Two Days Later
Yura's eyes fluttered open. Her vision cleared and she was staring up at a ceiling. She sat up and cringed. "Ow…"
"You're wounds aren't completely healed yet. You should take it easy."
Yura turned her head and was looking at Toshiro Hitsugaya. She looked at his arm which was now scarred. She sighed and closed her eyes. "How long has it been?"
"Two days."
"Hm…" Realization hit Yura. She jumped up, completely ignoring the pain. "Where's Ichigo?"
Before he got to respond, Yura ran out of the room she was in. She ran down the hall and into another room. She stood there as she watched the scene going on in front of her. Urahara, Matsumoto, Rukia, Yoruichi and Ichigo were sitting at a table, talking. They stopped when they noticed Yura walk into the room, practically bandaged from head to toe.
"Ah, Miss Yamoda. You're awake. So nice of you to join us." Urahara said.
Yura and Ichigo made eye contact. He looked unscathed and perfectly fine as if poison wasn't flowing through his veins just a couple days ago. Yura's eyes began to water as she walked over to him and sat on her knees next to him.
She bit her bottom lip and punched him in his arm. "Ow! What was that for?"
"You idiot, you had me worried!"
"I had you worried? Try the other way around. We thought you were dead when we finally go to you!"
A tear fell down her face. "You risked your life to save me when I was already half way dead. You were almost killed, and you would've been for absolutely no reason. Why would you do that?"
Ichigo only smiled. "Because you're one of my best friends." Yura just stared at him before hitting him again.
She turned around to see Toshiro walk in. She stood up and walked over to him. She stared at him. "Why?"
He looked at her, completely confused. "Why what?"
"Why did you come back?"
"Because…it didn't feel right to have so much distance between us." Yura stared at him a little longer before punching him in his uninjured arm. "Hey!"
She looked between him and Ichigo, tears still falling down her face. "Both of you are such idiots. I can't believe you." She hugged Toshiro. He was shocked and taken by surprise. "I'm sorry. For everything." She whispered in his ear. She let go of him and ran over to Ichigo again. She threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you." She whispered.
"For what?"
She pulled away and stared into his eyes. "For everything. For still helping me even when I didn't want you to. For showing me what life is like for you. And I'm sorry for blocking you out. And not telling you more about me. And-"
"Yura," Yura looked at him. "You talk way too much." She smiled.
"Well, now that that's over," Yura glared at Urahara for interrupting the moment. "Are you hungry?"
"No, actually. I think if I stay in here another second I'll die for sure. So I'll be leaving." Yura stood up and walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Ichigo asked.
"Where do you think?"
"You're not coming back?" Matsumoto asked.
Yura looked at her then at Toshiro. She touched her left shoulder and closed her eyes. "I don't know. Give me some time." With that, she walked out of the shop, leaving everyone staring after her.
Yura was sitting on the roof, her knees pulled up to her chest as her arms hugged them. Her chin rested on her knees and she watched the sunset.
"I thought I'd find you here."
She turned her head to see Ichigo standing behind her. "Did you look other places first or was this your first guess?"
"It was my first guess this time." He sat next to her.
"How's your side?" Yura asked.
He touched his side where the blade had pierced him. "It doesn't hurt anymore. What about you?"
She touched her shoulder again and then her back. "I'm still in pain, but it's subsiding. Better than it was before."
"That's good."
The two were silent for a while, the only sound was the wind and town buzzing with life. "Do you think I should go back?"
Ichigo looked at her then back out to the sun. "I don't think I have a say in this."
"But I'm asking you, as a friend. And I want you to be honest with me."
"It's your choice, Yura. I can't tell you what to do with your life. If you want to stay, you already know you're welcome to. But if you want to go back, then you should."
"Ok then….I'll stay."
Ichigo looked at her. "What?"
She smiled. "Did I stutter? I said I'll stay. I've grown fond of the World of the Living. If I leave…" she shrugged. "It won't feel right."
There was silence for awhile. "What about Toshiro?"
"What about him?"
"You're not just gonna stay here after you two are friends again, are you? After what he did?"
She hesitated before speaking again. "I suppose…" she sighed. "Alright. I'll go back….How are you going to live without me?"
"Tch. You're acting like you control my life."
