Well, I haven't messed with this story for some time. Frankly, I lost interest and started another story, then another, and you get it. Since then, I've decided to start writing it again, so hopefully this one will also be updated every week or so. I had one new reviewer so I guess that might have also had something to do with this. Either way, the chapter. Overall, it isn't going to be near as exciting as the first two. But hey, after just dying, you can't expect action scenes every chapter. Filler chapters like this are necessary to continue the story, so they kind of have to be done. At the very least, you can be excited in knowing that it will be written. Enjoy!
Chapter 3: Ouch
Having wandered around the village for around an hour, and finding nothing of interest, Takeshi noticed something. Well, really the lack of something. "Why don't I feel hungry? Surely by now my stomach would be growling or something?" He glanced down at the silent area, wondering if he should be worried.
He also noticed that among the people who seemed to live together, very few looked as if they were related. A dark skinned boy sat on a woman's lap, who was of a rather pale complexion and brushed his hair, humming a little song as mother's do. A tall but young girl with long black hair held the hand of little blonde girl, nothing in their appearance's matching the other but giving off the unmistakable feeling of sisters. "Do people here live together out of necessity or what? Doesn't anybody keep to that whole 'I'll wait for you on the other side thing' ?" Shaking his head in a confused manner, he ran his fingers through his longer bangs.
Takeshi walked back and forth through the village, asking various people questions and learning more about what life after death had to offer. Finally sitting down, he reclined his head on the back of somebody's little house. "So, we don't really have to eat, which explains my lack of hunger, and people who know each other are unlikely to see each other unless they died around the same time. That explains why everyone looks like a bunch of strangers living together." The young man thoughtfully considered the last piece of information he'd learned. "And we can, apparently, live for a very long time. Something around two thousand years or so. Damn, what would you even do with all that time?"
Standing up, he dusted himself off. "Then there's these Soul Reapers. All they'd tell me is that it was a Soul Reaper that sent me here and that they rarely do anything more for you. I guess that means they've got something more important to do then." He stretched. "Wonder what that is?"
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After it started to get dark, Takeshi decided it was time he stopped procrastinating and find someone who'd be willing to take him in. When he'd asked more about the Soul Reapers, the people had quickly suggested that he find a man named Michi. Apparently, he was the man to go to if you were interested in Soul Reapers. He lived near the edge of the village, on the far towards what the locals called the Seireitei, although he'd been told they were a long way away from this place. When he'd asked what it what it was, they merely waved him off and to leave them be. Michi would answer his questions. "It seems to me, that some people here don't care for these Soul Reapers. Oh well, I'm interested and nothing else here seems worth doing. I'll be damned if I sit here twiddling my thumbs for two thousand years."
Finally reaching his destination, Takeshi came to the small house that they said belonged to Michi. It wasn't much and frankly, it didn't really look any different than all the other shacks he'd passed. There was a wooden rocking chair sitting in front of the building, but precious little else. Taking a step forward, he knocked on the door three times in quick succession. "Hello? I'm here to see Michi. People told me to come here if I was interested in Soul Reapers."
A grumbling sound came from inside the house and the sound of wood striking the floor reached his hears. "Just a minute, just a minute. Damn people keep sending me damn kids, what do I look like, a babysitter?" With a rough yank, an old man who supported his left side with a heavy walking stick opened the door, his black grey hair pulled back in traditional samurai fashion. A grizzled beard coated his jaw, which was kept rather tight, as if he spent most of his time frowning. His blue eyes peered at Takeshi, contemplating, piercing. Surprisingly, he was rather built for an old man, his muscles evident in his time weathered arms.
He wore a simple blue robe, bare at the arms, which fell to his ankles, a white sash tying it at the waist. Seeming to have been a warrior, an old scar went over his nose, a past injury. "What do you want boy?" He asked without preamble, resting his other hand on the cane as well.
