Disclaimer: Bleach, characters and plot line, belongs to Tite Kubo. Any other character and plot lines belong to me.
Edit: Chapter has been updated as of 11/6/13.
Chapter 1: A Change in the Wind
When it comes to life, you do things intentionally or unintentionally. For myself, things start off intentional but it soon becomes unintentional. Sociologist Robert K. Merton, who popularized the idea of unintended consequences, states that there are three categories this ideology will fall under: one, a positive, unforeseen benefit; two, a negative, unforeseen disadvantage occurring in addition to the desired effect; three, when an intended solution makes a problem worse.
Every action that I tend to do falls under one of these categories. But with my lifestyle, I need to learn from those mistakes and try to not commit them again. I blame my grandfather for this.
"Kaede-chan! Time for you to wake up!" Ojii-san's voice resonated throughout the sanctuary of my room.
"Five more minutes," I mumbled from underneath my leaf green colored comforter.
"Kaito! Your daughter isn't paying attention to me!" He shouted his complaint to my otou-san.
I swear that old man is going to be the death of me. If it isn't his form of "keeping the family tradition," it's going to be his complaints.
"Kaede, listen to your ojii-san before kaa-san wakes up and goes on her hormonal rampage," Otou-san shouted.
I take it back. My pregnant, hormonal okaa-san is going to be the death of me.
"I'm up!"
"Good," Ojii-san smiled. "Now hurry up and get dressed for school."
With that said, the old man left my room allowing me to grab all the clothes that I need before heading towards the bathroom. After taking a quick shower and doing all the necessary morning routines, I got dressed into my Karakura High School uniform. If there was one thing that I hated about the uniform that I am required to wear, it would have to be that red bow. I hate that thing so much with a passion. So instead, I just go on without it. Plus it gives me easy access for when I need to grab Kiba (fang) from around my neck. After arranging my black chin length pixie hair cut and making sure that Kiba was on properly, I left the bathroom and headed downstairs.
"Ohayo," I greeted with no enthusiasm. It's too early to be cheerful. Give me about an hour then I will be back to my normal self. I sat down next to ojii-san and inspected my breakfast before I began to eat it.
"Ah! You remembered the lesson that I gave you, Kaede-chan," Ojii-san patted my back.
"Of course I did," I said while in between bites of my eggs. "The last time I didn't I was in the hospital for two days."
"Otou-san, you should probably stop trying to kill Kaede. Or at least tone it down a bit," my otou-san defended me.
"Why you know I can't do that, Kaito. I have to make sure that Kaede-chan is in top shape and always prepared for anything. If it's the way of our ancestors, then we are going to continue that tradition!"
"Ojii-san, you are insane," I told him while staring at him with my dark brown eyes. I sighed and got up from my chair and placed my plate and chopsticks in the sink.
"Kaede-chan, why must you be so cruel! I am only trying to keep the Tatsumiya clan's tradition alive!"
"Just because we have ancestors that served under Tokugawa Ieyasu doesn't mean anything," I went to grab my black messenger bag from off the living room floor. "I am off to school."
"Do you have Kiba with you?" Otou-san asked.
I pulled the necklace from around my neck to reveal my kwaiken tantō sheathed blade that I was given for tenth birthday, "Yes I have Kiba with me."
"Good," Ojii-san said. "Oh, and Kaede-chan, can you do me the favor and go stop by Urahara Shōten and pick something up for me?"
"Hai," I replied while placing on my black Chucks. "Bye!"
"Have a good day! I already packed your lunch in your bag!"
"Don't get killed! And don't forget to make sure you hide your reiatsu!"
Oh how you can obviously tell who said what as I left my house. Making sure that Kiba was placed properly under my shirt, I began my way to school.
As you can see, my ojii-san is very into keeping our family tradition alive. Even though our ancestor's form of employment doesn't really exist anymore, unless you count assassins and stuff that comes from mangas and animes, he still insists that his family continues learning this. Otou-san had to go through the same training as I did, except I think it was way worse for me since I am a girl. But how do you explain to an old man that in this time era ninjas do not exist?
Our family, the Tatsumiya clan, apparently worked for the Tokugawa shogunate as ninjas. But from what ojii-san tells me, our family specialized in one thing, besides the usual scouting, assassinations, etc. That one this was killing demons or Hollows as ojii-san calls them. I do remember seeing a "Hollow" once as a child. Not only that, but I see spirits that have departed from our world. I remember the first time I saw one, I thought it was an imaginary friend that I made up that no one could see. Well that didn't work out since otou-san told me that he was able to see her and that it was actually a ghost. That's when my sense of imaginary friends died.
