Past Revelation

Rangiku slowly walked up the stairs of the apartment complex. She had never been so nervous on approaching anyone as she neared Tamotu's door. Holding the painting of Hitsugaya's Bankai made her even more so, as to her knowledge something like this had never happened. She had faced Hollows on countless occasions, life-threatening instances more frequently than she liked, even facing the threat of the Arrancar. But this instance made her hand shake as she finally reached the door.

What do I do? she thought. Do I knock or just open the door? This wasn't her first visit, and with the trail of reiatsu she knew Tamotsu was there. Slowly, she reached for the door handle and turned. The door squeaked as it opened to reveal the room's interior.

"Tamotsu?" Rangiku said. "Are you here?" Opening the door further revealed Tamotsu sitting at the far end of the room working on yet another painting of a Shinigami. Side by side, other paintings lined the wall. They were all of Shinigami she recognized. Captain Zaraki Kenpachi striking an aggressive stance, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki surrounded by pink flower petals and then she saw the painting of herself.

"I don't know why I keep seeing these things," Tamotsu finally said, his focus remaining on his most recent work as he painted. "Ever since I met you, I've seen these images. So clear. So precise. I see them as real people."

Rangiku placed the painting of Hitsugaya down and leaned it against the wall. She walked slowly as she took in all the paintings. Ikkaku Madarame, Soi Fon, Komamura, landscapes of Seireitei at sunset. Such detail in paintings as she had never seen before. She wasn't sure what shocked her more. Was it that he could remember all these things? Or was it the sheer artistic quality of his work?

"What's happening to me, Rangiku?" Tamotsu said, his voice cracking. Placing the paintbrush down and turning to face her for the first time since she entered, Rangiku noticed tears welling up in his eyes. "I never used to paint these, but now they're coming to me all the time. Who are these people? Why can I see them like this? And why do I see you in these black robes?"

Rangiku stopped walking and sat down in a chair. She couldn't bear to see her friend like this. Couldn't bear approaching him any further.

"Why did you approach me that day, Rangiku?" The tears began to flow freely. Choking the words out, Tamotsu continued speaking. "What am I to you? Are these dreams? Memories? What's happening to me? Who are you? Who... who am I?"

Rangiku found the courage to rise again and approach Tamotsu. Standing in front of him now, she knelt on her knees and brought herself below his eye level. "You are Tamtsu Toshiyuku," she said, placing her hand behind his neck. "You are my friend. We are friends. We-" she stopped. This was the point of no return. Should she continue, she would have to explain everything. She continued. "We... were friends. A long time ago."

"What do you mean?"

Rangiku pointed to the painting of Seireitei at sunset. "That city there," she said. "Its called Seireitei. Its the capital city of Soul Society. We... lived there. As Shinigami."

"What... happened... to me?"

Tears now welled up in Rangiku's eyes. She didn't want to tell him, but she knew she had to. "You died," she said finally. "You died to protect me."

"I- I died?" A new series of images flooded Tamotsu's mind. He saw himself, looking up at Rangiku. She was in the black robes, tears rolling down her cheeks. Tamotsu gasped and grabbed his head. He cried out as if in great pain.

"These are your memoried, Tamotsu," Rangiku said. "Your life before this one. I thought I'd lost you forever, but seeing you here... I couldn't bear to lose you again."

"Its true," a voice said from the doorway. Tamotsu and Rangiku turned to see Toshiro Hitsugaya standing in the doorway. He was in his gigai, taking the form of a young looking boy with white hair.

"Captain..." Rangiku said, almost as surprised as Tamotsu was.

Tamotsu looked at him, his body shaking. "Captain... Hitsugaya..." he said slowly. Another series of pains hit Tamotsu. He grabbed his head and cried out again in pain, then once more to vent his frustrasion.

"Matsumoto," Hitsugaya said. "Come on. I've seen all I need to. We should let Toshiyuki adjust to this development."

Rangiku nodded and began walking.

"Wait," Tamotsu called out. "Please... Don't leave me." Rangiku stopped and Hitsugaya looked up. "I don't understand what's happening. Please, I don't want to be alone. You two seem to know something. Please. Stay. I don't want to be alone."

