Hey everyone! Here is the first chapter of Rosalie's adventures during the Bount Arc of Bleach. Please alert me to any errors you notice I will get on it right away!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. I own only my OC Rosalie, her monkey Hiko, and the whole Beast Tamer thing.
Chapter 1
Everyone sat quietly in the back room of Urahara's shop, the ticking of a nearby clock was louder than even the steady breaths of her comrades to Rosalie's ears. Hiko sat in her lap, brown eyes locked onto her face.
She and Ichigo had changed back into humans, with Ichigo slipping into his body and Rosalie shifting back into her human form. Rosalie was the only one among her classmates not wearing the school uniform due to the "kidnapping". She was dressed in gray shorts and a long sleeved, navy blue colored shirt with black demi wedge sandals and ankle strap. Her choker with its ribbon bow was blue.
"A Bount," Urahara finally said. The way he said it made it sound like a swearword. Apparently her godfather was not happy about this in the least – which could only mean trouble.
"I don't get it," Uryu said. "A Bount?"
"This reishi probably came from a Bount," Urahara clarified.
"That's good," Ichigo said. "So what the hell is a Bount?"
There was a pause before Urahara answered.
"It was quite a while ago, back when I was in the Department of Research and Development," Urahara said. "I encountered some residue that looked a lot like this. It's a mysterious reishi that reacts with certain components in a human soul. Upon further investigation I traced it to a tribe called the Bount."
"A tribe?" Uryu asked.
"I use that term for lack of a better word since the Bounts are small in number. They're like the Quincy in that they're humans with special powers – and they have similarities with the Beast Tamers as well."
That got Rosalie's attention. She leaned forward to where she could sense her godfather.
"How so?" She asked, very curious.
"Before I get to that - Rosalie has probably explained how Beast Tamers possess blood memories, right?" Urahara said – her friends nodded.
"Blood memories?" Renji demanded.
"What's that?" Ririn said.
"When a Beast Tamer awakens their power they gain access to blood memories," Rosalie explained. "Well, the Beast Spirit does anyway. It's basically general information on Beast Tamer history, like how we came to be, and important events that had a fundamental impact on us." Rosalie explained. "It makes it so we never forget who we are, and where we came from."
"The reason I mentioned this is that I'm sure if you have your Beast Spirit look through those recollections you'll find that one of the Beast Tamers tribes came into contact with Bounts," Urahara said. "Which, by the way I would appreciate you doing. Any information is valuable."
The girl nodded. "I'll have Takehiko see what he can dig up. How did you know, though?"
"The Bounts came up in a conversation when your mother was present a few years back. She mentioned that her people had come into contact with them." Urahara said.
'Why do I have the feeling that's he's leaving something out?'
Oh well. Rosalie would confront him about it later. Maybe Urahara just didn't want to say it in front of everyone else.
"Do they have blood memories too?" Ichigo asked.
"No," Urahara admitted. "But according to Mara, Bounts are able to use creatures they call Dolls – which is the equivalent to a Soul Reaper's zanpakuto and a Beast Tamer's Beast Spirit respectively."
"That's disturbing," Uryu said. "It means we have no idea what they're capable of outside the usual abilities."
Yoruichi nodded. "Yes. That's why you should exercise extreme caution when coming into contact with one – if you ever do."
"They're also immortal," Urahara added. "While a Quincy is born human and dies human, a Bount becomes immortal due to the human souls they absorb for nourishment. Mara also said some can sustain their youth eternally."
"So they never die and stay young on top of that?" Ichigo said.
"Yep. Their immortality distinguishes them from every other living being. Over the years, they've also been known by another name – vampires."
"Ordinarily, the Bount's method of operation is to extract the soul of a human who has died while the Konso is being performed on it. However, that's not what I saw," Yoruichi said. "The Bount I saw was different. This one was attempting to absorb the soul of a living person."
"What about the person whose soul is sucked out? What happens then?" Ichigo asked.
"It's the same as when a life is taken," Urahara said. "Only death is left behind."
