Hi, there! I came back with the last chapter of this part. I know i promised this to you guys yesterday... but some... thinks came up, and i really wasn't in the mood for anything.
A little announcement for those who are following the other story. Unfortunately, I will drop it for a while, trying to finish this one.
Secondly... someone was very upset, thinking that i am encouraging you guys to stop reading Bleach. It's far from my intention because it's up to each person to chose what he likes and what he doesn't. It's just that i chose to stop reading it... after what happened to Byakuya.
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-annia9semi, you PM me concerning my other story... well, i will not update it for a while. Furthermore i can't say yet if Rukia will end up with Ichigo or Byakuya
-saiya-jinPan140, it thrill me to know that you really like my story XD
-CrayonNaochan, i'm happy... you wish for a byaruki ending. I'll think about it so stay tuned :D
-Araiae4u, Are they dead? Are they alive? I don't know... read this chapter and you'll find out :) I'm glad that you start liking Haruna. I have a lot of things coming up for her.
-Star fire girl 788, well on this one i'm not leaving you with a cliffhanger anymore :)
-andyantopia, what is exactly confusing? the storyline? certain scenes? the dialogues?
-telia, well i'm not planning to make this a tragedy, so read this chapter and let me know what you think :)
-Guest, in love with the story? If that's so, thank you!
-Noctis Vee Caelum, i hope this chapter will answer your questions :). ps: after i post this, i will go back and read your new chapter.
Otherwise, enjoy!
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It's dark again. I lost the white snowflake...I couldn't reach Rukia. In the end I just go lost among her memories and feelings. Could it be a punish for the fact that i tried to fight the death?... Have i been deafened? I'm sorry, dad...but i thought i could handle this by myself. I am ashamed to admit this, but I'm not as strong as i think. Now i wished i could have asked for help...now i wished i were wiser...
Now, the only thing I can do is to entrust my heart to you, dad, the same way Rukia did with me. I know that you are stronger than me and you will succeed where I failed.
Good-bye, dad!
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Byakuya waited until Haruna's reiatsu disappeared from the manor and then he locked himself on his study. He undressed his haori, he took a place on the floor and closed his eyes. The perfect silence surrounded him. He remained like this for a couple of minutes until everything around him faded into dark.
"Byakuya-sama..." a voice called.
"Not this time, Senzbonzakura...But it's possible that I will need your help, so come with me." he replied.
"I understand..." the zanpakuto replied.
Again silence fell and Byakuya slowly detached himself from his body and let his soul go to the places where the flash couldn't.
"Rukia!" he called in the darkness. "Rukia, answer me!"
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I was slowly losing my consciousness along with my last memories… This is all that's lest of me, because my body had been long gone. I haven't heard Ichigo's voice for a while now. I really wonder if he really came here or if it was only my imagination. Half of my existence yearns for his presence while the other half wants him safe and faraway. The only thought that's comforting me in this moment is that my heart remained with him…This way I will not be forgotten.
It is time now…
I try to free myself from any kind of regrets or feelings. I must be easy, with the mind of the new born so I can go in peace.
It's not that hard because all my senses are slowly numbing… So even if I want, even if I don't, I'm slowly starting to forget…to disappear.
"Rukia!"
Someone is calling me…I wonder why…I wonder who…
"Rukia!"
The voice was so clear and so real, making me regain my consciousness and my memories. I knew that voice… I knew those eyes who were looking at me right now… those grey eyes.
"Byakuya…is that you?"
"Tell me what happened... You kept calling for me for the last three days!" he said to me. He seemed worried. It was strange. I always hated when Ichigo was worried about me, and always loved it when Byakuya doing it. But this time was different. This time is the last time… so instead of a worried frown, I'd prefer a smile… Indeed: A smile. Just like the one he had on his face, the night he proposed to me…
Again, it's strange. That night seems so far away from me in this moment, as it had happened hundreds of year ago.
"Rukia…weren't you calling for me?" He asked again.
"Yes…I was…" I finally admitted ashamed. "I called for you because I was afraid of death!"
His eyes widened.
"But now, that the time has come I'm alright! So please don't worry!" I added immediately. "…I'm glad though, that I could see you one last time. Promise me that my memory won't be a burden for you…Promise me that you will find happiness!"
I think that a moment of dark silence passed before he could state clearly:
"Nonsense! Do not deceive yourself by believing that I've come here to watch you dying!"