Hitsugaya opened his mouth, but no words found their way out. For once in his life, he couldn't find any words for a situation. What could he say? There was no procedure or process for dealing with a situation like this. Had this ever even happened before in Soul Society? It was common knowledge that when souls died in one world they crossed over into the other, but to remember? There was rumor of a student in the Soul Academy that remembered his life as a human, but that could be explained by retaining memories after a Soul Burial. This was something completely different.

"Very well," Hitsugaya said finally. "I'll have to place someone in charge until we return, but Matsumoto and I shall stay here until you are comfortable."

"Thank you... Captain," Tamotsu said. "Thank you."

"These paintings. They are very good. I don't wish to intrude, but may we take some of them to Soul Society when we depart?"

A smile crept over Tamostu's face, then he gave a short laugh. "Only if you pay for them," he said.

Hitsugaya smiled with Rangiku. "Very well," he said. "Of course, I'll have to explain this spending to the Captain Commander. But given the circumstances I don't think he'll mind all that much."

Tamotsu smiled again. "Thank you," he said. This was indeed an unusual circumstance. So he knew Rangiku in a life before this one? It seemed to make sense. But it was overwhelming all the same. What was their relation? Was he highly though of? A thousand questions suddenly filled his mind. And would he regain more of his memories? At least, he thought, I don't have to go through this alone.

Shinigami Reincarnate

Tamostu, Rangiku and Hitsugaya sat in the restaurant. None of them had eaten much that day, considering what all had transpired. Tamotsu had taken surprisingly well to the news of his past life. Perhaps it was comforting to know that he wasn't crazy. Names had been given to all the people he had painted, and knowing that they were real came as a relief to him.

"I really appreciate what you're doing," Tamotsu said as he picked up another piece of grilled shrimp. "I'd probably end up in an institution if not for your help."

Hitsugaya had only ordered a small dish, which he had finished neatly and now sat at the end of the table. "I'm just wondering how the Captain Commander will react to all this," he said with no real enthusiasm. "You do know we'll have to take you there soon, right?"

"One step at a time if you don't mind," Tamotsu said, finally finishing his plate. "I mean, this is a lot to take in. I'm not sure I'd be able to handle much more of this."

Rangiku smiled from across the table at Tamotsu. "You sure seem to be doing much better than usual," she said. "Even with my other visits you seemed rather distant, but now its like we've gotten a good connection."

"I don't know. I've spent most of my life alone, but now I've found out I have friends. Several friends. Even if they do think I'm still dead..."

Hitsugaya turned and looked at Tamotsu. "Tell me something," he said. "How do you feel? Any restrictions? Dulled senses?"

"Dulled senses? Dear me, no. I've studied in various martial arts for the better part of twenty years. Top of my class. But I haven't done anything like that for some time now."

"Top of your class?" Rangiku asked. She remembered in Seireitei that Tamotsu's senses had been dulled and he had slow reaction time in any form of physical fighting. Was it because of the seal? she wondered. Or is it something else? She remembered Captain Unohana saying that Tamotsu had some type of seal which restricted the vast majority of his power. Did the seal disappear when he died in Soul Society? If so, why isn't he brimming with energy? Back then, without the seal his body was unable to maintain its own Spiritual Pressure. Did he lose a lot of it? Or was his body able to change in a way so he could maintain it?

"Rangiku," Tamotsu said. "Are you okay? You seem to be drifting."

Rangiku snapped out of her thoughts. It seemed she had as many questions for Tamotsu as he did for her. "Its nothing," she said. "Just thinking about things."

"Anything I need to know about?"

"No, its nothing. You said you were in the top of your class. So, why did you stop?"

"Something seemed to be lacking. The Senseis always tried pushing me in a direction I didn't want to go."

"Well, if we're done here," Hitsugaya said. He pulled out a small stack of cash and placed it on the table. The three exited into the night. The air was warm, the streets mostly empty. A few stragglers moved along the walkway back to their homes, paying no heed to the trio.

Turning a corner, Tamotsu suddenly stopped. Something was wrong. He couldn't place it exactly, but it scared him.

"Toshiyuki?" Hitsugaya said. "What is it?"

Tamotsu's eyes grew wide. "I feel... something..." he said. "Like a presence... Something..."

"I don't feel anything. Matsumoto? Do you?"

"Nothing," she responded. And that worried her. How was it that Tamotsu could sense something when they couldn't? Was it his reiatsu that was interfering with their senses? If it was, that would mean-

Tamotsu suddenly cried out and grabbed his head. Rangiku and Hitsugaya ran to him in case he fell. Images flooded into Tamotsu's head. He saw several large creatures. Most were dark in color, coming in all shapes and sizes. But there were two key characteristics that all the creatures shared. The first was the white mask that covered their faces, the second was the hole in their chest. That hollow hole... Hollows!

