warning: ichiruki fluff (?) ahead:3
It's hard to believe some things are living right under your nose sometimes. Before, you just went through life and didn't even acknowledge it. But when you find out that someone did a certain something, or you heard of an event that was shocking, you kinda can't look at it the same way again. You can try, but I haven't found anyone who can switch back just like that.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, as humans, we are prone to change. You can't deny that. But when there is so much of a single change, a "disturbance", if you will, in our lives, we too are affected. Sometimes, we aren't even aware of it until someone points it out.
Like I had said before, I didn't know a lot of things. But that day, a lot of things that were once blurry from confusion were now clear to me.
December 21st, 2009, 11:49 AM
"Dammit," I hissed as I ran from the bathroom to the stove, sniffing the burnt pancakes all the way from over there. I cursed over and over again for not using cooking spray on the stupid cooking pan. Scraping the burnt bits off with a fork, and then a spoon, knife and spatula, I sighed with disappointment. For once, I had attempted to cook, but you see, it's not as easy as ordering at a restaurant. And this was my third try at making pancakes. I nearly burnt the house down with the first batch.
Distracting me from attempting to drown in my self-pity, the doorbell called and I hastily walked over to the door, trying to do a makeover within 30 seconds for whoever was there, even if only the mailman.
I opened the door and saw John waiting lazily against the side of the door for me to answer.
"Hello there," He nodded.
I sure wouldn't mind him delivering my mail.
"Good morning," I muttered, slightly lost. "Not to sound rude, but, why are you here?"
"Didn't you tell me to come for coffee yesterday?"
"Yes, but at noon."
Looking at his watch, he read, "It's 11:45-ish. My day's clear, so I figured might as well be early for once."
"Oh, then come in," I move to the side to let him in and then headed to the bedroom. "Don't mind the smell, it was just an…experiment. There should be some Febreeze near the counter. Just gimme a couple of minutes to change."
"You don't need to get dolled up for me."
"I'm not," I hollered as I opened the closet with both arms and get a hoodie and some leggings to throw on. "Besides, I'm kinda getting used to you now."
"Oh, are you? Does that mean you're not going to get dressed up anytime soon?"
"Never said that," I put my other leg through the legging and adjusted it while heading to the living room. "I just save those for special occaisions."
"Well, that's better," John studied me for a sec. "Cute."
"Gracias," I nodded. "Coffee?"
"Well, aren't you proper."
"It's a yes or no question."
"Yes please," He flashed that usual grin of his that convinced me he was not of this world. "And just a teeny bit of coffee and milk."
"So, remind me again, where did we last leave off?" I began prepping the coffee.
"Uh, we left off at "starting over", even though it seems kinda odd to me, honestly," John shrugged. "I mean, it's not like there's a restart button for our kinda deal. No matter how hard you try to forget it, we met the way we did. And covering that up just seems kinda fake."
"You have a point," I agreed as I pushed the button and sat down next to him. "So where are we? What do we do now?"
"Just let things go the way they are. If things are too fast, we can slow down. That's all I got."
"Why didn't you say something yesterday? This sounds so much better. My plan looks retarded now," I whined as I pounded his chest.
"Didn't want to squash your ego."
"Better than going with my stupid plan. Next time, speak up, kay?"
"Speak up when you have a stupid idea or does that apply in general?"
"Don't get cocky."
"Just admit you're glad we don't have to start all over," He chuckled as he pulled me on top of him and held me by my waist, looking me in the eye. "Or were you trying to see if I'd play the same tricks over again?"
"Hmmm, hadn't even thought of that," I rested my arms around his shoulders. "But you're definitely right about the first part. Beginnings are always so tedious and lengthy, and it makes me wonder," I whispered in his ear as I twirled strands of his hair around my finger. "Why can we just skip to the part we all know and love?"
"You implying something?" I felt him smile as he planted little pecks down my necks, each growing a bit more passionate and longer than before.
"Mm, maybe."
"In that case," The man said in between kisses. "We'll just have to-"
"Omigod!" I sat straight up, and hopped out of his lap and towards the kitchen, hearing the steam and hisses coming from the stove. "My coffee! It's pouring over!"
"I'm sure it would've been fine," John muttered irritatedly.
"No," I whined, seeing that the batch was ruined since nearly half of the liquid poured over the cup. "Now I have to make it again."
The door rang, and I glanced at it for a moment's notice. "You mind getting that?"
While I was rinsing out the flooded coffee mug, I heard immediate silence after the door was opened, and it made me slightly suspicious.
"John? Who's that?"
"Just me," A voice piped, and I looked to see Nelliel with a smile that was as bright as neon. "You mind if I join y'all for coffee?"
"Actually-"
"Sure!" I grinned, prepping the machine ready for the second time before going to join the two. "To be honest, I kinda forgot you were coming over."
