I was given a gift by God and that gift was imagination. While I can never know your pain, I can feel it. I can imagine the pain and agony you suffered as if it were my own but it will never be the same. I can only pray that you will learn to trust me because your pain hurts me more than anything else ever could.
________________________________________________________________________________________
"Dinner was delicious, you two," Mr. Kurosaki said as Makoto took his plate. "You have really improved since the last time you came over. It seems my idea to train you has paid off."
"With all due respect Mr. Kurosaki I haven't even attempted to make any of the recipes Yuzu told me about," Makoto returned as he brought the dishes into the kitchen placing them by the sink where Yuzu was washing them, "It's been two days and with Rukia showing up early I didn't get the chance to practice any of them, so still haven't learned anything really, and Yuzu is still the one who did most of the cooking today, so I don't think I really deserve any praise at all."
"You should stop being so negative," Yuzu replies as she puts another dish onto the drying rack nearby. "Having someone to help out always makes stuff easier, even if it is just a little bit."
"If you say so," Makoto says, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "I still didn't do much though, only cut the vegetables and occasionally stir the food when you needed to cut the vegetables finer."
"Everyone has to start somewhere," she smiles back before turning back to washing the dishes. "You are at least better than Ichigo when it comes to cooking."
"I beg to differ," Ichigo retorts, "I don't eat weird foods every other day. Seriously, who in their right mind puts just mayonnaise on bread and calls it a sandwich!" Both Karin and Yuzu wince at the declaration before turning to Makoto with questioning eyes.
"First of all, I was young and it was one of the few things I would eat that I could actually make myself," Makoto defended, "Second I have started adding other things as well that way it is healthier. And third, you haven't tried it yourself so who are you to judge?"
"You realize that none of that still doesn't make it any less weird," Karin deadpanned, resting her head in her upright hands that were propped up by the table. "At least you've grown out of it."
"Yeah," Makoto says through gritted teeth, not caring to mention that he had, in fact, planned on having it for lunch at some point during this week. "And anyways I can guarantee you there are way weirder things that I've eaten than that."
"Like what?" Karin says, quirking an eyebrow at him.
"Things I'm not at liberty to say, lest I be tormented for all eternity," Makoto remarked, giving her a cheeky smile.
"We could always ask Rukia-san," Karin retorts, giving her own devilish smirk in return, but instead of getting the fearful glance she expected he burst out in laughter. "What's so funny?"
"Why don't you ask her?" Makoto replied through fits of laughter, which caused all the Kurosaki's except for Ichigo to turn in her direction.
The unsuspecting Rukia however was not so lucky as she had little to no idea what any of them were talking about and now with the attention of everyone on her she faltered. "I–uh—well…you see…" she stumbled, desperately looking to Ichigo and Makoto for a little assistance in what the heck to say and thankfully Makoto came to her aid.
"She doesn't know any of them because didn't tell her any of them," Makoto smirked, "The last thing I want her doing is going around telling people stuff like that."
Rukia however did not like being made fun of and retorted. "Then next time someone asks I'll just make something up."
This earned a chuckle from Ichigo as Makoto's face paled. "Uh oh. Looks like you made her angry, Makoto."
"You don't know the half of it, Ichigo," Makoto thought as he remembered their earlier conversation where he had lashed out at her. "I need to stop doing that."
"Hey Rukia! Didn't you want to talk with Yuzu and Karin about the places they go to buy their clothes?" He asked, trying to divert the subject. "You know girly talk and all?"
"Pass," Karin groaned as she let her head drop to the table not wanting to move from the spot knowing that her sister would likely be asking questions non stop about what it was like to have a boyfriend.
"Karin don't be rude," Yuzu replied back before turning to Rukia. "Once I'm done washing the dishes we can go head up to our room and tell you more alright Rukia-chan."
"Oh, uh, sure," Rukia nodded.
"Here let me wash them," Makoto offered, which caught the attention of everyone present as they all gave him a questioning look. "It's the least I can do after the generous invite you gave us, as well as all the assistance that you all are giving me. Please, I insist."
Mr. Kurosaki gave a grin as Yuzu nodded, handing the sponge she had been using to Makoto. "Alright," she said, before walking over to her sister and practically dragging her out of her seat. "Follow us Rukia-chan."
Rukia sat there a second. "Okay," she replied, calmly standing up and slowly following them as they went deeper into the house. She only stopped to take one last look at Makoto as he began to wash the dishes in Yuzu's place, both catching the other's eye before averting them immediately after, a guilty look on their faces as they both thought the exact same thing about each other. They both hated the thought but after the day they couldn't help but feel like it was true. There was nothing that they could do about it.
