The Cindered Sister Chapter 4
A/N: Again with the waiting right?! What the Hell! I went through a bad bit of writer's block, not to mention Christmas, and planning a June wedding! Hope you all enjoy and that it was worth the wait.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Ishida bit out causing everyone in the group to look at him with looks of astonishment on their faces. "Are you really that naïve to think that it would still be hanging around Karakura after all of these years?"
"I know for a fact that Ceph has been lurking around the city," Yumi stated.
"Oh really?" Ishida questioned with an undertone of cynicism in his voice. "Is that why you needed to find my grandfather? To kill a Hollow?!"
"Ishida, don't you think you're being a little harsh?" the gentle giant piped up.
"Sado-kun is right Ishida-kun. We have to help," Orihime said and turned to Yumi who was staring daggers at the Quincy. "How did you find out it was here?"
"The shinigami in Komae knew about the Hollow when I inquired about it," Yumi said.
"The shinigami in Komae?" ichigo asked. He had never really thought of shinigami outside of Karakura before – well, other than Soul Society of course. Was there a shinigami in every town? All over the world?
"Yes, she's been assigned to Komae for several years now. She told me stories of the Hollow's barbarity when she had first been assigned to the area. Apparently the thing was a prolific hunter before disappearing altogether a couple of years ago," Yumi stated, pulling Ichigo from his thoughts.
"So, what does Karakura have to do with it?" Ishida piped up.
"The trail ends here," Yumi stated. "Up until recently there hadn't been any activity from this particular hollow. But, with all the high amounts of spiritual activity surrounding the city, it's decided to resurface – at least, that's what Yuki told me."
"Yuki?" Orihime asked. "Is that the name of the shinigami?"
Yumi nodded once more. "This little town is pretty famous in Soul Society...Oh I almost forgot!" She stated as she shoved a hand into her pocket and immediately withdrew a piece of paper. She handed it to Ichigo. "Yuki gave this to me before I left…said this person would be able to help if I needed it."
Ichigo unfolded the small piece of paper and cringed when he saw the name and address written down. "Seriously?!"
"What is it Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime asked leaning closer toward Ichigo to get a better look at the paper in his hand. "Oh! Will we be going to see Urahara-san then?"
"You know this guy?" Yumi questioned.
Chad nodded. "Urahara has helped us out before."
"And if anyone knows anything about anything going on in Karakura it would be Urahara-san!" Orihime said excitedly.
"Mmmm what a delightful aroma," Urahara stated breathing in the fragrant chai scent from his steaming hot cup of tea. He slurped the beverage a little, testing to see whether or not it had cooled since the last time he had sampled it. Deeming it cool enough, he took a gulp before placing the half empty cup back onto the table.
"Are you sure we can't get you any refreshments Keisotsu-san?" Urahara asked the young man sitting across from him with the mud coloured hair and bright blue eyes.
"No, really I'm fine," Isamu stated holding his hands up and shaking his head. "To be quite frank Urahara-san I stopped by here as a kindness to my parents."
"What do you mean stopped here? You've been freeloading for the last few days!" Jinta shouted. As a result Tessai clocked him in the head with one of his massive fists to silence the young red head.
Urahara smiled, pulling out his fan and fanning himself with it. "We're always happy to entertain old friends…or their children."
Isamu could do nothing but smile awkwardly and scratch the back of his head in discomfort.
"I really am grateful for all the trouble you've gone to for me since I got back," Isamu said.
"Don't be silly!" Urahara said joyfully. "It's been our pleasure to assist you in your efforts to help your sister."
"I wouldn't so much call it helping as protecting," Isamu stated.
"Neither you or your parents did explain why she came here in the first place."
Isamu closed his eyes and his brow furrowed as if he was recalling a painful memory.
"Does it have something to do with Kazuko?" Urahara questioned, a silvery eye popping out from under his signature hat.
"How did…?"
