Author's Note: This chapter might be a tiny bit wonky ^.^ First of all, assume that everyone who was attacked by hollows was attacked. I'm just not willing to put direct scenes like that into here if it really doesn't involve my story much (I mean, Ichigo doesn't really know I believe). Plus, I already have a lot to cover in this chapter xD So I really hope that you enjoy the dynamics of this chapter, I'm going to try to make a comeback from the last chapter! :D
Rukia hasn't talked to me today. She keeps shooting me these looks… Well if I didn't know better, I would say that she didn't trust me! At least a little~ She did say that she felt like 'as if we were dancing in the dark together and only you knew the safe path' a while ago… I wonder if she still thinks that? Probably. She is definitely suspicious of my motives, and I think she's realizing that she doesn't know me.
Mentally I smiled as largely as I could. Well, that's fine… She'll learn to trust me eventually. They all have to… I doubt this could work without me or Ichigo. They're stuck with me. I thought confidently. Now to start working on the first impression I'll give Soul Society, or more specifically Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki. I was looking forward to being with the Soul Reapers. They seemed nice in the anime… I squirmed mentally. But suddenly I'm very nervous…
I practically leaped over to where Ishida was once the bell had rung. "Well?!" I asked like an excited puppy. He looked up at me and stood up, sighing. "Fine. If there's really no other way to do this, then let's go." He said and started to walk away.
"Rukia!" I called to her. She seemed to have gotten trapped in a conversation with the Pact, Chad and Orihime. She looked over at me curiously, but I could see plainly that she was guarding herself from me. I snickered on the inside. "Pass me Neko!" I told her and she quickly took him out and tossed him at me. I nodded thankfully and she returned it before I ran after Ishida, leaving my other friends behind.
-s-s-s-s-s
"So where to?" I asked him once we were a few blocks away from the school. I had been tailing him (per usual when we're silently walking) with eagerness mixed in with a little apprehension. He stopped walking and looked back at me.
"I had imagined you'd tell me where to go, although I would prefer not to go about this in the city." He told me and I snickered.
"Silly Ishida!" I bounced up to him as he fully turned around and reached up on my tippy-toes to pat the top of his head. He frowned at this behavior. "I need things to go exactly like how they're supposed to! So let me lead now, okay?" I asked cutely, winking. He frowned more, but followed nonetheless when I walked past him. I feel as though I'm slowly cornering myself with him and not meaning to… He knows something's up. Eventually… I gulped unconsciously. He may know my secret. My eyes narrowed as I kept an even pace. I refuse to let that happen!
-s-s-s-s-s
"We're here!" I almost shouted when we were in the area that he was originally supposed to fight Ichigo in. I turned back to look at him and saw his questioning expression. "Just trust me on this one!" I gave him the peace sign and he sighed.
"You do realize what will happen if we do this in the middle of the city?" he asked me and I nodded like a bobble head.
"Of course! People might die, souls will be eaten, the usual!" I told him easily, like it was normal. He frowned.
"How do you call yourself a Soul Reaper?" this didn't break my bubbly atmosphere at all.
"I don't, I'm a Substitute Soul Reaper, silly! Also, I'm just realistic!" I smiled broadly and he frowned. "Feeling apprehensive? I'm sure you know what'll happen if you don't do it…" I told him darkly and his eyes widened before he gritted his teeth.
"I never knew you were such an evil person…" he muttered. This cracked my bubble and I became completely serious.
"I'm not. I want everyone to live. I can guarantee you this," I told him, pointing calmly at his face. "Not one soul will die today." His eyes widened.
"How can you promise something like that?!" he yelled, shocked by my promise.
"Because I know it's true, of course." I scoffed. "Really, are you that elementary? Don't you understand anything?" I asked and he practically snarled.
"No! I don't! Because you won't explain anything to me, or any one of your friends!" he gestured to himself then pointed madly back at the school.
"Maybe it's because it's dangerous." I told him truthfully and he frowned again, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Dangerous?" he seemed to be calming down. I fed into the stream, nodding.
"Yes. Do you honestly I think I would be as lowly as to put my friends in this kind of danger and not guarantee their existence? That's called murder, Ishida. And I'm not a murderer." I spoke confidently, and his eyes widened.
"So you have a plan? A reason for this madness?" he asked desperately. I allowed a dark smirk onto my face.
"Yes, as eloquent as the way Rukia spoke of it. 'As if we were dancing in the dark together and only you knew the safe path'." I danced with an imaginary partner, swaying this way and that as Neko squirmed slightly in my bag.
Ishida frowned. "So you really think that everyone will live?" he asked one final time. I gave him a true, beautiful smile.
"Of course. Otherwise I wouldn't do something so dangerous." I said, opening up my bag while I looked at him and drawing out Neko. He yawned, still sleepy.
Ishida was silent for a few seconds. "I may not know your motives…" You don't want to, dear boy. "I may not know who you really are…" You'll never find that out about me. I won't let you. "But I do know one thing." One out of three? That's a failing grade, Ishida. I thought you were at the top of the class? "The Sydney that I know would never become a murderer. She's much too gentle." …Ishida…
I smirked. "Well, at least you know one thing out of three. But you still failed the test." I told him cockily and he smirked, adjusting his glasses.
"I can always retake it." He told me easily and I snickered.
"If you live that long." Now he frowned.
"I will if you're the real Sydney." I smiled.
"You doubt this face?"
"I always have."
"I would love to stay here and banter with you playfully, but I really must be killing…" he frowned. "Hollows, I mean." I left it off so I could tack it on easily. He sighed before pulling the white tablet out of his shirt pocket.
"And you're sure that there's no other way?" He's trusting me here. Trusting my motives without even knowing them… That's what the power of friendship is. Thank you, Ishida.
"Of course not. I need this as much as you." I told him. He paused before nodding.
"I'll trust you. After all…" he said, smashing it I cackled evilly, but quietly when it fully disintegrated. "You've never betrayed me before."
