Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and never will.
Warnings: Mild language, violence and somewhat sexual situations (nothing major at all).
-DIVIDER-
Nakashima Yasuo's POV...
Just beneath my straw hat I anxiously scan my surroundings, all the while trying to make my form as small and unassuming as possible. Decades of experience allows me to succeed, mostly. They pay attention to me just enough to make sure I don't try escape, something I am indeed planning. This is it; either I run sometime very soon, or I become yet another corpse on the side of the dirt road. Not to mention my niece...
My stomach twists into knots at the thought of her, taken away by one of these vile animals in rags (I can't think of them as men). We had been close. So close to our goals. We knew the dangers too, but I had hoped we'd at least make it farther than our town's front door step so to speak. I have faith in Hatsu's chances of getting away from the animal, but what will she do, what can she do, afterwards to survive? There are not many options. Still, she is a smart girl. I can only pray that she'll be able to use those sharp wits of her to make herself a decent living.
Over my wagon, the goods covered in blankets and hay in the best disguise we could manage, I can just make out the staggering, pained form of one of the gangsters. One hand covers an eye that is dripping with thick trails of blood. His comrades, once catching sight of him, nearly fall over themselves laughing. "Man, what happened to you?!" One of the raggedly clothed gangster crows in glee at the shape his 'friend' is on, by the sounds of it already knowing the answer. I myself feel a strong sense of relief, and silently send my gratitude to Kami-sama, for it was the animal who had taken my Hatsu away.
"Shit, you already know. The bitch stabbed me!" He points furiously to his eye with his free hand.
"Is she dead?" another gangster from the group of five muses, rubbing his hairy chin in thought. A sense of dread pools into my stomach, but I stubbornly cling to my faith and hope.
"Nah…" He responds in a grumble. I let out a small breath. "Still out there…"
"Maybe we should go get 'er then. She would fetch a pretty price on the market. It'd be a pity if someone else get her, which is only a matter o' time since we got her precious uncle." They spare me a glance and I stiffen, pulling my straw hat a bit more down to shadow more of my face, not willing to give them the satisfaction of any real reaction. "Speaking of which, get out here and give our buddy somethin' to hold up to his eye." The cagey looking man, animal, yanks out me out from behind my rickety, but faithful old wagon made of aged, hardy wood. Of course, I'd rather do something radically different to the man, but just the same I give a stiff nod to my captors and shuffle to the back of my wagon, where I ruffle through my hidden goods to find what is demanded of me. While the other gangsters go back to discussing what they plan to do, the one who needs the cloth walks up to me, grumbling profanities under his breath all the while.
I meekly offer him an unassuming, thin piece of cloth for the injured gangster's eye. As he brusquely goes to snatch it up, I dive for his throat. An arm is raised and I catch his open palm instead. It is sliced open, the cloth falling away that moment to reveal the sliver of a blade that was inside. He let's out a pained howl before I can do anything, alerting his friends. The rushing blood in my ears is roaring as I dart away, making a last ditch effort for freedom. I force myself to keep my eyes trained straight ahead, knowing that looking back will only slow me down. I can barely hear over my own fear the sounds of my pursuers hot on my heels. My favorite hat I've had since childhood flies off, but I don't spare it a thought in face of my danger.
My efforts are in vain. A bulky, calloused hand close around my arm in a vice like grip and I give out a cry of dismay and defiance as the hand forcibly yanks me around. I have one moment to witness the animal's self-satisfied grin before a splattering of blood covers my vision and lands on my face, neck and chest. I look down with a sense of awe and revulsion at the severed hand still clutching my arm, before I look up a split second later to see him and my dear Hatsu-chan, tucked under one of his arms like a very stunned, very confused sack of potatoes.
-DIVIDER-
Kurosaki Ichigo's POV...
