Relata two: (Never) The Inevitable
[. . .]
It's raining again. Ichigo mentally muses, though bitterly.
It's always raining – literally and figuratively.
The rain has never stopped in his inner world.
It probably will never cease to rain. And Ichigo has resigned himself into believing that; it's his fault that kasan died anyway. Engulfing himself in guilt and misery is his punishment.
After visiting his mother's grave earlier in the morning with his family – a family tradition that began since he was a child – he told his father and twin sisters that he needed to be at work the next day. But in actuality, he just couldn't bear seeing his family's faces. A mixture of pity (for him) and sadness. He couldn't handle that.
So here he is, walking aimlessly.
The streets of Karakura isn't usually busy on Tuesdays. At least, he didn't see many humans.
The wandering, zone-less spirits, are part of the nonhuman population.
For as long as Ichigo could remember, he was able to see spirits; however, they never bothered him and he wasn't sure what to think about them. Sure, he didn't deny their existence, but he certainly doesn't believe in the uncanny – whatever Freud – or the supernatural.
Everything must be explained. If logic and science can't explain it, then it simply negates those existences.
. . .
But kasan . . .
What about her death . . .?
Ichigo stops walking and notices an odd, out of shape, two-story building in the corner of the street. Compared to the surrounding buildings, the architecture was traditional – white walls and gray tiled roof, barricaded by a wooden wall plaster.
Strange.
Ichigo looks at the sign: Midnight Library 24.
He checks his watch, it's exactly midnight.
Feeling curious (and suspicious), Ichigo enters the library. There was no one.
The interior certainly breaks any principles of dimensional space. How is it possible that the exterior looks small, but the interior is hellishly big?
"Hmm, there's nothing extraordinary about this library," Ichigo assesses. "Looks like any other ordinary libraries in Europe."
He was looking through the bookshelves, where books were presumably hoarded and assembled as part of a collective whole.
No dust.
Ichigo was walking around, his left index finger, touching each book as he passes. His finger stills. He glances up to read the section: "The Other Sciences."
How vague. Ichigo thought.
He looks at the various, odd new-age-y titles: The System(s) of Things, (Im)material Coexistences, Epistemologies of the Unknown, From Mythical to Realness: Truth?, Aesthetics of Death, Death in the Age of Science Volume 1, Death in the Age of Science Volume 2: Titled Arcane. . .
Ichigo settles for both death volumes.
He situates himself on a wooden chair and begins leafing through Volume 1, snorting because the writer was certainly abstract.
As he was turning the page, he hears music.
A bit unsettled, he pulls out his gun and follows the path where the music leads.
He sees a pale skinned woman playing the koto. And she had a lollipop in her mouth!
A bizarre image.
Because universal (police) protocol commands him to assess the situation, Ichigo observes the odd person. She looks small in stature, very thin, long eyelashes, and she was wearing what seems to be a black inspired Japanese kimono with a red obi and red flowers adorned on the chest.
Her short bob seems to make the entire outfit look more high fashion.
A deep voice interrupts his mental procedure on the current subject/suspect. Most likely hers.
"The first patron of the morning," she coolly says while still playing the koto. "Welcome."
Ichigo begins his interrogation. "Who are you?"
She replies, still in the same cool as ice tone, "If you put away your gun, we can have a civilized conversation. In addition, is it not rather rude of you to barge in here with a gun pointing at my face?"
So another smartass, eh? Ichigo thinks. Just what I need tonight. Been dealing with that group for the past two weeks.
Still distrustful of the stranger before him, he relents and puts his gun back into its holster.
Waiting.
The stranger continues playing the koto.
"I don't have that much patience right now. Start speaking."
She finally stops playing and looks up at him. Violet eyes.
Meh. People have red, gray, green, and blue eyes. People dye their hairs in different hues. Colorful irises are not new anymore.
"Took you long enough," Ichigo growls.
"Sincere apologies. I simply had to finish it."
"The music?"
