Well, here is the final part to this story! This is a very emotional chapter, so be ready to cry!

This is longest part of the story, which is why it took me a little longer to post than it did for the second part. I had to edit it, and at one point I completely changed a whole scene. If you've seen the movie, you'll see what I changed.

So, as not to hold you guys up any longer, here's the third and final part to this story!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with the Anime/Manga. They belong to Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump Magazine. Nor do I own the plot to Wristcutters or any of the songs used within this Fic. Please support the official release.


Wristcutters: A Love Story- Part Three


"He's sleeping." Rukia noted, staring at Ichigo who had drifted off in the back seat.

"Fucker's always sleeping in the car." Renji muttered with disinterest.

It was getting closer to dusk, and they would be forced to pull over soon. Looking around, there weren't many places to set up camp on the wet, puddle-filled ground. It was beginning to look like they would all be sleeping in the car for the night.

Rukia sighed, leaning on her elbow as she scanned the darkening horizon. Her eyes trailed downwards until they spotted something new. "What's this button?" Rukia asked curiously, reaching for it.

"Don't press that-" Renji to stop her, but it was too late as Rukia pressed the button.

Renji froze, staring with wide eyes as a light beamed outwards from the car, lighting the road. "Holy shit. Do you see what I see?" He breathed.

He pulled the car over suddenly, tires shrieking and sand blowing. He threw his door open, running to the front of his car. "In-fucking-credible!" He cheered, waving his hands in front of the working headlights, waking Ichigo up as he did so.

Rukia opened her door, stepping out with a confused expression on her pale features. "Renji, what are you-?"

"Look! Look, look. You are a genius! Amazing!" Renji cried as he suddenly grabbed Rukia, pulling her closer and kissing her deeply, ignoring the fact that Rukia was struggling to get away.

"Okay Renji, take it easy." Rukia said as she pushed the red head off of her.

"It's just the headlights." Ichigo said from the car, frowning at his friend's behavior. "It's awesome, but it's not that awesome..."

[–]

The car drove down the dark road. Headlights flickering on and off.

"That's beautiful." Renji stated simply as he drove. "Do it again." He breathed.

Rukia pressed the little button, causing the headlights to go off, and then pressing it again turning the headlights back on. As the road became bright once again, a figure suddenly came into view and Rukia's eyes widened in shock.

"Renji watch out!" Rukia cried. Renji swerved violently, missing the man by an inch. The car rocked back and forth, the occupants yelling as it slammed into a tree off-road, lurching the three forward.

They got out of the car as quickly as they could, checking themselves and each other for injuries. When they agreed they were okay, they circled the man that was still lying on the ground.

"I think he's sleeping." Rukia said trying to get closer but Ichigo put a hand on her to stop her.

Renji got closer, leaning down to hit the guy lightly in the shoulder a few times. "Hey. Hey man. You on drugs or something?" He called, the man groaning in response. Renji scowled, kicking the man in the side to wake him up.

The man yelled out and fought to get to his feet, waving his arms frantically. "What was that for?!"

"You were asleep." Renji replied blankly.

The man frowned, staring at Renji for a moment before looking back down to the ground. His shoulders slumped, and then he ran a hand through his wild blond hair. "I must have dozed off. I think I slept on my ear wrong. Do I look a symmetrical to you?" he asked, noticing that the group wasn't answering him. "Sorry, my name is Kisuke Urahara." He said, offering his hand. None of them went to shake it. Realizing they weren't about to return his greeting, he lowered his arm. "Uh, okay…here." He suddenly plunged his hand into the pocket of his green coat, pulling out a folded piece of paper and unfolded it to hand it to Rukia. "I'm looking for my cat. This is her." He said referring to the picture on the flier. The picture was of a black cat with yellow eyes and sleek fur.

Ichigo grabbed the flier from Rukia's hands, handing it back to the older man. "You always look for your cat lying in the road?"

"I had to take a break. It's emotional work-"

"Emotional work?" Renji repeated angrily, pointing at his car. "You were fucking sleeping in the road!"

"Well, look it's too late to continue looking for Yoruichi. Why don't we go to my place?" Urahara suggested. "I'll have my friends look at your car, deal?"

[–]

Urahara explained that the place he lived was deemed a 'camp' for those who had lost their way, but really was just his rented space that he let others share with him for free.

Ichigo ignored the long dulled out story that Urahara had been telling them in favor of looking around the camp. There wasn't much, one big building surround by little huts and tents, near the line for the forest. There were a few people milling around, lazing on the ground or eating half-assed concoctions. He looked up to one of the people by the main building, and his eyes widened.

"Guys! Renji, Rukia, look at that!" He exclaimed. Rukia turned and looked, seeing an old man sitting in a chair eating beans.

"What?" She inquired, raising an brow at the now dumbfounded Ichigo.

"That…that guy was just…floating…in the air."

"Floating?"

"He – he was! He-"

"Don't pay any attention to them. It happens all the time." Urahara said while leading the group away from the elderly man, leaning slightly on a yellow cane.

"What happens?" Ichigo asked. "Miracles?"

"Yeah, people floating in the air, turning stones into plants, or changing the color of different objects."

"Fixing the headlights, maybe?" Ichigo offered, looking at Rukia and Renji.

"Headlights?" Urahara raised a brow.

"His headlights," He said, indicating Renji. "have been broken for ages and she fixed them not too far from here just by pressing a button." He explained.

"Yeah," Urahara nodded. "Something small and insignificant like that."

As they continued to walk, a soft, beautiful humming was heard. Renji's ears quirked and he turned to Urahara.

"Is that a miracle too?"

"No that's just Tatsuki," Urahara said, gesturing to a young dark haired woman sitting on a bench, tapping her feet while she hummed. "She a mute, but she does this kind of throat singing. She's really sweet, but can be hot-tempered, so be careful." He walked off to talk to the young woman before having Tatsuki follow him back to the group. "Tatsuki will show you where you can sleep."

