Chapter 10
After another day spend with her family and friends, Kagome had travel back to Karakura Town in the evening and was really glad that nothing had happened that day as she didn't really want to move much with the imjuries still around her body, although it was not that serious but it still hurts when moving too roughly. Aside for that, she had been sensing the female shinigami following after her since Saturaday until she had return back to Ishida's house.
The next day was Monday and Kagome was waken up by the sound of her alarm, she reach out her hand from the warm blanket to turned off the alarm before sitting up and stretching her arm up like usual but the movement had caused a slight stinging pain coming through her back.
"Ow, I really wish it will heal soon." Kagome put down her arm with a slight frowned, she really wished it would heal soon as it would be a problem to her if the Hollow chose these time to came attack her when she won't be able to dodged or aim her arrow that easily without hurting her injuries more which left her still not perfect barrier as her only useful self-defense.
Kagome let out a sighed and decided she should just went to prepared for school instead of thinking something that couldn't be help for the moment. She went to took out her uniform in the closet to change and grab onto her yellow bag before leaving the room, her bow and arrows were left behind since she won't be practicing with them until her injuries was fully recover so that she won't made them get worst.
Kagome had brought some simple rice ball and eat it on her way to school before she finally reached the hallway toward her classroom with full stomach. She could felt a Ichigo's inner Hollow presence more strongly before she even saw the guy standing in front of the door blocking the way, she frowned slightly and was about to politely greeted him first but he had spoken up before she could.
"Inoue…" Ichigo eyes was on one of the two girls standing near to the door inside the classroom.
"What is it, Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime turned toward Ichigo to asked.
Ichigo open his mouth to said something but soon close it and he turned his glance away, "Nah, it's okay. It's nothing." He then walked passed the two with his glance still avoiding Orihime.
"What's with him?" The red-haired girl, Honsho Chizuru who stood beside Orihime stared at the back of Ichigo in confused.
"Sorry, Chizuru-chan, Higurashi. I need to go to the toilet." Orihime turned around and ran passed the girls to leave the classroom and Kagome could had seen that she was upset.
"Huh? Wait, Orihime!" Chizuru was confused but also worried too so she went to chased after Orihime.
Kagome stood there confusedly watching the two girls run down the hallway before she turned back to the classroom toward Ichigo, she had noticed the guy had just turned his glance away from the doorway and must had seen everything that had happened but choose not to do anything. 'Something is wrong with him.' She walked into the classroom toward her desk while her eyes occasionally went to Ichigo, wondering if it was alright to left his inner Hollow getting stronger although she didn't really knew how to stop it unless her method in dealing with Inuyasha's demon side would work.
The day went by rather quickly and it was finally the end of the school, Kagome had noticed Ichigo and Orihime had been avoiding each other while still being gloomy and down respectively. She knew it was not her business but the presence of Ichigo's inner Hollow was getting a bit uncomfortable to her and not to mention she couldn't really left someone she knew alone, she would had already talked with either of them if she got the chance but she didn't so she had decided to get up early tomorrow to talked to Ichigo who would be going to school earlier because it was his turned for class duty.
The next day Kagome went to school earlier as planned, she quickly noticed there was not much student around and Ichigo was in front of the classroom cleaning the board alone.
"Morning, Kurosaki." Noticing Ichigo glance on her, Kagome greeted with a smile as she step into the classroom.
"Morning." Ichigo greeted back without much spirit before turning back to continued with his job.
Kagome raised an eyebrow not liking how Ichigo was acting, she don't know what he was thinking but she could kind of guessed the reason he was gloomy had something to do with what happened six day ago and his inner Hollow. 'Why do guys always think that much? Inuyasha was like that too.' She let out a sighed and decided to had a talked with him, it's also getting a little uncomfortable for her when she could sense more of his inner Hollow.
"Kurosaki, are you still concern about what had happen in the park and your inner Hollow?" Kagome step forward and stop beside Ichigo, speaking out her thought without much concern of anyone could had heard it since the other students around were at the back of the classroom.
