My first time writing a Bleach story, please be kind!
Hope you like it!
Author's note: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH.
"Get back here you goddamn brat!"
Small feet pounded on the dirt road in the 78th Rukongai District leaving a trail of dust behind. A foul-mouthed, dirty merchant continued to yell obscenities at the little thief who had swiped water and fruit from his stand. He assumed it was a child by their stature, but they had a beige cloth wrapped around their head and face so that it was impossible to see any discernible features.
That little punk is so fast! He thought giving chase to the assailant, however he could not keep up and fell to his knees cursing the criminal, shouting violently that he would get their head on a spike the next time he saw them.
Turning back, silver eyes twinkled with mirth at the man's misfortunes.
The thief rounded a corner narrowly avoiding a passing horse and skidded to a halt in front of a dark alleyway. Smirking, the bandit whistled a low tune and from the shadows the forms of small children appeared.
"Ah, Onee-san is back!"
A crowd of ragged adolescents began to form around the masked assailant, eagerly pulling on their black kimono. Silently, the anonymous person distributed the goods they had stolen amongst the begging children. They thanked their savior and offered for them to stay in their shoddy residences. Shaking their head, the wrapped liberator just departed with a three-finger salute before speeding off again down the seemingly empty road past the alleyway.
Suddenly, a fierce pressure erupted around the black clothed thief causing them to fall to their knees.
This spiritual pressure, it's suffocating!
Unable to remain upright they fell prostrate in the dirt shivering from head to toe.
"So... this is the little troublemaker we've been hearing so much about."
"I didn't believe it when they said it was just a child."
The so-called child could barely lift its head looking at the owner of the voices standing in front of them. Silver eyes widened in fright.
Shinigami...
Standing with complete and utter ease were two Shinigami dressed in the traditional black shihakushō. One was a man who had spiky brown hair and aqua green eyes graced with long eyelashes, the other was a beautiful woman with dark, midnight hair tied back. They stood over the young child with apprehensive expressions on their faces.
"I don't see why they would need a 3rd seat officer to handle this." The man said exasperatedly frowning down at dirtied thief.
"I'm sure Captain has his reasons, Kaien."
Hm, I don't sense any spiritual pressure coming from this kid, Kaien thought eyeing the silver eyes barely visible through the beige head wrap, but their moves are far too quick for an ordinary soul.
"Miyako," He said, "Let's take the kid in for questioning."
"Hai, Kaien." The woman named Miyako agreed beginning to approach the unknown assailant laying prone in the ground.
Finally finding feeling in their body, the child countered in a very young, feminine voice, "Like hell you will."
In a flurry of movement the girl was off, sprinting towards God knows where just as long as she got away from those Shinigami.
Not good, not good! At this rate if they catch I'll be executed! I think I can outrun them, I just need to-
"You're starting to be a pain in the ass, kid."
"Ah!" She screamed hearing the man's voice right next to her ear. Flailing the child tripped in shock and tumbled toward a building slamming into it hard. She felt her head smack against the wall and darkness creep at the edge of her vision. Before she passed out, she saw the two Shinigami bearing over her...
Opening her eyes slowly, the girl saw a bright white light above her, illuminating her senses. She glanced around furtively and saw that she was in a plain room with one doorway and two windows. Turning her head gingerly she felt a dull throb at the back of her head, reaching back she gently touched the bandages wrapping her head. She then realized her head wrap was no longer on her head, but strategically placed so that her face was still covered.
"Finally awake, I see?" A gentle voice drifted in the air.
The girl whipped her head around, instantly regretting the movement feeling her head scream in pain. She groaned clutching her head covering half her face and looking at the man who spoke with one silver eye. He had snow white hair reaching his lower back, and his face looked young but wracked with sickness. He coughed softly into his hand. She knew that man.
Captain Jūshirō Ukitake...
"Don't move too much. You had a pretty bad fall there."
The child regarded the man silently turning away from him and staring at the bright ceiling.
"Captain Jūshirō Ukitake... Where am I?" She asked quietly glaring into the light, fearing the answer.
"Ah, you recognize me! Very good... Well, you should know then that you're in the Seireitei." He responded smiling slightly.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Dammit! That's where the 13 Court Guard Squads reside... Aw, man I'm in huge trouble...
"Let me go." She pleaded, suddenly finding fear gripping her heart. All she ever wanted to do was provide for the less fortunate, even if that meant stealing and looting. She felt bad for those who didn't have the strength themselves to sustain life or live comfortably. While she herself was also in the same living conditions, she had the power to do something about it thanks to her swift speed.