I think I startled. His lips spelling the word "death", surprisingly filled me with the desire of being alive.
"But… Byakuya… weren't you the one who told me that people are like falling sakura petals? … That I should be prepared to die at any moment?"
"I lied…" he stated simply and begun to approach me with slowly, calm steps.
"You…l-lied?" I hissed shocked.
"Indeed. Furthermore the time for your death did not come yet…"
"W-what.. But why?"
"Because I say so…" he replied with this specific arrogant, spoiled expression. I must admit that I was so happy to see him like this. It meant that he was in a good mood. It meant that he was no longer worried. "So give me your, hand Rukia… and let's leave this place…"
Oh! He made things look so easy. For a second i almost believed him…and tried to reach my hand so I can grab his, but then I realized that I no longer had a body. This way, that second of happiness and hope disappeared.
"Rukia, haven't you heard me? You know that I don't like to repeat myself." He insisted.
In that moment I remembered how those words used to affect me in the past. If I would have a body I would have all blushed while bowing and apologizing myself. It was unconceivable for me to disobey or ignore Byakuya's wishes. But this… this was beyond my power.
"Byakuya…I cannot grab your hand…I don't have a hand anymore…"
"Is that so…" he stated as he approached and… took her in his arms!
It was impossible! But he did! He embraced him… and could feel his warmth…I could feel his fragrance… and I could feel my body!
"Did you think that I was going to give up on you so easily?"
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Meanwhile, in the room where Zangetsu broke in thousands of pieces, the moment Isshin's heart was about to stop, Urahara suddenly said:
"Look at Rukia's zanpakuto! It stopped disintegrating!"
Isshin looked confused.
"Zangetsu's also broken… but look at the little pieces! They're still strong!"
Isshin's eyes widened.
"So they're alive?"
"Isshin-san, they're both dead…but these broken zanpakutos stopped disintegrating. Something is keeping them together!"
"So they still have a chance in returning!" Isshin concluded with his face all covered in sweat.
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What Isshin and Urahara didn't know was that there was no miracle or power of love that kept Ichigo and Rukia's consciousness awake…
After countless attempts, Byakuya had finally succeeded in reaching Rukia. It wasn't her reiatsu that led him to her, because she didn't have any. It was a connection he had with her, of which strength even himself couldn't explain.
So he had found her. During the first second he took a relieved, deep breath, but the next one, he was struggling to not suffer a breakdown.
'I called because I was afraid of death…"
She was dying, he stated mentally. No, she is already dead, he corrected himself. He felt her presence, but he couldn't give it a shape. He didn't know what he should say…or do.
"But now I'm alright…so please don't worry!"
Worried?... He would have been worried, if she'd promised him that she will get to dinner in time and she'd be late for half an hour. But he had found her serenely preparing to die… How was he supposed to act? How was he supposed to feel?! … "Who did this?", "How did it happen?", "Why wasn't he there to protect her?" He had arrived too late demand an answer for those question. The only thing he could think of now, was how to get her out of that place… how to bring her back to her body…
"But weren't you the one who told me that people are like falling sakura petals? … That I should be prepared to die at any moment?"
He did, but this was philosophy…and he couldn't think of philosophy when he was about to lose her. And even If she was prepared to face her death, just like he taught her… the problem was that he was the one not prepared to face her death. So he told her he lied.
"But w-why?..."
It was simple. On one side it was because he was selfish. He wanted her alive. He lost once his wife. He couldn't bear it this twice. On the other side, it was because, no matter how prepared she claimed to be, her voice was still trembling, and a part of her was still struggling to live. It was a small part…but he needed to hook himself on it in order to get her back.
"Grab my hand…and let's leave this place…"
"But I don' have any…"
'Is that so…" he stated.
It was a bluff. He played everything on that card. And it worked! He pretended to take her in his arms and on her turn, wishing so much to feel that embrace that she regained the shape her body in his arms.
"Let's leave this place…"
But the truth was that no matter how much he wished it, it would have been impossible for him to take her back. He was alive and she was dead. Their thoughts and hearts joined in this dark place, but physically they were in two different worlds. He held her in his arms arms, like a shield protecting her from the eternal death and emptiness, but he knew that he couldn't bring her to life. The only thing he could do was to gain her a little time… but when he could no longer hold back, what will happen? Will she truly vanish?
