Chapter 24: What Happens at Night...
*I love my faithful reviewers, I really do. You guys are the best despite how few of you there are. We're so close to reaching the 50 review mark, just a little more you guys c'mon!
SasuTenLuvr you're right about Naoko needing to admit her feelings for Yumichika to herself. But that's not going to be easy. Think about it, the first time the two of them were together it ended badly. The second time she fell for someone (James) he was mercilessly butchered in front of her which left some serious mental/emotional trauma.
Now she's caught between following what her heart is telling her or following the expectations set for a Quincy princess.
I would love to see how your "chat" with Mary would go. Let's just say there's more than meets the eye when it comes to her.
And yes Gin is that type of guy and I'm sure if Rangiku was the one wielding the whips and chains so would every other guy in Bleach.
Also I really like these pictures with the stories, it's really cool. But I hear is deleting stories with explicit content which probably means no sexy chapter. You know the one I promised way back remember?
Audience: Aww
Naoko: Thank you God in Heaven!
Seirin: Oh yeah like you really didn't want to do it with Yumichika.
Naoko: Th-That is none of your business!
Me: I wonder if can still write it but only send it to the people who want it?
Naoko: *pales*
Gin: Don't worry Naoko-chan it gets easier the more you do it.
Naoko: *groans* You are so not helping...
Me: Another note on the recent manga...BADASS BATTLE ROYALES ALL AROUND! Also TITE KUBO FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND PURE, DO NOT KILL OFF YUMICHIKA OR IKKAKU! OR I WILL GO TO JAPAN AND BEAT YOU WITH A STUFFED WEASEL! Ahem... Yeah just wanted to get that off my chest.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, just the OCs who you guys should know by now. Please review. ^.^*
Sophia smoothly ran her comb through her short silver hair. She set the ivory and gold comb down on her vanity table before rising and walking to her bed. Seiichi was already in under the blankets on the other side staring at the ceiling, his thoughts somewhere far away.
"I'm surprised you didn't tell the children about the challenge proposed by the Zhang family." Sophia said quietly as she slipped into the covers.
"You could've told them just as easily as I could you know." Seiichi remarked turning his head to face her.
They had been living together in a modest home in Himmel Feld but now were staying at the mansion for the time being. It wouldn't be a good idea at all to leave Naoko and Uryu alone with the other noble men and women who could easily take advantage of them.
"I know but they trust you a lot more and I think it would soften the blow." She replied.
That may have to do with Seiichi's close connection to their departed paternal grandparents Soken and Setsuna. That or because he is of Japanese descent like them. Either way the children looked to him for guidance in the backstabbing social and political maze they're in.
"Well we'll tell them tomorrow morning." He sighed as he pulled Sophia closer. "Do you ever feel like you're getting too old for all this?"
The woman beside him chuckled, "Every day dear."
Orihime will admit that the past month and almost a half has been strange. Not a bad strange but pleasant and tolerable. It had started when she was whisked out of the Fourth Division psych ward by someone who was pale with dark bat-like wings. It was the sight of his emerald eyes that she recognized who it was.
Ulquiorra.
He had basically swooped in and swept her away from Soul Society and back to Karakura. Though instead of going to her apartment he instead took her to an abandoned townhouse it seemed. It was nicely furnished but rather dusty and a bit gloomy for Orihime's taste. He merely told her to make herself at home before disappearing and reappearing in the wee hours of the following morning.
She was dumbfounded at how he could be alive. She had seen him crumble away into ash scattered by the wind. He, by all rights, should be dead. 'Should' being the key word in all these reasoned answers and theories. She had asked, of course, how all this was possible but the former Espada only gave her short cryptic answers. Orihime had a strange inkling that maybe even he didn't know.
Orihime spent most of her days at first cleaning out her new living arrangements. All the rooms had at least a thin layer of dust and grim, which she was intent on cleaning away. The windows weren't much better but at least they weren't broken. The kitchen appliances were fairly new and working so the house must've been lived in not too long ago.
Ulquiorra made no comment on that observation and went back dusting the shelves. He helped her in moving furniture around or reaching the high places for dusting.
Since Soul Society might be looking for her Ulquiorra advised (hint: ordered) Orihime to stay indoors. But she required food and since he didn't have a gigai to use he couldn't very well walk to the store and get food. So, much to Orihime's displeasure, he stole what food she needed and always telling him not to take more then they needed.
