Iron Snow

Rukia Kuchiki and the Impossible

Rukia stared at the crumpled up piece of paper in her hand, not knowing whether to crumple it even more or just throw it away. The air was thick with unknown energy, surging through her incorporeal form even if all it did was get her to shiver. It felt like… multiple spiritual energies but spread out to the point that it's covered an entire world many times over. Rukia didn't know how such a thing was even possible.

The crinkling paper reminded her of what she had in her hand, the mission she was given. Rukia didn't mind the assignment, in fact, she was even excited! Or at least at first, the discovery of a new realm was an amazing thing to live through. Until you have to be the one to actually explore such a realm. She didn't want to be here, it was her assumption that her assignment would take place in the living realm, not a brand new, basically Hollowless world filled with people that could easily see her.

Look at me, Rukia ponders, a world filled with only spiritually aware humans, and the first thing I think about is how ungrateful I am.

Taking one last look at her mission statement, she shoves it into her Shihakusho and keeps moving. Determined to get out of this forest and-

"That deer keeps looking at me funny." Sure enough, staring at her from her left was a single deer, unblinking with its black eyes. She stopped dead (heh) in her tracks to stare back at the, somehow spiritually aware animal, raising a delicate eyebrow at it. "Never seen a Soul Reaper before?"

It still didn't blink, but as Rukia kept up with her staring contest she could've sworn she saw the eyes of the deer shine with anticipation. It turned around and slowly walked off. Rukia was about to do the same in the opposite direction until the deer looked back.

"You want me to follow you?" The deer had the audacity to roll its eyes at her. Nodding in her general direction. With its piece portrayed, the deer walked off again.

Rukia bit her lip, on one hand, her mission was always first priority. But on the other… that deer was kind of cute.

She weighed her options. She doesn't need to report back until a few months from now, she could afford to spend a few moments on a flight of fancy, couldn't she?

Mind made up, Rukia followed after the intelligent and spiritually aware deer that was leading her further into the forest.

She should've known a sentence like that was an omen for things to come. Whether she'll come to regret it, she'll just have to find out.

LC

As she got closer to the retreating form of the deer, which wasn't that hard comparably, Rukia could hear sounds of shifting, creaking metal. And only if she strained her ears could she hear an impossibly soft grunt with each metallic sound.

Rukia glanced at the deer which revealed the emotional state of the animal. Her eyes widened, the poor thing was terrified.

Shaking limbs, wide eyes, and a twitching jaunt forward. Whatever it was leading her towards was capable of such an instinctual, primal reaction from the once calm, and amused animal.

A part of her began thinking this whole thing was a trap designed for her. An intelligent, and dangerous Hollow using a cute deer to lure her into its domain.

On the outside, Rukia's expression stayed the same. Cold and indifferent. But on the inside, she smirked at the challenge. Trap or not, she has trained for over a century to exterminate the dark pests. Rukia Kuchiki will not be defeated by a cowardly Hollow.

"Never in a million years." The creaking was getting louder, signifying her proximity to her destination. She glanced at her tour guide once again, still shaking like a leaf. Maybe there's a fight? A Hollow attack?

It would explain the deer's apparent hurry to guide her through the empty forest. Perhaps a friend of the deer is in danger?

Maybe the deer in this world are capable of facing Hollow. Anything is possible in this place!

Nodding to herself she began to pick up the pace. Much to her guides obvious relief.

As the heavy metal grew ever closer, Rukia began to slowly slide her Zanpakuto out of its sheath, ready for battle.

When she finally got there, however, she stopped cold in her movements at the sight befalling her: It wasn't the thousands of pounds of metal that they were lifting at such a rate that all she could see were black blurs. It wasn't the assorted crowd of animals that have the best seats in the house. It wasn't even the lone Hollow that seems just as transfixed as the rest of them.

It was their spiritual energy. Or rather, the lack thereof.

