Karakura town is an average city full of average people…. And not so average people. "I'm home!" Seventeen year old Miuri Tanaka called out as she kicked off her shoes.
"Hello Sis. How was school?" Her older sister Mika asked from the sink where she was washing dishes.
"It was good." Miuri headed towards her room, but before she could leave the room her sister called back.
"By the way I got a package this morning, it's for you."
"A package for me?" Miuri found a long wrapped shape leaning against the wall to her room.
"I didn't want to open it. So I brought it to your room."
A note was attached on the outside. Warning! This is not a toy! "Thank you." Miuri called out as she tossed her bag onto her bed and laid the package on the bed. She unfolded the note. "A package for me… but I bought nothing." Hmm. She started reading the paper.
Hello, Miuri. If you can read this letter, then we were right and you've become a soul reaper. This sword is your zanpakuto, be careful with it! Congratulations!
Miuri stared at the letter in confusion and before she could even start to process what it meant her cell phone went off. "Hello?"
"Hi, Miuri!" The person on the other line was a good friend of Miuri. Ayuma had come to town a year ago with no memories. Miuri had found her and helped Ayuma get settled into a normal life. Ayuma now ran a small bookstore but she still called Miuri all the time. They had even gone to a weapon's festival a month ago. "You can't image what I got!"
"What is it Ayuma? Miuri shoved away all thoughts of the letter.
"I've got a zanpakuto!"
"You too!?" Miuri gasped.
"Oh don't play dumb." Ayuma giggled. "You totally entered us into a prize raffle last month didn't you?"
"Um… No." Miuri sighed and slowly ripped open the package wrapping. Sitting on her bed now was a large sword. The blade was sheathed but she was sure it was of impressive make. Just call it a feeling. The guard was a silver blue color and slightly elongated and the grip was covered in a green criss-crossing string. She fingered it cautiously.
"Really? But then why did we both get one?"
"You didn't put our names in a raffle did you?" Miuri asked hopefully. That wouldn't explain the strange note.
"No, i would have told you if I had.. Hey why don't you bring it by the store and we'll compare and see if we can figure this out."
"Okay I'll be over there as soon as possible." Miuri rewrapped the sword…. Zanpakuto… up and cradled it in her arms. "I'm going over to Ayuma's!" Miuri called out as she pulled on her shoes.
"Okay, just be back for dinner!"
Miuri ran through the city, afraid that at any moment she was going to get caught carrying such a dangerous weapon. As she glanced around she slammed into someone. Clutching the zanpakuto tighter she fell backwards onto her butt. "Ouch…" SHe groaned.
"Sorry." She looked up to see a large man holding a box of apples. He was huge! She was fully aware she was short, but there was no way this guy was normal. He would tower over any normal person.
"You okay?" The man reached a hand out to her, balancing the box on his arm.
"Fine!" Miuri jumped up, gripping the sword and ignoring his large overbearing hand. "Thank you." After giving a small awkward bow she took off running away from him. She didn't loosen her grip on the zanpakuto until she was in sight of Ayuma's shop. It was just a small hole in the wall kind of shop. Most people walked past it without realizing the wonders that were inside. Ayuma had gotten it after helping out the elderly lady who used to own it. She had been hospitalized so Ayuma took over for her during that time.
"Ayuma!" Miuri opened the door and glanced around. Shelves of dusty books were waiting for her. She called out again as she walked further in. "Ayuma?"
"ONE MINUTE!" Ayuma's voice called out from the back room. A moment later she came walking out, covered in dust. "Hey Miuri, do you mind putting the closed sign up? I'm going to go wash up."
"Sure." Miuri couldn't help but laugh. That was Ayuma for you, always getting buried in her work.
Miuri chuckled as she headed towards the back. Ayuma's store had two floors. The bottom floor was the actual bookstore with a small bathroom and storage room while the upstairs was her living space. The stairs were usually locked but Ayuma always planned for when she had guests so it unlocked when Miuri opened the door.
