Would you Love me if you knew what I was?
Chapter Twenty-one: Riverbed
Disclaimer: I don't own bleach nor do I claim to. But I call dibs on Yumi, Archer, and my other OC's! So, ha! :P
By the way… I'm trying NOT to use as many suspenseful cliffhangers and settle for a lead for the next b/c it takes way too long for me to write new chapters and it's torture for you guys. I'm also doing this b/c you ppls are so kind as to keep reviewing!
…if I ever get 100 reviews, I'm gonna make a special Omake Theatre…maybe
On with the next part!
Walking down towards the holding cell in the Squad Thirteen area, a figure with a veil covering her head was guided with four guards and two escorts. Her hands were bounded together in front of her and a black collar kept her binds tight. It also had unintentionally covered up the strange mark imprinted on her neck.
Normally, this sort of punishment would only be given to those confined to the white tower. However, it had been added that for a crime against the Seireitei and in aiding a criminal this sentence be given. This order was from the central 46, of course.
Once safely inside the cell, one of the guards removed the veil and let the prisoners gaze fall upon her holding place. It was rather simple, a room with a single chair in the middle facing a tall wall. A small bed was also rested against the western wall of concrete. At the very top was a single window, just allowing a few shreds of light inside.
Her eyes looked up at the window dully as the guard then pointed his finger at her binds.
"Thy shackles I say to thee. These binds I tighten. These chains I lengthen." The black ties on her wrists widened into shackles and a strong black string made up of kido kept them together. The collar that remained kept the kido in place even if something happened to the guard. Also, it kept the prisoner from using any type of spell.
One of the escorts frowned deeply from the other side of the bars, "Is this really necessary? To be held in like this,"
"As much as I don't like it," spoke the other with a sigh, "she has to. There are far too many charges against her and Rukia so we cannot help."
"Taicho," Haruhi murmured and shook her head, "How sad. They might as well put her in the tower instead of that collar."
The white haired captain crossed his arms and frowned, "Although, I do wish to ask something. Why isn't your captain here, Kurokami-san?"
She shrugged, "Even I don't know Ukitake-Taicho. I haven't seen him for quite a while, but I heard that he was last seen near the sixth division."
"Ah, near Kuchiki I see. Well, thank you for coming with the guards, but I think my division can see to her cell now." Ukitake smiled softly at Haruhi Kurokami, "Tell Toshiro that he can rest assured that I will take good care of her."
"Yes sir," she bowed and left the Squad Thirteen barracks. Once everyone left, Ukitake opened the door and walked inside with ease.
Yumi turned around to him and smiled sheepishly, "Man, it looks like I really did have it bad, ne Ukitake-Taicho?"
"I wouldn't say that badly. If you tried to help Rukia, then you're alright Miyamoto."
"No, think nothing of it. Rukia was—is my friend. It may have been short, but I'm glad I met her." Yumi took fixed the white robes she was given with her restricted hands and moved some stray hairs away from her face.
Ukitake left the cell and locked the door, "For that, I will do what I can, for both you and Kuchiki Rukia."
She sat on the bed, resting her back against the stone wall and tucking her head between her knees. Yumi made a waving gesture with her hand for him to exit as the captain took his leave.
Once alone, Yumi closed her eyes and tried getting some sleep. It was better than just waiting for death to come prancing in its tutu of doom anyway.
"Ugh!"
"Gah! What the—"
"No, it's 'Uwaaaa!'"
"Graaah! Oomph—,"
"What the hell are you three doing!?" yelled an annoyed Archer with a raised brow and hand on his hip, "You're supposed to be making a sphere Strawberry. Not weird grunting sounds that make us think otherwise."
"Shuddup you damn cat!" he growled and threw the strange orb at him. At the last second, Archer pivoted on his left heel and caught it in his hand. He sent him a Cheshire grin and kept a firm grip on the ball.
"Look, it's plain and simple," he took a breath and then a blue sphere surrounded him. "All you have to do is put some energy into it! And by that I mean quite literally."
"You seem to forget," Yoruichi sighed, "This is Ichigo we're talking about. He was never a true Shinigami to begin with so he was never given any real training. Also Ichigo, will you stop calling him a cat? I don't know if you're talking to him or I and I find that slightly offensive. At least try."