On cue, I shook Neko a few times casually to wake him up. When he was squirming and starting to talk, I popped my fist into his mouth and ripped out his pill, swallowing it easily. I popped out of my form while he sighed on the ground. "Go somewhere safe." I told him without looking back. He stood and I quickly added orders onto the list. "In fact, go home and sleep. I was feeling tired in that body." I told him. He was silent before I looked back at him. We stared for a half second at each other before he took off running.
I watched his form retreating, and looked back at Ishida. "I feel the hollows coming." I told him before turning away and leaving. "Best get ready!" I told him with a smirk as I raised a hand in a wave.
-0-0-0-0-0
I panted hard, running. What is this thing?! I screamed inside my head, pushing my body to its limit, my short red hair whipping around as ducked into an alley. "This couldn't be a hollow!" I realized aloud, my red eyes narrowing in fear, trying to sense if the hollow was coming. It's so huge! Nothing like what I've seen before… My eyes shot up to the sky, and I gaped slightly, seeing a black rip of sorts in it. "W-What is that?!"
"Found you!" The hollow screamed in my ear and I flinched before turning heel and starting to run the other way. I snapped my head back to see the hollow coming after me; it's slimy and skinny lizard-like body easily fitting into the tiny alley.
I turned my head to see where I was going, but slammed into something hard mid-turn. I froze for a few seconds before pulling myself off the wall, stumbling and whipping the blood off of my chin due to me biting my tongue deep. My eyes went large, realizing that there was no way I could climb up the tall cement wall. I jumped around when I heard the hollow hiss behind me and I pressed my back as tight against the wall as I could. T-There's no way I can stand a chance against this thing! I realized hopelessly.
It cackled before approaching slowly. "Who ever imagined that an Evolueren would have such keen sigh of spirits…" I shivered and pressed closer to the wall. "The trip out of the dimension should have taken care of that…" It murmured, running one of its claws down my cheek while I shook.
"W-W-What…?" I asked quietly and it cackled loudly in my face.
"Hahaha!" It drew itself up before looking down on me with obvious blood lust. "But that doesn't matter now!" It screeched, flying towards me, intending to slice off my head with its large fangs. I squeezed my eyes shut as I brought my arms up to block.
Pain erupted in me as I felt it slice deep in my arm, grazing bone. I cried out loudly, throwing my head back and hitting it hard against the cement wall. I was pinned to it when the large mouth kept slicing, its fangs going deep into my head as my eyes seemed to forget what was reality and what was fiction. My new wounds burned when the tongue of the hollow lapped at my bloodied arm before brushing by the side of my head as it tried to free its head from the wall. It snarled, disgusting breath hitting me in the face while my eyes were forced shut by blood loss and the onslaught of things unknown to me.
I wish I was a Soul Reaper…like Sydney… A picture of her smiling with Rukia in the background came to mind. She was holding a sword that was resting on her shoulders as she smiled confidently. The Pact stood behind them, everyone as happy as Sydney.
Then…we can protect everyone together… My senses can no longer distinguish anything. I can't feel it as another set of teeth slides back through my head as the hollow pulls itself from the wall.
A picture of Damien being stabbed in the stomach flashed across my mind and I felt my senses come back to me a little. I need to protect! I realized. Like Sydney! My chest ached as I realized there was no way I could protect everyone in this condition.
I need to be a Soul Reaper! I can't let Sydney down!
I had the distinct realization of the hollow flying backwards through the alley as it was ripped from the hole it had created and gotten stuck in inside the wall. I took a step forward and felt as though I was walking out something or through a slightly strong wind. Looking back, I gasped and my eyes widened as my senses returned to go into hyper speed.
There, lying on the ground, was my body. I seemed to be unconscious, with blood spilling out of all my wounds at an alarming rate. My school uniform was beyond saving, and I had a disturbing look of calmness about me, even with my empty eyes open.
I suddenly felt the fabric that was encasing me and I looked down to see that I was wearing a black outfit of sorts. This is like what Sydney told us about… I realized. Just to be sure, I quickly checked my person and found that I had a sword at my hip. And this must be…my Zanpakuto! I realized.
But…how could I get these powers? Sydney said it would be impossible without someone like Rukia… I thought it over while the hollow recovered, standing up and shaking its head. I don't know. I decided. I'll tell Sydney, and she'll probably know… She's the leader, after all. Our leader. I smiled as I unsheathed the sword as if it was natural, and pointed it at the now snarling hollow.
"Well, either way… I can't let our leader down." I said confidently as the hollow charged.
-0-0-0-0-0
I coughed up blood, shocked speechless when I realized I had been slammed against the wall on the side of the convenience store I had just stopped at, my bag long forgotten. My brown hair was slightly wet. Probably with my blood. I thought bitterly as I forced my black eyes to open. They narrowed as I tried to understand what I was seeing.
In front of me there seemed to be something akin to heat waves. It must be a ghost…! I realized, my senses coming back to me. But it's so large… I estimated the size to be taller than the store and wider than a car. It's probably strong if it's that large… I gritted my teeth as I got the distinct feeling it was talking.
Dammit, I can't hear anything! If I could hear it, maybe-
"But you need someone like Rukia if you wanna get Soul Reaper powers~" I distinctly remembered Sydney's teasing all of the sudden. I snarled.
I know Sydney, that didn't help me one bit! I felt the hand tighten around me as I hacked up more blood. My lunch was probably going to be the next thing to go. Because clearly there are no Soul Reapers around that I can bargain with! I cussed as my breathing was cut off.
"Dammit, why don't you just kill me?!" I screamed in rage at the fact it was taking its time, and that I had been interrupted in my thoughts. I could almost hear laughing as pain invaded my senses. I tried to look at my arm, but I didn't need to to know that it had dragged its nails down my arm and drawn blood. I snarled and I was brought forward before being slammed into the wall again. I hacked up more blood as I suddenly smelled something akin to the rotting flesh of multiple people. No way… Is that its breath?!I realized it and gagged a few times before forcing myself to stop.
