Chapter Seven

Several days have passed and the police that arrested me opened the cell door as she softly said, "Hey, kid, come out. I want to ask you a few things."

Dazed, I weakly got up and walked out of the cell. I hadn't eaten anything that the police station had provided me. To say the least, I calmed down from crying. She took me to a room with a mirror and had me sit down as I quietly said, "What is it that you want to ask, ma'am?"

"I'm Sandra Chambers. First thing's first," she said with a small sigh. "What's your name?"

"Ichimutsu Karaguwa, ma'am," I quietly replied. Takikanto appeared in her panther form right next to me and I knew that the woman couldn't see her, and for that I was relieved.

Sandra laughed lightheartedly as she said, "You can't be Ichimutsu Karaguwa. Even this town got the word that she had died long ago."

"Do you believe that there are monsters that can't be seen but by the dead, lady?" I asked her as I looked up at her with dazed look. She blinked with confusion as I barely managed to let out a laughter, saying, "Of course not. Why would anyone believe such things? I've seen more than what others can see. No one will believe me but Ichigo Kurosaki from Karakura Town. He's the only well known among me and those like me."

Sandra had looked over her shoulder and I noticed her nodding ever so slightly as she asked, "Would you feel more comfortable talking to the Kurosaki boy then, kid?"

"I bet you anything he'll refuse to come," I said. I didn't recognize myself as I said that for that statement had come out in a weird manner. Almost as though I was saying it with bit of bitterness and in a evil sense.

The door opened as an unfamiliar voice snapped, "I've heard of a orange haired kid dying when my dad tried to save her, so I had to come when I heard there was another orange haired kid in my town. You must be the talk among the police."

The police left the room and when I looked up at the new person, I saw that he had bright orange hair, just like me, and he looked like he was a fighter and a harsh person as well. Almost out of it, I asked, "Who are you?"

"What the hell do you mean by that?" he growled. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki! Everyone should know that by now! And the microphones are turned off as I asked, so start talking, ya little punk!"

My eyes grew wide with horror. "Ichigo Kurosaki? The one well known among the Gotei?" He suddenly blinked with confusion as I begged, "Kurosaki, please! Don't tell anyone of the Gotei Thirteen that I've escaped! I beg you! I had to get out! I had to run away! I couldn't afford to be a harm to the Soul Society! I just couldn't! Please, Kurosaki! Please! I beg you! I can't go back to the Thirteenth Squad! I can't face my dad there! I can't face him ever! I can't let them find me, Kurosaki!"

Ichigo pulled a chair over from by the wall and sat down across from me as he asked, "What's going on? But, first, tell me your name."

"First, promise me that you won't rat me out to Soul Society, Kurosaki," I begged him. "I don't want to have to die. I'm too young, Kurosaki! I already died only a few years ago as a 14 year old! I can't die again! I'm only a 16 year old!"

He suddenly frowned deeply. "Which town did you live in if you died several years ago, then?"

Closing my eyes, I admitted in hushed tone with fear, "I used to live in a town called Harukiodate. I used to attend the top middle school any place in Japan could offer."

Ichigo sighed as he said, "Then you're that Ichimutsu Karaguwa or whatnot that my dad tried to save but was never able to make it in time to. And your energy was the unusual energy I've been sensing all the way out here in my town all those years ago that I haven't sensed until recently. I've seen your name in my family clinic's cabinet file." Sitting back, he said, "Before I promise anything, tell me what happened, you punk."

I didn't open my eyes as I quietly said, "I know you have hollow powers, Ichigo Kurosaki. I've even heard you trained under Shinji Hirako, the former Fifth Squad Captain, and his gang."

Ichigo looked a bit alarmed as he demanded, "How do you know as far as that?"

"I'm equal to a captain ranking, Ichigo Kurosaki," I hissed. "I accomplished shikai and bankai in just over two years. I can sense that you have a hollow. I have a sharp eye, Kurosaki." Opening my eyes to look at him, I said, "And I also did all my researches to know what I need to know. Do you know why I fled?" When he didn't reply, I said, "I fled for the same reason as Hirako and his gang has. So that I wouldn't bring harm to the Soul Society. I've passed my limits against my own wills, and the second Soul Society is to know of this, I'll be sentenced to death. I'll be considered a great threat. That's why I can't go back. That's why I can't be caught. So, please, Kurosaki. Please don't sell me out to the Soul Society."

There was what seemed like long period of silence. But when that long while was over, he said, "How did you gain your hollow powers?"

