Chapter 10 is up! Sorry for the long wait, been reading other stories and homework and band stuff. Hope it's any good. Oh, and still no takers on the Turn back the pendulum stuff...
PLEASE READ!!!!!!! anything thing writin in bold print is in the English lang.! This takes place in Japan, which means that they speak Japanese!!!!!!!!! Just lettin you know!!!!
Ok, with that said, let's get started. ^.^
Chap 10
"You know you didn't have to walk me home, Uryu." I said as I walked down my street to Nana's house. Urahara said that he sent my body and Tessai there, so I was heading over there, in my Shinigami outfit; no one being able to see me except Uryu.
"It's no problem at all, my house is not far from here anyway." Uryu stated quietly. Uraharahad dropped us both off at my Nana's house before dropping anyone else off. I found the secret key(that was hidden in a loose, hollow brick on the side of the porch) and unlocked the door.
"Tessai?" I called as I walked in. I walked into my Nana's bedroom(remember, my Nana is on a trip to I forgot where) to see…
"What are you doing to me?!" I screamed when I saw Tessaion top of my body withthe blankets both of them....uh us... ewww. "I better be dressed in the clothes I wore before I left or else…" I said quite angrily.
"It's alright, Miss Jesse. You body just felt so…cold. So I thought I'd warm it up." Tessai said. After shooing him off my body, I jumped into my body and opened my eyes.
SLAP!!!
"Whew, it's good to be in my own body again." I said while stretching. There was a red hand on Tessai's right cheek the size of my hand. I stood up and started to walk out of the room. "Thank you, Mr. Tessai for watching over my body while I was away. I shall see you later!"
"But, Miss Jesse, there's something…" SLAM!!! The front door was closed and Tessai was left in the house.
"Geez, people these days," I spoke irritated. I walked up to my door to see a note taped to it.
"What's that?" Uryu asked, I gently untapped the paper and opened the paper.
Little kitty, little kitty,
Little kitty had nine lives.
Little kitty got trampled by a school kid,,
Now little kitty only has eight lives left.
Little kitty, little kitty,
Little kitty had eight lives.
Little kitty got hit by a bicycle,
Now little kitty only has seven lives left.
Little kitty, little kitty,
Little kitty had seven lives.
Little kitty got caught by the big dog,
How many live does little kitty have, Jesse?
I read the small poem once more before crinkling it in my hand before Uryu could read it.
"Thanks for seeing me to my house, Uryu." I spoke as calm as I could, but I think, no, I know Uryu saw through my ruse.
"What's wrong, Jess? What did that letter say?" He reached for my hand and I quickly retracted it causing a concerned look from Uryu.
"It's… it's nothing." I said before placing the paper behind my back. That's when Uryu did something I didn't expect.
Uryu, grasping my wrists, forced the paper ball out of my hand. "Uryu! Give it back!" Uryudodged all my attempts to retrieve the paper while reading it.
"Jesse? What is this? This poem?" Uryu asked questionably.
"Just…just a poem," I quickly lied. Please go away. I don't need you here right now.
"Excuse me, ma'am. But is this guy bothering you?" a deep voice asked sarcastically. He let out a low and deep chuckle as both Uryu's and my eyes widen in shock.
"Who…" Uryu started to ask, but the cold round metal in his back told him to do otherwise. "If you shoot then everyone will hear."
"They always have silencers." I told while looking down sadly. Too late. I'm sorry for getting you into this mess, Uryu.
"Kei's been waiting for you," The man said darkly. "What took you so long, Kitty?"
"Don't call me that, Brutus." Yup, the same man that beat the crap out of me a while back. I then felt a warm breath on my neck as the man whispered to me.
"What's wrong with that name, Kitty?" I would've punched him if it weren't for the circumstances. "Well, let's go inside and see Kei, eh Kitty?" He snickered. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at my nickname given to me by Kei so long ago.
We opened the door and inside was Kei and a couple of his goons. And my house was a mess! You know how long it tookfor me to keep this house clean!? Oh, those guys are in for it. I mean, if I can survive a captain level Shinigami, then I can beat up an ex-boyfriend, right?
