The morning of Thursday, June 25 th 2015 was a warm, but cloudy one. Orihime brought Kazui and Yupa to school. Ichigo and his father were in the clinic. Karin and Yuzu left to 'talk' in a nearby park. Mizuiro met with Chad and Tatsuki for breakfast. Keigo returned for one day from Okinawa to dub some more episodes. And the well known news-announcer Makoto Hirabata waited for him in the lobby of thier network.
Meanwhile Michiru Ogawa, a good friend of Orihime stood in her kitchen and prepared breakfast for herself and her parents. Her parents sat on the table and talked about thier daughters 'relationships' and her 'love life'. Two topics, she normally didn't want to talk about.
„I mean... you are an adult woman. I think it is time for you to look for someone who..." her mother said but Michiru cut her off.
„Mom, please... My last relationship was an disaster! I don't want to talk about... AGGHHHHHH!"
Suddenly Michiru screamed loudly... In fear her parents looked on her to see Michiru holding her hand. Tears ran down her face and it smelled like burning flesh. When Michiru turned on the stove, there was already a little bit too much gas out. And so the flame reached her hand and burned it hardly... In fear her father opened the faucet to pour cold water about the wound. The half of her hand was couvered with a big bloody open wound.
„OH MY GOSH... YOU HAVE TO GO TO AN DOCTOR!" her mother screamed. She knew the Kurosaki-Clinic was not far away...
In the lobby of the TV-network, Makoto was relieved and really happy when she finally met Keigo.
"Yu-hou... Asano!" she jelled happily.
"Good morning, Makoto-chan!"
"Good morning!" she said and went closer to Keigo. She was really upset and happy. "Asano... it is unbelivable! I've got a story, that will be my breakthough. I will get a promotion when I send it..."
"Hey, why you are so upset?" Keigo asked. "What's going on?"
This was the moment, Makoto had to ask him directly. Maybe this was the wrong place. And she was pretty sure that he was in a hurry, since his plane was delayed. And after what she found out he maybe didn't want to talk about. But she decided to risk it.
"You... are from Karakura, right?" the woman asked. Keigo just nooded moody.
"Well, I am originally from Naruki! But I attended to high-school in Karakura! Why? What happend?" Keigo's mood became worse. He didn't like to talk about his past. Everyone could hear it. Makoto, too. But she really had to ask him before she possibly pulls him into something, he wasn't involved in.
"The day before yesterday, a delivery-boy brought a package to our office. It contained very surprising material about a Karakura family. I just wanted to ask you..."
"ASANO-SAN! YOU ARE REQUESTED TO COME TO STUDIO D! ASANO-SAN, STUDIO D PLEASE!" the bored voice of the man from the welcome dest echoed threw the lobby and interrupted them.
Keigo turned to him confused. "I'm right here, why do you use your microphone?"
"HEY, I JUST DO MY JOB!" he moaned into his microphone. He finally switched it off when his phone rang.
"Sorry, Makoto-chan! I have to rush. We can talk during lunch. I have to go. I have to fly back to Okinawa tonight. What do I have to do with that?"
The woman couldn't answer, because the voice of the man echoed threw the lobby again: "ASANO-SAN, YOU SHOULD GO TO STUDIO D AFTER YOU ARE READY WITH FLIRTING! YOUR PRODUCER IS WAITING FOR YOU!"
"YEAH YEAH... I'm comming!" Keigo moaned back. "Sorry, see you later!"
She nooded and said good-bye when Keigo passed her and left the scene. "Okay, we will go on air at 10 o'clock with the story. I swear you, you will be surprised. See you in the cafeteria at 12."
Keigo walked upstairs and threw a door into the corridor with the dubbing-studios. Makoto looked after him. She could hear in his voice, that he tried to forget this part of his life. She will air it... on 10 o'clock. But she will air it without Keigo's name. She couldn't pull him into this without his permission... She prepared two versions: One with and one without Keigo's name mentioned. After she saw his reaction, just for mentioning Karakura... she knew that something was wrong...
In Karakura meanwhile, Kazui and Yupa sat in school and enjoyed the first recess. In the teachers lounge a TV was running...
Yupa's father, a police officer, meanwhile returned home after a night-shift. His son was at school and his wife just left for work. His breakfast stood prepared on the table. Tired and exhausted he sat down at the table and eat while he turned on the TV...
