The haunting sound of a piano echoed through damp caverns that wept a gentle rain and dozens of blue flowers echoed that mournful melody as they grew from the dust covered floor. A lone child in a blue and purple striped shirt sat at the piano skilfully tapping at the keys with the experience of somebody who had played the tune untold times. Fingers danced over the musical instrument as the child of unknown gender increased the speed until the mourning became wailing and the sadness turned to rage and anger before cooling down until nothing but a solid willingness to continue onwards remains.
As the music died down two sharp inorganic claps announced the presence of another and the child turned their head to face the new arrival. Their child's face was covered in a white eyeless mask with a mouth no more than a thin line. Their unique manner of dress paled before that of the being before them.
"You always seem to be the last one around," the mask wearing child said addressing the grinning skeleton clad in a blue hoodie, black shorts and slippers. In response the grin of the skeleton appeared to widen as his wide pupils flickered towards the dust on the floor and the increasing downpour.
"looks like it was a bad cycle kid," the grinning skeleton said. "i suppose you and the boss are wanting to take another whack at it. hows he holding up?"
"Same as ever," the masked child said as they turned back to the piano letting their fingers dance along the keys. "Moving forward without stopping." The boy chuckled to himself. "Except that has hasn't completely applied to us in a long time. I find that we tend to go forwards and backwards in equal measure."
"well im sorry kid but i lost my back years ago," the skeleton said chuckling to himself. ill just take a nap until he calls me then." Those were the last words that the skeleton said as he walked around a corner and instantly disappeared from the senses of the mask-wearing child.
"How rude," the boy said as the ground started to crack around him and his piano raised itself to a crescendo. "You could have at least stayed behind for the RESET. There was only one minute left after all." The boy stood up pulling his hood over his head and drawing his robe to protect himself from the increasing rain.
The boy's words proved prophetic as less than a minute later there was nothing left but the void.
xxx
Rukia Kuchiki was of the opinion that she was prepared for anything on her outing to the world of the living and until this second her opinion had been entirely correct. Excited over her first solo posting to the field, she had pored over old reports written by more experienced Shinigami as well as standard mission procedures and her old notes from the academy on hollows and she had felt reasonably prepared for her mission. For a while nothing had shaken that feeling of preparedness. The few hollows that she had encountered had been easily found, dispatched and not a single problem or deviation had occurred in the weekly paperwork that she reported to mission control. If her mission had continued on like the last week then she would have soon enough returned to her squad with a bit more experience and a few half-exciting stories.
That complacency and feeling of preparedness had shattered in an instant as the presence of the stronger than usual hollow she was following was smothered out by an unnaturally strong Spiritual Power. The flare of energy was brief and it died down almost immediately leaving Rukia confused and bewildered and almost half-doubting if it ever really existed. That brief interruption to her concentration however was enough for her to lose track of the powerful hollow and she bit her lip in admonishment at the thought of her failure before changing tracks and heading towards the location of the stronger presence.
Despite the brevity of the power there were still traces left by the Reiatsu and it took no time at all to find signs left by the massive spiritual pressure. Steeling herself for any signs of hollow occupation she eventually arrived at an average looking house and she perched upon the street pole opposite the building before with a quick motivational speech directed to herself, it was very inspiring, she leapt in, phasing through one of the walls on the second floor like a ghost, obviously. The room that she stepped into was larger than her room in Rukongai long ago but a bit smaller than her room back in the thirteenth squadron and much smaller than her room in the Kuchiki manor. There was nothing markedly different from the rooms that she had seen in her time in the human world and so she put it out of her mind to focus on tracking the source of the now disappeared power.
"Its close," she muttered to herself alert for any evidence of Spiritual Power.
"Those are some great ominous words. Whenever people walk through that wall it is never long before interesting things start to happen," the voice that greeted her was level and indifferent for the most part but Rukia felt herself jumping unexpectedly as it appeared next to her ear. "Let's hope this time it turns out for the best."
"What the hell do you think you're doing," she blurted out before she could stop herself and then a cold sweat ran down her back as she suddenly realised the situation. Standing next to her was an orange-haired teenager who towered over her and stared down as if idly contemplating her. "Wait, how can you see me," she asked, puzzled at the fact that a non-spiritual being could actually perceive her. She tried to sense any Reiatsu coming from him but not a speck of spiritual energy came from the being.
