Chapter 6: Pulled Deeper In
*You guys do care! I love you all!
I actually have an explanation for Naoko being able to turn into a dog I swear! I couldn't work it into The Flaming Fox but I will explain her ability in one of my fics…
On a sad side note this Monday is the one-year anniversary of my sister's passing. It is hard to believe that she's been gone for a whole year... Anyway on with the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, just Naoko and some other OCs.*
Naoko sighed and laid her arm on her forehead. She was so bored. She was on unofficial house arrest thanks to Yoruichi telling her grandmother that Naoko needed to lay low. That had been three days ago and she was ready to make a jailbreak.
Her eyes roamed and landed on that day's newspaper. Her eyes caught the headline of a short article on the front page. 'Young woman goes missing. Twelfth person gone missing in less than two weeks, leaving police baffled.'
I wonder if this has to do with Urahara wanting me to lay low. Whatever, I'm going stir crazy. I need to go for a walk, Naoko hoisted herself up into a sitting position.
She hesitated in front of her grandmother's study. The door was closed, but Naoko knew she was in there. I should tell her I'm going otherwise she'll be very worried when she realizes I'm gone. But she lowered her fist and kept walking. Why should I care if she worries? I don't. Just like I don't care that she lied to me my whole life.
Naoko trotted through the city, walking up and down alleyways and behind buildings. It was amazing how few people seemed to spare a second glance at a white dog walking the streets. Granted, she did stay out of sight most of the time, but some people still saw her.
A long haired white German Sheppard wasn't exactly a common sight in Japan.
She was grateful for no one seeing her. Naoko felt she'd be safer traversing about as a dog and not a human girl, less of a target for whoever is kidnapping people. How could she do this, Naoko herself didn't really understand. She knew Yoruichi could do it and begged for her teacher to teach her how.
Yoruichi hesitated and told her it might not be possible for a human to transform like she can, even if that human was spiritually aware. But she told her how she herself did it and Naoko merely copied her and strangely it worked. Naoko didn't question it, but merely enjoyed this new ability.
In a way it sort of made up for her lack of skills as a Quincy. Sort of.
Naoko shook her head. That was an old can of worms she'd rather not open right now, not when she had another can to still deal with. That was the one concerning the people she implicitly trusted lying to her and having a brother, not to mention a living father too.
The dog-girl found herself in a park and decided to rest in the shade of a tree, the summer heat was beginning to bother her. She rested her head on her paws and tried to sort out the mess her life had become. What was she supposed to do? Go out and find the rest of her family? What if they don't want to be found? Surely she was given to her grandparents to be raised for a reason. Yeah, the reason is because my father didn't want me.
She let out a small whine. This is pointless. Neither my father nor brother wants me around. My brother hasn't come back to visit like Grandma said he did before. Naoko felt a strange sense of hurt at that thought, but quickly brushed it aside. It's not like I care or anything. I don't even know the guy! Why should I care what he does?
Still Naoko's mind couldn't help trying to picture him and wonder what he acted like or who he even was. Would I like him? Would he even like me?
Seeing as she was still getting nowhere Naoko stood up and shook herself. Suddenly a sound caught her ears causing them to prick up. Then she started sensing a curious collection of reiatsu signatures. He felt two Soul Reapers, two humans, a faint Quincy, and something else. She couldn't but her paw on what it was other then it was different.
Instinct and self-preservation told her to run away from whatever was going on. But curiosity got the better of her and led her towards it. She bounded quickly down the street, the signatures became stronger the closer she got until they were in her sights.
It was that group of teenagers Kisuke had her test a few nights ago. There was also a short black-haired girl who smelled like a Soul Reaper and a finely dressed man with a snake draped around his shoulders. The man was the one that Naoko couldn't place as to what he was. There seemed to be a standoff going on, Naoko guessed probably because the snake man had a hostage.
"Damn you, you coward! You were two from the start, weren't you?" Ichigo accused.
"Friede and I are of one mind and body. Of course, if you want to count that sword as one of your numbers, we could tally up the count again," the snake man said smoothly.
"What are you planning on doing to that girl?" The raven haired girl asked.
