C O M P L I C A T I O N S

T W O

Fear always got the best of her.

No matter if it was over the tiniest inconvenience, a hint of anxiety always pings through her. That's why when anything remotely related to her happens, a string of apologies soon follow in pursuit. Many have told her that she was overreacting. That she needed to chill out. But she couldn't. Not after what she has seen. Not after what she has done.

The faintest sliver of light shone into her eyes, the wounds on her body ached as much as it was drenched in blood. Standing up would have caused much more pain than needed and that wasn't what she wanted.

A strong gust of wind blew on her cheek, her vision filled with large, green trees and the scent of newly grown flowers. She wasn't remotely close to her destination, not close at all. She landed in a garden, water trickling down its destined pathway.

It was calming. Excessively calm.

Her thoughts began to wander, her torso slowly turns to its side as she is now faced with the choices she has made.

Regret was one you could use. Foolish is another. But, lovesick was the perfect one. Everything she did, everything she sacrificed, all came back to him. Of course, admitting it to anyone other than herself was nearly impossible. Nearly. She could have said that it was for those friends she left behind, for the life that she held so dearly, for the future of everyone. But, no. Her purpose was to protect him from herself.

Blades of grass tickled her fingertips, the thin Zanpakuto that was tossed in her earlier escapade laying next to her. An airy giggle arose from her chapped lips, her tongue dampening them like a gloss.

Kurayami, one half of the whole. Dark and dangerous. Younger than Akari, the light and safety of the two. To her, those representations meant more than that. Akari represented him almost exactly. The hair. The eyes. Even the light-hearted attitude and smile. Maybe that's why. Why she can't fight the way she used to. It is like a constant reminder of the decision she made years ago.

The decision to leave.

Her legs began to move, the aching of her body never ceases to disappear. Her hand grips her belongings, making her way towards her sister.

The entrance of the training ground was discreet, but the spiritual energy emitting from it made it obvious that something was hidden nearby. Her hand brushes against the ground before jumping down, the heels of her shoes making a large clack on the stone.

"Yoruichi? Are you down here?" She announces, her hand gripping the handle of her Zanpakuto. Of course, she must have been down here. Besides all of the cons of this place, no one else knew about the training grounds beside her, Yoruichi, and Kisuke.

"Lilianna? What happened to you?" Yoruichi asks, Ichigo peering from behind a boulder. Almost like a shy child meeting a new person.

"Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a few scars and a possibility of a new hair-do." She hummed, Yoruichi raises her eyebrow before pointing at the torn dress keeping her clothed.

"Are you going to fix that?" She asks, Lilianna peering down before the tips of her ears burn bright red. Of course, she brought a change of clothes, but the dress was something she wanted to continue wearing.

Lilianna nods, hopping into the spring of water before de-robing herself. Having another person that wasn't family made her a bit uncomfortable to bathe peacefully. Then, an idea struck her.

She closes her eyes, feeling her body tingle before being greeted by white fur, covering her whole body. Her cat transformation was complete.

"Whoa! I didn't know that you could turn into a cat too?" Ichigo exclaimed, her paws frolicking in the warm water. Lilianna knew that Yoruichi failed to mention that they were siblings, a pout arising. She didn't know if her sister wanted her to explain, her eyes adverting to her sister. A soft nod confirms her thoughts, explaining to Ichigo their familial relationship.