"Your parents and I have been good friends for a very long time," Urahara stated finishing off his tea. Ururu, ever so silent, poured him another cup. "You're sister took her death quite hard."
"She hasn't been the same since. No one has."
"Then why allow Yumi to carry on as she has been?"
"It's not a question of allowing her to do it. It's what keeps her sane I guess," Isamu admitted. "Yumi blames herself for what happened and there's nothing any of us can say or do to make her believe otherwise."
Silence passed between the occupants of the room. There was nothing else that could be said on that particular subject. It was best left for another place and a different time. It wasn't until a knocking came at the front of the store did everyone stir. Urahara smiled coyly from under his hat as Tessai rose to attend to the door. He also knew exactly who was there.
"Good evening Tessai-san! Is Urahara-san available?" Orihime's demure voice chimed from the front of the store.
"I should get going," Isamu stated as he began to rise. "I don't want to intrude on you and your guests."
"Nonsense," Urahara smiled, motioning Isamu to sit back down. The young man complied.
"In here Orihime-san!" Urahara called out jovially annunciating every syllable in her name. Urahara smiled at the comments he overheard as his visitors made their way to the back of the shop.
"What a strange little store," Yumi commented as she quickly examined a few containers on a shelf.
"You have no idea," Ichigo stated. "Just wait until you meet the owner."
"There is no point to us coming here," Uryuu quipped. "I doubt Urahara would be of any help in this particular situation."
"Doubting my abilities Ishida-san? That's a bit disrespectful," Urahara chimed as Tessai slid open the door to the back room where Urahara and Isamu were seated. Ururu quickly rose from her position and pulling Jinta alongside her, bowed to the new comers and exited the room with Tessai.
"Oi Ururu, can you please bring back some more refreshments when you have a moment," Urahara shouted and then turned to Ichigo. "Long time no see Kurosaki-san. What can I do for you today?"
"It's not for me Urahara," Ichigo stated and then moved aside and pulled Yumi forward.
Upon seeing her brother Yumi's gaze turned from one of curiousness into anger.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. The callous tone in her voice didn't escape anyone.
Isamu quickly stood up towering over his little sister. "I could ask you the same thing."
Everyone simply gawked at the two as they continued to stare daggers at one another. The tension in the room was growing far too intense for the inhabitants and it was finally Ichigo with his direct nature that finally cut it.
"What the hell is going on? Who is this guy?!"
"My brother," Yumi stated.
"Her brother," Isamu stated.
Nothing happened for the next few moments as everyone, with the exception of Urahara, attempted to process the information.
"What is it that I can help you with my dear?" Urahara questioned.
Chancing to glance away from her brother's higher-than-thou glare, Yumi turned to answer Urahara's question about what she had come to him in the first place. It was just as Yumi was about to ask whether or not Urahara knew any information about Ceph Devlish that she had another thought…
"How do you know about this guy Isamu?"
"Mom and dad arranged for me to stay here while I was checking up on you," Isamu stated, looking somewhat confused. "How do you know about him?"
It was at that moment that Isamu took note of the look on his sister's face. Yumi went from confusion to a sudden realization. It was in that moment that each knew what the other was thinking.
"You didn't find out about Urahara-san from mom and dad, did you?" Isamu asked.
"They knew about him the whole time. They knew that he was the one that could help me find that damn Hollow and they didn't say anything!"
"Uh, excuse me," Urahara said, but was quickly cut off by Isamu's rebuttle.
"I have no idea what the Hell you're talking about, how could this guy help you find a Hollow? He's only a simple shop keeper!"
"Bullshit," Yumi swore, shocking everyone in the room with her abruptness. "The three of you have been trying to hold me back!"
"You're damn right we have. You're being a brat!"
"Would you two shut the hell up!" Ichigo shouted causing all eyes to turn on him. Ichigo quickly cleared his throat. "Urahara, we brought Yumi here because she's on the hunt for a particular Hollow. Have you seen or heard anything in the last few weeks?"
