Chapter Two
I sat in my cell for what felt like years, but I knew better than to believe that. Out of nervous habit, I was pacing the floor the moment the sun's light crept into the cell. I was deep in my thoughts and, quite literally, knee-deep in theories on how I could have possibly wound up in the Seireitei. It was a voice that broke me of the thoughts that consumed my mind, "You look like a caged animal doing that." My heart jumped and I could have hit the ceiling. Instead, I replied as calmly as my nerves allowed, "I am, quite technically, a mammal after all." I turned around to find an unfamiliar man standing outside of my cell. "And you're not from the Fourth Division." I stated simply. He nodded in return before affirming, "You are correct. I am Captain Ginrei Kuchiki of the Sixth Division." "Nice to…meet you?" my question came out in a squeak as I realized what time period this was. "Are you currently aware of the circumstances?" Captain Kuchiki inquired abruptly. "That I'm a Ryoka to be put to death?" I answered in inquiry. The grey-haired man informed, "You aren't being put to death…yet." I guess my face must have sunk at his words because Ginrei gave me a look of slight sympathy. "Worry not. You're alive because Captain Unohana made it clear that you are not a danger to the Soul Society." he explained in attempt to lighten the mood; although, it did not help. I actually began to feel betrayed by the characters I had revered so dearly. "Why would I even bother coming here, let alone allow myself to get caught, if I were a threat?" I demanded to see the reasoning in their accusations.
Captain Kuchiki paused as he studied me. "None-the-less, you are to be kept under my authority." he answered firmly, avoiding my question. I decided to keep my frustrations to myself. Somehow I knew I would ruin any chance I have in this world if I picked a fight with the older man, or anyone else for that matter. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. A member of the Fourth Division came down the stairs and approached my cell. Ginrei simply watched me as I eyed the stranger who unlocked door before removing my shackles. As soon as my wrists were free, I rubbed my tender skin and muttered, "Thanks." Captain Kuchiki advised, "Let us be on our way." He led me out of the stockades and onto a silent journey all way to the Sixth Division. I returned to my theories as we ventured through the Seireitei. It felt like I was on the right track, when a voice shook me from my thoughts, "Well, well. Long time no see, Ginrei." It was a familiar female voice, but I simply could not put my finger on whom it belonged to. I matched the voice with a face only seconds before she leapt from a low branch of a nearby tree. "Lady Shihoin, what do we owe this pleasure?" the old man inquired as the Captain of the Second Division approached us.
"I actually wanted to meet the one that snuck in here so carefully and got caught yesterday." Yoruichi replied confidently. As the captain's amber eyes caught sight of me, a curious smile graced her features. She greeted warmly, "Hey there, I am Captain Yoruichi Shihoin." "I know," I replied softly, completely thrown off by her height. She always seemed taller to me for some reason, but she only came up to my chin. Yoruichi raised an eyebrow in confusion and chuckled. She commented playfully, "Unohana said say you were a strange one…I just didn't know how strange." I was about to retort when Ginrei offered, "I was going to interrogate her once we made it back to my division, but you are more than welcome to join us." Yoruichi paused and looked in deep thought before she smirked. She decided, "Sounds like fun, I'm in." The Sixth Division was a good distance, but not that long of a walk from the Fourth. It was a good thing at the moment, because I felt too overwhelmed to even think about taking a long and strenuous walk. As we entered the Sixth, I looked around and thought of how little Byakuya changed it during his campaign as captain. I must have stopped because the two captains turned and looked to me. "Come, we have much to discuss." the older man beckoned.
I swallowed nervously. I was fully aware of what was at stake. My mere presence could cause a lot of problems. Ginrei motioned for me to walk ahead of him into the office. I could not help but look around again. It was not much different from the future layout. Yoruichi had no problem in finding her own seat on the arm of the office couch. I, however, did not know what my "warden" wanted to do with me so I remained standing. "Sit over there." Captain Kuchiki ordered and pointed to the chair across from his seat at the desk. I did as I was told and watched the old man as he sat down. He removed some paper and ink from the confines of his large desk before questioning me abruptly, "Name?" I almost jumped out of my skin, he seemed to have a knack for doing that. "Heather." I answered shortly. "What kind of name is that?" Yoruichi inquired bluntly. "English, but I'm American." I replied, taking my eyes off of the elder to give the woman a look. "Now for the important question: why are you here?" Ginrei asked, redirecting my attention. I guess I looked as startled as I felt for he raised an eyebrow at me. The older man watched me closely as I bit my lip while deep in thought. I replied thoughtfully, "I never thought on why, I was just hoping to figure out how."