In a flurry of shunpo I appear in front of Nakashima Yasuo just as one of our neighborhood gangsters here makes a grab for him. I don't hesitate to cut off the offending hand, lest he pull my rescuee closer and use him as a hostage. I glance at mentioned rescuee out of the corner of one of my eyes. The stall owner is a tall, thin, middle aged man with grimy dark blonde hair and brown eyes. Overall he appears much the same, albeit now he's without that hat of his and generally looking scared out of his mind. A one-eyed gangster makes to slash at me with his a dagger after a brief pause of aghast surprise, forcing me to look away from Nakashima. I don't even need to block or use Zangetsu for opponents like this. Impaling Zangetsu into the ground, I just dart forward, grabbing him by the face and slamming him into the ground. I'm unsure if he's dead or just unconscious, not that I care too much. I might not be aiming to kill, I usually don't if I don't need too, but if they do happen to kick the bucket, I won't be shedding any tears. They had murder in their eyes when going after the defenseless shop keeper.
Remembering my somewhat less than willing traveling companion, I carefully set down Hatsu, who had been safely tucked under one of my arms in the shunpo over here. Her hair is a complete mess and she seems in a state of shock as she automatically finds her footing. She tilts her head to look up at me, mouth slightly agape, and I give her an apologetic expression. Noticing something, I gently rub the offending speckle of blood that had landed on her cheek. She silently touches her cheek also as soon as I pull my hand away, now seeming more thoughtful and less panicked.
"What? Shinigami! When has your kind ever cared about a pathetic Rukongai rat or two?!"
I turn my head towards and narrow my eyes at assembling gangsters. "The hell are you talking about?" I bark, more than a little ticked. "It's the shingami's job to protect the people of the Soul Society!"
They stare at me for a moment before who I assume to be the head honcho gangster gives a deep bark of laughter. "That's rich! You're no more a shinigami than I'm the damn Spirit King! Shouldn't have tried playing dress up, you whiny little brat. It's about to cost you your life." That's not right. I know that the shinigami are spread thin and the Central 46 were a bunch of assholes, but if a shinigami came across a situation like this I know they'd give a helping hand! After all, they're always going on patrols around the Rukongai and…
I side step a slash from a chipped katana, giving the gangster a irritated, unimpressed look as I quickly grab onto his wrist and plant my sandaled foot firmly in his gut. He let's out a high pitched squeak and crumbles to the ground while the one I have mentally labelled gangster #3 comes at me with a roar, poorly maintained katana held high. I guess I could shunpo away, but I don't want to be dancing around them for this whole fight or leave the Nakashimas' sides, even for a moment, so I remove Zangetsu from the ground without another thought and slash at his chest before he can bring his katana down. I don't particularly like using Zangetsu against pathetic opponents like these- he deserves better, but I'll do what I need to to get the Nakashimas out of danger as soon as possible.
My current opponent yowls in pain, dropping his weapon and writhing on the ground. I do much the same to head huncho gangster and smack gangster #4 in the side of the head with the hilt of zangetsu, kicking him harshly away in the ribs for good measure. I blink at the group of them now huddled on the ground, not quite believing it's already over. "That's it," I murmur, almost feeling disappointed. That was beyond pathetic...
I hear a shuffling noise behind me and turn slightly around to see Hatsu-san rushing to her uncle. They embrace tightly and I smile a little. They speak quickly to each other and I turn politely away until they finish, making sure the gangsters stay down all the while. That's not a problem. The ones still conscious are so frightened that they don't even dare to twitch as I silently glare at them. It doesn't take the Nakashimas long to finish their discussion. Soon they are walking up to me, Hatsu holding onto to her uncle's arm and both having relieved smiles. They bow while I stand there awkwardly. "What can we do to repay you, shinigami-san?" Nakashima asks, peering up at me, seeming careful to ignore his former captors' bleeding and beaten forms.
I wave a hand around dismissively and he raises an eyebrow at the action. "It's no problem. When your niece came and told me about what was happening, I couldn't sit there and just do nothing after all." They straighten their postures and exchange a glance in between each other, obviously believing otherwise. "But…" They look back to me when I tentatively add. "I could use some more food. I still have some money left over and- what? What's wrong?" I study their uncomfortable expressions.
