Into The Labyrinth

Chapter One: White Hair & Blue Eyes

Warning: Harsh language, possible use of drugs (alcohol included), violence, sexual themes, possible pregnancy in the future

[Rating May Change]

Shuhei cursed as he walked among the isles in the music store, invisible to all surrounding humans. He had to get back to the Soul Society soon before someone began to think he had been kidnapped or worse, betrayed the Soul Society. After Aizen, Gin and Tosen's defections everyone was having a troublesome time in recovering their sense of trust in each other. Everyone was an enemy even if they didn't show it, but Shuhei wasn't stupid nor was he blind. He seen the way the Captains would look at each other as they passed in the corridors.

It was sad to think that a once stable community was ripping itself apart at the seams, someone was going to get mad at the suspicious looks they were getting. Shuhei knew because even he was almost at that point and it was amazing someone could drive him to nearly starting a fight.

At least he was getting away from there for a while, even if for ten minutes, he was still getting some time to himself. Time to think, time to relax… it was all so nice… if only he could find the damn guitar picks. That's all he wanted at the moment! It didn't have to be a specific color, but boy were the human music stores lacking.

The irritated man turned a corner and upon seeing the guitar picks his whole outlook on life brightened. He nearly ran to the picks and grabbed one quickly not caring that he accidentally bumped into a now confused looking human woman. He went to the register and dropped some money into the tip jar since he wouldn't actually be paying and made his way out of the cramped store.

As Shuhei walked outside he felt a breeze blow past him, but it wasn't normal. It carried a sense of fear with it; not for Shuhei, but for the humans.

A Hollow… Shuhei thought. How did he always get himself into such compromising situations? Shuhei ran in the direction of the rising spiritual pressure, past the many humans, the wind hitting his face like a cold knife. He began sprinting upon thinking that the Hollow had to be hungry, that would be the only reason it was here. It could have already had someone in it's mouth. Shuhei had to hurry.

When he finally reached his destination he found himself in a deep forest on the outskirts of Karakura. he roamed quickly through the forest in search for the Hollow, but only found himself faced with one of the most gorgeous creatures he'd ever seen. Shuhei was stunned into immobility as his eyes met the beautiful, cobalt blue eyes of a white fox, it's shimmering coat dyed silver in the moonlight. It was as if the animal was telling Shuhei to leave, commanding him with it's eyes and Shuhei felt the need to listen.

But I'm a Soul Reaper… I can't leave… He thought with dying conviction. There was something so scared in the eyes of the fox that he wanted to reach out and grab it, then leave. There was a sudden pressure in the air and Shuhei snapped back to reality and so did the fox. It looked around, bewildered and gave Shuhei one last look. The fox let out a spine chilling screaming noise and Shuhei recognized it as a sound foxes used to warn their cubs or other foxes of danger.

This time Shuhei took the warning.

He took off, his breath already becoming more and more labored as he ran. What the hell was with that fox? Was it even a real fox? Shuhei shook the thoughts from his head as he found himself overlooking the town from a cliff. Where was he? Had he really ran that far?

What the hell? Shuhei thought to himself. He heard an incessant humming coming from beside him and looked over fearfully to see a small figure glowing in the light of the moon. Shuhei didn't register the young girl until the Hollow appeared next to her. He gasped and quickly took action.

"Move!" He shouted to the girl, but then he remembered she was a human. She couldn't hear or see him… so he thought. The girl looked to Shuhei, confused and raised an eyebrow. Shuhei grabbed the girl as he charged towards, her drawing his Zanpakuto and slashing through the Hollow's mask. The girl in his arms screamed and covered her ears as the Hollow let out a roar.

"My queen!" He shouted, alarming Shuhei. "No!" The Hollow began to dissipate into thin air as Shuhei landed and set the girl down on the ground. He kneeled down to her level and tried to comfort her wild eyes with his own fairly calm ones.

"Are you okay?" He asked the young girl. She nodded and her lips slightly parted as she got a good look at Shuhei, he however still couldn't focus on her features clearly from the adrenaline pumping through his veins as well as the fact that that Hollow had just called someone "queen". Shuhei felt soft fingertips running down the scars on his right eye and cheek. He gasped at the sudden cold and the girl let out a sigh of amazement.

"Are you okay is the real question!" The girl scurried away from Shuhei and got on her knees, proceeding to inspect Shuhei thoroughly. He blushed lightly as she began trailing his chest and sides. "Are you?!" The girl exclaimed looking at Shuhei with wide, blue eyes. He gulped and nodded thinking of the fox he'd seen earlier. The girl even had the white hair to match.

"Why is you hair… white?" He asked, not able to hold the question in. The girl's eyes lowered.

"I… I got really sick when I was younger and my hair turned white." She looked back up at a wide eyed Shuhei. "What?" She said. "You look like you just seen a ghost… although you did see something." She shook her head. "What was that thing?"

"It was… it was something called a Hollow." Shuhei knew he shouldn't have been telling this girl what a Hollow was, but something about her was so innocent that Shuhei couldn't keep the Soul Reaper's secret from her. The girl simply nodded.

"A Hollow…" She trailed off. "And what are you?" Shuhei gulped again.

"I'm just a… passerby?" He tried and the girl made a face.

