Psychic Chick
Part One: Becoming a Shinigami
Chapter Eight: Explanations Owed
Main POV
"Ahh, Miss Kurodo I wasn't expecting you to see you here so bright and early," my homeroom teacher, Mr Smith, commented as I stood to attention outside his classroom door, exchange students gathered behind me. I'd always hated this man. I had no explanation as to why, but always made me feel super uncomfortable. The way he spoke, the way he looked at me and made unwavering eye contact. How any touch lasted way too long. When he brushed past me he would linger for just a second too long. It'd been four years since he'd started being my homeroom teacher, four years too long.
"Oh you know, gotta make a good impression with the new students," I brushed off the comment.
"Well you're doing an excellent job so far, you've matured a lot since last year's exchange students were in town. I'm proud of you," he added, unlocking the classroom door. "Love the outfit by the way, very nice."
"Oh, thank you," I smiled, trying to brush off how strange I felt under the scrutinising eye of my significantly older teacher. Maybe that was it, he still thought of himself as one of the kids.
"Don't mention it," he responded, heading into the classroom and letting us in behind him. Other students filed into the room eventually and sat behind me, surprised to see the row they normally ignore now filled with students. The bell rang and Mr. Smith read out the bulletins for today while I copied down the schedule I already knew by heart for the others, incase we got separated.
It did mean doing it five times but copying it down gave me something to do instead of shifting uncomfortably under the gaze of my teacher. I wondered briefly if the new style was such a good idea after all. Renji seemed interested in it at breakfast, although he was surprised. I got many compliments for the others -excluding of course Hitsugaya who was deep in thought and looking a little tired- but Renji seemed a little more interested in the whole thing. I wondered if he'd been listening to Rangiku.
I was not glowing. I didn't suddenly change my style because I slept with Renji. This stupid outfit was for investigative purposes only. The world would be much better without stupid dresses like this anyway. I normally wore it differently and felt much more comfortable. I never usually showed this much of my legs outside of shorts. There was just something strange about wearing short skirts and dresses. I didn't like how people looked at me and I didn't like the feeling of vulnerability.
"You can all have the last few minutes for free talk," Mr Smith called out and went to his desk, typing away at his laptop and shifting uncomfortably in his chair every so often.
"I copied down the schedule for you guys in case we get separated at any point," I handed everyone a piece of not paper with my neat handwriting scrawled all over it. The bell rang and I got up to move to our next class, making a stop at my locker for my laptop. I pulled out the shiny, Sony brand laptop that my parents had paid a pretty penny for. It was top of the range, mostly because I think they liked to show off. That and they never bought from Samsung.
They never questioned my motives for the computer but perhaps they all just assumed I was much more studious than I was. They followed me along to our first class of the day and I sat in my assigned seat at the back of the classroom. Our teacher instructed the exchange students to wait at the front of the class while everyone else filed in. When all the other kids eventually made their way to their seats, the empty spots were then assigned to them. Renji and Ikkau were two rows in front of me and to the left whereas Yumichika and Rangiku got the middle right. Hitsugaya got lumped at the front of the classroom and kept getting told off for texting in class, which had I been paying much attention, I would have laughed at.
I on the other hand had my workbook open on the table ready for the teacher to inspect if they came over while I typed furiously away on my laptop. I researched all I could on this Karakura town which was minimal because it wasn't that big of a town. Most of the sites were in Japanese so I was lucky enough that save for the international students, no one could read over my shoulder and snoop. It was also a good test of my knowledge on the language. My parents would at least be happy at the sudden increase in my interest in Japan when they came back from their cruise.
Unfortunately all I could find on the clinic mentioned on the paper I'd stolen from the family safe was a street address and phone number, which I already had. And I could find even less for this Urahara guy. I sighed and started typing in the terms I'd head others think and say. I wasn't sure if I'd find anything all things considered but it was worth a shot, plus, Hitsugaya might not be true to his word and answer all my questions.