"I'm sorry," He replied solemnly, "I can't do that right now. However, I think we could come to some agreement if you answer a few questions for me."
"Hmph." Came her staunch reply.
"Your punishment will be less severe if you cooperate, you know."
Deliberating her options the girl realized that she was utterly alone in a foreign place surrounded by powerful Shinigami. There was no other choice.
"Fine... What do you want to know?" She gave in, closing her eyes for a brief moment then turning to stare at the deceptively young man who sat across from her.
"First, what's your name, child?"
She frowned, "Why does that matter? Shouldn't you be asking about who I work with or work for?"
He laughed, coughing slightly, "No, no, I know enough that you don't work for others. In fact, I know much about how you operate however we have no data concerning who you are and where you come from. That is what I would like to know."
Ukitake watched the range of emotions flit pass the girl's eyes. Surprise. Anger. Defeat.
When Kaien and Miyako had brought the unconscious assailant to him, he immediately contacted Captain Unohana to assist in treating the thief's wounds. They unwrapped their bloodied head wrap, but Ukitake insisted on keeping their face covered saying that he wanted the culprit to reveal themselves of their own free will. They were surprised to find that the troublemaker was a girl, from Kaien's recount of the capture, contradicting the reports that the terrorizing thief of the 78th Rukongai district was male. The girl had snow-white skin, from what he could see from the exposed part of her face, and was wearing a black kimono that was definitely too big for her along with wearing a silver chain around her neck. When they removed her wrap, a mane of soft, chestnut hair burst out falling and tumbling to the floor.
He was surprised to find that she was continuously suppressing her reiatsu which was probably why Kaien had believed she had no spiritual power. Ukitake debated on releasing the hidden spiritual pressure but decided against it hoping that when he interrogated the young girl she would inform him of how she was able to do it and why.
Before Miyako and Kaien had apprehended her, there were reports throughout the Seireitei of an unknown presence entering and leaving the sacred grounds, however no one was able to find them nor find the point of entry. The presence never stayed long, though, only remaining for ten minutes at a time. Ukitake believed that the girl they captured was the unknown culprit and he wanted to find out how she was able to enter the Seireitei so easily.
"I don't have a name," She she said honestly, "But I'm known as Onee-san."
"Older sister," Ukitake mused stroking his chin, "Well, that won't do."
"Huh?"
"You need a name." He said simply, smiling widely at her.
She looked at him oddly wondering if he was playing a practical joke on her. She knew that Captain Ukitake was a kind-hearted man, observing him during her occasional visits into the Seireitei. Often times she found herself being pulled toward the center of the Soul Society, slipping over the gate using a sealed scroll she had kept with her since her birth that offered her easy passage inside the 13 court guard squad residence. During these escapades she observed the Shinigami in their natural habitats and begun to form an understanding of each one. Her favorite past time was to sneak by the Captains and Lieutenants and watch them practice from the shadows of trees or buildings. She knew that they were on to her, but her perfect use of masking her reiatsu made it difficult for them to catch her once they recognized her presence. By then she was a whisper in the wind, already making her way back to the 78th Rukongai District.
"You haven't even seen my face, yet you want to name me?" She shot back, a hint of anger lacing her words, "Why didn't you remove my wrap fully since I'm a criminal?"
Ukitake tilted his head and replied, "I imagine you wear that for a reason, it would be cruel of me to take something away from you that you did not give up willingly."
His simple answer hit home for the girl. Her silver eyes widened slightly then softened, the Captain could see that his suspicions were correct. The wrap meant more to her than others believed, he had hoped that his understanding of her anonymity would make the girl trust him more. From her relaxing body language and lessening suspicion in her eyes Ukitake believed he would be able to get through the girl and hopefully achieve his goal.
"I... appreciate that."
The squad 13 Captain smiled once more, "Of course. I'll think of a name for you, but for now how about you tell me more about you?"
"Um..."
"Tell me about your upbringing." Ukitake encouraged, "You also must have spiritual powers, I can feel your reiatsu even though you mask it quite well.
She was surprised for a moment that he could feel her reiatsu, however he was a Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads so it made perfect sense that he could sense it. She pondered for a moment wondering whether or not to divulge such sensitive information, but she knew she was resigned to her fate and would most likely be executed so it wouldn't mean a thing whether she told her story or not.
