EDIT: NaNoWriMo 2018 has come to a close for me, as this fanfic has officially reached the 50K mark! Yay! Now I can focus on the editing, which should be jolly good fun. :D
Preface Notes:
1. For this fanfic, completely disregard Bleach's ending and how they made majority of the Gotei 13 (and the Royal Guard) so bloody weak compared to the Quincies. In fact, disregard most of the canon events in the Thousand Year War arc, especially after the prologue (Arc 0). I will retain the foundation, but the story will be different.
2. I will be taking some liberties with Bleach canon, particularly the Noble Clans and the Soul Society lore. On that note, I will disregard some canonical information regarding said clans (notably those coming from the light novels).
3. While I don't like bashing characters, I have to say that this fic may come across as doing so, namely with Hinamori and Orihime. Nothing against them, but some of their actions even in canon can come across as selfish and immature, so it really cannot be helped. I actually empathize with Hinamori, and don't think she deserves the hate she's getting from some in the fanbase. But I will not deny that for this fic, it...works? You'll see.
4. I'll be using a mix of Japanese and English words in the fic—Japanese for the honorifics, zanpakuto techniques, kido moves, and whenever appropriate.
5. If at some point in the story, you notice that the translation of the kanji I used, especially in the titles, is read wrong, more often than not, it is intentional. Kubo-sensei has been known to do that also to artistic effect. But if it something is really off with my reading or if there's a better character I should have used, please let me know.
Special Formatting notes:
/This stands for Zanpakuto thinking or telepathically communicating to their masters/
This stands for characters thinking
General Disclaimer:
Bleach does not belong to me, but to Kubo Tite-sensei. I am merely playing around the universe for my amusement. Go forth, my pretties!
In a nutshell: this is a Rukia centric fic. There will be time travel. Rukia will be a BAMF. And it's HitsuRuki, because I became so totally floored that I joined their army. I am not ashamed!
(But I do blame, and thank, BlackBelt and their work, Conversing the Dragon. Go check it out! :D)
終わり : 泡沫
The End: Ephemeral
Are we…losing?
Kuchiki Rukia had to bite down on her lower lip to stop voicing out the thought. It would not help their situation if she did. It was desolate enough.
The whole of Soul Society was not prepared for something like this, couldn't even begin to fathom a disaster of this magnitude. How foolish to think that after seeing what Aizen had been capable of, they thought they had seen everything!
But Yhwach, the Wandenreich, they had struck Soul Society when it was barely recovered from Aizen's invasion, and strike ruthlessly they did. Even with the help of the Visored, the resurrected Arrancars, and miracle maker Kurosaki Ichigo, the Gotei 13's forces were being wiped out by the wayward Quincies, so many valiant and noble souls lost in such a short span of time.
The loss of Captain-Commanders Yamamoto and then his successor, Kyoraku had been devastating blows.
With the Gotei 13 virtually headless, the remnants were forced apart, left for easy picking by their overwhelmingly powerful enemies. It got even worse when the Captains fell like autumn leaves one by one. Her captain, Ukitake, had fallen so soon after Kyoraku. Who would have thought that the frail man actually held the right arm of the Soul King, Mimihagi? Ukitake had been willing to give his life to save Soul Society, and would have succeeded if not for Ishida.
One of her friends—her nakama—had betrayed them. That made her captain's death, and the deaths that would follow after, a lot more painful…
Violet eyes clenched at the most painful memories that came unbidden, flashes drenched in blood, charred flesh and mutilated corpses. Her eyes began to burn.
Niisama…
"Kuchiki." A deep voice intoned with the slightest hint of concern at her right.
Rukia bit back a sharp gasp, cutting her darker musings short with an apologetic grimace. "Sorry, Hitsugaya-taichou."
The other shinigami's teal eyes remained with her for a moment longer before focusing back on the road. "We're getting close to the West gate. We do a quick search, then we can take a break. Right now, I need you focused for this."
"I understand. I…I just got caught up in my thoughts."
"It's fine, just don't stay distracted. It's been too long since we've been able to be this close to Seireitei."
Time has lost its meaning here in this world where everything felt like part of an excruciating waiting game. It could have been weeks, months since the two of them found each other. A few rookies would join them every now and then, but all would fall prey to their enemies at one point or another.
"I can't sense anything." Hitsugaya's voice broke through her musings again. "Since that last attack back in the forest, I don't sense anyone else within our vicinity."
The girl shook her head slightly when he looked at her questioningly. "I don't sense anyone either. Not even a Quincy or an Arrancar. Nothing."
The younger Captain frowned. "We can't afford to be complacent. Stay on guard. If we do run into an enemy, unless I say so, do not engage. Our priority is to make it to that gate."
"Yes, sir."
"H-Hitsugaya-taichou?"
"Kuchiki-fukutaichou. You're alone?"
"Yes, I had a small group of Shinigami from my Division with me before, but after an attack by one of those Sternritter…there wasn't anyone left."
"Where are the others from your Division? Kurosaki? Abarai?"
"13th Division's almost wiped out. Ukitake-taichou is dead, as is Kyoraku-soutaichou. I haven't found my other members yet. Ichigo went to fight Yhwach. Renji…he had to keep the 6th together, after Nii-sama…he's…"
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"…You're alone too?"
"Ah, yes. Matsumoto and I had to…split up after our fight with Cang Du."
"The Quincy who stole your bankai?"
"Word of that traveled fast?"
"Before everyone was scattered apart by the Sternritter? Yes. Actually…we lost your reiatsu shortly after your confrontation with Cang Du…"
"…I'm fine. Kurotsuchi-taichou saved my life. And I got my bankai back."
"Th—that's good."
"…"
"…Excuse me, Hitsugaya-taichou?"
"What?"
"If it's not too much to ask…can I come with you?"
Hitsugaya did not question much over Rukia joining him when they first ran into each other in the outskirts of Soul Society.
With the land in ruins, no way of contact with other Shinigami, and practically being man hunted, it was in the end a logical choice.
Since then, the pair stayed together searching for allies and avoiding combat unless necessary while they tried to find their way back to Seireitei. While both were above average Shinigami, they could only take down some Hollows, a low level Arrancar or a no name Quincy who came their way; any more than that, they'd have to fall back lest they waste precious strength. But even with this careful approach, they still suffered injuries and fatigue.
Not that Hitsugaya showed it, Rukia noted, the way he was rapidly making his way down the ruined land, eyes narrowed and scowling. His visage betrayed nothing but focus and ferocity, but Rukia can sense the desperation as well. And she knew why.
"We'll find them, taichou." She said in the most reassuring voice she could manage. "We'll find them—Rangiku-san and Hinamori-fukutaichou."