"Certain wavelengths of light reflect off of a nearby surface and travel through the pupil of the eye, hitting the retina and stimulating cones and rods which translates this stimulation into…" he started before shaking his head. "No that joke hasn't been funny for a while," he finished calmly.
"But as a Shinigami you shouldn't be able to see me," Rukia said trying to clarify the situation. She had never heard of a human seeing a Shinigami outside of using one of their assigned Gigai.
"A Shinigami," the man said as if musing over the word. "Well as a Shinigami shouldn't you be doing your job? You are on the clock aren't you?"
"You already know about Shinigami," Rukia said attentively. If he knew about the Gotei 13 then he might be associated with them, although it was quite alarming that she wouldn't have heard of him when she was assigned to the area.
"I've heard a few things in my time," the teenager said placidly. "But back to my original statement. You are aware that there is a hollow on my lawn right now."
"You're lying. I can sense no hollow Reiatsu," Rukia opened her mouth to deny his words while still remaining alert to the mysterious stranger; and then she immediately bit off those thoughts as the entire house shook and a familiar roaring assaulted her ears.
"You were going to say..?" the unnamed orange-haired boy said slightly smugly as he walked towards the door of what was apparently his bedroom, before opening it with a flourish. "Would you please get the door? You should be able to handle it. I won't interfere."
"How did you…" she started and then realised this wasn't the time for her to ask. Instead she ignored him momentarily and instead raced down the stairs and into the floor of his house below. The bottom floor of the house was wrecked and there was debris everywhere and squatting amongst the ruins was a tall fish-masked hollow with rather formidable Reiatsu. In deference to her training she only paused for the briefest of seconds before she launched herself towards the hollow. Like she was trained in the academy she stepped forward dashing at high speed, aiming for the mask that would instantly purify the hollow if destroyed, but the creature was able to respond in time and she found her Zanpaktou digging into its arm instead as it brought up the limb to block.
The unexpected resistance from the tough skin halted her for a moment and the retaliation from the hollow was swift. Rukia found herself on the receiving end of a clumsy punch that caused her to go crashing through the wall and into the streets outside of the house. She was on her feet in moments, holding her Zanpaktou defensively waiting for the hollow to follow up on its attack, but nothing came. Rukia waited a couple of long seconds before she realised to her horror that she wasn't the only target in the nearby vicinity. She immediately abandoned her ready stance and quickly flash stepped back inside the house ready to confront the hollow and then she immediately froze.
The hollow that she had fought previously, had lost the exchange to previously, hung there motionlessly as if frozen in time. Countless menacing thorny vines wrapped around its body digging into its flesh and Rukia realised with surprise that its bonds prevented it from moving a single finger. In front of her the orange-haired teenager leant casually against the wall, head down as if he was almost snoozing. Rukia stepped forward to question him, but immediately stumbled back as a weird feeling of recognition shot through her brain and she felt countless phantom pains skewer through her body like spikes tearing into her flesh and organs.
"Should I have got you a map of the premises? Sorry was it rude of me not to give you a tour around the house," the orange haired man said casually opening his eyes as the phantom pains fled from her body. "There are the bathroom, kitchen, living room and hollow," he said finishing his sentence by pointing to the invader. "Are you not going to kill it?" he questioned her, still looking quite tired. "It is your job after all. I don't possess one of your special swords." A few of his fingers twitched and she watched as the bonds around the hollow contorted forcing it to kneel down facing her. "Please be quick. The rest of my family are currently attending a traditional dance that they won tickets for and I would like to have the place cleaned up by the time they're back."
"What..?" Rukia started asking before shaking off her curiosity for now. Despite the many curiosities in front of her the man was right about one thing; her duty to Soul Society. She stepped forward bringing her Zanpaktou in a beautiful arc before slashing into the hollow's mask and cutting a deep gash into the mask. She frowned as even that blow failed to kill the beast, noting that even though the hollow roared its muscles still did not budge an inch. A second swing in the same spot was able to break through the mask causing the hollow to dissipate into Reishi and its soul to pass on to Soul Society.