Not far away, Karin and Yuzu walked threw a park to talk. Karin pleaded to her sister to not tell anyone about her 'relationship' with Toshiro. Remembering her about the possible consequenses for both of them. But Yuzu only grinned the whole time...
Michiru Ogawa still cried while she sat on the passenger seat next to her mother who took her to the Kurosaki-Clinic. Her mother tried to calm down her, but it was useless since the pain was too strong...
Orihime returned home after she broght the kids to school. Today was her day off and she decided to help Ichigo and his father in the clinic.
„I'm back... What time is it?"
„It's half past nine! Why?" Ichigo answered.
„Oh... In thirty minutes starts Makoto Hirabata's 'City-Report'! I love her reports... She is the best investigate journalist in the world! She is my idol..."
Present...
„Woahh... Wait wait wait..." Masaki yelled. „Realy? Aunt Orihime was a fan of the TV-lady?"
Kazui nooded. „Yeah... She was possibly her biggest fan!"
10 years ago...
Everything was prepared. Makoto could feel her heart-rate increasing. She became nervous. She knew that this story was too unbelivable to be true. But the facts and the evidences were too hard. At the end of the day... she will be the most famous news-announcer of the world... or she will be so much embarrased that she will never be able to step in front of a camera. But no risk, no fun! In this business it was a part of the daily routine. So she sat in front of a mirror and got prepared by a make-up artist for the show. So far only three people knew the content of the report. And many people were pretty curious and excited.
Millions of Japanese citizens switched on thier TVs and were curious, too. One of Kazui's and Yupa's teacher, who sat in the teachers lounge, listened to the running TV while he marked some tests. Yupa's father finished his breakfast and prepared to sleep a little bit. The TV was still running...
10 minutes before the broadcast launched, Ichigo could hear a car stopping in front of the clinic. He looked up to see Michiru Ogawa leaving a car and walking towards the entrace. She cried and hold her hand that was wrapped in a blood-stained towel.
„ORIHIME... OGAWA IS HERE!" Ichigo yelled.
Orihime was in the corridor when she heared Ichigo calling. She was surprised. She didn't expect her friend today...
„Call me, when you are ready! And don't worry, everything will be fine!" Michirus mother said when her daughter left the car and drove away.
Michiru went to the main-entrace and carefully opened the door. Ichigo helped her and hold the door when he saw that she was injured.
„Michiru-chan, what a surprise..." Orihime said happily before she saw the bloody towel. „...Oh, my gosh! What happened?"
Michiru's eyes filled with tears again when she told them about her accident with the stove. Orihime took her by her healthy hand and escorted her to the treatment-room. Ichigo left to get his father and prepared everything he needed to clean the wound. Ogawa had third degree burns on her hand. He was pretty sure that scars will left. And he was glad that Orihime was with them, she was able to calm her friend down. With all necessary supplies, Ichigo entered the treatment room with his father, Orihime and Ogawa inside... while in the living-room the TV was still running...
In the headquarter of the TV-network meanwhile, Makoto prepared her notes on her desk in the editorial office before heading to the studio at the end of the corridor. There she sat down on the desk checked herself in a mirror and took a deep breath... This story will be an sensation...
In thier school, Kazui and his friend had no idea about what will happen soon. Both sat bored on thier seats and listened to the teacher until both boys suddenly felt something... an evil force... an hollow...
„Excuse me... may I go to the toilet, please?" Kazui asked as polite as possible. There was a Hollow somewhere over them. And he had his parents permission to fight small Hollows in his school to protect his friends and classmates. His teacher looked on him and after a few seconds, she finally agreed. Kazui bowed to thank her and went closer to Yupa to whisper something to him. „Please, cover me if I need more time!"
Yupa nooded...
Present...
„And that was his debut as my sidekick!" Kazui told with a smile.
10 years ago...
Kazui left the classroom and rushed to the boys restroom, to hide his body in one of the cabins and to fight the hollow, which was on the roof.
In Tokyo meanwhile, Keigo Asano stood in the dubbing studio and did his job. He was tired, since he didn't sleep well and was wondering about Makoto's 'story'. Makoto meanwhile took a deep breath again while she prepared for the live-show. Two minutes to go...
In Karakura, Michiru Ogawa cried in pain while Isshin treated her burned hand. The burns were not as worse as they first thought, but everyone was sure that Ogawa would need an real operation, to restore the burned parts.