Once she was upstairs Miuri made herself comfortable on the couch with her zanpakuto sitting next to her. Ayuma arrived a moment later drying off her face with a towel. "Sorry a pile of books I was cataloging toppled over." She laughed. "I knew I should have dusted first." Miuri laughed and laid the towel on the countertop. "Alright let's take a look." Ayuma sat on the floor and started to unwrap the zanpakuto.
"Wow…." She gently touched the grip and started to pull.
"Wait!" It didn't feel right having someone else draw out the blade. "Take a look at this note!"
"Alright." Ayuma sat the zanpakuto to the side and took the note from Muri's outstretched hand.
What if she can't read it? Miuri shifted in her seat.
"This is strange." Ayuma frowned. "It seems like the person who sent this knew you personally. Or at least has been observing you."
"What?!" Miuri jumped.
"the way he talks makes me think he has been watching you. Especially with how he talks about he was right."
"You think it's a guy?"
"Call it intuition." Ayuma chuckled. "It's very similar to mine." She got up and a moment later returned with her own sword. This blade also seemed to be pretty impressive. The grip was covered in blue string that criss crossed. The guard was more square shaped with a small piece going to the side in opposite directions.
"Wow." Miuri stared at it as Ayuma drew the blade. "It is real. I tested it." She pointed to her kitchen table where a watermelon was cut in half.
"You cut a watermelon… with a sword?" Miuri stared at Ayuma in disbelief.
"How else was I supposed to test if it was real?" She laughed and sheathed the sword again. Next she unfolded a note and started reading it. "Ayuma, this zanpakuto is for you. I hope it will be helpful. Do not throw this away or try to run, you will need this. Good luck." Ayuma looked up at Miuri.
"Why would you throw a sword away?"
"Well it is a dangerous weapon." Ayuma chuckled. "And I think I would sell it rather than throw it away… I'm not really sure how it will be helpful… Other than cutting watermelons."
Miuri rolled her eyes and sighed. "I don't think that is what he meant."
Ayuma laughed. "I'm sure you are correct… But that is what I am worried about." Ayuma looked down at her lap. "This guy… I have no idea what his plans are." She sighed but instantly started smiling again. "What do you say we take a look now over at what is similar between these two." She laid the letters out side by side. "Same hand writing."
"Are you sure?" Miuri leaned over closer to stare at them.
"Yes. After going through so many hand written books in the back I learned to notice differences between hand writing with it." Ayuma pointed to the letters. "See how the a's all have a little curve at the bottom?"
"Yes." Miuri nodded.
"All the letters have the similar little curves to them."
"So we got the zanpakutos from the same person." Miuri looked at her zanpakuto. "But why?"
"I don't know…. I'll keep looking into it." She sighed. "For now I think it's best that we pay attention to what happens from now on." She sighed.
"Okay."
"For now keep this hidden and don't tell others about it. We will have to be careful for now. I'll take care of looking for more information about the word zanpakuto."
"Right…"
"I'll walk you home then." Ayuma stood up. "I'll talk us out of any problems if we run into trouble with anyone."
"Thanks." Miuri smiled happily, she quickly rewrapped her zanpakuto.
Ayuma laughed. "No problem." She tucked her zanpakuto back under her couch and then followed Miuri out, locking up after them. Miuri clutched her zanpakuto tightly to her chest as they walked. She didn't want anyone to take it from her. It felt like it was hers and shouldn't be taken from her. She was connected to it and wasn't going to hand it over to anyone.
"No need to clutched it so tightly." Ayuma laughed at her. "No one is going to take it from you."
Miuri blushed. "I… I know that." Ayuma smiled but stopped. Her face looked pale. "Ayuma?"
"I… I'm fine…" She started walking. "It was nothing."
"You don't look so good." Miuri lightly touched her arm. "Maybe you should sit down."
"I'm fine." She chuckled weakly. Her face was still pale and she looked a little wobbly.
"Ayuma?" Miuri frowned and looked around. She spotted the park and dragged Ayuma towards it. "You need to sit down!"
"Miuri no!" Ayuma gasped. "We need to!" She was interrupted by a large roar. "No… Not this…" Ayuma whispered. "It can't be real…" She was shaking.