She watched as Hitsugaya's breath hitched, his shoulders stiffening, before he whispered in a way Rukia wasn't sure even she meant to hear. "They have to be all right. They—damn it, they just have to be."
Rukia learned from the captain himself that Matsumoto was last seen assisting Hisagi in taking down a Sternritter, Bazz-B. Seeing as Hisagi has already been confirmed dead by their previous companions (hacked to pieces by his own Bankai, much like her own dear brother), things did not bode well for the 10th's Lieutenant. Even worse, there had been no word on Hinamori's whereabouts.
But she could not voice those thoughts out, not when the normally stoic Ice Dragon of the Gotei 13's reiatsu flared bordering to hysteria. If he could still cling onto hope, no matter how small the sliver, Rukia will not deny him that.
Hope was a painful thing to hold onto, but to let go is not an option.
"I can see the gate. Almost there." Hitsugaya said sharply. "Stay with me, Kuchiki."
"Like always, taichou."
They're all he has left. I have to believe it, at least for Hitsugaya-taichou's sake. He needs his friends more than I need the rest of mine.
But, damn it, Ichigo, Renji, where are you?
Rukia and Hitsugaya went past Hakutomon without incident.
Except for the ghastly sight of Jibando's corpse—without a leg, an arm, a good portion of his left face and his shoulder—already decomposing, that is. Rukia forced her gaze forward, away from the sight of another fallen friend. One more soul for her to grieve for if she gets to live until the end.
For now she had to focus. She had to help Hitsugaya find his friend and Lieutenant.
"Where are they?" She heard Hitsugaya hiss, green eyes sweeping around the area marred by burnt buildings and twisted bodies. "Goddamn it, Hinamori, Matsumoto, where the hell did you two go…?!"
Rukia could understand that he was too worried, too distracted in his search for the two Shinigami. But the fact that it had been too quiet for a good while now was really starting to ring alarms in her head.
Aren't the Quincies looking for us? Rukia thought. Even if he was repressing it, reiatsu at Hitsugaya's level doesn't normally stay unnoticed by those Wandenreich bastards for too long—not too strong enough that he was an immediate concern, but not too weak enough to be ignored. It was one of the reasons they were able to attract attention from the low ranks in the first place.
But they're not here. No one's here. They couldn't have just up and left the District just like that, could they? We're at war. That doesn't make sense at all! Unless…
A spot of pink and blonde in her periphery, and Rukia froze then turned.
No! No, no, no, God, no!
"—chiki! Kuchiki, what—?" If she could have, Rukia would have asked the Captain to turn away. For some selfish, unexplainable reason, she didn't want him to see any of this.
As always, she was too slow. She could only watch as what little color Hitsugaya had left drain to the ground. "Hi-Hinamori? Matsumoto?!"
It was a sight that would have torn at her heart even if she did not know them: Hinamori, facedown, her Zanpakuto a few feet away from her outstretched hand, her body riddled with burnt holes. Right next to her was the most of Matsumoto's upper torso, her left shoulder and lower right side apparently burned off while she bled to death from her numerous cuts.
Both had been dead for at least two days ago.
"NOOOO!" The cacophony of denial and desperation, of please, please, God please, this can't be real, that radiated off Hitsugaya at the sight was so painfully familiar to her, as was the explosion of grief and rage filled reiatsu that followed after it. "NOOOO!"
Rukia was nearly blown away when Hitsugaya sped past her to the fallen bodies of the two women, trembling hands reaching out for them even as he cried out in grief.
"This can't…you can't be…!" Hitsugaya choked back a gasp. "Momo…Matsumoto, please, you can't…" He takes Hinamori's broken body into his arms and buries his face into her hair. "Shit, shit, shit, GODDAMN IT ALL!"
Right now, he didn't look like a captain at all, but was a lost, broken child whose last fragments of purpose died with the two he cared for the most.
Too late. Again, I'm too late. The petite Shinigami bit her lip to suppress a sob. She had no right to break down now. She…
/Rukia-sama!/
…Shit! If not for Sode no Shirayuki's warning, she would have missed that spike of malicious reiatsu, her companion far too deep in his grief to notice. So I was right! This was a trap! But for who? Hitsugaya-taichou?
/This reiatsu…it is incredibly malevolent. I sense it everywhere around us. Please be careful, hime. This is no ordinary foe./
And it was everywhere, this vicious energy, twisting and turning, rising and falling, if it was taunting her into a game.
Where is it? Where are you, you bastard! Rukia forced her senses on alert, trying to pinpoint a direction in the spirit energy chaos. Where—?
/Rukia-sama, in front of you!/
"—HITSUGAYA-TAICHOU!"
She didn't give the captain time to react, darting forward, wrenching him away from the two dead bodies before pinning him to the side, away from the long piercers that suddenly came out of nowhere to the ground.
"It's a trap! It's no coincidence the area's deserted. Someone's been waiting for us!" Rukia hissed, immediately rising to a ready position, one hand clutching her sword tightly. "Show yourself, you coward!"
"…Bold words, for a little thing such as yourself."
The two Shinigami stood quickly, the Captain stepping in front of the Lieutenant, as their opponent stepped into their view.
He reminded Rukia of a snake, long hair, a long, thin body draped in a long white trench coat, black gloves, black boots and a black face mask with four white spikes. His dark circled eyes, the darkest she had ever seen her whole life, stared at them as if appraising.
Hitsugaya let out a growl as he tightened his grip on his own blade. "You…you're one of the Sternritter."
"As you would already know." The man's voice wounded like grinding stone over glass. It made Rukia's hair stand on end. "You used to be one of Giselle's playthings, were you not, little Captain? Ah, but the brat hardly takes good care of her toys. Such a waste of talent. The marvelous things we could have done with your bankai."
Rukia felt him tense even more at those confusing words, but chose to draw her sword over questioning him. "I thought it was strange that we didn't get into trouble once we got here. You were waiting for us from the start?"
"Only the little Captain, girl. Though I must say you were quite the surprise." The Sternritter gestured at Hinamori's and Matsumoto's bodies. "If it weren't for you, my little setup would have gone unnoticed. After such painstaking effort I took to match what it originally looked. Such a nice sight, was it not, to see the Ice Dragon of Seireitei crumble before his fear realized? Pity, though, I was expecting something more…" Black gloved fingers snapped. "Beastly."
Her eyes narrowed as she snarled. "You bastard! Were you the one who killed them too?"
"Sadly no, you can thank Lille for that. Ah, you annoying girl, my little boon turned into a hurdle when you saved him from my thorns. But no matter," The sick expression on the man's face told Rukia he was grinning savagely behind his mask. "My fear spares no one. All will succumb to Äs Nödt in the end."