"Hollow!" Tamotsu burst out. "There's a Hollow nearby. A strong one."

Rangiku and Hitsugaya exchanged glances quickly. A strong Hollow? How could that be? Then Rangiku remembered. The last time this happened, Tamotsu heard something and ran off. Not a moment later did the Soul Phone ring with a report of a Hollow that had appeared. Sure enough, the phone rang. Rangiku pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. The Hollow was close.

"We need to get him out of here," Hitsugaya said. Immediately the trio began running. Hitsugaya had to make sure Tamotsu was in a secure location. The Hollow would surely target him.

Hitsugaya led Rangiku and Tamotsu to an alley. It wasn't the most secure location, but it would be able to be well protected. Especially with him and Rangiku together.

"Stay here, Toshiyuki," Hitsugaya said as he reached into one of his pockets. A great gob of sticky slime exploded from around the corner and hit Hitsugaya, pinning him against the wall. "What?" he cried. It was so close. How could he not have felt that presence so close? Was it really Tamotsu's reiatsu interfering? If so, why couldn't they sense it from him?

"Captain!" Rangiku cried. She took two steps when the Hollow appeared from around the corner. It was nearly three times her height, and being hunched over at that. Large forearms and a short tail, its yellow eyes glowing behind the mask.

The Hollow laughed sinisterly as it approached slowly. "How lucky I am to find such a feast tonight. Appetizer, main course and dessert, heh heh."

"No!" Rangiku said sharply. "You are not making a main course out of me or the Captain!"

"A Captain, you say? Oh, that must mean the white haired child is a Shinigami. And you as well, I presume. No wonder you smell so tasty. But no, he will not be the main course. He will merely be the dessert. And you are the appetizer. The main course, the tastiest one of all, is the one you are trying to hide behind you."

"What?" Did she hear correctly? It preferred Tamotsu above either of them? She had to change quickly if she was to protect him. Reaching quickly into her pocket, she pulled out her dispenser and brought it to her mouth. Before she could dispense the pill that contained her artificial soul, Rangiku found herself pinned to the ground.

"I've heard about those devices, Shinigami," the Hollow said. "So long as you remain in your human form, you are helpless." It was right. Without her zanpakuto available, she couldn't do much. She might be able to fire a kido spell, but reciting the incantation would alert the Hollow and it would kill her. But with how she was positioned, she could only cast a minor spell that would only aggravate it. And Hitsugaya was in the same position as she was.

"Let them go, beast," Tamotsu said, sliding into a fighting stance.

"What's this?" the Hollow said. "So noble and daring. A mere boy like you could never stand a chance against me!" The Hollow lashed out with its clawed forearm. Tamotsu dodged backward and kicked upward. It did nothing more than raise the Hollow's hand a few inches, but the surprise allowed Tamotsu to run to the side of the alley. Jumping on top of the crates and boxes that cluttered the alley, he jumped off and spun around to his left, bringing his foot around in a spinning kick at the Hollow's face. It landed hard, knocking the Hollow back slightly. Tamotsu landed to find the grip on Rangiku had tightened.

That kick was hard enough to break bone, Tamotsu thought. I'm sure of it.

The Hollow laughed slowly. "Impressive," it said. "Very impressive, I must say." Tamotsu looked over his shoulder as he saw movement and was barely able to dodge the Hollow's clawed hand again. "But futile none the less." The hand opened up and the clawed fingers hit Tamotsu. They did not pierce, but he did manage to have the wind knocked out of him.

Tamotsu stood shakily and assumed the fighting stance again. "I said it was useless!" the Hollow cried, thrusting its arm again and knocking Tamotsu into the alley wall.

"Toshiyuki!" Hitsugaya called. He struggled to move, but the spit had dried into a hard resin. He could freeze it with Hyorinmaru's ability if he was able to change into a Shinigami, but he was completely restrained. Kido was out of the question, as his hands were too close to his gigai's vital areas.

"Hado 31!" Rangiku said. "Shakkaho!" A burst of red energy hit the Hollow's hand that was holding it down and knocked it into the air. The Hollow stepped backward to regain balance as Rangiku quickly rose to her feet. The Hollow lunged forward with its other hand, pinning Rangiku against the wall.