As Urahara walked off Renji called from over his shoulder. "Better take care of my car!"

[–]

"What do you think of that guy?" Ichigo asked as Rukia worked on starting a fire for them to warm up with.

She shrugged. "He's odd…hard to believe someone like him killed himself."

Ichigo nodded in agreement, glancing over at Renji, who was huddled up with the mute girl from earlier whispering something. She was nodding furiously, looking eager at whatever it was the red head was saying.

"This whole place is strange," Ichigo noted, turning back as Rukia placed a few more sticks into the pile.

"Well, I guess you'll fit right in, huh?" Rukia smirked at him, lighting a match. Ichigo scowled slightly, shaking his head at her as she ran the match over the dead pieces of wood. The wood wouldn't catch, so she huffed and flicked the match away, not noticing as it began to float into the air on its own accord.

Ichigo watched the match in awe, another miracle preformed in front of his eyes. It rose steadily into the night sky, a single dot of light in the endless void of black. It was like this world's first ever star.

[–]

"Just forget about the miracles," Urahara told Ichigo the next morning as he filled the water hole. "They don't mean a thing."

"Yeah, but everyone at camp can do it but me." Ichigo complained.

"Just give it a break." Urahara said, turning off the hose and letting it fall to the ground uselessly.

"But I just really want to do one." Ichigo sighed. "Just a small one, even if it's stupid."

"Here's the deal," Urahara started, raising a finger in Ichigo's direction. "As long as you want it so badly; it's not going to happen. The only way it's gonna work is if it doesn't matter." He dropped his hand, and then turned away. "Do you get what I'm saying?"

Ichigo stuffed his hands in his pockets with a scowl. "I don't know. I guess." He said turning away from Urahara. "It just doesn't make any sense to me."

"It will," Urahara assured him.

Ichigo turned his gaze down the hill the two men were standing on as the sound of an engine met his ears. He watched as Rukia pulled up in a little mechanical cart, a basket in the back. She poked her head out, waving at the two of them.

"Yo, Urahara!" Rukia called. Urahara looked over the hill at her, raising a brow in question. "Mind it I use your cart? Because we're out of logs."

"Sure," He said, focusing on Rukia. "You look good in it."

"Yeah, I like it." Rukia replied while rubbing the dashboard. "Ichigo," She said suddenly, surprising him. "Want to go on a ride?" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah," Ichigo answered, already heading down the hill. "You're going to be okay, right Urahara?" He asked, not really caring what Urahara's answer was.

"Yeah, go ahead." Urahara said, seeing Ichigo already halfway gone.

Urahara watched as the two young adults drove off together. His lips quirking slightly.

[–]

They drove through a little winding dirt path, passing greener grass and small plants.

"It's nice here, right?" Commented Ichigo once seeing the more lively plants. It had been a long time since he had seen this much life in this horrible place.

"Yeah," Rukia responded, looking at Ichigo sitting beside her. "You ever miss the things you had before you off'd?"

"I don't know. I don't really remember much." He said, taking a stick of gum from Rukia and chewing it. "I think the only thing I missed was Orihime, and now that she's here, it's all I can think about."

"I miss everything." Rukia said wistfully. "I miss my friends, I miss my bunny-"

"You had a what?" Ichigo inquired.

"-I miss my family, my house, everything. I even miss the things I hated at this point." Rukia continued, ignoring Ichigo question.

Ichigo watched as Rukia ranted on and on, thinking about her words. He had tried not to think about the kind of stuff she was talking about, because it would only make him feel worse. But now that she was bringing it all up, he couldn't help but consider…

[–]

"He's teaching her how to open a beer with a lighter." Rukia said, pointing down the cliff at Renji and Tatsuki, who were sitting at a shore of a little pound.

"She doesn't even drink." Ichigo said, shocked, nudging Rukia in the shoulder. "Let me see."

Rukia handed him the binoculars that were still draped over her neck, forcing Ichigo to lie closer.

"You see?" Rukia commented.

"Yeah, I see." He handed Rukia back the binoculars as Renji helped Tatsuki pop the beer bottle top. "Yesterday he was trying to teach her the names of the kendo champions of his time. She had no clue what he was saying."

"The secret is that's she's from way too far away to pick up on his character."

"And half her family off'd, just like his." Ichigo raised his hand, signaling it was his turn to spy.

"I know, but she doesn't live with them." Rukia finished watching Renji doing some sort of dance and handed the binoculars off.

"Holy shit, he caught a fish." Ichigo said, leaning a little closer to Rukia until they were shoulder to shoulder. "I can't believe it! He's doing it."

"Doing what?"

"The fish, he's changing its color." He said giving the binoculars to Rukia. The fish in Renji's hand was changing from green to blue to purple to red, just by holding it.

"When are you gonna stop being obsessed with those stupid little miracles?" Rukia groaned, rolling her eyes before standing up and walking back to the cart.

"I don't know." Ichigo said, following after Rukia with a petulant scowl on his face. "When you stop being obsessed with all that people in charge shit, maybe?"

"That's not the same." Rukia shot back hotly.

"Oh I'm sorry, 'cause you're here on accident. I just don't see how you can possibly-"

"Okay, listen you prick." Rukia cut in, looking right at Ichigo with a hard frown. "I didn't kill myself…I just OD'd."

[–]

The belt was wrapped so tightly around her arm that from the elbow down the skin had turned a sickly blue. The raven haired woman lay back in the passenger seat of her car, parked out behind the grocery store where she had total privacy for what she had thought would occur.

The needle was held limply in her hand, empty of its contents that now surged through her veins like poison. Her violet eyes were dull as they stared out the window, her mouth open as she took in her last breath.

[–]

"I'm sincerely sorry…" Ichigo read out loud, staring down at his phone as it shone brightly in his face. It was raining outside, the droplets smacking against his window loudly, and he couldn't imagine any better weather for what was happening.

Orihime…she was breaking up with him. She was leaving him for his friend Ishida. She was breaking up with him…and over text no less.

