It was the first time, since the birth of thier son, that Michiru Ogawa and Kaneda Ochi met. Of course Michiru apologized for the second slap, too. But Kaneda just smiled. Showing her that she was right to. Both stood under the canopy now while around them the storm continued raging.
"You... look good!" Kaneda said abashed.
"Thank you! And you... too." Michiru said abashed, too. "So,... you got your permission for journeys to the world of the living back?"
"Yes! Just a few hours ago! Keigo told me about Kurosaki's movie-party here and before I come to you and Mayuri I wanted to check here first. Only to let them check that you are okay with. I did not expect you here, too. Where is everyone?"
"Oh, they went back home. Looks like there is some drama going on in the Kurosaki's house!" Michiru told and sighed before she explained what happned. "Come, you can drive with me! There is something we have to talk about..."
Together they went back to her car... where Kaneda was shocked to meet the 'TV-bitch' and the 'selfish-ex' again, who both sat, tied up, on the backseat.
"What the...?" Kaneda jelled.
"That's a long story!" Michiru murmured while they entered the car. She on the steering-wheel and he next to her on the passenger seat while the both woman on the backseat got silent after the introduction of the next Shinigami. "You know... I am happy to have a son. But I am not happy about how everything began."
"Yes... I know... I remember, you were not the only one who was not very happy..."
10 years ago...
In the Soul Society, Kaneda Ochi was among douzens of other curious Shinigami, trying to get in the building to learn more about the meeting between the captains, lieutenants and the 'Kurosaki-clan'. The meeting, Ichigo and his friends were invited to join, was going to end soon without any solution. Everything they knew know was that a commission was formed that will investigate the case and try to find the orgin of this mess.
"And what do you think?" Ichigo asked. "How long it will take for us to be able to return? My... sister is alone there... my son's best friend got hurt..."
"We know..." Rukia said worried. "But, as hard as it sound like,... I am afraid, the only thing we can do is wait! It goes further than we thought! I can't tell you how long. Days? A week? Maybe longer? I don't hope so... But lets do our best to find out!"
The Shinigami-captains and lieutenants looked on each other. Nobody was able to answer, as nobody knew it. Carefully Tatsuki lift her hand to ask a question. Ikkaku Madarame, lift his hand to show her that she was allowed to talk.
"Ehm... as we are not really involved in your... 'business', can we go?"
"Sure, we got your statement! You are free to go anytime!"
Tatsuki was relieved. "Aww... great! You know I have a class to teach at the Dojo and I should go there before they figure out that I am..."
"Ehm... Excuse me!" Ikkaku interrupt her. "But as long as the investigation is running, you will have to stay here."
"What?" Tatsuki's voice got louder. "Are you kidding me? Please, tell me that you are!"
"You might be Kurosaki's friend, who has no special powers. But you got also pictured in TV. As soon as you go back, they will bother you so long, untill you talk. We accept Kurosaki's wish to not wipe out your memory but..."
"You won't dare..." Tatsuki ranted and lift of her seat to face Ikkaku directly.
"Tatsuki, please calm down!" Ichigo said. He was afraid that she was going to do something really stupid.
"Shut up, Ichigo!" she yelled on him before turning back to Ikkaku. "You can't force me to stay here. I am a human! You ever heared about human-rights?"
"You better be careful what you say. You can be happy that you got the permission to be here. You are not more than a 'tolerated-ryoka'..."
"Ehem... please... define... 'tolerated-ryoka'..." Tatsuki became pale.
"Well, you are humans. And normaly you don't belong here. But because you are a friend of Kurosaki, and he has vouched for you, you are welcome to stay as long as necessary. But the whole time, you have to stay under the supervision of..."
"WOAH... Do you mean... I am under house-arrest?!" Tatsuki asked mad and went one step closer to Ikkaku. "YOU..."