"You… You dare touch them? You dare use them to get to me? As if killing them was not fucking enough?!" Hitsugaya roared. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" He raised his sword over the brewing storm. "SOTEN NI ZASE, HYOURINMARU!"
The great red eyed ice dragon answered his master's call with a loud roar of its own next to her. Rukia pointed her zanpakuto. There was no avoiding it now. "Mae, Sode no Shirayuki!"
The man was, without a doubt, a complete monster.
Granted, all the members of the Wandenreich were horrors in their own way, but Äs Nödt was at a whole new different level. The Quincy's spirit weapon, as it turns out, not only delivered a good amount of hurt when you get hit by it, but one wound from a thorn can root you on the spot with crippling fear.
Something Rukia found out the hard way when she got herself scratched.
It was like the world suddenly wobbled, her mind crashed into a halt for the briefest of moments, her heart stilled and everything turned dark before the image of her brother's corpse, drenched head to toe in blood, stood in front of her. And then she forgot to even breathe.
It took Hitsugaya screaming to snap her out of it. "KUCHIKI, MOVE!"
"Shit!" Rukia barely managed to jump away to avoid next barrage of thorns sent her way, while what she couldn't avoid, Hyourinmaru's ice dragon took care of.
/Rukia-sama, are you all right?!/
I—I'm fine, Shirayuki. The girl panted for a moment while Hitsugaya forced Äs Nödt's attention away.
The snow spirit's disbelief was palpable over their link, making the Shinigami sigh. Stop. You know it will be at least a hundred years before I'll be all right again, after all that shit we had to see!
/That monster is using your fear to control you. And I am concerned that he has more up his sleeve. Use me to the fullest extent you can. You cannot fall into his trap again./
I know, I know, but—!
"Kuchiki?" The way their opponent said her name sent a cold shiver down her spine. Another followed when Äs Nödt's dark eyes turned to her after he and Hitsugaya jumped apart. "Would you perhaps be Kuchiki Byakuya's little sister?"
Her stomach plummeted to the floor. "You knew Nii-sama?" She asked, ignoring Hitsugaya's hiss of warning.
"Do I know him, she asks? What a silly thing to!" Rukia and Hitsugaya watched warily as the tall man pulled something out of his coat. A medallion.
Comprehension dawned in her pale features. That medallion! It can't be…!
"Such a lovely bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshii." She could feel her insides twist in agony and hate when pink petals began circling out of the metal. "The noble Captain thought he was stronger than my fear. He thought I could not make his bankai my own. Presumptuous! He does not understand my pretty thing's worth! Senbonzakura belongs to me now!"
The last Kuchiki's voice followed her heart to her feet, her vision spiraling to black and white. "You…you killed Nii-sama? It was you?"
"He claimed he could control his fear! Almost as blasphemous as saying he has none! But I showed him." Äs Nödt's eyes curved upwards. "One look at his precious little sister's rotting corpse was all that it took."
At that, Rukia heard a very distinct snap, and everything turned very red. "…YOU MONSTER—!"
/Rukia-sama, wait!/
"—Some no mai: Tsukishiro!"
A pillar of ice formed where Äs Nödt once stood, but the Quincy was already in the air, flinging his thorns and sending Senbonzakura's petals her way, which only served to infuriate her more. Those pink petals that once made her feel safe, the memories of comfort and protectiveness Senbonzakura evoked now twisted by the bastard…
She felt Sode no Shirayuki's grief at the sight of her fellow Zanpakuto being desecrated. Senbonzakura had been a brother to her as much as Byakuya had been Rukia's.
"Tsugi no mai: Hakuren!"
Äs Nödt merely let out a cackle as he dodged and, forming a thorn in each hand, and went straight for her. Rukia made a move to parry but Äs Nödt's thorn still grazed her, and it was enough to warp her world again.
Ishida with his bow raised, standing over the burnt bodies of Chad and Orihime.
Ichigo sliced in half by Zangetsu.
A splash of red came into view, followed by blinding pain. Äs Nödt managed to cut at her stomach.
"KUCHIKI!"
Renji's broken body crushed to death by Zabimaru.
Byakuya, still and cold, lying in a pool of his own blood.
"Come, Senbonzakura!"
"D-Damn you!" Rukia braced her wobbly sword for the strike, only to be forced to jump back by the force of Hitsugaya's reiatsu rushing in front of her. Hyournimaru's blade easily blocked Äs Nödt's strike, and Hitsugaya's dark emerald eyes kept the Quincy's eyes from the Lieutenant's.
"I'm your opponent, you bastard!" The silver haired teen then pushed Äs Nödt away and swept his blade. "Ryoujin Hyouheki!"
Rukia scowled when a wall of ice shot up and blocked Äs Nödt's thorns. What the hell did the captain think he was doing? "Hitsugaya-taichou, with all due respect, I can—"
"You're letting your emotions take over. That's a sure way to death, not victory." Hitsugaya said, his voice tinged with frozen fury. "If any of his thorns hit you again, I don't think I will be able to help you. Besides, as I said, I am his opponent."
"Like hell you're fighting him on your own! You're not the one who lost something to that bastard too!"
"Kuchiki—"
"He stole Nii-sama's bankai! He killed Nii-sama himself and continues to insult him, Senbonzakura and my clan!" She snapped. "I don't care if this kills me! If I am meant to lose everything to this war, at the very least let me have the honor of avenging him!"
A flicker of something passed those teal eyes, and for a second, Rukia wondered if he was insulted by her lack of decorum. But then the ice wall caved, giving both of them barely enough time to jump back and avoid Äs Nödt pouncing through the broken shards, landing on one of the few remaining standing structures.
"Shit—"
"Bankai." Hitsugaya's sudden declaration made the girl turn in surprise. "I don't have a choice. I have to use it."
"What? But what if he—?"
"Even the Sternritter can only control one bankai at a time. From what it looks like, that thing is obsessed with Byakuya's. I highly doubt he'll let it go to steal mine, and I don't sense any other Sternritter around. But even then, it looks like I'll need it."
"Still—" Rukia tried to protest even when she and Hitsugaya had to dodge yet again and the other ice wielder sent his dragon charging at Äs Nödt.
Sharp green met shocked violet. "At this point, you are not ready to fight him. If you think you can reach the point that I see you are capable, I will not be in your way. I know your reasons, but I won't let you throw your life away because of it. Your brother would not have wanted it.
"And…" Hitsugaya oddly stumbled and cleared his throat. "You gave me your word, Kuchiki, since that time we joined forces. I—I expect you to honor it."
Huh? Rukia blinked in confusion. What is he talking about? "Taichou?"
"BANKAI!" The white haired Shinigami shouted to the heavens, and with a blast of cold wind, the ice dragon melded with his master's body. "Daiguren Hyourinmaru!"
