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Falling Together
Chapter Eight- Reflection
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Matsumoto looked horrified at her leader. There he was sitting down calmly on the tatami mat, sipping a cool glass of sake while his sister and her husband was being threatened by an army over 500,000. "B-But! Why!" She asked in fury, her hand on her sheath. She was struggling to restrain herself from her anger. "Answer me, Byakuya-sama!" She gritted her teeth, glaring at him.
"I gave my sister to him, so he can protect her. Not me." Was his simple answer. He continued to close his eyes, meditating while drinking his cool beverage. Matsumoto frowned deeply, and left without having said anything.
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"…Kuukaku-sama…a notice from Ishida-sama…" A woman's soft voice replied from behind the velvet curtains.
"Heh? What is it?" A harsh voice questioned, and out popped a woman's head looking rather pissed off. "Well. Spit it out." She grumbled, Nemu sat down comfortably on the empty seat.
"War is on the front borders of the Kurosaki Territory. He asks aid from Ishida-sama…milord requests you to help as well." She murmured politely, and bowed.
Kuukaku grunted, and tossed her hair back and forth as she contemplated over what to do. "He's married with her isn't he?" She asked, twirling a strand of ebony between her index finger and thumb. Nemu nodded silently. "Very well. I'll help." She had a small grin across her face. "Been a long time since I've seen, Rukia-chan." She added.
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Rukia stared at the letters handed to her by Matsumoto, her eyes shimmered with shock and yet relief. "Ishida-san and Kuukaku-san are going to help." She whispered, letting out a bright smile. Matsumoto lowered her gaze, and turned away. "It's okay, Matsumoto-san…" The small woman replied honestly, and let out a confident laugh.
"I must apologize. Byakuya-sama…he is as stubborn as ever." She murmured, bowing to her lady. Rukia stared at the wooden table, and clenched on the parchment between her fingers. How she was imperturbable to her brother's response, wasn't really a mystery. It was because of her. He despised her. Her appearance, taunting as always.
"Are you thinking about, Hisana-sama?" Matsumoto questioned, staring at the quiet woman. Rukia eyes glinted slightly, and she let out a fake grin. Rukia-chan…
At that time Ichigo entered the area looking quite tired. His eyes drooped and his mouth was in a more deep frown as ever. Matsumoto saluted him, and left quickly as he dismissed her. "So…any replies?" He asked her. Rukia gazed at him, and nodded handing over the letters. He scanned over them and nodded. "I see…Byakuya won't…?"
A slight nod.
"Very well. I guess it can't be helped."
"…I'm sorry. I couldn't help you." Rukia whispered, looking a little wearily at him. Ichigo let a small smile and told her not to apologize. He quickly left the room and dashed out. Ichigo…
She swore, that his right arm was twitching. It was moving in such a strange manner; like he was struggling to hold himself back. "…What is going on?" She murmured quietly to herself.
Meanwhile Renji dashed through the hallways furiously, cursing along as he found it frustrating to find Rukia. "Damn that bastard! How could I not notice?" He asked himself angrily, biting his lower lip to the point of it bleeding. "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU RUKIA!" Renji grumbled, and a finger poked him behind the shoulder blade.
"I'm right here." The woman muttered, staring at him with such innocent violet eyes. Renji turned crimson and backed away a little. "Something, you must tell me?" She smiled walking towards him and he backing off.
"H-Hai."
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He sat there in his room, holding onto his arm with intense strength. "Stop it…" He grumbled to himself, and finally let go of his grip. His head hurt, and he started rubbing his temples. "…Not now…" He murmured to himself, the pain kept un coming. How it hurt him to the point of screaming. Unfortunately, non one heard his cries of help.
What's the matter? Can't you take a little pain? The voice inside him questioned, it's annoying tone echoing throughout his head. Ichigo clutched desperately onto his head. Asking for help. Demanding for the voice to stop.
"…He carries with him, that god forsaken spirit." Renji explained to Rukia about Ichigo's issue. What was making him pissed off, moody, stupid, and…kind. "
"S-Stop it…" Ichigo grumbled curling up, his mind was growing crazy. "Stop it!" He shouted, cursing as the pain continued to flow through his body. Come on…it's only a LITTLE. You're a MAN! Stop being a pansy. The voice continued to haunt him, and he continued to shout to himself.
"W-What do you mean, spirit?" Rukia stared at him in disbelief. Renji let out a sigh and once again whispered it into her ear.
Aw…Don't be like that. You'll be PERFECTLY FINE after this! The voice screamed in delight while Ichigo shouted with fury and confusion. "You bastard! Stop it!" He murmured, getting up from the bed and clumsily walking to his bathroom. He turned on the lights and found him.
"He has an alternate side, Rukia!" Renji shouted angrily, trying to convince her. To show her the truth of Ichigo's nature. She trembled, but backed away from him.
Ichigo stared at the man before the mirror. His mouth was gawking at him, and the man was smiling. "Why the hell are you here?" Ichigo asked the masked man. A laugh was the reply. He held onto his head, feeling such intense hurt filling into his mind. Come on. Let me out a few times! I mean…I can't stay cooped up in you're damn body! The man retorted angrily, and glared at him. Besides. I'm you, and you are me. He whispered, smiling.
"I-I don't…understand. I don't care if he has an alternate self!" She murmured, turning away from Renji. "As long as he is himself." She smiled and walked away from him.
"I won't let you control me any longer!" Ichigo shouted at the figure. It looked so similar to him. That man…his reflection. Why not? The masked figure asked angrily, protesting at his announcement. Ichigo held onto the wall. It was becoming more troublesome to breathe. The air was heavy.
"You're a nuisance, I can't have you controlling my body, my life!" He whispered, trying to reach the figure and punch it. But he only felt the cold glassy touch of the mirror. Oh come on….I don't think you would want to do that. The spirit smiled kindly. Ichigo's eyes widened.
After all…you don't want the same thing to happen like LAST time. The man laughed, and Ichigo cursed. …Poor Rukia….I wonder how she will react. The voice faded, and his pain did as well. His arm was finally able to relax. And he found it easier to breath. "…Rukia…Gomen." He whispered, closing his eyes and collapsing.
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"Yuzu…Ichi-nii-san…his riatsu…is fading." Karin murmured lazily, flipping through a few pages of a book. Yuzu looked worriedly out of the window, her mouth in a tight frown.
"He'll be alright. Right?" She asked her sister. Karin let out a grunt, and a frown was plastered onto her small face.
"…Don't worry…Rukia-san is with him. He'll be perfectly fine." She retorted. Yuzu nodded, but continued to gaze at the full moon above them.
"I hope he's alright."
"…It's not like he hasn't experienced this before. Remember last time? Dad and every one else had to hold him back before he created such a mess. I swear, controlling those powers was HELL."
Author's Note: Heh. Sorry for the long wait. So much school work…Erm…R&R!