White
Chapter 24
Informant
(A/N I know, I know it's been too long. I've had a lot of stuff going on. I'm trying to get back in the habit of writing but my life… Geez… Well my b-day is coming soon so I'd figure I'd update this one to try and get me in the mood again. Well, anyway, let's get on with it.)
SOUNDS/sounds
Thoughts
Disembodied Voices
(Last Time)
"The hell?" I choke out as something lets out a strange cry behind me!
I dare to look over my shoulder. I see sort of large monster with a white boney face, running on all fours! What is that thing? There's no way I can out run that thing sober or not! Whoa! Shit! Ice? I hit the ground, hard sliding along the sidewalk. I try to get up but my head is spinning too much! I need to get up! I struggle to my feet just a small black mass whizzes by me! A shadow person? No, it was something else. I try to balance myself using the wall of a building. My head is pounded super hard right now and I'm feeling a little queasy now after running so much.
RRROOOAARRR!
I dare to look again putting my back flush against the wall. My head is swimming so much but I see the black mass—I think it's an actual person. It's a girl and a rather short one… I readjust my glasses not that that does me much help. I watch as she jumps into the air above that creature almost like she's weightless. She's holding something over her head. Wait… Is that a katana?
(Present. Normal POV)
Uryu watched on as the girl brought the blade down with practiced ease. She split the monster's mask as it let out an ear piecing shriek. Then in a flash the monster before him just seemed to literally disintegrate into the cold fall air. The small woman clad in black landed lightly on her feet and sheathed her long blade.
What was that? Who was that? Was that what Yoruichi had mentioned? Was this person a Shinigami? Uryu pushed off the brick wall and staggered a little. He had to get her attention before she vanished. He drew in a breath, trying to think of what to say. He had to to act fast. There might not be another chance.
"H-hey," was all he could come up with, reaching toward her.
She slowly turned to look over her shoulder at him. Her large blue/violet eyes narrowed as he slowly moved towards her. There was no one else on the street, meaning that this drunkard was calling to her. Perfect. She reached into her haori and pulled out a small item, cupping it in her hand. Humans didn't need to know about such things. They had a tendency to get in the way and complicate things. She had to deal with this now.
"Wait, please, I need to… I-I need to talk to you," Uryu said, huffing a little, still keeping his distance a bit. "Please, just w-wait."
"Okay," she said slowly, turning to face him directly. The small item still hidden her hand. "So what you do want?"
"I need your help," he said as she snorted.
"What you need is to get home and sleep it off," she replied as he shook his head.
"N-no, just hear me out," he said, using a newspaper stand for balance. "You get rid of those things, right?"
"Yeah. That's pretty evident," she said, taking a couple of steps closer to him. "But you don't need to worry about it anymore. It's gone now. It went bye-bye."
"Yeah, I saw that but listen… L-listen… Just listen…" He said, finally noticing something was in her hand. "Don't hurt me! I need to tell you about something! Please don't hurt me!"
"I'm not going to hurt you," she said, holding up the device that looked like a little stick with a bunny head on the end. "I just need you to forget about this. So good night."
"NO! Please! Demons!" he choked out.
"That wasn't a demon. Now," she said with a smile, arming the device and brought it close to him. "Good night."
"NOOOO! Listen to me! Th-there's a demon vortex where I work!" Uryu screamed at her, trying to back away. "D-down in the basement at Karakura Mental Hospital!"
"Boy, you are plastered, aren't you?" she half laughed at him. "Or are you just crazy?"
"I'm not m-making this up! There's a vortex in the basement," Uryu insisted, holding up his hand. "Th-there are wards all over that hospital. They let sp-spirit in, not out! L-look, just recently I w-was attack by shadow people. Two of them… And… And…"
She pulled back the memory device and looked the man up down. Other than being drunk nothing seemed out of place. But his eyes were reading that he was scared. Terrified in fact. He looked tired and a little unwell. Now that she really looked at him there was something. Something that was just barely visible around him. It was an odd sort of aura. It was focused mostly around his hands. Perhaps she should hear him out. He was a little out of place for a human.
