I know I can't take one more step towards you
cause all that's waiting is regret
And don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore
you lost the love I love the most
I learned to live half alive
And now you want me one more time.
4 months later….
Daniel and Tasha MacDowell stood in their daughters' hospital room surrounded by family, and close friends of the family. The hospital priest was finishing up his prayer as the doctor checked each girl vital signs. Kiskue Urahara stood next to the door in the shadows of the other guest he had a direct view of Denae lying in her bed but no one took notice of him he was nothing but a fly on the wall.
After Dr. Cullen finished his task he stepped aside to allow Tasha and Daniel to say goodbye to their daughters one at a time. After six months of going back and forth with the doctor on whether or not to leave the girls on life support both grief stricken parents had decided together the best they could do for their girls would be to take them off life support.
They had made the announcement over a week ago but it was today that they gathered enough strength and courage to pull the plug on both Denae and Cheyenne. Daniel walked over to the window that he often looked out of. It was a warm sunny day and normally the rays would seep into his soul and make him feel better but nothing could raise his spirits today, nothing. He looked down at the parking lot which was now packed with all the girls fans, reminding him of all the people they had touched in their short time on this earth.
He lowered his head and turned back to his wife who was now saying the last of her good byes to her daughter Cheyenne. She began smoothing out the girls wavy auburn hair smiling sweetly at her daughter. Tasha ended her words by kissing her daughter on the temple and then stepping back for the doctor to step in. Tasha walked over to Daniel grabbing his hand and resting her tired head on his shoulder. She wasn't going to cry today, she had a week to prepare for this moment. No that's a lie she had six months, her daughters needed her to be strong and she was going to be.
She watched the young handsome doctor turn off the machines one by one leaving only the heart monitor going. The steady beeping that Tasha had gotten so accustomed to hearing. Her heart gave a sudden jolt of happiness when the beeps kept going and then it broke when the tone went steady, Hime was gone. Tasha closed her eyes and began focusing on her breathing she wasn't going to cry she bit down on her lower lip, she was going to remain strong no matter what. She was doing good until Daniel's body began to shaking next to her and the sudden sound of his sobs broke her strength and the dam she had been holding back broke free. The doctor turned off the monitor and the only sounds heard were the parents sobs and the machines coming from Denae.
The doctor walked over to Denae's bed and just like before he began to turn off the machines that had been keeping the young girl alive for so many months, leaving only the heart monitor still going. This time Tasha didn't let the sound fool her, as the beeping continued on and on, but something wasn't right because Denae's monitor kept going even the Doctor looked confused, he checked the girl's vital signs once again before turning to look at the parents.
Meanwhile in the Soul Society…
Denae busied herself preparing a romantic evening for her and Gin. It had been four months since their Kuchiki garden incident and much to her sisters chagrin she had become scarce making her life all about Gin. She scoffed to herself at the memory of Alex telling her that she was spending too much time with Gin (whom she coined the fox face creeper) after she had told Denae in a not so subtle manner that she needed to get a life in the first place.
Amazing enough she thought her and Gin were perfect for each other in a weird twisted and sadistic sort of way.
"I honestly believe it's lust." Cheyenne said picking up her shopping bags she was heading out to go back to squad six. "Did you hear what I said Denny" Denae was off in her own world preparing a dinner for Gin. She looked up from her meal
"Hmm you say something." Cheyenne rolled her eyes.
"I think you are in deep lust not love with Captain Ichimaru." Denae just shrugged her shoulders she had heard all of this time and time again, and at this point it didn't phase her. Maybe it was lust who was she to say it wasn't but she could honestly say she had never felt this way about anyone before. "He is such a jerk."
"Tch I'm sorry have you not met Captain Byakuya Kuchiki"
"That's different."
"Jerk is jerk don't throw stones Hime." She held her left hand up and out to the side looking up at the ceiling "Gin is an acquired taste."
"I'll say."
"But once you get a taste." She smacked her lips, now looking at her sister "It's damn good."
"Like I said lust." Cheyenne walked towards the door and slid it open looking back at her older sister. "He doesn't deserve this" Pointing down towards the floor where Denae had sprinkled Sakura petals that led to the bedroom. "And he doesn't deserve you."
"Whatever, he needs this he lost one of his oldest friends the other day." Denae was referring to Sosuke Aizen. Who was found murdered only days ago. Gin was all smiles but Denae who had been in a relationship with him for the past few months knew better. Gin was not himself he was distant from her which was not like him, she loved being around him and he love having her. His little Chakka Zai which was also funny because since Aizen's death he had only referred to her by her first name.
Cheyenne took one step outside before an explosion up at the Sogyokou Hill drew her attention.
"What the hell was that." Denae dropped the knife she was using to cut up vegetables and darted across the room to the door. Both her and Cheyenne shared a look before they started running in the direction of the Sogyokou.
