A/N: Wow, my first Bleach anything! Upon watching Bleach's "Memories in the Rain" OVA, I thought of this little thing here. Purely rated G, no warnings at all. This fic is set around the time Ichigo and company are on their way to Kuukaku-san's home.
Void
"When did you arrive here, nee-chan?"
Thinking about it, I can't determine how long it has been since I came to this place. It seems as if only a few hours have passed since I was released from what I hear is called a "hollow", but I know it has been longer.
"A short while ago, dear."
I'm not complaining. This is a friendly place beyond my imaginations, and so I'm happy to be here by whatever means I was brought here.
I was told that I had been "released" from a hollow's innards. To wake up to such a thing after a long sleep (it must have been sleep, right?) is too absurd. But, apparently, my soul had been eaten by this hollow. As it stands, I'm very educated on hollows and shinigami and Soul Society, where I currently reside. I, like many other souls, had been saved by some division captain.
Grand Fisher, that's it. The hollow that had eluded shinigami for years had been slain and, thanks to whomever, I and other souls had been released from its belly and sent here.
I've heard of some souls that can't remember who they used to be due to their long imprisonment inside a hollow, but I must have been lucky because I can remember most of what I used to be. Or maybe the ones who can't remember are lucky, instead? In Soul Society, you make a new life with those around you; a new family. It must be a lot easier to start over when you can't remember what you were before this place.
"Masaki nee-chan, you're spacing out again."
I live with an adopted family of five. I have two sisters, a brother, and a son. Decided upon age, this is how our family was constructed.
"Oh my, Hana, I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about a few things."
In a place such as this, it is wrong to be ungrateful. Being saved and brought to such a haven is enough reason to give thanks, so I try. I try my best to forget everything that makes me wish I had never woken up.
But...
This empty void; when I look at my "son", what is it? I've forgotten, but I'm trying so hard to remember... And--
"Nee-chan! Come quick! A shinigami has just appeared!"
What's this
feeling? I've felt it ever since we entered this part of
town... It's almost...familiar...
"Kurosaki-kun! You'll be left behind if you lag!"
Ichigo nodded. There was no time to be standing around idly; they were on a mission. Their entrance had caused such a ruckus in town that a crowd had started to appear. Surly if he remained long enough, people would start to question him, and he didn't have the time nor the patience for it. Speaking of, he was drawing a crowd. He should start moving.
But, in all his haste, he had knocked into someone.
"Ah, sorry!" And he was off.
I caught my balance just fine, but that's not what I'm concerned about.
"Ich...Ichigo...?"
"Masaki-chan? Did you know that shinigami?"
The void...it's gone.
Ichigo, yards away by then, had come to an abrupt halt.
M...mom?
END
A/N again: Right. Before you ask, no, I have no idea if this is possible. For the souls eaten by a hollow to be freed once said hollow has been slain. Nup, not a clue. :D;; But! It makes for good plot XO!