Prompt: Week 4 (August 20 to 26, 2017): Post-Canon/Canon Divergence: Friday: "Kurosaki... Kuchiki... I leave it to you..."
Ichigo would have smacked the annoying smirk off Urahara's face but after the first half-dozen times, the satisfaction already wore thin.
So he settled for ignoring the shopkeeper, turning his head to the side for good measure, hoping to the high heavens that he would just... STOP.
It didn't help that everyone else thought it was such a romantic concept as well.
He felt his cheeks warm up (again) at the notion.
"Kurosaki-san, don't forget to share some of that body heat with Kuchiki-san."
Amused chuckles erupted from around them.
If what they were expected to do wasn't so important, he would break out of Hachigen's barrier and choke old hat and clogs with his bare hands.
Ichigo glanced at his companion and knew that she would want her turn at punching the former Captain.
Not forgetting why they needed to be confined in the first place, he offered Rukia his hand. She hesitated at first, but when she suddenly shivered, she immediately placed both her palms into his own. Ichigo closed his eyes to focus some of his reiatsu to the point where they were touching.
He was still new to this: having complete control over his power. Zangetsu was more cooperative when he was not suppressed.
And, apparently, very compliant when it came to anything that involved Rukia.
"Urahara-san, while we wait, please do tell us again about how you came up with this wonderful plan to save us all."
Ichigo's eyes shot wide open and pinpointed his peer with a glare.
"Ishida, you bastard! You've heard this story a thousand times!"
"Now, Kurosaki, that's not true. I've only heard it twice. Besides," the Quincy pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "it's for the benefit of those who have just arrived, like the Kyoraku-Soutaicho and some more of your comrades."
And true enough, more Shinigami had appeared in the (no longer) secret, underground cavern located in the Sokyoku Hill. No doubt the work of Yoruichi and the Vizards - gathering all that they could so that they had a proper place to rest and be treated.
After Yhwach was defeated, Urahara summoned his motley crew from the Shoten to help with the healing while the Fourth Division regrouped and found their bearings.
After a quick discussion with his former second-in-command, Tessai went around offering his expertise to those that required more than just a simple patch-up job.
Despite his otherwise exhausted (and critical) state, the new Commander-General still managed to smile and joke, "Do tell, Kisuke, the need behind Ichigo-kun's and Rukia-chan's temporary confinement."
Ichigo grumbled to himself when his dad, who managed to remain unscathed despite his own battles with one of the Schutzstaffel and Yhwach himself, shouted, "ICHIGO, YOU IDIOT! CONCENTRATE ON RUKIA-CHAN OR YOU'LL RUIN HER FLAWLESS PORCELAIN SKIN!"
The Daiko blinked and pulled his hand away, worried that he would burn her.
The process was taking longer than any of them had wanted, especially under the scrutiny of their comrades.
But it was necessary.
Ichigo was snapped out of his thoughts when Urahara flicked his fan open and with the usual flare and flavor that he had (honestly, how was he even moving normally despite his injuries?!) on a normal day and called the attention of the masses once again to himself.
"The story is simple, really. Kurosaki-san has the power of fire, while Kuchiki-san has the power of ice. I have the privilege of knowing their bankai beforehand - faked as it was by the Quincy spirit in the case of Kurosaki-san - as I had personally helped them access their powers. I had initially thought that the young Kurosaki simply inherited his father's powers - they are so much alike! Zangetsu and Engetsu; truly from the same pod -" *violent reactions from Isshin and Ichigo* "- BUT, as I recalled and you all know, Kuchiki-san awakened his power by sharing her own with him. So I thought..."
Ichigo groaned. This was the part that made him and Rukia uncomfortable.
"... the young Kurosaki may have chosen this power to compliment Kuchiki-san's!"
Rangiku was one of those who loudly gushed and made the situation even more embarrassing than it already was.
"Moving on." Urahara snapped his fan closed and grinned. "There is an old legend. One older than Soul Society; possibly even before the consciousness of any life in our realms. There is power stronger than a god's for it is said that this power was forged by several if not all of the ancient gods in agreement that despite their differences, there should be balance: the yin and yang as it is known to most. But this power is never constant, as it is a living force, and reincarnates itself, separately, continuously, until it is needed once again..."
Rukia was unusually quiet and had her eyes cast down. Ichigo realized that she was still trying to fix her reiatsu - her summoning of her Bankai twice in one day took a toll on her.