Every living thing has a soul, a spirit made out of spiritual energy. From the lowest insect to the Soul King. To not have one meant you didn't exist, an anomaly, a tall tale.

The human boy in a tight black shirt with workout shorts had no spiritual energy, instead, he was a living singularity. The more Rukia stared, the more she couldn't comprehend what her eyes were showing her; a human with no soul. The outline of his body was the only thing visible to her when she tried to sense his spiritual energy, everything else was darker than a black void where no light could escape from.

He wasn't supposed to exist, his very being is against the balance of life and death. A living, breathing calamity waiting to happen.

Rukia couldn't breathe, so deep in the void that she felt herself getting sucked in. It took her ripping her eyes away from the human anomaly that she was able to catch her breath.

Desperately, she tried to distract herself from the boy that wasn't supposed to exist. Craning her neck, she was able to spot a single Hollow mesmerized by the sight that threatened to suck her in.

In a hurry, Rukia was just about to unsheath her blade before she noticed something; the Hollow wasn't moving.

"What in the world?" She whispered, confused about what the Hell this world was supposed to be. Animals that can see Shinigami, a soul-sucking black-hole for lack of a better word, and now a peaceful Hollow. What was next? A human with a Zanpakuto?

She was ripped from her musings when a loud clang made itself known throughout the forest. Grudgingly bracing herself for the void that will greet her as soon as she turns to the other direction.

Rukia blinked, then she rubbed her eyes only to blink again. The void was gone, what replaced it was a perfectly normal, very buff human boy. She narrowed her eyes, no way…

She couldn't sense him, at all! How could a human have such control over their reiryoku? That absolute void she saw earlier shouldn't be so easily hidden!

"Nothing like a creampuff after pumping iron." The impossible human stated while nibbling on said creampuff.

Wait… now I can see his reiryoku. It's simply white and… no wait. It doesn't feel right at all.

His pressure increased with each bite taken, by the time he was finished, his reiryoku vanished yet again. No, Rukia narrowed her eyes, it's not gone. If she pushed her sensory abilities to their absolute limits, she could just barely see a near-incomprehensible dot of concentrated white reiatsu.

"Impressive." His level of control clearly fluctuated, but to be spiritually invisible was a skill that required quite the talent. Especially from one so young. Given that he was a human teenager, he couldn't be more than two decades old. Briefly, she wondered how well he would do as a Soul Reaper.

"Wonder what it will take to defeat him?" Just as she voiced her thoughts, a deep, dark growl echoed throughout the forest. Hmm, seems like the boy heard it as well. Boy, boy… he needs a better name. How about, she studied the boy's hairstyle, mushroom head? Yes, that works just fine.

"Nom nom, I see you've been pumping iron." The mushroom head nodded to the shredded musculature of the approaching Hollow. Said Hollow sported a leering bone-white mask of its lost humanity. The large hole on the right side of his chest signified its emptiness inside, crawling on its hind legs to sniff at the creampuff in his hand.

If he keeps it distracted long enough, I can stab it from behi- SPLAT

Mushroom head stared at his outstretched hand, poised to offer his creampuff to the curious beast, now the creampuff stained the bark of a tree. Rukia stared at the Hollow, feeling almost pity for the soulless abomination.

Almost.

The boy looked to the malicious Hollow, and the world lost its color.

LC

Finn Ames fell on his back, breath finally catching up to him. The dissipating corpse of that… monster in front of him. Jagged claws, so close to relieving him of his bowels. The cause of its demise shone in the form of an oversized Partisan lodged in the beast's multiple spines.

"Brother…" Finn breathlessly called out, "Thank you for saving me."

Rayne Ames appeared before the corpse and his brother, allowing his Partisan to disappear from the beast's spines. He turned to Finn and raised a two-toned eyebrow, "Did I?"

"W-What?"