Urahara sat back against one of the many throw cushions which littered the floor. He sat in silence for a few moments in deep thought.
"Please, the shinigami in Komae told me that I would find it here and that you could help," Yumi said sounding utterly exhausted, having had no leads until now.
Urahara halted his pondering and looked at Yumi – not just a once over as beforehand when they had first burst into the shop – he really looked at her this time. He noticed the weariness in her eyes and the dark circles that framed them. But he also saw determination in them. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply extending his senses outward feeling the energy in the room. Urahara could feel them all– Ichigo's overbearing reiatsu, the warmth of Orihime's, the strength in Chad's, Uryuu's controlled and even flowing reiastu, and even the subtle energies that were emanating from Isamu. It was the feel of Yumi's reiastu that caused his eyes to snap open, startling the girl.
It was so different. So foreign. It was almost as if every bit of reiatsu that enveloped her was in a constant tug of war – flowing inward, only to be sucked outward, draining her body.
Urahara stood suddenly and made his way toward Yumi. Once he reached her he took hold of her hand causing her to jump back in surprise. She glared at him wondering just what in the Hell he thought he was doing humming and hawing over her like some sick child.
"This is a waste of time," Yumi stated, pulling her hand away from the stranger. "I didn't come here for this. I'm leaving."
"Urahara, what is it?" Orihime asked quickly, hoping that his answer might catch Yumi's attention.
Urahara was about to offer some sort of long winded explanation when Isamu stood and cut him off.
"It's time to stop playing Quincy and come home Yumi," Isamu stated.
Yumi froze in her tracks and stood rigid.
Everyone stood aghast, mouth open, slack jawed and unable to form any sort of coherent words that would allow them to ask for an explanation. Even Isamu knew.
Uryuu grinded his teeth. How many more people knew about the Quincy because of Yumi?
Urahara seized the moment of tense silence and piped up.
"Well that certainly explains the diminished reiatsu," he stated stroking his chin and turned to Isamu. "I didn't realize you had any sort of sixth sense."
Isamu shrugged and Urahara chuckled.
"You need to give us more of an explanation than that," Uryuu demanded.
"Oh yes, you're quite right Ishida-san," Urahara said. He quickly cleared his throat and then once again turned his attention to Yumi. "How far back does the Quincy line go in your family?"
"I don't see what that has to do with anything," Yumi bit out.
"It has to do with everything," Uryuu interjected and then looked to Isamu.
"As far as I know we aren't descended from any. Yumi received some training when she was younger from Ishida Soken and I assumed that was why she had come here – to continue with that…among other things," Isamu replied and glared at his sister, knowing full well that she was planning on taking on a particularly powerful Hollow by herself. He quickly became confused and his gazed softened when he noticed Yumi, whose eyes welled with tears. He then looked to everyone else in the room who had somber looks on their faces. All except Uryuu, who bore a stern and unwavering expression.
"What is it?" Isamu asked and watched as a tear or maybe two fell from Yumi's eyes. It was then that he understood. "Yumi, I'm so sorry."
Yumi shook her head and took a deep breath. She said nothing and wiped away the errant tears no longer willing to show herself as weak in front of Uryuu. She knew he already thought her incapable and unworthy of the power and techniques Soken had taught her and she could not afford to show any more weakness.
"It doesn't matter," Yumi stated proudly. "I can take care of it myself."
"Are you crazy?!"
"Ishida-kun!" Orihime chided.
"He's right Orihime," Ichigo stated putting a hand on her shoulder to quiet her before she continued. He looked toward a wide eyed Yumi. "If you're going to go through with this you're definitely going to need help."
"Don't encourage her Kurosaki," Uryuu stated. "She's bleeding reiatsu and has no control over her powers."
