Afire Love (Bleach: Ichiruki)

XI

Rukia Kuchiki

My eyes snapped open.

I sat up, gasping for air. Just a second ago I couldn't breathe. And now I was perfectly fine. The entire right part of my body that had been... eaten was there.

I looked up, only to see Nii sama's face. He was holding me, but his attention was focused on something straight ahead.

I followed his gaze, which led me to look at Aizen.

My eyes widened as I saw Yhwach on the ground, his body split into two.

I pushed myself from Nii sama's hold, to make sure what I was seeing wasn't an illusion.

Yhwach was dead.

Aizen turned around at that moment. My eyes widened even more.

I could see it in his eyes. He was even more powerful.

"Welcome back, Rukia." I looked to my left, not even noticing that the Soul Queen was next to me since I was so focused on Aizen.

She was smiling down at me, although her eyes looked hurt, and her expression was.. sad.

I decided not to question her well being.

"What happened?" I asked.

"The Soul King is resurrected. And it was Yhwach who paid the price." The Soul Queen said as she looked at Aizen the entire time.

My eyes widened even more.

Oh.

Oh.

Aizen's our new Soul King?

"Find the remaining Quincies and bring them all to me. Right now, I have some business to take care of on the ground." Aizen-- no-- the Soul King said. I knew this was the Soul King because his tone was more kinder, his eyes full of light in them as he smiled at us all.

"You've all done good, my children. Thank you for protecting Soul Society." The Soul King praised us.

I watched as he held his hand out to the Soul Queen. His eyes held so much love in them that it almost made me melt.

I'm not into those romance things.

But the Soul King and the Soul Queen, they're love is beautiful.

The Soul Queen took his hand, then disappearing from our sights.

It was silent for a few moments before all of us went out, looking for the remaining quincies. It was easy, because with their leader dead, the quincies weren't ridiculously as strong as they were before.

A hand on my shoulder caused me to jump.

I spun around, surprised to see Uryu.

My eyes widened.

He was the one that would take over after Yhwach. With Yhwach dead, does that mean-

"-its okay, Rukia. You can relax. I'm not gonna hurt you. Or anyone else anymore." Uryu lowered his head in shame.

I frowned. "I- are you okay?" I asked.

He moved his gaze to mine, his eyes filled with pain.

"I am so sorry, Rukia. Because of me, because I didn't do anything when I could have, alot of you shinigami died. I just realized the mistake I made when it was too late. When Yhwach forced Ichigo to kill you."

I sighed.

I wrapped my arms around him. I wasn't sure what else to say, so I hugged him. Although I'm pretty sure he doesn't like hugs. I don't even like hugs myself.