Nakashima clears his throat after his niece nods to him and he says to me, "Shinigami-san, after all you have done for us it is only fair that we tell you the truth." I glance between the pair as he speaks, and taking a closer look at the packed (when you look closely) wagon, the answer dawns to me.
"You don't have a steady supply of food, do you?" They shake their head no. My lips twitch slightly. "You're leaving town?" They nod. I take a deep breath. I should have known. "...Just how much did you overcharge me?"
Nakashima dons his large straw hat he snatches up from the dusty ground and responds sheepishly to me. "Well, the amount you gave me… Is about as much as I make a month."
I gap at the pair, probably sporting my worst derp face yet. I shove a finger in Hatsu's direction. "And you! They didn't let you go to collect a ransom, did they?"
She gives me a weak smile, fluttering her little eyelashes at me all innocent like! Why the little, deceptive… "No, Shinigami-san. When one of them left with me to… do something he would never get a chance to, I was able to catch him by surprise and make a run for it. I thought it best to avoid telling a stranger just how good my self defense is." I don't see a knife or any weapon on her, but I guess that's to be suspected if she catched her assailant by surprise.
My indignation is quickly quenched by this and sympathy for their plight takes over. "That makes sense… So where were you two headed?" The just stare at me. They still don't completely trust me, even though I just saved their lives. I guess old habits are hard to break, and technically I'm still just a stranger. I try not to let it get to me. "I have no where to go, nothing to do… You guys barely got away from your city before being attacked. If you want, I could make sure you can get to wherever you're going safely. The only thing I need is food and maybe some help finding a few places once we get to your destination?" If they don't accept, I know it's only a matter of time until all this sitting around drives me stir crazy and I invade the Seireitei (again), though this time for answers I direly desire. Direly need. So it'll have to be addressed eventually, though I'm not exactly looking forward to knocking my supposed friends around until something jogs a memory of me, since there's not much else I can do. Or, at least, nothing else I can right now think of doing.
"No pay?" Nakashima-san asks, obviously interested much to my relief.
"No. Just the food and pointing me in the right direction once we get to your destination." After brief deliberation they agree, even offering to teach me about how the money system works here! We find their runaway mules that had apparently scattered early on in all the commotion, and after hooking them back up to the wagon we are off.
-DIVIDER-
Change of POV, hours later...
Being a gangster in West Rukongai is a hard afterlife. Once a part of a gang, ya can never leave, not that'd I want to. See, anyone who's not in a gang is free game. No protection, no money, no nothin'.
So I'll take what I can get, even if I get stabbed in the eye by a surprisingly feisty bitch, my hand slashed open by a pissy merchant and slammed into the ground by a orange haired freak of a brat. I've woken up several hours later I think, since now the sun is setting in a bloody red hue. Around me my buddies stir and groan, in just as bad or worse shape than me. One or two are probably dead, having bleed to death and no one having cared to help. Big surprise. At least I'm still in one piece. Mostly.
There is the sound of soft, rhythmic footsteps. Obviously I doubt whoever's coming 's gonna offer me a get-well gift. Groggily I rub my head and force myself to prop my upper body up with the help of my elbows. "My, my…" comes a smooth voice with a slight accent, an accent that is common in the West Rukongai. He makes this hella weird 'tch'ing sound, as if scolding some kid. "Lil Ichi-chan- what a mess ya've made! And so lazy, too, just leavin' without even botherin' to clean up..." There is a sound of an exaggerated sigh as this guy continues with his woe-is-me BS. "Children, what can ya do? 'cept watch over them and clean up after their messes, I suppose..." Suddenly I feel something dig into my scalp and tangle itself in my hair. I grunt as this guy has the nerve to lift me up by my hair with one hand. I open my eyes slightly to get a better look and after the initial blurriness, I can make a few features out. He wears the common beige rags that most outer Rukongai citizens possess, and at his side is a katana with it's hilt wrapped in bandages and placed in an old, scratched sheath. I force my heavy head up slightly to see his face and my lips automatically pull back in a disturbed snarl. His eyes are squinted so much that I can't even make them out; his skin paler than anyone's should have the right to be. His ruffled hair, if clean, would be a bright silver, but these things aren't what disturb me.