"If you wish to explain more to me please find some other location," she told him with a smile. "Drunk or not, talking to yourself never looks good."
Uyru had a small look around and noticed a couple of people staring at him. Right… He bit his lips and quickly walked past her. He continued on back around the block towards his apartment. She walked silently beside him as he walked up the few steps to the main door and opened it. He then continued up the last few flights as best he could and down the hall. He unlocked his door, letting the Shinigami in first. He quickly shut it back. The TV was on and Kon acted lifeless again, noticing there was company.
"So, this is your place?" she asked, looking around the small space.
"Well, I am a student. This is all I can afford right now," he said, hanging up his coat. "Look, miss, I really need to talk—"
"Hold it! There's someone else here," she said, holding up her small hand and scanned the room again.
"You're most likely picking up Kon," Uryu said, staggering over to the futon and picked up the suede lion.
"Kon?" she blinked as she was presented with the plush lion. "Ugh, you've got to be kidding me! You trapped spirit in a doll?"
"I didn't. Someone else did. Kon, you can stop acting now," Uryu said, shaking the doll.
"AAH-HAH-AAAGH! STO-O-OP!" Kon snapped as Uryu did as ordered. "Jeez, bro… Give me headache why don't cha!"
"Let me see that!" she said, taking the doll from his hands. "Oh, it's so cute! And so soft! He looks handmade. Is he handmade?"
"Yes, but Kon here also just so happens to be a womanizer," Uryu said, taking the lion back before she could hug him.
"What! Hey, hey! Don't be a kill joy!" Kon bit out, trying to claw Uryu's face with his felt claws. "Just when I thought I could get some—"
"Not now. Maybe if you haven't noticed that's a Shinigami," Uryu said as Kon quickly turned to look back at the woman in black.
"That is?" Kon whispered.
"I'm a she not a 'that,'" she snapped, crossing her arms. "Also my name is Kuchiki Rukia."
"Well, I'm Ishida Uryu," Uryu said, pushing up his taped glasses.
"And I'm Takahashi Kon," Kon said, proudly, looking her up and down. "Has anyone one told you that you are one super cute chick?"
"Ah! K-Kon! Don't start that now," Uryu snapped, covering the lion's mouth as Rukia glared at them. "I do apologize! Really I do!"
"I suppose I'll accept that apology. So you managed to get my attention despite the fact that you're pretty much 3 sheets to the wind," she said, clearing off a space on the futon to sit down. "So, you say your hospital is harboring a portal?"
"Hm, yes," Uryu said with a nod, sitting down beside her and let go Kon. "I-I don't even know where to begin?"
"Well, we can begin at the beginning," she grinned as Uryu sighed. "That usually works best."
"Yeah, I guess it does, doesn't it?" Uryu said, rubbing the back of neck. "Well, it sort of started when my internship started and my father got me into Karakura Mental Hospital at the end of last month…"
(3:03 AM Orihime's POV)
I stare up at my ceiling thinking about what Ichigo is doing. I can't get him to respond at all to me anymore. I'm scared for him, given all that's been going on. I've gotten to where I leave my light on all the time. I can't stand the dark. I don't sleep much anymore either. I roll over and look at the door leading to the hall. I honestly don't want to be in here by myself but they won't let me out of my room after curfew.
I pull the covers up over my nose and I curl into a ball. I don't like being alone like this. I just… I just want Ichigo to talk to me again. I let out a shaky breath and slowly close my eyes. Maybe tonight it will leave me alone. I feel a familiar shiver slide down my spine. No such luck. I notice the light above my head is making a buzzing noise as it fades in and out. It's in my room again!
I quickly cover my head and curl into a tighter ball. Why won't it leave me alone? I have nothing! What does it want? Finally the light goes out completely. I'm scared. So very scared. I squeeze my eyes shut as the air grows colder. My breathing is getting faster and my heart is racing in my throat. What does it want?
