Once under the cover of the trees I pull out my Zanpakto, sensing that the others had already started. "Ok Niricame, you ready?" I glance down at the long, thin blade as the red ribbon unwinds from the hilt. "Of course I'm ready. I've been waiting all morning for you to get your lazy butt out of bed." A growl ends her sentence.
"Oh be quiet." I snap back as she materializes in front of me. A large black she-wolf with a white spot on her chest and fire under her paws. "Hey, what are you doing. I never called you out."
"Since when do I need your permission."
"Since you became my sword. Ugh, just, try not to burn down the trees again." I say through my teeth and rub my temple. "Sure, sure. I'll do my best." She throws over her shoulder as she stalks through the under growth. "C'mon what are you waiting for? I sense a hollow over here."
"Niricame wait up!" I yell as I run to catch up to her and almost trip over her. Jumping last second I fly over her and land right in front of a hollow. Pivoting on my heel I dodge its attack and position my Zanpakto in front of me. I jump and watch as a claw pierces the very spot where I was standing. A whoosh of air alerts me and I spin just in time to block an attack that sends me flying. Landing precariously on a branch I leap onto its back, sending my sword through its head. "Aw, that was too easy." Niricame walks out and watches the body dissolve. Pointing my sword at the wolf I call, "Ok, come on back." I watch as reluctantly she disappears, sending her back into the sword. "You owe me." She snarls menacingly in my head. I reply with an ok and continue walking. A slight breeze blows against my side, carrying along it the smells of the forest. Unannounced, a huge amount of spiritual pressure erupts from the east knocking me to the ground.
"What the heck?" Standing I take off running, pulling Niricame out of the sheath as I go. That's Brother, and master. What are they doing? Running at full speed I was almost sent flying when the spiritual pressure all but disappeared. Skidding to a stop in a clearing I froze at what I saw. Master was laying in a puddle of his own blood; the surface next to his mouth remained still, while brother laid gasping as blood poured from his wound. "Brother!" I cry as I step towards him but stop when he screams, "No, Kari behind you!" I turn in time to see an attack heading straight for me. Stepping to the side I'm not able to completely dodge it and it scraps along my side, leaving an angry gash. The force and the pain send me flying to the middle of the clearing, but Niricame to the other side. Defenseless I drag myself to my brother as another attack slices my back. "Take this" His harsh words make me take the object in his hand and quickly put them in my clothes. As the Hollow comes closer so does a spiritual pressure.
"This is ridiculous, how did we get beat so easily."I ask my brother, "It attacked out of the trees without warning. We couldn't sense it and with one blow it wounded us badly." I watched as the hollow prepares to attack. Its giant spear-like arms lift preparing to deal the final blow. No, I refuse to die, not now, not like this. Opening my mouth to call Niricame but stop midway when two people appear at the edge. Both wore black soul reaper clothes and carried Zanpakto. Who are they? They look like soulreapers but I've never seen them before. The orange haired one looked oddly familiar but the red head is a stranger. Shock turns to confusion as I watch them begin to argue.
A sigh comes from my brother, turning to him I find him struggling to get up, his comforting hand on mine. "Brother, are you okay? Koriuno what are you doing, you shouldn't move." Urgently I coax him to lie down but he pulls himself onto his knees, "Hey, are you two going to take of that thing or not." His voice was strong and there was a subtle threat in there. I can tell they forgot about their audience and were now focused on the situation before them. Looking at my brother towering over my body I feel peaceful, protected, until I see the steady stream of blood coming from his side. Terrified as he begins to fall I grab his shirt, pulling him down on top of me. My breath rushes out of me as his weight crushes me. Pushing him off me, gently, I lay him down. Smiling as I realize he is still conscious it disappears as I hear a scream of pain and a thud.
The hollow lay on the ground, dissolving into the air, as the two strangers approach us. I can't do anything, I don't have my sword or any weapon and I can't run. "Here" An object flies at me and reflexively I catch it. "My sword?" Niricame lay in my hands perfectly unharmed. I open my mouth to ask something but my head begins to spin from the loss of so much blood. Groaning my brother somehow sits up, "Who are you?"
"We have the same question." The one with orange hair looks down at us as the red head stops besides him. "You can't be soulreapers so why do you dress like one?"
"And why couldn't I be one?" My blood begins to boil and my anger rise as I look him in the eye.
"Because I've never seen you at the soul society or the academy." He glares at me triumphantly. I've never heard of this academy, but I do know of the soul society. My brother places a hand on my shoulder forcing me down, "So you are from the soul society?" Why does Koriuno care? My vision begins to go in and out, and I desperately try to hang onto consciousness. "Ya, why do you want to know?" The orange hair guy looks at me, I raise my head to meet his gaze but only to have myself fall forward onto my hands. "I need you to do me something." My breath coming in labored gasps, "Br-brother," No longer having control over my body I fall, my eyes close plunging me into darkness. Koriuno caught me, his familiar arms holding me tight as our blood mixes in a single pool, "Please will you do that? As a dying mans last request." Do what? What did I miss!Longing to open my mouth and talk but everything just continues to get darker. After some hesitation the answer comes.
"Yes," My thoughts swarm around in my head as familiar arms are replaced by strangers. What's happening? Where is Koriuno and why doesn't he have me? He promised me he always would. "Thank you, she has all the information you will need." I can't-can't hold on-Brother.
