First fan fiction! I'm Emmagem! Hope you enjoy!
General warnings: blood, gore, sexual themes, and homosexual relations: explicit.
The eerie green lights from the machines cast dark shadows over the three occupants of the room. It caused the white of the young man's white hair to glow sickly. His dark brown eyes were steady as he stared down at the small body bound inside the container in front of him. There were so many tubes and wires that it was hard to tell that there actually was a person inside. All that was visible was one half lidded eye, surrounded by the grey of metal, suspended in an unknown liquid.
The third occupant stood in front of a computer typing at lightning speed. He had the green light reflect of his pale face makeup. He paused, turning towards the man, glaring him down, though the other took no notice. "Captain Ukitake, it would be advisable for you to step back. I've never released an item from suspension this quickly before. It might react violently." The man sounded like he couldn't wish for anything better.
Ukitake, never turning his gaze away from the boy, took two hesitant steps. "Make sure that he isn't in pain."
The man scoffed and turned back to his machines. Seconds later, a loud clank, followed by the rush of draining water, echoed across the walls. Once it was empty, the glass slid away, a table rose to support the weight. The tubes rested heavily over the prone figure, unaware of anything happening to him.
"Can't believe I've been reduced to this," the man grumbled as he moved to remove the machinery. "I've people to do this trivial… I have better things to do…"
"Captain Kurotsuchi," Ukitake said, his voice nearing a growl. "This is your mistake, one that you have been ordered to hand over. You will handle every single detail of this boy's release."
Kurotsuchi gave a short laugh of contempt. "You've become very passionate about this, I have to wonder why."
Ukitake gave no reply, and the tense conversation dropped as the scientist worked. Ukitake forced himself to keep an impassive face. He made sure Kurotsuchi was careful, wanting nothing to damage the body underneath. The process took hours, slowly revealing the boy under the countless wires, IVs, tubes that lead everywhere. As the large breathing apparatus was jerked out of the boy's throat, Ukitake couldn't help but shudder at the horrid gasping coughs, reminding him of his own. You're a monster, Kurotsuchi.
Pale skin was stretched over jutting bones. Grey hair was plastered to his hollow face. His sudden movements were a reflex, he relaxed to lay flat on the table, his eyes dull and unfocused. Frailty and vulnerability emanated from every angle of this boy. Kurotsuchi poked and prodded a few places, checking for signs of life, then withdrew. "It will wake up in five minutes."
"I want you gone," he said softly. "And please inform the Commander-Captain that you are done."
"Hmph," Kurotsuchi scoffed, but complied, turning away and exiting through the only door.
Ukitake sighed in relief, glad that the madman was finally gone. This was probably the longest he had to stand the scientist. His complete lack of morality always disgusted Ukitake, with this being only one of his vile crimes. I don't know which is worse, the idea that he can do something like this to a child, or that he almost got away with it.
He carefully took off his captain hiori, draping it over the boy, which only made him look three times smaller. How old is this child?He wondered. He brushed a strand of hair away from the boy's forehead, noting the sticky feeling it had. A shower would be in order. And some clothes. This will be a very big shock to him… he was pulled out of his thoughts by a soft twitch of muscle. The boy was waking up. Ukitake moved away to give him some room.
Life flared into his body in an instant. He jerked into a sitting position, his gaze flicking around the room. Quite sounds of distress came from him, raw and horse. Ukitake moved his hand slightly, catching his attention, turning his head so fast his hair spread the liquid on the floor. Ukitake gasped at the wide, bright color of his eyes; a light turquoise. The boy instantly became still, making no noise, like a trapped animal.
Ukitake smiled kindly, making a conscious effort not to over-do it. "Hello."
The boy blinked slowly. He clutched the fabric, pulling it up to his chest. "H-hello," he said hesitantly, which caused him to cough.
