Chapter 7 : Truth Behinds the Newspaper!
Karin POV
(Memys: "I continue from chapter 6…. If you forgot please read it back.")
In Hisagi fukutaichou's office.
After I have finished all the paperwork that was given to me, I went out from the office to go to my room. When I went out, many of my 'crazy fans' (that undoubtedly have increased rapidly) were waiting for me outside. There were a large bunch of them. I shunpo-ed with the best of my ability to get away from them. I used the most advanced shunpo.
I definitely did it very fast. It was about ten times faster than my usual 'act' shunpo. Most likely, they could only see a blur of my shadow, or even nothing when I shunpo. I saw their shocked and confused face. They couldn't even see where I shunpo-ed away. I didn't really care anymore even if they saw how good I was at shunpo.
With a slow pace shunpo, which I thought was pretty slow, they still made rumor about me and a stupid nickname. What's the difference if I let them see the real shunpo? It has become news and caught unwanted attention anyway. I have been hot news in the newspaper. HOT NEWS! They called me as Shunpo Girl. I really hate this name. Why should they given me this kind of cute and girlish nickname? I'm not Yuzu, for goodness's sake.
In short time, I have arrived at my room. I also brought back the newspapers that given to me by Shuuhei. I went to the bathroom to take a bath. After I took a bath and changed my clothes, I went out from my room with the newspapers and shunpo-ed away through my room's window to 10th Division. This time I shunpo-ed with lower speed because I didn't saw any of my 'follower'. They would never think that I didn't go out from my door, but from my bedroom's window. I thought they were still waiting for me to come out in my room's door.
In the middle of my way to 10th Division, I took a route to 9th Division dining room first to order some onigiri (rice balls). I brought the onigiri with me to 10th Division. I shunpo-ed, jumped up and sat down at that roof like yesterday. I planned to wait for Toushirou here. I started to read one of newspaper in my hand. I read today newspaper. The first thing I wanted to know is the date so I tried to ignore my picture and news at the front page which proved very difficult to do. I found out the date immediately. I realized there was about 15 years difference from my own time. Fifteen years in the past.
(15 years?)
(Yeah. Just like my age when I died) I sighed.
(*chuckle* What a coincidence! Maybe, it's fate.)
(Don't talk bullshit, Hikari! You know I don't like them. And it's not a good thing to be the same with the day I died.)
(But that's true, isn't it! Like, you met Toushirou and saved him in the first day you come here. Then you met him again in this place. It's kind of romantic, isn't it?)
(Just drop it out, Hikari! I don't like romantic things. I'm not Yuzu. Just focus on our mission.)
(But you don't hate them, either. You want to talk with him again, aren't you? Because you're waiting for him now even though he never said that he will come.) Hikari stated the-matter-of-factly.
(I can do all I want! I don't have anything better to do after all.)
(Yeah..yeah…. Reason. You just miss your boyfriend too much) She said teasingly.
(*a vein poped in my head* Just drop the teasing and get back to our main point) I shouted at her in my mind.
(Alright… Alright…. Don't get mad, mistress)
(Let's discuss this…. When is Winter War anyway?)
(Why do you ask? Do you forget?)
(No. I only want to ask and confirm because I don't want to be involved in it.)
(I assured you that we are not around that time. From this date, I can tell that the Great Winter War has been ended about one year ago in this time)
(Oh… )
(Umm… Karin, I think we better think about this later.)
(Why?)
(Because I have been curious at the newspapers for quite a long time. Can we read it first?)
(Hm….Okay. Let's read the newspaper.) I said after thinking for a while.
I started to read from the front page. I wanted to read the news about myself because I was very curious about what was written there. In the first page, there was my picture, a girl with black hair that has been tied to ponytail. I began to read silently in my mind. The news that written in newspaper was:
HOT NEWS!
SHUNPO GIRL! SHIROSAKI RIN!
Shirosaki Rin, a cute girl that have a beautiful jet-black hair and onyx eyes.
(What? Wait! Cute?)
(Mistress, can you be silent and continue to read? You just read the first sentence and you're complaining already.)
(But they write cute here! CUTE!)
(Cute is a compliment, mistress.)
(But I don't like being called cute. It's girlish!)
(Yeah, I know you don't like it) she smirked and added (Except if Toushirou is the one that call you that)
I flushed slightly. I didn't know what should I said to her. Damn it! She just knew too much.
(I am your zanpakutou after all.) She said a little amused
(I know you better than anyone else, Karin.)