He fought the urge to roll his eyes each time she said that since it was so obvious. If he took more then what was required for them it would be wasteful and that was something that bothered him. But he could sense a more sensitive and empathetic connotation to when she told him about taking what was fair.
Humans continued to baffle Ulquiorra but what at first annoyed him began to perk an odd interest.
The longer Orihime stayed in Ulquiorra's company the stronger she could feel her grip on her sanity becoming. She felt so much more like herself then when she did in Germany last March. The parts of her mind that felt unhinged were becoming hinged again. She felt regretful at not having better control, the break in her mind almost cost the lives of Naoko and Uryu. At times she wondered if she'd ever get a chance to apologize.
"I don't know Wom—Orihime. The situation could perhaps still be precarious and there are still a few unanswered questions I'd like to have taken care of first." He replied quietly.
The pair sat at the kitchen table. Ulquiorra was a complete night owl and Orihime couldn't sleep. Bouts of insomnia had become common after her experiences in Hueco Mundo. It wasn't because of any nightmares or terrors just that sleep had better things to do it seemed then linger around her.
He suddenly stiffened and became more focused like he was listening for some faint sound. But it wasn't a sound it was a feeling and Orihime felt it too.
Hollows.
There was a good handful not far from their secluded abode. Lately there were frequent small groups of the creatures appearing either near their home or somewhere in town. It was odd; Hollows normally didn't travel in packs of more than three or four. Some groups had twice those numbers and they were fairly strong but nowhere near Ulquiorra's strength, so for him it wasn't much of a bother. But it was still unsettling that Hollows were changing their hunting habits.
"Another hunting party of about six Hollows, almost Adjuchas level. I'll take care of them quickly, do not leave this building." He commanded quietly.
She knew better then to argue with him right now. Orihime nodded and gave him a warm gentle smile as a way of wishing him good luck. He returned the gesture with a nod of his own before disappearing out the door.
"You useless unwanted leech! Why can't you do a single thing right?" Asuna Tsukino screeched as she laid another blow on her daughter.
'Because you have unrealistic expectations, you old hag!' Sakura thought as she bit her lip when her mother hit her.
This had to be a memory or a messed up nightmare. She couldn't be back here, it was impossible. Sakura walked out of that house just before she turned eighteen and only went back twice. Once to tell her parents she was engaged and again to show them their newborn grandson. This had to be dream. It had to be!
Her mother's fist rammed into her cheek causing her head to snap to the side. Dream or not that sure felt real. Asuna then slapped Sakura on the other cheek causing her to stumble and land on her butt. The stick thin gaudy older woman seized her daughter's neck with her spidery fingers.
"Why did I get saddled with you and not your wonderful sister? Why was I left with someone so worthless?" The older woman hollered, her face contorted with rage.
Her fingers tightened painfully around Sakura's throat. It was becoming increasingly difficult to work in the smallest of gasps of air. In growing desperation she clawed at the steel grip around her neck but it was futile. The woman's long sharp manicured red nails dug into her soft skin causing tiny pinpricks of blood to appear.
Sakura's sight was growing dimmer with each passing second. She couldn't cry out for help, not that any would come, she couldn't breathe. All she could do was pray that death would be swift as her vision turned black.
Sakura's eyes snapped open and her breathing came in ragged greedy gasps. She felt her fingers tightly clenching fabric as if for dear life. A few seconds passed and she realized someone was holding her.
"You were thrashing in your sleep Kura-chan." The person holding her said softly.
A pang of guilt and shame hit the Quincy woman at the center of her heart. She had let the nightmare get the better of her. Sakura ducked her head, so he wouldn't see her culpable face.
"Sorry Ryu-kun. I didn't mean to." She murmured using her nickname for him like he just had for her.
Sakura had climbed into bed with him later that night on his gentle insisting instead of taking a guest room or the couch. Soul Reapers have to sleep. So she stripped down to the white undergarment kimono and carefully placed herself next to him so as not to aggravate his healing wounds.
"I didn't open any of your wounds did I?" She asked with a touch of worry.
"No," Ryuken replied with a subtle shake of his head. "They're fine."
They laid together in silence before Ryuken spoke again.
