A/N: I just want everyone to know that I'm totally winging this story. I don't have a general plan for the next chapter, I have no idea how long this will be, and I don't know what I plan on doing between this chapter, and the last chapter, whenever that is. All I know is that I wanted to write a Kagome/Byakuya... so I suppose I should really hurry and get on that, shouldn't I?? Heehee.
Just some general information about the story... the way I've designed it, and whatnot... !!SPOILER ALERT!! For those that haven't read all the published manga. Ichigo and the gang rescued Rukia, who chose to stay with them. Uryu has all his powers. The three captains DID desert the Soul Society. I won't name names. The vizard arc has not happened. As far as the Soul Society is concerned, Ichigo and his friends did a good thing in helping, but they are not welcome. Well... supposedly, they're not welcome. But several captians don't particularly mind their presence. Okay? Another thing, then, I suppose. The story basically covers the first 20 books... so if you haven't read that, then there is an effective SPOILER ALERT.
Now that I've had my speil, (did I spell that right? I don't think so... --;) on with the story!! And BTW, the title of this chapter means "sunrise".
Disclaimer: It has come to my attention that I forgot the disclaimer in the first chapter... I meant to go back and change it... then I forgot. So I suppose, I'll just do it now!! I don't own Bleach or InuYasha. They belong to their respective creators, and their brilliant minds!!
Hakumei Hollow
Chapter Two: Hinode
By ancient-relic
Grinning to herself, Kagome twirled her blade over her arm, and deftly caught the grip again, just in time to stab it into the Hollow in front of her. The only sound that met her ears was the garbled cry of the dying soul, and a faint pink light, that glowed from the charred remains of the body upon the ground from the Hollow's companion.
::-::-:: ::-::-:: ::-::-::
Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Ichigo took one last look at his home. He supposed it would be a while until he saw it again, but it didn't really matter. He was going on another adventure into the Soul Society, and his blood was already pumping. He wondered if there was anyone worth fighting left… as in, someone he hadn't already fought. That seemed to be the way he got better- was by fighting new people.
And he was ready.
::-::-:: ::-::-:: ::-::-::
Kagome grinned down from her place atop the great walls. She watched the Soul Reapers mill about, none of them noticing her presence. Of course, she wasn't here as a Hollow killer… she was here to challenge for a spot amongst the captains.
She knew that three captains had left… Gin, Aizen, and Kaname. She knew that the Soul Reapers were greatly weakened without them. And she knew that in order to keep her identity a secret, she would need to join the very ranks than threatened her. Therefore, it was in her best interest to become a captain. Captain, solely because she had too much power to hide to be anything else. What she couldn't contain would easily put her on that level.
Her power was sealed right now, but it was also hidden from suspecting reapers. Letting the camouflage drop, she watched as the bustle slowed to a stop, and everyone looked up at her. She could already feel several powerful aura's converging on the spot… it was only a matter of time.
::-::-:: ::-::-:: ::-::-::
Ichigo stepped though the doors to Urahara Shoten, and wasn't overly surprised to see that the gang was already waiting.
"Well?" he said. They were all staring at him with looks of confusion. Perhaps it was because he was late…?
"Thank you for finally joining us, strawberry." Yoruchi spoke up, causing Ichigo to look down. There she was, sitting at his feet.
"I'm late?" he questioned, musing more to himself than directly asking. Yoruchi answered regardless.
"Yes."
"It's barely 10 in the morning."
The cat gave a little sigh, before stretching, and walking into the back of the store. "Never mind. Now that we're all here, we should get down to business. Kisuke will be joining us on this expedition, as you may or may not know. He has managed (with my help) to open the gates to the Soul Society, so we will not be forced to run again."
"That's good!!" Orihime chirped. It was the first that Ichigo had heard he speak in a while… but she sounded normal, so he didn't stop to think about it for too long. He'd figure out what was up with his friends later.
No, in the meantime, his mind drifted to the strange dream that he had been having, constantly for almost two weeks. Each day, the dream got just a little longer. He could hear the sounds replaying in his head... the images imprinted on his eyelids whenever he closed them... the incredible power teasing him. Why was that so real?
"InuYaaaashaaaa!!" a shrill voice pierced the air. He looked up through bleary eyes, and found that he was having an awful lot of trouble keeping his eyes open.
There was a dull pain in his abdomen, and he flexed his hands, experimentally. There was something in his right hand. Tilting his head, he found that there was long, silvery hair stopping him from seeing what was in his hand. His body hurt too much to move, so there was no way he was going to be sitting up any time soon.