"How did you know?" Ichigo was slightly taken aback that someone he had just knew for not long would be able to saw through him that easily.
"I know someone who act a bit like you when I was injured because he was unable to protect me from danger like he had promised." Kagome let out a sighed at that before she voiced out her thought about it, "You know it's not really your fault for their injuries because you are unable to save them in time but I can kind of understand your feelings. It's feel bad to see your friends injuries in front of you while you were unable to do anything to help right?"
Ichigo clench his fist at that as he remember how he should be able to help Inoue if not for his inner Hollow inference, his tighten of brow expression had already made Kagome knew that she had just hit the mark.
"I really think dwelling too much on them won't get you anywhere, it will just distract you from the much more important thing." Kagome said gently, trying her best not to made the it discomforting for the guy.
"Important thing…" Ichigo raised his look back to Kagome, wondering what she mean by that.
"Your original motive and also finding a way to solve your problem." Kagome smile slightly knowing she had somewhat caught his attention, "No matter what your motives are, there is always a way to achieve it so the least you can do is to try your very best until it can be achieve. There is always a situation to a problem...even your inner Hollow." She hesitated to said the other part as she could tell it was a sore subjected to Ichigo.
"Did you sense something change regarding him?" Ichigo stared at the girl for a moment before he asked almost hesitatingly to knew the answer but he had already noticed he could felt his inner Hollow presence more closer since the park accident.
"I can sense him more and stronger now." Kagome hesitated for only a moment before honestly answered since she could see Ichigo had also felt something regarding his inner Hollow too, "Anyway, you should not think of it too much, it won't do you any good in losing yourself to your emotion. Just stay strong and I'm sure everything will be alright." She quickly added before letting a gentle smile appear on her lip.
"How can you be so...positive?" Ichigo really didn't knew why the girl could be so sure when she didn't experience the same thing he had.
"Well, you can say that's the only thing I'm really good at." Kagome respond with a slight smile, "I might not had experience the same thing as you but I can understand the feeling of being protect or the feeling of one doing the protecting, and also the fear and concern you might have. I have friends with bad experience and past that you could not even imagine, it had caused them to fear certain things and also concern that they might not be able to protect those they hold dear but that didn't stop them from doing their very best or moving forward."
Kagome couldn't help but thinking about her friends in the feudal era, they had their own share of bad past and losing someone they hold dear but that might be also the reason they end up travelling together and became the best of friends as they could kind of understand each other, even though she had the least bad past among them.
Ichigo stared at the girl that seem to be recalling something, he didn't knew what had happen to her or her friends for her to be somewhat able to understood how his current feeling but her words made him realised that he was not the only one to experience those things. 'Maybe she is right.' He still had a hard time not thinking of what had happened to his friends and his inner Hollow interference during battle but he had became less irritated about that.
Kagome stared at Ichigo who was in thought, she could somewhat tell that her words had reached him and hope that he would let go of those negative feeling. She decided to left him alone to think things thoroughly and turned to walked away toward he seat when suddenly she sense a few presence coming closer toward their classroom.
Kagome abruptly stop to turned toward the hallway where she had felt the presence that didn't gave off an evil vibe like Hollow. 'They feel just like Urahara-san and Yoruichi...' She watched the classroom door soon open and five Shinigami wearing the school uniform enter, making her wonder why they were here and turning Ichigo's attention toward them.
"Yo! How are doing, Ichigo?" The guy with red-haired greeted from beside the elementary school kid.
"R-Renji?! Ikkaku?!" Ichigo took a second to realised who he was seeing and widen his eyes slightly in surprised, "Yumichika, Rangiku-san and...Toshiro?!"
"That's Captain Hitsugaya to you!" The silver spiky-haired boy glared with a tick mark on his forehead as he correct Ichigo.
"What...are you all doing here?" Ichigo didn't seem to be bothered by Hitsugaya comment and continued on to asked out his wondered.
