Author's Note: Another chapter I wrote in two days, look at me! And this wasn't too bad of a wait, just eleven days…much shorter than my updating after one month, ha. I had a lot of fun with this chapter, so I hope you guys enjoy it!
Chapter 28: Just One Chance
Recommended Song: "Far Away" by Nickelback
"R-really?" Mari whispered, her teary eyes widening in surprise. She couldn't believe her ears…she had thought that her pleading would have been a failed attempt and that the shopkeeper would have shot her down kindly, but…he was going to help her!
"Yes," Kisuke sighed, pushing his bucket hat up, revealing his slightly uncertain gray eyes. Regret was sure to come later, but it was just too difficult for him to turn down a girl whose heart was so full of love…especially for a friend of his who loved her just as much. "You might want to get comfortable…it's going to be a long night."
Marise nodded and Yoruichi led her to Kisuke's bedroom. They sat there and waited for him to come back with a tray holding a teakettle and three cups, since Tessai was asleep and he didn't want to risk waking up Ururu and Jinta.
After the tea was distributed, Kisuke sat cross-legged on the ground, pursing his lips. Marise watched him warily, taking a small sip of the tea. Her eyes lit up. Finally, there was enough sugar! "What's there to discuss?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"First off," Kisuke began, "We have to find a way to get you into Soul Society without arousing suspicion." Yoruichi nodded in agreement, her golden eyes turning serious as she observed Mari for any signs of doubt. "It's bad enough for an unknown person to enter Soul Society, but it's even worse if they were to find out that we were the ones who helped get you up there."
"Is it because you both are criminals?" Mari asked, curious. "Is that why you don't live in Soul Society anymore?"
"Well, we used to be," Yoruichi answered. "Kisuke and Tessai brought all the Visored down here and I helped them escape…so we were considered traitors for a long time. Just recently, after Central 46 reevaluated the case, our ban has been uplifted." She shrugged, smiling slightly. "We chose to remain here."
"They still keep tabs on us, however," Kisuke added. "While we're kind of ignored, we…well," he rolled his eyes, "I should say I am considered a threat. The sotaichō, Yamamoto Genryusai, lets us be, so long as we're not interfering too much."
Marise looked down into her warm tea, gently swirling the contents of it. She allowed the waft of heat to warm her face before turning her attention back to Kisuke. "What would…" she began, though then bit her lower lip. Mari was slightly superstitious and held the belief that if a person said something negative aloud, it would ruin their luck. But…she really had to know. "What would happen if I were found out? What if they caught me and discovered I was an intruder?" Her heart began racing and her fears grew. "What would they do to me?"
Urahara's eyebrows went up slightly, though he quickly turned impassive…and quiet. He really didn't want to answer her…because if they did capture her, as minimum punishment she would be imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots. If worse came to worse…she could be executed. He shook his head, determined not to tell her this. He didn't want to frighten her more than she already was. He noticed the fear in her eyes and her slight trembling.
"Let's not think about that," he said quickly, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "Yoruichi-san and I will do everything we can to ensure that this is a success. Our main concern is your spiritual pressure. I can mask it, however, that would be a bad idea. Red flags would immediately go up if you were to be around Shinigami and have no spiritual pressure, so they would examine you and then…well, bad things would happen."
"But then again you can't go with your normal spiritual pressure," Yoruichi pointed out, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. "Shinji will immediately detect it, and you don't want him to know you're there, do you?"
Mari, with fearful eyes, shook her head. No…she was too embarrassed to face him…too ashamed. She looked down at her hands, a sad smile on her face.
Look at you… She thought. You're so pathetic, wanting to see your…ex-boyfriend. He doesn't even want you, dummy, so why are you going to see him? So desperate…so stupid. "I'm a really stupid girl," she whispered.
"Oh, Mari," Yoruichi said softly.
Mari looked up. "So what will I do about my spiritual pressure then? It doesn't seem like there's anyway to avoid being caught."
"Well…I've been doing some experiments recently…" Urahara said slowly, taking a sip from his cup. "I'll work on creating a temporary, unique Reiatsu, one that will mask yours…as if you're a completely different person."
The blonde girls' eyebrows went up in surprise. "How will you do that?" she asked.
"Ha," Yoruichi scoffed. "You're looking at the science geek of the century." She plopped down onto his futon, kicking her legs up in the air. She grinned innocently when Urahara gave her a look.
"It'll be a combination of mine and Yoruichi's," he explained smoothly.
"Hey! If you attach any weird things to me, I won't be afraid to claw your eyes out."
Mari smiled awkwardly…these two were so strange!
"Anyway," Yoruichi said. "Now that we've got the issue of your spiritual pressure sorted out, you need a reason to be there."
Mari blinked. "I want to see Shinji."
"Well, yes, we know that, but you're not going to tell all of the Shinigami that. They'll think you want to assassinate him or something."
Mari bit her lip, trying not to burst into laughter. Her…assassinate him? He usually wanted to strangle her! "Oh, but I see what you mean…" She then grew fearful. "I…I don't know an official reason!"
"Hmm…" the honey-eyed woman mused, looking up at the ceiling for a few moments. "I think they've made changes over the past century…for the past couple of decades, Shino Academy students in their final year take a few days off and go to Seireitei, to shadow a division of their choice. This helps them in deciding what division they want to apply for."
"Um…alright." Mari still had no idea where the woman was going with this.
"You'll pretend to be an academy student," Yoruichi explained. "And you'll be shadowing the Fifth Division. This is how you'll be able to be close to Shinji. They'll never suspect a thing!"
"Hmm, that's quite a plan, Yoruichi-san," Kisuke said, smiling at her. "I told you eating fish would make you smarter!"
"Shut up, Kisuke," Yoruichi snorted, rolling her eyes. "I was born intelligent."
