Title: Paths

Rating: G

Pairing / Characters: Kuchiki Rukia, Kurosaki Ichigo, Kuchiki Byakuya, Abarai Renji

Word Count: 478 words

Warnings: No spoilers in particular, but it is AU

Summary: Rukia becomes human, Urahara Kisuke commits suicide

A/N: I don't know where this came from. I think because at the end of the Soul Society arc, Urahara showed remorse for what he did to Rukia, and I just thought "but wait." So this is what happened. ''

My voice was grave. 'I cannot go back, Nii-sama. The laws of Soul Society no longer apply to me.'

I raised a hand to my cheek, feeling the warmth of the blood trickling down my jaw line. Behind me, I could feel Ichigo's presence, solid, comforting. Before me I could see the man I had called 'brother' for the last forty years of my life. I was almost relieved. Never again would I have to see his impassive face and know that I was the cause of his anger. I would not see Sereitei again.

'What are you talking about?' Renji demanded. 'You idiot, you have to come back.'

I remembered the expression on Shihouin Yoruichi's face when I told her what Urahara Kisuke had done. I knew I would see the same expression on Renji's face.

'I am human, Renji,' I said simply.

'Explain.'

Out of obedience to my brother, I did so, indicating my gigai. 'When I was wounded in a fight with a hollow, Urahara Kisuke lent me this gigai. However until recently I was not aware that my shinigami powers were slowly being destroyed – eroded. Now, it is too late. I no longer have any shinigami powers. Shirayuki was destroyed. I cannot go back, Nii-sama, and you cannot kill me now.'

The impassive expression never left my brother's face. 'I see,' he said without inflection. 'And what of Urahara Kisuke?'

'He is dead. He… he killed himself.'

'Suicide?' Renji looked aghast, and I didn't blame him.

I had been awoken by the screams. Yoruichi's screams. When I went downstairs, I found her kneeling in a pool of blood, cradling Urahara's body. His zanpakutou lay in pieces beside him. It looked to me like he had impaled himself on it. I tried, but I couldn't feel any sympathy for him. He had destroyed a part of me, and I could never get it back. When I told Yoruichi why I thought he had taken his life, she looked betrayed. Wounded. I almost hated seeing that look on her face, because she was still a spirit. Still whole. I was the one who was broken.

I was brought out of my reverie by something that was almost a sigh. 'Very well, Rukia. You are quite right – we are unable to harm you. However, there is still the matter of the human child you gave your shinigami powers to.'

I turned involuntarily to Ichigo, wanting to tell him to run, but I could not find the words. Ichigo was standing ready, his zanpakutou in his hands. I knew, even before my brother moved, what the outcome of the fight would be.

Minutes, hours later, I was still kneeling beside Ichigo's body, the cold rain soaking through my clothes. I could hear, faintly, what sounded like screaming.

It took a long while before I realised it was me.