Goodbye, My Beloved

You’ll often hear people say ‘Life is merely a series of moments. Treasure each as though it would be your last.’ When you hear it, it sounds like a rational statement. Something that a wise man might say to those in search of enlightenment. The words feel empowering, giving you a sense of self that may have otherwise remained hidden. Live as though your life is ending. Find fulfillment in the little things that would normally go unappreciated. It seems logical, doesn’t it?

What is never said, however, is just how long that actual last moment is.

The day was bleak and bitter cold. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds that sent the threat of a storm, making the world look gray. The fresh blanket of snow covering the ground would have normally seemed soft and pleasant, waiting for the local kids to come and begin a massive snowball fight with one another. Today it seemed harsh and uninviting, almost warning you to stay inside where it was warm and safe. It wasn’t the ideal day for fighting Hollows, but these things can’t exactly be controlled.

I had been lying in bed reading when I felt a familiar presence just outside. I looked out the window and saw Ishida running down the street, dressed in his Quincy uniform. I groaned a moment later when my Hollow sensor began shrieking behind me. Fighting in the cold and snow didn’t exactly appeal to me, but I knew I had no choice. Currently, Ishida and I were the only ones in town with the ability to fight Hollows. Rukia had gone back to the Soul Society at the request of her captain. Chad was in Tokyo. Inoue was away visiting a relative of some sort. They would all be back in a few days, but for the time being, Ishida and I were alone in this.

I pressed the sensor to my chest and hopped out the window, leaving my unconscious body on my bed, quickly following after Ishida. I found him in a park about two blocks away, fighting against one of the most massive Hollows I’d seen since the day the Menos Grande appeared. It was covered in dark brown hair and stood on all fours, feet complete with fatal-looking talons. A series of long, pointed tentacles protruded from it’s back, allowing it to fight at a fairly good distance. The thing was truly huge but it was moving at incredible speed, dodging most of the arrows Ishida fired at it. Ishida, however, didn’t seem to be doing so well.

I couldn’t have been more than a minute behind him, but Ishida already looked like he’d taken a beating. The tentacles on the Hollow’s back were lashing out at him continuously, barely giving him time to dodge let alone shoot. As I ran towards the fight, I could see the damage in greater detail. Ishida had a large gash on his left arm, along with a matching one on his left thigh. His normally pristine white clothes were slowly turning red, blood seeping into the fabric. Ishida was dodging left and right, firing off as many arrows as he could. One finally hit the Hollow in the leg and the creature let out a shriek and lashed out at Ishida, knocking him off his feet. I grabbed my sword and ran up behind the creature as it swung it’s tentacles again and caught it in the same leg Ishida had just injured, knocking it on it’s side.

I looked over at Ishida as he stood, his legs shaking slightly.

“You alright?”

He gave me a small nod. “Yeah. What the hell took you so long?”

“Sorry. The thing took me off guard.” He gave a small ‘hmph’ and we both ran towards the Hollow that was quickly regaining it’s bearings and beginning to balance on it’s three remaining legs. It lunged at us and we dodged to the sides, Ishida firing a rapidly as he could while I wove my way through the creature’s tentacles towards it’s head. I was almost there when a tentacle caught my leg, throwing me backwards. I hit the ground hard, the air escaping my lungs in one large whoosh. I struggled to my knees, trying to catch my breath. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Ishida yelling.

“Kurosaki! Dammit, move!!”

I looked up, and the world went in slow motion.

The Hollow was running at me, tentacles extended like spears. I couldn’t even breathe. I felt like the world was dissolving around me. I was trying to lift my sword, to stand, to run, to do something, but I couldn’t move fast enough. My mind was blank, save for one thought.

I’m going to die.

I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t move. All I could do was close my eyes…and wait.

SHUNK.

A gasp sounded, and it took a long moment for me to realize that it hadn’t come from me. I opened my eyes and found nothing but blood-stained white.

