I told you guys I would be back

University has been taking a lot out of me, but now I am on a 2-month break, so I am happy to be back writing again! I really love all of your messages you all leave, it inspires me more to write and complete this fanfiction.

Please do not give up on me even though I do not write for a long period of time, please know I will always come back.

Faded Past Faded Memories

Chapter Fourteen: Hollow

Hinata ran as fast as she could; the Shinigami were preoccupied by Hikari's distraction, she had not stopped herself from dashing towards the forest just across from the building she was in previously. She heard yelling; "Let me go!" That was Hikari of course, thoughts crossed Hinata's mind but she still ran – just like Hikari had told her. Hinata saw the forest and ran even faster, she had to ignore the frantic beating of her heart and the quickening of her breath, and she had to focus on leaping into that bush with no hesitation. The time came and with all her strength in her legs she leaped into the bush - crashed into a twig pointed bush that lashed at her face, arms and legs. Hinata had no time to register the scratching pain; her mind was preoccupied with what was happening around her and who was chasing her.

What was she to do? A question she could not answer but her legs kept moving as fast as she could move them – jumping, leaping over boulders and trunks. She could still here Hikari; the girl Hinata had just met, yelling, "let go!" Hinata could hear her a few times yelling and then nothing.

The voice had stopped, and slowly Hinata's run became a jog and then a walk then she completely stopped.

What am I to do?

The question dwindled in her mind.

She turned facing the small town. A deep feeling of hurt and loss was embedded into her chest, as if she was doing something wrong. She clutched her chest tight with both hands, and a thought came to mind, "I'm a survivor – She told me to run so that is what I am doing!" She was conflicted feelings of betrayal and fear – Hinata felt as if she was betraying Hikari, even though she had ordering her to run. She did not know what to do; Hinata was a survivor, a loner. She had always been by herself ever since she could remember. She never stopped for anyone nor helped anyone; she only had room for herself and no one else. Everyone around was an enemy – she trusted no one, not even the Shinigami who were the law enforces – she spat on their name 'Shinigami.' They didn't deserve to have law and power over the spirit world, shacking the thought from her mind; this wasn't the time to be cursing the Shinigami. Hikari was the one important thing that Hinata should be thinking about. "Fuck!" She cursed, "What am I to do?"

A rustle came from a bush in front of her, it shook vigorously and her heart started to beat heavily against her chest. She couldn't move, maybe it was a Shinigami, and then she saw a pair of yellow eyes stare at her, it was no Shinigami…

The Shinigami were in a circle surrounding Hikari, she stood in the middle knees shaking, and there was a tense atmosphere. There was something about her that everyone wanted to know, and for some reason she was the only person who knew what was going on, but she had know clue. There was no use in running, they were all too fast for her, escaping was definitely out of the question. She may have to play along with them, and then figure another way to escape somehow. Her eyes looked to the forest ahead of her, she hoped Hinata was okay, she hoped that the other Shinigami's had not caught Hinata. The being in her head did not what Hikari to rescue the girl, saying she'll be in the way. Regardless if that was true or not, Hinata did take care of her even though it was for a short period of time.

The Shinigami with the pink flower patterned kimono had released Hikari. "I'm not sure if we caught your name before?" Kyoraku asked as he released the soul. Kyoraku had shifted his gaze from the girl to Byakuya wanting to know if Byakuya was interested in what the girl has decided to call herself. It was not a trick or anything, just to see if the placid Byakuya was still as lively as ever. The laid back Kyoraku was right; Byakuya's head had risen at his question. The girl was obviously frightened about reveling her name to them, though she had no choice in the matter, they were either having her name now or later.

"My-My name is Hikari," she spoke uneasily, swallowing saliva down her throat and it hurt.

Kyoraku-taichou observed the young Kuchiki heir, and he looked somewhat disappointed. Disappointed as if he wanted her to say his wife's name and not another name. Kyoraku-taichou's attention shifted over to the girl and then to Ukitake-taichou his best friend, the paled captain nodded towards Kyoraku acknowledging that it was time to take the girl in to custody. She was the only lead they had to figure out what was happening.

A loud scream echoed.