No. You barely have any time as it is. You can't waste it throwing up. So think! What can you do to get out of this?! I screamed mentally as I let my eyes slide shut, knowing they wouldn't be any use in this fight.
Think!I was slammed against the wall again.
Think! And again.
There has to be a way out of this! I cried out mentally. Dammit! I wish I was a fucking Soul Reaper! Then I wouldn't be stepped on! I could admit what I am! I snarled mentally at this, but admitted that it was the only way out of this situation. Dammit… I need someone like Rukia… There's no Soul Reapers here. I already know that. I coughed lightly, clearing my throat.
"But then again… Sydney's been wrong before." I felt something growing in my chest, something warm. Something powerful that only I could sense. "So I think I'll become a Soul Reaper!" I announced as proudly as my broken voice could sound. I felt the hand around me leave as I opened my eyes, coming face to face with a disgusting beast. "Disgusting." I tsk'ed as it snarled, its curiosity gone as it attempted to slam me against the wall again.
"I'll be one." I told it, pretending it was Sydney. "Even if it is to spite her!" I whispered powerfully as I grabbed the sword hooked on the right of my white belt and drew it out somewhat-naturally.
"I may not have fought with a sword before…" I admitted as the hollow screamed bloody murder, charging at me. "But it seems you've never fought with a Soul Reaper before!" I screamed, equally loud as I brought my blade up to slide through the oncoming hand.
-0-0-0-0-0
I ran next to the Karakura River, pushing myself to my limits as I attempted to run at the cheetah-like hollow that had been tailing me. I looked back and gasped as it jumped, clawed paws hitting me on the shoulders and tearing into my skin as I fell. Soon it had me pinned and was breathing in my scent next to my ear. "Stop…!" I told it quietly, but pleadingly. My dark blue hair was pulled as it decided to bite at it, causing my emerald eyes to open wider. "Stop!" I pleaded again as the hollow sneered and forced me into the water.
Opening my mouth, I desperately tried to swim to the surface before the water filled up my mouth. My lungs would come soon after. I gasped when I was pressed down, the hollow submerging itself in the water to hold me down as we floated to the bottom of the river, the strong current of the stream pulling us along at a fast pace. Water invaded my mouth and I tried to hack it out.
The hollow's paws found my mouth and held it open as it smirked evilly. My eyes widened as fear became a gigantic lead weight inside of me. I can't keep my lungs closed when my mouth is this large and I'm running out of air! I realized as I started to struggle, causing the big cat to use its hind feet to scrape at my stomach and not only shred my favorite shirt, but my guts as well. I barely noticed the darkened water floating around the hollow as we fell deeper.
Feeling something cold invade my body from my stomach, I froze I started to hack, accidentally letting lose all the air in my lungs. I struggled as hard as I could, and felt some things float up and out of my stomach as I lost consciousness for a few seconds. Fighting against it, I forced myself back.
I don't have much longer! I faintly thought. I'm going to die here, and my soul's going to be eaten by this hollow! I realized as sadness formed inside of me. Images flashed across my mind, the last one being Brianna when she had been crying and hiding in an alley way just outside school. She had been so upset when Ishida told her he was going to try to kill Sydney… I remembered grimly. But I had managed to talk sense into her. This warmed me somewhat.
Imagine how sad she's going to be when she finds out I was killed by a pathetic hollow… I realized as tears started to well in my eyes, even though all the pain was long forgotten. I don't want her to be sad… This made me feel the tragedy that we were all living.
Constantly being hunted… All we have is each other. If only… A mischievous smile. White hair and brilliant, desirable golden eyes. If only she was alive…
I faintly recognized the hollow opening its mouth and unhinging its jaw. It's going to eat me like a snake… I faintly realized. I don't want to be eaten that way. The thought was strong enough to make me grimace.
I'm sure Sydney won't die this way. A picture of her flashed across my mind, along with Rukia smiling when we had chatted before. She'll die cut to little pieces by a hollow she couldn't handle.
Just like how I want to die. I thought wistfully as the mouth grew bigger and started to come closer. I wish…I could be a Soul Reaper. I don't want to die being eaten like snake prey. I don't want to die.
Something seemed to well in my chest. A kind of power. This seemed to bring back my senses and my eyes widened, and I struggled for air. I need to live! I realized as I froze, feeling as though I was stepping through a barrier of sorts.
Forcing myself to look back thinking I had fallen into thick muds of sorts, my eyes widened when I saw me floating away from…me. Quickly looking down at myself, I froze for a second. What is this…?! It took me a second to figure out what I was wearing. Soul Reaper garb?! The hell?! This doesn't make any sense at all!I realized, but swam after my body nonetheless. My soul form didn't have any of the injuries my body sustained, so it was easy to weasel away from the hollow.
Grabbing my body, I took a moment to scoop all of the fallen intestines into my stomach before swimming to the surface. That's gotta hurt! I thought, thinking of the shape my body was in as I noticed the hollow swimming to the surface as well.
My eyes sharpened while I picked up speed, my old swimming lessons coming back to me. I can do this…! I realized as I approached the surface. I can do this!
-0-0-0-0-0
My messy blue hair flew around like mad as my narrowed, bright yellow eyes searched out the safest path and the safest place to jump from. I was running on the roofs of increasingly tall buildings, trying to escape from a land-based hollow that had been chasing me for a while now. I was slowing down, running out of energy. I jumped again, but my heart seemed to leap up into my throat when the hollow jumped up and on a few windows, making its way onto the roof of the building that I was falling on.
The hollow was right where I was going to land. It thought this through! I realized. Well, I guess for some sick reason I'm glad it's not an idiot… I realized and braced myself for impact. Bringing up my arms to guard my face I brought my legs to my chest in an attempt to protect myself.
