Thank you for all the nice reviews! XD It means a lot, really. I'm only 14 and not a very good writer. So all the nice stuff means a lot=)
Oh! I dont own Bleach... also tips and idea's are welcomed. I dont really know where I'm going with this thing yet. Wish me luck!
Ichigo couldn't move, he was frozen, caught in her blue eyes. Over the years Ichigo had begun to think of her as a mother-like figure, even as he pasted her in size. Saphira could be strict and had a temper, but she was kind and always seemed to understand. Not to mention she was also childish and loved to play pranks on others. And above all, loving and loyal.
Saphira's eyes flickered to Ichigo and back. She had rested her chin on her hand, as the other began to tap the table.
"Ichigo," Saphira said as she motioned to the other empty chair, "I can understand the staring, it has been a while, but can you please, at least sit down."
Ichigo's brown eyes glanced at the chair as he stumbled forward and fell into it, still staring. "Three years…"
"No, almost three, it hasn't been three years yet," she corrected.
"Fine, almost three, that doesn't matter. All I want to know is why," Ichigo couldn't help it as emotion spilled over into his voice. He didn't want to seem weak, but he had really needed her strength, her support when he was adjusting to the Soul Reaper life, and also the normal life after losing his powers.
"Ichigo, I'm s-… I'm sorry, but please know I didn't have a choice," Saphira pleaded. Her liquid eyes were filled with sadness and guilt, but her voice remained un-wavering. "If you give me time, I'll try my best to answer your questions, and explain myself. But it might be best to wait till the waitress gets back, she'll return in a sec."
As if on cue the lady skipped back over carrying there order. "Here's your food! Anything else I can get you two?" the waitress asked, tilting her head to the side and smiling.
"No, thank you," Saphira said giving her a smile, "That's it for us."
Saphira picked up her powdered crème horn and nibbled on the corner, then washed it down. Ichigo followed suit, picking up his bagel and buttering it, then taking a bite. He sipped his coffee as it dawned on him that she had ordered all of his favorites.
"Alright, Ichigo, truth is I don't really know where to begin," Saphira confessed. "This goes back much farther than you can imagine, but I'll start around the time we first met. I altered your memory on your mom's request. The thing is we met the day your mom died, the day I failed."
Ichigo's eye's widened, what? he thought, his mind swimming with questions, what does she mean 'mom's request' what does she mean' the day I failed'?
Ichigo opened his mouth to speak, to voice his questions, but she cut him off. "Eat, and I'll talk, I'll tell you the story, once I've finished you can ask your questions, deal?"
Ichigo nodded his head and picked up his bagel an' started eating. It was cold now but he didn't care.
Saphira sighed a little when he nodded, relived he would hear her out, but at the same time it was hard to finally tell him, how they met, how she had failed him. She took a big breath as she began to tell her story, her mind drifting back to that awful rainy day.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
When Ichigo was 6
Saphira made her way down the wet side walk, dodging people as she went, or walking through them when she couldn't. The rain fell relentlessly, and the sky roared with anger. She closed her eyes and let the rain drench her, hoping it would wash her away, wash away all of the memories and secrets the plagued her heart.
"Mommy! I finally beat her! I'm the new champion in my karate class!" an excited, high pitched voice broke her trance and she opened her eyes.
About a block away a little boy with orange hair and a rain coat walked towards her with his mom. The mom was beautiful, her brown hair fell past her shoulders and her smile was breath taking. The little boy wore a goofy grin.
Saphira's heart clenched as she watched the mom. This was the mom she had always wanted…the mom she had never had.
The little boy met her eyes. He smiled and waved at her as she pasted. Saphira smiled back, but froze as he began walking away. She was in spirit form, he shouldn't have been able to see her. Not only that she had a kido around her that hid her from her own kind. Not even a lieutenant would be able to see her.
Saphira turned around but the little boy and his mom were already turning a corner and disappearing out of sight.
