Sunset in Heaven

t Shiros sword almost cut him in half horizontally.

It seems that annoying guy taught you something useful after all.

”Are you trying to **ing kill me!? ” Ichigo exclaimed when he recovered.

Shiro merely grinned, the creepy grin that was his signature, as he swung the sword over his shoulder. No, King. Of course not. Id be damned if I kill you. He looked like Ichigo that sometimes the teen felt that he was looking at a mirror, except that Shiros eyes were gold and not chocolate in color. And his hair was white, not orange. He wore a Shihakusho, the official Shinigami uniform. Only, his clothes were white, just like his whole body, and not black.

The Hollow was born together with him, just like Zangetsu was. Shiro told him that his mother also had her own Hollow inside her, though Ichigo didn understand it at the time.

Shiro was also another reason why he didn want to be a Shinigami. Shinigamis hunted Hollows. If the Shinigamis learned that he had a Hollow inside him, then what would become of him? Not to mention the contempt that Juushirou and Kaien might receive for taking care of him. Of course, the other reason… was because of a certain brunette Captain whose name he couldn even remember. It had been sixteen years after all. He was just a boy then, a boy whose only trauma was the death of his mother and his own death. He was an eighteen-year-old now, at least thats how his body looked like, a teen whose worries and fears were far too numerous to be named.

Ichigo rolled his eyes at his Hollows annoying antics. He was used to Shiros attempts to cut him every time he visited in his own world. It was the world that only he could see or live in. It was also the place that he always found himself retreating to every time the memories and the guilt would get too much to bear. Zangetsu (and Shiro, sometimes) comforted him when he was here, and those two were his strength and his power.

Shirosaki, its better if you stop doing such reckless things. Zangetsu said in his monotone voice, so unlike Shiros high-pitch creepy one.

”I think Ill be staying here for a while. ” Ichigo sat on one of the buildings. He remembered the first time he went here, not by his own accord of course. He sat at the building and saw, to his panic and shock, that he was sitting on the buildings wall and not on the floor.

He explained it to Kaien one time and the older Shinigami merely laughed, saying that his world was a reflection of his identity. And even now, he still couldn understand why his world was made of horizontal buildings and silence that stretched for eternity. Everything was so still and lifeless, so hard and cold. And yet Zangetsu lived here together with Shiro. Maybe it was because he too was hard, cold, and lifeless?

You know, its annoying every time you think of pathetic things. Ichigo opened his eyes again, not realizing he closed them, and looked at Shiros annoyed expression.

Ichigo, its best that you stop thinking of things that weigh you down and things that weaken your heart. Zangetsu voiced again. Instead, think of things that will make you stronger, things that will strengthen your resolve, and will definitely make you move on.

”Sorry, ” Ichigo smiled sheepishly at his two companions. He inhaled before he lay down the wall of the building. ”Its just that… I think sometimes Im still too weak. ”

Comes with great power a great responsibility. Zangetsu voiced. You need not rush things, Ichigo.

Apparently, King here thinks that it will be the end of the world if he wouldn be able to protect someone. Ichigo glared at him, but he just continued, ignoring his master. Even if everyone dies, the world will still continue to exist. Time will still continue.

Ichigo snorted. He hated it every time Shiro would be in Lecture-mode. Of course, a creepy Hollow lecturing him, a kid whose loved ones were killed by a Hollow? Preposterous. But that didn mean that Shiro was wrong. Ichigo was far too mature now, far too engrossed in Juushirou and Kaiens teachings, to not accept anothers well-grounded advice.

”Anyway, let me sleep here for a while. ” He said just as he let his body relax. He heard Zangetsu and Shiros voice just as he drifted into sleep.

Of course.

This is your world.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

”W-What do you mean gone? ” Ichigo asked, his heart starting to feel silent panic. He was training earlier when Juushirou showed up with a very mournful and anguished expression.

They were seated in a small table, the tea already cold in front of them. Juushirou closed his eyes, not really wanting to repeat the same words all over again. ”Shiba-kun, your mentor, has passed away. ”

Ichigo felt his chest tightened as he fisted his hands tightly. He watched the total agony in Juushirous expression and he knew that his death was something tragic. He wanted to ask how, but he suddenly couldn find his voice. He willed himself to stop trembling and break down in front of Juushirou.

Kaien hadn shown up ever since that afternoon. It had been two weeks since then and just as he was happy to actually see Juushirou, this news was broken to him. It was painful to lose someone who had been with him for eight years now, someone he had grown close to, like an older brother. And Kaien just had to die before fulfilling his promise of harsh training…

He closed his eyes. ”H-How did he..? ” He didn need to continue. He was sure that Juushirou would understand.

The older man looked at Ichigo. The teen was taking it a little too calmly and he was afraid that Ichigo was breaking inside without anyone to lean on. He stood up and walked towards Ichigo. The teen looked at him with sorrowful expression and the older male knew he was right. He sat beside the boy and held his tanned hands.