"In short…" Archer let out an exasperated sigh, "We're doomed."
"Hey! I'll get it! Just a circle, yeah?" Ichigo yanked the orb back out of Archer's hands and held it so tightly that it could break any moment. Thus, he ignored Yoruichi's statement and exasperated growl.
"Eh, Kurosaki-kun…" said Orihime worriedly, "Maybe we should take a break."
"It's alright. I'll stay here. You guys go on ahead."
"But—"
"Inoue," he said softly to stop her, "please…"
She paused for a moment before smiling sheepishly, hiding her slight hurt from his words, "Alright. I'll go."
"Thank you." When she left, he let out a shaky breath, "Alright, time to get to work."
Daichi watched the scene with keen and amusing interest (And that scene was Ichigo simply grunting his way through his pathetic attempt and making a ball). His old apprentice had apparently found the brat's that journeyed to Seireitei. He wasn't the only one that was smart enough to use that opportunity to check home though.
At the thought, he grimaced in disgust and clenched his fists tightly
Home
How absurd. No such thing actually existed. As a baby his family abandoned him in the streets of Rukongai district 79: Kusajishi, left to die. It was actually the same district that the eleventh division vice-captain was from. Being from there, it was a surprise that he survived long enough to move to the next: District 78 Inuzuri.
During his early years, another family adopted him from the bloody depths of Kusajishi and his life progressed rather slowly. At the age of nine, his family began rearing back towards the behavior to those of Zaraki and he ran away. That family neither cared for him or his talents anyway. All they did care for was his pay when he worked in the fields, hardly getting food or water. A horrible beating was all that awaited if he didn't do as they asked.
Yet another ridiculous error in their calculations. Through that experience Daichi gained the knowledge of his body and how best to use it. At the age of ten, he managed to swipe a wooden sword from a bar and trained so hard his hands bled. Unlike most boys, Daichi was widely known by his peers for his uncanny talent in sword fighting at quite an early age. It wasn't just that either. If he was set on a task needing solving, he would be able to mentally lay out possibilities within minutes or even seconds.
He was all alone but that was what made him strong. The loneliness kept him from knowing any other painful emotion. It was a dog eat dog world and feelings such as love and affection would only drag him down. Back in the day, if he even caught a whisper of the word, he would scoff and say, "Tch, love doesn't exist in this world. Even if it did, the blade hurts far less than those pitiful emotions."
His saying was: The easiest way to not get hurt is to not care. That was what made him able to live through that hellish domain of lower Rukongai, his strength alone.
Or so he thought
Everything changed when he met a certain little girl with short coffee brown locks so long ago… Right near the riverbed
"Isn't it harder to do that? Not to care and cut off everything from yourself?"
"Damn it," he lightly cursed to the wind, "I'm going soft." Looking up and seeing it was only midday, he sighed. Time to find a certain idiot.
Archer turned his head slightly to the night sky, a perplexed expression on his face. It almost felt as if he was being…watched. He shook his head quickly and took a deep breath. There definitely wasn't an unfamiliar reiatsu even within fifty miles of Kuukaku's house. He had even made sure that his own reiatsu was cloaked in a veil made up of completely forged identity. The act in itself had sealed away most of his abilities, but at least he still had his gun.
I memory, the number tattooed near his left collarbone burned slightly and he winced. Unconsciously, his hand ghosted over the area and he sighed distantly. Archer let his body give in to gravity as he fell back on the cool grass with a soft 'thump.'
It had been a while since he had been here. So long since he breathed in the clean air, felt the warm breeze, and smelled the faint aroma of grilled fish on the fire.
Speaking of fish, his stomach grumbled in an unsatisfied manner. He remembered that he hadn't eaten anything for two and a half days, four tops. The time had gone by to him as a fleeting moment instead of simple days.
He chuckled to himself lightly, "Maybe I should go find Retsu-san before I starve. It's better than having sensei find out I'm here after so long." A sardonic grin spread across his lips in memory of his former teacher. With piercing gold eyes and an almost regal air to her playful demeanor, of course he would feel intimidated by the dominant female.