"Why, hey there, Jesse. It's been awhile, hasn't it?" No I can't. I can't do this. My knees started to buckle as Kei walked up to me. I knew I was in for it. Unlike Shinigami, my ex-boyfriend knows what buttons to press. And he has a bargaining tool: Uryu.
"What do you want, Kei?" I asked coldly. I was scared, but I wasn't about to show it.
"Temper, temper, Jesse." Kei waved his two fingers back and forth. "What ever happened to my little kitty I knew from long time ago?"
"She lost one of her 9 lives and learned the error of her ways." I retaliated.
"Always find a way to land on your feet, eh Jesse?" He said while circling me. "Your just like a cat. A cute one."
"One with sharp claws," I growled.
Keithen grabbed my long hair from behind and pulled my back painfully. "If I recall, you always liked you hair at waist length while in a pony tail." He said while I heard a knife being unsheathed. "Personally, I think you'd lookcuter withit short." And with that, he chopped at my hair.
I fell forward and fell to the ground on my knees. I could instantly feel the weight of my hair lifted off my back. I turned around to see over ½ my hair in Kei's hands. "Why did you do that?!" I cried out to him. I liked my hair that way. In fact, ever since my mother died, I would cut my hair any other way. It was a way to remind myself of her, I guess.
"Cause I know you like it that way." Kei gave a dark laugh.
"Why you little…" I stood up and started to aim a kick at him when he stopped me.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Kei said while pointing to Uryu. One of Kei's goons had a gun poking Uryu's back. I instantly lowered my guard and collapsed and fell onto my knees.
"Jess," Uryu tried to walk to me, but the gun prodded itself deeper into his lower back.
"I wouldn't go to Kitty if I was you," the guy said before laughing a little at my sad expression. I looked out into space.
"I get it now. The poem. The little kitty, that was you?" Uryu asked me.
"Ha, read the poem, eh?" Kei gave a laugh while looking at my expression.
"It's true then?" Uryustared at me with a lugubrious look.
"Quite," Kei answered. "Ha! I remember a time when she begged me to call her little kitty!"
"Well, I don't want you to anymore," I hissed while still looking down. Both my fists where clinched and my knuckles where white.
"Well, how about we go upstairs and…" That's when I noticed something. Gunpowder. Then there was a cry outside. "What's going on outside?" Suddenly, my front door was forced open and in came the person I least expect.
"Let her go, Kei." A boy called. He pointed an accusing finger at Kei.
"I-Ichigo?" I choked out. "What…What are you doing here?"
Ichigolooked at me with a smile. "Tessai tried to warn you that there was somebody at your house. When you stormed off, he left to go see Mr. Hat-and-Clogs. When I overhead what was going on, I ran over as fast as I could. Good thing I came, eh Jess?"
"Kurosaki?" Uryu looked at Ichigo.
"Ishida, what are you doing here?" Ichigo asked once he noticed the Quincy's presence. "Better question, why didn't you protect Jesse?"
"Kind of tied up here." Uryu said from his clenched teeth.
"Shut up, ok?" Ichigo and Uryu looked over towards Kei to see me being held by Kei with a gun at my head. "I'm serious, don't make a move." I could feel tears swell up in my eyes as the gun touched my temple.
Ichigo and Uryu froze and they watched Kei take a step back. "Uryu, Ichigo." I managed to cry out. "Please, let them go." I begged Kei. "I'll do anything. Just let them go."
"And let them tell the police? I don't think so." He then aimed the gun at Ichigo. "You know, little kitty, it will be hard for me to explain to that old woman how your house caught on fire and killed you and your two friends." I gasped in fright while more tears came down.
"Any last words?" He whispered in my ear. I looked up at Ichigo, who gave a small nod.
"Yeah," I answered. "Duck." Then I smacked his arm away from Ichigo. The gun fired and just missed Uryu by inches(it would've hit if he hadn't ducked and the guy behind him hadn't moved). Although it didn't make a sound when it fired, it did however, make a sound when it buried itself into the wall behind Uryu and Ichigo.
I grabbed Kei's arm with the gun with my left hand while I turned and elbowed him in the stomach with my right. Then I made a fist with the same right hand and back handed him, causing a painful "crack" from Kei's nose.