Rayne turned around, and behind him, the bodies of many more masked monsters were dissipating. Many of them are covered with large, grotesque claw marks. With their masks cracked and shattered. Some, however, weren't even in one piece. Or two, or three.

"...Either you have another savior, or you've improved greatly with your-

Finn scrambled to his feet, bowing low in thanks. He stammered out, "ThankyouverymuchbutI'vegottogonow!" Before swiftly turning around.

Rayne held out a hand placatingly, "Finn if you need to tell me something-

"It's fine!"

"Such unconvincing words."

Finn flinched at his words. He desperately wanted to change the subject, so he voiced his first thought. "What were those things?"

Rayne sighed, but he let Finn steer the conversation away from his clearly uncomfortable topic. "We're about to find out, all the Visionaries are meeting with an expert on the subject."

"A monster expert?"

"No… someone unbelievable." Rayne looked Finn right in the eye as he said the next part, "We will be honored with a visit from a Shinigami."

"...oh."

LC

Lemon Irvine watched the creature struggle in its bonds. Her magical chains held the dark beast captive, struggling in vain as the links held under the savage desperation.

Loud clinks and clanks, along with its roars created a cacophony of a maleficent nature.

Lemon giggled as the monster refused to give up, whether out of stubbornness or just plain stupidity. At first, the monster's presence itself was suffocating, in her last-ditch effort, she called upon every ounce of her magical power.

She always thought of herself as weak, her magic, status, and wealth were always below everyone else. But this absolute beast of a monster was right in front of her, corded muscles, four arms, and the sharpest teeth she's ever seen.

It was utterly powerless against her chains.

She always thought her magic was simple Cuff Magic, the ability to conjure restraints at a whim. Useful sure, but utterly useless in anything other than a straight one on one fight. In this world, nobody plays fair.

But in a sudden need, a burst of adrenaline, or the will to just not die, she pushed her magic to the next level.

Chains, links, cuffs, anything to trap or restrain she can conjure. The size, weight, or even shape of the restraints was entirely up to her own will.

She smiled, the rush of adrenaline leaving her. With only satisfaction left. The monster finally stopped moving, growling at Lemon.

"Oh? Finally, giving up? You know, you're kinda cute when you're not trying to kill me." She reached and laid a delicate hand on top of its skull mask. The texture and feel of the mask felt… wrong somehow. Twisted and changed. "You're in pain, aren't you?"

The beast only growled, and shook its head to dislodge her hand.

Lemon frowned, these things aren't supposed to be here. She didn't know why she thinks that, but it's a prominent feeling in her gut. She never listened before, but now…

She looked at the wooden wand in her hand. Thin, delicate, and brittle. But inside was a potential with limits unknown, just like her. It took Lemon listening to her gut to finally unlock that potential.

…maybe she should listen every once in a while.

Lemon hopped up to the snarling creature, mouth wide in a toothy smile. "You're going to be my pet!"

The dark beast froze and slammed its head against the restraints. Cracking its mask.

Startled, Lemon tried to see what was wrong. "H-Hey what's wrong!?"

But the stubborn creature wasn't listening and kept bashing its mask until it finally broke. The beast slumped over and let out a content moan. Slowly turning to dust as it faded away.

"...holy cats, I'm not that bad am I?"

LC

Lance Crown sneered at the crushed corpses surrounding him. There he was, reciting his newest poem. It was really more of a sonnet, but in any case, he can't even relax without these monstrous freaks disturbing his tranquility.

He sighed, as the ripped-up pieces of his sonnet scattered across the wind.

One of the larger pieces dropped to the dirt, revealing the words, '... I loved you... '

He picked it up, allowing one tear to fall. The wind fluttered his light blue hair and scattered the other pieces of his sonnet to the wind. Lost forever.

Lance opened the locket around his neck, showing a picture of an innocent young girl smiling with light blue hair.

He hugged it to his chest, "Sorry Anna, I'll be more careful next time. I promise."

