Chapter 17: A Sorrow's End
Hey Everyone! New chapter up! This is the end of the bleach crossover chapters! X) I'm really proud of them and I hope you liked reading them!
Thank you to CMR Rosa and Experienced for your reviews as always! You guys rock!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Dark-Flame Alchemist does not own Kaze no Stigma or Bleach except her OCs.
Everyone's Point of View
Ichigo appeared before the yoma who was waiting for him with her sword at hand.
He looked dead serious, "You are going to pay for all the pain you've caused Sakura."
The yoma giggled, "We'll see if you can. Give me all you've got."
Ichigo smirked, "Oh I will." He then held a hand in front of his face, concentrating his powers, "Bankai!" Smoke surrounded him, blocking the yoma from seeing Ichigo.
The yoma just watched and waited to see what she was up against now.
When the smoke cleared, Ichigo was in his long-sleeved uniform. He had a hollow mask on and his sword now regular-sized and black.
"Now we are getting somewhere," she smirked while getting into battle stance.
"My friends and I will kill you so that nobody will have the same fate that Sakura had!" Ichigo yelled with his hollow voice. He flash-stepped quicker than before and tried several times to hit the yoma, but she dodged every one of them.
It was a struggle for the yoma, though, because Ichigo put lots of force with each blow, causing the yoma to move back every time.
Finally, he was able to graze the demon's midsection, causing water blood to leak out.
The yoma growled, "I am going to get you for that." Water swirled around the demon and then formed into spikes.
Ichigo knew what the yoma was going to do and jumped up into the air. The spikes were headed for Ichigo and as he was flying back down, he dodged every one of them as he charged for the yoma.
When he was about to strike at the demon, she disappeared and tried to strike at Ichigo's back. He deflected her sword with his. They pulled back and went at it again and again, disappearing, reappearing, and then clashing. You could barely see them.
Ichigo went up at the sky again as the yoma stayed on the ground below, staring at him.
Ichigo waved his sword, "Getsuga Tensho!" a crescent moon-shaped wave of dark red energy formed when he swung his sword, heading straight for the yoma.
The yoma held out her sword in front of her to block Ichigo's attack. The wave of energy pushed her back a bit, but the demon was able to send off Ichigo's attack right back at him.
He just cut through his rebounded attack. He didn't see the yoma appear suddenly before him so he wasn't able to dodge the kick which sent him crashing to the ground.
Ichigo lied in a small crater caused by the crash, slowly pushing himself up. The yoma appeared on the ground and walked towards him, attempting to strike him.
"Hado number 33: Soukatsui!" Blue fire energy was headed straight for the yoma. She noticed the attack in time and dodged.
The yoma didn't notice Rukia appear behind her as she sent out another attack, "Soukatsui!"
The demon got hit that time and was flying through the air. She was able to get herself together and landed on the ground.
Rukia kept appearing in different spots as she sent out multiple attacks at the yoma, "Soukatsui! Soukatsui! Soukatsui!" The yoma kept dodging her attacks every time Rukia sent it at her.
Out of nowhere, another set of fireballs were headed for the yoma as well, this time set by Ichiru who was headed towards the fight. Ichigo also sent another wave of dark red energy at the yoma, "Getsuga Tensho!"
The water demon growled because of all the incoming attacks and jumped back a few feet.
When all the attacks were closing in on her, she put up a water shield, canceling all the attacks, with steam forming.
Once the smoke disappeared, the water then turned to ice spikes and fired in all directions.
Rukia noticed and held her hands out, "Bakudo number 39: Enkosen (Arc Shield)!" A yellow wall of light blocked the spikes from hitting her. Ichiru and Ichigo just dodged them.
One of them was headed Karai and Sakura's way, but Karai shot her fire at the spike, melting it.
The water yoma now looked tired after all the energy it has been using, especially with the ice spikes.
Ichiru, Rukia, Karai and Ichigo glanced at each other, knowing what to do. They were all tired as well, but there was more of them and one of her.
Karai looked at Sakura, "Sakura, my part will be up soon so you are going to have to take care of yourself until we defeat this thing."
Sakura nodded, "Don't worry, I'll be all right." Karai smiled and materialized her sword with purple flames now surrounding the blade because of her protective instincts.
