Terms to Know
Dragons: One of the species the souls assimilated. They are not exactly like dragons; they're more jelly-like, and they breathe acid instead of fire, and fly. The air in their world, like their bodies, is thick and jelly-like. It's almost similar to walking through water.
Spiders: One of the species the souls assimilated. They are smart, possibly the smartest species in the universe, but are cold and analytical, making for a boring life. The life-spans are short, but knowledge is passed down from the old to the young during birth, so no knowledge is lost. Their bodies are segmented into threes, and they have a brain in each segment, and they have twelve eyes, one at each juncture of the leg and body, with steel wool eyelashes to protect them, and they're armored, like reptiles.
Bears: One of the species the souls assimilated. They are big, very big, and have thick white fur and four hearts. They have six arms, with blades on each arm that can be used for a variety of things, and, when full grown, are usually about the mass of a buffalo. The planet they live on is cold, snowy, frozen year-round, so to speak, and dangerous.
Clawed Beasts: A species that lives on the Mist Planet (the world of the bears). They have small brains and limited intelligence, making them impossible to assimilate (though Wanderer (the main character of The Host), did manage it once, so I don't know where that argument comes from…). They, like the bears, are white, making it easy for them to hide in the snow and ambush anyone that comes by. They mostly hide in the world's tundra, waiting to attack travelers.
Heart and Soul — XX
Hey, the night shift is even more boring than the day shift. Who knew? Summer ignored Rukia, as usual. She liked to complain; it was almost a pastime. Summer had become quite good at tuning her out.
It was almost midnight. Summer had switched shifts with the regular night receptionist because she'd wanted to go out with her partner for their anniversary. She was now sitting at the front desk, going through the day's records and organizing them.
Tell me more about your other planets. Summer's eyes widened in surprise. I know it's not fair, considering how little I tell you about me¸ but tell me anyway.
Summer was momentarily too shocked to speak. Why…do you care? She asked finally. Rukia's tone made Summer imagine she would be shrugging, if she could.
It's something to talk about. You're not doing anything of great importance, are you? Summer sighed.
Fine, fine. I started out as a Dragon—
A what, sorry?
A Dragon. An image of a giant, lizard-like thing appeared in Summer's mind. No, not that kind of dragon. More jelly-like. They fly and they breathe acid—
Not seeing the dragon resemblance.
You want stories or explanations? Rukia was silent. Okay then. I lived out a term with the Dragons, but I wasn't really a flying fan, so I moved. I went to the Spiders next — cold, dark place. Short life-span. Absolutely no desire to go back. Helped colonize the Fire World and happily moved on from there. I was a Bear after that. I would have stayed there too, I think, but right before the end of my life-term I was attacked and nearly killed by a Clawed Beast. And before I came here I was a Flower — dead boring world. Glad to leave it.
It was Rukia's turn to be stunned into silence. How old are you? She asked finally, her voice strangled.
I don't know, Summer admitted. Old. I'd estimate I was born around the same time as the beginning of the human race.
…Wow.
Summer almost laughed. She was distracted, though, by the door of the clinic opening, and two men wheeled in a stretcher. A woman was laying on the stretcher. She had long orange hair, held back by two flower clips. Summer jumped up, preparing to call the Healer.
"No, no." One of the people said, holding his palms out quickly. "She's not injured, it's not an emergency. Don't worry."
Healer Weaves walked out at the moment anyway, her eyes on a clipboard. She looked up, her eyes widening when she saw the woman on the stretcher.
"What is this?"
"Insurgent." The second man answered. "We captured her outside of town."
Summer bit her lip. A soulless human. She felt Rukia begin bouncing a bit, wanting to see the human more closely. Summer carefully pushed her back.
Just shush.
Healer Weaves sighed, running a careful hand over the woman's face. "It never ceases to amaze me…and she has no injuries?"
The first Seeker shook his head. "We were able to capture her without any problems. We hope the Soul you put in her will have no problem subduing her, where she was so easy to catch…"
The Healer nodded absently. "Shall we begin insertion then?"
"No." The word slipped too quickly through Summers lips. She hadn't said it though. Everyone turned to look at her, surprised.
"Is there a problem, Never-Ending Summer?"
Stupid! Summer chastised Rukia. Now what do I say?
I don't know, think of something! You can't let them put a soul in her!
"There are Healing students coming to observe tomorrow." Summer substituted quickly. "It would be an experience for them to observe an insertion, wouldn't it?"
