Tatsuki was once again awake during the night, waiting for the sun to rise. Three nights ago, she once again thought she had had somehow heard Ichigo's voice on her radio. She almost thought she heard him performing a broadcast. She listened again during the following nights, but it was mostly static. She did hear one portion clearly, recognizing it as Ichigo fighting. His voice seemed to call a response from her zanpakuto, Mamorimaru, and call forth a greater power than any before every experienced.
She held the radio in her two hands, staring, waiting patiently for his voice, but it did not return. She sighed; she would have to give up for now. She was hiding behind a building, and she peeked around the corner, waiting for Rukia's signal as she walked through the south gate with Renji.
"Why did you want to talk to me?" she asked uncertainly. Renji had suddenly appeared at the south gate, and nearly caught her with Tatsuki. He suddenly said he wanted to go for a walk, and speak with her, at the break of dawn, and she agreed. They walked through the place of their childhood: the miserable Rukongai where life was unfair, the miserable Rukongai where they met, the Rukongai they parted from.
"No reason," he said harshly. "It's nostaligc, isn't it, walking through our childhood memories like this. Every piece of debris is a result of one of the disasters that occurred when we lived here."
"That's all in the past now."
"I don't want to forget it all. This is where I met you, Rukia. I thought this place was the worse. I was hungry everyday. I had to steal in order to eat. When I met you, I was able to accept my life. I didn't mind this place anymore, but then you decided to become shinigami. I followed you, to where a better life would be. Your skills were far better than mine, and you were adopted into a clan, but I worked hard not to fall behind. I've worked incredibly hard not to fall behind, but it always seems we're always so far apart."
"After we left, there was no one else to protect the village. People used to call us heroes, and gave us their food, because they knew we would need it to use spiritual power. We abandoned, them and broke their trust. People fought over food, and eventually, they entire village was destroyed and deserted. Now no one lives here."
"It's a fate that would have passed eventually. It wasn't our fault. It wasn't your fault. We had a calling, to become shinigami. Now we have responsibilities, to protect all spirits. Did you forget that during your stay in the human world?"
"I didn't forget. I didn't forget, but when I was there, I think I became stronger. I remembered what it was like as a human. Emotions are said to only interfere with a shingami's work, but I think the emotions made me stronger. I... I had fun. Even though I lost some of my powers, and even though you have risen in the ranks farther than I, I still feel stronger. Why are you asking me this?"
"I want to remind you of what's most important, and that is your duty as a shinigami."
"Yes, but-"
"That's enough. We have patrol. We can't be late."
"You're right." She took one last look at the broken pieces of what once made up her former home, before walking back toward the south gate alone. Her thoughts were a hope, that never again would blood be shed upon that village that was her home, where she met Renji. She did not want to forget that place, but she did want to forget that place where she met Ichigo, either.
"I'm sorry," Renji apologized, though only he could hear. "Once again, in this village, blood will be shed. It must be. You have forgotten what it is to be a shinigami. You are not stronger. The one who makes you weak, is him."
"So you're here," Ichigo grunted.
"I will not let you disturb Rukia's life. She is a member of an important clan. She must uphold the principles of a shinigami. She won't return with you. When she was accepted into that clan, she disappeared from my life. I will never let her leave me again."