AN – Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! Just to let you know, this is a pretty rough version, so it might be slightly adjusted or edited more in the coming days, but I'm sure most of you won't complain. Thanks to all who have reviewed! I decided to put in more translations in this chapter, again in hopes of making things less confusing and more enjoyable.
Things are coming along, and I hope to continue more at this pace (updates about every 2-3 weeks). Hopefully, I can keep it up! Enjoy chapter 3.
[11/28/12] – Edited! Yikes, I have to apologize, that really was rough. I don't want to do that again. Thanks to all who soldiered through. I promise that the following chapters will be in much better shape before making it to the internet.
Chapter 3: Memories in the Rain
-June 17th, Karakura High-
Sasuke sat down at his usual spot in class, dreading another boring day of "high school." Uruhara Kisuke had given him this assignment to "keep track of product use and damages," whatever the hell that meant. He had always been vague when giving him a project. In the past, the shop owner had given him strange, if not odd, missions. Once, he simply dropped a package off in front of a large, abandoned warehouse. Another time, he was instructed to leave a bowl of milk on a very specific floor mat on top of the shop roof. Shear pointlessness, and it infuriated him mightily. Other times, he was sent to destroy hollows on the outskirts of the town, and still others, in the cemetery. Overall, Urahara set him on edge. He could never figure out what the former captain was really planning or if it was all some elaborate game so that he could laugh at Sasuke's plight in secret. For the older man's health, Sasuke hoped that wasn't the case.
But, on the other hand, Urahara had helped him to train and become stronger, regaining some of prowess in both battle and physique. He had also provided Sasuke with gigai's, even building this specialized one that he now used. Furthermore, the relationship he gained with Tessai proved more than worth it. Tessai had been able to guide him and help in the search for his lost zanpakuto, Tsukitaka (Moon Hawk). Ever since Sasuke had escaped from Soul Society, he had been tediously looking for it. He remembered some of the last words Tsukitaka had told him 60 years ago; remember, there is always a way to awaken your soul. Sasuke gazed out the window, wishing that Tsukitaka could elaborate more on what he had said.
"Good morning, Sasuke-kun!" Sasuke jumped, almost falling out of seat in surprise. The other students hadn't interacted with him much up until this point. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the large busted girl in front of him.
"Good morning…Orihime-kun?" She clapped her hands gleefully in response.
"Wow, such a good memory! You remembered my name even though we haven't been formerly introduced."
"…"
She continued despite Sasuke's apparent discomfort. "Where are you from, Sasuke-kun? Why did you move to Karakura town?"
"Orihime, can't you tell he's uncomfortable?" piped in Tatsuki, appearing next to her and grabbing her hand, as if to lead her away. "Just leave him alone." She turned, beginning to drag her best friend with her.
"Oh…you're that demon girl," Sasuke said, regaining his composure. A vein popped on the back of her head as Ttasuki stopped in her tracks. "You made quite a mess of things the other day." Her face began to go red, but Sasuke continued to ignore the warning signs. "You know, a girl like you should really keep her anger in check. Who knows what kind of destruction you'll bring next time."
"And what is that supposed mean?!" she croaked, turning around and slamming her hands on his desk, getting in his face about it. Sasuke sweat dropped as his point seemed to become obvious. The other students took full notice of what was happening, but no one dared to try and stop the martial arts expert. Of course, that didn't stop them from forming a circle around the trio, either.
"I just meant that next time, you should keep your anger in check."
"Next time?!" she fumed. "Who said there would be a 'next time', duck head?!"
Duck head? Though one student.
Did she just call him…'duck head'? thought another.
And yet another, duck head…what's wrong with his hair?
Chizuro, standing nearby, whispered to her friend Michiru. "Did she just…insult Sasuke-kun? Does that mean she…likes…Uchiha-kun?"
Sasuke stood up, getting right back at Tatsuki. Although he was no taller than she was, he did his best to be intimidating. "I don't have time to teach little school girls manners! You were running wild the other day, and you're lucky that no one got hurt. You were throwing desks and chairs everywhere, like a wild animal. If you wanted to fight that carrot top so bad, couldn't you have taken it outside? And there's nothing wrong with my hair, it just sticks up in the back!" he added, becoming a little defensive. Tatsuki's eyes seemed to glaze over before hardening. Students who recognized the danger began to back away nervously, not wanting to get caught in the fury that was about to be unleashed.
