And so the sad truth is revealed.
Part 1
Magnus was siting with crossed legs in his enclosure. He had ordered his men to leave the room, for he desired to be alone that moment. He turns his swivel chair to the great glass window of the last floor of his building. His fingers of his right hand were ticking the arm of his chair and his left hand supported his face.
The man looks at the city, that now belongs to him; the sky was gray and blue lightnings were crossing it every minute; instead of birds, hollows were flying through the skies and the buildings in there were all poorly maintained or destroyed, and the people who were walking in the streets were like zombies. That man took all their hope away and now he ruled over them.
A person stumbles in another one unconsciously.
–Hey, you bastard! Won't you apologize?
The man who stumbled was smaller and he seems not to listen and keeps walking.
–Hey! I said apologize! - Says the man grabbing the other's shoulder and turning him for himself.
The smaller one turns and he has a dark expression on his face. His eyes were red and he was emanating a familiar reiatsu. Then, he punches the face of the man who grabbed his shoulder.
The man fall to the ground, spits blood, and when he gets up, he has the same dark expression on his face.
They stare each other smiling diabolically and so they start fighting. After a few blows, the smaller one holds a knife that he had in his pocket and craves it into his opponent's heart. The man screams in pain and from his mouth a figure similar to a hollow comes out and evaporates in the air. He lies on the ground, dead.
The smaller man saves his knife back on his pocket, spits a little bit of blood and continues to walk, as if nothing had happened. The people who were near when it all happened, were acting normally too, doing their works. They all look normal, except for their eyes. Their eyes were not human.
Magnus watched the little confusion like he watched it every day.
–What a boring world... - He says.
The clock did a loud ticking among the silence of the living room. Hisana was sitting at a little table, with a cup of hot tea in front of her, but, because of the eyes watching her as if she was a highly dangerous criminal, she wasn't drinking it.
Urahara Kisuke was looking at her and hiding his expression with his fan. Yoruichi was in the form of a cat and was lying not far from her. Tessai was observing everyone's expressions waiting for an alarm. Ururu and Jinta were out of the living room, ready for any inconvenience.
–Anh... - Hisana says, uncomfortable. - Is anybody awake yet?
–…
–The tea is really good! - She praises, drinking the tea.
–…
–What a beautiful kitten! - She says, smiling at Yoruichi.
–…
–Does anybody know what time is it? - She looks embarrassed at them.
–The clock is right behind you, young lady. - Urahara answers pointing at the clock.
–Oh, I already forgot about that! - Answers Hisana putting one of her hands behind her head.
–Why don't you stop pretending that everything is okay and tell us who you are and most importantly: How do you know us?
–Well... I'm kind of... A classmate of them, you know? - she says, innocently.
–…
–Uh... That wasn't very convincing, was it? - Hisana says, in a cold sweat.
–Not even close.
–Can we make a deal?
–What kind of deal?
–When Ichigo and the others wake up, I promise I'll tell you everything.
–How can I be sure you'll do that?
–I wouldn't have brought them here if I didn't want to do that, right?
–… All right. But until then, you don't leave this room, understand?
–That's okay for me... I think. - The young shrugs her shoulders.
–Good.
Urahara gets up and Tessai leave the room along with him, only Yoruichi stays.
–I don't know who you are, kid, but know that you will not be able to convince me that easily. - Yoruichi says, with her feline male voice.
Hisana lowers her head and closes her eyes.
–Actually, I think you'll be the first one who'll be convinced. - She smiles when she looks at the cat.
–…
" Beep, beep, beep."
The sound comes from the communicator. She looks at Yoruichi, who was looking suspiciously the little device. Hisana holds it and shows Yoruichi that it wasn't a gun. Yoruichi relaxes a little and Hisana answers the communicator.
-What is it, boss? (…) - I'm so sorry about that... (…) - It was not my fault, I already told you, that... Why are you so desperate? (…) - If you do not respect me, I will hand the communicator to Yoruichi-san! (…) - Now you're using the right tone. (…) - Of course I'll tell them. (…) - Look, boss, they are stronger than before, we thought they were class five but if I hadn't intervened, they would all be dead right now! (…) - Of course you were wrong, but so was I. (…) - Yes, I'll need their help. (…) - Right. (…) - All right I'll be careful... (…) - Huh... (…) - And have you already finished your research about that thing that happened in the middle of the battle? (…) - I see, just as I suspected. (…) - Yeah, I hope there'll be time to do that too... (…) - Ok. (…) - Send everyone my best wishes! (…) - What is it now? (…) - What's with my ass? (…) - OH, YOU SON OF A …!