Ichigo sat there for what felt like hours, feeling the slow, painful thudding of his heart. He slowly lay down on his bed, dropping the phone to the floor as he stared up at the ceiling.

He stayed there in bed for hours, staring up at the ceiling with a blank expression. He could feel the bags under his eyes, the slight sting of exhaustion every time he blinked. The numbness was deep in his bones, the only thing he could register the thudding of his heart. It was beating to the tune of despair, thumping slightly harder than it normally did. He could feel each palpitation spread throughout his body, his blood-vessels swelling with blood all the way down to his legs. It was an odd sensation, one he was not used to focusing so intently on. But he knew if he let his mind leave the sensation it would return to the awful truth handed to him: Orihime was leaving him.

Slowly, Ichigo lifted his hands, staring at the palms as they hovered in front of his face. They seemed so odd in his current state of mind, like they belonged to someone else. He let his gaze lower slightly to his wrists and the criss-cross lines of his veins, swelling with blood. Blood…that could be spilled…

Maybe…there was an escape.

With the record playing in the background, Ichigo stood from his bed to clean his apartment.

[–]

Ichigo awoke with a start, sweat pouring from his brow as he seethed in a quick breath between his clenched teeth. He briefly wondered where he was, but once he heard the soft throat singing of Tatsuki he realized he was back at camp, and that it had only been a dream.

Following the rhythmic ticking sound, he saw Renji and Tatsuki, outside the window, sitting close to one another beside the fire. Tatsuki was singing while Renji made music by blowing into an empty jug. They looked content.

Ichigo sighed, lying back down on his bed as he watched the two. Seeing them was calming and for the time being would distract him from the dream – nightmare – he had just had. But at the same time, watching them was troubling.

"Ichigo?" A soft voice asked from above him. It was Rukia, he knew. Rukia was sleeping in the bunk above him.

Rolling in bed to look away from the happy couple, Ichigo laid on his back, looking up at the bunk above him. "You're awake?"

"I've been thinking," Rukia started, rolling to the edge of her bunk to look at Ichigo. "If I'm going to find the people in charge, then I have to keep looking. I'm not gonna find them here." She finished sadly, seeing Ichigo unable to keep eye contact with her. "You know?"

"Yeah," Ichigo drifted back to his side, no longer staring at Rukia or any other campers, but just the air in front of him. "I think you're right." He admitted unwittingly. "I think if I'm going to find Orihime, I have to start looking elsewhere too."

Rukia nodded, not caring if Ichigo could see her or not. She looked outside at the fire and the couple that was sitting around it. "We can't wait on Renji forever."

"Yeah, I know."

Ichigo closed his eyes, hearing Rukia moving around above him. He listened to the sound of Tatsuki's throat singing, letting it soothe his mind and work as a lullaby as he drifted back to sleep.

[–]

"I found her!"

Ichigo awoke with a jump, eyes snapping open quickly as the yells got louder.

"I found it! I found Urahara's cat! I found Yoruichi!"

Renji and Tatsuki were startled out of their song as Jinta, a young red haired teenager with a permanent hole in the side of his head from where he nailed himself to death, ran towards them, out of breath.

"Jinta, what happened to you?" Renji asked, holding Tatsuki's hand in his protectively. Ichigo came up behind him, joining the small crowd that was about to start. Next were Rukia, Urahara, and then a few others that were sleeping close by.

"I saw this man everyone calls Lord Aizen that lives on the other side. He has Urahara's cat held captive." Jinta breathed, leaning onto his knees.

"What?" Urahara bellowed, pushing his way to the front.

Jinta ignored him, continuing his first thought. "And there were so many people there, hundreds. To witness the miracle that's going to be performed tomorrow."

"Yoruichi is performing miracles?" Urahara asked, confused.

"No, Lord Aizen." Jinta corrected. "But not like our miracles, but a planned, specific miracle." He said.

Rukia walked up to Jinta, handing him a glass of water. "Here, drink this."

"How about Yoruichi?" Urahara asked eagerly. Jinta held a finger up, silently informing Urahara to wait while he drank. "What about Yoruichi?" He asked again, getting the same answer. "Jinta! Is Yoruichi alright?"

Jinta finished his water, giving out a long, relieved sigh. "Yoruichi is fine." He said simply. "They feed her fried fish and she refuses to come back."

"Yoruichi has been brainwashed." Urahara said to himself. He turned his sharp eyes to Jinta. "You're going to drive me there now."

"I only know how to get their on foot." Jinta said sheepishly.

Ichigo turned to Rukia, jerking his head towards Jinta as if to say 'you hear that.' Rukia nodded back, knowing full well what Ichigo had planned.

"Fine, we'll leave in the morning." Urahara said matter-of-factly.

"Do you mind if Ichigo and I tag along with you?" Rukia asked, stepping out of the crowd.

"You guys want to see the miracle he's going to perform?" Renji asked curiously.

"Yeah, I want to go." Rukia answered, not looking at Renji.

[–]

They walked up the steep hill, a small clear path leading the way through the tall unkempt grass. Jinta lead the way, trying to remember which way he had turned his first time traveling this path towards the settlement. They had been walking since the sun came up and still seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.

"Jinta, are you sure we're going the right way?" Ichigo asked as they passed another cluster of dead trees. "We've been walking for close to six hours now."

"We should be there soon. I…think." Jinta muttered.

[–]

It was dark now, and the four were forced to sleep out for the night. They were hours away from camp, and had no luck in finding the house of the so called 'king.'

"I don't know what happened." Jinta muttered repeatedly from where he lay by the fire. "I was sure we'd find it before dark."

"I think it's a good sign." Urahara said cheerily. "I mean, you got lost last time, right?"

Jinta blinked at Urahara, and then nodded eagerly. "You're right. That's a really good sign."

[–]

In the near distance Ichigo and Rukia were collecting fire wood. They were only about ten or so yards away. Too far to hear any conversations that the other men were having but close enough to have the light of the fire, which was needed since there was no moon to light their path.

