What did I see?
(mom lying there, yhwach-yhwach, yhwach, yhwach- and you, you didn't kill her, you couldn't have, not with what I see, not when mom entrusted herself to you; but-but, that's not it, that's not it-)
...What...did I see?
(my weakness, my ignorance, my powerlessness- strength.
Power.
I want power.)
"And you will have it." Rukia's voice resounds throughout the dojo; Ichigo glances at his sword beside him and sees: a black sword thinned out into a long and black katana with a small chain behind it. He lifts it and looks at it in awe, feeling pride thrum throughout him. He looks up at her. "You're making fast progress." She jabs her finger between his crossed eyebrows, and frowns. "Although you're clearly over-stressing about it."
"And what, you didn't?" He retorts.
"Mmm, who knows?" She smiles brightly; he stares at her and scowls at the audacity that she'd still try to hide it all from him. A sudden thought pops up and he let's it pass for now.
"How did you know?"
She chuckles. "Your thoughts are contagious, overpowering I'd say, that I'm sure a couple of others besides me could hear how noisy you are."
He scowls, then: "...So you know then." His reiatsu spikes up rapidly, filling the room heavily.
"Where is my mom?"
She watches him silently and places the bento in his lap; Ichigo eyes it with surprise. "Eat. I'll talk." She gives a small smirk, "it'll keep your mouth busy, otherwise I'd be interrupted several times over, and this would never be over."
"Hmph," he scowls and crosses his arms defiantly. Rukia only lifts the cover off to reveal a delicious lunch in front of him; he scowls further and defiantly looks away. She lifts the bento higher for him to smell of meat, vegetables, fruit, and before he can snatch it, it's gone. She smiles sweetly -"I guess you don't want any"- and bites a piece of meat from his bento; and because fate, or god, or some damn higher being up there just hates him so much-
-his stomach growls. Loudly.
Rukia doubles over laughing and finally stops to look at him, giving him his bento while wiping a tear away. He impatiently snatches his bento and chopsticks from her hands, gorging the rest of it up.
"That's a good boy," she cooes, patting his head; he glares at her from the corner of his eyes to no avail.
"Masaki-san." Ichigo snaps his eyes to her nonchalant gaze instantly. "She's in a safe harbor where no one can reach her, not unless I permit so." A pause. "Your mom is strong, but everyone has limits; I...can't guarantee that she's the mother you once knew. But even so," she sighs and smiles sadly, "you want to see her."
"Of course," he says automatically. "I need to see her for myself."
Rukia pauses.
"Are you willing to do so even if this means your mom will no longer be guaranteed that she'll be completely safe from Yhwach and the Central 46?"
Ichigo stiffens; why the hell didn't I think of it before?
(how could i be so wrapped up to check up on her, see her, talk to her...i'm pathetic)
"You're not pathetic, Ichigo," Rukia says, gently placing her fingertips on his cheek. "I think...I think your mom should come out of hiding for her own sake." A pause. "She's tired. Very tired, though she doesn't show it." Rukia bites her lip and looks off distantly, but quickly snaps out of it and faces him with strength. "To allow her to finally be free again, I need you to be strong as well."
He grabs her hand, she pulls him up. They stand in position.
"Let's begin."
He grips his sword tighter and his eyes sharpen with a stronger resolve.
"Yeah." He steps forward-
-and flies.
...
...
...
(after)
"ah, Rukia?"
"hm?"
"when are we visiting my mom?"
tomorrow