The sharp metallic tang of blood was thick in the air, and something told him that the unique scent of it was his. His mind was processing things slower and slower…
"InuYaaaashaaaa!!" The voice cried again. Now he could pick up on vibrations in the ground. She was running towards him. He could smell salt. It was the girl's tears. She was crying for him?
He noted that his senses seemed more acute than he had ever remembered them. It didn't quite fit in with the weary state of his body, but he reveled in the information that his nose and his ears were sending to his brain.
"InuYasha…" the girl's voice lowered to a whisper. She knelt beside him. His eyes made out the blurry form of someone kneeling over him. "Please, don't die on me now… not after all we've been through together. Not after all we've accomplished."
He felt something grow within him at that plea, and the pain seemed to slowly disappear from his mind. His eyesight sharpened to the point where he could make out the features of the girl who was bent over him. She had long dark hair, and deep brown eyes. Tears ran softly down her face, and splashed upon his own.
Then, totally out of place in his dream, her face phased out, and flashed into a Hollow's mask. The soft brown eyes darkened to red, and a sinister grin spread across her face, which was visible through jagged parts of her mask. But just as soon as her face had twisted, it was back to normal.
"Don't worry, Kagome." A gruff voice exited his mouth… and he knew it wasn't his own. "I'm not dead yet."
::-::-:: ::-::-:: ::-::-::
Kagome's grin widened. Several of the captains had converged on the area, and were mumbling about what she presumed to be her. However, as she looked them over again, she only recognized one of them. Kenpachi Zaraki, was the last to make it to the gate, which Kagome immediately attributed to his horrible sense of direction. Her eyes strayed to the tall, regal one with the dark hair, and found him eyeing her with a gaze of steel. His eyes brought up memories of her past... but then again, Kenpachi did that all by himself.
"Hello, Kenny."
::-::-:: ::-::-:: ::-::-::
Kenpachi skidded to a stop, and joined Toshiro, Soifon, and Byakuya and all their assistants by the gate.
"Who's this? Who's this?" Yachiru chirped from his shoulder. Renji turned to Kenpachi, and sent Yachiru a funny look before replying.
"No one knows. She just appeared."
Matsumoto spoke up, and Yachiru jumped off Kenny's back, so that the assistant captains could gather away from the captains to… well, gossip.
"What if she's the mysterious Hollow-killer? Look at that long-sword strapped to her back!"
Omaeda looked at the other assistant captains, and then back up at the mysterious girl. "One thing's for sure… she's real nice on the eyes."
Renji smacked him upside the head. "You don't talk about women who could kick your ass like that!!"
At this point, the captains had ignored their assistants, and were focused on the strange girl who was standing up on the battlement. She merely stood there, watching them carefully.
"She's powerful." Soifon stated. "Perhaps as much as us."
Byakuya made a noise of agreement. He narrowed his eyes as he stared up at her… there was something suspicious about her presence. He had a sneaking suspicion that there was more to her than she was revealing.
"Nonsense!!" Toshiro said, a scowl marring his face. "She is not from here… there is no way that she could have powers to match ours, because the only training exists within the city! It should be more than easy to dispatch her."'
Soifon and Toshiro immediately started to argue. Byakuya finally turned his attention from the girl on the wall to Kenpachi, who had yet to say anything, which was slightly irregular.
Byakuya was surprised to see him glaring up at the girl, and he could just imagine the cogs turning furiously in his head. What was going through his head?
"Hello, Kenny."
Byakuya's head snapped to the left, and sought the girl out on the wall again. She hadn't moved. Her light, musical voice silenced Soifon and Toshiro's arguing, and Byakuya felt the assistants line up behind their captains.
"You!!" Kenny's face was that of recognition and anger, and before any of the captains could raise a hand to stop him, he had unsheathed his blade, and leapt at the girl on the wall.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Well, there was the initial interaction. Will Ichigo and his gang make it to the Soul Society in time to confront Kagome? I must say, I know what will happen... but go ahead and think about it!! I'm sure you'll either be disappointed or surprised with the next chapter. And how does Kagome know Kenny? Will Byakuya get himself involved? Hahaha.
To tell you the truth, I'm more asking myself these questions... but won't it be fun to figure it out on your own? Feel free to ask about it, anyhow. In a review!! Please and thanks.
That being said, I suppose I'll catch up with some of my other stories, now... --; Who cares about exams...?!!?
ancient-relic