"I hope we can find our way back to camp." Ichigo grumbled. He was worried. They were lost and no one knew which way they were headed. The likelihoods of someone from camp ever coming to find them was slim and that was only if someone was smart enough to realize they had gotten lost.

"That would be nice." Rukia sighed, piling on another piece of wood in the stack she held in her arms.

"We have no clue where we are, and we've been walking for twelve hours." Ichigo continued, knowing that Rukia wasn't listening. "I don't even know how fast we were going and-"

"Shh!" Rukia suddenly held her hand up, silencing Ichigo mid-rant. Ichigo frowned, not hearing anything and walked closer to Rukia, stepping on wood and tall grass. "Shh!" She hushed again.

"What-"

"Listen, do you hear that?"

Ichigo closed his mouth and focused in on where Rukia was staring. He could hear something, loud and moving.

"Yeah, I do. It sounds like a…"

Rukia dropped the sticks she had collected, running off towards the noise. Following her example, Ichigo forgot the log in his hand and caught up with Rukia.

They slowed to a walk as they reached a foot tall cliff, seeing water crashing onto the surface of a desolate beach.

They stood there for a moment; both stunned from their discovery, before Ichigo turned to Rukia and said, "Let's go," Ichigo jumped off the small land and lead the way for Rukia to follow. He grasped Rukia's hand to assure that Rukia wouldn't trip behind him. "Funny, no one at camp mentioned the beach being so close."

"Maybe they don't know." Rukia said hopefully. "Maybe we're the only one's that do know."

Rukia held onto Ichigo's arm tightly as he led them over a surface of uneven rocks. It was dark, but not as dark as it had been in the camp they had set up for the night. The ocean seemed able to reflect some light, as if it was glowing.

As the land got a little flatter Rukia released her grip, walking to the water briskly to stare out over the waves. Ichigo joined her, staring into the peaceful scene before them. "Remember the other day when you were talking about the thing's you missed?" Ichigo asked, placing his hands in his pockets. "How you said you wanted to go back and that I didn't miss anything?"

"Yeah," Rukia answered, plopping herself in the sand and immediately started running her fingers through it to feel the cool material in her palms.

Ichigo sat beside her, taking a stick and using it to draw in the sand next to Rukia. "When I'm here with you," Ichigo started again, looking down at the smiley-face Rukia was drawing in the sand. "I kind of miss myself, the way I used to be." He finished, his expression one of contemplation.

"What were you like?" Rukia whispered, interested.

"I was happy at the time. Obviously before I off'd." He said, bending down slightly to draw in the sand like Rukia. "But when I came here, and met you, I just…you know. It's weird to me that you can feel that in a place like this." He said wistfully. "We're…we're all dead."

Rukia hummed in agreement, analyzing the poorly drawn rabbit she had finished drawing in the sand, realizing that Ichigo was finished. "You know, most people I knew before I got here were either half dead or already dead to begin with. Completely dead. And…you're doing pretty good Ichigo."

Rukia looked out at the ocean, watching the water crash softly into rocks and sand. Ichigo though was watching Rukia, no longer caring about the tranquil scene of the ocean. Watching how the purple in her eyes were so bright that they defeated the ocean only a few feet away. The light from the water reflected off of her smooth, porcelain skin, making Ichigo itch to touch it. Her short raven hair blew in the sight breeze that passed by, forcing her to have to brush it aside. Rukia was more breath taking than the ocean in front of them, a hundred times more beautiful in Ichigo's mind. When Rukia looked back at Ichigo, she was shocked. Ichigo had grabbed her face and pulled her in for a kiss. Deep and passionate. Rukia closed her eyes, kissing back with just as much enthusiasm. One of her hands found its way up to Ichigo's neck, pulling the boy closer to deepen the kiss she had long dreamt of having with him.

[–]

Urahara looked down at the beach, seeing Rukia and Ichigo fast asleep. They we both on their sides, Ichigo spooning up against Rukia's back, holding the short girl protectively. The sight was charming, if you didn't take your eyes off of just them.

"Ichigo! Rukia!" He yelled, voice echoing slightly. "Get up!"

Ichigo's eye's fluttered and he lifted his head to look for the source of the voice calling to them. The sun was up and it was about mid-morning, nearly blinding him. He noticed Urahara walking towards them and when he looked back at Rukia, he wanted to blanch.

"Shit, Rukia get up!" He said, shaking Rukia awake.

Rukia groaned, giving a shiver when Ichigo's warmth left her. She cracked open an eye, and was met with a dirty, used condom in front of her face.

"Oh God!" Rukia yelled, rushing to her feet as she stared at the ground. Used condoms and rusty needles were everywhere, surrounding them like an army of disgusting tools.

"There you are." Urahara said sarcastically as he walked over the rocks towards them. "We've been worried sick about you."

Ichigo ignored him, in favor of focusing on Rukia. "Careful, careful," He repeated, grabbing Rukia's hands and moving her onto the rock. "Don't step on them, put your shoes on."

"I hope you didn't sleep here." Urahara said, glaring at the disgusting ground.

"Well…yeah." Ichigo said sheepishly, motioning at the ground where Urahara had found them. "But none of this was here last night!"

"This is where drug users and prostitutes used to come." Urahara explained, ignoring Ichigo. "And it was too revolting even for them. Now, can we get out of here?"

"Yes!" Ichigo said taking Rukia's hand. "Careful." He muttered again, scared of Rukia getting hurt of clutching something from the disease infested ground.

"I just hope Jinta isn't lost." Urahara complained.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Jinta is already lost."

[–]

"Jinta!" Rukia yelled, her voice echoing throughout the empty valley.

"Jinta!" Ichigo all but screamed, getting tired of looking.

A long high pitched whistle got all their attentions.

"Jinta!" Ichigo tried again, facing the direction he thought the whistle came from. He was answered again. "We're never going to find him-"

"I found it!" Jinta yelled, running down the hill. "I found it!" he said again, waving. "It's right over the hill. With music, and drinks, and dancing girls." He starting walking, the other three forced to follow quickly.

