BLEACH: REIATSU IS THICKER THAN WATER
by Vashkoda
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters.
Author's Note: This story isn't very long, and should fit into two chapters. I might even have tried finishing it all tonight, if I hadn't remembered that I should be studying instead. -.-;
Warning: Nudity is mentioned but not described. And in case you have any concerns or false hopes, there is no homosexual coupling in this fic.
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Isane lingered in the dusky streets of the North Rukongai 31st District, watching as the last of the day's shoppers collected their precious purchases and hastened home. The market square's many stalls were already in the process of being disassembled; their wares bundled and carried somewhere safe. Rumors of the kinds of activities that took place there after nightfall kept most self-respecting citizens away.
Of course, Rukongai 31 had few of those. It was just close enough to the lower-level districts to occasionally spot a noble's carriage passing in the distance, but the shacks and crumbling buildings could not mask the place as anything but a slum.
She wasn't exactly certain what made her pause on that corner and watch the last of the merchants shuffle away. There hadn't been anything worth sticking around for. The entire day had been a disappointment and she suspected the night would be as well. This place held no new mysteries for her; she had seen it all before. She knew all the names worth knowing, had explored every secret, and yet still found herself unsatisfied. She often entertained the thought of taking up a trade, but would reject the idea almost instantly. No, her quick mind and skills of observation had always been enough for her. Those who chose to spend their afterlives slaving away at a job were either stupid, masochistic or forced into it to support their families. Isane had no one to care for but herself, which suited her just fine.
It was while pondering these thoughts that she felt a tug on her sleeve, and she whirled around in surprise. So much for her powers of observation! Isane noted in relief that she faced a young woman, much shorter than herself, clutching at a dark cloak. She took a step back, however, not trusting what might be hiding beneath the fabric. Isane had seen others lured into a false sense of security by seemingly innocent-looking strangers.
"I don't suppose you know your way around here? I need to find a healer!"
Isane cocked an eyebrow at the woman as she quickly studied her. The urgency of her question might excuse some of her rudeness, but it gave Isane one more reason to be suspicious. She didn't sound local, although her question told her as much. Isane then suffered yet another shock as she caught a glimpse of a finely embroidered blouse beneath the cloak. The look of surprise was not lost on the stranger, and she grimaced and pulled the cloak more tightly around her shoulders.
"Before you get any ideas, my family would probably disown me before paying any ransom. I do have some money to repay your efforts, but I need enough left for the healer."
Isane rolled her eyes at the woman's suggestion. "Luckily for you, you've come upon the one person here who knows anything worth finding in this dump. And I'm probably the only one who won't try to rob you."
The stranger looked doubtful, which Isane tried not to take as an insult. Instead, she bowed slightly and presented herself. "My name is Isane."
There was a slight pause of hesitation or impatience, Isane could not tell which, before the other returned her bow. "I am Ko- ...I am Kiyone."
Isane realized the stranger was withholding her family name on purpose. Either they really had disowned her, or she was trying to protect them. Isane went through a quick mental list of noble families, but she was really only aware of the main five. She had never seen a noble up close, much less speak to one, and had never really thought to learn more about them.
All she knew for sure was that there must be something seriously wrong for one to be wandering around North 31, looking for a healer no less. Finally, a mystery worth solving! Isane tried to keep herself from grinning.
"All right then, Kiyone-san. Follow me."
Isane assumed the woman was in a hurry to find the healer, and tried to keep their pace at a brisk walk. She was surprised when this proved to be too fast for Kiyone, who called out to her to stop, before breaking into a fit of coughing. Isane was then struck by an uncomfortable notion, and mentally kicked herself for not realizing it sooner.
"The healer... it's for you?"
The noble nodded weakly, taking advantage of the pause to lean against the alley wall and catch her breath. "I'll be all right, the disease is still in the early stages."
Isane made a face of revulsion. "You could have warned me! I don't want to catch whatever you have." Few diseases were fatal in the afterlife, as long as they were treated. But they could certainly make you feel miserable, and medicine was expensive. It might be a trivial matter for a noble to get sick, but for Isane, it would mean giving up her freedom and getting a real job. It was something she simply wasn't ready for.
