Ch. 9 – A Sweet Blend

"The hardships that I encountered in the past will help me succeed in the future."

Philip Emeagwali

...

The moonlight streamed in through Sasuke's uncovered window. He'd been staring out at the sky for no reason in particular. The sight of the starry sky though sent a rivet of emotion through him that he's never felt before. And a tremendous sensation of déjà vu washed through him as he did so.

He's stared at the night sky before; not like the feeling of déjà vu would be so out of place with something he's done so many times since he was a kid. The night sky somehow felt more familiar that night. The stars shining back at him bore a signal straight to his aching mind.

Sasuke didn't know what he felt but the same questions played through his mind over and over again. Who were these people? Why are they after him? And most important when had he obtained a gigai?

The last one bothered him a lot because so far his world played it off as it was normal. Sasuke had no idea why his parents or sister didn't seem to know the difference. He didn't know until he was pulled from it. It wasn't a pleasant experience either. It kind of felt like getting the air knocked out of you and when he reentered his gigai it was like taking a long needed first breath after being underwater, it even left a small pressure on you until you got used to it again.

There were far too many questions going through his mind but none of it made any sense. He'd been trying to act normal for the past week and so far he was doing well but he could feel the weight of it all coming down on his shoulders. Isami was acting different too, he noticed. And not just the fact that her eyes changed from blue to the Uchiha black, but that was definitely something on his mind.

She was very tense the last time she saw him. They had a pretty basic relationship as far as sibling relationships went. Sasuke even felt sometimes like she looked up to him. She was by far though the more gullible of the two and the know it all. He couldn't remember the last time she'd let him be right about anything. Even though he was right every time, he just felt the need to let her win, something about her smile.

Sasuke pulled away from the window and lied back on his bed. Staring at the ceiling wasn't really much of a change from staring at the stars but he was tired of craning his neck upward. It wasn't such a hassle that it would matter but he was also very tired from his fight earlier that day.

Still tired, that was kind of a sad thought.

Knock, knock, and knock.

Sasuke heard the sound of something against his window. But how could that be? His room was on the second floor and there were no trees near enough for someone to climb up to see him. He sat up and looked out the window.

A woman seemed to be standing on air just outside of his window. She knocked again and this time he could see her face a little more clearly. She had black hair and seemed to be looking directly at him. Sasuke shook his head and unlocked the window.

Pushing it open he said, "Who are you?"

He noted the clearly soul reaper garb. That could explain the floating on air.

The girl looked at him with a sweet smile. "Um, are you Sasuke Uchiha?"

Sasuke frowned, not really sure how to answer this. He could just say yes, and that would probably be the easiest thing to say, but he didn't really like handing out his name, especially to people who stalking outside of his window.

"I think I need a name first before I'm willing to give out my own." Sasuke said and sat up fully.

The girl looked confused before she bowed slightly with a red tint on her cheeks. "Oh, yes my apologies. My name is Momo Hinamori and I was sent by the Gotei thirteen to-".

Sasuke sighed. "Oh, this again, well at least you're nicer than the last one they sent."

"They already sent someone? They told me I was the first." Momo said and slouched in the air with a hand to her chin.

"So, Momo, if you don't mind," Sasuke said. "I really don't want to have a fight right now, especially not in my bedroom."

"Oh this is your bedroom?" Momo leaned forward and looked around the room. "May I enter?"

Sasuke stood and walked away from his window. "What are you a vampire? Do you need an invitation?"

Momo peered at him and tilted her head. "A vampire, no, I'm a soul reaper. I just thought I would be respectful."

Sasuke signaled with his hands. "You may enter my humble abode."

The girl smiled as she climbed through the window and into his room. She looked around with the same curious smile. "You have a very nice room, Sasuke."

"Thanks," Sasuke pulled out the chair at his desk for her to sit in. He really wasn't in a mood for a fight, he was irritated as it was, but somehow her smile made it harder for him to be angry.

"Thank you," she said and took the seat. "I was specifically sent by the head captain, he says that you will be safer with us than out here without any protection."

Sasuke looked into the girl's eyes. "I doubt that highly. How do they know about me anyway?"

Momo looked away from his serious gaze. "We got some Intel from a member of squad two saying there was a new soul reaper in hiding in the world of the living. They wanted to bring you in and train you before the people that are after you get a chance to attack again. They want to prepare you and you kind of need the training anyway."

Sasuke frowned at that statement. "I don't want to go to the soul society, not yet anyway; I've still got too much to do."

The girl puffed out her lower lip. "What are you talking about? You've got us all wrong, we don't want to take you back to the soul society. That would take too long for us to train you there. We wanted to bring in some soul reapers to watch over you and train you here."

Sasuke lied back on his bed again. "So are you one of the ones they sent?"

Sasuke could see Momo nod from the corner of his gaze. He didn't like the idea of needing to be protected but it was a nice notion.

"The others are much stronger than I am. I was sent for your kido training. The others should be here tomorrow." Momo said, "I was sent early so that you wouldn't be freaked out by so many strong fighters coming at you at once. Plus, they said I have a sweet face whatever that means." She smiled again.