"Orders from above." The left-handed guy Renji spoke out for the five of them, he then turned his glance toward Kagome.
"Oh, is she the one?" The only woman in the group followed Renji glance toward Kagome.
"She don't look that strong." The bald guy state as he only took a look at the girl once before turning away uninterested.
"Either does she look pretty at all." The girly looking guy comment right after.
"Hey! I can clearly hear you both you know!" Kagome glared at the two guys for their rude comment.
"I like the girl!" The woman declare with a smile before turning to Hitsugaya, "Can I be the one in-charge of her, Captain?"
"No." Hitsugaya straight out decline the request.
"Ah, too bad. I thought I can go shopping with her and help her dress up, I think we will get along really well." The woman words got a glared from Hitsugaya.
"What Higurashi have anything to do with you all?" Ichigo was as confused as Kagome, he really want an answered but he only get a small part of it.
"We have been given two order and one of them is for one of us to stay close and keep an eye on the girl." Renji was yet again the one to answered Ichigo.
"I'm going to keep watch by one of you?" Kagome raised an eyebrow not liking the idea one bit.
"It's for your protection." Renji simply told Kagome who just raised her eyebrow further.
"Thank you but I won't need it." Kagome was not going accept being watch by them no matter what, "I don't know what you Shinigami want but I don't like being watch by some stranger."
"You know about us?" Renji was a bit took aback by the revelation.
"I had heard it from Urahara-san and for your information, I can sense the different between human, Shinigami and Hollow that's why I know who you really are." Kagome gave a straight out answered since those Shinigami was already dragging her into whatever ordered they were given.
"Since you already know, we can spoke more freely." Renji state before turning back to Ichigo, "The other order was for us to prepare for a full-on battle with the Arrancars and joins up with the Substitute Shinigami in this world."
"Arran…? What's that?" Ichigo was confused by the word he had no knowledge of.
"Huh…? Were you fighting without knowing who your opponents were?" Renji had an unbelievable look while the girly guy behind him facepalm.
"Fighting?" Ichigo was more confused at what they were talking about now.
"What…" Kagome was going to asked what they mean by that when she felt a sixth Shinigami presence and turned around to see a familiar short girl stood at the open window.
"Fool! It's those guys who beat you up the other day!" The short Shinigami was wearing their school uniform like the rest of the five Shinigami that had appeared, she was speaking to Ichigo with her arms cross.
"Rukia…" Ichigo turned around and seem surprised to see the girl.
"You are the girl who help me back home." Kagome of course immediately recognized the short Shinigami which had caught a side glance from Ichigo.
Rukia jumped off from the window and straight out going toward Ichigo without a warning, landing both her leg on Ichigo's face and send the guy backward before she safely land on the floor.
"Wh-What the hell are that for, Rukia?" Ichigo managed to straighten his step before landing on the floor and then angrily look back at Rukia as he was soon being held back by the arms by Renji who had step forward, "Huh?!"
Rukia step forward and straight out giving Ichigo a double step, surprised and startled Kagome and the other students at the back of the classroom.
"Why you!" Ichigo struggled to break free as he shout out in annoyance.
"What with that sorry look?! Come with me!" Rukia shout back raising her hand with the red glove toward Ichigo face, a blue light glow at where her hand had contact before she dragged out the Shinigami version of Ichigo out from his body and straight out ran toward the open wonder to jump off.
Kagome quickly snapped out of her staring at the sudden turned of event unlike the other students to turned back to the five Shinigami who was still around, "Is Kurosaki going to be alright?" She wonder as she stared at Ichigo's lifeless form, she was unsure if it was safe for a spirit to left their body and she could tell the short girl was going to gave him a piece of her mind.
"He will be." Renji answered while still holding onto Ichigo lifeless body.
"I know this would happen." Rangiku simply state as if nothing had happened.
"Yeah. He's always so much trouble…" Renji agreed simply knew that something like that would happened
"Well, that look on his face would make anyone want to do that." The bald guy said right after with a scowled on his face.