"Well, as long as I'm not intruding on something."
John sent a scowl her way. "You kinda are."
I then shot him a look, one to let him know to get that prick out of his ass.
"What he means is," I said. "We were having coffee earlier. I kind of forgot about today's events, sorry. I hadn't had breakfast or my coffee."
"'Tis okay. Grimm was the same when people interrupted us during sex."
"Have some decency," The man muttered.
"You're the one to talk. Your fly is all the way down."
"Anyone care for coffee?" I offered as I heard the beeping go off while hastily pouring the cups and putting them down on the table.
During that short time, I noticed Nel and John were glaring daggers at each other, and something was clearly up. But I figured that with each dagger thrown, there'd be more hints to the real issue going on here.
"So, Rukia," Nel sipped her coffee while crossing her legs. "You mind me asking you something?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"If your supervisor was to give you an unfair punishment for something you did on accident, how'd you react?"
"I'd flip a shit. That is, if it's unfair."
John cleared his throat. "So surely, the supervisor has a legitimate reason for giving such a punishment. And if he were to even reduce it, that'd be awful grateful of him. Wouldn't it, Rukia?"
"I'd be really grateful if he reduced the punishment. Hell, anyone would."
"You'd think so," He nodded. "But you'd be surprised."
"Let's just say the boss isn't the only one who's surprised," The woman said nonchalantly, and right after, the doorbell rang. Again.
"Well, why not plan a friggin' fiesta over here," I muttered as I got up from the couch to answer it, surprised to see Renji at the door. "Renji? What are you doing here?"
"Actually, I got some-"
"If the supervisor was gracious enough to reduce it by that much, then the dumbass who got in trouble should be on his knees thanking him!"
"What's that all about?" Renji asked as he looked over my shoulder.
"Well maybe he hadn't friggin' emasculate the poor guy, he'd be able to say thanks!"
"Come with me," I grabbed Renji's wrist and led him to the kitchen.
"Yo," Renji waved to them and then looked to me. "Whatchu need me for?"
"I need someone sane to stay with me so I don't become like them. And," I grabbed a plate and gave it to him. "I burnt my pancakes. Help me?"
"I'll only stick around for 10 minutes and then I've gotta go. I've got to go down to TR. So, update me," He grabbed a couple of stuff from the fridge and began mixing eggs, flour, and other stuff. "What the situation with those two?"
"I dunno man," I shrugged without a clue. "They didn't seem like best buds when John saw Nel at the door, and they're having this "debate". Something about if a punishment is fair or not and they've been asking me my opinion on it."
"Oi, Rukia!" John called. "Just what exactly you doing for Christmas?"
"You're more than welcome to celebrate over at my house!" Nel turned her head around with a perfect 1960's housewife smile that screamed chicken pot pie.
"Sorry, but I'm spending it with Renji," I announced. "It's kinda our thing, you know."
"Actually," He spoke softly. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I can't make it."
"What?" I gawked.
"Well?" The fiery-maned man asked impatiently.
"Are you really gonna make choose between these two?" I whispered with a pout.
"Sorry. I'm on punishment. But New Year's we're getting drunk for sure."
Something went off in my head, and I remembered my conversation with Boss, and how I had to work this Saturday, which was Christmas. Not the best call, but it saved me from having to pick.
"Oh, shoot, that's right!" I groaned. "I have to work down at TR this Saturday! Gosh, I'm awful sorry, you guys. Looks like I can't spend Christmas with either of you two."
"Boss can't make you work on Christmas!" Nel exclaimed, with John nodding. If anything, that's the one thing they agreed on.
"And me?" Renji asked.
"You're a whole different story," John sneered.
"Now, wait," I cut in. "Why does he have to work? Is this his punishment?"
There was a momentary drift of silence, but Renji acted as if everything was normal, bringing my pancakes to me. He was to break the silence. "No? No one will say it? Fine. I was drunk and got into a fight with Grimmjow."
"Whaaat?" I stood up in my seat, almost eye-to-eye with the tattooed man. "How? Why? Wait," I then look to the two on the couch, who were awfully quiet then. "Is this what this is all about?"
"It's Renji's fault this whole thing started!" Nel boasted.
"I was drunk," The redhead pointed out again.
"And whose fault was that?" John snapped.
"Nobody can manage TR by themselves, John!" The woman hissed.
"I do!"
Cue awkward silence. I didn't even know what he meant, or even if he meant it, but it was clearly something…weird.
"I...do see Boss running it everyday, so why couldn't you?" He drank the last of his coffee.
"Let's see, from the stress I have of being engaged, a bomb threat, and nearly dying."
"Engaged? A bomb threat?" I ask, feeling incredibly left outta the loop.
