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Saguru POV
The stares are starting to get a bit annoying.
This first one had happen first thing in the morning. I had been washing my face, while Sensei was brushing his teeth, and Tomomi was brushing his hair.
"Should I cut it?" the rather beautiful young man ask, looking at his strawberry blond hair with a frown.
"It could be a liability in a fight; some people will fight dirty, so hair pulling can be expected. On the other hand, it's good for having an opponent underestimate you, especially you Tomomi; they would have to get close to you to do it, and that is when they doom themselves." I say, pulling the towel away from my face so my voice isn't muffled and turning to look at my young follower.
Once cleaned up, both Tomomi and Sensei look stunning, in their own ways. Tomomi's hair now shines and his skin is a moonlight, creamy pale color. He makes the hospital kimono he's wearing look like the latest fashion, he's that good looking.
Sensei on the other hand has completely cut off his silvering black hair, getting it boy short, a few tresses falling to his neck still. He was always the cleanest of us, but it's still a shock seeing his severe features soften as he relaxes. Kind of makes him look younger, even nobler in the plain clothing he's wearing now then in all the finery he was dressed in as a servant.
"If you want to keep your hair longer, you should but it in a pony-tail or braid." Sensei says simply, after he spit out the toothpaste in the sink.
"I could braid for it you, if you like." I offer, remembering how I would braid rope together with Sosuke, who taught me the process so that we could get the job done faster.
I feel a familiar pang when I think of Sosuke. I wonder how's he doing, if he's alright. But I can't get sentimental now; my friends and I are not out of the woods yet.
(Later, much later, I'll see if I can find and reunite with my brother; but right now I can't.)
In the end, Tomomi decides to go for a trim, cutting his hair until it reaches the middle of his back. After that is over with, we go back to the room and sit on one of the beds, me armed with a hair-tie.
"You don't have to do this, Saguru-sama." Tomomi says softly, a slight blush on his face.
"Eh, it's no trouble at all; besides, this will help you out." I say, starting to braid, hair tie in my right hand, looped around my thumb and the three fingers closest to it. Once there is no more hair to twist and turn, I loop the tie around the end, making sure no hair will escape.
And just in time too, for a knock is heard a moment later.
"I'll get it." I say, going over to the door, opening to see what looks like a member of the Fourth in front of me, just about to say something.
Only for noting to come out, as the Shinigami gapes at me.
(This is our guide around the place; can't you tell that we'll become good friends?)
Let the staring and double taking commence.
Or it seems like someone said that, as everywhere we go, we get stared at.
Now I can understand Tomomi getting stared at; he's a beauty. Sensei looks like a noble, so of course he'll get his face share of stares.
And while I'm sure I'm slightly attractive, I'm not that good looking to have all the stares and double takes I'm getting.
It's starting to get rather annoying, to be truthful.
It happens with anyone we pass, stopping to gawk.
And don't get me started on the mess hall.
(Though the food was so amazing! Flavor, how I love thee! Never leave me again.)
Soon, my face was completely blank, while Sensei and Tomomi were getting a bit… protective. Sensei was glaring at anyone who stared too long, making them pale with fear and run along. While Tomomi was frowning at them, making them look guilty and run off for upsetting him. They're the best.
"Excuse me, you three." A nervous Shinigami said, gaining our attention "A few of the Captains would like to interview you again, due to… certain circumstances."
"What circumstances?" Sensei asked, eyeing the youth carefully.
"It would seem that two of your… fellow survivors have committed… Suicide. The other three were killed fighting after they tried to escape." The Shinigami says hesitantly, making me want to sigh.
Looks like their brainwashing was done rather thoroughly.
"I see." I finally gave in and sighed, getting up from my chair, my two allies following behind closely.
This should be interesting, meeting other characters besides my brother; wonder how many I'll recognize.
When we're led to the meeting room, I can't help but blink.
I spot a certain hat wearing shop keeper! Sans hat and apparently a captain (and a whole lot more adorable, seriously that face).
Now why do I feel like I'm missing something?
I mean, after a quick look, I see the captain commander, who I don't bother to name; the man's his title. Then there's Retsu-sama (and can I just say, whoa), Yoruichi (Neko!), and Tessai-san (awesome and scary). I just feel like I'm doing a complicated puzzle, yet so close to pulling off the move that will make it all come in place. It's rather frustrating.
And it gets slightly more frustrating with the way they stare, stunned.