(Fine! I will continue)
I felt like I saw she smirked in triumph and then I continued to read. She is promoted from an unseated officer to 15th seat officer because of her achievement several days ago in the attack in Seireitei. For more detailed information, you can read our news in the other days. As you may have knows, they're many shinigamis that want to know the truth from the girl, Shirosaki Rin, herself. We know that she is a nice and friendly girl because she tried to answer all our question in our first attempt to ask her about that.
(What? There are shinigamis that worked for this newspaper that asked me yesterday?)
(Maybe. It looks like there are some of them)
(And I don't know?) I sighed.
I resume my reading. But after so many questions, she looks like she feed up with all our question so she fled from us using shunpo. We try again to apeak to her, but she didn't want to speak with us and always shunpo-ed away. None of us is able to catch her and ask her about the truth. We failed at every attempt to catch her when she shunpo.
It was not too fast at first, but if we almost catch her, she shunpo-ed faster and faster. Even after we bribed, ahem, we mean asked for help from several high seated officers in 9th Division that good at shunpo, we still can't catch her. From what we witnesses, she is very good at shunpo and very fast. Many shinigamis has witness it so they started to call her as Shunpo Girl.
From what we heard and saw, she didn't has any boyfriend. She was a potential girlfriend for you whose don't have any girlfriend.
(Boyfriend? Girlfriend?)
(Yes, it is read as boy-friend and girl-friend) she said in a sing song stone.
(What the HECK with this newspaper? Why should they care about my love life?)
(Who knows?)
(Something is VERY WRONG in this newspaper. Why they care if I have boyfriend or not?)
She totally ignored my statement and said (Just read the rest. I think we will know)
(Fine)
I sighed and continued to read. There are several reasons for that. Firstly, she has a very good shunpo ability so she must has potential to raised into higher seated officer in near time. Beside, she is a polite and nice girl. Not to mention she is very cute. She has a very beautiful jet-black hair and onyx eyes that can make every man fall in love.
(What? Make every man fall in love?)
(*chuckle* From what was written here, you're INDEED a very potential GIRLFRIEND, mistress!) She said cheerfully and teasingly. I felt I saw a wide grin in her face.
(SHUT UP!)
(Oh… and they say you're VERY CUTE, too!)
(SHUT UP, Hikari! OR I WON'T READ IT ANYMORE!) I said threateningly
She pouted and I resumed my reading. When we asked one of the officer, he told us that she also very good at doing paperwork. The man who told us is Umesada Toshimori, the 20th seat. He said "Man, Rin-san is able to finish a pile of paperwork that took me one day to finish, in less than one hour. She is amazing! And Hisagi fukutaichou even told her to help him from tomorrow in his office."
(WHAT? HE BETRAYED ME!)
(Betrayed what? He just gave some information to journalist)
I totally ignored her and cursed him in my mind. I made a mental note to add him in the list to be punished. I was angry now. Very… very angry.
(Can we continue to read?)
(NO! I HATE this newspaper! It made me SO MAD!)
(But..) she whined at me.
(No buts! Who is the publisher? I will KILL them!)
What the HELL with this newspaper anyway?
Something was VERY WRONG about it. VERY WRONG!
Stupid, Damn newspaper.
I tried to find the name of the publisher very eagerly. In a short time, I have found it. I read it. 'NO WAY IN THE HELL! This is IMPOSSIBLE!' I shouted in my mind. I was taken aback and extremely shocked for what I have found out. My eyes widened. My jaw clenched. My mouth opened. I was speechless.
I was shaking. It looks like the world has been ended for me. I was in utter denial for whatever I just read and saw. I couldn't believe my own eyes. 'Oh, Kami-sama, is this your test for me? This is just far too much for me to handle.'
(….. I agree… It's just… too… scary. ) I thought I saw she shivered when she said that.
I didn't respond. I heard her, but my mind still in other place. I still too focused at what I just read. I read it again and again. And yet, I still couldn't believe my eyes. 'I must be wrong. It's just not right. It can't be. This……'
(Please snap out of it, mistress. Mistress! Karin! KARIN!)
'This is impossible. Kami-sama, please tell me that I was wrong. God! Goddess! Angel! Demon! Ghost! Spirit King! Tite Kubo-sama! Whoever! Help me!' I shouted in my mind, hoped, and prayed with all my heart.
(KARIN! KARIN! JUST SNAP OUT OF IT!) She shouted louder and louder, worriedly.
I finally started to snap out of it after I heard her voice this time. Her voice is full of worry. My body was trembling, but I tried to make a conversation with Hikari in my mind.
(Hikari, I'm…fine. I heard you…) I said slowly.
