Well, this is it. I'm off to university tomorrow, so this chapter conveys some of my feelings right now, such as saying goodbye. I listened to the Bleach OST 'Going Home' while writing this. I worked really hard to try and get this ending right, so I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for sticking with me through to the very end, it's been a blast. I hope to see you all on my next fic. Thank you to ThroughTheGalaxies and X-Burner 27 for their support. For now though, so long. :) ~ Tommo2304
Close the Gates
There is a shuffling sound coming from the centre of the room. The room is jet black, with no windows, and no real source of light. Yet, somehow, everything could be made out perfectly, as if it were swamped in a shadow visible. In the middle of the room, a man is sprawled out across the floor. Slowly, his eyes flicker open and he splutters, coughing violently before gradually sitting up and rubbing his head. Aizen runs a hand across his hair and looks around at the dark room.
'Where…?' he begins before he feels his chest with a pale hand. No longer is there a gaping hole in the centre of his body, but instead, attached to him is a thin, black chain which he runs through his fingers, letting it rattle and drop through them. Quickly, he tugs at it before giving up and letting it fall. His hair is short again and his eyes are now hazy and clouded. Behind him, he suddenly hears the clicking of wood against the floor. The figure moves into view and Aizen turns slowly. 'Come to explain what's going on…' Aizen whispers, narrowing his eyes. '…Urahara Kisuke?'
Kisuke's eyes flicker with interest.
'I'm surprised. You're not wondering what I'm doing here at all?' Urahara asks brightly, Aizen closing his eyes, a smug grin crossing his lips.
'Please. It's fairly obvious what's happened. Don't think I don't remember the attack. Kurosaki Ichigo's power was merely enough to remove you and the other spirits from my body. But I didn't die. He could never hope to kill me with such measly power.' Aizen brags, Kisuke tilting his head and shrugging his shoulders.
'Well that's sort of right.' Kisuke says, Aizen's eyes narrowing darkly.
'…what?' he mutters, Urahara looking down at the man through solemn eyes. Finally, Kisuke looks down at the thin, black chain hanging from Aizen's chest and begins to scratch his chin, raising an eyebrow.
'Do you know what that is?' Urahara asks. 'No? That is a Binding Chain. It serves as a lost heart for someone who has governed theirs.' Kisuke whispers. Aizen looks over to him, clearly trying to hide his uncertainty through a thinly lipped smirk.
'Governed? What on earth do you mean? Are you claiming that one does not have the right to govern, as you so ruthlessly put it, their own heart?' Aizen sniggers mockingly.
'A governed heart is one that has been used for the wrong means. Hearts are supposed to be the source of our power, the source of our emotions, our feelings. But you, who gouged out his own heart for raw strength and eternal life, were dominated by the Hogyoku's reiatsu. Our hearts are meant to work in their own ways. They determine who we are. They determine the flow of all things. You, who claimed not to need a heart, never understood their true purpose.' Kisuke whispers.
'There is nothing I do not understand.' Aizen scowls. Urahara sighs.
'What about the bonds of friendship? What about the bonds of family and hope and love? These are the true meaning, the true purpose of our hearts. Our hearts are meant to beat as one, with our allies, to give them strength. For you to so selfishly destroy your heart, you do not deserve one.' Kisuke says coldly but Aizen suddenly stands to his feet and clasps his fingers around the black chain, rattling it wildly, Kisuke unfazed.
'Ha! Then what is this foolish trickery? Am I to believe that this is my punishment, my sanction? Fool! You say our hearts determine who we are! Then my heart chose not to follow your creed, your path! My heart chose its own method! Its desires were its own!' However, Aizen is quickly cut off as Kisuke opens his mouth again, the villain's eyes softening, his maniacal grin turning down into a confused stare.
'No. You chose the path of your heart. Your befouling of it, your careless self mutilation of the very fibre of your being has caused this! So yes, this is your punishment, Sosuke!' Kisuke barks, Aizen staring down at the chain now, watching it from his body into nothing, into the all-consuming blackness. Suddenly, Urahara hears a cold, crazed laugh rising up from the villain who snaps his head up, shrieking with a hysterical laughter.
