A loud yell is heard, and I wince as the sound of some hitting a table resonates in the next room over. Those sounds have been heard for a while, and I don't know why I have to sit outside during this conference. I'm not allowed inside. As I'm playing with the two yin and yang pieces on the hilt of my Zanpaku-to, a door is heard opening, and a small, white haired boy stands before me, looking a little flustered.
"Captain Hitsugaya, sir."
I bow to the boy, and the white piece of my bangs hangs loosely in front of my left eye. Straightening back up, I fix my hair and look at my captain. He looks me in the eyes, and a flicker of something fires up in his eyes. I can't tell what it is though.
"Kumori. Please head back to your barracks. And…"
The captain pauses, looking almost disappointed. I cock my head to one side and wait tentatively for him to finish his sentence.
"Yes sir?"
"Gather all your possessions. Meet me back at the Senkaimon nearest there when you're done."
And that was that. With a Flash Step, he's gone. I stare at the space of where my captain stood, and I shook my head. Gather my possessions and go to the Senkaimon? Following orders, I go straight to the barracks and gather my things. I don't have too much; a small knapsack's enough for me. As I walk outside, I run into the lieutenant.
"Oh! I'm sorry Lieutenant Matsumoto!"
I bow quickly to the orange-haired lieutenant. She smiles.
"It's okay, Kumo. What's the rush?"
I tell her about the meeting I sat outside for, and about the captain's orders for me. She freezes up only for a moment, but enough for me to notice.
"Oh no…"
The lieutenant shakes her head sadly, and she walks up and gives me a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry Kumori…"
And that was that. She looks at me with melancholy eyes, and walks away. Now I seriously was confused. What in the world was going on? I scratch my head in confusion, and Flash Step off towards the nearest Senkaimon. Sure enough, Captain Hitsugaya stands there. I'm expecting more orders, maybe a month long mission in the World of the Living or something. But as I look around, I see Head Captain Yamamoto standing beside the captain.
"H-Head Captain!" I splutter. "What are you doing here?"
Captain Hitsugaya only shakes his head for me to be quiet. I immediately shut my mouth and look at the captain. He has the same melancholy look Lieutenant Matsumoto had earlier.
"Kumori Sukai." Head Captain Yamamoto says loudly.
I look at him as he says my name. Something doesn't smell right. I try closing my eyes, but a vivid picture of a white mask flashes under my eyelids; the same picture that has been haunting me for a while now. I reopen my eyes and looks at the Head Captain again.
"Yes sir." I say.
"With enough evidence, we hereby announce you to be banished to the World of the Living."
Silence. I still look at the Head Captain, not having yet processed the information. I feel almost paralyzed. None of my limbs will work, and I just stand there like a statue. In my daze, I don't feel the three spiritual pressures that have approached the area.
The Senkaimon opens, and both the Head Captain and my captain wait for me. I finally get the muscles in my mouth to obey me.
"B-banished? But why?" I stammer, growing panicked.
"From the evidence collected, we have classified you as a dangerous Soul Reaper with awakened Hollow powers. Being as dangerous as you, we have no choice but to banish you to the World of the Living," the Head Captain says calmly. "Now please, go through the Senkaimon."
The Head Captain notions to the Senkaimon, and Captain Hitsugaya nods dolefully. I shake my head and blink away tears. No. This isn't right. I haven't hurt anyone. I shouldn't be banished for unusual strengths. But here I was, standing like a poor person with a small bag of possessions, and having said goodbye to no one.
"Go on, Kumori. Please." Captain Hitsugaya urges me.
"Y-yes sir." I manage to mumble, and I take shaky steps through the Senkaimon. I take a last look at the Soul Society, the place I called home. Before it closed, I shouted.
"Someone send word to the twins, Kamoku, and Iyoumaru!"
I see Captain Hitsugaya nod his head sadly, and that was the last thing I see of the Soul Society. I walk through the Senkaimon, a Hell Butterfly leading the way, fluttering softly on an invisible breeze. Finally, the end is up ahead. I walk into a light, and it grows bright. Something inside me tells me harshly,
"This is home now."
I blink rapidly, and take in my unfamiliar surroundings. I look up and the Hell Butterfly disappears back through its Senkaimon. I blink some more, but not from the brightness, for it was nighttime here in this town of the World of the Living. I try holding back more tears, but that idea fails. They come anyway. I walk around the small town, my vision blurred. Small shops and stores blurr by, houses as well. I wander past a school bearing the name "Karakura High School."
"So this town's name is Karakura?" I ask myself.
I roam around some more, wandering by a hospital clinic, and as I reach an abandoned warehouse, I stop. Closing my eyes and trying my hardest to ignore the pulsating picture of the white mask beneath my eyelids, I concentrate on the amount of spiritual pressure in the area. And it was amazingly high.
"Holy…"
An odd noise claws its way through my thoughts, and I immediately spin around. I instantly get woozy from the raw spiritual pressure being released from someone or something nearby. The odd noise still resonates throughout the area, like the sound of a high pitched whistle. A huge black tear appears in the sky, and I see a figure creep out of it. My head nearly explodes from the spiritual pressure it brings along with it, and I suddenly recognize the figure.
An Arrancar. And one that's almost developed at that.
~Okay everyone! Ling here. What'dya think for a first fanfiction? I seriously think I need some improvement... but that's just me. ^^; This is a sorta prelude to further Bleach fanfiction goodness later on. Ahaha. Well, I might write some more soon. C: And reviews are more than welcome! ^^