Healer Weaves, thankfully, swallowed the lie and even considered it. "Insertions aren't complex." One of the Seekers said. "Why would they need to observe?"
"Theories are never complete until put to the test." Healer Weaves answered for Summer. "To know how to do an insertion and to actually see one are two completely different things. Never-Ending Summer is right — it'll be good for them."
It took everything Summer had in her not to sigh with relief. She couldn't believe that had worked…
Okay Rukia. Now what?
Jus wait.
The Seekers exchanged looks. "We'll take it from here." Healer Weaves assured them. "Never-Ending Summer, why don't you take her to one of the empty rooms? I'll be along with the Sleep in a moment."
Sleep? Rukia repeated as Summer began steering the stretcher down the hall. What the hell is that?
Sedation, what else? It'll keep her unconscious until the soul is inserted.
Which, of course, we're not going to let happen. Summer felt a rare wave of aggravation wash over her.
What is this "we" thing, exactly? She demanded. I'm the one in control of the body, remember? I decide what we do. And why shouldn't she have a soul inserted into her body?
Rukia ran through every memory she'd shown Summer, showing the more-or-less happy lives of the human-soul community. Look at this. Look at how easy it is. Humans and souls can live together, Never-Ending Summer. You can no longer justify inserting souls into humans. Your biggest reason — humans are dangerous — is gone. And look at her.
Summer looked down at the woman. She seemed almost…child-like in sleep. Innocent. She didn't even fight the Seekers. She's harmless. How can you let them erase her?
Summer sighed. Do you even have a plan?
As a matter of fact, I do. Rukia was incredibly smug.
Summer sat at the receptionist desk, watching the news with feigned interest. Healer Weaves was finishing examining the human, and sedating her to make sure she wouldn't wake up until after insertion. Summer twiddled her pencil between her fingers, waiting…
Finally Healer Weaves came out. "She'll keep for the night. I'll be in my office, page me if there's a problem."
"Yes, Healer Weaves."
Summer waited until the Healer's office door closed. Then she carefully slipped out of her seat and made her way down the hall to the only occupied room in the clinic.
The woman slept soundly, her breathing deep and even. Summer opened a cabinet door, her eyes skimming the labels, looking for the one she needed…
Aha! Awake. Rukia snorted as Summer grabbed the aerosol-canister. You souls are child-like. It's amazing you were able to beat us.
We beat you because you're like mindless drones, only thinking of violence. We had numbers and a strategy. You never stood a chance.
Pat yourself on the back for me, Rukia said dryly. Open the window first.
You're so bossy, Summer grumbled, but did as she was told. Remind me why I'm doing this again?
Because you're fascinated by the thought of a human-soul community and want to see it for yourself, and this is the only way I'll show you.
You don't even know where they are, you said it yourself. They'll have disappeared, with their home jeopardized.
The woods are their home. They'll be there somewhere. We'll find them. She sounded so sure. Summer couldn't doubt her. She pressed down on the bottle's nozzle, spraying a puff into the woman's face. She breathed in the mist, and Summer saw her hand twitch as her eyes began moving under the eyelids. Talk to her, Rukia ordered. Summer's mouth suddenly felt dry.
"Um…hello?" Her voice cracked. "Please, don't scream or anything, just listen. I want to help you. To escape, I mean. I can help you get away from the souls…"
Summer's voice drifted off as the woman's eyes slowly opened. They were black and warm and confused. After a searching second, they found Summer's own, violet eyes. The woman didn't scream, or even look scared. In fact she seemed almost…curious.
"What—"
"Sh." Summer chastised her lightly. "I'll answer all your questions, I promise, but not now. Now this is going to sound really bad, but you have to trust me. Can you do that?" To Summer's surprise, the woman nodded. "Okay, climb out the window. Hide in the bushes. I'm going to find a car we can use to get away."
Summer was amazed as she watched the woman follow Summer's instructions. You see? Rukia said quietly as Summer made her way for the exit. You offered her help, and she accepted it. A soul helping a human. Interesting huh?
Summer didn't answer. She broke into a run as soon as she stepped out into the night air. Her small, lithe body was perfect for moving, unseen, through the night. She wondered at how Rukia had been caught.
Stupid mistake, Rukia muttered, sounding embarrassed.
I tap my foot, impatient, my chin resting in my hands. Where the hell is Ichigo? I hope he doesn't plan on taking all night…
I'm sitting on the step of an obviously condemned building. It's our meeting place in this town, our safe-house, and our communication. Each of us have a twin note that can easily be slipped into a crack in the wall on the second floor. It's an iffy way to communicate, but it's the best we've got.
