Into the Dark

It was pouring outside. The darkness flooded Ichigo's room, making the air so heavy that he found breathing difficult. The rut in his mind ensued as demons of his own insecurity wreaked havoc. This became normal for him, but at the same time, it was still as painful as ever. Strength. He wanted strength. Power. It was only his own power and will that would be able to save him, which in turn, would save and protect the lives of his friends and family.

But at least at this point, he found something to draw hope from. Though still at its beginning stages, he still had power, Ginjo had given him- no- awakened that power in him. Riruka just pushed it further… Riruka… that name sounded too much like Rukia. Where was she? How was she doing? Does she know what's going on?

The day he heard her voice, his heart raced. It was her, calling him by his name, that same tone and edge in her voice. It was her.

He turned over underneath his sheets, shuffling his blankets so that he'd feel comfortable; so that he could get some sleep. It was never easy to sleep anymore, not that it was any simpler at all earlier in his life. Especially without his powers and that nagging voice in the back of his mind telling him that he needed to do something about his current state. But what was he to do? He couldn't see shinigami, he couldn't sense souls… he was as good as blind.

He was weak.

With an annoyed grunt, he grabbed his pillow from under his head and rammed it upon his ear. The attempt to silence the thoughts in his head failed, however, as the nagging and pessimistic words morphed into a voice that jolted his soul.

Idiot.

Not this again.

That's the man I –

Shut up.

Ichigo!

"Shut up!" The pillow in his hand flung across his room, followed by a soft thump as it hit the wall.

He sighed, scratching the back of his head, not even disturbing the placement of his still unruly orange hair. He stared at the wrinkled sheets before him. He remembered where she sat the day she returned from Soul Society. His eyes trailed to the closet that she believed she'd be sleeping in for the next little while. A small smile escaped his lips, followed by a deeply etched frown.

Without the slightest thought in his mind, he stood up and opened his closet. Futons lay folded, mocking him silently. He looked around, sighed, then slid the door closed. What was he hoping? That she'd be there? Hiding? Doodling her crappy art into her sketchbook?

Ichigo rested his forehead on the door of the closet, hands against it, as if listening and waiting for something to happen. But of course, nothing did, a futon could never and will never be a living, breathing, and annoying woman.

Ichigo.

There it was again.

Ichigo's lifted his head and turned to the direction of his door. The voice was too realistic… maybe she was there. He shook his head, dismissing the voice as something his head concocted.

Maybe he needed some fresh air. He glanced out his window, and his eyes widened, for he swore that he saw a black form fly by. Dismissing the reality check attempting to bulldoze into his brain, he bolted to his window, opened it, and peered into the dark rain. Nothing but rainwater pelting on his head met him, ignoring it and the cold; he decided to go outside to check… just to make sure it wasn't some sort of burglar. He closed his window, and left his room, walking as quietly but quickly as he could.

Ichigo slipped into his shoes, and opened the door; a soft wind greeted him followed by a mist of rain. He looked out into the dark, with nothing visible but the space underneath the light of the lampposts, he closed the door behind him, and walked a few steps.

Don't look at me like that; you can't possibly think that you caused my injuries!

He whipped his head around, it sounded too real. To his surprise, a lone black butterfly was flying, even in the rain. Drenched in water, with a painful and desperate look on his face, he chased after it, as her voice continued to sound in his mind.

Don't even try to move…one step from there…

He chased after the voice and that butterfly, running faster and faster.

If you try to follow me…

He didn't even know what he was following anymore. The butterfly had already disappeared, but his legs continued pumping in time with his breaking heart.

I'll… never forgive you!

Ichigo stopped. He stood there, staring at a puddle before his feet, in silence. The sound of the rain continued around him steadily.

I've decided to… stay in Soul Society.

Ichigo clenched his fists and looked up to the sky, the cool drops of water sent tingles down his spine. It's a good thing right? It's a good thing that she's where she belongs.

But why did he want her back so badly?

Thank you, Ichigo.

"No..." He fell to his knees. "That's my line." He whispered, his head cast down, water escaping the spikes of his bangs.

He felt something warm on his cheek, and whipped his head to his right. He stared up into the space before him, his eyes wide.

This was definitely real… someone's hand was there.

He placed his hand over the cheek; certain, that he'd feel the soft hand laying on it. But there was nothing there, and in a second, a cool breeze, like the wind from when a person passed, enveloped him.

"Rukia…" He whispered. He looked out into the darkness, straining his eyes and all of his senses for something. "Rukia!" He exclaimed.

It was then that he felt it. It was small, so small that if he moved a step farther, he would have missed it. It was beside him, a tiny fire. He shifted slowly, as if moving would cause whatever was there to disappear. He put out his hand slowly, going down, trying to see if it was a body of some sort. He landed on a shoulder. He knew it was a shoulder because it was soft, a little thin, but there was some sort of cloth underneath his cold hands. There was nothing there, nothing that he could see, but his hand floating. He slackened his arm, then pulled whatever it was into him, wrapping his arms around it.

It was warm.

He felt a push.

In surprise, he stepped back slightly, loosening his hold.

The warmth disappeared, as he tried sensing for it again, but it was gone.

It was her. He knew it because her small and thin frame never changed. He felt the spiky edges of her hair on his arms, and that push… it was followed by an incantation.

As Ichigo drifted into unconsciousness, he fell to the ground slowly.

You still fall as slowly as ever.

He heard. That couldn't have been his imagination. He didn't want it to be. A soft smile escaped his lips as his eyes closed into deep sleep.

A/N: If any of you are still on track with the manga, this takes place the night before he trains in Riruka's fish tank (Chapter 441). However if you are not, just treat this as if it's after Rukia stayed in Soul Society.

Reasons for this random submission?

I missed Rukia. I missed yearning Ichigo. I missed Ichiruki.

There may be a chapter two.