Ikkaku grabbled the handle of his Zanpakutou. Trying to show her that he would use it against her if she gets closer. Tatsuki got so mad when she saw that. She felt so offended that she freaked out, jumped forward and grabbled Ikkaku by his throat, shaking him so hard that he forgot about himself and pushed her away so hard, that Tatsuki smashed on her back.
Everyone jumped off to hold Tatsuki back. The meeting was ceased.
"GET THIS MANIAC OUT OF HERE!" Ikkaku screamed after catching breath again. Tatsuki was carried out by Chad and Ichigo and screamed angrilly.
Tatsuki Arisawa was the very first human ever, getting on the cover of the Seireitei Communication Magazine. As someone was quick enough to take a photo of her when she freaked out and grabbled Ikkaku's throat and shaked him. The cover's mainline read: 'On the verge! Kurosaki's human friend freaks out!' A very humiliating photo for both of them. For Tatsuki, who looked like a crazy maniac and for Ikkaku who made a face like he just wet himself in. That was the reason Tatsuki did not leave the house for almost two weeks... and Ikkaku Madarame never ever showed up at thier spot...
Present...
"Oh my gosh... Tatsuki really attacked a Shinigami-lieutenant?" Michiru asked shocked. "And she got on the cover of a magazine with her act?"
Kaneda nooded. "Between ourselfs... I think my captain took the photo and gave it the magazine... Well, and everything just because Keigo's crazy sister did not want to admit that she has a problem..."
10 years ago...
Mizuho Asano knew that things were not going like she wanted to. Several days have passed now and her brother was still not mentioned any single time in any broadcast. She expected him to be already attending in a talk-show and desperately trying to defend them and humiliating himself with his acts. But nothing happened. He simply vanished. If he left along with them to the soul-society, it was good for her, because it was an evidence for his involvement. But first she needed his name in the press.
She called Makoto a few days after...
Makoto sat on her desk and talked with Keigo's agent. She was still unaware about Keigo's condition and surprised when his agent told her about the 'phneumonia'.
"Okay... and don't worry, I am aware of it. I keep his name out of it as long as possible..." she said before she got the next call. "Oh, sorry... I get a call on the other line, see you!... Hello..."
"Hirabata-san? Makoto Hirabata?"
"Yes... speaking!"
"I need to talk to you about your boyfriend, Keigo Asano!" Mizuho said. Makoto was surprised. "You know that he is a close friend of Ichigo Kurosaki, the soul-eating Shinigami?"
Makoto was a bit scared. But she would never betray Keigo, who trusted her. "I am sorry... What are you talking about?"
"Aww... please... I know that the guy who has a crush on you is involved into Kurosaki's crimes..."
"Ehm... Keigo Asano is not my boyfriend. I am in a relationship." Makoto said confused and looked on the display to note the phone-number. "Who are you? And do you have any evidence?"
"Whoa... Keigo is not your lover?"
"No! We are friends but... Who are you?"
Mizuho realized that something was not like she thought: "Don't care." she said and hang off.
It was proven, when she, several days later, called the youth-welcare-office and insisted to get her son back. Of course she told them that Keigo called them just to steal the boy's soul. That was the moment she realized that her plan had completely failed...
"You know, you are already the 31. parent, who's child was taken away, who calls and tells me that the Kurosaki's are responsible for thier childs problems. But you are the very first person who claims, that a near relative was some kind of 'soul-collecting-henchmen'... You slowly start to become ridiculous." the woman from the youth-welcare-office said into the phone. "I can't hear it anymore... listen, first of all your son will stay with his father. Instead of blaming others for your mistakes you should at least think about it that it might me your own..."
"HOW DARE YOU TO TALK WITH ME LIKE THAT, YOU STUPID COW!" Mizuho screamed angrily into the telephone before she hold her mouth. That was a mistake.
"Not in this tone, Asano-san!" the woman replied. "Don't forget that the only reason you are not in prison already is that we know about your troubled past and understand that you have psychical..."