"You think so? I thought the gloomy look on his face was quite stimulating." Rangiku comment.
"What are you talking about? There's nothing to get stimulated by!" The girly looking guy turned to Rangiku in disagreement.
"I wasn't asking for your opinion, Yumichika." Rangiku said annoyingly to the girly looking guy.
"Then who are you asking?! Ikkaku?" Yumichika question.
"Why me?" Ikkaku seem annoyed to be dragged into their conversation.
"Listen, you guys...quiet down, will you?" Hitsugaya had enough and turned to the four to stop their useless conversation before he took noticed of the other students at the back of the classroom.
"Hey...Take a look at that…" One of the male student finally spoke out from behind the classroom while still staring stunningly at the seven people in front.
"What's wrong with Kurosaki?" Another male student asked.
"Did he faint?" The third male student said not really sure if that was the case.
"Oh, no...Isn't he dead?" The first male student had imagine the worst had happened to Ichigo.
"And Higurashi know them?" The only girl student asked staring at Kagome weirdly.
'I've a feeling things will get worst if these students continue with the talk.' Kagome state having a strong feeling that it would be rather noisy soon, she really doubted those different personality Shinigami would like to be comment by normal human.
"I'm telling you, these guys are bad news. With that red hair and those tattoos..." The second male student state while the five Shinigami had already all turned their attention on them.
"Don't let them bothered you, Renji. It's just human silly talk." Ikkaku told Renji without looking at the guy as he close his eyes ignoring them.
"A blonde with big boobs and a silver-haired elementary student…" The third male student continued after.
"A bob-haired narcissist and a baldy with a wooden sword." The fourth male student finished.
"Hey..."Ikkaku had a tick mark on his head, clearly pissed by the comment as he turned back to the students with a scary expression, "Who just call me 'baldy'? Step out…" He pulled out his wooden sword ready to beat the one that called him that.
"You'd better not let it bother you." Renji had dropped Ichigo's body to the floor and walked toward Ikkaku with both his hand in his pocket, "It's just human silly talk, after all."
Ikkaku was clearly not in the mood to listen as he fully pulled out the wooden sword, causing the five students at the back to scattered away, "Hold it right there! I'll slice you in ribbons!" He began to chased after them angrily.
"I'll help you out, Ikkaku!" Yumichika joined in as he was also pissed off by the comment.
"Wait, you can't!" Kagome quickly blocked the two way by spreading out both her arms.
"Move away!" Ikkaku shout at the girl blocking his way.
"No!" Kagome stood on her ground, staring right at the guy, "They don't said those things about you on purpose, you can't just hurt them because of that!"
"Move, ugly girl!" Yumichika shout from behind Ikkaku.
Kagome eyebrow twitched in annoyance at the comment but didn't move away, "No! You can't just cause a commotion in the school!" She glared for the two to continued, she couldn't really tell how strong they were but she couldn't just let them move around causing trouble.
"I really like your gut!" Rangiku came crashing against Kagome from beside.
"W-What?!" Kagome was surprised by the sudden hug attack.
"Hey, move away you two!" Ikkaku shout out getting more impatient, pointing his wooden sword toward them now.
"Can someone take over this job, please?" Hitsugaya said with clenched teeth and scowled on his face in annoyance.
Before the class had began Kagome had end up dragging herself into the chaos caused by the five newly arrived Shinigami, no one was injured though but she had tired herself out by trying to stop them from doing anything overly dramatic.
This is the end of the chapter, it look like Kagome will get in a lot more messed than before with those uncontrollable Shinigami around. About the Soul Society having their attention on Kagome, one of the reason was clearly because of what had happened at her hometown and something else that I will explained in later chapter. Anyway there are only five chapters left that I had finished writing and I currently trying to write a Inuyasha fanfic so I most likely won't be posting this story monthly next year. It's not confirmed yet so let see if I will write more chapters in the next two months or not.