Bleach
A.N: Hey guys! Sorry for not updating for so long but school's been a mess and…well… I suppose it doesn't matter anymore. Now this chapter, as well as some future ones, is a huge crossover with Yu Yu Hakusho and I hope I haven't made it too difficult to catch on for people who haven't watched it.
Thank you all for the great reviews and I would like to dedicate this chapter to KDATakihiski whose review was the most enthusiastic one I've gotten so far on any of my fictions.
Oh and Bleach and Yu Yu Hakusho are not mine, BUT Ichizure and Hashii ARE so, hands off.
The human mind is a complicated dimension. Just like any other dimension it had a place in space and time, it had a door, and a key to unlock that door. But, unlike any other dimension it had thoughts and feelings.
It is said that in the deepest pits of human mind some would find a source of uncontrollable madness, others… would find a source of endless wisdom. In the deepest pits of mind, thoughts come to life. And those who have reached that place know how to control that and use it.
But those theories are missing the essential. In the deepest pits of mind every human… is a monster…
"Wow!" Hashii jumped up "That's bad!"
"What is?" Tatsuki asked carelessly
"Just now, I felt a HUGE reiatsu…" she made a motion with her hands to indicate the hugeness of what she felt "… And if… wait here it is again. It's definitely arrancar."
"An Espada?" Rukia asked
She nodded "Yes, very much possible. I think… I know who it is."
"But how… isn't it like… impossible to recognize them?"
"It is." the answer came not from Hashii but from Ichizure. "Hashii is… a demon."
"Um…"
"Ichizure – san, I don't think Rukia – san knows much about demons' spiritual capabilities."
"Oh…" was the simple answer
Sometimes she reminds me of nii-sama. Rukia thought affectionately and sighed.
"Allow me to explain then." Ichizure said and, after Rukia gave her an affirmative nod, continued. "Demons, as the supposedly stronger race, have higher perception than humans."
"But I'm not a…"
Interruption.
"You have been once. Even though you are a shinigami now it still doesn't change the fact that you originate from human beings. Perception is something you have even after your death. And demons simply have that in greater amounts than humans."
"Ichizure – san, that's funny. How can someone have amounts of perception?" Tatsuki was chuckling.
"Figuratively speaking, of course." Was the answer. "Was I clear enough?"
At first, after hearing the question, Rukia thought that she was being looked down on, like she was an insolent child. But then she looked up at Ichizure's face and saw nothing but innocent curiosity. Sensing her confusion Hashii stepped closer to her and whispered.
"Don't worry, that's just the way she talks."
Rukia looked up again and saw Ichizure staring at her. Oh, she wants me to answer her question.
"Yes, um… thank you. I understand now." She was rewarded with a nod and small smile.
Somehow those made her feel like she felt in the rare cases when her brother paid her attention.
"Booooooss?"
"Yes?" Tatsuki said
"Something's not right."
"What?"
"He's gone."
"So what? Maybe he's calmed down."
"No, you don't understand." Hashii was frantic. "He's completely gone. Like, not in this dimension, gone."
Dimension? What is she talking about? Who could send an Espada to another dimension?
Tatsuki's and Hashii's eyes turned to Ichizure simultaneously. She nodded and made a hand sign, she muttered something and seconds later she locked eyes with Tatsuki.
"If my calculations are correct…"
"Which they always are…" muttered Tatsuki
"The espada has been sent to the Fifth dimension."
"Fifth?" Tatsuki said curiously.
Fifth dimension? It sounds familiar.
"But that doesn't make any sense." Tatsuki said again.
Fifth dimension, come on, you were supposed to know about Soul Collectors too. I'm sure we must have learned about it at the academy. Wait… I remember.
"Hey, Rukia-san, what's wrong? You look kind of pale." Tatsuki was waving a hand in front her face.
"Do you happen to know, what there is in the Fifth dimension?" was Rukia's weak answer.
"Sure I do." Tatsuki answered carelessly.
"And you?" Rukia looked at Hashii and Ichizure.
They both nodded.
"How is this possible?" she whispered "How can this be?"
"Oi, Rukia-san! You okay? Do you want to rest?"
"How can you know what the Fifth dimension holds?" she screamed this time.
Hashii jumped back and Ichizure rose her silver eyebrows while Tatsuki just looked worried.
"You mean… You don't know?"
"Of course I don't. We never talked about it at the academy. The teachers were dead bent on not teaching us anything about that dimension. And every time we tried to ask about it, they just ignored us. After time we figured it out…" it seemed to Tatsuki that Rukia was talking to herself now and that she probably didn't even remember that they were there. "… What was there, in the fifth dimension."
Tatsuki looked questioningly at Ichizure, who just shrugged. Meanwhile Rukia was continuing with her little monologue.
"Destruction, that's what. Something so dangerous, so frightening, that the older shinigami didn't want us knowing about it. WHO COULD SEND AN ESPADA TO A DIMENSION LIKE THAT?" she was in hysterics when Tatsuki finally decided to put an end to it and grabbed her by the hands forcefully.
