Disclaimer: Tite Kubo: sniff, sniff
Mizu-chan: Aww Kubo-san don't cry, Bleach still isn't mine
Kubo-san: wipes tear OK.
Ok peeps, this is it!! The last chapter of this story!!!! First I want to thank thr academy for considering me, for my fans (andraq, miffmistress, spirixx, integralgirl, bleachy-nii, sin of otaku,ichirukiisbest and everyone else who posted a review), that even though some of you didn't review, my hits are pretty big so... Thanks to everyone who pointed out all the mistakes and those of you who continued regradless...I hope you enjoyed this story and hopefully we'll see each other again!!! Thank you
Seeking truth part 2
Ichigo slowly opened his eyes. There was a piercing silence and his surroundings were dark, except for his skin, which glowed in a ghastly matter. He looked around frantically trying to find something around, not just the emptiness that extended everywhere, which mad him a little sick.
He noticed a faint glow coming from somewhere in front of him. Hoping to find the small princess, he ran towards it, but was disappointed as he found that the source of the glow was a mirror. He sighed heavily and leaned against the glass, running his fingers through his head
"Ichigo, is that you?"-a muffled voice came from behind him, making him jump
"Rukia, how the hell did you get there?"-
The raven-haired princess was on the other side of the glass, her hands pressed against it.
"I don't know. Everything turned black all of a sudden. Where are you?"-
"I have no idea"-he said looking around
"You're in my castle hunter"- a booming voice resounded through the darkness. Ichigo turned, hiding Rukia from sight.
"Ah yes, a Kurosaki. And what do we have here? Oh yes, a Kuchiki witch, so cliché. It seems it is your destiny to protect her isn't it, Kurosaki Ichigo?"-
A tall, bearded man materialized from the dark, causing Rukia to gasp behind Ichigo
"Ichigo, be careful"-she whispered
"Who the hell are you?"-Ichigo's voice resonated through the nothingness
"Who am I? I'm hurt; I didn't think you would forget me Kurosaki, since I did visit your parents several times before I killed them"-
Ichigo's eyes opened wide as he felt a cold chill run down his spine. His hand tightened around the hilt of the sword he was carrying, a hot wave of hate and anger washed over his mind, clouding his better judgment. All he wanted right know was to hurt this man, kill him
"You, you killed my parents?"-he asked through gritted teeth
"Why yes, of course. You see, if I didn't kill the Kurosaki clan, it would be impossible for me to get rid of the Kuchiki witches, since you are bound by blood to protect them. Unfortunately, my plans didn't go as planned. I wasn't aware that the Kurosaki couple had an offspring or that the queen's oldest daughter harbored such power. For years I was nothing but an old man, but after much research and hard work I have gained my power back, and I will leave no survivors"-his voice was deep and threatening.
A cry of anger ripped through Ichigo's throat as he lunged himself at the man. His blade came to a sudden halt in midair as the man raised a finger. A maniacal smile spread across his face as he threw Ichigo back
"Ichigo!"-Rukia pressed herself against the glass, trying to see where he was
Ichigo stood up slowly, placing his weight on the sword. Sweat drops formed along his forehead as he panted for breath
"Who…who are you?"-
"My name is lord Ankoku. I advise you remember it well, since I will be the one to kill you"-
The man plunged himself towards Ichigo who was able to dodge him. Ankoku disappeared through the dark like a ghost and appeared in front of a very surprised Ichigo, punching his in the stomach. He doubled in pain as the bearded man stepped on his back, causing Ichigo's face to smash against the apparently non-existing floor. He continued to violently step on Ichigo's back, enabling him to stand up. Blood started running down the corner his mouth and his vision started blurring up. He saw the mirror and heard a distant voice shouting his name
"Rukia"-he called out weakly
"Ichigo! Ichigo!"-Rukia was desperately pounding the glass, trying to get through or break it, whatever came first. Her eyes were bloodshot from the tears and her heart was pounding against her chest. She had to help him, but how
Be strong…fight
Her mother's voice rang in her ears. As she held tightly to her necklace, she knew exactly what she needed to do.