Ichigo had already blocked the sound of Urahara's voice and the presence of everyone else in the chamber. He slowly moved closer to Rukia and took her hands in his again. Although she was visibly the one who needed to thaw - the after effect of her power - he actually needed to cool down. Zangetsu was already throwing a hissy fit at how it burned in his inner world.
The idea of combining their Bankai was absurd; and far too risky, especially since neither of them had had the time to master it.
But while the remaining strong-willed, able-bodied Shinigami and Quincy warriors kept Yhwach busy, Ichigo and Rukia took a moment and decided, whole-heartedly, that they will sacrifice themselves for the sake of everyone.
"... the Black Sun and the White Moon..."
Together, they called upon their ultimate power.
"... not even the god who could see into the future could foresee this and could withstand such magnificence..."
And while they were victorious, they realized that it would also take the both of them to contain the power they unleashed together.
So here they were, under the watchful eye of their nakama, in a barrier to make sure that their overflowing spiritual pressure has no adverse effects on anybody.
Rukia had smiled at their contact, welcoming his warmth once again. It was time that they kept their attention on each other rather than the souls around them. Moreover, she also needed to help him. This activity took focus, yes, but even more than (that), it took absolute trust on their part.
"... come to the conclusion that Kurosaki-san and Kuchiki-san are soulmates."
Vein pop.
Then there it was again, the gushing; some cheering. All teasing.
"Ichigo..."
"What?"
"... I'm glad it's you."
He gawked at her for a while, like she had grown another head as a side-effect, then soon felt himself grinning like an idiot.
"Yeah. I'm glad it's you, too."
- END. -
OMAKE
Urahara: "There it is, folks! We have a confession!"
Everyone: "AWWWWWWW!"
Ichigo: "Dammit, don't you have anything better to do than to meddle in our affairs?!"
Urahara: "No, not really."
Ichigo: "Say, Rukia, do you think it would it be too much if we went Bankai on them?"
Rukia: "No. But I get to hit Urahara first."
Ichigo: "Deal."
- THE END. -
Author's Notes:
I apologize if the 'set-up' is longer than the actual prompt but taking away any of the 'background' felt even more lacking than it already is.
The yin-yang thing is a long, long shot, but this is my fanfic, so let me have this. If you're going to click that comment button and argue logic (or nonsense) with me over fanfiction and imaginary characters, I will ignore you first then delete your words later.
You know, angry (and hurt and bitter and frustrated) as I still am, I'd still like to believe that Mr. Kubo had intended to end BLEACH differently. The many, many plot holes would have been filled (at least, most of them) and profound, mysterious lines such as "Kurosaki... Kuchiki... I leave it to you..." would have actually made sense and something would have actually happened.
PS I was very, very excited with Isshin's return to Soul Society. I had a lot of ideas as to what he would do, contribute to the war only to be disappointed that his appearance was merely to accompany Ryuken to deliver the silver arrow. THE TWO MEN LOST THE LOVE OF THEIR LIVES TO THE QUINCY GOD AND ALL THEY DID WAS LET THEIR SONS DO THE FIGHTING. In my reality, the two fathers fought battles of their own and won. And to a certain extent, took shots at the god who allowed their wives to die and their sons to suffer. NO, RYUKEN AND ISSHIN ARE STRANGE FATHERS BUT THEY LOVE THEIR FAMILIES TOO MUCH TO JUST LET IT SLIDE. Besides, their involvement would have made such awesome fight scenes and OMG I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO FIND OUT WHAT ISSHIN'S BANKAI WAS.
PPS Sorry about the CAPS LOCK; emotions and sugar levels are both high at the moment.
PPPS I'm actually thinking of a scene re-write involving Isshin and him helping out Toshiro, Byakuya and Kenpachi. Because with my idea of Isshin's bankai, not even Gerard Valkyrie would have been able to regenerate. Because Isshin deserves to be badass like his son.
PPPPS Only Kisuke would have something up his sleeve against the Quincies and it would have probably been epic if it really did involve Ichigo and Rukia.
PPPPPS I just love putting Ichigo and Rukia in humiliating situations… but everyone just has to be there! And Urahara had a hand in Isshin and Masaki's relationship – URAHARA'S FACE WHEN MASAKI WAS MURMURING IN HER SLEEP ABOUT BEING NAKED AND ISSHIN WAS EMBARRASSED ABOUT IT – it was one of the best moments in BLEACH! – so why not have him be there for Ichigo and Rukia as well?