DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH OR ITS CHARACTERS! I DO OWN TAKESHI HIKARI THOUGH(:
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As if she felt their gaze upon her, the young girl turned towards them & softly said "Thank you."
Ichigo slowly walked towards her & asked "What's your name?"
The young girl replied "I…I am…"
"Hi…Hikari."
"Takeshi Hikari."
Just as Renji walked towards them, Ichigo extended his hand towards her & said "Ichigo…Kurosaki Ichigo."
Quietly, Hikari took his hand & shoke it, trembling ever so slightly.
Renji also stepped forward & said "Renji. Abarai Renji."
Then from where she was, Rukia also introduced herself "Kuchiki Rukia. Just call me Rukia will do."
Weakly, Hikari smiled at them to acknowledge their presence.
Then Ichigo, seeing that Hikari's eyes were red & puffy, said "I think we should go now. You look tired, you should get some rest."
To Rukia & Renji, he said "Rukia is bleeding, I think we need to get her to the 4th Division. Let's go."
As they turned to go, Hikari said "Wait! Can I know what just happened? What are those monster-like things? Why did they attack me? Who are you? How did you fight those monsters? Lastly, why did you help me?"
"I was sure you would ask these questions" a familiar voice rang out.
"Urahara-san? How did you know we were here?" Rukia asked, surprised.
"Geez, I don't even get a proper welcome here . What's that supposed to mean? Of course I know you're here. I can sense your reiatsu, ya'know! Ok, let's get down to business first" Urahara said.
"Excuse me, can I know what's happening? Who are you?" Hikari asked, irritated.
"Oops, sorry."
"Well, I am Kisuke Urahara. & who might you be, young one?" Urahara asked.
"Takeshi Hikari."
"Pleased to meet you, my dear" he said, with a wink.
"Urahara!" Ichigo screeched.
"Oh my, how rude! Now back to business. Renji, you'll go to Sereitei & bring Rukia to the 4th Division. Hikari will be coming with me to Urahara shop. It wouldn't be safe for her here. Ichigo, I think you should follow us to make sure Hikari settles there. Then, you can go to Sereitei to report to Ukitake."
"But, but what about my questions?" Hikari asked.
"Patience, my dear. All will be known in due time" Urahara said.
"Let's go then!" Ichigo said.
"Bye Urahara-san, Hikari! See ya later, Strawberry!" Renji said, while Rukia just smiled.
"Whatever, Freeloader!" Ichigo yelled.
Glancing at Renji & Ichigo, Hikari asked Urahara "Are they always like that?"
While smiling at them, Urahara said "Yes, it's kinda amusing, isn't it?"
Nodding her head slightly, Hikari started smiling too, thinking "Maybe…just maybe, I could be part of them."
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At Urahara's shop…
"Omg, you own this shop?!"
"Yes yes, I think you need to sit down first though. What Ichigo's gonna tell you now will shock you. But it is the truth, so do listen" Urahara advised her.
"Firstly, Rukia & Renji are shinigami. In other words, they are death gods. As for me, I am a substitute shinigami. The monster-like things you saw are hollows. If you had noticed, we were using our swords, also known as a zanpakutō, to fight the hollows. We helped you because it's our duty. & lastly, we do not know why the hollows attacked you as we are still looking into that matter. But since the hollows have attacked you once, they might strike again. So for precautionary measure, you can only go out with Urahara, Yoruichi, Ururu, Tessai, Jinta or me. Urahara will introduce you to the rest of them later" Ichigo briefed Hikari, answering all of her questions.
Looking at Hikari, Ichigo said "For now, you will be putting up at Urahara's shop. It's safest for you here. Urahara & I will protect you. For now, I need to go to Soul Society to see how Rukia is doing. I will come here after school tomorrow, ok?"
"You go to school? That means you're still alive?"
"Yes, I am. But the rest of them aren't. It's because I'm a substitute shinigami. Rukia accidentally transferred all her powers to me. That's how I'm here now."
"Ara, arigato gozaimasu" Hikari said.
Just as he was turning to go, Ichigo saw her smile wearily & heard a quiet "Thank you. Really, thank you. But I don't think I deserve such goodness…"
Turning back again, Ichigo asked "Do you want to talk about it? If you don't want to, it's ok."
Seeing her tears fall freely, Ichigo wondered if it wasn't a good idea to ask her about it.
But since he had already asked her, he sat down quietly beside her, saying "I'm all ears."
Thus, Hikari began telling Ichigo about her tragic death "…I found out that Megumi had stabbed me. That's how I died."
When she had finished, all Ichigo did was to let her weep on his lap & stroke her hair, comforting her.
"Hey, we'll always be here for you! Rukia, Renji, Urahara & I, we'll be here when you need us, ok? It's quite late. You've had quite a tiring day, I think you'd better rest. I'll see you tomorrow, ok? Take care!"
Just as Ichigo had reached the door & was about to open it, the tear-eyed Hikari asked "Are we friends then?"
Nodding, Ichigo smiled & said "Yes, friends forever!"
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As Ichigo walked to Urahara, he asked "Did you notice her high spiritual reiatsu?"
"Yeah, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Urahara replied.
"You want to send her to the Academy to become a shinigami?" Ichigo asked.
"With her permission, of course" replied Urahara.
"I suppose it's ok. But considering her human life, she might not accept it."
In turn, Urahara said "We'll see."
"I'd better get going, or Freeloader & Midget won't let me live to see another day."
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Meanwhile, at Sereitei, Renji was trying to piggy-back Rukia to the 4th Division, as she was tired & bleeding.
"Here, let me help you" Ichigo said, suddenly.
Shocked at suddenly seeing Ichigo, Renji gave a shout & jumped, almost dropping Rukia. Ichigo took over & brought Rukia to the 4th Division.
"Ichigo, what happened to Rukia?" Unohana asked, when she had seen Rukia on Ichigo's back.
"She was injured after fighting hollows during the mission. Is she ok?" Ichigo & Renji asked, after Unohana had checked Rukia.
"We will have to wait for the results of the tests. But she should be able to go back in an hour" Unohana replied.
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An hour later, at Ukitake-taicho's room…
"Ukitake-taicho" Ichigo, Renji & Rukia said, bowing slightly to him.
"I take it that you've finished the mission."
"Hai, Ukitake-taicho" the three of them replied.
Addressing Rukia, Ukitake-taicho then said "Rukia, I heard that you were injured during the mission. Is that true?"
"Hai, Ukitake-taicho" Rukia replied.
"Rukia, are you ok now?" asked Ukitake-taicho, concerned.
"Hai, Ukitake-taicho" Rukia replied.
"Please be careful in future, ya?" Ukitake-taicho said.
"Hai, Ukitake-taicho" Rukia said.
"On the whole, I think this mission was quite ok. So you are dismissed," Ukitake-taicho said.
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phew! chap 3 done! sorry i took so long…& i thought that i would be more free during the hols . ok, i know that some characters are quite OOC in this chap, sorry for that
anw, review ppl! i dont seem to be getting much reviews. i might discontinue this story, or put it on hold, if i'm not encouraged…