She shook her head, she didn't have time for this. Saphira turned and with using flash step, disappeared.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Over 20mins had passed and Saphira was already well out of Karakura Town and miles away when a vision overtook her.
The little boy and his mom where still walking. They were passing a river when the boy spotted a girl by the rivers edge.
"Mom," the little boy said as he pulled on his mom's skirt. "what's that girl doing?"
"Hmm?" the mom answered searching for a girl she could not see.
The boy continued to pull at his mom's skirt and pointed to the rivers edge. "I'll be right back," he said as he began heading down the slick, grassy slope.
"Ichigo!" the mom cried, lunging after her boy.
Saphira's eyes widened as she watched, the girl was no human, nor was she a spirit. She was a hook… the Grand fishers hook… it was a trap.
Her body moved without her consent. She knew she wouldn't make it, but she had to try. City's and people flew passed her as she ran back to Karakura town. Each step covered miles at a time, she arrived on the scene in seconds… but even with all her speed and strength, she was to late.
The mom had pulled her son into her embrace and was shielding him with her body as the Grand Fisher ripped her soul from her body.
Saphira unsheathed her zanpakutō, it was the same shape as other katanas but longer and blacker then any moonless night, with a red ribbon braded into the hilt (kind of similar to Ichigo's bankai … except longer… and different…anywho back to the story).
Saphira lunged forward and made a deep gash in the hollows chest, but not deep enough to kill. Red blood splattered onto the already wet ground as an unearthly howl filled the sky.
Grand Fisher retreated into Hueco Mundo when he realized he had no chance to win the battle.
Saphira cursed, she could not catch him, she knew her own way into Hueco Mundo but by the time she'd get there, he would be long gone.
As the hollows cry faded Saphira noticed a new cry.
"MOMMY! Mommy! Wake up! Please, Mommy!"
She was by his side in a second. Pulling his mom into her lap, Saphira's eyes and the moms met. she's alive, Saphira thought, but she's fading fast, there's nothing I can do… it must be pure will that holds her here now.
"Protect my boy," the mom begged. All Saphira could do was nod, she would protect this boy, even thought they had just met, she would protect him.
"His future will be difficult, he will have many powerful enemies, he will need a guardian." She continued,
"I swear, I will do anything in my power to protect him," Saphira promised.
"Thank you," the mom replied, and then much to Saphira's surprise smiled.
"How can you smile? You're dying, for god's sake!" She didn't mean to be so blunt but let's just say her feathers were ruffled.
The mom laughed a pitiful laugh, "I have lived a good life, and have no regrets. I married a wonderful man, that always made me laugh. I had three beautiful children that are my pride and joy. I only hope my leaving wont be too hard on them… is there any way can you make Ichigo not remember this until he is ready?"
Saphira thought for a little and said, "yes."
And with that the mom died.
The boys cries grew louder as she set the moms body down. Saphira turned to him and held him, shielding him from the unmerciful rain.
Ichigo burrowed into her, searching for comfort and warmth. Saphira continued to shush him and pet his hair, when she had an idea. She did not know how long she would be able to stay by his side, but there was a way for them to always be connected.
Even though Saphira could sense that no one was close to them she couldn't help but look around for any prying eyes. What she was about to do was forbidden… she was going to do a soul binding, it hadn't been done in hundreds of years, and if the Soul Society caught her doing this without their consent she would be executed.
She drew a small throwing knife from her sleeve and carved a small crescent moon on the skin above her heart. Then she did the same to the boy, he didn't fight her. Next she spoke the words of binding and sealed the deal. With this Saphira would always know if he was in danger or how to find him. She would be able to give him her Spiritual pressure when he needed it, and he would heal quickly because she healed quickly.
Ichigo felt warmth fill his body as the girl spoke strange words. He looked up into her blue eyes and said, "I'm Ichigo… who are you?"
"I'm Saphira," she said, then she touched his forehead and everything went black.
Please review!