The teens stiffened at the bleak news. It only added urgency to the situation and made it all the more serious.
"We're not completely sure it's a Bount," Yoruichi admitted, and she turned to Urahara. "Do you think it might be some mutation or variant?"
"Well, you never can tell," Urahara said.
They both sighed and fell quiet.
Ichigo slammed his hand on the table.
"While you're sitting here thinking that thing is still out there!" He shouted. "Didn't you think that there might be more victims?!"
"Always get right to the point!" Urahara said joyfully. "Such a strong sense of justice!"
Then he got to his point and suddenly assigned Ririn to Ichigo, Kurodo to Orihime, and Noba to Chad. Urahara explained that the Mod Souls were all equipped with reishi sensors, designed to detect reishi waves. This would allow them to locate the Bounts in case the three didn't attract their attention as a possible meal. Uryu was in no so such danger due to the fact that he had no powers now.
"What about Rosalie?" Ichigo asked.
"Rosalie and you live in the same house – Ririn is enough. In any case the Sozo no Shushi will deter the Bounts from absorbing her soul."
"How so?" Renji asked.
"Rosalie's own spiritual energy acts as a filter and cleanses the Shushi's energy of its toxic properties toward non-Beast Tamers," Urhara explained. "However, if a Bount attempts to suck out her soul, you can bet they'll get a mouthful of raw Shushi energy which is basically the same as being poisoned. Unless they have a death wish, they'll cross her off as a possible meal once they sense the Shushi's energy in her spiritual pressure."
Rosalie blinked. "Did Mama tell you that?"
"No – anyone who's studied the Shushi and Bounts would know," Urahara said. Then he became serious and added. "Don't get me wrong – they may become interested in the Shushi as a possible weapon or the like, depending on what their plans are. You don't need to worry about becoming a meal, but all the same you have to be careful."
"I always am Uncle Kisuke," Rosalie assured him. "Don't worry."
x
She wasn't very surprised when Yoruichi held her back and said that she needed to talk to the girl. Rosalie told Ichigo that her godmother would walk her home which pacified him and he left with everyone else.
After speaking with Urahara briefly, Yoruichi led Rosalie to the rooftops, with the later shifting into spirit form to avoid being seen as they free ran on top houses. The two eventually settled down on one and Rosalie, holding Hiko in her hands, calmly waited for the older woman to speak. Being blind, she focused on Yoruichi's breathing and the sound of her movements to discern whether the older woman was nervous about this. She also paid attention to any small fluctuations in Yoruichi's spiritual pressure caused by emotion.
Yoruichi didn't appear to be nervous, but she did seem cautious.
"There are things about your heritage that we haven't told you," Yoruichi said. "According to your mother, blood memories tend to be very general so Takehiko probably didn't realize it or didn't know how to tell you . . ."
"What?" Rosalie said, feeling nervous. "Takehiko, what is she talking about?"
Hiko was becoming visibly agitated as his Spirit voice answered. "It's not something bad, per say . . . but it will be an adjustment."
I'll cut to the chase," Yoruichi said. "When she met your father, Mara was already over a century old."
It was like a sledge hammer had hit her in the gut, and Rosalie was speechless for a moment before finally spitting out, "Uh?"
"When a Tamer Awakens their Beast," The former princess said. "They gain the ability to shift into a spiritual form – they change. This change brings with it several effects. One of them is longevity."
Rosalie was silent so Yoruichi continued.
"From the moment you Awakened your powers and Hiko's Inner Self, you gained the longevity of a Soul Reaper. From this point on, you'll age just like us."
"Oh," Rosalie said, shell-shocked. Her godmother placed a hand on her shoulder.
"There's more," Takehiko's voice muttered in her head. "You have only this one life – there's no dying and leaving behind a body because there is no body to leave behind. One life, one body. When you do die your soul will return to the Earth."
Rosalie had suspected that her soul wouldn't follow the normal cycle of most – after all, her people had been far from human and their origin was unique. The one life thing also made sense – the convenience of not having to worry about a physical body had to come with some consequences.