After that, I grabbed him by his left shoulder and pulled him into my powerful left knee, which hit him square in the chest. I pushed him away and turned on my right leg and jumped and tornado kicked him.
Man, that was cool. There is now real way to describe just how cool it was. It was like some kung fu video that wasn't cheesy.
Keihit the wall and then the floor with a loud thud; the gun sliding under the nearby couch. I could hear Ichigo and Uryu handling Kei's other goons behind me. I turned around to help when I felt something grip my left leg and pull my down.
I fell face first into the ground, cursing as I went. Then, pain hit me in my foot that made want to yelp in pain. I bit my lower lip to suppress the scream that wanted to escape my lips while I flipped myself over to see what had happened.
Blood was staining my carpet. Keihad stabbed me with a knife in my ankle.
Using my pain-free leg, I kicked Kei in the face. I then hit the nearby table leg and knocked over the cord phone. I then picked it up and dialed 911(Japan has a 911, right? I hope so…)
"911, what can I do for you?" A woman spoke.
"Please, there's these bunch of gangsters harassing me and my friends. Come quickly, please." Even though I sounded scared and desperate, I had a smirk on my face.
"Where are you ma'am?" The woman asked calmly.
"109 Karakura Road(A/n: Cheezy, I know...). Please hurry." I pretended to cry into the phone.
"Police are on their way." The woman spoke.
"Thank you!" I gave a small sniffle. Then I hung up and turned to face Kei, whose face had lost all color. I stuck my tongue out at him and began to attempt to stand up.
"I know you too, Kei." I said happily. "I know you and the cops get along very well." Well, things were about to go for the better. At least that's what I hoped.
"OW!" I cried as a bullet dug itself into the back of my right arm. Tears fell unchecked as I cursed and cried out of pain. Stupid silencers. I would've been able to dodge it if they weren't so dang quiet. Of course, everything around me was in chaos, everyone yelling and crying while Ichigo and Uryu was kicking butt and taking names.
This whole time I wasn't paying any attention to Kei while he stood up and grabbed his knife.
"Look out my hime!" I heard Ruhana shout in my head. I turned just in time to see Kei stab me in my lower stomach.
"I've had enough of you running around with other boys, Jesse." I whined like a little puppy as he twisted the dagger in my stomach. "If I can't have you, then no one will."
"Jess!" I heard both Uryu and Ichigo call me. I felt the dagger twist again in my stomach and I cried out again.
Everything became dizzy and blotchy as Keiclenched the weapon in me. I slowly placed my hand on top of his in an attempt to remove the weapon, but I was too weak to do so. I tried my best to stay conscience as I heard Ichigo and Uryu fight there way towards me.
I soon heard running boots and I figured the police was here. I knew so because Kei finally let go and backed up.
I collapsed and I could feel strong arms catch me. "Jess, don't leave, ok?" It was Uryu. "Stay awake, please." It might have been my vision, but I think he was crying. I saw men I didn't even know run past us to cuff Kei.
"I need an ambulance here now! An injured girl is on the site. Two stabs and a bullet wound. Again, I need an ambulance here!" A man I didn't even know yelled into his walkie talkie.
"Jesse, come on, stay awake!" I then looked a Uryu. Well, the best I could.
"I…I can't… Uryu." I struggled to say.
"Yes, yes you can." Uryu stated quite harshly. "Look at me, Jess. Focus on me, ok?"
"Uryu…" I tried to protest. I could hardly talk and think, how can I focus on him?
"Jess, please, don't die." He begged. Die? I was dying?
"I…I won't die." I said as calmly as I could. "I promise. I won't die." Then I gave him the best smile I could under the circumstances. "I…I just need…a nap." I said while trying to close my eyes. Uryu then turned my head to face him.
"Please, Jess. Don't go to sleep. No, Jess!" Even though my vision was fading, I could see his head vigorously shake. A gave a small laugh, which turned into a cough filled with blood.
"I've been through worse than this!" I said reassuringly. With that, my senses gave in and I fell out of consciousness.
"Jesse!" Uryu cried out as the ambulance pulled up at my house.
I sat at the river that was right off the street. There was no one there but me.
"I'm so…alone. Everyone here is different. Japan is different." I spoke in English.
