Longer than Forever [ BLEACH FANFIC SEQUEL]

Bitter-Sweet

The moon is awake while the sun is falling back from the sky. The first night on a strange mattress, under a strange ceiling. Especially from all that, I fell asleep in a foreign world where the human world form before was like a mere sweet dream.

How fascinating yet scary it is, this ability of mine to adjust into this new environment this quickly. Is it a given or a curse? Haha, either way, I'm thankful for this sleep, hence I can meet my dear.

" Sousuke-San? Sousuke-San? "
I called out to him as if chanting his name.

No reply... Yet.

I won't be so unfaithful to give up with just a few call without a reply. Compared to my scream of help back in the human world, this can't even be called as a 'calling for someone'.

" Sousuke-San? Sousuke-San? Can you hear me? Please answer— "

" Thought I was just missing you like a mad man, turned out your voice is even clearer now. "

Ah! There he is!

" Sousuke-San! Ahh... I'm so glad... I'm so glad you're there... "

" What are you saying, Hasu? I'm always here... I'll always be by your side. "

" Uhh... Why do I always feel like crying when I hear your voice? I'm just glad... Really glad... Thank you for being by my side, Sousuke-San. "

" No need for thanks, that's the least I can do for you, Hasu. "

" That's not true at all! Today... I learned something about your deal with Kyoraku-San... You really did went through all of that just so I can still have my previous memories intact... "

This afternoon, at Kyoraku-san's office, he told me briefly about his deal with Sousuke-San. Yes, even the great wound Sousuke-San must endure in order to make the plan go well.

" You must be thinking something unnecessary again, hah... What should I do with you? "

" E-eh? Well... I just... I'm so thankful to you, Sousuke-san... You are really patient to me... And even went through to the length of endangered yourself like that... The reason behind our first meeting at that white room, it was because our perfect time of death, wasn't it? I was crying because I just separated from my world forever, but I didn't know you were— "

" There will always be a price to pay for every greater result, isn't it? Those transient death of mine would be a cheap price for me to pay. "

...

I'm ... More than speechless... If there are words in my head—in front of my eyes even— I would still not be able to read nor process it.

" Matter not to me, if it's for both of us. That's right, Hasu... How do you feel now? Everything's alright? "

" I-I'm fine, please don't worry. I'm staying at Kyoraku-San's residence for now, though I don't know when will I have to move to another place. I must settle down at one place sooner or latter, right? "

" I apologized that I couldn't provide you with a more proper place to settle down. "

" N-no! What are you saying?! This new world I'm in is already such a fortune for me, and with Sousuke-san's wish for my intact memories, I feel like this is how I will find my true home. "

After talking for a while and recuperating my energy from today's many big event, Sousuke-San said that I should have a deep sleep now—just as ordinary people fall asleep.