"It should've been me…IT SHOULD'VE BEEN ME!"

Ryuki woke up with a gasp as his eyes snapped wide open. It was the middle of the night and despite the darkness of his room he could still see due to his cat-like night vision. He felt the mattress shift and turned his head over to see Jinx, snuggling against him. It was obvious from her bare shoulders that she was as unclothed as he was.

Ryuki wiped the sweat off his brow. The dream…no…memory was still so vivid. He remembered it as clear as day. The day Tazuka had died, sacrificing himself to save him.

Ryuki felt that it was so unfair for Tazuka to die like that. He'd blamed himself, and still did, for being so weak. He couldn't be a Knight if he was so weak but he couldn't give up either…

At least now Tazuka could find peace.

Ryuki slowly got out of bed, got dressed, ad headed out of the room.

In the living room he found someone flipping through the channels without caring what was on. Maybe he was just bored.

Ryuki spoke, "You're up late, aren't you, niisan?"

Pasenderos, Tazuka's Arrancar, looked over the backrest of the sofa and smiled. "And so are you, Ryuki-kun."

After his death, Tazuka had become a Hollow and then an Arrancar. He named himself El Pasenderos Aguarius but despite all that Ryuki and his old friends still called him by his old human name.

Ryuki sighed and went over to the couch and sat down. He asked, "So, what are you watching?"

"Nothing," responded the Arrancar. "There are so many channels and yet nothing interests me." He put down the remote. "So is there any reason why you're up at these ungodly hours?"

"I have trouble sleeping," Ryuki admitted. Tazuka narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Any reason why you have trouble sleeping after what you did with Jinx?" Ryuki's eyes widened as his face turned red. "Don't look too surprised. I walked past your room and heard everything. Just tell me if you used protection?"

"Niisan!" Ryuki snapped. Tazuka laughed.

"Even after all this time you're so easy to fluster," chuckled Tazuka. He stopped and spoke, "Things have sure changed since I last saw you all…"

"Niisan…"

"I became so out of touch after my turning. I've missed a lot. I should've tried harder to be there for you even after...you know."

"It's my fault you died," Ryuki said regrettably. "If I was only a little stronger. If only I had…"

"You weren't a killer, and I didn't want you to become one," Tazuka cut him off.

"But-"

"No buts, otouto. Let bygones be bygones. Let it go. I've forgiven you. There's nothing to feel sorry about."

"But now you're…"

"Listen," spoke Tazuka. "Stop beating yourself up about this. Yes, I died. Yes, I turned into a Hollow and now an Arrancar. And yes, for a while I blamed you. But, look at it this way." Tazuka drew his Zanpakuto. "I got new powers and a sword to boot. Plus. In this Gigai, I can get on with my life again…"

Ryuki didn't know what to say.

"Ryuki-kun? What's wrong?"

"It was so unfair for you to die just to protect me…I just can't help but feel…sorry. I can't stop feeling this way. I never really got over your death."

Tazuka smiled and ruffled his younger brother's hair. Ryuki pulled back, glaring.

"Sorry," Tazuka apologized. "You used to like it when I did that."

"I was 16. I'm 19 now…" responded Ryuki curtly.

"And I missed seeing you grow up to become what you are now," Tazuka admired. "You're stronger, faster, and more powerful than you were all those years ago…"

"I had to. I couldn't let what happened to you happen to anyone else ever again."

"Noble, as always," Tazuka noted. "Don't ever change."

Ryuki bit his lip. "Niisan, do you believe I'm evil?"

Tazuka stared. Jinx had told him about the future Ryuki had encountered. Ryuki met his future and hadn't liked it. Such an experience was a serious eye opener for him.

"No, you're not," Tazuka answered. That was an honest answer. The Ryuki he knew was not evil.

"I sometimes wonder myself. I'm not sure if I can still walk a straight and narrow path. Temptation can cloud ones judgment, especially in times of desperation…"

Tazuka knew. Ryuga had been stricken with grief after his Jinx's death that he turned to the dark side. That was what he'd been told.

"Ryuki, will you ever willingly hurt your loved ones?" Tazuka asked.

Ryuki answered, "No, I would never…"

"Good, because stop thinking about the what-ifs and think of the here and now." Tazuka quoted, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."

Ryuki smiled, "That sounded like it came from a fortune cookie."

"Words of wisdom all the same. What I'm trying to say is to stop worrying about what was in the past and what will be in the future. Focus on what you have here and now. For example, your beloved girlfriend will be wondering where you are. You should go back to bed to comfort her. She needs your warmth."

Ryuki blushed at to what Tazuka was insinuating and nodded before standing up. "Arigatou, niisan," said Ryuki.

"No problem. What are brothers for?" With a smile, Ryuki left the living room. Tazuka turned to the TV and rolled his eyes before shutting it off. He stretched himself out on the couch and closed his eyes. "God, I miss sleeping…"

The Fortune Cookie quote came from Kung Fu Panda...