(Really, Karin?) She paused (Thanks, God. You're fine.)
(Is this really the fact? I really hope that I am dreaming…. A very…very long dream) I said while stared blankly at the newspaper, still trying to find some hope that I was dreaming.
(I hope, too. Unfortunately, this is the fact.) She answered with sad tone.
(I wish I will never hear or see that name again. I really hope.)
(And so I am, Karin.) She said gently and soothingly to calm me down.
Then, we became quiet and tried to calm ourselves down. We waited until we calm down fully and started to speak again.
(This is read as S.W.A, right?)
(Yeah…. S.W.A aka Shinigami Women's Association)
We shivered again when Hikari mentioned that name. The name that I have been trying to forget for years, trying to stay as far as I can from them, and trying to NEVER, EVER involved again. I still remember VERY CLEARLY about what happened at that time, the time I get into their bad side. The most horrible days in my life that made me traumatic until today. The time I will NEVER, EVER wish to recall.
The day FEARS engraved deeply into my whole body. It lasted for a month… Their revenge to me. Just because one mistake that made me get into their bad side. My live became more than a living hell. Not even my brother, Toushirou, or other captains can help me. Day by day was like a torture for me. I hope and pray with all my heart that I can forget it. It has been years, almost a decade and I still can't forget.
From that day onwards, I kept it in my mind, deeply, an unwritten rules to NEVER, EVER get into their bad side, again. NEVER. For I loved my live, dearly, very dearly. The Shinigami Women's Assosiation is just far too scary, powerful, and formidable enemy to handle. Even Yamamoto soutaichou tried to stay as far as he can from them.
After I accepted that fact, everything started to make sense. That's why there was something that was VERY WRONG about this newspaper. Yep. They just loved to spread rumors, poke their nose into other people love live, and add comment. I finally realized that this was the famous RUMOR NEWSPAPER that made and published by them. Again, I tried not to mention their name anymore, afraid something might happen if I did.
(Mistress, are you still want to ….kill…..them?) She said the last part slowly, scared if someone heard it, even though we speak in our inner mind.
(No…no….no… I won't…. I won't….I won't….No…No….) I said it with a shaking voice. I was chanting it like a magic over and over again.
(Calm down, Karin. Please… I heard you.) she said softly, tried to calm me down. (Sorry for bringing that up.)
I tried to calm down myself by brought my knees to my chest and hugged my own body to stop my body from shaking and trembling. I tried to clear my mind from unwanted memories of my traumatic days that caused by them. I stayed like that for quite a long time. Then Hikari started to speak again, unsurely.
(Should…. We…. Started… to read again?)
(I…)
(It's fine if you don't want to)
(No… I will continue to read.)
I read the rest of the news and started to read other newspapers. I felt hungry so I began to eat my onigiri one by one while I was reading. There were really nothing important. As Shuuhei told me, there were several news about me as Shirosaki Rin. Some about my nicknames, my appearance, my zanpakutou, the last captain meeting, rumors about me, and etc. I also saw news about arrancar attack and mysterious shinigami (me) that wear a white haori with number nine in the back.
There was no much information about this shinigami in the newspaper. It's just written that this shinigami was a powerful shinigami with black zanpakutou that had silver hilt. They wrote that no one know this shinigami gender or identity. They wrote several nicknames for this mysterious shinigami. And so on.
(He hasn't come, huh?)
(Who?)
(Wait! Karin… Don't tell me you forget.)
(Forget what?)
(Him! Toushirou!)
(Oh…)
Hikari sighed and said (After that shocking information, it can't be helped if you forget)
(…)
(You came here to wait for him, right?)
(Yeah…)
(I think he won't come today)
(Maybe… For him in this time, I am a stranger after all.) I said sadly.
(Should we go back?)
(No..)
(Why?)
(I said I will be waiting for him. So I will wait)
(But, it has been so late. It almost midnight)
(I say I will wait so I will wait until he come.) I said stubbornly.
I saw Hikari sighed and agreed with me reluctantly.(Fine! We'll wait.)
(Thanks)
(Still….I don't think he will come)
(He will….)
(Are you sure?)
(…)
(What will you do if he don't come?)
(I will wait here again tomorrow until he come)
(If not..?)
(Then I will wait again another day)
(You're way to stubborn)
(Hm… I'm a Kurosaki after all.)
(Yeah…yeah….)
I lied down in the roof. I was staring at the sky, while waiting for him to come. They're always beautiful, the moon and the stars. I yawned and felt sleepy. Shortly after, I felt asleep in the rooftop at the 10th Division.