Rukia and Äs Nödt stood still for a moment, staring at the captain's bankai. The Quincy let out a chuckle. "Ah, a marvelous bankai, indeed. Shall we see how it will stand against my Senbonzakura?"
The girl Shinigami let out a growl ("That's not yours, asshole!") while Hitsugaya glared coldly. "I'll show you."
The ice dragon jumped down, and the land burst with ice.
/You need to focus, Rukia-sama. I share your pain, but using it this way will not help you defeat him./
From a distance, Rukia could hear the captain and Äs Nödt clashing, but she could only stand still and clutch her sword. I've become a burden again, Sode no Shirayuki. Unable to fight, unable to achieve anything, always left behind. I know I am nothing compared to Hitsugaya-taichou, but after all we've been through, I thought—
/Oh you silly child. He does not think you are in the way. Can you not tell? He is trying to keep you safe, seeing that I daresay you are all he has left./
But if I stand and do nothing, it won't change the fact that…
/There is a way for you to fight his fear, dearest. It will require great focus on your part, more so if you have to take it to next level./
She knew what her zanpakuto was talking about. It had occurred to her during the struggle, but was she really ready for it? She had barely begun practicing.
/It seems we do not have much of a choice, Rukia-sama. Your captain is strong, but he is also burdened, fighting with two at once. He is waiting for you./
I highly doubt that. But I will help him. It is my duty, to both Hitsugaya-taichou and Nii-sama. Sode no Shirayuki…
/I am here. We will do it together. Now come, we must put Senbonzakura-dono to rest./
…-55 Degrees…
"NGH!"
Rukia joined the fray with a flash step into the iced landscape, taking Äs Nödt off guard as he barely avoided Sode no Shirayuki's strike. Hitsugaya's eyes widened as he jumped back, breathing heavily and body trembling. "Kuchiki?"
Rukia stepped in front of Hitsugaya, her blade poised to strike, her face lethally cool. A glance told her that both men had taken damage, though Hitsugaya appeared considerably more so. He did not appear to be heavily affected by Äs Nödt's fear manipulation, but he was not able to completely dodge Senbonzakura's petals.
-146 Degrees…
"I apologize for burdening you with my selfishness, Hitsugaya-taichou." He has as much reason to want to kill this man as her, after what he did to Hinamori and Matsumoto. "And I thank you for giving me the time to prepare myself."
"Such…impudence!" Äs Nödt's eyes turned into furious slits. "Did I not tell you? Your ice cannot stop my fear or my Senbon—"
"Silence! You will not have the honored name of my brother's zanpakuto besmirched by your foul lips any longer! Your fear cannot touch me while I am in this form, so don't even try!" Rukia declared with such authority that it made the other two look at her with wide eyes. "Shall we finish him together, Hitsugaya-taichou?"
"…Che, can't have you stealing all my glory, can I? Still, it's good to have you back." Hitsugaya paused upon reaching her side, where Rukia saw an ice petal fall off his back. "Let's go."
…-200 Degrees…
White. White. White.
Take your time, Rukia. A hand squeezing hers, ignoring the crawling ice. The scent of cherry blossoms. Let it melt, nice and slowly.
A head with orange hair, a confident yet sad smile. See you later, midget. Wish me luck.
Red hair obscuring a grief laden face, heavy hands on both her shoulders. He's gone, Rukia. They tried everything, but after that bastard…with taichou's own bankai, he…I'm sorry, Rukia. I'm so sorry.
White. White. White.
-259 Degrees…
"ARROGANCE! ARROGANCE! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! I WILL MAKE YOU WISH FOR THE BLISS OF DEATH! KUCHIKI RUKIA!"
A gigantic fleshy hand reached for her. The sound of ice breaking, a high-pitched scream, and a deep, bone-chilling baritone.
"You will not touch her!"
Her own sword raised, her own cold adding to another's.
Absolute Zero.
"Bankai: Hakka no Togame!"
White. White. White.
The monster had crumbled. She was falling.
A flutter of pink.
A sigh of release.
"…You have gotten stronger, Rukia."
Arms cradling her and stopping her from falling. An ocean of soft green.
"I got you, Kuchiki. Stay with me."
The fog in her head slowly cleared when Rukia finally opened her eyes.
Where am I? was the first thought that came to mind, sweeping her gaze around for a better look at her surroundings.
It was dark, but not to the point that she couldn't see. Under the dim silver light, she could make out walls of frayed wood and ripped tatami flooring. In front of her was a lined pit, a small hearth. The room was bare aside from that and…
"You're awake."
"Hitsugaya…taichou…?"
Rukia turned to the source of the voice at her left. The captain was sitting next to her, arms crossed with his back against the wall, his white top and pants torn in some places. His upper torso exposed his broad chest wrapped in bandages, same with his hands.
The girl blinked. "You…managed to do all that…on your own?"
"That's the first thing you thought of asking?" Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow, but Rukia could tell that he was amused. "Well, it's not like there's someone else who can do it for me."
"I—I'm sorry—" Rukia's cheeks colored as she tried to sit up. "I didn't mean to stay out so long, I—how long did I—?"
Hitsugaya's hands were on either side of her, gently pushing her back down while adjusting his white trench coat over her. Oh so that's where it went.
"Don't be reckless." He chided. "You pushed yourself to your limit after you used your Bankai on Äs Nödt, and I barely managed to heal your injuries so don't go reopening them again. The bastard's dead by the way."
"…I didn't know you could use healing kido." Since their partnership, whenever someone got injured, Rukia would take over the healing responsibilities. Not that she gave Hitsugaya a chance to volunteer, now that she thought about it.
The captain smirked. "It's not so much as I can't, more so that I don't. If I were to use it on anyone else, they would not be able to stand the cold of my reiatsu long enough for me the heal them properly. But seeing as you are a snow zanpakuto wielder, I took the chance."
"Well, I feel much better now, thanks for that. But what about you, taichou?"
"It's a waste of energy to heal these minor scrapes." Hitsugaya waved the concern away. "I'll be fine—"
But Rukia had already rolled to his direction, taking one of his hands to hers. "Now you're the one being ridiculous. You already healed me pretty well. Let me return the favor."
Hitsugaya turned his head away from her, and she could have sworn she saw some pink dusting his cheeks. "You—you don't have to—!"
"I want to. You know I will anyway." Rukia said easily, already charging up some healing energy into her palms to treat the captain's injuries. "We're friends, Hitsugaya-taichou. We're supposed to look out for each other."
The room was silent for a few minutes while the petite Shinigami healed her companion's hands and arms, before what she said caught up with her, making her blush and wave her hands defensively. "Ah, no, I—I'm sorry! I did not mean to sound so forward! I'm sorry for speaking out of turn, Hitsugaya-taichou, I—"
"Friends, huh?" The underlying emotions in his chuckle hurt Rukia's ears. "I haven't…I haven't been anyone's friend in a long time."