"I have lived in the 78th Rukongai District for almost 20 years. I had a family, but they abandoned me when I was a baby. I've lived on the streets for as long as I can remember. I discovered my spiritual powers early on, but I did not wish to burden others with it. So, I learned on my own how to suppress it."
"I have heard you are quite fast. How do you attain such speed without any spiritual powers?"
Shrugging, the girl replied, "I learned not to rely on it, since I had no formal training with my own powers I decided it would be best not to attempt to even use it. I developed speed through practice."
"Practice meaning sneaking in and out of the Seireitei?"
Ukitake watched as the girl's silver orbs glinted mischievously, "So, you knew it was me prowling about the Seireitei?"
The Captain leaned back and placed one hand behind his head and scratched, "Well, I didn't actually. Another Captain informed me and said one of their officers witnessed a little black blur speeding toward the west gate. It matched our records of reports that a little black-clothed villain was stealing from the merchants in the lower Rukongai districts. Your confession now proves your guilt."
"Tch," The girl flinched, "Did you just trick me into admitting that I was the one entering the Seireitei?"
Ukitake shook his head, "Not at all, it was not my intention. However, I am more curious on how you were able to slip past the barrier without any alarms being sounded. Only Captains and Lieutenants were able to feel your presence, and by the time they arrived you had vanished."
The girl felt a bit of pride swell in her chest, she was able to outmaneuver Captains.
"So, tell me, how did you enter the Seireitei?"
There's no way in hell I'm telling him how-
"Did this help you?" Ukitake produced her scroll from the sleeves of his billowing robe.
"Hey!" She yelled shooting to an upright position then falling back heavily as her vision spun at the sudden movement. "Give it back." She croaked cradling her now-throbbing head.
"I will," Ukitake said kindly, "As long as you can tell me how you happened upon this scroll."
"I don't know."
"You see, I don't believe that. You see this?" He pointed at the seal on the scroll, "This is the symbol of the Shihōin Clan. It's baffling how a street orphan in the 78th Rukongai District is in possession of an artifact as dangerous as this. At first, I thought you might be a member of the Shihōin Clan, but your features do not coincide with one from that clan."
"I truly don't know."
It was true, the girl had no idea how she came to own that scroll.
"Think," Ukitake said softly, "I'm sure you can remember how if you think."
The girl looked away from the kind Captain, wondering how she was going to get out of this one. She thought back as far as she could to the first memories she had...
It was raining.
The sky was dark and endless, the little girl with silver eyes stared helplessly beneath the shoddy shelter she had built from broken wood. Lightening and thunder littered the black expanse, causing the girl to squeak with fright. She wanted a safe place to hide and to feel warmth. The droplets of water was beginning to seep through her tatter kimono freezing and chilling the girl to her core.
And she was so hungry.
Her small hands gripped her stomach trying to alleviate the gnawing feeling.
A shadow suddenly fell over her as lightening flashed in the sky. She looked up and saw a figure holding their hand out.
"Keep this close to your heart and use it wisely. Seek refuge in the Seireitei if you need it."
The voice was deep and masculine, she noticed from his silhouette that he had long hair and was quite tall. She saw that he had a servant holding an umbrella to block the icy water from dripping on his body.
In his hand was a scroll.
Her small fingers wrapped around it and brought it close to her face. There was a seal on it, she did not know what it stood for.
"Um-" Her small voice came out raspy as she looked back up to see the figure disappear. Finding hope in his words she began to train herself to be quicker so that she could test the scroll. She attempted to pass through the Seireitei and found herself on the other side of the gated inner circle as if the barrier had vanished. From then on, she thanked her savior and hoped one day she would find them...
"A man..." She started, "A man gave me this scroll during the first few years of my life in the Rukongai District."
"Do you know what he looked like?"
She thought hard, "He had... long hair. And he had a servant. I think he was a noble."
Ukitake's eyes widened slightly, "A noble, you say? Very odd... I'd like to think he felt pity for an orphaned little girl, but..."
But giving a strange little girl a Shihōin scroll, no less a scroll that could be used against the 13 Court Guard Squads is unnerving...
"Captain Ukitake?"
"Thank you for answering my questions," Ukitake recovered hearing the girl's hesitant call, "Now, in regards to you, there are two choices before you: you could go willingly to your death for the crimes you have committed..."
"... Or you can vow your loyalty to the Soul Society and train to become a Shinigami."
A beat past.
The girl had been thinking about her death and almost didn't hear the last part of Ukitake's decision.