I feel it pulling on my sheets trying to pry them out of my hands. I don't want to see it. I tighten my grip but the tugging is growing stronger. It's getting hard to breathe under the sheets now but I don't want to come out. Huh? It just stopped? I still don't wanna move. I don't even dare flinch. I feel a weight shift on my bed. It's in bed with me! Again! I hate this this the most!
Orihime… Come out.
No! Why won't you leave me alone? I don't have anything! I scream at it mentally.
LOOK AT ME, BITCH!
NOOOO! I curl into the tightest ball I can.
It's touching me! I feel an icy cold touch run up my back pulling up my shirt. It's under my covers? I quickly roll off my bed with my sheets still in my vice grip. I need to get out of my room, even if it is just for a few minutes! I can't be in here! I struggle to get to my feet but I'm tangled. I get one leg free as I feel a tugging again on my sheets. I fight to get out my sheets as I'm being pulled under the blackness of my bed! I open my eyes briefly to figure out how to untangle myself but my sheet feels like they're getting tighter around me! Like I'm being wrapped up in cocoon or something!
I glance under my bed briefly. Dear, God, are those eyes? Red, glowing eyes? I've got to get out of this! I struggle to get my sheets off but they feel like they're getting tighter and tighter. I only have one leg out but I can't get my arms free! Let go! Let go of me! I start kicking at the shadow frantically but I'm just pulled farther and farther under my bed! I try to scream but my voice is still locked in my throat! I can't call for help! I can't call for anyone! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
Huh? What? I feel a small tugging at my shoulders, trying to pull me out. But there is nothing there. It just is barely keeping me from going completely under my bed. I start struggling more. I catch the side of bed and try to push off that with my foot. I can hear the fabric ripping as I continue to struggle against the monster now under my bed! The force trying to keep me out is pulling as hard as it can. Honestly, I feel like I'm going to lose my right leg from being pulled so hard! I keep push with my leg as hard I can!
RR-RRIIIIIIPPP!
The farbric! I'm thrown across the floor as my sheets rip. That allowed my right leg free and I'm finally able to get to my feet. My arms are still tangled but I use my shoulder and feet to pry the door open. I'm finally out in the hall where I break into tears on the floor. I hear running feet as two nurses surround me.
"Orihime? What happened?" One of them asks as he grabs my shoulders.
"What's this?" I hear the other one ask. "What's all this stuff on your sheets? Hm, it stinks. Why are they torn like this?"
They get me up and try to untangle me so my arms can be freed. One of the two then turns towards my room. I try to get him to stay out but I'm tugged back. I watch as he tries the switch and no light comes on. He walks in looking around. He sees part of my sheet still hanging out from under the bed. He goes to pull it out but he can't. Is that thing still in there? He needs to get out before it hurts him!
"Hey, Yusuke, come here," I hear him call the nurse beside me. "You've got to see this!"
"Stay put," he orders me as he gets up and walks into my room.
I hold my breath as they push my bed back some. What going on? I hear them gasp. I want to see what they're looking at. I walk back into my door and look down at the floor. How can that be?
"What in the world?" Yusuke chokes out. "The sheet is actually been pulled thought the floor! That's impossible!"
"Ugh! And it smells just like the elevators," the other nurse said, holding his nose.
"Daichi, what's going on?" Yusuke asks as he backs up. "I know what I'm seeing but that's impossible!"
"I don't know," Daichi says, backing up with Yusuke. "Let's get out of this room. Let's shut it down like the others."
"But we're running out of rooms to put other patients in," Yusuke answers, sharply.
They backed out, taking me with them and shut the door. Now what do I do? Any room that's shut down is stripped and we're partnered with other patients. What am I going to do? I won't be able to communicate with Ichigo if that happens. I don't want to leave the room but I don't have a choice.
I notice that Daichi pull out a pair of scissors from the locked drawer to cut me out of my sheets. My arms were so tightly wrapped that when I was freed I noticed that they had turned bluish in color and were cold. I'm then guided to another room as a cot is brought in. I'm sharing a room with another woman named Toriyama Miki. The cot is set up and is pushed up against the wall. I climb in as Miki shuts the door after the two nurses leave.
"Well, hi," Miki says, getting back in her own bed. "So, you're staying here, right?"
