property. Two guards accompanied him on both sides, Ichigo simply guttered at his form of cowardice.
"Your persistence is starting to get on my nerves, boy, leave…at once." Byakuya said intimidating.
"Is that so? Well I'm sorry to turn you down, but I'm not leaving here without Rukia." Ichigo replied, his determination ever brewing, limitlessly burning through his drenched form.
"Watch your mouth, boy. You don't know what you're getting yourself into. Don't you understand? At the snap of my fingers, my men will swarm the courtyard and beat you within an inch of your after-life." Byakuya threatened.
"I don't care! I'll walk out of here with Rukia by my side even if my body is torn apart." Ichigo shouted back.
"So let me understand, you'd do anything for her?" Byakuya asked one more time.
"…even my soul." Ichigo replied. His words shot Byakuya's eyes open, but before the two could continue Rukia's voice suddenly echoed from behind him.
"ICHIGO NO! GET OUT OF HERE…GO!" Rukia called out alarmingly, fearful of what may happen to the orange-haired young man if he prolonged this any further. She was suddenly held back by one of the guards, preventing her from going outside.
"RUKIA!" Ichigo said, finally seeing her face once more. "LET HER GO, DAMN IT!"
Byakuya's attention shifted back to him. A raised his hand, as if preparing to give out a command to his henchmen. His glare at Ichigo was unnerving, not a hint of hesitation in his face nor his gesture.
Rukia knew what her brother was about to do next. When his hand goes down, all of the guards in the whole estate are going to come after Ichigo. He'll be ripped apart but she's aware that Ichigo wouldn't stop. His will was unbreakable. She fears that his fortitude to reach her would lead to his own demise. And she can't stand to see him get hurt a second time.
"BROTHER PLEASE DON'T!" she screamed.
…and then Byakuya gave the green light.
"Let Rukia go…" Byakuya instructed.
"W-what?" Ichigo asked if he heard it right. Even Rukia herself was bewildered of what her demented brother had just ordered. She felt the guard let his hold of her go and an innocent face with a trouble question she handed to Byakuya.
"Go to him if you wish…" Byakuya said as he turned about and was already preparing to head back inside. "…just don't think I'll be this forgiving in the future." He added. The raven-haired girl lit up with a smile, she hasn't seen this side of her brother. Although it was rare to her, perhaps she thought wrong of him all these years.
Renewed and rejoiced, Rukia ran towards Ichigo, she too getting caught in the long sought rain. Ichigo couldn't help but smile whole-heartedly seeing his last wish granted. He caught the running girl in open arms as they circled into embrace.
Something he's wanted to do ever since they were separated…
Hold her in his arms.
A/N: No Author's Note here, check the Epilogue to see my final remarks.