Somewhere in the Soul Society
Not to long ago…...
He was sitting down at the circular desk in the assembly hall of central forty six his legs crossed his arm propped up resting his cheek on his fist. He looked utterly bored but inside he was excited. He stared up at the smiling blonde she was so easy to manipulate doing anything and everything he asked.
"It is important you talk to your sister Mitchie, do not let me down." She shook her head she began rambling on about how she could do whatever it was he needed and that he doesn't need her other sisters. "Are you attempting to tell me what it is I need." Once again the girl shook her head her eyes growing wide."
"Why I think you are being to hard on the lil tike Captain Aizen." Gin was sitting across the room on the circular desk playing in the hair of one the dead nearby swinging his legs.
"I can take care of myself you creeper." The young girl spat back at him. Gin shot his hands up in surrender.
"Just trying to help but if you want to be stubborn be my guest. You know Denae was right about you."
"Keep my sister's name out of your mouth."
"While your making demands." Gin gave a sly grin "I suspect you want me to keep other things out of your sister." Gin jumped off the table and walked over to the girl. Standing next to her he looked down at the now amused Aizen. "Are we going with you; Kaname and I." Gin inquired.
"Why? would you prefer to stay here with your Chakka Zai." Gin grimaced at the way Aizen said the pet name he had chosen for Denae. Aizen saw the face that Gin made and he smiled. Aizen turned to the young girl. "If you are able to get Mitchie away from Captain Hitsugaya bring her to the Sogyokou." The girl gave her idol a big smile before skipping off. Getting Mitchie away from the little boy shouldn't be a problem. One of her abilities as the baby was getting her older sisters to do whatever it was she needed them to do.
Gin began to walk towards the exit before he was stopped by Aizen. "Where are you going Gin we still have business to tend to."
"I need to go see Denae if you want her-"
"I will get her when I need her." Aizen cut in. Gin gave him a puzzled look. "I think some time away from her would do you some good. Get your head focused Gin." Aizen stood up and walked over to Gin patting the silver haired man on the shoulder. "You need focus."
Gin was going to respond but foot steps in the distance drew both of their attention. Renji Abari walked into the assembly hall of central forty six. Taking in his surroundings and then coming to the realization that all forty six members were lying dead at their appropriate seats. His eyes fell on the two men standing in the middle of the inner circle and then they narrowed.
"Wha what have you done." He managed to stutter out and then another realization hit him "Captain Aizen you're supposed to be dead." Captain Aizen gave Renji a small wave and smile before greeting him.
"Hey there Renji." His warm brown eyes greeting the shocked red head. He flashed stepped over to Renji. Standing no more than three feet from him "Why are you here."
"I saw one of those MacDowell girls come out of here and so I came in to see what-"
"Is that right, how unfortunate for you." Captain Aizen pulled out his Zanpakuto and ran it through Renji's gut. "Curiosity will get you nowhere with me." Renji fell to his knees holding his gaping wound blood spilling on the cold tile. "Come Gin Kaname should be waiting for us on the Sogyokou."
"Well that was interesting" Gin said dusting his shoulders off. Renji Abari had just performed a kido spell that back fired on him when the not so deceased Captain Aizen performed a counter kido. The red head fell to the ground holding his abdomen and coughing up more blood he was worse for ware. After he was stabbed he gathered up enough strength to follow Gin and Aizen but not before sending out a message to the other Captains about what he had witnessed in central forty six but so far he was the only one that had shown up.
"Are you done making a fool of yourself Lieutenant Abari." Sosuke Aizen asked turning his back on the near dead man. Walking over to Gin "Well I suspect that explosion will draw out everyone in the Sereitei."
Alex was pulling Mitchie along who wanted to turn around and head back to squad ten to get Captain Hitsugaya after the explosion. She found it easier to use her powers whenever he was around he was the best thing to happen to her in a long time and because of him she had more control over her powers than ever before. But for some reason Alex didn't get it, she insisted that they didn't need 'the little boy' and began dragging Mitchie the rest of the way up the Sogyokou.
Once they reached the top, Mitchie was shock and scared to see Sosuke Aizen who gave her a soft smile, he walked over to the brunette and gave her a warm embrace she barely registered his greeting but she heard him say that they would be leaving soon. He let her go and walked back over to where he had been originally standing as if that was the spot he needed to be in. Still confused Mitchie looked back at Alex who was beaming at Aizen very pleased with herself for some reason unbeknownst to Mitchie. Something about the situation didn't feel right to her and she desperately wanted to get away from there but she knew by the look on Tosen's face that she wasn't going to be going anywhere. Off in the distance she noticed Gin who had his eyes closed as usual and a smile from ear to ear on his face. Her face turned up in disgust, she always knew he was no good and she couldn't wait to tell Denny when she saw her. If she ever got free.