"FUCK YOU!" Mizuho screamed angrily before she smashed the horn back on the reciever so hard that it cracked and than put the whole phone to smash it on the ground.
The phone shattered into pieces when it hit the wooden floor and Mizuho fell on her knees. She cried. She cried endlessly. All she wanted was her child back. She wanted him back at any cost. She did not care for her brother, for her parents, for her ex-husband or anyone else... she wanted the boy back.
Totally upset, she went outside on the balcony to get some air. She needed a plan. She knew her parents, will never support anything that pulls Keigo into the spotlight, so nobody asks them something. She looked around.
The evacuated area, on the other side of the road, was opened again, after structural engineers checked the cave under the Urahara-Shop and the ground over it. But despite the confirmation that the place would never collapse, most people (especially familys with children, including her ex-husband and her son) avoid the area. And everyone who returned placed a bowl full of apples in front of thier doors and on balconys and windows. Many people seemed to have thier knowledge about Shinigami from the Manga and Anime 'Death Note' and thought that apples are really able to appease Shinigami... Others thought they may become 'Light Kagami' and scared others with self-made 'death-notes'...
Mizuho walked up and down to think over the recent events. Maybe she used the wrong way. Maybe she should had used something that is not as big as the Kurosaki thing. But she didn't know what else would hurt him. Keigo needed to be punished. But how? She knew... her brother was a loud, intrusive pervert who always tried to get attention. His self disgracing behaviour was so embarassing for her. She let him feel it. Unaware that her own behaviour was not very helpful, too.
Curiously she searched her drawlers for everything remaining from her time in High-School... Maybe she finds a solution there... Yeah... thier High-School-time... his class...
Mizuho found an old class-photo of Keigo's class. He smiled, as always. Despite the fact that the most people in his class disliked him. And these people will help her... she will organize a big class reunion...
Yuzu Kurosaki meanwhile, was still crying when suddenly the phone next to her start to ring. In fear she looked on the phone. She was going to be released from hospital today, and was feared to go home, as she had no home anymore. And the people will shoot her instantly when she tells them her real name. Haruna Kobayashi was a name, she had to continue to use. At least as long as possible... But who called her here. Here in hospital. On a phone that normally couldn't used without paying a high fee...
In the Soul Society, Isshin walked up and down worried while listening to the dial tone. Isshin used his contacts, as former captain of the tenth division, and arranged with some guys from the twelth division to get a connection to his daughter. With him, Ichigo and Karin stood now in front of a weird device that looked like a old phonograph, but made sounds like a modern telephone.
"Oh, Yuzu... please pick up!"
Yuzu was scared, but she decided to pick up. No matter what happens. "Hello!"
"Oh, Yuzu..." Isshin yelled relieved and he and his other two children went closer to the phonograph. "Yuzu, are you okay?"
"Daddy..." Yuzu cried happily. "Daddy... what happened? Why I am still here?"
"We don't know! But tell us... how are you?"
"I am... fine. I think! I... hit the wall pretty hard." she murmured before she start to whisper. "My name is Haruna Kobayashi and I fell down a stair. But I don't know how long I am able to keep this lie alive. I am afraid. When I leave the hospital they will kill me."
"Yuzu... Can you hear me?" Ichigo asked and Yuzu made a confirming sound. "Listen... I will send someone to pick you up as soon as possible. Do you have something to write?"
Yuzu looked on the table next to her and found a pen and a note-block. "Yes!"
Ichigo dictated her Keigo's adress in Minato and his phone-number. He was able to get a glimpse on a file with Keigo's data. "Listen, that's Keigo's adress. Keigo Asano, you remember him? If anything happens, go to him... He somehow managed to get spared by this mess... maybe he can help you?"
"And your number? How can I call you?" she asked.
