Chapter Six
The Path of Fare Thee Well…
Renji finished healing from his injuries quicker than usual. The mind was powerful enough to speed healing he figured.
Shinigami had come so far as to rely on humans something he never accepted in the past but now…
He wanted to check on the status of Karakura. Or at least he convinced himself that was the reason to go there. Captain Kuchiki, Captain Yamamoto and all his superiors would tell him Rukia had things handled. He knew that she did but he wanted to see for himself.
The worry over one human in particular was driving him crazy. He could see it now. He could see just what Tatsuki was. There was no logical reason for him to worry.
Thanks to Ichigo, Sôsuke was put away. That threat was taken out of the equation. Still he wanted to be ready. He wanted to be ready for whatever came next. It seemed there was always something next.
"Renji," Byakuya called.
"Captain Kuchiki," he responded a little nervous that Byakuya might have read his thoughts which was beyond ridiculous but time after time people seemed to know exactly what he thought.
"There is a mission for you in the World of the Living. It is very brief and not necessarily what you were hoping for," Byakuya said.
There it was once again people were much aware of what Renji thought. He wondered just how much the Captain knew.
"There isn't a preference one way or the other," Renji said.
"In that case I'll send someone else," Byakuya said.
"Understood," Renji said.
Hoping to avoid sounding too eager or excited to go back he left things at that. The last thing he wanted was a trivial assignment with extra paperwork.
"Carry on then," Byakuya said.
"Carry on…yes sir," Renji stammered.
Byakuya wasn't going to play games and order him to leave on the mission. He should have known that and took what was given to him. Unable to remember what he was working on to begin with he turned and headed back to his room.
000
3:42 A.M. The sky was still dark and Karakura was quite. Everything was peaceful and yet Tatsuki couldn't sleep. Her mind was overworked and wide awake. It was cold outside and she knew that opening the window would do nothing to help her sleep but she got up anyway.
The cold air drifted in as she stood in the window looking out. She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of rustling leaves. A voice made her jump her eyes opened and frantically searched for the source.
"What," she asked leaning out the window still searching.
She found the source of the voice it was Renji just outside her window. It surprised her nonetheless that Renji was here.
"You're going to freeze to death with the window wide open. Just what are you trying to carry out," he asked.
"Why are you lurking around my house," she asked.
"Your window was open. I thought that you might be in trouble as I saw the curtains blowing in the wind," he explained.
She didn't say anything something about the way he said it made her feel special. It felt like she had a guardian angel at times.
Don't be ridiculous he's only here on a mission, she said to herself.
"Come in just don't make a lot of noise or my father will notice he's a superlight sleeper and notices everything," she said shutting the window.
"I had it in mind to come here tomorrow but like I said I saw your window," he said sitting at her desk.
Tatsuki sat on her bed and looked at him. He had something on his mind but didn't come out and say it right away. She figured it might have something to do with Ichigo losing his powers.
"Will Ichigo be alright," she asked.
"Everyone he cares about is still in his life…given that I think he'll be alright," he said.
Protecting his family and friends was Ichigo's motivation. Renji could easily stand behind what he said given that knowledge.
Tatsuki knew that Renji had pride as a Shinigami. It likely bothered him somewhat that a human like Ichigo had gained so much power to save them all like that. He would only try to get stronger she saw that written over his face.
She stood up and walked to the desk. Her sketchbook sat on top of the table where she got the urge to sketch just yesterday.
"Look Renji," Tatsuki said turning her sketchbook over.
"Whoa," Renji said staring at the drawing.
It was a perfect drawing of a materialized Zabimaru in excellent detail.
"It's Zabimaru," she said.
Hearing her say that was like someone telling you your own name. She knew.
"How did you…you can see Zabimaru," he asked perplexed.
"No, you told me what he looks like," she said sitting back at her desk.
"And you came up with this," he asked.
"Awesome right," she asked.
"Is drawing a hobby of yours," he asked.
"No I was told I was good at it but it's really not something I spend time doing," she said.
"Who are these drawings of," he asked.
"My mother and father…winning it was a class project," she explained.
