Chapter Twenty: A Talking Bird

The sound of a distant police siren resounded throughout the night. It could be heard even at the base of a building of recent construction. Chad and his friends sat across from each other, shooting the breeze.

'A bird that's cursed?' asked Shigao, blonde-haired.

'Uh-huh.' said a boy with a shaved head. 'All of the people who have owned this bird have gotten into these terrible situations and died.'

'Wow, are you serious? That's not a good sign.' said Shigao.

'Hey Shigao, you wanna take him?' asked the boy.

'So please, tell me, just how stupid do I look to you? Here's an idea, how about you set him free or dump him someplace.'

'That would be too cruel.' said buzz cut. 'How about you Chad? What do you say?' He raised the birdcage.

'Hey, knock it off. You know Chad can't resist cute things.'

Then the bird shrieked, and something fell from above.

There were a scream and a sound of bending metal. Then Chad was standing over them; a long metal beam bent over his shoulders. Blood was dripping from his eyes, but he still stood.

'Hello there, my name is Yuichi Shibata.' said the bird 'So what's your name, mister?'

'What? Did you hear that? The bird is talking just like a real person.'

'Yeah, I heard it. It is cursed.'

Chad threw off the beam.

'I'd really like to know your name, mister.' said Yuichi.

'Sado Yasatora.' said Chad. 'I'm fifteen years old.'

'Check it out! Chad's interested in the bird!'

Later that day, during lunch, Rukia and Ichigo met up on top of the school. Ichigo looked at her carefully. 'Mind if I ask you something. How did you heal my sisters so easily?'

'Don't be so surprised, I got the best grades in my kido class, and I have a talent for it.' said Rukia 'Healing their wounds was easy.'

'You got graded?' asked Ichigo. 'So a school exists in heaven? You sure you aren't from the other place?'

'I'm sure. You might call it a school for soul reapers.' said Rukia with a smile, before raising a juice box. 'Tell me, how do I drink from this thing?'

'You use the sharp end of your straw to poke a hole in it.' said Ichigo.

'What straw?'

At that point, Tatsuki approached. 'So you're together again. You two have been hanging out together a lot.'

'That is the most interesting you can think to bring up?' asked Ichigo. 'You want to tell me why your friend Chad is sporting several more bandages than he was yesterday morning.'

'Oh that.' said Tatsuki. 'A steel beam fell on him. Then he got hit by a motorcycle on the way back from school. That was why he was late; he had to carry the driver to a hospital.'

'And he didn't call in sick?' asked Ichigo.

'Chad's very determined.' said Tatsuki with a shrug. 'Hey, are you guys dating or something?'

'No, what makes you think that?' asked Ichigo.

'Well Mizuru has been speculating that you guys are an item is all.' said Tatsuki.

'So this is the straw. It's short.' said Rukia. 'But now I need to know where do I poke it.'

Tatsuki moved forward and waved. 'Hey.'

'Why hello there. You're um…' said Rukia, 'Tatsuki?'

'Yeah, that's me.' said Tatsuki.

'Okay yeah, great introductions are over, so what's with the bird?' said Ichigo.

'Oh it can talk.' said Tatsuki.

'So it's trained.' said Ichigo.

'I guess.' said Tatsuki. 'Either that or it's possessed.'

'Well that's great I guess but-' began Ichigo.

And then Rukia was all smiles again. 'May I please see this talking bird?'

'Sure, Chad is over there.' said Tatsuki, pointing to where the giant was standing.

Rukia made her way over while Ichigo trailed behind. Chad looked up in surprise as they approached. 'Hey, you're the new girl, aren't you.'

'Yes, I'm a transfer student from Norway.' said Rukia.

'That's a long way to travel.' said Chad.

'Yes, I know.' said Rukia. 'So where did you get that bird?'

'Oh this?' said Chad. 'He was given to me by a friend. Apparently, everyone who has owned it has come to a bad end, but I'm tough.'

'Hello lady.' said the bird. 'I'm Yuichi Shibata.'

