Chapter 5
*Ichigo's P.O.V.*
Today, I was on my way to school when I found this spirit of a little girl. Obviously, as Zera and Kisuke kept telling me, I was obliged to help her. Even if I didn't want to, they probably would've forced me or something since Kisuke would probably just push me out of my body. I still can't figure out how that's possible.
Anyway, I easily helped the spirit pass on to the Soul Society, but I was running late for school. You'd think that with a dad who tries to attack you in your sleep and an Arrancar sleeping in your closet most of the time that you'd be wide awake most of the time.
"Hey, Ichigo!" Orihime called out. I stopped walking to see Orihime and Tatsuki walking in my direction.
"Ichigo, where have you been? School has already started." Tatsuki asked.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I was just helping a spirit of a little girl pass on." I explained. Since they knew about my powers and their own, I could tell them about stuff like this.
"How nice of you!" Orihime said.
"Not really. I mean, like Zera, my dad, and Kisuke keep saying, it's kind of my job." I explained.
"Jeez, can't you accept one little compliment?" Tatsuki said.
"Shut up!" I said.
After that, the school day went on just like any regular day. There was luckily no Hollow attack at the school which is usually a common thing since so many people like me, Chad, Orihime, and Uryu had high spirit energies. Maybe Zera finally came home and dealt with the Hollows. After the incidents with my mom, Zera made sure to go back to Hueco Mundo every two weeks. That way, she wouldn't be gone for too long anymore.
Once the school day was over, I began walking home on my own. And I will admit, what happened along the way surprised me. Out of no where, a giant Hollow appeared. Why would they start appearing now when they hadn't at school!? Well, it doesn't matter. I still had to deal with it.
I don't know that many spells for it, but I was starting to get the hang of kido. Since I couldn't leave my body at the time, I was preparing to use kido to take it down. But, just as I was charging up enough spirit energy, someone came out of nowhere and sliced the Hollow's mask in half.
"Wh-what the?!" I stuttered. That was when I saw a Soul Reaper standing in front of me. She wasn't that tall, had black hair, and purple eyes. She then just glared at me then disappeared.
"What was her deal?" I muttered.
That was my Hollow. I could've easily handled it. And Zera, Karin, and Yuzu have been doing most of the fighting lately so that was my chance. Well, Zera now eats any Hollow we beat. She's more like a glutton now, I swear. I soon realized I was at my house already.
"Hey guys. I'm home-" I tried saying, but I was cut off when my dad planted a kick on my face and sent me crashing into the wall.
"And that's what happens when you're late for dinner!" dad shouted. Already annoyed and angry, I just got back up and planted my own foot on his face.
"The reason I'm always late is became my curfew is totally unreasonable!" I shouted.
"Ichigo, if you had stopped to look at the clock, you'd see you aren't late." Karin pointed out.
"And dinner isn't even ready yet." Yuzu said.
"You let dad get into your skin way too easy, Ichigo." Karin added.
"Gah! Whatever. I'll be upstairs." I said, doing just that.
When I reached my room, I kicked my shoes off and laid down on my bed without turning in the lights. I still couldn't get over what happened earlier. At the very least, I wanted to know who that person was. Just after saying that, by chance or coincidence, my prays were answered the same Soul Reaper from before suddenly appeared in my room. The first thing she did was grip her sword.
"Hey, don't even think of drawing your sword in here!" I exclaimed. She acted like she didn't even hear me and just walked into the center of my room. I could hear her mumbling something, but that didn't change the fact that she was ignoring me.
*Rukia's P.O.V.*
Today I arrived in the world of the living at this town called Karakura Town. Multiple spiritual pressures showed up everywhere. Most were obviously Hollows, but I couldn't recognize the others. Still, there were Hollows in the area, and they had to be dealt with. After dealing with some random Hollows through the day, I followed one specifically powerful spiritual pressure. It lead to the area around this house that I entered with ease.
"It's here. And it's getting closer." I mutter to myself.