Nothing was fine. They wanted to tell each other but they couldn't. How could they console each other when they were the ones that caused each other's pain. They wanted to cry, but they wouldn't. No one was capable of understanding the suffering they were going through or where it came from. They wanted to scream, but they could never do that because deep down they knew that they both deserved it for the sins they thought they had committed. So they did the only thing left.
Rukia smiled, holding back the tears as she climbed the steps to the second floor, while Makoto smiled burying his pain deep down as he listened to the water as it poured from the faucet onto the plate like the rain as it fell from the clouds enveloping all in its cold embrace, reminding you of your place in this world. And no matter how much you try you can do nothing but accept the cold, harsh, and cruel reality that is life.
"I'm sorry Rukia," Makoto mumbled to himself as he fought back the guilt he felt trying to overwhelm him.
"I truly am unforgivable, Makoto," Rukia said quietly to herself.
________________________________________________________________________________________
"I also managed to find this there," Yuzu said, pulling out another dress to show Rukia, "Isn't it nice?"
Rukia just nodded absent mindedly as she looked at the clothes Yuzu continued to show her which did not go unnoticed by the twins who shared a look of concern as Rukia who turned to look out the window for the fifteenth time in the last thirty minutes. She knew she should be paying attention for Makoto's sake but she barely understood any of what Yuzu was saying, leading to her feeling bored and out of place.
"Rukia-chan is everything all right?" Yuzu asked, turning her gaze from her sister to the raven haired girl sitting on her bed.
"Uh-huh," she replied hollowly, not paying attention to the question, as she continued to stare absently out the window at the darkening sky.
"We can stop if you want to. You don't have to force yourself," Yuzu said, feeling guilty for ranting about clothes for the past half hour.
"No it's fine," Rukia responded blandly without turning her gaze away from the window, her head resting in her hand as she watched the last rays of the sun slowly disappear beneath the horizon.
"Sure seems like you're fine," Karin said sarcastically, "You haven't exactly been engaged since we came upstairs."
Rukia turned to face the black haired twin and flashed her a smile. "It's been a long day," she replied simply. "It's not that I don't find your information helpful, I'm just…" she paused trying to think of the right word to use. "Exhausted."
"I can imagine," Karin remarked, "With how Ichigo and your boyfriend talk about your classmates it seems like the two of you are the biggest celebrities in the school now."
"Exactly," Rukia confirmed with a sigh. "I was lucky. I had…something I needed to do that day so I had to leave part of the way through and didn't have to deal with all the craziness of my arrival at school."
"Really? No wonder you were so worried yesterday," Yuzu said, her face softening as she continued to speak. "Showing up to school later only to find him passed out with no idea what caused it to happen to him."
Rukia flinched once more at the mention of Makoto's condition yesterday. "How did you know about that?" she asked.
"Our brother was the one who waited with you," Karin said, raising an eyebrow, which caused Rukia to smile nervously in return. "Are you sure you are alright? You seem really scatterbrained right now."
"Do you want us to go get Tsukiyo?" Yuzu asked, her face growing more worried for Rukia. "If you aren't feeling well he can take you home.
"N-no! There's no need for that," Rukia replied hastily to stop the two girls, causing the twins to look at her with concerned gazes. "I–I'm fine. I–I just…" She fell silent, turning her gaze to the hands she had folded in her lap, tears filling her eyes.
It hurt. Hearing his name hurt. Every time she heard his name she was reminded of him. Of Kaien. Why?! She wanted to forget about him, about the things she had done! Forgiveness?! Why?! What did she do to deserve it?! She was wretched! She did not deserve either of their forgiveness! Why didn't they hate her?! Why didn't they curse and revile her for what she had done to them?! First Kaien, then Makoto, why did everyone around her have to get hurt?! And all she could do is bear it. Bear the pain, the frustration, the suffering as she watched good people have their lives changed because she was powerless! Death followed her but in some cruel joke he never took her away! No, he waited in the shadows, lurking until the time was right, like the snake that was cursed to slither the earth and strike at the heels of man while being struck in the head.