Fortunately for Mitchie Sosuke Aizen had been right the explosion had gotten everyone's attention and it drew every high ranking Soul reaper to their location. The three men were surrounded and out number but they didn't seem to be phased by the odds. Yamamoto addressed Aizen he wanted to know how he faked his death and why. Aizen simply answered "because I have no need to be a soul reaper and I felt that Captain Sosuke Aizen needed a proper ending."
People began speaking over each other flabbergasted at what they were hearing come from the highly respected Captain. "The Captain Aizen you all knew and admired, never existed." Aizen added. It fell quiet on the Sogyokou.
"Gin" The soft voice came from a distance somewhere in the crowd it was Denae she was out of breath she obviously ran the entire way to the top of the hill that over looked the entire Seretei. "What's going on." She began to walk towards him taking notice and not caring about Aizen. She was grabbed by the arm by someone she tried to shrug them off but they had a firm grip on her. She heard the words traitor, murderer, not safe, but she wanted to hear what Gin had to say she felt her body run hot right before the person who was holding her screamed out in pain.
"She fucking burned me." It had been Cheyenne that was trying to hold her back "Denny are you fucking crazy they said he's a traitor that he killed people." Denae ran over to Gin who stood rooted to his spot his eyes fixed on her. Out of her peripheral she noticed people trying to reach for her but she blocked their path with flames.
Alex who was still on the side of the crowd surrounding Aizen, Gin and Tosen wanted to join them and as she was about to make a move she felt strong arms grab her around the waist. She began kicking and punching or trying for that matter. She found it useless the person who was holding her was twice her size and she was no match for his strength, she twisted her body so that she could look up and see who was holding her. Her insides boiled over as she looked up into the face of Shuhei Hisagi.
"Let me go you per-"
"NO" His voice left no room for argument, he had joked around with her before and she often told him off but she never recalled a moment where he was this assertive, Alex shriveled in his arms.
"Gin is it true. What they're saying. Are you a traitor. Did you kill sssom someone" Denae had built up a wall of flames around her and the three men, when she heard Yamamoto yell arrest them. She couldn't let that happen not without knowing if it was true what they were saying about Gin. He didn't answer at first looking at her gray eyes glistening from the tears that were threaten to spill over. He imagined that she must have felt betrayed by him once again in their relationship. He contemplated lying to her, lying was always second nature to him.
Denae's body began to trembling the heat building as the flames intensified. Gin opened his eyes his beautiful sky blue orbs looking at her. Her heart dropped shattering into a million pieces could she love a traitor, could she make excuses for a killer, was she prepared for what she knew he was about to say, he was who they said he was. He had betrayed her once again. Gin's lips began to move but no sound came out, she wanted to hear what he had to say she needed to hear it maybe it was all lies. She opened her mouth to speak to Gin but no sound came out. Her vision began to fade going white as Gin's form began to fade from her sight and slowly her memory.
Denae felt like a two ton elephant was sitting on her chest. Her mouth was incredibly dry but when she tried to swallow something was obstructing her throat, she tried to cough but burning pain seared it's way up her throat. She tried to scream out in pain but once again the same searing pain. She squinted her eyes before opening them the bright light hitting her eyes made her forcefully shut them again. She tried to focus on the voices she was hearing. It sounded like utter chaos, people shouting, sobbing and a loud banging like someone was pounding on a wall no a window. She tried to open her eyes again, squinting for a few moments before things started to focus. All she could see was white, the white of the ceiling.
'Where am I' she thought to herself. She felt uneasy and she didn't know why. Denae was so very scared the shouting and the crying making her panic on the inside she couldn't see anyone and the loud beeping next to her head was doing nothing for her nerves. She felt someone fall on her increasing the weight on her chest making it even harder for her to breath. The beeping grew louder as what she only thought was an alarm beginning to go off. The person moved and the panic grew in her chest. Denae tried to shift her head and found her neck to be incredibly stiff. Why did her body feel like such a stranger to her. The terror must have shown in her face because she felt a soft hand on her left hand as it grabbed it and held it in it's own. She tried to move her head in the direction of the hand but her neck wouldn't allow it.
"Don't move" The voice said "The Doctor's coming back just hold on Denae" For some reason she was in pain not physical, her heart hurt and she didn't know why. Tears fell from her eyes at the sound of the voice that had brought so much comfort. She wanted to see his face she tried to move her head once again, this time his face coming into view. His wild pale blonde hair falling wildly about his face, piercing gray eyes staring at her behind his blonde hair. He ran a hand through her hair. "You're going to be okay, I've got you now."
And who do you think you are
Running 'round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
Jar of hearts-Christina Perri