Takeshi shrugged, pushing his bangs out of the way. "Do that again and I'll cut them off." The man's curt voice surprising him. "Don't tell me your life story, how you died, or whatever the hell your dreams are. What I want to hear is why you are here. Now."
Quickly gathering his thoughts, which wasn't hard considering all the things this old man had told him to keep to himself, Takeshi nodded. "Of course. Death seems as boring as life. I want excitement and these Soul Reapers seem to have some of that. People said you can tell me about them." He attempted a small grin. "I could also use a place to stay, if you'll have me."
The man closed his eyes slowly, thinking. "If I allow you to stay here, you will be expected to take care of certain tasks for me. I am old and can't get around as I used to. In return for that, I will teach you things I believe you need to know and you will have a place to sleep. You have no choice on whether you want to do the tasks I set or not, nor what you wish to learn. I am a strict teacher so expect little leniency, no, expect none at all." He opened his eyes now, staring at the young man before him, gaging his reaction.
To be truthful, Takashi was feeling just a bit overwhelmed by the old man's demeanor. He was expecting someone with a more grandfatherly attitude, or at least not as hostile as what he was feeling at this moment. Still, it wasn't like he had a lot of options. "Alright old man, I guess I can agree to that."
The old man nodded. Suddenly, Takeshi was struck across the face by the wooden cane, nearly losing his footing. He took a few steps back, rubbing his cheek. "What the hell was that for!?" This time the can popped him in the nose, which he instinctively grabbed in pain. A firmer push sent him falling back onto his back, reflex tears pouring from his eyes.
Michi stood above him, thunderstorm blue eyes glaring down at him. "Listen well boy, I will not tolerate being called 'old man'. You will call me 'Master' and nothing else, unless I say so. Next, you will not answer me with statements like 'I guess I can'. Give me an assertive answer. Understood?" He was met with a stunned stare. "I said. UNDERSTOOD?" He said the last word rather forcefully, jolting Takeshi out of his shocked state.
Hesitantly getting to his feet, Takeshi eyed the man with new caution. What the hell kind of old man is he? I didn't even have time to react to that! Removing his hand from his nose, he wasn't too surprised to see that it was bleeding. "I understand ol-Master." He hurriedly corrected himself, noticing the tightening of Michi's hand on his walking stick.
Michi nodded again. "Very well. First things first, go inside and clean yourself up. There's a water basin and a cloth on the edge of it inside. After that, I need you to go and gather firewood from the outlying woods. There's an axe beside the doorframe, it's not particularly sharp so expect to be at it for a good hour or so. After that, I'll give you a few more things to do."
Takeshi groaned inwardly. This guy certainly doesn't waste any time. You think he'd be more patient, with all the time we supposedly have. "Yes Master." He did as he was told, tenderly dabbing at his nose with the rough cloth. Afterwards, he gathered up the axe and noticed that there was nothing for him to carry the wood back on. "Excuse me, Master, but how exactly am I supposed to get the wood back here?"
A grey eyebrow raised as the man took a seat in a rocking chair, calmly reclining with the walking stick across his lap. "I'd imagine you'd have to carry it. It'll probably take at least two or three trips, depending on how much you can carry here. Best get started." He said the last part meaningfully, inclining his head in the direction of the forest.
Barely suppressing a sigh, Takeshi began his walk towards them. "What did I get myself into?"
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Turns out, it took Takeshi and hour and a half to get the firewood cut and back, which took four trips. He was never the strongest person and his rather skinny build did little to help that. The whole time, Michi merely sat in his rocking chair. At one time, he even had a cup of tea rested in his hands, telling Takeshi that he could have some whenever he finished gathering the wood.
After that small respite, Michi decided that the water basin would need to be emptied and refilled, thanks to the bloody mess Takeshi had made of the water. As if that was my fault! The young man couldn't help thinking. This meant Takeshi had to pour the bloody water a fair distance away from the house and then refill the basing using a bucket. The river was an unfair distance away, meaning he had more walking and more lugging to do.
