Summery – When Nanao makes a grave mistake that seems to ruin everything the only way she can get out of the mess she's in is to ask for help from her Taicho. Not an easy task when he can't see or hear her.
Disclaimer – I, unfortunately, do not own bleach. It belongs to Tite Kubo and has nothing to do with me. I wish with all my heart that it did but alas, it will never be…
"You only have a little spoon; what damage can be done with that?"
My sister. Oh the possibilities …
oxo…oxo
Nanao gasped as the clawed hand of a hollow crashed into her stomach, sending her flying into the wall to her left. Chocking slightly at the impact she thanked her lucky stars the claws themselves hadn't touched her. If that had happened she might have been rendered unable to battle and would have most likely lost her life.
Why the hell did I think it was a good idea to come out here alone? She growled to herself before leaping out of the hole in the wall just as the very same hollow who had put her there attempted to crush her. Holding her hand out steadily she sent a blast of kido at the hollow, causing it to disintegrate as she turned to meet the next set of hollow jaws.
She had decided to come out here alone on impulse, her frustration at being left by her Taicho over riding her logical thoughts as she felt the distinct urge to kill something and pretend his head was on it. Childish, she knew, but she found she couldn't help herself. She had wanted to help her Taicho but he had refused her, had to order her to stay before she stopped arguing. She knew he did it for her own good but that hadn't seemed good enough for her and she had inwardly sulked for the last couple of days before they left.
Not only was she frustrated with her captain but she was worried about him too; it was like that whenever he was in battle but it was exaggerated to a much greater extent when she wasn't fighting with him and after only a day she had cracked, shunpoing off to fight the increased amounts of hollow attracted by the lack of captain level reiatsu. She had known there would be a fair few of them but she hadn't counted on there being this many.
Swarmed by hollows since the moment she had arrived in the Rukongai she hadn't stopped battling since then and was tiring fast from using the endless amounts of kido only a master of the art could produce. But her constant battling wasn't enough and she had to admit that, as she took in the mid level hollows still surrounding her, she was in trouble. He hadn't let her come in fear of her being hurt and she had betrayed his trust by getting into this completely avoidable situation. Cursing, she thought back to the last thing words that had been exchanged between them as she blasted hollows left and right.
"Come on now Nanao-chan, cheer up. We'll be back soon," Shunsui had told her happily, his dark eyes shaded by the hat he always wore on his head and a hollow smile on his face. Nanao said nothing, just gazing at her captain with a worried frown on her face that caused her Taicho's smile to waver slightly. The man lifted his hand to his hat, tipping it lightly before trying again. "That worried expression doesn't suit you beautiful face Nanao-chan."
She looked up at him, managing to meet his eyes under his hat. He had to go and meet the others by the gate soon; the Soutaicho wouldn't wait longer than completely necessary and Nanao considered trying to stall him long enough that they might leave without him. She soon tossed the idea away however, scolding herself for the selfishness of the thought. Shunsui smiled, as if reading her mind, before sighing deeply and turning away slightly so that his body was at a right angle to hers.
"Yare, yare. I thought I might get a goodbye kiss from my wonderful Nanao-chan but it seems that is not to be." he announced dramatically, causing Nanao's lips to quiver slightly in a small smile before she felt herself sighing slightly at his immaturity. He grinned at her reaction, the smile not as hollow as it had been and much more real.
"Apparently not sir," she told him with amused eyes, watching as his grin became strained and sad before giving in somewhat. "Though I suppose a hug wouldn't go amiss."
Before the words had completely left her mouth she felt herself pulled into a smothering hug, her heartbeat beginning to race as his reiatsu cocooned itself around her and the sent of him filled her nose; silk, sake and sakura petals. She heard him take a deep breath and felt her stiffened form relax slightly into him, her arms coming up from her sides in order to return the hug. Snuggling his nose into her neck he whispered quietly into her ear before he was gone; taking the warmth with him as he flash stepped quickly from the room.
"Keep yourself safe and I will do the same. There is not a day I don't wish only to come back to you."
The passion in his words had shocked her more than the words themselves and she had stayed frozen in the office until the third seat had come in with a new stack of paperwork that she really wondered why they were getting with a war on. She had done it anyway, using any excuse in an attempt to get her mind off of a certain pink wearing Taicho.
And now she found herself in this mess, completely disregarding those words as she got closer and closer to exhaustion; there would be no help for her anytime soon. She staggered back, landing on the roofed house below her before jumping onto the street and drawing out her Zampakuto from the sleeve of her uniform. She didn't like using it but she felt that, right now, there wasn't much choice.
Looking around she sought out a good place to initiate her Shikai and spotting a couple of large boxes at the end of the alleyway she shunpoed over to them before sitting with her back leaning down against them. She had never had to explain her Shikai to anyone, only really having used it in public for the fukutaicho exam she had had to take. It had been one of the times she had been truly glad Shunsui was her captain. He wasn't the type to ask about technicalities.
