Tadao is an OC.
Chapter Thirty-five
Would You Believe Me If I Told You…
Yoshida led the group to the back of the shop trailer where his father was. After the normal pleasantries Tadao spoke to Rukia.
"My, my, so it's true you are a ringer for that young lady," Tadao said.
"I can't remember a time she left Hawaii, do you remember what time period she was here," Rukia asked.
"Oh yes. Not too long ago she came here. Nearly ten years ago I believe," Tadao answered.
"Are you sure it was that long ago sir," Ichigo asked.
"There were plenty of people coming and going around that time but a strange incident solidified it for me I-
"Dad if you talk like that people will have you committed," Yoshida interrupted in protest to what his father was about to mention.
"Oh go mind the storefront," Tadao said.
"Fine but don't go saying I didn't warn you," Yoshida reprimanded.
"Sir you were saying something about an incident," Uryû asked.
"A woman drowns in the river. That woman was chasing after someone who no one could see. Your sister was the only one who believed her stories about seeing someone before she drown. Everyone else just thought the girl went mad running into the river. That's right I said it. Ghosts! Now go ahead and call me crazy all you like," Tadao said putting a hand around his ear cupping it in challenge.
"What else do you know about my sister," Rukia asked.
"Well she would come to the shop on the way to the river where she left flowers and said a prayer for the dead woman.
I heard stories and such that Hisana was seen talking to the air. I mean having full conversations with nobody. She was such a nice young lady that we ignored all such nonsense but then she disappeared and the place was haunted," Tadao said shaking his head.
"What do you mean by haunted," Orihime asked.
"Strange things happened that none of us shop owners could explain. It all started after Hisana stopped coming around,
People started reporting that they saw the woman from the lake. They started thinking the best thing would be to continue what Hisana did leaving flowers to remember the dead. You know thinking maybe the hauntings would stop. But things got worse there were two more drowning that fall. Those people wouldn't try to swim in that river so everyone stayed away from that area," Tadeo said.
I would have been only 12 at this time. It wouldn't make sense for Rukia's sister to be younger than me, Ichigo thought.
"How old was she would you guess," Ichigo asked.
"I suppose no more than a teenager," Tadeo said.
"That makes no sense. Maybe we are encountering stories about someone who only looks like Hisana," Ichigo said to the group.
"Or Rukia," Orihime suggested.
Everyone turned and looked at Orihime.
"No Rukia was doing her Shinigami thing," Ichigo said.
"My Shinigami thing," Rukia questioned.
"For that play remember," Ichigo threw out stupidly realizing where he was and who he was talking with. Tadeo shouldn't know about Shinigami.
"Thanks for your time sir," Orihime said as they all swiftly left the shopkeepers trailer.
"Despite the blunder Ichigo's right," Uryû said needlessly.
"So we are searching for Rukia this whole time," Ichigo said.
"Think about it all the places we've been seem familiar to Rukia. Hisana looks just like her. Perhaps they created a Hisana from Rukia's own memories. The only person we can get confirmation from is Hisana herself. The memories she had were of the World of the Living none of Byakuya for all we know. It is far too convenient and put together," Uryû reasoned.
"If they want us busy searching for her it could be a diversion so what do we do now," Orihime asked.
"Act like nothing happened. We'll talk about it later now let's enjoy this carnival stay together and we'll think about everything later," Ichigo said.
"Ichigo's right everyone is leaving soon so we should enjoy our days together before we all separate again. Besides there are others working on the case of Pearl and Mark we should stick to our focused assignment," Rukia said.
Ichigo knew her orders were to keep the humans away from the case of Pearl and Mark but he said nothing.
000
The day was coming to an end and the sky darkened over Karakura. Rukia stood on the rooftop of a twelve story building knowing why they did not build a thirteenth floor. Between Ichigo's friends and the Shinigami the information gathering was rather slow and tedious. Meanwhile the fighting went on with the enemy losing major forces. Still they had yet to capture the people they wished let alone find Hisana.
"What's coming is big. Your friends feel it too," Ashido said.
"All comfortable ordering people around just look at you," Rukia said.
"Times change things," he said.
"How's your squad adjusting," she asked.
"They get it," he said.
"I'll bet," she said.
"You were missed," he said.
"That's a first," she said.
"You know that's not true," he said.
"You are so right. Things really changed sometimes I drift into thinking the way I used to. Worried that they only see the Kuchiki name," Rukia said.
"Are you going back," he asked. She knew he was referring to the mission to Hueco Mundo but the words had more than one meaning to her.
"I heard about the team going in. If those are my orders I will go," Rukia said.
"Without a reason to fight you'd be a hindrance-
"I'll pretend you didn't say that to me," Rukia argued.
"Sorry but it has to be said you are no use to anyone if your head and heart are here in the World of the Living," he countered.
"All the more reason to protect those souls from what's out there don't you think," she asked.
He nodded and said nothing. Rukia was surprised he talked as much as he had. The fact they sent a captain here meant that the enemy was formidable. The prospect of an upcoming big fight seemed daunting. She didn't want to be a liability. If she were to fight it made sense to return to the Soul Society to recover the spirit energy and sharpen her ability.
They wanted to keep Ichigo at a distance because they worried about his battle skills. Ashido coming to talk to her was the proof she needed.
"Thank you for telling me about what the others are thinking. I know what to do now," she said.
"Sharp as ever," Ashido said.
"Ichigo will be ready for what it's worth," Rukia said.
"I don't doubt it. I have to get going in any case," Ashido said.
000
After leaving Ashido, Rukia ran into Sado and Uryû. Rukia explained to the guys all that Ashido informed her about the Shinigami next moves.
"I'm in. I've been a part of our team for some time now," Uryû said.
"We can't make him the last to know," Rukia said.
"Ichigo, I'll talk to," Sado said.
"This conversation doesn't even feel right without him," Rukia complained.
"They have their reasons," Uryû said.
"They always do," Rukia said.
"I should be the one to take that tone. One more thing I don't want Orihime to come along this time," Uryû said.
"I'll ignore that," Rukia said.
000
Uryû hadn't discussed relationships with Ichigo in years so it was strange as they did so in Ichigo's father's clinic. He had finished telling Ichigo about the Shinigami plans and keeping him up to date. Rukia came up as did the fact she bounced from place to place lately while fake or not Ichigo had lived with her in the same house as a married man.
"She's strange and I know nothing about her…and everything about her. There is just so much I don't know about her life before," Ichigo said.
"But you feel like you know her," Uryû said.
"Yeah isn't that strange," Ichigo asked.
"Not at all, I think the mystery is what keeps us crazy about them…girls I mean. They are all like that to some degree. Your brand just happens to be Rukia," Uryû said.
"Our brand just happens to be strange," Ichigo said.
"Agreed," Uryû said.
He didn't want to wallow in self-pity it was his fault that it took this long to figure out what he wanted. Orihime didn't seem ready to forgive him just yet. That conversation quickly died and the two went back to discussing "normal" topics.