jychan: I deserve more than a couple of spanks for this. But I shall be updating the fanfics I have left ASAP. I swear. I was just so busy with school (i.e. term paper and play) that I had no time for myself already. T^T

14. Gray as Smoke

"How could you get the part? How could you have everything I want in life!"

I ran from someone as I panted for air, while my pursuer continued on running after me, a knife on her right hand. I had to get away from that person. She was mad for all I know.

"You have Seijiro-san! You have everything that I wanted!" My pursuer continuously yelled as I was cornered into the cliff of the mountain. My green yukata was stained with mud as it had been a rainy afternoon.

"Hey! Minako-chan, we can talk about this." I said as I held my hands before her, my palms facing her side. I was at a dead end. It was either death by falling down off the cliff or be killed by her.

"No! We can't! We obviously can't! I'll get you for this, Nadeshiko! I'll get you!" She said as she went near me, while I stepped back. One more step and I'll fall down. Stones that were gray as smoke fell down the cliff while I swallowed.

I couldn't just die here, right? I couldn't just die here. I still had my modelling job to do. I was about to become an international model. Tomorrow, I am going outside Japan for a photo shoot with one of the best photographers in the industry.

I couldn't die yet.

"Good-bye Nadeshiko!" She said as she pushed me off the cliff, "Well, you could fall down and it would seem like an accident. At least, I wouldn't have any evidence to get rid with."

I shouted for my life as I felt my body hit the ground, breaking my neck and bones in the process.

I returned to reality. I woke up, breaking up cold sweat as the door to my room opened. I panted heavily while Matsumoto-fukutaichou went in. I gave a small smile.

"Are you okay, Nadeshiko-chan? You were screaming." She said as I simply breathed in and out. I couldn't answer her question. I was okay physiologically, but I wasn't okay mentally or emotionally. After all, how often does one get to remember how she was killed?

Wait. So it wasn't just a dream?

"A nightmare?" She asked as I gave something that was barely a nod. I was still panting hard. It was all too terrible. It was as if I could feel it.

"Yukinobu," I stared at the door and saw Kuchiki-taichou and the others. Well, he was the one who actually went inside. I could see shadows from the outside, but they didn't come in.

"Kuchiki-taichou..." I replied in recognition.

"Let me get you tea first, Nadeshiko-chan... Excuse me." Matsumoto-fukutaichou said as she got up. If you'd ask me, I wasn't sure if it was just Matsumoto-fukutaichou playing 'match-maker' or she really wanted to get me tea to calm me down...

"You were screaming quite loudly." He said as he sat on the chair beside my bed. I nodded to his remark. "Is there something wrong?" He asked.

"Kuchiki-taichou," I called him as he raised an eyebrow, "How often does one get to remember how he died?"

"That would be a rare case if you would ask me." He replied, "There are such cases, but extremely rare."

I swallowed.

"I would believe that you dreamt your death. Have you actually confirmed that it was indeed such?" He asked as I shook my head.

"It just felt too surreal. It just felt real. It was like I could actually feel it." I confessed in truth.

"I see. But that doesn't really matter now, does it?" He gave a rhetorical question, "You are a shinigami now. You are currently a part of Gotei 13. How you died as a human rarely matters now. No matter how the soul is reborn, the soul is still exactly the same as it was."

I breathed in deeply as I stared at the window. It was still dark. It was probably still two or three in the morning. I should let everyone go back to rest.

"I think you should return to resting, Kuchiki-taichou. It's still two or three in the morning." I said as he replied, "I believe I have rested well for the night already. Further sleep would not do me well, actually."

Was that actually a no?

"You should rest, Yukinobu. Furthermore, it was just a nightmare. It wouldn't happen again, would it? You have escaped death a lot of times already. There is no need to worry. In the end, the nightmare would just remain a nightmare." He added as I nodded, while he exited my room.

I was about to settle in my bed when Matsumoto-fukutaichou returned to my room with a teapot and two teacups. Well, I guess she really wanted to calm me down.

"So, how was it? Was there any good-night kiss or something?"

Or both.

"Some words of wisdom per usual." I replied as she poured me a cup of tea.

"Just that?" She asked, her words hinting disappointment. I shook my head and smiled, before taking a sip from my teacup.

"It was more than enough, though."

"Oh my, is Nadeshiko-chan actually falling for Kuchiki-taichou?" She asked as I coughed loudly.

"What are you saying, Matsumoto-fukutaichou?" I asked as my eyes widened in horror.

"Oh! You're not denying it!"

"I was simply asking what you were saying because I was having a hard time processing what you were asking me earlier." I retorted back while she gave a big grin.

"But you heard me already! Once is enough for a wise person." Matsumoto-fukutaichou said as I rolled my eyes and snorted in laughter.

"I can't fall in love with him, you know." I replied as she took my cup and placed them on my tray."

"It's not a question whether you can or cannot. Falling in love was never a choice, Nadeshiko-chan. Good night." She winked at the last part as she exited my room.

"Hitsugaya-taichou, I know how you feel but we cannot just barge into Hueco Mundo without any plans. Sure, Yamamoto-soutaichou had permitted us, but we just can't yet." I tried to reason out with my captain as his stubbornness, unfortunately, had surfaced this time.

"Something might happen to her. We can't just stay still." He reasoned out as I sighed. Well, 'her' referred to his fiancee, the younger sister of Kurosaki Ichigo, the wielder of the Senshokubutsu, Kurosaki Karin.

"Well, all our efforts to actually be permitted to go to Hueco Mundo would end up in a disaster if we don't have plans, Hitsugaya-taichou." I replied.

"I know, Yukinobu. Logic tells me that, but instinct tells me to go to Hueco Mundo already."

The door opened as Kurosaki Ichigo came in with his shinigami attire, his zanpakutou at hand.

"Toshiro, are you ready to go now?" Kurosaki Ichigo asked as Hitsugaya-taichou nodded.

"Wait, what is the meaning of this, Hitsugaya-taichou? Kurosaki-san?" I asked as they went outside of the Urahara Shoten, where Kuchiki-fukutaichou, a Quincy, Inoue-san, and this big man were standing, waiting for them rather.

"Nadeshiko, you tell the others that we're going to Hueco Mundo and rescue Karin." Kurosaki-san said as I just nodded. Well, if that was what they told me, I was just going to follow, right?

"Do you want to come, Yukinobu?" Hitsugaya-taichou asked as I bit my lower lip. Should I come or should I stay? I might get killed in the process and end up being a burden to them. I might fall down the cliff and die again. I might feel that again. I swallowed.

"There is no need to worry. In the end, the nightmare would just remain a nightmare."

I remembered his words as I looked at the hopeful looks on their faces. I have practiced well for this. If I die in the end, I wouldn't regret anything. Because I know that at least, I tried. I smiled and nodded.

"I hope to assist you in every way possible."

jychan: And so, they're off to Hueco Mundo. :D Thoughts to this chapter? Please. .

Twinklefeather: Thank you for picking this up, despite the many errors. :) I hope you've enjoyed it so far. :D

BestFriend09: Thanks. :) It was really hard trying to figure out how to bend Byakuya's usual personality. . Gah. He is too stoic for all I know. Yet, I'm just trying really hard. Just do tell me if they get OOC or something.

personapeach: ME TOO, actually. I hope they'd get together soon. XD But it's just too complicated especially with Nadeshiko not-wanting-to-fall-in-love-with-Byakuya. :))))

magicdemi-god223: Here you go. :))))