'Ku ha ha ha!' Aizen cackles, throwing his head back, his brown hair rolling down his neck, his throat gargling. 'Very funny! Very! You almost had me there! You think I haven't seen this before?' Aizen hisses, shaking the chain. 'It's Kido! It's so simple! I did survive Kurosaki Ichigo's attack! You fool! You've placed yourself in my very grip! I'll just destroy this pathetic binding…!' Aizen cries, tugging at the chain. Kisuke watches him with pity, the man becoming increasingly desperate. 'H…Hado 32!' Aizen stammers. 'O…Oukasen!' However, nothing escapes his hand. He lifts it to his face and studies his fingers, sweat rolling down his cheek. 'Wha…? My…Kido…? Why isn't it working…?' Aizen whispers.
'Don't you remember what I said? You were sort of right.' Kisuke begins, looking over at the man, his hands in his pockets as he watches Aizen struggle with the chain. 'You did survive the attack. But only because Ichigo spared you.' At this, Aizen's eyes bulge.
'THAT'S BULLSHIT!' he screams, his face flaring up, but he finds he cannot reach Kisuke, even with an outstretched hand; the chain keeps him in place.
'He said that he would rather everyone could remember the man who caused the deaths of everyone he cared about. He said…' Urahara looks up at the villain, his green eyes gleaming now. '…it would be best to be able to remember their sacrifices.' Finally, the blonde man turns on his heel and begins to stride away, his body beginning to fade into the darkness. Aizen staggers across as far as he can, his hair strewn across his face as he shouts at Kisuke again, the man's back to him.
'KISUKE! RELEASE ME! RELEASE ME FROM THIS!' Aizen spits, tugging at the chain. 'WHY DO I DESERVE THIS PUNISHMENT? AM I NOT TO SEE THE LIGHTS OF PARADISE AGAIN?' Urahara turns round, his eyes staring at the man, who he now pitied.
'No, you're in Paradise alright. But no, you will never leave this room.' Kisuke whispers, turning away to walk out again, leaving Aizen suspended in disbelief. 'Ichigo's attack destroyed your exterior, essentially, the Hogyoku itself. That's how we were all freed. Paradise has returned to how it once was. I believe that is why Ichigo spared you. So we at least had one thing to remember this ordeal by. That and our own sacrifices.' Urahara continues to walk, his body seemingly lighting up the darkness and he can hear Aizen rattling the chain incessantly.
'You, who do not know the pain of loss, or the suffering of woe, must atone and learn. I realise now that you have learnt nothing from this, Aizen.' Kisuke says softly.
'THAT'S RIDICULOUS! RELEASE ME! RELEASE ME AT ONCE!' Aizen screams, Kisuke disappearing slowly into the darkness, only his green eye remaining and it closes, not looking back.
'That's just something I cannot do. I'm not sorry. Goodbye, Sosuke.' With that, he was gone and the room was plunged into total, crushing darkness.
Ichigo lies with his back up against a towering oak, the green leaves partially obscuring the beating sunlight, which shimmers through the gaps. Suddenly, he hears some frantic giggling and he opens one brown eye, Karin and Yuzu running through the undergrowth, chasing each other across the grass before leaping a crystal blue stream. Ichigo smiles thinly before closing his eyes again and sighing heavily, his short, orange hair blowing gently in the wind. Softly, he hears the crunch of leaves and looks up, Inoue walking over to him. She notices him watching her and blushes, covering her face with her hands.
'Yo, Inoue.' Ichigo grumbles, pretending he hadn't seen. Orihime beams at him. He is his young self again, his chin bare and the dark circles gone from beneath his eyes at last. She comes and stands beside him, the two standing in an awkward silence for a moment. Finally, she clears her throat.
'Is it okay if I sit down?' she asks, Ichigo smiling a little.
'Yeah.' He replies, the girl shuffling down and perching herself beside Ichigo. They sit silently for a few moments, Orihime watching Karin and Yuzu run around before Yuzu grabs Karin sending the two of them crashing to the ground, laughing and chuckling. The wind catches Inoue's long, orange hair and she quickly pulls it behind her head before pulling it up and tying a small piece of string around it.
'There. That's much better.' She chuckles. Her eyes seem to soften as she watches the two play fighting. 'They seem completely unaware that anything has changed, don't they?' she whispers.
'I think it's probably better that way.' Ichigo replies simply. Suddenly, Ichigo feels Orihime wrap her fingers around his arm and he listens as she leans her head on his shoulder.
'Thank you. Thank you for saving us.' She whispers. A little shocked Ichigo looks down at her before smiling again and nodding, closing his eyes.
'Ah…don't worry about it.' He replies.
'Do you think Aizen is gone now then?' Inoue asks again. Ichigo stares at the babbling stream for a moment before nodding.