Jinta led them up a steep slope, and once they reached the top they found themselves staring down at a crowd of people; talking, eating, and even a few dancing to the music that the large castle like building was playing. Ichigo stuck close to Rukia, afraid he would lose her in such a thick throng of people.

They descended the hill, Urahara practically sprinting for the main building, Jinta behind him, leaving Ichigo and Rukia alone in the crowd.

The two explored for a few moments, looking around at the people as they danced and conversed with one another. Ichigo pointed out a snack table, and the two headed on over towards it.

"Excuse me," Rukia stopped two older women, interrupting their conversation. "Who is in charge here?"

"Lord Aizen of course." One of the women answered, looking at them as if they were stupid. "Can you believe how privileged we are?"

"Why is that?"

"Because of the miracle." Rukia nodded, silently encouraging the woman to continue. "He's going to separate his soul from his body."

"We're actually just looking for our cat." Ichigo said, eating some crackers on the table in front of them.

Jinta ran up behind them, tapping Ichigo's shoulder. "I think you guys better see this."

"Why?" Ichigo asked, worried. "What's going on?"

"Urahara's with Lord Aizen and he's raising hell."

[–]

A small, sleek black cat with piercing yellow eyes sat at the feet of a chair, eating well cooked fish from a sliver plate next to a large dish of fresh cold milk.

"That cat came to me and begged to be a part of this." A man with wavy brown hair and glasses said, playing absently with a dagger in his hands as he sat behind his large mahogany desk.

"Well, that's my cat." Urahara told him defensively.

"No, you don't own this cat."

"You kidnapped her!" Urahara said angrily, rolling his sleeves up his arms.

"That's some very serious charges, my friend." The other man glared from behind the rims of his glasses.

The door to the room opened and Jinta came in, followed by Ichigo and Rukia, but they were stopped before they could get too close.

"Lord Aizen is in a meeting." The man who stopped them, tall and muscular with electric blue hair with intimidating turquoise eyes, said sternly.

"That's our friend." Jinta fought back, trying to get around but was stopped again by the blue haired man's hand.

Ichigo looked over the man's shoulder, seeing Urahara throwing salt at this 'Lord' Aizen, the auburn haired woman beside him moving out of the way. He froze, staring at the familiar hairstyle and crystal blue hairpins the girl wore to part her burnt orange hair out of her face. Suddenly, she looked up, catching eyes with Ichigo.

"K-Kurosaki-kun?" She asked unbelievably.

"Orihime." He walked past the guard, who didn't bother to stop him as the woman seemed to know him.

"My God!" Orihime yelled, throwing her arms around Ichigo and pulling him into a tight hug. He hugged her back. "Oh my God! I can't believe it's you!" She pulled away, grabbing Ichigo's face as she stared at him. "You look absolutely the same."

"W-well, almost. B-but YOU!" Ichigo stammered, looking Orihime up and down. "You're actually here!"

Orihime nodded, her gray eyes shining. "How are you Kurosaki-kun?"

Rukia looked away, her face void of any emotion as Ichigo and his ex-girlfriend talked. She couldn't help but feel a little hurt by this, but she knew that finding Orihime was Ichigo's plan from the get-go.

"Can we please get on with the cat?" Urahara interrupted, narrowing his eyes at Ichigo and Orihime.

"Yeah," Aizen said, putting away his dagger. "Let's deal with the cat." He muttered, as Orihime led Ichigo out of the room. Ichigo looked back, finding Rukia who waved her hand at him, signaling that he should go.

"Don't do that you're confusing the cat." Urahara complained as Aizen held a treat in front of Yoruichi's face, making little cooing noises. Urahara himself was wagging a toy mouse around, trying to get Yoruichi's attention back.

"Come on Yoruichi." Urahara begged, waving the toy as he tried to get closer to his kitty. Unbelievably, Yoruichi hissed at him.

"The cat has spoken." Aizen said smugly. "I'm tired and I need to concentrate. It's going to be a hell of a show."

[–]

Orihime had brought Ichigo to one of the tower tops, and he was able to see the whole crowd from where they were perched. He could see everyone waiting impatiently, wanting to witness the miracle that was supposedly to come.

"After you off'd, I just cried and cried." Orihime said, looking Ichigo in the eye sadly. "And I had to leave town 'cause everything reminded me of you. I even left Ishida-kun." Ichigo didn't answer. He didn't know how to answer. As much as Ichigo hated to admit it, he was confused. Orihime's hand slid up his chest and grabbed the collar of his shirt, tugging on it slightly. "Trust me; I never knew how much I loved you until you were gone."

Suddenly Ichigo was pulled into another hug, as if it was routine, but unlike Orihime he didn't embrace her tightly, rather just having his hands hang on her shoulders. He could see the crowd over Orihime's shoulder and like a magnet, Ichigo's eyes instantly pinpointed Rukia out of the mob. She was walking around aimlessly, observing people holding signs or eating.

Orihime pulled away, kissing his cheek sweetly.

"Lord Aizen. Aizen, he was a real friend." She said earnestly. "He got me out of town, and I became more and more interested in his teachings. And he made me stop crying." She said with the closest thing to a smile she could muster. "Then, Lord Aizen was showing everyone how he was going to separate his soul from his body, to find the new world, and he was going to come back and tell everyone. Because, you know, he believes we're all trapped in the world of the living." She said intensely, but Ichigo wasn't listening. Ichigo was staring out at the crowd again. Again, his eyes were on Rukia, leaving everything Orihime was saying unnoticed.

There Rukia was, sitting on a metal fold out chair, one leg crossed over the other. On the back of the chair was piece of plywood with 'SAVE US KING' written in black paint. Ichigo stared at Rukia, wishing he could smile as Rukia snatched a marker from the table next to her and carefully placed an 'H' after the 'S' on the sign, successfully making it read 'SHAVE US KING.'