I was about to continue my search, but something cut me off. More like someone, because before I knew it, I felt myself kicked by someone. But, how?! Who!? No regular human could see me. I looked at the human boy who had just turned on the lights in the room I was in.
"Hey, can you see me?" I asked. I know he heard me, but he just walked out of the room like nothing happened.
"Hold it!" I shouted, getting back onto my feet and following him as he went down stairs. I caught up to him when I found him with the people who must be his family.
"Ichigo, what was with all that noise upstairs?" a girl with black haired asked.
"Nothing. Just some silly Soul Reaper in my room." he answered while sitting down.
"Silly!? Excuse me?!" I said. I know he can hear me since I definitely know he can see me now!
"Soul Reaper? You mean like those one from the Soul Society?" the girl with brown hair asked.
"Yeah. And jeez, you'd they would know to send a stronger looking Soul Reaper than her." the one called Ichigo said. How dare he! I was perfectly qualified for this.
"They are thousands of years old. Guess that didn't give them any wisdom." the black haired girl said.
"Hm! If that Soul Reaper couldn't sense the high spirit energies around, then they sure as hell made a mistake." the oldest looking one said. Must be the father.
"How dare you! The Soul Society is- no. I'm still on a mission right now." I said to myself, calming down.
I continuously tried getting their attention, but they were ignoring me. How rude could you get!? Insolent brats. If they weren't going to respond to my words, I would have to get physical. However, they would have to wait because an even greater spiritual pressure suddenly appeared. I've never felt anything like it! It feels like a Hollow's, but I sense more control. Almost like a Soul Reaper's. And was inside this house too. But why-
"Guys! I'm back!" a childish voice shouted.
That shout broke my train of thought. I looked where the voice was coming from, and when I saw who it belonged to, my knees almost gave way under me. It was just a little girl. The only signs of her possibly being a Hollow was a mask on her head, but she was the source of the spirit energy. It was massive!
"Zera! Welcome back, but you're late for dinner." the brown haired girl said. Wait, she was late for what!?
"Yeah. You're usually home sooner than nightfall." the black haired girl added.
"Sorry! I was just making sure to get my full." the Hollow girl laughed. ...Huh? After that, everything went black.
My eyes started to flutter open after I blacked out. I could feel myself leaning against something as I woke up.
"Hey, are you ok?" someone asked. When I completely opened my eyes, I was met with the wide eyes of a little girl...wait, little girl?
"Wah!" I exclaimed, quickly scattering away from her. Now I remember! That was the little girl that suddenly appeared with the massive spirit energy! It must have made me lose consciousness.
"Well, she's awake." Ichigo said.
"Ichigo, you and everyone else should be apologizing! It wasn't nice to fool her like that." the Hollow girl scolded them.
"I wasn't apart of it!" the brown haired girl complained.
"Ichigo, Karin, Isshin?" the Hollow said, folding her arms and rapidly tapping her foot.
"We're sorry." the rest of them said, shifting uncomfortably. This was completely bazaar. Humans with the capability of seeing me are being scolded by some Hollow girl? Just who are these people, and this girl?
"Sorry about that. They were just playing when they were speaking about you and the Soul Society." the Hollow girl said, grinning at me.
"Uh...d-don't worry about it." I said. I was completely lost when it came to knowing how to speak to this girl. I completely lost my composure.
"I-if you don't mind me asking, just what are you?" I finally asked.
"Oh, that's right! You probably haven't seen a Hollow like me." she said, thumping her head. So I was right, she was a Hollow. I'm glad I wasn't judging her off her appearance. Her hole that any Hollow would have must be under the clothes she has on.
"My name is Zera. I'm a Vasto Lorde, but I prefer being called an Arrancar." she said like it was nothing.
"A Vasto Lorde!?" I exclaimed.
What on earth was a Vasto Lorde doing here of all places!? I was actually about to ask that, but just as I opened my mouth, the wall across from everyone was suddenly crashed into. When the dust settled, what could be seen in the new hole in was a massive Hollow. How could I have been so stupid!? I completely forgot about the Hollow that was near by.
"So, there was a Hollow near by." the black haired girl said.