She stares at him like he's the most foolish person in the world (judger). She takes out her white lollipop stick from her mouth. "No, of course not! The music stops once the lollipop is gone!" She smiles like a little child. "Sake flavored, too. Not only do I get my sweets intake, but alcohol too. What an ingenious product! Do you not think so?"
Ichigo stares at her like she's the idiot. Great, not only is she a smartass, but also an idiot.
"You wanted to ask me questions, yes? Ask away. But I cannot guarantee any answers." She smiles, but it's a haughty – friendly, nevertheless – smile.
"Where's the other patrons?"
"It is past midnight, detective. I doubt there are any at this hour."
Ichigo's body shakes in annoyance. "Then why is this library named Midnight Library 24?"
Answering like it's the most obvious thing in the universe, she answers, "Because it is open at midnight?"
"Don't answer my question with a question!"
She waves her hands frantically. Ichigo felt a bit bad for losing his temper and taking out his two weeks worth of agitation on her.
"Okay! Okay! Because the name implies that it will open at midnight!" She begins dramatically, but Ichigo could hear the sarcastic undertones. "Which is probably the most obvious thing in the world! Even a five-year-old can deduce that! But I beg you for your forgiveness!" Theatrical streams of tears were visible underneath her big round eyes.
He was about to explode. "And why is this suspicious place opened at midnight?"
Shrugging, she replies, "College students and researchers tend to study late into the wee hours, yes? I thought it is appropriate to have an after hours library. I am usually awake at this time, so why not? It is beneficial for several parties." Her calm demeanor was back.
What a shift in moods.
Before he was able to open his mouth, she also asserts, "And I do have the proper documents, IDs, and such."
Damn.
She stands up, revealing her short stature, and walks around the reference desk.
Ichigo observes that she's elegant in her movements. That is, when she's not being a freak with her stiff awkward movements. She was elegant playing the koto, though.
"What is your next question, Kurosaki Ichigo?"
He whips his head at her. "How do you know my name?! Who the hell are you?!" His hand was itching for his gun.
"No need for violence, Ichigo. You do know you are a TV sensation, yes? A scowling, pretentious detective with orange hair saves a bird from flying through a window." She claps her hands dramatically. "Oh such heroic acts should be recognized!"
He slaps his forehead. "Why the hell am I here?"
Her serious voice returns. "Ever heard of destiny?"
"Not relevant to the question."
"Sure it is. Although the red string of fate is also known as the red string of marriage that was managed by Yue Lao, its concept remains impactful. The color red may be arbitrary, but it has been said that people, if they concentrate hard enough, they can sense others' spiritual threads of aura, connecting them to that person. Through this connection, the invisible becomes the visible."
They lock gazes, but he eventually looks away. Something about her gaze forces him to believe that he can actually learn to trust her. And guide him.
"Like the Internet! And oh, I got that definition from this manga!" She happily presents him a copy of Marriages by a Thread.
Biting back an angry tirade of expletives, Ichigo turns away to walk out. Hopefully, leaving this place forever.
But he had to admit, she was something else.
"You can see spirits, yes?"
He stops.
"You are connected to them."
He fully turns around to face her, continued suspicion and distrust lingering in his amber pools
"And my name is Rukia. The manager, owner, librarian – make that the only librarian – at Midnight Library 24. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
[. . .]
"Our relationship has already been formed. No matter how trivial a meeting and the incidents that follow may seem, a relationship is made. Even if it is just for a short amount of time, a knot that has been tied does not unravel. It means that during your lifetime, every incident that passes has meaning."
– Ichihara Yūko
End notes:
The only other story/section I have for this piece and probably my longest piece. Thanks for the two reviews and comments. I'm glad it seems interesting. I made up the names of the books and manga, but they are based on existing literature (not the manga). Anyone interested in reading them? It's intentional that Rukia is not using contractions. And yikes. I am projecting a blend of Yūko's and Urahara's personalities onto Rukia.
I'll resume Comrades soon (I am sure it will end on the 100th drabble).