…I hate it when he becomes like this. At the beginning, Hitsugaya had been like a blank wall to her, but as the days wore on, like ice slowly being chipped away, sides of the little Captain she did not know existed showed itself to her.
Of all of them, this was the one she hated yet related to the most.
The loneliness. The emptiness. The pain that came with it. It was the side Rukia found herself doing all she could to make it go away.
"Yes, we are friends, Hitsugaya-taichou. Months being stuck together, saving each other's asses during the war kind of does that." Rukia flashed him a smile. "So you're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."
She did a little victory dance in her mind when she saw Hitsugaya's lips twitch upward. "The way I see it, you're the one stuck with a hot tempered grouch like me, so you're getting the short end of the stick."
She pretended to think on that. "Well there is that, not to mention the fact that you kick in your sleep every now and then—"
"What—no! No I don't!"
"I have bruises to prove it! I would show you, but then I'd have to kill you to keep my dignity intact. Oh, and did I mention that you snore?"
"I DO NOT—YOU'RE MAKING ALL THIS UP!"
Rukia grinned. It was after testing the waters for a few times that she found the right balance between respecting the captain's authority and engaging in an almost playful banter. "And you ate all the watermelon we found last week! Wasn't one of the ideas of being partners is that we should share the food?"
"I gave you all the honeydew last time to make up for it! AND I DO NOT SNORE!"
"Honeydew and watermelon are two different things. And whatever you say, Hitsugaya-taichou, whatever you say."
"You—!" Hitsugaya looked like he was going to rant some more, while Rukia waited while readying herself to make a witty comeback.
But then the white haired teen laughed. Not just a short bout either, but a full blown, hysterical until you run out air kind of laugh.
Rukia watched him, transfixed, as Hitsugaya continued for about a minute, or maybe longer. Never in their time had she seen the captain let go and laugh out loud like this. It sounded so full, deep, round yet musical in its own way. After being around male friends, whose joy sounded so boisterous, strong and explosive, this sounded a different kind of pleasant, like a warm feeling.
Until the laughter cracked along the way.
The petite lieutenant's grin fell when her companion's laugh began to hitch sharply, garbling into piteous broken sounds that could only mean one thing.
"Stupid…this is so stupid. Not like this…I shouldn't be losing it…" The boy Shinigami sobbed angrily. "I'm Captain, Goddamnit! I can't…I can't…"
Hitsugaya-taichou… Rukia felt her heart break a little more when he hid his face in his hands, fingers digging into his scalp while his shoulders shook as he was literally falling to pieces in front of her. He's hurting so much. What…what can I do?
/You know the answer, Rukia-sama./
It was by pure instinct that her arms moved on their own, wounding around the grieving Shinigami, guiding the white head to her shoulder, into a hug.
She felt Hitsugaya stiffen against her, and she briefly wondered why she didn't fear the threat of crossing too many boundaries or even the threat of being frozen to death.
/Because you are doing right by him,/ whispered Sode no Shirayuki. /Just as with those closest to your heart, just you always have./
"I…I don't know how much it hurts you right now. But I can imagine, I think…" She spoke slowly, as if to a wounded animal. "When Nii-sama died, I felt that I wanted the world to swallow me whole. He and I…remember that I told you, for the first forty years we had, we had been like strangers? But after that, after Sokyoku Hill…" She bit her lip. "It was so short, but it had been so wonderful. I had always been alone, then I had a family, friends. The big brother I always wanted since I first met him. And it hurt so much when…"
"…I felt that…I lost her a long time ago, Hinamori." Rukia nearly jumped a mile when Hitsugaya suddenly spoke. "After what happened with Aizen, no matter how hard we—I— tried, things couldn't just go back to the way they were. But still I hoped…," He hiccuped, "A—and Matsumoto, I never…I never got to thank her. She put up with me, despite everything…a scary, impossible hard-ass of a captain, yet she stood by me. She saved me and my grandmother from Rukongai. And now she'll never know…how grateful I am…"
"She knows you care. Trust me on this. Rangiku-san, she may complain about you a lot, but…she also spoke so highly of you. She respected you so much, that even when people said bad things about you, she would always say that it is because they didn't understand you."
"Some would say that's my fault."
"No, that is who you are. There's plenty about you to like, taichou. Anyone who says otherwise aren't worth your time." Rukia said firmly. "And as for Hinamori-fukutaichou, I didn't know her very well, but I believe that, if she really was that caring friend you told me about, you would have found a way back to each other. You don't just forget friends who mean so much to you."
It was quiet for a while before Hitsugaya sighed shakily. "It will never go away, will it, this pain?"
Rukia knew it was a rhetorical question but answered anyway. "It won't. It will just fade in time, but it will still be there. It's like a part of them that stays with you, along with the memories. But…but that doesn't mean you can't make it bearable. That you would have to face it alone."
She squeezed his shoulder. "It's OK to cry, taichou. It's OK to say goodbye. Take it from me, it really helps."
"Kuchiki…"
"I'm here," She assured him. "I said I'd stay, remember?"
"…Momo…Matsumoto…Granny…"
And when the white-haired captain fell apart in howls of grief, rage and loss, clutching her in a vice grip the same one would a driftwood in a stormy ocean. Rukia simply held on back, cried silent tears and didn't let go.
For a moment, she thought she smelt cherry blossoms again.
Goodbye, Nii-sama, Senbonzakura. Please rest in peace.
"Kuchiki?"
"Hmm?"
"…Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. It's what friends are for, and I did warn you you're stuck with me, Hitsugaya-taichou."
"Toushirou."
"E-Eh?"
"…You can call me Toushirou, if you want."
"W—Wow, really? Seriously? You're letting me—wait, are you OK? Why is your face turning red all of a sudden?"
"I—I'm fine! I—you don't have to call me that if you don't want to, Kuchiki! I just thought you needed to know!"
"…Rukia."
"What?"
"I'll call you Toushirou-taichou if you'll call me Rukia."
"Hmph, is that an order?"
"That's, of course not, it's—argh! W-well, you know what it is!"
"No I do not. Elaborate."
"…Has anyone told you you're such a bully?"
"Plenty."
"Well, you are, just so as we're clear."
"…They're still alive, you know?"
"Who?"
"Kurosaki and Abarai."
"…You sound so sure."
"It's because I am. Those two are some of the most resilient fools I've ever met."
"Hey…"
"And I promise you, I'll bring you back to them after this. It's…it's the least I can do."
"T-Taichou…"
"…It's getting late. We should get some sleep. Good night…Rukia."
"A—Ah, right, of course. Goodnight, uhm, Toushirou-taichou."