It's his grin. Nobody smiles like it's New Years Day everyday in the outer districts of Rukongai. Friggin' nobody I say.
He's speaking. "Unfortunately, it's a bit difficult to do the former when I don't know where the child is. Think you can help me with that? Orange haired young fellow, playin' dress-up with shinigami clothes? Can't miss 'im."
My hand darts out, dagger in it, but before I can end the ugly grin he catches my wrist and pushes my face into the dirt underneath me. I struggle, a string of curses pouring out of my mouth, but he doesn't budge and I hear him comment lightly, "That's not very nice. Better wash your mouth out." I sputter on dirt as more pressure is added to the back of my head and my face is forced down further. I start choking, panicking, but after a moment I'm pulled back up somewhat. I spit out grains of dirt, trying to regain my breath.
"Look, man…" I choke out. "I only saw him once, just for a split second."
"That's enough," the freak assures me, trying to act all pleasant like.
"... He was protectin' the Nakashimas."
"And you think I'd know these people because….?"
"They're stall keepers, an uncle and a niece…." I give them their descriptions and told him which way they were headed. "Alright, now jus' let me go…" He says nothing, but instead slowly opens his eyes. I freeze, feeling like something is being wrapped around my neck and squeezing and squeezing and- "I swear, I won't tell anyone yer lookin' for 'im," I promise in a rough voice that I know is cracking like some pubescent brat. His smile only widens, but somehow I knew at the moment he opened his eyes that I am a goner.
"That's right, you won't~" I don't even see him reach for his sword.
-DIVIDER-
Kurosaki Ichigo's POV...
"Shinigami-san…."
I don't do anything for a moment, just staring up at the night sky. There are no stars, only a moon. I'm not sure how I feel about this, or what to think. I guess the Soul Society really is it's own dimension, a world all by itself. The Soul Society, the center of their own little universe… "...Ichigo."
"I'm sorry?" Hatsu-san inquires in confusion beside me. The three of us lay on thin blankets a good deal off to the right side of the dirt road going northward. We had all decided that it would be best to make camp as far away from the road as is reasonable. Nakashima-san has had no problem falling asleep as soon as we finished making camp, but Hatsu-san and I are still wide awake.
"My name's Ichigo. Not shinigami-san." I turn over on my side to look at her a few feet away. Her long brown hair and spread around her like a halo and she looks at me curiously with her honey brown eyes. "Nice to meet you, Hatsu-san," I tell her with a wry smile.
Her lips turn upward in a slight smile and she responds, "You too, Ichigo-san."
"So what's up?" She seems confused by the term I use, but understands the gist of it.
"I was just… Forgive me, but are you really a shinigami?"
"That's right. You've seen my zanpakuto.." I hold up to her my zanpakuto that I'd laid by my side. The black sheathe shimmers in the moonlight as I hold it up to the light. With my thumb I slightly push the blade out of it's sheathe. "His name is Zangetsu." I hear Hatsu-san give a small gasp and I look to her to see her holding up a fisted hand to her mouth. I blink and let Zangetsu slide back down. "I'm sorry…" I offer uncomfortably. I sit up somewhat. "I didn't mean to freak you out or anything…"
She lowers her hand and smiles again. "No, no, it's just… I've never seen anything so beautiful."
"Oh," I say oh-so-intelligently.
"Who crafted it?"
"No one, actually…" She tilts her head at me. "Zanpakutos are born out of people's soul… or something…. I'm not really an expert on those type of things." I give a small chuckle that trails off awkwardly, at least in my opinion. She's still looking at me all starry eyed until I can't look at her any longer.
