TZC: Ichigo and Zangetsu C3, B side-Sode no Shirayuki
Sode no Shirayuki glided smoothly out of Zangetsu’s world and into her own. The diffused sunlight glinted off the frozen waterfall that adorned the sheer cliff face at her back. Before her, Rukia sat next to the reflecting pool that was Sode no Shirayuki’s window onto the outside world. Currently, it showed what looked like a memory. She stepped closer to see which one.
She saw the first time Ichigo had taken up the power of a shinigami. Sode no Shirayuki remembered that night clearly. From the first instant Ichigo’s hands touched her blade, his reiatsu (reiatsu!) had consumed her senses with the dark of night, the smell of blood and the thunderous pounding of driving rain. She’d been unable to control the transfer and been entirely lost to his hands. The darkness faded over time, but always, always the touch of Ichigo’s reiatsu brought with it the scent of blood and the sound of the rain. It hadn’t been until he’d told Rukia of his mother’s death that they’d understood why.
Ichigo had become a shinigami in his heart when he was nine years old. He had just been waiting for his body and his powers to catch up to his burning need to protect.
Sode no Shirayuki settled next to her uncharacteristically silent shinigami. A wave of her hand changed the picture to display her visit to Zangetsu. Rukia watched intently as it played through once, twice. Then she smiled.
They really are hopeless, aren’t they?
Sode no Shirayuki smiled back when Rukia leaned into her side. She put her arm around her shinigami before she responded.
All will be well, eventually. We will look out for them.
Of course we will. What else is family for?