"There's nothing to worry about. I would never kill her. But… depending on what you do, I could cover her beautiful skin with countless bites and let the poison turn her into something no one would want to look at. That's a possibility."
Everyone seemed frozen in place and even though the teens had him outnumbered Naoko could clearly tell who really held the advantage here. She herself stayed hidden. A surprise attack might result in that woman getting her hurt.
Finally the bespectacled teen (Uryu, wasn't it?) stood and walked up to the man and his hostage. "I'm the one you're after, aren't I? In that case, you can have me in place of that woman."
"Uryu what are talking about? You can't be serious!" Ichigo barked.
"Ishida be careful, think about this," the short girl cautioned.
"There's nothing else we can do. We can't get innocent people involved. Isn't that right, Kurosaki?" Uryu reasoned.
"Such a smart boy. I have to say I like smart kids. Now, come on over—"
"Let her go, first," Uryu commanded.
"Now that hurts. Am I really that untrustworthy? Very well," the man signaled for the snakes holding the woman to slither to the other side while Uryu walked to him.
Once the transaction was complete the snakes holding the woman crumbled away. Another grey snake slithered tightly around Uryu, binding him.
"Ichigo," the short Soul Reaper whispered. "When he makes his move to eat Ishida's soul, that'll be our chance."
The ginger teen gripped his sword, "Right…"
He made eye contact with the other two and gave a slight nod of his head. The others responded in kind. Did she just say eat his soul? ! Naoko thought with alarm. And they're actually going to wait until this does it before they make a move? !
The man then grinned. The snake holding Uryu slammed the boy's head against the concrete. A dark red pool of blood quickly spread from where his head hit the ground.
"Uryu!" Ichigo gasped.
The others, including Naoko stiffened and gasped in shock.
"I don't know who he got it from, but Freide is realistic, you see." The snake lifted Uryu up and the man wiped some of the blood off the boy's face and licked it off his finger, "Humans are such whimsical beings."
"You sick bastard! What are you planning to do?" The dark haired girl cried out.
"Aren't you going to eat his soul?" Ichigo asked.
What the hell? Do you want him to eat his soul? I thought he was your friend? Naoko wondered. She was crouching now and getting ready to pounce. This had gone on long enough. If these losers aren't going to do anything, then I guess I'll have to.
"Sometimes, I need a little amusement in order to enjoy my main dish."
That's it! With a powerful leap Naoko catapulted herself into the air. She jumped as a dog, but landed as a human between Ichigo and the other man. She seized a hand sized silver tube and pushed a small button on the side. Out of either end sprang out two dark blue poles with white spade shaped blades on the ends. Naoko twirled it once and then leveled it at the snake-man.
"I know you! What the hell do you think you're doing? ! Get out of here!" Ichigo ordered.
"Not happening Carrottop! You had your chance. Now do me a favor and stay out of my way," Naoko shot back.
"He's right, you know. This isn't something a little girl should get herself caught up in," he flicked his hand and a pair of snakes shot out towards them.
Naoko twirled her bladed staff and cut two of them, which made them revert back into harmless pieces of rope. The man narrowed his dull brown eyes in annoyance and was about to send more snakes when he stopped. A large fireball came hurtling towards him. He dropped Uryu and grabbed his snake, turning it into a whip and cutting through the fireball.
Naoko shielded her eyes from the spreading flames. She tried to see what was happening, but her vision was cut to black by a sharp strike to the back of her head.
Rukia pointed, "Ichigo, look!"
The ginger teen looked up to see a familiar brown haired and gray eyed woman and her flaming companion. The woman was carrying Uryu and the girl was draped around her shoulders.
"Who is this now?" Ichigo growled.
"Miss Yoshino, you've snuck out yet again? Don't think you'll be given special treatment forever," the snake Bount warned.
"Goethe! Take care of things here!" Yoshino ordered before bounding away.
"Understood," the creature growled.
"Hey, get back here!" Ichigo cried, but before he could give chase to the creature summoned more fire.
Sakura walked through the streets of Seireitei and to the Thirteenth Division. The day was sunny and pleasant and she wanted to savor it by taking a leisurely walk instead of using shunpo. She adjusted the wrapped package underneath her arm. Captain Unohana had asked for her to deliver Captain Ukitake his medicine.
