Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. I only own Catalina Vazquez and Eita Harada.
Chapter Four: A Flicker of Truth
[Nobody's POV]
"Did they remember anything?" Yoruichi asked concerned. She watched Tessai heal Kat and Eita.
"No, they didn't remember anything. Not from what I saw." He replied solemnly, leaning against the wall.
"Their spirit force is starting to leak, it won't be much longer before their zanpakutos manifest. They need to start training Kisuke. You have to start telling her the truth." Yoruichi hissed angrily at her best friend.
Kisuke stared at Kat's injured body.
"What if she can't handle the truth?" Kisuke asked sadly. He much rather hope his friend never remember her awful childhood. But he did wish she would remember Yoruichi, his friends and him.
"It's not for us decide anymore. She has to be trained and told some of the truth. The rest can come with time." Yoruichi explained sternly.
Kisuke's nods, unwillingly agreeing with Yoruichi.
[Kat's POV]
She weakly stood up holding onto the doorframe tightly.
Run.
She took off. She didn't look back, she just kept running. She ignoring the pain, she didn't care. What he would do to her would be more painfully than this.
After what seemed like forever she finally stopped running leaning against a tree tiredly. The bright sun hit her body angrily as she panted heavily and sweat ran down her forehead. He legs burn with pain as she hugged the tree tightly.
"Hey, are you ok?"
The girl looked at the black hair boy in front of her. She stared into his deep slated gray eyes and black spots started to cloud her vision as her body finally gave out.
Kat groaned painfully feeling like she had been hit by a train. Suddenly she remembered everything. She sat up groaning painfully when a pair of arms suddenly helped her sit up right.
"Careful Kat, you have a broken rib you will need to take it easy." A woman ordered me sternly.
I looked at her confuse. I have never meet this woman before…or had I? The woman is slender, dark-skinned and average height with golden-colored eyes and long purple hair, which is up in a ponytail.
Her gold eyes though. They were so familiar. I stared into her deep gold eyes.
"Yoruichi…"I questioned slowly.
"Yes. Do you remember?" She suddenly asked excited.
"Uh, no, it's just…your eyes. They are the same as the cat." I explained awkwardly. "You, you aren't a cat right?" I asked unsure. But I already knew the strange answer I was about to receive.
"I'm the cat, Kat." She chuckled lightly.
I gripped my head painfully.
"Great first a giant monster and now a woman who can turn into a cat." I murmured confused.
I looked around the room and realized I was in my room.
"Where's Eita?" I suddenly asked scared, fearing the worse.
"He's alright, resting in his room." Yoruichi assured me gently.
"Um, I know this might sound like a stupid question but do we know each other?" I asked meekly.
Yoruichi gave me a big cunning smile, "I'm your older adoptive sister Kat. I'm Yoruichi Shihoin. I'm the one who adopted you into my clan and gave you your last name." she explained proudly.
"Wait, what?" I asked stunned.
I suddenly flinched glimpses of the past flashed through my head and I groaned painfully holding my head.
"I think that is enough information for today Yoruichi. I think Kat should rest some more." Kisuke's voice suddenly came from the door.
I looked at him through half opened eyes, my head still throbbing painfully.
"You are probably right." Yoruichi agreed.
"Yoruichi…will you stay with me?" I asked timidly.
I felt safer knowing she would be nearby.
"Of course Kat, I will never leave your side again." She promised determinedly as I slowly laid back down falling into a deep sleep.
[Couple Days Later]
I sat against the wall in Eita's room. He still hadn't woken up. He suffered a conscious when the hollow through him against the wall. My ribs were still tender but not as bad as they had been a couple of days ago. I haven't been to school since that day. I couldn't bear to leave Eita alone in his condition.
It was my fault maybe there was something I could have done. If only I was stronger and not this weak!
"Kat, you should come eat and rest a little. Eita wouldn't like it if you weren't taking care of yourself because of him." Yoruichi said firmly from the door way.
Kat sighed sadly knowing Yoruichi was right. Eita wouldn't be happy if he found out she neglected her health simply because she felt guilty that he got hurt. Yoruichi walked over me to and offered me her hand helping me up.
We walked into the room where Kisuke was sitting down waiting for us. There was some food laid out for me and I slowly took some bites from my rice.
"It wasn't your fault Kat." Kisuke suddenly spoke up. "The hollow would have attack either one of you because of your high spiritual force." He explained seriously.
"You keep mentioning spiritual force, what's so special about that?" I asked annoyed.
"It means you aren't just some normal girl. From today onward you will start to see things not many humans can see or sense. That's because of your spirit force. Kat, you, Yoruichi, Eita and I weren't born in this world known as the human world. We are all spirits that have died and were reborn to Soul Society, you can call it heaven if it makes more sense to you." He explained seriously. "Some souls that are reborn into Soul Society are born with a higher spiritual force than normal. We happened to be like those souls with higher than usual spiritual force which makes us special. People like us can fight those monsters you saw the other day known as Hollows.