"…but his soul never made it back." Ichigo was brought out of his thoughts when Orihime began stroking his chin. "So while I was at the hospital, and they confirmed his death, I heard his soul calling me. And I knew… I just knew I had to be with him." Ichigo frowned, but Orihime didn't notice, too engaged in her story. He didn't know how to feel. Upset, angry…relieved. He looked back to the chair Rukia was sitting in, now finding it empty save for the vandalized sign. "So I took the elevator to the hospital roof, and flew." Orihime closed her eyes, raising her hands in the air and sighed. Ichigo followed her hands up, staring at the sky. He could almost see Orihime, falling to her death with a smile on her face. A smile for the Aizen, and not for him.

Ichigo shut his eyes and stumbled, dizzy. Orihime was quick to grab his arms and still him.

"Kurosa-" She started but was interrupted by a loud gong. He looked over at the guard who had stopped them earlier, hitting a hanging metal plate with a rubber club, emitting the loud sound. Everyone else on the ground froze, looking up in awe.

It was obvious what was about to happen.

"Oh God," Orihime whispered. "Time flies with you Kurosaki-kun. Let's go, Lord Aizen's about to begin and this time, I know he's going to make it."

[–]

Ichigo walked outside, standing at the door and scanning the crowd until he saw someone he recognized. Ichigo noticed Urahara only a few feet away, and as he walked up to the older man, he saw him holding a happy Yoruichi in his arms.

"Forgive and forget, huh?"

"No, they forgive," Urahara said scratching the cat behind her ear. "But they don't forget." Looking around Urahara thought aloud, "What keeps happening to Jinta?"

"Is he with Rukia?" Ichigo questioned, scanning the crowd again.

"Last time I saw her, she was with that Aizen guy up there talking about going home and people in charge. The usual." Urahara said, shrugging.

"W-what did he tell her?" Ichigo asked hesitantly.

"He said 'I'm taking you all to a better place.' Asshole."

The gong rang again, making Ichigo and Urahara look up. There he was, Lord Aizen dressed in robes of white, cascading down to his ankles, with Orihime by his side. The people in the crowd raised their arms to him in worship.

"Don't be alarmed, my dear friends." He said into a microphone. Ichigo noticed the glasses were now gone and his hair was styled back, making him look much more handsome, but much more snake-like. "The vessel will die soon-" Ichigo let his eyes wonder, like always, finding Rukia, sitting lazily on a low wooden roof above a table. "-and the spirit will rise." Rukia noticed him, and waved. "The first time was only a test-" Rukia was waving her arms and mouthing something, something he couldn't make out. "-a precursor to the real thing."

"Why don't you just tell her?" Urahara asked with a knowing look.

"Tell her what?" Ichigo inquired, raising a brow.

"Tell her you love her." Urahara said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, Yoruichi purring as if in agreement.

"Don't be afraid when I leave-" Lord Aizen's voice echoed in the background of their conversation.

"You do, don't you?" Urahara asked, noticing that Ichigo was still watching Rukia.

"-for I will be back for you all."

"It's too far. She won't hear." Ichigo said lamely after a moment of contemplation. Urahara looked over at Rukia. She may have been a little ways away but she would have been able to hear them if they yelled. The look he gave Ichigo said just that too.

Suddenly the drum roll started and Ichigo was back to staring at Lord Aizen. He was holding a dagger, one that Orihime had just handed him. Lord Aizen held it up for everyone to see.

"What is he doing?" Urahara asked, frowning. Ichigo didn't know how to answer. Lord Aizen held the knife to his heart. "He's bluffing." Urahara said, staring at Ichigo like he wanted to laugh. "No one does that twice. You know how much it hurts."

Then suddenly, Lord Aizen pushed, the dagger going through his chest with a loud shink that even Ichigo could hear. He stumbled a little, before falling to his knees. Orihime bent down beside him, pulling the knife out of his chest and holding it up for all to see, dripping in blood. Lord Aizen gasped, hands over the bleeding hole in his chest.

"Oh my God." Ichigo said as people around him awed, gasped, and murmured.

Urahara looked away, his face set in stone, pulling a little sliver lighter out of his pocket and muttering something into it. "Come right now, this son of a bitch is crazy." Ichigo heard him say.

Lord Aizen fell, dying as Orihime reached out for him, as if he was going to be okay. Then for the briefest of a second, the sun was blocked.

"Look everybody! There he is!" Orihime cried into the microphone, and pointed up into the sky where a man was descending on a parachute. Everyone looked up, stunned. "He's coming! He's coming! He's – they're coming?"

Two other parachutes joined the first. Ichigo turned to Urahara to ask what was happening, but found him gone. Then, men dressed in white landed on the ground, yelling orders for people to go home. Before anyone was able to react white busses and cars arrived, skidding along the dirt ground. They were shooing people away stating they were the 'P.I.C.'

"Please disperse immediately." One of them announced over the microphone they had taken from Orihime, as two other men in white carried away Lord Aizen's limp body.

"Ichigo!" Ichigo turned around when he felt someone grabbing him. It was Jinta. "Where's Rukia?"

"I don't know." Ichigo said looking around frantically. "I don't know what's going on."

Then he caught sight of Rukia's back, the petite girl talking to one of the men in the white vans.

"Where's Urahara?" Jinta asked, lost.

"I don't know," Ichigo called, walking away. "I'll be right back."

As he got closer to the car, he could see people being led into the back, Orihime being one of them. At the rear door of the car was Urahara, dressed in white while motioning for people to bring others. As much as this should have interested Ichigo, it didn't hold a candle to Rukia, now sitting in the passenger seat of the white car.

He caught up to the cars just as they were driving off. Rukia was at the window, calling his name through the glass.

"Ichigo! Ichigo! Wait, okay? I'll be back in five minutes!"

Ichigo watched her go, feeling a numb sensation running deep into his bones. He nodded mutely, giving a half-hearted wave as Rukia rode off.