"You haven't had a nightmare about your mother in a long time. Have you had nightmares like that while you were in Soul Society?"
Sakura felt a little surprised that he knew her nightmare was about her mother. But then again that was the only thing she had nightmares about even after the woman died. She shifted a little closer to him.
"Sometimes but they were fuzzy and weren't as clear as this one. It seems the dead can haunt the dead after all."
"Only if you let them."
It was quite again before a sharp ringing cut the silence in half.
Sakura groaned, "Please tell me that's for you."
Ryuken reached behind him and seized Sakura's phone which was the one making the noise. "Nope, it's for you."
She groaned again and answered the phone. "Hello, Captain Ishida speaking."
"Captain? Hey, it's Akon. There's a group of Hollows not far from where you are. Think you can take care of them?" The tri-horned scientist asked. He was currently stationed at Urahara's old shop to keep an eye on the place and the town.
Sakura fought a sigh of irritation, "Sure, but you have to promise you'll have a gigai ready for me first thing tomorrow morning."
"I'm working on it. Your lieutenant came by earlier and asked for the same thing. Standard issue fine?"
"Yes but remember to change the hair and adjust the eye color. We wouldn't want any of my old acquaintances from when I was alive thinking I came back from the grave. I think a nice chestnut brown for the hair and pale blue for the eyes would be nice." Sakura requested.
"Sure I can do that. Good luck with those Hollows." Akon said before hanging up.
Sakura groaned again and reluctantly rolled out of bed. She slipped back into her uniform and grabbed Kasumi.
"Kind of reminds you of the odd hours you used o keep when you used to work at the hospital doesn't it?" Ryuken asked before she gave him a brief kiss good-by.
"Yeah it does. Except instead of fighting illnesses I'll be fighting monsters."
Sakura's brow twitched in annoyed anger. She checked the map on the screen on her denreishinki and she was in the right place but there were no Hollows. She stretched her senses, trying to feel anything but nothing.
Well what gives? Did they up and leave? Did someone else take care of them? Or did Akon get the coordinates wrong?
The first question wouldn't make much sense unless something chased the Hollows away. But there was no one around that she could see or feel. It was the same for the second question, the only people strong enough to deal with a group of them would be herself or Naomi. The third was possible since Akon was capable of making mistakes like everyone else, especially since those scientists were known to go days without sleep.
"I was roused out of a comfy warm bed for this?" She quietly grumbled and leaned against a tall building.
A shadow darted past the corner of her eye and Sakura whipped around, her hand on the hilt of her sword. But again she was alone. Her eyes then flickered upward to the clear sky and she tensed before pressing herself up against the building.
Highlighted by the full glowing moon stood a young man. From what she could tell he had black hair, green eyes and an unusually pale white face. He wore half a horned helmet on one side of his head and a sword at his hip. The young man looked around and for a moment looked in Sakura's direction.
She let out an inaudible gasp and pressed herself more against the building and into the shadows. Sakura silently pleaded he didn't see her. She wasn't one for jumping in or starting unnecessary fights. Plus if this was who she thinks it is, Sakura may not be strong enough to take him.
Seconds passed and the young man darted away into the night. She waited a little longer before relaxing.
Are you going to report what you saw? Kasumi's whispery voice asked.
The Quincy captain thought for a moment. No, I'm not. He may be an Arrancar but I got the strange feeling that he wasn't looking for a fight. He didn't feel hostile at all. No reason to rock the boat.
Kasumi gave an agreeing nod. Stirring unnecessary trouble was hazardous.
She was back here. Back in the godforsaken frozen forest. The branches of the white paper birch trees were coated with snow and dagger like icicles hung from their tips. The cold air she was shakily breathing in was frosting the inside of her chest.
Naomi was too frozen in fear to shake and shiver. She hadn't seen this forest since she left home and joined the Academy. Tiny snowflakes fell from the stone gray sky, gathering on the already coated ground and branches. Each flake that touched her though felt like a tiny dagger stabbing her.
Her frightful green eyes darted around looking for her sword spirit Kitsune. She would always appear and guide her away from all this and back to the sunny forest meadow of her own inner world. But there was no one else, just her and the cold trees. The silence was deafening and heavy, threatening to crush her.
