Chapter 10: Confusion

Kenpachi Zaraki

I watched as Zooi hissed and growled at me as I held my sword to her throat; she suddenly seemed so different – her eyes were like slits and burning. Her spiritual pressure felt different – more dangerous and evil. What was happening to her? I realised that it may have something to do with what was inside her…I lowered my sword and stepped back, waiting for a reaction. Zooi crouched and hissed once more before she ran off; I followed her, trying to keep up with her pace until she eventually slowed down. We were still in the forest, although it had become increasingly lighter – the clearing we were in shone all sorts of brilliant greens and colours as the flowers swayed in the gentle breeze. I watched 10 feet away from Zooi as she looked around.

"Zooi! Are you okay?" I called, becoming slightly worried as she stared at me menacingly. "Zooi! Answer me!" she growled loudly, but then crouched down and lay on the grass; as I walked over, I felt her spiritual pressure become softer although it was still strong. She was still holding her sword as though she never wanted to let go of it. What was going on? Could this be what Miss Unohana told me about? I crouched down beside her and shook her arm to try and wake her…hold on. This clearing…I recognise it. Is this…oh no…

Zooi Tamyaomo

The last thing I remember was running off through the forest and hissing at Zaraki – something was bubbling up inside me, something that was a great evil…

Sharp. Cold. Damp. As I opened my eyes, bright colours jumped out at me. I noticed that I was lying down on grass: why though? A faint voice was calling something…"Zooi! Zooi, are you okay? Answer! Zooi!" it seemed to be getting louder. No, go away – I'm tired. My eyes hurt. Everything hurts…pain…sharp…cold…damp…

My eyes snapped open. Zaraki was crouched beside me, a worried look on his face.

"Zooi! Are you okay, what happened?!" he asked desperately. He shook me again. I blinked and nodded. Zaraki helped me sit up as I looked around me. My body hurt everywhere though it slowly dulled away.

"Where are we? How did we get here?" I asked Zaraki.

"Hm? Don't you remember what happened? Never mind that, we need to get out of here. I can feel that we're being watched." I nodded and Zaraki helped me stand up. Why was he being this nice? I remember that before I was imprisoned, he had a reputation for being quick and harsh on people not to mention being extremely rude. He was never this nice to anybody – Yachiru being the exception. Why was he helping me like this? Normally he would have abandoned anybody lower than him...*Rustle* I skidded to a halt. Zaraki stopped as well in front of me. I saw something move in the trees above us. Zaraki must've not noticed as he looked up and then back at me puzzled – oh yeah, he never did have the best sense of spirit pressure… *rustle* there it was again! Only, it was getting closer…*rustle* I grabbed Taura tighter and crouched as though ready to leap. Zaraki finally noticed the funny rustling and stared at the trees. *Rustle* I leaped in the direction of the rustling as silently as I could and jumped into the tree and onto the branches inside the intertwining network of branches and twigs. The same girl from the fight with the Hollows was sitting there tending to a bloody left arm. She looked at me in utter surprise and I stared back, my eyes slitted and sword drawn back. She turned to move, but quick as a flash I leapt onto the same branch she was on and drew my sword to her neck as I crouched behind her.

"You're not going anywhere. Try anything and you'll be dead in an instant." I whispered into her ear. She relaxed and breathed out.

"I apologise, please take your gracious sword away from my throat." She said. Her voice was soft and gentle. I relaxed my stance a bit and she slowly turned round.

"I won't try to leave, I'm too injured to anyway." I nodded and backed away slightly.

"Who are you? What were you doing when you finished killing the hollows?" I demanded. She trembled and quivered gently.

"Please, don't be so aggressive, I'm too weak to stand against your spiritual pressure." I tried to suppress it slightly. "Thank you." She bowed.

"Well? Who are you? You're definitely not a Soul Reaper that's for sure." I said nodding to her outfit and wooden staff that had the red glowing ball on the top. The girl appeared to sigh and looked up at the sky.