Orihime began to pull on her best friend's arm. "Come on, Tatsuki-chan, there's no time to be fighting before the first period!"
"Ohh….bad move, bad move!" commented Asano as he looked at what was developing. "Fighting against Tatsuki is like fighting against Keana Reaves! Where is Ichigo when you need him?"
Suddenly, a loud voice carried over the crowd. "Oi…! Where is Ichigo?" Asano looked over to find Kuchiki Rukia standing next to him, unable to see what was going on because of her height. Asano shrugged in response, barely noticing the she wasn't in her school uniform. However, her voice had a much more magnetizing effect on the two other dark-haired students.
"Ichigo…!" Tatsuki exclaimed, snapping out of her stupor. She rushed over to Rukia with Orihime in tow, pushing through the crowd. Once she reached her, she led her away and began to whisper an explanation (although Rukia already knew that Ichigo wasn't there, but had wanted to stop the fighting). Sasuke, now more intrigued than angry, followed loosely behind them. As they reached the door of the classroom, Rukia suddenly bolted out.
Eh…Rukia-chaaaan!" Orihime pleaded. "Where are you going?"
"Bathroom!" she explained as she rushed past the teacher. A look of sympathy came upon the sensei as she thought, you shouldn't interrupt a woman on her way to the potty, when Sasuke suddenly ran past as well.
"S…Sasuke-kun!? Where are you going?"
"I left my books at home!" he explained before running around the corner. Although perplexed, she shrugged as she entered her classroom.
"Students are skipping my class so much these days…oh well!" she said happily as the other students sweat dropped at her care-free attitude.
Outside the school, Rukia sprinted toward the hill that led to the graveyard. Not far behind her was Uchiha Sasuke, gaining ground with every step. Rukia, immersed in her thoughts, didn't notice her classmate skillfully approaching until he called out to her. "Kuchiki-san! Wait!"
She turned and came to a brisk walk, the boy coming up beside her. "…Uchiha-san?"
He nodded in response, catching his breath from the running. "Yes…it's Uchiha Sasuke." Rukia took a closer look at the dark haired teenager. Until now, she had never really looked at him before. He was shorter than most other boys, but still taller than she was. His eyes were dark and serious. And there seemed to be another emotion there…was it…pain? Morbid curiosity? She wasn't sure.
"And? What is it? Why did you follow me?" Rukia's thoughts raced back to Ichigo and his family. If I don't meet up with Ichigo soon…
"Ah…well…it's…" He struggled to find words, looking slightly embarrassed.
Rukia's eyes became a little wider in realization, before she decided to put an end to it immediately. "If you wanting to give a confession of –"
"NO!" Sasuke sighed. "It's…" Dobe! Think of something fast before she finds out the truth…the truth! An idea came to him that sounded just crazy enough to work.
"The truth is…I work for Urahara Kisuke."
"What…!"
"He wanted to me to keep track of the use of his products. I wouldn't normally have agreed, but we're….well, we reached an agreement." Rukia relaxed a little, but she was still a little suspicious. After all, she had never seen this boy before. But then again, the geta boshi (shop owner) did have some strange acquaintances…
"If that greedy salesman thinks he can babysit me, then forget it. Those products were sold to me; I can do whatever I please with them." She began to walk away, but Sasuke stayed right with her. He wasn't about to let this opportunity go to waste.
"I'm no babysitter, Kuchiki Rukia. And don't think that I came to follow you just because Urahara asked me nicely. I came to get answers." She glanced over at him for a moment, a bead of sweat forming on her cheek.
"Tell me…what is your relation to Kuchiki Byakuya?" They began climbing the large hill to the cemetery, Rukia's dress whipping back and forth as she quickly paced up the incline. Sasuke kept pace with her, making him a little warm in his school uniform. Caught up in the tension of the conversation, neither of them noticed the elderly woman who happened to be having a picnic a short ways up. That is, until Sasuke tripped over her.