He flipped the page she explained as he turned the page. Some were obvious.
"I could actually use an orange-colored pencil on this one," she jokingly pointed out.
"That is Ichigo and his family," he asked.
"This is his mother how I remember her. I've never really shown this sketchbook to anyone," she said.
"Sorry I just flipped though without asking," he said.
"No it's fine I remember the day you came into my classroom just like I drew it. I figured if I drew it I had a proof I wasn't losing my mind…that I wasn't insane," she said.
"They are realistic," he said.
"Yeah…Rukia and Ichigo when she started coming to school and everyone had an opinion. I guess some of them were right," she shrugged.
"When are you leaving," he said.
"What?"
"You have this look that begs to know when I'm leaving," he said.
"I think we've gone beyond the point where we can ignore that question. You'll probably be gone for a long while this time. Ichigo is losing his powers and Rukia has already left so it's only natural I suppose," she said.
"I came back because I care," he said.
"I know you do. We have this strange harmonious thing going on and I guess every time we hit it off we get interrupted again. All I can do is laugh about it I'm not the type to wallow in misery," she said.
"The truth is I don't know when I'm leaving and if I did I'd tell you. It could be tomorrow. I'm on a mission that really has nothing to do with you. I just needed to see that you were alright. I heard about Sôsuke and what happened…I don't know why I just had to come here," he said.
"I'm ruined," she said.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Don't apologize for my dramatics. But its true where in this town is there a guy like you to hang out with and talk to…and a red-head too. At least there's Ichigo right," she asked.
"You're annoying," he said.
"I'm serious I'll miss you my friend," she said.
He knew she was serious and that was quickly becoming a problem. Things like sketchbooks couldn't exist here for humans to discover. The Seireitei rules did a lot to keep from interfering with this world. He knew what he had to do.
"You're really quiet all of a sudden," she observed breaking the silence.
"This sketchbook-
"I know what you're going to say about it. Take it…I hope you don't destroy it because I'm a little proud of my work," she said.
This friendship thing was growing on him. He'd really miss it he thought as he left.
000
Introduction
Ichigo is fighting a Hollow and we see the Hollow fly over Karakura. He follows quickly after the Hollow. Rukia sees that Ichigo is in trouble and uses Hado 33 Sôkatsui to obliterate the Hollow. Blue flames explode the creature and Ichigo lands on top of a building wondering if at any moment his powers will cease to be.
Is today the day he feared would happen. Rukia follows after him. An enraged Zennosuke Kurumadani berates them for going after Hollows without his permission. Rukia chuckles to herself that Ichigo still calls him Imoyama-San. How typical of Ichigo even now to continue to just…be Ichigo.
Rukia interrupted their banter to tell Ichigo that Kurumadani-san was right. After all the man was her replacement in charge of the area that felt like her second home. She looked at Ichigo wanting to say just that. She wanted to tell him all that he meant to her but instead turned following his gaze.
A group of people below were enjoying the skating rink. She smiled as a couple skated by holding hands. She chuckled as a child landed on its backside quickly attended to by its mother.
The normal life that Ichigo so craved was right there surrounding him everywhere they went here. He could have a life without interference from monsters like Sôsuke. Knowing that he could feel his powers slipping away she reassures him that a normal life might not be so bad.
000
At school Ichigo and his friends are on the rooftop of Karakura High. Asano Keigo and Kojima Mizuiro are having normal conversation. Ichigo is feeling pretty normal and alright with it for a while. Rukia's words about a normal life echoed in his head as he listened to his always animated friend Keigo.
Uryû showed up as if to jerk him back to reality. He was not normal and that life he once knew had more than changed…it had evolved. Ichigo followed after sure that some emergency had sprung up. His friends were left to wonder just what was so important.
Rukia stood just outside the school waiting for Ichigo. The two talk for a moment a normal conversation. Yuzu is excited about making curry. Rukia secretly wished they had more moments like this just to talk and walk the streets together.
Ichigo interrupted her thoughts to ask how long she is staying in Karakura. She knows their time is limited so she diverts the question. He was so close he could feel her emotions. Troubling emotions she covered by telling him it was none of his business…pushing him away.
