Broken Memories
Chapter one
'Wake up.'
'Why?'
'Girl wake up.'
'But I don't want to…I'm so tired.'
'I SAID WAKE UP!'
The deafening roar ripped through the silent darkness vibrating the surroundings, and awakening the prone figure of a girl that was curled up in a fetal position. Startling the girl her eyes shot open letting her ivy colored hues take in her surrounding area of her rather dark accommodations.
Looking around her surroundings scanning for any form of danger, she relaxed a bit when she saw none. Opening her mouth wanting to call out "hello?" and, "is anybody there?" But nothing came out only a low gurgle, her confusion soon turned into panic as fear filled her. Pushing herself off the ground, but she didn't make it far before she quickly fell back to the ground squirming in pain her mouth open letting out a silent scream. Minutes that felt like hours went by before most of the pain subsided so the girl took the chance to notice the condition her body was in. Gashes of all sizes covered her body, but she couldn't tell because of her clothes of how deep they were, but by the pain she just felt she figured pretty deep.
Grasping her neck she pulled her hand back to see blood coating it. Panicked gripped her as she reached back to feel the long gash across her throat. Standing up on shaky legs while giving her surrounding a quick look around she did what her instincts were screaming at her to do. She ran. Why? She wasn't sure, but running felt better that lying there in a heap of her own blood. Slow at first wincing at each step she took, but then soon she was in a full sprint. She ran for what seemed like hours running deeper and deeper into the inky blackness that filled the room she was in, but to her horror there was no end in sight. Just complete darkness.
Tired she collapsed to her knees she wanted to scream she wanted to cry, but nothing came out. She was scared, alone, hurt, and she didn't know where she was. The fear that was gripping her heart was making it sound like a drum of war was beating in her ear, the pain that racked her body from the wounds that were inflicted on her that she had no clue of where they came from. Even the unknown feeling of sadness and despair that deeply gripped her heart and mind that she herself didn't understand. The feelings she was having were so intense that she felt like she was drowning in them.
Hunched over she let out her pent up emotions welling up inside her, tears started to slide down her face freely as her emotions continued to rave havoc in her in her body and mind. The only thing that was scaring her was she did not know why she was feeling this way. These feelings of loss and sorrow made up for the painful wounds covering her body. It didn't make sense to her, nothing did. Soon all her sorrow slowly formed together into solid rage as she began beating the inky ground with everything she had, trying to let it out in any way that she could.
She continued to let loose her rage into the ground until one of her fists became caught halting anymore of her movement. Startled by the sudden touch the girl looked down to see that her right arm was wrapped in a shadow like tendril. Not even that but it started moving up her arm, realizing that it was trying to consume her person she began struggling against it using her free arm to try and tear of the offending thing, but soon more joined in attaching themselves to her struggling body. Ceasing her movement when more than half her body was being dragged into the ground she watched with sad hopeless eyes as the rest of her body was consumed by shadows till her vision went black.
'You're finally here. It took you long enough pup.'
The sudden, but familiar voice again stirred the mute girl awake. Slowly opening her eyes to be greeted to what looked like moving shadows. 'I must say that you surprised me pup when you killed them. Someone like you, I honestly didn't think you could do it without my help.' The voice rumbled through the room making the other occupant tense. Pushing herself off the wet ground she got onto her shaky legs to get a better look around the black room.
Swallowing down the lump in her throat she took a deep breath trying to calm some of her nerves, 'What? Killed who…who is that?' The girl thought as her eyes scanned the moving shadows hoping to spot whoever was talking to her.
'You killed all those 'humans' .The girl took note how the word human was dripping with venom when spoken. 'If you can even call them that for what they did to you.' The last part was whispered, but it was picked up finding the source of the speaker she began walking towards it. Another pause before the unknown speaker continued louder than before, 'Well they did deserve to die.' The voice stopped when the speaker noticed the girl get into eye shot.
Moving closer to the speaking floating figure in front of her she noticed it was a body heavily chained above the ground. Stumbling over something she looked down to see a large thick chain that had the Kanji for hate written on the chains, but she could only wonder at what this person was talking about.
'Hmm- you don't remember?' A shake of the head, 'Tell me do you know who you are? ' A pause then another shake of the head, 'you may not be able to speak, but I can read your mind.' The voice growled at her holding an annoyed tone.