"Ichigo, you let out some of your spirit energy didn't you!?" Zera said.
"What!? Why do you suddenly-...Alright, fine. Maybe I did let out a little spirit energy." Ichigo quietly admitted.
"Just for that, Karin and Yuzu will deal with it." Zera said.
"What!? No fair!" Ichigo complained. They aren't the least concerned about it? Sure, it's not strong compared to her, but it's still a fairly strong Hollow.
"Are you sure I can't fight with Ichigo? Yuzu isn't exactly a fighter you know." the one who must be Karin said.
"I'll be helpful, I promise!" Yuzu said.
"Alright. Alright. Let's go." Karin said.
With that said, the two girls actually left their bodies and appeared in Shihakushos. How was that possible?! I didn't feel any spiritual pressure coming from any of them. Could they have been concealing their powers? Their powers must be well trained if they could just leave their bodies like that. Before I could think about that, the two girls charged at the Hollow. Both were wielding swords of their own, which must be Zanpakuto.
"Hold on a second!" I shouted, rising to my feet.
"Don't worry about them." Zera said. I stopped what I was about to say and looked at her.
"They may be young brats to us, but they're still capable. Just watch." Zera said calmly.
Even if I wanted to help, she probably wouldn't let me. So I just stayed where I was and watched. The two girls rushed out pass the Hollow and stood in the street outside of the house. That caught the Hollows attention and it turned to face the two of them.
"Scream, Benihime!" Yuzu called out.
"Roll out, Seishin-boru!" Karin called out.
Yuzu's sword took a different shape while Karin's blade turned into a metal sphere that fell to her feet as she held the hilt of her blade. Yuzu swung her sword and a slash of some red substance was sent at the Hollow. Karin actually kicked the metal sphere at the Hollow and the ball moved at great speeds. Both of their attacks landed directly on the Hollow. The slash made by Yuzu hit its' chest and the ball hit its' face. The Hollow let out a howl of pain and fell to the ground.
"Incredible." I said. They were able to take down in mere seconds with just their Shikais.
"Told ya'." Zera said with a grin.
"Hey, Zera. It's all yours. Dig in." Karin called out.
I looked at Zera to see if she knew what that meant, but I was already answered when I saw her drooling and stars in her eyes. While Yuzu and Karin came, Zera ran out and began to actually eat the Hollow. I've never actually seen that happen before, so I made me slightly sick to my stomach to see.
"Hey, you're not gonna pass out on us again are you?" Ichigo asked, most likely because he saw my expression.
"D-don't be ridiculous! I don't lose consciousness easily! That was just a fluke!" I protested.
"Jeez, does she really think now's a good time to eat?" the man who must be Isshin said as he set Yuzu's and Karin's bodies on some chairs.
"We saved the Hollow just for her to eat. So yes." Yuzu answered.
"If it were me, I would have killed it quickly." Ichigo said.
"That's probably why Zera had us deal with it." Karin said. She and Yuzu then went back into their bodies after coming back.
"Woo! That tasted great! Thanks you two." Zera said as she came back inside. Behind her, the rest of the Hollow's corpse began to disappear.
"Just who are you people?" I said. If they were Soul Reapers, I've never seen them or heard of them before.
"Oh yeah. We haven't given proper introductions yet. Well, as you heard, that's Ichigo Kurosaki, and his sisters, Karin, Yuzu, and their father, Isshin. And as you can, each one of them possess Soul Reaper powers." Zera explained, gesturing to each person as she spoke.
"It seems like there's more to it than that." I said.
"There is. But, it would be to hard to explain." Yuzu answered.
"But who knows. Maybe there'll be a time when can explain it." Karin said.
"It'll depend on the situation I suppose." Isshin added.
"Anyway, what's your name?" Ichigo said. That's right. I never said my name yet.
"My name is Rukia. Rukia Kuchiki." I answered.
"Rukia, huh?" Ichigo said.
"Well Rukia, we hope to see you again soon." Zera said.