[–]

It was dusk now, and everyone was gone but Ichigo. He had waited, like Rukia had asked of him. But it had been more than five minutes. Much more. It has been a few hours now, and the sun was beginning to set. But Ichigo sat and waited, fiddling his fingers as he stared down the dirt road she had left on. Because Rukia was going to come back.

…eventually.

Ichigo continued to sit, counting the seconds as he waited for the raven haired woman to come back to him, his mind empty of all thought other than her. Even after finally finding Orihime after all of this time, all he cared about was having Rukia back.

Slowly but surely, headlights started coming his way. He perked up, watching as the dirt road lit with the headlights of a car. The closer the car got though; he realized it wasn't the car Rukia had driven off in, but Renji's crappy little yellow wagon.

He stood when the car parked in front of him. Not so surprisingly, Tatsuki was resident in the front seat.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ichigo asked as Renji opened the door, leaning over the frame.

Renji shrugged. "We're here to pick you up, man." The red head said.

"Did Rukia tell you what happened?" Ichigo inquired, hoping that Rukia was back at camp.

"No," Renji shook his head sadly. "Jinta did."

Ichigo's shoulders sagged slightly. "So, Rukia didn't go back with them?"

"No."

Ichigo frowned. "Did he mention anything about her?" He asked hopefully, but that hope died when Renji again shook his head to the negative.

"Not to me."

"Then I have to wait here for her." Ichigo said stubbornly, sitting back down on the dirt ground.

"How long are you gonna wait?" Renji asked, looking around the abandoned castle. "She's an adult. She can find her way back."

"I'm not moving," Ichigo repeated, scowling. Renji gave an aggravated sigh, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it to take a long drag. Ichigo glanced over to the passenger seat of the car, noticing Tatsuki sitting there with a slight frown on her face, nodding towards the back seat, trying to get him to come in.

"Get in the car dickhead." Renji bit out in frustration, hitting the car door to prove his point. "We got a train to make." He jerked his head to the back before sitting back down, slamming the door closed.

"Train-"

"Get in!"

Ichigo sighed, finally relenting and opening the back door to get in.

[–]

The three sat on the side of the train tracks around a small table, sharing a bottle of cider. They clunk their glasses together, downing the small, mismatched cups in one gulp.

"So, Urahara never did really kill himself." Ichigo more so stated than asked.

"No, of course not." Renji said as he poured himself another glass. "He's working for the people in charge. Undercover."

"I always had a feeling he was an angel or something." Ichigo said, looking up to the starless night.

"An angel? Come on." Renji chortled. "Now that Urahara blew his cover, he's being transferred out of the undercover unit."

"Transferred? Where's he going?" Ichigo asked.

"I don't know how it works…" Renji drifted off as lights headed their way.

Quickly, Renji got up, collecting the few bags they had. Ichigo turned his head to see a small, two seat cart rolling up on the tracks driven by a single, burly looking man in his late fifties. Tatsuki got up from her seat, instantly clinging to Renji's arm as the cart neared.

Walking Renji to the cart, Ichigo tried to finish their conversation. "So the camp is over?" He asked

"Turns out Urahara was running it illegally. And on P.I.C. property no less." Renji packed his bags into the back of the cart. "So, what you gonna do?"

"I don't know." Ichigo said handing Renji one of his suitcases before shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'm definitely going to go back to camp and wait for Rukia, but after that I guess I'll see."

"You'll see." Renji echoed, sighing. He turned to Ichigo, his eyes shining with sadness as he placed a hand on the orange haired man's shoulder. "I didn't want to tell you this but according to Jinta, in the middle of the hassle; Rukia talked to one of those P.I.C. guys and asked them to check her file." He paused, watching Ichigo's expression turn to one of despair. "I know it sounds crazy but, turns out there really was some kind of mistake. Looks like they'll be sending her back to life."

Ichigo stayed quiet, staring at his long-time friend as the dread filled his chest. What was he to say to that? There was nothing to say. Ichigo could feel a lump growing at the base of his throat, nearly choking him.

"It's better this way." Renji tried to comfort his friend. "At least now she's happy, right?"

"I guess," Ichigo agreed, swallowing the lump. "It's what she wanted so…"

Nodding, Renji dug his keys out of his pocket, placing them in Ichigo's palm. "Take care."

The conductor blew a whistle, signaling it was time for the train to take off. Tatsuki gave Ichigo a little hug goodbye before boarding. Renji stared up at Ichigo, looking like he was trying not to cry. Ichigo couldn't blame him. They were the first friends either had found here, and now they were saying goodbye for good. Renji sucked up his pride and pulled Ichigo into a tight hug, which Ichigo returned more than willingly.

"See ya man." Renji said boarding the train.

[–]

They went North, or wherever it is that Tatsuki is from.

He wanted to meet her family and get into that throat singing.

Saw playing and weird interments and stuff.

It's good that he's back into music I guess.

[–]

Ichigo collected his bag from the abandoned camp sight. Yellow tape was up, with 'keep out' stamped in bold black letters, like police tape. He threw his bag into the back of Renji's – his car. Looking around Ichigo felt even more depressed. This camp, as run down and broken as it was, had always been filled with life, laughter, and family comfort. It had become a home that was now destroyed. It was lonely.

A white sign on a metal pole is what set him off though. It had the brand of the P.I.C. on it. A sign, Rukia's favorite thing to vandalize. Right then, Ichigo hated that sign. It was another reminder that Rukia was gone, and that he would never see her again.

Growling in anger, Ichigo kicked the pole as hard as he could, sending it and the sign over and falling to the ground. Still not satisfied, Ichigo ripped one of the yellow tapes and warning signs away, stomping on them before grunting and running both hands through his spiky orange hair, trying to calm down.

On a table he found a cigarette and a box of matches that were left behind in haste. Having nothing better to do and needing something to relieve his stress, he decided to smoke it. He was never big into smoking like Renji was, but at a moment like this he didn't care. He snatched the matches and nicotine sticks and pulled one out. He struck the match, lit the hand rolled cigarette and threw the match away, sucking in a long drag that burnt the hell out of his throat.