###
In Tenth Division captain's office
In the afternoon
Toushirou POV
It has been 04.00 pm and there were still so much paperwork that I needed to do. I sighed and wondered when it will be ended. I have done too much this DAMN paperwork! I didn't saw other captains do this much paperwork. They didn't even do one third of all my paperwork that I had to do since Aizen betrayal. They dumped all of other Division's paperwork that has lost their captains to me.
'Damn it! It's just too unfair! Why I am the only one that stuck in this? I don't mind if it's Hinamori's paperwork, but why should I do other Division's paperwork? I have got too much paperwork to do and they still want to add it?' I complained in my heart and frowned.
I checked, wrote, and signed one by one my paperwork. I didn't know how long time has passed, but then I realized that the room darkened. I took a look at my surrounding and saw the sun began to set. I walked to the wall to turn on light. (A/N: (1)) I needed to finish as much as paperwork I can for today and I won't be able to do it without a light.
(Sunset? I wonder if she is really waiting for you in that place.)
(You mean Shirosaki?)
(Yes, who else?)
(I don't think she will wait)
(Why?)
(….We're stranger)
(Maybe. But you can become friend.)
(Friend?)
(Yeah. Even a girlfriend.)
(Girl…. WHAT? GIRLFRIEND?)
(Yeah… Girlfriend.) Hyourinmaru smirked.
(Don't MAKE FUN OF ME, HYOURINMARU!) A vein popped in my head.
(She is clearly hitting on you, you know?)
(She is not!)
(Why else she told you that yesterday?)
(She maybe just wants to talk.)
(Talk? I don't think so. She is hitting on you)
(She is not!)
(She is. You just can't see it)
(Just drop it already! I need to do my work now.)
(Fine… but I think she is waiting for you in this time. You should go now to have some fun)
(Shut up!)
(You need some fun in live, you know!)
(Just… SHUT UP!) More veins popped in my head.
Hyourinmaru sighed and became silent. Then I walked back to my seat and continued to do paperwork. I tried to forget about our conversation about that girl. I needed concentration to do paperwork. After some times, my fukutaichou, Matsumoto Rangiku came. She brought some food.
"Taichou, you shouldn't forget to eat some food. Here!" She said while gave a tray of food.
I ate all of it and gave her back the tray. "Thank you."
She smiled and said "It's fine, taichou! You should get some rest. You work too much."
"Then who will do all this paperwork, Matsumoto? You?" I retorted
"Ehh… No, Taichou…Um… I should go now. Bye!" She said and then shunpo-ed outside the office.
I continued to do my paperwork again after my stomach full. After several hours, Hyourinmaru began to talk again.
(That girl is waiting for you)
(She won't)
(Poor girl….)
(What do you mean?)
(She bravely tried to talk with you and you just ignored her like that)
(I never said I will go)
(You didn't say no, either)
(I have more important thing to do now)
(Just DAMN paperwork. You need to leave them and go have some fun)
(They are important and it's my duty to do paperwork)
(You'll regret this, master)
I didn't think that girl, Shirosaki Rin, was waiting for me in that place like that Hyourinmaru told me. It's annoying that Hyourinmaru tried to make me leave my paperwork just for one girl. I never said I will go and meet her anyway so why should I care. It's her own fault if she kept waiting for me.
(But you never said no, master, so it's your fault)
(My fault?)
(Yes, you give her false hope)
(No, I am not)
(You are)
I didn't give him any answer because I was sick of this discussion. He tried to bring this up every time I tried to forget about this girl. I needed to do my paperwork and finished it, not thinking about some random girl.
(Shut up, Hyourinmaru! Just let me finished my paperwork first. We'll talk later.)
(But it will be too late)
(Too late for what? We can talk anytime)
(The poor girl maybe will wait for a long time and you'll never show up)
(Who cares?)
(That's cruel, master! You should check her later)
I sighed in defeat and said (Fine! I will check her later so just shut up!)
I continued to do my work until past midnight. I felt very sleepy so I yawned. I have finished so much paperwork today, but there is still mountain of unfinished paperwork in my in office. I needed to go and check this Shirosaki girl, first, before I went back to my bedroom to sleep or my zanpakutou's spirit will start to annoy me again.