"So you were the one that crafted it then; amazing."
"Not really- but sort of, since Zangetsu is part of my soul, and…" I mumble on, still refusing to look at her. "Hey." I finally pipe up, an idea coming to me and giving me more confidence. A subject change is in order I think.
"Yes?" She questions in that light, polite tone of her's. In the dark she almost reminds me of Orihime, expect older and… something else.
"Where are we going anyways? Not that it really matters, I'm just curious." I explain, folding my arms behind my head and laying down once again.
"District fifty-nine." She responds, seeming suddenly distant. "A city was developed there years back, and is now a bustling trade center according to the rumors… My uncle and I, we've been saving up to move for all of our lives in the Soul Society, and when we heard the rumors we knew we had to go there… It's every Rukongai citizen's dream to move to a lower district."
"Lower… district?" I repeat slowly, frowning somewhat.
"Yes. I mean lower numbered. The lower the number, the better life is."
I nod, remembering how everything appeared closer to the Seireitei. Clean, organized, more modern… "Ah…. And what district did we come from?"
There is a pause and I turn to see what's wrong. She is looking at me quizzically and says just as slowly as I had, "District sixty…"
I bite the inside of my cheek. "Huh. Doesn't sound like much of a difference to me." They're only one district apart... Could life really be that much better in fifty-nine?
I hear Hatsu let out a small breath. "There may not be any at first glance for those who are used to living the high li-" Her breath hitches and she quickly adds, "in the Seireitei, forgive me. I didn't mean any disrespect." I really wish she didn't act like this around me, all afraid and hesitantly polite.
I shrug easily, looking idly up at the pale moon. "I understand. Don't sweat it."
"…. Thank you, Ichigo-san."
"Sure. What were you saying?"
"Oh, well. At first glance there might not be much of a difference, but for those of us who survive out here… Even one district is a complete life changer."
I close my eyes tightly at this. "I'm sorry…"
"Sorry?" Hatsu-san sits up, prompting me to do the same. "Whatever for, Ichigo-san?"
"... I didn't know just how bad it is out here until now. If I had known…."
"You'd… what, Ichigo-san?" I open my eyes to see she has scooted over to sit right next to me, almost touching my thin blanket that served as a poor sleeping bag. I wonder… Just what would I do? Saving one person from physical harm is one thing. All I need is strength- physical strength, strength of will… resolve. But completely rearranging more than half of the after-life? Not quite something I'm cut out for. I wouldn't even know where to start. When I say nothing, I feel Hatsu's tentative fingers lightly shaking my shoulder. "Ichigo-san… Please answer me honestly. Why did you help us, really?"
"Hatsu-san…" I say, pursing my lips some and looking at her intensely. How do I explain to someone my drive to protect? "I can't turn a blind eye to someone who's in trouble, especially when they ask me for help. I just… I did because you needed help and I was there and able, that's all there is to it." Ugh. I sound so cheesy, but it's true.
"I see…" she murmurs quietly, reaching up a hand to gently push her flowing brown locks over one shoulder. And then, ever so carefully, leans forward, and closer and closer.
I look on in stunned fascination as she leans in and one of her sleeves drops from her shoulder and to her elbow, but when I can feel her soft breath on my skin, the realization of what is happening hits me full force. Giving an undignified yelp, I scramble backward. One of my hands slip out from behind me in my hurry and I fall painfully to my back. A grain of sand I accidently kick up hits me in the eye and stings some, but I'm to distracted to do really anything about it. "W-what the heck?! Just what type of guy do you think I am?!" I bark in… anger? Not exactly, but definitely frustration.
"What type of guy…." comes that soft voice. I practically jump out of my skin at what I hear next. "What type of guy? I don't know. I don't know! What do you want from me, hm, Ichigo-san?" That soft, sweet voice turns into one of anger and mocking.
