A lifetime ago it seemed.
In human years, she thinks. It has been.
Words fail her, she of her quick tongue, known for verbal lashings as Renji can attest to. But, her childhood friend isn't here now.
Not, that he didn't have a hand in bringing it about.
Rukia promises to herself he'll pay dearly from making her shed even one tear.
"..you.." A semblance of sight must remain. Her violet-blue eyes turn down then, knowing she owed him that much. It saddened her to see the fire dampened in the amber eyes, the spark dull like life flickering out as a tiny flame.
His voice was much aged. Unclear. Roughened by the hoarse cough in his chest.
Rukia looked down at the boy- no man she once knew. Orihime just left; she could hear the hushed tones of Ishida, Orihime's husband. They lived somewhere else yet had made the long trip to see their old friend off.
He had stayed alone.
"You." Again. He struggled up, yet his failing body refused to obey even the simplest command.
Didn't age, she thought. Didn't change.
But, he had. He was still Ichigo, a human on the verge of death and she was Rukia, death itself reliving every moment of their past together. But just her. Because she knows.
Oh..she knows he doesn't remember.
Not anymore.
He coughs again and she's reminded of her duty.
"..Ru.." then, just before his human eyes- the ones that had lost their sight to see her. Closed to mortality's coil. "..kia." Slipped out ever so softly the way he said her name when they parted last.
Her name. Rukia could scarcely breathe. He remembered.
Then, a light. A form appearing from the withered husk that had once contained life.
Young again. Staring around with light-filled amber eyes and a shock of bright orange hair undimmed by the years.
She held her breath.
"Do I know you?" Ichigo asks, scowling in habit.
"You idiot." Rukia looked at him now- at the real him. The one she knew and this time... the tears fall. But they're of happiness. "Just shut up and come with me."
"That's really high-handed...midget!" he yelled after her departing back, but follows anyway.
Of course she ignores him. He never changes does he?
-Finis-
Disclaimer: don't own Bleach.
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