The night, the rain, everything from that night came flooding back to Rukia all in that moment and before she knew it she was out of the room and running down the hall, she didn't know where she would run but wherever it was it was better than here. She rushed to the stairs speeding down with the Kurosaki twins chasing behind her, yelling her name but it fell upon deaf ears as she careened down the steps. She was overwhelmed with emotion that it felt like she was flying through the air. No, she was flying through the air! In her rush to leave she had tripped running down the stairs and was now hurtling through the air and the last thing she remembered seeing was a pair of brown eyes.
Then her vision went black. She awoke to the sound of thunder as it crackled through the air and the rain poured down on her, soaking her to the bone. She slowly raised her head, the tears that still poured down her face mixing with the rain as it slowly trickled down her fair skin.
She sat atop a bridge in the center of the street surrounded by mangled cars, many upturned and blazing with fire as the gas that once powered them spilled out bursting into flames and engulfing the cars and the surrounding area. It was a horrid scene and one completely unfamiliar to Rukia that made her shake at the sight.
"What ha–ha–happened?" Rukia stuttered out looking around at the ghastly scene she found herself surrounded by. "Where am I?" There was a crack of lightning, the thunder causing her to jump as it illuminated the area, rubble and cracked pavement shifting as the deafening sound waves reverberated through the air. The lightning gleamed on the coiled metal supports that helped the bridge distribute its weight, some of them snapped in the middle and strewn across the center of the road, the tips erupting into a frayed mess from their neat bundles as if they were slashed through by some sharp object.
Rukia shuddered as she looked upon them. She didn't know much about the world of the living but what she did told her that something like this was incredibly uncommon, but the horror she had witnessed had only just begun to unfold.
Once more lightning flashed across the sky once more, its pale light illuminating the area once more, and with it Rukia's eyes were drawn to what? Red. The shining crimson color glimmered in her eyes as it slowly spilled across the bridge and there at the center of it was a woman dressed in a blue dress and black sweater, her golden locks strewn messily across her face as she laid there motionless. Her brown eyes cold and lifeless as red blood and bile dripped from her lips.
Rukia drew a shaky hand to her mouth. It was an awful sight. What on earth could have caused this? Was whatever creature that did this to this woman the same creature that caused all the destruction all around her. She carefully inched her way toward the woman kneeling down in the pool of blood to examine her.
The woman was breathtaking despite her grotesque condition, a testament to her beauty to look so great despite her now mutilated corpse. However her face told a different story. It was a face of unmistakable sadness, the kind that can only come from losing the ones you love. The pain and anguish that comes from the hopelessness of the situation as you are forced to watch your loved one die right before your very eyes.
Rukia choked back tears as she slowly turned her head away from the woman, her bloodsoaked hands grasping one another in front of her mouth. She didn't want to be here anymore, to see this cruel and twisted scene that hit too close to her own heart. Alas, the lightning flew through the sky once more casting light upon another figure many meters away. His white bloodstained shirt stood out among the darkness that surrounded her.
She hesitantly made her way over to the second body. This one was a man, and she didn't need to look far to know that he too had lost his life as right across his chest there was a huge gash a couple centimeters deep. Various other injuries covered his body as Rukia noticed small glints in his skin, most likely fractured glass from a car window that embedded itself in his skin. On his face were a pair of broken black rimmed glasses with shattered lenses that covered his intense, bright blue eyes that had lost their gleam which lay in stark contrast with his dark brown hair that lay messily about, stuck together by clotting blood.
His face looked unassuming but his eyes told that he had seen much more than he cared to admit, conveying exhaustion and yet vigor, a despairing yet hopeful gaze. He looked like a man that did not shy away from adversity and would fight till the end for the people he loved and the things he believed in, and appeared that he did just that, his final moments of regret forever present on his face as he was cut down, without mercy or guilt by something he had no hope of beating, something so bestial with a bloodlust so unquenchable that it would stop at nothing.
Once more Rukia felt tears fill her eyes and this time she couldn't hold them back. She didn't know these people but she could feel something about them. They felt so familiar to her despite never having met them once before in her life and that only made it hurt her all the more. This sight was just so raw, she couldn't stand it.
"Stop!" she screamed, shutting her eyes tightly, the hot tears running down her face and mixing with the cold rain and blood. "If you want to kill me then do it already! Put me out of my misery and stop torturing me with these visions!" Pounding rain was the only answer she received.
She turned her gaze back to the motionless corpse that lay before her. "What person could have done something like this?"
What answered her this time was something so terrifying it sent a chill down her spine. It was a loud, high-pitched, bloodcurdling scream. The voice was distorted but still very much understandable as it droned out a single word that made Rukia shake uncontrollably.
