OMG THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS!!
I had this writer's block…but I managed to pull through =D SO HERE'S CHAPTER TEN!! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Disclaimer: (what I said in previous chapters '')
Enjoy~ and please review!
Chapter Ten: The Real World…Mission start!
Early next day…
Rino stared resolutely ahead of her, her face void of emotions.
Hitsugaya pursed his lips, his hooded eyes dull as they waited for preparations for the Senkaimon to be completed.
Matsumoto gazed at the pair, bemused. There seemed to be an impossibly large distance between the pair. Her thoughts wondered to the previous day's events and a bubble of laughter escaped her.
The surrounding shinigami gave her wary looks before returning to there work.
Hitsugaya's brow furrowed, 'How am I supposed to give an explanation to Kaiyuki-san without Matsumoto listening?' His question was unknowingly answered by Matsumoto who had, at that time, walked over to Rino and handed her a denreishinki(1).
Rino involuntarily stiffened as Matsumoto hugged her.
'Keep in touch, okay?' Matsumoto smiled encouragingly.
The gate to the real world materialised, 'By Rangiku-san, Hitsugaya-taichou,' she bowed at the pair, then turned away, stepping forward.
Hitsugaya felt a pang in his chest as Rino was engulfed in silver light. The creases in his brow deepened, 'What was that?'
Hyourinmaru gave a sad sigh at his master's ignorance.
'What?' Hitsugaya snapped irritably, crossing his arms.
Hyourinmaru remained silent.
Hitsugaya's mood plummeted, though he remained slightly puzzled over the previous pain.
Deep in his heart, however, he knew the truth…all he had to do, was admit it.
Rino bit back a sob as she arrived in Karakura City. It was night. Closing her eyes, Rino placed a hand over her Daffodil seal, 'why do I need a seal?' she grumbled, slightly worried, though mainly annoyed, 'I'm not a vice captain…or a captain. I'm not even seated!'
A tinkle reached her ears. She turned to see her Hell Butterfly disappeared into the night.
Rino sighed, 'Hope I get money for the hollows I deal with.' She jumped in fright when the phone-like denreishinki began to vibrate.
The violet-eyed girl hastily flipped it open, it wouldn't budge 'right on cue,' she muttered, wrestling with the phone, 'my first hollow in the real world is now on the menu.' She finally managed to pry the phone open.
She shrieked when a high-pitched squeal began to emit from the phone. Hurriedly memorising the hollow's location, she snapped it shut.
'Stupid Denreishinki phone-thingy,' She cursed, jogging away.
A shiver went down her spine as Rino entered the deserted playground, 'What a great place,' she commented, her tone dripping with sarcasm, 'perfect for a hollow to settle down and wait for prey.'
As if hearing her thoughts, mini tremors began to shake the playground. Rino leaped back in alarm, swiftly drawing her Zanpakuto.
The hollow snarled violently at Rino as it approached her, it's spider-like legs flailing in an attempt to reach her.
Rino took one look at it and sighed, 'This one's a week one…guess that means no money.'
The hollow roared in fury at this, 'Puuny girl,' it hissed, 'don't underesstimate mee!'
Rino narrowed her eyes, her brow twitching, 'You sexist spider,' she growled, flash-stepping forward, 'go to hell.' She slashed at the hollow, neatly bisecting it.
The hollow violently snarled as it dissipated into the coll night air.
Rino sighed, allowing herself to relax, 'This is going to take some time to get used to…hopefully the unnatural occurrences were just a coincidence and I can go back soon.'
Several years of her lifespan disappeared when the phone began to vibrate, Rino swore…violently.
Reluctantly flipping it open, she held it to her ear, 'Hello?' she said, her mood darkening.
'Ah Moshi-Moshi Rino-chan! How are you?'
Rino brightened at the sound of Matsumoto's voice, 'I'm fine!' she replied, 'apart from the fact that this phone scared the hell outta me and refuses to operate properly,' she added darkly.
'Sooooorry!' Matsumoto apologised, her voice ringing in Rino's ear, 'I forgot to enrol you into a P.O.C!'
'P.O.C?'
'Phone Operation Course,' Matsumoto explained.
'Oh,' Rino muttered, cursing her luck, 'that's great.'
'Anyway,' Matsumoto continued, her voice seemed to be hinting good news, 'taichou want to speak to you.'
Rino's heart skipped a beat, 'O-Okay,' she stammered, taking a seat on a nearby roof.
There was a brief moment of silence.
'Kaiyuki-san?*' the boy's voice reverberated in her ear.
Rino took a deep breath, her heat pounding against her ribs, 'T-Taichou…you wanted to talk to me?'
Hitsugaya could sense her uneasiness, 'Are you okay?' he blurted out.