As I was nearing our school, I made sure that my reiatsu was hidden properly. Speaking of reiatsu, ever since that new student Kuchiki came, Kurosaki's reiatsu has spiked up a lot. Things have been getting weirder by the second. Maybe I should investigate sometime? That's when the ninja skills come to a good use.
"Ohayo, Kaede," I turned to look at the owner of the voice.
"Ah, ohayo, Chad," I waved at who you can probably say is my best friend.
The way my friendship with Yatsutora Sado, or Chad, started was rather interesting. It started with Chad being bullied by some idiots in our eighth grade class to try and get him mad, but in the end, it got me pissed off since I was trying to study for an upcoming exam. Let's just say that I kinda punched them into oblivion. And with this friendship comes the acquaintances of Kurosaki Ichigo, Kojima Mizuiro, and Asano Keigo.
"How's it going?" I asked the teen as we walked into the building and changed into our school shoes.
"It's alright. How are you?"
"Can't complain, even though I think ojii-san tried sending me to the hospital again," I told him as we made our way up the staircase and into the hallway that led us to our classroom, 1-3.
"How did he try this time?" Chad asked as we walked into the classroom.
"I think he tried to poison my food, again."
Chad didn't fully know I was a ninja. Instead, the only details that he knew is that my ojii-san is a crazy old man who likes to tease his granddaughter and torture her. That sounds like a normal grandfather, right?
Right as I neared my desk I had an accidental run in with someone. More like a run in with someone's assets.
"Ah! Gomen, Kaede-chan!" Inoue, Orihime apologized as she started spazzing to make sure I didn't have injuries.
"It's okay, Orihime-san. I'm alright," I patted the girl in the head. Why must I be taller than all of the girls here? At least my breasts are bigger than some of them, but not like Orihime-san's. Hooray for C-cups!
Anyways…
"Kaede-chan, do you wanna have lunch with us today up on the roof? I have an amazing story that I need to tell you all!" Orihime-san asked as she took a seat.
"Sure, Orihime-san."
"Yatta!"
"Oi, what's with the noise?" Arisawa, Tatsuki walked towards us. Another close friend of mine, just like Orihime-san, except we don't use honorifics with each other.
Orihime-san turned towards her with a smile, "Kaede-chan is joining us girls for lunch today!"
'Other girls? Crap that means Ryō-san is going to be there. Woman is gonna try and force me again to join the track and field team,' a sweatdrop adorned my head once the thought occurred.
But the thought instantly disappeared when Kuchiki walked through our classroom's door with Kurosaki behind her. Seriously, things have gotten stranger ever since she arrived. Especially when she drags Kurosaki out of the classroom when he suddenly "looks ill." One of these days I'll figure out what's up behind that rehearsed smile. Oh crap, class is starting.
Lunch had finally arrived and Orihime literally bounced out of her seat and grabbed my arm to drag me to the roof top. Behind us was the usual group of girls that I hung out with when I'm not with the boys: Ryō-san, Michiru-san, Mahana-san, Chizuru-san, and Tatsuki. Once we were up on the roof, I took notice that Chad and the other boys were there, including Kuchiki.
"Kaede-san, have you considered my offer for joining the track and field team?" Ryō-san asked.
I sighed, "For the last time, it's still a no. I have a pregnant okaa-san that needs my help at home."
"How many months is she now?" Michiru-san asked as she took out her lunch.
"Four months," I told her before biting my salmon onigiri.
It was silent for a moment until Orihime-san thought this was the perfect time to tell her story of what happened the night before with Tatsuki. After hearing her whole story, I was staring at her whether she was insane or over-imagining things.
"It's true, I'm telling you!" She exclaimed while holding her bento. "A Sumo champion really came to my apartment and blew a hole in the wall with a gun."
"You and that story again," Mahana-san said while placing her hand on her hip. "Try something with a bit more realism. Like a pro-wrestler came and had an out-of-ring grudge match or something."
"Well, I really like that mischievous mind of yours, 'Hime," Chizuru-san said before sipping her juice box.
"Please, Chizuru-san, save it for when we are not eating," I told her before taking another bite.
"It's really true!" Orihime-san shouted. "Right, Tatsuki-chan?"
"Yeah," Tatsuki defended Orihime-san.
"Wow!" Mahana-san exclaimed.
"You're telling the same story, Tatsuki?!" Chizuru-san sounded like she was in shock.
"I mean, its like," Tatsuki tried to explain, but the girls kept on interfering.