Ichigo used the moment to tease her about freeloading and remind her that it was Yuzu and his father who wanted her there to begin with. This was his way of coping and letting her work things out.
Forgetting the pickles he ran off leaving her to think some more about all the things her superiors told her.
000
Ichigo promises to protect a child plus from a Hollow. As he fights the Hollow he is nearly killed. Rukia shows up with Uryû just in time. Uryû shoots down the Hollow. The two tell Ichigo to stay behind as they go off to fight another Hollow.
Uryû wonders if the time is now. He can certainly empathize with the loss of abilities. He asks Rukia the status of Ichigo's fading powers. Rukia confirms to him that Ichigo is losing his Spiritual Pressure at an alarming rate.
Her thoughts invade her mind as she recounts the conversations with her Captain. They want her to keep Ichigo from fighting. There is no way for her to do that without disregarding his feelings.
Sitting by the river Rukia is lost in thought when Ichigo confronts her. It was only a matter of time before he asked what was bothering her. One look was an open window to her soul for him.
Ichigo was tired of wondering just what Rukia was hiding and why she had avoided him. So finding her sitting by the river he challenged her to say what it is she had to say to him.
Why can't she look at him? Why did she avoid his gaze? What was going on with her?
When she attempts to answer him he cut her off. When she is ready she will tell him everything. For now they enjoy walking together.
000
Rukia is surprised when Ichigo takes her to the ice rink. With everything going on he thought to spend time with her. He even went so far as to point out the atmosphere. Joking that only the cherry blossoms were missing and Byakuya could easily give them.
Her romantic mood was slightly dampened when glancing around she notices the others are there. Keigo, Uryû, Tatsuki, Orihime and Chad were all faces that quickly put a smile on her face with their warm greetings.
Inexperienced as a skater she hardly felt graceful on the ice. Ichigo was there that time and would never let her fall. The feelings that bubbled to the surface as she took his hand were warm. Emotion that she didn't dare to push away warmed her as they looked in each other's eyes.
Ichigo's heart beat surged so loudly and then he realized it was the fireworks. Romantic even though he hadn't planned that part he stared up at the sky with her.
000
Through every change Rukia always knew Ichigo. Every battle that they fought and no matter how much power he had gained or lost Rukia continued to see Ichigo for who he was. As they talk about his change another Hollows appears.
Ichigo completely misses the Hollow and Rukia uses Shunpô to save him. He apologizes for getting in her way. She tells him to never say something like that. She vows strongly that they support each other. They are nakama [circle, group, set, company, crony, comrade|naka=relationship, ma=space/gap].
Together they fight the Hollow. Rukia watches as Ichigo does his final Getsuga Tenshô. Drained of spiritual pressure he lays down apologizing for putting her through so much. He tells her not to hide stuff from him and she tells him no matter what happens "we won't change."
000
Ichigo wakes up in bed surrounded by Chad, Uryû, Orihime and Rukia. He is told by Rukia that he is in the second stage of losing his powers.
Wearing clogs he goes outside to take a look around his neighborhood. It isn't long before he notices he can't sense everyone's spiritual pressure any longer. He also sadly looks back at Rukia as it sinks in that she too is fading away.
Everything hits him at once and he struggles as she stands before him asking him not to have such a sad look on his face. How can he look at her any other way in this moment? He denies looking sad.
Rukia tells him that she'll still be able to see him even if he can't see her. That doesn't help at all as he complains to her. She wishes she could tell him something different. She wishes that she could make him feel better instead she stares down at her feet fighting with her own emotions. She couldn't leave him with sadness…for anything…not wanting to leave him she forces her gaze upon him.
Those eyes…
Goodbye he tells her…
Thank you he says as he looks up at the sky…
She'll send her regards to everyone in the Soul Society telling everyone goodbye for him. How can she even say it…?
000
17 months pass by without Rukia…without Ichigo seeing spirits…without Zangetsu…17 months…No one cares they all have their own problems to deal with…work, school, children and bills…The real world…the normal world…a world without her…enjoy your time.