"I'm going to go now before things get anymore awkward," Renji muttered before he slyly escaped.
As soon as the door closed, John yelled, "Now you're chasing people off!"
"I did nothing! If anything, I just told Rukia what happened!"
"So glad I could be updated," I sipped my coffee.
"Would you like to say something yourself then, Nelliel?"
"Don't you tempt me," She grinned with a hint of plastic.
"Anywho, Rukia," John left the couch and walked over to me. "Have you given any thought about Christmas?"
"I told you, I'm working," I mumbled as I feel my pocket vibrate and pulled out my phone, quickly reading the text.
"Missy. Forgot it was Christmas this Saturday. Silly me. I told you being a Boss isn't the least bit luxurious. Point is, go out and celebrate. We'll discuss (in person) when you work. Happy Holidays."
"No friggin' way," I gaped at the screen.
"What?" John asked.
"Boss just sent me a text.." I scrunched up my eyebrows. "And I'm off of work?"
"So then, will you spend it with me?" He grinned like a child asking for candy.
I then look to Nel pitifully and said, "I'm sorry, I can't chose between you and-"
"A man you barely know?" Her words were like ice.
"Nel.." I stare at her.
"I'm sorry," She nodded. "Your boyfriend got me worked up. Didn't mean to take it out on you. I'll see you later then."
As she exited, I caught John making a face.
"Someone pissed in your corn flakes today," I teased.
"I swear, she can be so stubborn sometimes," John shook his head, but then went over to the door and locked it, giving me a rather seductive look. "But screw her. Let's pick up where we last left off."
Within seconds, he had lifted me over his back and threw me on my bed, instantly pouncing on me. Or I pounced on him. Either way, we were glad we were alone again. His hands snaked their way down to my hips and held steady to them. My hands, however, were wrapped around his shoulder and scratched the toned, built muscles of his back. Not too rough, but not too soft either. Like a cat. Just enough to make the hairs on your skin prick up. Occasionally, one of my hands would hide in that mass of ember and rummage through the fluffs of ember. Its texture was so soft and so smooth, it could easily slip through my fingertips. I turned my head to the side so that he'd have more than enough space on my neck. The muscles on my calves tightened when he kissed my neck, because when he did, he kinda sucked on it and it always tickled a little bit. I felt a hand crawl its way from the side of my ass to just underneath my back to cradling the back of my head.
Turning my head the other way, I looked straight at him for a sec, glued to just how brown his eyes were and then closed the gaps between our lips as I wrapped my legs around me. I was a bit surprised he didn't do tongue at a time like this, but to each his own, I thought. We only broke contact for air, and I hated whenever we had to. So, I stayed on a bit longer than usual, wanting more than I normally got within those short seconds. Although strange to talk about it, his way of kissing was tender, but not in the least bit lacking and plenty passionate.
We broke and heavy breathing filled the room as he still remained on top of me. He stared at me for a moment before the corners of his mouth slowly curled up into a smile, and in turn, made me smile and giggle too. I kinda wanted to say, The hell? You ain't going all the way?, but I decided that was better to keep in my head.
"I didn't know you were ticklish on your neck," He chuckled as he laid down next to me.
"And I didn't know you didn't use tongue."
"Just ain't my fetish. Why are you so far away? Get over here," The orange-haired male groaned as he tugged me over to his chest, with my head resting on his bicep with the arm wrapped around my back. "We'll make this work."
"Make what work?" I twirled my finger across his chest in swirls and loops.
"Us."
My hand went limp.
I had to look at him to see if he was really serious, and he was. I was too happy. And I didn't want to say something that'd ruin the moment.
"Thank you," I muttered softly, already feeling a bit drowsy from being so comfortable.
"Hey, about the Christmas thing," He started. "I know it's sudden, but it's just gonna be you and me, and my family."
Hold up, buddy.
I lifted my head from his arm and stared at him blankly. "..You didn't mention anything about a family earlier."
"I would've said something, but I didn't get a chance. And it's not a family reunion. It's just my two sisters. And they want to meet you."
"Have you even considered if I want to meet them?"
"Rukia," He sighed. "If you do this, I'll do whatever you want. I'm not really all that pumped about this either. It's going to be awkward seeing my sisters after five years."
"Can you visit them in your spare time? And you know, not with me? I'm not that fond of people," I sat up on the side of the bed.
"But it's Christmas. You're going to be with people, regardless."
"Yeah, but I wasn't planning on making a big hoopla outta it. Besides, I always went to Renji's for Christmas. It was our thing."
"New Year's is literally days apart from Christmas, and you're gonna spend that with him."
"True. But even if I do go, how the hell am I supposed to act in front of them, huh? It's not like we can just act like Rachel and Ross from FRIENDS in a heartbeat," I scoffed.