"A Shino Academy student?"
"Shino Academy is the school Shinigami in-training attend," Urahara told her.
"Oh…this sounds like something really official." Mari grew worried. "Are you sure this is possible?"
Both Urahara and Yoruichi burst into laughter. Marise furrowed her brows in annoyance, pouting slightly. "What? Why are you laughing at me?"
"It's not you, Mari-san," Kisuke chuckled. "It's just that…well, forging paperwork is a walk in the park! I can easily hack into their database and even fiddle with the Twelfth Division's watch on every Senkaimon. They won't notice a thing."
"Kisuke used to be the taichō of that division," Yoruichi added. "He knows all of the quirks to Soul Society better than the current taichō in position."
Mari nodded…then she must be in the best hands possible. "Okay," she said, taking in a deep breath and patting her hands on her knees. "So we've got two things covered! Is that all?"
Yoruichi pursed her lips and eyed Mari, making the petite girl uncomfortable after a few moments. "Well, you obviously can't go up there looking like that! And certainly not with that name either."
"Oh." Marise tapped her finger against her lips, pondering. "Ah, I've got it!" she exclaimed. "How about…Asakura Mariko?"
There was a long silence. Finally, Urahara said, "…Yeah, Mari. Go with that."
"Really?"
"No," he said slowly. "Not really."
"Ehh…then how about Marisol?"
"No," Urahara and Yoruichi answered simultaneously.
"Mariya?"
"Nope."
"Mariam?"
"At least stick to Japanese!" Yoruichi said. "And let go of 'Mari,' that's a dead giveaway!"
"Eh…" Mari wracked her brain for some more names. "I can't think of anything…!" she whined. She didn't think coming up with a name could be so difficult…!
"Well," Urahara interjected. "Why don't we come up with a new look first and choose a name that goes along with it?"
"Ooh, ooh!" Mari exclaimed, waving her hand in the air.
"Err…do you have a suggestion, Mari-san?"
"Yes! I want to be an ice cream connoisseur!"
"No!" he responded, banging his fist on the table. "Looks, Mari! As in physical appearance."
"I think she'd look cute with black hair," Yoruichi murmured.
"Oh…" Marise thought hard again. She needed to choose something completely opposite to her so that no one would suspect anything…especially Shinji…he was sharper than a knife and could always see right through her. Well, not this time! "I know…I'll become a reformed geisha! I want to get rid of my old habits by becoming a Shinigami! Isn't that a great story?" Mari clasped her hands together in anticipation for the ex-taichōs' response.
"Reformed geisha…?" Urahara questioned. He gave Yoruichi a quizzical look, and she shrugged. The little blonde was a mystery.
"Yes!" Mari insisted. Geishas are such bad women, it seems like a very believable story to me! "And my name will be Itsuka Kyoko! What do you think?"
"Well, geishas have a very distinct appearance," Yoruichi said, nodding. "Definitely unlike Mari's…I think it'll work."
Urahara and Yoruichi nodded at one another. "Alright," Urahara sighed, smiling. "I think we've got a plan." He stood up, stretching his legs. "Well…it's time to get some rest now."
Marise watched him with confused eyes, bewildered. "What…?" she began. "But…I thought I was going tonight?"
Urahara shook his head. "No…I'm sorry Mari-san, but there's a lot of prep work that needs to be done before your departure. I have to create the new spiritual pressure, forge your documents, and you must also gather your supplies."
"Oh…" Mari bit her lip, disappointed. However, could she really feel this way…? She was lucky this was even going to happen! She stood up and shook Urahara's hand. "Thank you so much, Urahara-san," she said, smiling brightly. "I'm…really happy!"
He ruffled her hair, smiling back down at her. "Think of it as our gift to you, Mari-san," he replied warmly. "Happy birthday."
Marise was able to quietly sneak back into the house without waking anybody. She quickly dressed in her long pink nightgown and tucked herself under the covers, pulling the soft fleece over her chest, laying her arms over it. She lay flat on her back, gazing up at the ceiling. Her poster of Lupin was still up there, and although she dazed dreamily at it, she didn't see the fictional character's face…she saw Shinji's.
Her heart fluttered from just thinking about him, though she felt slightly queasy when she thought about the journey ahead of her tomorrow. She was so excited to finally be able to see Shinji, after these torturous last few months, yet at the same time…she was so nervous, even slightly scared.
She wondered if he changed much. Was he more serious now? Did he smile anymore? Although in the beginning she found his Cheshire grin to be slightly creepy…now…she missed it so much. She wanted to see that grin again. …Was he flirting with other girls, calling them his "first loves?" Her heart clenched at the thought, a feeling of jealousy festering inside. Did he even lay awake at night thinking about her like how she thought about him?
Was it only her that was missing the one she loved…?
The question that burned most in her mind: Did he still love her?
Shinji left his office early to head to the Second Division. He passed the barracks and offices and went further, finally seeing his destination…Nest of Maggots.
Members of the third corps, also known as the Detention Unit, were currently on guard-duty, one Shinigami standing at each side of the entrance.
The two men looked in surprise when they saw Hirako Shinji walk toward them.
"I wanna see a prisoner," Shinji told them casually.
One of the men appeared apprehensive. Both of them knew full well whom the Fifth Division taichō wanted to see… "I…advise you against it, sir," the Shinigami said weakly.
"Well…thanks for tha advice," the blonde said wryly. "But I don't think I asked for it. Now, are ya gonna let me in or not?" His voice became harsher and his spiritual pressure rose slightly. This immediately put the Onmikitsudo members in their place.
The second guard sighed. "Please deposit your Zanpakutō, Hirako-taichō."
"Oh…I forgot about that rule," he muttered. He pulled out Sakanade and handed it to the guard.