Breathing out deeply, she lifted the blade to her lips, kissing it lightly; her violet eyes glowing. "Utsu, Samuikokoro."
Her Zampakuto glowed for a moment and she felt herself become lighter until she was hovering above her body, looking down on it as the Zampakuto in her hand continued to glow red with raw power. The blade had disappeared from her body's hand as it always did when she was like this and she knew that, if anyone were to check, they would find her lifeless; no pulse, no vital signs. It was one of the main reasons she didn't like to use it.
In her new form she couldn't be seen and, as she flew over to the hollows it was easy to kill them quickly, the monsters not even knowing what had hit them. She could interact with the world around her yet could not be seen, heard or touched by anyone else. It was like Ichigo becoming a soul reaper only it was deeper, her soul splitting in half as she released her Shikai.
Slashing her now energised Zampacto through the skull of a confused hollow, she turned to the next one. They could not attack her, they could block and they could not fight back. It was practically flawless. But Nanao knew it could never be that easy; there were thousands of hollows and it could take her hours to fight them all off. That would be the longest she had ever been from her body and she wasn't looking forward to it. Gritting her teeth Nanao started forward again; the quicker she killed them all the quicker she could get back to her body and back home.
xxx…xxx
Hollows had surrounded him and he cowered, hiding in an abandoned house, breathing heavily in a vein attempt to ease the panic rushing through his body. With only a small amount of spiritual pressure he wondered why so many of the wretched monsters were coming for him, for they had to be coming for him. Who else would they bother with? After all, this part of the Rukongai was not known for its high reiatsu members. He had the highest around and he was frightened.
Damn it. He thought as the white mask of a hollow peered through the window of the building, a strangely grotesque grin coming to its face that made his blood run cold. Frozen in fear he closed his eyes, knowing death couldn't be long behind. But it never came, the furious screech making his eyes fly open in shock, just in time to see the hollow dissolve, a wide slice in the front of its head.
He gapped at it, scrabbling to his feet and to the window where his eyes widened to saucepans at the sight that followed. Hollows were falling down everywhere, toppling over before dissolving. He could see the slashes in their heads where something was cutting them but he couldn't see what it was that was doing it. For all intents and purposes the soul eating monsters were just falling down dead all on their own. A shaky laugh came from his lips as he felt the feeling come back to his limbs in relief.
Maybe he would live after all.
Allowing himself a small smile he took a step back before bolting out of the door, almost tripping over the debris on the floor as he struggled to get out into the alleyway next to it. When he found himself in an appropriate running place he allowed his feet to speed up, racing quickly down the long stretch of path between the two buildings before rounding a corner and tripping over something. He hit the ground hard, his face smacking into the dusty ground below. Letting out a breath he cursed, the expended air throwing dust into his eyes. Groaning slightly he lifted himself off the floor, rubbing his watering eyes in an effort to clean them of the earthy partials.
"This is just not my day," he muttered before wondering what the hell it was that had tripped him over. Looking around at offending object he blanched. He had tripped over the leg a girl with black hair that clipped back at the back. She wore glasses over her glazed violet eyes and there was blood coming from a cut on her forehead. But the thing that really got to him was the clothes she was wearing. She was a soul reaper.
He stayed still for a moment before reaching cautiously towards her, expression weary and hands shaking as he prodded her leg and scurried away. She didn't move. Feeling slightly silly he crept back towards her, laying his fingers gently on her wrist in search of a pulse. It wasn't there. Eyebrows furrowing in slight worry he moved his hand to her mouth. There was not breath. Cursing he looked around. If these hollows were strong enough to kill a soul reaper what chance did he have? He had to get out of here.
Looking at the soul reaper girl curiously a thought crossed his mind. She was so pretty and a pretty thing like that was bound to have someone who cared for her. If he brought her back to the Seireitei he could get a reward, a new life or, if that didn't work, he could hold her for ransom. Smiling slightly at the prospects he could see before him he stood up before walking towards her and picking her up, heaving her over his shoulders before trotting away, around the next corner of the alleyway and in the direction of the Seireitei.
oxo…oxo
Dear readers,
Hello everybody and thank you for reading my newest fanfiction. It, of course, is to be a Nanao/Shunsui and hopefully you will continue to read it as I progress. For people who are reading my Harry Potter/Bleach story, do not fear. I am writing them at the same time though I thought I might give this a go as it's likely to be shorter and it will fill the time that I have writers block in the other one. So I hope you enjoy it and I ask you all to review. I'm trying to get as many reviews as possible and I hope I can get all of your support on this. Thanks ^_^
Animeloveramy
As Amy said never fear readers, the Power of a Letter is still well and truly there and hopefully by the time you are reading this, this story should be more or less finished *fingers crossed* so don't worry, there is more to come...
AnimeAiedail