"MMURDERURR!!!!!!"
Rukia turned around to see what was shouting that but it was already too late as a bolt of lightning struck in front of her, blinding her as she felt her consciousness slip away once more. The only vestige that any being even existed was the slim black streak that flashed before her vision.
________________________________________________________________________________________
The cool water of the sink was cold as Makoto scrubbed the last bits of food off the plates, placing it on the drying rack next to the sink. He felt awful for rushing Yuzu and Karin off with Rukia but he could sense the mood going sour between the two of them and needed to find some way to defuse the growing tension between the two of them. But had he come off differently than he intended? Instead of helping her get away from the pain of having to interact with him after he had yelled at her earlier, he pushed her away in a rather unfriendly manner, and possibly feeding the fire he had started to build earlier.
"Hey Makoto, is something wrong?" Ichigo asked, causing him to jump slightly at the sound of his voice.
"What?! Oh, yeah." Ichigo raised his eyebrow in shock as Makoto didn't realize his mistake. "I mean no. No, there's nothing wrong. Why would anything be wrong?
"Excuse me," he replied, his tone confrontational as he probed his friend. "You can't say that and then expect me to pretend that you didn't say anything. Now what's wrong."
"There's nothing wrong, Ichigo," Makoto responded defensively. "That was a slip of the tongue. You know that I trip up when speaking all the time."
"Yeah, you told me that right after the part where you are horrible at making excuses," Makoto smiled nervously, avoiding eye contact with Ichigo.
"It's alright to admit that you need help son," Mr. Kurosaki said, placing what was supposed to be a comforting hand on Makoto's shoulder. "You're in a safe place here, so go on and let it all out. Papa Kurosaki is here for you."
Makoto turned to Mr. Kurosaki, an irate glare in his eye. "You are not my father," he retorted.
"I could be if you wanted me to," Mr. Kurosaki responded, giving Makoto an easygoing smile as he pointed to him.
"I'm fine with my current arrangement thank you," Makoto said awkwardly, taking a small step back.
"Alright, but know the offer still stands if you ever need help."
"Thanks," Makoto replied, an uncomfortable smile plastered on his face as he gave a shaky thumbs up to Mr. Kurosaki, before whispering out of the corner of his mouth to Ichigo. "He isn't serious is he?"
"Not serious?! Oh Masaki, when did our son get so cruel?!" Mr. Kurosaki exclaimed as he ran over to the poster of Masaki that lay on the wall, leaving the two boys staring at the awkward display.
With an irritated glare and a deep sigh Ichigo ran a hand through his hair. "I wish he wasn't." But Makoto wasn't even listening to his companion. He was more concerned with correcting the incredibly inaccurate ramblings of Mr. Kurosaki.
"I am not your son!" He exclaimed, his face flushed with anger as he threw the wet sponge into the sink. "I just said this not more than five seconds ago! And furthermore, how the heck can you even hear me?!" Mr. Kurosaki however ignored Makoto's protests and continued his eccentric bit of addressing him as a son, which eventually culminated in him receiving a punch to the face from his real son.
"Can it, will ya!" Ichigo seethed as his father lay groaning on the floor, "He already told you that he isn't your son! Besides, his parents might not live with him but they are still out there and I don't think they would take too kindly to your rantings!"
Isshin sat up rubbing his nose as he looked at Ichigo. "Come on, Ichigo," He replied with a smirk, "We both know he would fit perfectly in our family. You could learn a thing or two, for instance he knows how to treat his father right."
"Yeah well his father does attack him every second he steps into the house!" Ichigo retorted as the two Kurosaki men got into a shouting match that eventually devolved into a full blown fist fight.
Makoto looked at the two with somber joy. At first Mr. Kurosaki's suggestion was rambunctious but as he watched Ichigo and his dad fight he was overcome with an odd sense of loneliness. Deep down he wished he had someone like Mr. Kurosaki to watch over him, that challenged and fought with him, striving him to become the great man that he could be. He thought back to his times long ago when his parents pushed him to do things that he never thought he could do, the people who he could always talk to no matter what had happened, the people who would always have his back and be there for him.
He felt as a single tear fell down his cheek as he turned back to the sink staring at the few remaining dishes that still had to be washed, his sorrowful face reflecting off them his thought returning once more to the questions of his parents. Who were they? Where were they? A mixture of sadness and anger filled his chest as his fist clenched over the countertop.
"Makoto?" said a panting Ichigo, his tone worried, but Makoto just smiled and before turning to look at the boy once more.