Ichigo and Ichiru went to attack the yoma again, giving it all they got. With the yoma distracted, Rukia casted the same spell that she did on Sakura on herself now.
"Bakudo number 26: Kyokko!" a white light engulfed her and her presence was masked. Rukia looked at Karai before flash-stepping out of sight.
The demon was now having a hard time since it was tiring out and eventually leapt back a few feet from everyone and panted heavily with one knee on the floor, "If you hadn't stolen my energy source, I would be strong again! Once I defeat you all and kill you, you'll all suffer a more terrible state than that girl did!"
"Yeah, yeah; talk all you like. You'll never defeat us!" Ichigo yelled.
The yoma snarled and started getting prepared for attacking again. While she was preparing, Rukia silently appeared behind her and traced symbols etched in red light in front of the demon's back while chanting quietly, "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat!" The symbols and incantation were completed, "Bakudo number 9: Geki (strike)!" The yoma's bodywas then immediately engulfed in red light, paralyzing it.
Rukia then shouted, "Karai! Do it now! Hurry!"
Karai ran in front of the yoma and held out her hand. She was engulfed in purple light as she concentrated her powers. A circle of purple fire surrounded the water demon and bursted up in the air as the evil creature was being purified.
Even though the yoma couldn't move, she still was in pain while screaming. The red light from Rukia's kido spell then disappeared from the creature which allowed the yoma to move around like crazy in the circle that she couldn't leave.
When the fire disappeared, the yoma transformed back into its original form and had her sword no longer. She fell onto her knees, panting heavily from the lack of energy. Cuts formed everywhere around the demon's body as water blood leaked from it.
The demon glared at us, "We're not… finished yet…"
Karai smirked, "I believe we are. Everyone, give it all you've got," she said before jumping back. When she landed, she held her wound gently from some of the pain, but she tried to pay no mind to do it right now.
"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo sent his dark red wave of energy.
Rukia held out one finger, "Hado number 4: Byakurai (Pale Lightning)!" A powerful lightning bolt fired out of her finger.
Ichiru threw a huge black fireball and Karai sent out a stream of purple fire.
All their attacks hit the water yoma simultaneously, causing a huge explosion as the demon screamed out loud until it disintegrated into nothing.
The battle was over.
Ichigo's mask dissolved as he and Ichiru were shouting out of excitement for their victory and Rukia and Karai were sighing in relief.
After a few minutes, they all went to where Sakura was.
"The yoma will hurt you no longer, Sakura. Now tell us everything that happened," Rukia said as they gathered around her.
Sakura sighed heavily before speaking, "Well, my best friend, Tamaki, and I were orphans that lived in the orphanage somewhere in town."
"I know where that is," Ichigo said as they all looked at him, "It's just a 20-minute walk from here."
Sakura nodded as she continued with her story, "Tamaki was curious with this house and wanted to check it out."
Flashback
"Come on, Sakura! Let's go in! Or are you scared?" A brown-haired teenager chuckled as he and his best friend were standing in the entrance of the haunted house.
Sakura snorted, crossed her arms and turned her head to the side, "Of course not, Tamaki! I just have a bad feeling of this place, that's all."
Tamaki shook his head, "Don't worry about it! I'm here! I won't let anything get near you, you dope!" he said with a goofy smile while holding out his hand to her.
She opened one eye open, looking at his hand before sighing in defeat and placing her hand in his.
They slowly walked into the house, with Sakura holding onto Tamaki's arm. The inside was creepy with cobwebs in the ceiling and the creaking noise on the floorboards.
"Tamaki, I think we should go now," Sakura said, not getting a good feeling about the house.
"All right, all right, let's go check upstairs first before we go," Tamaki said with pleading eyes, "Please?"
Sakura sighed, "Fine, let's go so that we can get out of here."
They went up the stairs to the second floor and into the first room that they saw.
Tamaki let go of Sakura as he went to look at the desk. Sakura went to look at the bookshelf. She took a book off the shelf and looked through it. A loud bang was heard.
Sakura dropped the book and turned around quickly. The door was closed and Tamaki was nowhere to be seen.