"I guess I can't hide it any longer. I'm Miyako of the Hayashida Family, and you're right, I'm not a Soul Reaper. I'm part of the Vamps Clan." A gentle wind rushed through the leaves and blew my hair. The girl, Miyako, looked up and at me. Her eyes blazed red and her lips were a harsh red. Her skin was pale as though all the blood had drained away. Around her eyes were pale purple circles though darker directly underneath her eyes. She had red hair, pulled back into a ponytail; some of hair dangled in front of her face. Her eyes seemed to widen as she looked at me properly.

"You're a what?" I asked, wondering what the hell 'The Vamps Clan' was.

"A Vamp. The Vamps Clan is…is…I'm sorry, I don't think I can tell you. Soul Reapers are supposed to be our enemies, but they're not mine. If I was to tell the Elder I told you about us I'd be killed for sure." Miyako said miserably.

"Well, do they have to find out?"

"They'll find out eventually! Some of them have powers beyond our imagination…it's too dangerous!" Miyako's voice rose an octave higher.

"But, there's one thing I would like to know – what were you doing with the Hollows on the ground after you shouted t us to go? You had blood all around your mouth…" I asked, feeling slightly cautious as she bowed her head clenched her fist on her good arm.

"You'd be disgusted if I told you." She spat. "Don't you know where the name 'Vamps' comes from? We're like 'vampires' as they call them in the human world. Only, we don't have a choice. Well, we do – everybody has the choice. We have to take the blood of a Hollow's to replenish our hunger and thirst, but also we drink it so it passes on to the Underworld."

"But, you used that staff-thing to vaporize the other Hollow's, couldn't have drunk them instead?"

"No, that's different. The staff we use immediately sends them down, but we must pay our respects to the dead that lost their way – that is also another reason to drink their blood; it's a sign of respect but it's to also repent them of their crimes, to punish them for the killings. Remember, Hollow's are (mostly) lost beings. It is our job to guide them to the Underworld." I sighed and looked at Miyako. Something stirred within me as I looked into her eyes – I could see something dark in them, as though there was just nothing.

"So, basically, this Vamps Clan is a religious thing? Great. That's just the kind of thing we needed – a religious cult hanging round our area." I sighed again and stood up clutching Taura. "Well, are you willing to go with me – I'm guessing that you're the int…" I never finished a flash grey light hit Taura by coincidence and a young man jumped down onto the same branch as Miyako and grabbed her by the waist. He hissed and bared his teeth at me in a threatening way. A low growl ripped from my throat and I crouched, baring my teeth. The young man recoiled and stared at me in surprise; however he leapt away, bounding from tree to tree as he carried Miyako and his staff. I jumped through the tree as well to see the direction they went in; east…towards Rukongai…ha! They'll soon be stopped by the gate.

I waited for the gate to come down, but it never did. As I jumped down I spotted Zaraki sitting on the grass looking up at the trees.

"Well? Did you gather enough information?" he rumbled. I shivered at the sound of his voice. If anything, it made me feel calmer and soothed. The something that was bubbling up inside me died away and I smiled slightly. Zaraki looked at me as I did and I saw the corners of his mouth turn upwards into a small smile as well.

"Yeah, I did. Shall we go back now?" I said happily. His voice soothed me and lifted some of the burden I carried. A newfound spring in my step was born and we leapt off in the direction of the Squad 11 barracks.

"Let's stop somewhere for a bit. I need to talk to you." Zaraki suggested and changed direction towards a waterfall.

"Okay. What did you want to talk to me about?" I asked, smiling happily as we playfully raced each other.

"You'll see when we get there."

Kenpachi Zaraki

Oh 'R', Zooi truly is your child. Her face is so much like yours and the way she acts is exactly like you used to. What would you say if you saw her now? There's something that's building up inside her and I'm worried for her. I'm never like this, but this is the first person other than Yachiru I want to protect. Just watching her race me, knowing that she can be as strong as, perhaps even stronger than me fills me with such joy. I wish you were here to witness her growth. I believe that now is the time to tell her the truth and the truth to what happened to you…I can only hope Zooi doesn't go out of control like she did when she was put in prison. What would you have said? Would you have taken the blame seeing as you passed it onto her? I can tell Zooi mourns not having you in her life. I don't think she remembers you much…especially that terrible day…