I rubbed my eyes lightly, careful not to smudge my makeup and sighed, I wondered if the best thing to do was just call these people. We obviously had these numbers for a reason. I was happy at least, that the numbers on the paper matched the numbers on the internet, which meant that that hadn't changed in the number of years it had been.
Briefly, I looked over to where Renji and Ikkaku were and saw them messing around as usual, including hitting each other with their workbooks and fighting lightly. Yumichika and Rangiku were talking, ignoring the workload and I assumed they were gossiping, as that seemed to be Rangiku's favourite activity. Hitsugaya was still on his phone the whole time and I wondered briefly what he was actually doing, surly it couldn't be texting all this time.
The bell rang and I closed my laptop, collecting my things and waiting outside the door, ready to take the student's to their next class.
"You've been quiet all day. Something bothering you sweetie?" Yumichika asked as we sat at one of the school's picnic tabled.
"How do you know I've been quiet all day, we've been separated?" I retorted, crossing my arms around my head as I rested it on the table.
"A man just knows things sometimes. What's bothering you?" He rubbed my back affectionately for a moment and dropped it back down at his side. I sighed and rocked my head about on the table a bit, hair falling around my face in soft waves. I hadn't bothered straightening it today and it seemed to help with the new look.
"As much as it annoys me not knowing why you're hear and what you're up to." I sat up and looked at him. "I know it's not my place and none of my business and I'm content to ignore it."
"But?" He asked, knowing something was coming.
"But, what's making my sick is my business. And I'm trying to work things out on my own and stay out of the way but I'm concerned that maybe what's making me sick and the reason why you're really here tie in together. Even though I've been trying to convince Renji all this time it's not his fault. And I really do believe that whatever it is, it's not his fault but I don't even know what's happening anymore," I vented and he nodded sympathetically.
"Heyyy!" Rangiku called jumping onto one of the seats in front of us and joining us with her lunch. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Nothing," I sighed, going back to laying on my arms, moping.
"You are no fun Tina-chan. What's with you today?" She pried, putting a sympathetic hand on my elbow.
"I have a lot of stuff on my mind," I mumbled into my arms. After a few more moments of moping I figured I should just let it go. I could always try again, it was only Monday after all. Moping wouldn't get me anywhere. I sighed and stood up, stretching. "I'm gonna go grab a drink, anyone want anything?"
They both shook their heads and I headed away from the tables to the vending machine to grab something over priced and sugary. I stepped into he quiet hallway and reached into my leather jacket to pull out my wallet. I noticed a group of teenage guys a little older than me loitering by some lockers nearby. I reached the machine and stuck a few coins in and selected a lychee flavoured tea. I bent down to get my drink from the flap and I glanced over my shoulder to see them watching me.
Whatever they were up to was none of my business so I went on my way, heading back down the stairs to go outside. Hearing footsteps behind me on the stairs further up than me, I glanced behind me to see the group had started down the stairs. Which made me feel uncomfortable but I couldn't assume they were following me. This was a school, students were allowed to walk the halls.
"Hey." One of them said in a deep voice.
I glanced back and saw it was the closest one to me. I gave a halfhearted wave so I wasn't being rude but kept moving. Whatever they wanted they could get from someone else. He quickened his pace and was along side with me in seconds, one of his friends going past us and stopping in front of me.
"Where ya going' girl?" The one in front of me asked, smirking.
'Fuck. Could this day get any worse?' I thought.
"God you're hot." The one beside me breathed, looking me up and down again, eyes lingering.
"I'm also not interested," I responded, trying to get past the one in front of me, he pushed me back and I glared at him.
"What's the matter, don't you want to have some fun with us? We could use a little fun, if you know what I mean." The one beside me steppe closer to me and I could feel his hot, wet breath on me.
"That's a shame, because I'm not interested. I don't want anything to do with you."
Renji POV
"Hey, where's Tina?" I asked, standing by the picnic table everyone had gathered at.