"Well that's done," the orange haired teenager said. "I should probably get my homework done. You came down late this time."
"Wait," Rukia said, her Zanpaktou was still drawn but this time it was aimed not at a hollow but the incredibly suspicious stranger in front of her. "Who are you? How can you see me? How did you sense that hollow?"
"Oh right," the man said as he turned around and Rukia watched a smile form on his face. "I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Ichigo Kurosaki. It's really good to see you."
"Rukia Kuchki," she said curtly. "And you still haven't explained a single thing."
"Oh I'm sorry," the man called Ichigo said. "Did I promise you an explanation; maybe with a side of Yakisoba and some dumplings? I'm sorry this is a house not a restaurant."
"If you won't tell me then you will tell Soul Society," Rukia said drawing on her Spiritual Power.
"Will I?" Ichigo said sardonically. "Do you have the authority to do so? Don't you have to check back with your Captain before you can arrest an innocent spiritually aware human? That's article 14B (revised) of the militant bill of 256. You wouldn't so brazenly break the law would you?"
"Is that an actual law," Rukia said lowering her Zanpaktou despite herself. While it was standard procedure to erase the memories of the unaware humans there was no such rule for those that already knew about spiritual beings. Furthermore this guy was giving her an unsettling feeling of familiarity.
"How should I know," Ichigo replied immediately before he turned and headed up the stairs. "I'm not exactly a Shinigami."
"Then I'll just ask Captain Ukitake," Rukia said reaching for her communicator lifting it to her ear and paling as all she heard was an impossible silence.
"Well it seems your communicator is dead. I hope you've got some good lodgings," Ichigo's voice rang out from the top of the stairs and Rukia paled as she hoped for the same.
xxx
Uryuu Ishida lay on the floor defeated and struggling to stand. Opposite him stood two unknown Shinigami along with Rukia Kuchiki. When he had seen the red-head Shinigami attack Rukia he had stood against them. Despite being a Shinigami Rukia had proven very briefly to be a comrade helping him dispose of his mistake. Unfortunately he had been crushed in the most humiliating fashion. The red-head was in a different level than that of Rukia and Uryuu had swiftly paid for his overconfidence. Still he wouldn't stand down and so he glared defiantly at the Shinigami even as he brought down his sword.
"Let's just call that today," a familiar voice reached Uryuu's ears just as the ground beneath his feet sprouted dozens of vines that grasped the red-headed Shinigami instantly restraining both him and his sword.
"Kurosaki," he managed to say through the pain as he turned his head to see his classmate step into the street.
"Man, Ishida," Kurosaki said looking at him with his usual jocular attitude. "You look like you fought a ceiling fan and lost.
"Who are you," the quiet Shinigami in the white scarf said suddenly speaking up as he stared at the newcomer with a scrutinizing expression. There was almost a flinch of his fingers towards his chest when he first saw him that was quickly covered up.
"A concerned passer-by," Ichigo said. "Let's end things like this today."
"Who are you to make us do anything," the red-head said but his inability to overcome the vines belittled his message somewhat causing Uryuu to feel the burn as he realised just how easily his former opponent had been defeated by his classmate.
"Fullbringer," the white-scarved Shinigami said calmly as he stared at the vines. "I hope you don't expect that level of ability to defeat a Captain of the Gotei 13."
"How about 20% of one," Ichigo replied immediately, his words clearly having an effect on the pair of Shinigami. "I was quite impressed you were able to identify a Fullbring so swiftly though. I guess that is one of the advantages of being a member of a noble family. You get to read all the juicy secrets_."
Halfway through his speech the so-called Captain disappeared appearing behind Ichigo and Uuryu blinked as his classmate disappeared at the same time. A second later once again the Captain disappeared appearing exactly in the location that Ichigo was as his classmate disappeared once again.
"What, do you expect me to just stand there and take it," Ichigo said smiling. "Are you going to release your Shikai?" Ichigo suddenly stomped his foot down against the ground and dozens of thorny vines sprouted from the ground around him before blossoming into hundreds of yellow flowers that immediately detached and flew towards the Captain.