"I'm fine, Ichigo," he replied in an even tone as released the grip on his counter. "There's no need to worry about me." The orange haired boy looked at his friend wanting to question him further but ultimately remained silent looking out the window looking at the silhouettes of the houses outside that obstructed the last orange rays of the sun from entering the house.
"I'm going to go check on the girls," Makoto said, turning to his friend. "They're on the second floor, right?"
"Why? Are you trying to spy on them?" Ichigo scowled, remembering his father's unhealthy habit whenever he brought someone over.
"Relax Ichigo," Makoto said as he rolled his eyes and began walking out of the room, "I'm just going to check and see if they are alright. After all, I did kinda stiff arm Rukia into doing it and I feel bad about it. I'll be right back down, since I still have to finish the dishes."
Ichigo was about to retort when they heard a pounding of footsteps on the floor above followed by Karin and Yuzu shouting Rukia's name. The two of them exchanged a glance before darting out of the room. What was going on? Where was Rukia rushing to? Questions flashed through Makoto's mind as he raced to the bottom of the stairs ready to ascend and the sight broke Makoto's heart.
Rukia was rushing down her eyes filled with tears. What had caused this? Why was she so distraught?
"Rukia," he called out, his voice wavering slightly as he tried to get her but she didn't hear in her emotional state. He took a step forward only to hesitate. Should he help her? She could be crying because of him. Did he have any right to console her after the things he had said and did to her today?
But fate had a different idea, as the poor girl tripped, sending her through the air, and his body moving on its own volition. Instinct overcame him as he moved to the foot of the stairs to catch her, his arms open wide as he braced to receive her. But as soon as he felt her arms wrapped around him he felt his consciousness begin to slip, her tearful eyes meeting his being the last moment they shared.
Then the world went black and a familiar man appeared before his eyes once more. None other than Ichigo, no wait, Ichigo's hair wasn't black. He looked similar to Ichigo but his features were slightly different.
"This man, I've seen him before," Makoto said as he searched his memory for the answer. "Wasn't this the man I saw when Rukia arrived? Why am I seeing him again?"
Then Makoto brought his hands to his head as it exploded with pain. It felt familiar, despite having now lived in the world of Bleach for almost two months he still remembered this pain. The headache grew worse and his eyes began to water as he felt that familiar pain flared through his entire skull. He saw soft firelight, the sun as it showed through the white paper on the door of shoji screens.
Then just as suddenly as it came the pain vanished and he found himself in a familiar place, a little too familiar of a place. "This is the forest from before," Makoto said as he looked around examining the area, the waning crescent moon illuminating the dense woods that surrounded him. "How did I get here?" His eyes were then drawn to a white glow that lay by his feet nearby and upon realization of what it was Makoto gasped.
What lay before him was a familiar black outerwear with white undergarments beneath it, the sleeves of which still remained inside of the familiar kimono-like shirt. Nearby an unsheathed sword lay nearby, the red liquid that thinly coated the blade marking the fate of all who crossed its owner whether or not it be by that blade that they were cut down.
Makoto stared at the sight bewildered. "That's the Soul Reaper's uniform," Makoto spoke aloud, his eyes wide with terror. "Why would that be lying here with their sword lying close by?" What happened next sent a shiver down his spine as he heard a man yell.
"Rankle the seas and skies, Nejibana!!"
Makoto turned in a flash, his blood running cold at the sight he saw. Behind him was the Hollow he had seen before. The six appendages, the hole in its chest, the bone white mask with orange splotches, and of course the giant mass of red tentacles upon its back, it was the exact same one he had seen last time, the one that had attacked him before. This time however was much different as the black haired man you had seen before stood atop his back grasping one of the tentacles, sword raised above his head with anger written all over his face.
Until it wasn't. The sword that was above his head was disintegrating! Makoto watched in an instant as the man's face changed from anger to horror as he felt his blade disappear from his hand. The beastly being let out a long guttural laugh as his tentacles lashed out at the man as he jumped from the creature's back. Makoto gasped in shock, stumbling backwards, tripping as he felt a pain shoot through his ankle.
"Damn it," Makoto said through gritted teeth as he fell to the ground looking at the injured ankle. It had still not recovered from its injury yesterday, probably from when Ichigo had dropped him to the floor. "I need to get out of here or that thing will kill me." Makoto looked around for something that could help in his current situation, his eyes finally resting on the sword that he had tripped on.