"We'll play it by ear. And if anything, I thought we'd be something along the lines of Derek and Meredith. After all, I do have good hair."
"I don't know what show that's from, but anyways," I shook my head. "Say we pull this off. Will your sisters really buy it?"
"Rukia, do you remember me telling you about my sisters?"
"Refresh my memory?"
I heard the pace of his slow, steady breathing. His body remained motionless, with the exception of his fingers, which were toying with the ends of my hair, making the hairs prick up on my skin.
"We had just met the day before. It was raining, and I absolutely despise the rain, in case you didn't already figure it out. We were in the park, and unlike with anybody else, I was opening up to you, and I didn't feel the least bit awkward. It was an impulse move, to talk about my past, but it felt so natural. And then my wound opened up, and without hesitating, you took off your scarf and tried to ease the pain and stop the bleeding. There are so many things I want to thank you for, but even now, I don't know how to repay you."
Hearing him say that aloud, it made me think—if he remembered such an event like that from nearly forever ago, then was he like that with everything else? ...Nah.
"Yuzu had a little doll, didn't she?" I broke the silence. "She's the blonde one who you fought for. And Karin was the one with black hair, right?"
"Yes," He nodded. "That's right."
"In that case, I want to meet them."
"Really? Thank you so much, Rukia! I'll make it up to you, I swear."
"Oh, all in good time. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow night."
"So soon?" I gape.
"It's about a 12-hour drive from here. You can sleep in the car and we'll have arrived by Wednesday morning. They live in a kinda rural area. You know where the Aidirondacks are?"
"Yeah."
"They live in a small community near there."
"So, what am I supposed to get them?"
"Lemme worry about that. I know what they want."
"If we're going tomorrow, I might as well start packing," I shrugged and walked over to my closet, flinging some clothes on the bed. "And you?"
"I'll do that tomorrow. Can I crash here tonight?"
I turned around and gave him a look, and he gave me one right back.
"You spent the night at my house. You aren't uncomfortable with it, are you?" He jested, flashing his canines almost as if to tease me.
"No sex," I muttered while looking back to the closet and picking out a deep azure blouse before throwing it too on the bed.
"Have I ever asked for it?"
"Just lettin' ya know."
"If I were some other guy, I'd probably give up and call you a bitch on the way out."
"Your point being?"
"I'm not like other men. So get that mindset of all men being sex addicts outta your head."
"Sex addict or not, there is a desire for it in everybody, not just men. Our thing earlier," I closed the closet doors, looking at the tanned male for a second and then to the clothes I picked out. "Was just a bite-size sample of it. And it was evident as hell that you had desire. Same with me. But just because I like you doesn't mean I'll spread open my legs for you."
"Knew that from the start."
"Good," I grinned. "So glad we're on the same page."
"Just wish you were on mine."
"What?"
"On my page. I may be on your page, but you're not on mine."
"What are you talking about?" I started sorting the shirts and pants and folding them.
"You're obviously a woman with very strong opinions. A bit obstinate, even. Which basically means it isn't gonna be as easy as knocking over dominoes to influence you."
Raising my eyebrows, I looked at him with pique, telling him to go on.
"Just letting you know, I'll change that."
"We'll see," I scoffed with a soft laugh as I went back to folding.
"Oh, you will."
The next day, I woke up alone, seeing a yellow sticky note next to my nightstand with some cursive on it. No doubt it was from John, giving a reason for his absence and then possibly plans to meet up with me later to go to his sister's for Christmas. But instead, I read:
"You're as stubborn as a mule.
We leave at 8.
Don't miss me too much, Meredith."
"Bastard," I hissed as I got up from the side of the bed and glanced at the clock, not really giving a fuck what time it was. I noticed a voicemail on my phone and listened to it.
"Hello, Ms. Kuchiki. This is Dr. Raymond Scotto from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital. I'm calling to inform you that your brother's belongings are still in the hospital, and that today is the last day to pick them up."
Quickly pushing '7' to delete the message, I left the house in the same clothes I slept in and went out. Arriving at the hospital, I went over to the office desk to ask the old, haggard, and presumably bitchy nurse for directions.
"Excuse me," I spoke up. "I'm Rukia Kuchiki, I'm here to pick up my brother's, Byakuya Kuchiki's belongings?"
"Hold up a sec," She muttered as she typed the name into the computer. "Room 439. Take a right from the Kennedy Hallway and go on until you see it on your left."
"Thank you," I smiled before walking down the narrow hallway. In my mind, it seemed as if the two walls to my walls were getting smaller and smaller and closing in on me. The buzzing of people's thoughts flooded my head, and it was unnerving in comparison to yesterday. I thought maybe I was just more "conscious" now than the day before, but I didn't have an FAQ or manual as to how this whole mind reading thing works, so that's what I just assumed. Point is, hearing people's thoughts and God knows what else, not really the things you want to hear as you walking to go pick up your dead brother's stuff.
