Artemis: HIYA! AGAIN!
Aletta: Art, you need to calm down.
Artemis: NO! runs around in circles
Aletta: sigh Okay. back to story. Read and Review, please.
Disclaimer: My ear hurts. And it's all your fault for not knowing it's not Aletta's. glares
I don't think I slept well that night. My neck ached, my back ached, my head ached and my eyes still felt sore when my eyes opened. It was still somewhat dark out, but I could see the beginnings of the sun rising. I groaned, turning in the tree, only to realize I must have fallen out of the tree in my sleep and I was actually on the ground.
"Ava?" Someone said softly, poking me on the arm as I groaned some more and tried to swat the hand away. I didn't want to wake up yet, I was too tired. But the person didn't give up. They poked me again, somewhat harder than before, intent on waking me up. I grabbed the offending hand and twisted it sharply. They yelled loudly, tugging their hand back. Serves them right, I thought and curled up sleepily on the grass.
"Ava. You need to wake up." I recognize the voice now, and suddenly I definitely didn't want to wake up.
"Go away, Uryu." I groaned, turning to face him, "I'm really tired."
"You know, you keep telling me to leave like I'm going to listen a little more closely after the second time."
"Go away, or I will be forced to use violence against you." I threatened, reaching for my sword.
"Just listen to me, will you?" he begged.
"Fine." I said, laying onto my back and waiting for him to begin.
"I know it's hard for you to have lost your little brother." I snorted, and he shot me a look, then pushed his glasses up again, "But I'm not going to let you baby me and try and protect me all the time. I've taken my fair share of Hollow without anybody's help, and because of that, I should be the one protecting you!"
"That it?"
"Not completely. Why were you trying so hard to protect me?"
"Because I didn't want to lose you." I said, closing my eyes against the tears welling up, "You know, you're not the only one who blames themselves for his death."
"How can you blame yourself? You were becoming a Shinigami at this time."
"I should've been alive at that time. I should've died older than Soken. If I was alive longer, I would have been able to protect Soken." I shut my eyes tighter. I didn't want to cry now. Uryu put a hand on my arm, trying to be reassuring.
"And what? Let the Arrancar kill other people?"
"I don't know." I said, sighing, "Can I go back to sleep now?"
"Nope." Uryu said, and stood up, trying to pull me upright by my hands. I groaned, letting him almost dislocate my arms, not trying at all to help him.
"Why?" I groaned.
"We're going to go visit someone." He said, and managed to get me up to a sitting position. I groaned more, but stood up, rubbing my neck.
"Who?" I asked.
"You'll see." He said, and ran off to somewhere, stopping to make sure I was following.
--
"Why are we in a graveyard?" I said, glancing around at the gravestones.
"We're visiting Soken." Uryu said, glancing over at the graves, no doubt searching for Soken's name. I was stunned. Part of me didn't want to see him, the part that was still feeling guilty for how I treated him. Another part of that part didn't want to have to acknowledge he's dead by seeing his grave. A different part felt obliged to see the grave, ready to apoligize and say goodbye to my little brother. I flashed out of the graveyard for a split second, back within a minute with a collection of wild flowers.
"Here it is." Uryu said, pointing to a grave with Soken's name on it, and the date of his death. Next to it, was mine.
"Not everyday I get to visit my own grave, is it?" I muttered, putting the flowers on Soken's grave.
"Right, yours is here too. Your family name is Ishida here." He said.
"I got married. For a while." I said.
"What happened?"
"He found out I was a Quincy, and instantly pinned me as a witch." I let out a dry laugh at the vague memories, "He tried to burn me."
"That's horrible!" Uryu grimaced at the idea of me on fire, I'm sure.
"That's my husband." I returned, and we were both quiet for a while, lost in our own thoughts. I wonder what Soken would think to me being a Soul Reaper. From what Uryu was saying about him, he wouldn't care, I would always be his big sister.
