Would You Stay?

Ichigo's POV

Would you stay?

It's rhetorical of course.
To ask that question when in reality you aren't really going anywhere, it's foolish of me.

Still...
I won't be able to see you or feel your presence anymore.

I wonder.
Could I memorize every detail of your face?
Your deep, amethyst eyes, whose beauty makes the moon envious.
The way your hair falls on your shoulders and the awkward piece that lays in the center of your face.
The way your whole world lights up and you smile brightly when talking about things you love, especially Chappy.
The angry scowl that you get when I call you midget or make fun of your drawings.
My midget...

Will I even be able to remember you?
Will losing my powers take away any memories of my time as a soul reaper?
Will I lose everything that made me happy?

Despite the pain and despair I faced, I was happier as a Soul Reaper.
It gave me powers I'd never dreamed of and the ability to protect everyone I held dear.
A strength I've always dreamed of.

And it gave me the one person who could clear the storm in my heart.
A person who could see through all of my bullshit and pull me from the despair that hung over me.
Someone who I'd risk my life for when I barely knew them.

And now those powers are the reason that I'm having that person taken away from me.

Dammit!
Why is this so hard?
Nothing that I've done up until this moment has been this hard.

Fighting Grand Fisher for my Honor.
Fighting the Soul Society for your Life.
Fighting Ulquiorra and my inner hollow for my Soul.
Fighting Aizen and losing my powers for the sake of the World.

But nothing.....
Compares to losing my Heart.

Is it all just a sick fucking joke?!
Fate brought us together and now it's tearing us apart.
After everything we've been through together.
All the times I thought I'd lose you....
And in the end it would be my own hands that would cause me to lose you.

It's selfish to ask.
It's pointless to ask.
I know it can't happen.
No matter how much I beg or plead.
It won't change a damn thing!
And yet.
I'll still ask....

Would you stay, Rukia?

If only yo-

"This is goodbye, Ichigo." Rukia's voice interrupts my thoughts. "It seems so, huh?" I say, as I look at the ground.

I'm scared to look her in the eyes.
Scared that if I look up, I'll only find her already gone from my world.

"Oi, whats with that sad face Ichigo?" Rukia says as she steps a bit closer. She taps my chest lightly as she speaks again, "Even if you can't see me, I'll still be able to see you." She says, as she gives her evilest of grins.

This damn midget.

"Tch. How is that supposed to make me feel better, Rukia?" I say, as I run my fingers through my hair and slight irritation covers my face. "Besides I am not making a sad face." She steps back and smiles up at me. A warm smile, but her eyes held a certain sadness.

Baka.
Of course I'd miss you.
We're a damn team aren't we?
I wish that you knew how I felt about you, Rukia.
I wish that I could tell you how much I really cared for you.
I wish I could tell you...
I love you.

But we don't have enough time for it...
In the end it would only hurt more.
My powers will still fade and they'll take you with them.
So it's best to just say goodbye and wait until we're reunited once my mortal life has ended.

I guess it's time.

Rukia's head was tilted down as the wind blew slightly. I sighed softly before gaining enough courage to say those dreadful words.

"Goodbye, Rukia." Crack. "Tell everyone.... I give them my best." "Okay." She says softly. The false smile I held finally breaks and my head drops down to look at her face. She snaps her head up to look in my eyes. It looks as if tears threaten to fill them at any moment. "Rukia... I love you." is what I want to say, but my tongue fails to move and my lips refuse to part. Slowly she starts to fade away.

And then.
She's gone.

And so.
Here comes the rain again.