Chapter 3: A Brother's Lament
Hey everyone! It's me sakuraphoenix, and I'm back with a new chapter of Spirits of the Past! I know, I've been bust lately, but thankfully, I found time to update some of my fanfics with this four-day weekend of mine. Any, enough with the yakking, it's time for the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Shizuku. Shizuku is owned by my friend Lyokowarrior1994, who is also co-working with me on this project
Enjoy!
"I just don't get it, why did your best friend attack us?" I asked
"Not us, just you. Judging from the last hollow you killed, I would guess there's a more powerful hollow behind this that wants to consume your spirit energy. It probably has several hollows under its control. It knows where you are now and is sending other hollows here to carry out its orders. That would explain why Ren showed up." Said Shizuku
"You expect me to kill him now? He was your friend, there's no way I could do it!" I exclaimed
"You have to do it. You haven't got a choice. If we don't kill him, he'll wander around forever, and he'll keep coming after you again and again until he gets your soul. Wait a minute, you're not the only one in danger! There are some rare cases when hollows go to attack others with high spirit energy, others like you." Said Shizuku
After Shizuku managed to get out of his gigai, we were practically running all over Karakura Town to find this 'Ren' guy.
"So, you mean to tell me that since he failed to devour my soul, he's going to after some other souls?" I asked
"Pretty much. Know anyone with high spirit energy?" asked Shizuku
"Just Ichigo Kurosaki, my friend. He claims that he can see ghosts. For our sakes, I hope he's not next on your friend's menu!" I exclaimed
"Ren was my friend, was. There's a difference!" exclaimed Shizuku
"Point is, maybe you can break through to him. He was a Soul Reaper once, right?" I asked
"Yeah." Said Shizuku
"Then maybe you can break through to him. And speak of the devil, there he is now!" I exclaimed
"I got this one! Ruler, mask of flesh and blood, all things in the universe fly! That which names all in nature, gathering of heat and war! Beyond the seas in reverse, take steps to the south! Hado number 31! Shakaho! Red Flame Cannon!" chanted Shizuku
Some kind of red ball of fire managed to hit Ren on the back. He then turned to face us.
"Looks like we found you Captain Overbite." I said
"Ren!" exclaimed Shizuku
"Shizuku, wait!" I exclaimed
A little late for that. Shizuku drew his zanpaku-to, and was fighting against Ren. He was fighting with pure instinct now. I wanted to join in the fight, but judging by the way Shizuku was fighting, it was a battle for his honor, and Ren…
"Ren, come to your senses! It's me Shizuku!" exclaimed Shizuku
It appeared that Shizuku was getting the upper hand, but when Ren knocked aside his zanpaku-to, he grabbed him, and started to suffocate him.
"Shizuku! I'm the one you're really after, leave him alone!" I exclaimed as I drew my zanpaku-to
I tried to cut him, but his skin was like iron, he knocked me to the asphalt, and well, when I got up onto my feet, I felt my head, and it was bleeding. Man, this was going to hurt. I then noticed that my own zanpaku-to was right next to Shizuku's. He then did was he was doing to Shizuku earlier.
"Shizuku… STOP IT!" I cried out
I then felt tears fall down the sides of my face. He then looked at me, and suddenly, I was seeing things that weren't in my memories. They were… Ren's.
*Flashback 1*
A boy who looked like he was 15 years old was just waking up when he heard the sounds of someone crying. He quietly tip-toed his way over to the room his heard the sounds of crying. When he reached the room, there was someone there with long pink hair that was about the same length as Karen's hair without the ringlets. It was long and flowing, and she was holding a picture of a man with long blond hair wearing a white hatori coat. In the picture, the girl was in it too.
"Captain Hirako, Yoruichi, Kisuke, why? Why did you leave? I know what the charges were, but I know you too well Kisuke. You'd never do such a thing without a good reason. Kisuke, I swear, I will clear you name. I don't care how long it takes, but I promise, I will clear your name." said the girl
*End Flashback 1*
*Flashback 2*
"I proudly present the fifth company's newest lieutenant, Sakura Himiwari! Under the tutelage of the fifth company's newest captain, Sosuke Aizen, we hope that the Soul Society's very fifth company will continue to move forward! That is all." Said a very old man
Ren could be seen running behind the barracks of the fifth company, wanting to congratulate his sister for her recent promotion. Just when he's about to speak, he hears two voices, one male and one female.
"Whatever do you mean Lieutenant Himiwari?" asked a male voice
"I may be your lieutenant Captain Aizen, but don't think that automatically makes us friends. Captain Hirako was discharged for reasons that I know that my friend Kisuke Urahara would never do. I will find out what truly happened to him, even if it costs me my life." Said Sakura before her footsteps could be heard
'This Captain Aizen, if Sakura is wary about him, I better keep my distance.' Thought Ren
*End Flashback 2*
*Flashback 3*
An older Ren Himiwari could be seen running through a forest, trying to catch up with his sister. However, when he found her, he noticed two things. One, her zanpaku-to was missing. Two, she was no longer breathing.
"Sakura, Sakura, come on, this is some kind of joke, right? Come on, wake up." Said Ren while he was trying to shake her awake
He then noticed a hole in her chest where her heart was supposed to be. Ren had a face of shock seeing her like that.
