Chapter Three: The Story of Nagato

Later, back at the hideout, Yahiko, Nagato, Rukia, and Konan sat down around a table. Nagato was staring down at the wood, not willing to look at anyone else's eyes. However, Yahiko knew the time had come to get him to spill it.

The rain outside was thunderous, pelting against the window shutters. Wind could be heard howling, and it distracted them for a time. This storm had started up very suddenly as they headed back. Now Konan was making a kettle of tea for them.

Eventually, she set it down before them. They sipped in silence.

Yahiko had made it plain there was going to be a discussion. However, he hadn't given the details. Nagato was unwilling to speak immediately. Yahiko understood why, but he was annoyed it was taking so long for him to come out with it.

At last, Yahiko lost patience.

"So, Nagato, what was it that allowed that hollow to know you?" said Yahiko. "I think you ought to tell others. They deserve to know, don't they?"

"I know, I..." Nagato shifted.

"Yahiko, Nagato, what is going on?" asked Rukia, probably thinking she was the adult in the room.

"I..." Nagato shifted and looked a bit unstable. "I know that hollow; I know Shrieker."

"What are you talking about? How could you possibly know a hollow?" asked Rukia.

"He..." Nagato choked as he tried to speak. It must have been pretty upsetting. "He was a ninja of the Leaf. He killed my parents."

"What?" said Rukia.

"It was a couple of months ago. We were..." Nagato tried to speak and finally managed it. "We were hiding out from the Leaf when he broke into my house. Shrieker... we tried to run, but Shrieker caught us. He killed Father and chased Mother and me into the hills. We were caught, and he stabbed Mother over and over again...

"Then my eyes happened." He looked like he was about to cry, but bit the tears back. "I don't know exactly what happened, but he died. And then he became that.

"He said...

"He said that if I could run from him for three days, he'd bring Mother back to life."

"And you honestly believed that?" asked Rukia, misreading the situation as always. She really didn't get it, did she? "How could you-"

"Lay off him, Rukia," said Nagato, quickly, trying to seem bold and comforting. "If he hadn't agreed, Shrieker would have killed him before he found us."

"Yeah, Yahiko is right. We can handle him," said Konan, speaking up suddenly. Yahiko was actually surprised by that. Konan was usually the cautious one, but, then, she could be plenty brave when obeying him.

"But... but I found Soul Reapers before. And he killed both of them," said Nagato, looking around at them. "I'm a danger to you all. I should just leave so-"

"You aren't leaving," said Yahiko, keeping resolve. "Not on my watch."

"Yahiko is right," said Rukia sadly. "Besides, he might come after us anyway. Remember what Yahiko did to him. Shrieker will want to get even with us. Even hollows can seek revenge.

"You don't have to worry.

"I'm strong for a Soul Reaper. If he shows his face again, I can take him."

"But how are we going to operate?" asked Konan.

Yahiko looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean, Konan?"

"Think about it," said Konan, who'd spoken more in the past few hours than she usually did in a day. "We usually break up and go out looking for souls. But Shrieker is sure to come after us when we're alone."

"Well then, we just need to set a trap for him," said Yahiko. And then he came up with his plan. He checked the risks against potential benefits and found it worthwhile.

"Nagato, I need you to go out on your own."

"What?" said Nagato. "But you said-"

"I don't want you to leave, don't worry. This is a trap for Shrieker. We'll make it seem like we threw you out of our group," said Yahiko. "That'll mean he'll try to kill you. When he does, we'll show up and bail you out. Rukia can track you and him with her senses. And we can go with her."

"You want to use me as bait?" asked Nagato, not sounding upset so much as scared.

"It's the only way," said Yahiko. If Nagato did bite it in this, they could retreat. And Shrieker might go away on his own. Yahiko would much rather lose him than Rukia or Konan. "If he thinks we're still together, he could go after any one of us at any time. But, if you go out on your own, he'll target you."

"Hang on, Shrieker has left Nagato alone until now," said Rukia. "What makes you think he won't wait until he meets someone else?"

"Because I put a torch in his eye," said Yahiko. "He's probably pissed, and thinking about how maybe this game of his is going to end with him dead." In a best-case scenario, they'd be able to kill Shrieker, Nagato would get more confident, and everyone was alive.

In a worst...

Well, they'd all be dead. But that was a risk Yahiko took a lot anyway.

"But Yahiko, I don't know if I can..." began Nagato, trying to look bolder.

Yahiko put a hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes seriously. He held him there for a moment. "Listen, Nagato; you can't run from things forever. This guy has caused you pain, I know. But you've got to face that pain if you want to become stronger. Use it to become powerful.

"Sooner or later, you have to face Shrieker.

"But I won't force you to go. I could probably go out on my own if you want." That was a lie, and if he got called on it, he could have a problem. To keep his credibility, he'd just have to make it true. Of course, if he had to do that, his use for Nagato would be less.