"What is a Hollow?" I asked confused.
"Hollows are a race of creatures which are from human souls who, for different reasons, do not cross over to Soul Society and after death stay in the Human World for too long. They eventually become corrupt spirits with abilities and devour the souls of both living and deceased humans." Yoruichi explained somberly.
I gulped softly.
"So you mean, I have the ability to kill them?" I asked slowly.
"Not kill them, but cleanse them to Soul Society where they are reborn unless their crimes have been too server." Yoruichi added.
"Can you teach me?" I suddenly blurted out. I wanted to be stronger to be able to protect Eita and everyone. I don't want to be helpless again when another one of those hollows attack.
"What kind of friends would we be if we didn't?" Kisuke smirked happily. "Your training starts tomorrow bright and early."
'You bitch, you're dead!'
Scared bluish-grayish eyes snapped open. Her nervous eyes scanned the dimly light room. She had no idea where she was or how she got there. She groaned painfully as she tried to set up on the bed when a pair of hands gently helped her.
"You should take it easy." Yoruichi stated sternly helping her sit up right. Yoruichi felt the girl tense up. "It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you." Yoruichi replied softly, sitting down on the bed beside her.
"Where am I?" The girl whispered scared. She examine her bandage up body confuse.
"My home."
"How did I get here?" She asked meekly.
"You don't remember anything before fainting?" Yoruichi asked concerned.
The girl shook her head.
"Little Byakuya saw you about to faint and got help."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Yoruichi Shihoin Captain of the 2nd Division."
"Captain?" She questioned confused but then got nervous again. "Am I in trouble?"
Yoruichi furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and shook her head.
"No. Why would you think you are in trouble?"
"I ran away from home. Father always said that if I did anything bad the soul reapers would punish me." The little girl explained frighteningly. "You are a soul reaper…"
"I'm not going to punish you. You haven't done anything wrong." Yoruichi said seriously. "What's your name?"
The girl looked at her confused and blinked thoughtfully, "Bitch…" she whispered.
"What?" Yoruichi questioned angrily. She furrowed her eyebrows trying to figure out if the girl was being serious. "That can't be your name."
"For as long as I can remember father always called me Bitch or Stupid Girl."
"You must have had a name. Think."
"Catalina…I remember a long time ago a woman would call me that. It's vague, but I'm sure that's what she called me." Catalina explained softly.
I sat up quickly and wince slightly a shooting pain radiated from my bruised ribs. I gently held my sides thinking back to that vague dream I could barely remember.
"Nightmare?" Yoruichi asked gently from beside me. She was still sitting down in the same spot from when I fell asleep last night, it didn't look like she had left all night.
"No, more like a dream." I muttered thoughtfully and rubbed my aching head painfully. "Do I know anyone named Byakuya?" I asked remembering the slate gray-eyed teenage boy from my previous dream. His eyes were the only things still haunting my memories.
"Why?" She ask softly.
"I keep dreaming his name." I whispered softly, my heart seem to ach at the thought of him. Who was he?
"You did, a long time ago." She replied honestly.
"What happened to him?" I asked sadly.
"You left him." She said plainly. "But not because you wanted to. It wasn't your fault you left." She assured me quickly.
I nodded slowly. A sudden guilty feeling shot through me. Maybe he was worried that I left without saying goodbye. Wait, why would I have even left in the first place? I know my dad hurt me but could he have also hurt me?
"KAT!" Kisuke yelled happily slamming open my door. I looked at the door half scared to death at his sudden appearance. "Time for your training!" Kisuke continued happily fanning his face with his fan.
I just stared at him, the sleepiness in my eyes still very present.
"What time is it?" I questioned half asleep.
"I believe 4:30 in morning." Kisuke said in a laid back manner and I stared at wide eyed.
"Why are we training so early?" I asked disbelief laying back down. "AH!" I yelled when someone abruptly threw me over their shoulders.
I was about to yell at the culprit but froze when I heard his voice.
"Come on sweetheart unlike you I have to go to school later." Eita said excitedly as he carried me out of the room.
"Eita!" I exclaimed relieved. "You're awake!" I struggling to get out of his grip and he suddenly plopped me down onto the ground.
I hugged him tightly and I felt him tensed up confuse at my sudden action.
"I'm so glad you are ok." I mumbled pulling away tearfully.
"Kat, don't fucking tell me you have been blaming yourself?" Eita asked annoyed crossing his arms. "Because from what Kisuke told me any one of us could have gotten attacked."
I rubbed the tears away and sniffled softly.
"Still, if I wasn't so weak you wouldn't have gotten hurt so badly." I explained softly.
"Well then, let's change that. Let's get stronger together Kat." Eita offered me his hand.
I looked at his hand confused.
"Let's make a pact; to get stronger together and protect the people we care most about." Eita explained determinedly.
I smiled softly taking his hand and squeezed it tightly.
"A pact to get stronger together and protect the people we care most about." I repeated determinedly.