The impact was hard and bloody. It seemed to have readied its fangs and claws after I had squeezed my eyes shut. They stung, digging into my head, arms and legs as I flew into it. I felt them slice deeply into me as I tried not to struggle, knowing that if I did I would still be falling from my impact. I hissed as I fell of the sharp objects, but forced myself to quickly scramble backwards.
The hollow had other plans. It pinned me quickly and I gasped when its jaws met my neck, biting deep into my neck. Reality was rocked on its hinges as it released for a second before clamping on tighter and deeper. A stream of blood oozed out my mouth, unbeknownst to me as I stared up at the clear blue sky. What a way to die… I thought quietly. Sydney would've loved this sky. She always loves the sky. Always wants to fly in it… I remembered her telling me when we were younger. We were on the roof of the school, looking up at it while heavy sheets of rain poured down. School had been cancelled an hour ago due to the weather. I had told her that she was going to die, that she was going to get sick. But she said that it was okay. Because she loved the sky. Do you still love the sky…? I silently asked her as a picture of her facing away seared into my mind. Sydney…
The girl was my little sister.
I was her big brother.
I was his big brother.
I was everyone's big brother.
If I'm a big brother… Why don't I act like one…? I asked myself simply as the hollow gnawed on my throat. Because… Another excuse welled up inside me. I'm being eaten alive.
Silence for a few seconds. No! No more excuses! I realized. You're dying! You shouldn't hide from yourself! 'You're supposed to face yourself when you're dying'! Like Sydney said! I realized as a lone tear slipped down my cheek.
Sydney… A picture of her laughing with Rukia and walking away appeared in my mind. Don't leave me, Sydney… It started to fade away. Don't leave your big brother alone, Sydney… I begged the picture.
It's because of that Soul Reaper. A voice inside me whispered.
That's right… Because of her… Rukia flashed across my mind, smiling when she chatted with the Pact just earlier that day. Because of her Sydney's leaving.
But she's not bad. She's a very, very beautiful person. A wonderful person.
I'm the bad person. I'm bad because I'm not a Soul Reaper.
I wish…
I wish I was a Soul Reaper. If I was a Soul Reaper… I wouldn't get left behind again.
And then, a feeling in my chest. A feeling of power.
I panted, leaning against the wall as I stuck my golden sword into the ground at my feet. I was leaning next to a gigantic broken spot in the wall, which made up the side of a convenience store. "Dammit…" I panted. "Damien was just here! I know it!" I had felt that surge of power.
"It's undoubtable…" I spoke to myself freely. "He's become a Soul Reaper." I came to the realization quietly. "But how's that possible…? I know for certain there's no other real Soul Reapers here…" I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to remember any small detail that could explain this.
The Hogyoku! I realized. It has the power to grant a heart's desire! And Rukia has it! I smiled lightly. If it gave them Soul Reaper powers… Distantly I felt Sloth's spiritual pressure increase. I tensed and grabbed my sword before I forced myself to stop. Then they desperately wanted it.
Looking at the sky, I admired the pureness of its blue. Every heart to its own desires, I guess… I felt as though I should soar through the sky at any cost. Plus, Urahara's probably going around and collecting them… He's probably hiding their spiritual powers. That's why I can't even feel their souls. I realized, but allowed myself a smirk as I picked up my sword.
"Well, that's fine too. Things will be closing soon…" Everyone has their powers. Orihime, Chad, Karin… Everyone who was supposed to be attacked was. I just can't believe that the Pact got caught up in it…
Well, what did I expect?
Friends stick together, after all.
-0-0-0-0-0
"Ishida." I greeted him, my sword loosely held by my tiring hand. My entire arm was just coated with hollow blood. I also had a large patch of it on my face from a particularly nasty hollow. No major injuries, though. Not yet.
He looked up at me, previously having been talking to Neko (who was lying on the ground in my body) and Rukia (who was stomping on his-I mean my back). What went on here…? I thought about their peculiar arrangement, but let it go.
"Things will be closing soon. Thank you for giving me this opportunity." I told him and his eyes narrowed.
"You were right. No one's died or been eaten." He told me and I nodded, too tired to shrug.
"Of course. I keep my promises." I flicked off my sword in an attempt to get the blood off of it. A lot came off, but I knew that if I wanted to sheath it and not ruin the metal I'd have to use my shirt.
He was silent for a few seconds before smirking and adjusting his glasses. "I'm not sure why I expected less." Was his simple response.
"Damn right!" I agreed and he blanched at my jovial response. "Let's go kid. That gigantic crack in the sky that so doesn't look like the thing babies pop out of has gotten larger. It's gonna pop out a baby soon." I told him and he stared at me before going pink.
"T-T-That's-!" I waited for a response boredly as he gaped.
"Completely true? Come on." I told him easily, starting to walk away. I glanced back. "Stay your hand easy for now when you point if towards the sky." I told him and he raised a confused eyebrow. I sighed. "Don't kill the hollows in the sky, I mean." I told him and he nodded as we reached the middle of a clearing.
"Oh look!" I said, obviously completely bored while I pointed to the gigantic menos that was ripping itself through the sky crack. Ouch… Hate to have one of those pop outta me! I winced as Ishida gasped.
"W-What is that?!" he yelled and I sighed.
"Menos Grande." I told him, looking away like I was some kind of bored bird. I scanned the buildings around us and quickly located the one with my friends in it. They were all crowded around the window, and it probably didn't help that I could sense them as well, now.
"W-What is that?!" he asked again and I sighed, slightly irritated as my head lolled to look back at him.
"You really asking me that? It's hollow bro. But your attacks won't graze it." I told him blatantly and he stared at me with wide eyes.
"What do you mean…?" he asked more quietly and I sighed before I was interrupted by the scream of hollows. I realized that while we had been talking, we had been surrounded.
"I'll tell ya when we get to it. For now," I pointed at him. "Think of it as the level's final boss." This irked him slightly, but he merely glanced at it before looking at the hollows surrounding us.
"Let's take care of these guys first." He said and I smirked.
