CH21-Kari
Banging from the other room vibrates in my ears. He must be really high to be acting this crazy; I'm going to have a huge mess to clean up. Shaking in fear I pull the blanket up and slide into the corner of the wall and my bed. What's going on out there? It sounds as if there are multiple people searching the house. Suddenly the noises quiet and all I hear are footsteps that end at my door. What if it's one of those drug dealers and my dad gave me up for a small bag of drugs. I shiver at the thought and pray that it is my father; at least he only hits me. I watch as the door knob jiggles and horror floods my body as the door opens. Who is it? Trying to see through the darkness I squint but tilt my head away blinking as the light flicks on. In the light I am able to see the person in the doorway. His silver hair with teal eyes made my mouth drop in shock. My terror is wiped away by relief. "Toushirou?"
"Kari?" Taking a small step towards me recognition flashes in his eyes. Crawling off of my bed I clutch the blanket to my chest as I run to him. Slamming into his chest I breathe in his familiar scent as he holds me tight, his hands resting on my bare back. Tensing as I hear approaching footsteps I relax again as I hear Renji and Ichigo bickering. Stepping back from Toushirou I prepare to greet them but as they walk in I look away, unsure how to react. All of their gazes on me as they take in my condition I jump when Renji hands me my clothes. "Uh, thank you." They step out as I change and soon I join them in the hallway. "We should get out of here quickly." Ichigo leading the way we exit the house and stop in the small wooded park across the way.
Leaning against Toushirou the whole way he puts me down at the base of a large tree. "The giaga is too strong." Startled I look at him, "What are you talking about?" Solemnly he looks at me. "The research department tweaked your body so you wouldn't have any access to your soul reaper powers. But it's draining your normal powers also. At this rate it will kill you." His hand squeezes mine tightly. "Ichigo you need to get back home before you're missed." Hesitating, he reluctantly goes. "Renji you open the portal." Feeling his strong arms pull me up I willing go limp in his arms. Knowing that I am safe made me realize how tired I really am. Forcing my eyelids to stay open I support my own weight as we walk into the soul society but still lean on him to keep myself up. Legs heavy I hear commotion all around me.
Lying in the bed I listen to Toushirou angrily scolding someone about something regarding me. Sitting up as soon as I am alone I notice that my hair is no longer heavy. I run my fingers through clean hair and scan my body for any remaining bruises but don't find any. Jerking my head up I realize I am in squad 10 captains' room. Great thinking Toushirou, let's just announce to everyone about us, and wasn't it your idea to keep it a secret? Falling backwards against the pillows I turn and bury my face the sheets. At least I'm in decent clothes this time. I look down at my black pants and shirt, the traditional soul reaper outfit.
Just as I start to nod off I feel someone slip in besides me and press our bodies together. Turning I press my face against his neck and he leans his face into my hair. "If you don't mind me asking but why did you look so scared when you saw me?" Is that what has been troubling him? Shaking my head I whisper, "I couldn't see you; I thought you were someone else."
"Were you expecting someone else?" I shake my head. "I didn't know who was in the house. Plus I didn't know that Ichigo had gotten the letter. I told them that would happen." I whisper the last part hoping he won't hear. Leaning away from him I look him sternly in the face, "Now you need to get back to your duties Captain." Pushing him out of bed he goes unwillingly out the door. But as soon as he is outside I grab Niricame and start walking towards the Head Captain.
"Hey Kari I heard the news, I can't believe it. I am so sorry." Sighing I pause for the lieutenant to catch up, "I don't want to either and thank y…" I stop as she continues, "You had gone for so long without being almost killed. Now you have to start all over, what a shame." I watch her walk away repeating the same thing over and over again with my mouth open. I swear something is wrong with her. Startled I whirl around and look down on the she-wolf. "Hey long time no see. You've been busy?"
Me? You're the busy one. I couldn't talk to you at all in that giaga and I was going to go get Ichigo or someone but that giaga was draining so much of your energy that I had to stay. I was always exhausted but you were worse. She shakes her head as we start walking. "I'm sorry that it hurt you to, I had no idea about my body. Hey can other people see you?" Not your fault. How do I know? Maybe, I mean if they have strong spiritual power then probably. But your family couldn't see me so I am guessing no.
Laughing I take my hair out of the braid that Squad 11 Lieutenant had done while I was resting. "Great, so now they are going to think I'm crazy." Why would they? I look down at the wolf thinking she is being sarcastic but instead I see that she is honestly curious. "Well if no one can see you than what they are going to see is me talking to the empty space at my side." Looking ahead she thinks on it as we descend up the stairs. Oh, ok. Silence lengthened as we drew closer to the Captain.