Afire Love (Bleach: Ichiruki)

XII

"Yes. Which means that anyone that she distributed her soul to will.. die."

"So what? Is the Soul Queen going to take back her bankai?" Renji said, leaning against the wall.

Nanao shut her eyes.

"She doesn't want to. But it is the Soul King's request."

Lieutenants Sasakibe, Kira, and Rukia closed their eyes.

"No. She can't." Renji was now on his feet, walking and standing behind the chair Rukia was sat in.

"When will this happen?" Rukia asked.

"Two days from now.. I'm sorry." Lieutenant Nanao said, defeated.

"But. There is a chance that once the entire soul of the Soul Queen is back in her, that the dead she rose may remain alive."

"How?" Rangiku asked, her eyes pained.

"If their will to live is strong enough. If there is one thing that they cannot bear to leave behind.

The Soul Queen didn't just bring the dead back with her soul alone. She used a bit of the soul she found that person in."

"What? That's confusing!" Lieutenant Ōmaeda said.

Nanao sighed. "For example. Our Captain Ichimaru could stay alive if Rangiku's soul were to bind to Gin. But her will, along with Gin's will to keep him alive has to be strong enough."

"So I would be linked by the person's soul in which the Soul Queen discovered my death in." Lieutenant Sasakibe said.

"Yes. Its more complex. I can't explain it."

"How are we supposed to distribute our souls?" Renji asked.

"We can't. That's nearly impossible; it takes centuries to even get the hang of it. But the Soul Queen can, if the Soul King sees your soul as pure." Nanao said.

Renji slammed his hands on the end of the table. Everyone looked up at him, surprised.

Rukia looked up at him with sad eyes.

"Renji.."

"And what if that doesn't work? There has to be another way-

-no, there isn't. I'm sorry."

Silence lingered in the air.

Of course this happiness wouldn't last long.

Some would die again. Some would live.

When Nanao dismissed them, Rukia walked out with Rangiku. Renji had already left long before that.

Rangiku gave Kira a long hug before they parted ways. Rangiku then ran to catch up with Rukia.

"Rukia." Rangiku said, her eyes filled with sadness. They stopped walking, as Rukia breathed a deep breath.

Rukia turned to face her, giving Rangiku a reassuring smile.