The communication ends.
–Puff! Pervert freak! - Hisana throws the communicator in the ground.
–What do you think you're doing? - Yoruichi asks, deadly serious.
–I'm sorry, Yoruichi, I didn't mean to be so disrespectful... It's just that, sometimes, that jerk makes me lose my head! - She raises her voice again, looking at the communicator.
–You are a strange girl; another reason why I shouldn't trust you.
–I'm sorry, but I promise I will make you stop looking at me and treating me like I'm a criminal or something!
–I doubt that.
–… Well, anyway, I'll try. But before, if it isn't too much trouble, Yoruichi-san, could I... Use the bathroom, please?
–No.
–…
–Ichigo... Ichigo... Wake up, Ichigo...
Ichigo opens his eyes and sees that he was still in his interior world.
–O-san? - Ichigo gets up from the ground.
Zangetsu was observing the young master from above a lamppost.
–What happened? Why did you call me? - Ichigo feels something weird, a knock on his head. - Why do I have the feeling that I am forgetting something really important...?
–You don't remember, Ichigo? - He asks.
–What do you mean? Remember what? - Ichigo looks at Zangetsu.
–I see... So this was her doing as well...
–"Her"? Who are you talking about, O-san? - The redhead raises an eyebrow.
The zanpakutou changes the subject.
–Ichigo, you have to be careful from now on; I can feel a turbulence in the spiritual waves coming to your world. - He warns.
–Wrong. - The redhead says, serious. - The turbulence already arrived and I almost died! Zangetsu, those enemies are too powerful, we need to be stronger...! - He clenches his fist and stares at the zanpakutou with anger. - I couldn't do anything against them and because of that, my friends almost got killed! If I'm not ready, next time... Maybe there won't be a next time.
-…
– O-san. - Zangetsu looks at Ichigo. - That girl who helped us, she is very powerful, but I felt something different near that zanpakutou, I don't know how to explain what it was, but it was like I know her, somehow... Did you felt that?
–… Yes.
–What do you think that means? - He asks.
- It was part of her power, Ichigo, but at the moment I think there are more important things to worry about than this.
Ichigo remembers.
- You're right, Rukia is badly hurt and so are the others. - Ichigo looks at Zangetsu - Thanks O-san, but I have to see how they are!
The boy disappears.
Zangetsu is quiet for a while. He looks at the clouds.
- That feeling you had was of a zanpakutou resonating, a very rare ability, only to the ones who share the same spiritual core... Similar to what happens between you and Kuchiki Rukia. - He talks with himself. - Isn't it, my little girl? - Zangetsu looks down.
Hiryuken smiles to him. Zangetsu descends from the lamppost and stands next to the girl.
- Who are you and how could you get into this world without being noticed?
- You don't need to worry about me, I would never dare to even raise my voice to you. - She says fondly.
Zangetsu hears the respect in the voice of the young girl and observes her for a few seconds. He looks at her clothe and her eyes, that's when he realises the similarities between them, not just fisical but spiritual as well.
- Your reiatsu... Your eyes... How is it possible?
- Because you had faith, that's why it's possible.
- My child... What are you called?
- " I am the keeper of the stars that fill the skies, the wings of protection of all the spiritual connections of this world, my name is Hiryuken and you are Zangetsu, my father."
Zangetsu is very quiet. He stares the girl who was looking at him with serenity. He takes off his glasses without knowing what to think.
- So... So it is possible...
Hiryuken smiles.
- But at the moment Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia don't know anything about... - He says.
- I know, then let me refrase the answer. My name is Hiryuken and I "will" be your daughter.
Zangetsu is confused.
- What do you mean?
- That I came from the future and I came because I need your help.
The zanpakutou looks serious at her.
- What kind of help?
- First I need you to hear my story... And my mission. - She answers.
- ... Tell me.
Ichigo wakes up in a familiar place.
- Rookie! - He raises from the bed and, looking aside, he sees Rukia asleep. - Rukia! - Ichigo drags his body closer to her and feels her breath and that calms him down. - Oh, thanks god! Thanks god she's safe... Hey! This is one of Urahara's room!
