Event || The Enemy Within

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: In their heads.
When: January 15th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have a vision-- They are living through a hypothetical future where the Sage share his knowledge with them, and things went horribly wrong as some Heroes of Light became the villains in this timeline. Maybe they'll revise their thoughts on getting all of that knowledge.
Warning: The apocalypse, deaths, tragedies, overall a lot of very bad things.

Mingle Threads: The Antagonists || The Protagonists || The Others || General
Free Open Threads: The Two Years || Other Events

#01 Attempts at Negotiations || Trano Golsaucia
#02 Tactical Espionage Action || Aqures Ixen
#03 Judgmental Glares || Aerilon
#04 The Fight for the Crystallized Bodies || Aqures Tosf
#05 The Dusk of the Heroes || Mysidia
#06 The Fight for the Moon || Lunar Gate
#07 Conflict Above the Stars || Moon Base
#08 The Birth of a God || Crystal Life Tree
#09 The Death of a World || Moon Base
#10 Where Everything Ends || Pandaemonium

Conclusion || The Sage in Mysidia

Comments

[damn_juicebox]

"I'm not asking you to hold to the same beliefs," she replied. Some of her weariness was starting to show in the dimness of her eyes, and echoing in the tone of her voice. "Honestly, I'm glad you still have the faith you do. But I can't make myself feel that way anymore."

Her hands rested loosely at her sides, not resting on her weapon, not curled into fists. She was weary of the whole mess.

"But you know what it is to be a shinigami. Sacrifice of the few to preserve the whole. Do you not remember what we were forced to do with the Quincys? This differs very little from that situation. If we fail to act, no one will survive."

[blackmoonreaper]

Rukia looked so defeated. Ichigo hadn't seen her like that in a long time, especially not since he first went to rescue her from her death sentence. He couldn't be mad at her for feeling that way, it actually hurt to see her like that, but he clenched a fist at his side when she mentioned the Quincy extermination. That was all it could be called.

"Don't give me that! That's no excuse to just up and murder people! Even if the Quincys were screwing up the balance of souls there had to other ways to get them to stop and the same goes for here! The responsibility of a Shinigami--no, a person is to protect others! Not take their lives!"

He couldn't let her do that to herself. How could either of them return home and face their friends and family? He'd never forgive himself if he let her go through with it or allowed others commit senseless murder.

"Rukia... It's wrong."

[damn_juicebox]

"Yes it is." She looked at him directly, unsmiling.

"But it's the only way you and your family will be able to continue living. Remember that."

Rukia held his gaze a moment longer as she turned to the side, then started to move away from him. "I will carry the sins and blood on my own hands. There is no need for you to stain yours. Continue what you are doing. Should you find another way, I will follow it."

But until then, she had no other choice but to accept the grim decision to sacrifice the worst this world had dredged up.

[blackmoonreaper]

There wasn't any way Ichigo could convince her otherwise. He could see it in the set of her shoulders, in the impassiveness of her gaze but he couldn't accept it. He refused to. His family was incredibly important to him but it was more than that. He had friends and allies at home that depended on him--depended on them both--and it was the same here. While they were different people from different worlds it didn't make them any less expendable than anyone else.

He knew he wasn't strong enough in regards to their Jobs, that she was likely more powerful than him but it didn't stop him as he walked after her and grabbed her shoulder to force her to face him again.

"Don't make it sound like you're doing me any favors! They're still people, dumbass! I'm not gonna let you do this!"

His hand bunched up some of the fabric. Don't. Don't do this to him.

"Come with me and we'll find another way!"

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia's gaze was dim as she was forced to look up at him, her face impassive. It was even worse than when she'd resigned herself to her inevitable execution. There was simply no hope left inside of her that she could give to him, nor could she feign it just to appease his needs.

"Fool. It will take more than vague promises to stop what's happening here," she murmured, not even flinching when he gripped the fabric of her hakama so tightly. "There are only two choices. There is no mystery third waiting for us to hold on. For two years we've been holding on, and there is nothing else, as there has ever been nothing."

Gently she cupped her slim hand over his wrist, trying to ease his grip and remove his fingers from her shoulder. He was only going to hurt himself if this kept up.

[blackmoonreaper]

What the hell had she seen? That look was haunting and it was enough to loosen his grasp on her shoulder but he refused to let go. She was emotionally closed off and no matter how angry he got it would never get through to her. Not when she was in that state. He studied her face, his own expression turned into something more grim with his brow furrowed in worry. Ichigo couldn't force her to leave the city to regroup, it would be wrong to overstep his boundaries like that, but leaving her alone would be equally as damaging.

His other hand came up to rest on her other shoulder, not to use his hands to hold her still but to keep her focus on him for a little longer. He couldn't stay nor did he want to fight her despite how angry he was at the choice she made.

"I don't know what happened to you... but don't give up like that. You might not see it now but we can still fight. I'm not giving up on you or anyone else, Rukia."

His tone became more serious at his next admission.

"But if I find out that you went through with this to hurt or kill anyone... I will find you. I'll get stronger and find you no matter where you are, kick your dumb ass until you apologize to them and to anyone whose memory you dishonored. I will drag you to each one of their graves if I have to. You hear me?!"

[damn_juicebox]

Ordinarily she might have balked at his assumption, possibly even kicked him for assuming something so vulgar. But given the limited choices placed before her, she couldn't say that his accusation was unfair. She really might have to cut someone down, just because they were slightly more deserving than someone else.

But she would rather offer up her own life if it came to that. She didn't mind being a substitute; so long as Ichigo continued to live, their world would be safe. Of course, knowing him, if he heard of her intention to sacrifice herself, he might try to take her place instead. There was no way she would let him die to save someone who was already, technically, dead. He had a life and a bright future ahead of him. One way or another, he would return to that life. She'd see to it personally.

Rather than knocking his hand away, or even gently deflecting his wrist with a brush of her fingers, she instead lifted her arm and quietly cupped her palm over the back of his knuckles. He was her friend. She hated doing this to him, knowing he couldn't possibly understand. However, he was one of the few people she had left in this world to keep fighting for. She couldn't turn her back on this plan if it meant he and his family could keep on living.

"...All right. I accept your terms."

[blackmoonreaper]

It didn't feel right. As much as he said he wasn't giving up on her it felt like he was failing her for not pushing her to change her mind; to save her from that horrible choice she made. How could he face Byakuya or Renji knowing he'd let her go like that? Ichigo's hands dropped from Rukia's shoulders to rest back to his sides. He had said his peace and she heard him out like she promised. There was nothing more he could do.

"... Look after yourself. But if you change your mind about this, and find anyone else who did too, you know where to find us. Or if you don't want to face the others then contact me. I'll come find you and back you up. ... I know you'll make the right choice eventually, Rukia."

Ichigo couldn't look at her and he shut his eyes and turned his face away, not out of shame but in failure. He wouldn't be able to stand watching her walk away from him a second time when he was powerless to stop her.

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia didn't want him to go. She didn't even want him to withdraw his hand from her shoulder. There was so much inside of her she wanted to say, and tell him. To tell anyone. She wanted to scream that she hated the plan. She wanted to say that she regretted ever hearing it from the sage. And most of all she wanted to hang her head and actually shed tears for the love she'd lost. Never before had she allowed herself the luxury of tears, because once she started, she was sure she wouldn't be able to stop. It was all she could do to hang on the way she was now, and if she broke, she didn't think she could put herself back together again.

Instead, she watched him go, before she turned away as well. Her gaze rested only for a moment on one particular tombstone, before a silent apology hung heavy in her thoughts. Then she forced her feet to carry her forward and away from this solemn place.