"Nu-uh, I know you're not. Guys in 1500's cosplay clothes and spiky black hair and claw marks don't just pass by and somehow kill… Hollows." She said to Shuhei. She grabbed Shuhei's Zanpakuto. "And they certainly don't carry these around." She had called Shuhei on his bullshit and now he was going to have to tell her. Shuhei sighed.

"You can't go around telling everyone if I tell you." He said and the girl nodded.

"I won't. Promise." She said and Shuhei nodded.

"I'm a Soul Reaper. I kill Hollows and help spirits pass on to the Soul Society." The girl remained quiet for the longest time before busting out in laughter. Shuhei didn't know whether to be grateful or offended. He opted for the first.

"Fine, fine, if you don't wanna tell me it's okay. I understand there are some things in this world that need to remain between it's group of practitioners." The girl stood, brushing off what looked like her school uniform and stuck her hand out to Shuhei. He looked at her smiling face. "Need a hand?" Shuhei took her hand in his and stood feeling a little tingle in him. When he was upright he seen just how much he towered over the girl.

She smiled at him warmly and turned on her heel.

"Where are you going?" Shuhei demanded. She looked back at him over her shoulder.

"I'm going home, silly. Someone might get worried about me and I think you should go home too. You're making me sweat just by thinking that you'd actually stay out in these woods alone." Shuhei raised an eyebrow.

"But you were here alone." The girl narrowed her eyes and grinned. The look on her face was foxy and not in a good way.

"That's because the forest likes me. Nothing bad has ever happened to me here… this is where I was… made." She touched a tree lightly with her fingertips, her grin now gone. A smile appeared on her face. "But, I wish you a good night, okay? Please be safe if you insist on staying here alone." Shuhei stared at the girl in disbelief. Who was she and why the hell was she here? What was she talking about she was made in the forest? Shuhei rushed to catch up with her.

"Here," He said. "Let me walk you home." The girl looked at Shuhei with wide eyes, but they soon softened and she nodded.

"Alright, but let's take the shortcut. Less people and quicker to get home." Shuhei nodded, agreeing with her idea and the pair began walking across the forest. At some point she took a turn and they were now in a wide field with nothing around. There was only tall wheat and some trees surrounding them, but Shuhei didn't feel threatened. He actually felt as if nothing could harm him in the kind girl's presence.

She walked across the field with her hands clasped together in front of her. She dodged each pot hole and small enclave as if she had treaded the terrain everyday and maybe she had for all Shuhei knew. At one point she had to take Shuhei's hand in her own and lead him across the field so that he didn't fall into one of the large pits in the ground.

"What are those for?" He asked her, still feeling tingly inside as she tightened her grip on his hand.

"The hunters like to catch the foxes that come by so they can skin them and sell their fur. Sometime they get lucky and catch a white fox or a wolf even." The girl shook her head. "I think it's disgusting that they'd do something to such an innocent creature, I mean they're trying to make it by too, ya know?" Shuhei nodded at the girl's conviction.

"Yeah, I get what you're saying, but people have to make money too, don't they?" Shuhei contradicted her.

"But there are other ways to go about it then killing animals." That was one that Shuhei couldn't argue with. There were many jobs and places to work or ways to earn money other than killing helpless creatures. But maybe because they were so helpless was the reason humans killed them. Survival of the fittest, right? Soon enough they had crossed another long tredge of woods and were finally emerging into a man-made light. Shuhei gasped upon seeing a huge manor up ahead. The staggering home was light with yellow light and glorious windows and a huge door with a paved path leading up the hill to the front girl turned to Shuhei, releasing his hand.

"I'm sorry," She said. "I didn't quite catch your name." Shuhei nodded.

"Oh! How rude of me, I never introduced myself. Shuhei Hisagi, and you?" The girl smiled.

"Rima Mashima, nice to meet you Mr. Hisagi. Do you have a place to stay tonight, or would you need a bed? My home had plenty of rooms and I'm sure my family wouldn't mind you staying the night." Shuhei shook his head, raising his hands in the air.

"No, no, I'm fine. Thank you for the offer though." Rima looked down, her eyes sullen.

"Then at least let me serve you dinner. The chef makes the best food in town!" She exclaimed. Shuhei chuckled.

"Thank you, but like you said, I need to get home too. I have somewhere to be in the morning." The older man lied. Rima sighed but nodded.

"Oh well… someday then, you'll have to come by someday and have dinner with my family and I, Mr. Hisagi.' Shuhei nodded.

"Sounds good to me," He said thinking of free food. "And just call me Shuhei."

It's not like we're going to be seeing each other again. He thought.

"Alright, Shuhei… I guess I should go now." Shuhei nodded and Rima stood on her tiptoes using Shuhei's arms for support and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for saving me tonight." She turned and began walking to her front door, her long white braid swaying behind her. Shuhei touched a few digits to his cheek.

"You're welcome…" He whispered. The door to Rima's house opened and she walked in, allowing Shuhei the smallest of peaks at the refined furniture and red carpeted staircases. Shuhei leaned against a tree and sighed thinking of both Rima and the fox he met tonight. Both so beautiful and elegant and… alluring. He couldn't wait to tell Kira about his experience. A pretty girl had invited him to dinner after he'd heroically saved her!

She can't be any older than 13! Shuhei's mind shouted at him but he wasn't thinking straight. He felt like everything was going hazy for a moment and before he could get himself in check black spots began to burst behind his eyes.

Ah shit…

It didn't take long for the world to fade away.