'I do.' Ichigo says, a stillness hanging in the air. The sound of birds chirping and insects buzzing fills the space, and the grass feels warm beneath them. There remain little to no signs of the war. Finally, Ichigo clambers to his feet, startling Orihime. She falls over and collects herself, standing up beside him.
'Something wrong, Kurosaki-kun?' she wonders apprehensively. Ichigo turns to him and smirks, grinning broadly.
'Let's go and find Chad. Didn't he say he was rebuilding Kisuke's tower?' Ichigo tries to remember, Inoue shrugging before nodding sheepishly.
'I think so.' She says. Ichigo holds out his hand and she takes a hold of his. Before they leave however, Ichigo takes a look at Karin and Yuzu, Inoue noticing something is wrong. She turns to him and stares at the boy, a strange look in his eyes. 'Kurosak-?' she begins, but Ichigo sighs and rubs the back of his neck lamely.
'Maaan!' he groans. 'I didn't think it'd come to this but…' he turns to Inoue, the girl watching him steadily. '…I'm really sorry, but there's something I have to ask of you, Inoue…' Ichigo exclaims, the girl gasping at what he has to say.
Chad hauls a steel girder onto his shoulders and shifts it across his back before flinging it onto a pile of others, the sounds of metal clanging rattling through the hillside. He wipes his brow and looks up into the sky, watching a gathering of birds come swooping past. His brown hair is matted to his forehead and he pushes it aside, sweating under the midday sun.
'Everything turned out fine…in the end…' he thinks to himself, staring up at the tower. The structure was complete, but there were still large sections missing, including the glass sphere at the top. Then, he hears a noise and he turns, Inoue calling to him, waving from across a hill, Ichigo striding along behind her, his hair almost glowing in the light of the sun.
'Hey, Chad!' Inoue laughs, running over to him. Ichigo arrives shortly after, but he looks strangely distant, his eyes dreamy and drifting over the tower. 'It looks great! All by yourself?' Ichigo hears Orihime exclaim, Chad replying with his usual affirmative grunt. Ichigo sits himself down on a grassy mound and sighs, playing with the first blade of grass in front of him. Inoue continues talking to Chad, but occasionally, her grey eyes flicker over to Ichigo. Chad notices.
'Is everything alright?' he asks, Ichigo looking up.
'Everything's fine!' he says cheerily, but Inoue looks away. Ichigo's shoulders drop and he sighs again. Then, they hear a noise and look up, Uryu striding over the horizon, the sunlight gleaming on his glasses. His hair is back to its normal length, similar to Ichigo, as with him the signs of battle are fading. There is a wry grin on his face and Chad gives him thumbs up, Uryu waving to them as he comes over the grassy hills. Ichigo looks up, his eyes widening.
'I-Ishida! Is that…?' he splutters, Uryu smirking.
'It is, Kurosaki.' Uryu holds a hand out in front of him, showing them his attire. He was dressed down in a white overcoat, covering a small suit of white and blue, with a single black stripe running down the forearms of the coat. He rearranges his glasses. 'This is the uniform of the new university of Rukon. I've taken the liberty of taking over, but-…' he continues, when Rukia drops down next to him, beaming broadly at Ichigo.
'-but the Kuchiki clan has the majority of power across the board!' she smirks, her purple eyes lighting up. Ichigo looks between the two of them.
'R…Rukia?' he stammers, the girl chuckling.
'Miss Rukia offered to use the clan's treasury fund to rebuild the university. We both believe that by doing so, we can hope to rebuild the city of Rukon from the inside as well.' Uryu continues. 'This is just the beginning. We're all about ready to bring this world back from the edge, Kurosaki.' Ichigo watches them, Inoue looking out over the scenery, Chad getting back to work on the tower, Ishida consulting Rukia about the university. He turns, his brown eyes scanning the sloping mountain ranges, the beautiful trickling streams, and the glittering lake where he first trained with Shinji and a sad, lonesome look crosses his face, the wind catching his orange hair. Ichigo turns to look at them all and they slowly look over at him. The sun seems to be hanging just behind him and it casts a beautiful outline around his shoulders and spiky hair. His friends see in him the innocence and youth of the boy they first met, but in his eyes, they see the determination and strength of a fighter who's persevered. His eyes glisten.
