Chapter 3: Whispers
Tama looked up from his bed as a kind eyed, dark-haired, bespectacled man entered the room. Keiko broke into an instant smile.
"Good morning, Doctor Saito," she greeted the man warmly.
"Good morning, Keiko-san," he replied cheerfully.
As he approached the bed, he extended a hand, offering the young man in the bed a frozen popsicle.
"Keiko said that you seem to enjoy frozen sweets," he commented, "Good morning, Tama-san. How are you feeling today? I understand that you said something earlier?"
Tama smiled and nodded, accepting the icy treat and opening it with eager hands.
"He said Arashi," Keiko reported, "It seems like it must be a name, but I don't know if it is a person or maybe a pet he is remembering. He seemed upset after because he was trying hard to say more."
"I'm sure it's hard to be patient when you've been here for as long as you have, and you are anxious to find your way home," Doctor Saito said sympathetically, "But we may have some leads. We're still trying to find Kurosaki Ichigo, although it would be helpful if we knew where he lived. And his number may be unlisted. Don't worry, we'll keep trying. I just want you to focus on your healing, Tama-san. Get up and walk every day. It looks like your appetite is very healthy."
"You can say that again," Keiko chuckled, "He eats like a horse. I don't know how he stays so thin. He does love fresh vegetables…so much that we planted some things in the garden. We walk out to tend the plants every day now."
"Good," the doctor said approvingly, "I want you to keep that up. "
The doctor paused as another nurse poked her head in through the door.
"Doctor Saito, there is a referral who just arrived from west Karakura. They need you to do a quick arrival assessment and sign off."
"Oh, of course," he answered.
He stood and smiled down at Tama encouragingly.
"You two seem like you have things well in hand. I'm off to take care of this. Let me know if there are any new developments."
"Thank you, Doctor Saito," Keiko said appreciatively.
She watched as the doctor left, then turned back to Tama, who was just finishing the popsicle the doctor had given him. She smiled warmly at the young man and nodded in the direction of the door.
"I have a few things to do," she told him, "Doctor Saito said that you are ready to start doing more things on your own, so if you'd like to walk out to the garden, I will meet you there in a little while."
Tama smiled and nodded.
He sighed softly as she left, feeling a touch of loneliness, but encouraged by the fact of getting a few minutes alone to look for the stallion that he was sure must still be nearby. He climbed out of bed and changed into a fresh yukata before brushing his teeth and hair and leaving his room.
"Good morning, Tama-san," another of the nurses greeted him, "How are you feeling today?"
"B-better," Tama managed politely, earning a smile of approval from the nurse.
"You're finally starting to talk to us!" she exclaimed softly, touching his arm gently in acknowledgment, "You just keep that up and you'll be back home before you know it."
Tama nodded then bowed politely and headed for the door that led into the gardens.
"Such a sweet boy," the nurse sighed, watching him leave, "I hope you find your way home soon."
The little cloud of melancholy Tama felt lifted slightly as he entered the gardens and breathed in the sweet scents of the flowers and fresh water. He walked slowly along the path, pausing by the koi pond to scatter a handful of food for the brightly colored fish, before continuing on his way and heading for the area he and Keiko had planted together. He knelt in front of a row of little plants that grew near the bushes where the horse had appeared before. Tama watched out of the corner of one blue eye as he tended the plants in front of him. For several minutes, the area was quiet, but for the sounds of birds and a squirrel that scampered by. But as he was beginning to wonder if he had only dreamed of the pretty horse, there was a greater rustling in the bushes, and the beast's head poked out. The horse gave him a quizzical look and Tama again heard the soft, wispy voice in his mind.
Tetsuya.
Tama took a steadying breath, focusing his mind on the feeling of confusion that plagued him and his burning curiosity about the lovely stallion.
Arashi?
The horse quivered and looked back at him hopefully.
You remember me?
Tama gave the horse a regretful look.
Sorry, I was badly injured six months ago, and I haven't been able to remember anything about who I am or where my home is.
The horse's ears perked.
I can help you, he offered, First off, you are Kuchiki Tetsuya. You are a shingami.
Tama frowned.
I am a…what?
"Tama-san," Keiko's voice interrupted, "are you all right?"
Tama startled.
"Oh, sorry!" the nurse apologized, her gaze turning to look in the direction he had been facing, "Poor thing. I didn't mean to startle you. Were you remembering something?"
Tama swallowed hard and tried the name that the horse had given him.
"T-tets-suya," he stammered unsteadily.
Do not tell her you are a shinigami, the stallion instructed him, Most humans can't see spirits. If you tell her anything, she will think you're crazy.
"Tetsuya," he said, smiling wearily as he forced the name out.
"Tetsuya?" Keiko repeated wonderingly, "Is that your name?"
Tetsuya nodded.
"Do you know your last nme?" she asked, taking his hand.
