Ripples of Fate.
Disclaimer :I don't own Bleach.
An :So for was quite for some time I wanted to write a bleach story but never could wrap my head around what was truly going on there. However lately I found the light novels which finally explain everything to me. So here it is.. Hopefully you'll enjoy it.
Chapter 1.
Soul society, aka the afterlife. A place where the people supposed to live happily. A place where the souls of the dead come to live another better life.
Walking slowly - shivering slightly as the cold chill of the morning assaulted his body, the rugs he was covered in did nothing to warm him- in the far part of the Rukon district, his eyes seeing the hunger and poverty of the people living there only one thought crossed him mind.. This was all a lie.
He hated it, the poverty and hunger the pain death.. This was supposed to be the afterlife! The place where people would be happy.. Not this dump.
The young boy passed the old dusty streets of the seventy eighth district of the south Rukon district, his long black hair moving with the breeze he showed no emotion.
On the side rode he watched as a young girl lying on the ground her face bruised and her eyes looking around for some food.
Bitting his lips he forced himself to avert his eyes.. There was nothing he could do.
He walked slowly through narrow alleys toward the outside of the city, where a forest was standing.
Walking through the woods he closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the serenity which those ancient trees created. The ruffling of the leaves were like music to his ears.
He didn't go far as not two hundred meters from the forest entrance there was a clearing.
He wasn't sure whether it was natural or man made seeing its symmetrical circle shape but he didn't really care. The only thing he cared about was that here he could be alone, far from the suffering of the people who couldn't feel what was around them.. Who couldn't feel the true paradise around them.
He closed his eyes as he set himself in the middle of the clearing near a small pond and conetrated.
He could feel the rush of the wind, the small ripples of the water. He felt the energy within them moving slowly, giving them shape and this energy surrounded them all, in every last thing in this place making it and giving it shape.
He smiled and focused on calling this energy from around him, corresed it slowly calling it and slowly it obeyed.
It moved slowly, obeying his command. He called it from around him, where it danced in the air beckoning it to move toward him and take shape.
It took him long,much longer than if he would have tried to get it from himself, his braw was glistening and his checks flushed from his concentration. But it was worth it.
Opening his eyes he couldn't help but smile at the sight of the floating ball in front of him, glowing in its ethereal light.
The boy didn't know what this energy was, he had no idea how it was working, but he knew that whatever it was it was the true form of the soul society.. The thing that could truly make a paradise.
Closing his eyes again he fell into a trance - like state, where he felt no hunger or thirst only the energy dancing marrily around him, it's very existence singing in his ears.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Commotion and pandemonium, these were the words which one would describe looking at the roads of the 78 South Rukon district.
People were running around, their excitement could be sensed in the air around them.
Children and elderly all moved frantically trying to come closer to the roads.
And all the commotion was around a pair of women in black clothes.
The older of the two, an average height woman with long magenta black hair in a ponytail was looking around with a critical eye and those who looked closely will say later that her golden eyes were filled with pain and compassion.
The younger one was much more petite, her gray eyes were swiping the area as if looking for any danger that could be presented to the woman by her side. Her black hair was braided and wrapped in white cloth.
But what caused the commotion was not the women appearance attractive as they were but rather it was the clothes the older of the two was clothed in.
The long white cloth with the number two on its back which was worn on the older woman is what made all the people around hype.
This was a shinigami.. The beings that were defending the soul society and the living world from the monstrous hollows. And not just any shinigami this was a captain!
The younger one turned to the captain "Yoruichi sama" she said quietly "Why are we here again?" she asked, disgust in her voice at the place they were.
The captain Yoruichi smiled "It's always good to see how the regular people live.. Far from the safety of the Seireitei and remind ourselves that we are still far away from creating a true paradise" she said sadly despite her smile "However, there is another reason why we are here" the captain explained to her protégé.
The braided girl looked up with interest "And what would that be lady Yoruichi?" she asked.
"Don't you feel it?" she asked "The reirioku being used? True it's faint and nothing special but there is someone here who can use it which means he can become a shinigami.. Which means we can take whoever it is out of this horrible place" the Shihoin stated her eyes bright with passion.
