Muse
A/N: What can I say? A man of the arts inspired me. Inspired by chapter 495.

Rojorou Otoribashi was a martyr.

Most who were close to him called him by Rose, a nickname contrived from his zanpakuto's design and his lifestyle. A rose is a flower of love and passion. For a man like Rojurou, his whole life was a sense of euphoria and appreciation of the arts. His ultimate passion was to the arts and his melody was of his outlook on life.

Once, about a century ago, his compositions turned into a recessional for the life he once had. He would play a selection of mainly minor notes as he battled his inner beast within. His inner beast played a passionate melody that rivaled his own. But instead of the beautiful artistic songs of Rojurou's making, he only sung a story of misery, deception and horrible lies. Battling for control of this beast brought about the largest battle of the arts that the world would never know. Despite his triumphant victory against his own beast, Rojourou never quite was inspired the same way again. He had lost a muse, someone that could inspire him in a way that he needed to fill the whole that his hollow had taken out long ago.

Izuru Kira was that someone. He was a broken man, like Rojurou. Betrayed by both a superior he trusted and by himself for attacking the girl he had secretly adored for decades. After the war, he had thought that he lost everything. Even when he was abandoned by that man, even when that girl was bleeding and left to die, he still truly believed that things would get better. But once that belief was crushed once again, he fell into deep despair. Instead of piting himself, he thought he deserved it and that's just how it was supposed to be.

Then the day came that a few of the previous members of the Gotei 13 were invited back into the ranks. An official apology was given and three Captain class Shinigami were given their old positions. Izuru dreaded that day. Noticeably, he hated change. He had to change his division many times until he stayed in the Third. Strangely enough, the third had become his home. Izuru did not wish to have some nostalgic stranger come around again.

But when Rojurou met Izuru, he immediately liked him. From his appearance, Rojurou could tell that Izuru was just a tragic man who wanted the best in everything. Hearing about that pain, caused Rojurou to bring about the beautiful melodies that he had once had. The pain just blew away like leaves in wind. Not long after their introduction, they felt a sense of familiarity between the two of them. Rojurou felt like Izuru was an old, dear friend of his, whilst Izuru felt as though Rojurou was a mentor to him from a long while back who had just returned.

The void in each others lives were filled. Rojurou never once felt stuck on his compositions. Rojurou's inner muse had found inspiration and Izuru felt hope. A hope that everything just might be okay again. He made peace with his could-be sweetheart. He made peace with his deceased former captain and his cruel motives.

They were happy with just each other's comforting presence. Until the end.

Song inspiration: Face the Wall - Emilie Autumn