No, if she were honest with herself Rosalie knew it was the "longevity" that upset her. She thought about retaining the appearance of a young teenager for decades, maybe even a century while her friends and her family grew old and passed on.
Ichigo would no doubt become an official Soul Reaper when he died. Perhaps Chad and Orihime too, considering their powers. She couldn't be sure about Uryu given his current state but . . .
"Don't think about this now," Yoruichi interrupted her thoughts. "It's still a long way off and we have the current situation to think about."
Rosalie nodded hesitatingly. Hiko chirped at her from her lap, concerned.
Yoruichi sighed.
"I'll take you home. You need to sleep on this."
x
Rosalie could not relax, not even with Hiko curled on her stomach as she laid aimlessly in bed. Many things were on her mind – like the fact that at some point, she may have to cut connections with her family. More specifically, the twins and Isshin. After all, they would notice how Rosalie's appearance wasn't maturing over the years . . .
Takehiko abruptly pulled her into their Inner World.
Rosalie blinked. She back into the Heart of her world – the jungle forest. Her Beast Spirit came up behind her and she sighed, wordlessly sinking back against his torso as he brought his arms up to wrap them around her.
"You fear separation from them," He said, without preamble.
"Can you blame me?" Rosalie asked. "It seems that everything I love eventually slips through my fingers – or ends up being better off without me."
Takehiko's grip tightened. "That is not true, and you know it."
"Knowing and feeling are two different things."
"You won't lose the boy – or me."
Rosalie was stunned for a moment by his words. While she hadn't spoken of him much, Toshiro Hitsugaya was on her mind often, if she was truthful to herself. There wasn't a day he hadn't crossed her mind at least once. Rosalie did wonder how he was doing, if his childhood friend, Momo, had recovered – and finally, when she would see him again.
They were quiet for several moments.
"Have you gotten any information from my blood memories about the Bounts?" Rosalie asked.
Takehiko sighed. "Not much – a tribe of Beast Tamers gave some Bounts shelter a few decades ago. By the time Soul Reapers found them they had already integrated with the community. As far as the recollections go, they were the lucky ones – the Tamers protected them. Since Soul Society was not keen on starting a conflict with the Bounts' protectors they left those few be."
"So besides the information on their . . . Dolls . . . there isn't any other relevant information?"
"Well, apparently Bounts have a law forbidding them from eating souls of the living in the first place." Takehiko admitted.
"Kisuke may find a use for what we do have. The fact that some of them are breaking their own law is interesting," Rosalie said. "We'll tell him later, meanwhile keep looking."
"Very well."
With that, Rosalie tried to let go of her worry and anxiety, instead focusing on the steady beat of Takehiko's heart. It helped her find her center again and after an hour, she left her Inner World, awakening to find Hiko still curled up on her stomach – and that she was still in spirit form.
Rosalie quickly shifted back and left Hiko to sleep in peace while she went over to Ichigo's room down the hall to see how things were going with Ririn.
When she entered Rosalie could tell that Ichigo was listening to music – she could just make out the music so he was likely using earbuds. Ririn was on the bed and in a new body. Ichigo turned off the music when he saw her and said hello.
"Hey," Rosalie leaned against the doorway. "How did it go with Ririn?"
"Ah, she kept rejecting all the toys I found but there was . . . an accident, and now she's in that bird plushy toy. The one with the hood." Ichigo said.
"I take it she wasn't happy about it?" Rosalie inquired, her lips twitching.
"Not in the least," The teen said dryly. "Took it out on Kon when he tried to make fun of her and now Ririn's just napping. Kon is still out."
"Hmm," Rosalie fell silent.
"So, what was it that Yoruichi needed to talk to you about?" Ichigo asked. "If it's personal I'll back off."
"It's not exactly personal," Rosalie said slowly. "It was just, a bit of a shock. A-apparently I'm not going to age normally anymore."
Concern was the first thing she felt in his spirit energy when he said. "You're not aging faster, right?"