I shrug as she lies back down in her bed. Miki obviously isn't thrilled about this and neither am I. I put my head down on my new pillow, looking at the closed blinds on the window. What is going on with this place? I'm so scared and I want Ichigo.
(Ichigo's room. Normal POV)
The small form of Akane materialized through the tiled floor. Ichigo was haphazardly propped up against the wall, looking out lazily into the city. The only light in the room came from the orange street lamps out in street and the garden and the dim white light from the fishbowl. Akane took a few quiet and careful steps toward Ichigo. She did keep her distance some, not wishing to be too close. She cleared her throat to get his attention but only his eyes turned to look at her.
She shivered a bit. They were no longer a deep chocolate brown but a dull amber. The orange street lamps seemed to highlight them a bit, making them glow. She rubbed the back of her neck and hung her head a little low. She needed to tell Ichigo about what just happened downstairs in Orihime's room. She hated to bring him such bad tidings but he really did need to know about the attack.
Um, Ichigo, I just wanted to let you know that Orihime was attacked, Akane said, biting her lip nervously and fiddle with cord that hung from her neck. They have moved her into a new room with a woman named Toriyama Miki. She's pretty much unhurt. I managed to help pull her free from the creature that tried to drag her under the bed. It opened some sort of gateway under the bed and was trying to pull her into it.
Akane waited nervous for Ichigo to say something. He just continued to stare at her, unblinking. Perhaps they drugged him a good bit more recently? Ichigo really wasn't Ichigo anymore. At least not very often it seemed. She had known him for years but now… She let out a small sigh. She backed up a bit and turned to look at the fishbowl. She walked over to it and watched the fish as it rested on the plant. It really was a pretty fish, but she doubted that Ichigo enjoyed it that much.
Hello, fishy, she said with a weak smile. You are such a pretty thing. Yes, you are. Hey, Ichigo, did you ever name-
A moment later Akane felt an odd force rush by her. Some sort of energy? She noticed that the water in the bowl at been disturbed, roughly, as everything swayed back and forth. Some water even splashed out onto the the nightstand. What in the world? She then noticed that something was wrong. Her light brown eyes opened wide, noticing a swirling red liquid in the water. It didn't take her long to find that the Betta had been cut bilaterally and both bloodied halves and organs rested on the blue/green gravel. She gasped in shock and took a step back before she quickly whipped around to look at Ichigo.
He had his hand out in front of him with a wicked smirk, playing on his face. Did he just…? A horrified chill just ran down her spine. This was not Ichigo. This was that other thing that existed in his body. Her eyes narrowed as her eyebrows knitted together. Her angry glare towards him only seemed to widen Ichigo's nasty smirk into a malevolent grin.
Why would you do that? Akane bit out, balling her small hands into quivering fists. Why? Ichigo?
"Because I can," Ichigo replied with a deep humming tone. "And I could do it again if I so wish."
Do it again? Akane felt a knot build in her throat. Was he going to do that to her as well? More than likely he was. He pushed off the wall, letting the orange light highlight him from behind, leaving his face in shadow. She couldn't read him now and that scared her. She knew now for sure she hadn't been talking to her friend.
"You're not Ichigo! Ichigo w-would never do this," Akane chocked out, her anger giving away more to fear.
"You're right. Ichigo wouldn't do that," the Devil said, suddenly closing the gap between them in the blink of an eye. "Ichigo is too damn nice and I'm not him."
Akane looked like a deer in headlights as she looked up into the Devil's dull amber eyes. She was frozen in fear at this point. She should have left a moment or two earlier. But she got angry about a fish. A stupid fish and now the White Devil was glaring down at her with a sadistic grin. Her mind was screaming run but her spiritual body was saying otherwise. She saw him raise his hand and she quickly closed her, letting out a short scream.
All she felt was the weight of a hand on top of her head. Tears had started to flow from her eyes. She had seen what he did to that fish. Could do the same to her? Like blow her head off or cut her in half too? Then to her horror he started stroking the top of head, gently. She mustered up the courage to crack open her tear soaked eyes. All she saw was the floor and their feet. She didn't move. She had no idea what he had planned. She didn't want to make him mad by running but at the same time if she didn't leave now would he hurt her?