This took Rino by surprise, 'Well…uh,' she stammered, 'I'm fine.'
A sigh of relief.
Rino smiled, she gazed at the opposite building, 'Oh yes, so far I have nothing to repo-'
A scream.
Soul Society - Hitsugaya Toshirou
'Kaiyuki-san?' Hitsugaya's brow knitted together, 'KAIYUKI?!'
Matsumoto stared at him in alarm, 'What's wrong taichou?'
'She's not replying,' he gripped the phone tightly.
Matsumoto frowned, 'Is the line still connected?'
The boy nodded.
The blonde took in a sharp breath, 'What happened?'
'She screamed,' Hitsugaya murmured, his eyes dulled, 'then…I don't know.'
Matsumoto clasped her hands together, 'You've got to send help! It's her first time in the real world…she could've been ambushed or…or,' she tailed off.
Hitsugaya reluctantly brought the phone down. 'Yes…I'll send a squadron straight away, but keep this quiet,' he murmured. 'From him…' he silently added.
'Hai, taichou,' Matsumoto bowed, then left the room.
Hitsugaya swore, smashing his clenched fists onto the table.
('You are worried for her?') Hyourinmaru softly inquired.
'Yes,' Hitsugaya answered without thinking.
('Aaah…') The dragon murmured knowingly.
'NO!' the taichou barked, he could sense where this conversation was going, 'I'm worried because she is my subordinate!' he protested.
Hyourinmaru was silent, but Hitsugaya knew the dragon was laughing. The creases on his brow deepened, 'Stupid dragon,' he muttered.
('If that makes you feel better, then by all means insult me.')
Hitsugaya growled, but decided to stay silent.
('But both you and I know the truth…')
Real World – Kaiyuki Rino
'She still not awake?' a boy's voice complained.
'Please be quiet Jinta-kun, you'll wake her.'
Rino groaned, here body ached all over,'Where am I?' she mumbled, wrenching her eyes open.
'Jinta-kun…you woke her up,' the second voice meekly scolded, which Rino recognised as voice of young girl.
Rino, blinking back sleep, stared up at the girl, black haired girl whose pale face was framed by two pig tails and a fringe, in which two strands hung over her nose like…
'Oi! Cockroach-bangs hurry up and fetch the medicine,' the boy dubbed as "Jinta" barked.
Rino, ignoring the commotion, sat up, 'Who are you?' Rino demanded, instantly regretting her decision as pain coursed through her body.
The black-haired girl yelped, seeing Rino's face contort in pain, 'Please don't try to get up,' she pleaded, 'you have not full healed.'
'BAKA!' the first voice interrupted again.
Rino hurriedly blinked away her tears of pain to see a red-haired boy, knuckling the girl in the head.
'Oow, Jinta-kun, that hurts!' the girl whimpered, meekly clutching her head.
'Of course it does, Cockroach bangs,' the boy dubbed as "Jinta" replied, 'Now go get the manager!'
'H-Hai!' the girl squeaked as "Jinta" shoved her in the direction of the door.
A few moments later, the door slid open revealing a blonde man, wearing green. A black coat, bearing strong resemblance to a captain's haori was worn over the green attire and he held a cane in his left hand.
'Ah,' he said smiling, a green and white, striped bucket hat stood atop his head, covering his eyes, 'Is the shinigami-san awake?'
Rino squinted at the man, 'Who are you?' she demanded, trying to convince her body to get up, 'what do you want with me?'
The man laughed, waving a fan over his face, 'Nothing! I'm just a mere honest, handsome, perverted businessman that happened to see you lying on the street at death's doorstep, and out of the goodness in my heart, I brought you here and healed you.' He smiled, snapping the fan shut.
Rino narrowed her eyes, the only word she could think of was SUSPICIOUS. She glanced down at herself, to see the extent of her injuries and gasped. Her body was smothered in bandages and what looked like burnt marks, dotted what bare skin remained, 'What happened?!'
He met her bewildered stare, with his own serious gaze. Startling her with brown-green eyes, his replied in a serious tone, 'That's what I want to know.'
However, this serious look quickly disappeared under his hat and the smile returned, 'What I can tell you is that it looked like you were stuck by lightening!' he replied lightly, as if this was an everyday occurrence. His fan snapped open again.
Rino stared at him, 'I WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTENING?!' she shouted, 'I'm A SOUL THOUGH!' A thought struck her, 'Wait a minute…how can you see me?'
The manager ignored her question with a flick of his fan and instead turned to face the black-haired girl, 'Arigatou Ururu, for looking after Shinigami-san.'
"Ururu" nodded meekly, before bowing out.