"No – it's the opposite. Long story short my mom happened to be over 100 years old when she met my dad. Beast Tamers age like Soul Reapers once they Awaken their powers."
"Rosalie," Ichigo said.
"So," Rosalie added, not letting him finish. "There's going to be a problem when the neighbors and our family notice I'm not aging. I'll probably have to relocate."
"Rosalie!" Ichigo said again, this time louder. She shut her mouth and he got to his feet, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it now," He said. "It's still a bit ways off and it doesn't matter. We'll always be family."
"I'm not keen on watching Karin and Yuzu age into old women while I look like I could be one of their granddaughters," Rosalie said bitterly. "It hurts."
The hand Ichigo had on her shoulder tightened its grip.
"And what about everyone else?" Rosalie asked. "Granted, with their spirit energy the way it is now, chances are they'll become Soul Reapers when they die so it's not like I won't see them – or you. It's just – I can accept it, the long life thing. As time passed I just had a weird feeling about my body so this isn't entirely a surprise. It just hurts to think that I'll have to leave someday, and that Karin, Yuzu, and Isshin will be made to forget me."
"I can't say that everything is going to end up all sunshine and rainbows," Ichigo admitted. "But we will find a way around this!"
'Now that I think about it – this is . . . convenient, in regards to Toshiro,' Rosalie thought sardonically. 'We'll have lots of time to take it as slow as possible.'
The thought had just suddenly occurred to her and she absently wondered how Toshiro would react. Then she realized Ichigo was waiting for an answer and snapped back to attention.
"I want to believe you," Rosalie said out loud. "About everything going to be okay – and maybe it will be. I'm just scared."
"And that's fine," Ichigo said. "We don't know how everything will turn out with the twins and Dad, but you can count on me sticking by you."
Rosalie smiled. "Thanks, Brother."
"Eh," He shrugged off. "That's what big brothers are for."
"They've come," Ririn said suddenly. The siblings turned to where she had sat up on Ichigo's bed.
"A Bount?" The teen asked.
Ririn nodded. "It's okay though. They're far away right now."
"I'll get Hiko," Rosalie said simply. It appeared that this would be a long night.
x
Several minutes later, she and her brother were free running on the rooftops, with Ririn guiding them from her spot on Ichigo's shoulder.
She led them to an alley where a Bount was just starting to feed on a woman's soul.
Ichigo jumped into the mouth of the alleyway with Rosalie close behind him. He walked up to the stranger, and asked her what she thought she was doing. The Bount looked up at their approach, her eyes narrowed.
"A Soul Reaper?" The Bount asked. As Ichigo corrected her on his status Rosalie felt her eyes linger on her. "And what business does a Substitute Soul Reaper and his friend have with me?"
Rosalie raised her eyebrows.
"You're about to absorb the soul of a living person and you're asking us why we're here?" She questioned. Hiko peeked at the Bount from behind his mistress' shoulder.
"We know what you are," Ichigo said. "And if you haven't guessed it already I can't let you eat the soul of living people."
"I would prefer it if you didn't interfere." The Bount said.
Rosalie titled her head as the Bount spoke, picking up on a second presence residing within the woman. It distantly reminded her of Hiko, in the fact that it was connected to the Bount in a fundamental way. Was it the Doll?
"Too bad!" Ichigo growled, hand going to Zangetsu as he lunged forward. Ririn barely managed to keep her grip on his clothing.
The Bount threw the woman she'd essentially tried to eat into Ichigo's arms, forcing him to stop and attempted to make a run for it. Rosalie ran after her as her brother was forced to pause.
Now that Rosalie and Hiko had sensed her spiritual energy she was easy to keep track of.
"Stop!" Rosalie shouted. Unsurprisingly the woman didn't obey, and if it was even possible, picked up her speed.
She and Hiko cornered her eventually.
"I'm not looking for a fight," Rosalie said. "But we need answers on why you'd go so far as to break your own law!"