'Oh it can talk.' said Rukia. 'How nice. Ichigo, a word, please?'

'I'm guessing that parrot really is possessed and we've got to exorcise it.' said Ichigo.

'It might be.' said Rukia.

'Great, do you want to kill it yourself, or should I go find a tabby cat?' asked Ichigo.

'It doesn't seem dangerous.' mused Rukia. 'I think there is something more to this. And I don't think the bird is the problem. Ichigo, what can you tell me about Chad?'

'Oh him? He and Tatsuki have been close for years.' said Ichigo. 'A bunch of thugs went after him, and she helped him out.'

'And you know this how?' asked Rukia.

'Because I told her about the problem.' said Ichigo. 'See he never fights back. I have no idea why some stupid pacifist gimmick or something like that. He's kind of a weirdo.'

'Why didn't you help him yourself?' asked Rukia.

'Standing up to bad guys is a good way to become their next target.' said Ichigo. 'I keep my head down and my hair dyed. And I keep Tatsuki on speed dial.'

'Well I guess that's one way to live.' said Rukia. 'Either way, the bird could become a hollow in time. Tonight we need to perform a konso.'

'Why am I involved in all this again?' asked Ichigo.

'Well someone needs to carry my body.' said Rukia with a smile. 'It doesn't help to complain.' Then she began fiddling with the juice box some more.

'Yeah, I know.' said Ichigo, taking pity on her. 'Let me see that juice box.' Taking it, he punctured the straw through the seal and passed it back to her. 'You know, it's funny. Back when I was younger, the color of my hair always got peoples attention. I'd end up in all kinds of fights. One time I got beaten to a pulp and left. I ended up spending a week in the hospital. After that, I started dying my hair.'

'This juice tastes good.' said Rukia.

'Glad to hear it.' said Ichigo.

Later while twilight fell over the landscape, Ichigo came back to find his house in chaos. Yuzu and Karin were rushing too and fro with medical supplies. 'I'm home!

'Welcome home, Ichigo.' said Yuzu quickly.

'Move Ichigo, out of the way!' said Karin.

'What is going on?' asked Ichigo.

'An accident.' said Misaki. 'There is a big car wreck down at the corner. A lot of people got hurt.'

'A big car wreck?' asked Ichigo.

Then he heard his dad shouting. 'I just told you four cars! So you can't take that many? Well here's a newsflash, we can't treat em all here, and they've got to go somewhere!' Ichigo made his way to the door. 'We're just a small clinic! Listen, tell you're boss this is a request from Isshin Kurosaki! He'll find me some hospital beds that are open no problem!'

'Hey dad…' said Ichigo.

Dad slammed the phone closed. 'Damn stupid idiots. They wouldn't know a stethoscope from a cell phone!'

'Is there anything I can do?' asked Ichigo.

'No!' snapped Isshin. 'Just assume the fetal position and stay out of the way.'

'Fuck you too then!' snapped Ichigo. 'I'm leaving.'

'Ichigo, where are you going?' asked Misaki.

'Out!' he snapped.

He slammed the door behind him.

Rukia tracked him down as he walked the streets of the town. 'Ichigo, are you alright? They looked like they might have needed your help.'

'As if I care.' snapped Ichigo.

'You shouldn't treat your father that way.' said Rukia.

'Okay, let me tell you a little something about my father.' said Ichigo 'He wants to be a domestic abuser. There was a period of two or three years, where he was constantly attacking me. He was forcing me to fight back, pretending as if it was a game. I think he wanted to toughen me up or something.'

'What happened?' asked Rukia.

'Mom threatened to take me, Karin, and Yuzu and leave him.' said Ichigo. 'That shut him up. He hasn't tried anything since, but I haven't forgotten.'

Then he saw a figure approaching slowly out of the darkness. They were huge with tan skin and were holding a familiar birdcage.

'Is that-' began Rukia.

Ichigo ran to him. 'Chad, are you alright man?'