Tetsuya bit his lip gently, glancing surreptitiously at the horse, then he shook his head. Keiko gave him an encouraging smile and patted his face.
"Well, a first name is a start, isn't it? We can check and see if anyone with your name has been reported missing."
Tetsuya nodded gratefully.
"Don't you worry," Keiko said reassuringly, "You're doing better every day. We'll get you home, Tetsuya-san. Now that we know your first name, the police can be more helpful."
Tetsuya, the horse said warningly, when we arrived in Karakura Town, there was…a man, your cousin, Orochi, who was trying to hurt you. He may still be looking for you.
Tetsuya frowned and paled, earning a worried look from his attending nurse.
"Tama-san…erm, Tetsuya-san, we should go back inside. You look tired from trying so hard to remember. Come."
Tetsuya quietly accepted the woman's arm around him and walked slowly back to the building as Arashi emerged from the bushes and followed.
Is that wise? Tetsuya inquired, What if the one who was looking for us sees?
We have senses that allow us to feel when familiar souls are close to us, Arashi answered, Yours don't seem to be working, but mine are. Orochi is nowhere near. There is a human who can help us. Now that I've emerged…
Tetsuya blinked in confusion, then he noticed Keiko looking at him worriedly and gave her a little smile.
Pardon me, emerged? Tetsuya mused.
I am a part of your soul. When you were injured, I was pulled into your inner world.
Inner world?
Master, I am going to Karakura Town. There is a man there who can help us. You will be safe here until I get back.
"W-wait!" Tetsuya gasped, pulling free of Keiko.
"Tetsuya-san, what's wrong?" the nurse objected.
"Sorry," he panted, shaking softly, "Hurts."
"Poor thing," Keiko said, taking his hand and squeezing, "Let's get you back to your room and I will give you a soothing massage before I go. I'm leaving a little early. I have to go pick some things up in Karakura Town."
Tetsuya relaxed slightly, then even more as they reached his room and Keiko delivered the promised massage. He settled in his bed, his mind busily contemplating.
I wonder who Arashi plans to look for. It could be Kurosaki Ichigo. I just hope they get here soon…before Orochi finds me.
XXXXXXXXXX
"I told you I am fine!" Ichigo snapped at his younger sister, "I've got other places I can go for such a minor thing."
"Don't be silly, Ichi-nii," Yuzu said sweetly, "We are right near the hospital where Dad's helping today, see? He will fix that cut right up."
She looked at him quizzically.
"How did you get that cut anyway?"
"Eh...fell down," he lied, not wanting to explain about the hollow, "I told you, I'm fine. I can just..."
"That's okay, Ichi-nii! We're here," she said, pushing him through the doorway.
She ran to the receptionist.
"Is my Dad busy?" she asked excitedly, "Ichi-nii fell and cut up his arm, see?"
"It's not that bad," Ichigo said, blushing, "but she wouldn't let up and we were close, so..."
"Not to worry, Yuzu-chan," said the receptionist, "It just so happens that Kurosaki-san had a cancellation. Go with Mika-chan and she will put you in a room."
"Thanks," said Ichigo, chuckling.
He started to follow the nurse down the hallway, but paused as a feminine voice sounded at the front desk.
"I am Iwanishi Keiko. I work at the rehabilitation center on the edge of Karakura Town. We have a patient, a young man, who was struck by a car six months ago and remembers little. He only just remembered his name and spoke it to us today. He did remember that he was looking for a Kurosaki Ichigo. I didn't know him, but a friend I saw at the hospital across town told me there is a Kurosaki Isshin who was going to be helping out here today, and I wondered..."
"I am Kurosaki Ichigo," Ichigo said, walking back to the reception desk, "You say that this guy was looking for me? He was injured six months ago?"
"Yes," said Keiko, "He was unconscious for some time. Then, he woke, but he could not speak or even walk. He came to the rehabilitation center four months ago, and he has slowly been recovering from his injuries."
"What is his name?" asked Ichigo, hardly daring to hope.
"Well," said the nurse, smiling, "We've been calling him Tama, because of his beautiful blue eyes. But today, he said that he thinks that his name is Tetsuya."
"Tetsuya?" Ichigo repeated, "I do know him. We know of each other through a mutual friend and he was supposed to meet with me six months ago. I've been wondering why he never showed up. Can you take me to him now?"
"Of course. He will be so relieved to finally be able to meet someone who can answer some of his questions."
"Please, take me to him right away," said Ichigo.
"Wait a minute, mister!" said Yuzu, grabbing his arm, "You are not going anywhere until that arm gets fixed up."
Keiko laughed and smiled at Yuzu.
"Don't worry, I will take care of your brother's injury myself. But Tetsuya-san is very anxious to find his way to you, and I do so want to see that sweet young man find his way home, you know?"