"Ayuma?!" Miuri started looking around. "What was that?"
"A monster… We need to get out of here!" Ayuma jumped up. "We need to run!" She grabbed Miuri's hand. "Come on!"
"Ayuma!" Miuri tried to complain but before they could go two feet a large black and white creature showed up. It wore a white mask and looked kind of like a large crab.
"MIURI RUN!" Ayuma pushed Miuri. "NOW!"
"RIGHT!" Miuri started running with Ayuma right behind her. She had never seen a creature like that but she did know that it was large and scary. And it was coming straight at them!
"GO AWAY!" Miuri glanced over her shoulder to see Ayuma had stopped and was yelling at the creature.
"Ayuma!" Miuri cried out as the monster swatted Ayuma sending her flying into a tree. Miuri looked towards Ayuma and then at the monster. It was coming straight at her.
Miuri took a step back but knew she couldn't outrun it, and she couldn't leave Ayuma. Fight it. A voice seemed to whisper in her ear. You can fight it.
Miuri pulled out her zanpakuto letting the wrapping falling to the ground. She unsheathed it and let the sword blade catch the light. She took a deep breath. "I'm ready!"
The monster roared and charged at her faster. Move to the left. The voice whisper. She followed its orders avoiding getting knocked over. Slash. Her blade cut straight through it's side. She was expecting blood but nothing came out of it. Don't stop, again! The urgency in the voice almost made Miuri drop the blade, but she kept her grip and swung again. Still no blood.
The monster roared in pain and came straight at her, mouth open. Miuri couldn't move. Her body was in shock and she was drop dead scared. She couldn't move. MOVE! The voice cried out again. NOW! She still couldn't move. GO! It felt like the sword jumped from her hand, only it didn't, instead it pulled her hand up with it and the zanpakuto stabbed straight into the monster's forehead. Miuri gasped in shock as the monster reeled back, yanking the zanpakuto from her hand. She stumbled away as the monster roared and reeled in pain.
"AYUMA!" Miuri rushed towards Ayuma and checked her pulse. It was still there. "AYUMA!"
"M-Miuri…" Ayuma groaned her eyes flickering open. "What… What happened."
Miuri looked over her shoulder just in time to see the monster turning to dust and disappearing. Her zanpakuto dropping to the ground. "I beat it!" She turned back to Ayuma. "I beat it!" She laughed. "I did it!"
"You really did?" Ayuma smiled. "How?"
"I… I don't know… I just… I just seemed to know what to do. My zanpakuto." She looked back over her shoulder but didn't see the blade anywhere. "Where did it go?!" She stood up. "It was right there a moment ago!"
"Miuri?" Ayuma slowly slid up the tree forcing herself to her feet while Miuri rushed over to where the zanpakuto had dropped. "Where did you go?" She started looking around the field but froze. Sitting in the spot where the zanpakuto should have been was a small figure. He had short shaggy black hairs with white horns sticking out of his hair. Two black wings were sprouting from his back and a black tail wiggled slightly from behind him. "What is this?"
Ayuma walked closer to her. "What is that?"
"I don't know?" Miuri slowly reached down and picked up the small figure. "It's warm… He's warm." She whispered. "He's alive."
Ayuma reached out a hand gently and touched his wing. It twitched. "Amazing… It's like your Zanpakuto turned into him… You should take care of him… Come back by my apartment tomorrow afternoon with him and we'll see what is going on with him."
"Alright." Miuri cradled him in her arms. "What about you?!"
"I'm going to go home and ice my soon to be bruises." She laughed. "You won't need me now, because that little guy won't draw attention."
"Your right." Miuri laughed. "You be careful too."
"Don't worry about me, I'm made of tougher stuff." She laughed. "I'll see you later."
Ayuma slowly started limp walking back towards her store. Miuri stood there and watched her walk away before cradling the little guy closer and turning to walk home. He was so warm, and so comfortable. She wasn't going to let anyone take him from her, he was hers. He was hers. She repeated that to herself as she headed home.