"I'm sorry, what?!" The girl almost shouted losing control over her reiatsu at the request for her to become a Shinigami. The Captain felt her spiritual pressure release suddenly from her outburst. She tried unsuccessfully to calm down, but she was still too surprised over the Captain's words and could see her white reiatsu spilling out of her body.
Almost instantaneously the sliding shōji doors burst open. Ukitake remained staring at her and called out, "Yes?"
"It's Kaien, sir! I felt a burst of spiritual pressure in here and I thought-"
"It's alright, Kaien, our little companion here just finally revealed her spiritual pressure, that's all."
The shell-shocked girl looked dumbly to the unfazed Captain to the annoying spiky haired Shinigami who had apprehended her earlier.
"Shall we take her to the detainment center?" Kaien questioned, shooting a furtive glare at the brown-haired girl.
"No, that is not necessary," Ukitake replied rising to his feet and walking toward his 3rd seat officer. He paused, turning his head he said, "Well? Which option would you prefer... Ukitake Mirai?"
"Captain!" Kaien exclaimed, "You're giving her your last name?!"
The girl's eyes widened at the name Captain Ukitake had bequeathed upon her.
Ukitake...
Mirai...?
The future...
I must look forward...
To my future...
"If you were to accept, I would like to adopt you under my name, Mirai."
She looked into his kind eyes for a long moment, weighing his words and his astounding request to take her under his wings.
"But why?" She asked confusedly, her silver eyes clouded in shock, "Why would you want to take in a criminal?"
"I'm not sure," Ukitake confessed, grinning sheepishly at her, "I just think it would be a nice change to have a talented girl like you blossom into something surreal."
"Captain..." She whispered.
"And I think that you would need somewhere to call home during your training at the Academy, don't you think, Kaien?"
Kaien froze, "Uh-"
"I accept, Captain Ukitake." The young, silver eyed girl said strongly, "I vow my loyalty to you, your name, and the Soul Society."
Ukitake smiled, "Glad to hear it, Mirai-chan."
"Captain..."
"Yes, Kaien?"
"Do you think it's wise to allow a criminal to join the Academy? To be under your household? Moreover encouraging her to become a Shinigami? She was the intruder who entered the Seireitei countless times. Captain Yamamoto said-"
"I understand," Ukitake said swiftly looking straight ahead as he walked amiably down the 13th Divisions hallways, "I sense something about her. She has a strong heart, a willingness to protect and provide. True, she stole and breached our gates, but notice there was not one evil notion driving her actions."
"Captain?"
"She could have infiltrated the Seireitei, or worse bring in an army to destroy us. Yet... all she wanted was to watch and observe and learn. She desires to be a Shinigami. How can I deny a young girl the chance to prove herself?"
Kaien was at a loss for words.
"But Captain... adopting her?"
His Captain turned to him and smiled, "Have I strayed you wrong yet?"
"No... you haven't, Captain."
I can't believe it...
I'm at the Shin'ō Academy...
Before Mirai stood a tall, vast building with a glorious temple-like roof. Surrounding the main building were wider, shorter versions of it stretching out far and wide. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Never, in a million lifetimes, would she think she would be training to become... a Shinigami.
She glanced down at her uniform and frowned at it. She wore the standard shihakushō with a deep red shitagi, a white kosode with red stripes down the sleeves, a red hakama, and socks with sandals. Mirai had never owned footwear before so the sandals felt odd on her feet. She preferred being barefoot because it made her feel faster when she ran. Looking around her she saw students quite older than herself casually entering the academy easily. She felt like she stood out. Her traditional beige wrap was now wrapped only around the lower half of her face rather than her whole head. Her rich, chestnut hair was tied in a taut plait running down her back. Students passed by looking at her oddly, some whispered behind their hands.
"Hey, see that new girl? I heard Captain Ukitake got her in without taking the entrance exam."
"Pfft what's that on her face, I bet she's ugly!"
"She must have a horrendous scar."
"I heard she's a street rat who committed countless crimes."
"Yeah, she's from the 78th Rukongai District!"
"Apparently, he adopted her!"
"That's just great, a sniveling brat that Captain Ukitake took pity on is in the Academy? Man their standards have lowered."
Mirai shut out the whispers, only focusing on the Academy before her. Holding her head high she marched forward, clenching her fists at her side.
I will become strong...
In my own right, I will be strong...
I finally have a name...
I will show everyone that my name is strength...
It is courage...
It is...
Ukitake... Mirai...
WHEEEEEEE!