"433, 435, 437," I muttered, and then looked up at the door in front of me with a sigh. "439. Might as well get this over with."
Opening the door, I walked ever so slowly into the room that was the deathplace of Byakuya. There was an eerie vibe already and I felt the hairs on my skin rise with fright just by being there. What's even weirder, I think I could even smell him a little bit. I walked to the bed and just stared at it, remembering his bloody body and the face he had on that day. I was in a trance of total and complete fright and was more or less paralyzed.
The sound of the door being locked revived my consciousness, and when I went to turn around, I saw Dr. Milovic staring at me, though he looked as if something was bothering him.
"Damir," I began, wondering why he was here. "Aren't you supposed to be work-"
"Shut up," He growled in a whisper as he grabbed me and pinned me against the wall, locking lips with me, but I resisted. Kicking and screaming, I tried to get him off of me, but I had the upper body strength of a kitten. I then bit his lips with my canines, making him recoil with a hiss.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" He yelled.
"What the fuck is wrong with me? What the fuck is wrong with you?" I shrieked, wiping the saliva off my lips with my sleeve. "You can't just barge in here and make out with me!"
"Oh, you know you wanted to too," The doctor rolled his eyes as he cornered me. "After all, you do need some closure to get over your brother, right? Let me give you some-"
I slapped him, my chest heaving with a mix of rage and disappointment. "Like hell."
"Then why'd you lead me on like that, huh?"
Choosing my words carefully, I barely managed to mutter, "Because I was weak. And I'm sorry, but I can't see you. I'm seeing someone-"
"That didn't stop you the last time."
"It was just a kiss!"
"You fuck with everybody like this?"
"I beg your pardon?" I glared.
"Was I just a "in the moment" kind of guy? A pick-me-up?"
"I don't know where the hell you're getting this impression of me being a maneater, but I think you better leave before I say something I'm really going to regret," I growled, making my way to storm out of the room, but a hand pulled me back.
"Aren't you in the least bit curious as to what really happened that night?"
"That night we kissed? I'd rather not. God knows what's going in your sick head."
He laughed. "Not that one. The night you "passed out" from hypothermia while at your grandfather's. That night we took a walk."
'What are you talking about? It's just as you said, I passed out because I was out in the cold too long."
"Or at least, that's what you were told, right?"
I stare at him, puzzled look and all. "What are you getting at?"
"Something strange happened that night, didn't it?"
I remembered the eerie events that happened over there. That beast attacking me, a dragon killing it right in front of me, etc, etc. "Don't be ridiculous," I snapped.
"Something did happen."
"You're obviously on something," I shrugged it off as I made my way towards the door, but he blockaded the exit again.
"Tell the truth."
"Why are you so persistent?"
"Because you need to know what's going on right here, right now," Damir spoke in a tone that was as eerie as powerful. "So I'm going to tell you."
"Tell me…what?" I blinked.
"I'm a daemon."
I shot him a skeptical look, but his face was as solid as stone. And it wasn't budging. I then had an idea, but I wasn't sure if it was going to work or not. Well, this guy is parading that he is a mythological being. Why not do something crazy too?
I grabbed the sides of his head with my hands and made an attempt to see what he was thinking. You didn't need to be psychic to know that he was questioning my action, but I was blank. I only heard silence.
"You…okay?"
"I can't hear you," I muttered.
"I said, ARE YOU OKA-"
"No, I can't hear what you're thinking," I let go of him and turned around, thinking why this happened. This never happened before. I think.
But when I heard laughter and snorting, I felt a nerve pop to life.
"You can't read minds," He guffawed. "You're just a human."
"Am I? Let's put it to a test then," I opened the door, which showed the mini-lounge/reception desk. Looking around, I scouted for candidates and quickly scanned their heads. I pointed to a man walking up to a nurse at the reception desk. "You see that guy? He's gonna ask that chick for some coffee later at Café Bleu after work. And that nurse sitting in that chair over there? She's worried about her kids. Her break starts in exactly one minute. She'll pick up the phone and call the babysitter to check up on her twins."
"And when she does, I'll ask her, just to see if you really are serious," He chuckled, waiting across from me in the doorway of the room, the both of us watching her like hawks.
And sure enough, she picked up that phone and when she was finished with her conversation, Damir made his move over to her.
"Hello, Brenda," He flashed a grin. "You mind me asking who was that you just talked to?"
"Oh, just checking up on the twins. They're such a handful, and I just hired the babysitter, so I don't know how she'll handle them. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. You just looked a bit worried earlier," He muttered as he walked away.
"Well, thank you for being concerned, Doctor Milovic!"