"Poor sweet, Akane. Naïve stupid, Akane," He leered, kneeling down so that they were more eye-level. He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head up. "You've always stuck by him, haven't you? You want to help him, don't you?"
Y-yes, Akane choked out with a sob.
"Come with me," he said, taking her hand as he stood up again and pulled her towards the window.
He stood her in front of the window and he stood directly behind her with his hands resting on her small shoulders, to keep her in place. What did he want her to do? She didn't like this one bit. She tilted her head back a little to look up at him. What did he want? He raised a hand and pointed at the window. She turned her head to look forward again. There was nothing there but the parking deck across the street. No, wait… He hadn't pointed at the parking deck.
Absolute terror shot through Akane from head to foot. He was pointing at the reflection in the window. There, behind her, stood what was really hiding inside Ichigo's body. The white boney, toothy mask with the black markings and sharp angular horns pretty much said it all to her. She looked into the electric gold eyes staring at her in the window. She started shaking harder the more she looked at the monster in the window. The boney mask vanished revealing a devilish grin on his face but the electric gold eyes encased in blackness remained constant.
"Now you see me as I really am, little girl," he said smoothly, squeezing her thin shoulders, firmly. "Ichigo is losing to me bit by bit. All this negative energy that's being thrown around is giving me quite the power boost. It would have taken quite a few more years before I would have emerged, hadn't it been for this mess."
Now what? Now that he had showed her his true face what was he going to do to her? If he had wanted to instill fear in her, he did a damn good job. Just what was he going to do her now? That question kept playing in her head over and over again. She was no match for a Hollow. The only thing going for her was that she didn't have a physical body anymore. He might have the power to tamper with her but she could still leave the room where he couldn't.
"Hmhmhmhm… You're shaking badly," he whispered, bending down to her ear as tears started to flow from her eyes again. "If you remain my little informant, no ill-will will come to you and you may even benefit with my protection. Do anything to cross me and… Let's just say you'll be out of the job. Are we clear, little girl?'
Akane nodded her head with a hard sob. He smiled again, wrapping his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on the top of her head. She shuttered again as he pulled her in closer.
"Now, sweet thing, tell me more about this thing that attacked my Orihime," he ordered, playing with her Chain of Fate.
(Uryu's Place. Rukia's POV 6:27 AM)
Ishida had pretty much fallen asleep about an hour ago. He managed to get out enough information to me to make a very good case. Takahashi filled me in on a few more blank spots about what had happened. This was indeed a bad situation. This is a lot to take in but I have to investigate and make my report. Something like this cannot happen. More importantly why hadn't I or anyone else noticed such a thing occurring. That really troubles me.
"Hey, uh, Kuchiki," I turned to look a Takahashi. "What are you going do about all this?"
"Well, I have to investigate this firsthand and then I'll report it," I tell him as I get to my feet. "I would also like to talk to this Shihoin as well."
"Yeah, she's been looking for a Shinigami to tell all this to. She works at a diner in the mornings," Takahashi explains to me. "She says she sees one of you off and on."
"A diner? Ah, I might just know the one," I tell him as I take off Uryu's glasses before he rolls over and breaks them more than they already are. "Normally I'd put a soul burial on you about now but I think you're going to be crucial. So you're staying here for the time being."
I can tell that he takes in a sigh of relief. This honestly doesn't look good at all. Ishida, however, is a strange case as well. I'm not quite sure what to call it. He doesn't just use his own energy but takes energy from what's around him as well. He mentioned once that when he was attacked here in the apartment that he used that energy to super charge a couple of arrows and destroy the shadows that attacked him. Energy use to that extreme in a human is practically unheard of. That has me worried. I don't like it.
I walk over to the small kitchen window and open it. The cold air hits me as I look out over the street. I need to get this investigation started. It seems that this mess has been stewing for too long already. I can't put it off.
"You're leaving already?" I hear Kon ask as I turn to look back at him.
