The Conclusion: Part 2
The four in the Soul Society got into position: Head Captain Yamamoto and Rukia both went to the edge of the Senkaimon bridge, to give both Ichigo and Byakuya room for battle, while said Soul Reapers went to the centre of the bridge and readied for battle.
"If I win this battle..." Spoke Byakuya. "Then Rukia stays in the Soul Society and, should she be sent to the World of the Living for assignments, will not make contact with you, or any of your human friends." Rukia was stunned by such a proposal; not only will she be shunned away from Ichigo, but all her other human friends as well, Orihime for starters.
"You can't go around controlling Rukia's will like that!" Ichigo bellowed.
"If you are so confident in your victory, then agreeing to these terms will be meaningless." Byakuya taunted. Ichigo growled.
"Alright! But if I win, then you stop this whole thing about trying to split me and Rukia up...and let her make her own choices!" Rukia smiled, knowing exactly what Ichigo's intentions are. "And also, the people you use to split me and Rukia up won't try anything on us again!"
"Sounds fair." Byakuya said. "But..." He took the hilt of his Zanpakuto and drew upon it. "Your terms will not be met, once I have slain you."
"Don't get so cocky!" Ichigo held his Zanpakuto into position. "BANKAI!" Dark Spiritual Pressure surged around Ichigo as he took his Bankai form, holding his black Zanpakuto, ready for battle. "Tensa Zangetsu!"
"Starting things early?" Byakuya then held out his Zanpakuto. "Very well, I shall do so too." He dropped his sword as it submerged into the ground. "Bankai..." Then, a thousand swords rose up in two perfect rows. "Scatter - Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." The swords at once turned into millions upon millions on blossom petals. "It is not too late to back down and avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
"Feel free!" Ichigo yelled and charged immediately towards Byakuya, who used his petals as a shield against Ichigo's attack. With a quick Shunpo, Ichigo was quick to dodge it and was even quicker to attack once more; but the petals at Byakuya's command blocked his path and was ready to slash Ichigo to pieces, but another Shunpo avoided such a fate. This pattern of attacked kept up for some time.
"Head-Captain?" Rukia called to the old man.
"What is it? You should be more focussed on this fight." Yamamoto spoke.
"Why choose Ichigo and my brother to fight?" Rukia asked. "Surely there must have been a peaceful resolution to sort this problem out?"
"Then you want to be forever away from Ichigo Kurosaki?" The Head Captain said wisely.
"N-No!" Rukia asked almost stunned at the question.
"That is precisely why they fight, Rukia Kuchiki." The Head Captain explained. "You do not want to be away from the Substitute Soul Reaper, whilst Captain Kuchiki wants you to cease all interaction with him. Even if you decided to obey your brother's wishes, Ichigo Kurosaki would not go quietly, and he would be the one attempting to break a civil peace. Battle between these two are the only true decider in this whole affair. All we can do now is hope that one emerges the victor without too much bloodshed, or one decides to forfeit." At the same time, Ichigo managed to pierce Byakuya's defences, and cut his cheek lightly, at the same time, cutting his own from getting too close to the blossom petals. Both jumped back to avoid any more slashing.
"Your defences are sturdy as usual, Byakuya." Ichigo laughed with a small pant.
"As is your speed." Byakuya in turn remarked. "Do you not see, Ichigo Kurosaki? With you being close to my sister, your presence will only bring her in more danger."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It was you that caused Rukia to be on the verge of execution. It was your blind rampage into Hueco Mundo that almost seen Rukia be killed by Aizen's forces. And might I add, if not for me, she would have been dead. Even in these past few weeks, my forces have done nothing but hinder Rukia because of you. All you do for Rukia is bring her in harm's way to see to your personal needs." With this, he sent his petals to attack Ichigo, but with a Getsuga Tensho, Ichigo deflected them all, leaving Byakuya wide open, but rather than attack, he stood where he was.
"Oh yeah? Well it's better than denying Rukia her free will!" Ichigo retorted with a scream. "It wasn't me that brought Rukia to that execution stand, it was herself trying to defend me. It wasn't me who dragged her into Hueco Mundo to save Orihime, it was herself, who wanted to save a friend. All the things she did till now was all because she had the free will to do them! And as for your guys wanting to break her up? News flash, Byakuya. Those were YOU!" Byakuya gaped in shock of the audacity of the statement, giving Ichigo the time to jolt toward Byakuya and swing his sword for him, but Byakuya dodged with a Shunpo, and counterattacked by sending his army of petals after him. "You're gonna have to do better than that!" Without using a Shunpo, he dodged with his high speed and shot for Byakuya once more, and cut his right arm pretty deep. Byakuya grunted in pain before Shunpo'ing again further, clutching his cut arm. "Thing you have to understand, Byakuya: If it's Rukia's life that's on the line, I won't go easy on my opponent." Byakuya ceased clutching his arm, and sent an enormous amount of Spiritual Pressure surging through the battlefield.