Ishida had jumped in front of me and one of the Hollow’s tentacles had pierced his body, stopping just inches from my face. I was frozen in place. Ishida’s blood dripped slowly from the tentacle in front of me, staining the snow on the ground. The Hollow pulled it’s tentacle back and Ishida buckled to the ground, blood pouring from his stomach and mouth. He coughed and put a hand to his stomach, trying in vain to staunch the blood flow. I watched him, horrified. My throat was completely dry and my heart was hammering in my chest as I stared at his shivering form.

“I…Ishida…” I choked out, “No…Ishida…”

Then I heard it. A high-pitched, foul sound that broke the suffocating silence surrounding me. I swung my head around to look at the Hollow. The damn thing was laughing.

My vision tunneled and the world went red. I saw nothing but the creature in front of me.

“You bastard…” I ground out through clenched teeth. The Hollow turned it’s head towards me, it’s cold, shrill laughter sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. “YOU BASTARD!!”

I stood and raised my sword over my head, a feral cry escaping me.

“GETSUGA TENSHOU!”

The crescent of blue energy flew from my sword and struck the creature’s mask, slicing the beast in two in less than a second. The laughter turned into a horrified screech and the Hollow disintegrated, leaving no trace of it’s existence.

Before it had even disappeared, I’d thrown my sworn to the ground. My head was spinning as I ran towards Ishida. I fell to my knees at his side, my entire body shaking.

“Ishida! Oh god, Ishida…”

His face was whiter that the snow beneath him and he was shivering violently. Blood was still pouring from his wound, and I looked around in vain for something or someone that could help. Ishida coughed violently, blood dribbling down his chin. He couldn’t breathe.

“H-hang on! I’ll help you! I’ll…I-”

I felt something on my hand and I looked down. Ishida had moved the hand from his wound and placed it on my own. My eyes widened and I looked up. He wasn’t shaking anymore.

“I…Ishida…?”

He smiled at me, and the light in his eyes disappeared. His hand slackened and fell from mine. A choked sob left me and I leaned down, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him.

“Ishida?! ISHIDA! No…no, y-you can’t-” I felt hot tears running down my face, but I barely even registered the fact that I was crying. “You can’t do this! You can’t leave me!”

I slumped over his body and cried. Cried until I had nothing left and my throat was raw. I was still shaking, trying to catch my breath, when I felt a light tapping on my shoulder. I ignored it, but the tapping resumed a moment later. I reluctantly lifted my head and turned around, my eyes burning as I struggled to focus.

My breath caught in my throat when I finally recognized Ishida. A slightly translucent Ishida. His spirit was standing behind me, dying smile still in place. He knelt in front of me and reached out, resting his hand against my cheek. The hand was warm, and I felt another sob escape me at the familiar touch. His thumb wiped a tear from my face, and I looked up into the dark blue eyes that I knew so well. He was still smiling as he reached behind himself and handed me my sword. I looked at him with wide eyes, and he just nodded.

I blinked and slowly stood, watching as he did the same. I lifted my sword, moving towards his spirit. My eyes were unseeing as I walked, my hands shaking. I was breathing hard, trying my best not to lose it. When I was mere inches from Ishida’s spirit, he reached out his hand and pressed it to my chest. I looked up into saddened eyes and felt my chest tighten.

“Don’t worry,” he said, his voice soft, “we’ll see each other again one day.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but I hesitated. I didn’t want this to end. I didn’t want him to disappear yet. I felt that warm hand on my cheek again and looked up. Ishida’s spirit gently pushed my sword aside and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me and resting his head on my shoulder. I dropped my blade to the ground and did the same, allowing his warmth to course through me. He pulled back and smiled up at me. I lowered my head and gently pressed my lips to his. I wanted to remember this forever. I pulled back after a moment and gathered him back into my arms.

“I know.” I whispered into his ear, “I know we will.”

He stepped away from me and handed me my sword once again. I sighed heavily and flipped the blade in my hand, gently pressing the hilt to his forehead. He reached out and took my hand as the ground beneath him began to glow blue. He smiled at me again as he began to sink.

“I love you, Ichigo.”

It was my turn to smile now, despite the tears that were once again flowing from my eyes.

“I love you too, Uryuu”

His hand slid from mine as he disappeared into the ground. I stared at the spot where he had been for what felt like an eternity. I dropped to my knees and a final sob escaped me.

“Goodbye.”