'I'm fine.' said Chad, before collapsing.

Ichigo barely caught him. 'Come on; we'll get you to the clinic.'

By the time they got back, it was almost pitch black. As they got through the doors, mom was there. 'Ichigo, there you are. What happened?'

'Yuzu, Karin, we've got another patient.' said Ichigo, lugging Chad through. 'Come on.'

'Oh, what a horrible wound!' said Yuzu as she and Karin approached.

Five minutes later, Isshin Kurosaki was looking over the wounds Chad had sustained. Ichigo watched and noticed that Rukia had conveniently disappeared.

'Wow, what happened to you out there?' said Isshin. 'This looks like a pretty nasty burn, but I think I can help you out.'

'I've got this feeling…' said Ichigo under his breath.

'With this wound, you're going to have to take it easy for a while.' said Isshin.

'That's good.' said Chad, standing up. 'I'm fine now, thanks for helping.'

'What?! You're crazy!' said Isshin. 'Do you have any idea how much blood you've lost, son?'

Chad ignored him and promptly collapsed onto the floor. Isshin sighed. 'I told you. Yuzu! Karin! Get a bed ready for him!'

'Right!' said Yuzu. 'Time to go to bed, Mr. Giant.'

They were far too cheerful about this whole thing.

Later in his room, Ichigo looked at Rukia carefully. 'Did you feel it?'

'Of course. I felt it all the way in here.' said Rukia. 'Yet I sense no evil in Chad's bird. Yet I sense that Chad's wound… it really reeks of a hollow.'

They went to bed, and the next morning, Ichigo came downstairs to find Mom cooking. Good morning, Ichigo.' she said. 'Breakfast is ready. Yuzu helped me today.'

'Yeah, cool.' said Ichigo. 'Where is Karin?'

'She's feeling a bit under the weather.' said Mom.

That wasn't like her. 'I'll go see her.'

Karin was a mess. She was lying face down on her bed, looking miserable and tired. Ichigo sat down next to her and looked at his little sister for a moment. 'Hey, Karin. You okay?'

'Ichigo, that boy…' said Karin.

'What, boy?' asked Ichigo.

'The bird. It has the spirit of a boy inside it.' said Karin. 'You have to save him! You have to tell him that if he crosses over, his mother, she'll be there for him!'

'Okay, okay, I'll tell him.' said Ichigo. 'Just, just get some rest okay. It'll be okay.'

'Ichigo! Bad news!' said Isshin, thrusting open the door. 'Chad's disappeared from his room; he's gone!'

Chad had disappeared! What had dad been doing all this time?! 'Way to go, dad!' snapped Ichigo. 'I'll go look for him.'

He rushed out the door and began to search the streets. It was a good thing it wasn't a school day, or he'd be late for sure. As he ran, soon enough, he sensed a presence. It was weird, and he had the feeling Rukia was coming up behind him. Turning to face her, he was surprised he'd guessed right.

'Ichigo!' she said. 'So any idea about where he might be?'

'I don't know. He's not my friend.' said Ichigo. 'Don't you have any idea?'

'Not yet. There is no news from the soul society about a hollow.' said Rukia 'And I'm not sensing anything either. When hollows aren't chasing souls, they can hide themselves between the worlds. When a hollow is between those two worlds like the one on the left, it can't be detected. What that means is that we won't be able to locate that hollow until it shows up to attack Chad.

'You understand?'

'Truly, your majestic artwork has opened my eyes to realities I did not even know existed.' said Ichigo. 'Hang on a minute, let me think. Where could he have gone?'

'Hey, Ichigo!' came a call.

Ichigo looked up to see Tatsuki running toward him. 'Tatsuki? What are you doing out here?'

'I was taking a run.' she said. 'Um, any idea why Chad was running off that direction in such a hurry? He was carrying that bird again.'

'No time to explain, come on, Rukia!' said Ichigo.

It was a deserted warehouse which Chad had stopped to rest in. The lightning was provided only by a number of broken windows. Here he was sitting beneath one of them, letting the sweat fall down his brow. He'd sensed that thing coming and made a run for it while he still could.