"Hang on," he said, "If I can get this to that Soul Reaper he can beat that Hollow and help me get out of here."
He quickly crawled over grabbing the hilt of the bloodstained blade and used it to help him get to his feet. Once up he started hobbling his way toward the crashing sounds that were being made as the creature viciously attacked the Soul Reaper, and for some reason the sound only made Makoto more nervous as he hoped and prayed that the Soul Reaper would survive.
Wait?! Why did he feel this way? He didn't even know this man yet he could not deny this unbearable sense of guilt and sorrow as he grew closer to the sounds of the fighting. Was it because it was his duty to make it there before it was too late? To protect the man? No! Why would it be his duty to protect him? If anything it should be the other way around. He wanted to kill Metastacia and return back where he came from.
Wait? Kill Metastacia? Who was that? Where is that name coming from?! He didn't know anything called that! What is going on with him? Can someone make sense of what was happening to him? Is he losing his mind?! What is happening? The crack of thunder filled the area as the grey storm clouds began to cover the moon from sight, hiding its eyes from the violation that was about to be committed as the sky crackled to life with lightning. And in that brief flicker of light Makoto caught a glimpse of the Soul Reaper not more than 50 meters away.
However fate is a cruel beast. A devil whose black soul knows no bounds and will do anything for the dark pleasure of her own twisted soul and it was this very moment when she played his cruelest of jokes. For it was at this moment, that he broke the last thread of hope that held one poor soul to this world.
Makoto called to the Soul Reaper trying to get his attention, however his voice would soon land on deaf ears as Meta…the Hollow's tentacles exploded out of his body, lunging towards the man, the tentacles embedding themselves in his skin! Makoto watched in horror as this man that, for some reason, he felt so fond of slowly change into something unrecognizable. His skin turned the same shade of greenish black as that of the Metastacia…the Hollow's! The orange splotches that once surrounded the eye sockets of the mask now surrounded the man's with his eyes turning to an eerie black with glowing white pupils.
Makoto grip on the sword he had in his hands tightened as he took an uneasy step backwards. "K–Kaien?" he stuttered, to the man who looked at him with a wicked grin, licking his lips with the long red tongue reminding you very much of the hollow.
"Yes girl," the man replied smugly but it wasn't the voice he had grown accustomed to…Wait?! What voice?! He had never heard this man speak before, so how would he know it wasn't right? What is going wrong with him?! Why was this happening?! Questions flew through his head like the wind as it passed through the trees.
The creature however reveled in his silence, uncontainable joy present on the stolen face he now wore. Lightning illuminated the sky as he let out one last demented laugh before lunging at Makoto. Then his senses blurred and his vision swirled as his consciousness faded, one emotion coursing through his body as he faded away.
FEAR.
________________________________________________________________________________________
The next moment Rukia and Makoto found themselves on the floor, each one firmly wrapped in the other's arms for comfort and protection as they both sat there thoroughly exhausted. The two looked each other in the eye and the guilt from before started to weigh down on them once again. They both realized what had been happening as they stared into each other's eyes, each one feeling the pain they had inflicted on the other.
Rukia tried to think of a way out, a lie she could mask with a bright face and happy smile amidst the valley of tears she now felt. She couldn't break down now. She tried to compose herself, to think of a convincing lie that could explain her emotional breakdown and why she had run out of Yuzu and Karin's room.
But before she could even try she felt Makoto's arms tighten around her in a soft embrace that didn't even need words to speak what he felt. She looked into his eyes, a soft comforting look filled with worry plastered on his face, and it was this look that broke her. She felt her tears flow from her eyes as she buried her face in his shoulder. She didn't care if he hated her, she couldn't take the pain any longer.
Makoto was shocked at first but his face soon melted as he held the girl close. He knew fully well that he was the last person who deserved to comfort her, in fact he was probably the reason half of the reason she was in this state. But he had promised to guard her and protect her while she remained in the World of the Living and so he would do it.
It was then that the moment was broken by Karin's voice as she stood next to her sister a few stairs up the staircase. "Are you both alright?"
"We're sorry for whatever we said that might have offended her," Yuzu said, her hands clasped in front of her as she bowed. "We didn't mean to."
Makoto gave her a soft smile. "I know you didn't Yuzu-san," he replied softly, his eyes looking to Rukia then back to the twins. "It's been a long day for her."
