Would You Stay?

Can I stay?

Rukia's POV

Can I stay?

That's a stupid question.
Of course I could stay, but it wouldn't matter.

After all, you wouldn't be able to see me or even hear me.

Are we never going to see each other again?
I can't bare that.
Not being able to hear your soothing voice.
That obnoxiously orange hair that makes the sun's brightness seem to fade.
I'll miss hearing the joy in your voice when you talk about being a soul reaper and being able to protect those you love.
And I'll especially miss the annoyed look you get when I call you strawberry and the satisfied grin when you call me midget.
I'll forever be your midget...

Will you even remember me, Ichigo?
Will you remember my face or my voice?
Will all of our memories together mean nothing?
The laughter...
The tears...
The blood spilled...
Gone

Its not fair.
You were happy.
You had faced so much hardship, but you were able to protect those closest to you which you had always dreamed of doing.
And in the end you gave that power away to protect everyone.

I am lost.
Ichigo I am truly lost.
The day we met I felt a strange sensation.
We grew so close that you were willing to die to save me even though we hadn't known each other for more than a couple of months.
I have fought with these human emotions for so long and I am confused. I've never experienced this warmth.

I don't want you to be unable to see me dammit! These feelings, despite how foreign they are...I want them! I want to stay with you! Please!!!

Why is this so hard?
You're human. I'm a shinigami.
We're opposite sides of the same coin.
The sun and the moon.
Destined to stay apart from each other.
Then why is this so damn hard!!

I've nearly lost you before.
Your fight with Grand Fisher for the sake of honor.
You stormed the Soul Society and fought Nii-sama for my life.
You fought those terrifying arrancar and your inner demon for your own soul.
You fought Aizen and sacrificed your power for this world.

And now it seems that I'm going to lose my heart.

Fate is cruel.
It brought us into each others lives just to forcefully rip us apart again.
We've been through so much together.
I thought I'd lose you in Hueco Mundo...
But now it seems I will lose you.
Aizen won in the end after all, if not but partially.

I don't care if it's selfish
I don't care how pointless it is.
It won't happen whether I cry until my eyes hurt or beg until my voice fails.
Nothing will change.
But I still want to ask...

Can I stay?

I guess it's time.

"This is goodbye, Ichigo." I say suddenly. He stares at the ground with a soft expression "It seems so, huh?"

He won't look me in the eyes.
Why is his face so sad?

"Oi, whats with that sad face Ichigo?" I say as I step closer. I tap his chest softly with the back of my hand as I speak again. "Even if you can't see me, I'll still be able to see you." I add an especially evil grin at the end. His face changes to slight annoyance.

I've missed these arguments.

He runs his hand through his hair. "Tch. How is that supposed to make me feel better Rukia? Besides I am not making a sad face." I step back and smile up at him, trying to mask the pain in my eyes.

I'll miss you, Ichigo.
You're my closest friend.
My partner.
The person I love.
I guess after all I truly was in love with you baka.
If only I could tell you these feelings I barely understand.
But I won't. It would only hurt us more.
And so I'll just say goodbye my dear strawberry.

Ichigo let out a sigh. "Goodbye, Rukia. Tell everyone.... I give them my best." I softly reply "Okay." I snap my head up to look upon his face. He finally looked at me, the slight smile he had now gone and replaced with a sorrowful gaze. Tears threaten to fall as I stare at him.

Ichigo....could it be...that you have these same feelings? Do you love me too? I want to ask but I don't have the time or will.

The wind shifts slightly as the last of Ichigo's power finally fades.

And so.
My tears finally fall.

End

-A/N
Thx for reading. Comments and reviews are gladly accepted. This is my first time writing in years and I'd enjoy feedback.

Chem.