(I haven't said anything, master, and I haven't remind you about her)
(You told me to check her before)
(That's several hours ago and I thought you'll forget)
(Whatever. I will just checked her and go back to sleep. However, I don't think she will be waiting for me until this late)
(She will. I have that feeling)
I shunpo-ed away from my office to that place, that rooftop. When I went near the roof, I didn't see anyone in that roof, so I told Hyourinmaru;
(See. No one here)
(There is. Try to feel her reiatsu and go to check that roof)
I tried to felt her reiatsu and to my surprise, I really found her reiatsu in the roof. I shunpo-ed and jumped to the roof. I saw a sleeping figure there and several newspapers. I went near her and found her lied down and slept in the roof. I ignored all of that newspaper because I knew what kind of newspaper they were with one glance. They were newspapers that Matsumoto always carried around and read. Shinigami Women's Assosiation's newspapers.
(She is really here)
(Hn…)
(Poor girl… Waiting too long until felt asleep)
(…. She is sleeping. Should I wake her up?)
(You better not. I think we should let her sleep.)
(So what should we do now?)
Hyourinmaru and I were thinking about what should we do to the girl. We thought for some time then I felt like I saw an evil grin in Hyourinmaru face. It looked like he has some evil plan in his mind and he began to talk to me.
(Master, how about we bring her home?)
(WHAT? I felt very surprised by what he suggested to me. I folded my arms in my chest and frowned. (Are you crazy, Hyourinmaru?)
(No. I think that's the most logical answer)
(Why?)
(As you can see, in this kind of condition, we have several options. One, leave her alone in this place and pretend that you didn't know. But I think it'll be too cruel to leave a girl alone in this place. She maybe will catch a cold if we leave her.)
(Uh..huh..)
(Two, we can bring her back to her room. We just need to sneak in to her room using shunpo. We can take the key to her room by search throughout her body. Of course if you take this option, you will the one that do it, master. Search throughout her body because we don't know where she put her room's key. It will be fun.) He said teasingly while grinning.
I blushed several shades of red and growled (Don't put it like that! You pervert dragon! I won't do it.)
(Oh… What a pity. And this is a good chance, too.) He sulked.
(Forget it and go on!)
(Hm… Okay. Three, as I told you before, bring her to our room and leave her sleep in your spare futon.)
(That's not a good option either)
(Why? You have enough space to let her sleep in your room) He asked with faking innocent voice.
(Why? You know what I mean. Don't play dumb!)
(I didn't know what you mean)
(Do you think I didn't see your evil grin when you suggest me that? I don't know what are you planning, but don't ever think I will play along.)
He sighed and pouted (That's suck!)
(You must be had other good suggestions. Don't pretend to be stupid! Just tell me!) I commanded him.
I think he felt a little disappointed. Then he sighed and answered. (You can just give her your haori to cover her body and leave her here. I think it should be enough to keep her body warm from the cold wind that blowing) He grumbled
(Okay… that's a better option)
I did as Hyourinmaru told me, I took off my haori and put it on top of her body. I cover her body with my haori and then shunpo-ed away. Before I shunpo-ed away, I took one last glance at her and said silent 'Good night!' in my mind. Unknowingly to me, Hyourinmaru smirked in my mind at that time.
I shunpo-ed as soon as possible to my room to get some sleep. I took out a futon from my closet and placed it on the floor. I also took out a blanket. I lied down at the futon and placed the blanket to cover my body. Then I realized something and I sat down.
(HYOURINMARU!) I shouted in my mind
(What, master?) He asked with faking innocent voice
(YOU… You know, right?) I asked threateningly
(Know what?)
(You know that I can just take some blanket from my room and lend it to her., but why should you told me to lend her my haori?)
(What do you mean?) he said still with faking innocent voice.
(YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!) I shouted again in annoyance.
(Alright…. Master. Calm down. I admit it. I just want to meet her again. She will give back your haori in several days and we can talk to her again. It will be fun.)
(HYOURINMARU!) I said in angry voice.
(You still have many spare haori, master.)
(That's not the point! DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!)
He grumbled and said (Uh..huh…Okay…. I won't do it again)
I sighed loudly and cursed myself for being so stupid and fooled by my own zanpakutou's spirit evil plan. I didn't know if he really meant what he said or not and then I heard him mumbled 'Maybe…' 'He is definitely didn't mean what he said for sure' I thought. I didn't push this matter further, though, because I didn't want any more argument and I felt tired and sleepy. I lied down at my futon and felt into deep slumber.
(o0o)
(Memys:*Sigh* "I no longer have any ideas how to continue this without make it boring. I will have many other things to do, so don't expect me to update next chapter soon.")
Author Note:
I think there are light, electronic devices, and electricity in Seireitei. They are provided by 12th Division. Why? Because if there are no electricity and electronic devices, how 12th Division can work and do their experiment? And I have saw soul pager and big monitor in Bleach manga and anime so I highly doubt that there are no electricity and electronic devices there