He raised a hand behind him as he walked back towards me, an unamused look on his face as he closed the door. "You can just read body expressions well, that's all."
"Heads-up, Raymond's about to ask you on how that craniotomy on Carl Lewis went," I yawned.
"S'cuse me," A gruff voice opened the door.
"Not now, Raymond," Damir growled, and Raymond slowly closed the door and left us alone.
"Believe me now?" I asked, but he wasn't in the least bit happy about this discovery. "You look scared. Hell, I'm the one who should be scared, if anything. You're the one with fangs and claws."
"Have you always been like this?" He questioned in a paranoid-like kind of manner as he sat down, staring down at the ground, and then to me. "Well?"
"I've been like this for…" I rambled as I hopped on the bed, trying to remember. "Three months? Normally, I try to block out people's thoughts, because last time, it didn't quite go so well. So, I only read if I absolutely need to, and even then, I hate poking. Feels like I'm invading their privacy. I don't know how I can do it, but I know it's specific."
"Why?"
"I can't hear you," I stared at him blankly.
"It probably just doesn't work against supes," He shrugged.
"Soo-what?"
"Supes. Short for supernatural, like myself. So, your mind-reading trick probably works on only humans."
I shook my head. "I've read the mind of a monster before."
"Your boyfriends do not count."
"Dumbass, I'm not talking about that," I hit him. "I'm talking about an actual monster. I met one, while I stayed at my grandfather's."
"What kind of monster was it?"
"I dunno. But before I tell you, give me actual proof that you are a "supe"."
"Shouldn't you have asked that earlier?"
"Just show me," I ignored his remark.
"Very well then," He shrugged as he propped his mouth wide open, flashing four teeth that popped out, two from the top and two from the bottom. Now, you might be thinking of a cat's or dog's teeth, where they have four teeth between the fangs, but this guy's had only two.
"You could be a vampire, not a demon," I pointed out. "Need more proof."
"This whole vampire craze really pisses me off," He muttered as he rolled down his sleeve down to his elbow and held it in front of me. Before I knew it, an opaque black mist engulfed the hand and within in a couple of seconds, it was gone and a ebony-dark violet talon had replaced it. It looked human-like in structure, with the exception of the skin color and claw length.
I eyed it with pique. "Can I touch it?"
"It's just a hand. It's not poisonous or anything."
"Well, I don't know this kinda stuff! Better safe than sorry," I grumbled as he placed it in my hands.
The texture was thick, but smooth, and his hand was probably a hand and half bigger than mine. My fingers went over every bump and square inch of the palm. I couldn't help it though. I mean, how often does this kind of thing come along? What I was really amazed at were the claws. They were sharp enough to rip a throat, that was for sure; but I didn't see them as being "scary". I thought they were pretty friggin' amazing, to be honest. I squeezed the hand and then looked up at the man.
"How long have you been a demon? Or how old are you?"
"Pretty long time," He shrugged. "So, you believe me now?"
"One more question," I pouted.
"Fine."
"Do you kill people?"
He was silent then, staring at the ground and avoiding eye contact with me. That black mist surround his hand again and before I knew it, it was back to being normal. Er, human normal, that is.
"In general, yes. But I've been around for a while to withstand my hunger until I can find some other resource for food."
"And just what is your food?"
"It's…complicated to explain."
"Might as well tell me now, before some other big, bad demon tries to bite me," I teased, but he didn't share in my humor.
"It's life."
"Being poetic, are you?"
"No. Literally, it is life. Not blood or flesh, but the thing that makes us alive. Me, you, animals, trees, there's that essence in every one of us. Humans have a fairly high ratio of it."
"I don't get it."
He sighed. "Think of it this way: without life, your body is no better than a machine. When you walk, your brain sends a message to your legs to move the muscles, but what actually makes them move?"
"You expect me to believe that there is some kind of otherworldly chemical in every living being?"
"Not a chemical," The man held up a finger. "But life. Some call it magic, juju, shaman's voodoo, whatever. They're all synonyms of the same thing."
"So, you feed off of someone's life. What happens then?"
"They're just a conscious, but soulless corpse then. Better than vampires, I might add."
"And so the zombie riddle has been solved."
"More or less. The more decent of us will leave some with some morsel of a conscious. It takes time to recover, but at least their soul is still intact."
"And that'd be you?"
"I don't feed on humans. I get mine from a private source."
"Wow. Even supes have black market deals."
"Kinda have to when almost every species despises you," Damir shrugged. "So, back to you. What was this monster you saw?"
"I don't know," I shivered, feeling disgusted just by the image of it that was stuck in my head. "I-It looked like a naked human, but its tail was from its spine, and its eyes were pure black."
"Did you take a look at its feet?"
"No…why?"