"Tamaki? Tamaki!" she yelled as she ran for the door. It wouldn't budge open and she started to panic.
She then heard a voice call her name, "Sakura, Sakura."
Sakura heard it coming towards the wall where the mirror was and slowly walked towards it.
When she was in front of it, the voices stopped as she stared at her reflection. She looked closer even though she was scared.
Just then, a creature smiled at her evilly and pulled her through the mirror as she screamed, "Ahh!"
Flashback Ended
Everyone waited for her to continue as they felt sad for her situation, especially Ichigo who clenched his fist, "How could the yoma do something like that!"
Sakura looked down sadly, "When I woke up, I was already dead. I don't know what the yoma did with my body, but I guess she disposed of it after taking my appearance. Also, I don't even know what ever happened to Tamaki. I wouldn't have been able to check anyway since the yoma didn't allow me to leave the room," Sakura said sadly as she paused for a bit.
She looked at them with determination, "Before I go to the Soul Society, I want to check if Tamaki is still living in the orphanage and if he is all right."
Rukia nodded, "Of course you can, we'll go check now," she said as everyone stood up.
"I'm sure he's all right," Karai assured her.
Sakura nodded, "Yeah, he probably is." They started walking with Sakura at the rear.
Suddenly, a hollow appeared a few feet behind Sakura. Karai, Rukia, Ichiru and Ichigo turned around quickly, feeling its presence, getting their weapons out. Sakura looked at them weird before turning herself slowly until she was facing the hollow.
It was heading straight for Sakura as everyone shouted her name, trying to get to her.
Sakura clenched her fist, hiding her face, "I'm sick of being weak and everyone having to protect me…," she then looked up with fire in her eyes, "This time, I'm going to protect myself!"
When the hollow was closing on her, Sakura jumped and did an aerial kick that sent the hollow flying into the fence. Everyone was surprised at Sakura's actions as she landed perfectly on her two feet.
She had her hands on her hips and turned her head to look at them innocently, "Well guys, care to finish it off." Everyone's eyes were still wide-eyed.
Ichigo shook his head, remembering what he was supposed to be doing. He charged for the hollow and slashed it until it was killed.
Eyes were still on Sakura, but Rukia and Karai composed themselves.
"Well, surprise, surprise," Karai said with a smirk.
Ichigo and Ichiru still continued to look at Sakura with a "WTF" look as she giggled, "Sorry, I never told you; I took self-defense classes when I was alive. Looks like my skills aren't rusty yet and they still work even though I am only a spirit."
"How come you didn't try to fight back against the yoma if you had skills like that?" Ichiru asked in confusion.
Sakura shrugged, "I guess it's because I didn't have the strength to fight back until you guys gave me the courage to."
Karai smiled, "Well, we're glad." Rukia nodded in agreement.
"Maybe the yoma got Ichiru stuck in the closet after absorbing you're skills," Ichigo snickered.
Everyone just laughed at him as Sakura laughed nervously, apologizing for what the yoma did. Ichiru's shoulders slumped as he sighed, "Thanks for reminding me…" They all knew that that was not the case since the yoma only took the physical appearance, but they made a laugh out of it anyway.
Rukia spoke to Sakura, "You could make a fine Soul Reaper someday with your skills. When you go to the Soul Society, you should think about going to the Soul Reaper Academy," she recommended.
Sakura smiled, "Maybe I will."
At the orphanage…
"Excuse me; does a boy named Tamaki live here?" Karai asked a receptionist with Ichiru at her side.
The receptionist lady was looking at her weird, "Yes there is actually. Why? Is he in trouble or something?"
Ichiru shook his head, "Nothing like that, we just need to speak to him."
The receptionist got up, "All right then, I'll be back."
A few minutes later, a brown-haired unhappy teenaged boy came out with the receptionist. The receptionist shoved him a little forcefully in front of us, "These people wanted to speak to you."
He looked at us with a frown, "Who are you?"
Karai smiled, "I'm Karai Uchiha and this is my cousin, Ichiru; we can be your friends, I hope…"
"Mind if we go and take a walk?" Ichiru asked, looking back between him and the receptionist lady. She waved a hand at us, "It's no problem at all, just make sure he's back in one piece."
