"Talking."
'Thinking.'
"'Byakuya to Senbonzakura or vise virsa.'"
On a raft floating in the middle of a vast ocean without a set destination layed a young teen about fifteen years of age, or at least that's how old he looked since he was much older. He has slate gray eyes and long black hair held in place with by a light red ribbon. Most of his hair was parted to the left and halfway covered his left eye. Straped to his waist was his new Zanpackuto. 'I can't believe that Head Captain Yamamoto has tasked me my first mission himself! Whatever it is, I'll complete it no matter what it takes.' He thought to himself as he sat up and saw a small island in veiw. As the boat reached the island's dock he stepped off and tied a rope around it. He kept his left hand over the hilt as he scanned the small patch of sand while checking for any high-level Spiritual Pressure.
"None at all, guess I'm the only one here." He said as he explored the island. The stairs were casting a peaceful glow over the water and gave it a reflective look. As he Flash-Stepped to the center island overlooking the water he got into a cross legged pose and closed his eyes.
A few hours later he was awoke by something poking the side of his head. He turned around as fast as he could while unsheathing his Zanpackuto. What he saw was not at all what he was expecting: Two kids, one with brown hair and one with red, and a teenager with silver hair were standing about ten feet from him. He put his sword away as the boy with brown hair spoke first.
"Um, hi. Are you new here?"
"New here?" The Soul Reaper repeated.
"Yeah. Everyone who lives here comes from their own homeland but can't remember where they came from." He explained before ealking up to the teenager and holding out his hand. "I'm Sora. These are my friends: Riku and Kairi. What's your name?"
"I'm Byakuya Kuchiki." He says as they shook hands.
"What were you doing here alone Byakuya?" Kairi asked.
"Sleeping. I showed up here last night and thought that I was alone so I went to sleep." He told them while rubbing the back of his head with his right hand.
"Where'd you get that sword?" Riku asked.
"It was given to me as a gift by my master. I just graduated from my school as the top student. Every student gets one when they graduate but in order to get one you must be willing to learn the ways of fighting."
"You fight too?" Sora asked.
"Too?"
"Yeah. Riku is the best fighter on the island; none of us can beat him in a match." Sora told the Soul Reaper as he said to Riku: "Best fighter huh, wanna try your luck with a trained swordsmen?" Byakuya asked.
"Think you can beat me too?"
"I know I can."
After Riku grabed his wooden training sword from it's spot agenst the strange shaped tree Byakuya unsheathed his own blade and the two got into a fighting stance. "I can end this in less then a minute." The Soul Reaper gloated as Riku rushed him. "Haudo number 1: Sho!" He shouted as Riku was pushed back towards the edge of the tiny island as Sora and Kairi were in awe at what they just saw while Riku regained his balence just before he could fall into the water. "Still want to try and fight me?"
"Yes!" Riku said, determened to land a blow on his target. He charged again but this time something else happened. "Bakudou number 1: Sai!" They heard as Riku's arms were tied in place behind his back.
"How did... How'd you do that?" He asked, still trying to get his arm free.
"It's what I was taught. It's a basic binding spell; it won't take you more then a few hours to break free if you keep trying now but only a few seconds if I relesase the energy."
"How do you release the energy?"
"All I have to do do is say "Release" and it should let you go. Release." He muttered as the bindings dissapered. "I am sorry for doing that but I wanted to test you.
I think you could a powerful swordsmen when your older."
"Your talking like your older then you really are." Riku told the Soul Reaper as he walked up to him.
'If only he knew.' The teen thought.
"I was forced to grow up when I was five. I never got a chance to relax or do what I wanted much. I spent almost all of my time training."
"Sounds rough." Riku said.
"It was. Now, I spend my time traveling and keeping my skills sharp just in case."
"Just in case of what?" Kairi asked, having walked over with Sora.
"In case I get attacked and need to defend myself. Where I come from anything can happen at any time." He told them while putting his sword away.
Before anyone could say anything else, a thunder storm happened to roll by.
BOOM! Came a bolt of lighting that almost hit the gorup.
"We should get inside."
"Maybe we can hang out another day?" Riku said right before they split up and each walked to their own home; Sora and Byakuya bwalked to Sora's home. "Hey Bayakuya?"
He said, getting his new friends attention.
"Yes Sora?"
"Since you don't have a place to stay do you want do spend the night at my house with me and my mom? Nobody should have to sleep outside in the rain."
"I'd like that; thank you Sora."
"Of course. It's what friends do for each other." He said as Bayakuya smiled. 'Friends. It feel's nice to have some. Better then the werecat.' He thought as a certin talking black cat watched from the shadows.
'This should be fun.' 'He' thought as 'he' followed them.
Before they reached Sora's front door he held his arm out, stopping Bayakuya in his tracks. "What's wrong?"
"Your sword. My mom will freak out if she see's it."
"I could hide it until morning; but where would be the best spot?" He asked as he looked around and saw a broken part of an old piller near the waterfall. "There should be a good hiding spot unless something changes. I'd prefer to keep my sword close put it can't be helped I guess."
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he looks to his left and see's Sora smileing. "Don't worry about a thing Byakuya, I promise that everything will be fine." He gets a smile in return as they headed to Sora's house "Mom, I'm back!" The child said as he and Bayakuya entered the house. His mother was cleaning the table when she turned around and smiled at seeing her son out of the rain.
"Hi Sora, have fun with your friends?"
"Yep. I even made a new friend."
"Hello. I'm Byakuya." He said with a bow.
"It's nice to meet you Byakuya. Welcome to our home. We would be happy to have you join us for dinner."
"Thank you." He said.
Later that night.
"So where do you come from Byakuya? I mean, if you can remember that is." Sora asked as they both sat in Sora's room.
He smiled and said: "Not at all. Where I come from is a place called Japan. It's on the other side of the world and is a small country."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Placeing his hand on his chin and looking at the ceiling, he quickly jumps in place. "Hey Byakuya."
"Hmmm?"
"Do... you think... that there are other worlds?"
"Other worlds?"
"Yeah! Riku, Kairi and I are building a raft to explore the others wrolds that might be out there. You should join us."
"Join? Are you sure that you'd want somebody like me to travel with?"
"Somebody like you?"
"Nothing, forget it." Before he can say anything else the same black cat from outside jumps in through the open window.
"Hey, a kitten. Hi there." He says as the kitten hopes onto Sora's left sholder.
"Yoruichi."
"Yoruichi?" Sora repeated.
"I know this kitten. She's dangerous."
"How can she be dangerous? She's cute." He said while sratching her behind her ears.
"Beleive me; every chance she gets she trys to get in my head."
"Now that's not true Byakuya, I'm as gentle as I can be when it comes to my friends well being."
"Gah!" He shouted as she jumps onto Byakuya's sholder.
"What's wrong kid; never hear a cat talk before?"
"Don't scare him too much werecat."
"What's going on here?"
"Sora, this is Yoruichi. She's... one of a kind."
"How can she talk? And why does she have a man's voice?"
"Don't know. Can't explain that second one. Or the first one either." She said.
"Sora! It's time for bed. You can play your games in the morning." His mother called from her room down the hall.
"I'll be close by. Night you two." She says as she jumps out of the window.
"Well then I guess we'll hear more about her tomorrow. Night Byakuya." Sora says as he heads off to bed.
'This kid, nothing seems to phase him for long. Guess I'll learn more about him and his friends while I'm here.' He thought as he fell asleep. 'As well as what these Heartless things could be.'