AN: This drabble doesn't quite flow with the previous ones. It's a bit darker. Ahem.

Disc: Bleach isn't mine. And unfortunately never will be seeing as I am not rich or Tite Kubo. .

Drabble #8

La hora suprema y sus frutas

"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

There was one too many times Kuchiki Rukia had been helpless. When she was a child on the streets of Rukongai, she was helpless. When the Kuchiki family had made it's proposal, she had been helpless. When Kaien-dono had died, she had been completely helpless. When she lost her powers to Ichigo. When she first met Kisuke. When Byakuya and Renji came for her. The moment of her would-be execution. The night she came back. The list went on and on.

And here she was, completely helpless for what had to be the millionth time of her miserable life.

Helpless. Weak. Powerless. Injured.

Dying.

She was almost paralyzed with hunger, but there was nothing to eat. She had swallowed whatever last rations she might have had in efforts to keep her spiritual power alive. Unfortunately, it didn't last long and slowly bit by bit her body became numb. Whether from her spiritual power's hunger or her body's blood loss, she wasn't sure.

The arrancar had managed to deflect Shirayuki's blows and stab her with Nejibana. Now there were three gaping holes in her chest and the blood flow wouldn't cease. All because she was stupid. And because he looked like Kaien-dono. Even while impaled on Nejibana, she had hesitated.

I leave my heart with you.

Somehow she had found the strength to do it. With a few words, the dance was initiated and Noveno had been slayed. And maybe now Shiba Kaien had gained some semblence of peace.

She blinked at the sunlight pouring onto her through the hole the kido blast had made.

Her breathing started to slow and her muscles had begun to loosen. A puddle of blood had formed around her and she could feel the last traces of her spiritual power fading. Even Ichigo would not be able to locate her now.

She tried to grab Sode no Shirayuki but could no longer move. It seemed that her body was now only capable of breathing.

She blinked back tears. Her ni-sama would probably not like it if her last moments were spent in tears… Kaien-dono would not like it either.

Even if it was his visage that had done the deed.

Rukia twisted her head and looked out into the barren Hueco Mundo. The white buildings a mockery of Seireitei's peace.

They wouldn't be able to find her. Her spiritual energy was practically nonexistent.

She was dying. And there was no one to leave her heart to.

Never die alone.

God damn it, she was better than this.

Several tears cleared paths down her bloody cheeks. With the last bit of energy that she had, Rukia took a gasping breath and sent glare of kido up into the fake blue sky of Hueco Mundo.

Like the sky of Kisuke's training ground she thought, smiling to herself. Her vision finally blurred and she was dizzy despite the fact that she was lying down. Ichigo's worry and sheer determination would get him through his fight first. He'd probably have a heart attack when he could no longer sense her and soon be racing over to where he last felt her presence, slowly working his way here. Then, Renji and maybe Ishida or Chad. She wondered what they would find. If Ichigo could take loosing another person… If Renji would ever forgive himself… Would they be able to rescue Orihime? Or would she be the one to insure her friend's fates.

She blinked through the haze of her blurry vision, up at the bright sky. Her vision was beginning to black out.

Aizen was probably laughing his ass off right now.

And Urahara Kisuke would kill him. For everything. For going too far. For being the threat that he was. For hurting the people that he had. For stealing his Hougyoku. And for her.

Most importanly, Kisuke would definetely kill Aizen for her.

She hoped that he'd be able to forgive her. That they all would.

XxX

Rukia Kuchiki felt totally at peace. But, after several seconds it registered that the world was shaking.

Violently, too.

She swallowed.

Her throat wasn't dry like she remembered it was.

Was this a Heaven she knew of? A pleasant district of Rukongai?

As far as she could sense her body was perfect but sore.

She was alive.

They had found her. And healed her.

It could only be the work of the 4th Division or Urahara Kisuke.

Considering the shaking warmth that surrounded her, it was most likely the latter.

Slowly, she opened her eyes.

In her peripheral vision she could see her white cloak and uniform. Both were ripped and bloodied.

Then she noticed the huge green haori that was dwarfing her body. And the body that was inextricably intertwined with hers.

A blonde head was buried into the crook of her neck. And there was a cool wetness rolling down her clavicle. Kisuke was trembling.

She observed that his hat and getas had been thrown into the corner of the room next to her clothes. And there was an empty bottle of sake littering in broken shards around the corner, as well.

Slowly, she brought up her hand to stroke the light strands of hair.

His head jerked up and his grey eyes met her blue ones. He kissed her.

Everything felt flurried and frantic. The opposite of Kisuke's usual love-making. Even in the throes of passion Kisuke had somewhat of a relaxed quality. As if he had all the time in the world to make love to her.

But now his hands were tugging madly at the haori. And she could feel his tears pooling against her cheeks.

Her broken laugh was silenced against Kisuke's frantic lips, as she realized that even that even the infamous rebel captain of the 12th was sentimental.

Her limbs trembled spasmodically as he ran his hands up and down along them. Her tears soon joined his.

He paused in his kisses and looked up at her. She never wanted to see that look on his face again.

She brought a hand up to wipe away the tears.

"I'm sorry."

And she really was. Sorry for all the pain she had caused him. The pain that was evident in the even deeper crow's feet decorating his face. The taut skin. The feral eyes.

All because she was stupid and couldn't let go of a remnant ghost.

He whispered kisses and reassuring nothings against her temples and her hands clutched tightly at his loosened samue. Slowly, her spiritual power reached out for his and he responded by lightly interweaving his with hers.

Kisuke dipped down to look into her eyes.

"You're forgiven." An attempt at the usual Urahara front.

It would have been comforting, but Rukia knew that he would be paying for her stupidity with the endless nightmares and sleepless nights to come.

xXx

AN: Okay, so I just had my wisdom teeth pulled out and I wasn't allowed to eat forever. Thus, because of my subsequent state of fragility this sprung into my head. Thank you to Miss. Sunday for reviewing! .And everyone, I hope this wasn't too cheesy or random. Any criticism is welcome. I will probably edit this later seeing as this was written at 1:40 in the a.m… Typical.

Edited! After chapter 267.

PLEASE REVIEW!!

x Sayuri Stang