"One thing you have to understand about me, Ichigo Kurosaki..." Began Byakuya. Then, the field grew dark, as hundreds of thousands of pink glowing swords surrounded the two fighters. "When it is my pride as a Soul Reaper that is on the line...I shall eradicate my opponent without pause for thought. Senkei, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." Ichigo, although stunned, prepared for the worse to come.
"Never knew you had to resort to this attack again." Ichigo said cautiously. "Looks like I better..." He put his left hand over his face. "Go all out too!" His dark Spiritual Pressure formed over his face, is it materialised and turned into his Hollow mask. Rukia began to feel the strain of both immense Spiritual Pressures and fell to her knees just to keep conscious. Then, both charged for one another and began to fight sword-to-sword, both giving an equal amount of force into their swings, when one of the swords from the ring came down, ready to strike Ichigo down, but with a massive Getsuga Tensho, Ichigo blasted it away. This gave Byakuya an opening, and slashed Ichigo's face, breaking a portion of his mask.
"Forgive me, I was aiming to cut off your head."
"I doubt you'd want that." Ichigo grunted in his Hollow mixed voice. "After all, you always like to toy with your opponents first."
"Under normal circumstances, you would be correct. But at this present moment, there would be no greater joy than to kill you." Suddenly, ten of the swords flew down to strike Ichigo, but rather than create openings, Ichigo dodged them with great difficulty. "All too easy! Bakudo no. 4 - Hainawa!" Spirit Energy ropes entangled themselves to Ichigo's wrists and ankles and spread them apart, so far, that Ichigo couldn't move.
"What the hell?" Ichigo cursed.
"Bakudo no. 61 - Rikujokoro!" Six Spirit Energy beams rammed themselves into Ichigo, now permitting no, if not, little movement.
"What are you doing? Don't want to fight me fairly?" Ichigo struggled, but he couldn't move an inch, not with both Kido on him.
"I tire of fighting, Ichigo Kurosaki. I could fight you all day, but doing so would be meaningless. Now that you're caught in my Kido, I think it's about time I showed you: what happens to those who dare to trample on my pride." He outstretched his hand. "Hado no. 67 - Kanden Shiogomon!" Red lightning sparked from Byakuya's hand and began electrocuting Ichigo; yet he could do nothing but scream in pain and try to writhe out. Rukia had to clamp her mouth in horror to such cruelty. Byakuya stopped for a brief moment. "You would go through this pain, just for one girl?" Ichigo, after countless pants in pain, gave his reply.
"I'm not doing it for one girl! ...I'm doing it...for Rukia!"
"So be it!" The torturing red lightning continued to zap Ichigo without mercy. Ichigo tried to hold back his screams to avoid Rukia worrying too much, but the screams flowed out of him, trying all he can to break free. Byakuya stopped once more, this time, Ichigo's Hollow mask broke off and shattered to the ground, and his Bankai kimono was all but shredded. With all his strength, he looked to Rukia on the sidelines, who had tears forming in her eyes.
"Is...Is that...all you got?" Ichigo taunted. "Try...releasing me...so I can show you what...I've got!"
"Don't be absurd..." Byakuya said, then the six rods of light were banished and the ropes binding Ichigo's wrists and ankles released themselves, only to bind Ichigo's neck, dragging him up. Ichigo could only grunt in suffocation. "I shall now deliver the final blow..." He took one of the swords from the millions that surrounded him. Rukia felt herself turn away, not wanting to see her lover die. But the more she turned away, the more the memories of her and Ichigo came to torment her head. All the loving memories that Ichigo gave her, through all the despair in her life, came to her like flashes before her eyes. Just then, one particular memory flashed before; it was during their date, when they were eating their fill in the fancy restaurant. Ichigo had just finished.
"Man! I'm stuffed!" He said, stretching back. "This stuff really fills you up!" Rukia only laughed as she finished her meal too.
"Say, Ichigo..." Rukia perked.
"Hmm? What's up?"
"D-Do you think my brother would object to us going on this date?"
"Why? Did he say anything about it?"
"No, just hypothetically."
"Well don't worry 'bout it. And if he does say anything, I'll take the rap for it." Rukia smiled, then used her napkin to wipe her mouth mannerly. Back the present day, Rukia couldn't help but whimper at such a thought, as Ichigo was now taking the full sting of Byakuya's wrath. Then, another memory flooded into Rukia; this time it was during schooltime, during a test that Rukia found difficult; she could barely get through an answer without raking her brain.