"Would you like some water?" Ukitake asked. He grabbed a glass from the sterilization cabinet and walked over to the sink in the corner. He had used it several times while waiting, so he knew that it was safe. He filled the cup and gave it to the boy, who took it eagerly. "Please drink slowly, or you'll get sick." The boy nodded, taking two small sips before trying to speak again, but with worse results. Once he was done coughing, the child looked up sadly at him. "It's all right. Your voice isn't gone forever. Your throat is just out of use, you haven't eaten for a long time. Still it's probably best that you don't talk for now. I'll do enough of that for both of us." The boy smiled and nodded. "But I have some things I want to know about you, so I'll ask you a question, and you'll just shake your head for no or yes, okay?" Again, the boy nodded.
Ukitake took a chair from the computer port and sat down next to the table. The child took advantage of the stranger's distraction, arranging the coat around his legs and torso, threading his thin arms through the sleeves, and letting the tail ends dangle with his feet, kicking at it to amuse himself. Ukitake allowed him to do so, enjoying the show of childish movement. After a while, the boy seemed to remember there was something he was supposed to do, so he stopped, and looked at the man expectantly. Ukitake couldn't help a small laugh. It was very adorable.
"My name is Jushiro, I'm a Captain for the Gotei 13," he started, "Do you know what that is?" An eager nod, the child happy at getting to answer and play along. "Do you have a name?" The boy shook his head. Ukitake sighed, figuring as much. No one had come looking for him, so it was safe to assume that he had no one. "How about I call you Arata? Will you be able to remember that?" the boy scrunched his nose, annoyed at being asked such a question, and nodded firmly several times. "All right, all right. I believe you," he said laughing. The boy, Arata now, tried to join in, but only managed a few soft wheezes.
"Now, do you know where you are?" No. "You're in the Seireitei, do remember that?" Arata nodded, looking suddenly fearful, his eyes shifting again, looking anywhere else. "You're not in any trouble, no one is mad." That isn't true, but there is no reason he ever needs to know that."Is there someplace you lived before? In a house?" No. "Do you have anyone taking care of you?" No with very sad eyes. "Do you know how old you are?" Arata nodded holding up four fingers to show off. That looks right. "Very good." The boy smiled at the praise.
"Arata, would you like to come with me?" The boy looked around again, biting his lip nervously. He didn't know how to answer. "It's not very comfortable here, huh?" A nod. "I have a home nearby. It has a lot of comfortable places, and we could sit outside and eat some good food." He did a quick scan of the room, making sure Arata followed the movement. "I know you can't tell from here, but it's sunny and cool today." At the mention of outside, Arata started nodding fiercely, scrambling to get off the table. His spastic movements only helped get him tangled up in the long coat.
Ukitake smiled. He's very cute,he thought, it won't be hard to take him in."Here, let me help you." He grabbed the small hands and lowered him to the ground. He took two ends of the fabric and wrapped them crisscross around him, tying it in the back. Arata tested his mobility by jumping and walking around on the tiles, but never going more than two steps away from Ukitake. Apparently, it passed his requirements. He took the man's hand and tried to pull him to the door.
Ukitake allowed it for a few paces, "All right, you better let me lead the way. You don't know where you're going." Arata giggled and let didn't let up, leading until he reached the door. His wide blue-green eyes stared up at the out-of-reach doorknob. After several failed jumping attempts, he scrunched his nose again, then stepped back, letting Ukitake forward. "Thank you, Arata. That was a good try."
Jushiro Ukitake left the dreary room full of machines, taking the only life they had ever held. The one he had chosen to call Arata.
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Further off, in the same building, long pale fingers worked over a keyboard, the typist's evil smile reflect the screen. Kurotsuchi wrote for his personal log:
Subject 231 of the R.T.E has been unexpectedly released for field testing. Subject will be interacting with the physical world. The others have dubbed it Arata Ukitake. I am looking forward to the data this will bring.
AN/ I have no idea how it turned out to be this long, but here it is. Feedback is crucial seeing as this is my first fanfiction. My biggest fear is that I won't represent the characters right! But give me anything! Errors, 'Hate it's, 'Love it's, 'want to throw my computer at the wall's, any review. Please and thank you!