'Listen Mr. you're in danger here.' said Yuichi.

Poor kid. Chad had to reassure him. 'Don't worry. I'm fine. If nothing else, I should be sturdy enough to handle this.' Then he froze. Something was here.

He grabbed Yuichi's cage and ran, and no sooner had he and a support beam fell to land behind him. He made for the window, feeling the monster coming after him. He had to reach it.

'Oh, Mr.!'

'Don't worry! We're gonna make it!' cried Chad.

He jumped. The sensation of glass breaking beneath his shoulder hit him, and he landed on his feet running. The thing crashed into the wall behind him, and he sprinted onwards. He ran and ran and eventually found himself back in nicer areas of Karakura Town.

Then he turned a corner and saw Ichigo and the new girl approaching him.

'Chad! Hey!' said Ichigo 'Stop running!'

Chad did the opposite. He couldn't get them involved in this.

Chad ran fast. Chad ran very fast.

Ichigo and Rukia slowed to a halt, panting.

'This gigai's legs can barely move!' hissed Rukia. 'Next time I'll have those R&D types get me a better one.' Then she halted. 'The hollow is near. Ichigo, knock me into soul reaper form now!'

'Right, I hate doing this.' said Ichigo, putting on the glove. 'I feel like a domestic abuser.'

Then he punched her in the face. Rukia emerged from her body clad in black robes. Odd, were they a shade lighter than they had been earlier? He saw seeing things, wasn't.

'You'd better stay back and take care of my gigai.' said Rukia 'I'll handle this.'

Ichigo picked up her body. 'Rukia, be careful.'

'Don't be stupid.' said Rukia 'A veteran soul reaper never takes any unnecessary chances with a hollow. Now go!'

Ichigo pretended to run off, then turned around and backtracked. This he had to see.

Turning a corner, he saw the hollow. It looked like a masked frog, and it was looking down on Rukia from a power pole. 'You smell good. You smell wonderful. Delicious. Time to eat.. YOUR SOUL!'

He descended, but Rukia moved aside with ease.

'So you're still alive.' said the hollow 'To be expected from a soul reaper- AH!'

He said ah because Rukia had slashed him across the mask. Yet the blade didn't pierce it, cutting only a shallow bit in. Rukia quickly leaped into the air with a backflip, however, and raised a hand. 'Ruler! The mask of flesh and blood! That which takes off! In the name of truth and temperance, dig your claws into the wool of sinless dreams! Bakkuno. 33! Hellfire Crack!'

The hollow screamed as he was blasted full-on by a ball of blue energy. 'YOU BITCH! THAT HURT LIKE HELL! I'll tear you to shreds for that!'

'Feel free to try, hollow scum.' said Rukia, landing easily.

'Don't get cocky!' snapped the hollow. 'I've already had the pleasure of devouring two other soul reapers who tried to help this boy!'

'The boy… you mean the human soul that's in that bird!' said Rukia.

'That's right!' said the hollow.

'What's your problem? Why is it that you've pursued this poor kid so relentlessly?!' said Rukia 'Tell me!'

'I might be more inclined to give you an answer if you were to let me have a little… nibble.' said the hollow. The then he surged forward.

'The only thing you'll taste is my steel!' said Rukia.

Again the hollow lunged, but Rukia slashed him. Yet each time her blade only made a shallow cut. Nothing like it had with the first one. Each time the hollow became angrier.

'AH! Stay still, you miserable- Ah!' roared the hollow.

Then Rukia halted, short of breath. Her clothes were going white. The hem of her skirt was turning bright white, and her hands were shaking. 'What… I… my powers… they're fading…'

The hollow lunged and pinned her against the wall with enough force to crack the stone. It gripped her by the throat and leaned in. 'Well, well, looks like someone can't keep fighting. I have no idea why it happened, but who am I to argue with good luck? I think I'll eat you slowly!'

