A/N: Here's another chapter! So sorry I didn't update earlier, I've been very, very busy. It's not until the last weeks of summer does good stuff start, not to mention working. Here's a new chapter, not much IchiRuki, as it's focused on the flashback and some transition to the last chapters!
I really like this chapter myself, even without the IchiRuki.

Disclaimer: Bleach is by Kubo Tite, title Lost Angels is from Gackt's song title LOST ANGELS.

Enjoy, everyone!


Chapter eight: Compassion

She wondered if Ichigo would arrive in the afternoon that same day, guessing to find her under the same tree once again. She wondered if he was going to question why she left in the middle of the night, not telling him anything at all- why she was here again.

She couldn't tell him.

She couldn't tell him.

She grasped her head feeling her body ache everywhere.

She had been here, under the tree, for so long. After so long not minding not walking past the shadow cast by the tree, why was now so different?

She knew why, as it screamed in her mind. No wonder her headache was killing her. A sigh escaped her lips as she sank to the ground in miserable defeat.

'This is what they are trying to do. Make me commit a sin; it doesn't matter anymore as I've already been punished.' She thought to herself.

The image of his orange hair appeared the source of all the trouble and turmoil inside of her.

He had saved her from the inevitable death of meeting a possessed soul, brought her away from this shelter, and showed her the living world.

Because of him, she acknowledged many human beliefs of life and feelings. She became compassionate.

She became human.

A high offense if she would speak out loud of it, but she remained silent, staring down. None of the angels in Society Above would hear unless she spoke.

Speaking of it would bring undeniable proof.

She rubbed her head from the ache of the thoughts-a gesture learned from Ichigo- and looked back forward.

"Ichigo…" She called, and sat there as the sun went down like she did every day before what seemed to be their-almost- destined meeting.

Unlike before, though, her unconscious hopes sunk in her stomach over the night when no living soul came to her.

She thought of the feeling going over her whole body as it grew darker until the stars were shining brightly in the night sky. It was close to midnight when she was able to recognize what it was.

It was disappointment that set over her.

---

It soon became the next day at the same time once again, as she stared at the setting sun, having sat in the same spot for all that day. With the hours alone, she tried not to think of what she had run away from in the beginning, why she felt disappointment for being back here again.

She had remained silent all day, glancing a few times towards the road, as if the sight of orange would appear any minute, calling out her name.

She didn't understand why that even went through her mind, but she did no delve into it, she did not want to.

She sighed as the last strip of the intense star disappeared below the horizon when she heard footsteps nearby. The angel turned to look behind the tree, but saw nothing.

"Ichigo?" She called out, risking having her hopes up. Everything went deadly still as her voice carried to in the air, reaching no other ears. She felt so embarrassed at how desperate she sounded- calling for a human.

But she couldn't help not want company of him. Whether he knew it or not, all souls could not resist having the presence of another soul.

There were tales and actual events of living souls that were on some secluded area, far away from any other human, who had gone mad and were unsound. Angels would not go save them, as it was thought to be a fruitless means. The soul would eventually die-alone- and they would go straight to purgatory.

They could not risk having someone that died such a way be in Society Above.

Angels were taught to not carry emotional bonds with any soul other than another angel, as angels were usually always in Society Above or went to the living world with a group or partner. She remembered telling that to Kaien. The memory of their conversation began playing in her mind as she closed her eyes to see it.

-

Years ago

"So wait- you're saying angels can't have any sort of relationship with a person that's not an angel? What's with that?!" The man exclaimed. "Why the hell not?"

She stared at him, dumbfounded by the question.

"Because… it is a law set to protect both the living soul and angel." Rukia answered in her business tone. Kaien looked at her with an incredulous look, as she nodded to answer him silent question that she was serious.

"What if it's like you said before- every soul can't resist the presence of another? If there's a human that's been alone for years, what do you think they'll do if they meet an angel? They want comfort, of course, interaction! Any person would have gone mad by then if they were still alive." Kaien shrugged his shoulders. Rukia looked at him and his insane, hypothetic situation.

"An angel wouldn't meet a mad person…" She reasoned. He grimaced at her rationality before thinking up his next scenario.

"Then how about vice versa? You, as an angel, being alone without any other soul for a long time, when you suddenly meet a living person? Would you deny their presence and stay all isolated?" He asked. She was taken aback by his seriousness at the issue, as he stared into her eyes.

She could only stare back into the oceans of his eyes, silent. He finally broke away and looked forward, accepting her silence. He wouldn't force anything out of her.

"Either way, those angels in your Society Above can't prevent what can happen between the two. Sooner or later, an angel or human will share a relationship- the two could have one of a strictly platonic relationship or one that could even lead to stronger emotions like love." Rukia stared in shock at Kaien.

"W-what?" She stammered.

"Yeah, and what if that bond between them becomes very strong? Your angels will hear about it and punish you. You'll both miss the other, you as an angel will be punished, and the human is left behind. What really hurt angels and humans in sharing relationships are those laws set, and they're making you believe they are to protect angels and humans." He finished, sighing. Rukia could only stare at him as he sipped the tea he had in his hand. He had offered her a cup earlier before their whole conversation, which she took despite never needing to drink. He, of course, knew that.

"What… makes you say something like that?" Rukia asked, finally able to speak. She was curious on how he thought this up, it seemed such a deep matter she never thought he would dwell on. She was confused why the angels that set the laws would hurt angels and humans instead of helping both.

He only glanced in the direction of the houses across from his house. She turned and followed his gaze to see only a small store with a sign by it, but couldn't read what it said from this far.

He didn't say anything else about it, and soon enough they returned to their light-hearted chatter about the weather.

-

Rukia opened her eyes in alarm as the memory flashed through her mind.

The little memory made her think of what Kaien had said.

'The laws…'

Her body was about to move to stand up, to do anything then sitting still, when she felt something grab her shoulder with a strong grip from behind.

She could not emit a gasp as another covered her mouth.


A/N: Yes, I ended it like that! It's not like chapter 6, it's a serious cliff hanger now as you could tell.

Be sure to leave a review, please! The more reviews, the faster I type and get the next chapter posted! It only takes you a minute or less to say a few words, so please leave me a review!