Star lines of Destiny
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach characters in this story. The only person I own is my OC character Natsumi and Nakito and right now Nohaya. Sorry for the late story.
Important Poll That Will Determine The Ending: Which pairing have you liked more so far? Hitsugaya and Natsumi or Hitsugaya and Nakito?
Important (Or not) News: I am going to start writing a fan fiction about Nakito and Hitsugaya's childhoods, academy and being in the same division. Once it comes out, please read it!
The Village with a Forbidden Secret
Natsumi washed herself quietly in the stream. It was afternoon and the brazen sun was burning her back. Natsumi and Hitsugaya had just set out southward towards the Fire Seal. Natsumi had slapped herself on the forehead at her stupidity. Of course the fire seal would be down south, it was fire and fire meant hot. Yet Natsumi had not thought of anything until she felt the sun heating up her back. Curse the stupid black shinigami robes. Natsumi had thought to herself. However, there was no point in thinking any more.
She had cherished the moments with Hitsugaya while denying so to herself before Nohaya had came back. However, this Nohaya was quieter as if she was thinking about some plan. It had creep Natsumi at first to see someone so hyper and attach over Hitsugaya to suddenly change. Natsumi had become suspicious but Hitsugaya had waved it away. She understood our place in life that is all he had said. Natsumi had felt the familiar wave of annoyance rush through her but she dropped the subject. Now, they were resting and Natsumi was taking a bath in the stream.
Her long brown hair fell down as streams of water dripping. Natsumi grabbed her towel and quickly dried herself up. She put back on her shinigami robes before entering back to the camp. Hitsugaya was just sitting cross-legged leaning against a tree and staring up at the sky. When Natsumi looked around, she did not catch sight of Nohaya. While still drying her hair Natsumi asked, "Where is Nohaya?"
"I don't know," Hitsugaya replied bluntly, as he shifted his eyes from the sky towards Natsumi. "She probably saw you leaving the stream and went to wash."
"Oh. If that's so I'll just," Natsumi meant to finish with train but what she really wanted to do was side step and disappear for a while. She didn't have time to say neither before Hitsugaya interrupted her.
"You'll run of," Hitsugaya finished the sentence for her.
"Umm no. I'm going to go of and train?" Natsumi answered as she shifted her eyes. Too bad. Hitsugaya caught that look.
"You're lying. Well train with me then," Hitsugaya's eyes pierced Natsumi's as he said those words.
"But, you're a captain and I'm just a shinigami…I don't even think I have a seated number yet," Natsumi muttered the last few words.
"You have bankai, its enough. We won't go that far into fighting. It's just simple sword movements. Your two swords and spirits may be strong but if you have no good swordsmanship you will not manage," Hitsugaya replied. He never tore his gaze away from Natsumi. She found this a little bit uncomfortable and looked away.
"Well look Nohaya just came back!" Natsumi pretended to yell happily, as she grabbed Nohaya's arm and dragged her beside her. This way I won't have to train with creepy eyes over there.
"What are you doing?" Nohaya hissed at Natsumi yanking her arm away from Natsumi's grasp. Natsumi ignored her.
"We should get going then right?" Natsumi motioned towards Hitsugaya. He glared then blinked before lifting himself up.
"Fine. Natsumi sooner or later you will have to train," Hitsugaya, sighed. He immediately exited the clearing with Natsumi and Nohaya chasing after him.
"Don't you use me as an excuse again!" Nohaya hissed before walking ahead.
"Not like I would want to," Natsumi muttered under her breath as she purposely set the distance from her and Nohaya. Hitsugaya sighed as he heard those two behind him. Would they ever learn?
The three found themselves at a village while on their wandering. Natsumi and Nohaya had bickered the whole time prompting a very annoyed Hitsugaya to snap at them. This caused a chain reaction of events leading up to Natsumi and Hitsugaya being mad at each other again and Nohaya ignoring everyone including random people in the village that said hi to them right now.
Hitsugaya politely said hi to them but for Natsumi it seemed that he was searching for a specific destination. Where is he going? Natsumi wondered as she saws Hitsugaya seemingly look around. She watched as he walked by a house and recognition spread across his face. Natsumi studied the house.
A plain looking house that actually looked quite rundown. The house was brown and paint was peeling. The roof also had tiles stripping of and while Natsumi watched, a tile fell. This place doesn't seem safe. Natsumi thought as she watched the house. Hitsugaya must have decided it was for he knocked on the door of the house. Nohaya on the other hand looked surprised.
"Hitsugaya-taichou? Why are you knocking at air?" Nohaya asked. Eh? Air? There is a rundown house there. Is she blind or something? Natsumi thought.
"There is a rundown house Nohaya not air," Natsumi stated. "Can't you see it?"
"I only see air," Nohaya simply stated.
"It's none," Hitsugaya finally spoke to the two girls.
"None? That isn't possible," Natsumi, answered.
"It's an illusion. Someone owns this house. I know her because she had helped Nakito long time ago. The point of this illusion is those who can't see it can't enter. Therefore, Nohaya you can't enter. Natsumi sees a rundown place but the truth is this isn't that either but I assume it's a new illusion for this is what I see too. In fact this house is like any other house we see around us," Hitsugaya explained.