'I see…the shock of your death and the pain you went through might have erased your memory, or you suppressed them unknowingly. I'm going with the earlier one though, but it's probably a little of both. But then again I am not surprised in the least bit.'
'Death? I'm dead?'
'Correction WE'RE dead.'
'Who are you?' Nothing, 'Answer me dammit!'
It started out as a soft chuckle soon it grew into a booming laughter that chilled the already shaken girl to the bone. 'What's so funny?'
'Who am I you ask?' The mystery person began to laugh when all of the sudden she was grabbed by black tendril and hoisted herself into the air to come face to face with the talking person.
'It might help if you knew what you looked like.' To the girl's amazement shards came together to form a mirror floating before her so the girl was able to get a good look at herself. But what she saw confused and frightened her.
Staring back at her was a scared girl that looked to be between the ages of eighteen or twenty. She looked to be about 5'7 her body looked lean and strong even with all the wounds littering her body, but she couldn't really tell what her body really looked like with her tattered clothes covering her. Looking past the blood and torn clothing she noticed that her skin held a nice tan that wasn't too dark but not too light either.
Thick layers of wavy jet black hair fell from her shoulders that stopped at her tailbone. Its length looked mostly consistent, save for her bangs, and a messy crop atop her head. Her bangs looked rough, and wild looking they were long by most standards she assumed, falling down to her mid chest, and it's a messy clump of hair that covered her left eye. While on the right it just framed her face. Her face looked soft but she noticed she had a tattoo looking marks on her left cheek, and that they traveled down past her neck. Seeing slight movement above she looked up to see black wolfish ears on top of her head mixing well with her wild hair. She felt them as they twitched occasionally.
Looking back at her face she ran her tongue over the two fangs poking over her lips. Looking over her features once more she finally took the time to look at her eyes. They were an intense green and her pupils were slits making her roughish features look more animalistic.
'I still don't understand how-'her question died when the figures face came out of the shadows. Standing in front of her with an arrogant grin across their face – was her? 'But how?' They both looked exactly the same, but there were two chilling differences about the other her. One was that her eyes were glowing an intense red that sent chills down her spine because even the white of the eyes were red, and two, her features were more feral – more primal.
'You're me…?'
'I'm you.'
'Where-'
'You're in your mind or sub conscious which ever you would like to call it.' Her clone laughed, 'Where I stay guiding you and waiting for the chance for you to lose control.' The grin she had on her face made the dark haired girl cringe and wonder what 'she' would do if she got out.
'It's ironic I was the one telling you that you should kill them.' A long tick tail black as her hair flickered out behind her swatting the scared girl on the cheek. 'But nooo you said they didn't deserve it, that they didn't know what they were doing and they were only doing it because they were afraid and confused. And that if they cleared their heads they'll stop.' She said in a sickly sweet, but mocking tone. 'So you can imagine my surprise when you killed them all.' She cocked her head to side showing her clone her confusion as to what her clone was talking about.
'I don't know what you're talking about, but I did not kill anybody.' Her comment only seemed to amuse her clone. 'Oh-but you did and some of them were innocent not knowing anything about you. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pity.' Her clone barked out a sharp laugh while wagging her finger in front of her face. Like a parent would do while scolding their child.
'Shut up!' She was tired of the mocking gestures.
'Did you enjoy it?' Her clone purred.
'Stop it!'
'Did you enjoy the thrill of the kill?'
'Shut up!'
'Did their cries of pain and mercy make you want more?'
'Please just stop it!' She cried out clutching her ears trying to block out her clones voice.
'Did their blood taste sweet?' This time she whispered mockingly.
'Fucking shut up!' That was it; she couldn't take it she felt something snap inside her as everything became red. With a sudden surge of power she viciously began to struggle against the tendrils, and to the surprise of her clone she was able to destroy a tendril holding her right arm.
Swiping at the clone with her right arm she was able slash her clone across the chest, a grin crossed her face as she took pleasure in watching the clone growl in pain, but her victory was short lived as she watched her clone burst out into laughter as she was thrown to the ground. Soon the walls of shadows shot over to her wrapping her in its dark embrace. She let out a howl of rage as the shadows continued wrapping themselves around her body. The last thing she saw before darkness consumed her sight was her clone above her with a wicked grin on its features.