'Everyone…' he whispers. Rukia looks up at him, Chad placing a metal bar on the ground, turning to look at the boy, Uryu rearranging his glasses as a tear falls down Inoue's cheek, Ichigo looking down at them from his grassy mound. '…goodbye.' At this, the outline around him begins to glow ever brighter and, from behind him, a light shines outwards, spiralling around him. The wind picks up and everyone turns to watch.
'Kurosaki…what do you…?' Uryu whispers, watching in horror as Ichigo looks down at his arm, his hand slowly beginning to blow away in the wind, turning to sparkles. Rukia rushes forwards, crying out.
'Ichigo!' she shrieks, her eyes wide with fear. She stops fast beside Inoue, the girl's long hair covering her eyes as she stands, clasping her arms in front of her. 'Inoue! Do something, save him!' However, the orange haired girl merely shakes her head slowly, looking up at last, a smile on her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
'I can't…' she whispers, defeated. '…Kurosaki-kun…told me himself…' she begins, Rukia and the others staring at her. '…the use of Meigetsu…the entire duel with Aizen consumed so much of Ichigo's energy, that he simply can't sustain himself here any longer…' Inoue cries, Ichigo staring down at her.
'Inoue…please, don't cry.' Ichigo whispers, his hand on Inoue's shoulder as she sobs. 'I need to be strong; I need you to look after Karin and Yuzu for me. They deserve lives of their own. They deserve to know about this. Please, tell them everything when they're old enough.' Ichigo asked her, the girl nodding slowly, her face in her hands.
'Why is this happening? Why is it that when we've at last found happiness, you…you're…you're dying?' Orihime exclaimed, her voice growing sharper with the final word. Ichigo opened his mouth to speak, but his shoulders sunk.
'It's Meigetsu. You know that. But, Inoue, I am happy with this. I will never forget any of you, but I am just glad that I could die saving everyone…protecting everyone.' Ichigo reassured her, the girl crying before wrapping her arms around Ichigo's waist and sobbing into his chest, the boy remaining content this time. 'Inoue…' he whispers, closing his eyes and embracing her back. '…I'm sorry.'
Chad takes a step forwards suddenly and swipes out at the sky, Ichigo's eyes drifting over to him, the burly boy crying out uncharacteristically.
'You didn't have to do this, Ichigo! You didn't have to sacrifice yourself for us!' Chad bellows, his eyes alive. A warm smile crosses Ichigo's face and he steps forwards, placing a hand on Chad's shoulder and Chad looks down at him, his eyes quivering.
'You were always there for me, Chad, even when you lost your arm, you kept it out until the end.' Ichigo praises him, Chad swallowing hard, watching his friend's other arm disappearing slowly into the wind. 'I know that with your immense strength, you will rebuild this world to its former glory. Please…' Ichigo looks up at him, grinning. '…you don't have to fight anymore. Have Inoue restore your arm.'
'Ichigo…' Chad chokes, his eyes flickering down to the space where his arm used to be. '…it doesn't have to be this way!' Chad roars, clasping Ichigo with his paw like hand.
'You don't understand. It's time.' Ichigo whispers, his lips thin, his eyes watery. 'The training…it wasn't just Meigetsu, but every single training I've ever endured up to this moment has taken an enormous toll on my body. Reiatsu is leaking off of me now…' Ichigo says, lifting his hand to his eyes. '…people don't just come back to life. I was on borrowed time after I died.' Finally, Chad slowly releases his grip and Uryu steps forwards, Ichigo looking over at him from his shoulder.
'Kurosaki…' he whispers, his eyes obscured behind his glasses, his blue hair hanging down over his face. Ichigo turns on his heel, the wind wrapping itself around him, his body blowing away in sparkles still, some of it turning to dust before them. Ichigo smirks proudly.
'Ishida…you've no idea how grateful I am you chose to help out. Without you, without any of you…' Ichigo continues, looking around at their sad faces. '…I don't think I'd have won.' Ichigo beams but Uryu shakes his head.
'Did you win though, Kurosaki? You're here; dying…we wanted to protect you! Nothing's changed!' Uryu cries, narrowing his eyes behind his gleaming glasses. Suddenly, they hear a brushing of grass and turn, Rukia standing close to Ichigo's back. He notices a newfound look of happiness in her eyes and she smiles, looking up at the now setting sun, glowing a beautiful, warming orange across the hillside.