Rukia sighed at the view outside Urahara's shop.
A few more days (or was it weeks) of traveling, avoiding attention and searching, she and Hitsu—Toushirou eventually reunited with the rest of the surviving Gotei 13, which wasn't a lot.
Ichigo and Renji were alive, for one, but only Renji was there to greet her. The stupid strawberry managed to finish whatever training he was supposed to go through to achieve his true Zanpakuto and Bankai (apparently, Ichigo's mother was a Quincy and that meant he has both Shinigami and Quincy powers), and is now conducting an assault into the Soul King Palace to defeat Yhwach once and for all.
Other than Renji, other survivors included 11th Division Captain Zaraki, 12th Division Captain Kurostuchi and his Lieutenant, Nemu, 5th Division Captain Hirako, 2nd Division Captain Soi Fong, 1st Division Lieutenant Nanao, Ikkaku, Ayasegawa and Yoruichi.
There were still some unseated officers and rookies left, about less than a hundred, and they were all stationed as far away from the action as possible. The others still able to fight went to Karakura at Urahara's to plan. Apparently, the genius Shinigami was also able to create portal that will take them directly to the Royal realm where the Wandenreich city was moved by Yhwach.
"We had them grouped up, with the rest of the Visored leading them." Renji told her and Toushirou after they have arrived at the shop. "We're taking special care of the remaining from the 4th Division. With so few Shinigami left, we need all the hands we can get to heal the injured."
"All the senior Captains, dead." Toushirou murmured, his eyes clouded before shaking his head. "So what else have you decided upon?"
"We'll be dividing the Captain level forces into two." It was Hirako who answered. "Right now, almost all of the Sternritter are either dead or have turned traitor against Yhwach, what with him killing the idiots himself left and right. Our main concern aside from the big bad himself are the Schutzstaffel, Yhwach's currently indispensable elite: Pernida Parnkgjas, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Gerard Valkyrie and Lille Barro. Three of them are within Seireitei area, acting as commanding officers for the rest of the remaining Wandenreich. Only Askin is left in Wahrwelt, along with Jugram Haschwalth and Uryu Ishida. There's also Grimmjow, just so you know."
Kenpachi smirked viciously with a twist of his neck. "Fucking Gerard. He owes me a good fight. He's mine. What about you two losers?"
Ikkaku shrugged. "Obviously, we're going with you, Captain."
"True. The best fights happen only when you're around." Ayasegawa added.
"I will face Lille." Nanao said, clutching her newly acquired Zanpakuto. "I'll make him pay for what he did to Kyoraku-taichou."
"Well, if you're serious, I can't exactly let you fight that monster without backup, eh?" Hirako said with a toothy grin.
"I suppose it is up to me to take care of Pernida," drawled Kurostuchi, looking almost bored. "Obviously, Nemu will be joining me."
"Yes, Mayuri-sama."
"Which leaves Renji, Soi Fong, Kisuke and I to charge into the Wahrwelt." Yoruichi concluded for the group. "So where are you two going to be?"
Rukia opened her mouth to say something but Toushirou spoke first. "I'll be joining the force attacking the Soul King Palace. Rukia can remain here at Seireitei."
"What?! You can't be serious!" Rukia scowled at him. Sure, she was tired, but they all were, yet they're still going to charge at Yhwach to provide Ichigo back up. Why can't she do the same? "You can't expect me to stay here while you, Ichigo and Renji are going after Yhwach!"
"I do. You can hardly maintain your bankai for very long, and between the two of us, you are the one still more injured."
"But you ended up fighting more than I did! And besides, there's a lot of them staying behind Seireitei already! I'm better off helping you!"
"Rukia, I think Hitsugaya-taichou's got a point—" Renji tried to cut in.
Toushirou's eyebrows twitched. "Stop being difficult about this—"
"I can still fight!"
"—and you won't be doing that against the remaining Wandenreich?"
"I'm not going to be left behind again, Toushriou-taichou!" Rukia snapped at him, ignoring the suspicious burning in her eyes. "Not when I can still fight for my friends! I told you you're stuck with me, remember? Whether you like it or not! So no, I'm going and if you make me stay I'll find a way to make that portal work myself if I have to!"
Now Toushirou's eyes were dangerously narrowed. "For the love of Seireitei, Rukia, will you just—?!"
"As cute as this married couple argument is becoming," Hat and clogs said over Rukia's and Toushirou's argument. "Remember we only have until tonight for you to decide who is going where. We're already pressed for time as it is, and you don't want to go to probably the last fight of all our lives with hard feelings."
Twin sets of green and violet glared so ominously at Urahara that the man swore he felt his stomach was crushed by the sheer force. "A—Ara…?"
Meanwhile, out of earshot of the others, Ikkaku elbowed Renji. "Since when were those two already at first name basis?"
Ayasegawa added his helpful insight. "Since when has the 10th Division Captain been at first name basis with anyone?"
Renji frowned, not really knowing what to say except, "A lot can happen in two months, I guess?"
Why does he have to be so stubborn?
Rukia crossed her arms indignantly, leaning against the entrance of the Urahara shop for some fresh air. Everyone else was still inside so it was a good opportunity to get some alone time to sort out her thoughts. After everything we've been through together, after Äs Nödt, I thought he'd—I thought he'd believe in me more.
/If I may speak, hime. I don't think it's not him believing in you and more of him just being ridiculously protective./
Rukia blinked at that assessment. Huh?
/He has been for quite some time. Have you not noticed? / Sode no Shirayuki sighed./Keeping you out of harm's way as much as he can. Putting you in a position of lesser danger. Pulling all stops he can to make it happen. Does it not sound like something somebody used to do?/
The answer didn't take a second thought. Nii-sama.
/I should have expected he would be like this, given that he is a dragon. They are very territorial creatures, after all. He only wants to keep you safe./
Just because his Zanpakuto is a dragon doesn't mean he thinks like one. Rukia said. I guess that is reasonable. Still…
/Urahara-sama has a point. You should clear things up with him before you go to fight. There's too much riding on this and you both need to focus./
You're right, of course. Thank you, Shirayuki—
"You're mad at me."
Rukia turned away from him with a pout. Just because Sode no Shirayuki's insight made her understand the guy a little better, doesn't mean she's going to make this easy on him. "And you're mad at me, too, so there."
Toushirou let out a frustrated breath. "This is stupid! You know my arguments make sense! It will be much safer for you to stay at Seireitei and help the Visored!"
"And since when did I ever want the safer option? All of my friends will be charging straight at the danger named Yhwach. Why won't I want to be there and help them the best I can?"
"You will be helping at Seireitei!"