And then Chad was there. He punched the hollow square in the mask and sent the creature falling to the ground.

'Hey, I hit something. Alright.' said Chad.

'He actually landed a punch?' said Rukia, the whiteness on her clothes now reaching up to her knees. 'Can he see spirits as well?'

Chad started punching at the empty air.

'Apparently not.' said Rukia, blinking.

'It was just a lucky punch. He scared me for a second.' said the hollow 'I thought he could see me.'

'Chad, he's two feet away at six o'clock!' called Ichigo.

'Wait what-' began the hollow.

And then the hollow got punched in the face again and was thrown away.

'Alright, I got him again. Thanks, Ichigo.' said Chad. 'Is the new girl okay?'

Ichigo looked down to Rukia's apparently unconscious gigai. 'Yeah, she's fine.'

'Damn you!' roared the hollow, before leaping high into the air, flapping his wings. 'Ahahahahaha! Let's see you try and punch me now you clueless human toad! You won't even see me coming!'

'Chad, get moving!' said Ichigo 'He's in the air, right above you!'

'So you can see ghosts?' asked Chad.

'Yeah, but we need to get out of here.' said Ichigo.

'Can you tell me where he is?' asked Chad.

'What are you going to hit him with?' asked Ichigo.

'When you've got flies, you use a fly swatter.' said Chad.

It was at this point that all ideas of the limits of human endurance were torn to shreds. Chad gripped a flagpole and ripped it off the street. Ichigo stared in awe as power lines crackled and hung.

'Just help me get a bead on him.' said Chad.

'He's dead ahead.' said Ichigo.

Chad swung the power pole. It hit the hollow square on the head and sent it careening down to crash into the pavement.

'Rukia, strike him now!' said Ichigo.

'Right!' said Rukia.

Surging forward she drove her sword through the hollow's forehead. Whereupon two gates appeared with skeletons on them. They opened wide to reveal horrors beyond imagination. An unholy blade drove itself into the hollow and drew him in.

'What the hell is that?!' asked Ichigo.

'Don't worry; they're the gates of hell. But they're opening only for him.' said Rukia. 'Soul Reapers can only purify hollows of sins committed while they were hollows. Crimes committed in life go to the underworld.'

The hollow was drawn in with a final scream. Then the gates were gone as suddenly as they came. There was a long awkward silence.

'Chad, what happened to the bird?' asked Ichigo.

'I left him behind to come to help you guys.' said Chad.

'Then we'd better go perform a konso.' said Rukia, staggering to her feet. 'Come on, Ichigo. While I've still got strength.'

'Rukia, what is going on?' asked Ichigo as they walked.

'I don't know. It's like my powers are being sapped.' said Rukia 'Either way we have to deal with this first.'

They made their way onward and eventually found the bird lying on the sidewalk in its cage. It looked quite happy to see them. Mr. You're okay! Thank goodness! I was so scared!'

'I'm fine now. Yuichi,' said Chad, 'why was that hollow following you?'

'I… I'm afraid it's all my fault. I just wanted to bring my mother back to life,' said Yuichi. 'I didn't mean for those people to get hurt if I'd known about that I would never have done it. All I wanted was just to see my mother again.'

'Wait, so you really accepted such a lie?' asked Rukia 'That if you did what he said, then he could bring your mother back to life? How could you believe that?'

'Because… because I wanted to believe it.' said Yuichi.

'What's so unbelievable?' asked Ichigo, 'He could just steal one of those gigais, find her spirit and put her in it. Problem solved.'

'He told me that if I could run from him in that bird body of three months, he'd bring mother back to life.' said Yuichi.

'Rukia, the whiteness.' said Ichigo.

The white on her outfit was up to her breasts now.

'We'll have to cut this short.' said Rukia 'Let me see if I can restore you to life.' She kneeled down by the bird and looked at him. Then she sighed.

'What's wrong?' asked Ichigo.

'I'm afraid there is nothing I can do.' said Rukia. 'The chain of fate has been severed. There is no sign of it. Without it, there is no way I can return him to his body.'