The guards reluctantly let him through and as Shinji headed to the lowest level. He rolled his eyes in seeing two jailers following him. "I can handle myself, ya know. I don't need babysittin'. And," he added, narrowing his eyes at the two men, "Ya don't have ta worry about me lettin' the fuckin' bastard out."
The two Shinigami looked at each other warily, though went back to their posts, allowing the taichō to go down the stairs to the lowest level. There was only one cell, and it housed the most dangerous prisoner…Aizen Sōsuke.
After his "Mugen" sentence in Central 46, Aizen was moved from his old cell to a newer, more secure one in the Nest of Maggots. Yamamto-sotaichō made it clear that there should be guards on duty 24/7 to ensure that the traitor didn't escape.
Shinji looked into the cell and saw his former fukutaichō strapped to a chair, bound by black wraps…nearly every part of him was covered…only part of his brown hair was visible, along with his mouth and a single emotionless eye.
Aizen saw Shinji and smiled, the same cold, cruel smile he showed to his subordinates back in Hueco Mundo. Every part of him was lifeless…unfeeling. "Hirako-taichō," he said in his deep, velvety voice. "How nice it is to see you again."
"Tch. I don't feel the same," Shinji spat, narrowing his eyes at the prisoner.
Aizen closed his eyes and wanted to shake his head, though it was pretty difficult with his restraints. "You're just as distant toward me as ever. Why did you come down to see me anyway?"
Shinji smirked. "I just wanted to see ya gettin' what ya deserved, ya lil' fucker." Though truth be told, Hirako had also come down to make sure Aizen was locked up tight enough…after what Soichiro had told him months ago, he didn't want to take any chances in having the man escape.
Otherwise, he'd go after Mari.
Aizen's usual smile faltered slightly. "Are you satisfied?" His voice was quiet.
Shinji came closer to the cell and curled his fingers around the bars. "I won't be happy until I put ya six feet under," he snarled. Shinji then turned to leave, although the man's next statement made him stop dead in his tracks.
"I suppose you must also be unhappy for leaving that girl…" Aizen taunted, his usual smile reappearing. He paused. "What was her name again…? Ah, yes…Asahina Marise."
Shinji whirled around, livid. His eyes were wild with fury, and without reciting an incantation, he barked, "Hadō 91, Senjū Kōten Taihō!"
Several spears of light appeared and flew in the direction Shinji's finger was pointed…straight at Aizen. The man's eyes went wide and inside the cell there was a devastating explosion, causing the entire underground prison to shake.
Once the smoke cleared, Shinji felt slightly better in seeing the blood drip from his subordinate's face, and after his impulsiveness wore off, let out an inward sigh of relief…he was lucky that the black bindings were strong enough that they didn't tear… (But then again, the sotaichō surely would have had the Twelfth Division work on restraints that could withstand nearly any force.) Aizen panted heavily and looked up at Shinji. "Damn you…!" he grunted.
"Hirako-taichō, stand down!" a jailer barked. Several ran down and had to drag the taichō out of the prison, for he still attempted to lunge himself at Aizen's cell. His fury along with his spiritual pressure overpowered the Shinigami to the point where they were near passing out.
However, they were luckily able to bring him outside, where Soi Fon arrived.
"What…" she seethed, glaring at Shinji, "…happened?"
Shinji stood in the large hall of the First Division, his wrists bound by shackles. From the corner of his eye he saw the Second Division taichō with her arms crossed over her small chest. When her gray eyes met Shinji's, she narrowed them at him.
Clearly, he had made her unhappy. He nearly destroyed the Nest of Maggots, after all.
The two taichōs looked up when Yamamoto walked into the room, here to assess the situation. A Hell Butterfly had briefed him about it before they arrived and he was now watching Shinji closely.
"You don't act without a reason, Hirako-taichō," he said gruffly. "Why did you use a forbidden Kidō spell? You do know the consequences of such unlawful and irresponsible actions, correct?"
Shinji shrugged and looked away, refusing to give a response.
"Did he provoke you?" the sotaichō prodded.
Nothing.
"Did he threaten you?"
Still no answer.
"Did he threaten someone close—"
"NOTHIN'," Shinji seethed, baring his teeth. "He didn't say anythin'. I just wanted ta have at tha prick."
The sotaichō said nothing, only watched the Fifth Division taichō with a keen eye. "You are dismissed," he grunted. He turned around, though looked back, and pointed to Shinji's uniform. "Stop wearing those ridiculous ties," he reprimanded. "They are a mockery to the taichō's uniform!" Before leaving, however, he turned to Sasakibe. "Have a Hell Butterfly sent to the Fourth Divison. Unohana-taichō needs to heal Aizen Sōsuke's injuries."
"What?" Shinji barked, looking up. "Are ya fuckin' kiddin' me? Why tha hell are ya gonna heal him?"
"We do not torture our prisoners!" Yamamoto roared, banging his cane on the ground. The sound echoed through the room, along with waves of his spiritual pressures. The guards from Nest of Maggots fell to their knees, and Soi Fon and Shinji were just barely able to remain standing. "No matter the crime…we are not merciless." And with that said, he went back to his office.
Soi Fon watched the sotaichō leave, her mouth agape. How was he just going to ignore the fact that Hirako Shinji used a forbidden Kidō spell, nearly blowing her division up?
"This isn't over, Hirako," she hissed, glaring at him.
Shinji rolled his eyes and held out his wrists to her. "Will ya just free me already?"
She chopped off the cuffs with her bare hands and swiftly walked away. "Let's go!" she barked to her two subordinates, who quickly scurried after her after catching their breath.
Shinji went back to his own division and when he arrived in his office, he saw his fukutaichō frantically swarming around the room.
"What's got yer panties in a knot, Momo-chan?" he asked, though his voice didn't hold the mirth and teasing tone it usually did.