"What the Hell is your problem?" Isamu suddenly shouted at Uryuu. "A few days ago you were all buddy-buddy with her and walking her home…"
"This isn't any of your concern," Uryuu stated. "Stay out of –"
Uryuu suddenly found himself being thrown up against a wall with Isamu's fist tightly closed around the front of his shirt. Ichigo started, but Urahara held out an arm to stop him.
"I'm her older brother. I'm here – now, trying to keep her safe. I was born first to protect her," Isamu stated through his teeth pushing the Quincy into the wall just a bit more. "So what I'm wondering is what kind of pompous ass would ask that sort of question?"
"A Quincy," Ichigo stated rolling his eyes.
"Stop it!" Yumi shouted. "Just stay out of it Isamu!"
Isamu quickly released Uryuu, setting him on the floor and he turned to his sister.
"Yumi, I – "
"You left!" She shouted at him as tears of frustration crept at the corner of her eyes. Yumi shook with anger and frustration not caring that she had an audience. "The first chance you had to get out of Komae you took it! So don't you dare show up and try to act like a hero when I know all you wanted to do was run away!"
"I didn't run away!"
"You couldn't deal with Kazuko's death, so you left!"
"God dammit!" Isamu yelled in frustration coming nose to nose with Yumi. "I didn't run away. I had to leave because of school!"
"Keisotsu-san –" Orihime tried to calmly interject, knowing that despite Isamu's best intentions he wasn't helping matters by yelling back and forth with a sister who clearly couldn't be reasoned with.
"Coward!"
Isamu couldn't help what he did next. He saw red and in a flash his fist flew and made contact with the wall next to Yumi's head.
Everyone stood wide eyed and stunned, not knowing what to do or how to react to the personal laundry which was clearly being aired out in front of them.
Even Isamu stood shell shocked at what he had just done and quickly removed his fist from the paper-thin wall. Small bits of plaster and paint stuck to his knuckles as some other bits fell to the floor. He shook his head, as if trying to erase his actions from his mind. He looked up at his sister, who stood calm, the remnants of a sad expression turning into one that was stone cold.
"Yumi, I – " he tried to find the words, ashamed of his actions.
"You left," She stated quietly and then cut him off again before he could say anything. "You left me all alone."
With those final words, Yumi bolted from the store and out into the night.
Isamu stood in the door way of the small room, unsure of whether or not he should follow her.
"You should go after her," Orihime stated sadly.
Isamu simply shook his head and said, "I don't think she would want to talk to me right now."
"Well that just proves that what she was saying was right," Ichigo stated.
"What do you mean?" Isamu asked.
"You are a coward," Ichigo stated pushing past Isamu whose body stiffened with the insult. Ichigo turned back toward him as he headed for the shop entrance and said, "I don't know you, but I have two little sisters and I would be ashamed of myself for acting like you are right now when they needed me."
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Isamu stated defensively, placing his hand on Ichigo's shoulder.
Ichigo looked from Isamu's eyes to the hand on his shoulder then back again before shrugging it off.
"You're right. I don't know what's going on, which is really starting to get old," Ichigo stated and then walked off.
Orihime quickly followed Ichigo from the room and caught up with him outside of the shop.
"Kurosaki-kun," she said coming up behind him and stopping as he did. "You're going to go and find her aren't you?"
Ichigo nodded. "I want to know what's going on. I want to help."
Orihime smiled. This was just like Ichigo.
"She's a good person, Kurosaki-kun…a good person who has suffered a terrible loss."
It was Ichigo's turn to smile. "It sounds like you had a talk with her as well."
Orihime smiled and nodded.
"Thanks Inoue," Ichigo said and then began to walk off. If Inoue got the impression that she did from spending the afternoon with Yumi – on top of what they had learned in the last hour – then that's all Ichigo needed to help this girl. "I'll go and see what the plan is!" Ichigo shouted as he jogged off.
Orihime smiled to herself. As soon as the orange hair was out of sight she turned and went back into the shop to tell the others.
