CONTINUED FROM: The Beginning; Karakura Town
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After dropping off the groceries in the kitchen, and meeting with his younger sisters watching TV in the dining room, he headed up the stairs finding out his dad was still working. As he opened his door, he stared at her. But...he didn't know what to say....so he went to his desk and sat down. Quiet as he waited.
Kita moved from the window thinking it might not be such a good idea to be sitting on the window ledge to be see by whoever might see her. She stepped to floor then to her right resting against the wall next to the window.
Toshiro held the phone a foot away from his ear as Ichigo unnecessarily screamed into it, growing more irritated the longer Ichigo spoke. The entire time he was thinking, "I wonder if I can freeze people through a soul pager..." When Ichigo finally finished Toshiro stood up and vanished from the roof and flashsteped towards Kurosaki's house. He arrived on Ichigo's window sill. His anger mark pulsing he said to Ichigo, "You will refer to me as Captain Hitsugaya, and for your own good, you will not wake me up again."
Ichigo looked at the window. "When you learn how to knock on my front door like a proper guest, then I'll start referring to you PROPERLY. Now get your ass in here...we have bigger problems." He said, looking at Kita.
Climbing into the room he stated, "And what would your dad think when I come to the door looking for you?" When he got in he just stared at Kita.
Kita shook her head at the two as they went at it. “Hello, Captain Hitsugaya.” Kita said looking at Toshiro. She lifted from the wall then looked over to Ichigo. “Thank you, Ichigo.” Her look then returned to Toshiro. “I need your help, Captain.” Kita told him.
"Let me guess, you want to be cleansed...why should I believe you this time?" Toshiro asked her slightly annoyed.
"Wait a second! What?!" Ichigo interrupted, glaring back and forth. "What does he mean by that?" His eyes lay squarely on Kita.
“I am here. I am not leaving and returning later for you to do it. I want you to do it right now.” Kita told him as she looked into Toshiro’s eyes paying no mind to Ichigo.
Not quite ready to believe her he merely said, "You know I have no control where you go." With a short pause he added, "You could just die."
At that, Ichigo nearly lost it, yet he wasn't stupid and realized he was being ignored, so merely grit his teeth and clenched his fists.
"I don't care. All I know is I wont be in Las Noches any longer and use..." Kita then looked to Ichigo. "I should have listened to you when I was still alive. Then I would not be in this mess. I am sorry Ichigo." Kita told him.
Ichigo looked away from her, irritated by the way he was blown off. What was he supposed to say? 'It's ok'?? What a lame answer that would be. He chose silence to brew even if it wouldn't last long.
Toshiro swallowed a soul pill and ejected his soul from his gigai, "Ichigo, if you have something you want to say to Kita, you had better say it now." Toshiro stepped out of hearing range and called the soul society to request permission to cleanse an Arrancar. He also stepped away to give them privacy, dragging his mod soul/gigai with him.
Sighing heavily, Ichigo closed his eyes, mulling over just what he was supposed to say. This suddenly felt really bad...almost like the moment when he had watched the garganta close with Kita and Ulquiorra inside. That moment that he'd known he'd never see her again...not the same. Opening his eyes, he looked at the Kita before him. This "arrancar" as Toshiro had called her...yet he'd never accepted that. Sitting at his desk again, he kept his back to her. "I tried to save you, you know? ...over...and over....and over..." He started in a low tone.
"I tried. And Failed. Again and again...but I tried to avoid this. You were never supposed to have to go through this."
Kita looked to Ichigo sadness in her eyes and biting at her lower lip. “I am so sorry, Ichigo.” Kita told him, a single tear trickled down her cheek.
".....Ha.....Sorry. That's such an easy word to say...but what does it fix? I mean...really? Can sorry save you Kita? Can Sorry ever excuse my failure?! I mean if I told you "sorry" now...what would it matter? It can't stop what's going to happen!" Realizing he was letting himself go, he clenched his fist and fell silent again.
