Rainy Night
Four months had passed, and her shinigami powers had yet to return. Rukia was becoming increasingly agitated.
By now, she knew the Gotei 13 would have sent hunters to the World of the Living to retrieve her, and she feared they might harm Ichigo in the process. She knew he wouldn't stand by and do nothing—that was the kind of person she had come to know during the few months she lived with him.
Although he acted brash, his heart was pure, always seeking to protect others.
Before she ran away from the Kurosaki clinic in the middle of the night, she left a note instructing Ichigo to be careful.
As she wandered, Rukia reminisced about her experiences in the World of the Living, where she had felt emotions she shouldn't have indulged in.
Love, companionship, and friendship...
They were nothing but saddening emotions.
"I have lingered here too long," she whispered to herself.
"I'm glad you realized!" someone yelled behind her.
Rukia immediately turned, barely avoiding the blade that slashed toward her. If she hadn't been so agile, she would have been struck down.
"What happened to you?!" the shinigami shouted. "You look so weak for a Kuchiki!"
Upon seeing the shinigami's face, Rukia felt her heart tighten. It was a face she had missed for so long. "Renji!" she called out.
"Who is he?!" Renji demanded. "Who stole your shinigami powers, Rukia?!" His tone was angry and accusing.
Rukia felt shaken. She realized immediately that if they discovered Ichigo had taken her powers, they would hunt him down.
"No one," she answered firmly.
Renji became furious. He knew Rukia better than anyone—she was stubborn and would sacrifice herself without hesitation.
"Surrender him, Rukia! That way, they won't kill you!" he shouted, his anger palpable.
Rukia bit her lip, dodging his fatal strikes while trying to formulate a plan to lead him out of Karakura and protect Ichigo's whereabouts.
"Rukia," a voice rang out, freezing her in place. Slowly, she turned to see the person behind her and trembled in fear.
"Niisama," she muttered in horror. Of all the people they could send, he was the one she could never escape from.
"Where is he, Rukia?!" Renji shouted, his blade grazing her gigai's delicate skin. Blood trickled down her human-like body.
Suddenly, one of her classmates appeared—Uryu Ishida, the last Quincy. He stepped in to protect her but was easily defeated by Renji.
Amidst the fighting, Rukia was struck by Renji's abilities. When they were younger, she had been much stronger than him, but now he was powerful enough to become a lieutenant of the Gotei 13.
When Renji was about to strike Uryu down, Ichigo arrived, shielding the fallen Quincy. It was rare to see a shinigami protecting a Quincy, given their rivalry in the past. Ichigo managed to defeat Renji almost effortlessly.
Rukia stood in stunned silence, amazed by Ichigo's incredible growth. For a mere human to hold down a lieutenant was impossible.
"I was wondering where you ran off to, Rukia," Ichigo said, his face scowling but his tone betraying his concern.
"Stand down, Renji," Byakuya ordered.
Upon hearing Byakuya's words, Rukia felt her blood run cold.
"Ichigo, run!" she shouted, but before she could reach him, Renji pinned her against a lamppost.
"Are you crazy?!" he yelled angrily. "Do you have a death wish?"
Rukia froze in place. Suddenly, Ichigo collapsed, bloodied and motionless.
"Ichigo!" she cried, her heart tightening painfully as she struggled against Renji's iron grip.
"Don't, Rukia," Renji warned. "If you even step closer to him, your sentence will increase by decades."
"Let me go to him," Rukia pleaded desperately, unable to bear seeing Ichigo dying.
"I see," Byakuya said suddenly. Rukia turned to him, her heart sinking.
"He looks just like him," Byakuya observed.
Hearing his accurate deduction, Rukia lost all strength. It was impossible—Byakuya was an opponent no one could defeat. Ichigo didn't stand a chance.
"Looks like him?" Ichigo muttered, blood gushing from his mouth. "Don't talk like I'm already dead!"
Rukia's heart quickened at the sound of his voice.
"Ichigo!" she called out, relief flooding her.
Ichigo clutched the hem of Byakuya's kimono.
The moment Rukia saw Byakuya tighten his grip on his zanpakuto, she knew it was over. She broke free from Renji's hold and kicked Ichigo's hand away from Byakuya's uniform, knowing her brother would kill him without hesitation.
"How dare you touch my niisama's haori? You're just a lowly human!" she reprimanded Ichigo, who lay bloodied and on the verge of death.
Ichigo looked up at her in shock.
"I apologize, niisama," Rukia said. "I understand my crime. I will no longer resist. Take me with you."
She stood bravely between Byakuya and Ichigo, knowing no one had ever interrupted her brother and survived unscathed.
"He is unworthy to die by your blade, niisama. He will die on his own anyway," she declared.
Byakuya regarded her for a moment before sheathing his zanpakuto. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Rukia followed him as Renji opened the portal. She glanced back at Ichigo, lying in a pool of his own blood.
Please... don't come after me, Ichigo, she pleaded silently, a lone tear sliding down her cheek.
Ichigo watched her as the gate closed, separating them.
Suddenly, rain began to pour, drenching his face and hiding his tears.
Once again, he had been saved.
The image of his mother, who had died protecting him when he was young, flashed through his mind. He felt the weight of the world crushing him.
"Rukia..." he cried as the gate disappeared into the dark night.
to be continued ...