Quotes taken and some edited from episode 239 The Awakening Hyorinmaru. An original fic I wrote 10 years ago rewritten to fit around Bleach. I have no ownership of Bleach or its characters. That privilege belongs to Tite Kubo. All Hail.
Thanks to my pack mates for your support in recent months. I love you guys. Check them out of you haven't already as they are much more talented than I. TheDrunkenWerewolf, Timewaster123456789, SpunkyOne, GanymedeLullaby, Tropicallight, SalazarMarvolo, SesshomaruFreak, Henka-Chan and TwistedVirtue. Also collab stories TheFoxPack
Anyway onto the story. Hope you enjoy. Don't forget to review. Constructive criticism really helps as well as praise if there is any.
Chapter 1 - I Don't Belong
Toshiro writes his final word on the page before dropping the pen. His aching wrist has been battered and bruised along with the rest of his being. He couldn't stand the pain any more. Each and every day he accumulated more and more injury to his beaten body. No one in Rukongai was pleasant. Much less with him. He was constantly bullied, not only by other kids, but also adults. If they didn't bully him then ran in the opposite direction. They hated him because they were afraid of him.
'Why are they afraid of me? I haven't done anything to any of them. Yet it seems to be that everyone's afraid of me. Is it my silver hair? Or maybe it's the colour of my eyes that frightens them. Could it be because I'm distant towards people I don't know?'
He thought about leaving. Even thought about killing himself by purposely getting devoured by a Hollow. But Momo was graduating from the Shinigami academy in a few weeks and Grandma was sick. Someone still needed to look after her. 'Grandma's gotten very thin. Maybe it's a coincidence, but she seemed to get thin when I started having those dreams.'
Toshiro was worn out. His latest scavenge for a loaf of bread really didn't end well. The neighboring kids attacked him from behind and stole it from him.
He collapses on the wooden floor of the hut in which he slept. The white haired boy let out one last sigh as he slowly loses consciousness.
He later awakens after the same scarily vivid dream he had been having the past few weeks. The note still under his thin pillow. Hopefully Grandma didn't see it. He looks over to her. She was asleep but breathing heavily. Her health was deteriorating.
After hiding the letter under the floorboard where his head lay, he set out early to get some snacks - hopefully avoiding the bullies. Grandma had given him some soul money the day before, after the bread incident.
Toshiro got to the shop a little way up the track without any hassle. There was no one about. Or maybe they were hiding. He got the treats and handed the money to the owner. Holding his hand out for the change, He was taken aback when the cashier put the money on the counter instead and turned away.
" Unless there's anything else you want then leave."
"HEY YOU!" A female voice made Toshiro jump. As he turned in the direction of the sound, he found himself face to face (or rather face to boobs) with a woman's bouncing bosom. As he crashed to the floor, the woman was scolding the shop keeper. "Is that any way to treat a paying customer? You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
"I...I didn't mean to be rude" he replies, stumbling on his words.
The blond haired woman then turns to Toshiro who's still on the floor covering his face. She grabs him by the collar and lifts him to eye level. "If you wanna become a man then stop crying and stand up for yourself."
"I'm not crying and put me down."
As soon as he's placed on his feet again, he runs off back to the hut. The blond looks on. Curious. 'So he's the one.'
That night, he had the same dream again. The feeling of being crushed and the lightening striking his hand. An Ice Dragon appears in front of him. It seems to be talking to him, but he can't hear what it's saying. Though the Dragon has a booming voice, the white noise in the background is making it unclear.
"My name is..." The rest is blocked out.
"I can't hear you." Toshiro replies rather disturbed. He awakens suddenly. A cold sweat on his brow. The first thing he sees is the woman from before standing over him.
" Hey" she whispers. "You should conceal your spirit energy while you're sleeping. You've got your grandmother shivering."
Toshiro jerks his head to look at his freezing grandmother. Shocked and concerned, he forgets he's in company. He jumps when she starts talking again.
"You should become a soul reaper. If you can't control you spirit energy then the power you possess will kill your grandma."
"What do you mean?"
The woman soul reaper points to Toshiros' heart. "You can hear a voice can't you? It's calling out to you"
Toshiros eyes widen in horror. It may be his ticket out of Rukongai but does he really want to become a soul reaper? He always good himself that he wouldn't. But if his spirit power was slowly killing his grandma, the woman who had taken care of him all these years, then he'd have no choice but to go. Trying to be polite he asks "What's your name?"
"I'm Rangiku Matsumoto. Squad 10 Lieutenant." A beaming smile on her face shows that she's proud of her rank.
"Well, Lieutenant, can I think about it?"
"But of course. I understand it's a lot to take in. Take as long as you need." She gives on last reassuring smile before leaving. Probably as quick as she arrived.
Toshiro was still thinking about his visitor and his choice when his grandma woke up.
"Good morning grandma. How are you feeling today?" His smile couldn't hide his concerned tone.
"Ah good morning Toshiro. I'm doing well this morning. How about you? Any nightmares last night?"
"I... um... Yes" his mind was on other things.
"She came to see you last night didn't she. The soul reaper." Toshiro shot his head up in shock before turning away again.
"You knew, didn't you? That my energy was strong. Too strong for you to handle." His voice pained.
Grandma smiled in attempt to reassure the young boy. "Don't worry about me Toshiro. In order to learn to control your power you should go to the academy. We will both feel better for it."
"But I can't leave you."
"Toshiro. My child. I will be fine. I promise. I'm not going to stand in your way and you can always come and visit. You know the door is always open to you and Momo."
Toshiro nods as a tear rolls down his cheek. Grandma places her hand on his head before giving him a hug.