"I am afraid. This is a one way communication. There is no chance to call the Soul Society from the world of the living with a normal phone..." Isshin explained and heared Yuzu start to cry. "Aww... please... Yuzu... stop crying... please!"
"How this could happen?"
"We will find out... Don't worry!" Ichigo said.
They spend around two hours with talking about the recent events. Yuzu cried the whole time. Promising to call Keigo as soon as possible...
She was not aware that Keigo was connected to various mashines in another hospital in Okinawa. Still fighting for his life... at least his soul did...
"YOU CAN'T KEEP ME CAPTURED IN HERE FOR ETERNERTY!" Holeigo screamed deep inside Keigo's soul...
Present...
"And how this guy was able to escape when he was supposed to stay inside Keigo's soul for eternerty?" Akira asked curious.
"Yeah... and why I learn about his suicide-attempt, today. And not when it happened. If I had figured out back that day, I would have stopped the whole broadcast immediately." Makoto said shocked.
Kaneda looked on the back-seat to the both captured woman.
"Do we really have to take this two woman with us?" he asked Michiru while she drove as fast as possible over the expressway.
"You don't have to! I have to!" she said mad. "Aww... did Asano tell you what happened at the class-reunion?"
"Yeah... and I have to say that my sister failed as your teacher..." Kaneda said and remembered.
10 years ago...
"You know what..." Ryo Kunieda, one of thier former classmates told her when she once showed up in the supermarket. "They organize a class reunion! Our year, the year over us and the year below us, together. A big party in our former school."
"I know!" Ogawa said calmly while she scanned the content of her friends shopping-basket. "I found the invitation yesterday in the mail. Do you go?"
"Yeah, of course! You not?"
"No! I am not in mood!" Ogawa said, now with a sound of worry in her voice. "2.170 Yen, please!"
Two weeks have passed since that horrible day. The Kurosaki's had left and never been seen again. Yuzu Kurosaki was hiding somewhere. Yupa Taramasaki was going to be released from hospital very soon
"Oh, please... everyone who not fled out of the city after Kurosaki's murder-side was exposed wants to come. Why not you? Is it because they held you hostage?" Ryo asked while she handed the money to Michiru. "Believe me, the can't hurt you anymore now that they are trapped in thier home-dimension..."
"No! It's not that! You gave me only 2.100!" Ogawa said, and ordered her friend to give her the remaining 70 Yen. "I just... don't want to go threw it again."
"You mean,... how Orihime... you know..." Ryo said while she handed her the remaining coins.
"No! It is... difficult... I don't know why?" Michiru said and shaked her head. "And you? You really go?"
"Yeah... the whole group! Me, Natsui, Chizuru... all girls. Oh, please join us." Ryo said. "You know that Natsui is going to give birth to her child in three monts, and we want to celebrate... before she is not able to do so anymore..."
"I don't... even have someone to bring with me..." Michiru tried to defend her decicion. She was a single woman still living with her parents.
"You have us! That will be fine!" Ryo said and took the shopping bag out of her friend's hands. "And you still have several weeks to find a guy to invite. See you..."
Ryo winked while leaving the supermarket. Michiru winked back. She knew... they only wanted to comfort her. But did she realy need it? She looked on her hand again, that was healed by Orihime and became pale...
At the same time, Keigo Asano slowly opened his eyes... for the first time in two weeks...
"Doctor... Look, he is waking up!" a female voice said.
Keigo felt like he gained a ton of weight. He felt dazed and so weak that he was not able to lift his own arms. Slowly he realized that he was in a hospital. A nurse and a doctor stood over him. What happened? Where is he? The last thing he remembered was that he drunk something to calm down while he watched the news about Ichigo and the others?
The doctor used a small flashlight to check his pupils. "Asano-san? How are you?"
Keigo tried to say something, but his voice sound so strange. That was when he realized that he had an oxygen-mask over his mouth.
"Asano-san, you are in the hopital of Nakagami, on Okinawa-jima! You had a cardiac-arrest!"