LC

BOOM"Yeah! That's what ya get, freakin ugly bastards!"

Dot Barrett smirked at the blown-up innards of the rude jackasses. He could not believe such cringy, skull-wearing jerks even existed but God was proving him wrong!

He sighed as the soot and corpse dust mixed together to clog up the air, it was putrid and he waved his hands to get it away from his picnic spot.

Turning around, he picked up the set-down teacup of herbal tea from the gravestone and sat down once again for a relaxing evening. "Hey, sorry about that. Just had to tell some schmucks off. Rude people these days, I swear."

He inhaled the sweet and cool aroma of the cup of Ocean's Sapphire tea he held in his hand with his pinky finger held high. Letting off a satisfied sigh, he finally relaxed. "Doesn't get any better than this."

Dot faced the gravemarker, "Couldn't get ya favorite flavor, by the way. Sorry, they were all out of Nature's Opal."

He scoffed, "But ya knew that. That crap isn't even in season yet, and it's always sold out anyway."

He paused to take a sip, a refreshing, clean, and almost minty taste entered his mouth. Setting his cup down on the little plate he has, shaking his head all the while. "Never got ya obsession with that flavor, too much pulp and it had an earthy aftertaste I jus' couldn't handle."

He faced the gravestone, and the individual stuck to it by a wispy chain. "Know what I mean?"

The individual's fingers went through the other cup Dot had laid out for the picnic, but her nose could still just barely make out the enticing aroma of the herbal tea. To her, it was more than enough. "Hmph, ya always had bad taste."

Dot smirked at his sister, raising his cup to a toast. A toast that could never be answered. "Aw! Ya still love me, ya know ya do!"

Laughing heartily amongst each other. One in the living plane, one in the other. "Never change ya big idiot."

"Ya know it!"

In their merriment, neither of them noticed the astral chain just starting to have a hint of rust.

LC

Rukia coughed as she came to, remembering the glare of a mushroom and a large flash of nothing but white. Just what the hell kind of sentence was that?

Shaking her head, she started to remember something about a Hollow…?

Gasp! That's right, the mushroom head was facing off against a Hollow! She has to save-

Nothing. Rukia looked to the clearing in the forest where she last saw the beast, but there was no sign of it or the mushroom head. Did that mean he was killed, she certainly hoped not, or else she's out of a job. Did I just make a joke about someone getting eaten by a Hollow? Something was wrong with this world, she could feel it.

Hang on, there's a large hole in between the trees of the forest. It was as if a giant punched its way through the forest. At the very end of the large gash in the dirt was an absolutely massive crater, black dust suggesting a Hollow was killed without a Zanpakuto.

But where was the boy? Just then, she heard a twig snap behind her. Swiftly turning around, she laid a hand on her Zanpakuto ready to draw.

The mushroom head was right in front of her with bored yellow eyes, or were they just apathetic?

This is embarrassing, allowing myself to get snuck upon.

"Can I help you?" The living singularity said.

She bowed in greeting and responded with, "Sorry for disturbing you, I was simply curious when a deer led me here. It seemed adamant that I come here."

He nodded, "Makes sense I guess." Did it? That's not good.

Slowly he reached into his brown paper bag. Where did he even get that, in fact, where could he have stored it?

He pulled out a singular creampuff and held it out to her, "Want a creampuff?"

Rukia blinked as she straightened herself out. This is him? This is the living calamity with such powerful spiritual energy (?) that she lost consciousness by only being near? This is the impossible boy? The human with no soul?

She burst out laughing, unable to control herself after the day she just had. Rukia was about to decline, as she's never eaten a creampuff before and didn't even know if she would like it.

Her mind helpfully reminded her of how idiotic that course of action was. Images of the massive crater housing a Hollow carcass surfaced to her mind.

Thanking him for his generous offer, she took the creampuff from his hand and stared at the confectionary.

Just what was she getting herself into? Was this her life now?

...hmph, could be worse.