The younger woman closed her eyes and tried to feel for the energy and slowly she felt it, weak and faint but it was reiriyoku nonetheless.
Yoruichi smiled at her "You feel it now don't you Feng?"
The girl nodded tentatively.
"Good.. Which means we should hurry" she said before holding the girl's hand before she vanished in a burst of speed.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They reappeared in a small clearing, and there near a small pond seating in a lotus position with his eyes closed was their target.
It was a young boy, his long black hair was falling on his back, but to Yoruichi's surprise he wasn't thin or looked hungry, on the contrary his white skin was healthy and his body looked strong.
And around him reishi was moving. No she corrected herself the energy was dancing around the boy.
Before she had the chance to address him, to her surprise the boy turned toward her his stormy gray eyes staring in amazement at her his mouth opened.
It clicked to her, she didn't conceal her presence and as such the boy could probably sense her energy.
"You" the boy said slowly "You shine like the sun" he said amazement in his eyes.
The captain chuckled "It is nice to meet you" she greeted him "My name is Shihōin Yoruichi captain of the second division".
Feng looked at him with uncertainty but decided to follow her teacher's example "Feng Shāolíng" she introduced herself.
The boy finally came out of his stupor "Tomori Ryu" he introduced himself "It is an honor meeting you lady Shinigami" he said.
Feng looked at his clothes distastefuly "You are clothed like some beggar" she said disgusted.
Yourichi turned to her with a sharp glare but the boy- Ryu only laughed.
"Well milady" he said with a chuckle "Being that we are in a dump I think it makes sense that I look like that" he answered supposedly amused, but some anger could be found under it.
Sighing at her protégé antics the shinigami turned to the boy again "Your manipulation of reiryoku" she started "Can you show it to me?" she asked.
The boy looked at weirdly as if questioning why exactly did she want him to do it but obeyed nonetheless.
He closed his eyes and felt the energy all around him slowly he pulled it toward him, calling to it with his will to move at his command.
Yoruichi stood there, her eyes growing by the second as she observed the boy in action. At first when she just sensed him the power was faint weak even thus she thought the boy is most likely not strong but still decided to use her visits to the far districts to take him out of there.
But now.. Now she had quite the different impression. The boy wasn't using reiryoku at all! He was calling the reishi around him to move by his will, and not only did it obey it was being absorbed by him! Even if it was a miniscule amount it was still very much uncommon although not unheard of .. But it certainly explained how why didn't he looked hungry.. The energy was sustaining him.
Swallowing hard she turned to him "Tomori san" she started slowly waking the boy from his trance.
Ryu opened his eyes letting go of the reishi in his surprise "Y-yes ma'am?" he asked.
"Can you.. Can you summon the power from within you?" she asked him "Instead of from the world around you?" she clarify.
He nodded "I can do that.. But it is much easier but it doesn't help me from my hunger" he explained before he called the power from within him.
Yoruichi smiled when she sensed his power. It was nothing special but she believed that with training the boy could possibly become a seated officer.
"Tomori san" she started, her smile growing up "How would you like to come with us and attend the shinigami academy?" she asked him a glint in her golden eyes.
The boy's eyes widened "I - I can attend the academy?" he asked, bewildered "I can become a shinigami?"
Feng had enough of it, a vein popped in her temple "Are you daft?!" she snarled "Lady Yoruichi clearly stated that"
The boy flinched visibly he hung his eyes in shame and bowed to the noble "I am sorry milady" he said "Please forgive me for my stupidity" he said.
The captain of the second squad couldn't help but to burst out laughing "There is no need for you to apologize.. And you should relax kiddo" she said "You and her" she pointed at her companion "Should really stop being so uptight".
It took her another moment to stop laughing "So what is your answer little man?" she asked him finally.
"I will accept milady.. Thank you" he bowed.
"Great... So we can be on our way.."as if suddenly remembering something she looked at him again" Is there somone we need to alert?" she asked.
The boy shook his head.
A sad look passed the black haired shinigami but it quickly vanished replaced by her usual confident smile "Great!" she intoned before she caught his hand her other hand holding the younger girl "Off we go!" she exclaimed.
And before the boy could say anything they vanished leaving no trace behind them.
End of chapter 1.