Tamaki sighed, "Let's get this over with."
Karai, Ichiru and Tamaki went outside into the street and walked.
Tamaki spoke, "So what do you want? Why are you here?"
Karai looked at him, "Sakura…"
His eyes widened and he started to sweat, turning his head to the side, "Che, what about her? Going to arrest me or something?"
Ichiru shook his head, "No, you won't believe us, but she wanted us to send you a message."
Tamaki looked at us like we were crazy, "What?"
"Hold on, we're almost there," Karai said with her hands in her pockets, "We'll try to answer your questions as much as we can."
He looked down, curious with what Karai and Ichiru we're going to tell him.
"We're here," Karai said as they all halted to a stop. They we're near a fountain at a park.
When Tamaki looked up, his eyes widened. Standing before him was his best friend, "Sakura?"
Karai, Ichiru, Rukia and Ichigo were surprised that he was able to see her. Ichigo and Rukia were still in their soul reaper uniform, standing on each side of Sakura as her eyes widened as well. This will make their job a whole lot easier now.
"You can see me?" Sakura asked him.
"Are you crazy? Of course I can! Where have you been? I missed you!" Tamaki said going towards her.
"Wait, Tamaki," Karai tried to warn him, but it was too late. He tried to reach for her, but his hand just went through her. He looked shockingly at her before tears started coming out through his eyes as he fell to his knees with his face hidden, "So… you're dead."
Sakura smiled sadly at him as she kneeled in front of him, "I am."
Rukia explained to him what they've been through with Sakura helping to explain in certain parts.
Tamaki clenched his fists that were on the ground, "I'm sorry Sakura… Forgive me… for not protecting you that day… two years ago. What kind of friend am I…" he pleaded sadly. Sakura just stared at him in his weak state.
Ichigo spoke up, "What exactly happened to you on that day?"
"Well, something caught my eye when we were in that room," Tamaki started to say.
Flashback
Tamaki turned around and saw a shadow pass by the door. He glanced at Sakura who was busy looking at a book. Thinking that she would be all right, he went out the door to check it.
He looked around the hallway and thought he saw the shadow next to him so he turned quickly, but saw nothing.
Out of nowhere, the door suddenly closed in the room where Sakura was still in and before he could try to open it, the shadowy figure appeared in front of him, startling him.
He got frightened that he didn't notice that he backed himself at the top of the stairs and fell down to the hallway of the second floor. He got knocked out and became unconscious for a few hours.
When he woke up, he searched the whole house, but could not find Sakura.
Flashback Ended
I tried telling people, but they just assumed that she ran away. Nobody really seemed to notice she was missing since she was an orphan. I never forgot, though. I've been consumed with guilt these past years, doing nothing but wait to see what happened to you."
He then slammed his fist on the ground, "And now that I've found you, you're dead, because of my stupidity."
Sakura looked at him softly, "Look at me, Tamaki," she said to him. Slowly, he did.
"It wasn't your fault. You didn't know what was going to happen," she told him.
"But I should have listened to you when you said you had a bad feeling-," he said before Sakura made him shush, "I forgive you. You know why? Because you're my best friend… and… also… I love you."
He smiled at her, "I love you too." Sakura smiled as she held up a hand. He placed his on hers like they were touching, yet, they were so far away.
Sakura smiled as she began to cry, "I'm glad I found you before I leave. Tamaki, will you do something for me?"
Tamaki nodded, "Anything, Sakura."
"Move on and make something of your life. Will you do that for me?" Sakura asked him.
Tamaki smiled, "Of course I will. You can count on me."
Sakura cried as she stood up. Tamaki did as well. She went in front of Karai and bowed, "Thank you for everything." Karai smiled, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Sakura. You know, you really look like my sister. She's really like you except her temper is really bad."
Sakura chuckled, "As long as she's a good person."
"Yeah, take care, Sakura."
Sakura then went in front of Rukia and bowed to her, "You're the first that I've seen ever since I was stuck in that room, thank you." Rukia chuckled, "It's no problem. Nobody should have the same fate as you did. I'll probably be seeing you sometime when I go back to the Soul Society. I hope to see you then."