Ankoku's maniacal laugh rang through the vast darkness as he continued to pound on the unconscious Ichigo. He was about to give the final blow to his head when he felt his leg stop in mid-air, unable to move it
"Stop it"-
He looked up and saw a small raven-haired girl standing in front of him. In her hand, she held tightly a long silver staff, a crescent moon on the top.
"Ah, but if it isn't Kuchiki Rukia-hime. It has been such a long time, I see you have grown, and so has your power. Tell me, what are you planning to do? Neither your mother or your father was able to stop me, so I doubt you'll be the exception"-
He slowly brought his leg down, breaking the enchantment Rukia put on him. Rukia held her gaze on him; her hands steady on her staff
"Why are you doing this? Why did you kill our family?"-
"Power my dear princess. All I've ever wanted, all that I've strived for is power, and your legacy has plenty of it. Do you really think that all your power is whatever that necklace gives you? That's only a catalyst. The real power is within your little, innocent soul, which I will personally destroy, just like I'll do with your sisters"-
"Hisana"- Rukia's grip loosened a little at the mention of her sister. At least she knew she was all right. She tightened her staff again and hardened her gaze
"I don't care what your purpose is, I will not let you hurt my family or the people I love"-
"I don't think you have much say about it my dear"-he lunged again, this time at the small princess. She covered herself in a bubble of light, as her sister had done many years before, causing the man to ricochet against it.
"So I see you have some knowledge of your power. Let's see what else you got"-
He threw his hands up as in prayer and started invoking something. The area above Rukia became clouded and lightning struck over her. She kneeled as the pressure of the lightning hit her protective shield. She could hear his laugh
"It's that all you got witch? You disappoint me!"-
Rukia closed her eyes and tried strengthening her shield as much as possible. Sweat drops formed across her forehead.
Use the spheres…
Her eyes snapped open as she recognized the voice
"Hisana?"-
Use the spheres Rukia…
The spheres? She remembered everything they went through to get them. Wasn't the function of the spheres to show them the truth? Did they have another purpose? As the lightning strikes continued to shower over her, she stuffed her hand in her pocket and felt the four spheres.
"How do I use them?"-
You know what to do, trust yourself…
With all that she could muster, Rukia stood up. She then raised her staff and shot a beam of light towards the dark clouds, which dissipated immediately.
"Thank you Hisana-nee, I know what to do"-she whispered
"Well, well, well, I'm impressed. I must say I didn't expect this"-Ankoku threw his head back and laughed, his eyes filled with evil
"Life is full of surprises"-Rukia replied, searching in her pockets for the small spheres
"True. Who would've thought that after all these years I still would have to deal with this? But today it ends, for both of you"-
"We'll see about that"-Rukia took out the spheres and threw them at the bearded man. The formed a circle around him, causing him to frown
"What the hell?"-
Rukia clasped her hands together, closing her eyes. Her mind was clear, very clear. She felt warmth surround her body as her power awoke within her. She felt as if she could do anything, but what she needed to do now was protect her family.
And save Ichigo
Go-ruden kaze, release your protective wind
Mizu Kessou, release your demanding waters
Megami Sabureno, release your engulfing sand
Hibeni, release your powerful fire
Rukia then opened her arms wide and her eyes. A strong wind was surrounding her and Ankoku as she called each sphere, which started glowing
Four spheres of soul engulf this evil with your elemental power…RELEASE!