"So it's a special house only special people can see," Natsumi repeated.
"That's not it. Only people that need to go in can see this house. Other's see nothing here. Notice that is why there is no house after this," Hitsugaya repeated while adding new thoughts. Natsumi looked and found that what he said was true.
"I get it now," Natsumi stated.
"Nohaya you wait outside. Natsumi your coming in there with me," Hitsugaya instructed. Nohaya looked disappointed but she slowly nodded her head and immediately sat down. Hitsugaya knocked on the door again.
"Ah, nice to see you again Hitsugaya-san. Instead of Nakito-san, you seem to have brought someone new. Who is this young lady?" A grandma appeared when the door opened. The grandma was holding onto a wooden cane. She had her silver hair up in a bun. Her face was wrinkly but she smiled and she glowed gentleness and warmth. The grandma was wearing a red kimono with white outer lining and a blue sash. Natsumi was waiting for Hitsugaya's usual its Hitsugaya taichou to you but she didn't hear it.
"Nice to see you again Grandma Hiko. This is Natsumi. I'm not here to visit. I have questions for you. Just like last time it's about that demon," Hitsugaya urgently said. Grandma Hiko ushered those two in. Hitsugaya was right. The inside looked much larger compared to the outside. It was grander too with a chandelier, spiraling staircase, and huge rooms with glass paintings.
"Come sit here. I will get tea ready," Grandma Hiko stated as she left the two to sit and relax at the kotatsu. They both sat across from each other.
"Who is she?" Natsumi inquired. "What is the demon?"
"I'll answer your questions later. You'll find out soon enough anyway. Don't be too emotional like the usual you," Hitsugaya sighed.
Emotional! So not! Natsumi felt her temper flare but she cooled it down quickly to the best of her ability. Grandma Hiko later came back with tea and she sat down between those two.
"Have you told Natsumi-san about what we will be talking about?" Grandma Hiko said as she smiled while sipping on tea. Her eyes never opened creeping Natsumi out. Who doesn't open their eyes?
"No. I was hoping you would. I can't explain it right now because I don't want to bring painful memories," Hitsugaya simply said.
"Is that so," Grandma Hiko continued smiling, "Then I guess I will say. Did you ever notice anything weird about Nakito-san?"
"No," Natsumi replied.
"Well let's say like when she seemed more animal like than human," Grandma Hiko pushed.
"Well…oh! Yea…when she got mad at me and Hitsugaya-taichou…her eyes turned red!" Natsumi's eyes opened wide as she remembered that crimson eyes of Nakito's that was almost haunting.
"So you have noticed a little. Nakito-san when she was alive back in the human world, she was a priestess cleansing demons and sending them into peace. Her life was ended by a panther demon with coal black fur and crimson eyes. The demon had merged with her soul killing her in the process and letting her live at the same time. The Nakito-san you see now is only half of her. The panther had eaten the other half. She fights the panther all the time even though you do not see it. Those red eyes are examples of when she loses a little bit of control. There are other times when she becomes more panther like," Grandma Hiko begun. "Hitsugaya-san and Nakito-san came here a few years ago. Back then, I had placed a seal on Nakito-san's back to help her control the demon more."
Natsumi nodded slowly. She looked at Hitsugaya who seemed relaxing with his eyes closed.
"Nakito has a panther demon inside her. Is that what you're saying?" Natsumi tried to confirm.
"Yes. So now what is the problem?" Grandma Hiko looked at Hitsugaya. He cleared his throat.
"She's been taken by Aizen to Hueco Mondo. The place with the hollows, Arrancars and Espadas," Hitsugaya explained. Natsumi watched in surprise as Grandma Hiko's eye suddenly opened wide and she stood up to the best of her ability.
"Nakito-san is in danger Hitsugaya-san! Aizen-san has the Hougyoku right? If he uses it on Nakito-san! She could be the first Espada that is merged with Shinigami! That could be the most terrifying weapon ever. She'd be around the strength of a Vastro Lordez for all we know even higher!" Grandma Hiko explained.
"I know that Grandma Hiko. Calm down. I was wondering if that was possible so I came. It seems it is. Thank you. We will leave now," Hitsugaya stated. Natsumi sensed worry in his eyes. Grandma Hiko stopped both of them.
"Give me your hand Natsumi-san," Grandma Hiko instructed. Natsumi looked at Hitsugaya who nodded. Natsumi put out her hand as Grandma Hiko grabbed it and looked at the bat wing.
"You have an interesting prophecy behind you. Just like Nakito-san. You two have interesting life journey that nobody else will ever experience. This bat wing is a gift and a curse. Use it properly and you can save Nakito-san. Don't and you can't. Let me give you this," Grandma Hiko reached in her pocket and took out a glowing blue orb. She placed it on top of the bat wing. Nakito felt a searing pain and saw darkness before she saw that the bat wing had appeared as a bracelet instead of a tattoo. She could now take it of. "You can put it on and of so that the communication between you and the person who gave you this lessens. It will come in helpful. I won't trouble you two any farther." Grandma Hiko stood up and let those two leave.
"She's like a sorcerer isn't she?" Natsumi realized once they exited the house.
"Yes. One of those that are rare and real," Hitsugaya, replied as the two went to meet Nohaya.
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