After The Fairy Tale Ends

by Frozen Shattered Roses

To be a Vizard is to be a criminal in the eyes of the 46. With Aizen's fall Ichigo is cast out, allowed to escape for his service to the Seireitei. What happens when he sneaks back in? Early angst, starts around Chp4, some language, rating may change

31. Chapter 31 A Crystal Moment

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, its characters or its settings.

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I can feel the end of time – I'm frozen. I'm in the instant where the hummingbird's wings are still, absolutely still. All around me the universe has stopped.

That voice – God, that voice-

"Ichigo?"

Oh God, she's calling-

It can't be. Not that.

"Kurosaki Ichigo?"

No, please no- don't let it be-

-haven't I suffered enough?

Why is this happening to me?

What did I ever do to deserve this?

All around me the universe is frozen – for this fraction of a fraction of a second I exist entirely in my own reality.

My own reality is about to end-

She's calling me.

She'd called me by name-

-there are people around-

-people know my name-

-I'll get caught-

-I've been caught-

-and this private silent instant of mine is ov-

"I hate that son of a bitch and I hope he burns in Hell!"

I'm frozen again-

-what is this?

-A reprieve?

-Am I being tortured?

-I'm being tortured. This can't-

-She's playing with me-

Shattered instant. Reality again. The voice is shouting behind me. About me, but not at me.

-A reprieve-

-I think-

-Walk-

-Don't run-

-She'll get you-

-If you run-

-I don't-

-think-

-she knows-

-I'm-

-here-

Tatsuki.