ONESHOT
Breathe
Breathe.
That's all I had to do and I know I would save myself from these drowning waters, the black depths in which I could see myself falling into and never rousing into the land of the living ever again. All I had to do was breathe.
But his face kept coming closer and his eyes were full of pain, full of a longing I knew...I knew I couldn't fulfill, I couldn't but yet, my heart betrayed me and I fought a century long war for a breath...stuck in my throat, it wouldn't save me.
" Ichigo, please-"
" Shut up."
" Why are you doing this?"
" Shut up."
" You know I don't-I don't-"
" Shut up."
" I don't feel the same way, Ichigo, please!"
But he was cornering me slowly, his body hovering over mine as I sat further back on the chair, my eyes fearfully taking in his determined ones. I was never afraid of him, but at these times...when all you could see was the fire in his eyes, the emotion that rose behind those glassy windows...I couldn't take it.
I knew I could release myself from his hold if I could just breathe. Just inhale. Take it all in and push him away.
" Ichigo...Ichigo...get...get away-" I started to stammer out, hoping my voice would stay firm but knowing I was failing miserably. His fingers touched my cheek and I leaned into the touch without realizing it. My eyes drifted close and I could feel his breath on my cheek.
He could breathe so easily..
And yet I fought for a simple inhalation.
Around him, I couldn't bring myself to do the simplest things everyone does to survive. Even though I wasn't like everyone else and I knew it, yet Ichigo kept telling himself otherwise, kept thinking it would work, but it wouldn't!
It would never work. Ever.
" Rukia.." He spoke, finally. "You're a cruel person."
" How?" I exclaimed, my eyes whipping open and meeting his.
He was even closer then before and my heart beat against my chest, hard hammers that I could barely take. A sinking feeling in my chest was all I could feel as his eyes trained into mine.
" You don't feel it? Can you honestly say..." He broke off and I knew, I knew how hard it was for him, that it hurt him that I was acting like..I didn't care, but it was all for him, so he could lead a normal life and not one...caught between two worlds forever-
He leaned in closer and he placed his lips, chastely on my forehead. I sucked in a breath at this movement and my eyes widened. I could finally breathe. Finally. But I still couldn't move away.
Breathe, breathe, breathe.
He looked at me once again and I felt the tears well up in my eyes, burning.
" Ichigo," I whispered.
" Rukia, don't-don't leave me again-" He said, his voice so vulnerable I couldn't-I couldn't do it anymore. I rose my arms and I pulled him against me, feeling his body pressed against me, every corner, the heat, the warmth taking over me and I sighed, letting go a breath, letting it all go...
I could breathe.
He exhaled and pulled me closer.
I could breathe.
I rose my eyes to meet him and I whispered, " It's going to be so hard...so hard.."
" I know," Ichigo said, his voice hard. " But so was saving you..."
I smiled, hesitatingly and I looked up, into his eyes and rose up, pressing my lips softly against his.
I could breath...because he was the reason behind my survival.
a/n: ah the dreams in which rukia leaves with ichigo...