"I don't want anything from you! How many times do I have to tell you, woman!?"
"Nothing?! Yet apparently we're on given name basis and you did it for me, didn't you?"
"Yeah! For you and your uncle!"
"You didn't say you and your uncle. You said for me."
"I meant you as in general, for you and your uncle," I bite out tersely, mind whirling. Just what the hell is going on?!
"That doesn't make any sense! And what do you want?"
"I don't want anything!" I nearly yell back once again.
"That's impossible! No one would do what you did without a catch!"
"I was just being nice!" I blurt out.
"Nice?!" I hear her laugh incredulously. "No one is that nice."
"I'm a nice guy!" I practically screech frantically, pointing both hands at my chest to emphasize my point. My eyes are probably red and streaming by now, and I blink constantly to get out the sand from earlier. I'm not even sure what I'm saying anymore. I'm just ticked and confused and she's yelling so of course I'm not going to take that lying down and hey-! When did we stand up? We face each other, about a foot apart. Even in the faint moonlight I can tell her face is red and her hair, that looked like an angel's halo earlier, looks more like Medusa's snakes to me now. We glare furiously at each other and my mouth starts moving before my mind has a chance to catch up. "Why am I the one on the defensive anyways? You're the one who was coming on to me!"
"Coming on to you?!" She sure does repeat what I say a whole lot. She looks befuddled by that phrase, but seems sure it is something bad so screams it back in anger.
"Yeah! You know, flirting and trying to get into my bed, or thin blanket, whatever!" I reiterate tensely.
Her hands form tight fists and she sputters at me. Finally I make out the words, "I was only testing your motives."
"Testing my…." Great, now I'm repeating things. My voice trails off and Hatsu is staring at me like I just grew another head.
"I thought that's what you wanted in trade for assisting us," she tersely explains further. Her tone is calm, but very bitter as she goes on. "Why else would the likes of a shinigami help us?" She stares at me accusingly, and I can't help but wilt a bit underneath the harsh gaze. Do I really come across as some lewd, advantageous creep? I'm not Kiego; neither, Kami forbid, of the likes of Chizuru.
"Nevermind! Listen. I'm no saint. I don't go out looking for people to help, but I'm not some heartless bastard either. If there's someone right in front of me who needs help, I'm not just going to sit there while it happens!" I reiterate firmly. "And that is all there is to it. Got it?" I gaze at her dead in the eyes, making sure she realizes just how serious I am.
Finally, she's speechless.
"Hatsu… Shinigami-san. Is everything alright, you two?" asks Nakashima groggily, having just woken up to our yelling it seems. I would be surprised if we didn't wake the dead from all that noise… I'm glad I didn't just say that metaphor outloud.
Hatsu meanwhile pinches the bridge of her nose, throwing me an irritated look that I wholeheartedly return. "Yes, uncle. Please, go back to sleep. We all have a long day tomorrow."
"Well, if you're sure," he mutters, throwing a doubtful look at the both of us before settling back down.
While he goes back to sleep, Hatsu and I just stand where we are for several, long minutes. I let out a sigh and address Hatsu reluctantly. "We should get some rest, al-" I pause with a frown when she suddenly raises her hand, motioning for me to be quiet. "What is it?" I inquire, grimacing.
"Do you hear that?" She asks faintly with a distance expression.
I strain my ears for any out of the ordinary sounds. "Hear wh-"
"There it is again…." She cuts me off, prompting me to scowl, but she seems serious enough so once again I strain my senses. This time, I hear it. The sound of multiple things moving through the foliage somewhere down the hill we set out camp on. The two of us share an alarmed expression.
Perturbed and worried it might be a group of hollows (who or what else would be running around this late at night, and so noisily?), I whisper to her urgently, "Wake your uncle and pack up camp. I'm going to go check that out." I swing down to snatch up zangetsu and go to slip on my sandals when I feel Hatsu clutch onto my left arm with a death grip.
