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Christmas is a holiday of lovers in the World of the Leaving, Japan, for many years now. It’s also a celebration of hallows, they come back in droves, ever more hungry for the ones they once loved. Rukia watches from above Karakura town, majestic in her new white haori. His town is under the protection of her division, since before he was a twinkle in Isshin’s eye. Her snow falls gently to the ground together with the moonlight, purifying the air and dispelling the darkness; the goddess of death gives a gift to those in love.
Not long ago she was among them, walking the same streets. He walked beside her. It was a mission. It was a date. It was Christmas and they were keeping the living safe from the hungry ghosts of those that loved and lost. It’s always so sad to be alone on Christmas.
He is safe at a date with the girl that loved him since forever, since before Rukia walked through his wall and into his barely started life. She took this mission to be sure that nothing disturbs them.
At first he wasn’t sure why she going away. There is a law of the universe, older then the bones of soul society, maybe older than the Soul King himself. If the one you love is alive and you are dead, you let them go, other way you become a hollow. Urahara’s expertise and Isshin Shiba’s will of iron, managed to evade the law for a while. Then Masaki Kurosaki died killed by a hollow, the Universe balancing the scales. And he still can’t let her go, Masaki for ever. What are less then two decades to a shinigami? A mortal life is so, so short and then, eternal separation, because if you don’t choose to move on , you don’t stagnate, you transform into a devouring beast, condemned to room an endless desert where it’s always night, where you eat or you get eaten and where you’ll always be hungry for the ones that made you truly happy.
He sees them with her goddess eye in a restaurant, she is beautiful and beside herself with joy. He is a bit awkward but warm inside. She sees him and he is like the sun that now has his light and warmth shine on someone else. She remembers his eyes smiling just for her and feels her heart break, she remembers his warm embrace enveloping her and she gets hungry.