"You mean, you don't know how you got here?" Captain Kuchiki questioned as if he were surprised. I shook my head and clarified, "All I know is waking up in a cell." "What do you remember before you got here?" the grey-haired man prodded. I thought hard, but my entire day was a blank. I pondered out loud, "What did I do?" "You have to remember something." Ginrei urged. I sighed, "I woke up and left to go somewhere, I don't even remember—Oh, yeah! I was on my way to go get a replacement AC/DC cord for my notebook and was gonna' stay at my boyfriend's place afterwards." The accomplishment I felt for my returning memory was short lived. "Since when does paper need a wire?" Yoruichi inquired skeptically. "It's a small computer that fits on my—" I stopped my explanation as I suddenly realized that I was missing my stuff. "Huh? Where did my bag go?" I asked no one in particular. "You didn't arrive with one." the older man replied as he wrote something down. "Man, that bites." I exasperated then thought of the brilliant idea to check my pockets. "Now what are you looking for?" Yoruichi questioned curiously. My pockets were empty and I sighed once more in disappointment, "My phone; I don't think it would have worked, but it was worth a shot." "You're in the spirit realm. Human devices would be useless here." Ginrei enlightened me. "So I'm stuck here?" I asked feeling completely helpless. I did not particularly like my life the way it was. I would have normally been happy about not going back home, but this was an entirely different scenario.
"What do you mean?" the grey-haired man inquired. I could not believe I had just said that. It felt rude considering that this man was acting nothing but nice to me. I cleared my throat and replied, "It's kind of complicated." "We have the time." Captain Kuchiki inclined. I paused and shifted in my seat before beginning my story, "Well, I know this sounds crazy, but where I come from this entire universe that we're in right now is all a part of Tite Kubo's imagination. He created books on not only the story, but books on the all captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13. He called the series, 'Bleach'." Their faces changed to that of utter bewilderment before Yoruichi burst in a fit of hysterics. "Are you feeling alright?" Ginrei inquired with concern tracing his voice. "Thank you, but I'm fine." I answered in a serious tone. Yoruichi was starting to get on my nerves. Captain Kuchiki looked unconvinced, but started scribbling something on the piece of paper. I felt my heart drop. "I'm not crazy, I just don't belong here." I tried to reason with them. "If all this is fiction, then how are we talking to you?" the older man asked. I tried not to get upset, but argued, "I didn't know how else to put it, okay? It's obvious that you guys are real..."
Yoruichi had finally settled down and calmly clarified, "Heather, you have to understand how this sounds to us. We may be spirit beings and we may be part of an afterlife, but to even imply that there are other worlds and dimensions is unheard of." I could not help but to stare at her and then look to the other captain who nodded in agreement. "But you guys have heard and seen weirder things before. I mean, like, Yamamoto is a million years old, right?" I questioned with a hint desperation in my voice. Yoruichi smirked at the comment and Ginrei looked unamused. I pressed on with the point I was trying to make. "So weirder stuff has had to happen at some point between then and now." I deduced and rationalized, "I'm not that arrogant to think that my people…things… whatever I am now, is alone. And finding living, breathing proof is just overwhelming." The older man looked me over with an unreadable expression. I was upset, to say the least. I had an unfathomable story to help my case and it seemed more of a lost cause to explain something even I was not too sure about. "She's telling the truth…" Captain Kuchiki remarked, bringing a wave of awkward silence. I looked to him and wondered how he could tell it was the truth. He noticed the expression and reasoned, "You don't have the face of a liar and your story is consistent…I do believe you, Heather."
"But?" I asked, sensing the word coming up. "It is the other captains that will need convincing." Ginrei determined. "What year is it?" I asked uneasily, trying to feel out who exactly I was trying to convince. "It's 1890." the grey-haired man replied, making my head spin in a matter of seconds. I suspected as much, but I did not really think that it was the actual date. I clutched my head, repeatedly muttering, "Oh, my God." "What's the matter?" Yoruichi inquired concernedly. "I'm from a different year as well." I admitted weakly, feeling as if I were drowning in stress. "Time travel and a random change in dimension?" the Captain of the Second Division questioned, looking to her comrade. "Maybe you should talk to that friend of yours. He might understand how this happened." Ginrei suggested and turned back to me. "What year did you come from?" he asked curiously. "2013. And the books had been out since 2000." I admitted as if hurt me to say the words. "I'll go get Kisuke." Yoruichi declared as she rushed to the door.