"I'm on it," said Ichigo, turning with Keiko and hurrying out the door, "We've been real worried about Tetsuya. It'll be a relief to know he's okay, and that we've found him."
XXXXXXXXXX
Tetsuya rested quietly in his bed, still thinking about the lovely black stallion.
"Arashi," he whispered, remembering.
He wondered if the horse had returned and slipped out of his bed, then walked over to the window. He slid the window open and breathed in the fresh, evening air, feeling relief that soon he would know himself again...that he would be among friends and family who could end his confusion and set him right once more. Tetsuya startled as an equine face appeared suddenly at the window, pushing against the screen and huffing soft breath through it.
Tetsuya...
Hello again, Arashi, he said, removing the screen and patting the horse's neck, I am glad you came back. Did you find Kurosaki Ichigo?
Not yet, Arashi answered, I had to come back, because I thought I might have sensed Orochi in the area.
Orochi? The one who wants to hurt me?
Yes! You are in danger!
"Orochi," Tetsuya whispered anxiously.
He heard voices at the nurse's desk and walked to the door to his room, leaving the stallion at the window.
Tetsuya! Tetsuya, don't!
"I have been looking for my brother everywhere," said a male voice to the evening nurse, "I heard that you have a patient who was injured by a car six months ago. I must see him, in case the man is my brother."
"What is your brother's name?" asked the nurse.
"Tetsuya. Kuchiki Tetsuya."
"Kuchiki Tetsuya," Tetsuya repeated, frowning.
He wondered why the man's voice sent a chill through him.
Tetsuya! Come. It is him! It is Orochi!
"Orochi?" Tetsuya whispered, peeking out at the man.
If the sound of his voice had unnerved him, the sight of the coldly handsome, black-eyed man left Tetsuya numb with fear. He turned and fled, still not knowing why his instincts told him the man would hurt him...only knowing that he was sure the man would. He ran to the window and climbed out and onto the black stallion's back.
Hold on! Arashi's voice hissed in his mind as the stallion turned and broke into a gallop, fleeing the center as the lights went on in Tetsuya's room and loud voices rose up behind them. A dark form flew out the window and sent a powerful flash of blue fire after the retreating horse. Arashi ran faster as the man followed in blazing flash steps, firing more blasts that struck the trees and ground all around them.
Arashi ran into the trees, and weaved his way through them, changing direction suddenly, several times as he fought to elude their attacker. Still pursued by the other man, the stallion broke out of the trees and moved to his maximum speed, trying to outdistance the pursuing noble.
"I have you now, you half-blood whore!" Orochi snarled, launching a kido blast at Tetsuya's back.
Arashi turned, evading the blast, but shied and pulled up as a car appeared on the road and swerved to miss them. The vehicle screeched to a halt, and a ginger-haired youth tumbled out.
"Tetsuya!" he cried, "Tetsuya, it's me! It Kurosaki Ichi..."
He broke off, exploding into shinigami form as Orochi closed in and fired a kido blast at Tetsuya from point-blank range. Orochi froze as Ichigo set himself between the shinigami and his quarry.
"You know who I am," he said, frowning, "I know you do. I don't know why you're trying to hurt Kuchiki Tetsuya, but I'm not going to allow it. Back down now, or I will loose enough power to kill you."
Orochi's eyes glinted wickedly in the darkness, and his lips curled with fury, but he knew better than to challenge the youth directly. He turned his glare on Tetsuya.
"You may think that you have escaped me, Tetsuya, but let me assure you, it doesn't end here. Watch your back, Cousin."
He disappeared in a flash step, leaving Ichigo, Arashi and Tetsuya staring at each other. Keiko's voice sounded suddenly from near the stopped car.
"Oh kami! You need to breathe!" she cried, leaning over Ichigo's abandoned human body.
"Oh crap," sighed Ichigo, pulling out the memory altering device that Rukia had given him.
He held it in front of the nurse's face and activated it, making her eyes go blank for a moment. She shook her head to clear it as Ichigo slipped back into his body, and Tetsuya and Arashi backed into the shadows.
"It's okay now," said Ichigo, setting Keiko back on her feet, "Go on home."
He watched as the woman got back in her car and drove away, then turned to Tetsuya and Arashi.
"You're Tetsuya?" he asked.
Tetsuya nodded.
"I know you can't talk much. Keiko told me about you. I'm really glad we found you," said Ichigo, "Rukia and I have been real worried about you. We didn't know where you were."
Tetsuya gave him a distressed look.
"It's okay," said Ichigo, "I'm gonna take you to someone who can help you. But you should take off your gigai so the humans won't see you."
"G-gomen nasai," said Tetsuya, blinking cutely, "Gigai?"
"Ah," chuckled Ichigo, "I see you and I have some catching up to do. Come on, Tetsuya-san. I'll take you somewhere safe."