"G…Gah! Watch where you-re going there you old ha– oh! I'm…sorry, grandma." She had a scolding face at first, standing up and coming to her full height. Her loose fit blouse and large straw hat put Sasuke half in the shade. And although old, she still was taller than both of the students. She looked ready to tell them off, taking a deep breathe as if preparing to let them know how disrespectful it was to collide with a dignified old lady. But then suddenly, she laughed.
"Haha, well that's what you get for not watching where you're going, idiot!" she exclaimed, hitting Sasuke on the head. "And what are you two doing today, playing hooky?" The wrinkly woman looked more closely at them, giving them a mean look in the process. "I suppose I can't be too upset…if you're just accompanying your sister to pay respects, eh?" she asked, motioning towards the cemetery. "At least you kids are dutiful..."
"Eh...I'm not her brother/sister!" the two exclaimed indignantly.
"Oh?" she asked, give them a disbelieving look. "Could have fooled me…"
Rukia, wanting to not waste any more time with the crazy old woman, bowed respectfully and apologized. "We are sorry for interrupting you're picnic. We were wrong to not be watching where we were going." Sasuke frowned, but bowed as well. There was no use in arguing with her; what would it accomplish?
The older woman's eyes crinkled up in a smile. "Well, at least ya kids can do something right. Go along now, and don't get caught playing hooky! And you girl..." Rukia gulped. The way the elder woman commanded them, like they really were nothing but children, intimidated her. It was almost like being in the presence of Unohana-taicho. Almost.
Afraid she was going to get a scolding (who was this woman anyway?), she closed her eyes in acceptance of what was to come, but only felt the soft itch and ruffle of a straw hat donning her head. "Don't get burned on such a hot day!" the old lady proclaimed. Laughing, she returned to her picnic, leaving both Sasuke and Rukia slightly bewildered. Rukia was about to give the hat back, but decided against it. She had wasted enough time as it was. If she was going to intercept Ichigo at the top of the hill, then she needed to move quickly. She sighed in resignation but quickly continued her climb.
Sasuke, glad to remove himself from such an embarrassing moment, followed suit. It wasn't until they had reached the top of the cemetery hill that he regained enough of his composure to refocus the conversation, but by that time it was too late. Not too far off, he could see the Kurosaki family approaching. Dammit….why are they here anyways? I don't have time to get intermingled in this mess, with this strange boy and that…that Kuchiki girl.
Without saying another word, he turned and left. He would need to wait for another opportunity to find some answers about her and Byakuya.
-On the path to the cemetery-
It was a hot summer day. All those years ago, it had been very different for Kurosaki Ichigo. It was raining heavily that day…the day that his mother died. "Even though it's the same June 17th," he said to himself, "it's a hell of a lot different…"
"Huh. There is someone over there," said Karin, catching Ichigo's attention.
"You're right," Yuzu answered. "Are they visiting a grave too?"
"You think?"
As Ichigo turned, he saw a short girl wearing a plain dress and a wide brimmed straw hat. It only took an instant for him to recognize who it was. Why is she here?!
"She's waving," Yuzu observed. "Do you know her, brother?"
"I dunno! I don't know that person!" he explained nervously, mind racing. "I utterly, completely don't…"
"Seems like I've seen her before…" Karin said as she put a hand to her chin.
"I remember!" Ichigo exclaimed, and seemingly none too soon. "A classmate from my middle school days! It's all coming back to me! Oh No! I'm feeling so nostalgic that I want to talk to her alone immediately!" He hurriedly ran off, leaving his two younger sisters behind. "With that said, I'm going to talk to her for a bit! You guys go to mom's grave ahead of me!"
"Going to talk…?" Yuzu questioned, but her twin sister had a different response.
"Eh-heh…"
"What?! What's with the 'eh-heh'?!"
"Nothing…just that it seems he's finally reached that age.."
"What!? What do you mean!? Karin-chaaan!"
