Alright! Welcome to my latest project, Mina's New Life! As you may have guessed for those who've read my other words, this is a 'cousin story' to Taylor's New Life, since I am once again taking one of my facets and placing her into a manga. You will see, however, as chapters go on, that the setting, manga, and feel of the story are very different. Since Abarai Renji is the hero of this story, it will be a very different atmosphere between him and the heroine than with Sabaku no Gaara. And though I didn't mention it in this chapter, the main young woman's name is Mina. I hope you enjoy this as much as some of you have enjoyed Taylor's New Life.
Chapter 1
I followed him unseen and unsuspected, completely suppressing my spiritual pressure so my presence would remain a secret from him and anyone else passing by. I had been discreetly following him ever since I had heard that [drifters had entered the inner part of the Soul Society. I had already watched him fight Ichigo today. I almost rushed to heal him right away, but I realized just in time that if I was found away from my station, I was going to be in big trouble, and separated from him. I stayed back, sympathizing with his pain from a distance. Soon enough, some of my fellow healers from the fourth company came to him. They knew he had been fighting a drifter and had been watching for him. I remained unnoticed and had even stayed outside his window when they finished treating him. They only place I had not dared to follow him was the place where he achieved ban kai. I waited outside, and had followed him ever since then. I knew it was almost time for his potentially fatal battle with Kuchiki Byakuya. It was my goal to save his life, if needed.
I loved Abarai Renji deeply, much more than he or anyone else knew, but I knew how much Kuchiki Rukia meant to him. They had grown up together, become shinigami together, and he had entrusted her rescue to Ichigo after their fight. He entrusted a drifter he didn't even know to save the life of someone dear to him. I knew, also, however, how she had pushed him aside the day she was adopted into the Kuchiki clan and probably broken his heart. He had had to tell himself to stay out of her way and let her proceed, instead of trying to get her back.
But even as I thought these things, Abarai-kun stopped and looked up. I looked up, too, and saw the very person I'd been dreading all day- Kuchiki Byakuya. I knew that they were destined to clash, and Kuchiki-sama was going to use his ban kai against Abarai-kun, and that would end the battle.
"Captain... Kuchiki." Abarai-kun said. Being near both of their spiritual pressures nearly had me fainting, it was so stifling. I started to sweat.
"Where are you going?" Kuchiki-taichou asked.
"I'm going to save Rukia."
"No, you are not."
"I am going!" Abarai-kun shouted. "Won't you let me pass here peacefully?"
"I won't say the same thing twice," Kuchiki-sama replied. Suddenly he appeared behind Abarai-kun. Their swords clashed, and the fight I had dreaded since coming to the Soul Society commenced. I had to take a step back from their pressure, and didn't hear much of what was said. I could only watch from a distance, but I did hear Abarai-kun yell "Ban kai!" and saw Zabimaru change form and several pillars fall to the ground. I watched as Kuchiki-sama used Senbonzakura, but not affecting Zabimaru or Abarai-kun at all. I did hear, however, Abarai-kun say "It touched the ground! Your knee, that is." and I heard the blast from Kuchiki-sama's blast spell. I watched, blow after blow, as they fought. I also saw Captain Kuchiki release his ban kai, as well, and almost screamed as Abarai-kun was ripped to shreds.
"Be proud," said Kuchiki-sama, "that someone who, after being struck by this power, is still able to retain the form of his body." I watched in painful silence as Abarai-kun stood up to fight, and Kuchiki-sama drew his sword again, near Abarai-kun's head. "Even now," he said, "do you still dream of saving Rukia?" I saw, as I looked at the vice-captain's face, the realization that he was going to lose.
"Of course I am," Abarai-kun answered.
"What?"
"I swore... I swore that I would save her."
"You swore? To whom?"
"No one," Abarai-kun said. "I swore... TO MY SOUL!" I remembered that Ichigo said the same thing to Zangetsu. Abarai-kun was truly frightening as he stood again, covered in blood and more than half dead, murderous intent written on his face. He lunged forward at Captain Kuchiki, but I knew what was coming. His Zanpaku-tou broke into pieces, and he fell, leaving only a small bloody mark on his captain. "Damn it," he said as he fell.
"Congratulations," Kuchiki-sama said, taking off his scarf. "Your fang actually reached me." And he left.
As soon as Kuchiki-sama was out of sight, I rushed over to Abarai-kun. My shinigami robes flew out behind me, as did my long, straight, glossy black hair that reached the middle of my back.
Abarai-kun was in a bad way. Reading the manga hadn't accurately described his injuries. Since I was a member of the medic fourth gotei, I knew better than most his exact condition. I sensitively brushed his bright red hair from his face, then ran my fingers through it again, heart throbbing for him. I gingerly rolled him onto his back so I could start to heal him.
