The stray sword

She wasn't shocked at all; if she didn't recognized her, she'd probably do the same, still it was a quite fearful scenario, the blade seemed really sharp and it was only an inch away from her neck. She didn't move; she knew Rukia wouldn't kill her just because she felt like it, she was just threatening her in order to understand. Memories were all gone to hell just like Ichigo.

Tatsuki gulped as her arms dropped and her eyes made direct contact with Rukia's.

"Aren't you going to ask me how can I see you?"

"I already guessed it and checked it." Rukia replied "Now you should answer my question, how on earth do you know who I am? And furthermore, who are you?"

"My name is Tatsuki Arisawa." She answered in a low voice "Even if I tried to explain you wouldn't believe me."

"Test me."

"I'd be a waist of time."

She knew Rukia would not remember Ichigo, she wouldn't believe a word no matter how hard she tried to explain everything, and she knew because it didn't even make sense for her. Right then, there was only one thing she thought that she could do.

"Look, can't you just run ahead and forget about me?"

Rukia frowned, she wasn't expecting that kind of answer, and honestly, neither did Tatsuki; she just made what it was necessary, not only to survive, but to move forwards. She was powerless, she could just see and she couldn't act, yet if she had time she might- just might- figure it all out.

A cry was heard at the other side of the town and Rukia's blade was cast away from Tatsuki's neck as it was stored once again on its sheath.

"This isn't over."

Rukia jumped away from Tatsuki's as she fell on her knees. She didn't know how to proceed and she let go the only person on Earth who had power. She felt pissed, she hated being useless, she was used to win, her fists were never match for almost anyone. Yet this wasn't a battle of fists, but souls, and hers was still weak.

She walked back home, but soon she detoured towards Orihime's place, hopping to find any trace of her existence. Yet the result wasn't nice. Orihime's spirit was over the place, her essence, what we know as spiritual pressure, but no a single trace of her. A mug full of coffee was on a table and it hasn't been drink on a long times, it was no longer brown, but moss green. The dust filled almost every shelf, chair, carpet, and every single furniture. Windows were dusty too, and nothing could be seen from the outside. The saddest thing was to see Orihime's brother, Sora, picture on the ground with the shards of broken framework and glass around the dusty picture. It was just like she died.

Tatsuki's face was filled with tears as she tried to calm herself down, but she was worried, what were those gates? Was Orihime there too? Was Ichigo ok? All those questions were gnawing her mind on fire.

"May I help you?"

A tall man, whose skin seemed pale white like he was sick, had just entered the place. His pale green eyes just shone on Tatsuki's broken eyes as stood on guard. The man had some kind of emotionless face, yet his eyes hid some sadness and nostalgia as he stared the room. He was looking for something; his hands never left his jeans pockets, the jacket covered his whole chest, and his short black hair danced on the air as he walked around the house. He picked a picture of Orihime and he rubbed the gully framework.

"Have you seen this woman?"

"Do you know Orihime?"

"Orihime Inoue…" the name sounded familiar to him. He started feeling that he was missing something "That woman gave me a heart."
"What do you mean?"

"I don't know." He really didn't "I can't remember."

"Do you remember your name?"

"No. All I can remember is this woman. I thought… I might find my past here."

How on Earth would Orihime know a guy like that? She didn't know, but she could tell they guy was hopelessly in love with her.

"Any name I could refer you to?"

"Call me as you like, I do not have a name here."

She had to give him a name? What a pain! She never even knew how she'd like to call her own son on the future, how was she supposed to give that guy a name? But she didn't have to. Rukia just came by faster than what her eyes could see. She looked at the guy suspicious; she felt an incredible huge spiritual pressure around him, thousands times greater than Tatsuki's, which had to be high in order to be able to withstand it.

"Who is this guy?"

"Neither of us knows." Tatsuki replied "He just came out of nowhere."

"If my presence bothers you, I shall leave."

Rukia was about to reply, but she didn't know what to say, not to mention she felt relieved that such great spiritual pressure was no longer around them.

She turned aside to look at Tatsuki.

"This place makes me feel something." Rukia commented "Like… if there was something I'm missing."

"Maybe you are." Tatsuki knew it was it "Can you remember these names? Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue."

"They do sound familiar." Rukia said "Yet if I try to remember there's nothing. It's like I've heard of them, but I have no memories of it."

"That's because they were extracted out from your brain."

Both Tatsuki and Rukia turned aside. A black cat had just spoken to them.