The frost air was slowly seeping into her skin, then muscles and then her bones. She felt like the cold was slowly crystallizing each layer it penetrated, stealing her natural warmth. The pounding blood in her veins felt like sluggish syrup being pumped. Her eyes stung from the gently biting breeze. She refused to close her eyes out the fear she wouldn't be able to open them again.
'Please... I don't want to be here again... please I want to leave...' Her mind whispered.
Her silent please were answered when her vision cut to black.
Naomi shot up from where she was sleeping and gripped her chest where her heart was hammering. A thin sheen of cold sweat coated her skin while she fought to regain control of her breathing. It may have been dark but her eyes adjusted and she looked around remembering where she was.
She was lying on a couch, propped up by a few thick pillows, in her former captain's home. After retrieving her gigai Naomi felt exhausted and wanted to sleep. Any injuries a person sustained in soul form were transferred to the faux body which was a pain since that included her swollen bruised nose. She felt around and found the now lukewarm cold compress.
After calming down Naomi rose from the couch and quietly felt her way to the kitchen. She opened the freezer and put the compress back in. Her nose didn't hurt too badly now so she didn't grab another. Feeling her way back to the living room she sat back on the couch. Naomi didn't know what time it was but she sure didn't feel tired anymore.
She seized her phone from the side table and flipped it open. The tiny clock on the screen read 3:05 AM.
Now what? Naomi didn't really enjoy feeling idle especially when she knew there could be something productive or helpful she could be doing. The blonde lieutenant scrolled through her contacts until she found the number she was looking for.
Shinobu Kimura could finally relax in his soft bed that is until he heard the sharp ring coming from his phone. He had just relaxed enough after his talk with Captain Shihoin that he might be able to sleep.
He snatched the phone, "Who is it and you better have a good reason for calling me this early."
"Which family do you serve?" Shinobu recognized that voice.
"Naomi you know—"
"Just answer the question."
He sighed, "I serve the family whose flower has been dyed by the blood of their enemies. Happy?"
"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry to be calling so early but I have a favor to ask." Naomi said quietly.
The Sixth seat groaned, "Please don't tell me you want me to do whatever it is now?"
"No, just sometime early in the morning if you can. I need you to...check up on my family. Just see if they're all in one piece and look for anything unusual." She explained.
"Can I ask why? From what you've told me back when we were in the Academy...you never wanted anything to do with them again." Shinobu murmured.
Naomi and Shinobu had met in the Spiritual Arts Academy on their first day. They had become fast friends and stuck together during their time there. He wanted to join the Omnitsukido or at least the Second Division and she wanted to become a seated officer in any division. They worked together, helping each other to realize their respective goals. After that Naomi offered him a position as being a personal spy for her family, but he mostly worked for just her.
It was a rather simple job but rare too. Naomi hardly called upon his services so when she did it perked his curiosity.
"It's nothing that concerns you. Just be quick and quiet about it. Observe them for as long as you see fit, I'd prefer if you could do it from a distance but go inside only if you think you can handle it." She instructed carefully.
"Got it," He muttered writing down in shorthand her instructions on a small pad of paper he fished from under his pillow.
"Thank you and sorry for calling so early. I'll talk to you tomorrow." With that Naomi hung up.
Before she flipped her phone shut Naomi's eyes caught sight of Ikkaku's number on her contact list. She briefly considered calling him but pushed it aside. He wouldn't be too happy at being woken up at three in the morning by someone who didn't exactly have anything pressing to talk about. But for a fleeting second she had considered talking to him just for the hell of it...just to hear his voice.
You're starting to become attached to him...aren't you? Kitsune's warm child-like voice murmured.
Yeah, I think I am. Naomi responded before closing her phone and tossing it back on the table.
*Sorry for posting this late, I became busy again during the week. But I gave you a super long chapter to compensate, so there. A denreishinki is the cell phone like device that Soul Reapers use not only to communicate but also to track Hollows. I knew it had a name I just didn't know what it was until now. The part about gigais and injuries I don't know if that's true, I'm just making an educated guess.
And about Ulquiorra coming back...that's for me to know and you all to find out sometime later. Give me your best guesses/theories. ^^ But as always please review, remember we're just a little ways from the 50 mark!
Ayame: So c'mon people make with the reviews. And don't worry we'll be seeing Naoko and Uryu again in the next chapter.*