She laughed. "I know I don't." She laid her head on Ichigo's shoulder. "I'm gonna miss you, Ichi. You've taught me a lot without even knowing it."
"I should say the same. You taught me how to live my life."
Yura smiled. "Good. Don't forget it, either." The two were silent. "Well…I think the sooner I leave the less tempted I'll be to stay." Yura stood up and dug her hands in her jacket pocket. Ichigo stood up as well. Yura smiled at the town all around her. "I'm gonna miss this place." With that, Yura jumped down off the roof.
"What are you doing?" Ichigo called down below.
Yura looked up at him. "I told you, the sooner I leave the less tempted I'll be to stay," she turned around and waved. "See ya, Kurosaki." Ichigo watched Yura walk down the road until he could no longer see her.
As soon as Yura got back to Soul Society she felt different. The World of the Living really did change her and being back somewhere she didn't think she belonged in felt completely off. It was coming back all over again. From disappearing and returning when Hitsugaya found her. She sighed. She wondered if Soul Society even changed during the week she was gone. Her first visit was to her alone spot. The hill she would always escape to when she needed time to think without being interrupted. It seemed untouched, but she knew better. She could feel the faintest amount of cold lingering around the hill when it was a warm day. She sat down in the tall grass and took a deep breath. Home was beginning to return to her.
She left the hill and headed toward Squad 10's barracks. On her way, other members from Squad 10 waved and said hello to her. She hesitantly waved back. She didn't know why she was uncomfortable around them. She knew these people. Did a major change occur in her during her time in the World of the Living? How big was the change? She walked down the halls and came to a stop at a door. She hesitated a moment. She took slow, deep breaths and finally opened the door.
"Yura!" Before she got a chance to say or do anything, Yura was tackled to the ground in a bear hug.
"You're acting like you didn't just see me earlier today." Yura said.
Matsumoto let go of her and smiled. "I know, but it's been over a week since you've been here. It's good to have you back." Matsumoto hugged her again, nearly choking Yura.
"Ahem."
Matsumoto and Yura both looked up. "Um…I'll be going now." Matsumoto stood up and ran down the hall.
Yura turned over on her stomach and pushed herself up off the floor. Toshiro walked past her into his office and sat down at his desk. "Ok then…"
Yura turned to leave, but Toshiro spoke. "I thought you weren't coming back."
Yura looked at him with a confused expression. "Why would you think that?"
"I overheard you and Kurosaki talking. You said you were going to stay there."
Yura raised an eyebrow. "What? You're spying on me now?"
"Don't think such a thing." The corner of Yura's mouth twitched up in a small smile.
"Well, maybe if you stayed a few seconds longer you would've heard me change my mind. I'm here. If you want me to, I could always go back. I practically live there now seeing as I was invited to stay at Ichigo's house. I'm enrolled at school. I have friends there. I can live my life there as if I were human again."
Toshiro looked at her. "Is that what you want? A normal, human life?"
Yura thought about it and shrugged. "It offers many things. The only downside to it is that living with Ichigo's family…it reminds me of the life I used to have with my parents. And as happy as I am to see such a great family, it pains me all the same. So I can't exactly say that I want a human life." Toshiro smiled and Yura glared at him. "What's so funny?"
He looked at her. "You just told me some of your thoughts. You practically let me inside of your head." He stood up from his desk.
Yura glared at him, the temptation to slap him overwhelmed her, but she contained it as best she could. "You tricked me…"
He walked over to her and handed her some papers. "One last thing. You might want to look at these. It's sort of…a welcome home present."
Yura stared after him as he walked out of his office. She turned her attention back to the papers and scrolled over the first page. Her eyes grew wider with each word and anger began to boil inside of her. "As a request by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya, Yura Yamoda is hereby ranked as third seat in Squad 10…" Yura dropped the papers before they caught on fire from the sparks forming at her finger tips. She couldn't hold it in any longer, "TOSHIRO!"
A/N: I have nothing to say except for: Please Review! I've been losing interest in this because i haven't gotten any reviews so please. Do you need me to get down on my knees and beg? Cause i will. Really. So yeah...hope you liked it. Oh, there is something I want to say. In case any of you were confused about why Yura was mad when she found she's third seat. Pay attention people. She hates rules and being told what to do. If she's a seated officer that means more rules. ^^ Just thought you should know. Ok. I'm done. Bye.