"Yeah, shouldn't she be moping around here somewhere?" Ikkaku added, also noticing her lack of presence. I sent him a warning glare and he backed off.
"She went off to go get a drink from the vending machine and hasn't come back yet. It's been a while though, wonder what's taking her so long," Rangiku answered.
"Maybe it's broken?" Yumichika suggested.
"She did seem pretty upset, maybe one of us should go look for her," Rangiku responded, moving to get up.
"I'll go with you," I offered and she nodded.
"Maybe we should all go, no point in us just sitting here, lunch is almost over anyway," Ikkaku butted in.
Main POV
"You'd be lucky to spend time with us nerd girl. Don't think we didn't notice all your academic awards. We just didn't notice you were this hot," he growled, moving to grab my wrist, which I pulled away at the last minute.
"No, I'd be incredibly unfortunate to have to breath the same airspace as you again. Back off," I snarled back.
"Ooh kitty has claws." He chuckled. "Let's see if her bite is as bad as her meow."
He shoved me back against the railing of the stairs and grabbed my face to kiss me. I let out a war cry and lobbed a punch right to his face. He stumbled back a step and I swung a side kick to his gut, shoving him down the stairs into the other guy. The two behind me hurried down the stairs towards me and I threw up my fists, ready for their attack.
Renji POV
I felt a sudden flair in her spiritual energy and heard a furious cry from the upcoming stairwell. I recognised it instantly even without her spiritual energy and ran into action.
"You two, second floor window, now. Rangiku you come with me," I ordered, running to the door at the bottom of the stairs.
"Right."
Yumichika and Ikkaku leapt up to the second floor window and climbed inside. We'd no doubt see them at the top of the flight of stairs when we got there.
Main POV
"Get off of me!" I cried out as one of them grabbed my wrists and I kicked the leg of another, him losing his balance and tumbling.
"Come on baby, why you gotta be like this? You're hot, why you gotta be so vicious?" One of the ones in front of me asked.
"Yes she is a beautiful one, but I believe the lady asked you to let her go," I heard Yumichika's voice at the top of the stairs and he grabbed the one who was holding me and yanked him back. He let me go and I moved out of the way just in time for Ikkaku to grab both railings and jump up to kick the other guy down the stairs. I turned around to see Rangiku grab a hold of the guy who'd been blocking my path and Renji grab what seemed to be the ring leader of this rag-tag team of ruffians, who had been about to make an attack move.
"H-hey let me go! Can't you see I'm busy here?" He yelled.
"Really? Because I thought you were just leaving," Renji replied throwing him out of the doorway and into the ground outside.
"You too buddy," Rangiku slammed her guy head first into the wall before following suit and throwing him out the door. The one Ikkaku had kicked down the stairs had been slowly getting up and was looking between me and Ikkaku, weighing up his options. I pulled my fist back and slammed it into his nose hearing a loud crack and sickening crunch. He staggered backwards, grabbing his nose and ran out of the stairwell by himself tail between his legs.
Yumichika let go of his guy who ran out after his friends. I let out a frustrated sigh and looked at everyone, crossing my arms. Renji walked up the stairs and put a gentle arm around me. He kissed my temple.
"You alright?" Ikkaku asked, walking down the stairs a bit to meet us.
"Fine." I replied shaking my head. "Thanks for helping me out."
"Why wouldn't we?" He responded, giving me a pat on the shoulder and then continuing down the stairs.
"I've always got your back, you know that right?" Renji asked more quietly after Yumichika passed us.
"I know." I nodded, walking down the stairs with him and back outside to the picnic tables where we had previously sat. At this point Hitsugaya had showed up. I moved to open the lychee tea I'd bought, after all kicking ass was thirsty work. I went to bend my fingers and let out a cry of pain when a sharp ache spread through my fingers. Everyone turned to look at me as I stared down at my bloody and bruised hand. I hadn't even noticed I was injured. My wrist also had a light bruise forming on it.
"Please tell me you didn't punch that guy hard enough to break your hand," Renji sighed, looking at my hand.