"I think I've wasted enough time," the Hollow said as it brought its head closer to Rangiku.

Tamotsu struggled to his knees. The Hollow looked over to see him raising one hand, supported by the other. A ball of red energy began to form in his palm. He looked at the Hollow, a stern expression crossing his face. "Sha- kka- HO!" Tamotsu said. The ball of energy tripled in size as it was launched from his palm. The Hollow moved to dodge, but the energy blast seared a section of its shoulder.

"A human that uses demon magic?" the Hollow inquired. "What are you, boy? Why do you persist?"

Tamotsu was gasping for air, but he spoke anyway. "I will not let you... hurt my friends," he said. "You will not hurt my friends."

The Hollow bellowed. "Friends, you say? Friends are meaningless. They are only obstacles to hold you back. To survive you must become stronger and destroy obstacles so nothing stands in your way!" The Hollow thrust its hand again. Tamotsu didn't have time to dodge. He was knocked into the wall and fell down face first. He struggled to get up, but fell again.

"Enough talk. I shall eat both of you Shinigami first. Then I shall eat the other who uses demon magic. I shall enjoy eating your souls!" The Hollow lunged its head toward Rangiku, who closed her eyes tight. The bite never came. Opening her eyes, she saw the Hollow stopped in its path. A red glow surrounded it. "What- What's happening?"

"No..." Tamotsu said. The glow around the Hollow grew brighter. Rangiku looked to her friend, finding that a wind had built up around him. Swirling blue energy began to emerge around his body. "NO!" he cried. The swirling energy surrounding him grew brighter, then burst into the night sky and illuminated the entire alley.

Hitsugaya stared, his eyes wide. "It... It can't be..." he said. Was he seeing what he thought he was?

"You will not hurt them!" Tamotsu cried out. His silhouette appeared from within the pillar of energy, he was standing now. "You will not hurt- MY FRIENDS!"

Tamotsu buckled, but remained standing. A thousand new images rushed into his mind, but he withstood them. I remember now, he thought. I remember everything... I know who I am. I remember...

The energy dispersed to reveal Tamotsu, standing tall and adorned fully in a Shinigami's uniform. A red-sheathed zanpakuto was tucked into his obi over his left hip. "Sorry about the delay, Captain. Dying can kind of put a damper on things, can't it?"

The Hollow roared and broke through the binding spell that held it. It lunged forward with one arm and attacked Tamotsu. Without moving, Tamotsu drew his zanpakuto and struck the Hollow's arm. The arm flew off and dissolved into nothing while the rest of the Hollow reared back in pain. Raising his left arm, Tamotsu thrust his hand forward and a shock wave caused the Hollow to be thrown back.

"Are you there, my friend?" Tamotsu asked as he held the zanpakuto close.

I was always here for you, the woman's voice said. You remember now.

"We will fight together once again."

I missed you.

"Let's go. Hinohebi!" Tamotsu thrust his zanpakuto and swung it over its head. The blade became elongated and flexible, becoming a whip. A six-inch black blade remained at the end of the whip. Sparks leapt from the walls of the alley as the blade skirted past them.

The Hollow regained its footing and began to run. "Tamotsu!" Rangiku cried out. When she looked back, Tamotsu was gone. Shunpo? No. She looked to find that Tamotsu had actually jumped over the Hollow's head and was spinning around for an attack. The whip stretched out and wrapped around the Hollow tightly. Tamotsu landed behind it and stood ready with the slack taken from the binding.

"What-" the Hollow started. "What the- What the hell are you?" The Hollow stared down at Tamotsu, who regarded it with no fear at all.

"I am Tamotsu Toshiyuki. Shinigami Reincarnate." With that, Tamotsu pulled hard on the whip. The binding cut through the Hollow in several places and reverted to its normal size at Tamotsu's side. The Hollow bellowed as its entire body dissolved. Tamotsu threw the whip over his left shoulder, allowing it to wrap around his body at an angle and under his right arm. Looking over to the still-trapped Hitsugaya, he raised his right arm and pointed two fingers. The blue lightning of Byakurai erupted and hit the resin encasing, causing it to crumble into powder.

Hitsugaya landed on his feet, then he and Rangiku both stared. There he was. Tamotsu Toshiyuki. Just as he had appeared so many years ago