Momo paused, watching him curiously for a moment. She then shook her head and began scrambling again. "You shouldn't have left! The Shino Academy students will arrive tomorrow…everything has to be ready!"
Shinji shrugged and sat at his desk. He pulled off his tie, one of the many that Mari bought for him…it was the Christmas one, with the colorful, decorative light bulbs that actually lit up. He hurled it to the side and placed his elbows on his desk, burying his face in his arms.
He didn't want to see any stupid Shinigami in training…the only person he wanted to see was Mari.
He wanted to hold her in his arms and protect her…he wanted to feel her beating heart against his own.
The moment Marise woke up, she turned over and shut off her alarm clock. Throwing the covers off of her, she went over to her closet and furrowed her brows, trying to find the geisha costume she had worn on Halloween a couple of years ago.
"Ah…there you are!" she exclaimed, though quietly, as the rest of her family was still asleep. She pulled out the plastic bag and dumped the contents of it onto her bedspread, looking everything over. All of the parts seemed to be there…the black wig that was already shaped in an intricate style known to the geisha, the powder, eyeliner, and bright red lipstick she needed… She looked at the bright red kimono and put it back in the closet. Urahara had told her they would provide her with the academy uniform.
Mari sat on her bed and picked up her phone from her desk and began dialing. She called Miyazaki and told him she wouldn't be able to tutor the dance class, called in sick to work and her class at the community college.
She put all of the things she needed back into her bag and went down the stairs.
"You're up this early?" Lucille asked. She looked at the clock and saw that it was eight in the morning. "Hm…well, I guess the tutoring was moved to nine last week, wasn't it?"
"Ah…Mama," Mari began, biting her lower lip.
Her mother looked at her, concerned. "What is it?"
"I'll be…staying over at Orihime's tonight," she winced slightly. "She called me last night, saying she wanted to try out a new recipe."
Lucille rolled her eyes. "Are you still embarrassed to call her your friend? Alright, you'll probably be dead tired when you get there, so it might be a good idea to stay the night."
Mari nodded. She wasn't sure if she would need to, but it would be a good idea to not have to explain that, just in case something happened. "Bye, Mama!" She ran up to her mother and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly. "I love you," she mumbled.
Lucille's eyebrows went up in surprise. She placed her hand on her daughter's golden curls. "Oh…I love you, too."
The moment Marise got out of the house, she headed straight to Urahara's.
When Mari arrived at the shop, Urahara nad Yoruichi were already standing outside. The shopkeeper let out a relieved sigh, pushing his hat further onto his floppy pale hair. "I was afraid you were going to change your mind," he admitted.
Mari shook her head. "No…I want to do this!" She's never wanted anything more in her entire life.
Urahara went inside and from behind the counter he pulled out what looked like a bottle of perfume. Mari leaned on the table and peered into it, squinting. There was a cloud of pink swirling inside. "Ooh…" she said in awe. "…What is it?"
"This is your new spiritual pressure," he said. "I worked all night on it, but it's complete!"
"Why is it pink?" Not that Mari minded…she loved pink! "How do they have color anyway?" She didn't really think spiritual pressure was something that could be seen.
"I had combined mine, which is red, and Yoruichi's. Hers is white. It's funny," he chuckled, "That it ended up being pink. Perfect for you, Mari-san!"
Marise looked up at him, her lips twisted into a pout. She didn't always have to be associated with pink! Meanies! "Okay," she whined, growing impatient. "Let's go!"
"Here," Yoruichi said, handing her a folded red and white kimono, which Mari assumed was the uniform. "Change into this."
Mari took her plastic bag along with the clothing into the bathroom, and once she was changed into it, she looked into the mirror. Her fingers went to her face, her hair, around her eyes…this was the last time she would be herself.
Today…she was Itsuka Kyoko.
Marise patted powder all over her face until it was completely white, like snow. She dusted a little pink over her cheeks. She then lined her eyes, making them pop out. Afterward, she dipped a small paintbrush into a container of bright red liquid, and outlined her lips before coloring them in.
She didn't want to look at herself just yet…she placed the wig over her head, which had cherry blossoms decorated along the side and a pair of chopsticks in the back. Slightly afraid, she lifted her head and gasped. Who was this girl…? She looked…completely different.
She stepped out and both Urahara and Yoruichi were surprised.
"Wow…if I didn't know it was you," said Yoruichi, "I'd truly think you were a geisha!"
Mari gave a small smile and nodded. She held out her bow to Urahara. "Please keep this safe," she requested. "And guard it with your life!"
Urahara chuckled and placed the bow in one of his drawers. "I'll be sure to do that, Mari-san." He picked up the bottle of "perfume." "Time to really make you a different person," he said softly, and pressed his finger on the nozzle.
It was a very faint, sweet smell and Mari watched with wonder as she was sprayed. Her eyes widened…it did feel different! "So…no one will know it's me now, right?" she asked, after he was finished.
Urahara looked at her and grinned. "I'm not even sure if it's you, Mari," he told her. However, when he saw his bright blue eyes, he grew slightly worried. It would be better if she had brown eyes, as her blue eyes stood out quite a bit… However, he shrugged. Hopefully, no one would notice much…although…Shinji might, only because he was so smart and knew her so well.
"Now…?" Mari asked, close to whining again. "Am I ready now?"
"Almost. Mari, you can't act like yourself at all," Urahara warned, wagging a finger at her.
Mari pursed her cherry lips. She had to admit that if she acted even a little dramatic, Shinji might suspect it was her. She pondered on who she should be for a few moments… "Oh, I should be mute!" she suggested, smiling.
"No!" both Urahara and Yoruichi said.