"Don't worry Kat in a month we will have that dismal in distress personality gone. You will be a brand new girl." Kisuke teased happily and Yoruichi slapped him across his head. "I was joking." Kisuke whined childishly.
"Alright everyone, down we go." Yoruichi said excitedly jumping down a hole on the floor.
Eita and I stared down the hole with a ladder on the side. Kisuke walked over to us and kneeled down.
"First task, get to the bottom." Kisuke instructed jumping down after Yoruichi.
We stared after them and look looked at each other.
"I'm not jumping down." I said flatly.
"Like hell I'm jumping down either." Eita hissed horrified.
"HOW THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO THAT?!" I screamed angrily down the hole and I just heard Yoruichi snickering down there and Kisuke chuckling. Bastards.
We kept staring into the hole unsure of what to do. We finally decided to climb down the ladder no way in hell were we risking jumping down and snapping our necks.
[About 45 Minutes Later]
My foot finally touched the ground and I let go of the ladder falling onto my butt. Eita flat out fell backwards onto the ground. We both groan painfully at the sweet relief of finally reaching the ground.
"About fucking time! How the hell is that ladder so fucking tall?!" Eita exclaimed panting, sweat running down his face.
"How the hell does anyone EVER get down that ladder? No wonder everyone just jumps down." I said breathing heavily.
My arm and leg muscles were burning and aching, my lungs were burning for oxygen which wasn't coming in fast enough. I slowly stood up holding onto the ladder to help me stand straight.
I glared at the ladder pulling my hand away and narrowed my eyes at it.
"I don't need your damn help I'm in this mess in the first place because of you." I hissed at the ladder walking away from it and started to look for the bastards of Yoruichi and Kisuke.
Eita was literally crawling across the floor like a slug. I rolled my eyes at his over dramatic antics.
"Alright stamina training for today is complete. Until you can learn to manifest your spiritual force to help you jump down you will be climbing down that ladder." Kisuke sing song overjoyed at the idea.
"BULLSHIT!" Eita yelled outraged.
He quickly stood up panting angrily.
"No fucking way am I climbing down that damn ladder again tomorrow!" he continued angrily.
"Well you can always jump down and hope for the best." Kisuke contoured slyly.
Eita scoffed angrily and said nothing but pout.
"Now, as a soul reaper there are four basic fighting techniques we will be teaching you. First one is Agility. Agility is the name for all high-speed fighting movements based on the art of Flash Steps. Once you have master flash steps you will able to move at high-speed which will allow you to dodge and block attacks more effortlessly." Kisuke explained sternly.
"What are the other three fighting techniques?" I asked curiously.
"Second, Hand to Hand Combat. Third, Demon Arts. Finally fourth, Art of the Sword."
"Sword?" I asked confused.
"During your training you will grow the ability to communicate with your Zanpakuto." Yoruichi explained.
Kisuke suddenly pulled out a blade from his cane.
"Each of you have a unique Zanpakuto especially for you. Created from a part of your soul. This is Benihime." He explained showing us the blade.
We stared at it amazed.
"With time your spiritual force will become strong enough for you to start and communicate with your Zanpakuto. Even now I'm sure sometimes you can hear a faint voice talking to you. That's probably your Zanpakuto calling to you." Yoruichi clarified for us.
"Alright then, so let's get started then. I'm ready to become a soul reaper." Eita said eagerly.
"First things first. You need to lose those faux bodies I gave you when we first meet." Kisuke said motivated.
"Huh?" We both said confused.
Suddenly Kisuke strike us both with his cane.
I screamed horrified as my body fell backwards. I stared at my body and then looked at myself disbelief.
"What the fuck." Eita muttered kneeling down beside his body.
"Soul Reapers are exactly that a soul. You guys are technically dead already so you are souls. In order for other humans without high spiritual force to see you, you need these faux bodies I made for you. These faux bodies will harbor your soul while you pretend to be human and go to school." Kisuke enlightened us.
"So this form," I pointed at my standing self. "Is my soul. While that there is my material body per say." I asked slowly.
"Exactly." Kisuke answered happily, snapping his fan shut.
"So, let's get the training started shall we!" Kisuke said enthusiastic.
[To be Continue]
I'm looking for a beta reader if anyone is interested or knows of someone who would interested in helping me beta this story. Message me any suggestions or offers.
As you can tell this chapter is already completely different from the original story. Kat will be a soul reaper just like Eita in this story version. But there can always plot twists. Now my question is if you guys still want to see Kat interact with all of her spirits from the original version.
In this chapter we also see the older sister/younger sister bond Yoruichi and Kat share. Yoruichi has always been protective of her and grieved her supposed death for quite some time even blaming herself for not being there.
As you can also see Kisuke wants to protect her by not telling her the full truth about what happened to her hoping to spare her pain. Kisuke in his own way also deeply cares for Kat as a little sister.
Eita's and Kat's friendship is also forming differently in this story let me know if you like or rather have something like the previous friendship.
Well again thanks to everyone who has favorite and follow and see yea next week!
Love, Violetta