Kita shook her head, “It can fix nothing, but I know you tried your hardest to save me. However, I would not let you save me. You have nothing to say sorry for. This all lies squarely on my shoulders and my shoulders only. I will not blame anyone. Not even Ulquiorra for what has happen to me to lead to this now.” Kita told him.
"Pfft." Ichigo decided not to say anything more as Toshiro returned. He was irritated that she was dying, irritated that they would say nothing to him, or even ask him what HE thought about it...all he could do was watch...and it was killing him.
Toshiro flashstepped in front of Ichigo and thrust an iced over Hyourinmaru into his arms, "I can't do it because it might start a war, but you can. The Soul Society has granted you permission. Hyourinmaru's ice will help ease the pain." Toshiro turned to Kita and said, "This doesn't mean I forgive you, but I do hope you make it to the Soul Society."
"......." Ichigo looked at the sword in his hands. "You can't be serious...." He grumbled. "I dont' support this...and yet...you want me to do it?!! Oh, NOW Soul Society wants to give me permission for something! They want me to KILL my friend! They couldn't help me save her...but they want her dead..."
"Trust me, Ichigo. The only reason I said she may die is because we never had a chance to cleanse an Arrancar that had been modified with the Hougyoku before. She may very well live."
Kita looked between the two as they spoke. Shaking her head she stepped toward Ichigo. “I don’t have much more time, Ichigo. My hour is almost up. If you don’t do it Ulquiorra will. Then there will be no hope at all for me but death.”
"At least this way there is a chance for me." Kita added.
Ichigo didn't like being pressure this way. His hands gripped the cold ice of Hyourinmaru. "......that's enough...." It was silent for a moment.
Opening the drawer of his desk, he pulled out the soul badge and turned back at them, staring between the two as he ejected his soul from his body. His face blank of emotion, yet his heart beginning to sink, he pointed Hyourinmaru at Kita. "Are you really ready for this....."
Kita nodded closing her eyes slowly, "I will see you again, Ichigo. I promise."
"A soul reapers primary job is to cleanse hollows, an Arrancar IS a hollow, and you ARE a soul reaper." Toshiro told Ichigo.
Ichigo glared at Toshiro. "I'm human....I'm not the same as you." He corrected. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his hands on the hilt of the blade. "Good bye Kita...I hope you find peace..." He said, having to force himself to keep his composure.
In a swift move, he pierced her heart, then waited and hoped it would work....
"No, Ichigo," Toshiro said smiling, "You became a Soul Reaper to save Rukia Kuchiki," He watched as Kita slowly started to fade away in beautiful, tiny blue crystals and ascend into the air guided by a hell butterfly, "and you are still a Soul Reaper to this day."
"Hmph..." Ichigo rebuked as he watched with his eyes glossing over and getting watery. Dropping Hyourinmaru to the ground with a clang, he fell to his knees...completely numb and speechless.
"Kita will be fine. She will either be reborn into this world or become a soul. Either way she will keep her promise to you. All you have to do is believe in her heart," Toshiro knelt down beside Kurosaki and pointed at his chest, "and in your own."
As Kita faded away before them she smiled and spoke in a light airy tone. "Thank you, Ichigo you have saved me and I promise I will see you again."
Ichigo said nothing, fighting his urge to break down from yet another failure. She said he'd saved her...but it all just felt so empty now. "If you're done here Toshiro...then you should go." He stated flatly, wanting to be alone now. Standing up, he returned to his body.
Toshiro picked up Hyourinmaru and sheathed him, "Good bye, for now, Kita."
Toshiro went to the window ready to jump out, "You did not fail Ichigo, if we did not do this her heart would have been eaten away. You did save her." Having said that Toshiro disappeared out the window closely followed by his mod soul/gigai.
Snapping the lights off, Ichigo collapsed on his bed facedown. He punched the mattress then rolled onto his back and covered his eyes with his forearm. "...You'd better keep your promise....dammit....." He muttered to the nothingness around him. "Until then...just be at peace...."
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CONTINUED TO: No Return; Aizen Chambers