- How good you're awake, Kurosaki-san. - Someone says, happy.
- Urahara-san! - Ichigo says, reliefed.
- Yoho! Kurosaki-kun!
- Inoue!
- Ichigo are you all right?
- Chado!
- You're a very loud man when you wake up, Kurosaki!
- Ishida! You're alive! - The red head says happy.
- Of course we are, and not thanks to you! - Mocks Ishida, Making Ichigo frown.
- Is Kuchiki-san awake yet? - Inoue asks.
- ... No. - Ichigo says with a sad look on his face.
- Kurosaki-kun, you know Kuchiki-san better than anyone here, so please, don't be sad. She is sure to wake up soon and she wouldn't like to see you sad, would she? - Inoue says, noticing Ichigo's sad look. Inoue's words made Ichigo feel a little uncomfortable but he calms down with he hears it.
- Thank you for taking care of us, Inoue. - He thanks and smiles.
- Oh, I didn't do anything, Kurosaki-kun, it was Hisa-chan who saved us.
- The rookie! - Ichigo remembers. - I have some questions to ask her! Where is she?
- Don't need to be so nervous, Ichigo, she's in the living room and she has made it clear that she won't answer any questions until everybody is awake. - Says Ishida.
- How do you know that she won't answer me?
- Because we are awake for three hours and she didn't answer anything that we asked. She insisted on saying that she would only answer when everybody wakes up.
- Kurosaki-san, do you think we can trust her? - Asks Urahara.
- I'm not sure, but... - The boy looks at Rukia's face, thinking.
- Well, I think we can trust Hisa-san. - Says Inoue smiling.
- Inoue-san don't be so naive. I know that she saved us but she didn't tell us who she really is and maybe her name is not Matsuda Hisa. - Reminds Ishida.
- But Ishida-san, she saved our lives!
- If I was and enemy who wanted to obtain information to succeed in a very important mission, I would build a bound of trust with my enemy first. - Says Ishida, thinking logically.
(- I will protect your future!).
Ichigo remembers what she said, looking into his eyes and remembers how determined and sincere she looked at him with her red eyes.
- I... - He says and everybody looks at him. - I think Inoue is right, I don't know how to explain this, but... I think we can trust her. - He looks at his friends.
- I agree with you, Ichigo... - A female tired voice says, coming from beside Ichigo.
- RUKIA! - He says loudly, surprised and relieved.
- Kuchiki-san! - Inoue is also surprised to see her friend waking up.
Rukia grins.
- Are you okay, Rukia? - Asks Ichigo.
- Don't worry, I will live. - She answers getting up with difficulty. Inoue helps her to sit down and Rukia smiles to her. - Urahara, where is she?
- She is waiting for us in the living room. - He says.
- I want to hear what she has to say.
- Okay, we will all go, I thinking we waited for long enough, right ? - Says Ichigo to his friends.
They all agree.
They go towards the living room where Yoruichi and Hisana were. Ichigo was weak because of the amount of blood he lost and Sado helps him to walk as Inoue helps Rukia.
While they walk towards the living room, Rukia remembers the dream she had.
- Rukia-sama, wake up Rukia-sama.
Rukia opens her eyes and she is lying in a field filled with snow and Sode no Shirayuki was looking at her with a concerned look.
- Are you okay, Rukia-sama?
- Yes... What happened, why did you bring me here? - Asks the girl with a terrible headache
- I don't know how to explain you... But I just had a strange dream...
- A dream? What dream? - Rukia asks trying to understand what her zanpakutou was trying to say.
The zanpakutou seemed confused.
- But do you not remember?
- Remember... What? - The shinigami asks.
- The boy, Rukia-sama, the one who runned around me in the white fields.
- A boy? - The shinigamis raises one eyebrown.
Sode no Shirayuki stays very quiet watching her master.
- I understand... You forgot about it... - She helps Rukia to get up.
- Sode no Shirayuki, I can't understand what you are saying. Could you please explain to me what worries you so badly that you had to call me here? - The master asks.
- Rukia-sama, I had a dream that a boy with silver hair claimed to be my son. - She points at the white horizon. - He was next to me in the white fields like he was part of this world... You really don't remember? - Shirayuki looks at her.