Well they weren't lying. She had big round comforting eyes and a demeanor that could calm an enraged serial killer. Not that she would ever be in a situation like that most likely. She seemed more than capable of handling herself in a fight and with her being sent to train him, she must be good.

"Will I have to come back to the soul society after we're done here?" Sasuke asked.

Momo looked around and nodded as if she were embarrassed. "Yes, you're a soul reaper, and not alive anymore. We require that you go in for training. I'm sorry."

Sasuke sighed. He knew it would happen eventually, but he wasn't prepared for it yet. Not with his family still here. He had so much to do before he could leave. His head was swimming again with the possibilities and what he would gain by going to the soul society. His questions could be answered there.

"So when do we start training?"

"First thing in the morning," Momo said.

...

The view from the Karakura bridge was amazing, especially at night, but that's not what Yoruichi's eyes were focused on at the moment. The steady gaze from the hooded figure standing before them hadn't left them since they've run into them.

"State your business here!" Sui-Feng commanded as she raised her zanpakuto.

A voice, softer than they expected spoke, "I-I'm looking for someone."

Yoruichi looked from the hooded figure to Sui-Feng and back to the moony eyes. "We need a name before we can start to trust you."

The hooded figure stepped into the light of the moon. She wore a long dark cloak that hid most of her features but it was clear she was a girl from the way she moved and her voice. The ends of black hair could be seen escaping through her hood and over her shoulders.

The tips of her fingers touched together before separating and staying at her side. Both soul reapers readied like she would attack at any moment.

"My name is Hinata Hyuga and I've come to watch over Sasuke Uchiha." She said and stood her ground.

"Sasuke, but what do you want with him?" Yoruichi asked.

"He's," she paused for a moment. "H-He's someone important to me."

Sui-Feng scoffed and threw a glare at Hinata. "I don't think your story holds up. Who could care about that guy other than his family?"

Hinata's cheek reddened and her fists tightened but softened as she spoke almost as if to match her voice. "I- he's like family to me."

Sui-Feng peered at the nervous girl, "I'm sorry but he's a soul reaper now. Whatever affiliation you had to him when he was alive doesn't matter anymore."

"It's my mission to watch over Sasuke. I have to make s-sure he's okay." Hinata said.

"The soul society is watching over him now. You are just interfering now. And I would advise you against get in the way of the soul societ-."

"Sui-Feng, if this girl wants to help us watch over Sasuke who are we to tell her no?" Yoruichi said, "It's not like she'll really get in the way."

Sui-Feng scoffed again before dropping her attitude entirely when looked at Yoruichi. "As you wish, Lady Yoruichi, but I'll have to notify the soul society that she's here."

Hinata bowed. "T-Thank you, Miss Sui-Feng, for understanding."

"Yeah, whatever kid. Just stay out of trouble."

"Oh, b-before you go. I have one last thing to ask you." Hinata asked, "Can you not tell him that I'm here. I have to stay under cover and since I've already been discovered there isn't much I can do."

Yoruichi smiled. "Sure, I think we can do that."

Hinata bowed as the two soul reapers disappeared into the night.

...

Isami stood at the foot of a shrine. She whispered a prayer to the silence of the night. She should have been at home with her brother but the night had called to her. So she'd gone on a walk and found herself at a shrine in the dead of night.

Sasuke would freak if he knew that she was outside this late at night. The city was as safe as could be, not counting the hollows that prowled the streets, but it was still safer than where they'd come from before.

The city seemed more like home than any other place she'd ever lived before. And they'd only been there barely two weeks. She made many friends and not to mention made friends with the neighbor, who Sasuke seemed confused about.

They were friends it seemed, but Sasuke was weird with people he didn't know very well. It was an Uchiha trait, she knew. For she, herself, had similar moments. She was happy enough to meet new people, but guarded.

As soon as she finished her prayer she felt it. Another presence somewhere nearby, where she was unsure, but it was there. Isami stood and turned as she recognized the familiarity of the presence.

A smile tugged her lips upward. "I never expected to see you here."

Slowly a person came out of the shadows to stand before Isami. "I never expected you to be out here at this time of night."

"I'm old enough to make my own decisions." Isami said.

"No, you're not," The figure said. "You should be at home in bed, trying to be as comfortable as possible."

"Don't try to babysit me, Hinata. I'm older than I look you know." Isami said puffing out her bottom lip.

"But not by much," Hinata said with a reassuring smile.

"Almost as old as you," she said.

"Almost," Hinata smiled back at the girl.

Isami calmed herself and shared a look with Hinata the girl she hadn't expected to see. "So did they send you to watch over Sasuke?"

Hinata nodded.

"So do they still expect something to happen?"

"They don't expect anything, but they were worried about both of your safety."

Isami scratched the ground with her foot. "We're fine, actually. There was run in with some people from a past I want to forget but other than that we've had no problems."

"That's good to hear, but would you mind me being here for a little while before I head back?" Hinata said with a faint red dusting her cheeks.

"You still want to see him?"

Hinata nodded and Isami led the way back to their house.