Karin chuckled. "It might be time to let our brother go…"
Sasuke was walking through forest, heading in the general direction that he had heard Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia head off in. As he walked, he thought about his unsuccessful attempt at learning more about who Rukia was, and what her relation was to Byakuya. If he could just make a connection, then he could be one step closer to reuniting with his zanpakuto. He had not wielded his spirit sword in over sixty years, and it felt as though a large piece of him were missing. A shinigami without their zanpakuto….was truly powerless. And that is what he had been for these past sixty years. Years of hard work, only to still fall short in an area that really mattered. He looked at his hand, clenching his fist. Once I get my power back…
A shout echoed off the trees, "You've got to be kidding me!" It sounded like Kurosaki Ichigo. Sasuke made his way towards it, getting close enough to listen but no quite close enough to see. Apparently carrot top and the Kuchiki girl were having at it. Their voices barely rose through the cluster of bark and leaves.
"Haa…haaa…why did you run like that?" That must be Kuchiki…Ichigo ran off?
Ichigo's voice came in with gasps. "It was not…it was not a hollow or anything! The one that killed mom…it was me!" Ichigo's mom…he killed his own mom? Why would he do a thing like that? Hmmm…. Sasuke pondered on it for another moment. He couldn't have killed his own mom. The kid can barely control his spiritual power as it is. It had to be something else….a hollow, maybe? It's possible, with his level of reitsu…but then why would he say that?
Suddenly, Rukia burst through the woods, walking quickly away from Ichigo. She was quickly walking up the steps, back to the top of the hill. Sasuke hesitated for only a moment before deciding to follow her. If he was going to get answers then this would be the best time. As he came clear of the forest, he glance right to find the small girl sitting on the ledge. As he walked over, he could see Ichigo and his family below. So they came to pay their respects. Ichigo's mom is dead then…
"He killed his mother…" Rukia murmered. Sasuke quietly approached until he was almost directly behind her left shoulder. "I can't imagine him doing anything to his mother…perhaps a mistake…or an accident." She thought about what she had said earlier, that it might have been a hollow. "..What a fool I am…"
Suddenly, the zipper on Rukia's backpack opened, and plush arm coming out. "Siiiister Ruuukia!" Kon popped out, startling the former shinobi. He had see many things before…but this? This was something else entirely.
"What, Kon? I told you not to come out until I called you." That thing has a name?!
"But sister, it's hard to breathe in here. Cut me a break."
"You breathe?"
"Hey, can't we go home already? It looks like Ichigo wants us to stay low this time too."
"I told you," she explained, "if I don't stay nearby, when a hollow appears, we'd be late dealing with it. This is also my job."
"Damn," Kon complained, "I knew it'd be no use. No matter what, its hollow, hollow, hollow, hollow…you know sister, you'll lose friends when you think about nothing but work. Ahhh, there's nothing to do here, I wanna hurry back home…! Something wrong?"
"…No…" she answered, bowing her head. "Nothing at all…"
As Kon retreated to her backpack, Sasuke decided to make his move. Kon had somehow managed to put him in a thoughtful mood. "Don't lie…you miss it, don't you?" he asked, sitting down next to her. "The soul society, that is." Rukia looked over at him, a little startled.
"You followed me…"
"…"
"...This is the assignment I was given, the eradication of hollows and sending of plusses in Karakura town. Shinigami aren't to have feelings or longing to be back."
"Shinigami aren't robots. We're souls too. Is it so wrong to miss being back?"
"…"
"Look, Kuchiki…I just want to ask you some questions. I've been looking for something that was very important to me, something that I lost. I just want to get it back."
A moment passed, but she finally answered. "…I can't go back."
"Eh?"
"My shinigami powers…I got injured when protecting Ichigo and his family. I've been recovering in this gigai ever since."
"That's how you came to know Urahara, then…what about the Kuchiki family? What relation are you to Kuchiki Byakuya?" Rukia gave him a puzzled look.
"Why are you so interested in nii-san?"
"Nii-san? You're…Byakuya's sister…?!"
"Yes. Adopted, but….it all happened just over fifty years ago. It's said that I bear a striking resemblance to his late wife, Hisana."