'Well I hope you survive in this new world.' The clone looked down at the two cracked chains wrapped around her one with kanji for fear, and the other rage. 'The damage has been done.' Slow rumble turned into a deep throat laugh echoing the room.
'Katsu.'
It was rather calm throughout Soul Society and celebrations were going around everywhere since today was the one of the days of graduating Shinigami became part of the Gatoe thirteen. But within the Captains meeting chamber nothing but yelling could be heard as some of the Captains were yelling over who had who.
Among these Captains that stayed quiet were Captain Aizen who already got the ones he wanted, and was just watching with a amused smile, Gin who was just smiling at the whole thing, Jyuushiro who was calm as he watched the ruckus, Soi Fon deciding no one in the graduating class had the skills to make into squad two, and Unahana just had a calm smile watching the other Captains bicker. Everyone else seemed to be in a form of an argument, except for Shunsui who was again drunk, and was cheering for everyone that was fighting.
"Just because they like to fight and know how to throw a good punch does not mean they should go to you!" Toushirou shouted at Kenpachi who took a step towards the small Captain. "They have the skills that fit my squad so they will go in MY squad you damn shrimp!"
A tick formed on Toushirou's right eye at the comment, but before he could say anything a sudden powerful blast of spirit energy stilled the room. Making every occupant cease their fighting even making Shunsui stop his drunken ramble.
"What the hell was th-?" Kenpachi was cut off when suddenly the doors burst open, and a stream of black light came crashing through breaking the doors off their hinges. Surprising everyone within the room, those doors were made to take ungodly powerful attacks and to be busted down so easily...
A sickening thud echoed through the room as the black light hit the ground skidding to a stop in front of General Yamamoto's seat.
Zanpakutos ready to be drawn all Captains were in attack position watching the black light fade, but stopped when Yamamoto spoke, "Calm yourselves – look." Pointing at the now fading light, as the black light finally died there before them was a body of a male, or female they couldn't tell.
"A ryoka?" Jyuushiro questioned looking at the still body.
"Good , I haven't killed anything in awhile." Kenpachi laughed letting an insane grin cross his features as he took a couple steps toward the body.
"Stand down Kenpachi." The old general spoke, "How a soul could get here without raising an alarm is confusing and a great feat." Yamamoto whispered but everyone was able to hear the silent wonder and somewhat praise.
His statement bothered everyone within the room a soul that is not a Shinigami or one in training getting into their district was a feat by itself. But what seemed bother them the most was that they could tell that this soul was just sent, but instead of a white kimono that all new souls got, this soul was wearing what they assumed the clothes the soul had died in. Faded blue jeans with tears mixed with blood stains was all over the abused pants, and barely holding together was a dark green hoodie, but even with all that it wasn't as unnerving as the condition the soul was in. The body was coated in blood it even left a slight trail when crash landing in the room, even now it was making a nice size pool around itself.
'It was a fact that no matter what condition the body was in, when a person dies any injury would not affect the soul itself when entering Soul Society. But that meant the way this soul died the injuries affected the soul directly, an ungodly rare case to see.' Yamamoto thought as he stared at the motionless body.
"Souls don't come in like this. It is most obviously a trick of some sorts to confuse us." Mayuri snapped sneering at the bleeding body in disgust, but even he was curious about such a thing its spirit pressure was-different, but yet powerful. Maybe the general would let him examine the body?
The comment of squad twelve's Captain got some nods as each and everyone studied the still form. No one didn't seem to want to do anything; some of the Captains took notice at Unahana's concerned features seeing how badly she wanted to check on the bleeding form. Walking towards the body not liking how no one was going to check on it, even if it was an enemy seeing someone in this condition and not doing anything about it did bug her. But she was not a blind fool that would let her feeling to take care of the injured blind her to possible threats. If this was a trick and the soul attacked she would simply cut it down.
Almost an inch away she was stopped when the General raised his hand at her indicating not to take another step further. Getting up from his seat he slowly began to make his way down the few steps. Stopping before the soul he knelt down and lifted the hood slightly so only he could see the face. His sudden gasp with the widening of his eyes made all Captains stand on guard.
