Okay, guys, thanks for reading and for the great reviews. Here it is, as promised, Chapter 11 of Soul Reaper Puppy.


Chapter 11-The Past's Vengeance

It had started to rain.

Koji listened to the rain from where he lay, staring up at a ceiling that he could not see in the darkness of the room. Urahara had given them a spare room at the back of the shop to stay in, yet the shop was very clearly not meant to contain quite so many people. Komamura sat with his back against the wall, arms crossed and head drooping, and Koji lay by his captain's side. Hitsugaya and the lieutenants were laying next to Koji, still unconscious, but, for the most part, unharmed.

He thought back to the thing he had seen, the hooded figure with those strange powers that stirred something in the darkest recesses of his memory. Somehow, he was positive he knew what that thing was, yet he wasn't sure. It was very possible that he was mistaken... but the dark aura that surrounded the creature was almost undeniable.

"Why are you not sleeping, Third Seat Shimizu?"

Komamura's deep voice made Koji look up. Golden eyes were peering down and Koji knew it was pointless to attempt to fake sleeping. He sat upright and propped himself against the wall beside his captain, forcing himself to appear calmer than what he actually felt.

"It's nothing, Captain," Koji told him. "Just a bit nervous, I suppose."

"I can understand," Komamura responded. "I was unhinged by that creature as well."

"What if it's a Hollow?" Koji suggested carefully. "Or an Arrancar?"

"If it's a Hollow, then it could very possibly be a Vasto Lorde," Komamura told him. "It was smaller than any Hollow I'd ever seen... but if it is a Vasto Lorde, then we need reinforcements. Vasto Lorde are the strongest Hollows that exist within Hueco Mundo, but I do not understand why a Vasto Lorde would leave Hueco Mundo. That isn't like them."

"I still think we can defeat it."

"I appreciate your confidence, but don't be so arrogant," Komamura advised. "That thing was able to defeat a captain and two lieutenants. Not only that, but it somehow managed to take control of their zanpakutos' powers."

"I was thinking about that," Koji said. "The zanpakuto is the physical form of a Soul Reaper's powers, right?"

"I suppose you could define it like that."

"What if, instead of taking control of the Soul Reaper's powers, they transform the Soul Reaper into their powers? That way, they'd be able to use the powers because they've also got the Soul Reaper."

"It's an interesting theory, but I've never heard of a Hollow with such powers," Komamura stated. "I suppose that anything's possible." Then, Komamura's voice changed. He sounded concerned. "Are you frightened by that creature?"

The question made Koji blink in amazement. Had Komamura noticed how much he had been shaking when he had drawn his sword? It would be useless to lie; Komamura had always known was he was lying. "I'm sorry," Koji stated. "I know, as a Soul Reaper, I'm not allowed to be afraid. I need to be braver."

"Who said that you weren't allowed to be afraid?" Komamura asked. "Fear is a natural feeling, but you can't let it stop you from doing your duty. You are a Soul Reaper, and a Soul Reaper must carry out his orders, regardless of their own fear."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

"You continue to apologize when you have not done anything wrong. Are you feeling guilty about something." Then, almost like an afterthought, Komamura said, "Is there something you aren't telling me?"

Koji's heart seemed to stop. Did he know? How could he? He hadn't told anyone... except Komamura. Komamura knew a little bit of his third seat's distress, but Koji knew that he had not told the complete story. He considered attempting to divert the situation entirely, but before he could, Komamura said, "You don't need to keep secrets from me."

"Captain," he began hesitantly, "do you remember that night? When I had slept in your office?" He spoke lowly, hoping that Komamura would allow him to not explain.

Komamura said nothing, but nodded solemnly.

"That nightmare I had... That creature had the same spiritual pressure as the Hollow that killed my father... but it was stronger this time."

"Do you think it's the same Hollow?"

"How's that possible. That Hollow was larger."

"Hollows evolve, and typically get smaller as they do." Then, a furry hand fell on Koji's shoulder. He looked up, but Komamura was no longer looking down at him. "Will you be alright? Facing your fears isn't easy, especially when it's related to this kind of trauma."

"I think so, sir. I'll just have to go through it. I don't have a choice anymore."

"That's how you survive trauma," Komamura remarked. "You don't go through by simply knowing that things work out; you survive trauma because you have no other choice."

"Thank you, Sa-" He stopped himself quickly and said, "Captain Komamura."

"Get some rest. You will need it for tomorrow," Komamura ordered.

Koji nodded and lied back down. Komamura looked at him and a small thought entered his mind. He's like a little pup. Then, he shook his head. Where did that come from?

Then, a few minutes later while in the depths of his sleep, Koji's head seemed to nuzzle into Komamura's leg. Komamura jerked slightly. It was clear that Koji was still sleeping, but his head was right against his leg. Did he even realize what he was doing?

And then he spoke, murmuring so that only someone with sensitive hearing could have heard him.

"I'm glad you're back, Dad..."


So, lovely ladies and handsome gentlemen, there is Chapter 11. Please read and enjoy and know what Chapter 12 is already in the works. I expect to have it uploaded no later than three days from now, if that long. But yeah, keep an eye out for it because I promise that is coming.