As tears welled up at my eyes, I took a deep calming breath in as I said, "I was out on my first mission as an acting lieutenant for my dad's squad. He asked me specifically to go since I was his acting lieutenant." My entire body began to shake as I tried to keep calm from crying as I continued, "The group that was assigned to me and I went to the forest were some troubles among the the squad seemed to happen. Since it was the Thirteenth, I had to do something. I had to take action. So I did. I did as asked. Especially since it was my squad. But my group and I ran into trouble. We ran into a strong, powerful hollow, so I had to tell my squad to run back to the Thirteenth Squad to get back up. I managed to take out the hollow. I really did, but I went over my limit without my own knowledge."

Ichigo quickly shushed me and the door began to open as he asked without taking his eyes off of me, "What can I help you with?"

A male voice said, "I wanted to check if you kids wanted anything to drink."

"No, it's alright," Ichigo said. "I'll take her out somewhere after I'm through talking to her here. And it also may be best if she was checked up on by my dad as well afterward. Now, please leave. I want to talk to her more in private." When the police left, he waited a little while before he asked, "Who's this dad that you're referring to? I thought you were of the Karaguwa family."

"You're right. I'm of Karaguwa family," I replied as tears continued to stream down uncontrollably. "I'm from a filthy rich family with great amount of power. But my dad is Joushiro Ukitake himself. He took care of me the way my parents never have. He cared for me like no one else has. He was more real of a parent to me than anyone else. I'll admit I'm not related to him by blood, but he's like a father to me."

Ichigo merely sighed and he started to look as though he was lost deep in thoughts. He was heard muttering, "I can't turn her in after hearing all this. I can't do it knowing what kind of man that Ukitake guy is either. What can I do asides from taking her to dad? Maybe Mr. Hats-and-Clogs? He's not really on Soul Society's side fully and entirely either." He looked frustrated as he scratched back of his head, crying out, "Alright! I give! I won't tell the Soul Society! But not because you asked me to! I'm doing it because I know what a nice guy that Ukitake guy is! I don't want to hurt a harmless guy like him! You hear?"

Just before passing out, I managed to mutter, "Thank you, Kurosaki." With just that, I felt my head hit the table and everything had gone pitch black.

It was matter of moments before my nightmare began once more like almost all the other nights. I knew it all started again when I heard my middle school's principal's voice cry out in the P.A. system, "Everyone, please report to the nearest classroom immediately! Everyone report to the nearest classroom immediately! Harin Wong is armed with a gun at the West Wing Hall! Everyone report to the nearest room!"

I opened my eyes and looked around and saw that I was back in my middle school, and when I had looked down at my clothes, iti was my school uniform rather than my shinigami outfit. I even held my martial arts uniform in my hands, and even though I was slightly lost, I immediately started running towards the West Wing Hall. When I reached where Harin, one other student and two teachers were, the first thing I noticed was that Harin was holding a gun as she swung her arms around violently, screeching, "Get away from me! I swear I'll shoot!"

I dropped my martial arts clothes on the ground and slowly started to walk towards Harin. Keeping my voice calm and steady, I said, "Harin, put the gun down. Let's talk this out!"

Turning to me, Harin pointed the gun at me, aiming it directly at my chest, as she screeched, "Stay away from me! I'll shoot you! Stay away!"

I started to panic and my speaking rate increased as I cried out, "Harin! Put the gun down! I just want to talk friend to friend!" Continuing to walk towards her, I added, "Please! I just want to talk this out with – !" The sound of a gunshot went off and I sat up in a bed, screaming with horror. I started to screech, "NO! Harin! Don't! Put the gun down! PUT THE GUN DOWN!"

I cried hysterically as Takikanto sat at the edge of my bed in her human form, crying out as she held me by the shoulders, "Ichimutsu! Calm down! You're dreaming again!" She quickly pulled me into a hug, saying as she calmly patted my back, "It's all nothing but dream of a memory, Sixteen! Hush!"

As I cried uncontrollably, I heard an unfamiliar male voice say from within the shadows of the dark room, "Seems like someone's finally woken up after days of sleep. Good thing I've had a few proper equipments come into the clinic to give you the nutrients that you needed in your body." As he turned the light on, I saw that he had black hair and I felt as though I've seen him in one of the books I've read. Smiling, he said to me, "Nice to meet you, Ichimutsu Karaguwa. I'm Isshin Kurosaki. It's finally nice to see the girl that I wasn't able to save three or more years ago to see how the child's turned out after all this time."