"She's not dead. She can't be dead! She must've faked it! She must've! SAKURA!" cried Ren
*End flashback 3*
"Now I understand why you mistook me for your sister, Sakura. You can't bring yourself to believe that she's dead, and that she faked her death and is alive somewhere. I'm sorry, but I'm not her, I'm not your sister. Let me ask you something Captain Overbite, why are the older siblings born first? So they could protect the younger ones. That's what Ichigo always told me. I don't have any siblings myself, so I don't really know for myself. But I can tell from the memories I saw that even though Sakura was your sister, you wanted to protect her, even if she was older than you. Would she like it if she saw you doing this? Threatening to kill your best friend?" I asked
"Sakura, she would… she would…" started Ren
The mask that was on his face began to revert from being on it to off like how some people would change channels on a TV. While that was happening, he let Shizuku go.
"Shizuku! Shizuku, what in the world is happening to him?" I asked
"The part of him that's still human is fighting the hollow for control. Evidentially Ren didn't become a hollow by choice. He must've been taken over." Said Shizuku as he caught his breath
"Taken over? By who?" I asked
"A soul that is devoured by a strong hollow is manipulated by that strong hollow, and that hollow desires your spirit energy, so it took over Ren's soul planning to use it to attack you. Right now, Ren is desperately fighting that hollow for Sakura's sake." Said Shizuku
The mask on his face completely broke off, revealing purple eyes and light brown hair. When he saw Shizuku, he apparently had a face of regret. He then picked up my zanpaku-to.
"What are you doing?" I asked
"I only have a short time before the hollow overwhelms me again and changes me back into a monster. So while I'm sane and can still think clearly, I'll end this." said Ren
He then put my zanpaku-to at his neck.
"Hey! Wait! Don't do that!" I exclaimed
"Karen, it's alright. He's made the right decision. Once you become a hollow, you can never go back to what you were again. Passing on is the best thing for him." Said Shizuku
"But Shizuku…" I started
"It's okay. In time, you'll learn that exorcising a hollow isn't the same as killing it. You're cleansing its soul and allowing it to enter the Soul Society. That's why Soul Reapers exist in the first place, to help all souls find their way, and finally rest in peace." Said Shizuku
I then looked at Ren, and he nodded.
"Ren, before you go, there's one thing I just want to say. The day that you died, I couldn't help but blame myself for not being on my guard. You were the one in charge of teaching me the basics after I was assigned to the thirteen court guards. I'm sorry Ren, and I hope you can forgive me." Said Shizuku
"Don't worry about a thing. I forgave you a long time ago." Said Ren
He then stabbed himself in the chest with my zanpaku-to, and disappeared in a showed of cherry blossom petals. I knew that he was probably at peace now, but still, I couldn't help but be sad. But why?
The next day…
I was eating lunch on the roof with the others, and Orihime was eating her strange lunch as usual.
"Really. What happened was a sumo wrestler with a gun blasted a hole through the wall into my room last night." Said Orihime
Somehow, I doubt this is possible. I think she was the victim of a hollow attack. But Shizuku was with me the whole time. Does this mean that there's another Soul Reaper from the Soul Society in Karakura Town?
"Please, Orihime, if you're gonna make up stories, at least make them sound realistic, like maybe a pro wrestling match spilled out of the ring." Said one of Orihime's friends
"Don't listen to them Orihime. I like your wild imagination." Said Chizuru
"But it's not a made-up story, I swear! It really happened, right Tatsuki?" asked Orihime
"Well, yeah. I remember something like that." Said Tatsuki
Just then, I finished my lunch. I had fifteen minutes before we had to head off to class, so I got up.
"Where are you going Karen?" asked Tatsuki
"Somewhere. I just don't want to say where." I said
I then walked to the music room, and pulled out the violin I secretly took to school today. I made sure that it was well-tuned with the tuning forks that I bought a few years ago. It was still well tuned. I then began to play the song that both my mother and father taught me as a kid, Ave Maria, written by Franz Schubert. Mom and dad used to tell me that they met because of a school-wide music contest, and at first, they were like fire and ice. But over time, they developed feelings for each other. Soon enough, I came into the picture. When I finished the song, there were ten minutes left before lunch was over. I was about the put my violin away when I heard a crash outside the door.
"Who's there?" I exclaimed as I opened the door
I saw Shizuku on the ground with a big bump on his head like he had just fallen onto the floor.
"Shizuku." I said
"Huh? Karen! Was that you in there?" asked Shizuku
"I'd be lying if I said no Shizuku. Just what are you doing here?" I asked
"Um, well, you see, I heard something, and well, I just never heard anything like it before." Said Shizuku
"I'm guessing that they don't have violins in the Soul Society." I said
"Is that what that sound was?" asked Shizuku
"Yes." I said as I held my violin
"So that's a violin, huh? Where did you get it?" asked Shizuku
"My mother… used this violin once." I said sadly
"Oh, um, sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Said Shizuku
"It's okay. Hey Shizuku, I'm still not exactly ready to commit myself to this or anything, heck, I'm not so noble a person that I'm willing to risk my life for a complete stranger just like that, however, I could never just stand around and watch while someone else was getting hurt, so I'll help you. At least for now, with this work of yours, as a Soul Reaper." I said
"Good, I'm counting on you." Said Shizuku
Done and done! I hope this chapter was to your liking, 'coz the next one's gonna be even better! Please review, check out my poll, and until next time, I'm sakuraphoenix, saying I heart you, signing off for now. Guo nian hao!