Before we start: Thank you for reading, but the story isn't done yet...sorry...
The sun beamed down heavily on the young Shinigami who, basking gleefully on the grassy hill, inhaled the fresh air of the forest around him. The laughter of children sang into his ears, amplified by having his eyes shut, and focusing on everything around. Smells of flora, grass and trees filtered into his nose, and the warmth upon his eyelids showed only red and blues of eagerness to open his eyes to the beauty that surrounded him.
A soft thumping approached him, just before a heavy blow struck his gut. His eyes shot open immediately, and groaned as all the air in his lungs was pushed out. "Geez, Louise!!" he tried to laugh, but the eighty pound weight shifted about on top of him. "Trying to sneak up on me, huh?" He ruffled the small boy's hair, and soon turned the tables on his surprise attacker.
"Hey…" the small boy lamented from the tickle attack, "Quit it! Hahaha! No….fair!" despite his sheer advantage, the man paused in his assault when laughter from behind him caught his attention. Taking advantage of the lull, the small boy broke out of the man's grasp, and rushed over to the woman standing nearby. "Mom!" he laughed, "Help me!"
The boy ran up to the woman, waving a large bright yellow flower. Once she happily took it, he ran behind her and grasped the cotton apron from behind, and stuck his tongue out. "Hiro, would you cut it out?" the woman jokingly scolded the man. She smiled at his smile, and squealed from embarrassment when he walked over to her and kissed her lips lightly.
"So…what's for lunch?" She rolled her eyes at his question, and simply walked away from him, the boy holding her hand. "…" Before he could follow her, a single black butterfly fluttered past his view; its message clearly sent to him.
"Honey? Didn't you want to eat?" The woman called from afar.
"I'll be right there, Mari…just start without me!" he called back, and waved and smiled toward the two until they returned to the wooden domicile at the bottom of the hill. Perhaps he had stayed too long amongst the humans, but it appeared that Sereitei had finally caught up to him. Brushing off the thistles and blades of grass off of his brown hand stitched tunic, he took the time to look back and forth; making sure no one was watching him.
When he was satisfied, he turned towards the forest and disappeared among the trees, until he approached the small clearing and the two darkly dressed men waiting for him. He was frankly surprised to see the white haoris dressed upon them, but he mainly focused on the blonde man stoically standing under a ray of light that burst through the canopy of trees above.
"Your mission is over. I'm pulling you out." The blonde man said calmly. "Central forty-six has been passing legislation for the Squad Companies to move. It's too dangerous for you to be here now."
"Captain, I urge you with the utmost most respect…" the man began, "but surely how can the Quincy be considered dangerous? They developed their powers only to protect themselves." But his plea had no effect with the blonde man; not even an immediate reaction.
"I'm trying to tell you this as a friend, not as a Captain." He finally said, "Their abilities are unlike the Shinigami; they destroy the Hollows entirely, upsetting the complete balance of both worlds. That's why Central wants to put a stop to them."
"Kisuke, please! They've only begun to develop their power! If I were just to help them for a bit longer-"
"-Kazuhiro! I'm ordering you to return with us!" The blonde man said strongly now. Stunned at the sudden call of rank, the young man had no choice but to obey. He sighed and dropped his head in despair, and swallowed his pride at the sight of his captain.
A scream echoed through the woods, quickly followed by an explosion. "Mari!!" he ran back into the forest as fast as the gigai let him; his heart racing at breakneck speed. Isshin noticed that his friend did not chase him.
Instead, the blonde had a melancholic look on his face as he watched his subordinate run vainly back to the village.
--
"Mari!? Taro!?" Kazuhiro screamed desperately. Fire and smoke reigned supreme on his sight and other senses, making it nigh impossible to find his family. "Mari!? Taro!?" Licks of flame constantly brushed against his skin, and he breathed heavily from the intense heat around him.
The dead bodies—some of whom were close friends—were sliced up, and were lying all around the blood soaked gravel and dirt streets. No matter how many times he tripped or fell over them however, he hurriedly jumped back to his feet. Terrified screams in the distance and the roar of fire filled the now blackening sky; it had miraculously begun to rain.