"Rukia-san!"
No reaction.
"Damn it, Rukia-san, look at me." She shouted.
When Rukia raised her eyes Tatsuki took a breath and said.
"There's nothing there."
"What?" she said as if she didn't hear.
"There's nothing in the fifth dimension. It's empty."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing." Confirmed Tatsuki. "Are you alright now? Have you calmed down?"
Rukia nodded.
"Good. Phew, you gave us a scare for a moment there."
"But...
why does it even exist?"
" We don't know."
"That's why it's strange that someone was sent there." Tatsuki said. "Whoever it is, he'd bust out of that sissy dimension in just a couple of hours."
"Unless…" Ichizure said.
"Unless?"
"Maybe we are drawing the wrong conclusion out of all of this."
And that's when she saw it. It was so obvious to Tatsuki now, after Ichizure had brought it up.
"A weaker espada."
"Huh?" Hashii said.
"Don't you see it? Espada love to fight. They can't tolerate their prey being taken away from them, but when a stronger espada appears, they can't just tell him to bugger off, so…"
"They send him to a dimension which can hold him long enough for them to finish their fight." Rukia finished.
"Exactly!" Tatsuki was smiling broadly, happy with her deduction skills.
Ichizure sighed.
"I don't know why this is any concern of ours."
"It's not…" Tatsuki shook her head "… except… Whoever's fighting, they are standing in our way. And let's face it, they must be strong and we don't want any complications."
"So, what are we going to do?"
Hashii and Ichizure looked at Tatsuki with anticipation.
"Oh no, don't look at me."
"You are the leader of this mission, are you not?" said Ichizure stoically.
"Yeah, but… you're more experienced so…there."
And that moment looking at her companions' faces Rukia realized that Tatsuki didn't want to be there any more than any of them. And that despite her insecurities and (probably) fear she was there, obviously acting as the leader of the mission they were given and she wasn't running away, because this was her duty and she knew that.
"That's not how things work and you know that."
Tatsuki, Rukia noticed, seemed worried, out of place. Obviously she wasn't used to taking big decisions and bearing responsibility for a team at the same time. And at that moment Ichizure never looked like her brother more. It seemed that she was ready to take any decision weather it was going to turn out good or not. She probably doesn't care if Tatsuki-san fails or not.
"However, I could suggest that whatever you decide it would be best if Hadeureshii stays with Kuchiki-san."
I stand corrected; she took the decision herself without actually… taking it. Tatsuki's face lit up, she seemed more confident now.
"Right. We split up. Ha-chan will go with Rukia-san towards the fighting espada. Don't go too close, just look if there's anyone of Rukia-san's companions in need of help."
Rukia nodded and let out a small smile, it seemed that Tatsuki was going to give her this chance to fight for her friends if needed.
"Ichizure-san will head north. I trust you to stay out of trouble."
"Certainly! And you?"
"I'll head northwest and we'll meet at the castle. And Ha-chan…"
"Yes, boss?"
"Please keep a low profile."
"Whatever you say boss…"
"And, Ichizure-san?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"Whatever for?" and just like that she was gone.
"We should go too. Be careful, boss." And Hashii dragged Rukia away.
"Yeah…" Tatsuki said to the empty space, Ichizure's last words still echoing in her head.
I won't be there the next time you face a difficulty. It's time you learned to trust your instincts.
Sand. That, which flows through the clock of time. Always flowing, never ending. That, which stops the worthless efforts of escaping fate. In this world of Hueco Mundo, sand was the only wall between intruders and the fortress in the centre of the world.
Also…
Sand wasn't very comfortable to walk on.
"Hashii, I really don't think we are going the right way."
"Of course we are…" she took one of her shoes off and shook the sand from it. "… I'm positive, don't worry."
"Then why don't I see a sign of coming closer?"
"Because… we are taking a longer route."
Rukia slapped her forehead.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought it was obvious. We can't just come in through the main entrance."
"Oh… yes, you are right of course." Rukia sighed.
"Of course I'm right. Now let's get going."
Time is irrelevant. At least, that's what young shinigami in the Academy, are told.
But to Rukia, right now, seemed that time was alive. Running. Twisting, in all kinds of shapes which, oddly enough, looked a lot like laughing faces. Faces that reminded her of the one person she hadn't stopped thinking about since she started traveling with Tatsuki and her companions. She tried to keep her mind busy, but the face of Ichizure Kyoushui kept popping up in her head.
"Hashii." She said
"Yes?"
"What do you know about Ichizure-san?"
"Hmm. Well, I know that she became a Soul Collector when she was very young. Actually, there's this story that she was adopted. Come to think of it, I really don't know much about her life."
Rukia frowned.
"But… she's your companion. You seemed… close."
"No, no. you didn't understand me. I know Ichizure-sama; I know what she's like, what kind of person she is. Besides, I don't think there's anyone who knows about her past… at all."
"She hasn't told anyone?"