The twins' features softened in relief but Makoto could still tell they felt some guilt for pushing her over the brink and for once Mr. Kurosaki didn't go completely crazy at the sight of him comforting Rukia and Makoto couldn't help but feel grateful that he knew now wasn't the time, but the face that was shocked more than anyone was Ichigo's who stood there completely stunned, and yet there seemed an element of what felt like knowledge, like he had known this would happen just unsure of the time it would.
Rukia's sobs started to slow as she began to compose herself, finally removing her face from his shoulder, however she kept her eyes averted from his not daring to meet his gaze. However Makoto understood, and looking to Mr. Kurosaki he spoke. "Thank you for the invitation Mr. Kurosaki, however I believe it is best if we head home now," he said, giving him a slight bow and a gentle smile. "I'm sorry I couldn't finish the dishes and I can come back after taking Rukia home if you like."
"Don't worry about it, Makoto," Mr. Kurosaki said gently, a stark difference from his normal attitude around Makoto. "We can finish the dishes without you. You just worry about the two of you and get home safe alright."
It was odd seeing Mr. Kurosaki this way, he was much gentler and far less eccentric than he usually came off, but this could be the doctor side of him coming out as he watches this girl break down in front of him, and as he was a father with two daughters it may also be his fatherly nature coming out. Makoto just gave a gentle smile before placing a gentle arm around Rukia and leading her to the door.
"Goodbye Kurosakis," Makoto said in the doorway before walking out and closing the door behind himself. No sooner had they left the house than Makoto proceeded to retract his arm from Rukia taking with it his comforting warmth, and while Rukia would never dream of telling him, she wanted nothing more than that small comfort in the world of pain she found herself in.
They walked silently for a few seconds when Makoto finally spoke. "Are you okay?" he asks in a calm voice. He expected no answer and that is what he received as Rukia turned her eyes away from him, which caused him to breathe out a sigh as he stooped in his tracks. "You don't have to tell me what it is but I know enough to tell you didn't mean for all of that to happen."
Rukia forced a smirk. "Oh really," she said, "How do you know I wasn't acting the whole time to get the two of us out of there?"
"Were these fake too then?" he asked, pulling the shoulder of his shirt still damp from when she had been crying. This caused her to stiffen as Makoto let out a scoff. "Faking strength doesn't make you strong. Maybe for a time you fool others but eventually whatever you hide will eat away at you until it destroys you from the inside out."
Rukia's face flushed red as she finally met the eyes for the first time since she tripped. "Stop acting like you know everything about me! You don't have a clue about anything! Now stop pretending you know everything about me!"
Makoto stood there unflinching as Rukia yelled at him. Once she finished he let out a small sigh before turning away from her. "You're right. I don't know anything about you or even have the slightest idea what you have gone through, but I can tell when people are hurting." He turned around, his eyes staring into her soul with a barely visible sorrow yet an understanding that he had experienced more than his appearance let on. He then averted his gaze once more to face forward, once again masking his pain. "But you don't want to talk so I'm not going to force you." He then began to walk away.
Rukia didn't know how to react. She didn't know whether to hate him or not. He was kind, yet stoic. Generous, yet distant. He didn't act like the others around him. His smile would never reach his eyes, he almost never laughed, he was never caught off guard, his emotions seemed dead and yet some of the most emotional moments she has experienced were with him. Damn! Why did he have to be so irritating!
She started walking forward only to be stopped by Makoto grabbing her shoulder. She turned to yell at him but stopped when she saw his face. All the color had drained from his body and on his face was an expression that could only be described as pure fear, but it was the words that escaped his lips that confirmed his suspicions.
"Rukia," he said, his fingers tightening around her shoulder, "I can feel a Hollow. It's heading this way."
Rukia's mind flew into a frenzy. "How can that be?" she questioned, her face paling just like Makoto's. "I haven't gotten a message from the Soul Society. Not to mention you are still standing. You have passed out the last few times that you were in close proximity to a Hollow."
"That's because it's not here yet," Makoto replied as he turned his eyes towards Rukia, a terrified gaze from one who always seemed emotionless that only unsettled Rukia all the more. "Don't ask me how I know but I can tell. The presence is suppressed almost as if a blanket was covering a warm object. It hides the specifics but I can tell that something is there and that it is coming this way. I think that's the reason that I'm still capable of standing."
While Rukia debated internally a recognition dawned in Makoto's eyes. "No. Wait! It isn't heading towards us…it's heading for us!" He felt like a bucket of cold water had just been dumped over his head as a shiver went tingling up his spine. Why was this happening?! First the Hollow earlier now this one too! Makoto felt all life begin to drain from his body knowing he would be nothing more than a helpless meatsack on the earth for the Hollow to devour.