Oh, they're sly about it, but I'm a bit sensitive to Spiritual Energy, so I can literally almost taste the surprise coming off them. As they're captains, they pull themselves together, fast and unnoticeable to anyone who wouldn't know they were surprised in the first place.
"Please, take a seat so that we may begin." Is offered by the oldest of the group, motioning us where to sit.
And we do, ready for anything they throw at us.
Let the true interrogation commence.
"So, what do you know so far? We wouldn't want to repeat ourselves, after all." I try and start things on a cheerful note, because its certainly not going to end on one.
The future shop keeper coughs a bit, while the lovely neko woman actually snorts, and the badass Captain of the Fourth's lips actually twitch, so I count those as wins.
"Files have been uncovered, along with other documents that will give us insight into the situation. Unfortunately, from what has been read so far, it seems that no names were recorded." the Twelfth Division captain says, his eyes questioning.
"And you probably won't find a victim with one, unless they're from a Noble family." Sensei says, face blank and his rough voice calm.
The tense atmosphere grows tighter at those words.
"They snatched people from the Nobles?" is asked in such a shocked tone.
"Most are guaranteed to be powerful, with the high levels of Spiritual energy they hold. Any chance they had, they took great lengths to obtain." Tomomi answers demurely, as he is the one who had the most experience with the other numbered. "Though more often then not, they had to settle for those in the outer districts, as they will not be missed by anyone and were easier to obtain."
"How did they identify you then, if not by name?" This is asked by Yoruichi, golden eyes dark as she looked at them.
"We are numbered; on our left shoulder, they tattoo four digits, starting from 0001 till it will eventually reach 9999." I explain blandly.
"Do you know how many experiments there are?" looks like the Captain Commander has joined in the Q and A.
I look over at Sensei, who cocks his head to the side in thought, his dark eyes covered by their lids as he concentrates.
"From what I recall, I believe they were at experiment 1610." he says when he finally opens his eyes, his trade marked frown firmly in place.
You'd have to be an idiot not to feel the disgust coming off the others in the room.
"…Do you know what they were intending to do?" This is asked by Tessai.
"From what I have gathered, they worshiped the ground the old bit- excuse me, Zora-san walked on. What ever she wanted, she got." I say, giving a slight cough at the near slip. Judging by the few amused looks I got, they caught it.
"And do you know what she wanted?" and that is the question.
"We do not know; she never let anything like that out. She had placed all her resources in perfecting her experiments, always wanting them to be perfect." my teacher answered.
Soon, the questions got more complicated and intricate, digging for any information we could have. I don't recall how long we were in there, but we were served lunch.
Hmm, to eat with manners or not to eat with them? Screw manners, I'm starving.
"… Hungry much?" The way the Second Division Captain eyes me is like she is eyeing a furious beast.
Swallowing, (even I know better than to talk with my mouth full; you might lose food), I turn to eye her.
"When you've been starved, or forced to starve because you can't guarantee that your food hasn't been drugged, let me see you try to eat with manners when something safe and delicious is placed before you."
(Bastard Alert!)
Needless to say, no one comments for the rest of lunch.
Hours later
"If we have anymore question, we will call for you. For now, Unohana-san shall like to take a examination of you three, to make sure you're all physically fit." the Captain Commander tells us, gathering the papers he was writing on. Everyone takes the chance to get out of the much hated chairs.
"Pardon me for my rudeness, but what exactly is going to happen to us." I ask, wary.
"Most likely, for now, you will be staying in the Fourth for the time being, until we can evaluate you. If you pass evaluations, you have the possibility of becoming Shinigami." Is my answer from the Shinigami.
None of the three of us ask 'what if we don't want to?'.
We're lucky to still be breathing for now.
"Ah, before we adjourn, may we have your numbers, and if possible, your names?" I turn to Kisuke who asked, his face sheepish.
(Curse your adorableness!)
Turning to look at Sensei and Tomomi, I raise an eyebrow at them.
Tomomi just smiles and Sensei scoffs.
"Identification number 0164. I am to be addressed as Sen." he said, frowning at the Captains.
"My Identification number was 0412, though my name is Tomomi." The youth says, happiness shining through when he speaks his name.
"They gave me the number 0021, but my name is Aizen Saguru. Pleasure to meet you all." I say the last part dryly, not noticing how the Captains eyes widen.
Time to throw away the numbers that labeled us, and embrace the names life gave us.
(AN)- Out of curiousity, which of my OCs does everybody like the most?
And I apologize if I didn't stay in character with some of the Bleach Cast; I'll try and do them justice, but if they have an accent, all bets are off.