"Hey, who are you?" I turned around to see a boy with orange hair. "I've never seen you around before. What's your name?" I tilted my head in curiosity. I couldn't understand him. He was speaking Japanese.
"I don't understand." I spoke kindly. It was then his turn to tilt his head in confusion. I pointed at myself and smiled. "Jesse. Jesse Kusabana."
"Kurosaki Ichigo." The boy spoke while pointing to himself.
I pointed at the boy. "Kurosaki?" He nodded his head slowly. "What a funny first name." I giggled softly while leaving my new friend lost.
"What are you saying?" the boy asked in his foreign language.
"America." I stated, not knowing what he said, but I thought maybe he'd understand where I came from. "English." I spoke softly, hoping he would understand.
"You're from America?" he asked. I tilted my head again. The only word I caught was 'America'. "And you speak English, right?" then he looked at my confused expression.
"You" he pointed at me. "Speak" he placed his hand in front of his mouth and did the universal sign language for 'speak'. "English?" I nodded happily. I actually understood him.
"There you are, Jesse!" A woman spoke as she ran up to me. "Me and your father have been looking for you!" she lectured in English. I dropped my head in shame. "It's ok, sweety. Just don't do it again, ok?" She said. I perked my head up happily and said yes.
"Mommy, looky! I have a cute friend!" I cried out while running to him.
"Ah, I see." The mother spoke. "He is quite cute." She walk up to the orange haired boy and bent down to his level. "Hello there," She spoke in Japanese. "Thank you for looking after my daughter." She motioned towards me. "You see, we just came from America and she doesn't know Japanese yet."
The younger Ichigosmile and nodded. "It's no problem!" He looked over at me. "She welcome at my house any time if she has trouble with making friends and such. My name is Kurosaki Ichigo. My father owns the small clinic down the street. You can't miss it. Drop by any time." He said with a smile.
I couldn't tell what he was saying, but I smiled and nodded anyway. "Well, how sweet of you. Thank you, Mr. Kurosaki." My mother spoke. My mother than looked at me. "Come on, sweety, Daddy is looking for you still. We'll see Ichigosome other day. Now wave goodbye." My mother began to walk off. I ran up to the boy and placed a small kiss on his cheek before running to my mother and waving while screaming goodbye.
Heh, that's when I first met Ichigo. But why am I thinking about that now?
"Class!" A woman tapped a ruler on her desk to get attention. "This is KusabanaJesse. She comes from America and is still learning Japanese, so be sure to be nice and make friends withher." The class gave a 'hai' as I smiled kindly at the class.
"Why don't you just sit next to Ichigo. He'll help you out if you have any trouble." The teacher spoke kindly. I nodded and made my way to the back of the room next to my friend. 'Finally, in elementary school! I'm so happy' I thought as I restrained the urge to just hug my new desk.
RING!
"Hurry up, Jess!" Ichigograbbed my wrist and we ran all the way outside and sat at a table witha bunch of people already there. "Hey, guys! This is Jesse, she just came from America." A girl withorange hair looked at me with wonder.
"America?" She ask. I nodded my head slowly. "What's it like in America? Is it different?" no one ever asked me about America before.
"That's Orihime." Ichigopointed to the girl that just talked to me. She gavea soft wave, forgetting about the questions she asked me earlier. "That's Keigo Asano," Then Ichigo pointed to a weird kid who seemed to be gawking at me. It was actually quite awkward.
"That's Tatsuki Arisawa," The girl next to Orihimewaved. I almost mistook her for a male.
"And that's Chad," He pointed to a guy quite tall. It kind of startled me, but just by the look in his eyes I could tell he would never hurt me.
As I walked to the table to sit down and a ball came flyin and hit me in the head. "OWWW!!!! Man, did that hurt!" I turned on my heel to see a couple of kid snicker as they saw me in pain. "Why those little..."
"Jess..." Ichigo called out to me. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?" I was fuming slightly, but I was trying not to take it out on innocent people.
"You're speaking English again." He stated.
"Oh, sorry..." I said while scratching the back of my head, which hurt.
That's when I first met Ichigo's friends, who soon became my friends as well.
…what's going on? Why am I thinking about these thoughts?…
"Hey, there cutie." A boy looked at me as I was walking to class.