"Urghh..." She whispered to herself. "I'm a Soul Reaper, not a mathmatician!" She bit her Chappy-designed pen in irritation. Ichigo was quick to notice Rukia's frustration and raised his hand.
"Teacher, I'm done, mind if I go to the bathroom?" Ichigo called, almost deliberately.
"Fine, just make it quick." The teacher replied. But as Ichigo walked out, he slipped a small piece of paper to Rukia's desk, and gave a wink to her as he walked out. Rukia unfolded the paper slip to see the answers on all the questions on the test. She gave a blush and looked to the door where Ichigo stood.
"Damn that Ichigo." She whispered. "He's always looking out for me..." And with that, Rukia, in the present day, whimpered again, knowing now that Ichigo's looking out for her more than ever. And then, one more memory flashed in Rukia's mind; it was just after their evening love-making, Rukia and Ichigo were lying in each other's arms, now completely exhausted with the covers draped over them.
"Ichigo?" Rukia breathed.
"Mm?" Ichigo moaned, on the brink of sleep.
"Why do they call it sex?" Ichigo's eyes, which were closed at the time, opened to Rukia's naked form.
"You wake me up for that?" Ichigo said with a smile. He paused in thought. "Sex is the normal way of saying it. It's also called love-making..." Rukia blushed.
"Th-Then...you love me...?"
"Of course..."
"Say it then, say you love me." Ichigo paused for a moment.
"Rukia Kuchiki...I love you..."
It was then, in the present day, Rukia mustered the strength to look at Ichigo's suffering, to see Byakuya inches from her lover, ready to stab him.
"Farwell, Ichigo Kurosaki. May you never...hurt my pride ever again..." And he lunged his sword forward to kill Ichigo.
And then it all happened in a second; Rukia ran out to the fight, much to Yamamoto's surprise and got into the path of Byakuya's sword as it pierced her chest. Byakuya's eyes raised in shock of Rukia's actions.
"R-Rukia..." Byakuya stuttered. Ichigo too was shocked on what she done, taking the hit Ichigo was meant for. Byakuya instantly took the blade out of her as she dropped to the ground. But before Byakuya could see to his injured sister...
"GETSUGA TENSHO!" Ignoring all pains, injuries and suffocating Kido spells, Ichigo blasted Byakuya with his signature move as he collided with one of the bridge's pillars and fell in pain. Immediately, Ichigo seen to the wounded Rukia, covering his hands on the wound to stop her pure blood from spilling. "Why did you do that? I never wanted you getting hurt for me! Why...?" Rukia put her hand to Ichigo's cheek.
"It was like you said...Ichigo..." Rukia replied with all her strength. "The things I done up 'till now were of my free will...I love you...Ichigo, and would die myself rather than see you die..." Byakuya, lying on the ground, injuries of his own, seen the efforts Ichigo made to keep Rukia from dying and drew a solitary tear in anguish of his own works. Yamamoto then walked to the injured Byakuya.
"You see it, don't you?" He spoke. "The way the Substitute Soul Reaper has to amend for your actions."
"Wh...Why?" Byakuya pondered. "Why would Rukia do something this drastic for a human child?"
"I may not be an expert on the concept, but...love is a very powerful force...It drives many people to do things they would not see themselves doing...Was it not love for Hisana Kuchiki that drove you to seek out her sister?" At those words, Byakuya too ingored his wounds, stood up and limped towards the two lovers.
"You love my sister...Ichigo Kurosaki?" Byakuya spoke.
"Of course..." Ichigo said through his injuries.
"And...you love Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia?" Rukia nodded to save her energy. "Very well...you win...Ichigo Kurosaki..." And with all his strength, he limped to the direction of the Seireitei. "I'll get Squad 4 to heal your injuries with immediate action..." Ichigo gave a nod in respect for Byakuya as he painfully walked away.
"Thank goodness..." Rukia whispered in joy and fell unconscious from the loss of blood. leaving only Ichigo to call out her name in worry...
It felt like as soon as Rukia fell into unconsciousness that she immediately woke again, but rather than being in the blood-soaked battlefield near the Senkaimon, she was back at Ichigo's house, in a normal Gigai, in her pyjamas and was sleeping on Ichigo's bed, with the morning sun bathing her in it's light. She felt the wound that she had before, then lifted her pyjama shirt to see it wrapped in very high-quality bandages. Just then, she heard groaning and mumbling in the closet where she usually slept. Feeling comfortable to move again, she got up, walked to the closet, and opened it, to see Ichigo sleeping in her bed.
"Damn, this bed's lumpy..." Ichigo groaned, trying to get comfy, not noticing Rukia's presence. Rukia grew angry on the spot.