- What? Son? What do you mean, Shirayuki, zanpakutous can't have children! They are the personification of the will of the heart of a shinigami, it's not like you could have ...! - Rukia realizes what she is about to say and decides not to say it.
- Life...? - Sode no Shirayuki whispers looking the other way.
- I...I'm sorry...That's not what I was going to say... - Rukia says, with a feeling of regret.
Shirayuki smiles lightly.
- I understand, Rukia-sama, a zanpakutou does not have heart, because she is only a weapon and the only purpose of a weapon is to destroy. I still don't know what's the meaning of my existence.
- Sode no Shirayuki... - Now Rukia was not happy at all with what she said.
The silver haired woman walks a little and looks to the horizon where the sun was setting.
- I just... - She thinks carefully about the words she'll use. - I just felt different that moment, as if I had something hidden inside of me and then was finally revealed... As if that boy made me see a whole new side of me I didn't knew and that I didn't had to hide or destroy... Rukia-sama, for the first time I was... Was...
- Happy. - Her master completes. - The word you're looking for is " happy, Sode o Shirayuki.
The zanpakutou turns to the shinigami and smiles.
- So, this is what you call happiness? - She asks.
Rukia nods, but not so sure.
- Shirayuki, I really don't know what dream you had, but I'm surprised to hear that zanpakutous can have feelings and hopes too... - She smiles. - You said you are a weapon of destruction, but you just proved yourself wrong.
- Huh? - The woman blinks her eyes.
Rukia grins and gets closer to her, touching her chest.
- You have a heart, Sode no Shirayuki, feelings and dreams. You're closer to be a human then you think... From my point of view, to want somebody by your side to share those feelings with is something natural and I'm happy for you. - Her master smiles tenderly.
- Rukia-sama... - Sode no Shirayuki answers with a smile. - Thank you.
- Honestly, I've never heard of zanpakutous having children, but there are a lot of things that I don't know of, who knows miracles can really happen, right? - Rukia says her thoughts. - And if it does really happen, I'll be happy to see him running around here, like you said he did in your dream.
Sode no Shirayuki agrees with a nod.
- Well... I think you're feeling better already. I need to go back, there are a lot of important things I have to do, Ichigo needs me and I know he must be blaming himself for not protecting me. - Rukia says.
The zanpakutou laughs.
- You're really fond of this young man, aren't you? - She asks.
- Of course I... - Rukia interrupts herself and looks at the zanpakutou. - Hey, what exactly are you talking about?!
Shirayuki hides her laugh with her hand.
- Thank you for hearing me, Rukia-sama, I hope we can see each other soon.
- All right... Anything you need, just come talk to me, I'll love to hear you.
- We are one. - Sode no Shirayuki answers.
With a smile, Rukia closes her eyes and disapears from her interior world.
- Few! I tought I'd never get out of this place!
Sode no Shirayuki startles and invokes her sword.
- Who is it?
An enormous white tiger with blue stripes was siting looking at the woman in white quimono.
- Who are you and how did you get into this world without being noticed? - She was looking scared, but cautios before the creature.
- What do you mean, " unnoticed"? Why would I need to knock to enter my own house?
- Your house? - The snow woman looks confused.
The great feline grins and his body starts to turn into something else. His hind paws become legs and his forepaws become arms. His fur become his clothing, a simple shirt and pants, his marks on the fur become tatoos and his ferocious face become a beautiful face of a man with golden eyes.
Sode no Shirayuki is breathless when she sees the boy that she saw on her dream.
- It can't be... You're real... You're real... - Her wrist ease the grip on the sword and it falls to the ground.
He smiles.
- It's good to see you again... Mommy...
Hisana was seriously thinking about taking a nap when she feels the reiatsu of Ichigo and Rukia.
- Finally they're awake! We were so bored here, right, Yoruichi-san? - The intimacy that Hisana uses with Yoruichi irritates her, making her show her claws.
- Girl, don't treat me like I'm your best friend, or you respect me or I swear I will...
Hisana fears the black cat.
- I'm sorry again, Yoruichi-san, It's just that, you know, I'm so used to it! - She apologises.
- Oh no, she's on PMS! - Hisana panics when the black cat flies towards her. She jumps and grabs the lamp on the ceiling and hangs from it, trying to escape the vicious cat claws. That's when Ichigo and the others enter the room and see the bizarre scene.