"Ohhh," he moaned weakly.
"Gomen ne," I apologized softly. "It's the only way. Gomen."
I let the top of his robes open since I could heal better through direct contact and nervously put my hands on his marred chest. It wasn't a pretty sight. Kuchiki-sama's blades had done a lot of damage, and there were cuts everywhere. I healed the major ones first to slow the bleeding, then checked inside him for serious internal injury. I could "see" inside my patients with my spiritual power.
I gasped. It was worse than I thought. If I didn't hurry, Abarai-kun would die. Within a half-hour.
"Abarai-sama?" I said softly. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes," he croaked.
"I'm going to start to heal your internal injuries," I told him. "I need you to please relax, Abarai-sama."
"Okay, he complied in a weak voice. "How bad am I? Will I live?"
I sighed nervously. "Yes. Of course you'll live." I hoped. If my skills were enough. If they weren't, I'd never forgive myself. Before I closed my eyes to concentrate on healing, I saw Abarai-kun open his eyes and look at me.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"That does not matter," I said modestly.
"It does," he persisted in his soft voice. "Who do I owe my life to?"
"You owe me nothing. Please relax, Abarai-sama. I'm going to begin. Once I do, I'll need to focus on nothing but healing you."
"Wait!" he objected weakly. "Who are you?"
"The one who will assist you from the shadows," I replied mysteriously. "Perhaps you will see me again one day, Abarai-sama."
"What is your name?" he asked again as he closed his eyes, but I barely heard him, since I had begun to exert my greatest power in an attempt to save his life.
The first thing I noticed was that I wouldn't have to worry about embedded or shattered blades, because every one had returned to Senbonzakura. I repaired his deepest wounds first, but found that my spiritual power was draining. I wasn't going to be able to even get him to the point where he was conscious. I withdrew for a moment to rest. A single tear fell down my cheek. Even after training for years, I wouldn't be able to save him.
"What's wrong, Little Healer?" I heard Abarai-kun whisper.
I jumped in surprise. He wasn't supposed to be exerting himself by talking. "Abarai-sama!"
"Sorry I scared you."
"You shouldn't be wasting your energy like this!"
"I… need to know your name," he insisted again.
"Why? Why am I so important that you would risk what little energy you have left to find out who I am?"
"Because. When I see you again…I want to be able to thank you properly."
"Being alive is enough thanks for me. Now sleep," I commanded.
I resumed my healing, a little refreshed. I brushed my hand across his eyes, and he fell to the darkness. It was for his own good. I couldn't have him trying to find out my identity and hurting himself. After a long time, I felt my own limbs begin to grow heavy, and I realized that if I kept using my power to its max, I could die. But at that moment, my life didn't matter to me. Only Abarai-kun's did. I hardly cared what was going to happen to me, as long as I saved Abarai-kun. Even if I were emoted (not that I had a very high standing anyway), even if Abarai-kun never found out that I was the one who had healed him. I didn't care.
I kept exerting my power, but my "vision" began to fade at the edges. Eventually it flickered from my real vision of Abarai-kun to my spiritual power-induced sight of his internal injuries.
I can't keep this up much longer, I thought, but he's out of the greatest dangers. There's still a long way to go, though. Despite my great overtiredness and the danger to myself, I kept healing, wouldn't give up. I pushed a few strands of hair behind my ear when I couldn't "see."
"You know," Abarai-kun said a little more firmly than before, "even if you won't tell me who I woe my life to, I'll remember your face and find you later." He sort of smiled, and from then onward, I was conscious of Abarai-kun scrutinizing my every feature. My already red cheeks blushed a deeper shade.
"I-I can't last much longer," I stammered tiredly. "I've almost exhausted my abilities here, but you're still in danger, so p-please, Abarai-sama, d-don't hurt yourself before help comes." I smiled, now probably almost as fatigued as he was.
His eyes widened the slightest bit. "Don't hurt yourself for me."
I laughed with little humor. "How will you stop me? I am not important."
"No! Little Healer..."
"Don't worry. If I live, I'll try... I'll try to see you more often. Maybe you'll recognize me. Maybe not."
"Where will you be?"
"I-In the shadows," I repeated. Then I resumed my healing and luckily my "sight" returned. I drained my energy a little more until suddenly I felt something lurch in my chest, and my "sight" disappeared. I saw Abarai-kun looking at me for a split second, and then everything went black.
Yes, I promise I will explain how she got to Soul Society, but that will have to wait. I wanted a change from Taylor's New Life, and didn't want to bludgeon you with a similar beginning. That's just not very nice. ;D I hope you really enjoy this, because I know I will. Please read and review, so I can get your opinions!