"Byakuya... " she whispered… "I thought I heard Ichigo again"
His eyes widened.
"He … is here?"
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I closed my eyes, waiting…
When I came right here, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do. I aware of the risks, but in that moment I didn't care. I thought I was strong enough for the both… I guess that after winning dozens of fights I presumed myself invincible… How naïve! Rukia was right. I am still acting like teenage brat. The truth is that not many things have changed with me since I met her… and especially not my feelings for her. I still love her… and more than the death itself, it kills me to know that I wasn't able to protect her… to save her.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…"
I had her heart in my hand and I knew it will lead me to her… but dealing with her heart proved being harder than fight with Aizen. A body combat was easier than persuading a capricious heart like hers. It played with me, allowing me to get lost into the labyrinth of her memories… It compelled me to assist powerlessly to a ruthless present I cannot change…
"Kurosaki Ichigo…Can you hear me?"
If I would have reached Rukia from the beginning things would have been easier. No matter how many doubts she would have had, her survival instinct would have told her to grab my hand and go back to the world of living. But I was dealing with her heart here! A separate entity from her mind and body… and it was broken. After seeing all those memories… after traveling in her past, I finally come to understand… how broken her heart was.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…Answer me, if you can hear me!"
How was I supposed to persuade a broken heart to come back to life when the death seemed a blessing that could free it from all the pain and the hidden desires. I am ashamed, but i have to admit, that when it comes to her heart, I was never enough. I have saved her life so many times… but I was never capable of saving her heart.
I failed… and for this failure I must pay with both her and my life.
Forgive me, dad… Forgive me, Rukia…
"Kurosaki Ichigo…Come to your senses and answer me!"
I think someone is calling me… I didn't know that death has a voice. Even so I won't answer. I don't want… I don't care… If the death itself wants me so badly it should come in person and get me. I will not move an inch.
Yet…a terrible voice has this death. So cold…and so arrogant. Its sounds so much like Byakuya…Hmmm…I wonder why was Byakuya so appearing so often in her thoughts.
"Kurosaki Ichigo!…"
Oh, no! It is Byakuya…What is he doing here?... Uh! Never mind…
"Yes, Byakuya I can hear you… you don't have to yell!" I answered.
"If you didn't want me to yell, then you should have answered from the first time!" Byakuya stated in his specific stiffed manner. "Now pull yourself together and come to take Rukia!"
What is he talking? Haven't he heard the news?
"Rukia is dead…I am dead… where do you think I can take her? To heaven perhaps?" I answered.
"There is no time for your childish jokes, Kurosaki Ichigo! I don't think I can last much longer!..." he replied,angrly.
"I'm sorry, Byakuya… I've tried, but it's too late. I had her heart in my hand but I lost it… there is nothing I can do!"
"Is that so?..." Byakuya stated slightly annoyed. "Open your eyes, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
He was starting to get on my nerves…
"You don't get it, no? I've lost her heart! It was the only thing that could lead me to her! And I also saw her body disintegrating! It's too late! I lost her!"
"I SAID OPEN YOUR EYES!" Byakuya intoned ruthlessly. The sound of his voice made me startled and I instantly opened my eyes. For a second I thought that I will be surrounded by darkness and nothing else. I thought that Byakuya's voice was only my imagination, but with eyes wide opened I found myself surrounded by Senbozankura's shikai.
"Good! Now hurry up and take Rukia back to the world of living!"
Was he serious?
"You don't understand, don't you? I tried, but it's too late… Her heart was everything that was left of her! She entrusted it with me and I lost it! Do you understand?! I LOST IT!" I started to yell angry of myself.
"Kurosaki Ichigo… it's you the one who does not understand" Byakuya replied calmly . "If her heart was entrusted with you, it means that it lives with you… You are her heart!"
"But isn't it too late?" I asked fearfully. "I don't know where she is! I don't where to find her! If you know where she is… why don't you take her back? Save her Byakuya because I failed!"
"Kurosaki Ichigo, unfortunately I'm not the one who can save, Rukia, but I can lead you to her."
My eyes widened. Was there still hope?
"Kurosaki Ichigo, you have followed Rukia in death so you are the only one who can take her out this state. You have come this far, do not hold back now!"
Was he encouraging me?
"I know that in this estate, you do not have the strength… so I will help you!"
