The city of Naruki is actually a place in the Bleach universe. If you visit the Bleach Wikia site and check out the Karakura Town info page they provide a map showing you where exactly Naruki is located. You can also find the map in the Bleach Character Info Book SOULs. Naruki is where the Xcution headquarters is located, and if you're far enough into the manga then you should also be aware of some other events that occurred in Naruki-Shi in the past.

One more little fun fact for you, Naruki-Shi in the Bleach universe is actually under Squad 10 jurisdiction so that seems rather fitting for this tale don't you think? Anyway I hope you enjoy the second chapter! I think I may be updating this more often than I originally planned.


Chapter 2: The Enigma Beneath the Veil

The door slid shut before him and he was still out of it, chocolate eyes settling on where the veiled boy had just been. The world around his was crashing back into normalcy but for him his world had stopped at the sight of perhaps the most gorgeous person he had ever laid his eyes on. His body was still in a kneeling position at the bottom of the wooden stairs.

"Kurosaki what are you doing?" Uryu asked behind him, leaning down to place a hand on the graduate's shoulder. Ichigo snapped out of his stare and then looked over his shoulder, nodding and then slowly standing.

"Kurosaki-kun is everything alright? What happened?" Orihime was rushing up to the boys, Rukia following suit.

"Nothing I just…" He looked back to the closed doors of the shrine, brows furrowing slightly.

"What did you see?" Rukia read him easily, quirking a dark eyebrow at him as she folded her arms over her chest and angled her head just so.

"I saw who it was." He whispered.

Rukia's jaw dropped and then Orihime was moving to get in his face.

"You saw them!? What did they look like?!" She was a bit jealous but more excited than anything, she had grown up with the stories, recalling her brother telling such heroic legends to her to ease her childhood.

Ichigo swallowed and then rubbed the back of his head. "Uh… They kinda sworn me to secrecy…" He murmured, glancing down and then looking back to Inoue who had a pout now plastered on her lips.

Rukia patted the girl's back. "Doesn't the secrecy make it more mysterious?" She tried to cheer her fellow female up. The redhead nodded and wiped her eyes and then looked back to Ichigo. "... I bet they were pretty."

"Ah… yeah…" A blush adorned the male's face as he scratched his cheek, still seeming distracted by the whole ordeal. But he couldn't get the sight out of his head, those bright eyes, the thin lips that formed into such a beautiful smile, the shock of white hair was alluring in it's own unique way. He felt like his heart was racing in that moment he shared with the boy, and he was craving to know more, to meet him again, to actually hear more of that voice, to hear it's real tone when it wasn't hushed by a whisper.

He spent the remainder of his evening looking back over his shoulder, as if the guardian would be dancing gracefully behind him, extending that free little hand to him in beckoning. It didn't happen though, and soon enough they were all heading home, Chad dropping Ichigo off at his apartment before continuing on their way.

He didn't sleep, he could only lay there in bed and stare at the ceiling. The passing cars outside flashed light along the walls before melting away as quickly as they came. This was harder to let go than he thought. No one had ever made him feel like that from just simply looking at them, sure America had beautiful people too but this boy, this supposed guardian was the purest definition of the adjective. He was cursing that damn veil now, what if he had seen him without it in the first place? Would he still have had the same reaction. He twisted his lips in thought at that before determining the answer to be a screeching YES. Ichigo huffed and rolled onto his side, staring at the alarm clock settled on his night stand. He didn't crash until early in the morning, right around when the sun was rising.

.

.

.

He returned to Naruki-Shi far quicker than he expected. His sisters caught wind of the festival and ended up begging their dear old brother to take them to it, seeing as how the event was lasting a few days. He caved easily, Yuzu's pleading voice over the phone just about killing him, he sighed heavily and agreed.

And then he was there again, walking around with his hands shoved in his pockets as his sisters scattered about, rushing up to the many booths and awing over what they laid their young eyes upon. Ichigo was unconsciously searching for the guardian, looking past the regular civilians and searching for the snow white hair of the boy. He wasn't paying much attention to anything else, his eyes scanning through the crowds. But he never caught sight of him.

His attention was brought back to his sisters as they grabbed both his arms and pulled him along, pointing ahead towards the shrine. Perhaps in the place he met the guardian he would be finding there again. Hope was all he could do he supposed, shrugging as he walked along. "Alright alright! I'm coming." He told his sisters, shaking out of their grasps as they then turned back to look at him.

"Let's go write our prayers Karin!" Yuzu turned to her sister, beaming at her with that smile that was the spitting image of their mother's own.

"Alright." She shrugged and then turned heel to walk in the direction of the wall decorated with the wishes. "Man maybe I should ask for an indestructible soccer ball?" She mused out loud, glancing to Yuzu.

Ichigo chuckled a bit, watching them before then looking ahead. The smile that had came with the soft chuckle then disappeared, lips pressing firmly together as he came to face the large dragon situated just beyond the entrance of the main shrine. He didn't realize he was moving until he was a mere foot in front of the large sculpted rock, staring directly into the ruby red eyes of the falsified beast. He ever so slowly lifted a hand, gently placing it against the snout of the creation. It was truly beautiful, the details done just right, it hardly looked weathered from the elements. He ran his fingertips up the head, touching upon the deer like horns that protruded from the skull.

"Come to try and tame him?"

He was caught off guard from the voice, looking up and now starring at the veiled guardian that had made himself known on the court yard. He cursed that damned head dress, wanting so desperately to see beneath it again.

"Well?" Ichigo was brought out of his thoughts again, the boy speaking a bit more normally though still quiet as he didn't want to go giving his identity away to anyone else that may be watching or listening.

"...It's just a statue."