'Yuichi…' began Chad.

'Don't be sad. The soul society is a wonderful place that's very peaceful.' said Rukia, lying through her teeth in Ichigo's opinion. 'You'll be happy there. You'll never be hungry, and you'll never grow old. In fact, it's a much better place to live than this world.'

'Oh so now you're an expert on this world.' mused Ichigo.

'Wha?' began Rukia.

'Either way, when you pass over, you might be reunited with your mother.' said Ichigo. 'It's a long shot, but it is better than staying here.'

'Mr. Sado, thank you for everything you did for me.' said Yuichi. 'You kept me safe and were even brave enough to face a terrible monster and protect me from it.'

'Hey, don't even mention it.' said Chad.

'I guess it's time for me to go now. I don't know what to say except thank you.' said Yuichi 'All of you.'

'Yuichi… someday when I die and pass over too, will it be okay if sometimes I carried you around again?' asked Chad.

'Mmmhmm.' said Yuichi, the ghost of the boy he once was manifesting.

'We can't wait any longer.' said Rukia 'I'll begin the konso.'

She tapped the bird with her sword, and the spirit faded — the bird he had possessed returned. It flew out the door and into the sunset.

'So Rukia, what is the Soul Society like?' asked Ichigo.

'What do you mean? I just said-' began Rukia.

'Don't give me that. I've watched you living a double life for over a week.' said Ichigo 'I know when you are lying to someone. You told that a kid a bunch of white lies.'

Rukia paused. 'Alright, soul society didn't use to be all that great. You don't get hungry unless you have a lot of spiritual pressure. But up until recently, all non-soul reapers were confined to the Rukongai which was ruled mostly by gangs. There wasn't anything like running water or electricity. Life was nasty brutish and short.'

'This afterlife is getting worse and worse all the time.' muttered Ichigo.

'Well my brother is going out of his way to improve things.' said Rukia 'His name is Byakuya Kuchiki and he's one of the most powerful Soul Reapers alive today. We've made great leaps and bounds since the old days.'

'So you're a noble?' asked Ichigo.

'Adopted noble actually. See my sister married my brother, and after she died, he adopted me into the Kuchiki clan as his sister.' said Rukia, before pausing. 'Listen Ichigo, I… I have to go back to the soul society tomorrow. I don't know why my powers are fading, but they are, and if I stay any longer, I could end up being trapped here.'

Ichigo sighed. He knew this would come eventually, but it didn't make it any easier. 'Right, well, see you when I see you again.'

'Alright.' said Rukia, 'I wish I could have stayed longer.'

'Well I wouldn't have minded it.' said Ichigo with a smile.

'Goodbye.' said Rukia.

Then raising her sword, she slashed it through the air. A doorway then appeared and opened to reveal pure light. Rukia took one final glance back then walked forward. Then the doorway shattered. Rukia's outfit became entirely white, and her sword faded away.

Dead silence.

'So um, you need a place to stay-' began Ichigo.

'Son of a bitch!' snapped Rukia. 'You idiot! You stalled me so long my powers completely faded! Now I'm stuck in the world of the living!'

'Right, I'll take that as a yes.' said Ichigo. 'You'd better get into your body.'

'Don't try to change the subject Ichigo!' snapped Rukia. 'This is your fault!'

Ichigo was sure he wouldn't hear the end of this for some time. He didn't mind much.

Author's Note:

So I just realized that on top of becoming an incredibly bland mary sue as the series went on, Ichigo is also kind of a jerk. Seriously, his policy when one of his friends or family is suffering seems to be to ignore it. Then do what he was going to do anyway. This happens multiple times throughout the series.

His sister says she isn't feeling well and he doesn't even go to check up on her. And if he'd just done that, then Shrieker would have been killed far more easily.

On a separate note, I apologize for how long it took for this chapter to come out. I really lacked in inspiration before I suddenly got it back. With any luck, the next chapter will be easier to write.