Bad End #1
The following is the initial 'Bad End' for Rukia during the event of the same name. I chose to go in another direction that explored a different aspect of character, but thought I'd post this for archive's sake.
Within Soul Society, Aizen walked as a god.
Light, almost casual footsteps brought him down deserted streets and alleys with all the air of a stroll through the park. He paid no mind to the bodies that littered the ground. Black cloth was stained with crimson blood, splattered across the walls.
Further away Rukia continued to fight her own battle. The remaining Espada were causing quite the fight among the remaining Shinigami Captains and Lieutenants. It was hard to keep track of who was still standing among the chaos.
It was only an hour before when she felt Renji’s spiritual energy dissipate.
She fought to keep her mind clear and focused. Her enemy was quick and not to be underestimated. Her thoughts tried to drift to her childhood friend, and his sudden fate at the hands of Gi-
No! Do not think of that- You must not lose focus! Her internal voice brought reason once again to the forefront. The Shinigami pushed forward with another slash of her sword, once more, as the Arrancar blocked the blows.
Suddenly he vanished to appear behind her. Rukia spun around, her hands coming together while holding her sword.
“Hado the 33rd- Blue Fire Crash Down!”
Blue energy came at him, only to hit nothing but air. He had moved too quickly for her. Damn!
She grit her teeth as her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword. She would not let him so easily win.
“Blue Fire Crash Down!”
Once again her enemy dodged. Her movements became quicker and less careful in nature. She flash-stepped forward and brought her blade down hard. He jumped back fast enough to dodge, which only fed her building frustration. Anger was seeping into her mind and actions, quickly building and no longer able to be simply dismissed for another time.
Her blade came at him from the side- only to be blocked by his own sword. Faster again she attacked and pressed forward, yet was defected by his power. The Hollow energy she sensed only served to fuel her rage, the intensity showing in her violet eyes. Each attack lost what precision and thought it had and dissolved into a mindless fury. So many had already died because of Aizen and his followers… For Renji to be…!
Then, it was over.
Suddenly he stood mere inches from her, his head looking over her shoulder, with her blade coming out of his back. Suddenly her vision changed, a strange feeling coming to her. Orange hair now partially obscured her view, and where before stood a merciless Espada, now only Ichigo remained.
Rukia was then awake, unlike as she was before. No longer was she blinded by the thoughts of revenge and frustration. The hypnosis faded away to reveal the truth.
A choked sound escaped his lips, easily heard near her ear. Her eyes widened at the impossibility, shock coming over her features.
“…R- Ruki-“ His voice was unsteady and faint, stubbornly speaking to the last. His weight was entirely on her, making her fall to her knees. His body lay virtually limp against her. Every labored and gasped breath pierced through the surrounding sounds of battle. Soon, it was all she heard.
No words could escape her mouth. Too similar was the scene from the same one that haunted her dreams, the one moment that defined her true nature and selfishness. The images flashed to her mind before she could comprehend otherwise. The very same night the rain came down relentlessly, mocking her of her sin. The image was the same, every part of it was the same as before. The familiarity was crushing; she could not find the strength to speak.
She could not move.
Slowly, his arms moved to her back. The hold was weak and faint, though the intent was clear. At that, she completely froze.
The ghost of an apology escaped his bloody lips. Her mind screamed that it was wrong, that he was wrong, that he had no reason to apologize when she was the one to blame…! Why? How could he not see…?!
Just then, his arms fell limply to the ground. His breathing went silent.
Rukia began to tremble, suddenly taking in quick breaths that became increasingly erratic. She jerked away from the corps- no, Ichigo- and stared at him in disbelief. On her hands and knees she watched in horror and shook violently. Her hands clenched into fists, and her fingers dug into the blood-soaked ground.
“…N… No…” It came more as a choked sound than a word. The next moment she let out a yell, raw and broken, that echoed among the ruins and remains.
Aizen had gained his kingdom.
Within Soul Society, Aizen walked as a god.
Light, almost casual footsteps brought him down deserted streets and alleys with all the air of a stroll through the park. He paid no mind to the bodies that littered the ground. Black cloth was stained with crimson blood, splattered across the walls.
Further away Rukia continued to fight her own battle. The remaining Espada were causing quite the fight among the remaining Shinigami Captains and Lieutenants. It was hard to keep track of who was still standing among the chaos.
It was only an hour before when she felt Renji’s spiritual energy dissipate.
She fought to keep her mind clear and focused. Her enemy was quick and not to be underestimated. Her thoughts tried to drift to her childhood friend, and his sudden fate at the hands of Gi-
No! Do not think of that- You must not lose focus! Her internal voice brought reason once again to the forefront. The Shinigami pushed forward with another slash of her sword, once more, as the Arrancar blocked the blows.
Suddenly he vanished to appear behind her. Rukia spun around, her hands coming together while holding her sword.
“Hado the 33rd- Blue Fire Crash Down!”
Blue energy came at him, only to hit nothing but air. He had moved too quickly for her. Damn!
She grit her teeth as her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword. She would not let him so easily win.
“Blue Fire Crash Down!”
Once again her enemy dodged. Her movements became quicker and less careful in nature. She flash-stepped forward and brought her blade down hard. He jumped back fast enough to dodge, which only fed her building frustration. Anger was seeping into her mind and actions, quickly building and no longer able to be simply dismissed for another time.
Her blade came at him from the side- only to be blocked by his own sword. Faster again she attacked and pressed forward, yet was defected by his power. The Hollow energy she sensed only served to fuel her rage, the intensity showing in her violet eyes. Each attack lost what precision and thought it had and dissolved into a mindless fury. So many had already died because of Aizen and his followers… For Renji to be…!
Then, it was over.
Suddenly he stood mere inches from her, his head looking over her shoulder, with her blade coming out of his back. Suddenly her vision changed, a strange feeling coming to her. Orange hair now partially obscured her view, and where before stood a merciless Espada, now only Ichigo remained.
Rukia was then awake, unlike as she was before. No longer was she blinded by the thoughts of revenge and frustration. The hypnosis faded away to reveal the truth.
A choked sound escaped his lips, easily heard near her ear. Her eyes widened at the impossibility, shock coming over her features.
“…R- Ruki-“ His voice was unsteady and faint, stubbornly speaking to the last. His weight was entirely on her, making her fall to her knees. His body lay virtually limp against her. Every labored and gasped breath pierced through the surrounding sounds of battle. Soon, it was all she heard.
No words could escape her mouth. Too similar was the scene from the same one that haunted her dreams, the one moment that defined her true nature and selfishness. The images flashed to her mind before she could comprehend otherwise. The very same night the rain came down relentlessly, mocking her of her sin. The image was the same, every part of it was the same as before. The familiarity was crushing; she could not find the strength to speak.
She could not move.
Slowly, his arms moved to her back. The hold was weak and faint, though the intent was clear. At that, she completely froze.
The ghost of an apology escaped his bloody lips. Her mind screamed that it was wrong, that he was wrong, that he had no reason to apologize when she was the one to blame…! Why? How could he not see…?!
Just then, his arms fell limply to the ground. His breathing went silent.
Rukia began to tremble, suddenly taking in quick breaths that became increasingly erratic. She jerked away from the corps- no, Ichigo- and stared at him in disbelief. On her hands and knees she watched in horror and shook violently. Her hands clenched into fists, and her fingers dug into the blood-soaked ground.
“…N… No…” It came more as a choked sound than a word. The next moment she let out a yell, raw and broken, that echoed among the ruins and remains.
Aizen had gained his kingdom.