The Shinigami turned their heads left and right wondering where the sound had come from. Again another screeching sound echoed and this time more in pain, another group of officers approached the captain's. "Kyoraku-taichou," one male lowered his head in respect then rose it, "we have located the other female," the Shinigami's eyes then sharpened, "but…" he paused looking at Hikari then back towards Kyoraku-taichou. "You' must see for yourself." Kyoraku-taichou nodded in response.

The pink kimono man saw the expression on the females face; it showed something of questioning and worrying. "The other girl is she really your sister?" He questioned. Hikari hid her face behind her hair not wanting to ask the question. He ignored her for not answering the question; though he was sure Hikari was not the sister of the other girl.

The four captains followed the Shinigami towards where the girl was. They stopped in front of the forest and Hikari knew this forest, it was the forest she pointed out to Hinata to run to. Hikari's eyes started to show even more signs of worry. She was hoping nothing had happened to her. A scream echoed from the forest, the Shinigami turned to the Captain's, "This way Taichou's."

The Lieutenants from the town had also gathered with the Taichou's, "Lieutenants, stay here with the captive." They all nodded following his order.

Kyoraku-taichou, Kuchiki-taichou, Zaraki-taichou and Ukitake-taichou, followed the Shinigami into the forest, and another scream came out as they entered.

"This maybe an interesting day after all." Zaraki-taichou unsheathed his sword ready for combat. At that moment so did the three other taichou's.

Hikari watched as the Captain's walked into the dark forest as another scream came. Was that Hinata screaming she thought to herself? Hikari hoped it was not Hinata she clenched her hand to the chest almost praying that it was not she. 'You should have left her when you had the chance,' the inner voice spoke to her again.

'I could not just leave her behind,' Hikari answered in he thoughts.

'Well then you are a fool, for keeping her.'

'How would we have survived?'

'We would have managed?'

'How? When I have not clue of who you are and I have no idea who I am?'

The voice said nothing.

'Do you know who I am?'

Nothing.

'You know something… Why are you not saying anything.'

'You can not know?'

'But-'

Hikari was cut off by one of the Shinigami's placing a hand on her shoulder she had turned to see a tall young man with long red hair tied up in a ponytail. He had tattoos on his forehead which was slightly covered by a white head banned wrapped once around his forehead. A frown appeared on her face then she shrugged his hand off her shoulder, she was hostile towards him and she wanted to be hostile towards all of them. She had no clue what they wanted with her and what they wanted with her friend Hinata, she could only assume that they were not to be trusted.

"Hey!" The red headed man grabbed Hikari by the shoulder again turning her towards him, "we getting to the bottom of this and you are not cooperating."

"Why should I cooperate with you?" She questioned, she had a frown planted on her face. She did not feel like being very cooperative.

"Look," he sighed, "we are trying to figure out how so many Hollows appeared from the sky, we believe it maybe the phoenix that appeared in the sky that caused this. We also saw a soul that appeared straight after the phoenix had disappeared. Maybe this soul is the reason that these Hollows are here in Soul Society."

Hikari bit her tongue in her mouth she had a funny feeling that she was the soul they were searching for, but how was she suppose to know she did all this? It made some sense, she had no prior knowledge of coming here or even where she came from but sense waking she was here in this place called Soul Society and was dead.

"What is your name?" The man asked.

A few of his comrades had appeared around them, they seemed very interested in knowing what was happening. The red heads question was something that also spiked a query in all their faces; the question was stuck on their faces and in their eyes. What was she suppose to say, 'oh yeah I really do not know my real name it was given to me by the small girl I was with. Oh and also I think I am also that soul you are looking for.' That would be interesting to watch but that would not be very smart of her to just blurt that out.

"My name is Hikari." She answered. It was half a lie and half the truth she had to say it.

"Look - " A high pitch screech projected through out the forest and the village. High winds formed, trees and bushes from the forest started to vibrate from the high winds. The captain then appeared in the air jumping out from the high trees, their swords sheathed and ready to attack. Their feet touched the ground with a loud thud; another screech came from the forest and from the high tops of the trees another figure had appeared. A large monster cracked the ground when it landed; it was large, black with at least a dozen tentacles surrounding its face, yellow eyes appeared through the white mask it wore. Hikari's eyes were wide open, the monster was unlike anything she has ever seen, 'this is a hollow,' she thought. Hikari notice something in one of the monsters tentacle, she gasped.

"Hinata!"