From the grassy hills he laid, there was a warm glow further down into the village. Archer sat up in curiosity and only then noticed the faint sound of weak trickling water nearby. There was a stream that flowed down further to the riverbed. At the thought, he couldn't help but finally let his wall down and frown in nostalgia.
The soft giggles of a young girl echoed through the corners of his mind and a small back was running farther and farther away from him. Farther and farther down the bed she went, leaving a nine year old boy behind her.
"I always wondered something," the voice seemed to ponder to herself aloud, "If I were to disappear, would anyone notice? Would anyone look for me?"
"Idiot," he growled and fell back on the grass. This time, he let his forearm cover his eyes and took a deep shaky breath, "Of course someone would…"
He only wished he had said that before.
"This is infuriating…" Hitsugaya had his hand on his forehead in mock headache as he leaned on his desk in his office. He had spoken with both Ukitake Jushiro -Taicho of the Thirteenth Division and Kyoraku Shunsui-Taicho of the Eighth and both had said the same thing, more or less with the difference of one being sane enough that he would go against drinking almost six bottles of sake without chugging water down to ease the coming hangover the next morning.
"As much as I don't like it, I can't do a thing about Miyamoto's case until we have enough proof to back her up."
"Face it kid, the girl is good as caught with her hand in the cookie jar."
A harsh rapping at his door brought him out of his thoughts and he fixed his haori a bit, "Come in."
In came Captain Soi Fon of the second division, and by the looks of things she was very angry. "Hitsugaya-Taicho!" She walked in briskly and slammed her palm on his desk
"Soi Fon-Taicho, what is the meaning of this?" he asked with his eyes narrowed at her behavior, "If there is even a reason for this at all."
Her eyes glowered in response as she whipped out two manila folders and slapped them on the desk, "See for yourself. The mission you and I were last sent on had unidentified persons in the Karakura area. I had both the Twelfth Division and the Fourth Division captain's look at our little prisoners."
"Prisoners?" Hitsugaya added, stressing the plural on it.
"Yes, prisoners. Both your subordinate and that brat we found back in the currents." She answered evenly, "I took a blood sample you see. As a way to figure out what exactly those intruders were and I found the most interesting information. Open them. You'll find that from the results, captain Kurotsuchi was just dying to perform an autopsy. "
Taking a look in one of them, he saw a full blood capsule and paperwork about medical history. However, he saw a tab on one sheet and pulled it out. The paper was showing the picture of a DNA strand. It was a strange combination and several shreds of reiatsu were laced together. By the looks of things, that reiatsu wasn't all too kindly at all. It almost seemed…dark; even sinister.
"Considering that she was affiliated with the other convict that escaped, it's no surprise that it's an unquestionable addition to Kurotsuchi-Taicho's collection." Hitsugaya spoke, hoping that this would end the conversation.
"That's not exactly what I came here to talk to you about. Look in the other one, Miyamoto Yumiko's. This was taken while Unohana-Taicho was treating her injuries after arrival."
Dully, he opened it up and saw the same materials, vial and paperwork. He took a read at the results and almost dropped it altogether, capsule and all. Staring at the picture incredulously, his eyes widened momentarily and his lips thinned.
They were the same
"Sound the alarm! There's a breach!" called many of the men in a panic. A lot had been running around in circles like headless chickens (Most likely newbies) while others were simply lying around in a lazy fashion. Yumi sighed. It was probably just another drill that they misinterpreted, those helpers of Ukitake-Taicho. It had already been five or six days since her capture and it wasn't looking too good.
Luckily, the captain had given her leeway and talked the guards into releasing her hands, but the collar remained. It was somewhat a way to track her even if she managed to escape.
Heh, not that she would be going anywhere.
It was when a few of the squad members thought they could be badass and ruffle up the prisoner that her patience was wearing thin.
"Hey, girly!" called one while others cheered and wolf whistled, "You better not do anything in there while we're on patrol!"
"Yeah, whatever." She replied nonchalantly and proceeded to play with a few strand of hair while she was lying down on the bed, "Now go shoo and do something other than gawk at me."
"What the—you should learn to respect your elders!"
