Paperwork. That's all there ever was nowadays. It reminded him briefly of a time when it was homework and problems to figure rather than budgets and new trainees. The remembrance didn't bring a smile to his face. Nothing much did anymore.
Not Yachiru's antics when Kenpachi came around or even Matsumoto's frequent offers to a drink of sake now that he was of age.
They came less often now and more than likely Hitsugaya's Lieutenant would watch him with quiet, pitying gray eyes.
They had learned to stay their helping hands now.
Ichigo refused to hear it.
Few if any understood his loss and knew that he was dealing with it in his own way. Her brother was one who could maybe understand part of it; Byakuya knew the pain of being unable to keep a promise and seeing the person he cared for die because of his inability. But maybe because of the way she had died, some part of the cold Noble had accepted the scar as war wounds. One that would never quite heal but wouldn't disrupt his life.
Ichigo was willing to bet the Kuchiki Noble didn't scan the registries of new applicants to the Soul academy every month. Or at least wasn't public about it. Ichigo himself had the newest bound copy on his desk, brought in by the ever-dutiful Hinamori. A cup of freshly made tea was at his elbow, gentle curls of steam arose and he blew lightly on it before sipping some.
This was routine.
Like always he misjudged it and the liquid burned the back of his throat.
Then, he would lay it aside and take up the document.
Always a flutter of nervousness would stir his system as his eyes traveled over the first names. Was she one of them? If a name appeared promising or the age seemed appropriate, Ichigo would make a note on a spare piece of parchment and have someone from his Squad dispatched to check along with her description.
Sometimes his heart would leap, and his quill would scratch eagerly over the surface of the paper. But in the end...
The door slid open quietly.
His hand stopped in the curved box of a kanji character.
Ichigo looked up.
It wasn't Hinamori back from Kira's Division.
"Kurosaki...kun?" It was Inoue, rounded cheeks and orange bangs framing her face-almost prettily. She had made the third seat of Unohana's Squad. "Can we talk?" she had looked shyly down expecting to be denied.
Ichigo stared for a long moment at his friend of many years, grown into a woman now. Gone was the ditzy, innocent girl of his youth. Alive. His mind repeated, insistent that he return to the handwritten page beneath his hand. She's alive. Ichigo looked down at his own writing and for the first time saw the futileness of it then his gaze rose to Inoue motionless in the doorway.
He smiled slightly, "sure. We haven't spoken in ages."
~*~
She was waiting.
Always had been for him to turn her way.
Orihime could barely believe the faint smile that lit up his face, but never quite reached his eyes. Her heart ached but she cheerfully entered anyway. One day...she didn't miss that he had set aside the list of students applying for the academy. In fact she rejoiced a little more inside because of it. Maybe now...
Now she could fill the hole left by Kuchiki-san in his heart.
~*~
"Captain..."
This was a surprise. But not entirely an unpleasant one. Hitsugaya usually disliked surprises of any kind. "And what brings you to the office, Matsumoto?" The woman most of the time avoided the place and her desk as well the paperwork Hitsugaya had placed upon it, like the plague. It was well-known this fact, but for once he noticed there was something strange with her.
She kept glancing around and the strangest expression was on her face, "Captain Hitsugaya...I have something to tell you."
His brow rose. Her manner was odd enough, but the tone of her voice had an urgency that made him pause to fold his hands upon the desk, setting aside his quill and compose himself for whatever news she had brought. "Go on."
"But, Captain...before I do, I want you to promise me that you will not speak a word of this to Ichigo-kun."
Kurosaki? Hitsugaya wondered at the need for such a request. What would --unless it was about his...family? Hitsugaya saw no reason for the secrecy but shrugged slightly, "you have my word."
A look of relief had crossed Matsumoto's face, "thank you, Captain. I was afraid for Orihime-chan."
"What does this--" Now he was starting to get perplexed.
"We've found her." His Lieutenant cut in.
His eyes widened, "you mean-"
"Rukia Kuchiki, or what had once been her." Matsumoto continued on somberly.
"Well, for God sakes, why haven't you told Kuro-" realization struck.
"Orihime-chan caught up to me on my way here. She said Ichigo asked her out."
"But..." Hitsugaya recalled Kurosaki's steadfast waiting, his small hands fisted, "if Rukia Kuchiki is here--"
"What Ichigo needs," Matsumoto said as if she hadn't heard him, "is a clean break. To forget the past. Orihime-chan can soothe the wounds in his heart and mind. I've no doubt she can do it."