"Shut up!" I shouted. The girls remained silent now that they were told to be quiet. "If Tatsuki states what happened was true since she was there, then it's true. Now can we please continue on with lunch before times up?"
With that, the finally did calm down and begin talking about what girls normally talk about: everything.
"Kaede-chan, do you want to come over after school to work on today's assignments?" Orihime-san asked me.
I shook my head, "Sorry Orihime-san, I can't today. Ojii-san asked me to run an errand for him. Maybe some other time."
Lunch and the remainder of school go by and now I am free! I waved goodbye to my friends and made my towards the direction that would be taking me to Urahara Shōten. I used to go to this store a lot when I was little when ojii-san would take me for walks. The owner of the store would give me free candy all the time. Mmm, candy.
I lost track of how long I have been walking but realized that I have arrived at my destination when I saw two kids cleaning outside of the shop. The first was a little girl with purple eyes and long, black hair, held by pink ties, with a purple tint and two strands of her bangs that part in the middle of her face, opposing each other. She was wearing a white shirt that had the store's name written in pink and a knee-length, pink skirt with white dots.
'She's so cute! I don't remember her being here when I was younger.'
The boy next to her, that was more into swinging the broom than using it to clean, had red hair and was wearing a white t-shirt with the shop's logo printed on the front and blue three-quarter length trousers, the bottoms of which are turned up.
'Not cute.'
I walked up to the two and once they noticed my presence the stop doing what they were doing.
"Uh, hi. I was wondering if the owner is in. I have to pick something up for my ojii-san," I smiled at the two awkwardly.
"You're pretty," the little girl suddenly announced making the blush on her face grow more out of embarrassment.
I laughed and bent down to look at the girl, "You're pretty too. I love your hair."
"Ururu, this old lady ain't pretty," the boy said out of nowhere while picking his nose.
My face immediately went blank as I stood up and towered over the little boy, "What was that!"
"Jinta! Ururu! Who's outside?" A voice from inside the store shouted.
"A customer," the little girl, named Ururu, answered. She grabbed my hand, pulling me away from the red haired brat and led me inside.
The store looks exactly like how I remembered it as a child. Sitting at what presumably looks like the end of the store, sat the owner of the shop. The shop owner, Urahara-san, is a tall and lean-built man with light skin and gray eyes. His hair is messy and light-blond with strands framing the sides of the face and hanging between his eyes and chin stubble. He was wearing his usual green and white stripped bucket hat along with a dark green shirt and pants, topped with a black coat with a white diamond pattern along its bottom half.
"Hello, Urahara-san," I approached the man.
"My, my, is that who I think it is? Kaede-chan, how long has it been?" Urahara-san grinned. "You have definitely matured since the last time I saw you."
'And you are still a pervert,' I thought. "It's been a while. Anyways, I am here to pick something up for my ojii-san."
He smiled under the shadow that his bucket hat was casting, "And how is Fumito-san? Is he still telling you stories about the Seireitei?"
Once, ojii-san brought me over as a kid, Urahara-san and he would tell me stories of this place. They both even said that my form of training was done there under a squad that was numbered two.
"Still his crazy self," I replied. "And he hasn't told me anymore stories since I practically know them all."
Another smile appeared on his face and he slightly moved to grab a box that was behind him. He handed it over to me, "Well here is what Fumito-san was asking for. Please make sure that he doesn't drop this since it is fragile. These are high quality items."
"Right," I nodded my head as I stood up. "I'll make sure of it. Thank you Urahara-san."
"Please come over and visit more often," He said while pulling out his wooden fan.
Again I shook my head and made my way out of shop to the two kids out there again. I waved goodbye to Ururu-chan, ignoring the red head completely. All I know is that as I walked away, I heard the kid complaining as to why he was being mistreated and how Ururu was being treated so nicely. Looking up towards the sky I took notice that it twilight was close meaning that I should be heading home soon if I don't want to get in trouble by ojii-san. As I turned the corner to my street, I almost ran into someone.
"Ah, sorry about that," I apologized to the person. And that's when I noticed I almost ran into Kurosaki and Kuchiki. "Oh hey, Kurosaki. Kuchiki-san."
"Do I know you?" Kuchiki-san asked confused.
'Does she not know we are in the same class together?' I furrowed my brows together.
"She's in our class, idiot," Kurosaki told her.
Reiatsu was seriously leaking off of his body. And there is a small amount coming from Kuchiki too. But it feels like it's disappearing from her body completely.
"Oh! Kuchiki, Rukia," she introduced herself to me while curtsying.
What the hell?