Ignoring her remark, Kiyone asked how much farther they had left to go. Isane grumbled that she was taking them there by the safest route, which meant they couldn't go there directly; it would be at least another hour. Isane almost fell over in shock when she heard foul cursing from the woman's mouth. Was this really what nobles were like? Isane had expected to hear more traditional, well-mannered speech, with constant bowing and exchanging of honorifics. But Kiyone had yet to even call her by her name, and irritated by that fact, Isane decided to stop addressing the other woman directly until she did the same.
"What about food? Is there anywhere to buy food close by?"
Isane was amazed that the noble could be thinking of eating at such a time and place. But she did know of a vendor nearby who worked late and wouldn't mind preparing a meal, if Kiyone really could pay.
It turned out that she could. Isane tried not to stare at the coins flowing into the vendor's palms as Kiyone poured out a handful from her pouch. The vendor had no trouble believing her noble birth, and made several illustrious bows and compliments to her as she ate her dumplings and stew. Isune grudgingly admired the other woman's ability to swallow the food without complaint, as she was sure she was used to better. She was surprised at Kiyone's appetite, which seemed to be endless. When she finally appeared close to sated, she waved at the vendor to take the rest away. As she rose from the table, she seemed startled to see Isane, as if she had forgotten she was there. Blushing fiercely in embarrassment, Kiyone asked if Isane would like any food herself.
"No thank you. I consider eating food wasteful when you're dead."
This statement made Kiyone blush all the more. In this awkward state, Isane finally felt a little more tolerant towards the noble, and let go of her resentment. The generous offer of food had also not gone unnoticed, even if it was only an afterthought.
As they resumed their trek towards the healer, Kiyone seemed to sense the change in Isane's mood, and thawed a little herself.
"I don't eat for pleasure, you know," she said suddenly. "It's the sickness. It drains your energy so that you're always hungry."
Isane had never heard of such a thing, but decided to believe her. Kiyone seemed to be expecting her to say something, and seemed disappointed when no response came.
"You don't say much, do you, Isane-san?"
Isane was so shocked to hear her name spoken that she lost her step and tripped backwards. Kiyone, who was following close behind her, reached out and grabbed her to stop her fall.
"I usually keep my thoughts to myself. I prefer to observe and let others do the talking." She nodded her thanks at the other woman for catching her, then they both resumed walking.
"And I suppose you think I'm an interesting subject to study?" There was an edge to her voice as she asked the question, then she laughed mirthlessly. "I'm probably not like the other nobles you know."
Isane snorted in amusement. "That might be true, but I don't know any other nobles. We don't see too many here in the 31st District..." Isane let the sentence hang, wondering if Kiyone was ready to reveal more of her story. Several possibilities had flashed through her head--maybe her medical bills had finally become too much for her family to support her. Maybe she was running away to escape an arranged marriage. Or maybe she was just bored of the pampered noble life and wanted to see how the rest of the world lived.
Kiyone didn't answer right away, seemingly lost in thought. "I guess I hadn't noticed how far I'd gone," she said cryptically, then went silent. As this could hardly count as an answer, it left Isane feeling rather irritated at her again. They continued on in silence, until Isane finally spotted the crooked mantle over the healer's door.
"That's it over there," she said, nodding at the single story building. Like its neighbors, the walls were crumbling away, leaving holes in places--the largest where a section of roof had fallen in. Kiyone threw it a dubious glance, but had the courtesy not to voice her thoughts aloud.
Isane decided to follow her inside, more out of curiosity than any concern for the woman's safety. The healer had a reputation for being secretive and eccentric, but also dangerous. Isane reflected on the stories she'd heard about him, wondering about some of the outrageous things he supposedly asked of his clients in return for his services. For all her boasting about knowing North 31 like the back of her hand, the Shaman was one mystery Isane had intentionally left unsolved. Some information simply wasn't worth the price.
Her first glimpse of the Shaman surprised her. The man sat cross-legged on the dirt floor of his hovel, illuminated by the glow of several large candles. A dirty brown cloak hung from his shoulders, which appeared to have been patched together from the fur of some animal. His skin was covered in markings that were dizzying if she tried looking at them for too long. She turned her gaze instead to his face, which was mostly hidden behind long strands of jet black hair. Into the hair he had woven multiple small objects--shells, beads, feathers, and fragments of bone. In others, Isane trusted this appearance would be almost comical. In the Shaman's case, it was a clear warning of danger and unpredictability.