He will help me…
"Yes Ichigo, I will lend you my strength so you can reach Rukia! We will save her together!"
There is still hope…
"Now grab my hand!"
I saw Byakuya's hand coming out of the rain of sakura blades and I took it without second thoughts. The next moment I felt my body filled with a strong, enormous reiatsu. I knew it wasn't mine, but it was enough to keep me moving.
"Take me to her!" I shouted to Byakuya.
Hang on, Rukia! I'm coming!
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Byakuya was holding Rukia tightly. He knew that if she'd move an inch, and his reiatsu would not cover her, she will vanish. He was thinking of Ichigo. He needed to hurry, because his reiatsu was dropping. He couldn't last much longer in this place…
"Byakuya…" Rukia said with a low voice. "Will you stay with me until the end?"
"I will Rukia… but the end it's not here!"
She held him tighter.
"That's right! Hold on to me!" he encouraged her, but inside he was getting anxious. If his reiatsu will continue dropping until it will disappear, he will also die, along with Rukia and Ichigo. He was not thinking about himself in that moment. He just wished to hang on until Ichigo will reach her. What will happen next with him didn't even matter as long as she would be saved…
"Byakuya… am I dying ?" she asked.
"No, Rukia…" he answered gently. "I won't let you die because there are plenty of things we have to together…"
"Please… tell me about them… tell me about the beautiful things we could have done together…" she whispered sorrowfully.
He opened his mouth for a couple of times and he finally said:
"Long Sundays to spend under the sakura tree from the garden of our house…dozens of drawings and portraits…" he made a pause and then added: "I also know how fond you are of the human's world so Nene-cha will be happy to lend us her house in Brasil for a couple of days…Do you remember the time we dance bachata? In Brasil there are plenty of places where we can dance…"
But In that moment Byakuya felt that he couldn't control his reiatsu anymore. Holding on Rukia was a thing, but also sustaining Ichigo, had pushed him its limit. "Hurry up, Kurosaki!" he growled mentally.
"Byakuya!" Rukia snapped scared, noticing that his body was disintegrating in white sakura petals.
"Don't worry, Rukia! I'm alright! I won't let you go!" he replied. "He will come and he will bring you back to life…"
Her eyes widened.
"He's coming…" he whispered raising his head and looking straight ahead. "Look, Rukia he's here…"
She slowly turned and saw Ichigo running toward her. She suddenly felt her heart beating again. She felt that she was slowly coming back to life, because she had always felt alive when she was near him.
"Ichigo!" she yelled.
"Hold on, Rukia! I'm almost there!" Ichigo yelled back.
She instinctively pushed her body in his direction, but then she remembers Byakuya who was slowly fading next to her.
"I can't leave you here!" she snapped and she tried to drag him with her.
"Rukia! I can't and there's not much time left! You must go with Ichigo!"
"I will not leave you here!" she shouted, almost crying.
From behind, Ichigo kept running.
"Rukia, reach out for my hand!" he yelled.
But she was still facing Byakuya.
"GO!" Byakuya snapped violently. "GO, NOW!"
"Rukia!" Ichigo called again.
Rukia bit her lips strongly. Trying to burke the feeling of guilt, she let go of Byakuya and turned to Ichigo. She stretched her hands and threw herself in his arms. Ichigo caught her, holding her tightly, desperately.
"I found you! I found you!" Ichigo kept repeating.
"Ichigo, don't let go of me! Please, don't let go of me! I don't want to die!"
"I'm not Rukia! I will never let you go!" he relied with his voice trembling from the emotion of their reunion.
"Take me out of this place!" she begged.
"I will, Rukia!" he replied and in that moment, he turned his gaze to Byakuya, who had leaned on knee trying to sustain himself. The noble man also raised his gaze to him. They exchanged a meaningful look and then Byakuya nodded his head, as a confirmation of their intentions. He hardly lifted his hand and opened his clinched fist.
Suddenly a strong but uncontrolled reiatsu overwhelmed the embraced couple.
"Byakuya!" Rukia hissed and try to turn her head to face him. She only saw a rain of white sakura blades… " Nii-sama!" she yelled horrified by that view, but when she thought she lost him, a women appeared in the middle of that sakura storm. She couldn't distinguish her, but she saw her long dark hair. Their eyes met for a second. They were ruthless, grey eyes, just like Byakuya's. Suddenly she felt relieved. "Each and one of us have their own guardian angel" she thought as she turned to Ichigo and hold him tight.