Thousands of droplets all seemed to fall from the sky at once, extinguishing the flames with hisses. He had run about aimlessly, trying to reach his home through the wreckage and rubble of the small village. "Mari!? Tar…o…" he dropped to his knees, his tears now indistinguishable from the rain. The singed remains of a yellow flower lay flat on the ground, its stem sticking out from under a wooden board from where his house would be.
Despite the approach of footsteps splashing through the dirty puddles, his breathing was haggard and didn't change, his nostrils flared. "Isshin, please open a gate." The blonde man sighed at the sight, bowing his head out of respect. Without thinking, he took off his white haori and wrapped his subordinate in it.
"…Sure thing, Kisuke..."
"Renji…" the red haired man jerked in surprise off the bench, and tried his best to stabilize his breathing.
"Geez, warn a guy, will ya!?" he growled towards the blonde man sitting to his right. Aware of the strange stares from people all around, Renji ignored the urge to respond and returned to his seat on the bench. "What do you want?"
"…I didn't know you were making friends. Does he have a sister?" the candy shop keeper curiously opened his paper fan, adding more mystique to the shadow cast over his eyes by his green and white striped bucket hat.
"I don't even know how to respond to that…" Renji admitted, and exhaled over the old man's simple advice. 'Man up…' his voice resonated in his thoughts. He would've invited him back to explain a bit more, but he seemed to have vanished from view. "What do you think I should do?"
Folding back his fan, Urahara sat silently for a moment, before slowly craning his head towards him to respond. "Have you tired talking to her?" Renji stared at him incredulously, but said nothing, thinking that there could be more to his advice. Some moments passed between the two men; neither batting an eye through their staring.
"I trie-"
"-No…" the blonde man interrupted, "I meant talking to her…" Renji's eyes started looking to the ground, definitely lost in thought. "C'mon, I have some business to attend to." Holding onto his bucket hat, the wooden clack of Uruhara's sandals sang out against the grainy sand that spilled onto the paved sidewalks from the playground nearby. "Renji…?"
"What?" he growled with irritation.
"I said I have some business to attend to..." He responded in a cheery tone. Although, his wide grin only made his intentions seem more conspicuous.
"So?"
"There are some kids that need candy, and you're going to help deliver!" It seemed however, that the wonderful announcement didn't change Renji's opinion on the matter. "…or maybe you forget that you're not paying your rent?"
"…"
"Hmmm…?"
"…let's go…"
Review Response Corner (Hosted by Yoruichi)
(At least some people didn't fall for that...think about it; there's nothing wrong with the chapter at all! The story is still in progress, so of course it isn't finished yet... Anyways, let's get to some review responding, shall we?)
Hehe, aren't you the smartass... I like you. Anyway, great chapter, my number one on my'top four' list of your chapters. It really is great, there's love. I like love, it's... refreshing. Anyway... update soon. -dragonlayer
(Well make sure you don't go too far with liking me, or you might end up like Typewriterman…)
(Typewriterman: What the hell!? That was a cheap shot!!)
I'm glad you updated. I hadn't realised that no one knew that Renji and Tatsuki had a thing. Him returning will be a big shock to everyone involved. Update soon. -darkangel1910
(Well I for one had an inkling about those two, but we'll have to see if anyone else had a feeling…)
Haha silver surfer (wipes tear)
Anyway...I love this story. Is that old man Ichigo's grandfather? It sounded like him. And what is up with the short chapters? Not cool dude...
Update soon!1 -MitsukaiMizuno
(Well don't shorter chapters mean more frequent updates? Try to imagine how long it would take if the chapters were longer…)
ok
i understand it beter now.
though it must be interseting to try to write the sequal to another authors work which is'nt yet finished.
we need the old man to be around more.
gotta love old men ans their "wisdom".
more please -2ndsly
(That's definitely good to hear…I mean read…and why do you make so many spaces, I wonder?)
Dum dum dum... sorry.
Nice to see Renji's getting his courage back, though I wonder if it'll last when he has to see Tatsuki.
Update soon! -RadiantBeam
(I wonder too…)
Take it easy on your back old dude. Haha! - Bronx Shogun
(Seems that he didn't drink enough milk in his youth…)