"Wife…sister….what all has happened since I was there?" Sasuke looked unsure. His brows furrowed, he was trying to process what he was hearing. It was difficult, as if someone had told him that his sister had married his enemy, but then his enemy died. Should he be happy or sad…those were the emotions he was struggling with. Rukia watched him briefly, not quite sure of what to make of him.
"…Sasuke….who are you?"
He glanced over at her, mind racing once again, but a horrible sensation came over the both of them. There was a hollow…it was close.
The presence of a hollow, Rukia thought. This is ridiculous, an order should have come… There was a sudden beeping sound from the phone hidden in her dress. She checked it quickly before finally running off, her mind shifting from Uchiha Sasuke to the hollow on hand. I don't know what's going on with Urahara and Uchiha Sasuke, but it will have to wait!
"Damn! This order is late! Those fools!" She took off down the stairs, meeting Ichigo halfway.
"Dammit," muttered Sasuke. "Why am I always caught up in these kinds of things..." He ran down through the woods, towards the hollow but stopping at the edge of the forest. If I can stay just out of the hollow's range, I can observe and jump in only if I absolutely need too. Let's see what this kid is made of. As he ran though, his mind drifted back to what Rukia had said. Kuchiki Byakuya's sister…his adopted sister…when did Byakua marry? When did all of this happen? Did she say fifty years ago? His mind drifted to the day before, the day he had discovered that his zanpakuto was still in the soul society. Without it, he would be unable to recover completely. He had spent the past 60 years living in gigais and slowly growing and training what little spiritual power he had left.
As he came to the edge of the tree line, he thought more about what he had learned. So she is also recovering…and she misses the soul society. Soul Society….he wondered how it had changed. Could he even go back now? Could he risk going back? With Aizen Sousuke still there, going back to retrieve his zanpakuto would be like guaranteeing death.
Furthermore, if he went back…he would have to face them. He would need to confront not only Aizen Sosouke, but his brother as well. As the battle between Ichigo and Grand Fisher began to unfold in front of him, another battle replayed in his mind.
-Flashback: Kuchiki training grounds, about 100 years ago-
"Byakuyaaaaaaaa! I've come to challenge you! You're going down once and for all today!" A young academy student, Sasuke, came barging into the Kuchiki training grounds. Although he was the youngest in his class, he was the most proficient student in every area of study, being claimed as the next genius to go through the academy. While there were comparisons to the last genius, Ichimaru Gin, Sasuke was most often looked at as the next 'Kuchiki Byakuya', a fact that bothered him to no end.
Byakuya, sweating from his training with an asauchi (nameless zanpakuto), looked over at the uncharacteristically loud entrance. Normally the raven haired student attempted a sneak attack or laid a trap for him. "…Sasuke? Is that you?" he asked, wiping his brow.
"It's Uchiha Sasuke to you, Byakuya!" Sasuke exclaimed, pointing his wooden training sword at him.
"…Uchiha? What is that supposed to mean? Who gave you that name?"
"That damn cat woman did," he explained, walking towards the older shinigami. "I guess it means 'to fan a flame' or something like that. From now on, I want to be called Uchiha Sasuke!" At this he laughed. "What's so funny?!"
"Give it a rest, Sasuke. What's with this loud entrance? This isn't like you at all. Don't think you'll catch me off guard simply because you acting obnoxious…" Sasuke scowled, pointing his weapon at him threateningly.
"Today, I will beat you. I'm tired of living in your shadow. Today, I catch you!" He flashed stepped forward, but the future head of the Kuchiki family had been practicing himself. Sasuke was on him in two steps, but by the time he had got there, Byakuya was already repositioning himself. In one quick motion, he had placed himself directly behind the younger death god. Using his sheathed sword, he tapped Sasuke twice in the back.
"…! That was…"
"Senka," Byakuya explained. "That Yorouchi made me learn it. Pretty soon, I'll be using it against her." Sasuke turned around, frowning. He clenched his sword tightly. "That was the first time I used it against you, though…I guess in a real battle, you would be in real trouble right now."