Nagato wiped away the remnants of his tears. "No, no, I'll do it. I just... give me a torch."

Good, just as hoped. Now they just had to make this thing work.

Nagato made his way out of town the next morning, and he noticed people were staying indoors. The clouds had parted some time ago, and the puddles were still evaporating. Above, the sun was shining quite brightly. When Mom and Dad were still alive, Nagato would have loved a day like this.

Nagato didn't like his chances very much.

He carried only a torch for protection. He made his way along the path, knowing that the others were trailing behind. As he did, he snacked on a piece of bread and cheese Konan had given him. He could hardly taste what he was eating.

It was funny, Nagato had heard that danger made people like their food more. It wasn't working for him at all. He hoped Yahiko's plan would work.

Nagato didn't want to die.

And he didn't want any of the others to die. They were his friends; they'd taken him in when he had nothing. No matter what happened, Nagato had to protect them. And he definitely couldn't let any of them get eaten by a hollow.

Yahiko, Konan, and he could do some real good like this. They'd helped so many souls move on already.

Finally, when Nagato thought he was far enough away, he scaled up a hill and waited. Looking around with his back to a tree, he watched for Shrieker. For some time, he waited. Hour after hour passed, and the day waned. Then, as the sun was beginning to set, Shrieker appeared.

He dropped out of the tree and landed before him, mouth wide open. Nagato lit his torch at once and raised it, just in case. "Well, you've gotten bold, haven't you brat," said Shrieker.

"I want to know, you say you'll be able to bring back my mother," said Nagato, trying to avoid crying out in terror. "How are you going to do it?"

Shrieker stepped back a pace at the sight of the torch but smiled. "Why should I tell you my secrets, kid? It's my choice to use them if I want."

Nagato said what had been obvious all this time. He'd worked for it, trying to escape all this time, but he'd known it was a lie. "You can't do it, can you? You don't have power over life or death. You're not like me."

He'd killed Shrieker before. He could do it again.

"Well, someone seems to have gotten gutsy," said Shrieker. "If you want out of our deal, say so. I figure you'll make mighty good eating."

"I want you out!" shouted Nagato, and he attacked with his torch. It was the only thing he could think to do.

As he did, however, strange frog things leaped from nowhere and grabbed onto Nagato. Their grip on his limbs was like iron, and he found his body going limp. The torch fell from his hands, and he was forced down. Shrieker laughed, as slimy frogs gripped Nagato. Thrashing, Nagato tried to get free but was helpless.

Shrieker brought around a hand and hit Nagato in the gut. The pain was horrible. "Hah, a torch! You really think I'd fall into that kind of weak trap again! Get real!"

It was over.

Nagato was going to die. Not unless the others came to help him quickly. Still, at least he wouldn't get anyone else killed.

"Like them? They're a very special playmate I create in my body. Now, I could just blow you up here and now, but I figure-"

Then he leaped out of the way as Rukia came down with her sword. Shrieker leaped away from several slashes. He sent several frogs toward Rukia, but she cut them apart. Even as she did, however, they exploded around her. She barely got free of the explosions, yet as she rose, she made a chant and sent a bolt of lightning toward Shrieker.
The hollow dodged it narrowly. He and Rukia landed across from one another. "So, the Soul Reaper is back, is she?" asked Shrieker. "I wouldn't come any further, or Nagato here gets blown to bits!"

Rukia halted and looked to where Nagato was. "You Hollow scum."

"Nice way to lure me out," said Shrieker triumphantly. This was bad. "Unfortunately for you, I have a hostage. Any of you come near me, and it'll be the last thing poor Nagato here ever sees."

"Forget about me, Rukia!" cried Nagato. "Kill him, kill him quickly!"

And then there was a blur of blue, and the frogs were burned off him. Nagato pulled up and looked up at his hands, finding them free. Konan ran forward, carrying a bow. "They're clear!"

"Damn it," said Shrieker. "You won't get away with this, Soul Reaper! I'll-"

But before he could speak, Rukia was coming down toward him. A blade passed through him, and Shrieker let out a howl as he was cut through. Behind him, two great, hellish gates appeared. A blade emerged held by a demonic thing and pierced Shrieker through the heart.

"What is that?!" cried Nagato.

"The gates of hell," said Rukia. "A Soul Reaper can only purify souls that commit horrific deeds as a hollow. Those who commit evil deeds in life go to hell."

There was an ungodly scream, and the gates shut. Then they disappeared in a flash. Rukia turned back to them as Konan helped Nagato up. As Rukia came forward, she halted as she looked at Konan. Konan shifted and said nothing, putting away the bow.

"Konan, why didn't you tell me?" asked Rukia.

"You didn't ask," said Konan.

"Tell her what?" asked Nagato.

"I'm something called a Quincy," said Konan.

The explanation was going to be a long one, wasn't it?