"It's not the same!" Rukia insisted. "And who's to say Seireitei is the safer option? Who says Yhwach won't attack us, or who's to say I won't be forced to fight against one of the Schutzstaffel?"
Hitsugaya flinched, his eyes dropping to the ground. "There's an element of unknown there, true, but the probability of that is greater in Wahrwelt. The information we got from there is not the most reliable. We don't even know how Ichigo is doing in there. If you go in there, there's a huge risk that you won't be coming back out. I know it's fine with you, but…"
The black haired girl frowned. "Toushirou-taichou…"
"It's not that I don't trust you. God knows I wouldn't have made it this far if you hadn't been with me." Hitsugaya's expression faltered for a brief moment before meeting Rukia's gaze. "And that's why I don't want you to go with us to Wahrwelt."
"Toushirou—"
"I can't lose anyone anymore, Rukia!" The captain snapped so forcefully it made Rukia step back. "I can't, not after Momo and Matsumoto! My grandmother's dead, my Division's nearly wiped out! It's too…I have lost too much and you…! You are—!"
"I'm the same too, you know."
Rukia felt Toushiriou flinch when she took his trembling hands into both of hers. "I wouldn't have anything left either if I lost all of my friends to Yhwach. And if you guys somehow lost to him, we will all be doomed anyway. If I'm doomed to die, then I'd rather do so my way."
"Don't," The way Toushriou's face twisted in pain—as if her words wounded him somehow—gnawed at her own heart. "Damn it, don't talk like that!"
But it was the truth. She knew she had to keep her strong, hopeful front, but she didn't want to lie to him.
"I can't promise you that I'll live past the remaining Sternritter either. Or if Yhwach decides to rain unholy hell on us in Soul Society. But if there's one thing I can promise you, just one, is that I'm with you, until the very end. And while I may not be Captain level yet, you know I won't die so easily."
"Rukia…"
"I'm sorry, Toushirou-taichou, but I've made my choice. I'll be going with you to Wahrwelt."
Toushirou glared angrily at the floor for a few more seconds before exhaling. "You are, without a doubt, the most infuriating woman I have ever met."
Rukia let out a laugh. "The honor is all yours."
"Infuriating and a smartass, especially for a noble, even if you are adopted."
"And you're such a Junrinan charmer at heart, you."
That made both friends smile before Toushirou dropped his first. "…You're really not going to change your mind?"
"Hell could freeze and thaw over a thousand times and I still won't."
Toushiro's eyes met hers again, and Rukia was taken aback at the intense swirling of emotion reflected in them: desperation, frustration, anxiety, and something else.
Something so frighteningly, so powerfully heartfelt and raw that Rukia was afraid to name.
"If I can't stop you from going," she felt Toushirou squeeze her hand. "At least, since I'm probably as good as dead…"
The vice grip of fear crushed her heart at the thought. That sort of thing simply cannot be. "You won't die, Toushirou-taichou! Don't even think that! I won't let it happen!"
But his eyes were sad and soft yet resigned. "Stay with me?"
"Don't I always?"
"…We need to talk to Urahara."
Rukia smiled widely as she obligingly followed the captain back inside the shop, not caring for a moment that he had not let go of her hand.
In the end, Rukia got what she wanted.
She joined the group attacking Yhwach's stronghold to provide backup for Ichigo. Yoruichi, Urahara and Soi Fong were the first to split from the group to deal with Askin while Renji, Toushriou and herself went after Ichigo, only to run into Ishida battling Haschwalth. As it turns out, their friend had not exactly betrayed them completely and had planned to destroy the Wahrwelt.
Hence the fight between him Haschwalth.
(Good Lord, why do these guys' names have to be so fucking hard to say?!)
Renji had to go ahead by himself while she and Toushirou helped take out the increasing number of gigantic stone statues that Haschwalth dragged from out of nowhere. It was ridiculous how many aces these bastards have in their sleeves.
"Tsugi no Mai: Hakuren!"
She and Toushirou went on an icy rampage, destroying every stupid giant that got in their way. Rukia restricted herself in her shikai release, making use of her dances to cut down the giants while Toushirou did most of the work with his regular bankai. She wanted to go back and help Ishida with his fight, but these giants just kept getting in the way.
"Some no Mai: Tsukishiro!"
Another wave of giants frozen by her sword before being slashed to pieces, but now she is out of breath.
Damn it, now's NOT the time to get tired! We're almost there! I can't let everyone down!
/Just a moment's rest, Rukia-sama. My ice will take its toll on your body if you do not./
Grunting resignedly, Rukia leapt to a nearby pillar, hiding her away from the giants but keeping the fighting Toushirou and Ishida in her view. A few seconds, just a breather, then…
That's when she saw it.
She could see Ishida and Haschwalth talking, Ishida looking angry and worried at the same time, but she couldn't hear them.
Then she saw Haschwalth draw his sword and, in a flash, sent an energy blast flying at the target.
NO! She only had a second.
She pushed her legs like she had never in her life, forced all the burst of shunpo she could muster, rocketing forth to intercept.
Ishida's scream came too late. "HITSUGAYA-TAICHOU, LOOK OUT!"
"At least, since I'm probably as good as dead…"
"You won't die, Toushirou-taichou! Don't even think that! I won't let it happen!"
/RUKIA-SAMA!/
There was an explosion of red, of hot, incredible pain. Yet all Rukia could register was the pair of shocked green eyes in front of her, her friend who she pushed out of the way of the fatal energy.
At first she was relieved. He was unharmed. She managed to save him. She wasn't a burden anymore.
But then she heard him breathe, in utter disbelief and tangible fear.
"Ru…kia…?"
His pinprick green eyes met her steadily clouding vision. "Toushirou…taichou…"
Then followed a terrible, anguished scream.
The world was trembling, she could feel it in the air that turned frigid.
Yet she didn't feel cold. If anything, she was so warm.
Something caught her as she fell, something incredibly gentle as it cradled her broken, bleeding body and held her close.
Arms…a person…? Rukia blinked, trying to clear the cobwebs forming in her mind.
That's right. Arms strong yet kind, cool yet tender, the embrace familiar and comforting.
And then there was a voice. Someone was calling her, sounding so far away, but she strained to listen…
"—kia! Rukia! Hang in there! Rukia!"
Toushirou-taichou? Toushirou-taichou was calling her? Was it time for them to move again? She had to get up. She can't keep him waiting...
"—up! Please, please, you have to—Rukia!"
She tried to speak but her tongue felt so heavy, and why did it hurt so much? What happened?
"RUKIA, PLEASE!"
Violet eyes pried open to meet frantic sea foam green ones on an older looking but still familiar face.
"How is it…that you look…older when…you achieve…complete Bankai?"
The Bankai aged Toushirou's face froze for a second before he let out a laugh garbled sob. "Gods, why do you always keep asking the stupidest questions?"