"I couldn't have said it better myself." I said easily, sliding so that I was leaning against his back with my sword pointed out. I heard him chuckle quietly, and was slightly disturbed when I felt it slightly.
All at once, the hollows charged us. We slashed and hack our way through, but we were panting heavily by the time the beasts drew back to rethink their strategy. I panted as I leaned against his back. He leaned against mine and we easily supported each other in a shape similar to a small pyramid.
I relaxed, intending to get as much out of this break as I could.
I gasped when the hollows took that opening and charged us. A big one had its jaws open and was ready to eat off my head when it exploded. My head whipped around to reveal my gigantic, startled eyes to Kisuke, who was waving at us casually with his fan. I blanched.
"Helloooo Sydney-chan! We're here to save you~!" he told me excitedly and my mouth gaped further.
"K-Kisuke!" I stuttered, but yelled nonetheless.
He covered his mouth with the fan. "Yes?" he asked innocently. I stormed over, sword in hand.
"You scared the complete shit outta me!" I hissed quietly, pointing at him threatening.
He kept the fan up and I felt the need to rip down his defenses. "Ah, sorry. But a warrior should stay on their toes!" he told me and I gritted my teeth.
I opened my mouth to retort but slammed it shut and turned on a dime, walking away. I really didn't want to get in a fight with him.
Because I knew I would lose.
"I'm taking care of the big one! The menos!" I told him loudly instead, pointing my sword in its general direction and waving it around while I looked back and semi-glared at him. He nodded.
"Right…" was his quiet response. I paused, losing the glare and staring at him while he returned it easily. I shuddered mentally before grabbing Ishida's hand and taking off as fast as I could away from him. Dammit, why can't I stand up to him?! I thought angrily as the Menos Grande came out of the Gargantua.
"Ishida!" I barked at him and he flinched back.
"Y-Yes?" he asked, alarmed at my sudden attitude.
"Stay behind and stay safe. I want to finish this immediately." I told him and he slowly registered what I said.
His mouth hung open for a few seconds as we stared at each other. "W-What?!" he eventually exclaimed. "How?! If you said my attacks wouldn't graze that thing, then how're you going to kill it?!" he yelled at me as I stared at him.
"I'm not going to kill it." I told him like it was blatantly obvious.
"W-What…?" he asked, shocked.
"I'm going to purify it." I told him proudly and I heard Shukketsu sigh inside of me. I cheered mentally.
Ishida gaped at me. "This is not time for jokes!" he yelled at me.
I coughed into my hand and regained my serious demeanor. "Right. Sorry, please forgive me. Either way, you are right." I told him. "That's why I want you to stay behind." Not waiting for a response, I walked past him and grasped my blade tighter.
"S-Sydney!" he called after me, but I didn't respond aloud. Ishida… Please stay back. I don't know what I'm going to do.
I walked forward, flicking my blade once again and successfully getting all the blood off of it. I looked up to see the hollow standing there, looking down at us. I stared as it slowly began to charge up a cero.
My grip on my blade tightened as my eyes narrowed, feeling the power coursing between Shukketsu and I.
You're not going to use that, are you?
There's no other way. I don't want this thing getting back to Aizen.
It won't make a difference if it does or if it doesn't…
Not to him, no. But to me, it's called pride. Pride in killing everything he sends my way.
She sighed. If this is what you feel we should do, then fine… But be careful.
…I will. Don't worry.
The cero was almost fully charged. It would release itself in a few seconds. When that happens… Anything could happen. I had to take the preliminary steps to be prepared for that. "Reflect, Suterusu Shukketsu!" I called as loudly and as cool-ly as I could. Don't forget that I need to impress Kisuke, too! Shukketsu sighed loudly as she transformed.
Again, I don't know what you see in him.
Neither do I, really.
…You might want to get that figured out.
The glowing light faded and I smiled evilly as my Zanpakuto became officially released. I stared at the hollow, which released the cero. "Hah!" I laughed as I angled my blade so that I could cut through the entire cero and hollow if I wished. If I had a big enough attack.
Which I did.
"Getsuga…Tensho!" I screamed it like my life depended on it. Which it did, of course. A gigantic ball of white energy shot out of the sharp side of my Zanpakuto as I brought it down. My attack had a little bit of difficulty slicing through the cero, but that wasn't my concern. I could block that with Shukketsu and be all right if I did it. After all, like she said… I had a feeling I was stronger than Ichigo at this point. That may be a bad thing… I realized quietly and quickly decided to halt all of my training immediately.
A large pain in my chest alerted me to the reason I don't use this attack. My body just…didn't seem to be strong enough to preform it currently. An ache in my chest developed more and I tried to ignore that and the quickly increasing strain my body was under.
I watched as the cero exploded in the hollows face, but still managed to see my brilliantly lit-up attack smash the hollow in the face. In the mask. I laughed quietly as I heard a ridiculously large cracking sound before a loud scream of bloody murder from the menos itself.
Jumping backwards, I avoided the foot it had attempted to bring down on my easily. I continued my retreat until I was in front of a tree, to which I jumped into the tree to hide. I just felt safe this way, usually.
The cloud of exploded cero cleared, and I admired my handiwork. The nose was completely gone, the only clue it had been there was the splintered hole it had been. The hollow cried out again loudly as the cracks expanded and multiplied and grabbed the sky around it, going to retreat.
"I won't let you!" I screamed loudly, jumping out of the tree into the air. "Getsuga Tensho!" I yelled again, letting loose another one. Immediately I felt the strain multiply and I smeared the lines between consciousness and being unconscious as I fell through the air. My limbs felt as if they were heavy metal and my head hurt like nothing else. I expected to hit the ground hard and go unconscious or die from my brains splattered everywhere, but I was shocked when I felt arms catch me as the person collapsed under the force of catching me.
I barely recognized the color blue. "Ishida…?" I asked quietly. I wanted to reach up and feel his glasses, but that was impossible in my condition.