"You are the healer, I assume?" asked Kiyone shakily. She looked uncertainly at Isane, who could do nothing but shrug. The woman had asked her for a healer, and Isane had brought her to the only one she knew would be available after dusk. Some people might have preferred to risk dying during the night if it meant they could wait to be treated by someone else, but the noble had made her case seem urgent.
The head lifted as his gaze met hers. "I am the Shaman." His voice was surprisingly smooth and warm. "I perform healing, as well as other things."
Kiyone took comfort in this and approached him with a bow, presenting her bag of coins. "Please sir, I have need of your services."
Isane was surprised at the other woman's sudden respectful manners and tone. It seemed she could be polite when she wanted to be.
The Shaman shook his head at her offer. "I have no use for money."
This statement seemed to shock the noble for a moment, but she quickly recovered and made a show of looking at their surroundings. "Surely there's something you need. At the very least, you could pay for a servant-"
Isane inwardly gasped at the implied insult. That woman was far too outspoken for her own good; she was going to get them both killed! Isane began to edge towards the exit.
"Servants. Yes, that's an idea." The Shaman sounded pleased, and Isane paused, thinking the danger just might be over.
"You and your friend will become my servants."
The two women froze in shock. Isane was the first to speak, her mind racing as she tried to think of a way to escape this mess. "Shaman-san, I am not with her. I only came to show her the way."
"But you are responsible for her."
Isane's throat felt horribly dry as she scrambled to put together some excuse. "Shaman-san, I do not really know her and I-"
"You brought her here, so you are responsible for disturbing my meditation. Now you will take your money and buy food for yourselves, then return here straight away."
"Hai, Shaman-san," said Kiyone, bowing deeply. She grabbed Isane's elbow and pulled her towards the door. As her mind raced, Isane found her feet guiding them automatically back towards the vendor. Eventually, the noble's voice broke through her thoughts.
"Are you planning to escape?"
Isane wondered if she was asking out of guilt, or out of fear that the Shaman might refuse her request if Isane did not agree to help. Isane reluctantly shook her head. It was foolish to think she could ever hide from such a man. She had heard enough stories to know what came of trying. What really stung was that she had known to stay away from him, and yet she still let her curiosity get the better of her. Whatever came next, she knew she deserved it.
"He shouldn't have involved you," said Kiyone, sounding angry. "The deal was between me and him. I don't care what he thinks, you're not responsible for me."
"Let's not worry about all that now," sighed Isane, wanting to let the matter drop. She raised her arm tiredly and pointed at the food vendor's home.
"Let's hope he remembers your purse. I don't think he'll be happy to be woken up."
Kiyone's anger had largely dissipated by the time the oddly dressed man had led them into the forest clearing. The moon was bright; in fact it was brighter outside than it had been in the Shaman's home. She wondered why he had felt it necessary to bring them all the way here. She glanced at the person beside her, the one who called herself Isane. The tall lavender-haired woman still clutched at the bag of food they had purchased, instructed to bring it along with them. The look of unhappiness on her face was expected, but Kiyone also detected traces of fear. Surely the older woman wouldn't have led Kiyone to this man if there was anything to be concerned of? True, bringing two young women to an isolated part of the woods might be considered suspicious, but he couldn't be planning to... no, surely not!
"Sit down here and eat something. I'll be right back." The Shaman took off his fur cloak and spread it on the ground, perhaps offering it as a place to have their meal. Kiyone glanced at it uncertainly, wondering if it might be cleaner to eat on the ground. Apparently Isane thought the same thing, as she made no move to come near it.
"Thank you, but I don't need to eat," Isane said simply, passing the bag of food to her.
"Both of you will eat," growled the Shaman, startling them. "I don't need either of you passing out when I release my reiatsu." That said, he disappeared through the trees.
Isane watched him go, then shrugged and reached for a piece of fruit. Kiyone was secretly amused as she watched the other experiment at taking bites and swallowing.
"It's easier to make the food go down if you chew it up a little first," commented Kiyone absently, trying not to look directly at Isane as she said so. She took a bite of cheese and demonstrated. Isane frowned, but followed her example and now seemed to be enjoying the experience much more.
It wasn't long before the Shaman returned, and the air once again became tense. They both put down what they had been eating and watched him expectantly.