"You'd blow your cover within three seconds," Yoruichi said, rolling her eyes. Yoruichi liked Mari, but…she was such a talkative girl. It would be torture to ask her to keep her mouths shut for five minutes, let alone an entire day! The cat woman then wiggled her eyebrows. "Why don't you be a pervert…?"
"N-no way!" Mari cried, blushing. She was definitely dead-set against thatidea, as she couldn't even act that way without blushing…or even think about acting that way! Well, it wouldn't really matter, since her face was covered with powder, but…no! "I think I'll act like an elegant, mature, and serious girl," Mari finally said. That seemed to suit the geisha persona, despite the fact they were naughty girls!
Urahara nodded. "That sounds like the best idea."
"Yeah," Yoruichi agreed. "Completely opposite to you!"
What, I'm not elegant, mature, or serious? Mari thought, pouting. Big, fat meanie!
They once again went outside. "I'm going to be opening a Senkaimon," Urahara explained. "This is your gate to Soul Society. However, since I'm no longer an active Shinigami serving under Seiretei, you're basically intruding. You can still enter, but it's much more dangerous and risky."
Mari gulped, and Kisuke continued. "Because there is no Hell Butterfly to guide you, you'll have to pass through the Dangai. If you can't get through before the gate to Soul Society closes…you'll be trapped forever, Mari." He turned to her, his gray eyes boring into her. "Do you understand how serious this is?"
"Why does everyone doubt me?" Mari asked. "I can do this! I promise I can! Just because I'm small and am not as strong as the rest of you, doesn't mean I'm completely incapable of doing something like this on my own!" Her eyes were burning though she yelled at herself not to cry; otherwise she would have to do her make-up all over again. (And for once, she thought this without being shallow.)
"I'm sorry," Kisuke said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But you have to understand that I'm taking a big risk…do you know if something happens to you, Shinji-san will come after me and probably wring me by my neck?"
Yoruichi nodded. "Oh, I could definitely see him do that."
"Thanks for the positive reinforcement, Yoruichi-san," Kisuke said wryly.
"Anytime, Kisuke, anytime," she replied with a grin. "Bah, you can do this, Mari. Just get in there and start running and don't stop until you see the white light flashing before your eyes!"
"N-now you have me scared!"
Kisuke smiled and Mari watched curiously as he pulled his Zanpakutō from his cane. Holding it outward, his red spiritual pressure flared out and he cut a gate open.
"Alright," he said softly. "Time for you to leave us."
Marise slowly walked to the gate, peering inside…but all she saw was darkness. She took in a deep breath, and nodded. "Thank you so much…again," she whispered.
Urahara smiled at her and Yoruichi said, "Just…don't go through his stuff. Specifically the top drawer on the right-hand side at his desk." Though if he were smart, he would have moved it.
"Um…okay. I'll…I'll see you later!" She called out, running into the deep tunnel. Her heart pounded in seeing the door shut behind her.
It was so…so dark. She never felt so alone as she did now. But…she wasn't afraid. Gathering her courage and determination, Mari sprinted.
But then…she began to slow down…Mari wasn't the fastest runner, as she easily wore out. "Eh…" she whimpered. C'mon legs, keep going! You don't want to be stuck here forever, do you?
Her face contorted into fear and her blue eyes widened when she heard a sound coming behind her…it sounded like a freight train… Against her good judgment she turned her head slightly around and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
There was a bright yellow light that looked like an eye in the middle and the thing was chugging straight for her!
The…the Kōtotsu! Before Mari left, Urahara had explained that what she was looking at was comparable to a street sweeper. If caught she could be stuck there forever or time could be distorted, and she could end up in Soul Society days earlier or later than what she anticipated.
Marise whimpered quietly, trying to pick up the pace. She cringed in seeing the Kōryū current oozing down on the walls all around her. It was meant to ensure that no person stayed in a Senkaimon for too long. But really…it was just creeping Mari out!
She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for a miracle to happen. As her foot bounced off the floor, she heard a sound, and when she looked down, she saw a concentric circle of light green spiritual pressure.
Bringer Light! She had completely forgotten about her Fullbring ability to manipulate the ground and air to move faster. She broke out into a smile…she could get out of here!
She continued concentrating her spiritual pressure and began to move quickly through the Dangai, creating more and more distance between herself and the Kōtotsu. She nearly broke out into laughter in seeing the "white light" Yoruichi had told her about. GO, GO, GO, GO, GO! She chanted to herself.
With her last bit of energy, Mari jumped off of the ground and through the opened gates, letting out a shriek as she plummeted down below.
However, she just barely managed to break the impact of her fall using Bringer Light, and skidded across the ground, a cloud of dust forming around her. After the debris cleared, she looked up to see a tremendously tall wall in front of her.
Mari looked around. Am I here…? Is this…Soul Society?
Realizing that she was actually here, in the same place as Shinji, her heart began racing wildly. She wringed her hands together nervously and began panicking. What was she suppose to do now? She didn't know where to go or how to get in…
She looked to her right and let out a sigh of relief. Standing in front of one of the four gates were a group of men and women dressed in the same uniform as her, only the boys wore blue. She saw the large golden gate slowly open and she ran after them.
Thankfully, the group was so big that she was able to easily slip in without anyone questioning her. She thought that she might have looked strange with her geisha appearance, but…there were many dressed even more strangely than she was, with multi-colored hair, multiple piercings and tattoos… Knowing this, she became more relaxed.
Once inside of Seireitei, Mari gasped, taking in the sight. She had never seen so many Shinigami in one place! She was blow away by the sight of all of them and the hustle and bustle that went on as they welcomed the first round of students.
"Okay, Kyōraku-taichō's group, follow me!" Mari looked to see a woman with violet blue orbs and black hair put in a messy bun was calling a group of about fifty over to her. She pushed her glasses up and led them away.