"Captain Unahana please take this soul to the infirmary let no one see this patient not even you're Lieutenant. I'll be there shortly." Leaving no room for questions Unahana just nodded.
Unahana quickly picked up the soul caring it bridal style, the hood still covered the face only showing the mouth to the viewing Captains and a few strands of black hair. The blood now was making an even bigger pool of blood on the floor even staining the Captains robes but she seemed to pay no mind as she and Yamamoto continued to whisper among themselves.
'What could have happen?' The sudden thought surprised Soi Fon as she studied the limp body. Of course every Captain was thinking around the same thing. The sudden change of attitude of the General did not make sense to them.
After Yamamoto finished talking to Unahana, she gave a half bow and quickly shunpo away with the body.
"Recruitment will go as usual, and please work out your problems, we are Captains after all, not small children. This meeting of the Captains is adjourned." And with that said the General shunpo away. Leaving behind eleven confuse and very curious Captains.
"Now that was very odd, haven't seen the old man act like that in awhile." Shunsui who sobered up seeing something actually serious was happening spoke aloud while rubbing his beard in thought. "What do you think Ukitake?"
"It is indeed very odd." Ukitake answered with a hand on his chin his face scrunched up in thought. The room grew quite as everyone had their own thoughts filtering through their heads.
"How is she?" Yamamoto asked arriving in time to see the fourth division Captain step out of the room. Her Captains robe stained with the patient's blood, and her face held a troubled look.
"She's fine, but I can't say she's completely stable." She paused, "Her condition is very bad." Glancing at her General she voiced out her question, "If I may ask General…What is she?"
Walking past her into the patient's room which Unahana followed behind him once inside Yamamoto quickly shut the door. Whispering some words the room became outlined a light blue barrier.
"This information cannot leave this room. Understood?" He got a nod, turning towards the unconscious girl he was able see her more clearly now seeing that all the grime and blood was washed off.
Long thick wavy black hair was scattered around her like a dark halo as her long bangs covered her left eye only showing him half of her face to him. Her skin looked like it would be tan, but do to the loss of blood it now looked unnaturally pale. Sweeping his eyes over the rest of her, he stopped studying all the bandages covering almost every part of her body leaving very little to see except for the white bandages.
"What are her injuries?" His gruff voice filled the silent room almost making Unahana jump.
Walking over to the end of the bed she picked up the clipboard containing a long list of the girls' injuries. "She has a lot of minor to serious cuts scattered around her body; mixed with heavy bruising in her chest, sides, legs, back, and well everywhere almost. Her right arm is fractured in three different places, all her ribs are broken, and her legs have deep lacerations." She paused the frown on her face deepening. "But the worse wounds' she has is the slash across her neck, three small holes that go all the way through. I determined those are bullet wounds, and finally a large stab wound in her chest inches away from her heart. I was able to heal the hole enough for it not to be a threat."
The room grew silent again except for the rough breathing coming from the unconscious patient.
An aged sigh escaped the old General as he looked over the girl's wounds once over again then back at Retsu who had a very troubled, but sad look to her face.
"Your look troubled Retsu?"
The frown on her face deepened, "All her wounds were that of someone who had been…well take a look." Walking over to the girl she pulled back the sheets then began to gently peel off the bloody wrappings. "I'm going to have to change these." She whispered to herself.
Done peeling the bandages off she stepped aside to show the General, and what he saw made his eyes widen a bit. "Torture…" The way the wounds were laid out they were meant to cause as much pain as possible, and to be able to keep the victim alive.
Taking a seat next to the bed so Retsu could re-wrap the wounds he let out another breathily sigh. Studying his demeanor on the corner of her eye Retsu voiced her earlier question again "Sir, what is she?" She whispered finally done sliding the blankets back over the girl.
"Tell me Unahana what do you know about demons?"
She was a bit taken back by the sudden question, but she answered anyway "About five hundred years ago they went extinct when the humans joined together to purge them from their lands. And that all demon souls go to hell to keep the balance."
"Ah- that is true, but in a way it is sad…demons were here longer than humans and yet the humans took their land and killed them." He paused then shook his head a bit, "Anyway not all demons were purified back then." He stopped letting that small information sink in.
Realization hit the squad four Captain as her eyes widened while looking over at the sleeping girl.
"You mean that she's…"
"Yes."