"Not a believer are you?" The guardian tilted his head but the veil would not give in to show what beautiful features lied beneath. "It does sound to be to incredible of a tale but… many people believe it… I've bared witness to plenty of them who have built their faith around this mere statue… and myself." The boy braced a small hand against the side of the dragon and Ichigo's gaze came to linger on that petite hand of the guardian before slowly trailing up his arm that was covered by a kimono sleeve of a celeste color with navy blue and white flecks across the fabric, he noted the navy blue obi that synched the boy's waist, giving him that near feminine figure. The kimono itself was long, dragging behind the guardian and hiding his sandal and tabi clad feed. The graduate found it suiting though, the outfit was beautiful, much like the boy beneath it.

"Are you just putting on an act for them?" Ichigo found himself asking softly in return, tilting his head. "Is this just a job?"

"No." The boy deadpanned and turned his head, seeming to look at the dragon he stood beside. "It's my life." He answered and turned his head back, those fierce teal hues surely piercing through the white fabric of the veil to stare at Ichigo Kurosaki.

The carrot top could feel that set of eyes on him and he had to swallow that lump back in his throat again, who knew a person of such small stature could be so damn intimidating. He frowned slightly at him, trying to put up his own sort of front. "So you really believe it?"

"I have to." The boy put it simply before then slowly moving to turn.

"Wait!" Ichigo reached out a hand to stop the boy, but the guardian was quick to slap the tanned hand with the fan he kept hidden in his robes.

"You mustn't touch…" The veiled male uttered softly. "It's forbidden here." And then he was turning to leave again, climbing those stairs and as if on cue the sliding doors were opening for him and then quickly shutting. Ichigo was left defeated, glaring and wishing his gaze was just as piercing as the boy's, then maybe he could burn down those wood frames. But that was a childish thought and he had to sigh heavily over himself, shoulders sagging and showing just how defeated he was in that moment. It didn't stop that desire though, that wanting to know more about that little supposed guardian, that longing to see his face again. He looked back to the shut doors, thinking perhaps they may open again.

For the rest of the night they remained closed though and he was forced to go home, his sisters left exhausted from all the fun and excitement that had been spent at the festival. They ended up crashing in the back seat of his car, leaving him in silence and with the wide barren stretch of road ahead of him.

.

.

.

He awoke to the blaring noise of his alarm clock, rolling in his bed to then reach an arm out and then slam his hand down upon the damned electronic, silencing it's annoying beep. He then cracked his eyes open. Shit, he had an interview today.

Ichigo rushed about his apartment, showering and brushing his teeth, making sure he was well groomed before then throwing on a suit he had held onto for such occasions. He was sure that getting the job would be simple thanks to the schooling he had received and his own experience, but he couldn't help but be nervous over it, interviews were always meant to stress people out, not make life easy.

He was soon enough dashing out of his apartment, voting to take the bus instead as his destination was not to far. He looked over his resume whilst on the way, nodding his head and going over what he would give as answers to whatever questions were thrown his way. He may have looked like some sort of delinquent, but he had a good head on his shoulders, he was smart, he had compassion. The medical field was obviously a good place for him.

The interview itself was incredibly long, Ichigo's answers seeming to have the interviewer more intrigued as he asked questions. He seemed incredibly impressed, noting Ichigo's schooling and the fact he had been brought up in an environment much like a hospital. They parted with handshakes, the elder gentlemen telling Ichigo he would be quick to contact him with their decision which he was practically ensuring to be a good one. Ichigo chose to walk home, excitement in his step.

It was at a crosswalk did he find himself frozen in spot though, not budging as the lights changed to signal for people to move forward. He was to caught up in the shock of white that was now heading his way. The head was down, white tufts of hair hiding those jade orbs from view, the nose of the individual buried in a minuscule book that was held delicately in a small hand. Ichigo didn't budge until the petite boy was just walking past him. His hand shot out and grabbed onto the boy's shoulder, forgetting the words spoken to him just the other day.

You mustn't touch… It's forbidden here.

And then the boy was lifting his head, blazing teal eyes locking on chestnut ones. They stared for what felt like eternity before the smaller of the two broke the silence.

"This is surprising…" He uttered, tone normal, no hush to it. Ichigo was cursing at how smooth it sounded.

"Tell me about it." Ichigo murmured, slowly lowering his hand from the boy's shoulder. He looked the smaller male over, finding it odd to see him out of the extravagant kimono and instead clad in a long sleeve black shirt, some bronze colored design on it, his legs in actual jeans that were torn up a bit. He had to quirk a brow at such a choice in style but he found it to be oddly suiting for the boy.

"Have you kept it?" Ichigo looked at the boy, confused by such an inquiry. The snow haired boy sighed heavily. "My secret, have you kept it?"

"Oh." He realized what he meant now and gave a rather stiff nod.

"Good." The boy was starting to walk away now.

God Dammit third time was the charm! Ichigo reached out again, stuttering as he did so. "W-Wait!" His hand was once more clamped on the guardian's shoulder, causing teal hues to tear away from the book he held once more. The boy did not say anything, simply allowing the other the spot light. "Um…" Damn he had never been this nervous before. "Do you uh… wanna grab some coffee?"

The boy seemed a bit baffled by this question, brilliant teal eyes now widened slightly, his mind trying to work around the question before he then shut his book with a quiet click and lowered his hand, now lifting his free one towards Ichigo.

"Toshiro Hitsugaya." He introduced smoothly.

Ichigo once again was playing stupid as he furrowed his brows.

"My name." The boy explained. "You know for someone as smartly dressed as you are… you're rather incompetent."

"Oh." Ichigo said yet again before nodding and extending his own free hand, the other grasping his leather briefcase. "Kurosaki… Ichigo Kurosaki." He introduced in return and felt his lips tug upwards into a smile. Surely, this was a start?


Hope you enjoyed! Please review!