Doesn't this woman have friends?
"No one ever asked! I think they are either too afraid of her to ask, or respect her too much… but you know? I heard she has a little brother."
"Yeah, she's way older than him, at least forty years. He is her father's son from another mother. Her father left her when she was young and years later the old fart found himself a wife and made a little baby. Ichizure-sama is still searching for him."
"Really?"
"Well, according to the rumors."
"Even so, it shouldn't be so hard to find him. I mean if he has the same features as her, that is. She looks just like a human."
Hashii sighed.
"She is a human."
And then, images flooded Rukia's mind. The silver hair, the stoic expression, the proud nose, the emerald green eyes, her dragon pupils… It all seemed painfully obvious now. How could I miss this?
"She's a human?"
"Yes."
"How… did she become a Soul Collector.?"
"I don't know."
"Have you ever tried to confirm the rumors?"
Hashii nodded.
"I didn't want to make her angry, so I decided to say it directly and then say that I had heard it around."
"So?"
"I asked her, if her brother looked like her."
"And?"
"She said yes… and then she muttered something about bastard father. I think she was talking about her own."
I see now. Then there's no other explanation. Her brother must be…
"Hide" hissed Hashii and pulled her roughly behind a sand dune. "What, in the seven tails, is going on?"
Looking upon the sight in front of her, Rukia gasped.
"Oh. No…"
"ISHIDA!" If there was one thing Renji hated (and he didn't hate a lot of things), it was feeling like a helpless maiden (or at least that's how he said it to Hisagi fukitaichou this one time when they were drinking themselves silly on the roof of the ninth squad.). Right now this feeling was flowing through him on waves. And he hated himself. He hated himself so much, because even in this moment, he couldn't stop thinking about…
"AAHHHHH!" Ishida's scream of pain broke him out of his thoughts.
Renji pulled together what little strength he had left and tried to attack. But before he could even move, the arrancar was beaten forcefully into the ground.
Death is the end of the life of a biological organism. Death is the moment the soul is set free and the heart rests in peace for all eternity.
Yeah, right. Like that's ever mattered to Natural Selection.
It wasn't as if she knew where she was going. But the blood! She could smell the blood from miles away. And she knew that smell, she knew whose blood was that. And if she knew him as well as she thought she did, he must have gone closest to her target. As she was running towards the tempting smell, she couldn't help but think how this all started.
Flashback
She was scared. Actually, fear had gripped her heart so tightly, that she couldn't breathe right. And then a hard blow knocked her out. When she opened her eyes, she was floating in the air.
Okay. What's going on here? I'm pretty sure that I'm seeing me down there. But, that's not possible. I mean… if that's me down there, who am I up here? Wait a minute. Does that mean that I am… I am… dead.
"Bingo, bingo. You're even faster than the ones before."
Tatsuki flew up a few inches and found herself looking straight in to the eyes of a young woman.
"Who the hell are you?"
The woman giggled.
"When people die unexpectedly, just like you did a few minutes ago, they often can't accept it and become ghosts, you see."
"You're not answering my question."
The woman flew up to her (and that's when she noticed that she was flying on an oar) and giggled once again.
"Botan. Nice to meet you. I'm the pilot of the river Styx. I take care of people like you. I believe in your culture they also call me The Grim Reaper."
Tatsuki gave out a snort.
"A scrawny girl like you? There's no way."
"Well…"
"Plus, if you really are a messenger of death you should take this more seriously. Like, how grim can you be when you say Bingo! And you are supposed to wear a big black cloak and look like a skeleton."
"Oh, I know about people like you. You're the kind of person who gets angry easily and accepts thing with great difficulty thus always thinking that you're right and everyone else is wrong." She recited.
Tatsuki snorted and crossed her arms.
"Alright then, death lady. If you know so much why don't you take me to hell or wherever it is I'm supposed to go."
"Well you see that's when the problems arise."
"What kind of problems?" Tatsuki was getting really angry. She couldn't live in peace because of Ichigo and stuff. Could she just, at least, die in peace like normal people?
"Well, we didn't expect you to die today, so… we haven't actually prepared a place for you yet."
"WHAT?"
"Calm down, sweetie, here's what we're gonna do. If you'd just agree to go through this teensy ordeal you could be back to life in no time."
"Ordeal?"
"That's right. Ordeal."
Tatsuki frowned and thought about her options. But if you actually came to think of it – it's not everyday that you could come back to life so…
"Ok. Lead me to that… ordeal thingy."
"Yuhoooooo!"
Botan motioned for her to grab on the oar and they flew off."
End Flashback
That sure was some experience. Ah! Here it is. She could see three figures in the distance and that's when she heard it.
"Ishida?"
She sped up and just in seconds she was right in front of them. She jumped and fisted her right hand, and then…
She rammed through the espada like it was a cockroach and buried his head in the sand.
She stood up in the clouds of sand and then heard a voice behind her saying:
"What the hell are you doing here?"
A.N: Well that was it for now. I hope you liked and review please.