"I can't believe you came after me!" she whispered happily.
"It's common sense, Rukia…" he replied with a smile. "It shouldn't surprise you!"
Then all the darkness turned into blinding light…
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Inside the room of Urahara's shop, the tightness of Isshin and Urahara suddenly vanished when an enormous reitasu filled the room.
"This reiatsu!" hissed Isshin.
"… It's Kuchiki Byakuya…" Urahara stated surprised.
But that was not where the surprises ended. The next second the two zanpakutos retook all their broken pieces and came together, turning to their initial form. Isshin eyes widened, still wondering what Byakuya's reiatsu was doing here… but then he heard Ichigo and Rukia breathing loudly and hardly as if they had stood under the water for a long time.
"They're alive!" Yoruichi shouted as she burst into the room, closely followed by Renji.
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Meanwhile, in the Kuchiki manor, while Haruna dried off her tears, preparing to leave, she suddenly felt Byakuya's reiatsu disappearing. She turned and ran back to the house, as if her life was depending on her speed. She reached his study and tried to open it. It was locked. She called him for a couple of times but since no answer came back, she growled annoyed and hit the door with her foot. Servants appeared around her trying to calm her, but she kept yelling, commanding them to open the door. Since no one helped her, she just used all her force and she pushed the door until she broke it.
In the threshold she stopped her breath token away: Byakuya was lying unconsciously on the floor.
"Get a doctor! Get a healer! Quickly!" she yelled to the servants as she approached and leaned over him.
"What are you doing, Toto? "She snapped half worried, half angry. " I told you to stay here! But no, you had to go after her, putting me through all the trouble of getting you back!"
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Byakuya has lent all that was left of his reiatsu to Ichigo and Rukia so they could go back to life. He knew it was impossible for him to follow them.
At least Rukia was safe…
He closed his eyes, surpassing his last fear… the fear of death… but then he felt a familiar reiatsu embracing him. It felt like the sweetest memories of his childhood... like his first love... like the feeling of safety and intimacy.
"Are you trying to kill yourself?!" Haruna snapped. "And are you trying to kill me from being worried about you?
"Nene-cha…" he whispered as If he was looking at a projection of his imagination.
"Still doing things on your own way, huh? Get on your feet, Toto! I've come to pick you up!"
Byakuya looked once again at Rukia and Ichigo. Haruna did the same thing and for a second her eyes met Rukia's.
"They look like they'll be alright…" she stated. "Let's go home now, Toto!"
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The light and warmth surrounded Ichigo and Rukia making them loosing their consciousness for a moment.
The next thing they knew was that they were both alive. They felt their heart beating again; they felt the blood running thought their veins… They took a deep breath and opened their eyes. The first thing they saw was the surprised and relieved expression on each other's faces… but before they could say a word, Ichigo felt his father arms around him while Rukia was squeezed by Renji. They were both crying, repeating the same words over and over again:
"You're alive! You're both alive! You're alive! You're both alive!"
When Ishhin loosened his grip, Ichigo noticed also the presence of Yoruichi and Urahara.
"How do you feel?" Yoruichi asked with smirk.
He frowned as he tried to get up and dizziness took over him.
"I feel… Like I just came back from the dead…" he replied unsure.
"That's my son!" Isshin shouted still crying. "Never loses his optimism nor his sense of humor"
But Ichigo turned to his right, where Renji was still suffocating Rukia with his embrace.
"Renji…please... I'm fine… Renji!" she insisted.
The sound of her voice… He was so glad to hear it again. He reached his hand to grab hers. It was warm again…
Felling his touch, she turned to him with her big and beautiful violet eyes.
She was alive… She was truly alive. And that was everything that mattered.
He held her hand tighter .
"Thank you, Byakuya…" he whispered. "I owe you this one…"
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To be continued...
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So no one died! Everybody's happy and alive ! Ichigo and Byaluya made a team so they could rescue Rukia and they succeed.
With this i end these dramatic chapters and also the first part of this story. I don't now how long it will take ( could it be a day, a week, even a month) but when i'll come back, i'll bring more sweet, loving, hot scenes between the main characters and less fighting. (just to let you know...)
Until then, you know it! Read and review! Each opinion counts!