Don't own Bleach. The Final Chapter, I hope you enjoyed this story. To those who reviewed/followed my story, a huge thank you. Let me know what you thought of it and if you want a sequel, or not as the case may be.
UPDATE: Sequel is in progress.
She looked down at a bloody Utsumi's unconscious body. I should have stayed with you she thought. She undressed his torso, to check his wounds. and had already began to heal, what is this? she wondered. She dresses him back up and waits for him to wake up so they can go home. This trip wasn't a mistake, but it wasn't successful. Aizen got away and Utsumi has been designated a traitor. Everything that could go wrong, had gone wrong.
She thought about the battle that happened just above her. The Captain of Squad 11, master swordsman, hulking in size and stregnth. Utsumi managed to beat him, she knew he could do it. She'd seen how powerful he'd become when they were training and when he had fought his battles here in the Soul Society. She was so proud of him, for taking on the Soul Society.
She had waited a few hours when Utsumi began to stir. She rushed to his side, "Kaito. Kaito! Come on, wake up. We gotta go." She said to get her companion to wake up quicker.
He reached up and wiped his face forcefully with the palms of his hands, his eyes opened slowly and he saw Yoruichi, "Are you okay? What happened?" he asked as he stood up shakily.
Grabbing his hand, she looked at him proudly, "Well you took on Captain Kenpachi Kiganjo and won, Sui Feng even complimented you and that's no small feat." She said lightly before continuing, "We'll talk more about it when we're back at the shop." She said avoiding eye contact.
He looked at the ceiling, "That bad?" He asked rhetorically. He looked at the entrance to he underground base wistfully. He knew he wouldn't be allowed back in the Soul Society again. I failed. I failed everyone, Urahara, Tessai, Yoruichi and Siegi no Torento he thought. He couldn't look any of them in they eye.
Yoruichi saw on his face that he was having an internal battle with himself, "No Kaito, don't do that to yourself. Let's just get out of here." She grabbed his hand and pulled him through the portal.
As they ran through the Dangai, Yoruichi kept stealing glances at Utsumi and his face is as impassive as it was during his battles. It's as if he's put on a suit of armor that can't be penetrated. She just wanted to see normal Utsumi back. The one she fell for. She wished they'd never even gone back to the Soul Society. She wants her friend back. She wants the man who drank Sake with her, the man who made her smile. This wasn't him.
Utsumi ran through the Dangai almost on autopilot. He can't help but think of all the people who he let down. From Urahara and Tessai to the other exiles, to Yoruichi. She let her down the most. He'd promised her that she'd get the choice of returning to the Soul Society if she wanted. He failed. He wasn't good enough to help them, he wasn't smart enough to prove Aizen guilty. He wasn't good enough for Yoruichi. But he will be. He'll make himself the best he can possibly be.
They made it through the Dangai and out into Urahara's basement. It was still the same as it was when they left. They walked slowly through the training grounds in silence. It was growing uncomfortable for Yoruichi, she knew he must be feeling terrible. He put so much pressure on himself to succeed, when he couldn't get Yammamoto to listen to him, he'd probably gone at Kenpachi feeling as if he had nothing else to lose. She hoped he snapped out of this soon. She didn't want him to keep beating himself up about this, he tried to do something most wouldn't even try. She took one more look at Utsumi before she had enough, "You need to let this go. Maybe it wasn't right time. He has to act sometime, when he does we can stop him then." She said softly, trying not to aggravate his already beaten state of mind.
Shaking his head, Utsumi disagreed. They didn't know what the purpose of the experiments were. The extent of the ramifications to their powers. They could grow to become so powerful that they can't be stopped. He couldn't do anything to stop the shudder. He knew she was right though and there wasn't anything else he could do. At this point he wasn't even sure he should do it, he tried to explain to the Head Captain but he wouldn't listen. "You're right, I just hope they don't come to regret no listening to us." He said marching on to the exit.
Stunned, Yoruichi grabbed the man's arm and said, "I know what you mean. But if they do, we'll do what we can to help them." She said thinking that if Aizen does use his experiments against the Soul Society they could help them and clear their names in the process. She looked at Utsumi, hoping that he understood where she was coming from.
He thought it through for a moment, the scenario playing out in his mind. He could see it, them helping the Soul Society if the time came, this way he could come good on his promises he had made through out, "Yeah I guess we could." he began. He turned to face her and kissed her forehead, "What would I do without you?" He asked kissing her lips.
Smiling, Yoruichi reciprocated and felt herself getting lost. She pulled away gently and responded, "Wallow in self pity it would seem" She replied lightly before responding, "I hope we don't have to find out." she getting drawn into his cerulean blue eyes. They were beginning to get the light back into them, the light that they were missing as they left the Soul Society.
He looked down at the floor for a moment unable to believe that this woman wants to be with him. No one had ever chosen him before, apart from Old Lady Kameyo. He couldn't believe Yoruichi would even think about him twice, "I don't either." He agreed. He sighed remembering the Soul Society, nothing I can do about it now he mused.
They went up to the shop to find Urahara and Tessai sat at the round table where they had all spent time together in the months Utsumi stayed here before he went back to the Soul Society. Urahara leaped up off the floor yelling, "Yoruichi! Utsumi! You're back. Judging by the look on your faces it didn't go as you thought it would?" he asked. Seeing Yoruichi shake her head, he walked over the Utsumi, "It's okay. There's no reason for you to feel bad. There will be another time to take Aizen down, I'm sure of it." he said patting the returning Shinigami on the shoulder.
Touched by Urahara's soft tone as he consoled him, Utsumi replied, "Thank you Kisuke, I was wondering if you could use a hand around her. Seeing as I can't go back I was hoping I could stay here with you?" he asked, pleading in his eyes as he watched Kisuke for any reaction.
Beaming at Utsumi, Urahara nodded, "You are always welcome here. You can stay for as long as you want. It's the least I could do." he said, fully appreciating the young man's efforts to clear his name.
Looking on at two of her best friends, she looked up at Tessai who was standing next to her, "Looks like you got someone to help you out keeping the store clean, Tessai." she said grinning from ear to ear, glad that her Utsumi was back. She stared at him, catching his eye, she saw a smile creep up on him as if seeing her made him smile. She would make it her goal to keep a smile on that boyish face of his for as long as he wants her to.
Catching Yoruichi looking his way with those big golden eyes of hers, he couldn't help but smile. Smile for the friends he gained. The mission to clear their names may not have turned out as he planned, but he gained the best friends. Urahara, a man wrongly exiled for crimes he didn't commit, Tessai, who was punished for trying to help the real victims, and Yoruichi. The woman who sacrificed herself to help her friends. She did it for Urahara and Tessai but also for him. He would never be able to repay her for that but he would do anything she asks him to do to start paying that debt back. Looking around at the people in the room, he vowed that he would bring Aizen to justice, whether it's in 1 year or 100 years, Aizen will be brought to justice and Utsumi himself will be there when he is.