He now carried a clay bowl filled with thick black liquid. Putting it down in front of him, he called Isane over. "You there, how steady is your hand?" The woman appeared confused by the question. "Never mind, just sit here and do as I do."
Kiyone noted that without the cloak, the wild markings tattooed around the Shaman's arms were clearly visible. He dipped his fingertips in the black fluid and retraced the thick jagged lines running down to his palms, motioning for Isane to copy him. She started distrustfully at the clay bowl for a moment, then gingerly wet her fingers and followed his motions. When he appeared satisfied, he scooped up another handful of the liquid and proceeded to draw a large circle around them. Then he motioned for Kiyone to step inside.
"Now kneel and take off your shirt."
Both women rose to their feet in outrage, momentarily forgetting their fear of the man. Kiyone had instantly lost all respect for him, and began to reconsider her earlier suspicions.
"...Unless you enjoy getting ink all over your fine clothing? Really, it makes no difference to me. I will acquiesce to your feminine sensitivities, however, and allow your friend to mark you instead of me."
Kiyone glanced askance at Isane, who merely shrugged, indicating she would go along with whatever the noble decided. Kiyone released a long breath of frustration. "Are you sure this is necessary?" she asked.
"Your infection is in the lungs; it is clear to any who know the signs. Therefore, to reach it I need your back and chest marked to guide the healing energy where it needs to go."
"All right," she muttered, unbuttoning her blouse. Isane came up beside her, and had the courtesy to avert her gaze whenever possible. She seemed as uncomfortable as Kiyone felt. The Shaman stayed at her back, instructing Isane where to draw the lines or motioning at the symbols on his own chest. At last, he placed Isane's hands over the kneeling woman's shoulders, and stepped to the edge of the circle. Everywhere the black ink had touched, a green light began to glow. Kiyone shivered, feeling both cold and strangely drained.
The Shaman began to chant, though his words made no sense to her. Fire on the Eastern river? Ribbons in the twilight sky? There was a rapid succession of numbers as well. Kiyone closed her eyes and stopped trying to listen, instead focusing on keeping her body from shaking.
Not long after, she realized the man had stopped chanting. Opening her eyes, she was surprised to see the glow of dawn on the horizon, and noticed that the green light too had died.
Kiyone touched the black markings on her skin, realizing the ink had dried and that it would now be safe to put back on her shirt. She did so quickly, wondering all the while where Isane and the Shaman had gone. His cloak was lying where he had left it, and realizing that she was still cold, Kiyone gave up her misgivings and wrapped it around her.
She was going to need a bath anyway, she reasoned. She took a whiff of the cloak and was surprised to find it was actually clean.
Happily, she opened the bag of food and decided the others wouldn't mind if she already got started on breakfast.
"So how long do you plan on keeping us as your servants?" Isane asked. That question had been bothering her all night, but it was only now, after the exhaustion of the ritual, that she chose to let go of her self-restraint and bring the matter out in the open.
The Shaman took his time answering as he knelt beside the riverbed and rinsed out the clay bowl. Isane had been surprised to find that the ink inside had turned to ash, but after seeing it light up like emerald fire, she supposed it was not entirely unexpected. She was grateful that the markings on her arms had washed away easily.
"I think that young woman was grateful to have you present during her healing."
Isane looked at him hopefully. "Well then, now that it's over, can we leave?"
The man chuckled, and Isane's hopes sunk. "It will take more than one healing to rid her of that sickness." He took notice of the crushed look on her face. "Come now, is working for me so bad? I think it's a fair trade. You get to learn something new, and I get the pleasure of your company."
Isane wondered if the solution to that was to make her company less pleasurable. But then she decided that it would not be wise to provoke him, either. Those rumors about him kept coming to mind.
"Maybe we ought to get back to the clearing? I'm not sure it's safe to leave Kiyone-san alone there."
The Shaman laughed lightly again as he teased her. "I see. You'll take any excuse you can find not to be alone with me?"
Isane was becoming more and more uncomfortable with this man. He seemed to take the hint, and gathered the rest of his things.
"Don't worry, I left a trace there. The animals of the forest will not come near it."
Isane was grateful when he said no more to her on the walk back. Kiyone had apparently awakened and already finished the rest of the food. She looked at the Shaman guiltily, and explained that she couldn't help herself.