He was however snapped out by Rukia who grabbed his arm and yanked him back towards the Kurosaki's house. "Come on," she said, fear and purpose mixing together in her voice as she dragged the disoriented boy behind her. "If a Hollow is coming then we will need Ichigo's help."
"It feels like a blanket?!" she thought, as her eyes widened. "That's impossible. For that to be the case he would have to be standing next to someone with immense power to blanket the reiatsu of a Hollow or, somehow, summon his own abilities. And even if one or both of those things were to happen the way he reacts to Hollows even then I don't think he would still be able to stand. But the only other option would be he is sensing the Hollow as it moves in another dimension! Is that even possible?! Not even a Soul Reaper has even had that kind of power or sensitivity! Could that be the reason he feels so distant? Because he is constantly sensing Hollows in the other dimensions even when others can't feel it?!"
This time it was Rukia who was snapped back as Makoto jerked her back with his hand. "Wait," he said. Rukia turned around in confusion but Makoto quickly answered her question. "You just came out of their house crying your eyes out. How do you think it's going to look if you all of a sudden come busting through the door dead serious and do your weird shenanigans to turn Ichigo into a soul reaper?"
"We don't have time to worry about that now!" she yelled back, trying to pull him forward once more. "Without Ichigo that Hollow will cause unchecked chaos and devastation! As a soul reaper I cannot allow that!"
Makoto yanked her back once more. "And as the one who is supposed to be taking care of you I can't allow you to do this!" He yelled back. "If you do that it's not just you who suffers it's me. There are a million ways this situation could turn sour for the both of us which might end up including you having to suffer through the same excruciating suffering I put you through again!"
His words hit Rukia like a ton of bricks. While Makoto had meant being forced to suffer through a long discussion with Yuzu and Karin he had unintentionally recalled Rukia's mind to the events of the day before making her hesitate. She didn't understand how he knew she couldn't bear to see him almost die over and over again but she didn't have the time to argue about it. So she stopped fighting and turned to look at him, her eyes serious.
"Then what do you propose we do?"
"Give me the glove," Makoto stated, sending Rukia into outrage.
"You don't even know how to use it! I thought you had a plan!" she screamed back.
"Rukia, we don't have time," Makoto replied sternly, grasping her arm tighter as she once again tried to rush away. "They just met you earlier today and you just walked out of there on the brink of tears with me saying I would take you home. I, on the other hand, know the Kurosakis and if I was to rush in it might still be weird but I would be able to explain it away better. Not to mention I am a better actor and can think on my feet better than you can. Please Rukia. I'm asking you to trust me just this once."
He let go of her arm and held out his hand. She had no reason to trust him and by all means she could have run and they would have suffered the consequences of it as he wouldn't be able to stop her since the Hollow would have rendered him paralyzed, and maybe she would have gotten to Ichigo, but at what cost? By the time the two return he could already be in the clutches of the Hollow being ripped to shreds as the demon devours his soul. When faced with that option why didn't he take the glove from her by force rushing off to the Kurosaki's leaving her behind, or would that only accomplish the same thing but this time it was Rukia, the only one who had any semblance of an idea of what they were even doing, that would be taken away. Unfortunately for some, neither of these two outcomes were achieved, for it was in this moment, for the first time, the two finally saw each other eye to eye. Their minds were brought to the fleeting images they had suffered moments ago as they looked into each other's eyes and saw someone who understood them and how they knew what needed to be done.
As soon as Makoto receives the glove he dashes back to the Kurosaki's, the air slowly growing heavier as the overwhelming sense of regret and fear begin to boil up in his chest, but this time he pushed those feeling deep down as he pulled the glove onto his hand, the white and blue outlines of the flaming skull motif illuminated in the moonlight and Rukia watched him go finally feeling that she understood the boy a bit more.
"I guess we were both faking, weren't we Makoto," Rukia said to herself quietly. "You're just better at hiding it than others are." There was then a loud beep as her Soul Pager went off. She knew it was redundant but she quickly flipped it open and checked the screen to see where the Hollow would appear and what she saw made her body go numb out of horror. She took off down the street, her frantic footsteps echoing in the silent night as her feet hit the asphalt, her heart beating out a quiet plea that she would not be too late, the words she had just seen upon the screen burned into her mind.
'10 meters, Kurosaki Clinic, 20:30, 5 minutes.'