"Hello there," Sakura stopped in her tracks and looked to see Captain Kyoraku. "You're Sakura, right? Unohana's Fourth Seat?"
"Yes, sir, I am. Can I help you?" Sakura didn't know him well other then what everyone else knew about him but he was still a nice man.
"I was wondering if you accompany me on a little errand."
"I'd love to sir but I need to deliver this to the Thirteenth. So I'll just—"
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "Great! Look, this'll just take a few minutes and I'm on my way to visit Jushiro anyway."
Seeing that she wasn't going to get out of this Sakura relented and sighed, "So what's the errand and where are we going?"
"We're heading to the Twelfth Division and if I have to talk to its captain, I think he might talk more around a pretty lady like you."
The corner of her smile twitched, Yeah right. You're probably going to use me as a diversion or something. It didn't take them long to get the Twelfth though Sakura wished it had. This particular Division never sat well with her.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Kyoraku looked back and forth. "Looks like the coast is clear."
"Isn't this considered breaking and entering?" Sakura whispered.
The older man waved her comment aside," Don't worry about it. Since no one's here I'll just—"
"You'll do what?" Captain Kurotsuchi slowly swiveled around in his chair. Sakura yelped and nearly jumped out of her skin. "No one said there's no one here. One such as the great Kyoraku is acting like a thief?"
The other captain whirled around and put on a charming smile, "A thief? Now that's just rude."
Kurotsuchi wasn't fooled and snapped, "What do you two want? I may not look like it, but I'm quite busy."
"Then I'll be quick. Will you show me some information?"
"Information? Of what sort?"
"Information about the disturbances being created in Karakura. If anyone would know what's causing them, it'd be you."
He huffed, "Of course I know. It was the Bounts that were responsible."
Sakura perked up at hearing that. Bounts? Old memories flashed through her mind. A man with short white hair and red eyes. Another man with brown hair and empty eyes with a snake around his shoulders. Her two infant children crying…
Kurotsuchi's voice brought her back, "But that's quite an ancient subject."
Kyoraku caught sight of Sakura's reaction, but pretended not to have noticed. "The materials on that subject in the Central Library have seemed to have disappeared. That's why I'm here. I know you must have something about them considering you spent so much time trying to research the disturbances they caused.
"Since it's an ancient subject you probably don't have any need for it and can show it to me, right?"
The scientist dully glared at him, "That's for me to decide. Isn't it going beyond your authority for a captain of another squad to tell another captain what to do?"
"That's the very reason why I'm here. If anyone could help me it'd be you, the one in charge of the Research & Development Bureau, who is also whispered to be the most intelligent captain in Soul Society, right?" Sakura almost groaned at his cheesy flattery.
"If you want to look at that information, you'd better go through the proper channels."
The older captain groaned, "But if I did that, it would take months."
"True, the information might not be worth much to me right now, but having people go through the proper channels gives my position meaning and authority."
"So… you can't give me the information?"
"Exactly."
"You're so damn frustrating…"
"Huh? Did you say something?"
Kyoraku grinned cheekily, "Nope, not a thing. Come on Sakura, let's head out. There's nothing for us here apparently." He then paused at the door, "Oh and 'the most intelligent captain' was just a bit of phony flattery."
"What?"
"Though I have heard rumors about you being one of the worst captains. If you want to hear more you'll have to go through the proper channels."
It wasn't long after they stepped outside did they hear the angry rants and expletives coming from inside.
Kyoraku sighed, "Looks like this might turn into something more complicated than I thought. Oh well…"
What in the hell was that all about? Are the Bounts back? Memories flashed through her head again. No… No, they can't be back. Is this why Kasumi has been pushing me? Did she know they were coming?
The older captain looked at the younger woman. Now she knows what we know and it means something to her. But I can't tell if this is going to be for better or worse. Time will tell I guess.
He tipped his hat and he thumped her cheerfully on the back, "Come on then Sakura. I'm sure Jushiro could do with that medicine right about now."
She nearly fell over from the force but managed to stay upright. Her body felt clammy and slight tremors started working through her body. "Yeah, I'm sure."
*Better or worse? Please review and I'll see you again Oct. 2nd.*