"If they were backwards, it's an Abari. They were called Abarimon, but we keep things short and simple. They are just cursed cannibal humans. Awfully fast though. You didn't get bitten, did you?" He grabbed my chin and turned my head both ways, and I slapped his hands off of me.
"Nope. A dragon killed it."
"You sure it wasn't just kind of serpent?" The raven-haired man scoffed. "Dragons have been extinct for…at least a millennia. They died out."
"I have proof," I held up my necklace.
"…A necklace. Cool. Did it compliment it or something?"
"I'm serious! Look," I turned it around to the part where the once broken pieces were molded together.
"It seems as if it's joined together. You want me to break it?" He lifted a single claw, and I backed up slowly.
"No! This is a gift. And it's pretty."
"Lemme take a look at that," He muttered as he took a look at the jewel, eyeing it with the upmost precision. "Who gave you this necklace?"
"It was a present from…an employee," I fibbed, thinking that the truth might imply something.
"And when did you get it?"
"Around…three months ago?"
"That a coincidence?" He raised his eyebrows. "With the mind trick and all?"
"Dunno."
"Let's test it," He hooked his claw under my necklace and once I saw that he was trying to break it, I tried slapping his hand again, but I don't think he felt a thing.
"What are you doing?" I growled. "I don't want my necklace broken."
"Look at it this way: if that thing gave you the slightest bit of psychic skills, then too much of it is definitely a bad thing."
"How?"
"Sometimes it's better not to know everything."
I just stared at him, giving him a look that demanded more information.
"Take me, for example. I can literally smell the fear on your skin. You are scared of me, aren't you? Whether it's my skin, fangs, claws, or the fact that I just tried to hook up with you earlier, you are scared of me. And judging by your scent, you are scared of a lot of things as well," He sniffed. "Other people?"
"What's your point?"
"If a hostile supernatural picked up the fact that you feared them, well, logic and sense will fill in the blanks."
"Oh. OH!" I got it. "Oh, that wouldn't be too swell."
"So, without your necklace, you won't be psychic. The psychic effects should wear off gradually."
"I see," I nodded. "Well, break the thing already then."
It only took him the single clip of his pointer and thumb claw to break the miniscule thing. Catching it with his other palm, he handed the broken necklace to me. "So, now that I know your secret, is there any hope for us to still be talking?"
I snatched the necklace out of his hand. "Are you shitting me?"
"I can do things he can't," He whispered huskily while toying with a strand of my hair. "And once you done playing with him, I'll be there."
"Ha," I scoffed as I pushed his hand out of the way before leaving.
"One more thing," Damir added, making me pause in my tracks. "Whoever gave you that necklace, be careful. If you're talking to supes, you better hide it. That thing isn't human."
"What are you saying?" I looked back at him with confusion. "It's not like the person who gave me this wanted me to be psychic. At least I hope not."
"Maybe, but maybe there's another reason?"
"Like?"
"Maybe they might be supes too."
"That just contradicts what you just said though."
"And the people you might be working with might be supes too. You're close friends with your co-workers?"
"A couple. What are you-"
"Nel asked me to kill her," He blurted suddenly with a scowl.
"…What…?"
He then explained to me everything that happened that night with all of the drama at TR. Of course, he didn't know the events, just the stuff that happened after. To be more specific, Nel's encounter with him and her death wish. I can't even explain how infuriated I was. Of all things to hide, she chose this. And being a supe.
"I can't believe this," I shook my head. "Just when you think you know someone, you're left looking like a dumbass because you've been lied to all this time."
"It's not necessarily lying." Damir butted. "And it's not only her. Every supe for themselves. It's not like we can openly admit it. Imagine your reaction just now to the squared root of freezing hell over."
"I know that, but she could've at least…she could've hinted it!"
"Room 204. Two rights and a left."
I was about to ask what he meant, but I put two and two together and got the picture. Giving a nod in thanks, I stormed out of the room and marched in the directions that he gave me, and sure enough, I saw the woman.
"Rukia!" She exclaimed, but I made no plan on stopping to greet her. "What a sur-"
I slapped the side of her face as soon as I get to her, and she slapped me right back.
"The hell's wrong with you?" She hissed.
I pulled her by the hair into the storage closet and closed the door, glaring at her with eyes of rage.
"Well? You gonna tell me why you slapped me or not? 'Cause I'm sure as hell 'bout to slap the shit outt-"
"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, but she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about.
"You better start making sense, Rukia."
"I know about your death wish. And about you being a supe. And how you didn't tell me."
Her mouth dropped slightly, but then shut back up. "What was I supposed to do, Rukia? I didn't know how'd you react?"
"Well now you know!" I shouted, and I couldn't even stand to look at her, that's how upset I was.
"How?"
"The demon doc."
"…It's more than just wanting to die."
"Oh, is it now?" I laughed "Then please enlighten me."