Mari watched as another fifty went to a man with flowing red hair (she thought he looked pretty Yankī-like, especially with the black tattoos on his face), another large group following a busty woman with short strawberry blonde hair (Mari was slightly jealous of her assets and the male students ogling her), and then another group following…
Kuchiki Rukia? Marise grew surprised in seeing the petite girl…it had been nearly two years since she remembered going to school with her, and then everyone had forgotten about her…now she saw why.
"Tch," she heard one of the students say. "Of course most of 'em go to Kyōraku, Hitsugaya, Ukitake, and Kuchiki-taichō. They're always the most popular."
Mari was left with a small group of students and it slowly became smaller and smaller as the students left following who Mari assumed to be fukutaichōs, from the badges worn on their arms.
Before she even realized it, she was the only student left, standing alone in the middle of Seireitei. She whirled her head around, appearing lost, confused, and slowly becoming more and more frantic.
Oh…oh no! What division does Shinji lead again? She wracked her brain, trying to remember what Yoruichi had told her. However, when she saw chin-length blonde hair, she noticed the "5" on the back of his haori. That's…that's him! Her heart pounded…he was only a few yards away from her! She wanted to yell out his name, to run and tackle him into a hug, but…she couldn't do that.
A short girl who stood next to him turned around, and seeing Mari standing alone, she smiled, and walked over to her. Shinji stayed behind, as he was speaking to Kensei. Oh, he also changed! Mari thought, seeing his new hairstyle. She wrinkled his nose. He still looked like a Yankī.
"Hi!" the girl greeted. "I'm Hinamori Momo, fukutaichō of the Fifth Division. I take it you are Itsuka Kyoko, shadowing us today?"
Mari nodded, staring at the girl for a few moments. They were the exact same height, although…this girl was much cuter. Even her name! Momo meant peach, how adorable is that? Mari wrinkled her nose…her name meant…well, it could be translated as bitter, how was that cute?
The girl had short dark brown hair and a small green bow clipped to the side, much like Mari's pink bow. (Now she was wishing she had worn it.) Her eyes were the same color as her hair, full of hope and cheerfulness.
Marise bit her lip. Of course Shinji would end up having a cute fukutaichō like her. Her heart nearly soared and shattered at once when she saw Shinji come up behind Momo, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"So, is this our shadow today, Momo-chan?" he asked.
Momo nodded, removing his hands from her. "Yep! This is Kyoko-chan! Is it alright if I call you that?"
"What, only one? Kyōraku got like a hundred! I thought ya said we were popular, Momo-chan!"
"You know Divisions Six, Eight, Ten, and Thirteen get the most, taichō! It seems the majority of ours will be in the next three sessions. But that's okay!" She smiled brightly at Mari. "We're very happy to have you here, Kyoko-chan!"
Marise was currently fighting with herself, trying not to burst into tears. She was also surprised in seeing his new haircut…what did he do with his bangs? Marise bit her lower lip. She wanted to believe that he addressed every girl so affectionately, but…at the same time, it was as if this girl was more special to him.
She squeaked in surprise when he poked her in the forehead. "Hello? Can ya talk?"
Mari nodded and he laughed. "Why don't you tell me yer name this time, love."
"Asa…ah, um, I meant to say Itsuka Kyoko!" she sputtered. She winced inwardly hoping that he didn't catch her mistake, but he was too busy staring at her face. She blushed, afraid that he somehow knew it was her.
He instead commented on her make-up. "Why are ya wearin' all that gunk on yer face? If ya take it off, sweetie, I bet ya would look beautiful."
Mari's cheeks burned. "I…this is apart of me. I'm a geisha! Well, reformed geisha, actually."
Momo and Shinji looked at each other. "Reformed?" he asked.
"I want to change my life for the better…! That's why I want to be a Shinigami!"
Shinji covered his mouth and whispered to Momo. "Why does she think geishas are bad?"
"I think she associates them with prostitutes, sir," Momo explained…or at least, this is what she reasoned.
Shinji opened his mouth, about to tell her that geishas weren't whores, but bit his tongue. It was probably best not to say anything. He rolled his eyes. "I thought all the looneys ended up in the Twelfth Division. Ah, well. Let's go, Kyoko-chan."
The taichō and his fukutaichō turned around and began walking, and Mari followed them. She felt a lot like a third wheel, noticing how naturally Momo and Shinji acted around each other. They were so…perfect together.
Mari had noticed that Shinji wore a white tie. What about all of the ones she bought him? Did he throw them away? Her face fell. She knew they were ugly…why did she have to be so stupid?
Momo turned around, trying to include Mari into the conversation by pointing things out. "We're passing the Fourth Division barracks now. And over there is the mess hall that can fit a good number of Shinigami, but not all of us." Momo became worried when the girl didn't give a response…she seemed very distant.
Mari couldn't help but notice all of the differences between herself and Hinamori Momo. Momo was sweet, friendly, and mild-mannered, while Mari was bossy, dramatic, and mean to others…
No wonder he doesn't miss me… She croaked inwardly. He has her. He was acting perfectly normal, while Mari felt she was giving everything away with her emotions…she could never keep them bottled inside; she had to let everything out. Only…she wasn't Mari right now…she was Itsuka Kyoko, the calm, collected, and mature geisha. Kyoko truly was her opposite…
They arrived at the division office. It was quaint and organized, with a sofa, two desks, a coffee table…it wasn't overly extravagant; just a nice work place. Momo took a seat at her desk and Shinji at his. He pulled up a chair next to him. "Sit," he said.
Marise took a seat and looked down at her hands, afraid to make eye contact with him. Her breathing was starting to grow uneven from just being so close to him…she could reach out and touch his haori, or even his hand, which was scribbling away on papers.
"So…Kyoko-chan," he began. "Where are ya from?"