„There will be scars left, or not?" Ogawa asked worried.
„Don't worry! It is not that bad..." Isshin said while he finished cleaning the wound and handed the bloody suplies to Ichigo who already prepared an injection. „I give you now something for the pain..."
„May... May... I... have a... glass of water, please?" Ogawa asked still feared. „I feel not so good."
„Sure... Orihime, would you please..." Isshin said and send Orihime to get some water for Michiru.
Orihime went to the kitchen, after she saw that the drinking-water in the clinic was out, to get some water. The TV was still running...
„Comming next... The 'City-Report'..." the announcer said. Orihime looked on the TV to see the trailer. But she was going to miss it... her friend was more important now...
In a café, not far away from the clinic, Tatsuki, Chad and Mizuiro came together to brunch. A TV near them was airing the local news-channel. Together they talked about Mizuiro's time in Europe and Chad's new project. With a kind of smile in his face he unfold a letter to present it to his friends.
„It arrived today by mail. I got the licence!" he said.
„Congratulations!" Tatsuki said and took the letter to read it. „So you can start immediately?"
Chad planned to open a boxing-school for disadvantaged youths in Karakura. A similar project he already launched in Mexico.
„Well, it is just the first step. I still need a location and all that..." Chad explained while a young man approached them.
„Excuse me... you are Yasutora Sado, aren't you. The boxing-champion?" the man asked excited and Chad nooded. „May I have your autograph?"
„Sure!" Chad said and signed the man's notebook...
In the TV-studio meanwhile, Makoto took a last sip of water before the director start the countdown...
„And you're on in five... four... three... two... one..."
On millions of screens, the logo and the intro of the show appeared. Makoto (as cool as always) bowed for the camera and smiled.
„Welcome Ladies and Gentleman, to the 'City-Report'... Our today's story will definetely shock you as you may didn't know that the Shinigami live among us..."
Neighter the Kurosaki's, nor any of thier friends saw the report live. The only people, close enough to them were Yupa's father, who was just a second away from turning off the TV to go get some sleep and the teacher in the teachers lounge. And of course both of them knew the people the woman was talking about. Both men were of course worried about the consequenses.
First... nobody believed it. It was just too ridiculous. But after presenting photos and some footage, more and more people start to believe it...
Kazui meanwhile, successfully defeated the small hollow, which had the size of a dog, and hurried to go back to class before someone realizes that he 'died' in the toilet. His teacher meanwhile, ran threw the corridor and stopped in front of Kazui's class. He had no idea what to do now, and how to handle this. In his opinion... that were fake-news. But he should at least warn the other teachers. To keep sure that no other student figures out and may be get afraid or something else. In the teachers lounge the phone already rang... as douzens of worried parents demand answers... including Yupa's father.
In the Kurosaki-Clinic, Ichigo called the Karakura Gerneral Hospital to set up an apointment for Ogawa who was still in the treatment room. He didn't hear the TV in the living-room.
„How is she?" Uryu asked, in his common calm tone.
„She has strong pain. Here we can't operate her!" Ichigo said and told the Quincy what they already did to treat the wound and what should be done...
While they talked, a woman approached the clinic. Ichigo could see her and smiled. Than the woman suddenly stopped, took her smartphone, read a message and looked on Ichigo threw the closed door in fear and shock before running away... Ichigo was confused...
In Kazui's school the teacher who saw the report, knocked on the door of Kazui's classroom and carefully opened it to talk to the teacher. He looked on the class too, to keep sure that everyone was okay. He didn't see Kazui inside.
„Excuse me, do you have a minute, Kumora-san? It's really important!"
Yupa watched his teacher looking annoyed and placing the chalk back to leave the room. „Excuse me, please. And as long as I am not here please finish the exercise..."
In the Kurosaki-Clinic, Ichigo just finished his call with Uryu and hang off when the phone rang again. Ichigo picked up.
„Kurosaki-Clinic! How can I help you?"
„MONSTER!" a man shouted and hang off immediately. Ichigo was a bit shocked and confused.
„What was that? Hello...?" Ichigo hang off again just to hear the phone ring again. „Hello, Kurosaki-Clinic! How can I help you?"
„Kur... Kurosaki, right? Ichigo Kurosaki?" another man asked carefully with trembling voice.
„Yes! Speaking!"
„You... you..." the man sound like he was afraid and hang off again.
