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Week 2, post-investigation
[Ichigo thought that he shouldn't leave Assassin alone - not after that outburst at Max before, and especially not after the man lost someone he so cared about.
Because...even though Ichigo can't remember their names or their faces, he knows he's also lost people he cared for - and he knows the horrible, wrenching feeling of knowing they're gone and you'll never see them again, never hear their voices; he also knows the agony of feeling like you failed to protect them, something that still burns deep inside of his own self.
And god, how he hopes that Assassin won't destroy himself with his own grief and loss, like how Ichigo torments himself every single day he wakes up here.
So, once Assassin has calmed down and they're away from the public eye, Ichigo lets him go.]
....I'm sorry.
[It's all he can say.]
Because...even though Ichigo can't remember their names or their faces, he knows he's also lost people he cared for - and he knows the horrible, wrenching feeling of knowing they're gone and you'll never see them again, never hear their voices; he also knows the agony of feeling like you failed to protect them, something that still burns deep inside of his own self.
And god, how he hopes that Assassin won't destroy himself with his own grief and loss, like how Ichigo torments himself every single day he wakes up here.
So, once Assassin has calmed down and they're away from the public eye, Ichigo lets him go.]
....I'm sorry.
[It's all he can say.]
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... It's happening again.
[ History is repeating itself. ]
Hey, Ichigo. In your world... what happens to humans when they die?
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...They get taken by Shinigami to Soul Society - the world of the dead, I guess. When they're there, they live in the Rukongai peacefully [Or not so peacefully in the more violent parts, but he's not going to tell Assassin that] until they eventually are reborn again, or become part of Soul Society itself.
[He also leaves out the hollows, because...Assassin is looking for comfort, isn't he?]
...I figure I got taken out of the cycle because of how I died, but...
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[ He takes a familiar magatama out of his pocket. ]
You know, I was a spirit before this too... You'd think I'd be used to this but it never gets easier.
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...Yeah. It's - I'm glad I could protect it, even if it meant that I had to die like that.
[He gives a small, sad smile - but then perks up at hearing that Assassin was a spirit before, too.]
What? You mean - you were in spiritual form when you died?
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[ He turns the magatama around, admiring it in wonder. Akira said it was a symbol — a reminder from Maya. You can make it.
He doesn't need it, but the memory gives him something to lean on. ]
But I still wanna live.
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...I see.
I'm - glad to hear that you still want to keep going. That's good to hold onto, I think.
[He smiles a little, even if it's weak.]
I hope you're able to live, too.