"You're leaving us?" she hisses frantically to me, her earlier anger from earlier being overshadowed by fear.
I yank my arm out of her grip. "Relax, I won't go far or take too long…" I say, planning to make quick work of the hollows. With their sense of smell, they'll be on us sooner or later and I'd rather not wake up to a slobbering, grinning, bone-white mask if I can help it. "If something happens, just give me a holler. I'll be back before you know it." And with a quiet, short burst of shunpo I'm gone from our camp and halfway down the hill. Once there I take it slowly, walking slightly above the ground by temporarily solidifying reishi above, so I won't make any noise. I make my way down the hill, following the growing sounds of scuffling feet and movement below. I soon find myself hunched behind a few bushes and watch in stunned disbelief as at least fifty people in white, off-white or light gray busy themselves in the valley. Their faces are covered by those colored clothing, and while some are wearing proper cloaks and masks, others are in what look to be old bed sheets with two holes cut out of them for their eyes. I force myself not laugh at the thought of actual ghosts wearing poorly made ghost costumes.
"Brothers and sisters; offer your allegiance to Mimihagi-sama, give to your community that follows he, believe that life can be grand and eternal and it will be!" crows what I assume to be their leader, an obviously old man if his voice and shaky, bony hands and arms (the only visible parts of his body) are anything to go by. As he speaks the other people set down what they've brought with them on a blanket next to their leader. They offer the coins used in West Rukongai and other odds and ends that are apparently of some worth. After doing so they bow and walk backward and out of the way, allowing someone else to step forward. "Thank you, thank you…" The leader murmurs as they do so. "Mimihagi-sama will reward you thrice fold- you will be gods in your own right once all is said and done."
I'm pretty weirded out, especially by that last bit, but besides that I'm relieved that it's not a group of roaming hollows or something equally sinister making all that noise. Still, although they seem harmless enough (despite their overall dual hilarity and creepiness), the Nakashimas and I should probably make camp farther away. I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night thanks to their chanting or some shit like that… Now deciding I should leave before someone in this little, uh, club meeting spots me, I am about to turn away when leader speaks up. "Thank you for your faith and sacrifice. It will not go unrewarded. In fact, tonight a moment is upon us that we have all been waiting for. A moment of triumph against those who continually lord over us from behind their walls and those who terrorize us with what should be their spiritual gifts!" Excited murmuring breaks out and one of my eyes twitches as leader gets even further carried away. "I speak of the Seireitei cowards, fat off of our suffering, and their shinigami lap dogs!" There is a general outcry of agreement to the insults and questions of what he has planned. "In other occasions I would ask for patience and would explain, but there is no need. Bring him out!" Old man leader croaks and a few of his cronies respond. They disappear behind the clearing, into the darkness. A hush falls over the crowd when they return with...
You've got to be kidding me…
Held in what no doubt is an uncomfortable position between two masked cultists is Madarame Ikkaku.
-DIVIDER-
Girl-of-Action- Oh Ichigo, I think it's pretty safe to say that when a bunch of masked weirdos meet at night, chanting for the patronage of some obscure god, they're up to no good and not harmless in the least.
Now then, let us pause for a moment in memory of generic West Rukongai gangster #1. He served his purpose as a convenient plot device and dark comedic relief and I, for one, will not miss him.
Moment over.
As you've guys probably guessed, I'm really trying to emphasize just how terrible it is out in the Rukongai. In all honesty, I'm shocked that canon Ichigo hasn't realized it yet, not that he can do much about it by himself. Like he thought in this story, saving some damsel in distress is one thing, all he has to do there is slay a dragon. But totally rearranging how half of the afterlife works? That takes time, creativity, connections, lots of support and knowledge on economy, social interactions, local governments, districts' needs, etc... Easier to just admit he can't do anything about it and concentrate on other things… But when has Ichigo ever taken the easy road?
