The dust cleared as the figure stepped out of the gloom, straightening out his shoulders and stretching his arms, a wide grin spreading across his face as the rubble around him rolled and crumbled.
"This is absolutely perfect."
Kurosaki Ichigo woke up that morning, feeling unusually rejuvenated. He got up out of bed slowly, yawning. It was a Saturday, and the clear skies were dotted with light, thin clouds. Accompanying the sunshine was a gentle breeze that rippled through his open window. Down below, his neighbor's dog was barking furiously. He heard his father yelling, and smelled Yuzu's signature breakfast selection warming up on the stove.
The only thing that broke him out of his daze was his companion, the raven-haired midget everyone knew better as Kuchiki Rukia.
She was spending some time in the real world after some odd incident had occurred in Soul Society. She only noted that it was a dangerous criminal and that she had been sent to bring him back as soon as Saturday had arrived (she had popped up on Monday on his way to school). Now that the day had come, she was acting very grim, as if what had happened was a story she was not willing to tell.
As she paced the room, her face ashen, he decided not to ask her what was wrong and avoid a face plant into his wooden floor.
Yuzu had run up to give them breakfast, assuming their late arrival meant that they were talking over something important - not to mention that it was a Saturday, and she was used to having to bring her family members meals at the end of the week because of the generally lazy atmosphere.
"Ichigo-" Rukia started, stopping her relentless back and forth walking to face him directly. She didn't look happy at all.
"Look, if it's about that criminal guy, can we wait until after breakfast?" Ichigo interrupted, holding up his hand.
Rukia sighed. "Very well. But I was asked to tell you today and bring you back as soon as possible. Soul Society has finally gathered enough information, and they need your assistance."
Ichigo looked at her intensely. "What kind of guy is he?"
Rukia rolled her eyes. "Stop contradicting yourself and eat your food first. I'm not feeling particularly hungry."
"Okay, I'm done. Who was that guy anyway?" Ichigo questioned, looking up and shoving his tray to the side.
Rukia sat in the computer chair, swiveling it to lean her arms on the backrest. "I don't have all the details. Nii-sama would only tell me that it was Aizen. They will brief you with the rest of the information upon our arrival."
Ichigo paled. "Wait, what?"
Rukia looked up icily. "I don't think they would tell me if they were kidding. Whatever that scumbag has done, he's a dangerous man, as we saw before."
Ichigo nodded swiftly. "I know. Trust me."