"Whatever,"
The man growled and put a hand on the hilt of his sword. He took the keys to the cell and opened it up while unsheathing his sword. Yumi took no action to defend herself as she ended up sitting up with a look of amusement.
"What'cha gonna do to me? You can't kill me," she said and her eyes then narrowed, "But if you want to go ahead. It's you're funeral gramps." Yumi had muttered the last part to herself as the death god hesitated at her reply.
"Y-You shouldn't talk that way youngling. I've seen more battles than you'll live to see," he managed to find his voice again and raised his sword.
Yumi did nothing but shifted her legs so that she could at least roll off the bed if worst comes to worst.
"That's enough!"
Both her and the man froze and turned to see snowy white hair and an angered expression on his usually calm face. Hitsugaya walked through the cell and glared daggers, if not blades, at the Shinigami and Yumi could have thought that he was going to make the cell snow when his reiatsu spiked and a sudden chill filled the room.
"It's against the law to take out your sword without permission. Even worse on a prisoner, so move it before I get angry." He said evenly. Although he was shorter, the effect was still the same as he scrambled out of the room. Hitsugaya sighed and then turned around to Yumi who was scrambled on the floor with tangled sheets around her. Raising a brow, he walked over and crossed his arms, "What happened to you?"
She sent him an annoyed look, "Next time you spike like that, warn someone. I fricken' fell over!" But aside from that, a grateful look was on her face. "So, what brings you to my humble abode?"
"Has no one ever told you sarcasm isn't the lowest form of wit? Actually, it's not wit at all."
"I forgot who I was talking to." She replied and lightly chuckled. "I heard something has been going down recently. What's happening?"
"Someone broke in the Seireitei apparently." He answered uninterestedly, "about five or six Ryoka. One of them is dressed as a Shinigami with bright orange hair I've heard."
Yumi froze at the description. She only knew one person with that kind of hair and was a Shinigami. Her breath threatened to hitch itself in her throat but she willed it to calm, "How'd they get in? There's a barrier isn't there?"
"That didn't stop them I guess," he shrugged his shoulders slightly and turned to the door to exit. Before he left though, he paused. "By the way…
"There was also a rumor of a guy with brown spiky hair and amber eyes." When he literally sensed her body go rigid, he continued walking out after leaving her a few words, "Something's not right about him, the one traveling with the other Ryoka. Don't trust him or Ichimaru Gin and stay in the cell."
"It's not like I can go anywhere." She said with more force than she intended.
After locking the door, he hesitated before finally finishing, "Just…wait a little. I promise I'll get you both out."
"Both…?" her voice failed her momentarily as confusion set in.
His shoulders slumped just enough for her to notice the shift in movement and it took everything in her power not to run out that cell and follow him.
As he left her and the Squad Thirteen area, his troubled reiatsu lifted from her shoulders. Once upon a time, her first reaction would have been relief. The pressure on her body was gone and so was the chilling reiatsu that seeped through her veins and sent strange shivers down her spine. Whenever it left her system, she was given a few minutes respite of physical warmth.
Now, it only felt colder than ever.
Omake Theatre
Dun dun duuuuuun! Now there's a twist! There, a more interesting chapter! Now what's going to happen to Shiro-Chan!?
Hitsugaya: I'm going to kill you
Mana: Wah, but why?
Yumi: Err…affiliated? Incredulously? Who went and put a dictionary in Shiro-Chan's breakfast?
Hitsugaya: …
Mana: Wow, he didn't fight back…
Hitsugaya: I made it a rule not to waste my time on those beckoning me to
Mana: …
Yumi: …I bet it was Momo
And by the way, Hinamori makes an appearance soon. Is she friend or foe to our OC? Let's wait and see… Plus, whatever happened to our friend Reisha?
Reisha: -grin- Se-cr-et
Daichi: Hey! How come even though I'm the boss, she gets more interesting than me!?
Archer: -sweat- dude…just let it go
And also…I'm kind of skipping around with episodes…There's this season I'm gonna do that takes over the bounto arc (Sorry but I just didn't like that arc). I guess I'll just do it then, but I'll give hints on what it's about later…Hm, I wonder if I should change it and put it under a new title for a sequel or just keep on with WYLM? Probably the former.