"Get outta my bed, you idiot!" She screamed and threw Ichigo off with a loud crash.
"Whoa! Rukia!" Ichigo stuttered in surprise.
"What the hell were you doing in my bed for?" Rukia yelled, squeezing at Ichigo's pyjama shirt.
"Well I couldn't exactly sleep next to you while you were healing, and I couldn't exactly leave you in that cramped, dark closet you call a bedroom." Ichigo replied. "More importantly, you're awake!"
"Of course I'm awake, idiot! Do you think such an attack would keep me out cold for long?"
"Rukia...you were unconscious for almost a week..." Rukia jolted at the statement. "If it weren't for Unohana coming when she did, you'd have died an hour later...Then when Unohana gave you the clear, I took you home so you could sleep in a more comfortable place. Orihime came by quite often to use her healing powers to speed up the recovery, too. And...well everyone here was kinda worried; Kon especially. He wouldn't stop going on about how it was his fault you got hurt in the first place. Got so bad I had to take his pill out just to shut him up." Rukia looked away, almost guilty from how much everyone must have worried, when she looked to Ichigo again, she began to notice bandages on himself, noticeable ones on parts that she saw that night.
"And you?" Rukia asked. "How are you feeling?" Ichigo smiled, trying to stay positive.
"Never better." Ichigo perked with a smile. And on that note, the doors to Ichigo's room burst open to see Yuzu and Isshin dashing for Rukia to give her immeasurable amounts of hugs.
"Rukia~!" Yuzu wailed. "Thank goodness you're alright~!"
"You were so brave!" Isshin too wailed.
"B-Brave?" Asked Rukia, trying to wrestle the two off. It was then that Karin came and pulled her rabid family members off her.
"Ichigo was attacked by a gang of thugs and you saved him by taking one of their knife stabs. Don't you remember?" She explained. But secretly, she knew the real story, having been told by Toshiro.
"O-Oh yeah..." Rukia improvised.
"If your wound ever feels sore, don't be afraid to tell papa Isshin!" Ichigo's father said as if like a brave knight.
"Okay, we better give Rukia some room." Karin said, dragging the two out forcefully. As soon as the door closed, Rukia looked to Ichigo.
"That was the best story you could come up with?" She growled.
"It was on the spot, couldn't exactly tell them your brother stabbed you, could I?" Just then, Ichigo gasped. "Oh, that's right! Byakuya wants to see us when you've properly healed." Rukia gasped too. Then both headed out towards Urahara's shop, where said Captain was waiting for them. On their arrival, they were primarily greeted by Kisuke himself.
"Glad to see you're all better, Miss. Rukia!" He said formally. "Your brother's in the back room." Ichigo nodded and the two went to Urahara's small living room where Byakuya was drinking a small cup of tea. He, too, was heavily bandaged, having took a point-blank full-power Getsuga Tensho.
"Brother..." Rukia muttered in worry for her brother.
"Don't be concerned. The damage is minimal, plus the Captain of Squad 4 healed any serious injuries..." Byakuya explained, then took a small sip of his tea. Both Ichigo and Rukia sat down to see what Byakuya had to say. "I trust you are recovering?"
"Yes, it doesn't hurt any more..." Rukia said. Byakuya didn't say anything, but Ichigo knew Byakuya's worry for his sister was now lifted.
"And you?" Asked Byakuya to Ichigo. "The damage I inflicted on you is recovering?"
"Getting there..." Ichigo said. "I can still fight Hollows alright." Then Ichigo grew serious. "But you put me and Rukia through a hell of a time."
"I understand that, Ichigo Kurosaki." Byakuya said.
"But his intentions for me were noble." Rukia contributed.
"Yet upon reflection..." Byakuya began. "I have come to realise my methods were the wrong thing to do...Rukia, you have my guarantee that I will never do anything like that ever again..." His intentions then turned to Ichigo. "Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. I trust Rukia with you. However, if I hear word of you causing Rukia trouble, then I shall not hesitate to kill you. Understand?" Ichigo smiled.
"You got it." He replied. And with this, Byakuya stood.
"Very good, may your love for each other flourish..." He walked out and into the courtyard of Urahara's shop; drawing upon his Zanpakuto, he was ready to open a Senkaimon back to the Soul Society, before Rukia and Ichigo came to him.
"We'll visit regularly." Rukia told Byakuya. "Just to let you know we're doing okay." Byakuya paused and then opened the Senkaimon to the Soul Society.
"Thank you, Rukia." Byakuya said, turning his head to his sister with a small smile across his face. "That would be nice..." And then, he left the two as he headed for the Seireitei, with full knowledge that Rukia's home was where she stood...