Looking up to the taller Kuchiki, Sasuke suddenly smirked. Grabbing his opponent's sword hand, he swung his practice sword with all his might. Byakuya hesitated for an instant, but that was all Sasuke needed to get under his guard. The audible thud of wood meeting flesh let him know that there would be a nice bruise in the morning. Byakuya gave him a mixed expression, somewhere between a grimace and a scowl.
"Idiot…you'll regret that…"Grabbing hold and lifting him into the air, Byakuya threw him against the wall with some force. He wasn't about to let him get off easy, even if it was Sasuke. The impact against the training ground wall knocked the wind out of Sasuke, and by the time he recovered, he saw the sword resting on his shoulder.
"I win this match," Byakuya declared. That said, he extended a hand to help him up. Resigning to the fact that he lost, he took it. The two smiled at each other after that. For the past year, it had become a sort of ritual that Sasuke would challenge him about once a week, mostly because he was upset at the comparison between them.
As they started walking into the grounds to have tea with Byakuya's grandfather, Genrei, he noticed that Sasuke was in a sour mood. "…You seem really strange today, Sasuke. It isn't like you to barge in so loudly."
"It's just…you know…it's that day…" Byakuya sighed.
"Thinking about their deaths won't accomplish anything. What's done is done, and it's in the past now. What are you fighting for?"
"…I'm fighting to honor their deaths," he said truthfully.
"And what will you accomplish? No matter whether you win or lose, they are still gone."
"…"
"Sasuke….I fight for the pride of this family, a noble line of shinigami. We are an example to everyone else in soul society. One day, I will be the head of that family, and I will be expected to fight for that pride. Instead of fighting to honor their deaths…why don't you fight to honor the lives that are still here?"
"…You want me to fight…for life?"
"Fight to protect it. Fight for what life lies in front of you. It is the greatest duty of a shinigami. If you want to call yourself Uchiha, then be a fan to the flame for that."
"…Thanks, Byakuya."
"…And be careful too. I won't always be the one attacking you back."
"Hey!" Sasuke chased the older one to tea, both eventually arriving in a rumpled mess. Needless to say, Genrei-dono wasn't pleased.
-Cemetary hill-
Raindrops. Startled out of his memories, he looked to see that Ichigo had struggled against Grand Fisher, but at least managed to wound it. How long was I daydreaming? It was so odd, to remember that time, in that place. What was it that Byakuya had said to him? "Fight for the life that lies in front of you." Looking out, he could see Rukia rushing over to the injured Ichigo, beginning to heal his wounds and stopping the bleeding. The life that lies in front of me…back then, he had thought that Byakuya had simply meant himself and his family, but maybe it was more. Fight for his family? Could he really do such a thing anymore?
Family…friends…comrades….fight for them? I've been nothing but alone for so many years. How would I even start? The image of a blond flashed through his head, along with a voice. "Sasuke-teme!" However, as briefly as it had come, it was gone. Again with these visions! And why do I feel…regret? Sasuke frowned, slowly getting more wet from the rain shower. Seeing that Ichigo would be ok, he began to head back to where he stayed. Years ago, Byakuya had told him to fight for the life that was in front of him. He wasn't sure if he could do that yet, but one thing was clear. If he was going to make any more progress on reuniting with his zanpakuto, Tsukitaka, then it would be easier if he could get Kuchiki Rukia to tell him more about what was going on back in the soul society. Whether it came through friendship or other means, he was determined to make progress at whatever the cost.
AN – I'm adding a new postscript to every chapter entitled "FCU" or "ForeCasted Update". This is basically an easy way of letting you guys know when I plan on updating the next chapter. This will not be a strict, 1-2 day period, but more of a "you can expect it around this week or this day plus or minus a couple days." I know that some will want more frequent updates, but I promise to do my best to stay consistent. Besides, these chapters are a lot longer than some other fanfics, so you can't complain too much! ;) I hoped you enjoyed reading this chapter, and I would love to hear you feedback, good or bad. Leave a review! =)
FCU – as close to Christmas weekend as possible. I've got a large ten page paper I get to write between now and then, so once that's done, the next chapter will be soon to follow.
~AR