"But, all demon souls are supposed to go to hell."
"That is still true, but what of half-demons?" Silence, "It is said that half-breeds the outcome of a human and a demon breeding do indeed have part of a human soul.
Unahana was fixed on his words, running what he said through her head. But something didn't make sense to her. "Then how is it that I have never seen or heard of a half-demon in Soul Society?"
"That is because most half-breeds become corrupted, they take advantage of their demonic abilities. But there are half-breeds here in Soul Society, but they have very little demon blood in them that they probably don't know of."
It was a lot to take in hearing all this did surprise the Captain, "But this girl she is literally half and half very rare in this time. She isn't even a mix of another breed." She heard the General whisper.
"Now if I'm correct some demons are animalistic. What do you think she is?" Unahana asked.
Studying the girl, "I assume a wolf seeing the ears and the tail."
About to ask another question, but stopped when a sudden groan filled the room making both Captains still. Looking at the girl they noticed that she was slowly waking up, they watched as the girl began to slowly move her limbs then her nose twitched. Soon her eyes shot open showing the two Captains piercing emerald orbs filled with panic and fear.
Sitting up but the girl stopped and let out a whimper of pain while hunching over grabbing at her chest, "Please you shouldn't move you're wounds are very bad." Unahana got no reply only a scared look as the girl was now on her haunches trying to back away from the two of them. Her eyes were wide looking franticly around the room probably looking for a way out.
"Girl calm down." Yamamoto spoke, but his slight booming tone only seemed to scare her as she started to whimper even more. Trying to calm her down Unahana tried walking towards her with both her hands up. "It's okay I'm not going to hurt you."
Yamamoto noticed that her eyes had a red haze over them. 'She's is such a weaken state that she's not fully in control her instincts are taken over…or her demon.' He watched as she acted like a caged animal.
The girl seemed to calm a bit as she saw the gentle smile, crawling forward a bit she took in the women before her scent. Her ears twitched and pointed towards the sound of Yamamoto standing up she yipped going back a few inches on the bed.
"I will do you no harm child." He paused seeing slight relaxation in the girls form.
"Now what is your name?"
Silence both Captains the girl tried to say something but it seemed that she couldn't. Grabbing her throat Unahana noticed she was beginning to panic again, so stepping forward she reached her over to the table to get some examining tools, but as soon as she reached forward the girl started shaking and whimpering loudly, even began pushing her body as close as possible away from her. Stopping she reached over to the girl who turned her head away and began to whimper.
"I'm no-" She stopped when the girl suddenly leaped off the bed over the surprised squad Captain and tried running to the door. She didn't make it far since she ran into Yamamoto's chest she never had a chance to run before he grabbed her by an arm and gently tossed her back onto the bed.
Pointing at her he whispered a slight binding spell.
Not being able to move seemed to scare the girl even more her actions had re-opened some of her more serious wounds. Gently sitting besides the girl Unahana laid a gentle hand on the shaking girls head. The action seemed to calm her. "Now, I'm only going to check on your throat alright I promise that I won't hurt you. Do you understand?" Green eyes bore into her onyx ones, and she was rewarded with a small nod, "Good."
Looking at the deep cut twice over a grim look crossed her face as she turned to her General, "Her vocal cords are damaged, but not too bad that I wouldn't be able to fix it." She got a nod looking back at the girl she began to get to work.
When seeing her hands glow green the still half-demon began to panic again so much that she was able to move against the binding spell surprising the occupants.
"Shhh – I'm not going to hurt you, only heal your throat." Again the girl began to calm down again.
Pushing her hands on her throat she began her healing, a few moments went by.
"I healed most of the damage, but I'll have to check on it again later." Nodding at her Yamamoto looked at the girl who seemed that she was about to fall asleep.
"Now again girl, what is your name?"
Looking at him she stayed quiet she seemed to be studying him which took him by surprise by the look in her eyes.
A thought full look crossed her face as it looked like she was trying to remember her name.
"K-Ka-Katsu." Her voice was rough, a bit scratchy, and tired.
"Katsu, a nice name." He noticed the slight smile on her lips, he watched as her eyes began drooping.
"Well Katsu welcome to Soul Society." He whispered at the now sleeping half-demon and only full half demon to enter Soul Society in over one thousand years.