But the match did not fall. It floated higher and higher into the dark night sky. When Ichigo looked up, he could see the light from the match Rukia had thrown the other night. This dreary world's first ever star, now joined by a second one.

Ichigo stared up at it sadly. It was his first miracle…

[–]

I think I finally understand what Urahara was trying to say.

It only happens if it doesn't matter.

Comes without effort.

Maybe Renji's right. Maybe I only get stuck on girls I don't have a change of being with.

I am glad for Rukia though.

I hope she got her whole visa all straightened out.

She did say she'd be right back.

Then again, Renji's old wisdom…

When a girl says she'll be right back, they never do come back.

So, I don't know. I'll figure it out.

[–]

Ichigo found Renji's tape and put it in the little radio. His dubbed favorite song playing as he drove.

He had no destination this time. He wasn't searching for someone or helping another. He was alone, with no reason to drive other than to get home for a sense of familiarity. His head was spinning with everything that has happened, and it would be nice to get back to the depressing routine he had before all of this; even if it was just to distract him from his thoughts.

He was grateful for the radio. It made him feel less lonely in the empty car.

He drove for miles, driving all night long without a break, replaying his favorite song again and again.

When it felt like he was about to pass out, he came to a stop at a railroad track. The bell was ringing, warning that a train was about to pass by and that cars would have to wait. It didn't matter though. He was the only car on the road.

Suddenly, Renji's recorded voice jumped before slowing to a stop.

Ichigo scowled wearily and put the radio in his lap, pressing the button to open the cassette tape player. He took the tape out to check it but it was only in his hand for a second before he lost his hold and it fell under the passenger seat. He quickly dove after it, hoping it wouldn't have fallen into the hole. He felt around for it, his fingers meeting nothing but the floor of the car. When he couldn't find it he changed his tactic. He reached over the seat, to the leaver on the other side and lifted, causing the seat to slide back.

Once the seat was up, he didn't have a chance to look at the ground beneath it before suddenly something latched onto him and pulled him under.

[–]

The storage room was large, nice and organized; with boxes labeled accordingly for what they were used for. Within one of the rows labeled 'Suicides' stood a lone figure, his head whipping back and forth to make sure no one was looking as he grabbed one of the boxes labeled 'K.'

Urahara carefully skimmed through the files in the box, looking for a specific one he knew he wasn't assigned to be looking for, but his heart told him to anyways.

He could get in a lot of trouble for doing this, but he didn't care.

Pulling the file he was looking for out of the box, he opened it to find a couple feathers lingering about within it. He blew them away, staring at the grotesque picture of an orange haired young man lying on a bathroom floor with blood pooling around his wrists.

Urahara once again glanced around before closing the box and putting it back onto the shelf. He discreetly placed the file under his white coat, smiling slightly as he walked out of the aisle.

"Ichigo, you are one lucky son of a bitch." Urahara whispered to himself. "It's good to know people in high places, huh?"

[–]

When Renji had first told him that there was a black hole under the seat, Ichigo hadn't believed him. Of course, after seeing an uncountable amount of items disappear each day, his doubt had gone with them.

In all honesty, he had never expected to see those missing things again. They were lost forever and that was that.

But now, falling down the black hole himself, Ichigo recognized many of the fallen victims.

Renji's sunglasses that he had dropped.

The dead flowers that Rukia thought no one had noticed.

Cassette tapes, lipstick, and the map.

All of it.

He drifted, feeling weightless as he and all of the other items floated along the dark void. He couldn't believe what was happening. It had to be a dream, right?

Suddenly Ichigo could feel something tugging on the back of his shirt, and he began to drift a little faster in one direction. He couldn't see what it was that was pulling him, but it felt like a hand.

"Go get her," A familiar voice whispered in his ear before a blinding white light enveloped his whole world.

[–]

With a start, Ichigo opened his eyes, only to immediately close them again as a bright light shone upon them. Dazed and confused, he squinted against the lights and tried to focus. After a moment of letting his eyes adjust, he found the light coming from a lamp high above on a clean white ceiling.

He heard the buzzing of monitors and with the little strength he had he tried to sit up, only to find his body too weak to do so. He groaned, laying his head back onto the soft pillow. He lay there for a moment, trying to figure out what was happening, when he felt a dull ache from both his wrists. He lifted them, finding them bandaged tightly, IVs attached to the bends of his arms.

His eyes widened in shock. Where was he? Why was he bandaged up? The last thing he remembered he was floating…how had he gotten here?

Ichigo was in a hospital room, he now realized. He was…alive.

Had it all been a dream? Had he dreamt up that whole world in his sleep?

He looked around his room, trying to see if there was anyone around for him to talk to. There weren't any doctors or nurses, but there was someone else laying in a bed parallel to him. He frowned; unable to see the person's face, only their mess of raven…colored…hair…

Rukia.

It hadn't been a dream.

Rukia stirred, turning her head slowly to the other side, facing Ichigo. When their eyes locked, her whole face lit with shock, just like his. They stared for what felt like the longest time, neither unable to speak as the realization hit them both.

They were alive.

And they were together.

Rukia's eyes began to moisten, her lips curving into a bright, happy smile. It was the first time Ichigo had ever seen her smile, and it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life.

For the first time in a very long time, Ichigo was able to smile back.


Tear-jerking, right? Right?

I had a lot of fun writing this story. I loved the movie, and I just knew I had to write this for all of you. As some of you pointed out this story was much more similar to the movie than Potentia De Mens was to Chronicle, and there actually was a reason to that. Potentia De Mens was a full length story, so I had much more room to play with different ideas and the such. But this was just a three-shot, so I couldn't really deviate THAT much. And plus it's also my way of showing you that you should definitely see this movie. Not everything was the same, so if you want to see what was changed you need to go see the movie!

I hope you guys enjoyed this story, and I hope you will see the movie as well. I personally feel it hasn't gotten the attention it deserves so the more of you who go see it the better.

Thank you all for reading this!

REVIEW!