"Hey, your that American girl that transferred in elementary school, right?" I nodded slightly after stopping. "Well, this is middle school now. Maybe you should have someone to…."
"I'm sorry, but I already have friends to watch over me. But thank you though." I turned around to walk off, but the guy pushed me into a locker.
"I wasn't done, now was I?" I collapsed to the floor and wiped the blood off my now busted lip. I slowly stood up, but the guy grabbed my by the collar of my uniform.
"I didn't tell ya to get up, either." He tossed me to the other side of the hall. My bag fell and opened up, pouring out books and a special journal.
"Well, look. It looks like a diary." The other guy pointed out. The first guy picked it up and opened it.
"What?! Is this in English? Spanish?" He tossed the book at me, which hit me smack on the forehead. It then hit my lap with a soft thud.
"What are you guys doing?" Ichigo walked up to me started to pick up my fallen books.
"Kurosaki, you're….you're…" The boys stuttered as they saw Ichigo give a deadly glare at them.
"Yes, I'm Jesse's friend. Now if you don't mind, go." Quickly, the boys scrambled away.
"Jess…" Ichigo tapped his foot on the ground and waited for an explanation.
"Uh…Ichigo…I'm sorry." Although you could understand my Japanese, there was an accent to it that let you know that I wasn't from here.
"Why did you let those guys beat you up? Tatsukitells me you're one of the top kids in your division with her in karate. What's wrong?" Ichigo asked concerned.
"I…" I bowed my head in shame. "I just don't like fighting outside the dojo, that's all… and besides, my life isn't in danger or anything."
"It's ok, Jess. Just…Just don't let those punks beat you up again, ok?" Ichigo patted my shoulder.
"Ok." I nodded my head. We heard the bell sound, so we began to walk to class. "Oh, are you coming over for dinner tonight?" I looked over at him. "Mom will love to have you over."
"Will your dad be there?" Ichigo asked.
"No, he's gonna be working late, again. Why?"
"Something's weird about him. I don't know, just a feeling."
"Oh."
"I forgot about Karen's game. I can't go tonight, sorry Jess."
"It's alright. I'll just go to the game with you. If that's ok, that is." I began to blush a little, but Ichigo was completely oblivious to it.
"Sure." Ichigo smiled at me.
"Kurosaki, Kusabana! Why are you late?!" the teacher lectured us as we walked into the classroom. Bothme and him gave each other a glance before smiling and taking our seats.
That was just days before my parents were killed. I was so different then. Peace loving. Man did that change.
Now, though, I realize how much Ichigo affected me. When he was around, I felt stronger, like no matter what I did, it would be okin the end. He gave me confidence to stand up to other people when I normally wouldn't. Heh, he also taught me to be a little more aggressive, although it didn't sink in until my parents' deaths.
Uryu, wanna come and eat lunch with us?" Ichigo asked just as the bell rang. Uryu? Who's Uryu?
"No thanks, Kurosaki." Oh, that's Uryu. I never knew him in person, but he seemed like a nice guy. I had to admit, he was kind of cute. In his own little way.
I decided that I should introduce myself. "Hello, my name is Kusabana Jesse! Pleased to meet you." I held out a hand, but he didn't take it.
"Ishida Uryu." I calmly said before looking up at me. "How do you know Kurosaki?"
I tilted my head slightly. "What…what kind of question is that? Well, he's my friend."
"How did you meet him?" He asked kindly.
"Well…" This guy was asking personal questions, so I thought I'd mess with him. "I was being chased by souls of the dead who obviously didn't like me and found me and fought them off with a samurai sword and saved my life. I owe him one!" I giggled slightly while both boys eyes widened.
"I'm just kidding!" I said while holding up my hands defensively. "We've been friends for a while. He was the first person I talked to when I came to Japan." Both boys seemed to sigh in relief.
"What, did you come your freshman year?" Uryu asked.
"Nope, I came while I was still in elementary school." I said with a smile.
"Hmm." Uryu lost his interest. Of course, that made me a little mad. What did he want me to answer?
"Well, have a nice day, Ishida." I said while slightly fuming. I grabbed Ichigo's hand and dragged him off.