I sit on the step, invisible, or so I think. It's well after midnight, and the trash collectors have already come by, collecting the trash from the surrounding houses. I'm alone. And I'm bored. And Ichigo is still off being Ichigo. I close my eyes, sighing. I hope Hisana doesn't turn out like him…
A bright light hits my eyelids, turning my view dull red. "Don't move." A voice orders. I freeze, not even able to open my eyes. "Stand slowly." The Seeker commands. "Open your eyes."
It takes me a minute before my limbs to respond. I stand, already forming a plan in my head. Without opening my eyes, I whirl and run into the house.
Should I ask why you know how to hotwire a car? Summer asked as the car purred quietly, idling. She pushed herself into the driver's seat.
Long story. Just drive.
It felt so wrong, just taking a car off the street, no matter what the reason. Summer had to resist looking over her shoulder every few seconds to make sure no one was following her. They'd gone over four blocks to find a car. Summer was worried they'd wasted time. Rukia had wanted to get away from the clinic though.
The small building was still silent when Summer returned. Healer Weaves hadn't noticed anything amidst. Hopefully it stayed that way for awhile yet.
Summer found the woman still hiding in the bushes. She still didn't look scared, and easily climbed into the car when Summer told her to. Now what? Summer demanded when they were on the road.
First find out if there's a map in the glove-box. Find a place called Karakura Town, Summer looked at the woman in the passenger's seat. "What's your name?"
The woman gave Summer a curious look. "Inoue. Orihime. What's yours?"
Summer hesitated. "Never-Ending Summer." She said finally. "Can you look in the glove-box for a map, please? Try and find a place called Karakura Town."
There was map right on top. The woman — Inoue — pulled it out and unfolded it, scanning it carefully.
"Looks like you have to head south."
"I can do that." Summer muttered. Rukia?
Yeah?
I'm holding you responsible for anything that happens from here on out.
Fair enough.
Hurry up, hurry up…
Talking to the machine won't make it go any faster. Just wait.
Hurry up…
Summer was glad when the gas tank was full. She walked around the car, trying not to look anxious, and climbed back into the driver's seat.
"So tell me more about the Flowers, do they…"
Inoue Orihime turned out to be…interesting company, to say the least. She chatted a mile a minute, not seeming to care that her travel companion was a soul. She even asked endless question about the souls. Summer had spent the last hour explaining the Dragon world, and had just moved on to the Flowers when they stopped for gas.
Rukia was happy, to say the least. She was doing what she did best — running from Seekers. And even better, she was helping someone. Plus she was smug — she liked that she had, in her eyes at least, won.
Excuse me, won? I'm still in control here.
Rukia ignored that. Summer sighed. The woman was so full of herself…
So what do you plan on doing if we can't find your friends? What do we do then?
A strange pain struck Rukia, and Summer felt it. It was very close to her heart. I don't know, Rukia admitted finally. If it comes to that…well, at least I helped her. She was talking about Inoue now. Even if I can only save one person…at least it's one less the souls will try to erase.
The souls she'd said. Not you souls, her normal reference. You saved others, Summer assured her. She thought of Nanao and Kyoraku and Renji and Hinamori and Hisana. All the humans you know. You didn't betray them.
Rukia was silent. Thoughtful. Summer took this as an opportunity to ask her next question. Who's Ichigo? Rukia didn't answer, but this time the silence was tense, hesitant. Oh come on, Summer complained. What am I going to do, tell a Seeker?
It truly was too late now, all around. To go to a Seeker would be to admit she'd lost to the human who's body she wore. She would be taken out of the body, put in a new one, or perhaps shipped off to another world. And Summer didn't want either of those things.
Who's Ichigo? She asked again.
Rukia was quiet for another minute. Words can't describe what he is to me, she said finally. Those words ended the conversation.
Author's Note: Yeah…so…yeah. I have this new story that I've started working on — I know, shocking, right? — and chances are I won't put it up, but…I figured I'd get some opinions first. So yeah.
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Title: Shadow of the Day (Subject to change…though it probably won't)
Rating: T
Pairings: Ichigo/Rukia
AU: Yessir!
Summary: "My world is dark," she murmured. "It's been so long since I saw light, I've forgotten what it looks like. But when I'm with you, I can imagine it."—They are two teens leading very different lives. And yet…"You're my light...Ichigo."[AU, IchiRuki]
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Anyways…review? Please? — Sam