"I'll tell you when we aren't crammed in a closet. But first, why did he tell you?"
"Are you really going to ask why someone told me the truth?"
"I see what you mean. But you're just a human, why would he-"
"I've been able to read minds for three months now, around the time I met you. And to be honest, it's scaring the shit outta me. Especially with all this supernatural stuff now going on in my head. Damir thinks it might be because of the necklace Boss gave me. So, I'm testing that theory."
"Who else knows about you being…?"
"Just you two."
"And Boss?"
"No. I can't."
"Why not? He knows about everybody else."
"Everybody else being…?"
"The people at TR."
Oh, you're a clever on, Doctor.
"Ironically," She continued. "That was TR's purpose. To give supes a place to be safe, even though there's always danger surrounding it."
"So, is everyone a supe?" I asked.
"Not at all. They're a few humans, like you, Renji, Shuhei, Mashiro, and Rangiku, as well as a few others. Some know about us, some don't."
"But wait, what about Grimmjow?"
"Oh, he's a supe. Shifter, to be precise, and almost always does he shift into a panther. It's a different story with shifters, but they're supes all the same."
"I never would guessed. He acts like a human."
"Well, he used to be. Long story. Anywho, we have to hide ourselves. If word got out there were our kind around, there'd be chaos and mayhem. Not to mention the government would purge everyone and exterminate every single one of us."
"I see. And John?"
She coughed and caught her breath before speaking. "Human. But he does know about us."
"So, should I tell him about my situation?"
"Don't, to be on the safe side. With supe/hume relations, it's always tricky. Take my word for it."
"Ah," I muttered, feeling a bit disappointed.
"There's a time and place for everything. He might be a pain in the ass, but he isn't heartless. To you, at least. He'll understand."
"I hope so," I shrugged. "Anyways, tell me what really went down at TR. And cut the bullshit with this version please."
"It's more or less the same deal. Renji got drunk, threatened me, Grimm got involved and nearly shifted. And the fact that it was in front of a bunch of humes is a serious offense."
"Hume?"
"Lingo for human."
"Oh. Go on."
"And after that, we got a bomb threat, and I guess my stress levels went through the roof, as I was coughing up blood and went to the hospital. I met your friend there and asked for his help with…yeah."
"Yeah," I tried not to dwell on that idea.
"Everybody got punished. Grimm especially. He can't shift for three months. Imagine wanting to pee, but you couldn't for three months."
"You're comparing a shifter to a person needing to piss?"
"Well, it's like that, but to a huger degree. Like, way huger. But as I was saying, Boss is mainly upset with me because he put me in charge that night and I couldn't handle it."
"So that's what you and John were fighting about," I cracked the puzzle.
"Yeah. He's…real close with Boss. He's his…right-hand man, kinda."
"That explains a lot of things."
"One thing, Rukia," Nel looked directly at me. "Don't blab about this whole psychic deal. Techinically, you're not a supe until you can prove that it isn't just the necklace that's giving you that side-effect. And you haven't been around for long. But if you ever have a question, you're more than welcome to ask me. Also, if you sense someone isn't human, do not react. If they pick up on it, they'll either A, kill you, or B, run away and then kill you. We're very hostile towards humans. Sorry."
"So I've been told," I smiled.
"However, you don't need to worry while you're down at TR. Most of our kind working there have been human for a while and have plenty control."
"That's more than I could say for some people," Nel thought, and I found it kind of funny that she wasn't aware of it, despite me telling her a couple of minutes ago.
"Why are you smiling?" She asked.
"I'm sorry," I giggled. "I guess I'm one of those people that you could say have no control. It just popped into my head."
"What..oh…eavesdropper! Stop listening to my thoughts!"
"I can't help it! There's no on/off switch! I can only try to block it out!"
"I'll ask Yoruichi later if she could help out with this. Treat that lady right, she's a hell of a helpful hand, I'll tell ya."
I was quiet then, and I was trying to process all of this new data inside of my head, but my brain wasn't on the highest speed connection for doing so.
"It's a bit too much?" She asked.
"Just a little," I admitted.
"For what it's worth, you're taking it better than I had expected," Nel tried to offer some piece of happy news, but I'd need far more than that.
"Because today wasn't my first encounter with supes"
And I had a feeling it wasn't going to be my last.
A/N: Howdy y'all. So, after brainstorming, I am really hyped about writing the next three chapters, and they will be tres amusantes:] And very dramatic, I might add. Gimme time, because they are going to be longer than the normal 11-15 page. Prolly 20? Dunno. Anywho, in other news, I got a tumblr, and if you're interested, I'll update on SP over there. Msg me for the link:]
Oh yeah, and if you can spot the hidden reference in this chapter, I'll love you forever.
Kanita out~