"What do you mean?" The Bount demanded.
"I know your people are forbidden from eating the soul of a living person!" Rosalie said. "Though the reason on why is unclear."
"You're well informed," the Bount said. "Enough to make me curious – who are you? Your soul isn't like the Substitute's."
Rosalie hesitated to answer just as Ichigo arrived.
"You've cornered her! Good job Rose," He said. She heard Zangetsu being lifted into the air, no doubt to be pointed at the Bount. The teen demanded the Bount to reveal her intentions, as well as any plan she may have.
"Plan?" The Bount scoffed. "Even if I did tell you there's no way your feeble mind could comprehend it! What an annoying boy."
"Annoying or not you ain't leaving until you've answered some questions." Ichigo said.
"I'm not looking for a fight," The Bount said, echoing Rosalie's words from before. Rosalie felt a surge of spiritual pressure that had subtle differences from the Bount's and it suddenly clicked in her mind what was happening.
"She's summoning her Doll!" The girl shouted. "Ichigo!"
"Zeige Dich, Goethe!" The Bount shouted.
Heat blew harshly into Rosalie's face and she hissed, jumping backwards as Ichigo did the same.
"Fire?" He muttered.
"Careful guys," Ririn warned. "That isn't ordinary fire."
Then something formed from the flames – a Doll that possessed a humanoid shape made out molten lava and fire. Flames shot out from where its legs would have been, keeping the Doll suspended in the air.
"This is a Doll?" Ichigo gasped.
"That's right," The Bount said.
Hiko spat at the creature as it looked over its shoulder at its mistress. Rosalie winced, Hiko wanted to be Released right now but the girl wanted to listen for a moment.
"Yoshino," A decidedly deep, male voice came from the Doll. "Have you summoned me?"
So the Bount's name was Yoshino.
"Please take care of them Goethe," Yoshino ordered. "They've been very troublesome!"
"Troublesome?" Goethe echoed. "Alright then."
He proceeded to throw fire at them, and the two teens dodged in opposite directions to avoid getting burned.
Ichigo attacked first, but even when he calmed his mind and hit a weakness he thought he had noticed it only revealed that Goethe was able to dissemble himself into pieces which he could launch at his opponent.
'Not only that but he can regenerate!' Rosalie thought. 'A frontal attack isn't going to cut it!'
"Kido then?" Takehiko's voice rumbled in her mind.
"It looks like it," She said. "Which spell do you think would suffice?"
"Bakudo #63; Sajo Sabaku, followed by Hado #1; Sho."
"Remember to shield yourself with your spiritual pressure. It wouldn't take long for him to fatally burn you if he had a chance."
Rosalie felt her Beast's amusement as Hiko chirped. "Yes ma'am."
She stepped forward just as Ichigo was shoved back into a wall by Goethe's fireball. Rosalie heard the impact dislodge something and there was a crash as multiple things fell.
"I'm stuck!" Ichigo's voice grunted. Ririn cried out. This was not good.
"Finish him!" Yoshino shouted.
"Finish him?" Goethe rumbled. "Alright then."
"Damn!" Rosalie bit out as Ririn attempted to free Ichigo from the debris that kept him from escaping the danger.
As she ran forward, Rosalie raised her right arm and shouted. "Hado #1; Sho!"
But as the kido rushed toward the ball of fire Rosalie felt another kido attack aimed at the fireball, and its owner's spiritual pressure was one she'd recognize anywhere.
Combined, the attacks were more than enough to obliterate the fireball and Goethe was actually thrown back a few feet by the aftershock.
Then, among the scattered flames landed the person who had attacked in conjunction with Rosalie.
Rukia.
Hope you all enjoyed this. Sorry if you thought it was a bit short, promise future chapters will be longer. Also, in regards to Rosalie's new shirt, for the "stripe embroidery on the borders go to a picture of Kushina Uzumaki from Naruto as a genin. I based Rosalie's shirt off of it so the little lines on Kushina's shirt is pretty much what I'm trying to describe. Read and Review!
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