"I'm here, Sydney. I'm here." I barely heard his hoarse whisper as I faded away.
"Sydney!" I heard Rukia's screech as my eyes slid up. "Ishida!"
I yawned, coming to. I forced open my eyes and they automatically felt tired, drained, and painful. I didn't even have the extra energy to grumble or talk to myself about it. I was met with the familiar ceiling of Kisuke's shop.
I glanced around and realized I was alone. Taking the initiative, I yawned and immediately tensed. Wait… I slowly realized. Where's the pain?! I screamed mentally, shooting up and only feeling a dull ache in my back.
Looking down at myself I realized I was wearing a white Yukata and that I was in my human body. Who the hell changed me? Was my first agitated thought after I woke up. Almost as if on cue, the door opened and in walked Kisuke himself. Rukia trailed after and I must say, I was surprised to see that Ishida was in fact not there.
"Oh, awake already!" Kisuke commented cheerfully, immediately whipping out his fan and hiding his eyes beneath his hat. "I hope you're feeling well?" he asked and I nodded as Rukia stood with him. I felt surprised at this behavior from the both of them, but I didn't show it.
I rubbed my shoulder thoughtfully before nodding happily. I wasn't ready to speak yet today. "Can you talk, Sydney-chan?" he asked and I nodded slowly, not sure what he was getting at. "Good. I would like to ask you some questions, do you mind?" he asked and I shrugged, looking the other way and feeling slightly awkward.
"Kuchiki-san, would you mind waiting outside for us?" I turned back, surprised that he asked Rukia to leave. I raised an eyebrow at him, and Rukia noticed. We exchanged a glance before she unsurely left. Kisuke waited until we felt her go into the living room before walking over to me and sitting next to me. I couldn't help but tense at this. I can't help but feel cornered… I forced myself not to swallow nervously. Am I going to get yelled at…? For what reason…? I interrogated myself nervously.
"Sydney-chan, I would like you to tell me about the technique that you used to defeat the Menos Grande." He told me and I slightly relaxed. I wanted to look away, to avoid his grey eyes that weren't even visible beneath the shadow of his hat. At least he didn't have his fan anymore. I stared at him for a few seconds before feeling intimidated by just the hat.
"Only if you take off your hat." It just spilled out, I swear. I swear on my remaining years, my heart, and the chocolate confections I stole from Boton last night.
We stared at each other for a few seconds. My stare was a nervous dear-lord-I-can't-believe-I-just-said-that stare with slightly pink cheeks from feeling like I intruded on his privacy. His stare was a shocked one that just said what he was feeling.
"What?" he asked, not comprehending. And that's what his stare was saying. I avoided his gaze immediately, not being able to stand up against it. My cheeks turned a little pinker.
"Y-You heard me! Take of your h-hat!" I stuttered as I tried to speak like I was bold and confident. There was a dead silence for a few seconds before he chuckled. Immediately an accusatory gaze that most would laugh at shot to him as my cheeks flamed slightly.
He took off the hat and held it in his lap as he smiled at me understandingly. "I guess I can be kind of intimidating, huh?" he asked me and I blatantly stared at his features. I'd never been able to really see Kisuke before, you know? His stormy grey eyes, that beautiful hair and his strong features… I gaped as my face went as red as a tomato when I realized something.
Immediately I snatched his hat from his hands. "S-Sydney-chan?!" he reached out to take it back but I put it firmly on my head and pulled it low so that he couldn't see my eyes for once. And hopefully he can't see my red cheeks, either.
Tipping my head up, I flicked it up and gave him a confident stare and the joke I just knew was the only thing that could let me wear his hat. "I get to be the pimp in this conversation, Kisuke." I told him, smiling cheekily while he stared at me.
We held each other's stare for a second before I became too flustered. Immediately I looked down and pulled the hat lower. I jumped when Kisuke himself laughed. I froze when I was brought into a large bear hug, as well. "Sydney-chan's so cute!" he told me while he shook me back in forth in the hug.
I realized who I had my dirty dream about… Shukketsu snickered inside of me. And you're not wearing a bra, either! She chorused and I paled at this. Too fast! I screamed mentally. Almost on cue, Kisuke let go of me as I nervously scooted back onto my given bed. Come to think of it… I'm always in this room whenever I wake up here! Meh, who cares? Man likes to be organized I guess.
I coughed lightly, embarrassed by how I let all of my thoughts get the best of me. "So, that move." I started, glancing up at me. He nodded and looked at me seriously. I cut off all thoughts and just started to gush everything I knew about the attack.
"Basically it's like condensed spiritual pressure in the edge of my blade. I can let it loose whenever I want to, but the less I focus in it the weaker it is." I told him and he nodded. "Umm… Oh! Also I can't use it that much because of the massive strain it puts on my body." I told him and he nodded at this, closing his eyes as he put his hands in his sleeves. "Do you know why this is?" I asked him and he nodded.
"It's because you're not strong enough to use it yet. You acquired that move, 'Getsuga Tensho', through sheer willpower." He told me and my eyes widened.
"Will...power…?" I asked, and he nodded.
"I'm not sure what caused it, but… You wanted that specific move so badly, your Zanpakuto was forced to alter itself to adjust to that need. It would break a normal sword, but your…"
"Shukketsu." I replied. "It means presence."
He nodded. "Presence. It's a good name. Anyways, your Shukketsu is a very strong Zanpakuto. You two have a very unique, strong partnership." He told me and I nodded.
"Yeah, we just bother the fuck outta each other." I told him like it was nothing and he sweat dropped while I gave an innocent smile.
"Okay then… But back to the point." He told me seriously and I dropped the smile to look at him with eyes hidden beneath his hat. "Do not use this move anymore." He told me and I felt my heart freeze.
"W-What do you mean…?" I asked immediately, wishing it to be a joke.
"You may have destroyed a Menos Grande with it, but the risk is too high. If it wasn't for me, you'd be dead." He stared at me and I had the distinct feeling that he could see my eyes. I avoided his gaze by looking at the floor.