- Leave me you little devil! Go away! And don't look at me like that, I know you were not vaccinated! - Hisana was trying to save herself.
- Getting to know the enemy, right, Ishida-kun? - Inoue looks at Ishida with one raised eyebrow and a grin.
But Ishida looks serious at the mysterious girl trying to save her ass from the evil cat.
- Yoruichi-san, here's your milk! - Urahara enters the room with a plate of milk for Yoruichi. Yoruichi then forgets about Hisana and goes to her milk.
Hisana sighs and goes back to the ground.
- Thank you, Urahara-san. (- Now I know why he's so afraid of her...) - Hisana thinks looking at the happy Yoruichi drinking her milk.
- We are all already here, as you wanted, Hisa-san. - Inoue says.
Hisana feels relieved for being free from Yoruichi. She looks at the others.
- Okay, so I think we can get started, right? I think you should sit too, because I have a lot to tell you, and I will propably take the whole day to say it. And, well, I know you have a lot of questions, but let me tell my storie first.
Ichigo looks at Rukia. She looks back at him and nods. They sit down.
- Listen Hisa... If this is your real name. I don't know what you have to tell us but, before that...- Ichigo gets up and does something that surprises everyone. He greets Hisana with a nod. - Thank you for saving my friends.
Hisana blushes.
- Ah... You're welcome... I think.
- I also thank you for saving me that moment, girl. - Rukia says looking at Hisana, making her blush a little more.
- You are welcome, Rukia-san.
- What are you two talking about?
- Well...- Rukia tries to remember. - Ichigo, do you remember when those bombs almost hit me?
- Kind of... - He looks embarrassed.
- It was when I saw somebody saving me.
- Hum... - Ichigo couldn't remember it because, at that time, he was looking at the ground and crying desperately, and that embarrassed him a lot.
Rukia smiles when she remembers the scene.
Rukia and Hisana looks at each other and they both remember how it happened.
Flash.
Rukia feels that she's about to faint and would soon lose her life. She sees a lot of insects flying towards her.
- So this is the end... I didn't want to die this way... Not now... Ichigo - she sees flashes of her moments with her friend. That gives her strength enough to smile. - Goodbye... And thank you... For everything.
Then, she feels someone holding her and carrying her. She looks at the face of her savior and sees a young girl wearing a hood, who smiles at her tenderly.
But Hisana was paying more attention to the bombs that she has to dodge.
- If I arrived here earlier... You wouldn't be like this... I'm sorry mom... Once again, I failed you as a daughter... - She thought.
Hisana jumps out of the smoke of the explosions. In a glimpse, she sees a bomb flying fast towards her.
- They will never touch you without regreting it, I promisse.
Hisana turns on her back and the bomb explodes on her, not on Rukia.
- So, it was really you... - Rukia says.
- Yes. It all happened really fast, I didn't even know you could see me at that time. - Hisana says, a little uncomfortable.
- To be honest, only when I heard my friends talking about the incident I realized it was really you who I saw.
- I understand. I was happy to help you, Rukia-san. - Hisana smiles, confident of herself. - So, do you guys want to hear my story?
- Oh, yes, please! - Inoue says, happy like a child longing for a fairy tale.
The people in the room make themselves comfortable, only Tessai, Jinta and Ururu goes to the kitchen.
- Well... How do I start... - Hisana looks at the roof. It wasn't an easy story to tell.
- How about... Introducing yourself? - Sugests Ishida.
Hisana looks at him and grins.
- Good idea.
Hisana gets up and bows to them.
- Nice to meet you, my name is Matsuda Hisa and I come from the future.
In the future, Urahara was typing something in his computer while he watches others computers as well, including the one that is connected to the watch on Hisana's arm.
- I hope this girl does not do anything before I...
All of a sudden, the signal of intruder alert spread everywhere.
- They're here! - Says a young man with yellow hair and dark yellow eyes entering the room.
- Don't worry, son, we're safe here.
- But dad! We have to get everyone out of here! - He warns.
Urahara walks towards the monitoring camera and sees something that wasn't a human entering the hideout.
- Hum... There is no need to panic, it's not an enemy.
The boy walks towards his father.
- But it's...!
- Yes... Kaliver. - Urahara whispers.
Kaliver walks calmly through the dark tunels knowing exactly wich way he should go and who he should talk to.
To be continued...