"Do you have any siblings, Uryu?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"No." He replied, a little surprised at my question. I made a humming noise, and returned to my thoughts. At one point Uryu checked his watch.
"I'm going to be late for class." Uryu said, and started running out of the graveyard.
"Uryu!" He turned, "Thanks." I said, and Uryu nodded and ran off to class. I was in no such hurry, since my Soul-Mod could take care of that. I sat down in front of the graves, and spent a few hours talking aimlessly to Soken until someone came from behind me.
"What are you doing here?" He said behind me.
"Talking to my little brother." I replied, tilting my head back to catch a glimpse of an older man with white hair and oval glasses.
"That is not possible. His older sister-"
"Drowned, went to Soul Society and ended up a Soul Reaper." I finished, "Ava Miura. You are?" His mouth hung open for a while, but closed it with a snap.
"Ryuken Ishida. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. You Uryu's father?"
"Yes."
"Wait, so then you're a Quincy too." I said, and he nodded, "How can you let Uryu be so reckless?!" I yelled, standing up and looking up to Ryuken. Even if he was slightly taller than me, he shrunk away, apologizing before he regained his composure.
"I have work to do. I couldn't protect my son and keep up my job at the same time." He explained. I nodded, smiling sadly.
"How can you live with people dying so you can live your life?" I asked quietly.
"I can't." He answered just as quietly, looking at the ground. Then he looked up at me, "Shouldn't you be in school?"
"Me, in school! I have a Soul-Mod for that!" I said cheerfully, laughing.
"Then get out of here. I will not have Soul Reapers around my family." He said, a cold note in his voice.
"Um, I'm a part of your family. You'll just have to deal with this Soul Reaper here." I said, but left the graveyard either way. It was about time I left, "Nice meeting you, Musuko-san."
--
The day was pretty uneventful, for the most part. No Hollow armies coming to kill me, not even a few rogue Hollows to keep my interest. The only really interesting thing happening was a Hell Butterfly coming to send me home.
"Ava. You are to return to Soul Society at once." It ordered, "Pack your things and leave this morning." I was a little skeptical, but this couldn't be some kind of illusion. I nodded, and set off to Orihime's place.
--
"You have to leave so soon!" Orihime whined as I packed together the clothes I actually found the time to shop and buy for, "You just got here!"
"Well, those are my orders." I replied, carefully folding a really cute red top and placing it in the bag.
"But we haven't found someone for you!" She said, and put a finger on her chin, thinking, "How about Sado?"
I put down my shirt and turned to Orihime. "I don't think so. I already have issues with protecting Uryu. I don't need issues trying to protect the guy who doesn't even seen to care about his own life."
"But it works so well!" Orihime said, "He needs someone to worry about him! You'd be perfect for him!"
"I don't need the stress. Thanks, but no thanks." I said, returning to my packing. Kurosaki walked into the door, making his presence known by knocking on the open door. Honestly, it was useless. Orihime and I both knew he was there before he even walked up to the door.
"Come on in, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime said, running up to hug Kurosaki.
"Where are you going, Miura-san?" Kurosaki asked, eyeing my bag.
"Back to Soul Society." I replied.
"Why?"
"Orders."
"Kurosaki-kun, what about Hitsugaya-kun!" Orihime suddenly yelled, and I froze.
"Captain Hitsugaya! You've got to be kidding me!" I yelled.
"Why not? Toshiro'd be great for you." Kurosaki agreed.
"Um, he's a captain!" I yelled
"There's something wrong with that?" Kurosaki asked, tilting his head.
"Yeah!" I yelled, angrily packing my clothes in the bag. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"You must really like him!" Orihime gushed. Just when I thought I had my anger under control.
"No.. He's a captain, I'm just a Soul Reaper. I'm not even a seated officer." I said, grinding my teeth.
"So?" Orihime and Kurosaki both said.
"Who's next, Captain Kuchiki?" I growled.
"Do you like Byakuya? He didn't strike me as your type." Kurosaki said.
"It's Captain Kuchiki, and no, I don't like him. Not in the way you two think I should like someone!"
