A/N I don't own Bleach nor do I make any profit from it.
Chapter 2 - Saved
As I walked through the Rukongai's streets, I gripped my small body, shivering from the cold. My feet were sore from all the walking with cuts and bruises all over the soles. My light blue kimono was dusty and now unclean. My white hair was kept in a low bun at the nape of my neck with my fringe and some wispy pieces of hair framing my delicate yet now dirty features. I had yet to find a family to take me in. I had heard that people formed groups in order to survive. As nice as that sounded, it wasn't happening for me. I needed food and shelter. That was my only priority. Stealing was my only option as no one would give me a job. I felt so ashamed.
It had grown dark by the time I had wandered to the part of the Rukongai that was just outside what I was told was called the Seireitei. That was the place where soulreapers lived. Even from the outside, it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The walls were painted a beautiful shining white and they reflected the sun perfectly. I was told by people in the Rukongai that only people who were soulreapers or worked for soulreapers could enter that place. I sighed wistfully as I gazed at it for a few moments more before turning my head away. It was a hopeless cause to think that I could ever get into such a place.
I wandered towards a tavern that night. I don't know what possessed me to do so (I'd never go into one in the human world). It was warm inside yet a little rowdy. As soon as I stepped foot inside, a man was sent flying across me. I jumped back with a squeal. I turned to the person who had punched that man. I jumped back further when he jumped on the poor man he'd punched the living day lights out of. I shuffled out of the way, knowing that if I got in the way of this brawl, I'd have a second death. I tentatively walked towards the bar. The bar tender stared at me with scepticism.
"What are you doing in 'ere, love?" he asked gruffly, noticing my delicate appearance. I squirmed under his scrutiny of my person.
"Well...I...Um...I w-w-wondered," I stammered, "If there w-were any jobs available in this place?"
The bartender looked me up and down for a moment before shaking his head, "Not for you, darlin', you're too scrawny to ever think of working 'ere," he said dismissively, "Besides, we only employ men. This isn't a woman's place of work."
"But you don't understand," I replied vehemently, "I'm desperate!"
"Aren't we all," the bartender replied, yet again in a dismissive tone.
"I haven't eaten in days! Please! I beg you," I was about ready to get on my knees and beg. The bartender growled.
"Get out, girl, or so help me, I'll throw you out!"
"You'll have to do that because I'm not leaving until you give me a job," I recklessly replied. Nothing prepared me for what happened next. I felt someone grab my arms tightly, causing me to look behind me. My eyes widened when I saw a burly man glaring down at me. I turned back to the bartender, "Throwing me out? Sexist pig!"
With that, the bartender nodded and the man who had me gripped by the arms forcibly moved me towards the door. With one last forceful push, I found myself once again in the dusty road. I scrambled to my feet and tried to get back inside, but the man blocked my way. He grabbed my yukata collar and flung me at the wall of the Seireitei. I screamed as I made contact with the wall. Apparently, I had been thrown with a lot of force because I'd left a dent in the wall. Blood trickled down from the back of my head. I could here the man's raucous, mocking laughter.
"Let that be a lesson to you, girly," he mocked before walking back inside that tavern. I groaned softly as I tried to stand up. I desperately tried to hold back my tears, knowing that crying wasn't going to get me anywhere. Standing up was a struggle and I found myself on my hands and knees. My lack of strength was maddening. Blood dripped down in front of me from my wounded head.
Eventually, my last ounce of strength was used up as I tried to stand up. I fell back onto the ground, blood pooling around my person from both old and new wounds that had opened up. The last thing I saw as my eyes closed, was a tall person dressed in a white haori and on his shoulder was what looked like a child with pink hair.
"She's injured, Kenny," the little child observed.
"She sure is," came the gruff reply.
"Maybe we should take her back to the Seireitei and let Re-chan have a look at her!"
"But you know that's against the rules, Yachiru," Kenny replied, "I doubt Captain Unohana would have the time to look at her."
I heard Yachiru huffed.
"But you're never one to follow rules, Kenny, you know that! Also, Re-chan wouldn't turn her down. She's too nice," Yachiru responded excitedly.
I heard Kenny sigh irritably, "Fine, you win," I felt myself being lifted up and I was comfortably nestled in his arms. I was covered in blood because of my injuries but he didn't seem to mind.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. My sapphire eyes darted around the room, confused as to why I was there. As I tried to sit up, my back screamed out in protest, pain shooting up it. I winced loudly and laid myself back down. Muscles were aching and it was obvious that I wasn't going anywhere. I looked down at myself and noticed that I was wearing a clean, crisp, white yukata in place of my bloodied blue one.