"I have to get all the information I can if this is to be solved," I tell him, bluntly. "This won't be the last you see of me. I'll be in touch."
With that I jump out and basically hit the air running. I need to find this psychic and fast. If she is as strong as Ishida and Takahashi says she is, she might even be in trouble. Using shun-po I arrive at the old diner in about a minute. I stand just outside in the parking lot, looking in. It seems pretty packed today. Well, let's see here.
I get closer and look through one of the large windows. I can't see too much. Damn my height. I decided to use spirit particles to get up in the air and see better inside. That's better. I keep looking around for the woman Ishida described to me. Oh! Is that her behind the counter? She has to be. Wow! She is certainly packing the reiatsu to be sure.
I wait for someone to open the door. There's enough traffic coming in and out that it's not a problem. I step inside after a small family steps out. I might as well deal with that old man too while I'm here. I've been putting it off but I might as well get it over with. She doesn't seem to notice I'm here yet but I sure she has picked up on me. She's just too busy with the customers to pay me much mind at the moment.
I scan the dining area for the old man. I see him trying to sneak off towards the restrooms. Easy enough. He's pretty much tied down to the place and can't go anywhere. He can't just leave on his own. I quickly dart after him. I catch him just for he enters the girls' restroom. Dirty old coot. He's clearly not happy I'm here but that's just too bad.
"Hold it," I tell him as he glares down at me. "Just where do you think you're going?"
"A way from you," he snaps at me. "I'm not leaving this place. You got that, girl?"
"Look, you're chain is just about spent," I tell him bluntly, pointing at his Chain of Fate. "It's better to crossover now than have to fight me as a Hollow. Soul Society is a peaceful place. A lot better than here. You won't be tied down to the diner anymore."
"But this is my diner. I built it and I kept it going," he rattles on and I cross my arms. "This is my baby so to speak! I ain't leaving her!"
"You're too attached. That's all it is," I explain, putting my hand on the hilt of my blade. "I can easily free you from those attachments. We can do this easily or we can do this the hard way."
"I still ain't leaving no matter what you say," he snaps and I pull out my zanpakuto.
He takes a couple weary steps back from me. I take my blade, knocking at the wall paneling, making a thin but long slice. I see his face growing red and I smirk. I take another swing cutting into another area of the paneling.
"STOP THAT," he yells at me, standing between me and the wall. "Don't you dare trash her!"
"Then do as I say," I tell him, plainly. "Konso is easy and painless. I'm pretty sure this establishment will continue on for years to come. You've got people coming in and out rather steadily. You're not making any difference by staying here. In fact if you stay much longer you'll cause problems for your diner. I really mean that. Also if you don't I'll start hacking away again."
"No, please, no! Don't you dare," he barks at me as my smirk widens.
"Then do we have a deal?" I ask as he glares at me with anger and I raise my zanpakuto again. "Okay, then, back to hacking away."
"NO! All right, fine," he snaps at me and I lower my blade. "Okay, I'll do this… This Konso thing! Just stop trashing my baby!"
"See, I knew you'd come around," I smile sweetly at him.
"Ugh… What do I need to do?" he grumbles, clinching his jaw and crossing his arms.
"Well, you can help me out by getting on your knees," I tell him as he gives me a weird look. "I'm sort, cut me some slack."
He reluctantly gets down on his knees as I flip my zanpakuto around in my hand. I quickly take the hilt and lightly stamp the buttcap on his forehead. I watch as a sense of peace washes over him and he slowly sinks into the floor. A second later I watch a hell butterfly take off into the air and phase through the ceiling. Well, that's the end of that. I quickly sheath my zanpakuto and let out a long sigh. What a pain. I hate having to work people down, but he could have been worse. Goodness, knows I've dealt with worse. Now, about the psychic, Shihoin. I believe it's time I talk to her and see what she has to say about all that's going on.
(A/N Well, that's the end of the chapter. I hope it was enjoyable. I hope to get another one out soon. At least I'm hoping to do so. Again sorry for the long wait on this. bye now!)
Millie M. Banshee