Heh, I remember that. That's when I first met Uryu. I hated him then. …now, what do I feel?…even I know anymore…
"The Quincy was considered a threat to the Shinigami and they almost caused an apocalypse…"
"An apocalypse!?!?!?" I was stunned. They seemed like such good people. Why would they cause an apocalypse?
"Yes," Uryu pushed his glasses up again. "So the Shinigami decided to exterminate us 200 years ago. I am the only survivor now. At least, that's what I thought." He then, for the first time since the story started, he looked at me.
"So," I hypothesized, "Then the Quincy hate the Shinigami and vise-versa? How cruel." I might be a fighter, but I couldn't stand death.
"Cruel is an understatement." Uryu stated. "My Grandfather was killed because of the Shinigami. They could of saved them, but they didn't! He was attacked by hollows and the Shinigami didn't come till after he was dead." I could tell that telling this story was hurting Uryu; it was hurting me too. Even so, Uryu didn't even cry. My eyes were watering as I could just picture what he went through. It was so similar to me. Maybe it's just a girl thing to cry when something bad happens, I don't know…
I felt so bad that day I asked about the Quincy… I know it hurt Uryu so much…
"What are you thinkin' about, Jess?" Uryu asked after he finished his food.
I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at him. "Hmmm?"
"What are you thinkin' about?" Uryu asked again.
"Just….stuff…" I answered looking away again.
"Stuff…like?"
"Just…stuff…" I gaveone big sigh before continuing. "Stuff, like the Soul Society…" I looked back at him. "Stuff, like how we are going to save Rukia. Stuff, like what can I do to help, if I can help that is... That kind of stuff."
"You shouldn't say stuff like that." Uryusaid as he walked up to me and sat down next to me. I gave him a curious look. "You know, 'if I can help that is…' don't say that. You can help out Ichigo and the others out."
My friends are such motivational speakers…haha.
I stepped outside the dressing room with the rest of the women(and gay guys) and immediately saw Uryu sitting at one of the tables that was towards the back corner and had only one chair.
"What can I get you, sweety?" I teased as I took out my notepad as if I was taking his orders. He looked at me angrily at first, then it became a stunned look.
The Black cat uniforms are all black. We had a shirt that only covered what they needed to cover(So my whole belly was exposed) and it had a V neck. My left arm was bare and my right arm had a black sleeve similar to a kimonos. Then I was wearing a black skirt similar to the school's uniform except smaller(If that was even possible). I also had a black cat tail that swung every time I walked. I had high heels(which were very uncomfortable and the reason why my tail swung a whole lot more than I would if I just wore normal, comfortable shoes.) On my head was a black cat ears that pulled my bangs back. My flower pin was in my right cat ear and my hair was down. I had my cross necklace on along with a white choker that had silver spikes on it.
"What? Too stunned?" I teased as Uryu kept on getting redder and redder.
I must say…that was funny. I enjoyed every moment of it...
…Is it me, or all these memories all the "bookmark" memories? Ya know, the memories you remember like it was yesterday. The memories you cherish and think about every now and again…
"Here, let me help." I turned around and saw Uryu.
"It's ok, I've got it." He didn't listen however. Soon, I could feel his hand brushing the blood from my left eye.
"Can you open your eye now?" he asked. I opened it with no problem and looked straight at him.
"Hai, thank you." I said. He stared at me for one moment. "What?" I asked.
"You're eyes…" He started.
"I know, they're different. That's why I keep one of them hidden under my hair."
"No, they're pretty." Uryu corrected me. I froze at this comment. People always made fun of my eyes. There was only three people besides my parents who saw my mismatched eyes and never once made fun of them. Those people were Nana, Ichigo, and Orihime. Only one person did say they were pretty.
"You shouldn't hide one of them like that." He said while smiling.
Maybe I'll do that now that I forcefully got a hair cut…
"Here I go!" I yelled as I ran towards Mayuri. I punched with my right arm followed by a left round house kick. Soon, a barrage of kicks and punches came towards the 12th captain. "HAAA!!!!" I screamed while kicking and punching. There was a couple of flips and jumps that I ended up adding so I wouldn't get hit and so I would add momentum and power. The captain continued to block and such, hardly ever attacking.