”Shiba-kuns wife, Miyako-san, was sent to investigate some Hollow activities the day after we last saw you. ” Juushirou started, voice just slightly trembling despite the deep pain that clenched his heart. ”She came back the afternoon after, alone and weak. All the others aside from her were killed. That night, a massacre happened. Many of my subordinates were killed by an unknown someone and it was too late when we realized that it was her who killed them all. The Hollow Metastacia used her body and resided within her, using her to eat more souls. After that, Shiba-kun willed himself to kill Miyako, just for the sake of preserving her dignity as a Shinigami. ”

Ichigo felt his heart constricted at the story. ”Its just like Baa-chan… ” Ichigo knew Kaiens wife Miyako. Sometimes, when Kaien came to Ichigos house, she would also visit. Sometimes she would cook for Ichigo while her husband and the boy were sparring. It was like having a mother all over again, though no one could replace his real mother so he just treated her like an elder sister. And much to Kaiens amusement, he also called her by name without any honorific. Miyako was too kind, way too kind for Kaien as Ichigo always teased. She was honorable and strong, despite being tender and warm. Shes the third seat, but her influence wasn limited to that. For her to be possessed must be so hard for Kaien to endure.

”Yes, it is. ” Juushirou answered Ichigos words. ”Shiba-kun chased after her and ended up in some forested area in Rukongai. Kuchiki-san and I followed after them but when we arrived, Shiba-kun was already engaged in a fight to at least recover her body. We could not do anything because it was his fight. He was fighting for his wifes honor, and we mustn intervene. But in the end… ”

Ichigo somehow had the gist of what happened. He closed his eyes as his grip on Juushirous hand tightened. ”In the end, the Hollow consumed him too. And, with the last of his will, he purposefully stabbed himself with Kuchiki-sans zanpakutou. Kuchiki wasn the one who stabbed him. It was him who thrust himself through the sword that she held. He sacrificed himself just for Metastacia, the Hollow that killed his wife, to be slain. Even now, Kuchiki-san blames herself for what happened to him, even though its entirely my fault… ” He said as he let his tears fell one by one.

Ichigos heart broke even more at the sight of his beloved guardian breaking in front of him. He immediately hugged Juushirou and the older man leaned on him for support as he cried for the first time ever since it happened. He cooped everything up inside him in order to proceed to proper investigation and everything else that was needed to be done after that. His subordinates didn need a leader that would break in front of them. They needed to see him strong. And he maintained his façade up until this afternoon.

By now, Juushirou was far too exhausted and far too broken to care if he was sobbing in front of the boy that he should have been comforting instead. He was far too anguished by the deaths of his subordinates and his lieutenant to even care about his pride as a Captain. He knew Ichigo wouldn judge him by that. He knew that with Ichigo, he could cry his heart out without any shame. Because Ichigo was his son.

”Its not your fault, Juushirou-san. Its not anyones fault, except the Hollows. ” Ichigos voice was hoarse and was trembling a bit, but it was alright. He drew circles on Juushirous back with his palm, calming his beloved guardian with all his might. He remembered Renjis words once, and now he truly believed them. This was not Juushirous fault, or anybody elses for that matter. ”It never was your fault and never would be. ”

Juushirou continued to sob. ”But I am the Captain, Ichigo… I shouldve felt that something was wrong with Miyako-san that afternoon… I shouldve prevented it… ”

Ichigo didn know what to say to that. He had experienced that as a child, and he knew that no matter what he would say to Juushirou now, the older man would still think that he was at fault. It was disheartening. And now he wondered if this was his fathers feeling while consoling him, utter agony at the sight of his son blaming himself for something that was entirely out of his control.

Now you see, King? Every time you blame yourself for something, this is how other people feel for you.

”Shut up, Shiro. ”

He didn know how much time they remained like that. But when Juushirou finally let go of his hakama, it was already past dusk outside. The older mans face was still tear-streaked and Ichigo immediately stood up and took a towel to give to his guardian. Juushirou took it and started wiping the tears off his face, though his face was still basically red and his eyes sore from crying.

Ichigo reheated the tea and gave it to Juushirou afterwards. The older man murmured a soft hank you before accepting it.

”Thank you, Ichigo-kun… ” Juushirou voiced after a while. Ichigo tried to smile in return to at least make Juushirou feel better but all that came out of him was a sad grimace. He couldn smile. Not when one of his favorite people just died on him… not when Kaien hadn fulfilled his promise of not dying on him…

”He broke his promises to me, Juushirou-san… ” He voiced after a while. ”He promised to train me harsher the next time we meet… he promised not to die on me… ”

Juushirou put the cup of tea down and looked at his poster son. Ichigo was still not shedding any tears. He was cooping it up inside…

”Ichigo-kun, you can cry on my shoulders too. ” He smiled sadly. ”Lets not make Shiba-kun worry too much by holding everything inside us… ”

”I promised… not to cry anymore… ” Ichigo closed his eyes to prevent the traitor of a tear to come out. He gulped as the agony inside him intensified with his action.

Before he knew it, Juushirou was beside him again, comforting him by ruffling his hair gently. It wasn how Kaien did it. Kaiens way of doing it was brash, just like him. Juushirous hands were more gentle and kind. But both of them were nevertheless comforting. He looked down and leaned on Juushirous shoulder.

Juushirou felt the silent trembles from his sons body. He felt the warm wetness on his Shihakusho, but he didn say anything. He continued ruffling Ichigos hair, not because he always saw Kaien doing it. But because he always saw how Ichigo felt comforted with this small gesture. It was the least he could do…