Sakura smiled, "I hope so too."
She then went in front of Ichigo, "Thank you for protecting me even though I am a stranger." Ichigo smiled, "It's my duty as a protector to help anyone in need."
Finally she went to Ichiru and bowed to him as well, "I am so sorry that the yoma locked you in that closet in my form." Ichiru held a hand up in defense, "Hey, it wasn't you so you have nothing to worry about. I'm glad to have met you, Sakura."
Sakura then turned back to Rukia and Ichigo, "I'm ready to go now."
Rukia nodded and looked at Ichigo, "Would you do the honors of performing the Konso?"
Ichigo smiled a true smile rather than his normal one with a scowl as he took his sword out, "Are you ready?"
Sakura looked at Tamaki who nodded his head. She smiled, "Don't forget about me… maybe if I become a Soul Reaper, I'll visit in the near future."
Tamaki smiled as he put his hands in his pockets, "I'll be waiting, you dope."
Sakura chuckled and shook her head before turning towards Ichigo, kneeling down in front of him, "I'm ready…"
Ichigo held the hilt of his sword up in front of Sakura and pressed the end of it gently on her forehead. The end of the hilt then glowed on her head, "You'll be in a better place now." When he removed his sword, a symbol etched in blue light remained on her forehead.
Sakura put her hands together as she smiled and looked at Tamaki once more, "See you soon, Tamaki. Don't wait for me too long."
He nodded his head as she was surrounded by a blue light and slowly went down into the ground. When she went all the way down and the blue light disappeared, a hell butterfly appeared and flew away, going to the Soul Society.
Once they couldn't see the butterfly anymore, Tamaki looked at the group, "Thank you everyone for helping Sakura be in peace."
Rukia spoke, "It's what we do."
"So what are you going to do now?" Karai asked.
"Do what Sakura said, make something of my life somehow. Maybe I'll start by trying to move out of the orphanage already. Now that I know that Sakura is in peace, I won't be moping around anymore," he said as he looked at the sunset in the horizon, smiling.
Karai smiled, "I'm sure you'll do well. Sakura will be happy."
Tamaki nodded, "Yup, well I got to now. Don't want the orphanage to think I'm a runaway too. I hope to see you guys sometime."
Ichiru spoke, "Maybe Rukia and Ichigo since they live here, but if you're ever going to our town, you can stay with us."
Karai went to him and handed him a card with Kirika's number and one with the Uchiha house's number, "Here, since you can see spirits, maybe you can help out with this police force. Who knows, you might work with us. The other is our number in case you're in town."
"I'll keep that in mind," Tamaki said as he got the cards from Karai and put it in his pocket, "Bye guys," he said, waving a hand while walking back.
"Alls well that ends well," Ichigo sighed, putting his hands behind his head.
Ichiru suddenly remembered something and went to Karai, panicking, "Karai! Your wound! You need the shard removed!"
Karai was all emotional with what was going on that she forgot about the glass shard still stuck in her which now started to hurt again.
Ichigo looked at her wound that he never knew was there and started to panic as well, "Oh my god! We got to get you to my clinic! Ichiru grab her and let's go!" Ichigo yelled.
"Uh guys, I think you're over-exaggera- HEY PUT ME DOWN! OW! WATCH THE WOUND!" she screamed as she was being held bridal style by Ichiru. Ichigo started to run, "Ichiru, follow me!"
"Right behind you!" Ichiru said while following after him.
Rukia sighed and shook her head, "Bakas…" she then went on to catch up with them.
At the Kurosaki Clinic…
When they got to Ichigo's house, they had to wait for Ichigo and Rukia to get their bodies before going inside to see Ichigo's father. He was able to do a quick surgery in time and get the shard out. He then stitched the wound.
When he asked how it happened after he was done, they told him that she accidently fell out a window which sort of really did happen. He didn't ask much since he was too busy fighting with his son because he came home later for dinner.
Karai just lied down on the bed with her coat off and a bandage around her midsection. When Ichigo's father left the room, Ichiru slightly healed the bone, enough so that it can heal naturally, but she would still be a bit sore for the next few weeks. He could have healed the outer skin without having the stitches done, but since Ichigo's father had already done it, he would have to do it when they get back home.