Also, Hatsu gets a bit of a personality. Yay~ Suspicion runs rampant in the Rukongai, and Ichigo is nothing if not suspicious. Orange haired, young looking, scowl wearing, shinigami appearing good doer? Yeah, I doubt Hatsu would have shown her true colors right off the bat, or immediately think that Ichigo is just an honest, well-meaning, if slightly idiotic, good-doer.
As for Ikkaku, well… This is just a fun way to get Ichigo to interact with another canon character and for the 11th division to become interested in him. Please don't take the cultists too seriously, they're not meant to be legit villains. They're more like the gangsters from earlier, but funnier to write (and read hopefully). x3
I have to say though, all things considered, I like this chapter the least of all the ones I've written thus far, including the ones I have yet to post. This is one of the reasons for the very late update. I hate posting something that I don't really care for myself. Maybe I feel this way because of all the OCs? I'm not sure how you guys will take to them, and feel this is more of a filler chapter then anything else. Something to get us from point A to point B. I've rewritten it several times, trying my best to change this, but I can't seem to find anyway around it. I sincerely hope I managed to make this entertaining for you all in some way however. . So there was this issue I had, and a lack of inspiration the frustration over this chapter brought on. Recently reading over all of your kind reviews though, helped me to quickly regain my motivation. I can't thank you guys enough for sticking with me and encouraging me as you have.
Special thank you to my new reviewers who I have yet to, or am not able to, answer via pm. Thanks Guest #1, Guest #2, kababaka, bibliophile030, Myon-chan, bassoongirl14, and Shadow2wolf, and all of you out there who have faved and or followed me!
Now for a few quick replies to those who don't have a fanfic acct.
Guest #1- Glad to see you're interested~ I don't want to give too much away, but I once again will remind that OCs will not have a big part in this story (unless, perhaps, my audience takes a very big liking to a particular OC). Rukia is also not officially joining the Shiba clan. For one, that would mean leaving the Kuchiki clan and consequently her brother. As cold as Byakuya is to her right now, and as much as she loves the Shibas (enough to die for them), her loyalty is still to her big brother, first and foremost. What the Shibas were trying to say to Rukia is that they don't care what other people think of them, or what some papers in a dusty old room say. To them, Rukia is family, her being in another clan still or otherwise. Hope that clears things up for you and that I didn't ramble too much. ^-^
Myon-chan- So sweet, Myon-chan! *gives you a big ol' hug* I can't say how much it means for this shy, nervous, just beginning authoress to hear that she actually inspired someone! I hope your essay went well! *huggles you to death*
Let's see if I can clear up some of this confusion as well. Yes, Ichigo did indeed save Kaien from his grisly end~ Thanks to his timely intervenience, Kaien was able to regain his footing so to speak and finish that ghastly hollow off! Rukia was in the vicinity when this all happened, watching from above with her captain. She wanted to help Kaien, but Ukitake stopped her, warning her that it was a matter of pride and honor. Fortunately Ichigo realized this as well and helped Kaien just enough to get him back on his feet, before stepping back and allowing Kaien to slay the hollow himself. Therefore Kaien was able to regain the honor and pride for not only himself, but also for his wife and and family. It was also a matter of justice/revenge as well, as at the time Kaien thought his wife was dead.
As for where Ichigo is currently, he is in a very bad part of the Rukongai where order and law are nearly nonexistent and many of the towns are run by gangsters. He himself is at the moment very confused and at a loss of what to do, besides storming into the Seireitei and demanding some answers from people probably even more clueless than he is. He's trying to put this course of action off until he can (hopefully) think of something better.
Lastly, thank you so much! *another bone-crushing hug* I hope so too and that you will continue to enjoy the story. :D
Guest #2- Yes, Ichigo is beyond confused right now. x3 See what I did there? Okay, okay- not very funny. Anyways! Thanks for the review. It was your's that gave me the final push I needed to send this chapter out tonight. Hope to see you around again soon~
Until later guys! Ja ne~ (Cya~)