I was a little surprised she said that. I mean, she was a Hollow after all. Maybe she's not like the others. If that's the case, as long as she doesn't cause trouble, I have no obligation to deal with her. I was then about to take my leave and return to my duties.
Actually, before I did, I decided to pay a visit to Kisuke and ask him about this. I have sinking suspicion that, when bizarre things like this appear, he has something to do with it.
*Ichigo's P.O.V*
Well, that was a fun night. After Rukia left, Zera, dad, Yuzu, Karin, and I spent some time trying to work on the hole in the wall. It would take awhile to fix. Right now, I was in class with my friends and I was getting ready to tell them about it.
"Hey, Ichigo. There was a massive amount of spirit energy at your place last night. What happened?" Uryu asked, making sure to try and keep quiet.
"A Hollow and a Soul Reaper showed up at my house. And Zera just came home." I answered.
"Really!? That's great! Maybe I could make her lunch sometime." Orihime chimed in.
"I don't think that'll be necessary." Tatsuki said.
"Are you gonna need help with the damages?" Chad asked.
"Uh, no thanks. We'll be fine." I answered.
"Hello. You're Ichigo, right?" someone behind me asked. When I looked behind me, my jaw practically hit the floor. It was her! That Soul Reaper from last night!
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Rukia, I'll be sitting next to you from now on." Rukia said. I was gonna say something, but she would probably just play dumb.
"It's nice to meet you." Orihime said.
"You're all Ichigo's friends, right?" Rukia asked.
"They are. And they're like me if you must know." I said. I know she knew what I was talking, even if she was putting on a goody-goody act right now.
"Is that so? Then, could I speak to all of you outside?" Rukia said.
"If you have something to talk to us about, then let's just do it here-" I began to say, but next thing I knew, something hit me.
Literally. I pretty much fell over after that. I couldn't much attention to anything else as Rukia dragged me out with everyone following her. Seriously!? No said anything about this!? We were all soon outside and I was able to get back onto my feet.
"Did you have to hit me?!" I shouted.
"Oh my. How scary. I hope you don't hurt me." Rukia said innocently.
"Would you knock it off with the goody-goody act. Just what are you doing here anyway?" I asked.
"Ichigo, do you know this girl?" Chad asked.
"This is the Soul Reaper I told you guys about." I answered.
"Wow! You never told us she was so pretty Ichigo." Orihime said, trying to be polite.
"Anyway, again, what are you doing here?" I asked Rukia.
"What? Can't I just come here and be apart of all the other humans?" Rukia answered. Alright, she wanted to play that game.
"Ok, then tell me. If you really wanted to apart of humans, do you even know what a television and a juice box is?" I asked. I could see her immediately tense up when she heard that.
"Well, I, um...Alright, fine. You caught me." Rukia admitted.
"Ha, I knew it." I said. My moment was short though because the second my eyes closed, Rukia suddenly pushed my soul out of my body with a glove that has the same skull picture that Kisuke had on the end of his cane.
"Hey, what was that for!?" I shouted.
"Just come on. Then I'll explain everything." Rukia said, dragging me away by the collar.
"Wait a minute! Hey, Tatsuki, watch my body while I'm gone!" I called out. Luckily she heard me before Rukia and I were too far away. After awhile of draging, we were finally at a safe distance and I was able to get back onto my feet.
"Ok, so what's the deal?" I asked.
"It is my duty to watch over Karakura Town, and that's what I'm doing. While also watching over people like who have powers." Rukia explained.
"Yeah, I get it. But why are you at my school?" I said.
"A friend of mine just said it would be a good idea, so deal with it!" Rukia exclaimed. Tricking someone into going to school and wearing clothes like a school uniform. Why do I sense Kisuke's handy work here?
"Alright, fine. But if you want to go to our school and be like a regular human, then you have to learn about the daily things. If you don't, it'll be like having your gun half cocked." I said. I was gonna continue until I saw the blank expression on Rukia's face.
"My what?" Rukia said. Oh yeah. She doesn't know what a gun is since they mainly use swords in the Soul Society. Ok, add that onto the list of things to teach her.