"Jess!" Uryu yelled. I heard him yell and pulled back quickly. Doing a couple of flips and landing next to Uryu. I placed my hand on his hand that held the bow and lowered it. "Jess…" Uryu repeated.
"Let me handle him. At least for right now. Just watch closely." I continued to watch Mayuri. He instantly understood and reluctantly nodded.
Our fight withMayuri…it was so hard, for the both of us. Uryu lost his Quincy powers because of it. Maybe if I wasn't there and he didn't have to protect me, then maybe he would still have his powers…
"It's ok, you're gonna be ok," Ichigo comforted me as I started blacked from the pain. "Hey, don't you dare fall asleep! Jess!"
"Sorry, Ichigo. I can't" I mumbled into his chest.
"Jess! No, please! Stay awake! I'm going to get help now!"
No answer.
"Kuso!" Ichigo cursed before leaving to find help.
That's when I passed out after being attacked by Gin…
Hey, I can see something! Is it another memory. No…
It's a bright light. …So far away. I turned around and looked, but I saw nothing. Like I had my eyes closed. I turned back around and looked at the light again. Cuffing my hands over my mouth I screamed a 'hello'. My voice came back to me a 100 times. As if I was in a tunnel.
"A…light at the end of the tunnel…." Realization then hit me. "AH! I'm dying. No! I'm going to towards the light. That's like sealing my death wish. A wanna go back! I wanna go home!" I began to cry like a little baby. It all made since now. I saw those memories because I was dying. I can't die! There's so much I haven't done!
Wow, I expected that I'd die when I was ready. "Whoever's up there!" I pointed above me. "Come on. I'm not ready to die yet…" I collapsed onto the floor and looked down. "Please, don't let me die. So…so many people are counting on me right now. If you won't do it for me, then let me live for them." I felt a tear hit my hand. Suddenly, the darkness faded into a beautiful meadow… I looked around for a moment, wondering where I was.
It then began raining. I looked up at the sky, the grey and dark sky. Rain fell onto my face and mixed with my salty tears.
"Don't cry, my hime." I knew that voice by now.
"Ruhana…" I sniffed and turned around to face my sword in her true form.
"I don't like it when you cry, my hime. It rains here when you cry." The angelic woman bent down and wiped my tears from my face.
"Ruhana…why did Mom and Dad die?" I asked. I knew she probably didn't know, and I felt like the way I did when I was younger asking the hospital why my parents wouldn't wake up. I knew the truth, but I didn't want to face it.
"They…they were killed." I looked up at the woman. "By arrancars."
"A-arrancars?" I gave a curious look while wiping my eyes from any left over tears.
"Hollows who gained Shinigami powers." Ruhanastated while standing up. I, too stood up and dusted myself off. The rain stopped with my tears and it was only cloudy.
"They're powerful, my hime. I wouldn't go up against them until you've at least achieved Bankai."
"How do I achieve Bankai?" I asked while taking a step in towards Ruhana. The flowers felt squishy as I stepped on them.
"You'll achieve it when you are ready." Ruhana said before turning into a bunch of pedals and leaving me here.
"Hey, hey! Wait!" I called. I tooka couple of steps, thinking I could chase her, but I instantly knew that would be impossible. With that depressing thought in my mind, I fell on to my knees in the meadow.
"Come on, Jess. Gotta wake up." A voice called.
"Uryu?" I stood up again and looked around for my friend.
"You have to wake up, Jess." He called again. That's when I began to run, screaming his name as if I was a mother searching desperately for her son. Suddenly, a light overwhelmed me and I closed my eyes so I wouldn't go blind.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I opened my eyes to look at the beeping machine next to me. My heart rate. I'm in a bed. A hospital bed.
"I'm alive." I whispered. Still, I didn't like hospitals. I'm not afraid of them(although I am afraid of needles), but I don't like them. They've only brought bad news to me in the past. I started to sit up, but I soon realized that my bed covers was held down by certain boys' head.
Uryu's and Ichigo's.
One boy was on each side sleeping soundly. They came to see me? I slowly tapped their shoulders. "Guys, get up." I shook them a little harder.
"Jess?" Ichigo mumbled sleepily.
"Yes, I'm up. I'm ok." I said while shaking them some more.
"You're up!?" Both boys practically screamed into my ears.