"Tatsumiya, Kaede. Nice to formally meet you," I smiled. "Well, it was nice running into you both. I should head home before ojii-san kills me."
Literally.
"Ah, we'll see you in class tomorrow," Kurosaki nodded his head.
"Bye-bye," Kuchiki waved.
"Bye," I said before continuing towards my house.
Like I said before, something weird is going on. In roughly about ten minutes, I finally made it home and just in time for dinner.
"I'm home!" I shouted before kicking off my shoes and dropping my messenger bag onto the floor. "Ojii-san, I have your package!"
I walked into the kitchen to find my okaa-san and otou-san preparing for dinner. Ojii-san was nowhere to be found. Well, that's what I thought.
Out of nowhere, a blade just appeared on the side of my face causing me to drop onto my knees so I could avoid that attack. Ojii-san, with the blade in hand, ran towards me and in return I began jumping on top of all the furniture to avoid being stabbed.
"Can't you see I have your package, old man?!" I shouted while trying to avoid being killed. "Couldn't we have a training session after I finish dinner?!"
"A ninja never has breaks and must always be aware of their surroundings!" He ignored my requests and kept on attacking me.
As safely as I could, I placed the package on the ground and grabbed Kiba from around my neck. Pulling the fully black sheath except for the single red stripe, I revealed my blade. Running back to the old man, I began my conquest to try and disarm him.
"That's more like it!" Ojii-san shouted.
And right when the good stuff was about to happen, we were both smacked in the back of our heads.
"If you two are going to fight like this in my house, I will make sure you repair all of the damages by yourselves! Isn't this why we have a small dojo in the back of the house?!" Okaa-san shouted at us.
"We're sorry," Ojii-san and I apologized.
Just like that she smiled, "Good. Dinner is ready."
"Ojii-san, I have your package," I told him once okaa-san was out of sight.
This man is insane. I swear. One minute he intends on trying to kill me and now he is hugging me all because I brought him his package. Handing it over to him, I waited anxiously as he opened it up.
"Yes! He got the sakes I wanted!" I toppled over after hearing this. The fragile items were sake bottles? Alcohol?!
"You alcoholic!" I shouted.
"There is something in here for you as well," Ojii-san said as he pulled out a black choker that had a silver charm of a skull surrounded by fire.
"It's pretty," I told him as I grabbed it.
"It's a gift from Urahara-san and I. It's a charm to let you know if there are any Hollows around you," Ojii-san told me as he placed it around my neck.
"How would I know?" I asked him with a hint of curiosity.
"I guess you will just have to wait and find out. Oh and please start doing me a favor and start carrying around Gesshoku (lunar eclipse) and Nisshoku (solar eclipse). It will let this old man feel more at ease if you carry your kodachis around."
"Sure, Ojii-san," I told him with uncertainty.
He patted my back, "Good! Now let's go eat dinner. Since we had a mini-session today, I'll let you off the hook for tonight!"
"Jeez, thanks."
After dinner, I went to grab my shoes and my messenger bag and made my way up to my bedroom. Once I closed the door of my sanctuary, I walked towards my bed and sat on the ground to pull out what I was looking for.
A black box was what I was looking for and once I grabbed it, I pulled it out and moved to sit on my bed. Opening it I found the contents just how I last left them. Gesshoku was on the right with a black sheath and orange hilt. Nisshoku, on the other hand, was on the left with a black sheath and red hilt.
"Hello my pretties!" I giggled as I pulled out Nisshoku and removed it from its sheath.
Grabbing the cleaning material that was underneath of the kodachi, I began to clean my weapons. I don't know why, but why I clean my weapons, nothing comes to mind. It's just blank. Once I finished cleaning the two, I grabbed my holster that would go underneath my shirt on my lower back, meaning that it would be tied around my stomach.
As soon as I got everything prepared, I did my homework for tomorrow and soon after, pulled out a manga to read. But that's when something came to mind.
How all these unintentional events first started: Kuchiki Rukia's transfer; Kurosaki's sudden growth of his reiatsu; Urahara-san wanting me to come over more often after not seeing me for years; and now, ojii-san giving me a Hollow detecting necklace and wanting me to carry around my weapons? All of this isn't a coincidence.
With my mind filled so many thoughts, I decided to grab some fresh air. Opening the window inside my room next to my bed, I stepped onto the window sill and turned slowly to grab onto the edge of the roof. Using my upper body strength, I pulled myself up and once I was sure I wasn't going to fall, I sat down with my legs against my chest.
"What's ojii-san telling me that I don't know?" I touched the new choker. "There is a change in the wind and I don't know how or when it's going to strike."