"What about Renji?"
"He's with Rukia." Orihime said, "What about Izuru?"
"Kira would be a pretty good match for her."
"Except for the fact he's not interesting in anyone." I cut in.
"Well, you aren't interested in anyone either. You two'll be a perfect match!" Orihime said, and Kurosaki grinned
"Kira-kun is still dealing with his captain's betrayal. And on top of that, I heard there's a new captain and 3rd officer there he has to put up with." I explained, "Who else do you have?"
"Ummmmmm..." Orihime put a finger on her chin, and Kurosaki looked down as they thought of someone for me.
"Ikkaku!" Kurosaki yelled. I burst out laughing, trying to imagine Ikkaku coming with flowers to take me on a walk, in some kind of nice outfit. No, he'd probably try and get me into a fight club to go drinking with him.
"What about Yumichika?" Orihime offered, to get answered with more laughter on my part. That man, if I could honestly think of him as a man, would talk only about himself.
"Please, stop." I said between laughs, "I can't take this anymore."
"But you're still single!" Orihime pouted.
"And I need to go to Soul Society. But I'll promise something, Orihime-san. I will definitely try and find someone. Alright?" I promised, smiling.
"Fine. Will you come and visit?" Orihime said.
"Of course I will." I said, wrapping my arms around her shoulders, "You just better behave yourself." I said to Kurosaki, playfully slapping him on the shoulder, "Where's Uryu?"
"No idea." Kurosaki shrugged. I nodded, and ran out the door in a flash.
--
I eventually found Uryu at the waterfall, absent-mindedly throwing stones into the water. I walked up to him, carefully picking my path across the water toward him.
"Hey, Uryu." I said, picking up a stone and tossing it into the water. Uryu turned around, surprised, nearly falling into the water.
"Ava!" He said, smiling.
"I have to leave tomorrow." I said, and Uryu's face fell.
"Why? Don't they still need a Soul Reaper to patrol Karakura town?" I smiled.
"Don't tell me you've gotten attached to me." I said.
"Why wouldn't I? You're my great-aunt." He retorted.
"I'm also dead. You need to work on making friends with the living." I pointed out. Uryu looked down at the water, picking up another stone and chucking it into the water.
"I know." He said, mostly to his feet and the water below.
"Do me a favor. Keep yourself safe." I said, reaching out to touch Uryu's shoulder. He didn't answer, just shrugged off my hand.
"I can't promise that." He said, and I closed my eyes. I picked up a rock, and threw it as hard as I possibly could.
"Why?"
"It's part of my Quincy duty to save others." Uryu said, and reached for my hand, noticing how mad I was getting. I yanked my hand away, picking up another rock and lauching it down the river.
"Try and make some friends. Don't be so cold to Kurosaki and his friends."
"Alright." He agreed, "Come back some time."
"I've already promised Orihime I would, so don't worry." I wrapped my arms around Uryu's shoulders, and planted a kiss on top of Uryu's head, "Take care of yourself."
"I'll try."
--
I guess Soul Society didn't know about my return, because the officers I met on my way back to 6th Division seemed extremely surprised to see me there. Whispers started to follow me down the alleys of Soul Society. I looked around me, trying to catch the eyes of the Soul Reapers, but they all looked away. I ran the rest of the way to 6th Division, to get answers.
"Ava. What are you doing here?" Lietenant Renji said when I entered the Captain's building.
"I got orders back here." I said, lowering my upper body into a bow.
"From who? I did not authorize your return." Captain Kuchiki said, opening a screen.
"Maybe it was from the Captain-Commander." Renji said, shrugging, "You know where your bunk is." He said, giving me a slap on the back that normally would have knocked me off my feet. Good to be home.
Aletta: Okay. Musuko-san translates to 'child' but in all my internet searching, i couldn't find the term for nephew. That's it. Probably kinda short, but next chapter we switch back to Karakura town.
Artemis: READ AND REVIEW!! Please?