Mari's eyes widened with fear. "I, ah, um…" she fumbled. Where was she from? Not Karakura Town! "The um…fifth district of the Rukongai," she breathed, finally remembering what Urahahara told her.
"Hn, a good part," he commented. "Any family?"
She nodded. "I have two sisters and was living with my grandfather before attending the academy…I had to work as a geisha to pay for food and our living costs."
"Uh-huh."
Mari slumped back in her chair, pouting. He didn't seem very interested at all! Stupid jerk-face! An alarm suddenly went off, startling her. "Wh-what's going on?"
An announcement came over the intercom: "All members of the Fifth Division, dispatch to the Rukongai, Second District. Hollow are attacking the village."
"Let's go," Shinji said, standing up. Momo nodded, also getting up, sending a Hell Butterfly to all of the division members.
Marise was trembling slightly, frightened. "Do, um…do I have to go?" she squeaked.
Shinji turned to her and smiled warmly. "Yeah, don't 'cha wanna see? Students always jump at this. Don't worry, ya'll be fine."
Mari was a little hesitant, but…she trusted him. Nodding, she followed them outside and was amazed by how Shinji directed his division members. He…had a natural leadership ability, and it was easy to see just how much his division respected and admired him.
They arrived at the scene and her eyes widened in seeing the numerous grotesque Hollows and the normal souls fleeing, carrying their children as they ran away.
As she watched the Shinigami prepare for combat, she grew afraid. Would she have to fight…?
"Stay back, Kyoko-chan," Shinji told her, drawing his Zanpakutō.
Mari sighed in relief and did as she was instructed. She watched the Shinigami fight, though mostly Shinji. She never really saw him in his element before, at least, not since the day she had met him, when he had saved Taro from the Hollow. But seeing him in his uniform, so serious…she was impressed by his skill and finesse on the battlefield.
Mari then saw Momo, who was equally elegant, and became sad again.
Even when fighting she is so cute… Marise thought, pouting. Pretty, smart, and strong? That's not fair!
She was so wrapped up in her negative thoughts that she didn't even notice a Hollow creep up behind her, preparing to blast a cero. She heard a sound and when she turned around, she gasped in seeing the large red ball forming in its mouth.
She shrieked, though Shinji grabbed her just in time, pulling her to safety. The blast hit one of the buildings, obliterating it, though a nearby Shinigami quickly exterminated the Hollow.
All of them were soon destroyed, and a few division members gathered around the student who was trembling in their taichō's arms.
"Why didn't you defend yourself?" one scoffed. Others murmured in agreement. She wasn't a first year; she should have used a Kidō spell, even if she didn't have her sword with her!
Marise, seeing the judging faces around her, was so frightened and ashamed that tears started coming. She frantically tried to wipe them away, afraid it would smear her make-up and expose her. "I-I'm sorry…" she hiccupped. Great, now she looked like an utter fool in front of Momo and Shinji!
"Back off," Shinji growled at his division. "Head back to the barracks. Now."
The Shinigami shrugged and headed off, their fukutaichō leading them.
"Lemme take ya back," the Visored said softly. He slid an arm beneath her legs, prepared to pick her up.
"N-n-no!" she sputtered. "I'm okay, really!" She wanted to give in, so, so badly, yearning to be held by him…but he would be holding Kyoko, not Mari. Did he offer to carry every frightened girl?
She was more insecure than ever.
Marise ate dinner quietly with Momo and Shinji. She wasn't in the mood to talk and just listened bitterly as the taichō and fukutaichō chatted. Afterward, all of the Shino Academy students were rounded up and sent to spend the night in an empty barracks, to see what the sleeping quarters were like.
Mari was lying in her futon, listening to silence. After she reasoned that everyone else had gone to sleep, she threw the covers off, still wearing her academy uniform. She left her disguise on just in case she was to come across anybody.
But now…now she had to go home. Kisuke made it clear that she was to come back at midnight; otherwise the Senkaimon he set up would expire. Mari was fine with that. It's not like she wanted or needed to stay anyway. She saw enough.
Shinji was perfectly fine without her…she was being pathetic, unable to move on.
And although Mari thought this…she just wanted to be alone with him once before leaving. Being as quiet as she could, Mari snuck out of the barracks and headed to the Fifth Division, specifically to the office, where she learned was also the taichōs' sleeping quarters.
She was afraid the door would be locked, but she was able to easily slide open the door. She saw a set of stairs and trotted up them quietly, leading to another room. When she opened the door, her heart fluttered in seeing Shinji sleeping peacefully.
Oh…Shinji… Her heart yearned for him. Okay, you saw him. Now leave! Her mind screamed, but her feet had a mind of their own, walking toward the futon he was lying on. She kneeled down next to him, careful not to make a sound, and smiled. It was so…cute to see him so vulnerable. He just looked so sweet. Marise bit her lower lip, and against her better judgment, lightly ran her fingers along his uneven bangs. At first she thought he looked strange, but now…she realized that the look suited him very well. Her backwards Yankī…
She licked her lips nervously. Her heart was beating out of her chest, so loudly, that Mari grew afraid that he might be able to hear it. She reached and gently traced a finger over his lips. She…she wanted to kiss him so badly… I'll leave after this…I promise I will! She told herself, as she slowly leaned down. She was just going to brush her lips against his…lightly! He'd never even feel it!
Just as she was about to kiss him, she gasped when the Visored's eyes opened. She let out a squeak when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her down on the futon, pinning her beneath him.
"I-I-I'm sorry!" Mari sputtered, shaking her head. "I, um, I was sleepwalking, trying to find the bathroom, and I ended up here! I promise I'll leave!" she whimpered, trying to free herself. Though the taichō didn't loosen his grip.