"Scatter Senbonzankura," the Captain said his eyes widening as he held up his sword before it broke down into thousands of pink petals that clashed with the yellow petals. "Are you mocking me," he continued with a cold anger as the petals continued to clash.
"Just a bit," Ichigo replied his voice mocking as the barrages increased in number until the entire street was suffering under the tides of flower petals. "I forget, are Captain's allowed to release their Bankai in the Human World or does that also require permission. I guess if we keep this up we'll find out."
"What are you," the Captain bit out as he stepped backwards. A few words were quickly muttered and a bolt of lightning pierced towards Uryuu's classmate only for Ichigo to sidestep the lightning at speeds that he couldn't comprehend.
"A person who is simply concerned over his classmate's wellbeing," Ichigo replied. "Truthfully I have no intention of getting involved with Kuchiki's retrieval at this time."
"At this time," the Captain said retreating backwards as more thorny vines burst from the ground beneath him. "So you would point your fangs at Soul Society in the future?"
"What a lovely expression," Ichigo said with an almost smile upon his face. "It always amuses me for clueless people to spout such singular words about the future. The futures are countless motes of dust blown in the wind. Only a madman would claim to view all those countless motes?"
"Kurosaki please stop this," Rukia of all people suddenly spoke up causing both combatants to look towards the shorter Shinigami. "There's no reason for either of you to fight. I'll go back to Soul Society and Ishida will be fine. Please just let it go."
"A fight requires two people," Ichigo said inclining his head. "Are you going to continue Mr.20%," a toneless voice stated as he looked at the Captain of the Shinigami who had been fighting until now.
"There is no need as long as you are no longer obstructing my business," the man said calmly. "You have attacked a Captain of Soul Society however which is against our laws. We may pay you a visit again."
"I enjoy visits," Ichigo replied with calm despite the threatening nature of their words. "I might visit you in turn someday." The Captain's eyes sharpened but he turned away at this point and Uryuu saw the read-headed Shinigami was released from the vines after he was placed further away from him.
"Come vice-lieutenant, let's go," he said watching as the man who had called himself Renji Abarai inserted his Zanpaktou into space and summoned a door. The entire time he hadn't taken his eyes off of Ichigo who merely grinned in response. The ending was anti-climactic as the three Shinigami stepped through the door after taking one last look at the pair before leaving the two standing alone in the street.
"Quite bold to attack a Lieutenant and Captain," Ichigo said as the silence stretched on. "You're quite lucky that they're so limited in the Human World."
"Thank you for that Kurosaki," Uuryu said through gritted teeth. Despite his feelings on the matter Ichigo had saved him. "But I saw the Shinigami attack Rukia. What would you have me do?"
"Do better next time," Ichigo said before he turned around and walked over to him. "Hold still," he commanded before he grabbed his wrist.
"What are you_" Uuryu started ready to yank his body out of his grasp when he felt something weird. As if through his body spiritual essence flowed stemming his wounds. That movement felt right as if he could grasp it himself any moment.
"It's not really healing, but for preventing you from bleeding out there's nothing finer," Ichigo said with a relaxed smirk. "Blut Vene," he elaborated. "I wouldn't consider you a proper Quincy without it."
"But how?" Uuryu said trying to wrap his head around the situation. "Are you_?"
"I'm a lot of things," Ichigo replied cutting him off, his refusal to speak more evident. "But that's not the correct question. The question is 'are you a proper Quincy?'" Uuryu hesitated at that, his pride reluctant to say the next words, but inside he knew there was only one choice.
"No, but I would like to be," he said swallowing his pride. As soon as he said those words a tired grin appeared on Ichigo's face before fading just as quickly.
"Then let's see if I can make you a proper Quincy within ten days," he responded taking his hand off Ishida's wrist just as the last of his wounds clotted over.
"What's happening in ten days?" Uuryu asked once more feeling one step behind his classmate this whole conversation.
"Why we invade Soul Society of course," Ichigo said turning away. "Now let's get you fixed up. I know a fantastic healer."
Author Note: I've been sitting on this story for a long time without ever making any progress in it. I feel like there are less good Bleach fics coming out these days. Hopefully when the anime drops again someone will make a few good ones. Tell me if you liked and I'll try continue.