A thick silver line drew itself across the four spheres, incarcerating Ankoku. He struggled and tried to release himself, but the effort was useless
"What…what have you done you stupid little bitch! Where did you get these?"-his voice was enraged and his eyes were now slits of evil
"I am avenging everyone you ever hurt. You shouldn't have underestimated the power of a Kuchiki witch"-Rukia's voice was strong over the howling wind surrounding her. The bearded man's eyes opened wide, and then a smile spread across his face
"Hmph, confident are we? This isn't over"-
He increased his power and tried to free himself from within the circle that imprisoned him. Suddenly his eyes were wide again, but from shock as he felt a hot pain shoot in his back. He turned his head to find a panting Ichigo looking at him, his eyes narrowed and blazing with anger. Ichigo twisted his sword inside the man's back, causing him to gasp in pain
"That's for what you did to my parents, you disgusting fuck"-he took out the sword and Ankoku fell on his knees. Rukia clasped her hands together again and the spheres closed themselves around the body, engulfing him inside a silver bubble, which exploded, sending thousand of small specs of light around the darkness.
Ichigo and Rukia looked at each other, panting. Ichigo smirked and Rukia's eyes grew softer, her staff becoming a necklace again
"Is it over?"-she asked
"Yes, it is"-he replied
Then they both fell to the ground, their bodies and mind exhausted.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Rukia-hime, you have a visitor"-
It had been several months since the princess had returned to her kingdom. Surprisingly enough, no one remembered her leaving at all, except her sister. Everything was normal like she had just gone through a very long dream, which at some point she had started to believe it was.
There were no signs of her leaving, no proof of the adventures she had lived, nothing. Her sister had been happy she was back, but she never spoke about it after that. One thing that had changed was Rukia's power, which she had managed to control better, and her eyes. She seemed wiser and older than before.
Rukia turned her head at the sound of her caretaker's voice, who had just come in the room.
"Who is it?"-
"I'm sorry, I didn't ask"-she giggled
Rukia rolled her eyes and stood up, following Kayime downstairs. Her brother and sister were not in the castle at the moment, so she was kind of bored, hence her following her maid to the throne room
"Why are we here Kayime-san? Couldn't you take the visitor to the living room, like everyone else?"-
The tiny maid giggled lightly as they kept walking towards the room. She had noticed that the princess was more talkative, more active and wasn't so reserved with her anymore, which made her extremely happy
Kayime opened that was behind the thrones, making sure the princess was looking at her and not at the visitor. She started fixing her hair and straightening her dress, mumbling under her breath
"Kayime-san, what's wrong with you? I'm fine, thank you"-
"Ok hime. Bye"-she left giggling again
Rukia huffed in annoyance and sat down in her sister's throne crossing her legs. She then noticed someone was in front of her, kneeled and slightly hidden in the shadows
"Hello? Who are you?"-she asked
"Wow, I didn't think you would forget me so easily after all we've been through"-
The figure stood up and stuffed his hands in his pockets, walking towards the light. Rukia stood up and gasped as she recognized the bright orange hair
"Ichigo!"-
"Good evening, Rukia-hime"-
Rukia ran down the stairs and threw herself in Ichigo's arms. They spun around and looked at each other
"Were have you been, I was almost starting to think everything was a dream"-
"I know. When I got to the hunters base, it was as if I was never gone. I appeared in my bedroom and everyone kept patting me in the back telling me that maybe I could get the treasure next time"-
They laughed for a while and then looked at each other again. He slowly closed the gap between them by kissing her softly.
They broke apart keeping their foreheads together and still gazing at each other eyes.
"What if your brother comes in, he'll probably think I'm trying to take you again"-
"They won't come back for a while"-she said, leaning in to claim his lips again.
After all, they have been through, they finally were able to gain the truth they looked for, and in the way, they found something else that would last them fore the rest of their lives.
They found each other
The end
Of course, what do you think? That I wasn't going to have any IchixRukia moments!!!
Again, thanks to everyone who read this fic, please rememeber to review and tell me what you thought of it!!! Also check out my new AU Bleach called Chronicles of a Secret!!!! See ya!!
Ankoku: Darkness
Hime:Princess