„What's going on, here?" Ichigo asked himself.
In the café, Chad, Tatsuki and Mizuiro were still talking when a man passed them to speak to the waitress.
„Ma'am... could you please change the channel to 'Tokyo-One'. They report about something here in Karakura..." the man said after a friend called him to tell him about it.
The three friends heared it and turned to the TV as well. The waitress walked back to the bar, where the remote-controler was stored and changed to Tokyo-One. Of course all three were shocked to see a photo of Ichigo in full Shinigami-attire. As well as some photos of themself.
„Hey, I recognize that woman... she is here..." the waitress said and everyone turned to the table of Tatsuki, Chad and Mizuiro, which was empty. All three fled out of the café...
In Kazui's school, the both teachers walked to the boy's restroom, to look after Kazui.
„Oh, please... this is the most ridiculous story I ever heared. Soul-reapers, monsters,... death-gods and ghosts... sounds like the plot of a horror-manga for me." Kazui's teacher said.
„They have hard evidence. They air it right now in TV..."
Inside the classroom, some student used the chance with thier teacher gone, to play with thier smartphones... One of them recieved a message from his mother: 'Stay away from Kurosaki. I come and pick you up! Don't tell anyone!'
Of course he told his friends and slowly they start to whisper around. Yupa, who was with them, realized that they blasphemed about Kazui... and him...
In front of the boy's restroom, Kazui's teacher knocked on the door.
„Kurosaki? Are you in there?" she said. No respond! „Kurosaki? I come in, now!"
Carefully she opened the door, entered the room and found Kazui's 'dead' body in one of the cabins... her following scream was so loud that everyone in school and even Kazui could hear her... while he was rushing back to school...
„Oh, oh..." were Kazui's and Yupa's only responds. Both didn't know that she was screaming because she found Kazui's 'corpse', but they felt that something terrible must have happened. Kazui speed up and Yupa ran out of the classroom...
In his grandfather's clinic, his parents and his grandfather meanwhile realized that not just the phone in the clinic was ringing wildly. The private landline-phone in the living-room and all of thier smartphones were ringing, too...
Desperately Tatsuki, Chad and Mizuiro tried to call thier friends, too... While hiding in a side street...
„Ichigo, would you please pick up the phone?" his father yelled annoyed. „It's annoying!"
„I'm picking it up all the time... But everyone who calls hangs off or insults me!" Ichigo yelled back. „Orihime! Could you please pick up the phone in the living-room?"
„Excuse me!" Orihime said to Michiru who calmed down a little bit and hold her burned hand dormant on a cold towel. Orihime heared that all phones were ringing and was confused. When she reached the living-room she picked up the phone, without looking on the TV screen.
„Hello! Kurosaki speaking!" she said friendly.
„WITCH!" a woman screamed. „BURN ON THE PYRE!"
Orihime was so shocked that she almost dropped the horn. The woman on the phone hang off. In this moment Orihime turned to the TV and start to scream when she saw herself on the screen, as well with a listing of her powers...
„ICHIGOOOOO... HELP ME, I AM A WITCH!"
Kazui reached his school to see the mess. After Yupa realized that thier teacher found Kazui's 'dead-body' in the restroom, he ran out of the classroom and rushed to the toilet to limit the damage. He still had the 'Kikanshinki' (the memory-replacer) with him after they used it on his parents some days ago. When Kazui arrived threw the open window, Yupa already knocked out the teachers with the memory-replacer and tried to block the door...
„What happend?"
„I don't know... A teacher came in and took Kumora-sensei, with him. And than they found you here! I tried to stop them..."
Before Kazui could enter his body again, the door was pushed open and thier entire class stormed into the restroom.
„Where is he? I want to see it... Is he a real Shinigami?... Show us his superpowers... Did he already ate Kumora-sensei's soul?..." these were a few of the various questions they made...
In fear Kazui looked on his friend: „Yupa, what did you did?"
Present...
„You know... I didn't know who I was going to be afraid more: My classmates, or my father when he finds out..."
Kazui stopped talking when suddenly his smartphone start to ring. And speaking of the devil... it was his father!
„Oh my gosh that's him!"
„So pick up!" Ichika said annoyed.
„What if he knows what we are doing here?"
„Oh, please where he should know that..." Ichika moaned.
Kazui took a deep breath and picked up: „Hi, dad..."
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