Next on Michi's seemingly endless list of tasks was the cleaning of the house. While it was a small structure, it required a surprisingly large amount of maintenance. The floor needed swept, the rugs beat, clothes washed in the river and then hung on an outside line, and an assortment of other small everyday duties. By the end of it, Takeshi was beginning to question on whether Michi would be teaching him about Soul Reapers or how to be a maid. Eventually, it seemed Michi had run out of jobs for him. "Not bad, not very good, but not a bad job for your first day. I suppose now you want to know more about Soul Reapers." He said it as a statement, obviously feeling that it would be foolish to question it.
In truth, Takeshi was feeling more like taking a nap. It had been dark when he'd finished the outside jobs. Michi had lit a torch on a stand outside the house, to better watch Takeshi's progress. When the boy had asked if he could borrow one, Michi shook his head. "Afraid not, this is the only one I have and oil can be damn expensive. Don't worry; we don't have to worry about wolves or anything in the afterlife. The occasional hollow might find its way here, but I doubt you'll be so unlucky."
Seeing the young man's eyes widen in fear, he'd smiled. "You have an axe, so take comfort in that. Although, it's likely just to piss him off and then I'll have to get a new one."
Feeling that he should at least get some of what he was promised before going to sleep, he nodded. "I do, Master. I'd like to know-" The wooden can rapped across his elbow, causing him to gasp. "Ouch." He looked at Michi accusingly.
The man tapped the cane against the ground a few times, punctuating his sentences. "I told you that I'll teach you want I think you need to learn. Not whatever you get into your head to wonder about."
Settling back into his chair, he gestured for Takeshi to sit on one of the floor mats. "Soul Reapers. They exterminate hollows who do evil in the World of the Living and ensure the safe crossing of souls to Soul Society. You've seen examples of both of these duties, in the extermination of the hollow that killed you and when the Soul Reaper transported you here." Having been filled on what had happened at his own request; Michi seemed to have taken a small bit of pleasure in not answering the young man's questions at that time.
"They are beings that possess high Reiryoku and a body of Reishi." Forestalling Takeshi's inevitable question by smacking the table between them with his cane, he continued. "Reiryoku is a power aligned with the spiritual sensitivity and willpower of the user. Reishi is the main component material of souls."
Standing from his seat, Michi began to slowly make his way to his room, which was sectioned off by a mere curtain. "Goodnight then. There's an extra cot in the far corner"
Takeshi stood up suddenly, dumbfounded. "Wait, wait, wait…Master." He added, seeing the sideways look he was being given. "Is that really all?"
The old man laughed, shaking his head. "Of course not! There is so much more that we could sit here all night and still not go over everything! No, there is still much you will learn. But I am tired and also have no intention of telling you everything at once so that I lose my new worker as soon as I got him. I'll have a new list of chores for you in the morning; I suggest you rest up until then." Shutting the curtain, he left Takeshi standing, shaking his head in disbelief.
What a manipulative old bastard. The young man thought, groaning as his stiff muscles stretched in protest to him lying down.
So I know this isn't the longest chapter, but like Michi, I am tired and need to get some sleep as well. Michi is, obviously, an OC created by me that will basically teach Takashi whatever he needs to learn about Soul Reapers. Why don't I just boot Takashi off to the Academy and be done with it? I just think that it would be a little bit too rushed(frankly, I still think I'm rushing it) and I want him to have some idea of what the hell is going on before he gets there. Be warned, it will probably be a good while until then. I have some things planned for him that will need to be taken care of first. It's like the real anime. The first arc or whatever was kind of boring and not to great. Wasn't terrible or anything, it's just not the most interesting arc there is. This will sort of be like that and I will probably start accepting OC's whenever I hint at him finally heading in that direction. Be sure to leave a review and tell me what you think so far, although there really isn't a whole lot to talk about right now. Later!