"That's all right, we'll go back to town now and get more," he smiled. "Then we'll return tonight for the next part of your healing."
Kiyone's gaze fell. "I thought we were already finished? I feel a lot better, Shaman-san," she insisted.
"Yes, it will take many more tries...maybe a full month," he said, looking at Isane. The latter sighed.
It seemed she had no real choice in the matter.
They returned that night to the forest. Kiyone had seemed stronger, and Isane began to entertain some hope that maybe the Shaman was wrong, and that Kiyone would recover sooner than expected.
"Shaman-san, why do we keep coming to the woods? Wouldn't it be better to do this inside, where it's warmer?" the noble asked, shivering.
The healer shook his head, causing the bones and beads twisted in his hair to clatter wildly. "I cannot draw enough reiatsu to heal you if we were in the city. Not without attracting unwanted attention."
Isane wondered whose notice he was trying to avoid, and whether she might be able to use it to her advantage. Although if the Shaman really was dangerous enough to be wanted by the special forces of the Sereitei, she didn't think it would be wise to risk getting on his bad side.
Again they were instructed to eat, while the healer disappeared into the woods to prepare the black liquid. Kiyone asked if she could be shown how to mark herself this time. Isane helped guide her, then took over her back where she couldn't reach. It went much more smoothly this time, and as the Shaman chanted, Isane thought she could actually feel his reiatsu coursing through her hands. Isane was blinded by the glow, and wondered how they were able to control this much energy without burning up. And how could one simple disease require this much healing?
They repeated the routine for several more days, each time becoming more proficient, until Isane believed she could speak the incantations herself if the Shaman had asked her to. He seemed content to guide the rituals himself, however.
After so much exposure, the two women realized that they could now identify the flow of reiatsu by sight as well as touch. It was Kiyone herself who made the discovery one night that the energy for the healing was not coming from the Shaman, but from the two of them.
"I have little power of my own," he admitted when they brought this matter up to him. "But I can help guide those who do. The power I have is borrowed from the life force of the creatures around me. It is an ancient form of kidou, which was practiced by humans known as the Quincy. That is why I prefer coming to the woods, where the natural energy is strong."
His voice suddenly took on a more menacing tone. "The Quincy have always been hated and hunted by Shinigami. Those fools do not realize that when we die, our souls come here just as theirs do. But with the memories of our past lives clouded, few of us remember." He shook his head sadly, and looked straight at Kiyone. "You, for example."
Kiyone's eyes widened. "Me?" she squeaked.
"Yes, I could tell the moment I saw you. The Quincy always have a certain look in their eyes, for we do not see the world as others do. Our vision is sharper, but like birds, we are fascinated by colors and fanciful things. The Quincy were once famous for their decorative uniforms, and were amongst the most famous tailors. But if they chose, they could turn their needles to the purpose of stitching flesh, and were greatly respected as healers." The Shaman motioned at his shaggy cloak, and with a smile, remarked that his gift had certainly not been in sewing.
It was beginning to dawn on Isane why she herself had begun to see the world differently. She had been entranced by the beads and feathers in the Shaman's hair on more than one occasion, and found herself envious of Kiyone's fine clothes, which she normally wouldn't have spared a second thought over. Was this a side effect of merging her reiatsu so often with Kiyone's during the rituals?
And if being obsessed with appearances was one of the signs of being a Quincy, Isane wondered just how many there might be in the noble houses. Wouldn't that be a scandal, if the Sereitei's most respected families turned out to be the Shinigami's most hated enemy!
"Yes, you too can now grasp what I mean, Isane-chan. Your souls have merged often enough that your reiatsu's are almost identical. It is almost like you are sisters."
Neither Kiyone nor Isane seemed to know what to make of that. Isane was more disturbed by the Shaman's sudden use of her name.
With these revelations, Isane realized they had reached a kind of crossroads. The Shaman had willingly exposed a few of his secrets, at the same time reminding them that they all shared some common ground. He was now waiting to see what she and Kiyone would do; whether they might commit to staying beyond the completion of the healing, or escape from him and reveal his whereabouts to the Sereitei.
Isane knew what Kiyone would decide. The real question--and they all knew it--was where Isane's own loyalties lay.