"Hang on now, what's the rush?" he asked huskily. Her eyes widened when he leaned down and skimmed his fingers over her cheek. He smirked lightly, and murmured, "We've only known each other for a day…and ya already want me this badly? I guess I'm more irresistible than I thought."
Wh-why is he touching me like this…? I'm a stranger! It was…as if Mari had never been in his life…was he thinking about her as he did this? Her face then fell, tears threatening to fall. I-it doesn't matter who he does what with… She thought, her heart breaking. We're not together…he left me…he's not mine anymore.
Shinji leaned in, about to kiss her, though he pulled back, surprised to see her crying.
"Please…" she sobbed, shaking her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks, smearing her make-up. "D-Don't do this if you don't love me."
Shinji, his heart aching, pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. Mari began crying harder. It's true! He never really loved me! Shinji pulled away after a few moments and saw that Mari had her eyes squeezed shut, trying to forget what just happened. "Your girlfriend," Mari hiccupped, glaring at him through her tears. "She would hate you!"
"No, she wouldn't," he whispered hoarsely, shaking his head. He rested his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged. "Because she's right here."
To Be Continued
: : : MY THANKS TO : : :
Page-Mistress: I thought it would be interesting and random to throw in a bunch of kids and how Mari would interact with them. Heaven knows it would start out rough, but, bah, they'd be okay in the end. Yes, Hiyori with her terrible timing, lol. XD I see that kind of relationship between them two, and I hope to show that more often.
Juliedoo: Aww, I'm glad you think so…I think this one might have that same theme to it, lol. Yes, Mari has a hard time controlling her emotions. Lol, I bet you like this cliffhanger better, don't you? XD There was…kind of some Shinji and Mari time! Well…more like Shinji and Kyoko. XD
Anon: Yes, that's how I feel it was too. Hmm, you're pretty much spot on! She wanted to see him but didn't want him to know, same as when he visited her. They're just very afraid to face each other.
Review for ch.27: Lol, now you must really be smelling smut. XD Yeah, poor Mari… Lol, but poor Hiyori too, Mari treats her like an angry doll. Thank you dear!
IamBlackBeyond: I'm so glad you did, I enjoyed writing the last one. Yeah, I wanted to show Mari's side of the story. Oh dear, Miyazaki was just using poor judgment…or maybe he wanted to punish her that way, lol. Aww, I'm happy you find her cute, she's really a pain, but a lot of fun to write. Aha, a very naughty flashback indeed, and we know Mari secretly loved it too~ Thank you! About the picture of her pregnant…I have no idea. I'm kind of making this up as I go along. xDDD
EaSnowPw: Glad you thought so! Hmm, I wonder if it will be a happy reunion…? We'll find out soon enough!
Alex274: Everyone loves the dance kids, I'll have to keep them in the story. XD Yeah, Shinji needs to kick that lamo's ass~ I actually had reach chapter 10 out of randomness and I can't believe how much she's changed! I personally like this slightly more mature Mari better, but it's interesting to see just how crazy she was back then, lol. Glad you could see it too!
akagami hime chan: Yeah, she really has…it's interesting to see how people can change people. Aha, and yes, she is…I actually got a picture of that idea, see it in my Shinji favorites on DeviantArt! I can email it to you too if you want, it's so hot, I was drooling, lol.
Evalyd Yamazaki: Hiyori is such a silly, angry girl…that's why we love her~ Yeah, Love is awesome! He needs more attention. Yep, she was a determined girl!
Gunitatsuhiko: I hope 11 days wasn't too bad…! Sometimes I can take a month or longer to update. XP Aww, thank you so much! That really means a lot to me. I feel it was inconsistent in the beginning, but I'm slowly getting better!
Zmijajuri: Wow, you have no idea how much that means to me! ^_^ Yeah, I really wanted to show that adding flaws to your OC doesn't have to necessarily make them look bad…doing it in a humorous way is really fun. I'm so glad I did well with him, I sometimes feel that I may make him too perverted or have him cursing too much…but I like him like that, lol. He's one of the few that said "fuck" in the manga.
Solarfalcon: YOU! Stick to one site! XD Haha, no lemon pie for yooouuuu~
Saber Amane: I'm so glad you do, thank you! And they just might be together at last, it seems like her cover was blown…! Aww yeah, writing that scene was really sad for me too. Hopefully it'll be a happy reunion!
CloverCandyKiller-BabyChan: Thank you for the favorite, story alert, and author alert!
xxAhiruHoneyxx: Hey, sweetie! I didn't know you had an account! *will now see your stories* Thank you for the favorite, author alert, and favorite author!
Kana-Milla: Thank you for the story alert! ^_^
Kira440: Thanks for adding this story to your favorites. :D
Everyone'sfangirl13579: Thanks for adding this to your faves! :)
Author's Note: Wow, I had actually originally planned for this chapter to include a lot more stuff…but I kind of figured it would turn out to be really long, so I decided to split it into two. (Because I wanted to torture you guys, yes.) I feel that this is a really great ending spot though, kind of leaves you to wonder what happens next!
And sorry if I have any Bleach facts wrong, Bleach Wiki is my Bleach Bible and I used it a lot for this chapter. I don't know if they're actually holding Aizen in the Next of Maggots, he's on the eighth level of somewhere, it just didn't specify in the Wiki. I also really hate Senkaimons, the time/space distortion is SOOOO confusing. It literally makes no sense to me, so I just danced upon that a teensy bit.
When I saw Momo's new look I was like, "Aww! That's Mari's bow! XD" I really love Momo though and I kinda think she and Shinji would be cute together…not in a completely romantic way, but…yeah. I can't wait to see them interact.
AND OMG, SHINJI IN THE LATEST CHAPTER WAS, HNNNGG…! He better play a bigger part in the next one.