"Never again…?" I asked quietly and stressful silence hung over us.
"No. Not never again. You see, you forced your Zanpakuto to compensate this move. That would break a normal sword because they only grow as much as the wielder does. The two are equal, usually. But now your two's balance is thrown off because she is stronger. So the move takes much more strain on you then it should." He told me and I tried to understand it.
"So once I'm stronger, I'll be able to use it…?" I asked him, risking a moment to look not in his eyes, but at his face. I can handle that much. He nodded and I felt so relieved I'm sure it showed on my face.
"But you must both be equals of each other. You won't be able to train with your Zanpakuto." He told me and I nodded.
"No problem! It's cool!" I told him like I was reassuring him, and not me. He smiled and looked at the ground. I studied him curiously. He seemed lost in himself for a second, and I realized that he was in his memories, reliving something. "Something wrong…?" I asked quietly, bringing him back to the present. He looked up at me and blinked before smiling.
"No, nothing. Just admiring how you can do anything." He told me, standing up. He offered a hand and I hesitantly took it. "So, where will you be training?" he asked me and I forced myself to think about my options.
"Umm…I don't know…there's a lot of abandoned warehouses over that way…" I waved my hand north in the general direction while I looked up at him extra, forcing the edge of the hat out of my way. He chuckled and put a hand on my head, moving the hat back so that I could easily see past that.
"You could always take it off~" he asked hopefully and I laughed before shaking my head no largely.
"That wouldn't be any fun!" I told it to him like it was obvious. We walked out of the small hallway and I saw that Rukia had been entertained by Tessai in our absence. I waved at her as Tessai stood up and nodded at me. I returned it with a smile in tow as I plopped down next to her. Kisuke chose his normal spot across from us.
She looked at me questioningly and I snickered. "I stole Kisuke's hat!" I told her childishly as I felt it leave my head. I looked over and realized that Kisuke had stolen it. I smiled as he put it on and adjusted it.
"So, Kuchiki-san…" he started the conversation as Tessai served the newcomers tea. Rukia took this opening and nodded.
"Sydney will be all right, right?" she asked and he chuckled.
"Shouldn't you be asking her that?"
Automatically she looked at my now pouting form. She opened her mouth but I looked the other way with pretend crossness. "I'll be fine! I'm not a kid!" I told her. When she looked away, I snuck a glance and was surprised to see that she seemed a little tired.
"You been sleeping lately?" I interrupted the next question she was going to ask. She looked at me and I shrugged. "Ya look like a zombie kid." I told her the obvious and she frowned. "Wait." I said, realizing something. "How long have I been unconscious?" I asked them suspiciously. "I have the sudden feeling that if I don't get a direct answer I'll never know, or I'll find out at a very inconvenient time." I told them and they both stared for a second.
"You've only been out for a day." Kisuke told me, blinking innocently.
"A day?!" I roared, pissed that he hadn't told me earlier. "I demand for you to tell me why you didn't tell me this earlier?!"
"Well it never came up…"
"Kisuke!"
"So I never said anything~"
"Oh my gosh…"
"Hm?"
"And to think I eat your candy."
"…"
"…That's what I thought." I gave him an intense look before turning to Rukia. "I interrupted you, didn't I? What were you going to say?" I asked, trying to not completely ignore her. She stared at me for a few seconds.
She opened her mouth to say something, but seemed to decide against it. "It was nothing." She told me, looking down.
"Kid it looks like someone died." I told her and her eyes flicked towards me. She wasn't angry, and that surprised me. "It's obviously something."
She stared at me for a few seconds before I continued. "It's obviously big enough to take away from your sleep." Yup, no clue as to what I can say past that.
But Rukia didn't see that, which was good. I was thankful when she spoke instead. "It's nothing." She said again and I was silent. She's leaving soon, I realized. And then I'll meet them. The Soul Reapers.
"So…" I felt an obligation to start up more chatter. But, unfortunately, I'm not too good at things like that. "What now?" I asked, dumbfounded as to what I should say. Kisuke sighed lightly and I noticed Rukia looking off into the distance. I sweat-dropped at how both of them were acting.
"I suppose you could go home, or you could train with me here at the shop to strengthen your body." He told me and I put a hand on my chin, thinking it over. "Umm…" I looked at him and was for once thankful I could look at the blackness hiding his eyes and not the grey orbs myself. "I should probably be heading home." I told him, and was relieved when he didn't say anything. I smiled lightly and took this as an incentive to continue.
"Because you see, I need to make sure that everyone's okay from all those hollows. I know no one died, but I'm not sure if everyone got through without a broken bone or two…" I faltered in my explanation. "Hmm… How about I come in tomorrow though?" I asked him, smiling as broadly as I could. I felt my mask pulled at my features, wanting to slip on fully.
I'll have to come in tomorrow either way. Rukia's going to be in Soul Society and I'll probably be near-dead thanks to Byakuya. I chuckled lightly, and this gained both of their attentions. "I really hope you're not disappointed." I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "I might be good at throwing my fist and good at fighting unarmed, but I'm still…" I faltered. "Ehhhh…." I used a sound to describe it as amusement flickered across both of their faces. It was too bad that Rukia's face also had sadness mixed in with the humor.
Kisuke nodded and whipped out his fan, causing me to smirk. "Well then, tomorrow~!" he said and bid us adieu. I got up, stretched, and was about to walk out of the shop with the Yukata on. The thing that stopped me was Tessai.
"Ah, Sydney-san!" he got my attention by his surprised tone. I looked back at him, equally surprised.
"What's up bro?" I asked casually. Tessai was such a bro man. He was so cool. He fed me.
"You're going to walk around in that Yukata?" he asked me and I looked down. I stared at myself for a second before shrugging.