Hitsugaya felt something was missing, the final piece to the puzzle. The explanation for his Lieutenant's heartlessness toward Kurosaki. He had been waiting for her...for so long. And to keep...
"Matsumoto." Hitsugaya kept his voice calm, "where is Rukia Kuchiki?"
...them apart...
She said in a whisper and he finally understood her reasoning.
Was a mercy to them both.
~*~
Ichigo didn't understand Hitsugaya's looks to him.
Filled with compassion and something else.
He tried dismissing it as the latest wave of pity he didn't want-didn't need.
And tried to focus on Inoue's smiling happy face.
Tried to be the attentive date to her and feel things he wasn't.
Ichigo was almost glad to see an agent of SoiFong's slip from the shadows and interrupt them halfway through the date.
Urgent summons from the Division one, he was to come immediately.
It was with a quick step and hasty apology to Inoue to make it up some other time, that Ichigo left. Only vaguely wondering what the exigency was. Perhaps something to do with the living world-?
~*~
"Head Captain, please! I beg of you!" Hitsugaya had never begged for a boon to his Squad or to be favored with the First Division Captain, yet he was almost invariably called for counsel on important matters and this night was one such time.
But, he did not wish this.
The old man inclined his head, "you object, Captain Hitsugaya? On what grounds?"
Hitsugaya knew he couldn't speak them aloud, not when Byakuya Kuchiki was present as well, instead he began carefully after a moment, "I just ask that Captain Kurosaki not be--"
"What?"
The voice came from the other end of the room. Hitsugaya turned slowly to face the scowling orange-haired Soulreaper. "I ask to go in..his place. I will handle whatever I encounter there."
For a time it was silent, then Yamamoto pronounced his judgment, "you will not, Captain Hitsugaya. It is a simple matter and as well as it involves Captain Kurosaki's hometown. No, my decision still stands. Kurosaki, you are to leave immediately for the world of the living to investigate this baffling rise of spirit pressure anomalies. That is all."
Hitsugaya felt something sink inside, watching in voiceless misery as Kurosaki easily assented.
Don't go.
Hitsugaya knew what the reports were about, and what was causing them.
He knew but couldn't do a thing to stop him from going.
~Living world~
The hell butterfly danced in the darkness, the blue of its wings a glow in the night surrounding him. Standing high above the skyline of his old town, Ichigo breathed in deeply. How many years had it been since he had traversed the streets as a teenager, beating up punks who had dared defile street side memorials?
Centuries it felt.
Ichigo glanced over the quiet, sleeping buildings, seeing nothing amiss, then he held his finger out. The dainty black legs of the butterfly perched there, "okay, show me where."
~*~
The moon was large tonight, Karin Kurosaki noted with faded interest. She hadn't been one to watch the moon or the night. Not liking the way the shadows crept nor the silence that enveloped the world when the sky went dark.
This night, more so than usual she felt it.
And felt fear.
Karin hated fear. Despised the feeling that made her breath short and her hands fumble with the keys. The old clinic was dark, most likely goatface and Yuzu were asleep. The thought of her sister's quiet peace soothed her somewhat and stilled her jitters.
She would keep as quiet as possible so as not to--
A crash came from behind her.
Karin started and reflexively her hand opened, the keys tumbled to the pavement with a clatter.
She spun around, her eyes darting nervously up and down the block. What had made the sound?! Her gaze alighted on a medium-sized dog running from a trash can at the end of the street. Karin's shoulders slumped and she laughed quietly to herself. How ridiculous she was! Getting frightened over that! She knelt down to retrieve the fallen keys.
A shadow fell over her...
~*~
Ichigo heard the scream even before he had sensed the unknown spirit pressure.
His hand went to the bandaged hilt over his shoulder; the hell butterfly swooped low then swung over into his old street. Swiftly Ichigo flash-stepped past it, putting into practice all those moves Yoruichi had taught him.
He was upon it before it had even turned.
The back was small, the head was dark.
With a wild yell, he brought down Zangetsu, his mind barely registering the older, grown up version of the sister he hadn't seen in years, backed up against the car door, fear in her eyes.
Then, for one heart-stopping moment, the creature turned.
Ichigo saw its face.
Nostalgia overcame him.
It was like when they first met, but now...
Their positions were horribly, irrevocably reversed.
Rukia stared back at him with no recognition in her crazed violet-blue eyes.
He had found her at last.
But, Ichigo couldn't forget the sight of the hole going straight through her chest where her heart had been.
The empty chain of fate.
~To be continued ~
AN: ;.; thanks for reading!
No flames-haters-stupid comments! I mean it!
Reviews appreciated ^^