Ichigo and Rukia came in, checking on Karai.
"How are you doing?" Rukia asked.
"Me? I'm great!" she said sarcastically, "Except I am going to be sore for a while."
Rukia smirked, "We're glad that you're going to live."
Karai just chuckled, but then remembered that she wanted to ask Ichigo something, "Hey Ichigo, what was the skull mask that you had on? It looked like the one that the hollows had."
Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, besides being a substitute soul reaper, I am also a visored. They are like soul reapers except they have hollow powers. You're not scared of my mask, are you?"
Karai shook her head, "No, not at all. I was just curious."
Ichiru snorted, "Yeah. Why would we be scared anyway? Those hollows are uglier than you."
"Thanks you guys," Ichigo said before he started to get pissed, "Hey! Are you saying that I am ugly?"
"What no! I would never!" Ichiru said while snickering.
"Are you being sarcastic with me?"
"I don't know, am I?" Ichiru grinned, obviously being sarcastic.
"Why you-!"
Once again, they were fighting. Rukia and Karai just laughed instead of getting angry this time.
Karai and Ichiru had dinner that night with Rukia and the Kurosaki family which consisted of Ichigo's father, his fraternal twin sisters and Ichigo himself. It was a very entertaining and amusing dinner. Afterwards, they went back to their hotel to rest for the night after an exhausting afternoon.
By the time they knew it, it was morning and they were in front of the train station, waiting for their train. Rukia and Ichigo were there to see them off.
"We really had such an adventure here," Karai said, smiling.
Rukia nodded, "Yes we did. We were glad to meet such powerful allies." Karai and Rukia hugged, "If you ever need our help with any yomas that need purifying, you let us know," Karai said.
"Same to you; if there are any hollows that need handling or a spirit that needs to be sent to the Soul Society, you let us know."
Ichiru and Rukia then gave each other hug and said their goodbyes.
Karai gave one to Ichigo, "It was nice meeting you, Ichigo. I thought that you were a total idiot at first, but I came to find out you are really an amazing person. You know, you remind me a lot of my best friend back at home." He chuckled as he hugged back, "I'm glad that you don't see me as an idiot anymore and I hope being like your friend is a good thing."
"Don't worry, it is. See ya, strawberry," Karai said, smirking.
Ichigo eye twitched, but kept himself together, "Ha, ha very funny, Karai… Take care of yourself." They released their hold on each other.
Ichigo and Ichiru then shook hands. Ichiru spoke, "We may have started off badly which included a head collision, but I'm glad to have met you Ichigo. We came to be good friends despite the fact that we fight a lot." Ichigo chuckled, "Same here. See you soon, Ichiru." They released hands as the train came into the station.
"Well, that's our ride, we better get going," Ichiru said as they all waved to each other before they went in the train.
"The next time you come over, you can meet our gang!" Rukia grinned.
"Sure, we'd love to meet them! Keep in touch!" Karai said as the door closed. Just before the train set off, Ichigo was tackled by some weird guy.
"Ichigo! I finally found you! Please be my apprentice!" the weird guy said.
"Don Kanoji! Get off me! I don't want to be your stinkin' apprentice!" Ichigo yelled.
Ichiru and Karai just laughed while Rukia shook her head.
The train finally set off and they were unable to see Ichigo and Rukia any longer.
Ichiru and Karai sat down, waiting to return home. Karai was lost in her thoughts, remembering about her situation with Kazuma.
The crossover chapters are finally over! Chapter 18 goes back to the storyline and guess where it starts? The amusement park episode! XD Will Karai and Kazuma get along again and perhaps… finally become a couple? Well, I'm not telling you! Or did I just tell you? O.O Watch out for the next chapter to find out which will be out in two weeks.
By the way, this is not the last time that we see Ichigo and Rukia! (hint hint) Expect to see them again in later chapters!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I know many of you are too lazy and/or are busy to review (Believe me, I know since that definitely happens to me), but would it KILL you to review every now and then (Which I do)? You never know what might happen when this story ends… maybe there will be an awesome surprise to a certain reviewer once the story ends? Might happen, might not. I'll have to think about it.