Suddenly, a young woman, wearing a white haori with the number four written on the back of it in Japanese walked into the room. I quickly closed my eyes and tried not to move, "I know that you're awake, child," the woman said primly, "Open your eyes."
I immediately obeyed. Her voice was gently yet very commanding. As I opened my eyes again, I noticed that the woman was very pretty with large dark blue eyes and ebony coloured hair. Her hairstyle was odd though. It was styled as one large plait down the front. I stared at her for some time whilst she was preparing what looked like medicine. Was she this Captain Unohana that that odd pair had been talking about?
"I don't mean to be rude," I started, "But who are you?"
"Ah, forgive me, I am Captain Retsu Unohana, Captain of Squad 4. We deal with the medical side of things rather than deal with combat."
"Ah, I see," I tried to sit up again and this time, Captain Unohana aided me by sorting my pillows out and fluffing then up, "How did I get here again?"
"Captain Zaraki and Lieutenant Kusajishi of Squad 11 brought you here. They didn't want to leave you in the state you were in," Captain Unohana said softly, "By the way, how did you get that injured?"
"You really want to know," the captain nodded, "Fine, long story short, I wanted a job and they threw me out. When I tried to get back in, I was...well...nearly killed."
"People in the Rukongai are terribly uncouth at times," Captain Unohana said with a sigh, "You look like you haven't eaten in days, child, would you like something to eat?"
"Yes...if it's no trouble of cause..."
"Of cause it's no trouble. We need you to get some strength back." She walked back over to the table and continued to prepare some medicine, "So, what's your name?"
"My name," I asked and she nodded, "My name is Sara Riley and I'm a teacher...well...I was until a few weeks ago."
"A teacher? What's an educated young lady such as yourself doing in the Rukongai?"
"That's what I would like to know, Captain," I answered, "But I just cannot find any work."
I noticed Captain Unohana go deep into thought. She hummed and frowned, "Well, I could pull a few strings for you...because I think I know of an job post that's open and it's been open for quite a while..." I expectantly leaned forward, ignoring the pain in my back.
"Where," I asked. Unohana smiled serenely at me.
"As a governess in the noble Kuchiki household."
My eyes widened, "A governess? In a noble household? You have aristocracy in Soul Society?"
"Yes, it's true and we even have a royal family but they live in a separate dimension," Unohana said with a smile, "Anyway, if you get the job, you would look after Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's ward, Lady Rukia Kuchiki. Byakuya Kuchiki is the 28th head of the Kuchiki family and the strongest to date," Unohana informed but then her serene smile twisted into a smirk, "He's not bad to look at either, but that's just between you and me."
I stayed silent for a while and gazed at the captain who so busily prepared my dressings and medicine, "Why are you doing all this for me, Captain?"
Unohana turned to look at me again, "Because, there is not one bone in my body that wants you to go back in that dirty place. You're an educated girl and...I wouldn't want you to throw all that away. If you get the job as governess to the Kuchiki family, it could be the making of you, child."
Captain Unohana walked over to the bed again and removed the old dressing from around my head. She then reapplied a new bandage. She gave me some medicine for the pain and she gave me strict orders to rest.
Later on, as I rested and having eaten, I was about to fall asleep when I felt someone bounce on top of me. I yelped slightly in surprise and stared, wide eyed, at the person who had pounced upon me.
"Who are you," I asked breathlessly. It was the little girl who had helped to save me, "Hey...are you...Yachiru?"
"Yeah! My full name is Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi!"
"You're a Lieutenant? But you're a child," I exclaimed. She suddenly scowled at me.
"Don't underestimate me, Yuki-hime*! I am very powerful when I want to be!"
"Yuki-hime? My name is Sara, Sara Riley!"
"Oh, I know that, but it's just that 'Yuki-hime' is my nickname for you. I call you that because of your hair," she gently grabbed some of my loose white hair, "I only give nicknames to the people I like, so you should feel honoured!"
She gave me a sweet smile and I couldn't help but smile back, "Fine, 'Yuki-hime' it is then," I giggled. She gave me a light hug before jumping off the bed and skipping out of the room. My smile didn't leave my lips as I turned to gaze out of the window. I felt so secure now, but something told me that it wouldn't be all that easy and that there would be many obstacles ahead of me.
I suppose that only time would tell.
I'm sure you saw Yachiru's new nickname for Sara. For those who don't know it means 'snow princess' referring to the snowy whiteness of her hair.
So, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter because I definitely enjoyed writing it.