Before Rino could repeat her question, the shop keeper had reappeared beside her, fan in hand, 'Oho, that's right!' he waved the fan around, 'I haven't introduced myself,' he tipped his green and white striped bucket hat in her direction 'Urahara Kisuke, pleasure to be at your service.'
'Urahara…Kisuke,' Rino thought, 'sounds familiar, where have I heard that name from?'
'And this is Jinta,' he pointed at the red head, 'Ururu is the girl that just left and Tessai.'
'Tessai?'
The door slid open and a large, muscular man stepped in. He smiled, 'Welcome to Urahara Shop, Tessai at your service.'
'Unseated of the Gotei Thirteen, 10th Division, Kaiyuki Rino,' she replied.
'If you may, Tessai, please prepare a meal for Kaiyuki-san and Jinta, return to your chores,' Urahara said.
Tessai nodded.
Jinta scowled.
As the door slid shut, Urahara turned back to Rino, smiling, 'You should rest, more than 85% of you dark force has disappeared.'
Rino's eyes widened, 'Disappeared…but I didn't give it away,' she whispered, 'and more than 85%?!' Her ace clouded over, 'Where am I going to get a gigai?' she wondered aloud, 'What am I going to do?' she paled, this forgotten, 'WHERE IS THE DENREISHINKI?!' Rino asked, urgently.
Urahara frowned, 'Denreishinki? I didn't find or see one. But,' he smiled again, 'you can purchase a gigai from my store.'
She closed her eyes, 'I gotta go to school, huh?' she mused.
Urahara Kisuke left, gently sliding the door shut, 'that girl would have a monstrous reiatsu if she wasn't' so critically injured…hmm, now just what might be going on in this town this time?'
Soul Society – Hitsugaya Toshirou
'EXPLAIN YOURSELF!' Hitsugaya demanded, slamming his palm onto the general commander's table.
'It is not your place to know, Hitsugaya-taichou,' Yamamoto replied, frowning at the splintering table.
'BUT WHY? Are we in danger?' Hitsugaya roared, teal green eyes bright with fury, 'my SUBORDINATE is MISSING in the real world! And her status is UNKNOWN!'
'I KNOW THAT!' the general commander bellowed back, his patience wearing thin, 'but these are orders from above!'
Hitsugaya stared at the old man breathing hard, 'So there is no way I can send a squadron to help Kaiyuki?' he asked, composing himself.
Yamamato nodded gravely, 'I'm afraid so.'
The white-haired boy swore. Swivelling around, he left the room, ready to inform his subordinates.
Matsumoto stared at the Hell Butterfly, her icy blue eyes wide with shock.
'ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS OF THE GOETEI THIRTEEN: CENTRAL 46 HAS DECREED THAT ANY SHINIGAMI WHO ATTEMPTS TO ENTER OR LEAVE SEIREITEI WILL BE PROSECTUTED.'
'MATSUMOTO!' Hitsugaya burst into the room, 'Did you hear?'
'Yes,' the blonde replied, her eyes downcast, 'I heard.'
His brow knitted together, 'Those bastards at Central,' he spat.
Matsumoto crossed her arms, her icy blue eyes revealing a more serious side, 'What are we going to do Taichou?'
The boy sighed, 'I don't know…I really don't know.'
*In the preview, I think I wrote Rino, but I meant Kaiyuki-san…they aren't that close yet! *wink wink*
(1) Denreishinki: the phone thing that Rukia uses xD I also call it a cell phone at times…if I remember correctly.
SUPP!! I JUST WANNA WISH YOU ALL A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A HAPPY HANUKKAH!!! =D
(it's Christmas day in Australia)
And uh…hint-hint an awesome gift would be REVIEWS!! Lol jk~
Anyway, I hope'd ya liked that chapter…
*begins searching for cliff hanger in chapter eleven*
Here ya go, preview to chapter eleven:
Chapter Eleven:
Koutarou bowed as Hitsugaya-taichou presented him the badge for 7th Seat.
The 10th Division cheered.
And the small ceremony was over before he knew it.
He proudly secured the around his left arm as the 10th Division filed back into their rooms.
Smiling he then turned to face the scowling taichou and his lieutenant beside him.
They were alone.
CRASH! BANG!
Hitsugaya, Matsumoto and Koutarou froze momentarily, then slowly turned their heads to the left.
A shadowy figure smiled down at them, scarf billowing, 'It's been a while…eh?'
Mwahahaha…another cliff hanger...not very dramatic, but a cliff hanger nevertheless! So…see if you can guess who the figure is?Itsugaya gapKoutarou, HitsKoutarJKoutarou frinned (it should be someone you know) hint…it ain't Byakuya~
Anyway, We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year =D
We? ….uh…well about that…
So Ciao~
--Melodicxstar--