Keigo listened to the doctor. Did he just say that he had a cardiac-arrest? Keigo was to weak to answer...
"Asano-san, do you remember what happened?"
Keigo was able to shake his head a bit and show the man that he denies.
"You had a blood alcohol level of 2.6 when you arrived here. And we had to pump out your stomach. You took an overdose of pills..."
Keigo was shocked. Did he tried to kill himself? What happened? Did he thought that he can follow the Kurosaki's this way? How much time passed?
"You spend two weeks in coma..."
"Two wee... eak... Wha..." Keigo wailed. A tear ran down his face. "... where..."
While Keigo tried to handle the shock he had, after learning that already two weeks have passed... two other people who were left behind left the hospital in Karakura: Yupa Taramasaki hid his face under a newspaper while he and his parents passed the pack of reporters at the main entrace to enter the taxi to drive home. His parents were still really mad and demand answers but Yupa gave his word to Kazui to not to tell anyone. No matter what happens...
Yuzu meanwhile, left the building threw the side entrace. Her hair was dyed black and she weared dark sunglassed. She got new clouthes and decided to continue to use the name Haruna Kobayashi. At least as long as necessary. Ishida's trustworthy nurse handed her her purse and bowed.
"Good luck, Kobayashi-san! You're on your own!"
Yuzu bowed, too and left...
She was homeless now. She had no money, no job. She had savings on the bank, but she saw enough crime-movies to know that the police propably freezed all family accounts... It was just the beginning of an oddysse...
She tried to call Keigo several times. But everytime she called him, just his answering-mashine picked up. She was too afraid to leave a messsage. She was pretty sure that he had enough problems on his own. While she began to cry, she did not look where she was walking... and so she crashed into a man...
"Owch..." Yuzu jelled when she hit with her head agaings the chin of a foreigner, who shrieked up surprised. "Oh, my gosh... I am so sorry, sir!"
The man in front of her, friendly inoncent smile, her age, slim body, didn't seem to care. He just bowed to show that everything was fine.
"I am so sorry, I didn't want to hurt you. I mean it is not what you think. What else you should think when you see me?" Yuzu said fast and with fear in her voice. He was afraid that the man maybe recognizes her and makes a scene. But instead he looked surprised and like he didn't understood her.
"Ehm... Japanese... no... speaking..." he said with an horrible accent. "...Korea..."
Yuzu smiled inoncently, while she became pale.
"...Excuse me... the train-station... where is..."
Yuzu was relieved. He didn't seem to recognize her and he didn't understood her. A tourist, maybe. Or a foreigner on a business-trip who lost his way. Hastily, she used a handkerchief to clean her face and lift her hand to direct the man to the train-station.
"Straight ahead, the third crossroad left and you see it..." she explained. The man didn't seem to understand her. "... the third... one, two, three... left!"
The man just looked on her with big eyes. He did not understand any of her words.
Yuzu sighned: "You know,... follow me!"
She decided to bring him there by herself...
On thier way to the train-station she suddenly felt a little bit better. Maybe it was because the man didn't know who she was but it was a great feeling to talk to someone. Yuzu had absolutely no clue... that the man right next to her, was going turn her life to hell...
Yupa meanwhile, arrived at home with his parents, stormed upstairs and went into his room. Refusing to talk to his parents, nor to answer thier questions about Kazui or his parents...
With tears in her eyes, his mother asked her husband for advice. The only idea he had, was to call an expert.
And so, just one hour later, one of his coleauges from police, a police-psychologist who was skilled in treating traumatized children, arrived.
"Please, do something. He refuses to tell us anything. We are afraid, that he got jinxed..." Yupa's father told.
"I already saw that several times with other children who witnessed crimes. Let me talk with him... I see what I can do..." the woman told and went upstairs.
Nobody had a clue, that the conversation Yupa and the psychologist will have... is going to worse everything...
Please review.