|
Ichigo Kurosaki had come a long way for her. He’d endured abusive training sessions, intense battles and survived injuries that would have killed lesser men. All for her sake. He was determined to rescue her and if anyone tried to stop him, he’d simply hack and slash his way through them with the help of Zangetsu.
Her face…he couldn’t get her face out of his mind. The night that she’d returned to Soul Society, she’d looked at him with eyes filled with tears as she told him she’d never forgive him. He had never seen her cry before. Of all of her expressions…the snide expression she used when she made fun of him, the confused face she wore when trying to figure out something as simple as a juice box…that face was one he never wanted to see again.
He’d wanted to hold her close to him and wipe the tears from her eyes, but found the darkness growing around him as she disappeared beyond the doors that had appeared. Even though he knew she was gone, he thought he could feel her tears falling.
For those reasons, he was determined to rescue her.
And there she was. She looked more frail and thinner than when he last saw her. She was dressed completely in white, which made her skin look extra pale. Her head hung wearily to one side and he was certain that she’d collapse to the ground if she hadn’t been tied to the pole behind her. Her eyes were closed, but opened slightly when she heard him draw near.
“Rukia,” he spoke and took her chin between his fingertips. Slowly, he tilted her head upwards until she was looking into his eyes.
For a moment, she stared blankly at him. Slowly her eyes began to widen with clarity and recognition.
“Ichigo,” she breathed. He grinned at her as he cut her free. Her legs buckled slightly, and he gathered her weight against him, his free arm wrapped tightly around her. For a brief moment, she buried her face against his chest. When she turned her face up to face him, she looked as if she were about to cry.
“Why? Why did you come for me?” Her lower lip trembled as her eyes filled with tears. Her gaze dropped down to his chest. His haori had opened slightly, and revealed the bandage that concealed one of his many injuries. Gingerly, she let her hand skim over it. His muscles tightened at the sensation of her touch. “Look at what’s happened to you…”
Rukia sniffled and looked up again into Ichigo’s eyes. Her face was now streaked with tears that would not stop.
“I told you that I’d never forgive you if you came after me,” she said as she fought to keep herself from sobbing. Ichigo replaced Zangetsu on his back and gently wiped away her tears.
“I’d rather have you hate me in life than love me in death,” replied Ichigo as he held her close.
“You fool,” she managed as fresh tears started to roll down her cheeks. Despite the insult, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly. “Whoever said I loved you?”
Ichigo smiled.
“Whoever said you didn’t?”
| 
