Disclaimer: Not mine, so don't sue and we'll get along just fine.

Chapter: 40

Title: Cold November Hearts

A/N: This fan-fic was born when I first learned a certain Black Cat from Bleach was actually a voluptuous babe named Yoruichi. Two years in the making, 300+ reviews, and here we are. A sad ending, one I had not planned. I hadn't even written the end to be this soon. I know this ending will upset most of you, but what would a Bleach fiction be without a deranged twist? There is a sequel. Roughly five or ten chapters. I've written half of it. Whether or not I upload the sequel depends solely on the feed back I get on this chapter. I can tell you that the sequel will satisfy you. Everything will become clear and it just might have the happy ending everyone wanted. The sequel's title will be called "Twilight Fading".

Without further ado, I give to you, the end of Cold November Rain. Thank you all for supporting me, sticking with me, and for reviewing. I would have never made it this far without you.

xoxo, Crisis.

Read. +Review+ Enjoy!

Ten Years Later…

The wind was cold, the skies a dark gray. It was raining. Again. Just like it had been on that fateful day twelve years ago. The day that changed his life forever. He'd fallen in love. With the most amazing woman. She was everything. Ichigo sighed to himself, sitting out on the balcony of his one bedroom apartment. His brown eyes were worn and drawn with a strong sense of longing emanating from the depths of his soul. His life lacked the very thing that made him hole. The very thing that kept the hollow at bay.

It had been ten years, however, since he had last seen the woman he proposed to. She'd left him that very night, without so much as a goodbye. He should have known something was wrong when she said nothing to him after asking him to marry her. Had he been wrong about her feelings for him? And now, he didn't even know the face of his own child. Didn't even know if it were a boy, girl. Hell, he might as well give up even wanting to know. She was never coming back. Not a word. Not a single word in ten whole years.

"Why…" The words escaped his cracked lifeless lips in a harsh whisper. The golden glow in his eyes gave way to a hollowfied beast who was tired of being caged. "Why did you leave me…. Yoruichi…." The rain that had begun to pour paid no mind to the brooding man below, and instead beat upon him like a harsh punishment which he did nothing to deserve. His world was incomplete, crushed. His future no more. Ten years had disheveled his looks. Turning him into a rugged man with spiky, bright orange hair. All he had to show for his aging was the long pony tail of hair that hung down his back.

Though, Yoruichi hadn't been the only one who'd gone missing that night. Ichigo remembered waking upon that day, waking to a cold bed. To find Byakuya standing in his window, gazing out over the horizon. The words he spoke, Ichigo would never forget.

Ten Years Ago…. Night of Yoruichi & Kukaku's disappearance-

The soft hum of the birds made him smile, even in sleep. The orange haired reaper stretched, feeling complete, as if he had everything in the world. But, the feeling fleeted upon his arm swiping over a cold side of the bed. The side where his future wife was supposed to be sleeping. Bolting upright, Ichigo looked around, almost frantic. This wasn't like her. She was always by his side when he woke. Always greeting him with those golden enigmatic eyes and beautiful smile. He saw nothing.

"Yoruichi?" His voice called out, eyes darting to the figure in the window. The clothing was that of a Captain's. Nothing like Yoruichi wore. After the glint of sunlight allowed him his vision, Ichigo raised a brow at Byakuya. The stoic man stood there with a lifeless look on his face. "Hey Byakuya, just what's going on here? Where's Yoruichi and why are in our room?"

The man took a moment before turning his icy gaze towards Ichigo. There had been a hint of something there. Remorse? Sorrow? Regret? What was it…

"Are you going to say something or just look at me?" Ichigo pressed on.

"They're gone." Byakuya stated simply, that very hint of sorrow lining his words. Ichigo didn't catch on quickly, as Byakuya had previously known. And so he had continued, "Yoruichi and Kukaku. They left last night. Ganju saw them. Yoruichi left exactly two hours after Kukaku."

felt was pain. IchigoAnd the only thing that

Ten years had been a long time, yet it did nothing to his heart. The month was a curse to him, if anything. He lost contact with Uryu. Soul Society. Even Orihime and Rukia. He hadn't even spoken to anyone besides Byakuya. The man turned over any news he had to him, but so far, nothing turned up about Kukaku or Yoruichi. There had been an uprising of hollows in Hueco Mundo, and that was where Ichigo planned to go.

He knew Kukaku's powers had been off, she'd complained about something calling to her. Beckoning her to follow. But to where was what she had been unsure of. Yoruichi had just come back from nearly dying. He couldn't imagine what had been wrong then, or what was going through her mind when she'd be laying with him. He'd made love to her for fucks sake. And she had been so inviting and warm towards him. He knew she loved him. Had never been so confident or sure of anything in his life. So why she would just up and leave was a mystery. Maybe she had experience the same calling as Kukaku had. Or maybe she knew something was wrong and wanted to spare him the heartbreak, but-

"DAMNIT!" Thunder cackled and lightning lit up the sky. Ichigo could feel his reiatsu beginning to swarm inside. And he couldn't do anything to stop it. The heavens seemed to quake in fear of the power threatening to be unleashed unto the world of the living. Clouds formed, as black as coal.

Even Soul Society was in turmoil. Ichigo was calling forth the power of his hollow, the darkness within laughing as both worlds were being turned inside out. And it all happened because of his emotions. The many captains of soul society tried to bestill the folks worries, running about like deranged rabbits whilst Ichigo stood on the balcony of his apartment complex. His body engulfed in a white sheet of armor. Encrypted symbols in red creating a message no one but a Vizard could read. Nothing would stop him. Nothing could stop him now.

Having already been on his way towards Ichigo to give him news, Byakuya could sense the spiritual pressure. It was overflowing with energy. And it was tearing the world apart. The ground was shaking, buildings crumbling. Oceans were in an uproar as tidal waves erupted from the depths of the sea and over took islands, and states. Even the volcanoes were erupting. All because of Ichigo's immense power. Not even Shigekuni had seen anyone capable of doing such damage. The balance of their survival depended on Ichigo. And with the way his heart was, there was no stopping the hollow from taking over his body and mind. He cared nothing for anyone. His heart was hollow.

Authors Note: Will Ichigo destroy both realms? Just what news does Byakuya have? Where is Yoruichi and will Kukaku return?

Like I said, ends on a cliff hanger. Short because I tried my HARDEST to write something long, I really really did. But I simply had no inspiration. Now, I have already written the first couple of chapters for the Sequel. They will be exceptionally long IF I get feedback. This chapter was short due to the lack of motivation I've had. But I've gotten back into Bleach Role-play, and now I have so many ideas I just need to know you like them. So please, please please review. Let me know if you want me to upload the sequel and we shall go from there.

My deepest apologies for this being short. I am not worthy to be a writer.

Please don't hate me.