'No…' Rukia smiles, closing her eyes, her black hair blowing gently around her face. '…we did change something. We did protect Ichigo. I think I understand now, Ichigo. You, all your life have wanted to protect and this is it. You have protected us. I understand now. This is our victory, our happiness.' Rukia says softly, Ichigo smiling lightly. She turns, staring up at the shimmering doorway opening behind Ichigo, the glistening gateway unlocking its doors. 'This isn't death.' She says at last, breathing out heavily. She straightens up, the vibrant green hillside contrasting silkily with the warming orange sky, Ichigo standing someway from her, his black kimono billowing in the gentle breeze.
'Rukia…' he whispers quietly, the woman smiling at him.
'Thank you, Ichigo…' she breathes. Finally, Inoue approaches him, the boy turning slightly. They stand and stare at each other for a moment, Ichigo just smiling as the girl stares daintily at the floor.
'Inoue…' Ichigo begins but the girl looks up sharply all of a sudden.
'I'll look after Karin and Yuzu! I'll stay strong!' she blurts out, Ichigo slightly taken aback as the girl slowly retracts before looking up, the setting sun falling on her face for just a moment, her hair glowing. 'And I'll never forget you, Kurosaki-kun.' Ichigo feels his face going bright red before he sheepishly rubs the back of his neck, Inoue stepping up next to Rukia and the others, the shadow of Urahara's new tower dancing, sweeping over the hills.
'None of us will.' Rukia says happily, Uryu smiling, Chad nodding curtly. Ichigo waves to them as he turns and steps into the doorway, the light shimmering around him as he closes his eyes, as if falling asleep and drifts away, the sparkles swallowing him up as the gate closes behind him at last. Rukia smiles and places a hand on her heart, her black hair blowing softly in the wind. 'Thank you…Ichigo.'
Ichigo steps down into the halls of Paradise once again, his eyes hazy and cloudy. Waiting for him, almost as if there to pick him up, he sees Isshin and Urahara standing beside a small wall of white bricks. Without any other idea of what to do, he strolls over to them and Kisuke bows to him as he steps up beside them.
'I really have no words to express my gratitude, Kurosaki-san.' Kisuke smiles down at him, his green eyes expressing enough. 'But are you sure you're happy with this?'
'There's not much I can do if I'm not…' Ichigo chuckles. The smile on his face however shows different and he grins, awash with happiness. '…but yeah, I think I'm going to be fine!'
'We really are in your debt.' Urahara says, but Ichigo shakes his head, waving the man off.
'Aaah!' he scoffs. 'Come on! I'd have never made it that far if it wasn't for you guys! You all sacrificed just as much as I did to get anywhere. I know the pains you've all suffered. I've tried to shoulder mine as best as possible. In the end, there was only ever this outcome. I knew, since my Mugetsu training that the end was going to arrive for me. I had accepted that long ago.' Ichigo whispers. Finally, Isshin steps up, a proud look on the man's face.
'Ichigo…' he sighs. '…my son. I knew you would do it. I always had faith in you. After everything, I knew you would pull it off. I…ICHIGO!' Isshin bursts into tears and leaps at his son but Ichigo punches him straight in the face.
'Shut up! You ruined the whole mood!' the boy barks, Isshin cradling his nose. Ichigo curls his hand into a fist again but stops as he hears someone step onto the marble. Slowly, he looks up, Masaki standing someway away from him, her eyes sparkling.
'Mum…' Ichigo begins. '…Mu…' he starts again but suddenly, a tear rolls down his cheek and he lowers his fist, Isshin bursting out into tears again on the floor, howling. Masaki opens her arms and Ichigo, unsure of what to do exactly takes a step forwards. She wraps her arms around him and he rests his head on her shoulder. '…I'm here, Mum.' Masaki nods, her orange hair falling down her back.
'I know…I'll never let you go again, Ichigo. I promise.'
Watching them, Kisuke begins to stroll away when Shinji appears on the ground, his hands in his pockets.
'Ya just gonna walk away?' he grins, Urahara looking over his shoulder.
'You're not possible implying there is anything left for me here?' Kisuke chirps, Shinji raising an eyebrow.
'So ya sayin' you haven't found a way for him to go back?' Hirako mutters, Kisuke turning slightly.
'I might have.' He says simply and walks off, Shinji chuckling under his breath, looking over at the Kurosaki family.
'Hell…' he whispers, brushing some hair from his face. '…this couldn't have ended much better…but boy, it was one hella trip…' the man smirks, Kisuke walking away, a small smile on his face as Ichigo puts his arms around Masaki before they turn to Isshin, the three of them walking off into Paradise together, the white sun setting in the background behind the family. It was, at last, time to go home.