"S…Sorry for not…being a genius…like you…" She retorted, though it was hard to give her voice any bite thanks to the energy blast wound that went through her entire chest. It even took a while for her to remember that much. "The…the giants…Ishida…and…?"
"I froze them all, the giants. The floor mostly broke under the weight of the ice, the Quincies went elsewhere…"
"G…good. That's good…now they won't…be able to…" It felt so good, so safe to be cradled in his arms like this. No one had held her so tightly like this before. "T…Toushi…"
And then her throat just had to burn and cough.
"Easy, easy, it's OK, Rukia, it's OK. I got you." Toushirou said in that deep, smooth baritone that was so soothing. "Hang on, Rukia, you're going to be OK."
"S…Stop, tai…chou…" She murmured, grasping weakly at his chest. "You know…I won't…"
"Don't talk like that, damn it! You can't give up now!" There it was, the calming effect of a healing kidou, mingled with a cold reiatsu that she knew was uniquely the Ice Dragon's. How could people find Toushirou's reiatsu uncomfortable? It was anything but that at all…
"Don't you dare fall asleep on me, Kuchiki! You have to stay awake!"
Rukia smiled at that. "B…back to Kuchiki now, are we?"
"Because you're pissing me off!" She really wished she was, because his voice sounded so cracked and hysterical, a sob wanting to break through for him to appear angry. "Who the hell told you to take that attack for me?!"
"I…promised you, didn't I…taichou…?" Rukia answered quietly. "I promised…I wouldn't let you—"
"THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I DIDN'T WANT YOU HERE!"
"But if I…weren't here, you would have…gotten hit, and then I would have lost you too…"
"IT FUCKING WELL SHOULD HAVE, YOU IDIOT! I TOLD YOU BEFORE, I'M ALREADY GOOD AS DEAD!"Something wet hit Rukia's cheek. She hitched a breath when she saw the twin silver streams pouring from her friend's face. "I have no one, you still have your friends! I'm a fucking Rukongai nobody, you're the Kuchiki family princess! It's you who should have lived, not me! Why didn't you just—?!"
"Because…I'm selfish."
"Wh—what?"
"I'm sorry. So sorry, Tou…shirou…" Rukia felt her own dam burst. "I was so scared…of losing anyone else, after Nii-sama…Ukitake…taichou…I couldn't have lived…with myself. But you...you've always been so strong, stronger than I'll ever be. You...you would have been all right, even without—"
"But I'm not Kurosaki or Abarai! We only knew each other for two months! You knew them for years! If you should be giving your life for anyone—!"
She brushed a paling hand against the captain's wet cheek. "It's not…about how long…like with Nii-sama. Not the time...but the moment..."
How can she fully explain that, despite the threat of their lives looming overhead everyday, those two months had been a wonderful experience for her? She didn't have much friends who connected with her in the same level Toushirou had. Once she got past his aloofness—which she realized was a defense mechanism—Rukia was able to see how caring, thoughtful, witty and playful he was in his own unique way.
Short tempered, blunt and didn't take well to being defied, but willing to listen and humble enough to admit his mistakes.
It meant a lot to her that he grew to trust her, to open himself up to her about his past, his experiences and his thoughts. And the rare true smiles she got from him, the simple gestures that made her feel safe, like she mattered…
/Oh, Rukia-sama…/
I'm sorry, Sode no Shirayuki. She apologized to her faithful companion as she felt the spirit's form wrap her in an embrace. I'm so sorry but I can't…I just can't let him die…
/I know, dearest. Do not ever apologize for saving someone so close to your heart./
The world was turning dark now. It was getting harder to breathe. She was losing the feeling of his warmth.
"Please tell…Ichigo and Renji…Sado, Ishida…Orihime…I'm sorry. And thank you…for being my friends. Tell them…I loved them all…"
My time with you had been wonderful. My only regret is that…I didn't have more.
"No...no, Gods please, no! Rukia, I—I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! It's not your fault. I'm not mad...I…" She felt him take hold of her hand on his cheek in a tight, quaking grip, the arm around her tightening to the point of hurting. "Please, please, I'm begging you…don't do this. If…if I lost you, I'll—"
She could hear…his heart beating. It filled her ears…such a…nice sound. "Thank you…Toushirou…for letting me call you…by your first name…for letting me in. Promise me you'll keep fighting..."
"—You can't! Please!" She felt something trembling cup her face, something resting against her forehead. "You promised me, Rukia! You said you'd stay with me! STAY WITH ME!"
Of course I will, idiot…
Just give me…a moment to...
…
The frosted wind in Wahrwelt stilled.
/It has been…the greatest honor…to have been your zanpakuto, Rukia-sama…/
Sode no Shirayuki fell to the ground and dissolved into snowfall joining the roaring blizzard.
…
"…RUKIAAAAAA!"
...Obviously Rukia's not gonna remain dead forever. *winkwink*
I hope the budding relationship between the ice power couple wasn't too fast. I paced it as realistically as I could (they did have two months of bonding together). I don't know, I just imagine that Shirou and Rukia can easily click. They do have matching temperaments, after all (I'm not just talking about their swords).
BTW, the unit measurement I used to measure Rukia reaching absolute zero is Celsius (roughly -273 degrees oC)
Glossary:
-Fukutaichou: Lieutenant (lit. Vice-Captain)
-Hime: princess
-Nii-sama: very formal way of addressing an older brother
-Soutaicho: Captain Commander
-Taichou: Commander
EDIT: Made some minor tweaks on the grammar and spelling checks. Deleted and changed some lines. Small things. Changed the formatting around here a bit because the options here are more limited than AO3. So sad. :(
OMAKE:
In the vast sea of souls and power, the great cycle of life, rebirth, the loom of the very fabric of reality…
A white soul floated, almost dancing into the light, unaware of the tear growing behind it, of the darkness that will soon spill after.
But the presence in the balance sees all, its dark eyes followed the soul with something akin to regret.
"We have erred."
It had made a grievous mistake of underestimating the misguided with delusions of Godhood. Because of it, the balance has been shaken. That world, broken beyond repair, with no hope of saving…
And its taint threatens to spill over the rest of the tapestry, bringing only doom instead of the twisted idea of heaven as hoped.
But how to stop this corrupting madness?
"Only one way."
The white snowflake soul dancing in its palm, a pure, surprisingly warm thing with hidden untapped power from more than one source.
"Bring her soul here. The latent power within is the bridge. Her heart is the key. The butterfly in the box."
The white snowflake was drawn into a circle, joined by other lights: radiant crimson, cheery pink, pulsing sky, shimmering silver and frosted azure.
"There is only one recourse. Our way forward is back.
"She is the key."