"Well, I just realized I was still wearing it, but why not? It's not short. It goes to my heels!" I adjusted it so that it covered up even more of my upper half. "Covers my boobs, too!" I told him proudly and I noticed a tiny pink tint to his cheeks. Why do guys always get embarrassed when I talk about boobs…? I silently asked myself.
I didn't even realize someone had walked up behind me until I felt something slide over my shoulders. I looked back automatically and saw a politely smiling Kisuke. I raised an eyebrow and looked down when he removed his hands. I startled when I saw his green haori thing over my shoulders. "K-Kisuke! You're leaving this with me?! To borrow?!" I asked like he was an insane person.
He smiled again and I felt something spin around one too many times inside of me, leaving me almost breathless. "Of course. Think of it as a reason for you to return tomorrow~" he told me, ushering me outside the door. "I'll return your clothes and shoes then, as well." He told me and I blanched, trying to look around him and back into the shop.
"S-Shoes?!" I asked like he was insane. "I thought Neko was in my human body?!" I asked before realizing that I was. "Wait." I froze, looking down at myself. Sliding my arms into the haori I drew it tightly around my being. "I'm in my body!" I realized, smiling up at him to show him I was proud of myself. He looked down at me, amused. "But what'd you do to Neko?!" I asked him, panicking a little.
"Calm down!" he told me, patting me on my head. "He's also a reason for you returning tomorrow~" he told me. I opened my mouth to scream, shout, do anything but was interrupted by him walking back into the shop. I closed my mouth, not wanting it to hang open. He looked back at me mischievously. "Well then, adieu~!" and the door slammed shut. I blanched and jumped, ready to go after him before I thought better of it. I turned around with a huff.
"Come on Boton! We got cooler shit to do!" I told her loudly, walking up to her and slinging my arm over her shoulders. I felt her tense, which was unusual. Usually she'd just be uncomfortable and punch me in the face or something. She really wants to leave… But she doesn't want to, at the same time.
"Like what?" she asked innocently and I blanched.
I paled next. "Uhh… I didn't get that far ahead." I told her sheepishly, but honestly. I was surprised when she started to laugh. I smiled with her as we started to walk away. "How about ice skating?!" it occurred to me and she blanched.
"I don't think this is the time for ice skating, Sydney." She told me honestly and I shrugged.
"Who the fuck cares?! I don't! We'll walk on water instead!" I started to tug her by her wrist so that she would run after me. "Let's throw shit at those evil ducks, too! The ones that peck at your ankles and legitly eat your homework!" It was true people. These ducks were the embodiments of Satan.
"And after that we'll eat ice cream! And then yogurt! And then we'll go shopping!" I suddenly wanted to do everything with her. Show her the wonders of living in the human world. "And we'll go on the ferris wheel! And go on roller coaster! And we'll hang out with Tatsuki and everyone!" I was running out of options and quieting down as our pace slowed.
I don't want Rukia to go.
She was one of my best friends ever.
"Rukia…?" I asked, looking back at her surprised form. Her eyes widened when I sniffled. "You're my bestest friend ever." I told her truthfully. "You've done things that no one else has, and without you…" I'm glad this street was empty. "I'd be dead." Her eyes widened and she retaliated immediately.
"No! I've done horrible things to you and everyone I've touched here! Don't you dare say that! Don't you dare say that at all!" she practically screamed at me. I flinched back.
"Rukia…" I whimpered. "Don't be stupid!" I practically yelled it in her face. "You're the reason that everyone can be so happy! We can really accomplish our dreams now!" I told her, smiling hopefully as my eyes became wet. Oh god… No. I can't cry. That's impossible.
"Your…dreams…?" she asked quietly and I nodded briskly.
"Yes. Our dreams." I told her and she was silent for a few seconds.
"But I'm the reason..."
"No Rukia. Without you, I would have gone insane." I admitted to her, grabbing her hand in an effort to connect. "Every day was the same. Even with my friends, even with my enemies… It was always the same. I had grown bored and desperate, Rukia. Being a Soul Reaper…saved me from that." I admitted. Sure, right before I became one I was truly happy for once in my life, but I knew deep down, even then, that it could be better if I had the Soul Reapers with me. The Visords. The hollows. Just someone who I felt safe with. "Being a Soul Reaper saved me from myself." I told her quietly and her eyes widened before becoming hidden in the shadows of her hair. We were silent for a few seconds and I looked down, letting her hand drop with mine hopelessly.
And suddenly, I was being hugged tightly. Rukia had me in her embrace, and was shaking slightly. My eyes started to water at this action. "It's okay to cry, Rukia…" thankfully my voice didn't break. Her tremors increased as my silent tears slipped down my cheeks. A thankful smile broke out onto my face. "Thank you…for being my friend, Rukia." I told her, petting her hair as she muffled her sobs in my shoulder.
Without you, Rukia… I'd be so different.
I just needed someone to save me from myself. To show me what true friendship it. Someone that I didn't have to constantly keep at bay for safety. Someone that would understand my half-sentences and my moods. Someone that could take a joke, but could also keep me in line. Someone to show me what it meant to grow up. Someone to show me how to be responsible. How to be smart. How to be a Soul Reaper.
I just needed someone to show me how to live my life the way I wanted to.
I just needed…a friend.
Author's Note: So, how are you, my pretties? I'm posting this in the same day that I'm posting chapter 13 because I realized that one kind of sucks. I really hope that you guys liked this chapter and all the stuff I managed to cram inside of it. When I add this by the way, I'm adding on about 10,000 words to our story. It's gotten so huge! But it's good. It's very good. It deserves to be this big. Now at the rate I'm going, does anyone want to estimate how many words it'll have? A shit ton, that's how many! But then again, I'm only doing one filler are MAYBE (Zanpakuto one, of course ;)) and only 'cause Kubo designed the swords himself. So yes, very interesting indeed. And you're going to read all of it. *evil face* I hope you do, at least. Either way, please review! I would really enjoy feedback on how this chapter went, because I think I did pretty good. I just need to be sure, though. ;) So please review!