Happy Birthday to me! So tired; why are there so many birthday's in June? Here's your chapter.
Kumiko jumped up from her hiding place, sword directed at the odd orange haired boy.
"Who are you and what did you do to Madarame-senpai!" she tried to look as brave as she could while facing the unknown Soul Reaper.
The Soul Reaper didn't reply, he sat there looking dumb-founded, staring at her. It was almost unsettling.
"If-if you don't answer me right now I'll be forced to take action!" she yelled, never removing her eyes from the boy.
"Kumiko...?" he whispered. his brown eyes shaking with emotion.
"H-how... how do you know my name?" Kumiko stared back at the boy in new found wonder, she almost let her sword down but quickly corrected herself.
The boy stood up too quickly for Kumiko to retaliate, and held her. There was something about the way he held her that wasn't like the way any normal boy would have. It was as if he thought he was familiar with her, a closeness she'd never felt before.
"H-hey! Get-get away from me!" Kumiko was almost reluctant to push him away, "What-what the hell is wrong with you? Who are you?"
"You don't remember?" Kumiko thought that he might burst into tears, but he held them back.
Something in the boy's eyes told her he was serious, that he honestly believed he knew her. Those eyes made Kumiko's heart shake and falter.
"Listen," she sighed, "You must have me confused with someone else... who has the same name as me... and looks a lot like me... I guess that's unlikely, but that must be it because I've never seen you before in my life."
"There's no mistaking it, I swear that you're her! Believe me, there's no way that I'd not recognize you, no matter how many years its been!" he claimed, throwing his hand against his chest.
"I don't know who you think I am, but there is no way that I'm her!" Kumiko was starting to get angered by the boy's persistence.
"Please, just listen to me, Onee-chan!" the boy cried.
Kumiko froze, a memory of when she first came to the sereitei flooded her mind. Her thoughts and feelings at that exact time had been filled with a small boy, the image was blurry but she could just barely remember thinking about a... younger brother.
"Fine, I'll listen..." Kumiko sighed.
"...I'm... still alive?" whispered a now-conscious Madarame.
"You're still alive!" Kumiko ghasped in shock.
"Oh, you're awake?" the boy looked down at him, "Yo."
"Ichigo, you idiot! Why are you still here?" Madarame raged.
This 'Ichigo' boy didn't kill Madarame? Ichigo; now why does that sound familiar... Kumiko wondered.
"No reason," Ichigo shrugged, holding up Madarame's sword ,"Hey I just found out that the zanpakuto returns to its orignal form when the owner's unconscious."
"My Hoozukimaru!" Madarame practically squealed, "Give it back, punk!
"Hey, I never intended to keep it! I was just borrowing some medicine..."
So that stuff wasn't poison, it was medicine? Kumiko concluded.
The two boy's continued to argue for a little while longer before Ichigo ended the fight.
"Oh well... I don't really care if you thank me, but... I have a question for you." he said.
"I thought you would... such bad luck; what do you want to know, my birthday?" Madarame joked.
"Where is Rukia Kuchiki?" everything seemed to fall silent for a moment.
"How do you know Ruki-tan?" Kumiko spoke up.
"Yeah, what do want with her, isn't she on the death row?" Madarame added.
Kumiko shot Madarame an ice cold glare.
"I'm here to rescue her." Ichigo replied.
Kumiko stopped breathing for a moment, her lungs didn't seem to want to openly accept any air.
"Rescue her? How many of you are there?" Madarame screamed.
"Five people and a cat." Ichigo stated plainly.
"A cat! You really think you can rescue her?" Madarame howled.
"Yeah."
Madarame broe into a fit of laughter, he laughed so hard his wound reopened. WHen he calmed down, he seemed prepared to answer.
"In any case..." Madarame started, "Head toward the main offices of the 13 divisions and west of there is a tall white tower, she's probably in there."
"So that's where Bya-kun took her..." Kumiko hissed.
"I don't care what your intentions are, but if you want to go there, go ahead. Also, if you stay here much longer someone will come. So if you want to go; go now!"
"Thanks, I'll repay you later Ikkaku!"
"Don't repay me damnit!" Ichigo turned, "Wait a second, I have a question. Who's the strongest in your group, is it you?"
"More or less."
"Is that so? Then you better watch out for my captain, he'll definatly seek you out." Madarame warned.
"Is he strong?"
"You'll know when you meet him, actually, you'll know if you survive meeting him."
"Thanks." Ichigo turned his back and waved, "Later."
Ichigo stopped walking when he came to the place where Kumiko stood.
"I know who you are now," Kumiko stared at Ichigo, "You're the one Ruki-tan gave powers to. Renji says it's all your fault that she's going to die."
Ichigo didn't reply he only stared back.
"Are you really going to save her?" Kumiko asked.
"That's the plan."
"Then wheather it's your fault or not doesn't even matter if you're willing to do right to fix it. I'm coming with you."
"Won't you get in trouble?"
"Yeah, but I can't just stand around waiting for you to save her. I've got to at least try." Kumiko smiled.
Ichigo smiled back, memories of days long passed and that same smile in a time that felt like forever ago.
There you go, chapter eight! Don't you just love the number eight? Reviews please!