"Let me see," Hitsugaya ordered and I sat down at the picnic table in front of him. I put my hand out in front of him and he gingerly touched it, slowly and gently straightening the bent fingers. I let out cry as he carefully tried to straighten them. He sighed as he inspected my hand and sat in thought for a moment. "I guess I still owe you an explanation on a few things," He started.
"What?" I replied, caught off guard.
"You asked some questions the other day, want them answered?" He turned my hand over in his to inspect the damage my nails digging into my palm had caused.
"I've been trying to answer them myself all day. Did all my work before we left this morning so I could spend this time studying," I replied honestly.
"I see. Did you come up with anything?" He asked, brow furrowing over my shaking hand and bleeding knuckles.
"No." I sighed. "Couldn't find a thing."
"Well, I'm happy to explain a few things, so long as they're reasonable." He was being less cold with me today, I figured he was just stressed with whatever he was here for and it didn't help my declining health.
"What's spirit energy or pressure or whatever it's called?"
"Those are two different things, Tina," he started, "Spirit energy or Reiryoku is the amount of spiritual power being stored within the body or soul. Reiatsu or Spiritual Pressure is the force or pressure that a person's reiryoku exerts. So, reiryoku is potential power or energy and reiatsu is the force in use."
"Oh. So when you guys were saying that you could barely feel any energy from me that was because I wasn't using any, reiatsu??"
"Essentially, yes. Either you were unintentionally masking it or there's something else going on here. We thought it could be exposure to our high levels of reiatsu and reiryoku."
"Oookay. I mean that could be it.." I pondered. "So what's..?"
"Before you ask anymore questions, let me fix this hand." He cut me off, he pulled my hand closer to him and held his other hand hover it. He concentrated on my hand and a green light emitted from his hand hovering over mine and I watched in amazement as my cut skin began to knit itself together, the bruised healed themselves and I could move my fingers again.
Just as he finished healing my hand the bell singling the end of lunch rang and we headed back to our lockers, grabbing our stuff and moving to our next class. There was no assigned seats this time so I sat in the back between Renji and Hitsugaya ready to ask more questions as the teacher sat behind his desk and everyone chatted amongst themselves.
"So what's kidō?" I asked, swinging my legs beneath me curious as to what it was.
"I used it earlier today on your hand. Kidō translates to demon arts and is a form of combat we used based on advanced spells. These spells fall into two categories, hadō for attacks and bakudō for battlefield support. Inside those categories there are many different types of kidō. The kind I used on your hand today was called kaidō. Which is a healing kidō."
"I wondered what that was, it was gonna be my next question," I responded, listening to what he was saying keenly while Renji was messing around with the others.
"Are there hollows elsewhere?"
"Yes. What is your knowledge on life after death?"
"Don't know, don't care. Right now is what matters, why should I worry about something I can't really prevent?"
"Right, wasn't what I meant. So, in most cultures, after someone dies their spirit leaves the body. Some ascend to heaven, others to the underworld and some in-between. Sometimes they stay behind. When a soul leaves the body and have some unfinished business or something that ties them to this earth, they stay behind. These souls are called holes. Hollows are the souls that eventually go bad because haven't moved on."
"Go bad?" I quirked a brow, it wasn't often you heard a soul get referred to the same way you would a glass of milk left on the counter.
"Well usually it's our job to cleanse these souls and send them on to the other world. If for some reason this doesn't happen they turn into hollows," he provided.
"How come they keep coming after me? Are they coming after me or am I just always in the wrong place in the wrong time?" I really was curious as to why I always was having to fight these fuckers off.
"We're not sure," he replied honestly.
"Perfect," I muttered.
"Sometimes it's related to a release of high spiritual pressure and other times it might just be as simple as you were the closest soul," he went on to explain.
"That doesn't make me feel any better," I replied bitterly.
"I never said it would, knowledge isn't always what you want it to be." He responded, going back to his phone.