Ichigo walked through the lamp lit streets of Karakura lost as to which direction Yumi would have taken. He soon found himself walking along the familiar banks of the river. The night air was warm; a sure sign that summer was creeping in.
Ichigo sighed. Where could she have gone? He scanned the banks of the river and seeing no one he rolled his eyes in irritation. Maybe his father was right and he should get a hang on the whole reiatsu-sensing thing. Inhaling deeply, Ichigo closed his eyes and allowed his senses to stretch out over the area around him. He could see as the spirit threads began to appear in his mind's eye. He concentrated on the one person he needed to find. His brow furrowed. It was much harder now that he was looking for human reiatsu. Looking for Rukia was easier than looking for Yumi. At least shinigamis' threads were colour coded!
Just as he was about to give up with his current method he felt a spike in spiritual pressure. His eyes flew open and he broke into a run. He cursed at his speed. He would be much faster as a shinigami. Ichigo came upon a local park – the energy was coming from somewhere nearby. He quickly found his substitute badge and ducking behind a small bush he pushed it to his chest. Without a second glance to ensure that his body would go unnoticed behind the bush, Ichigo quickly leapt away using his shunpo to carry himself through the air.
Ichigo landed in a small play area near a swing set just in time to witness Yumi in action. He watched as she set her feet and took aim at the Hollow in front of her. Her concentration was so intense that she didn't even notice Ichigo's presence. Without the least bit of hesitation she released the glowing purple arrow, which buried itself it the Hollow's torso. With a great howl the monster disintegrated into nothingness.
Ichigo noted the small look of satisfaction on Yumi's face as she allowed her bow to vanish into thin air. It reminded him of the look another Quincy would get on occasion.
"That was impressive," Ichigo stated as he approached Yumi.
She looked at Ichigo, but said nothing.
"I just came here to talk," Ichigo said throwing up his hands.
"You're not going to lecture me are you about how I should show more respect to Nii-chan?"
Ichigo shook his head. "I actually thought your brother was being a bit of an ass."
Yumi smiled a little and then just as quickly as the smile appeared, it faded.
"I've never seen him act like that," she said walking over to a swing and sitting down on it. Ichigo followed, but did not sit. He simply stood before her.
"Like what?"
"Angry."
Ichigo blinked, surprised at Yumi's comment. "Are you serious?"
Yumi nodded and finally looked right at Ichigo, who had the most perturbed expression on his face.
"I mean, he was a typical big brother when we were younger – he would terrorize me and my sisters endlessly. But he would also stand up for us at school; taking care of the bigger kids who'd pick on me because of my hair or the way the I spoke – oh, I had a lisp," Yumi explained.
"But that changed when your sister died," Ichigo stated.
"Things changed. We both changed," Yumi stated squeezing her hands together in a ball.
Ichigo was holding out for more of an explanation that would help him decipher the girl in front of him, but that's not what he got.
"I'm not crazy or obsessed," Yumi stated, practically pleading. "This is something I need to do!"
Ichigo never considered himself particularly adept at figuring things out; most of the time he just left that to Ishida and went on with the fighting. It only took this conversation with Yumi for him to fully understand what was going on.
"It killed your sister," Ichigo stated point blank. "The Hollow you're looking for."
Yumi nodded, her eyes threatening to unleash a torrent of suppressed emotion.
"Kazuko was my twin sister," Yumi elaborated. "Ever since that day I feel like I've lost half of myself. That's why I need to do this. I need my own closure for what that thing did to me – to my family."
Ichigo approached Yumi and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I know exactly how you feel."
"How?"
"My mother," was all he said and needed to say.
"How many families do these things rip apart?" Yumi asked rhetorically.
Ichigo pulled his hand from her shoulder and began to walk away. Yumi watched him go, confused – until he turned and looked over his shoulder.
"If you're going to get rid of that asshole Hollow, you're going to need some help," Ichigo stated and continued to walk off.
Yumi smiled, hopped off the swing, and ran after the young shinigami. Finally, she had someone who could understand.