"Yeah, I'm awake…" I said while rubbing the inside of my ears.
It was then that the most unexpected thing happened.
Both boys placed a death grip on me. They were hugging me.
"What's wrong with you guys?" I asked while slowly shoving them off me. "I told you I'd be ok. I promised that I would stay alive."
"The doctor said you had no chance of surviving. You lost too much blood. You were slowly, and painfully dying. They were about to pull the plug on you." Ichigo explained.
"I…I was that close to…actually dying?" I asked, quite worried.
"Yeah, luckily, Uryu's father runs the hospital, so when Uryu told the doctor to not…let you go…then he just obeyed." Ichigo claimed. I looked over towards Uryu, slightly shocked.
That when I pulled Uryu into my own bear hug. "Thank you, Uryu." I whispered into his ear.
I pulled away from the hug and Uryu's glasses were fogged, so he took them off to clean them. Then I sheepishly turned to Ichigo. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you." I then pulled him into a hug just as deadly as the last one.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye was a sign at the door. The room number. It read: 666. I pulled away slowly from Ichigo.
The same room that both my parents were declared dead.
"I...I want out of this hospital. Now." I quietly muttered, not taking my eyes off the sign.
"But, Jess." Ichigo protested. He then followed my eyes to the sign. "Oh..."
"Jess, you can't leave until the doctor says you can." Uryu complain, oblivious to the staring that me and Uryu took up.
"I...want out of this room." I shook slightly and my voice was quiet, but harsh. I wasn't scared, just angery. I hated this room. The room that brought my world to a crashing halt. The room where the pale faces of my parents layed. The room where I cried, holding their hand.
I didn't want out. I needed out. Now.
"Ms. Kusabana. Glad to see you up and moving." A doctor walked in.
"You..." I growled. "Let me out of here now before I punch the living daylights out of you."
"That's not very nice." He childed.
"What am I supposed to say!" I cried. "Nice to see you again, doctor. When was the last time we met? Oh, I remember now. It was when you proclaimed my father dead!" My words where smothered in sarcasm.
"I had no choice, you know that." The doctor's carefree demeanor suddenly gone. "You knew how hard it was for me to proclaim my best friend's wife dead and then later his own life."
"You had no idea how I felt!" I screamed while grabbing the pillow behind me and throwing it at the man. "You had no idea what it was like to raise myself!" The pillow hit the doctor square in the face and knocked him over. Uryu and Ichigo held me back from clobbering the guy.
After a couple of minutes of my friends restraining me, I finally settled down in my bed, sitting Indian style and folding my arms and pouting. The doctor, seeing it to be safe enough to examine me, walked over and began to do his job. Ichigo and Uryu stood at each side of the bed, ready to restrain me if I lunged at the man again.
"So...how are you?" The doctor broke the silence. The awkward silence.
"Just peachy." I mumbled, not looking at the man.
"Well, that's good." He said after checking my pulse. "Well, you seem to be ok, so I'll let you go on one condition: don't go anywhere alone. I really shouldn't be letting you go and you might collapse, so I want one of these nice boys by your side at all times." He left my side and began to walk to the door. "Your clothes is on that chair." He placed his hand on the door knob. "Please, don't blame me for Ayame and Kiyoshi's death. I did everything I could." He rubbed his hand up and down the door frame. "I used to think this room was cursed. Now, seeing you here and ok, I know that it's not." He turned around and looked at me with a soft smile.
"You're so much like them. I...I think they would've been mad at me if I didn't treat you. You...You look just like Ayame and act just like Kiyoshi. They were proud of you then. I bet they are proud of you now." His voice became shaky from anger and his face showed it as well. "Please, avenge them both! I know they were killed by the same arrancar! I am only a mere doctor; I can do very little. But, I knew Kiyoshi and Ayame were powerful, especially together. Please, kill the arrancar that killed my friends!"
I gave a shocked look. "You...you knew...?"
"I was Kiyoshi's best friend, of course I knew." He said as calmly as he could.
I nodded my head slightly. "Don't worry, whoever killed my parents will pay." I said with a low growl. It was certain now. My parents didn't die of some common car crash or unknown cause, but by an arrancar.
I have to get stronger to defeat whoever killed them...